Hey, everyone! How are you all doing on this warm night of Tuesday, May 2, 2023? I'm well, if a bit tired from work and stressed from not hearing back on the start date for my internship. Man, I need to decompress, and that's why I'm writing now. So, I hope you are all ready for a big battle at the start of this chapter, and plenty of other surprises coming afterwards. I just hope I can write it out in a few days, as I'll be very busy in less than a week. I hope you all have a blessed evening, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!

Kelona 29th, 53 ABY

Outer Rim, Kanz Sector

MZX32905 Star System, Near the Planet Bimmiel

Aboard the Liberty

Normally, Edaan would be completely on edge in this type of terrain. Being so close to a former nexus of Dark Side energy, even one of a supposed enlightened Sith like Darth Vectivus, it was an unnatural disaster waiting to blow up in any fool's faces, no matter if his habitat was destroyed thirteen years ago by rogue forces. Still, the scattered energies and asteroid field served as a perfect hiding place for virtually anyone wishing to hide from pursuers and conduct a wide variety of business out here.

And with representatives from all twenty worlds that were rebelling against their pro-slavery governments, Edaan had more immediate and pressing concerns than his deep-seated fear of the Sith's legacy and his own temptations. As one of Atai's personal representatives for this summit, he needed to be at his best and put all his focus into ensuring this meeting proved productive for the rebel leaders.

So far, the talks to unite the various rebel factions was progressing smoothly, aside from the occasional quarrels and disputes over leadership and forming a cohesive chain of command. Virtually all the leaders present understood the need to rally under one banner and pool their efforts together to liberate each of their worlds and countless victims.

But a few factions and their respective leaders were proving to be more obstinate than others. And if any of their enemies tracked them down and tried to decapitate this liberation movement, well, hopefully, it wouldn't come to that. Still, it never hurt to be prepared, which was why Edaan had asked Allana to hire a few of his friends as backup, should the gathering here be put in an unfavorable position. He was already going to call upon his freelancing allies to help train the growing resistance armies, but these talks merely sped up the process of bringing in a few more professionals for this war.

Having observed the thickheadedness of these reluctant souls for the past forty-eight hours, Edaan, after receiving a nod of permission from Atai, made his presence known amidst the holoconference. To minimize the risk of infighting or settling old grudges, each faction agreed to maintain a respectable distance from each other and keep their exact coordinates confidential, unless someone stumbled upon this conference or attempted to derail the talks.

"Enough." Edaan firmly spoke, his voice carrying across all ships through the holofeed. Seeing everyone cease their quarreling, the Jedi Apprentice began, "I'm sure you all know who and what I am. Like all of you, I have a dark and shameful past, with tragedies and losses marring the present and creating terrible obstacles in my efforts to atone for the sins of my lineage."

"But I'm not going to let that stop me from doing what is right, nor will I let misplaced pride or foolish grudges keep me from seeing the brutal reality of this situation. On my own, I could accomplish very little and would be unlikely to make a lasting impact on the galaxy, or reform what needs to be saved."

"However, if I were to look for others who share my sentiments, my belief in making the galaxy and all its worlds a better place for all freedom-loving and honorable begins to live in while steering others down a nobler path, then it might be the start of a movement that couldn't be stopped."

"We don't have time for your metaphors and the like, Jedi Palpatine." The Thallassian rebel leader impatiently interrupted. "Just get on with your point before anything happens."

Eyeing the woman with a scrutinizing stare for the odd remark, Edaan gracefully conceded with a nod, "All of you see the faults in your societies, the sins that mar them and impede true growth and change in its people, and desire to do something about this problem. But that problem is compounded by your enemies' superior power their hold over each of your world's populaces, and their foreign patrons and suppliers that seek to profit from the immoralities your worlds propagate."

"Individually, for all your strengths and talents, you might be able to succeed against your individual governments. But combined with the Sith and their resources, your only hope for victory is to look outwards for assistance. Together, you and all your followers could do so much more for each other than working alone."

"Don't let your causes, your civilizations, and your worlds stay locked in the past and be destroyed over something as foolish as pride." Edaan implored, finishing with a heartfelt plea. "I've already seen it get too many good people ruined or killed."

Everyone fell silent, appearing to be heavily considering Edaan's passionate words, and Atai felt reassured in knowing he made the right call in bringing the young human Jedi along for the negotiations.

But before any further words could be conveyed, Atai received a transmission from a Z-95 Headhunter scout, the grizzled voice of Jaden Korr appearing from the edges of the system calling out the warning, "We've got enemy ships debarking hyperspace. Looks like a mix of a dozen or two Zygerrian and Thallassian strike cruisers, three carriers from the Karazak Slavers Cooperative, and a couple of refurbished interdictors. And I sense they're bringing at least a dozen Sith along for the ride, most working in their old Clone War command ship."

Pulling up the tactical feed of the barely charted system, Atai noticed the three starfighter carriers and two interdictors in the center of the formation of sixteen corvettes and battleships preparing to being their attack, and the Acclamator II-class assault ship leading the task force. A sizeable force, one more than strong enough to overwhelm and eliminate or capture everyone present and cripple this blossoming coalition.

But whether the diverse set of allies could escape was not the most pressing question on the Zygerrian rebel leader's mind. This summit and its location were kept secret to all but under a hundred people at the last minute, all of them were trusted by their resistance leaders. Even if their enemies learnt of the meeting and had this force ready to attack, it would have been virtually impossible to locate them so quickly, not without inside help.

That could only mean one conclusion, and it sickened Atai to his core. But just who was the traitor who tipped the Sith off, and how could they be uncovered swiftly enough before they did any more damage to the cause amidst the heat of battle?

Aboard the Acclamator II-class Assault Ship Alpha

"It seems your agent's divulgence on the insurgents' location were correct after all." De'ralla noted, surprised at hearing herself admit that to herself than Marra. "I suppose you Sith are more valuable and versatile allies than my king and most of my people give you all credit for."

"Well, we would not have been able to narrow their location as easily without your keen analytical eye, diligence in hunting down leads amongst your former rivals and their intelligence divisions, and calling in favors with them to gather this attack force so quickly and quietly." Marra took the jab in stride, knowing De'ralla was making a great concession by admitting how much the Zygerrians needed the Sith to continue their ancient practices.

Observing the enemy vessels, at least sixty light corvettes and a few fighters protecting each ship, the commander knew hers' and the Sith's forces could easily be able to defeat this force in a conventional battle, and it had the numbers and supplies to win a game of attrition. That cold, hard truth was especially obvious since the Sith's two interdictors had now cut off the enemy's only possible routes of escape and they had a new traitor in the doomed foes' ranks to relay crucial information to her new overlords.

But that did not mean the battle would end in certain victory, not with the resourceful commanders leading the opposition and their Jedi protectors. Having orders to capture as many Jedi and resistance leaders as possible to prevent the possible union of these many armies, De'ralla and Marra knew their shared masters would look most displeasingly on them if they failed to deliver sufficient prizes.

De'ralla, knowing the time for silent contemplation of the battle was long over, ordered her tactical officers, "Have Flight Groups One through Four launch immediately. It's time to draw our enemies out of their entrenched positions. And have our agent report her fellows' movements through our secure comms channel."

Eight Hours Later

Kelona 30th, 53 ABY

Aboard the Liberty

"Sir, we're getting a transmission the enemy Acclamator!" The comms officer alerted an astonished Atai. "They're demanding we accept their terms of surrender immediately, or they'll murder all their prisoners and annihilate the rest of our fleets afterwards."

"They're bluffing, trying to break our resolve." Edaan interjected from his station at the tactical monitor, working to track the enemy comm signatures to locate their mysterious agent. "They wouldn't have bothered to capture your friends if they were just going to kill them so quickly."

Atai, sharing Edaan's assessment, replayed the events over in his mind over the brief but savage battle that quickly turned against the rebels. After the enemy launched their fighters, the Zygerrian exile quickly rallied the disparate groups by providing them with cover with a web of proximity mines, allowing the rest of the resistance cells to ready themselves for battle.

Knowing how Jaden had managed to get out a distress signal to his fellow Jedi before the enemy knocked out all long-range communications across the system, the leader simply needed to hold the enemy off long enough for their window of escape to emerge. Unfortunately, with the twenty leaders each having their own order of battle and tactics and not fully trusting several of their peers, presenting a unified effort proved all but impossible.

To their benefit, though, Edaan and his fellow Jedi were a faction everyone on their side respected, and with their counsel, Atai was able to lead the diverse fleets as a near-flawless unified front. With their combined abilities and leadership, and the wise decision to scatter the fleet throughout the system and the Jedi cloaking themselves in the Force after helping to create an impressive lightshow of a diversion, the Sith were forced to conduct a methodical search of each sector until they caught their prey.

But according to the Thallassian leader and her desperate pleas, the Sith had captured four cells so far, including her own and were closing in on another six. Someone needed to come up with a plan to rescue the rest of the freedom fighters, or no one would be left to save soon enough.

"Atai, I think I have something." Edaan alerted him. "The probes you previously set out across the system to patrol the hyperspace routes; they're reporting themselves as back online again and transmitting a large amount of data."

Quickly coming over to Edaan, Atai read through the incoming information, and was appalled by what he saw. The Thallassians' leader- he recognized Karra Zane's old tactics and elite stealth fighters- she and her people were the traitors that disabled the deep-space alarms across the system! They were the only other group to know of that certain precaution, and she was as close to many of the loyal freedom fighters as the Zygerrian was.

Holding back the bile and fury at this grievous betrayal and the many questions that grew within his mind, Atai thanked Edaan, "Good work, bringing this to my attention. Now we know how the Sith tracked us down and got the drop on us. Relay this information to all our remaining ships and have them converge on the nearest interdictor. We're going to have to fight our way out and ensure at least some of us manage to survive past this day."

Not displaying any fear or weakness at the ominous wording, Edaan carried out the orders, completing the subspace transmission before advising Atai, "In that case, might I suggest we make a little more noise for the Sith to hear? Your probes are quite close to many of their patrols, and it would be quite a nuisance for our enemies if they were to lose a few more squadrons and maybe a couple corvettes."

"Make it so." Atai wholeheartedly agreed, impressed at Edaan's ingenuity, initiative, and strategic mind before the proximity alarms went off. Hoping it was friendly forces, the rebel leader smiled eagerly upon seeing the makeup of these new arrivals. If the configuration of this force was accurate, then everyone still free might have a strong chance at escaping this deathtrap after all.

Aboard the Alpha

"The Jedi have arrived in force to save their friends." Marra clenched her fists at this untimely interruption. Just when victory was close for the Sith, something had to go wrong.

"How many?" De'ralla asked her crew, ready for a true challenge after this little hunt had lost its appeal.

"At least ten StealthXs and a small number of larger ships." A tactical officer reported before adding, "Maybe a couple cruisers and a dozen or so gunships if these readings are accurate."

"Recall Flights Two and Four immediately. Have them protect our interdictors and our rear guard." De'ralla ordered. "And have Flight Three escort our new prisoners until we can get them into hyperspace."

"And have your crews ready my fighter for me. I will hold these intruders back before we can issue our withdrawal." Marra ordered De'ralla.

"My Lady?" De'ralla confusedly asked. "Forgive me, but-"

"We won a good victory here, and Lady Kitai and Lord Krayt would want us to be judicious in assisting you with your war. Let's not waste it by seeking glory or getting too ambitious in wasting our people's lives or risk compromising this operation." Marra interjected, surprising De'ralla with such a conservative strategy. "We'll have other opportunities to finish this fight and deal with the rest of our targets."

"How uncharacteristically wise, for a Sith." De'ralla teasingly jabbed, hiding her relief at her handler being a more pragmatic being than many of her superiors.

"Just don't let word of this decision of mine get around. I have a notorious reputation to uphold." Marra grumbled, hiding a smirk at this woman's sharp wit.

"Commander, we have a problem!" A tactical officer called out to De'ralla. "Multiple mines are detonating across the system, and they've already taken out a third of Flight Two, and half of Four! And it looks like the insurgents are breaking cover and heading right towards our interdictors and its escorts!"

'So much for Karra's assessment of her friends.' De'ralla ruefully griped. "Then have our Thallassian agents intercept and delay them by whatever means necessary. They can do so with the tools we've given them for this job until I can take command of the situation."

Aboard the Liberty

"Glad to see me again, old friend?" Robonino jested, the fuzzy hologram of the Patrolian mercenary still clear enough for Edaan to see the smile on his face.

"I'm just relieved you both made it in time for the fun." Edaan breathed in relief. "Now help us clear a path to freedom, and I can get you all acquainted with our merry band of do-gooders."

"Already on it, Edaan." Akku Seii II, Mandalorian mercenary and unlikely friend of the Jedi, professionally stated before adding, "Oh, and Jedi Djo Solo wanted me to tell you, 'That's three times I've saved your life now to your one.' She was rather smug about it, I believe." b

Cutting the transmission to focus back on the renewed battle, Edaan hurried to the gunnery to help cover the flotilla's withdrawal. Blasting away at every enemy fighter within targeting range and using the Force to distract or confuse several squadrons and corvettes so they could suffer extensive damage, the outnumbered allies rallied and attacked the enemy's main fleet as a single fighting force.

Atai, leading the retreat and ensuring no one was left behind, nearly lost his composure when hailed by a woman he once considered a trusted friend.

"Unless you've come to surrender or offer the Sith a chance to release my friends, I have nothing to say to you, faithless and accursed." He snarled in a rare display of pure viciousness.

"They have my family." Karra pleaded, her holographic head displaying the pure remorse and fresh tears streaming down her face. "I am the worst kind of traitor and fool, I know. The Sith have probably already executed them all, but I could not refuse them. You have to understand my dilemma, better than anyone else among these fighters."

"I understand that you betrayed me, you followers, all that we've been striving for, all for the false promise our enemies gave you." Atai coldly shot down, before softening his tone a degree, "I will do what I can for your family and people, but you will answer for your crimes, one way or another. This, I promise you."

Head bowed in bitter resignation, Karra sadly acknowledged, "That's better than I could've hoped. Thank you. Give them hell."

Just as the transmission with Karra ended, a ping could be heard, and Atai pulled out a data card once it made itself visible to his eyes. Having a hunch as to what it might contain, he pocketed the item and made a note to examine its contents after this mess concluded. It was the least he could do for a onetime comrade and friend.

"Sir, the Thallassians are on a bearing right towards us." The tactical officer warned Atai.

Steeling his heart for what had to be done, Atai ordered, "Relay orders to all allied ships. Have them told of Karra leading the Sith charge, and to shoot her down if possible. But our escape is to be everyone's main and only priority."

Aboard the Ranger-class Gunship Seeker

Akku Seii II, Mandalorian company leader and disowned heir to a prestigious Anzati assassin bloodline, relayed out orders to his crew as the refurbished Imperial cruiser wrought havoc across the Sith-slaver fleet. With four of his gunships annihilating dozens of enemy fighters and the Jedi's shadow bombs cracking open three of their strike cruisers, the path was now clear for the assault force to take out the interdictors. The other two gunships of his small army were engaged in helping to disable the traitorous Thallassians before they could destroy any other freedom fighters.

Working alongside the Jedi was not a typical or favored contract for his adopted culture, but Edaan and his friends had always been honest with Akku in their dealings, and he admired fighting for a cause most would consider mad. And going after a notorious Sith Lady in a bid to save her was about as mad as it could get. Besides, he knew better than to hunt Jedi after the many warnings his father gave him back in his youth. Like the original Akku Seii told all hi students, it wasn't prudent to accept contracts on Jedi.

Interrupting Akku's musings, Robonino, a young but talented Patrolian mercenary with similar life-changing ties to Edaan, called out from the Seeker's main weapons station, "We've got a lock on Interdictor One, and we're ready to fire on your command!"

"Then don't wait for me. Launch our first payload." Akku ordered. Feeling the ship vibrate from the missile launchers, the captain knew the Sith's artificial gravity wells were about to be reduced by half.

Observing the tactical feed, Akku saw the three vessels holding the captured resistance leaders, herding them away from the battle, and briefly wondered if he might be able to display a little more imitative in fulfilling his contract out here and helping undo eons of pain and misery for countless souls.

Deciding to see what he could do for these brave souls, Akku contacted the Liberty and informed Edaan, "I need to see if Mr. Molec can spare a few of his people and ships for a brief and crucial rescue mission."

Aboard the Liberty

"So, what exactly happened to the plan? I thought we were high-tailing it out of here by now!" One of Atai's people shouted towards him, with the sound of the ship's lasers firing away at any enemy ship within range nearly drowning out all other noise.

"Stow the back talk, soldier! We're not leaving anyone behind if we can help it!" Atai shouted back, seeing the carriers cease moving, their hyperdrives preparing for the jump out of the system, moments before seeing Karra's hologram appear before him.

"I know. Nothing I can say or do can make things right. But I won't let anyone else who believed in me die for my wrongdoings, my family in danger or not." The Thallassian woman beseeched Atai. "You'll get one chance to save the captives. Make it count, and then save what you can of my network. My people are innocent of my treachery."

Observing Karra's Lancer-class Pursuit Craft fly fight past the Liberty and towards the enemy formation, Atai knew what his former friend was planning. Prepared to make the most of this opportunity, he contacted the small force accompanying him, "Be ready to hit the enemy hard and fast so we can get our friends out of captivity."

Proximity alarms blaring, Atai saw a single squadron of six Uglies, a hodgepodge of components from dozens of diverse fighters put together into a lethal fighting machine, bearing towards them with a speed their mass and configuration should not possess.

Wondering who these new enemies could be, Atai quickly had his question answered when Edaan alerted him, "We've got about half a dozen Sith on our tail, and they're bearing down on us fast!"

Quickly reassessing his priorities, Atai painfully knew the plan had to change. With the first interdictor destroyed and the second one close to being obliterated, and the Sith regrouping from their losses, his most important matter had to be getting everyone to safety. There would be other chances to save his fellow rebels, but it would do no one any good if he sacrificed everyone here in a suicidal run.

And though he detested Karra's betrayal, he also knew the impossible choice she had to make with her divided loyalties and did not wish her death in such a pointless manner. Contacting her, he implored her, "Karra, abort your attack run! The Sith-!"

"I know." Karra solemnly cut off before her ship flew past the Liberty, right towards the six enemy fighters. "I can't stop them all, but I can give you all a chance to escape. Use the data I gave you to make them pay and save all our worlds."

Wiping his eyes, misting from the sorrow of what had to be done, Atai solemnly and softly promised, "I'll make your sacrifice count."

Ordering his comm team, "Contact the Seeker. Have Captain Seii order everyone to finish off the last interdictor, and then advise them to jump to hyperspace right afterwards. We'll follow suit and arrange for a suitable rendezvous point."

Seeing Karra's ship, firing right into the heart of the Sith formation, take out one Ugly before quickly being overwhelmed by three of the remaining Uglies, Atai swore to avenge her death before seeing from the tactical readout how the interdiction field was finally down.

With the remaining two Sith bearing down on his force, he knew it was time to leave this remote system behind. Ordering all his crews, "Jump to hyperspace right away. We'll regroup with the rest after we make sure the Sith can't follow us."

Seeing the familiar blue-white streams of hyperspace appear, Atai could only pray to whatever god existed that he could salvage something form this mess.

Well, I think this is a good place to end the chapter! What do you think? I hope it was decent enough for you all to enjoy, as I originally had more to add to this chapter, but I now see the second half deserves its own chapter to avoid cramming too much into one entry. So, how are you all doing on this warm night of Saturday, May 6, 2023? I'm well, as today's my brother's birthday, and he's going to a soccer match to celebrate soon. And I got to volunteer today, which is always a good thing to do. Oh, and I plan to finish Brandon Sanderson's Words of Radiance in about a week or so, which means I can finally start reading other books, especially during my trip to St. Louis, which is in less than two weeks. So, I hope you are all having a blessed day in these mad times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!