Good afternoon, everyone! How are you all doing on this warm day of Thursday, May 25, 2023? I'm well, as I exercised a good deal earlier, followed by lunch and running a few errands with my relatives on my last full day in St. Louis. Tomorrow, I head back, and it'll hopefully be smooth flying. I plan to work on this chapter over the next few days, hopefully getting it done by Memorial Day this Monday. I also plan to write two more chapters for this interlude after this one, a climax and then the aftermath. But maybe I'll write the draft for Chapter 14 in the middle, just so I don't lose my rhythm for writing. In other news, the world is going to the dogs, and I want to do something about it. I just don't know what yet, which means I need to pray to God for guidance and look for the right opportunity to make a positive difference in the United States and world. Well, I think that's enough small talk for today. I hope you have a blessed day, may God be with you all in these dark times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!

Nelona 32nd, 53 ABY

Zygerria, Drukarg Highlands

Aboard the Liberty

Verifying the authenticity of the seals of the Galactic Alliance Chief of State, Galactic Empire's Head of State, Confederation's Supreme Commander, and Hapes Consortium's Queen Mother, Atai nearly fainted from amazement of how hard these previously unaware or otherwise negligent powers were now working to uphold their lauded principles.

To be fair, much of the incentive had come from groups like Freedom Flight and the Jedi's work in bringing a great deal of publicity to this crisis, and the mass kidnapping campaign enacted by the Sith and their twenty dominated worlds. But the fact that the galactic governments were willing to commit so much of their strength to oppose the expansion of slavery, anti-Jedi treaty, domestic troubles, or having few available military forces in reserve, it was a testament to the people's latent desire for freedom and justice. If these diverse set of forces could come together and unite, then the Sith and their pawns would be obliterated by the wave of liberty and light that was in the making.

Of course, all this depended on if the Outer Rim Alliance and its allies could be counted on to keep their promises after their enemies were deposed. A valid point, even if it stung Atai a little on how the freedom fighters needed to do more to prove themselves to the galaxy. Was it not enough that this movement had the backing of the Jedi and dozens of other honorable organizations and individuals that similarly helped the downtrodden and oppressed?

But thankfully for the Outer Rim Alliance, their prospective allies and peers were amenable to a summit between their main representatives to formally establish ties between them all and give the coalition the means to fight their own battles and stand on their own. In just twelve days, the large mismatch of confederates would meet on the Chorlian Sector's outskirts to finalize the pact, and then their ultimate objective could begin in earnest.

After the galactic powers came to agreement on just how this war would be waged, and which targeted worlds would be given priority in this campaign of liberation and emancipation, Zygerria and its masters would not have long before their tenuous hold on power slipped away just like sand out of one's grip.

Quickly composing a formal letter of gratitude for each of the leaders, Atai sent each message with the utmost speed before rising from his chair. Feeling stiff joints loosen after hours of inactivity from reviewing countless reports, he knew he needed a decent meal, a hot shower, and a good exercise, not necessarily in that order.

But before he could return to his typical routine, Atai had to speak with his cell leaders and Jedi advisors on a variety of matters. Aside from reviewing the ambush from Adole City and rebuilding the fractured networks across five contested worlds, the Outer Rim Alliance now had to decide on a sufficient delegation and rendezvous point for the incoming summit between the nascent government and its elder peers. And while he was at it, he ought to start preparing the Alliance for relocating to another series of safe houses.

Best to take no chances with anything this far into the war, especially when the stakes were undoubtedly about to escalate to even greater heights as everyone reached this war's climax.

Helona 2nd, 53 ABY

Drukarh Highlands

Aboard the Jade's Legacy

Pacing across his ship's main hall, Ben forced himself to halt his anxious movements and turn to face Akku, harshly asking, "You're absolutely certain your contact is accurate about all her warnings?"

Betraying no emotion, Akku's hologram calmly nodded, "The colonel has never steered me wrong, and her loyalty, skill, and honor among all Mandalorians are impeccable. Vestara Khai and her allies are preparing to withdraw from Zygerria. If you want to stop her escape, you'll have to leave within the next three hours to even hope of intercepting her group."

Running a hand through his shoulder-length hair, Ben was prepared to take his ship and fly off before reality smacked him across the face. Even with Akku's mercenary company offering his aid, along with their promises of additional aid from privateers and mercenaries, and if at least a dozen Jedi came with him to try and break through the enemy's armies, it would be too late. Vestara was too smart to fall for a clumsy frontal assault and would have devised a strategy to counter any brutish attack. And regardless of the royal military's fading strength, they and their Sith overseers still had enough power to deter all but the strongest force.

Besides, with the negotiations set between the Outer Rim Alliance and its larger galactic peers set to begin in less than a week, they would need an experienced Jedi Knight and diplomat to help smooth over any difficulties and protect the delegation from any unwelcome surprises. Right now, Ben's focus had to be on helping free the twenty slaver worlds from their Sith-backed tyranny, and only afterwards could he prioritize capturing or eliminating Vestara. Only after acquiring the strength to liberate the first world in the Outer Rim Alliance's coalition, could they move against the Sith in force in this region. Although he resented losing such a prime opportunity to remove the menace of a Sith smooka of an ex-girlfriend enraged him, he knew his duty to the people and the Force took priority over a personal goal.

Shaking his head, Ben instead told Akku, "Forget it. We're not walking into another of the Sith's traps. Vestara is bound to have a plan to try and take us out if we play her game. And we have a responsibility to finish eradicating the bane of slavery from all these worlds and deliver hope to all their victims. We'll worry about the Sith afterwards."

Pausing, Ben added, "But while you're still in communication with your friend, have her see if she can determine the Sith's endgame here, and if she can track them when they flee. Just because we're changing priorities doesn't mean we can't try and keep tabs on our true enemies."

"A good answer, Master Skywalker. A most wise one." Akku sagely agreed. "My comrade can easily do that, and you can resume the hunt for Vestara once Zygerria is freed."

"It seems Edaan was right to call upon you and the rest of you mercenaries. You live up to your reputations and more than justified our faith in you all." Ben acknowledged.

"And you're a better Jedi than he gives you credit for. The hunger for vengeance against Vestara hasn't fully consumed you, at least as of now." Akku returned, before cautioning, "But be wary of the anger and wounds inside your heart. Unless you can finally come to terms with all you've suffered, you may very well end up falling onto a darker path followed by many, just like several of your dead relatives."

Knowing Akku was only trying to help a comrade, Ben gracefully acknowledged the warning, "I appreciate the concern. I'm trying every day to do better and let go of this pain. But even if I can fully separate myself from the hate, it's still my duty to stop Vestara Khai, as a Jedi and good man."

Nodding, Akku cryptically suggested, "That may be, but remember how there are many ways to stop a Sith that do not have to end in bloodshed. You, of all people, should know that far too well by now." Signing off, the Anzati left the Jedi Knight to ponder the last words and their hidden meaning.

Why would a Mandalorian, even one as noble and reputable as Akku Seii II, suggest to Ben that he try to redeem Vestara again, after all she had done and the pain she inflicted on the galaxy? Did he honestly believe that the Jedi Knight could succeed after his first tremendous failure? After Vestara tried to assassinate Allana and returned to her dark roots, she had committed hundreds of horrendous crimes and recruited countless more individuals and enemies of freedom to serve her and her faction of Sith.

Even if Vestara ever wanted to atone for her crimes, how would be reckless or suicidal enough to trust her again?

Wait… there might be one, Ben realized, and it sent an electric jolt of fear through his core. Edaan Palpatine had been driving himself to be the best among all the Jedi from the day he was recruited by Grand Master Katarn to be his latest apprentice. And he had been accomplishing feats most individuals could only dream of, establishing a net of contacts and favors that, while greatly aiding the Jedi Order's efforts across the galaxy, something about the informant system's infrastructure felt too much like a consortium for Ben's liking.

Perhaps, soon after Zygerria was freed from its terrible past, Ben ought to visit his father on Tatooine and compare notes with him to see what he could learn of Edaan Palpatine that might be uncovered outside conventional channels. But first, he had to help the Outer Rim Alliance finish their fight and confirm their right to exist. Hopefully, his suspicions of both the Sith and Edaan would be unfounded, but a good investigator knew better than to leave any stone unturned while searching for any clues or pieces of information.

Helona 6th, 53 ABY

Chorlian Sector Outskirts

Aboard the Bothan Assault Carrier Ralroost

"Then we are all agreed." Traest Kre'fey, aged Bothan and high-ranking admiral in the Confederation Navy, concluded after the talks began winding down, with all the representatives from the other galactic powers voicing their concurrence. Turning to the holograms of Atai and his Jedi bodyguards, the veteran of three governments noted, "It seems you'll get your wish, Prime Minister."

Having spent the last forty-eight hours in such proximity with his former peers in rival governments, the long serving fleet commander marveled at how swiftly the talks had progressed, and how all the representatives were eager to put aside foolish pride and ignoring governmental indecisiveness to do what was right. Meeting with the representatives of the Outer Rim Alliance, everyone was amazed at how quickly and cohesively the twenty insurgent networks coalesced into a new and rising power dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality. It helped how the Jedi and their allies were so willing to defend Atai Molec and his fellow rebels, reminding all how the Force Users still strived to do what was right, no matter what the odds or opposition.

After clearing up any misunderstandings between the various leaders, the talks shifted towards negotiating how to coordinate and conduct the fight against the Sith and their pawns. Agreeing to provide the Outer Rim Alliance with intelligence, warships, and troops in exchange for fair trade deals and diplomatic relations and a reasonable military presence to help quell any potential uprisings amongst the slaver-sympathetic populations, the Confederation, Hapes Consortium, Galactic Empire, and Galactic Alliance would each help to liberate five worlds, under the guidance of their new ally.

To dampen everyone's high spirits, the Senex-Juvex Sectors would be a more difficult target to free for at least a few more years. With three of the Outer Rim Alliance's prospective new members trapped behind the isolationist region's borders, it would take much more time and effort to liberate those targets, never mind the political nightmare from such a bold measure. For now, cordoning off the sector and sending agents to destabilize the noble families and hunting their Sith masters out into the open would have to suffice.

But future opportunities and challenges aside, the five galactic powers still had a long way to go in triumphing in this fight. And Atai knew there were still a few key points to conclude before the final push to liberate his homeworld could begin.

"Thank you, Admiral." Atai gratefully bowed his head and addressed all the leaders, "How long will it take for the first of each of your fleets to mobilize? My spies report the Sith and their agents are preparing to try and evacuate what wealth and slaves they can hoard before their planets fall, and I don't need to remind you all it could mean for our enemies to possess that many resources and victims."

"Unfortunately, we don't have the necessary numbers to free each world in one grand thrust, not in the time frame you have given us." Kara, a Galactic Alliance commodore and the latest protégé of Nek Bwua'tu, regrettably reminded Atai. "We'll have to prioritize accordingly with the strongest enemy strongholds and mop up the rest as we progress, while sending interdictors and commando teams to delay the remaining fourteen regimes' fleeing."

Knowing the Aporthad fleet leader was only being honest, Atai nodded in understanding, "Then we will just make do with what we have. De'Nal and his patrons will likely be making their escape by the end of the week, which means we need to finish mobilizing our forces before time runs out."

"In the meantime, I'd strongly advise you all to call upon any favors or assets you and your governments might have in the adjacent worlds or sectors. We'll likely need every advantage we can get in the next couple weeks before victory is ours."

Helona 10th, 53 ABY

Zygerria

Capital City, Royal Palace

Alarms blaring throughout every hall and room of the monarchy's center of power, De'ralla instinctively knew that all Kitai's warnings had come to pass. Rushing to the meeting with De'Nal and the rest of the war cabinet, the recently promoted commodore simply knew the royal retinue would be no match for the overwhelming numbers and firepower the Outer Rim Alliance and its allies had gathered to its side.

And, lo and behold, according to the few forward scouts that escaped the initial attack, many the best military forces of all the galactic powers had been recruited to help Atai and his cohorts assist them in winning their war. Hearing from the admirals on the five dozen warships and twice as many support craft bearing down on Zygerria, it was clear they were not here for a mere raid to free a few hundred slaves but were rather after the entire planet and its vast wealth.

From the ultimatums the Outer Rim Alliance and its rivals had been delivering, unless the twenty worlds that comprised the rising movement were given the reins of power, the legitimate governments were dismantled, the slaves were immediately set free, and the Sith's involvement in this trade was exposed, each world would come under blistering fire and storm. The only way to prevent such tragedy was for them to unconditionally surrender, before all that remained of their monuments of oppression was rubble and the final death of all they upheld.

And it was not only Zygerria that was about to come under siege. Across the galaxy, six other worlds that still clung to their ancient traditions regarding slavery were about to come under fire by the Jedi and their puppet governments, with the remaining thirteen promised liberation immediately afterwards. Even the Senex-Juvex Sector, a region that had long been known as a hotbed of slavery and rivalry with the Zygerrians over the trade and aristocracy, would soon come under siege, if the Sith's spy network was any indication. In any event, without the silent backing of the One Sith and their allies, there was no chance for surviving the onslaught, unless they completed their escape before all was lost for the pro-slavery regimes and their people. That meant getting their best and brightest out of the enemy snare before time finally ran out.

Surprising De'ralla most was not how quickly their shared enemies moved against them, but how many worlds were now in immediate danger from falling because of the instability of the slavery regimes and how swiftly the Jedi took advantage of the chaos. Much as she hated the Jedi for their incessant interference and pompous nobility, she nevertheless respected their ingenuity and boldness in taking the fight to their rivals. A testament to their strength that the king had sorely been lacking throughout his entirely short and inglorious life.

The meeting ending, every officer having been given orders and dispatches to defend the planet and buy time for a mass exodus, and De'ralla knew it was finally time to call upon the reserves Kitai left for this exact scenario.

Maneuvering her way out of the bustle of traffic and finding an empty station, she pulled out the holocomm given to her, and typed in the frequency instilled into her mind. Not thirty seconds later, the communication's acknowledgement was heard, and a familiar voice answered back, "I have everything prepared on my end. What of yours'?"

"The Admiralty is preparing to evacuate everyone they can and readying themselves to stave off the Jedi's advance." De'ralla dutifully reported. "We've secured approximately twenty-five percent of the planet's wealth and have five thousand ships, civilian, privately owned, and military, all ready to assist with the withdrawal."

"Very good." Kitai answered, De'ralla imagining the stoic gaze on her friend's face, ready to gamble all she had on securing these assets and dealing a humiliating blow to the Jedi and their public relations efforts. "Keep me updated on all aspects of your progress. Once the Jedi are fully committed, then my people and I will strike and cover your withdrawal."

"As you decree." De'ralla acknowledged, ending the transmission to report to her command station. Having been ordered by the royal court to prevent civil unrest and a potential slave insurrection, she intuitively knew that the Jedi, even regarding this temporary victory, were soon about to lose far much more than they could bear to suffer.

Let the traitorous rabble try to build a coalition government amongst their followers. Let the Jedi, Freedom Flight, and all their friends rejoice at their efforts to save the galaxy from the natural order of things. It would all come crashing down when the Sith's agents in the Senate disclosed how the Galactic Alliance's Chief of State broke the Senate's edicts when he sent their fleets against the Sith's allied worlds, a clear violation of its neutrality act.

The fallout from those revelations alone would destroy the Jedi's credibility and goodwill with the largest galactic power and be the first big step of undermining and turning the GA against itself. And with its imminent descent into civil war, the rest of the galactic governments would be forced to choose sides and be drawn into the quagmire or sit the fighting out and let the One Sith deal with them at their own pace.

No one, not Atai Molec or his wretched "Outer Rim Alliance", not the Jedi and their vaunted champions, nor either of their friends and cohorts, would be able to stop the inevitable fall of all they sought to build.

Helona 11th, 53 ABY

Drukarg Highlands

Aboard the Seeker

"You should be pleased with yourself, Prime Minister." Akku noted to the stoic Atai, who could only stifle a groan at the constant reminder of his past profession. "You've united the galaxy against a vile practice and your cause is closer to freedom than it ever has been. Not to mention you're well on your way towards freeing your people from the lies and fear that have held them back for millennia."

Observing aboard his personal gunship, Atai knew how true Akku's words were. Across the entire planet, whole regions were being contested by the coalition amassed against the Loyalists and their Sith masters, and it was only a matter of time before they were all liberated. Once at least ten battlefronts were seized and secured, the select task force the Outer Rim Alliance created for attacking the capital and cutting the head off this venomous snake of slavery and its Sith handlers, capturing anyone who sided with De'Nal and Vestara.

But by that point, the massive fleets Atai's agents reported gathering what people and resources of all kinds for a planetary evacuation would be ready to depart, and that was only one crucial factor of what troubled him about this operation.

Giving voice to his anxieties and suspicions, Atai wisely answered, "This war is far from over, Captain. We both know it's only just begun."

Appraising the Outer Rim Alliance's leader, Akku nodded, "True. The Sith are still out there, unquestionably plotting on how to capitalize on this opportunity, and their followers won't go down without a fight."

"It's more than that." Atai admitted. "When this war is over and all the worlds are freed, I'm stepping down as prime minister. I've had my fill of leadership, and I don't want to risk becoming addicted to power as so many other leaders have done."

Holding up a hand to forestall any protests or well-meaning counterarguments, Atai continued, "The Outer Rim Alliance needs to be greater than one leader, more than a man who tolerated and perpetuated the evils of slavery for so long." Turning away from Akku, he resolved, "But that doesn't mean I'm going to abandon all responsibility to go galivanting across the galaxy as others have done. I'll serve as an ambassador for the government I'm creating to help the Alliance grow and find its footing, after I help appoint a far worthier leader than me to pick up the reigns when there's a little stability for us."

Pausing, Atai turned before whispering to Akku, "And I'll use my influence and responsibility to find allies for Edaan in his mission."

Eyebrows raised in curiosity, Akku, after ordering his crew to double-check all systems, noted, "I would have thought you'd want to see her dead, after all she did to your people."

"That was the king's doing, which was enforced by his servants. As for Vestara… I won't mourn her if she ends up falling victim to her own schemes, but she was willing to help abolish slavery when it flew in the face of her people's traditions and sense of superiority. I'd rather find out if there's something worth saving in her after all, and if our mutual friend can do what he's set out to do. And we need to be better than our enemies, otherwise we're not worthy of all the trust our people and the galaxy have put in us."

Grinning, Akku promised, "I'll give Edaan the message next I see him. He'll be grateful for your help, I'm sure."

'Yes, I imagine he will be, provided we all are able to survive the final push.' Atai allowed himself a small smile before returning to analyze the reports pouring in from every battlefield. Already, three battlefronts were beginning to fall, and he would need to ensure the task forces were properly resupplied and prepared for their next mission when the time came.

Well, I think this is a suitable place to end the interlude chapter! Sorry it's shorter than the others, but I think five POVs are good enough, and I don't want to crowd it too much. And it sets up the story well for the final battle chapter and the epilogue afterwards. And the Senex-Juvex inclusion, well, it might seem like too much of a rip-off of HandofThrawn45's ideas, but I promise it was spontaneous idea I had, probably inspired by him in a subconscious way. And the idea will likely bear fruit more in my next saga, with the seeds sown throughout more of this current series. I'm always willing to adapt my works accordingly if things need to change a bit. So, how are you all doing on this warm but rainy and dreary day of Saturday, May 27, 2023? I'm well, if tired from the bad weather. I've also been reading a book by Mike Pompeo, Never Give an Inch. It's a good read so far. And I started playing through more of Red Dead Redemption: Game of the Year Edition again. I am really enjoying it so far. Well, I think that's enough for today, as I want to read and relax a bit more before I have dinner and do some other stuff. May the Lord be with us all in these dark times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!