Good evening, everyone! How are you all doing on this hot night of Saturday, June 3, 2023? I'm well, if a bit tired from volunteering in the heat today at my local help center. I apologize for taking so long to work on this chapter, but I wanted to write Chapter 14 of the main story first, and then I had to finish the outlines for this and the last chapter of the Atai Molec interlude before I could start on it. But in better news, I've started my library internship three days ago, and it's going well. Hopefully it grows into a true job and a full career. And I've been reading a good chunk of my Mike Pompeo book over the last few days, finishing about a little over half of it so far, and it's a great piece. Well, I'd best get started on the actual chapter in a little bit, as I want to get it done in a few days before I move onto the finale of this great interlude.

Helona 13th, 53 ABY

Just Outside Zygerria System

Aboard Ship

Much as Kitai hated to admit it, the Jedi and their friends were performing exceptionally well against the embattled Zygerrians, and she estimated that the entire planet would fall to the Outer Rim Alliance within the end of next week, if not by the conclusion of this one. With eighteen of fifty sectors across the planet having been seized by the enemy, and the remainder of the world quickly losing ground while preparing for their grand withdrawal, it was only a matter of time before the planet fell to their shared enemies.

And this disaster did not account for the five other targets that were under siege by the greater galactic powers at this moment. With Thallassia, Orvax IV, Kintan, and Mytaranor, and Sump all falling to the superior might of the Galactic Alliance, Galactic Empire, Hapes Consortium, Confederation, Outer Rim Alliance, and the Jedi Order and their many allied privateers and paramilitary affiliates, the slaver societies would soon fall, followed by the rest of the One Sith's failing allies that still practiced the abominable trade.

But in this temporary setback and loss of a long-antiquated tradition, the Jedi would soon suffer a far more severe blow from which they would not recover. And leading the reprisals would be none other than Kitai and her personal fleet. Meditating aboard Ship, the same meditation sphere that found her on her homeworld of Kesh twelve years ago and irrevocably changed her life, she felt the currents of war shift and crest, reveling in the turmoil and working to undermine the enemy in any quiet way she could. Just because she was ordered to ensure Zygerria's fall while saving its people didn't mean she simply had to let the Jedi have an easy time at the job.

Hearing Ship's voice in her mind, Kitai, accepting the communication from De'ralla, simply addressed the Zygerrian commodore, "Progress report."

"Everything is going to Chaos, to put it lightly." De'ralla bluntly began. "Riots are breaking out in almost every major city and town, our army and navy is splintering across the planet, and half of all our indentured workers are staging an uprising to win their freedom. Oh, and Molec and his patrons are preparing a fleet to attack the capital city. They'll be ready to launch their force by the end of tomorrow."

"And your Exodus Fleet?" Kitai continued. "Will your people be ready to start anew amongst the stars?"

"We're as ready as we'll ever be, minus the petulant king and his few remaining retainers." De'ralla nodded. "We managed to squeeze another fifteen hundred of my people aboard a few dozen more transports, along with an extra five percent of our wealth for your cause."

"Excellent." Kitai remarked. "Once the Jedi spring the trap, my forces will ambush them and cover your escape. Good hunting, Commodore."

Closing the connection with her friend and ally, Kitai reached out with the Force, commanding the fleet under her command to prepare for its ultimate mission. Feeling Mirta's quiet reassurance that everything on her end was under control and the counteroffensive's preparations were complete, the Sith Lady closed the link, not wishing to risk her people's premature exposure for battle before everything was in place.

'Are you ready, Lady Kitai?' Ship's warm voice called to his longtime friend and mistress. 'I sense much turmoil in you. Do you worry over your people and how they will fare against the Jedi? Or is it Ben Skywalker and your failure to eliminate him?'

Ruefully smiling at Ship's spot-on assessment, Kitai chuckled, "In part, old friend. But I've been through this routine before, and I haven't failed the One Sith or my people yet, with no reason to start now. You have no reason to worry about me now."

'I know. Your faith in the Sith Code and advancing the Grand Design is unshakable. But I must ask these questions, if only to ensure your resolve does not waver and Lord Krayt does not begin to doubt you and your commitment to him.' Ship reminded Kitai before assuring her, 'The Jedi will not maneuver their way out of this snare.'

'Yes. But will there be a way their friends and rising stars can help them escape the repercussions?' Kitai wondered while meditating on the inevitable carnage and scandals she was prepared to wreak on her enemies.

Back in the Present

Helona 14th, 53 ABY

Capital City

2 Kilometers West of the Royal Palace

Edaan was finally in his element here, able to give a constructive outlet for his bubbling anger at the Zygerrian king's arrogance and flagrant disregard for the lives and rights of his people and slaves. And what better way to remove such a virulent tumor from the galaxy than to cut it out directly at the source? Fighting alongside Atai, Robonino, and the former's company of well-trained Mandalorians in helping the Outer Rim Alliance secure the final layer of defenses leading to De'Nal's vulnerable stronghold.

Working alongside the Galactic Alliance and Imperials was a surreal experience for many, but Edaan knew this experience was only practice for when the entire galaxy would come together to fight the Sith and build a genuine peace for every freedom-loving sentient. And it would be his great honor to work to rally as many beings and worlds as he could to this noble cause, all while endeavoring to save the woman who helped him see how he could transcend his tarnished lineage and forge a legacy entirely of his own.

Given a few more years, Vestara Khai would see the light and work to atone for her sins and reunite with Ben. Edaan would see to that, no matter what obstacles he would face. But right now, he had to focus on liberating another world that had been affected by her and the Sith. Wrapping up securing the fifth and final district tasked to him by Atai, he regrouped with Akku, and contacted the Outer Rim Alliance leader, "The last sector's been secure! You're clear to-"

Blasting right through Edaan's report, hundreds of engines could be heard activating, and it nearly ripped right through the Jedi Apprentice's concentration before he worked to filter out the noise. He would have tried to continue his report, but Akku tapped on his shoulder, and turned him around before his jaw nearly dropped to see what was transpiring right at the enemy-occupied palace.

Dozens - no - hundreds of transports of all manner of configurations and sizes, were all lifting off around the vicinity, and their engines were roaring to life and taking them straight into the open night sky. And the Outer Rim Alliance and its allies, many of its forces still preoccupied with securing the capital city and much of the planet, would be ill-equipped to stop the exodus if even a few similar convoys were rising across the planet.

Gritting his teeth in frustration, Edaan simply knew De'Nal and his elite followers were trying to escape justice for their crimes. And stuck on the surface while securing the capital city and its surely depleted vaults and fortresses, the young Jedi and his friends knew the fate of this battle now fell onto Ben and the rest of the coalition's orbital forces to stop this cowardly withdrawal. But somehow, Edaan knew it would be far more complicated than anyone suspected.

Twelve Hours Later

Helona 15th, 53 ABY

Zygerria Orbit

Aboard the Jade's Legacy

Ben had to give the Zygerrians proper credit, the race might be allies of the Sith and adherents of the dying practice of slavery, but they were great organizers and could assemble and lead quite a large fleet. Having assembled a massive armada of over five thousand ships of hundreds of sizes and configurations, the race of slave traders had amassed an estimated number of nearly two million of their citizens and military, and nearly thirty percent of the planet's entire wealth, to try and escape justice while funding the Sith's growing war machine.

But even while impressed with the enemy's efficiency and work ethic, Ben would not hesitate to nip this escape route in the bud. Heading a Jedi-Galactic Alliance strike force to disable every warship and civilian transport within reach, the swarm of small and nimble ships had already knocked out at least eighty various ships while the Outer Rim Alliance and Imperial fleets, the latter under Grand Moff Epin Sarreti and Master Jaina Solo Fel's command, had worked to cut off many of the Zygerrian ships' escape routes, leading to the surrender of five hundred other craft. Given another twenty hours, virtually every ship of the remaining enemy fleet would be captured, aside from a small number of fugitives and their bloodied treasures making their way out to live short lives on the run.

Unfortunately, none of the ships the teams captured or delayed held the Zygerrian monarch or his royal cabinet, nor did they hold a significant portion of the planet's ill-gotten wealth. And even more unsettling, none of the Sith from Vestara's retinue had been sensed or identified throughout the enemy fleet or from Atai's spies and informants. Ben knew she wouldn't abandon such a vital ally and resource, not when she was working to the goal of taking over Kesh and making it a bastion for the galaxy's reprobates. And the planet's wealth and manpower would be crucial for any measure in rebuilding Sith influence and power.

So why, when the planet was set to be freed and the Sith's capabilities suffer a severe blow, were the Sith leaving their followers to their enemy's mercies? There must be an angle Vestara and her masters were playing at, but how could they win now, with the galactic powers united against the bane of slavery and its hidden puppeteers. Even with the Galactic Alliance Senate hamstrung by its neutrality act and its Chief of State forced to covertly send its fleets to fight this noble battle…

Of course… that was it! It was so simple but cunning and damning, but totally in line with Vestara's cunning, bloody, and elegant way of thinking. Even if Zygerria and five slave worlds were liberated by the galaxy's authorities, it would mean very little if it tore the Galactic Alliance apart in civil war and further Sith manipulation.

Reaching out through the Force to try and find his old flame, Ben was not disappointed when he felt the painfully familiar presence of Vestara respond back, an air of smugness before Ship, with his odd and still unbroken link to the Jedi, commended him, 'You did well to figure it all out, Jedi Ben Skywalker. But you are still far too late to do anything about us exposing the illegality of your bold actions.'

Tuning the ship's holocomm to the Mon Adapyne and Liberty, Ben keyed the commanding officer, and the image of Keyan Farlander, long serving fighter as far back as the Rebel Alliance, and former Jedi before resigning from the Order to fully dedicate his life and service to the Galactic Alliance, appeared beside Atai. Rushing to warn the two leaders, the Jedi Knight swiftly broke the news, "Vestara Khai and her fleet are recording this entire battle and are set to ambush us any minute now! This whole battle was a Sith trap designed to expose GA assistance and set our governments and peoples against themselves."

The full implications of Ben's warning grasped by both general and ex-prime minister, Atai bit back a curse and advised the Jedi, "Then I suggest you and your fellow Jedi pinpoint her precise coordinates and work to stymie her trap. Once we find her, we can capture or kill her and cut off one of the main heads of this operation."

Sensing the darkness creep in, Ben despondently noted, "Too late for that. She's heading right for us now." Not even a few moments later, the Sith-led fleet reverted to realspace, with Ship and a squadron of twelve Mandalorian warships leading at the front with two-dozen other capital ships bringing up the rear.

Knowing De'Nal and his fleeing people were a minor concern when dealing with their patrons, and that the Sith needed to be stopped before they could expose the covert Jedi-GA pact, Ben counseled Atai and Keyan, "I'd advise you both to get the majority of your forces to focus on the inbound Sith fleet. If you can get to De'Nal and his key retainers, then go for it. But Vestara and her followers will be far more dangerous to the galaxy than a broken and exiled monarch."

Four Hours Later

Aboard the Turbulent-class Star Destroyer Bloodfin

"Our Sith opponent is certainly living up to her reputation." Ephin solemnly noted to Jaina Solo Fel, who was hard at work relaying orders to her fleet elements and fellow Jedi. With the Grand Moff and his trusted commanders commanding the main Imperial fleet in preventing a mass enemy withdrawal, that left the Jedi's ambassador to the Empire to work on countering the Sith's tactics and keeping them trapped in the system. The Jedi coalition had already captured over forty percent of the Zygerrian exodus fleet and disabled three of the enemy reinforcement vessels, all while suffering minimal casualties of their own against the broken slavery society.

But Vestara Khai, a key Sith the Jedi and their allies had been after for nearly ten years, was a worthy enemy in her flexibility and ferocity in battle. Launching several surgical strikes against many overstretched fleet elements, the fractured fleet formations were cut off long enough for at least two thousand Zygerrian ships to escape the system while inflicting severe damage to the Galactic Alliance and Outer Rim Alliance's fleet elements. Not even the Imperial reinforcements were enough to turn the tide of this battle, with the Mandalorian ships matching the Sith in sheer viciousness and deception in battle, all under the command of Jaina's former friend in Mirta Gev. Compartmentalizing her regret at how her friendship with the Mandalorian had fallen apart due to tragedy and manipulation, Jaina focused her efforts on figuring out the enemy's ultimate strategy.

By now, the Sith had gathered and certainly released all their footage on the Galactic Alliance working with the Jedi in battling their sworn enemies, setting the stage for civil unrest and a potential civil war within the floundering government once the Senate convened. But that begged the question of why they were still here when the odds of battle in this fight were still stacked so high against them. Unless they held a new arsenal of secret weapons or had an ingenious plan to decimate their enemies, it made more sense for them to withdraw immediately before they lost any more of their people.

Preparing to personally enter the fight and help Ben hunt down Vestara and the rest of her Sith, Jaina nearly fell to her knees, almost doubling over in pain and emptying her stomach from a surprise burst of Dark Side energy. Barely able to stay on her feet before repulsing the surprise attack, she knew exactly who was responsible for this attack, and realized the Sith were finally ready to make their escape.

Turning to Ephin, who was calling for a medic to tend to Jaina, she queasily advised the Grand Moff, "Forget hunting for the planet's king. Focus on hammering the Sith fleet before they jump out of here."

Just then, Jaina felt another pulse of Dark Side energy emanate from the Sith fleet, and the blast was strong enough to knock the vulnerable Jedi Master out cold, with the last thoughts she held were how horribly she and the Jedi underestimated Vestara and her followers once again, and the terrible fallout the Order was about to undergo from the incompetent Galactic Senate and its anti-Jedi faction.

Helona 16th, 53 ABY

Coruscant, Senate District

Senate Hall

Kajin knew the fallout from his pact with the Jedi in waging war on the Sith would be tremendous, and that the Senate would be in an uproar over the Chief of State's illegal actions. Given the many corrupt veteran senators and their less experienced and pliable peers, the anti-Jedi faction held a strong majority over the pro-Jedi bloc and would likely be able to impose crushing sanctions on the Order and their allies, never mind the punitive measures they'd impose on the Cerean leader. And given the man's once-impeccable reputation and incorruptible sense of honor and adherence for the law, he would either accept the proposals the One Sith's agents had drafted for this occasion, or, in the more likely scenario, be forced to step down as Chief of State and allow a more progressive senator to lead the Galactic Alliance into a new age.

Which was exactly what Senator Jenna Sauro and her co conspirators working for Lord Krayt wanted from the wretchedly noble leader. Now that his standing was tarnished with his association with the Jedi in their war with the Sith, all that remained was for her and her allies to twist the truth just enough for the more gullible senators to force the Chief of State into making an impossible choice. Who knows? Maybe if she played the situation just right, she could end up taking over the Galactic Alliance and gain more power than she ever dreamed of attaining.

While Kajin and the Speaker of the Senate clamoring for calm amidst the torrent of arguing and hateful insults between both factions, Jenna took the opportunity to begin her master plan. Activating her podium and beginning to hover near the center of the Senate Chamber, she desperately called out, "Esteemed members of the Galactic Senate! Please, cease this infighting at once! What will we accomplish with this pointless bickering and vitriol?"

Seeing an opportunity to end the madness, the Speaker pressed a button, and an ear-piercing shriek began to echo across the chamber, making everyone hold their heads to try and diminish the pain until they all quieted down.

Regaining his composure first, Kajin nodded in gratitude, "Thank you, Speaker Reyes."

"The chair recognizes Senator Sauro of Eeropha." The Chistori speaker grudgingly acknowledged, resuming the meeting.

"Thank you." Jenna smiled, a gesture not conveying any genuine warmth. Turning back to her peers, she began, "Honored senators, I am sure I speak for all of you that this divisive issue risks tearing our government and society apart, having seen the lengths the Jedi will go to in acquiring help to carry out their arrogant and destructive crusade. They must be made to answer for their flagrant disregard for the law in dragging our soldiers and misguided generals into their fight."

Powering on through the clamor from the pro-Jedi faction, "Through this travesty of subversion, the Jedi's co-opting of eight of our esteemed fleets and all their soldiers to fight their private war against religious rivals, they endangered countless lives and ended the promised reforms that worlds like Zygerria had finally enacted.

"Even now, thanks to the Jedi and their unwitting pawns, the twenty worlds that were working to gradually end slavery and rebuild their societies into a noble example for all are under siege by our rivals in the Empire, Confederation, and the rest of the Jedi's misguided friends. And to say nothing of their intrusion into the Senex-Juvex Sectors' internal affairs when they have long since left themselves content within their own borders and have not interfered in our affairs in many years."

"My friends, I know many of you hold strong and mixed feelings regarding the Jedi and their troubled past, but I cannot let this deception stand. Which is why I must propose strengthening the Jedi Neutrality Act in every conceivable method. What happened on Zygerria must never transpire again.

"No longer should the Jedi, arrogant enforcers of their lawless and reckless nature, interfere in the affairs of everyday citizens and their leaders. Let them practice their craft in the solitude of their temples and enclaves, and no longer grab power for their naïve code or their sense of honor."

"And yet, without the Jedi's supposed lawlessness, as you so inaccurately put it, Sauro, is what helped my people and countless other worlds free themselves from slavery! Without them, we would not be here today to listen to your inane drivel!" Senator Reni Coll of Klatooine, earning the scattered applause of dozens of her fellow freedom fighters-turned senators.

Observing well over half the Senate, perhaps fifty-five percent of its members eagerly applauding at the impassioned speech and ignoring the steady stream of detractors, Jenna knew this next measure would be easy to pass, and continued, "And furthermore, we must determine just how the fleet elements came under the Jedi and Outer Rim Alliance's control. Did they act unilaterally in this simple crusade, or was their initiative a result of clandestine maneuvers from the highest echelons of the Galactic Alliance? I am proposing a full investigation of the Galactic Alliance Defense Fleet's command structure."

"Let no stone be unturned in our pursuit of truth and stability for our august government! And any who may impede our work or try to hide the truth, may they face punishment for their obstruction of justice." Jenna concluded, observing the usual detractors and supporters of her typical anti-Jedi rhetoric and measures up in arms over her new proposals.

After five minutes of futile attempts to end the infighting, Kajin was prepared to say his piece, likely ensuring his own resignation over his obvious role in aiding the Jedi's assaults before he was interrupted by a whisper from the Speaker, and she pressed the button again for a split second to end the quarreling. Once everyone stopped arguing, the Chief of State called everyone to attention, "Now that I have everyone's attention, perhaps we can learn exactly what transpired out in the Rim before we risk tearing the GA apart or hampering our effectiveness at keeping our people safe. We're receiving a transmission from General Keyan Farlander, commanding officer of the Mon Adapyne, accompanied by representatives of the Outer Rim Alliance and Jedi Order, and they're willing to explain their unilateral actions before us."

"And we're supposed to take them at their word?" U'Ta Divinian, Senator of Rosha and longtime ally and friend of Jenna, incredulously asked. "How can we trust anyone among those group after the illegal actions they orchestrated and the-"

"I would be willing to hear them out, if only to hear both sides of the issue before we pass judgment on them." Kajin firmly interceded, with nearly half the Senate either murmuring or vocally supporting the elected head of state. "And to ensure they answer before the people, the remainder of this session will be transmitted across the entirety of the Galactic Alliance."

"Sir," Jenna sputtered out, trying to form a cohesive counterargument, "This is highly irregular and dangerous, not to mention-"

"We all live in dangerous times right now, Senator Suaro." Kajin glared back, "And that means the people deserve to know we are objectively and wholeheartedly serving them, and not endangering them out of ill-placed anger or spiteful hubris."

"Inform the general and his friends they have twelve hours to prepare themselves for this hearing, and then set up a broadcast across every major HoloNet channel across the Alliance." Kajin ordered the Speaker. "If many of you wish to vilify and lambast them for working to do what we're too entangled in politics and pride to accomplish, then at least give them the courtesy of hearing their side of the story."

Half a day. Just twelve measly hours remained before the Jedi and their newest pawns either doomed their cause or reinvigorated it with new life and risked everything Jenna and her fellow Sith collaborators had connived and clawed their way towards. She would have to convene with her peers and superiors to decide on how to guide the Senate towards the One Sith's most desired outcome, or they might have her head as punishment.

Well, that was a good penultimate chapter of this good interlude! I hope you all enjoyed it, as I have one more to go until I can resume the main story for a while. I already have two chapters ready to be published, and they are some of my better works. But in the meantime, how are you all doing on this warm night of Monday, June 5, 2023? I'm well, as I had a good shift at my library internship, but I don't think I'll be working at the bookstore too often for a while, if at all given my shifting availability. Ah, well. It is what it is. And I hope to read more of my Mike Pompeo book in a little while. I hope you all have a blessed night, and I hope to hear more from you all soon. May the Lord be with us all in these dark times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!