Good evening, everyone! How are you all doing on this cold and rainy day of Sunday, May 28, 2023? I'm doing pretty good, as I sold some of my old stuff, read a bit on my Mike Pompeo book, and went to church so far. I also plan to take a break from my Atai Molec interlude mini-series, just to keep my groove with the main story. I probably won't publish this piece after I complete the last two chapters of Atai's story, but I could mix it up a bit if it suits my needs. So, I hope you're all ready for a fast-paced chapter with action and suspense because that's what I plan for this piece and the Coruscant-based action. Well, with all this small talk out of the way, I'd best get started on writing it out. May the Lord be with us all in these dark times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!

1000 Hours, Coruscant Standard Time

Selona 35th, 59 ABY

Coruscant, Industrial District

Grungeon Block, Galactic Alliance Security Mothma Prison

Being forcibly escorted by four Galactic Alliance Security guards and two Yuuzhan Vong Hunter droids towards her unknown destination, Haydnat Treen felt a cold anticipation for the imminent escape from this nightmarish prison, even while her shackles and inhibitor collar kept her from making any reckless moves. Having been told yesterday by a serviceman she didn't recognize that help was on the way, and to "prepare for her first breath of free air by this time tomorrow", the disgraced politician readied herself for the impending chaos the breakout entailed. Her keen analytical eye took note of every defender and ounce of firepower they carried, and even recognized three high-profile Jedi undercover as part of the prison's security, she grasped how her would-be rescuers were about to walk into a trap, and her and her fellow conspirators were the bait. A rather cold measure, but a bold gambit she could be impressed by, nonetheless.

Being ferried towards the prison barge, a decrepit looking freighter that undoubtedly held many modern systems and weapons, Haydnat could hear her heartbeat rapidly thunder in her ears, especially when she saw the familiar face of Borath Maddeus being brought up from the western corridor. And right next to him was a tall and muscular man that she could only assume was Stavin Thaal after his facial reconstruction therapy to try and elude the authorities from fifteen years ago. If any of their supposed allies were going to break them out, they either needed to attack right now, or were planning to commandeer the shuttle and fly their way to freedom, considering their heavy guard detail to deter any demented breakout attempts.

To her immediate consternation, Hadynat recognized the lead Jedi, a troublesome man who had ties to the Hapan Royal family through his marriage to one of the Queen Mother's cousins, and knew this coming battle was about to become much more difficult with a fighter as skilled as Zekk Thayn entering the mix. From the analytical glances she recognized from Stavin and Borath, she knew they had both come to the same conclusion.

Moments before the authorities could give any orders, a rumbling noise could be heard echoing through the hangar. The prison warden, quickly pulling out a comlink and speaking to the caller, he ended the communication to order everyone, "Initiate Lockdown Protocol Theta immediately, and secure all prisoners! Seems our enemies are more reckless than we thought, they're trying to attack us head on."

"Prepare our garrison to repel a horde of unwelcome intruders, and then request immediate assistance from High Command and our allies."

The lights for the hangar flickering, the warden's alarmed glint was a welcome sight for the long-imprisoned conspirators. But no one was prepared for the explosions that wracked the secret fortress, and the familiar sound of the prison's computer systems shutting down. It seemed the infiltrators had done a better job of sabotaging the Galactic Alliance's systems than Haydnat gave them credit for. With electricity temporarily shut down while the backup generators a few minutes from activating, anything could happen in the meantime, and the Kuati noblewoman was determined to ensure she came out on top.

Just then, Zekk and seven other Jedi activated their lightsabers, obviously ready for battle against their enemies. Tracing their train of sight, Haydnat was astonished when the explosions reached the hangar and the armored but familiar forms of Kar'sk Fey'la and Fyor Rodan, two like minded souls she never expected to ever see again after their disgrace or quiet fade into obscurity, pour through the new gaps, and they brought dozens, perhaps hundreds, of assailants along with them to assault the prison.

Suddenly, the chances of escape seemed exponentially higher than the three conspirators gave their fellows credit for. Now all they needed was to survive the day, and freedom and a long-honed vengeance might yet be theirs.

1110 Hours

1 Kilometer from Mothma Prison

Aboard the Private Yacht Per Lupelo

One hour into the attempted extraction already, Raze was enjoying himself to a degree he had not experienced in decades. While the Aporthad crime lord was not a front-line fighter or leader, he still found ways to help his men and allies when they risked their lives against a superior foe. With his superior intellect and cybernetic enhancements, he was able to interfere and impede the enemy's response to their brazen attack while keeping Fyor and his cohorts one step ahead of their enemies as they worked to free their targets.

Still, Raze had to give the Alliance of Light credit where it was due. The swift reconfiguration of the prison's defenses and insertion of Jedi and their allies would not be enough to stop their mission, but it would certainly make it far more costly to attain victory. The Olpakans' agents and sympathizers were quickly being rounded up by the enemy coalition and were undoing all their acts of sabotage they uncovered. And unless Daala soon came through with her promised distraction and escape route, the Galactic Alliance and its allies would encircle the outnumbered attackers and wear them down through attrition alone.

It was time for the Aporthad crime lord to start getting more creative with this operation, and what better way to undermine the authorities' hold on their power and distract them than by giving them more problems than they could solve in one day?

Transmitting the signal to all Olpakan-allied forces to enact their sabotage, Raze only regretted how he would be too occupied to enjoy the fruits of his efforts. He would just have to make do with HoloNet reports and the bounty increase on him and his cohorts, that would put a definite smile on his face.

Wait… Someone was tracking the yacht. But that was impossible! Raze spared no expense at the best of fake transponders, military-grade hardware and software, and the most efficient and powerful stealth technology to ensure no one could track any of his personal ships. But it was all there in the data flow, someone had intercepted his communications and was homing in on his location. And if his cybernetically enhanced brain was reading the comm signature correctly, it was a Galactic Alliance program that was hacking his feed.

Unable to bite back a string of obscenities at this terrible development, Raze cut the data flow, but he found himself receiving a message through his built-in comlink, from a woman he never thought he'd ever hear from again.

"Our people may be few left, but we you know how dangerous and brilliant even one Aporthad is. The only difference between you and I, my former teacher, is how I choose to use my talents to help others, rather than simply myself."

"Kara…" Raze breathed, now realizing just how dangerous this mission had become, and how grossly he underestimated his foes. Changing tactics, he pulled out a subspace comm unit, and keyed in the Olpakan frequency after using a code he hadn't used in decades while preparing dozens of junk messages to try and conceal the real message. Hopefully the true code would be too archaic for his last and most dangerous pupil to recognize, but best not to take any needless chances with his most dangerous protégé.

1300 Hours

Coruscant, Industrial District

Grungeon Block, Two Kilometers South of Mothma Prison

Aboard the Victory-class Star Destroyer Admiral Ackbar

Searching through countless terabytes of data every millisecond from the dozens of defense grids and the tattered security of the Mothma Prison, Kara continued to grasp just how dire the situation was for the Galactic Alliance down below. As a newly promoted vice admiral of the Galactic Alliance Navy and cybernetically enhanced Aporthad, the same race as the crime lord Raze, she had been tasked with overseeing the transfer of the covert prison's inmates, only to fail spectacularly when the Knights of Olpaka and its many agents made their move do suddenly and rapidly.

Swarming over the facility with nearly one thousand operatives over the last three hours, ranging from terrorists of Kar'sk Fey'la's True Victory Party remnant, Fyor Rodan and his fellow Commenori commandos, and crime mogul Raze's wide array of mercenaries and infiltrators, it was a miracle the prison had not already fallen to the small army.

Remembering from Kara's time as Raze's student before Nek Bwua'tu gave her a second lease on life, it filled her with such pain and anger that it threatened to make her see red and throw everything at him. After he abandoned her during a routine evaluation of a regional command center, being captured by the Galactic Alliance's commandos and assisted by the unofficial Wraith Squadron, she thought it was all over. But the Head of the GA's Naval Operations saw something in Kara that could yet be salvaged, maybe even redeemed, and offered her a pardon if she agreed to join the Navy and work in fighting the Sith and all forms of corruption plaguing the floundering government.

Barely able to comprehend the offer, Kara was prepared to say no, until Bwua'tu agreed to help all her loved ones escape Raze's reprisals if she chose to accept and work directly under him and honing her leadership and strategic vision. Having proved herself over the past ten years, quickly rising through the ranks and distinguishing herself as one of the greatest military minds and best examples of giving second chances in the modern day, it was no wonder she rose through the ranks so quickly, acquiring the rank of vice admiral after her work on Batuu and helping to defeat Dician, even when one recalled the Sith's nuclear firestorm of a reprisal on the planet.

And now, after years of quiet waiting and hunting, Kara had been given the opportunity she had long been after. Now, all she had to do was finish this fight while keeping her hard-won soul and capturing one of the most dangerous cartel leaders in decades and his conspirators. And she was determined to see this mission through to its bitter end.

Without Kara previously working with the Rogues' Gallery and Alliance of Light's allies in restructuring the prison's security network and forcing the Olpakans to strike before they were completely ready, the Alliance-Imperial conspirators any other prisoners they were after would surely have been extracted at least an hour ago. But even then, this would be a battle too close to determine a victor until the last combatant fell or surrendered. The vice admiral knew this attack would surely not be all Daala and her fellows had in store for the GA, for if they hoped to live past today, they would either need overwhelming force or a well-planned strategy involving a healthy dose of sabotage.

Having contacted the Joint Chiefs of Staff and advising them to put all regional sectors on alert, and the Alliance of Light's Force User allies to use their instincts and hunt down Olpakan agents in coordination with the GA and Rogues' Gallery's intelligence divisions, Kara knew that if Daala wanted to complete her objective, she would have to show her entire hand to her enemies.

If the intelligence reports the GA and Rogues' Gallery acquired were accurate, then they had far more to worry about than merely terrorists, disgraced politicians, old crime lords, and their hundreds of hired guns and fanatics. According to the transmissions Kara and GAS had decrypted between Daala's allies, the Ryn Network had been compromised by anti-Jedi subversives in its own ranks, and the informants had entrenched themselves throughout the planet, Coruscant was about to endure another terror campaign.

But in the meantime, the Galactic Alliance Security facility needed reinforcements if the wardens hoped to retain control of their prisoners, which meant deploying a company of the Ackbar's marines to their aid. Hopefully, the Galactic Alliance and the rest of the Jedi-influenced coalition would be ready for the rest of Daala's desperate strategy.

Alarms interrupting Kara's musings, she craned her head to see the projection of three-dozen warships and thirty corvettes emerge from hyperspace just above Coruscant's orbit. Catching the vice admiral by surprise, though, was not the number of enemy vessels, for it held enough to catch the GA off-guard and break through the defense grids, albeit with heavy losses, but the designs and insignias of several vessels. Leading the attack force was a new variation of a Star Destroyer that wasn't registered in any databases, appearing as a cross between a Venator and Imperial class, and was giving off a transponder identification by the name as the Sir Trilag. Even without official identification or knowing the significance of the ship's name, Kata instinctively knew the mysterious Star Destroyer was ferrying Natasi Daala to her quarry, and it was the vice admiral's job to ensure she failed in all her objectives.

But flanking the newfangled warship were ten refurbished pre-Imperial warships from six different designs, with the emblems of five houses from the Senex-Juvex Sectors. Recalling how the isolationist and pro-slavery Mid Rim sectors were under civil strife from the efforts of the Freedom Flight and Outer Rim Alliance, and how seven worlds were in the process of being liberated from the cruelty of its greedy and oppressive overlords, Kara never would have believed that the pompous rulers would ally with Daala in her hateful coalition after their failed alliance with the One Sith.

Sighing at the stubbornness of nobles and their arrogant sense of entitlement, Kara was prepared to offer the enemy fleet one chance to surrender, before her aid called out, "Ma'am, we have a problem! Twenty percent of the defense grids across the planet's northern hemisphere are shutting down!"

Pulling up a tactical readout of the planetary grid, Kara was horrified to see the readings verify her lieutenant's claims. With an entire tenth of Coruscant's protection about to be deactivated, it left a gaping vulnerability in its defenses that would let the Olpakans break through and wreak untold havoc across the planet.

Barreling through her thoughts, the Ackbar's holocomm activated, revealing the barely visible form of Hapes commando leader Taryn Thayn, hardly able to be heard over the blaster fire and explosions raging around her. "-sure you already know this, but enemy infiltrators just detonated dozens of bombs across five major military installations before we could catch and disarm the last of them. They've - a giant gap in our defenses.

"We're rounding up the survivors and ensuring they left no other surprises for us, but they did too much damage to enable makeshift repairs. We're going to have to fight a two-pronged battle with Daala now." Several detonations nearly knocked out the transmission, Taryn swiftly ended the communication, "Can't talk now. We need to mop up the last holdouts out here, then we'll regroup with you all. Good hunting on your end!"

Turning her mind back to the task at hand, Kara ordered her comm officers, "Have all available fleet elements diverted to our position, and then send out a distress signal to the adjacent sectors. Order them to send every spare military craft to our aid immediately."

"That might not be necessary, Vice Admiral." A firm Coruscanti woman's voice cut in through her comlink. The hologram of Kirney Slane appearing on the nearby holocomm, she assured Kara, "Garik and I anticipated Daala having such a strategy in mind, which is why we, and Chief of State Yimmon still have a few surprises in store for her as well."

"Ma'am, we're getting large energy readings from Districts 210 through 314." A sensor officer broke into the conversation, adding in awe, "I think you're going to want to take a look at this."

Eyeing Kirney, who only eerily smiled at the advice, Kara waddled over to the officer, and upon analyzing the data, she realized the GA might yet have a chance at stopping Daala's attack. Calling over to her comm officers, she amended her previous order, "Belay my previous instructions. Have our auxiliary forces take up rearguard positions across the system, then requisition all interdictors and their escorts within sectorial proximity to guarding the major routes across the system, and then lay all working gravity mines across every known smuggler path that lead out of this system.

"Afterwards, advise Chief of State Yimmon and the Joint Chiefs to issue a mandatory evacuation for the vulnerable districts' populations and address the enemy fleet. The sooner they can do that, the sooner we can end this madness."

"You believe they can talk Daala down and keep her from bombarding the planet?" The Ackbar's captain skeptically assumed.

"Well, that's half-right. But no. At the best, our leaders can buy us a little more time while the ground defenses finish powering up and help prevent a massacre if Daala tries to unleash an orbital bombardment." Kara corrected, preparing to return her focus to the ongoing battle, determined to bring the terrorists and their demented backer to justice after decades of escaping a righteous punishment.

1340 Hours

Coruscant Orbit, 32 Kilometers from Industrial District

Aboard the Sir Trilag

A mere thirty minutes after debarking from hyperspace, the mission was already experiencing grave complications. None of Daala's agents had reported the groundside turbolasers that were wreaking havoc on the frontline flotilla, with the number of defending installations and their impressive firepower stunting the Olpakans' advance and leaving them vulnerable to reprisals. Already, six warships were either destroyed or disabled from the barrage, and another four were suffering severe damage. And according to the communications her people had intercepted and decrypted, the GA and Rogues Gallery were interdicting the system with gravity well projectors and laying thousands of mines across every possible hyperspace route, even those mostly used by smugglers and clandestine military operations.

Much as it galled Daala to even admit it, she had grossly underestimated the Alliance of Light this time around, and now she was paying the price in time, personnel, and ships. Sure, her more advanced warships were holding their own and could endure much more punishment, but it would all be for naught if she lost the rest of her fleet and failed in her prime objective. Even if the groundside teams could get their prisoners out of custody and into orbit before they were overwhelmed, it would be a miracle for even a third of the fleet remained able to withdraw after the next five hours. And her reserves couldn't make it through the cordon without exposing themselves to this war of attrition and the enemy's traps, but she couldn't afford to expose any more of her forces to risk capture or destruction.

No, she needed a bold, new approach to this problem before the window of opportunity expired. Fortunately for the Olpakan cause, she still had a few aces in her sleeve in case any of her enemies were able to pull one over on her. And contrary to her enemies' undoubted assumption that she'd bombard Coruscant, she had a far more creative and efficient strategy in store for them.

Keying in her command console a series of commands, she gave her gunner officers authorization to utilize a new set of weapons she and Cylo had designed for use against capital warships and was ready to observe how their new tools literally ate away at the enemy's foundations. If nothing else, aside from a valuable distraction, it would certainly be entertaining to see the enemy's formation fall into disarray.

"Admiral, we're getting a transmission from the Senate District." A comm officer informed Daala. "It's the Chief of State."

Momentarily taken aback by the unforeseen call, Daala realized the Cerean must be trying to stop the bloodshed and urge her to surrender and face his weak version of justice for all her crusades. Or he was trying to stall for time while the Alliance of Light completed their trap and caught their quarries. Either way, Kajin Bar Yimmon's plan was doomed to fail, and she would relish striking fear into the so-called leader's heart when she made away with her prizes and melted away a GA fleet and obliterated one of their secret installations.

"Prepare our ship-eaters for deployment on the GA fleet, then have Regus Platoon ready to reinforce our groundside friends and cover our withdrawal." Daala ordered her officers. "I need to take a call and distract the good Chief of State and his cohorts for a little bit, but I'll need a bit of privacy for that conversation."

Brusquely walking to the command center, and sequestering herself away in her private office, Daala keyed in Kajin's holofrequency, and mirthlessly got right to business with the GA leader, "You know I won't surrender to your false authority or weak sense of justice, Yimmon. Surrender my prize and allow my people safe passage out of Coruscant, and you won't have to be embarrassed by me any further."

"And you should know I will not negotiate with a petty despot like yourself after all the death and destruction you've caused the galaxy, Admiral." Kajin firmly rebutted. "I will give you one last chance. Surrender your fleet and call off your agents, and answer for all the devastation you've caused, and you can end this long war with some trace of honor."

"Refuse," Kajin paused to let the warning sink in before ominously continuing, "and I will ensure you are at last killed like the terrorist and fool you are, and all those that follow you will suffer for your arrogance and vindictiveness, starting with all your Senex-Juvex and Olpakan forces that were mad enough to follow you on this suicide mission."

Flashing a venomous smile at the paltry threat, Daala shook her head, "No, Yimmon. You're all about to realize that we're set to enter a new age, and it'll be one that'll free us of the infernal Force and its dominance over the galaxy."

Feeling her comlink vibrate, Daala knew her weapons were ready, and dismissed the Chief of State, "But in the meantime, be sure to enjoy the humiliating show and your last few months of leading your pathetic democracy."

Ending the communication, Daala ordered her officers, "Deploy Payload One on the Admiral Ackbar and its commander's fleet, then have all available gunnery crews target the groundside turbolasers before we advance."

1345 Hours

Grungeon Block

Within the Mothma Prison

Noticing Kar'sk ready to gun down an injured Galactic Alliance guard, Zekk aimed the blaster pistol his wife helped him customize while having cut down another of Raze's thugs with his lightsaber and prepared to end the terrorist's rampage with one well-placed shot to the head. With one shot of perfect timing and aim, the bolt hit the Bothan radical right in the center of her cranial cavity, causing her corpse to collapse and throw her adjacent followers into disarray and bringing the battle one step closer to its grisly conclusion, only wishing he could have taken her alive for interrogation and trial for her past atrocities and affiliation with the One Sith and Knights of Olpaka.

For nearly four hours, the GA and its allies had barely kept the Olpakan marauders at bay, with hundreds of corpses and charred debris littered all over the GAS facility. When the enemy disabled half the station's defenses and launched their brazen attack, the guards worked quickly and efficiently to move their prisoners to a guaranteed hiding place while establishing a defensive line to try and contain the onslaught. Over a hundred on both sides were killed in the first twenty minutes alone, though the numbers would have been much higher without the Noghri and other veteran hunters and warriors to guide the guards.

But after the first thirty minutes of fighting, the Olpakans had broken through, and replenished their numbers by releasing what prisoners they came across to escalate the carnage. And under the leadership of Fyor Rodan and Kar'sk Fey'la, most of their soldiers armed with a mix of advanced weapons both kinetic and energy and garbed in some type of power armor that no one in the Alliance of Light recognized, they were cutting a bloody swath through the defenders.

Clearly, this new enemy had brought enough surprises to keep the confederation guessing throughout this entire massacre. Their armor alone was a puzzle, utilizing repulsorlifts, advanced shields and durable armor, and built-in shatter pistols to stay in the fight longer and deal more death than the average soldier, it was a miracle they had managed to think their numbers by at least three hundred. Then again, from the trained eyes of Zekk and the rest of the battle-hardened Jedi and soldiers, this armor could very well be the prototypes of a future model, which made it even more imperative this incursion be repelled, and the survivors be interrogated quickly to learn all they could of this foe.

Gunning down another two Olpakans through the cracks and chips in their armor, Zekk suddenly felt a sickening surge of death, the strength and ferocity of the blow nearly knocking him off his feet before utilizing his training to dispel the pain. Unfortunately, the distraction allowed Fyor to charge right towards him, and his killing intent was blatantly obvious to the Jedi Master even without using the Force.

Knowing he couldn't afford to get bogged down in a prolonged fight with the disgraced Senator-turned-prime-minister, Zekk pulled out his last seven concussion grenades and flung them right at Fyor. Unable to block them all before the last two detonated, the rogue politician found himself flying past Zekk and right into a crowd of fleeing Olpakans. But dampening the Jedi's relieved smile was the sight of who was with the withdrawing enemy, and he spent a split instant wondering just how the three prisoners were uncovered and transferred without anyone being the wiser.

Reactivating his earcomm, Zekk called to whichever of the battalion leaders, Jensaarai, and his fellow Jedi were still alive, shouting, "The conspirators are back at the main hangar! Disengage and regroup with me to cut off their escape!"

Just then, literally crashing into the ruined prison was a pleasure yacht of a design Zekk didn't recognize, but he did recognize a getaway route when he saw one, even one as badly damaged and leaking tibanna gas like the one before everyone. Now knowing there was only one shot to prevent an escape, he waded his way to the nearby GA platoon leader and ordered, "You see that shuttle? We need to ground it ASAP!"

Getting a crisp acknowledgement, Zekk saw the GA and Nogrhi work to take Fyor into custody while relieving him of his Olpakan armor and prayed this vile man would manage to give them answers if the day was lost to Daala. Refocused his attention to deal with the escaping prisoners, the Coruscanti Jedi prepared to lead a last-ditch charge on the enemy positions.

But before he could complete the desperate measure, Zekk felt his limbs starting to go numb, and he felt a nausea creeping up on him. Barley able to turn his head, he saw his fellow Alliance fighters retching their stomach's contents while doubling over in pain, making him connect the dots together in his mind. The leaking gas wasn't fuel, but a type of nerve toxin that was leaving everyone helpless to the Olpakans.

Struggling to activate his ear comm, Zekk barley managed to turn it on and warn everyone, "Nerve gas… spreading throughout the prison. Set up a quarantine of Gruneon Block and… seal off the main hangar."

Falling to his knees, Zekk knew he had less than thirty seconds before he lost consciousness. Upon seeing the Olpakans retreat, taking their three prizes while working to take back Fyor from the Noghri, who were somehow unaffected by the gas. If he hurried, he might be able to gun down one or two of the conspirators, but then that would let the enemy recapture their leader. Either way, Daala would win the day.

Trusting in the Force and hoping that Daala's schemes and warmongering would be ended soon, Zekk took aim, and fired ten precise shots at the enemy from both angles before letting the pain claim him and knock him out.

1400 Hours

Coruscant Surface, Senate District

Galactic Alliance Navy Command Complex

Watching Daala's new weapons, a new type of acidic bombs that literally ate away at six of the capital ships under Vice Admiral Kara's command, along with the enemy flotilla bombard Coruscant's few ground defenses protecting the planet and its vulnerable population, Kajin yearned to do more to help end the battle. With the Admiral Ackbar and the heart of the defending fleet being systematically destroyed and routed by the Olpakan armada, the only hope to stop this new enemy was for the prison defenders to hold out until reinforcements arrive.

Being forced to the sidelines while the military and the Galactic Alliance's allies bravely fought against a tyrant to protect the innocent, it filled the Chief of State with a helplessness he hadn't felt in decades. With his efforts only focused on rallying the planet's population to remain steadfast against such a vile enemy and try to convince the saboteurs to stand down and save what lives they could, he yearned to do more to protect the people and institutions he swore to serve and lead.

His multitude of thoughts interrupted by Kirney and Garik's holograms appearing, Kajin curtly warned, "For all our sakes, I hope you have even a sliver of good news right now."

"We have reinforcements inbound from Anaxes and Alsakan, and our blockade was completed ten minutes ago. Daala won't be getting out of here anytime soon." Garik informed. "But Kirney here has a way to slow the schutta down long enough for our friends make it to the fun."

Eyeing the woman who donned many identities over her long life, Kajin warned, "For all our sakes, you'd best hope whatever plan you've concocted works."

"It'll work, Sir." Kirney calmly assured Kajin. "It's already working its way within Daala's fleet and relaying plenty of information to your vice admiral and groundside forces. And the Rogues' Gallery kept a few covert assets in the system to assist its defense, which are now ready to make their grand entrance in this fight."

Eyes dawning in comprehension, Kajin muttered in relief, "That just might work." Glancing at Kirney, he ordered, "Keep the Joint Chiefs and Vice Admiral Kara informed of your little project's progress and transmit all essential information on it and your hidden fleet to them. They'll know how to use the intelligence better than me, anyway."

"A rare admission of humility from such a renowned and powerful head of government." Kirney joked before she and Garik ended the call to carry out their tasks, with Kajin much more hopeful for winning the day than he felt a few minutes ago.

But not even three minutes later, an emergency communication came through from Garik, and the GAS director did not look pleased at all, instead rather enraged and worried. "Daala's groundside forces are retreating, but they left a terrible surprise for the Mothma's defenders."

"How bad?" Kajin quickly pressed.

"Better than I feared, but worse than I hoped. The survivors will live, but Daala's people left a nerve toxin behind that's knocked most of them out cold before the Olpakans could withdraw. They managed to free two of their targets and about three dozen others along the way." Garik sighed. "The only good news is that we got one of their leaders for interrogation, a former senator and prime minister of notoriety for his pride and anti-Jedi sentiments."

Forcing back his combination of rage and amazement at this mix of news, Kajin solemnly ordered, "Get a decontamination team down there immediately, and have everyone brought to the Jedi Temple after the gas has been dispelled." Beating Garik's protests, the Chief of State elaborated, "We've been deploying reconstruction crews to repair the worst of the temple's damage from the Sith's sabotage, and its facilities will serve well enough to help the wounded and hold our prisoners away from the public eye and any of Daala's remaining agents."

Nodding in compliance, Garik saluted the Chief of State before Kajin angrily added, "Make sure to give Daala's people a thorough lashing in retaliation for this latest act of war. But allow the prisoners to make it back to her and let some of her forces, especially her flagship, to escape. Ensure it isn't too obvious."

"Sir?" Garik cautiously asked.

"Director Slane informed me a week past of a little new gadget her people devised not too long ago, and she and Zekk implemented it with my approval not three days ago. We can use this tool to track Daala all the way back to her new home base with minimal risk of exposure until it's too late for them all to escape." Kajin vindictively explained.

"A bold and ambitious plan, probably worthy of a Wraith." Garik simply acknowledged before working to carry out the new orders, leaving Kajin alone to hope he wasn't making the wrong play here.

2000 Hours

Coruscant System's Outskirts

Aboard the Sir Trilag

Staying on her feet as the Resurgent-class Star Destroyer shook from the many mines it was hitting or blasting with its long-range weapons, Daala knew this escape would be one of her narrower ones. Having lost just about three-quarters of her original fleet to the GA and Rogues' Gallery forces, from their final few ground emplacements, their well-played and perfectly timed reinforcements hidden throughout the system, and the auxiliary fleets having arrived from Anaxes and Alsakan barely two hours ago, it was a miracle the Olpakans had managed to make it this close to freedom.

And all this didn't account for the interdictors and remaining mines blocking their escape, and the terrible capture of Prime Minister Rodan and the death of General Thaal and Kar'sk Fey'la back in the GAS prison, all because of a Jedi and his accursed connection to the Force. Losing the former Imperial and once respected and powerful leader of the GA Army was a severe blow to the Olpakans' efforts, along with the death of the Bothan and the remnants of her political party, but thanks to Zekk and the Jedi's pet Noghri, the Alliance of Light now had Fyor in their custody and would soon work to break him and all their prisoners to spill their many secrets.

But the potential dangers were still a worrisome matter for the future. Right now, Daala had to focus on the present and ensure the Jedi didn't capture her or anymore of her people or ships. And that meant she needed to finish this evacuation before all was lost.

Deciding to show the Jedi another prototype surprise within her arsenal, Daala keyed in her authorization codes at the command center and armed the missile launchers with her EMP variation of a seismic charge. Though these weapons would not deliver death on her enemies, she would get satisfaction from imagining their terror at what other possible surprises the "war criminal" might yet use.

Having unleashed the payload on the minefield and the GA fleet elements guarding the narrow route, the EMP Charges detonated right in the heart of the enemy formation, overloading every electrical system in six capital ships and its interdictors, and triggering the detonation of hundreds of mines surrounding them. Many of the explosions were close enough blast holes in the warships' hulls, three nearly close enough to destroy the bridges, but all did enough damage to render them incapable of further battle. Daala knew the opportunity to escape was now.

Resisting the desire to finish off this wounded flotilla, Daala recognized the need to protect her remaining people and get them home safely. Flying past the crippled vessels, she was ready to leave this corrupt system behind for safe havens as her flagship jumped to hyperspace.

"Ma'am?" The destroyer's captain interrupted Daala's silent musings, solemnly reporting, "Senator Treen and General Maddeus are requesting to speak with you when you're available." Seeing the mournful gaze in her eyes, the officer added, "I can write up the casualty reports and damage assessment in the meantime."

"Very good. Tell them I'll speak with them soon after we leave the Core Worlds and are on route to the secondary RV Point." Daala instructed. "In the meantime, I need to reassess our position and alert High Command of our loses and risk of Ryor being compromised."

Well, I'd say this is a dire enough place to leave the chapter! What did you all think of this one? Was it too condensed for your liking, or was the single plot easier to follow? Well, don't be expecting this type of chapter too often, as I still have plenty of other plot threads to work on before the story's over, and I need to work on those soon enough. But I'd say it was a satisfactory piece to work on. So, how are you all doing on this warm night of Thursday, June 1, 2023? I'm all right, as I've read a good chunk of my Mike Pompeo book, and it's a stellar piece on his years of service in the Trump Administration, and the good many of those brave men and women did in leading the United States. I know this'll rile some people up, or many, but in these dire times, I need to speak out in defense of what I believe. Respectfully, of course, but firmly and without giving an inch (book title pun intended). Oh, and I started my 4-month library internship yesterday, and it's off to a good start. Hope it blossoms into an official job for a couple months. And I bought The History of the Hobbit earlier, and it's going to be a magnificent read into the mindset of J.R.R. Tolkien. Well, I'd best get this chapter squared away for later. I want a couple of fellow writers and trusted minds to give it a look over and see if I can improve upon it later down the road. Plus, I need to work on the last two chapters of my Atai Molec Interlude. I hope you all have a blessed evening. May the Lord be with us all in these dark times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!