sGood evening, everyone! How are you all doing on this cool night of Monday, January 8, 2024? I'm all right, if worn out from work today, as it was very fast paced and a bit stressful. But it was okay otherwise. I should let you know that I won't be publishing this one for a while, as this is Chapter 14 of my main story, and I still have to write Chapter 13. I just moved a bit around for these two chapters, and I figured I'd get this one complete before moving back to Ch. 13. Well, I hope that things calm down soon with work and the world, but I'm prepared to be wrong. With all the small talk out of the way, I had best get back to work on this chapter. May the Lord be with us all in these Dark Times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!

Nelona 20th, 59 ABY

Tulpaa System

Aboard the Star Forge

Completing his assessment of the damage to this once-pristine foundry of war, Tor just knew that both his masters would not be pleased with the damage sustained to the Star Forge on his watch. Just imagining the punishments that he would soon receive made him tremor with unabashed terror.

All over the facility, well over fifty warships sifted through the torn wreckage, struggling to salvage what precious materials and components they could from the half of the Star Forge that had been crippled by the Last Alliance's brief bombing runs. Fires raging across a third of the station, power generators barely functioning in virtually every nonessential sector spared the enemy's fighting retreat, and the semi-sentient entity that ruled the facility screaming its pain through the Force, everyone was fortunate Abeloth's prize had not collapsed in on itself by now.

Forget bringing this ancient Rakatan artifact and all its genetic labs to full power, it would be a miracle if even a fifth of its total capabilities could be utilized in the coming weeks! And the thought of the Last Alliance and its Celestial benefactors outmaneuvering Tor and the True Sith Empire so easily enraged the Grysk that the bulkheads surrounding him bent from his unconscious use of the Force. He had to find a way to salvage the situation before his patrons figured out the reason for him having the fleet operate under total radio silence.

Hearing his comlink activate, Tor pulled it out and heard Gideon's strong voice come through, relieved as the enhanced commando quickly reported, "We've had a breakthrough, Sir. Long story short, we've figured out how to transfer the intact labs from the Forge to our warships and transports and deliver them to Exegol. And we were able to download the schematics for the facility, to build more of them on any world that we so choose."

Letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding, Tor genuinely commended Gideon, "Well done. At least we can give our Mistress something from this near disaster. How long do we need to deliver the intact labs to Exegol?"

"It shouldn't take more than two weeks to load them onto the transports." Gideon reported. "I'll begin the preliminary work immediately, with your leave."

"Good." Tor responded, just as he saw a dark mist start to surround him. Recognizing the method of communication his true masters were using, he quickly ordered Gideon, "I need to assess the damage to the main power generator. Have no one disturb me until I say otherwise."

Not bothering to listen to Gideon's acknowledgement, Tor allowed him to be enveloped by the black fog, shielding him from all detection and interference from communing with the Lich Kings of the Nihil Retreat. Glimpses the concealed shrouds of the true overlords of the Sorcerers of Rhand, in all their unholy power, kept shrouded from all eyes but those they trusted most, the closest figure rasped out, "You have done well, honored emissary of the one True Sith Empire."

Humbly prostrating himself before the seven men and women, Tor reverently supplicated, "I beg your forgiveness for failing to anticipate the interference of Elegast and his children. The setback they have wrought on us-"

"Is inconsequential." A woman's voice, if it could be called that, for how dry and hoarse it sounded, interjected, "Your Imperial commando has already figured out a workaround for that minor delay, and the forces we will soon bring to bear on the Last Alliance will make the Bringer of Chaos's forces no more than a momentary nuisance."

"And you will soon be rewarded for all your efforts in service to our Immortal Gods." The third King proclaimed. "Abeloth will soon thank you for your efforts and bless you in the form of a new body, one far stronger and mor resilient than your original ever was, even at the peak of your power."

Rendered speechless at the forewarning, Tor silently gaped at the decree, wondering how his masters could have deduced or foreseen it. Hearing the amused chuckle of the first Lich King, he turned towards his throne before he answered, "The Bringer of Chaos is not easily influenced, but her followers can be, especially with a few well-placed nudges through the Force."

"You will use this body to escalate the war between our enemies and pawns as our best field commander. Through this conflict the final seals on our Gods' prison will be broken, and we will remake the galaxy just as they wish of it." The black fog began to dissipate, just as the second Lich King warned Tor, "But you must dispose of Tau Palpatine and Darth Krayt before they can triumph over Abeloth. If they prevail against her before we all our plans are complete, they could have the power and time to undo all we have accomplished."

Before the fog failed, Tor was granted glimpses of the future through the Lich Kings' Darksight, the rare gift to foresee and influence the future towards a desired end of one's chosing.

In these visions, Tor saw Abeloth engaging the successors of the Son and Daughter within her mother's old fortress on Exegol, a fierce duel that shook the planet itself and had the power to destroy all that stood in the three superpowered beings' way. Using the Force in ways the Grysk had not seen since the Twilight Wars while bearing the Mortis Dagger, Darth Krayt and Tau Palpatine would not relent in their assault and were prepared to die if it meant stopping their chief adversary.

But then, just as suddenly, the three adversaries ceased fighting, and turned their power against Tor, as if he was there with them. And the gazes in each of their eyes, ones mixed with rage, determination, and disappointment, they held an understanding that somehow terrified the ancient Acolyte of the Dark.

'They knew.' Tor realized as he desperately panted from the fear he now felt, a terror unlike any he experienced in many millennia. 'But how?' Berating himself just after he asked the question, he recalled that Elegast and his children had bestowed their power onto Tau and Krayt. Apparently, they had done more than simply been given the Celestials' powers, but their combined knowledge and wisdom. He would have to tread carefully to counter this old opposition, all while ensuring Abeloth did not become aware of his duplicity.

Recalling that he still had a cover story to maintain, followed by preparing a report for Abeloth, Tor immediately recomposed himself to carry out his assignments. Briskly walking to the reactor core, his mind whirled with strategies to eliminate Tau and Krayt while concealing his excitement at soon being able to fight with all his power in a young body once again.

Deep Space, Just Outside the Chiss Ascendancy's Borders

Aboard the Jade Shadow

"Then, everyone is in accord." Luke informed Kajin, addressing the Galactic Alliance Chief of State from his cockpit after hearing his summation of the recent talks between the Jedi Master and galactic leaders.

"On all major points, Master Skywalker." Kajin clarified. "But your proposal will still need to be ratified through each body's government, and there will still be many minor details to iron out in the next sessions of talks." Sighing, he ruefully acknowledged, "Still, given the One Sith and Olpakan Hegemony's acts of sabotage and terror across so much of Coruscant, I can't imagine the Senate having much opposition at your agency's aid in ferreting out any remaining enemy collaborators."

"Among our other plans regarding the Galactic Alliance and its sister governments." Luke pointed out before adding, "I can't imagine the Chiss will handle my proposal with as much grace and poise as you, Head of State Fel, and the Confederation's Parliament have, never mind the Mandalorians and Hutts."

"That's yours and your people's problem, I'm afraid. It was your idea, which means it's your hurdle to overcome." Kajin held his hands up in joking fear, earning an amused smile from Luke before the Chief of State insightfully suggested, "Although, since the Ascendancy and Mandos have had their own share of One Sith and Rhandite infiltrators and dupes, they don't have very much political ammunition or much moral high ground to use against you this time around. And the Hutts, well, I'm sure they'll swallow their pride this time around, or you can always try and cut a fair deal with them."

Luke genuinely chuckled at Kajin's tactless words of wisdom before his holocomm began chiming again. Not expecting any other messengers at this time, Luke cautiously examined the transmission code before immediately recognizing the holosignal. Turning to Kajin, he politely apologized, "I'm afraid I have to end this call, Chief of State Yimmon. The Millennium Falcon is hailing me, likely an update on the talks with Sekot and the One Sith."

Nodding in understanding, Kajin professionally gestured, "Another time, Master Jedi. Good hunting out there."

Nodding in appreciation before disconnecting the call, Luke keyed in the Millennium Falcon's holofrequency, and waited no more than thirty seconds before the signal was established enough to generate a strong image of his twin sister. Once the hologram was strong, he greeted Leia, "I'm glad to hear from you. I have good news to report on my front."

"Then it'll be better than what I have for you." Leia tiredly answered. Seeing Luke's worried frown, she clarified, "It's not an apocalyptic report, but it's just about as dark and crazy."

Learning from Leia of the fall of the Rakatan Archipelago to Abeloth's forces, to Daala purportedly going rogue from the Knights of Olpaka to wage total war on all her enemies, and the coalition's developing strategy to dealing with the Olpakans, Servants of Chaos, and the True Sith Empire of the Nihil Retreat, it all sent Luke into a complete and terrified silence.

Equally disturbing was how Leia was unable or unwilling to detail anything significant on the Last Alliance's talks on Zonama Sekot. From what Luke could discern from her carefully phrased explanation, the summit was progressing better than anyone could hope, but due to Abeloth's growing power and the secrecy required for whatever crazy plan Tau, Krayt, and Vurawn had devised, he couldn't learn any more until he arrived at Sekot to be personally debriefed.

And on a far more personal and surreal level, Luke learnt from Leia that Threepio was nearly destroyed by the Olpakans while saving Boba Fett from a droid ambush, only for him to repay the debt by offering his best people's help to repair him. Now that, that was a series of events he never could've anticipated, and neither was the report of the protocol droid's reconstruction underway by Aquilians, Mandalorinas, and Han himself. It was almost out of some cheesy holodrama popular with today's youth.

The only entirely good news in this avalanche of disturbing revelations was how Krayt had agreed to bring his remaining followers into line and fully commit to this galactic pact, and that the talks between the coalition's many factions had borne as much progress as they already had. And the Olpakans were slowly coming around to the stark reality of their untenable war, with many in their ranks agreeing to cooperate with the Last Alliance in fighting Abeloth and her shadowy manipulators was another positive note in a week of troubles.

In fact, if the reports the newly founded Olpakan Republic's spies received were true, then the Olpakan Hegemony was preparing to offer terms for a ceasefire between the rest of the galaxy. Aside from the dilemma that was Natasi Daala and the political firestorm and security fears that would erupt if she remained free, it seemed the Last Alliance was about to gain a much-needed advantage against its true adversaries.

Seeing a conflicted look on Leia's face, one well-concealed behind decades of diplomatic and Jedi training, Luke knowingly implored her, "There's something else bothering you."

Regretfully nodding, Leia began, "It's Allana. She's been experiencing more visions." Just then, the Jade Shadow's holocomm began emitting sparks, with the signal cutting out altogether a few seconds later as the ship's console suddenly burst into flames, and the vessel was spontaneously pulled out of hyperspace.

The Jade Shadow's fire suppression systems immediately came online, foam spewing out to stop the flames, Luke struggled to figure out what was happening to his ship before he felt an unfathomably strong presence fast barreling towards him. Recognizing the power and who it belonged to, he knew exactly who she was coming for and set out to repair enough of the cockpit's systems to plot a hyperspace jump, determined to protect his charges from her and whoever else she might have brought to capture or destroy him.

'Such efforts are futile when they compare to me, Skywalker. You ought to remember that from all our past battles.' The entity's ethereal voice echoed through Luke's skull, before the force kept him pinned in his pilot's chair. 'But you need not worry about the motley crew of Jedi Knights that you're carrying. I only want you for now. Your learners are inconsequential to me at this time.'

'If you surrender to my followers the moment they arrive, your fellow Jedi and the rest of your allies will be free to fight another futile day. Refuse or offer any resistance, and I will deliver onto them a fate worse than death itself.' Abeloth warned Luke before ending the unconventional message.

Sighing in defeat, Luke knew he couldn't fight Abeloth, let alone repel her forces with a meager number of fifty Jedi and their allied Force schools against her armadas. And he couldn't endanger his charges in a doomed battle. Better to let them live to fight another day, while he tried to find a way to turn this disaster into an opportunity for the Last Alliance.

But being vulnerable didn't mean he was defenseless against her. If she wanted to absorb him into her being, then he wasn't going to let her without making her work for it while warning the galaxy of what was about to happen to him. After all, Abeloth didn't know about the many custom features of the Jade Shadow and how he could still alert his loved ones and the Last Alliance of his imminent capture.

Before he could enact any possible countermeasures, Luke sensed several clusters of Force Users steeped in the Dark Side approaching. A moment later, his ship's long-range sensors and comms reactivated, just as three warships went out of hyperspace. Not recognizing the exact design but realizing that Abeloth had countless schematics and records from Maker-knows how many ships and cultures that once traversed the galaxy, Luke knew these gigantic vessels, more than twice the size of an Imperial Star Destroyer while vaguely resembling a Chiss Star Destroyer's configuration and range of weapons, had to be one of them.

Releasing the ship's lockdown, Luke prepared to deliver a fleetwide transmission, followed by an impassioned speech to his fellow Jedi, urging them to let him go and carry on the cause and the Jedi Order when he was lost.

Olpaka

Within the Capital City Jansar

"Report." Winter's stern voice crackled through the communications network established and utilized by the Olpakan Republic's informant network to Valin and Armand as the sun slowly set over the pristine city and all its mountainous buildings and natural forests.

Over the last six days, the Last Alliance and Olpakan Republic infiltration teams had slowly laid the groundwork for their joint campaign of espionage, sabotage, and assassination. And they did this all while learning the secure web of safehouses and underground passages scattered across the Olpaka Hegemony's base of operations.

Plotting the key movements of confirmed leaders of the anti-Force government and Daala's most sympathetic commanders, the Olpakan Republic's resistance network would soon be ready to send an unmistakable message to their enemies. Unbelievably, everything the insurgents wanted would all be accomplished with the help of the first batch of allies any Olpakan had accepted in untold millennia.

That is, if the news Valin and Armand would soon deliver their latest report to Winter and the rest of their superiors. But before they could try to inform her of their complications, the altered human walked up to the built-in comlink and humbly answered, "I am sorry, but Jedi Horn and Captain Vorn will be rather indisposed for a little while." Activating the transmitter's projector, he revealed himself and his two unwilling hosts, with Winter seeing the twenty men of eight different species keeping a tight vigil over their prisoners.

Recognizing the man who held her two agents and their six local allies hostage, all bound and gagged, Winter narrowed her eyes and asked with a predator's calm, "What do you want, Cylo?"

"Straight to business, then. Good, that'll save us some time." Cylo-V courteously smiled before ensuring Winter, "Rest easy, for your friends and collaborators are unharmed, aside from a few bruises and deeply wounded pride. I merely didn't wish to cause a fatal incident before we conversed." His friendly smile vanishing, the cloned human began, "We have little time left before Abeloth and her armies begin their conquest, and our peoples' cannot be at each other's throats at this pivotal moment in history."

"Regrettably, any chance of either the Olpakan Hegemony and your Last Alliance to put aside our grudges and old wounds will be virtually impossible, as long as Natasi Daala and her supporters retain their power." Cylo-V paused, letting the unspoken offer sink in for a few moments before Winter spoke,

"What, precisely, are you proposing, Doctor Cylo? We help you overthrow the current leadership and let you take the reins of power? How do we know we can trust you during, or after, this war?" Winter skeptically guessed.

"You can't, but I have no intention of taking over the Olpakan Hegemony from our Supreme Knight." Cylo-V calmly admitted. "Nevertheless, my supporters and I am the best chance you all have at ending this ancient feud with minimal casualties on both sides." Pressing a button on his wrist gauntlet, he deactivated the bindings on his eight prisoners before promising to Winter, "Confer with your leaders if you wish, but I will expect an answer to my proposal within the next forty-eight hours. I'm transmitting you a onetime code that will direct you to me, wherever I might be at the time." Walking out while putting back on his hood, he offered Armand, "My sympathies to your current predicament regarding your mother, Captain Vorn."

One Hour Later

Within the Jaga System

Aboard the Bright Reaper

"Thank you, again." Han gruffly and uncomfortably acknowledged Baltan after the Mandalorian handed him one of the final key components required to finish attaching C-3PO's newly built lower torso to the rest of his formerly mangled body. All that was left was to attach the red replacement arm for Threepio's final lost limb, and then they could power him back online.

Even after working alongside the Protectors and Aquilians for the past eight days in gathering and assembling the necessary parts to repair the damage inflicted on the protocol droid, the entire experience was still surreal to the old veteran. At least, not when overseeing and coordinating the defenses of the Last Alliance's mutual-defense agreement with the fledgling Olpakan Republic and receiving updates from High Command on the war's progression against Abeloth.

And, judging by the awkward silence and occasional attempts at conversation between the three parties, everyone was feeling the same as Han on this unusual assembly of armies. Still, the ongoing progress and exceptional cooperation by working alongside such warrior societies that Mandalore and Zakuul could produce in a normally mundane task showed how seriously everyone was taking the present dangers.

"Perhaps we ought to reactivate your protocol droid now, Captain Solo." AG-37, an IG-series Assassin droid under the Aquilians' command structure, suggested to Han. "I believe we have repaired enough of Threepio's systems to attempt a restart and bring him up to speed on our current situation." Seeing the skeptical look on the Corellian's face, he reassured, "I'm sure we can keep him from suffering a nervous breakdown if he is too distraught by his severed arm."

Having been reprogrammed by the Aquilians to serve them as a long-range scout and instructor on mainstream galactic society's droids, the one time killer had been an uncomfortable allowance for Han to work alongside. But since Julius vouched for AG-37, it was enough for most to grudgingly accept the unusual addition, even Han. And this daring suggestion from the Zakuul scout, the proposal made the old general wonder if the droid had more than a few circuits loose in his head.

Before anyone could voice any comments, the repair bay spontaneously began shooting out sparks, zapping several occupants as the rest of the ship began suffering electrical shortages. Every manner of electric equipment seemed to be going haywire, like the Bright Reaper was suffering a viral attack or experiencing a total systems failure.

"What the blazes?!" Han shouted before a sudden burst of electricity hit Threepio and AG-37, the blast jumping off the gold-plated protocol droid into the reformed assassin, throwing the active droid against a bulkhead and making his head quickly spin around and limbs spasm as if he was having a seizure. "Kriff!" He cursed.

At that moment, Threepio, the electricity briefly dancing around him, sat straight up, his photoreceptors shining bright as he turned to Han, asking, "Hello, General Solo. If I may ask, what am doing here when I should be preparing to accompany Mandalore Fett and the Aquilian Paladins against the Olpakan command ship?" Glancing at his body, seeing his blue-colored lower half and his missing right arm, he panickedly shrieked, "Oh, my! What happened to me?!"

"Not now, Goldenrod!" Han shut Threepio up before the Bright Reaper's light just shut down, along with every other nonessential system aboard the ship that he could recognize and hear deactivate.

Moments later, Baltan, pressing a hand to his helmet, quickly answered, "Seems this outage is affecting more than just this ship. Every ship in the system is suffering failure, and High Admiral Gaia is ordering a hard shutdown of all systems to avoid their complete destruction."

As if answering the next obvious question, Baltan spoke, "Our Aquilian Paladins and Master Organa Solo are reporting that this was a Force-based attack by Abeloth. She used this as a distraction to cover her real objective and darkest victory to date."

Turning to Han, Baltan, almost sympathetically, warned him, "We'll fix up Agee and the ship. You need to see your wife and the High Admiral. They'll deliver the rest of the news in person aboard your ship while you alert the rest of our leadership of this disaster. Abeloth is about to make her big push on us, and we're nowhere near ready to face her."

Fifteen Minutes Earlier

Sunrise System, Zonama Sekot

Far Distance Islands

Aboard the Jade's Legacy

As the sun started rising above the Bora trees that dotted their night retreat in their ship, just outside a batch of ruins dating back to the planet's first settlers, Ben and Vestara, falling asleep in each other's arms last evening after enjoying an evening picnic and romantic getaway, slowly awoke from their peaceful slumber.

Away from any prying eyes and just enjoying each other's company, the betrothed couple discussed dozens of topics the previous evening: from their past exploits when they weren't trying to kill each other, to plans to help rebuild Kesh as a Jedi stronghold and fully integrate it into the galactic community, and their dream to start a family together after these wars ended, there was never a dull moment for the lovely duo. There might have been plenty of tender ones, but never any that were boring or unimportant.

Slowly rising from their reprieve, stretching their stiff bodies before rising out of their shared bed and changing out of their night attire, there was no need for any words to be spoken between Ben and Vestara. The contentment and joy they shared over their Force bond, mixed in with grim anticipation at the second day of talks and the escalating galactic disasters, it was obvious to any who might stray past them.

But, just like every year's changing seasons, the couple's privacy was inevitably broken by their scheduled meeting with their fellow conspirators in the revived Je'daii Order. Keeping a tight schedule in the ongoing negotiations while maintaining confidentiality of the secret society's operations, Ben prepared his ship to accept a few expected guests and open a secure transmission to their precious few contacts in the One Sith.

Barely two minutes later, hearing a familiar melody Ben once sang to his father in an absurdly and comically high voice, the Jedi Master opened the boarding ramp to allow Allana, Tau, Chelli, Edaan, and Adari to enter his ship. Silently welcoming aboard the Jade's Legacy, letting them gather around the small gathering area while Vestara allowed Ship and his guests access to the small warship's comm system.

Letting the clear projections of Yiv, Ochi, and Darth Invidious compose themselves on the Jade's Legacy's holoscreen, everyone could tell that this report deeply troubled all the Sith turncoats, provided the concerned creases of their eyebrows and tense composure was a clear indication. The Arkanian Sith Lord, the most composed out of the trio, began his report, "Krayt has reached an accord with all his remaining commanders and dissenting disciples. There shouldn't be any further defections in our ranks going forward, at least in large numbers."

"But that isn't what most troubles you." Vestara knowingly surmised, recognizing the telltale signs in the One Sith's Director of Intelligence's pale white eyes and facial expressions. "Does he suspect anyone?"

"It's not us that's about to come under investigation." Invidious cautiously began. "Wyyrlok conferred with me after our summit, and he believes that Lord Krayt is being swayed away from the Sith Code by Tau and both your experiences with the Celestials. He wants me and a select few others to observe the Dread Lord and see if he needs 'proper course correction.'"

"He is secluding himself away in his personal quarters when he isn't convening with our commanders and Tau, and no one is able to reach him." Ochi added. "If he's going through a crisis of faith, it may be fertile ground for us to lay the groundwork for recruiting him."

"That's if we can maintain the Last Alliance against this triad of evil and weather whatever intrigue Krayt's disciples are plotting." Allana worriedly pointed out. "Perhaps we need to accelerate our recruitment efforts."

"We're moving as carefully and quickly as we can, Jedi Solo." Yiv patiently reminded Allana. "I am preparing to reach out to seven of my most trusted commanders and peers to pitch your proposal to them, but it will still take time."

"What if we invite a number of unconventional members into our order?" Tau suggested. "If we want to rebuild the Je'daii Order, then we might as well start from the ground up and recruit people beyond just the Jedi and Sith. And building a galactic order's infrastructure will take far more than faith and skill."

"You already have a few candidates in mind, I'm sure." Ben knowingly stated.

"More than a few, Ben." Edaan agreed. "Several military leaders, key diplomats and economic titans, and at least ten members from each friendly Force Order we're allied with, including a small number that might be reachable from the One Sith's ranks."

Before anyone could add anything to this unexpected and bold proposal, a strong shockwave blasted everyone off their sitting positions, the force of the blow nearly enough to make their skulls crack from the sheer dark intensity alone. And this power, it belonged to a being most were quite familiar with, making them wonder just what Abeloth had done now.

Barely able to rise from the nausea from the dark reverberations, Ben suddenly seized up, collapsing back onto the hard bulkhead before anyone could catch him and started to shiver uncontrollably while muttering incoherently.

"BEN!" Vestara shrieked, coming to his side, all her pain forgotten to rush to her beloved to try and stabilize him while Allana rushed to get the ship's emergency medkit for examining him.

Right as Allana returned, the Jade's Legacy's holocomm reactivated, and everyone was prepared to shut off the transmission before a haggard Leia appeared, and the projection terrifyingly and heartbrokenly started to speak, "Abeloth has captured Luke."

Two Hours Later

Nelona 21st, 59 ABY

Red Honeycomb Zone Border

Aboard the Galactic-class Battle Carrier Dodonna

More than anything right now, Kyp wanted to get into his StealthX fighter and go after Abeloth himself. Sensing the capture of the man who gave him purpose and offered forgiveness after his possession by a long-dead Sith Lord by an evil far more malignant, it ripped his heart apart knowing he was so close to the Bringer of Chaos's domain of evil but was powerless to stop her. At the minimum, he could be working to dismantle the Knights of Olpakan force trying to break through the ship's barriers or try to rescue Luke.

But instead, Kyp was stuck on the bridge of a long-served Galactic Alliance warship, coordinating the failing blockade of Abeloth's region of space and paving the groundwork for its eventual liberation. And trying to hamper their minimal effectiveness was one of Daala's fleets in their mad mission of trying to destroy Exegol through means as crude and indiscriminate as her resonance torpedoes. Even though the enemy fleet had been trying to bypass the Last Alliance blockade for the past five hours, except for the half-hour intermission by the shockwaves from the Celestial granddaughter nearly incapacitating all ships, they hadn't made any progress. In fact, all it accomplished was giving the blockade fleets a much-needed outlet for their boredom and frustrations.

How could Daala be so repetitive and self-destructive as to utilize the same weapons Kyp once used to wreak havoc when influenced by Exar Kun's ghost in destroying the Cauldron Nebula and Carida System? Had she learnt nothing from past atrocities and failures, or was she so desperate to avoid facing the harsh reality now before everyone?

Distracted from his ruminations by the explosion consuming an Olpakan destroyer, the sixth one defeated so far, by Kyp's recollection, he glanced at the vice admiral in charge of the Galactic Alliance's portion of the blockade. Seeing Kara, an Aporthad with dozens of cybernetic attachments, including a lower torso and many cranial enhancements, coordinate the battle with peak efficiency and prevent the enemy from making any headway in their advance, it almost made the Jedi Master wonder why he was assigned to this undesirable mission.

Catching his breath in his throat, Kyp clutched his head in agony from the inferno of darkness that now roared all throughout the Red Honeycomb Zone. And, judging from the horrendous screams reverberating throughout the Dodonna's bridge, everyone else aboard the carrier was being affected by the same terrible power to a worse degree than the Jedi Master was.

Fighting through the pain, Kara gritted out to Kyp, "We're… getting a transmission from the Olpakan command warship."

"I'll talk with them and try to steer them out of the coming onslaught." Kyp responded to the Vice Admiral before ordering, "Send out an Omega-Level message to High Command and all our regional forces. Abeloth is about to show us her full strength, and we need to evacuate the region before we're all slaughtered. We'll regroup from there. Then, we can warn the Olpakans and get them out of the enemy's way."

Hurrying to the command center, Kyp keyed in the Olpakan warship's frequency, and the tall image of an enraged commodore, judging from the man's rank insignia and plaques, heatedly demanded, "I don't know what sorcery you think you're doing here, but-"

"Cut the tough talk and get out of here!" Kyp shouted back. Taking several quick breaks to steady himself, the Jedi Master, adopting a calmer tone, urged the Olpakan Commodore, "Abeloth is unleashing her full might against us, starting with this Force-based attack, and we don't stand a chance against her people if Daala continues this insane war. You need to evacuate before all your soldiers are slaughtered or worse."

"Take a message to your Daala and whoever else still stands with her. Urge them to lay down your vendettas and work with us to destroy Abeloth and those of the Nihil Retreat. Otherwise, everything that happens to the galaxy will be on your heads." Slamming his hand down on the console, deactivating the communication, praying that Kyp's warning got through to this enemy to end this meager war and focus entirely on the one that truly matters.

Jaga System

Aboard the Errant Venture

"Enemy fleet detected." The ship's sensor officer warned Mirax. "Long range scans picking up at least seventy Olpakan ships about to revert outside system, around fifty warship class and twenty escort class."

"And Daala herself?" Mirax asked, remembering the reports Vurawn and Wedge had shared with her regarding the Olpakan Hegemony's fractured unity and their espionage teams' significant headway. If the intel was to be believed, then Cylo-V was working against the fractured Hegemony's goals for his own purposes and was willing to cooperate with the Last Alliance to attain them. The ex-Imperial scientist had already rescued several fleets' worth of delegates and leaders from Abeloth's forces on their way to Zonama Sekot, and now he was purportedly prepared to sabotage his government's anti-Force efforts to accelerate their defeat, convincing most of his councilors and their supreme leader to seek an accord with the rest of the galaxy. It was an offer High Command couldn't afford to pass up, risks could be kriffed.

Whether or not Cylo-V and his confederates could be trusted long-term, that was an issue for another day. Right now, he, his likeminded High Councilors, and their Supreme Knight were all willing to help the Last Alliance end the war with the Olpakan Hegemony to focus on Abeloth and the Nihil Retreat's true masters. And he was promising the means to soon allow the capture of Daala and many of her key supporters, a deal Mirax would take any day if it meant getting justice for her daughter's murder.

"Scans indicate a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer leading the fleet. Its configuration matches the readings of Daala's flagship by about eighty-six percent." The sensors officer reported.

This was it. This would be the battle to capture or destroy Natasi Daala and end her decades-long reign of chaos across the galaxy, and Mirax Terrik Horn would be glad to be a part of this momentous day for a wide litany of reasons and motivations. Soon after, the Olpakan Hegemony and its poisonous hatred of all things the Force touched, it would fall and something infinitely nobler would take its place as the Olpakan Republic.

Suddenly, the hologram of Vice Admiral Xeal barged in, breaking Mirax's focus, and he appeared more troubled than when Daala last laid siege to this system. "Break off your defensive formations. The Hegemony's forces are preparing to withdraw. My contacts are just reporting that Daala and her people have far more pressing and demanding problems closer to home to contend with."

"Ma'am, the enemy fleet… It's turning around." The comms officer reported, confused at what he was hearing. "I'm intercepting several stray transmissions from a few fringe Olpakan ships. They're receiving orders to maintain full combat readiness for when they arrive to the Carthea System."

The Carthea System? Mirax remembered that system was the nerve center of Cylo-V's operations, on a cluster of hyperspace routes for the Hegemony, and had three planets that were naval and agricultural centers. What was happening now that could stop Daala's rampage dead in its tracks?

"The Carthea System is under siege." The Olpakan Rebel leader elaborated. "Mnggal-Mnggal is attacking two of its worlds, and the whole Hegemony is being recalled in order to try and 'contain the problem.' it's only a matter of time before more of Abeloth's people take advantage of this disaster." Struggling to continue, Gavin Xeal begged Mirax, "Get as many Jedi, Sith, and every other Force group you have out here as fast as you can, and help us save as many lives as possible before they scorch the afflicted worlds clean of all life. We'll deal with Daala later if we can."

Stunned at the sudden admission, Mirax mentally fumbled through her words before composing herself, promising the ex-Vice Admiral, "I'll make the calls to Sekot and our forward commands right away, and prepare my fleet to help yours while reaching out for whatever other support we can muster." Pausing, she suggested, "But we need to prepare for the probability that Daala won't accept our help at all. She never was amenable when she set her mind to a task or conviction."

"As I just told you," Gavin sternly reminded Mirax, "We'll deal with Daala when that opportunity presents itself." Something in the rebel leader's voice made her realize that one way or another, Natasi Daala's survivor's streak was about to finally run out.

Well, I'd say this is a sufficient place to finish the first draft of my darkest chapter yet for Jedi Odyssey V! So, what did you all think of it? Do you think it was dark and believable enough for you all? I plan to reevaluate it later so I can see if I can improve the story in any conceivable way, after I complete Chapter 13, of course. In other news, how are you doing on this cold and stormy day of Tuesday, January 9, 2024? I'm all right, if a bit disappointed from not getting the first library job, but I already applied for another one, so I'm not done yet. And my internship starts either this week or next week, so that's good news. Well, I suppose that's all I need to say for today. I hope you all stay safe on this stormy day, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!