Good evening, everyone! How are you all faring on this cool night of Wednesday, November 15, 2023? I'm well, if feeling a bit lazy today. But things will pick back up for me soon enough, as I will be doing yard work for a neighbor over the next few weeks, along with getting back to my part-time job next week after an unexpected week off due to a lack of hours. In the meantime, I figured I'd work on the next chapter of my story while I still had a few hours left in the night. I hope you are all ready for plenty of heartfelt conversations, space battles, and dark maneuvering and machinations in the chapter. Well, with all the small talk out of the way, I'd best get started on this piece, as I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and will need to get ready a bit early. May the Lord be with us all in these dark times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
(Monday, December 11, 2023, Addendum.) Good evening, all you Star Wars Legends devotees! How are you faring on this cold night as the Winter Holidays are upon us? Are you all enjoying the Christmas season, or Hannukah, Kwanza, or whatever other holiday you might celebrate? I hope you're all staying safe, hanging out with family and friends, and just being grateful for all you've been blessed with in life. But I didn't come on just for idle chitchat, I wanted to explain my absence these last few weeks. I've been busy writing the three chapters I just published, but I might need to take a hiatus after the 5th Kesh Interlude, so I can read a few Sci-Fi books and learn more of how to write combat scenes and better detail my surroundings. Since these chapters were big game changers, I wanted to get as much help I could, so I reached out to some friends for input, and the help I received was invaluable. Although I might be off after this for a while, I won't be slacking off, that I promise you. Well, I'd best get these three chapters published before I forget. May the Lord be with us all in these Dark Times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
Nelona 11th, 59 ABY
Olpakan Space, Jaga System
Aboard the Errant Venture
Armand could hardly believe the sight unfolding, even as he had previously been involved in the ongoing talks before the Last Alliance and Olpakan Hegemony's dissidents. Even as the few remaining Olpakan Loyalists continued to try and break through the weary rebels' lines, now bolstered by the Last Alliance's more militaristic and Force-blind members, their lines would not break.
Replenished by the navies of the galaxy's more independent powers over the last two days, the besieged rebels were soon able to drive most of the enemy back to the system's three outlying worlds. The Dorenans and Mandalorians proved especially vicious against their shared adversaries with the former's prototype Starhawk battlecruisers and the latter's legendary lethality in battle. And midway throughout the bitter brawl, the carnage already littering the system with the wreckage of hundreds of starfighters of varied sizes and configurations, the Olpakan Resistance unleashed its own share of surprises against their more fanatical and mainstream brethren.
With each of the fifteen inhabited worlds and their star systems actively opposing their region's madness, all possessing a vital piece of the Olpakan Hegemony's overall war machine, their capabilities were only limited by their imagination. And having long prepared for war against their people's sworn enemies, practicing on neighboring worlds and smaller nations to perfect their war doctrine, they had quite an active and innovative set of minds. By learning from their enemies and working to refine the droid armies the known worlds had utilized over the many millennia, and using superior technology left over from the long-lost mechanical planet of Iokath, the defecting worlds had built up an incredible mechanical army, the numbers and likes of which had not been seen since the height of the Clone War.
Utilizing starfighters vastly resembling the Vulture Droids and Tri-Fighters that hallmarked the Confederacy of Independent Systems' droid armies, alongside stronger craft approximating that of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Olpakan rebels' final reinforcements could fully turn the battle's tide. Bearing weapons far superior and stronger to their original designs, and far more agile than the Olpakan's conventional armaments, the Loyalists were slowly driven back until the final twenty warships were all but ready to withdraw, aside from their flagship and another ten capital vessels that wouldn't surrender.
With victory all but in sight for the unlikely conglomerate of allies, each Last Alliance faction commander began negotiations with the Olpakan deserters' leadership two hours ago. And the discussions, after tense introductions were made and initial insults hurled, were bearing impressive results. Among the five insurgent commanders and their leader in Vice Admiral Gavin Xeal, a former Mid-Councilor before deserting upon learning the full scope of his people's anti-Force based depravities, all but one of the officers was amenable to the terms of the offer the Last Alliance was presenting them.
In return for ending its bigoted practices and experiments on Force Users, its plans for galactic domination, and turning over its war criminals to a joint tribunal after the current wars ended, the Olpakan rebels, once the Hegemony was overthrown, would join the Last Alliance's efforts against Abeloth and the Nihil Retreat. And after the war ended, presuming the Celestial abomination and the True Sith Empire were destroyed, the soon-to-be founded Olpakan Republic would be integrated into the galaxy as one of its member states, just as the Rakata would be, with a moderate level of oversight to ensure the terms of both their agreements were upheld.
Of course, all this hinged on being able to defeat the mainstream Olpakan society and force its leadership to capitulate and surrender its most brilliant, dangerous, and depraved minds. And to accomplish this, they needed all the information they could acquire on this faraway land. Which was why, as Mirax and her command staff within the crimson-painted Star Destroyer worked to establish a line of communication to Csilla to enable a pact against the Olpakan High Council, Armand, Valin, and their team were now all being briefed by Wedge Antilles and his advisors on a critical mission of his own making.
Apprehensive of the task currently being given to him, Armand knew what he wanted to be doing- no, what he needed to do. Hunting down and cleansing the blight on his family's honor was far more important to him than helping the rebels infiltrate the heart of the Olpakan Hegemony and reporting on one of their High Councilor's most important activities. Even if he intellectually understood how dismantling Natasi Daala's power base would be crucial to putting her down for good, it wasn't enough for him. No, after the hellfire she put him and countless innocents through, he wanted to ruin her in every possible way, make sure her devil-possessed soul never saw the light of day, and her vile name never recovered from the scandals that trailed her legacy. It wasn't like him, he knew, but he couldn't help the anger and shame he felt at being associated with her, and he had to sever all ties with her before he and his family could finally move on with their lives.
"You all set out in no more than sixteen hours. Dismissed." Wedge concluded, breaking through Armand's vengeful ruminations.
But before everyone could depart, or in Armand and Valin's cases, question the new assignment, the Rogues Gallery's leader requested, "Captain Vorn, Jedi Horn, I need to have a private word with you both before you leave."
Having a hunch on what this impromptu meeting was about, both men nodded before Armand secured the conference chamber, and Valin secured the communication line with his mother's personal encryption codes. Once they were seated, Wedge sympathetically began, "I understand this is a difficult assignment for you both to accept. When I was seventeen, I went after my parents' killer and nearly did him in when no one else could. Only, Loka Hask survived and returned years later to cause me more grief, and it nearly got Rogue Squadron and countless innocents killed in the process."
"And you're trying to tell us that revenge isn't going to solve anything." Valin bitterly surmised. "You're trying to protect us from our anger and keeping us from becoming no better than Daala and her people."
"It's not just about honoring your Jedi teachings or saving your souls." Wedge firmly interrupted. "I may have pushed for this assignment for you two, but it's about far more than protecting you from your darker impulses. Where you're going, you'll need every emotion you can feel to survive."
"Then why-?" Armand surprisingly began before he began realizing what Wedge was inferring. "You want us to go for the heart of my mother's capabilities and deprive her of her last possible refuge."
"That's not all of my reasons." Wedge elaborated. "If you go after Daala and her fleets now when you're driven solely by revenge, you'll be playing right into her hands and sign your death warrants. To stop her for good, we're going to need to both outwit and overpower her. And to do that, the Last Alliance and our new friends need to know what the Olpakan Hegemony is planning as it occurs, all while we all work to counter her depraved campaigns."
"And you really think it's a good idea to have a Jedi Knight as part of this team when they're journeying into the heart of enemy territory?" Valin skeptically pointed out.
"That's why you'll all be infiltrating the Hegemony's capital world alongside a select group of the rebels. Many of them have experience in ferrying fugitive Force Users to safe havens, and they can use that to keep you shielded from the worst of the dangers out there." Wedge clarified. "It'll hopefully buy you enough time to operate in the shadows until we can force the Hegemony to surrender."
"It's a mad plan." Armand bitterly chuckled before he ruefully agreed, "And I have to admit, it's one that my mother and her cronies will never see coming."
"Then, you're okay with this mad assignment?!" Valin incredulously realized.
"Yes, because I think we'll be doing much more damage to her cause behind enemy lines than just chipping away at her from the front lines." Armand enjoyably, borderline sadistically, pointed out. "And I think you ought to take part in this."
Valin, severely conflicted over the near-sadistic and obsessive glean in Armand's eyes, turned to a troubled Wedge, and knew what the old general was silently asking of him. But before he made his decision or agreed to keep his friend's vendetta in check, he had to ensure this mission would have the best possible support. "Since this will be an espionage and sabotage operation, I assume you'll be providing us with a few professionals, whether or not I participate."
"We will." Wedge nodded. "Iella handpicked ten operatives to assist you and the rebels in this task, and Targeter herself is coming along as an advisor to you all." Shocked at the gesture of Winter Celchu, a long-serving intelligence operative dating back to the Rebel Alliance's early years and possessing a perfect memory, joining this mission, Valin suddenly felt this plan had a greater chance of success. And since she understood better than most how to efficiently process grief and vengeance after her homeworld of Alderaan was vaporized by the first Death Star, it would minimize the risk of Armand falling down the same moral pitfalls that claimed his mother and serve as a makeshift mentor for the Jedi Knight and everyone else.
Nodding, Valin earnestly vowed, "In that case, I'm in. I'll do it to make sure there aren't any more victims of the mainstream Olpakans' zealotry and hatred. It'll be the best way to honor Jysella and the countless other victims that Daala has destroyed."
Hyperspace, On Route to the Tulpaa System
Zonama Sekot
Far Distance Islands
Witnessing the troubled skies of Zonama Sekot, with storm clouds gathering across much of the planet as a clear sign of the planet's journey through hyperspace and preparations for battle, the Palpatine couple was taking a final moment to enjoy each other's company before entering the war against their enemies. With both Human and Keshiri each bearing deep scars against the mad entity and eager for justice, Edaan and Adari knew their reentry to the greater galaxy would not be a pleasant one. Which was why they were just basking in the tranquility and harmony of this living miracle of the Force, sitting in the heart of a beautiful garden, before this fleeting peace was lost, especially when the expecting mother was left behind to protect their two unborn children from the myriad of dangers that awaited the Last Alliance.
Breaking the comfortable silence, aside from the winds buffeting the skies above, Adari admitted, "I wish you didn't have to go and leave me behind." We've been a team for over a year, and not being by your side now, it feels like my heart's already broken again." Fighting the tears that threatened to break out, she bitterly acknowledged, "But I know you have to, because it's embedded in your very being to help save the galaxy and everyone that calls it home. And you can't do that very well while worrying about me and our future family."
"I don't want to leave you or the kids either, my love." Edaan sorrowfully agreed, yearning more than ever that he could cry alongside his one true love. "Fighting alongside the Sith after all they did to us, going up against Abeloth and her allies, and trying to make it out with my mind and soul intact, it's going to be the hardest endeavor of my life. I'm afraid of what I'm going to do in these next few months, if not years of warring against her."
"I know." Adari softly said before supportively gripping Edaan's hand and admitting, "But I know you'll make it through this. I have faith in you, even when you don't have much of it in yourself. You'll do what's right for everyone, not because of any ancient traditions or because of an old debt or vow, but because it's who you are."
"You'll come back to me, to our children, and we'll go to Kesh and help do what we pledged to do so long ago. We'll rebuild my people's civilization and make it a bastion of the Light, all while helping heal the deep scars that the Sith left on my home and the galaxy." Adari reminded her love.
"And I'll keep my promise." Edaan wholeheartedly vowed, turning his scarred face to have his forehead touch Adari's, promising, "I'll come back to you, and we'll breathe new life and good into the galaxy while helping to build a galaxy of peace and good for all." Pausing, he anxiously added, "That is, if the Sith don't break the truce when we win this war."
"We'll deal with that possibility if and when that time comes." Adari calmly reminded Edaan. "Even if they betray us, we'll still revive the Je'daii Order and prepare the galaxy for when the Final Days arrive. Secret society or out in the open, we'll do what we must to save all those we can." Tenderly kissing her beloved, she added, "And no matter what comes our way, we'll always face the dangers together until the day we die."
'A most noble endeavor and series of promises you both have made, young Palpatines.' The familiar and ethereal voice of Sekot spoke, appearing in the form of a young Danni Quee before the couple. 'One of my deepest hopes is that you will both be around to see the great future you are creating for all those in the galaxy.'
Edaan, realizing the hidden meaning behind Sekot's cryptic wording as he rose to his feet, asked the specter, "Have you had more visions of what might be?"
"Not in the way you believe." Sekot answered. "But the darkness spreading from across the galaxy, it will be upon us all in a matter of days. And it will test us all in every conceivable way for the mind, body, spirit. And the evils pouring out possess forbidden power and knowledge the galaxy has not seen in millennia."
"What do we have to deal with now?" Adari desperately asked.
"Did you truly think the One Sith, Sorcerers of Rhand, and Abeloth are the darkest threats that remain to endanger all life?" Sekot ruefully challenged. "The latter two are merely the first harbingers of the greater evils that are returning. And the galaxy cannot hope to stand against them in its weakened state."
"What are you saying? We've lost everything before the war's even begun?" Edaan warily pressed, realizing that if the truearchitects of evil in all creation appeared now, then all light was on the verge of eternally being snuffed out. If the Old Ones, those that manipulated the Bedlam Spirits and countless others into wickedness, condemned countless species to darkness, and were the first to rebel against the Celestials and the Supreme Maker, would soon be freed, then the galaxy was all but certainly doomed.
"Not yet, for the galaxy will still not face this darkness for many more decades, perhaps a century, if my visions have been accurately interpreted." Sekot assured the couple, before its incorporeal image warned, "But I can sense a servant of these wicked powers working in the shadows alongside Abeloth, someone I cannot identify who is trying to accelerate the return of this evil. And whoever is responsible for these machinations, they must be stopped before their designs can reach completion, or all willtruly be lost."
Finding his voice after the weight of the warnings appeared, Edaan asked Sekot, "Who, outside of your priests, have you talked to about these revelations?"
"No one yet." Sekot answered. "I wanted to discuss this with you before disclosing the truth, because I can sense a shatterpoint emanating between you and those that carry on your bloodline. The power you carry will eventually rival that of the Skywalkers, if my priests have interpreted the visions right."
Blanching at the thought of attaining new galactic prestige and infamy, Adari wearily whined, "And here I thought we'd get a chance to settle down after this war."
"Well, if you wish to have a few years to recover from the tumult of your order's typical heroics, I would be honored to give you a respite and allow you to settle here." Sekot kindly offered. "Consider it a way to show my gratitude for all you've done for the innocent, all while helping the Je'daii Order refine its creed and build a strong foothold in what you call the 'Unknown Regions.'"
Genuinely smiling and chuckling in amusement over the generous proposition, Edaan jokingly commended Sekot, "And here many people think you don't know much about bargaining with the rest of the galaxy. Maybe when this is over, you can take up a career as a galactic mediator."
Enjoying seeing Edaan's relaxed attitude, Sekot cryptically added, "I believe I would have far more to offer than operating as a peacemaker."
Following Sekot's admission, six bright pillars of light arose from the ground, each bearing an immense strength in the Force and having a presence Edaan perfectly recognized from the spirits that helped forge him into the man he was today. Suddenly, the Jedi Knight realized that there were hidden depths to the planet's power that he would never reach, or even fully fathom.
Twilight's Void Outskirts
Aboard the Ballista-class Cruiser Bright Reaper
"Captain Solo, Mistress Leia, we're receiving a transmission from Mandalore Fett." Threepio urgently called out to both Solos. "He said he and High Admiral Gaia have just finished devising a plan to defeat the Olpakan fleet, and they are requesting our participation."
'What kind of crazy scheme could two have cooked up without me?' Han tiredly griped after finishing his final run of repairs on the Millennium Falcon and wiping the lubricant remains off his face with a rag. After the last two hours of emergency maintenance, preceded by the previous twelve of holding back the Knights of Olpaka ambushers, the Last Alliance fleet knew it was running short on options and time.
Despite the Last Alliance's unwavering resolve and creativity in dealing several heavy losses to their enemies, the Olpakans maintained the advantage by protecting its gravity well generators and jamming arrays between a near impenetrable wall of firepower. Their flagship in the Resurgent-class Star Destroyer and six similar designed warships that were leading the assault on the diverse naval coalition were especially proving their technological lethality and superiority. In fact, the seven more advanced destroyers or dreadnoughts had hardly suffered any damage from the handful of bombing runs and turbolaser attacks that were able to make contact.
Leia, seeing the weariness in Han's posture, asked Threepio, "Did they offer any specifics on this strategy of theirs?"
"I am afraid so, Mistress." Threepio anxiously confirmed. "They wanted me to accompany their teams of commandos on a mad assault on the lead Olpakan warship to try and commandeer it."
"What about us?" Han rudely asked. "Do they really think we're going to sit this fight out while you go right into the heart of this battle?"
"The High Admiral asked that you both assist him in maintaining our momentum and dividing the enemy's focus." Threepio answered. "What do you suggest I do?"
Before Han could contact Boba and Julius and berate them for considering such a moronic plan, Leia patiently asked, "Why does Julius insist on only you go along?"
"He said that my fluency in understanding over six million languages would be crucial in deciphering the Olpakan's security systems and assisting in capturing the Fulminatrix." Threepio explained. "And he apologizes, but also told me that he senses how you two are severely exhausted from your role in fighting the enemy and does not wish to risk your lives any further, not after all you have done already for us."
Veins ready to burst out from Han's neck at the thinly veiled insult, Leia surprised everyone by saying, "They're right. Your expertise will be invaluable on this assignment, and Han and I can help the fleet in other ways. We'll be on the bridge until you get back."
Seeing the distraught look on Han's face, Leia gave him a knowing glance, one he recognized all too well from the many other times their aged bodies kept them from fighting as fiercely and long as they once could. And after all the intense work they had done in trying to dismantle the Olpakans' blockade, leading several attack runs on their positions and defending from reprisals, a reprieve from direct fighting would be useful.
Bitterly relenting, Han told Threepio, "Do what you need to do to help us survive, but just be careful. I'd hate to tell Allana that her vision might actually be coming true."
"Oh, that would be most dreadful indeed." Threepio worriedly agreed before scurrying off to prepare for his new mission, while Han and Leia started making their way towards the bridge to assist Julius in coordinating the overall battle, wondering when they had gotten so old that their fatigue was so easily visible to all.
Nelona 12th, 59 ABY
Tulpaa System
Aboard the Tython's Ashes
Everything was quickly moving into place. Over the last thirty-six hours, the Servants of Chaos flotilla had been carefully maneuvering each of their vessels through the carnage between their decimated followers and the Last Alliance's growing number of fleets. Thankfully, the current battle underway that was decimating Abeloth's Bothans and the Rhandites served as the perfect cover for the covert force to sneak through with minimal risk of detection.
At their current pace, the small fleet would be ready to unleash pandemonium on their unsuspecting enemies. Even without Abeloth's main force arriving any time soon, the flotilla led by Tor Valum and Keldo would be more than sufficient to begin the complete capture of this strategically vital region. Hidden behind stygium crystals and an ancient Force cloaking technique, the corvette was slowly approaching their target, almost ready to turn the battle around and drive the Last Alliance out of the Bringer of Chaos's rightful domain.
That would especially be true when both Tor and Keldo seized their primary target and reactivated its long-dormant capabilities. While the remainder of the Servants' force would concentrate their attention on Tulpaa itself and work to rally their beleaguered followers, the command ship would concentrate on reactivating the Star Forge that had been stationed in this star system for eons.
Among the Rakatan Infinite Empire's greatest fusions of technology and the Force, none surpassed the three Star Forges that enabled the cannibalistic race to conquer so many worlds throughout the galaxy. And although the Lehon station, capable of drawing on energy to mass-produce virtually any mechanical tool of war, the remaining two were still long unaccounted for by the known galaxy. That is, until the accursed Arhul Hextrophon uncovered their locations and completed his most important work before his demise.
It was only through the galaxy's ignorance of the supernatural that the last two Rakata space stations hadn't been discovered, utilized by another power, or destroyed long before now. Not even the One Sith would risk commanding the Tulpaa Forge, knowing how Abeloth had imprinted a piece of her being into each station to maximize their power and efficiency, a terrible mistake that was about to cost them dearly. In just another twenty-four hours, the Tython's Ashes crew would reach the facility and begin the process of reactivating all its ancient capabilities. Soon, once the Last Alliance was driven out of the sector, the Bringer of Chaos and True Sith Empire's armies of converts would be genetically augmented into a force unlike any the galaxy had seen before, and they would be unstoppable.
"It can't be…" A soft voice interrupted Tor's concentration in shielding the ship from any form of detection, making him glance at his crew. Hearing Keldo incoherently mutter to himself, the Grysk sage was prepared to address the intrusion when he felt a shining ray of light approach his ship, an impossibility that he must now address. But the Parnassos-born ex-Sith angrily explained, "Tor, this shouldn't be possible, but… my sister, curse her many times over, she found me through our old bond. And she's using others to hunt us in her stead while she fights our thralls down on Tulpaa."
Alarm creasing through Tor at the risk of being compromised, he maintained his concentration while faintly sensing the swarm of activity fast approaching the concealed ship. Prepared to extend his awareness in the Force to identify the hunters, he then felt a new presence shine all around and through the large corvette, breaking everyone's concentration and exposing it to all their enemies. Unable to recognize the technique used to breach the cloak, the ancient Grysk knew it had to belong to one of the many younger Force Orders that the Jedi had recruited to their cause. A troublesome wrinkle that he would have to assess before determining how to best retaliate and try to corrupt them.
Suddenly, the mission to reactivate the Tulpaa Forge was about to get a lot more complicated. Sensing the immediate surprise and anger from the Last Alliance's hundreds of Force-aware members, Tor knew they would be quick to respond and would do everything in their power to prevent them from reaching their intended target.
So be it. The Sorcerers of Rhand would simply have to get more creative in undermining the Last Alliance until theirs' and Abeloth's forces arrived. Tor, contacting his pilots, ordering the Grysk commandos, "Change of plans. Take us down to Tulpaa, get us as close to Skal'nas City as you can."
"My Lord?" The lead pilot perplexingly asked. "What about our original objective? Our majesties insisted that we capture-"
"We can't risk drawing the enemy to the Forge before we're ready!" Tor impatiently snapped. "Right now, we need to buy time until our Mistress's fleets arrive to take the system, and what better way than appearing to try and eliminate our only body of opposition among the Rakata and the Avatars of Nihpal and Eipha?"
Keldo, seeing where Tor was going with this, suggested, "Then it might be best if we signal the rest of our ships and all our allies on route, and have them prepare to make their move a bit ahead of schedule."
"A wise idea, honored acolyte." Tor enthusiastically agreed, grateful that at least one of his subordinates was keeping a clear head right now - at least, as clear a crazed ex-Sith could - before ordering the enlightened commando, "Send the signal at once, then we make a beeline straight for Tulpaa."
All the while, Tor covertly sent out his own signal to the Nihil Retreat, ordering the True Sith Empire to accelerate its own preparations for war. With the Servants of Chaos and their lesser slaves from the Red Honeycomb Zone serving as the perfect decoy for the Last Alliance and Knights of Olpaka, their greater lords and servants were able to evade detection and ready themselves to use the Bringer of Chaos, the so-called Mother of the Ones, in conquering all their shared enemies. Among the dozen star clusters that made up the isolated region, there laid hundreds of worlds all but untouched by their numerous enemies, where unspeakable horrors, all waiting to be unleashed on the unsuspecting galaxy, patiently lurked within. And very soon, they would reveal themselves and complete the groundwork for the end of the galaxy as everyone knew it.
After countless eons of being hidden away within its ancient sanctum/prison, patiently awaiting the day when the last legitimate successors to the Sith Religion were summoned to incite chaos and darkness across the galaxy. Although a select few advance agents and groups tried to advance the Way of the Dark's designs and unleash the six imprisoned founders of Bogan, they had all eventually been defeated by the followers of the Light and remained trapped behind their supposedly impenetrable seals. But now, with the galaxy slipping towards eternal darkness and Abeloth stronger than ever, it was now time for the end of all things to arrive. And it was time for the True Sith Empire, with all its ancient wisdom, secrets, and power to return and unleash darkness on the galaxy that none had seen in eons.
It was time to finish the millennia's work of releasing Näkhäsh, the aptly named Father of Shadows and the creator of the Dark Side and complete the preparations Tor and his followers had dedicated so many lifetimes towards fulfilling. And without the so-called Celestials to rally the galaxy and their diminished children, victory was all but assured for the boundless armies of darkness. The only true threats to their inevitable dominion remained in the Jedi and their numerous legions of allies, and the final remnants of Niphal and Eipha's still-potent spirits. Not even Abeloth and her ravenous cousin could stop all that was destined to be.
When all was over, the self-proclaimed and appropriately named "Bringer of Chaos" and her eternally hungry ally in Mnggal-Mnggal would be properly humbled before their inevitable subjugation or annihilation. And the final Grysk Sage, a veteran of more wars than any other sapient being still alive, would relish every second of the upcoming great show.
Tulpaa, Skal'nas City
Within the Temple of Ruthic
"Darth Krayt is near." Yiv anxiously warned Tau. "He's rather insistent on discussing the revelations you foresaw and has received word regarding several troubling rumblings coming from the Makatak System." Still recovering from his borderline mental breakdown from the visions he received, the bedridden Jedi agent could only tiredly nod at the Nikardun's holographic form, before the diminutive projection told his new allies, "I'll stall him as best I can, but I doubt I can give you more than a few minutes after the trouble he went through of coming here."
"Anything you could do at this point is appreciated, but don't risk your cover." Chelli assured the defecting general before deactivating the holocomm. Getting back to tending to her patient, the young woman was prepared to finish applying the adrenal-based stimulants the Rakata gave her for Tau's recovery before the Iteration gripped her hand in his. Confused by the gesture and noticing the haunted glean in his eyes, she concernedly asked, "What's wrong, Tau?"
"Everything." Tau cryptically answered. "When I had my series of visions, they were gifted and detailed to me by two Celestials." Breathing out the fears, he reverently added, "I was visited by Niphal and Wuztek, and they instructed me in many ancient secrets and imparted much wisdom long since lost from the galaxy. And they warned us of greater evils trying to return, those that are far stronger and more malevolent than Abeloth could ever hope to be."
A small gasp escaping her, Chelli grew apprehensively quiet at the mention of the Daughter of Mortis and the Celestial responsible for creating the Bedlam Spirits and later protecting the universe from all manner of evil, allowing Tau to continue. "They told me that we need to have Darth Krayt here, before the Rakatan Archipelago is lost, and so we can uncover the key to destroying Mnggal-Mnggal for all of time, among countless other revelations they divulged to me."
Sensing Chelli's cunning mind start to process the information being given to her, Tau, holding onto her hand as if it was his anchor to his sanity and his very soul, hesitantly added, "There's more, but it gets crazier and darker beyond our deepest fears."
Seeing the haunted look in Tau's gaze, Chelli apologetically suggested, "Then you'd better save it for the upcoming meeting. Our ambassadors and the Rakata have had their own disturbing revelations, and the Last Alliance needs to compare notes and readjust our strategy." Gently smiling at her friend, she gripped his hand in solidarity before she promised, "Try and get a little more rest and process your thoughts before we call on you. You really scared us all when you passed out."
Before Chelli could leave, Tau bade her, "Wait." Hesitating, he slowly and brokenly asked, "Why are you being so kind and patient to me? I killed your mother and made you witness the murder. You should hate me for what I did to you and your family."
Sympathy lacing Chelli's face, she compassionately rebutted, "Well, if you're being honest, I could ask you the same question. My mother and I took away your original programming from when the Sith created you and forced you to try and get us off Korriban and undermine Krayt's Grand Design. And you went above and beyond, helping me and Jaing escape while freeing my father from Invidious's brainwashing and giving us a chance to rebuild our lives. Many could accuse me of using you just as the Sith would have, and I wouldn't do anything to refute the charges."
"But you need to understand, Tau, that what happened to my mother wasn't your fault." Chelli emphatically reminded the Sith-created clone. "She knew the risks going into enacting the diversion, and you spared her the horrors of the torture the Sith would've inflicted on her. If she was captured, it would only spell doom for you and so many other good souls, and then we wouldn't stand a chance against Abeloth now. Don't forget how it was because of your efforts that we have the Mortis Dagger and are prepared to use it."
"That's all nice, but it doesn't explain how you can forgive me." Tau desperately pointed out, shamefully glancing away from Chelli. "How can you possibly see the good in me, let alone-"
"I care about you because I know your heart. You bore your heartbroken soul to me when you killed my mother, and you made her end as quick and painless as you could while giving it a noble purpose." Chelli patiently answered before mischievously adding, "And it doesn't hurt that you're quite a catch." Seeing Tau blush at the bold admission, she playfully giggled, "I was hoping you'd react like that. It only makes me know you feel the same way about me as I do of you."
Barely able to speak, Tau almost incoherently stammered out, "How… how could you even consider this?! How would this even work between us?!"
"We'll just have to take it one step at a time, like anything else." Chelli tenderly promised, starting to lean in before 0-0-0 walked in, with the medical/assassin droid courteously interrupting,
"Apologies for intruding on your mushy organic feelings, Mistress Aphra, but we need to see you and Jedi Tau Palpatine right away. Darth Krayt has arrived, and he is rather anxious to meet with you now."
Relieved at the sudden reprieve from the romantic conversation, Tau hurriedly placed on the remainder of his armor and equipped his lightsaber and blaster to his belt before overenthusiastically suggesting, "Well, what are you both waiting for? Let's go!"
Deep Space, Within the Olpakan Hegemony
Aboard the Sir Trilag
Reviewing the tactical feed coming in from all her agents, Daala knew the time to force the Olpakan High Council's plans was upon everyone. From hers' and Cylo-V's agents across the Chaos, the galaxy was slipping into anarchy and the grip of mad Force-using despots, with the rest of its inhabitants unwilling to see the truth and act. That left only her and her trusted followers to save the day, no matter what the rabble and indecisive felt about her methods.
Between the Olpakan Rebels set to form a pact with the Last Alliance, the escalating crisis in the Rakatan Archipelago and Abeloth's followers set to invade, take over the entire region and seize all its ancient technology, the imminent return of the Yuuzhan Vong fighting alongside the Jedi and Sith, and the few reports Daala's probes had been able to make before they were destroyed, the end had come upon all. That is, unless decisive action was taken right away by the bold few, and thankfully, Natasi Daala was nothing if not bold.
Addressing one of her peers on the High Council, a Nosaurian and the Hegemony's High Minister of Intelligence, Daala commended the hologram, "Your agents have done exceptionally well in gathering the information I need for this campaign, Jet."
"They're only doing their job, High Admiral." Jet Holdfast neutrally acknowledged. "But I'll be sure to promote and reward them accordingly once each of your efforts succeed and we can make our move."
"Then everything is in place for us to end all these wars." Daala firmly answered. "Your convoys just finished delivering to me the first batch of the refined Alpha Red and enough resonance torpedoes to obliterate an entire sector's worth of suns. And our fleets are ready to move upon the rebels and their new compatriots."
"What of your contingency?" Jet reminded Daala, referencing her efforts to create and upload a digitized version of her consciousness into the Olpakan mainframe as a failsafe if its creator perished in battle. "If you fall now, with the stakes so high-"
"Cylo should have it embedded into the last of our databases by the end of the day, if not already." Daala assured her ally. "All we need to do now is carry out our roles in ending these infernal "Force Wars", and the galaxy will at last be ready for ultimate enlightenment and prosperity."
"I will deal with the traitors myself, while the rest of our efforts in this three-pronged strategy are undertaken by only our most-trusted officers." Daala earnestly vowed. "The Rakatan's last homes, Zonama Sekot, and the Red Honeycomb Zone, they'll all soon cease to exist alongside the Jedi and Sith, and from the ashes of these rotten orders, we'll build a better one."
"Save the victory speech for after we succeed." Jet sternly reminded his confederate. "Good luck."
"Thank you, but I won't need luck, or the Force to give us our final victory." Daala assured the aged officer before she ended the holocall, ready to end this war before the galaxy was ruined for good.
Suddenly, her datapad chimed, and she reviewed its contents to smile at the harrowing battle a Last Alliance fleet was losing in the Twilight's Void. And a particular note that filled her with a hateful joy was how Han and Leia Organa Solo, among other crack teams of the Jedi and Sith's united army, were caught in this trap and would soon be destroyed in a mad bid to take the Fulminatrix. After all the decades of grief that long hated couple had especially given her, it would be fitting to learn their end was now upon them by her people's own hands.
The only scar in this otherwise perfect report was how Boba Fett was a part of this mad mission, and how she couldn't try to convince her longtime friend and his people to abandon the Last Alliance and join the right side. It would hurt her as much as killing her son, but she had endured worse heartbreaks before, so what were a few more wounds to carry when compared to liberating the galaxy from the Force and its cancerous influence?
Oh well, you couldn't win every battle, and Daala couldn't afford to deviate from her carefully conceived plan now, not with the stakes so high for all. No matter what sacrifices she made, she couldn't let it all go to waste. Soon, the galaxy would welcome the imminent new order, and all those that refused would either see the light or fade away into the ashbin of history.
Well, I guess this is a good place to end this monumental chapter! And what a chapter it was, with the many plans in motion, the battles continuing to rage in the Unknown Regions, and the stirrings of romance in the most unlikely of places. And to think it'll only get crazier from here on out, especially as we near the halfway point in Part 5 of my series. I'll have to make a few alterations here and there in this story and my final part of my saga, but it'll be worth it when we reach the end of this magnificent work. I'm especially going to use Joesph Bongiorno's Supernatural Encounters much more as my ideas become wilder and the war heats up. I'd encourage you all to read his work and see how brilliant he is as a writer. That's how I came up with the ideas for the Father of Shadows and the Old Ones. And I have so many more ideas and revisions to make, so I might need to take some time to revise my story after the next two chapters are published. Oh, and the bit of Sekot and the Force Spirits was inspired by HandofThrawn45's interpretation of the world in his Sword of the Jedi fanfic trilogy. Just want to put that out there so no one assumes I came up with it on my own or stole it.
So, before you all try to rip me apart for my pairing of Tau Palpatine and Chelli Lona Aphra, I felt it best to offer some kind of explanation. You see, I wanted to do Chelli differently than her Canon counterpart, as I hold strongly to my personal beliefs and religious views that define and guide my outlook on life, and I don't really think fondly of how selfish and controversial she is portrayed in the mainstream media, pun not intended. I can appreciate some things about her, but not her overall characterization, and I want to do things differently. Now, you may not agree with me or want me to do things differently, and that's fine. That is your right to hold your own opinions or beliefs on things. But I humbly ask that you also respect my right to my outlook on things and allow me to hold true to my convictions. If you want to offer constructive feedback on how to present her or improve my portrayal of her, I'd be more than willing to consider it. Otherwise, trolls or hateful attacks are not welcome. I hope you all understand and have plenty of helpful advice to give on my overall story.
So, how are you all otherwise doing on this warm night of Friday, November 17, 2023? I'm well, as I had a good week off from my job and got some yard work done for some neighbors, earning me a decent sum of money in the process without any taxes. And I've been reading a bit of my Supernatural Encounters book, and it's a great read as always. I'm currently at the aftermath of the Second Great Jedi Schism, and it's a sad tale to see after knowing how Mr. Bongiorno presents the story, but it's also so magnificent and perfect with the overall themes he has for his work. If only Disney and Lucasfilm could write such works at his level. Well, I'd best get this chapter squared away, as I want to get it published in a few days or so after I get a couple or few friends to examine it. As you can imagine, it's a big chapter in many ways, so I want to make sure it's done right. May the Lord be with us all in these Dark Times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
