Hey, everyone! How are you all doing on this warm night of Friday, January 5, 2024? I'm all right, as I'm hanging out with my family down south as we take a sibling of mine back to college and do some other family stuff before heading back home in time for work on Monday. Man, I'm going to be busy over the next seven days, with my trip and work around the corner. Oh, and I'm rereading a few Star Wars books in my spare time to brush up on my writing and learn from various authors' styles. I'm about to finish Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Conviction. Well, with all the small talk out of the way, I'd best get to writing. I only have a few hours before I go sleep and prepare for tomorrow. May the Lord be with us all in these Dark Times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
Nelona 19th, 59 ABY
Zonama Sekot Orbit
Aboard the Retribution
Krayt recognized the enormity of the task before the One Sith and was prepared for virulent opposition to the desperate plan he and his rivals devised. He was ready to weather the storm of accusations regarding treason and heresy, both from the twenty military commanders and fifty Sith disciples he gathered. He promised to himself to deal harshly and quickly with any would-be uprisings in his ranks to ensure the Last Alliance did not fracture.
After one hour of speaking to his top subordinates within the Pius Dea Cathedral ship's amphitheater on the purpose of the Sekot summit, divulging what he felt necessary of the revelations the Mortis Celestials and Wuztek gave to him and Tau, and ordering them to cooperate fully with the Alliance of Light in this war, Krayt knew the chaos he would unleash would be unprecedented. And it would only get worse when the Olpakan Hegemony surrendered, Daala was executed for her crimes against all, and her patrons were incorporated into the Last Alliance. But never, in all his darkest expectations, would he have expected his Sith order to be on the verge of a schism and civil war resulting from their temporary alliance with the Jedi.
While all but a handful of his most powerful and intelligent followers recognized the bitter necessity of seeking allies against Abeloth and the Nihil Retreat, with Takaris Yur, Darths Irola, Invidious, Phobar, See-Chok, Snoke, and Wyyrlok amongst those standing with their leader, albeit some reluctant supporters, far more of the rank and file Sith were determined to prove otherwise. Whether it was from a blinding lust for power, a false sense of superiority over the Jedi, or, exponentially worse, they were succumbing to the self-destructive promises of their darkest enemies, many were clamoring to resume their war with the Jedi and all their enemies.
And the One Sith's military commanders fared little better, with General Yiv and most of his best commanders and fellow leaders supporting their benefactors, while most of all their subordinates were adamant against allying with their former adversaries. Surprisingly, though, a large majority of the infantry were siding with their leadership in following the Dread Lord's lead, a fortunate break for Krayt, on account of Irola's role in effectively directing the recruits' anger against their former Chiss abusers. Having escaped one corrupt system when the Sunrise refugees joined up with the Sith, they were not eager to trade one form of slavery for another.
Witnessing the uproar from his supporters over the detractors' futile insistence of standing alone against all the One Sith's enemies, with passions running high and weapons close to being drawn, Krayt, fed up with the infighting, bellowed, "ENOUGH!" Amplifying his voice through the Force, making the scream echo across the enormous chambers and make everyone else's ears bleed, the Dread Lord adamantly decried, "Have you all let common sense desert you, or have I failed you in not training you in the art of patience and adaptability?"
Turning to his would-be opponents, Krayt disgustingly spat, "Were we not at war and need every able fighter, I would have you all executed for your sheer incompetence and betrayal of our creed. We are not the Sith Order of Darth Bane's lineage, nor of any other empire that precedes ours, for we are One Sith. We either work together in attaining victory, or our order collapses from disunity and all our enemies' superior might."
Now addressing his supporters, Krayt denounced, "And you, those who claim to uphold my vision, are behaving little better than your rivals right now. Being correct is little consolation if no one will be able to survive the coming tribulations. If you want to prove your superiority, don't feed the fires of division by trying to kill any who disagree with you."
"Make no mistake, our enemies will all be destroyed, and we will reign supreme over all who reside in this galaxy." Krayt proclaimed, hiding the doubts that now gnawed at the corners of his mind and soul. "But to ensure that inevitability, we must survive long enough to destroy the Bringer of Chaos, demolish the Nihil Retreat, and subjugate the Knights of Olpaka. And if we hope to survive these storms, we need to put our plans regarding the Jedi on hold."
"Right now, our vendetta with the Alliance of Light must be tabled to deal with the greatest threats the galaxy has ever seen, and do not forget how our warring with the Jedi has left our numbers severely depleted." Krayt paused, as much to remember the fallen as for the cold reminder to sink into his doubting followers' minds. Remembering how he had lost many of his best followers to the Jedi from falling in combat to defections, it was as much a learning experience for him as it was a loss. "If we hope to take our rightful place in the galaxy as its rulers, then we will need time to replenish our ranks and rebuild our armies. For that, we will need time, resources, and supporters, which we can acquire by working in the Last Alliance."
"When that day comes, we will wreak our vengeance on the galaxy and destroy the Jedi. But before that time, we need to remove our most dangerous enemies before they can finish their own designs for the galaxy." Krayt proclaimed, calming tensions among everyone and allow him to stop amplifying his voice.
Confident that the shattering of his order was at least delayed, Krayt ordered his assembly, "You, my remaining disciples and elite commanders, will relay to your subordinates your orders as our war strategy continues to take shape and unfolds. But this meeting's contents, all of them, must remain secret from our partners. Tell no one of what we discuss here, for if the Jedi learn of this…well, I'm confident you all can figure out what will then happen to us all."
Quelling the remaining dissenters with the well-placed and unspoken threat, Wyyrlok was impressed at Krayt's bold, clever, and eloquent methods in calming the tension between the two factions breaking out within the One Sith. By giving them external enemies to face and begin to outline his strategy to recover the lost ground from working with the Jedi, the Dread Lord just bought the time he needed to enact whatever grand strategy he was creating with the Sith's most flawed creation and disciple regarding the mysterious training they received from the four Celestials Elegast, Eipha, Niphal, and Wuztek.
Oh, Krayt could fool most with his doubts and reflections, but he couldn't fool the first and greatest of his disciples for long. Wyyrlok recognized the signs of his master wavering from the Grand Design, just as Tau Palpatine, Vestara Khai, Phasma, and the few others that had successfully deserted the One Sith. And as he followed his master, listening intently as the Dread Lord prepared orders for full cooperation with the Jedi while buttressing their own unstable positions, the Chagrian knew the Palpatine-clone had unsuitably influenced more than just the Jedi.
Something needed to be done about this brewing disaster, and Wyyrlok knew he couldn't solve it on his own. He would have to discreetly reach out to a select few others to seek a solution to Krayt's compromised state before anyone else caught on. The damage it would do to the One Sith was beyond all his worst nightmares, and after all he had sacrificed for the Grand Design, he would not let it all be for naught, no matter what he would have to do to preserve their great dream.
Five Hours Later
Hyperspace, On Route to the Olapkan Hegemony
Aboard the Alchemy
"Give me just one good reason, any of you, as to why I shouldn't incarcerate the lot of you in our deepest dungeons right now and melt the key for good measure! Or better yet, why I shouldn't have you all executed here and now!" Vlad Karamazov, the Supreme Knight of the Olpakan Hegemony seethed to Daala, Cylo-V, and Jet. Staring down the three rebellious High Councilors alongside the more loyal members of his advisory body, the Olpakan leader grew increasingly incensed and agitated at their disastrous exploits across the Unknown Regions the more he heard of them.
Continuing his rant, Vlad bitterly summed up to his three dissenting councilors, "You violate our war doctrine, you obliterate entire star systems, and you throw away countless good lives for your vendetta, all while undermining our own strategy for war-"
"What strategy?" Daala dismissively scoffed, earning the ire of everyone present for this conference. "While we've been working to prepare our people for the coming apocalypse, you and your gaggle of fools have been holed up in your citadels and bringing up the rear of our successes. Because of your indecisive leadership, we've had to contend with not just external, but internal strife, and-"
"Natasi." Cylo-V sternly interrupted, steely ordering her, "Enough." His gaze, of such intensity that could rival the wrath of any modern era Sith, coupled with his firm and disciplined composure, stunned Daala into silence and allowed him to beseech the council. "The fault for much of our current disarray lies with the three of us, yes. We were too hasty in going after the Rakata when the Tulpaa Tribe and our wayward kin were formalizing ties with the Last Alliance. And Vice Admiral Rampart's carelessness brought the divisions our society had long allowed to fester right up to the surface."
"However," Cylo-V then cautioned, "was it not with your express command that we were ordered to prepare for war? And can we afford to simply take half-hearted measures while the spawn of Tilotny, along with the Nihil Retreat, prepare to try and make the galaxy their own cosmic playgrounds?"
Seeing Vlad scrutinize him, Cylo-V knew the next words he said would determine everyone's fate. The Supreme Knight then ordered, "Speak plainly, Cylo, and get to the point of your long-winded plea. None of us have any time left to waste."
"What I'm proposing, is that we choose to focus on the greater dangers to the galaxy in front of us, instead of wasting our resources on all the ancient vows our predecessors took." Cylo-V began. "What I'm begging you all to consider is that we put aside our vendetta on the Force so we can prevent the return of the Old Ones and all their unforgivable horrors trapped with them."
Just as Cylo-V expected, virtually the entire Olpakan Grand Council immediately denounced his idea, most decrying him as a heretic and traitor, among using several labels with more colorful language, and Daala faced her one time friend as if she was experiencing a heart attack. But, at least to the altered human's keen eyes, Vlad was remaining silent and contemplative throughout the whole ordeal until an aide humbly appeared before him and whispered a message into his ear.
Seeing Vlad rise from his throne, all arguing councilors silenced themselves out of fear of what he would do next, for whenever he interrupted a proceeding in such a manner, it usually ended in a beheading. The heavily armored and large human, taking large strides to search into the eyes and soul of each High Councilor, stopped when he saw Daala, and frowned after a few seconds of glaring into her very being.
Slowly walking back to his throne, Vlad solemnly stated, "I have reviewed our casualty reports, the rates of defections, and assessed our strength. As we are now, we do not have the strength to face our ancient foes on our own, even if we were to win our wayward brethren and their worlds back into the fold. For the greater good and to ensure our own survival, as much as it worries me to admit it, we will, at the minimum, need to form a non-aggression pact with the Last Alliance."
Before the uproar could continue, Vlad reminded his advisors, "Did we not, once upon a time, welcome Force Users into our ranks in our mission to keep vigil over the Chaos and its evils? Did we not make alliances with former rivals and foes many times when required to stop a greater danger upon the galaxy? And did we not once swear an oath to protect all beings from the Father of Shadows if he should ever again endanger all forms of life?"
"It was only shortly over a millennia ago, when the Draggulch Period came to its long-welcome end, that our ancestors decided that we no longer wanted or needed the Force or its disciples in our ranks, and that they did not deserve to hold power or rank in any manner. Basically, we made them little more than second-class citizens and paved the way to the atrocities of today, thereby creating the very dictatorship we sought to avoid." Vlad sighed, whether out of weariness, despondency, or for dramatic effect, Cylo-V could not tell. "In essence, we simply repeated the Star Cabal's mistakes and doomed ourselves to be little more than a bigoted and backwater society while the galaxy slowly came undone before us. Not even our recent influx of additions and technological renaissance Cylo and Daala provided can rectify the root cause of our suffering."
"It is only now, as we stand upon the edge of eternal darkness, do I see things clearly, and I wish I could have realized the truth sooner." Vlad remorsefully stated before coldly resolving, "But no more will I blind myself out of willful ignorance, nor will I allow my people to sink deeper into this darkness of our own making."
"Sir, what precisely, are you suggesting here?" Daala despairingly whispered.
"I'm saying, Natasi Daala, that if you - all of you - don't fall in line behind me now and help negotiate a truce with the Last Alliance and their cohorts, it will be the last mistake we all make." Vlad warned her before addressing the entire Grand Council, "You all have forty-eight hours to give me your full cooperation, or you may as well consider this so-called grand council dissolved."
"No." Daala softly denied, before her voice grew vibrant and incensed, "I will never give in to blackmail, nor will I renounce my mission to rid the galaxy of the Force's curse! It's held sway over the galaxy for too long, and all those that use it must pay for their crimes. If you can't see it, then you aren't fit to lead the Olpakan Hegemony any longer."
"Just give it up, Daala." Cylo-V dispassionately implored her. "We can't win like this, not if we hope to save our own from annihilation or enslavement."
One after another, all but two other members of the Olpakan Grand Council voiced similar sentiments, and Daala resignedly said, "Very well. If that's how you want to play it, then I'll be more than happy to play your game. But mark my words, before this war ends, you will all regret this mad decision."
"We shall see, Admiral Daala." Vlad responded, effectively demoting her in rank and removing much of her legitimate influence. "In the meantime, we have many gargantuan problems to address, and little time to rectify them. We must prepare for war against Abeloth and the Old Ones while convincing the Last Alliance to accept our help."
"Cylo, I'll need to speak to you after the meeting on a few key points, and several crucial tasks I'll have ready for you by tomorrow's end. Now more than ever, I'll need your insight into the greater galaxy."
"Yes, Grand Knight." Cylo-V loyally complied, having a strong hunch on what one of the confidential tasks he would soon be given. Daala would need to be kept under tight observation and observed for even the slightest hint of treachery, and he was the most suited to watch her to prevent any more catastrophes to arise under her watch.
If Daala tried to act on her own again, it would be the last mistake she would ever make, Cylo-V would see to that. In fact, she would fall long before she tried to get away with anything else, whether he could convince Vlad to let him take the necessary preemptive action or if he had to act on his own.
Six Hours Later
Nelona 20th, 59 ABY
Chiss Ascendancy Frontier Space, Sunrise System
Zonama Sekot
Far Distance Islands
In the center of the island archipelago, where storms dotted the skies and the tides continued to rage, a single baston of serenity resided. The Magister's palace and the seven surrounding islands, the location of the Last Alliance summit and all its dozens of leaders conducted the most crucial meeting of all their lives, it was abuzz with activity between heated arguments and spirited discussions regarding its many factions. Since large-scale warships were not allowed near this sacred site for the denizens of Zonama Sekot, the area was forced to allow diplomatic shuttles and a select few shuttles and well-known vessels that housed key dignitaries of this meeting.
All allied political entities composing the Alliance of Light, the Dornean Republic, Mandalorian Protectors, Aquilian Republic, Rogues' Gallery, dozens of independent worlds, Outer Rim Alliance, Hutt Kajidics, Chiss Ascendancy and all its allied territories and nations, the Confederation, Galactic Empire, and Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, each of their chosen leaders or ambassadors were apprehensive at their closeness to their temporary associates in the One Sith and their dark coalition.
The Killiks, especially, were aghast at their nearness to the spiritual heirs of those that forced the circumstances upon them to cause their banishment from Alderaan and Alsakan over thirty millennia ago. Longstanding servants of the Celestials, the insectoid race had fought both Sith and Jedi over the eons, and their unique Joining abilities had ensnared many of both orders and brought great devastation to the galaxy in more recent decades. Including them at this meeting was a hot point of contention for most, but everyone knew that Abeloth and the Rhandites held knowledge and power unknown to most, the Last Alliance recognized the necessity of taking risks to level the playing field in ancient wisdom and information. And since the nanotechnology used to contain the Killiks was reconfigured to prevent Joining to virtually all beings, the risks were determined minimal over the potential gains.
The Jedi and their fellow Light Side orders shared their governmental allies' anxiety at working and operating so closely with the One Sith, with members from each society carefully observed their enemies-turned-rivals and worked with the few pragmatic minds on the other side to try and help maintain order. The Aquilian Paladins, Zeison Sha, Disciples of Twilight, Blackguard, Jensaarai, Order of Shasa, Fallanassi, Kashi Mer Guardians of the Breath, Jal Shey, Matukai, Luka Sene, Baran Do Sages, Kilian Rangers, and the Followers of Palawa, all had answered the Jedi's call in banishing the sweeping darkness of Abeloth and the Father of Shadows.
And the diminished representatives of the Stygian Sith order had sent their most prominent and dangerous members to answer the summons. With twenty of Darth Krayt's most capable generals or admirals, fifty Sith, and ten ambassadors from the few lesser Dark Side orders still aligned with the One Sith's vision, coupled with well over three hundred honor guards all in attendance for this historic day, they were clearly prepared for a fight if one broke out. In fact, the tension between the two divergent coalitions was as thick as Anzat's planetary fogs, and it was only thanks to the combined efforts of certain Jedi, Sith, their secular allies, and Sekot and the Yuuzhan Vong that a measure of stability was still maintained.
But such delays would not last forever, everyone astutely knew. And with the six hundred and fifty-eight people present for the first round of talks for this momentous summit, the four leading figures in this summit recognized that their moment had at last arrived.
"Well, this is it." Tau anxiously gulped, prepared to depart the magister's personal meditation chambers alongside Darth Krayt, Vurawn, and Sekot, taking the form of a twelve-year-old Anakin Skywalker. Having carefully discussed what the Jedi agent and his three peers were prepared to reveal to the assembly, the Iteration only hoped that their words would not fall on deaf ears, or that he didn't faint or outright vomit from the gravity of his stage fright. "Maker be with us."
"You cannot falter now, Jedi Palpatine. You and Krayt both have the power to end this war, but it must be done without fear or any hesitation." Vurawn patiently reminded Tau, before he sympathetically added, "Remember, neither of you need to carry this burden alone. You have others to support you throughout this war, provided you only let them when they ask."
"Then let us be ready to make this cut as swiftly and painlessly as we can." Darth Krayt simply stated, allowing Sekot a few moments to teleport ahead and start the intense deliberations. Seeing the anxiety in Tau's eyes, he spoke with a touch of empathy, "The role we must carry is not an easy one, but one that Elegast and his kin entrusted to us above all others. And I do not intend to let the galaxy fall into oblivion if I can help it."
Bleeding out some of his fear, Tau teased, "Careful, Krayt. You almost sounded like a Jedi then." Walking through the hallway towards the amphitheater, where Sekot would allow all present to hear the three sentients with perfect clarity. Feeling heavy vibrations reverberate throughout the chamber, he noted with obvious relief, "Sekot must have stopped quite a terrible fight from breaking out before us."
"Hopefully, we do not start another one with what we must say here today." Vurawn forebodingly fretted before the ten-foot doors opened through Sekot's command, allowing the rising sun to shine through the hallway before he, Krayt, and Tau walked through. Coming upon their audience, the three leaders each took stock of the attitudes and emotional states of every key leader and emissary before them, whether they stood before them in person or attended the meeting via hologram.
Vurawn, with his keen analytical mind and great prowess of assessing virtually any situation, he easily recognized how everyone, behind their bluster and suspicion of their foes, how they were desperate and terrified of the danger before them. It was a feeling he knew all too well from the memories implanted into him from Mitth'raw'nuruoudo, back nearly eight decades ago, when the Grysk and Rhandites' machinations nearly drove the Chiss Ascendancy to civil war and complete annihilation. Only this time, the stakes involved not simply the Chaos, but all the galaxy and powers beyond most Chiss's knowledge.
The Garwian Unity, Lioaoin Regime, Paccian Governance, Vak Combine, the peaceful Tof and Nagai fringe colonies that coexisted rather harmoniously with most of their neighbors, and the final remnant of the Rakatan Archipelago that had refused Abeloths' madness, their unique insights would be crucial to all creation's survival. If anyone dared interfere with this ultimate coalition for any reason, whether out of ill-intentioned malice, understandable fears of the unknown, or simple arrogance or entitlement among the galaxy's elite, Vurawn would quickly squash the efforts before they festered. And for that task, the less savory members and elements of the Last Alliance would be most essential.
Tau and Krayt could both easily sense the hostility and underlying fear between their factions and felt the suspicion directed at them from each of their enemies. Stable truce aside, the fear that the One Sith would suffer any further defections to either the Servants of Chaos or Nihil Retreat ate away at many attendants, and the marshaling strength of both terrible armies was at the forefront of everyone's minds.
However, while Krayt projected confidence and strength to all, Tau's anxiousness and wavering resolve could be observed by all familiar with human expressions. It was only through his earlier confessions that the Dread Lord recognized the Jedi agent's worries over the immense burden of command he and the two others would soon be given.
But Edaan, sensing Tau's fears and recognizing the worries all too well for his own responsibilities, he sent a pulse of reassurance through the Force to help calm his brother's troubled mind.
Before anything else could be done, Sekot's presence washed all over the amphitheater, with the planetary consciousness's voice bouncing off the halls, "I thank you, everyone, for convening here at this crucial juncture for all."
"We know who our enemies are, and what they want for all creation. But what we do not all possess is the knowledge how to strike at them effectively." Sekot paused, letting Tau and Krayt address their audience.
Gathering his courage and trusting the Force to use his voice to encourage unity, Tau began, "Many of you are aware that, before Tulpaa fell to the Servants of Chaos and Mnggal-Mnggal, Darth Krayt and I underwent a ritual to tap into the abilities and knowledge the Celestials Eipha and Niphal imparted into us. Well, the procedure was a resounding success, with the both of us able to commune with all three of the Ones, and an unexpected addition in Wuztek."
Sensing the shockwaves of disbelief ripple through the Force, Tau elaborated to the crowd, "Over the next three days, Krayt and I underwent a battery of tests and trials meant to help us learn how to properly use the powers of the Son and Daughter, along with how to tap into their wisdom and past experiences."
"Among other crucial details," Krayt continued, "The Ones and Wuztek gave us the information we need to contain and fully eradicate Mnggal-Mnggal." Well-prepared for the uproar at that divulgence, the Sith Lord used his old Jedi training to manage the cacophony of accusations and queries, just as Tau did, while Vurwan used his earcomms to regulate the noise to more manageable levels until Sekot released a sound that resembled a burst of thunder to silence the crowd.
Once the clamor completely stopped, Vurawn elaborated, "The nanotechnology left behind in the Utegu Nebula, the same one that protects us from the Killiks' pheromones, that will be the key to protecting our worlds and peoples from Mnggal-Mnggal, once we make the necessary modifications to the equipment."
"How long do you expect the process to take?" Adj'ast anxiously asked. "If there is a way to save the galaxy, even a remnant of my people's ancestral home from the Cancer God's appetite, we cannot afford any delays or setbacks."
"Well, Predor-Governor, therein lies the difficult and awkward part." Tau nervously answered. "We can replicate and modify the nanotechnology, but the Ones told us of an Olpakan Scientist who's experiments in the Force will be essential toward bringing it up to the necessary specifications in our desired timeframe. Otherwise, we'll basically be working from scratch."
"The individual that's supposedly needed for this work?" Nek skeptically inquired.
"Cylo." All three speakers simultaneously admitted. Expecting accusations of insanity or treason, the silence was telling, whether it was from the recollection that the target had helped the Last Alliance before, or Sekot's earlier demonstration. Instead, there was stunned disbelief, along with quiet consideration of the proposal.
"There is more." Vurawn warned. "Our earlier threat assessment of the Knights of Olpaka was incorrect in several regards. It seems, from our allies in the Olpakan Republic and their contacts, that the Olpakan Hegemony is preparing to reach out to us for an armistice in our ongoing war." Raising a hand to curtail any protests, the Chiss clone acknowledged, "Obviously, we will need more than words to be convinced of this offer, especially with Admiral Daala still a threat to us all. But if the chance to sway the entire Olpakan society to our cause is genuine, then we need to take it."
"And there is another reason to consider this impending deal, one more important than any of you realize." Krayt added. "They know all of the Sorcerers of Rhand's capabilities from when the Abeloth rallied them, the Gen'Dai, and Rakata to her banner when she first tried to conquer the galaxy."
"How?!" At least two-dozen attendants shouted, with Julius taking the initiative in asking, "The Olpakans have been a closed-door society for millennia. Why would they know so much of the Nihil Retreat?"
"Because, High Admirals, eons ago, they helped the Celestials fight the Old Ones and their eldritch horrors and disciples, which Abeloth is unknowingly working to release." Tau stated, seeing a knowing glance from Edaan and Adari while the rest of the crowd anxiously muttered to those around them. "Obviously, something happened to the Olpakans to turn them against the Force and its makers, but now we have a chance, a small one, mind you, to heal that old wound and lead its people back towards the light."
"What forces is Abeloth threatening to unleash?" Etahn warily probed.
"The origin of all evil, the Father of Shadows and the five fallen Celestials that followed him into damnation." Tau wearily answered, as if the confession took a year of life away from him. "And their agents in Tor Valum and the Nihil Retreat are using Abeloth to create the means to break their seals."
"Obviously, we have our work cut out for us." Krayt interjected. "We will need to regroup from our losses, rebuild and reconfigure our armies, and ensure that the operations we have planned are not compromised by anyone."
"For the time being, we'll be operating with a select dozen or two of you to redesign our strategy, and the rest will be given orders as they are crafted." Vurwan added before he warned, "Obviously, any word of this to anyone will result in a Class-Five felony, ranging from immediate imprisonment to execution. We cannot risk enemy spies learning of these developments."
As if anticipating the next battery of questions, Tau answered, "Abeloth cannot see us here, at least not yet. Sekot is shielding us from all her power, and we now have the means to establish a secure line of communications with you all once we conclude these rounds of talks."
'Provided our Sith allies don't try to stab us in the back.' Tau worriedly thought, remembering the troubled warnings Krayt gave him and Vurawn after convening with them late last evening. Hearing how his One Sith were divided over the necessity of the Last Alliance, only for Krayt to calm tensions, but sensing uncertainty from several of his most capable and trusted advisors, it troubled the forging triumvirate almost as much as Abeloth and the Nihil Retreat.
If some of Krayt's people were doubting him now, if they tried to undo all the progress the Last Alliance had made, then their shared cause was truly lost. But Tau, he might know of a way to save this situation, if enough of his fellow Je'daii shared his sentiments regarding his drastic solution.
Carthea System
Aboard the Alchemy
Cylo-V should have seen Daala's all-consuming madness as an inevitability, not merely a strong possibility. With both her increasing unwillingness to listen to anyone in finding a more practical way to achieving the Olpakans' goals and her inability to see beyond her narrowed mindset and vindictive nature when confronting her enemies, both real and imagined, it all should have shown the Olpakan Grand Council all they needed to know in the folly of ever recruiting her.
But the Olpakan Hegemony's original plan in waging war against the galaxy's Force Orders to fulfill its founding purpose, and the benefits of gaining Natasi Daala's assistance and all her supporters and equipment had far outweighed the risks. At least, that was before the Nihil Retreat and Abeloth interfered and threw everyone's plans awry. For the greater good, old vendettas and blood oaths had to be discarded, but the Olpakan people couldn't if fanatics like the mad admiral remained in power.
Now, Daala was tragically becoming exponentially more of a detrimental impediment to the cause than an aid, and someone had to step up and stop her before her madness led to the destruction or enslavement of all creation. Of course, the Olpakan Head Scientist was equally as complicit in endangering the galaxy in that regard, but at least Cylo-V was nearly ready to rectify that error in judgment when most of his peers on the Council couldn't, or wouldn't, in half of the high councilors' cases. Not even Vlad, in all his wisdom, understood how dangerous the former rogue would be if she was left alive for much longer.
These dangers coming down upon the Olpakan Hegemony were why Cylo-V was so willing to go against his beliefs and help the Jedi and Sith in their war, from rescuing their Last Alliance diplomatic and military convoys and covering their retreat from the Rakatan Archipelago after crippling the Tulpaa Star Forge. But this was only the first few steps in his ultimate plan.
If the Olpakan Grand Council wouldn't see reason on their own and remove Daala from her powerful and entrenched position, then Cylo-V would have to force their hand and make the most out of this distasteful choice. He just needed to find more like minded souls to recruit for the truly enlightened order he would soon create, the would-be Olpakan Republic the deserters were creating notwithstanding. Well, if fortune smiled upon him, he could convince a few of his rival's confederates and a few disaffected souls in the Last Alliance's ranks. A certain ex-Moff that had been sidelined by the recent coalition over the past few weeks might be a good place to start.
As his personal fleet returned to their protective positions around the Carthea System, with his Venator-class Star Destroyer flying through the defense grid protecting his asteroid headquarters, Cylo-V took a moment to gaze upon the seven worlds he ruled over in the heart of his governed territory. Three of these wonders were inhabited by a total of ten billion of the Olpakan Hegemony's loyal citizens, each producing a large share of its agricultural and naval production facilities that made up a quarter of the government's overall capabilities. The remaining four, either gas giants or uninhabitable by all but the hardiest species as mining or penal colonies, each world served a purpose in the Head Scientist's plans, plans that would be even more precarious over the next few days.
Utilizing his cybernetic implants to communicate with his command staff aboard the Kolovish asteroid superstructure, Cylo-V ordered them to prepare the facility for a total inspection on all levels and projects he conceived. When he revealed his grand plan to all his enemies and potential allies, he would need all the power he could gather, whether bargaining, intellectual, and martial, to ensure his organization's survival. He only hoped that Vlad and enough of his supporters would go concur with his assessment, or it would only embolden Daala and her remaining confederates.
Intruding on his reflections and preparations, Cylo-V received a subspace transmission from Olpaka, one of the dozens of security programs he helped craft for the Hegemony's center of government. Apparently, an individual in the capital world had been identified as performing illegal espionage, and this person purportedly had ties to the traitors that were nipping at the Hegemony's heels.
Excusing himself from the destroyer's conventional command center, Cylo-V quickly made his way into the Alchemy's private chambers he had constructed for his sole usage. Modeled after the meditation chambers of Grand Admiral Thrawn's Chimaera, with datafeeds and monitors plastered across the entire room, it was the perfect location to search for information on any matter he wished in complete solitude.
Making his way to the center of the stream of data, Cylo-V quickly began sifting through all the related security footage, his cybernetically enhanced mind and implanted supercomputer, gathering every piece of information the Olpakan databanks had on Cain Arla, deserter of the Olpakan Navy. In the blink of an eye, he had all the Hegemony knew on her, and then so much more. Recognizing her facial structure from several blurry images, reconstructed through hundreds of digital enhancements, the scientist was astonished to recognize several other individuals, far more prominent and dangerous than a simple traitor operating alongside likeminded dissidents.
Valin Horn, Armand Vorn, and Winter Celchu; these three were merely the first of many Last Alliance infiltrators that would slip through the cracks of the fractured Olpakan Hegemony's defenses. Where a subversion team went, chaos, insurrections, and invasions were never far behind. How ironic, though, that the Knights of Olpaka were about to make such measures entirely pointless and wasteful.
Perhaps, though, Cylo-V could use this unexpected opportunity to everyone's advantage. He would need to make a few calls and take a direct hand in this matter right away, but the upcoming meeting he now had planned might very well save or condemn all creation. If it helped him eliminate Daala and enact his own plans, all the better.
Cylo-V, almost too lost in his thoughts to hear the pinging of his command crew trying to contact him on the bridge, used his neural link to intercept the communication. Hearing their message, the shock he felt at the warnings nearly made him jolt in terror.
'Daala, what have you done?' Cylo-V bitterly lamented, wishing he eliminated the rogue menace when he last had the chance, orders or civility be canned.
Wow! I didn't expect this chapter to be so easy to write! Although, the summit between all the major galactic powers, at least its onset, that took a bit longer than I thought, but everything else was simple enough to create. I hope you all enjoy the first chapter in a two-parter I'm going to release for you all in a few days or so. It's a labor of love and dedication to write this work, so I hope you all enjoy and have plenty of constructive critiques. So, how are you all doing on this cold day of Sunday, January 14, 2024? I'm okay, if worn out from a shift at work I had today. It was an unexpected one, as I was asked to swap shifts with someone, and it was CHAOTIC, to be diplomatic. But at least I have only one more shift at the part-time job this week, coupled with my two internship shifts afterwards, and then I can rest a little. Well, I'd best get this chapter squared away for a little bit before I publish it. I hope you all stay safe and sane in these mad times and pray to God to deliver us from the evil gripping the nation and world. May the Lord be with us all in these dark times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
