Good evening, everyone! How are you all doing on this warm and rainy night of Saturday, January 27, 2024? Man, I never thought I'd say that after the recent cold wave we had. I can't believe it's raining and in the 60s where I am, but I know things are crazy for so many at this time. In fact, my family could use some prayers right now for some tough times for my grandmother. She got banged up badly and I'm worried about her, so I'm praying hard for her recovery, and I would be grateful if anyone else could pray for her also. In other news, I'm working hard at my part-time job and internship while looking to find new opportunities elsewhere. And I've been reading a lot in my spare time, so I won't have as much time to write as I like. Well, with all the small talk out of the way, I had better get started on this chapter. May the Lord be with us all in these Dark Times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
Nelona 23rd, 59 ABY
Olpaka Hegemony
Just Outside the Carthea System
Aboard the Megador
Coming out of hyperspace right at the outskirts of Cylo-V's main base of operations and a major hub of Olpakan activity, Nek and the rest of the Last Alliance commanders were completely unsure of what to expect. Knowing from their local allies that the three inhabited worlds, Carthea, Lodnar, and Halia were vital to the Hegemony's interests, along with its head scientist's advanced experiments in all manner of research, the GA-loyal Bothan imagined any number of nefarious scenarios for the strongholds.
Recognizing from their friends' data that the Carthea System was protected by an armada of capital ships, well over one hundred orbital defense platforms bristling with the most modern weapons conceivable, the Last Alliance agreed to depart just short of their target. Not only could they avoid Mnggal-Mnggal's ravenous attack long enough to assess the situation, but they could also determine if they were not walking into another trap. Just because the Olpakan Hegemony was seemingly starting to come to terms with the reality of their unfeasible vendetta, it did not mean the Jedi-Sith coalition would leave itself vulnerable to some later form of treachery.
Coupled with the newfound revelation that Abeloth had taken Luke Skywalker and the horrendous blow to morale it had on the Last Alliance, Nek recognized how all their plans could very well be compromised by now, and how the Olpakans would be even more essential in their campaigns. Their knowledge and tactics would be crucial to countering the Bringer of Chaos's ability to see snippets of the future, which was why Daala and her followers needed to be crushed now, before their madness doomed everyone.
But in all of Nek's darkest fears and imaginings, nothing could have prepared him for the abominable sight that was before the Last Alliance, surpassing even the carnage Abeloth wrought during her brief dominion of Coruscant. Across two of the worlds, Mnggal-Mnggal was slowly spreading, its black and cancerous mass encompassing about a third of both planets and consuming anything it touched, leaving nothing but demolished ruins in its hungry wake.
Even more absurd was the anarchy surrounding the system from its defenders and the unexpected attackers. If the coalition's scouts and long-range scans were providing genuine readings, then it seemed the Olpakan fleets were coming down upon each other at the start of a brutal civil war. And the lead capital ship of this maddening attack was none other than the Sir Trilag, meaning that Natasi Daala had now turned against the Hegemony in a dark frenzy. Her fleets were not only attacking the twenty or so vessels belonging to the Servants of Chaos, but any Olpakan warship or station within their vicinity.
Suddenly, Vice Admiral Xeal's previous pleading in getting rapid aid to this system made perfect sense. Nek only hoped that the massive force he brought would be enough to curtail the insanity until reinforcements arrived, along with the heartfelt gamble he was about to make to try to reason with Daala.
Wasting no time, Nek, contacting all ships from the Super Star Destroyer's central bridge, ordered, "Prepare for an immediate in-system hyperspace jump just outside Carthea. We're about to have our work cut out for us."
After giving those orders, Nek ordered his comm officers, "Connect me to the Sir Trilag and Alchemy right away, make it a three-way transmission. We need to try to put this growing massacre down in the ground fast, before any more lives are needlessly lost."
Hurrying to obey their admiral's orders, it didn't take long before the Megador's comm table came alight with the holograms of a stressed Cylo-V and an enraged Daala, her bloodthirsty gaze softening a measure upon seeing her old flame.
Wasting no time, Nek tensely asked both leaders, "How did this disaster happen? Why are you all possibly fighting each other now, when Mnggal-Mnggal is devouring two of your worlds and Abeloth and the True Sith Empire are both readying themselves to ensure our total enslavement or annihilation?"
"Why are you here, Nek?" Daala, her hatred returning, warily snapped back. "This is an internal affair between me and the Olpakan Hegemony's traitors, and I won't have our plans derailed by your masters' 'Last Alliance' and your constant interference into matters that don't concern you."
Cylo-V, visibly agitated by all that was transpiring around him, clarified for Nek, "The Hegemony was preparing to offer terms between cooperation with the Last Alliance when Abeloth's fleet arrived, seeding Lodnar and Halia with microscopic pieces of Mnggal-Mnggal and attacking my forces. A few hours later, Daala and her allies came in with guns blazing and attacked anyone against her blind fanaticism. Not even civilian transports are safe from her vengeance."
Seeing the bitter sincerity in Cylo-V's words and the growing fury in Daala's expression, Nek recognized that his hopes of getting her forces to help stop Abeloth and the Old Ones in exchange for a fair trial was all but impossible. Still, if there was even a slim chance that she could be made to see reason and drop or put her retribution on hold, he had to try, if only to save a few more lives today.
Choosing his next words carefully, Nek urged Daala, "Natasi, this campaign of yours… Can't you see that it only aids our enemies and divides us at a time when we need to be united? Abeloth and her allies are attacking the heart of the Olpakan Hegemony right on the heels of capturing Luke Skywalker, and there are evils out there that equal or surpass her in malice which are preparing for war. How can you possibly think about continuing to wage an endless war against a power that you can never extinguish?"
"Well, on that inspiring note, Nek, how can you and your fellow colleagues work alongside with a man who has experimented with trying to advance life beyond the Force through technology for more than seven decades?" Daala scathingly countered. "Cylo and those of his old conspirators worked to prove that the ancient energy field doesn't need to be worshiped and used to empower the few to rule over the many. And they succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams, at least before Emperor Palpatine and Vader chased him into the Chaos for ideas they thought of as heretical."
"But after all these years of preparing the Olpakan Hegemony to upend the cruel natural order of the universe, now, when we are so close to victory, Cylo decides to turn an about face and work with those he's supposed to hate more than any other." Daala seethed.
"We were never going to attain victory, Daala. At least, not the way you envisioned it." Cylo-V exhaustively stated, shocking both with the bold admission. "Waging war against the galaxy, especially at such a brutal time as this, we miscalculated dearly, and now we're all paying the price for this terrible lack of foresight on our part."
"Right now, we need to put aside our prejudices and fears to ensure there is a galaxy for any of us to inhabit. Me, the Supreme Knight, most of the Council, and virtually all the Hegemony sees things the same way, so why can't you?" Cylo-V calmly challenged Daala.
Before she could erupt in another hateful and fiery rant, Nek pleaded with Daala, "Natasi, while we're wasting all this time arguing with each other, countless innocent lives are dying by evils far greater than any Sith and fallen Jedi we've encountered. Why is it so hard for you to admit that you can't make this problem go away with brute force?"
For a moment, it seemed that Daala was considering both leaders' words, but as quickly as the moment passed, the contemplation was gone. In its place was a hateful fury that couldn't be reasoned with, and she vindictively fired back, "Why is it so hard for you both to see that this galaxy has no place for the likes of us, not if the Force keeps having its way with everyone?"
"I don't care what it takes or how it will happen, but one day, the Force will be eradicated, and someone will finish what I've started, even if I'm not around to see that occasion." Daala all but proclaimed, just as the Megador reverted to realspace, and she noted, "But I'll let my fleets, my final allies, and this great battle do the talking for me from here on out."
Confused by the mad declaration, Nek would've tried one last time to reason with Daala were it not for the proximity alarms blaring across the Megador, the GA-loyal Bothan first assumed that Abeloth's fleets had revealed themselves. But while gazing upon the tactical monitor, realizing that at least seventy Olpakan warships and fifty other capital ships of thirty different configurations were emerging from three different hyperspace vectors, he realized who this fleet was really aligned with.
Seeing the smug look on Daala's face, Cylo-V, allowing his temper to finally flare a small degree, disgustingly spat, "So, you're using Raze's cartel and your remaining loyalists to try to destroy all your opposition. You've finally lost what's left of your twisted mind, Natasi."
"No." Daala madly started to clarify. "I've just decided to stop playing diplomat and do what needs to be done for the greater good, regardless of all the politics and red tape that stand in my way."
"Say goodbye to all your projects and territory, my old friend." Daala hatefully warned Cylo-V. "Very soon, I'll take everything from you and use it properly in the fight against the Force."
"Don't do this, Natasi." Nek desperately pleaded. "You helped us escape Abeloth's forces once before, don't lose this final chance at redemption. If you refuse, then you'll die here, and be remembered as nothing more than a war criminal and genocidal tyrant."
Staring at her former lover with enough hate to silence the grizzled veteran, Daala stated, "I won't work with the Jedi, Sith, and the Yuuzhan Vong, even if Skywalker is no longer leading the former. Now, you have a choice to make here, Nek. Either join up with my mission, stay out of my way, or die along with Abeloth's people and all these weak-willed sycophants and religious fools."
"Goodbye, Nek. I hope you and your peers choose wisely." Daala closed the holocomm, leaving Nek and Cylo-V to finish their impromptu conference.
Burying his regrets beneath the cold sense of duty he carried, Nek urged Cylo-V, "If you have any insights into Daala's remaining allies and strategy, now's the time to share them."
Two Hours Later
Carthea System Outskirts
Zonama Sekot
Far Distance Islands
Communicating with Sekot to help coordinate the Last Alliance's titanic endeavors, Tau allowed the planetary consciousness to permeate his very core and learn what both Daala and Abeloth's allies were conspiring. Sensing the devouring of Lodnar and Halia by Mnggal-Mnggal, infecting the two worlds inch by inch, destroying all organic matter and leaving nothing but ruins and barren fields, the empty lands terrified everyone at a level no one of living memory had seen. At the rate the monstrosity was devouring both worlds, the sudden and desperate coalition would be fortunate to retrieve even a tenth of each of their populations.
If it wasn't for Natasi Daala's blind and demented rampage, striking at all opposing ships within range and shooting down as many evacuation transports that her ships could reach, the evacuations would have proceeded far more smoothly. Such unbridled and psychotic behavior was unlike anything anyone had ever seen from the rogue warlord had enacted before. If her plan to rebuild the Olpakan Hegemony and punish her former friends was to obliterate anyone who might stand against her, then it was no wonder everyone believed that her fleeting sanity had finally abandoned her for good.
As further evidence to Daala's madness, Cylo-V's testimony of her preparations to try and destroy Zonama Sekot with the New Republic and Chiss black-ops old bioweapon Alpha Red meant the living world was forced to conduct a defensive fight, unable to utilize its full capabilities to combat Mnggal-Mnggal. And from Sekot's careful vigilance and Tau's comprehension of a sapient's feelings, many in the Last Alliance bristled at all this inaction and yearned to do something about the admiral's lunacy, with one prodigy among the Jedi preparing to lead a dangerous effort to deal with her for good.
Tau, knowing his brother's personal vendetta against Daala for the vile anti-Force experiments she conducted on thousands of innocent people and dozens of Jedi and her many pointless wars and the devastation she wrought on the galaxy, realized what Edaan was up to. And though he wanted to join him in ending the rogue warlord's efforts, his own duties required him to look at the whole picture and hold his strength back for now.
Still, that didn't mean Tau couldn't help to remind Edaan of what it was he was truly fighting for. Mentally reaching out to his brother through the Force, allowing Sekot to create an astral projection of his mind near La'okio, where the Rude Awakening was stationed alongside a dozen other personal ships or troop transports, he quickly found his quarry and firmly touched his mind. Sensing his firm resolve, cloaking the hard fury he was keeping under tight control while doing the final systems check on his ship, the Jedi-allied Iteration knew what he had to say. He just had to make sure he and his conspirator phrased it right.
Hearing Edaan wearily sigh, Tau quietly waited while the original Palpatine heir asked Akku, "Can you finish up here, old friend? There are a couple last-minute talks I need to have."
Comprehension dawning on Akku's war-weary face, he silently nodded while taking Edaan's seat and running the ship's diagnostics. Quickly making his way outside the Rude Awakening, with Tau's spectral form following and no one else seeing the astral projection, the Jedi Knight firmly warned his clone, "I hope you're not trying to talk me out of what needs to be done, or to try to show Daala mercy."
"No." Tau calmly denied. "Daala's a mad loose cannon with far too much blood on her hands, and she needs to go down now. Whether it ends in her capture or death, that doesn't bother me one bit." His gaze growing stern, he added, "But if it is done out of hatred or malice, that is where we will take notice."
"'We?'" Edaan repeated, before another spectral form materialized, making a genuine smile cross his face at the appearance of his wife and he approvingly noted. "I see you're learning a lot of how to use the Force under Sekot's tutelage. You just might make a fine Je'daii after all."
"Now's not the time for flattery or flirting, luv." Adari gently chided her husband. "I know what you're trying to do. And I know I can't stop you from going into this battle. Someone needs to take down Daala quickly, and you and the rest of this task force are the best chance to remove her before Abeloth and the Old Ones make their move on us here."
"But I need you to promise me something, Edaan." Adari implored. "Don't lose yourself when you face Daala. Be better than her and do what you must, but out of duty and love of live, not for the sake of vengeance and hatred."
Relieved that neither his wife nor brother would stand in his way, Edaan, the fury slowly drifting away from his heart, earnestly vowed, "I won't lose sight of who I am or what I have to do, I swear it by the Supreme Maker."
Seeing the sincerity in Edaan's gaze, Tau and Adari softened theirs, with the latter placing a phantom hand on his armored shoulder and tenderly whispering, "Come back to me."
"I will." Edaan gently promised, before he advised his family, "But I suggest you get back to your duties before anyone misses you. We are in the middle of a pitched battle here."
Returning to their corporeal forms back at the Far Distant Islands, Tau and Adari took a moment to catch their breaths and recover from their mental exertions. But their reprieve did not last long, not with Sekot silently speaking to both Je'daii Acolytes and preparing to give them new commands.
Quietly acknowledging the orders, Tau readied to relay those instructions to Darth Krayt, but not before he allowed his thoughts to stray to the woman whose heart he captured, and he uttered a silent prayer to the Maker to protect her in this war. Though he was unsure on whether he could reciprocate her feelings, he still worried for Chelli and her fate in this critical time. If they both survived past the next few weeks, then he could sort through his confused feelings and see if he deserved love with a woman as vivacious and compassionate as her, especially after all the pain he wrought onto her and her father.
Red Honeycomb Zone
Aboard the Cronal-class Warship Shadow's Fall
Boredom. Sheer, unrelenting, and complete boredom. That was the only description that could aptly detail just what the Shi'ido assassin and High Sorcerer of Rhand Malla was fighting now.
On Tor Valum's orders, his most trusted followers were hard at work to salvage as many of Abeloth's damaged warships andrecover what followers they could carry to finish the Rhandites' preparations for war. And after learning how the Bringer of Chaos had devoured and assimilated the decrepit old Chiss Kung'urama'nuruodo into her being, no one else wanted to disappoint their dupe of an ally.
Having spent the last four weeks scouring the Bedlam Spirits' old domain, collecting enough followers and ships to appease Abeloth's demands, Malla was more than eager to conclude this busywork and return to the carnage of war. She especially wanted to settle the score with Tau Palpatine and his friends for their interference in her last act of war.
But before the True Sith Empire's armada could depart, there was one last matter that needed to be addressed. Which was why Malla was waiting here, in the far end of the Red Honeycomb Zone, to rendezvous with the inbound cargo and retrieve the special cargo the Lich Kings and their emissaries promised to fuel this holy war.
For ten days, the Shadow's Fall, its fleet escort, and ten select carriers patiently prepared for this encounter. Shielded from all outside eyes by the Nihil Retreat's Star Forge manipulating the adjacent region's nebulae and the Lich Kings' own dark spells, no one would be any wiser until the meeting was long concluded. And now, finally, Malla felt the Dark's servants reach out to her, alerting her of their arrival.
Seeing the ten gigantic transports arrive, each vessel slightly varying in eldritch, borderline demonic, aesthetics, all resembling the Lictor-class Dungeon ships used to ferry captive Force Users across the galaxy but three times their size, Malla felt the sheer power contained within each vessel's cargo hold. And upon sensing the bottomless hunger and appetites for destruction each creature held, she cruelly smiled at all the chaos and death she was about to help wreak on the galaxy. After so many millennia of being forced to hide in the galaxy's recesses, manipulating the galaxy from the shadows, it was going to be so good to operate out in the open again.
Breaking into Malla's reflections, she felt the omnipotent presence of her overlords constrict her very being, and quickly bowed within her meditation chambers before the Lich Kings appeared. Quietly awaiting their instruction, she withheld any comments or explanations until bidden to do so by a silent Force nudge by each of the Nihil Retreat's ultimate masters.
Rising, ever so slowly from her reverent bow, Malla, betraying no emotion whatsoever, spoke, "We have just received your cargo, and we are prepared to use it and your acolytes to destroy the fractured Olpakan Hegemony."
"Good." One of the Lich Kings nodded, the voice twisting around in Malla's mind and nearly making her contort in agony, barely able to stay on her feet before he continued, "Scatter them across whichever worlds Abeloth wishes, but save four ships' worth for our own defense. We will need them when the Last Alliance and the Ones' successors are ready to strike at her directly."
Knowing better than to even try to defy, contradict, or even question her masters' decrees, Malla exuded subservience and compliance in the Force, utterly relieved when the Lich Kings finally withdrew from her mind. Taking a few moments to recompose herself from the harrowing experience, she never would get accustomed to the agony of each meeting with the Nihil Retreat's masters, she slowly rose, steadying herself before returning to the bridge to check on the transfer's progress.
Seeing the dungeon ships long gone, Malla briefly wondered how long she had been rendered unconscious. Quickly glancing at the bridge's chronometer, she realized she had been out cold for the last six hours and that her ships had returned to the heart of the Typhoth Cluster! Biting back her dismay at being unable to defend herself for so long, her frustration was quickly abated when she sensed the ravenous hunger and grim anticipation permeating her warship.
Realizing that some of the Lich Kings' pets had taken residence aboard her ship, Malla gulped in bitter anxiety before she felt the Bringer of Chaos's call, quickly growing thankful that her new cargo would get to eat its fill soon enough, and not on her or any of her followers. Seeing Abeloth's orders echo through her mind, the Shi'ido recognized that she was ready to begin her conquest in earnest, starting with the Olpakan Hegemony and anyone mad enough to stand in her way.
And if the new Force signature Abeloth exuded was who Malla thought it was, then the coming war was going to be far more entertaining and exhilarating than she previously thought possible. Woe to anyone that tried to impede the spreading of the Way of the Dark and complete the long-awaited return of the Immortal Gods of the Sith!
Six Hours Later
Nelona 24th, 59 ABY
Carthea System Outskirts
Aboard the Alchemy
"The Kolovish and its sister facilities have been fully evacuated of all personnel and essential equipment. They'll all be at the secondary installation by today's end." An Olpakan marine captain alerted Cylo-V, who nodded in gratitude at one of the few pieces of good news that had occurred throughout the last four days.
Although the Last Alliance had done much to secure a significant portion of the afflicted planets' populations while dealing heavy casualties to Daala's fleets, it was necessary for the Olpakan Chief Scientist to evacuate his main base of operations and cover the strategic evacuation of his remaining installations and the one planet still free of Mnggal-Mnggal's influence. And if the Last Alliance's proposition that Tau Palpatine and Darth Krayt delivered to him was genuine, then it might be possible to contain and finally starve out the parasitical being before it could try and devour the galaxy.
But all this minor relief and possible scientific breakthrough would be meaningless if Daala and her accomplices succeeded in undoing all the Olpakan pragmatist in Cylo-V sought to achieve. Which was why he sent out a transmission to the Supreme Knight, urging him to use the Olpakan Hegemony's most powerful vessel and help obliterate the rogue warlord's forces before she doomed all creation. Well, aside from a few that the old scientist believed might still be salvageable for his own plans.
And speaking of dooming all creation, it was finally time to unleash the surprise Cylo-V prepared to undo Daala's efforts to destroy Zonama Sekot and the Yuuzhan Vong with that infernal and indiscriminate weapon in Alpha Red. Personal prejudices and worries aside, he recognized that the Jedi's rehabilitative efforts of the extragalactic race would prevent another invasion by them when they had a taste of war again. Even more vital to realize was how their fierce and honor bound culture, with a little extra guidance, would be essential in stemming the two armies of evil pouring down upon everyone from the darkest pits of the Chaos.
How easy it was for everyone to forget that Cylo, back when he was still in his original body, had overhauled the Olpakan Hegemony's entire technological infrastructure. All its weapons, communications, medical systems, everything they had, he was able to improve its capabilities tenfold. But like any wise inventor, he was smart enough to install a kill-switch in case his creations were misused or co-opted.
Connecting into the Olpakan mainframe, Cylo-V quickly infiltrated every ship in Daala's fleet that carried Alpha Red payloads. For a moment, he wondered whether he should trigger the ships' self-destruct mechanisms or arm her resonance torpedoes missiles aboard her heavy cruisers. After all the headaches she had given him and the rest of the Hegemony, it would be a bit of poetic justice to see her wanton destructive ways backfire on her so tremendously.
Still, as quickly as the idea came, Cylo-V dismissed it as the remnants of a man physically incapable of holding a grudge. Simply shutting down the weapons systems would be enough to disable Daala's fleet and force her captains to surrender. Besides, it would be capricious to risk spreading even trace amounts of Alpha Red across the system when its cross-species capabilities were still an unquantifiable variable.
With his connection to all Daala's warships, Cylo-V quickly seeded each vessel with the commands needed to deactivate them all. In the span of under five minutes, his contingency virus had infected every major system and was ready to deliver the death knell to the rogue admiral's madness.
Seeing the holographic overview of the system-wide battle, with all sixty of Daala's remaining fully functional capital warships either blockading the system or engaging her enemies and the fleeing refugees, Cylo-V knew the Last Alliance would have to work fast in pressing their advantage. She might be a mad fanatic, but she employed many intelligent people that might very well find a way to counter his computer-based attack.
But before he began his onetime friend's final downfall, Cylo-V sent out a brief transmission to Last Alliance command, informing them of their imminent opportunity to force a surrender out of Daala. And while he was at it, he remembered to send a message to the criminals and rogue Imperials that might still prove useful to the genius scientist's own mission. Raze and his cartel might be in the spotlight right now, and Lecersen was still on Krayt's payroll, but that could all change when the fight against Abeloth was moved to Exegol.
Once the transmissions were sent, Cylo-V got back to business and sent out the command. Not even a moment later, the signals for forty-five of the warships immediately flared from green to red, indicating that each capital ship was suffering a complete systems failure. All their weapons, all their critical systems, they were all shutting down, allowing the Last Alliance to unleash its full might on their disabled enemies.
Sending in Sith bombers and Jedi StealthX fighters speedily hurried to hit the rogue Olpakans' downed flanks, while Ship, the Aquilians, Mandalorians, and the Last Alliance's Starhawks kept Abeloth's warships pinned down, Cylo-V was prepared to coordinate his forces' attack on Daala's few unaffected ships. Apparently, the Sir Trilag and two dozen of her other warships' anti-viral software were well-protected from his otherwise crippling attack, only suffering a brief lapse in their functionality before flushing it out of all their systems.
Interrupting his contemplations, Cylo-V was startled when the incensed image of Daala covered every image of his chambers' monitors, with her furious voice all but screaming, "You think you're so brilliant, don't you, Cylo?!"
Recomposing himself, realizing this was a desperate attempt to unbalance him into making a fatal mistake, Cylo-V professionally answered, "I would prefer not to boast right now, since Mnggal-Mnggal \ Abeloth, and the Rhandites are still on the rampage. Instead, I'd advise you to just give up, Daala. You can't fight your way out of this one, nor can you cheat death." Reveling in her fearful gaze, he reminded her, "Remember, I helped create your digital copy and stored it away, and I know how to wipe it out of existence, just as my agents are doing right now across the entire Olpakan mainframe."
That was it. Cylo-V saw something deep within Daala's psyche broken, and with all the hatred and bitterness she carried throughout her traumatic life, she snapped, "You've underestimated me, just as everyone I ever met always had! I'll destroy you all before I give up my fight, even if I need to burn the whole galaxy to the ground to finish eradicating the Force!"
One of the Alchemy's monitors returning to its tactical projection, Cylo-V saw the Sir Trilag aiming towards the Clone War-era destroyer, preparing to release one of its resonance torpedoes at it and the entire escort fleet near its position. Suddenly, he realized just what Daala was planning, and cut off from his digital network, there wouldn't be enough time to order his fleet to get clear of the blast radius. That is, unless he took the initiative and pulled a final act of self-sacrifice.
If Daala wanted to see some fireworks, then Cylo-V would give her what she wanted, and then some. Pulling out his comlink, he ordered the bridge, "Order all nonessential hands to abandon ship, and have the fleet and all allied ships clear the vicinity!" Seeing the insane criminal's face contorted in hateful fury, he then vindictively smirked, "Well, I suppose this is my final goodbye, Natasi. Enjoy your time in eternal damnation, just like the Sith you hate so much."
Remembering as an afterthought, Cylo-V calmly and airily reminded Daala, "Oh, before I forget, you'd better get ready to fall to your raiders. At the rate they're cutting through your defenders, you don't have long until they reach your bridge."
Seeing Daala's face leave Cylo-V's private chambers, he tried to deactivate the resonance torpedo that was aimed for his ship, but quickly found himself locked out of the ignition process. Instead of wasting valuable time in trying to delay the inevitable, he made his way to the bridge while pulling out his datapad, leaving a last series of instructions for his command officers and allies in the Olpakan Hegemony.
Until Cylo-VI came to life, Cylo-V still had a little good he could do for his cause and the rest of the galaxy. An odd concept for him to consider, but not an entirely unpleasant one.
Carthea Orbit
Aboard the Sir Trilag
Wielding four of the lightsabers the One Sith built into his being, Edaan was continuing his dance of death on any of Daala's commandos that futilely tried to stop his assault. Using his training and Force-enhanced reflexes to deflect any attacks, he led the Last Alliance's charge on the Resurgent-class Star Destroyer while leaving every hallway, every bulkhead, and every enemy he encountered a charred wreck. At the rate he was cutting or blasting through enemies, his body count reaching well over five hundred marines and thirty officers, the carnage running across two hangars and an adjacent recreation area, the capital ship would run out of soldiers by the day's end. Of course, it helped that he was aided in this bloody work by a dozen of the Last Alliance's heavy hitters, including Darth Vua, Soldier Tirall, Tesar Sebatyne, Jaina Solo Fel, and Mirta Gev.
Working alongside the diversion force for the main assault teams to carry out their sabotage was certainly a strong stress relief for Edaan, even if he wished he could confront Daala personally. Even so, he recognized the necessity of keeping her forces pinned down while the Last Alliance's commandos worked to shut down the Sir Trilag's reactor. And the longer the madwoman's attention was hopefully preoccupied by his rampage, given his personal stake in wanting to bring her down after witnessing the full extent of her depravities alongside several of her most bitter enemies or their descendants, the longer it kept her from effectively retaliating.
'There is a problem coming your way, everyone. Natasi Daala has fully succumbed to Abeloth's influence and is about to come after you.' Ship urgently warned the diversionary team, the Sith meditation sphere implanting a series of startling images into each of their minds. Witnessing Daala, with practiacally all her sanity having left her mind and usurped by an all-consuming and hateful bloodlust, being equipped with combat armor reminiscent of the Imperial Dark Troopers' Phase III Battle Droids, it made him see the lunatic's final fight was only just about to start. And Edaan, recognizing Abeloth's insidious power subtly pushing her unwitting pawn past the edge of madness, knew that there was no reasoning with the rogue Olpakan now, no matter who was doing the talking.
And with Ship seeing into her mind, allowing his teammates to glean her first targets, it curdled Edaan's blood and made him see that capturing Daala was out of the question. If she was so willing to destroy the people that took her in and kill anyone who stood in her way, then she deserved nothing less than to die in the grave that she had long since dug for herself.
Finishing off the latest batch of opponents, swiftly assessing everyone's ability to continue fighting, Edaan observed nothing but sheer resolve and readiness to end Daala's madness. Addressing them through his cranial implants, he especially advised Mirta and Jaina, "I think we start to give Daala a problem she can't afford to ignore, and we can start by taking away all her big and shiny toys she loves so much. The longer we keep her attention away from our friends, the better our chances are of shutting her down for good."
Flashing a vicious smile, Mirta eagerly concurred with Edaan through her helmet's built in comms, "Now that's an assessment I think we can all gladly get behind."
Well, this is a good place to end the chapter! What did you all think? Was it realistic enough and had enough depth to be enjoyable? I really worry about these more nuanced points, but I need to have more faith in my work and process. So, how are you all doing on this warm night of Wednesday, January 31, 2024? I'm well, if tired from work and ready to go to bed in a little while. I have an internship shift tomorrow, and then a few days off from work to rest and recuperate. But in other news, my grandma is doing much better, so that's a fortunate break. Oh, and I'm going to take a break from Star Wars books to read some real-world books, varying from one of three choices I will relish for various reasons. Well, with all this out of the way, I'd best get ready to publish this one in a few days or so, after I assess and revise a few things as needed. I hope you all have a blessed night, stay safe in these mad times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
