Author's Notes: Hi this is to be the last chapter for this year although I might surprise myself and do another before the year is out we'll see, I had hoped to complete this section of the story before new year but have decided to end it where I have on a cliff hanger so as not to rush the story and mess it up. I am sorry if this annoys anyone but I don't won't to mess this story up, at least I can give you this chapter as a Christmas present and hope you all enjoy it.

To all my readers have a great Christmas and an even better new year.

+TR+

(Leviathan)

Malak stared out of the main observation window of the command deck as his ship continued to be restocked; he was already planning the next series of attacks on the ever weakening Republic. The latest reports showed the Republic was pulling back on all fronts, whilst this gave his own forces a huge advantage in one sense it was also a problem as it meant extending their lines of resupply and resources. And even though they were winning the war, they were not yet ready to launch a thrust into the heart of the Republic. He couldn't help but wonder where Revan was right now? His former friend had not gone near Korriban yet and Bandon had been there for almost a week or more waiting for him, there had been no reports on him or his small team on Manaan either so where was he?

Perhaps the Council had recalled them for some reason, then he recalled the storm of rage that had pulsed through the force and he wondered if perhaps the Jedi had grown concerned that perhaps Revan had survived their attempted mind wipe and recalled him to either test him or redo the mind wipe to ensure he remained under their control. Revan would not willingly return and allow them such a chance, perhaps it was time to call up his spies in the Order and find out just what was happening. Before he could turn and do anything, one of his underlings ran onto the bridge straight past Karath who looked startled by his actions. Frowning Malak unleashed a quick burst of force lightening on the man for his impudence and lack of respect, the man cried out as the power washed over his body before collapsing in a heap at Malak's feet as the power stopped.

"Now bow and show me proper respect before making whatever report you were going to" he ordered dangerously.

"Yes my Lord, sorry my Lord" the man managed to finally say as he slowly recovered his wits from the attack. He had been foolish to recklessly run up to the Dark Lord of the Sith in such a manner, no matter the importance of what he had wanted to report he should have known better. "I was monitoring the communication channels to our spies in the Republic and they are reporting some kind of attack on the Jedi Temple" he stated but remained on his knees not wanting to provoke another attack.

"Attacked by Whom?" Malak demanded to know as Karath moved to join them clearly interested in the report as well.

"They don't know their reports are garbled and so far not one of them has been able to identify who is behind the attack, one of them aboard the defence fleet reports the fleet itself is also under attack" the underling answered quickly. "If I may suggest something my Lord" he requested.

"Speak quickly but mind what you say" Malak decided after a few seconds deciding if he didn't like what the man said he would take his head off.

"It is possible the attack originated from those we left on Malachor, if you will recall the cell there is led by Kreia who was once the teacher of Revan" the man said in a rush knowing he was risking death by talking about anything to do with Revan. "Perhaps she has learnt of his capture and brainwashing and wishes revenge, we might also become targets for our own role in his downfall" he added.

Malak glared at the man for a few seconds before he actually focused on just what the man was suggesting, Kreia had been loyal to Revan's cause and as noted by his underling she had been his teacher as well. However there had been word or movement from the force Kreia commanded on Malachor for quite some time, not even when he moved against Revan had there been any signs of action. He had put the matter out of his mind instead focused on crushing first those who still followed Revan within his fleet and then more importantly the Republic, perhaps Kreia and all those who followed her were dead. Malachor was not exactly stable planet; it was more engulfed in the dark side than even Korriban. Perhaps they had turned on one another, or the planet had suffered some kind of disaster that destroyed the academy that housed Kreia and her followers. Either way he had thought the matter settled, perhaps that had been a mistake a miscalculation. Perhaps as his underling had suggested Kreia and her followers were now making their move, either to avenge Revan or just to destroy whatever they could. Either was bad news for him and his own plans, letting out a curse he refocused on the underling awaiting his response?

"And what if it is not those from Malachor?" Karath couldn't help ask before Malak could say anything.

"Er…" the underling hesitated in answer before crying out as he was hit with a second barrage of force lightning encouraging him to answer. "It is possible though unlikely it is a splinter wing of our own fleet still loyal to Revan who somehow survived your purge and is intent on revenge or have learned Revan is alive in some capacity and intent on retrieving him" he finally answer once he had recovered again.

This new suggestion enraged Malak all the more at the very idea any of Revan's followers had survived his coup, it made him lose control briefly and he unleashed a third and far longer burst of force lighting on the underling who withered under his power before he finally regained control and stopped. The underling collapsed breathing heavily as he tried to ignore the agony he was feeling, Malak could not help but think of the annoyance that no matter who it was attacking the Republic capital it was a move he still believed was too risky for his own fleet and thus were making them look weak.

"I want all the information our spies can get on who it is attacking Corusant, if the defence fleet is been attacked have them look for identifying marks on the attacking ships" he ordered darkly. "If they fail in gaining the information tell them not to bother returning as they will all die" he warned.

"As you command my Lord" the underling quickly responded bowing low as best he could as his body was still racked with pain.

"Karath, gather a small attack wing of destroyers and three carries to make an attack run on Corusant" Malak snapped turning to the Admiral who stiffened in response. "Perhaps we can take some advantage of this new twist and cause a bit more damage to Corusant's defences and gain some valuable information on it at the same time" he stated.

Karath knew a small wing would inflict very little damage on the defence fleet as even with how weakened the Republic forces had become, he knew they would defend Corusant to the bitter end. But he knew better than to question Malak's orders; he had seen what happened to those who did. Thus he snapped a quick salute and moved to comply, but even as he did so he felt a ghost of a shiver run up his spine at just who it was attacking Corusant.

Malak watched him go easily reading the man's body language that he disagreed with his orders but wisely Karath kept those doubts to himself, it was one of the reasons Malak put up with the man as he knew just to except his orders and comply than argue the point. Turning he dismissed the underling to carry out his orders and turned back to the observation window, he could feel a change in the force and he suddenly realised there was a third option on who was attacking Corusant. Perhaps the True Sith had sent a probing attack having finally learned that the Republic was weak and failing, that realisation sent a chill up his spine not in fear but in cold rage at been replaced as the Dark Lord of the Sith. He was no match for the Emperor, not even Revan could match the monster that sat on the throne at the head of the Empire they had found. He needed information, and he needed it quickly.

+TR+

(Corusant)

Canderous ducked the wild blow from the temple guard he was facing and quickly retaliated with a viscous elbow to his overextended back, the guard stumbled allowing him to lash his foot out and land a blow to his chest and then he finished it with a right hand straight to his face. The guard dropped boneless to the ground clearly out of the fight, he turned to help Mira when another guard appeared behind him and opened fire, his armour absorbed most of the fire but he hissed as he felt one bolt burn through and strike his shoulder. Growling he charged the guard and sent him reeling backwards, the guard dropped his blaster and moved to fight him hand to hand. Before he could Mira appeared behind him and clubbed him with the butt of her blaster cannon, the guard dropped from the impact completely out cold. Turning again he noted the fight was going in their favour as his men had gotten too close for even the Jedi to safely use their lightsabers, thus they were been forced to go hand to hand and it was clear their skills in this area were lacking. He saw Rex and Baxter leading their respective teams through the flanks towards one another, his own force had cut off the Jedi from going anywhere except further away from the temple. But he knew this good luck would not hold if it went on much longer, this was the capital of the Republic and he was certain there was a whole battalion of Republic soldiers assigned to defend it. Hence once reports filtered in of the attack on the temple he was certain a platoon or two would eventually be sent to help put it down, hopefully Revan and his team would be finished by then.

+TR+

(Space)

In the melee of the battle going on Captain Tarkin piloted his sleek fighter craft with incredible skill as he weaved through the enemy fire and fighters, his target was the already damaged communications array on the Republic flagship. Behind him Omega and Delta squadrons followed eager to help end the battle as quickly as possible, covering fire from the nearby destroyers and battleships kept them protected from been picked off by the enemy ships. He dived to avoid an oncoming fighter as he made his way towards the still retreating flagship; he needed a good clear shot.

"Omega squadron you will provide cover for me and Delta wings attack run, if we fail to hit the target we will reverse and cover your attack run" he ordered calmly and almost smiled as the pilots all responded quickly to the his orders.

The fighters dived and weaved through the defence fire as well as the attacking defence fighters, the majority of which was kept off them by Omega squadron as they provided cover. He began to line up his shot as he gained on his target, waiting for the right moment as he dodged another shot he finally opened fire and watched with satisfaction as it struck the array dead centre. Taking no chances he ordered his fellow pilots to open fire as well, he banked to the left as and helped provide cover as the rest of Delta squadron opened up on the array until it was nothing but scrap. Ordering his fellow pilots to re-join the main battle he smirked at succeeding before following, hopefully now that the communications array was toast the battle would end soon.

On the bridge of the Republic flagship Admiral Tia did not need to be told that the communications array had been destroyed, she had seen where the fighters had been targeting and had felt the shudder as it exploded. Hopefully even with their array down the rest of the fleet would continue to fight, she was certain of one thing now whoever was attacking them whilst not Sith were professional soldiers. The aim of their attackers was clearly to disable their ships, but for what reason? To leave Corusant undefended or to steal some of their ships she did not know.

"Sir we've lost the array" Tarlson shouted unnecessarily. "What do we do?" he demanded looking shocked.

"We continue to fight, hopefully the rest of the fleet will keep fighting as well as long as they can see we've not given up" Tia responded tightly. "All batteries target the main battleship of the enemy fleet" she ordered.

The Fireclaw shuddered as several blasts struck it on the bow but the advanced and superior armour held and the ship continued to bear down on the Republic flagship, covered by two destroyers as well as multiple fighter wings including Omega and Delta squadrons it pushed forward. On the bridge Stark watched the battle continue and whilst he knew the orders had been to disable only he was certain some of the fighters had at least been destroyed on both sides, still the battle was still going in their favour for now. But time was against them, reinforcements could arrive at any time, time to end this now whilst they had the upper hand.

"All batteries focus your fire on the Republic flagship, target their engines and weapons" he ordered. "Disable her, hopefully seeing their flagship disable and knocked out of the action will weaken the Republic fleet's will to continue fighting" he mused.

"Admiral, Captain Tarkin and Delta squadron are volunteering to take a shot at the engines" Johansson reported.

"Tell him he has a go but to take Omega squadron with him" Stark quickly responded. "Retarget our batteries on the enemy weapons, Tarkin will deal with the engines" he ordered.

+TR+

(Jedi Temple)

Atris looked up in complete shock as the doors guarding the council chamber began to open, it shouldn't have been possible for them to be opened from the outside. She glanced at the others and noted they too looked just as surprised as she did. Whoever had dared attack the temple had somehow managed to beat Master Yarrik and the other Masters she'd had defending the chamber, all powerful Masters so who had beat them? Her hand moved to her lightsaber and waited, as the doors cleared her shock turned to complete horror as she realised just who was waiting on the other side.

Revan and Meetra both smirked as they saw the horrified realisation dawn although their smiles were hidden one by his mask and other by the hood of her cloak, clearly their presence had caught them by complete surprise. Leading his team forward Revan ensure he could pull his lightsaber quickly, he ensured Bastila was safely behind him as he was certain she would be a prime target should this break into a fight. A fight which quickly began as Vrook and Atris jumped forward with their lightsabers drawn, Kai-El followed however Kavar and Vandar remained seated. Revan met Vrook in a flurry of blows he easily deflected as the aged Master showed his lack of practice in recent years, his very form was slow and off centre. Meetra quickly rushed to meet Atris before she could try and take Revan from the side, she pushed the elder woman away hard as their blades clashed before opening with a wide arc slash which almost removed her head had she noted ducked it. Zayne moved to meet Kai-El a council member he remembered well from his days on the run, the man had given an interview condemning him as one of the worst traitors of the order. He had never forgotten nor forgiven him for that, meeting Kai-El's wild swing he felt a sense of retribution finally arrive for him. Vandar and Kavar watched almost spellbound as the fight began, each had begun to have their misgivings about Atris and Vrook but they were not certain what action was the right one. Their uncertainty paralyzed them at this critical moment, Revan growled as he pushed Vrook backwards and even as he countered another blow he felt Bastila's power wash over him. Bastila was indeed using her battle meditation to help even though the strain of using it on such a wide scale to control three different battles was beginning to get to her, HK had moved to her side ready to defend her as he had been ordered should she falter.

Revan blocked blow after blow as Vrook tried to force him back, his skill was clearly lacking and it was obvious that the council member had allowed himself to become weak. Too much time sitting in a chair talking down to people instead of keeping up with his training and tackling challenges head on, he deflected another blow before lashing out with a flurry of blows of his own catching Vrook by complete surprise. To the far side Meetra countered Atris's deadly swings and blows, she recalled training with Atris back when she was a padawan and had always thought she was dangerous in any kind of fight. Now though there seemed to be an air of rage within each swing Atris made, her eyes seemed to glow with anger and she wondered what she would think if she knew who it was she fought. Zayne found Kai-El a tricky opponent to fight, he kept switching the styles he fought with but thankfully managed to counter each one. He may never have become a Knight but his experiences in the war and before that been on the run from the Covenant had taught him much about how to fight in many different styles, plus Jarael had taught him her own unique style as well. He launched his own counter offensive just as Kai-El was about to try and sweep his legs out, he took the Jedi Master by surprise and managed to wound his left arm sending him staggering back.

Revan suddenly sensed Kai-El's weakness and lashed out sideways almost taking Kai-El's right leg off as he did so, Vrook seeing Revan expose himself moved to strike but was blocked by Jolee who rushed forward and caught the blow before it could hit Revan. He pushed a man he knew well from his own days in the Order backwards with hard blows before dropping into a crouch and taking his legs out with a sweep of his own, Vrook fell against his chair and ended up with Jolee's blade at this throat. Atris felt the change in the force signalling the defeat of her two colleagues and faltered allowing Meetra to rush forward and knocked her off balance right into one of the high council chairs, her lightsaber fell from her hand and she found herself like Vrook with a lightsaber at her throat.

"Who are you to dare attack the Grand Master of the Jedi Order?" she shouted in outrage whilst inside she felt a swelling of anger and hatred towards Revan and his people.

+TR+

(Space)

Admiral Stark was watching as the Republic defence fleet began to buckle under the pressure and without the guidance of their command ship, just a little pressure and he suspected the battle would be quickly over.

"Admiral we are detecting incoming ships" Organa shouted gaining his complete attention.

"Identity them" he snapped quickly having a sudden bad feeling.

"Their Sith destroyers sir along with a battlecruiser and some carriers" Organa quickly answer as she received calls from their fighters identifying the markings on the approaching ships.

"Put me on fleet wide and patch me into the Republic channels as well if you can" Stark ordered already seeing the reason for the Sith's presence.

They had clearly heard about the attack and was trying to take advantage of it, he knew what Revan would do in this situation and he intended to do it. In the end his own fleet was Republic just like the defence fleet, and he had intended to avenge many of the friends he had lost when Malak launched his coup.

"You're on Admiral" Organa reported.

"To all ships and fighters move to engage the Sith fleet bearing down of us, protect the weakened defence fleet until they can repair their ships" he ordered calmly. "To the Defence fleet, we are not your enemies the Sith are move to engage them if you can" he continued. "If too badly damaged do all you can to repair your ships, if unable we will protect you as best we can" he stated.

On the flagship of the defence fleet Tia heard the call come in through the secondary comm relay which had thankfully just been repaired, she was unsure whether to trust the commander of the fleet that had just been attacking them but decided the Sith were the more immediate threat as they would not strike to cripple but to destroy.

"Order all our ships and fighters still capable of battle to engage the Sith and ignore the unknown ships we've been fighting" she ordered and noting the surprised looks this gained her before the crew moved to comply.

"Admiral no disrespect but can we really trust these unknown ships to defend us?" Tarlson inquired as quietly as he could.

"I believe we can as they have tried not to destroy any of our ships, it is almost of if they are trying to distract us" Tia explained her view of the unknown attackers strategy. "However we know for a fact the Sith will destroy us if they can, so we focus on them first, we'll deal with the unknowns later if nessacary" she declared.

Tarlson nodded in understanding and moved back to his station, he prayed the Admiral's view bore out as the battle continued. He watched as those ships still capable of fighting moved to engage the Sith ships coming in, their fighters stopped attacking the unknown fighters and moved to engage the incoming Sith fighters. He watched as the unknown fighters moved to follow, it was the strangest sight he had seen in a battle ever.

Captain Tarkin eagerly pulled his fighter around to target the incoming Sith with Delta and Omega squadrons easily following suit, all of them all lost friends and colleagues during Malak's coup. Worse some of his friends had turned and joined Malak in the coup, that betrayal had left its mark and he intended to make them all pay. Seconds later the fight was joined as the fighter wings engaged, he put his full focus on ensuring the Sith's fighter screen was wiped out quickly. Behind the fighters the Fireclaw led the ships of the Revanchists straight towards the Sith's small fleet, its main target the battlecruiser leading it. A few ships remained defending those Republic ships disabled by the previous engagement, cannons opened fire as space was lit once more in flame.

+TR+

(Jedi Temple)

Meetra snorted at the utter arrogance of Atris declaring herself the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, as if she had actually been chosen to ascend to the post instead of stealing it in a coup. Stepping away from the older woman she deactivated her lightsaber and slowly reached for her hood, it was time to reveal her return and she could hardly wait to see Atris's reaction.

"Who am I?" she inquired softly before pulling her hood down revealing her features to the council. "I am Meetra Surik, General of the armies of the Republic, second of the Revanchists, ally and lover of Revan and I have returned Atris to reclaim all that you tried to steal from me" she declared smiling inwardly as the horrified expression that lit up Atris's face as she realised who was standing before her.

Atris stared in utter horror and anger as Meetra Surik revealed she had returned and once more joined Revan, that she had again betrayed the Order but ignoring her banishment and trying to reclaim her name. The anger was increased when she heard her state she was also Revan's lover, the anger turned to hate in a way she had never felt before and she slowly stood to face her former student. The other council members were just as shocked as Atris as they realised the Exile had returned and somehow re-joined Revan, Vrook tried to regain his feet but Jolee forced him to remain where he was. Bastila jerked somewhat as Meetra declared her status as Revan's lover, but pushed it aside and remained focused on utilising her battle meditation.

"We are here to put down this illegal coup Atris" Revan declared as he moved away from the fallen Kai-El who clutched his injured leg and arm. "You have betrayed your oaths not only as Jedi but Council members, now you will pay for it" he stated. "Master Yarrik would you please fetch the true Grand Master of the Order, he should be here for this" he requested.

Master Yarrik who had watched in stunned silence since entering the Council chamber moved to comply with Vash joining him, Vima moved to Revan's side to confront the Council she had once trusted in.

"You all shame the Council and the Jedi as a whole, you allowed Atris to illegally remove Zirrik from his position, worse you allowed her to imprison fellow Council members without any authority" she growled as she looked Vandar and Kavar in the eye but both looked away clearly somewhat ashamed on their actions. "This woman is almost completely subsumed in the dark side, she has lost her way and Vrook is close behind her" she added before Vrook cut her off.

"How dare you Vima" he spat from his position on the ground mindful of the lightsaber at his throat. "We acted for the good of the Order, Zirrik is weak and Revan is the greatest danger we face we had to do something" he growled back.

"Revan is no threat to us unless we make him one Vrook, Malak is the threat we face" Vima countered quickly. "It is Malak and his followers who are laying waste to the Republic, it was Malak who bombed Telos and Taris and will continue to bomb planets until we destroy him and yet all you and Atris could focus on was Revan who was helping keep Bastila safe" she stated coldly. "You lost touch with reality and let your anger control you, anger at his so called betrayal but he is still loyal to the Republic just one free of the corruption that has crippled it" she told them.

"LIES" Atris screeched incensed by Vima's words although her eyes remained fixed on Meetra. "You are deluded Vima, Revan will destroy us all if he is not killed" she declared.

"Jedi do not kill unless there is no other way" Zirrik's tired voice cut her off and they all turned to see the elderly Jedi escorted back into the Council chamber By Yarrik and Vash. "Your actions have endangered the very Order you claim to fight in aide off, you spat on your oaths and acted dishonourably" he stated as he moved to sit once more in the Grand Master's chair. "Revan's actions here to restore me to my rightful place as well as free Vima and the other you illegally imprisoned reveal his true nature, clearly there is much about his motives we do not know but one thing I believe his actions show is that he is not immersed in the dark side as we believed"

Atris glared at Zirrik growing angrier, Vandar and Kavar had already betrayed the Order by not aiding in killing Revan and his followers and clearly Vrook and Kai-El were bested and useless now to the struggle. The anger and hatred continued to swell as she listened to the weakness been sprouted by Zirrik, Vima and the others. Meetra had taken her eyes off her as she watched Zirrik talk and suddenly unable to take anymore she saw her chance to strike; she shot her hand forward and unleashed a barrage of force lightning for the first time in her life. It was fuelled by the hatred and anger she felt and it took her by surprise as much as it did everyone else in the room but she did not stop the attack blinded now by rage as she was, Meetra was taken by complete surprise and sent flying to the ground crying out in pain as the power washed over her. Revan reacted the quickest and moved to deflect the power back at Atris who was clearly showing her true colours at last, however he underestimated the force of the attack and was overcome by its raw power and thus ended up on his knee's trying to force the power back.

Vandar who had so far watched in silence suddenly jumped off his chair and took the full brunt of Atris's attack off Revan and Meetra, his race was old and many had been powerful Jedi in the last and he was sure more would come in the future. With their age had come wisdom on how to counter the darkside powers such as force lightning, it was not an easy talent to master but master it he had, he first absorbed the power before rebounding it at Atris who howled as her own power shot back at her and she collapsed to her knees even as Revan and Meetra slowly regained their own feet, Atris broke off the attack panting in pain from Vandar's deflection of her power, realising all was lost she broke and ran before anyone could react. If she was to save the Order she had to get away from the fallen Council and raise an army of her own to destroy Revan and his followers, her broken mind did not allow her to see just how far she had fallen. Yarrik and Master Krom chased after her leaving the Council chamber in complete silence as they all tried to recover from what they had just seen, Revan and Meetra both used the force to recover from the shock of been hit by such powerful force lightning it was far more than they had expected.

Vrook and Kai-El were stunned at the release of such power from the woman they had followed in launching what they had believed to be a noble coup to save the Order, now they were forced to realise there had been no nobility in Atris's actions at all, and worse their actions in supporting her now shamed them. Kavar felt empty as he watched Atris's fall be completed, the woman was clearly lost to her own anger and hate and sadly he felt he had helped bring her fall about by helping remove Zirrik. Vima stared after where Atris had run feeling justified in her actions, but knew even with Atris now on the run and hopefully quickly captured that there was still a lot to be dealt with before this situation was contained.