One Hour Later
Telona 31st, 59 ABY
Batuu Orbit
Aboard the Razor Crest
"Give 'em hell, cyar'ika!" Din called out to his wife before opening the docking bay, allowing Cara and twenty of Clan Djarin's Supercommandos to activate their jetpacks to fly towards a medium sized transport among Admiral Tonith's traitorous fleet. Seeing them effortlessly land on top of the cargo ship and slice their way through airlocks, vulnerable panels, or damaged weapons emplacements, he knew Cara and her team would easily capture the vessel and its cargo. Manda willing, this recovery would give the coalition a lead on the Olpakans' plans if the ship's records were intact.
This had been the seventh transport Clan Djarin had struck, recovering no less than one thousand of the imprisoned Esh-Kha from Tonith's conspirators, each under attack by no less than ten Mandalorians and fighter escort. And the Olpakans showed no signs of slowing down or preemptively ending their assault.
Between trying to save Batuu from planetary devastation, repel the Olpakans and their collaborators, and trying to recover the planet's valuable cargo, everyone among the Alliance of Light and One Sith was slowly being pushed to exhaustion by the relentless onslaught. Even Din was finding himself slipping in his concentration from the continuous battles. Not even his nerve-stims would be enough to keep him fighting for more than another day.
True, the Olpakans had lost almost a fifth of their fleet, whether to utter destruction or being temporary disabled, but their opposition was far worse off. The defensive fleet's lines were devastated by treachery, surprise attacks, and unrelenting attacks, and the civilians were no better off.
Din only hoped that Shada and her colleagues could protect the remaining populace from the Olpakans' hateful agenda. But given the militaristic society's specific targeting of the Smuggler's Alliance and Hutt forces, he wouldn't be surprised if they were barely able to protect themselves down on Batuu's surface.
Korriban
Sith Catacombs
Darth Krayt's Citadel
Within the Aphra Family's Quarters
"Well?" Chelli impatiently asked 0-0-0 and an exhausted Tau. "Tell me if either of you have any good news."
"I told Mr. Skirata everything of essential importance." 0-0-0 regretfully answered. "The ceasefire between Jedi and One Sith, our opportunity to free him and Clone Force 99 before they can be turned into Krayt's tools, Tau Palpatine's affiliation with us, and our mutual foes, but he was understandably skeptical."
"Well, then you have to do everything you can to convince him otherwise." Tau wearily stated. On a six-hour reprieve from his healing session, he was ready to sleep soundly before resuming his lifesaving work right after this illegal meeting concluded.
"Oh, no, Tau. I won't be the one to persuade him to trust us." 0-0-0 forebodingly denied. "That task falls onto you." Seeing the abject surprise plastered across the Iteration's face, the black-plated droid elaborated, "He wants you to meet with him and verify all the information I have relayed to him."
Tiredly running a hand through his short hair, Tau pointed out, "I can't be seen with Jaing Skirata." Seeing the disgruntled glares both droid and woman gave him, he amended, "But I'll figure a way to speak with him soon."
"Just do whatever you have to. If he refuses the chance to get back to his people and save a few of his fellow clones, he must be insane." Chelli patiently consoled her friend. "But how's the assassin's recovery doing?"
"We've only just begun, but Ochi is responding fairly well to the procedure. Even so, I can extend things along so healing him will take a few days, maybe a couple weeks, if my luck holds out. But you and your mother need to finish up your work long before I'll be forced to divulge everything the both of us know." Tau answered.
Just then, a surprise visitor rolled right into the chamber, and everyone was prepared to silence them before recognizing the droid. Breathing out his relief, Chelli groaned, "Oh, it's you. Glad you made it back in one piece, Beetee, but I'm guessing you came back empty-handed."
Tweeting victoriously, the astromech droid opened a compartment to reveal a hilt, and Tau, ever suspicious if this was indeed the Mortis Dagger, used the Force to grab it, allowing the legendary blade to materialize right before him.
Smiling triumphantly at the droid, Tau graciously praised him, "If I could, I'd give you both medals for your heroism. You and Prowl just might have saved this entire plane of reality with this one theft, you little wonder of a murderous misfit."
"Careful, Tau. Don't inflate his ego any further, or his personality matrix will overload." Chelli laughed, with Tau and 0-0-0 joining in, much to the aggravated droid's consternation.
Shortly ending the joyous mood, she suggested to Tau, "If you can't be seen with Jaing, then why not just communicate with him via the Force while you rest?" Seeing his astonished stare, she amusingly shrugged, "I've been around Sith long enough to hear of a few of their tricks, and my parents educated me on the Force's uses. Doesn't seem like much of a stretch to assume you can talk with him via some form of telepathy."
"It's not telepathy, Chelli." Tau automatically corrected before he allowed, "But that could work."
Beamingly smiling, Chelli slapped his back, "Good! Then we'll all let you get some shuteye and talk with our new friend and teammate."
Batuu
Within the Settlement of Galma
Aboard the Wild Karrde
"That's all we can take with us, Gaslin! Punch it!" Shada shouted to her navigator, just before her flagship took off with its convoy of villagers, mere minutes before the town was to be wiped clean of all traces of life.
After leading half the Smuggler's Alliance flotilla, several One Sith transports, and commandeered Freedom's Riches cruisers, in rescuing the populations of five large settlements and six small villages from the few still-active defoliator bombs, just over six thousand refugees, the maverick flotilla was ready to withdraw and deliver their precious guests to safer havens. That is, if there was anywhere left on Batuu that would be safe from the Olpakans and their senseless and indiscriminate slaughter.
Hearing from her few surviving friends in orbit of the Olpakan Hegemony taking no prisoners or sparing none of her fellow underworld entrepreneurs from destruction, Shada's old Mistryl Shadow Guard instincts seethed at not being able to lend a hand. And seeing the devastation the fleet and Dician's turncoats unleash while pilfering at least a quarter of the Esh-Kha locked away on Batuu, it enraged her at realizing how they would get away with those depravities, far more than the devastation the handful of Olpakan-commandeered bombs would unleash.
Somehow, these renegades and bigots would get what they deserved, and Shada vowed she would have a hand in engineering their downfall. But before she could do that, she had to ensure the last batch of retrievable civilians were safely away from this massacre.
For the time being, it was time to leave this doomed planet behind and help the refugees find a new world to live and heal on. Doing so was the least the Alliance of Light could do for them, since they and the One Sith brought this war to home for these innocent victims of a crusade that they wanted no part in.
In Batuu's Stratosphere
Aboard the Lancer-class Pursuit Craft Striker
Dician knew her life was forfeit with the disaster that happened on her watch. With Reep Tonith II and his followers stealing around eighty thousand Esh-Kha from his former patrons for his new masters, she realized that Lord Krayt would make an example of the architect of this terrible failure, no matter what the outcome of this slaughter might be. Especially when combined with the late Xasha Xizor's treachery and true allegiance now known to all and large swaths of Batuu's surface scarred by ten defoliator megaton bombs.
Not even the two thousand carbonite slabs recovered, never mind the captured Olpakan warships and their slew of data contained within, could sate the Dread Lord's wrath, not with most of the Esh-Kha army's chain of command being taken by the defectors. All Dician could do now was salvage what she could and work to shield her followers from the punishment that would soon befall her.
"My Lady." A bridge officer anxiously warned Dician. "Admiral Tonith is hailing us from the Defiler."
He probably wants to gloat and try to finish me off himself. Dician guessed. Well, if Reep wanted to try and earn a little more glory and a bigger paycheck from his new masters, then she would make him collect more than he could ever hold. Tightly controlling her emotions, she solemnly called out to Liara through their Force bond, My apprentice, I leave everything to you and the rest of the One Sith.
Despite her professionalism and trademark stoicism, Dician knew she would miss teaching her pupils and weaving countless plots for the One Sith. But she took comfort in the knowledge that her work would carry on in her proteges and their dreams would one day be realized.
Seated in her command chair, Dician shut herself off from the Force, before accepting Reep's call, ready to take him with her if the opportunity presented itself. Seeing the smug Muun's grin appear, she spitefully spat, "I assume you're here to deliver your new masters' demands of surrender to me?"
"Not even close, Madam Director." Reep smugly said. "I simply came to say goodbye and thank you for the opportunity working for you presented me. Without your wretched and short-sighted order, I would never have been offered a chance to join the winning side of this mad war I find myself in."
"For that alone, I wanted to be given the honor of dispatching you personally. But circumstances and the shifting tides of war have forced my hand, leaving me the dishonor of killing you with rather more… crude and tasteless methods. For what it's worth, you were a mostly competent employer, Dician."
Seeing a stream of messages appear on her personal datapad, Dician ignored them, only to see half a Skytrooper platoon fly into the Striker's bridge, quickly working to dispatch the crew and few guards before a dozen surrounded the Sith Lady. Seeing twelve rifles aimed at her, she stoically stared at Reep, vowing, "You have no idea the horror you've wrought on you and your family. One way or another, your lineage will be shamed for generations to come."
"Goodbye, Lady Dician." Reep amusingly dismissed before the Skytroopers gunned down their target, who didn't offer a single shred of resistance as her broken form crumpled onto the floor before the droid soldiers used their jetpacks to escape the doomed One Sith flagship.
Ordo System
Aboard the Mandator
The Jedi have informed me that that Rakata have aligned themselves with the Rhandites, and that they will soon strike against us all. Krayt telepathically told Wyyrlok, nearly causing him to stumble from shock before regaining his balance. Ignoring the panic in his mind, Krayt ordered the Chagrian. I need you to return to Korriban immediately and finish overseeing our evacuation.
I will leave immediately, but what of the Neo Hidden Chain and Lecersen's soldiers? Wyyrlok carefully pointed out. Do we just leave them to risk oblivion at the hands of the Alliance of Light and Fett's Mandalorians?
We will need every fighter we can for this united effort. Krayt sternly reminded his most trusted subordinate before concluding these orders, Take them with you, instruct them to be ready for battle long before you all reach Korriban.
As you command, my lord. Wyyrlok faithfully obeyed, moments before the connection ended, and the Turbulent Destroyer's long-range alarms activated. Sensing a vibrant darkness approaching the One Sith/Neo Hidden Chain/Imperial fleet, he grasped the new enemy about to pounce upon them all.
Before he could order Lecersen and Belok to prepare their fleets to fight their way out of Mandalorian Space, he fell face first onto the hard bulkhead when several well-placed turbolaser blasts rocked the ex-Moff's capital ship. Feeling the deaths of dozens of crewmembers and a few Sith across the fleet, he initially thought the Rakata had greater capabilities than the One Sith's records said. But then he recognized the attack vector, coupled by the distinct signature of the weapons, and realized the treachery pervading the One Sith was worse than anyone still realized.
In the time it took for Wyyrlok, bloodied and likely bearing a couple fractures, to rise from the floor to contact Lecersen, Belok's smug face came over the bridge's main holoprojector. Beating the Sith to it, the rogue Mandalorian gloated, "I see you're still alive, Amedda. I wish I had time to correct it personally, but I've been called away by my new employers."
"You won't get away with this." Wyyrlok hatefully growled. "If it's the last thing I do, I will make you pay for this treason."
"You mean how you vowed the same for Phasma, Ferren Barr, and Vestara Khai?" Belok smirked. "I think we both know how capable your order is at punishing traitors. Good luck beating us to Korriban."
Once Belok ended the communication, Lecersen, who was supposed to be inspecting all fleet elements at this time, called out to Wyyrlok, "I'm afraid we won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Rhal's new friends have just dropped interdictors across the system, and the fleet got hit hard by the ambush."
It was just one setback and disaster after another for the One Sith, and this one was almost enough to give the onetime politician a heart attack. Sensing the Rakata and Neo Hidden Chain swiftly leave the site of betrayal, Wyyrlok vowed that somehow, he would destroy anyone who interfered with his revenge.
But first things first, he had to warn Korriban of their incoming attackers and get his fleet in position to pursue them. As repulsive as it was, he couldn't do this himself, which meant asking for help from people he would otherwise try to kill or corrupt.
Batuu Orbit
Aboard the MC80b Star Cruiser Defiler
On the secondary flagship's bridge of his diminished loyal fleet, Admiral Reep Tonith II felt utter relief as he left the fallen world of Batuu behind him. A shame he had to leave so many of his former soldiers and friends behind, but they made their choice when refusing Natasi Daala's generous offer, and now they had to suffer the consequences.
Delivering just under eighty thousand Esh-Kha to the Olpakan Hegemony, along with fifteen warships wroth of recruits and Reep's impressive network of contacts and strong financial infrastructure, that would be a good peace offering for him to retain his rank and authority in the coming new order. And pinpointing and eliminating the One Sith's Director of Sith Intelligence and crippling her personal operations was another strong incentive. If he played his investments right and continued to prove himself to his new benefactors, then he might even be made a High Admiral.
But right now, he had to follow Vice Admiral Rampart's orders and enact a strategic withdrawal from the Batuu System. With the Xyston dreadnoughts and expendable Skytroopers keeping the enemy fleets from effectively pursuing the Olpakans, they were able to safely escape to hyperspace. Heading deep into the Unknown Regions, this mysterious region was where Reep's supporters would be properly oriented into the Olpakan Hegemony's military.
After the first ten minutes of this long journey, Reep was contacted by Rampart, and the Human vice admiral looked pleased as he commanded, "Status report, Admiral."
"We managed to get away with approximately seventy-eight thousand Esh-Kha in this endeavor, among them seventy percent of the army's command staff and top officers." Reep answered before complimenting, "Your plan went off just about as you said it would. Well done, Vice Admiral."
"And your fleet?" Rampart continued, showing the professionalism of a true soldier and not giving into flattery. "Are all your ships capable of sustaining hyperspace travel for the next five days?"
"Aside from some minor repairs, all systems are performing at optimal capacity."
"Good." Rampart then allowed a small smile, and congratulated Reep, "I can see why Grand Admiral Daala offered you a chance to join us, Admiral. You performed your role admirably and dealt a strong blow to many enemies. We look forward to welcoming you, your family, and your troops into our ranks."
"I will be in touch when we are required to conclude the first part of our hyperspace journey. For now, allow your soldiers a brief period of revelry and rest. They have more than earned it."
"But when they arrive at the Carthea System, that is where and when they will become true soldiers of the Olpakan Hegemony, and where you will be stationed for the time being." Edmond warned Reep. "It will be quite a grueling experience for everyone, including you and your command staff."
Korriban
Sith Catacombs
Darth Krayt's Citadel
Within Nala Se's Laboratories
Shimmying through the air vents until she was just above Nala Se's lab, Chelli waited patiently until the arrogant and amoral Kaminoan was called away. Faintly hearing the familiar voice of Triple Zero from outside the chambers, she waited twenty seconds before Prowl hovered by, giving her the incentive to jump down and deftly land on her two feet.
Gratefully nodding at the repurposed probe droid, Chelli took a moment to glance around the wicked scientist's lab, with dozens of experiments and test subjects trapped within test tubes, stasis chambers, or Force-based traps. Oh, how she wished she could free or put them out of their misery for all the atrocities Nala Se inflicted on them. But she was short on time and had no genuine inclination to kill these poor souls. She was on a mission, and she was not going to let herself get distracted.
Pulling up Nala Se's computer, she used her electro-tattoos to implant a code into the monitor, allowing her to bypass all firewalls and access whatever files she wished. Quickly working to download all files onto a mobile drive, Chelli moved onto her next task, one far more vital to her anti-Sith goals.
"Mistress, I found them." Prowl whispered, beckoning Chelli towards five stasis pods, the silhouettes of five armored individuals, each of a different build and size, barely visible for the young woman. "A rather sad sight, isn't it?"
"Not for much longer." Chelli resolutely resolved. Using another of her electro-tattoos, this one implanted the first of five programs into the nearest stasis chamber. Quickly repeating the maneuver for the other four prisoners, she prayed to whatever greater cosmic power existed that her condensed history lesson would be enough to bring the Clone Commandos up to speed on the decades they missed. With the One Sith pilfering memory-implanted techniques from all corners of the galaxy, the method she was using was all but foolproof.
Still, that didn't mean she was arrogant enough to believe this would proceed without any setbacks. Having learnt how Clone Force 99 fought for the Republic and Jedi throughout the Clone Wars, even after the Great Jedi Purge began, Chelli hoped they would be receptive to the insane circumstances forcing all disparate factions to join forces. But if she, her mother, and newfound friends, had the chance to discreetly deal a little bit of payback to the One Sith, that was an opportunity everyone would relish.
Returning to the computer, Chelli found the download almost complete, with just enough time left to perform one last task. Hurriedly typing in a final command, she used her third and final electro-tattoo to activate an automatic timer into Nala's mainframe. In just three days, the undetectable program she input into the Kaminoan scientist's mainframe would unleash the Bad Batch, and if all went as planned, they would be ready for war once again. And with their weapons stored in a nearby armory, the location and access codes hidden amidst the history packet she gave them, the most lethal squad in the Grand Army of the Republic would be fully armed and loaded for a heavy dose of payback.
Finishing her task, Chelli quickly logged out of the computer, retrieved her hard drive, and made sure she left everything just as she found it. No sense breaking in if she left any signs of her handiwork. Smiling in satisfaction, she silently motioned for Prowl to assist her in covering her tracks, lifting her up to the vent and closing it again.
With her job done, Chelli hoped that everyone else was performing their assignments as flawlessly as her. If Tau couldn't convince Jaing Skirata to work with them in their breakout, then their escape could backfire for everyone. And she would rather die than spend another second in this domain of evil.
Inside Darth Vindicaa's Chambers
Vindicaa could not believe what tragedies and setbacks had befallen the One Sith on every front. Traitors were besetting them at every turn, and the hopes of conquering the galaxy were dimming with every passing day. The bubbling anger was devouring her so much that she unconsciously lashed out with a burst of lightning, leaving a giant scorch mark on the wall right above her stone bed. The display of rage was unlike her, but appropriate from the warnings Lord Krayt had delivered to all his acolytes.
Not only was Dician killed, and her operations completely shattered, but now virtually all the prizes they coveted had now fallen into the hands of the Jedi or Olpakans. Even if they could still utilize the Esh-Kha against their enemies, it would be more of an inhibitor since they needed the Alliance of Light to fight the Rhandites and Olpakan Hegemony, and since most of their officers were among the stolen cargo.
And on Dathomir, Falleen, and in Mandalorian Space, the so-called True Sith found their numbers and auxiliaries dwindling from defections. Learning that Lord Krayt, his most vital operations, even Korriban itself, were in danger from treachery of the highest level and dangers thought to be long extinct or myth, it left her stunned beyond all measure and barely able to coherently respond.
But that stupor did not last long, not when her fellow Sith reminded her that they needed to prepare the Horuset System to withstand a siege, not only by the Neo Hidden Chain, but with Rakata and whichever other factions and empires existed in the Unknown Regions.
And there was still the matter of Ochi's assailants to deal with. Whether they were allied with the Jedi, Olpakans, or Rhandites, they needed to be identified and removed before they could try to kill anyone else. And she was not going to let anyone take that simple pleasure away from her, not if everyone might be forced to abandon the One Sith's most fortified and sacred world if their defense was untenable.
Hearing a firm knock on her door, Vindicaa sensed two Sith, both deeply familiar to the Rattataki clone, and ushered them by allowing Darths Invidious and Imperious to enter. Seeing the Arkanian Sith responsible for recruiting Korin Aphra and many other disaffected souls to the One Sith, along with the aged Human who was once Takaris Yur, High Lord of the Lost Tribe of Kesh, she composed herself internally and gruffly answered, "How are all our preparations commencing?"
"We're going as fast as we can, but moving all our essential operations deeper underground and preparing to relocate our young acolytes to safer havens takes more time than most may realize." Imperious grimly answered. Hesitating, he carefully suggested, "We may need to consider alternatives in protecting our successors, given our growing number of traitors."
Before Vindicaa could question the Kesh-born Sith's loyalties, Invidious picked up on that thought process, "I still have a few contacts that I've kept secret from most of our brethren, and they can protect our order's next generation until the danger passes."
Cautiously assessing the options, Vindicaa reluctantly pressed, "How well do you trust these contacts of yours?"
"With my life." Invidious simply promised. "They're old friends and former associates of mine, and they have invested deeply enough in our operations to not back out now."
Grimly shaking her head, Vindicaa relented, "Call upon them. Once the enemy is repelled and we depart Korriban, they will be responsible for our acolytes' safety. And if you lose any of them, Lord Krayt will deal with you with whatever punishment he sees fit."
"Of course." Invidious obeyed. "But there is another urgent matter we need to inform you of. Imperious and I believe we're close to identifying Ochi's attackers."
Her attention fully rapt by the declaration, the Sith Lady bade the two men, "Tell me every detail. Every suspect, every clue, every lead you have. We need to wrap up this hunt before we're forced into battle."
Within the Dungeons
"So, you're back. I assume you have a new offer or ultimatum for me?" Jaing sarcastically asked, his weathered face not betraying any emotions to Triple Zero's blood red photoreceptors. If the would-be deserter was not short on time, then he would make a clever remark on how impressed he was with the Clone Trooper's incredibly stubborn resilience.
"Not quite, Mister Skirata. I was ordered to tell you that you're about to have a visitor. The individual I spoke to you quite vividly about in our last encounter." The black-colored torture droid explained. "I suggest you listen intently, since he can only speak for about thirty minutes, since he is currently recuperating from his work in healing one of the One Sith's assassins."
Turning around to depart, Triple Zero warned Jaing, "Just for the record, you'll need to accelerate your decision in joining our escape, since Korriban's about to come under attack by an unexpected enemy, and we will be ready to leave in exactly seventy-two hours."
Before Jaing could utter a word, the lights for the cell briefly shorted out, allowing the droid to exit without any fuss while the power was almost instantly restored. When the chamber was illuminated, the old Mandalorian saw a young man standing before him, one garbed in Sith armor and having a face he recognized all too well from his last encounter with Edaan Palpatine, minus the scars and naivety that marked his younger face.
Well, looks like the murderbot was telling the truth in saying the One Sith cloned Edaan. Jaing reluctantly admitted. Maintaining his brave front and cover, he challengedly asked, "I take it you're here to give me a chance to come clean, Sith?"
"Give it a rest, Skirata. No one can hear this conversation. It's all happening inside your mind anyway." The Edaan-clone sighed before he corrected, "And, just for the record, I have a name. It's Tau Palpatine."
Appraising Tau, searching his eyes for any deception or bloodlust that trademarked most Sith he met, Jaing found nothing, nothing but earnest truth and a wandering look in his gaze, that is. It was a look he understood all too well as a man struggling to find purpose and meaning in a galaxy and its many powers, each looking to use him for their own ends. Satisfied with what he could determine, the Fett clone acknowledged, "Then it's a pleasure to meet you, Palpatine." Getting serious, he gravely asked, "Then would I be correct to assume that everything your friend told me was the real deal?"
"It's worse than you can imagine, Jaing." Tau reluctantly began to elaborate. "For starters, the One Sith are suffering defections in their ranks to the Olpakan Hegemony and True Sith, and the Rakata are on their way here as we speak." Seeing the terrified glean in Jaing's eyes, Tau confirmed, "Yes. The Rakata still live, and they've pledged themselves to the True Sith Empire, along with many other ancient dark powers."
"That's why the droid told me both Jedi and One Sith will join forces." Jaing jadedly deduced. Having long adhered to his adoptive father's beliefs of both orders dragging the galaxy down with them in their religious feud, he found the very concept of them being manipulated by a far greater evil staggering to behold. But having seen life emerge from beyond the galactic frontier, old Celestial-era races return from supposed extinction, and monstrosities unleash millennia of hatred and insanity upon an unsuspecting galaxy, he was more than willing to admit the Jedi-Sith wars weren't the only dangers out there, nor the worst.
Nodding, Tau hesitantly admitted, "Yes." Continuing with deeper conviction, he promised, "But I will not serve any order that wishes to enslave all life, be they a greater or lesser evil. And I won't let those I can save suffer if I can help it, and that includes you and Clone Force 99."
Just hearing the mention of friends and genetic siblings Jaing long gave up for death, it filled him up with more regret than he felt in decades. Those first two years of living under the Galactic Empire, being forced to flee Mandalore because of Death Watch fanatics and Darman Skirata betraying his family to the Imperials for vengeance, he knew those scars would never heal, no matter what he did or how long he lived.
But losing most of Clan Skirata to the Unknown Regions while helping Jedi friends and dissidents flee the Inquisitorious's lap dogs and Imperial pawns, it left him and the few survivors heartbroken and devastated beyond all measure. Only hearing now, how five members of his makeshift family had survived and been imprisoned for decades by the Kaminoans and their Sith masters, it filled him with a faint hope that he could right a wrong he should have corrected long ago.
"Jaing." Tau gently interrupted, bursting through his regrets, and compassionately promised, "We'll get them out. And you'll be back with the Mando'ade before you know it. I have a plan to get us all out of here in a matter of days."
"And just how do you plan to navigate six clones, three droids, two women, and yourself through a star system hostile to us and about to be invaded by a fleet of cannibalistic marauders and their nihilistic benefactors?" Jaing skeptically asked.
"Now that would be telling, Master Skirata." Tau conspiratorially evaded. "Let's just say I know more than you suspect and have been making friends all over the galaxy, many being in very high places." Playfully chuckling, he admitted, "I'm sorry, but I'm just having a bit too much fun with this. I haven't had the chance to laugh before."
What a weird man. Jaing mused, huffing at being toyed with by this young clone. Still, if he had a way to get him back to his family and get a little justice on the One Sith, he'd play along for now.
Coruscant
Senate District
Within Galactic Alliance Security Safe House 245
"I'm not even going to ask how you came across this confidential transcript that relates Abeloth, and your information on the most ancient and dangerous incarnation of the Sith. Instead, as Chief of State of the Galactic Alliance, my people and I'll graciously offer you and the rest of your fellow refugees whatever you need to start rebuilding your lives. It's the least we can do after your terrible losses because of our attacks." Kajin wearily acknowledged Dok-Ondar after he heard the various reports from Rear Admiral Kara and the rest of the Alliance of Light's leaders on the calamity that had consumed Batuu and driven its remnant of a population into exile.
"Thank you, Chief of State Yimmon. I am glad my knowledge of your compassion and honorable approach to leadership was accurate." Dok-Ondar bowed his head. "I will confer with the survivors, and we will soon have a list of our preliminary needs. But I would not be worried about the sector's resources being strained. Most of the survivors are simple folk and will not require anything extravagant or too taxing."
"Then I shall have my best Reconstruction officials ready to receive your list right when it is compiled. On behalf of the Galactic Alliance, we all owe you and the survivors a debt it can never truly repay." Kajin formally thanked his guest before signing off the transmission.
Having heard the Ithorian historian offer the Alliance of Light's leadership all the information he had accumulated on ancient galactic legends and his research into countless Force cultures, and his resources in working to eliminate the One Sith, all in exchange for helping the Batuu survivors resettle on Naboo and other lush worlds in the Mid Rim's Chrommell Sector, it was an easy agreement for the leader of the Galactic Alliance to comply with, along with every other leader in attendance.
The information that the planet held an army hidden deep within its Rakatan ruins, the Alliance of Light might be able to use in their efforts to shatter the True Sith Empire before it could strike, if they could verify the information Xasha Xizor and the Wraiths procured for them alongside Dician's notes.
If the Esh-kha army entombed in Batuu's tombs was truly a force assembled by a rogue Rakatan Predor to prepare for the possibility of Abeloth being released near the Infinite Empire's height of power and had explicit instructions to obey any force capable and willing to opposing her, then their help would be pivotal for the eventual crusade against her. Provided Daala and her fellow Olpakan fanatics didn't turn that army against itself in their depraved vendetta.
Never in Kajin's wildest nightmares did he think the Olpakans would find out about the Batuu operation, but all the betrayals in Dician's ranks was a cataclysmic disaster that belied the dangerous situation every world found itself in. With both the Olpakan Hegemony and True Sith Empire aiming to remake the galaxy in their own demented image, the ramifications of their infiltrators possibly embedded anywhere and everywhere nearly made the Cerean have a panic attack. If the One Sith were so compromised from so many traitors and double agents, then how badly was the Alliance of Light riddled by the same issue?
And when the formation of this Jedi-Sith pact came to light, with tensions between both religious orders and their supporters as escalated as it was, how horrible and bloody would the fallout be? Somehow, those with moral clarity, decisive leadership, and brilliant foresight had to convince the galaxy to lay down old wounds and hatreds to fully unite all worlds and peoples to face the greatest evils it had encountered in millennia, surpassing monstrosities and atrocities even greater than the Yuuzhan Vong and Abeloth.
If that was the case, then the theory Grand Master Katarn had provided from Bardan Skirata's vision ought to be investigated with every resource the Galactic Alliance could spare. Whatever Darth Krayt might have planned for Zonoma Sekot, if the Mandalorian's premonition was accurate, it was nothing compared to the absolute evils the True Sith's designs for the living world had in mind.
Even though the One Sith still had strongholds on Falleen and the Mandalorian Space, his instincts told him that the real conflict would soon take place in the Unknown Regions, which meant the Chiss, Aquilian Republic, Silentium, and Olpakan Resolute would all be crucial allies for winning this new war. Just as Krayt's remaining followers would be necessary to bolster their numbers and work to counter their scheming and deceptions.
He had to reach out to the Alliance of Light forces already out in the Unknown Regions right away and give them the support they would undoubtedly need. And he needed to wrap up the search for Daala's confederates on Coruscant quickly, before they wrought anymore sabotage and undid what little bit of fragile hope that remained for galactic unity.
Fortunately, he knew of a few mavericks that had been helping clean up Coruscant's underbelly after the Sith's manipulations in the Senate became known to all. All he had to do now was reach out to Wedge Antilles and see which of his friends and allies would best be suited for both these covert assignments.
Csilla, Cssplar
Inside the Defense Fleet Headquarters
If he is about to do what I fear, Saganu will have to be watched closely from here on out for any hint of sedition or collaboration with the One Sith and their followers. Ba'kar ruefully ruminated after dismissing the House Miurani attaché that had the discomfort of delivering this data package to him.
According to the messenger's questis, the traditionalist aristocra was prepared to convene an emergency meeting of every major legislative and military branch of the Ascendancy in nine hours, even the heads of each Ruling and Great Family through holographic attendance, claiming to have uncovered a massive conspiracy that threatened the sovereignty of the Chiss people. A brazen move, but one in full accordance with Parliament's ancient laws and could not be denied, not if Ba'kar and his allies wanted to maintain the support of most of their supporters.
But the Supreme General did not get to attain his position without surviving the hotbed of intrigue that dominated virtually every aspect of the Chiss's lifestyle, and he was smart enough to know a power play when he saw one. The disappearance of his most trusted agent embedded in House Miurani coinciding with this mysterious machination was only fuel to the experienced military leader's alarm, and he had a terrible hunch of what Saganu was aiming for.
If Rensalm had been compromised and his information was in his faux-patron's custody, then many of the Ascendancy's best-kept secrets were about to be in jeopardy. The only decision now was how to respond to this foreboding turn of events, and it had to be made quickly before all Chaos broke loose.
Although, deep down in his heart, Ba'kar knew there was only one possible path to saving his people and society, even if it meant sacrificing all he had accomplished in the process with such a desperate measure.
The time had finally come for the Chiss people to take control of their own destiny and take an active hand in building their own future instead of blindly trusting their leaders, decaying institutions, and inflexible traditions and family loyalties. And all of this would begin with the announcement Ba'kar and his fellow high-ranking conspirators would make in exactly six hours. He only hoped the truth would set everyone free from the shackles of their own making instead of sending their entire civilization spiraling straight into damnation's waiting arms.
Dathomir Orbit
Aboard the Pius Dea Cathedral Ship Retribution
Inside Darth Zorra's Quarters
Darth Zorra could feel the darkness his fleet was spreading while bombarding Dathomir, relishing in the insidious power that could be felt growing in strength and ferocity across half the galaxy while he was ready to eradicate most of the Jedi's influence on this treacherous world. Once the Jedi and their insufferable allies were eliminated, the True Sith would be able to one day establish their own academy there, just as the Brotherhood of Darkness did over a millennia ago by the end of the New Sith Wars.
But this level of calamity, this level of darkness spreading across the galaxy, it simply was not enough for the Sith Lord and his fanatical mind. For the man who once called himself Keldo, a native of the doomed Wild Space world of Parnassos, brother of the traitress Phasma, and former Head Instructor of the One Sith's Sith Sorcerers, nothing would be sufficient for him until every spark of light permeating the universe was snuffed out and replaced with eternal darkness and the True Sith's domination of all life.
And this great vision would all start with Lord Krayt and his wayward disciples and wretched partners of the Jedi Order being eradicated before Zorra and his followers worked to break the defiant will of the pampered galactic populace.
But what Zorra was looking forward to the most was the chance to personally dispatch his naïve sister, who was once fully devout to the Sith Code and the dark side, but somehow lost her way and fell prey to weakness before joining the Jedi's paltry allies.
Once, many years ago, he would have risked everything to save his only surviving relative from any kind of danger, for they had worked together to keep their clan alive in the hellish world that they used to call home. But he was long over such foolish sentimentality and realized the ultimate truth of the motto "survival of the fittest." The meek and powerless only deserved to serve the strong or be culled from the galaxy, and anyone who opposed the dictum would meet the same fate as the True Sith's enemies.
Thanks to that realization, he would do whatever it took to enforce that core principle in the True Sith's growing ranks, and he planned to do so long after they became the rightful rulers of the galaxy. And everything would all soon be back on track once Darth Krayt, Edaan Palpatine, and all their followers were either destroyed or brought over to serve the Way of the Dark.
But his meditations were interrupted by a familiar presence, one that surrounded and welcomed him in its all-encompassing warmth, allowing him to see Rictus in all his decayed and disheveled power. Bowing before the Lich King, Zorra listened as he was told, "Your efforts have drawn attention from unwanted parties, my friend, and you will need to take a more direct hand in dispatching your former brethren."
Filling his mind with images of the Silentium and other enemies from the Chaos, all fast approaching the system and ready to wage war. And at the head of this fleet was a small luxury craft, one Zorra recognized from the One Sith's briefings on its cleverest and dangerous foes. Lando Calrissian, businessman and Jedi sympathizer, was the driving force behind this mad alliance, and he brought along many of his friends to help protect key leaders.
"Do not worry, Zorra." Rictus reassured his disciple. "You have more people coming to your aid than you realize, and they will keep the enemy at bay long enough to complete your work. But your fleet must accelerate your efforts once the planet's shield generators are diminished, and you need to send a message to the Jedi and One Sith that they will never forget."
Hearing a chime from his comlink that broke his mental connection, Zorra activated the device to irritably ask, "You wish to inform me that the Jedi and their friends have attacked us in force from beyond the system, Commodore. Is that correct?"
"Not quite, My Lord." The commander anxiously denied. "We've received several transmissions from the surface, and they've provided us with many useful pieces of information on the Jedi's defenses. I'm forwarding them to you now."
More images flooding his mind, and realizing who was helping him on Dathomir, Zorra interrupted, "That won't be necessary. I have a far better and effective idea on how to destroy the Jedi and my fallen fellows." Pausing to smile to himself at the act of sheer malevolence he was about to commit, he ordered the admiral, "Order all Sith to prepare for a meditation. If we cannot break through the shields in time, we will have to get more creative in our acts of destruction."
Falleen
Near Port Nowhere
Aboard the Rictus-class Dreadnought Avenging Angel
Ferren felt his connection to the Force fade in and out as he was escorted through the dreadnought's holds. Between the Ysalamiri that could create a bubble to neutralize a person's connection to the Force and the less humane methods other groups in the Alliance of Light used, this ship was the perfect prison to house the few war criminals and Sith the Jedi had captured. And in this pall of despair and anguish, that was where the penitent Sith wanted to be.
Here was where his love, fellow banished Jedi-turned-Sith Verla Kaer, was being held by her former friends alongside a truly depraved individual in Darth Nashtah, and both were seething at their imprisonment. And it was here that he would try to reach the Human captive and convince her to work alongside the Jedi and One Sith in pursuit of a common goal.
After Verla – now calling herself Darth Sariss – Ferren forced himself to remember, was captured by the Alliance of Light in the One Sith's Observatory, he racked his mind trying to figure out what to say to her. He knew she would hate him, at least for a long time, but if he could convince her to put aside her vendetta against the Jedi long enough to see the threat before all life, that could be the opening he needed to try and help her find her way back to the light. Whether she would one day forgive him was all academic at this point. Simply saving her from the darkness gripping her heart would be enough solace for him at this point.
And after enduring five excruciating hours of inspections and safety checks, Ferren was finally allowed to see his beloved. Uttering a silent prayer to whichever benevolent deity existed, he went through a final security check for any concealed weapons or escape tools before he was ushered in, and the Force vanished from his mind and senses. Seeing Sariss lie in the middle of the chamber, kept behind ten layers of transparisteel, it broke his heart. Maker willing, he would convince her to give the new situation a chance and find redemption.
But when she saw him, with her long blonde hair and blue eyes, devoid of any ties to the dark side, her distant eyes grew vibrant with rage, and she rose up to mock, "Have you come to gloat, Barr? Or did you journey here to give me a chance to redeem myself to an order that threw us out to face the monsters the first chance they got."
Walking to face her, not flinching at her venomous glare or black Sith tattoos, Ferren bitterly acknowledged, "I was expecting that rebuttal. And I accept any hate you wish to throw at me. But I love you too much to let you rot in here, or wallow in this dark dungeon of the One Sith's making. Not when there's an opportunity to have you out."
Eyes squinting in suspicion, Sariss angrily stated, "You're the reason I'm in this cell, so I don't know what con you're trying to sell me."
"It's no con, Sariss. It's a second chance, for both of us, and everyone else that's still loyal to Krayt." Ferren corrected, his voice tinged with sorrow and a small dose of hope. Forcibly banishing his regrets from his mind, he offered, "I need you to hear me out. You've missed out on a lot since Port Nowhere, and I owe it to you to fill you in on everything that's transpired since then."
"For starters, there are enemies out there much more dangerous to the One Sith than the Jedi Order. We've uncovered two evils that are seeking the galaxy's enslavement or annihilation, and they have the strength and power to destroy us all, unless we join forces." Ferren stated, his tone and face conveying the desperation and fear that he felt to the depths of his soul. "And they're far stronger, smarter, and deadlier than Abeloth or Krayt could ever hope to be."
Her interest piqued at the terrifying comparison, Sariss asked, "What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about Admiral Daala's new partners and army, and a Sith Empire that's been playing everyone off against each other for their self-destructive creed, one more depraved than even Darth Ruin's." Ferren began, hoping against all odds his old love would listen and truly hear him.
Well, that's a wrap on this chapter, and it finally concludes the Batuu Arc in this saga! What did you all think of it? Do you think it met many of your expectations, or was there something I could have improved upon? Well, either way, I'm proud of my overall result, and it's sufficient for my needs. Now that one arc's all done, it won't be long before Falleen and Dathomir are wrapped up. But there is still the Coruscant/Olpakan plot to continue, and the official formation of the Jedi-One Sith alliance. And there are still plenty of surprises left in this story and saga, rest assured of that.
So, how are you all doing on this warm night of Saturday, September 21, 2024? I'm all right, if sad that I haven't been able to get a job at a library like I'd want. But I'm not giving up, as there are plenty of other opportunities out there for me, and I'll keep looking wherever I can. And, in brighter news, my brother is officially engaged to his girlfriend as of last night! I am so excited and happy for him, and I pray that he has a long and blessed marriage once they tie the knot. In other news, I've been reading a good book on J.D. Vance, to better understand the hopefully future Vice President and how he'll help Trump guide the United States recover from its woes. Well, I'd better get this chapter squared away for a few weeks, when I'll publish it. I hope you all have a blessed night, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!