Author's note: Hi everyone! This is a short chapter that will precede to later chapters. If you have any suggestions please let me know. Thank you!

Location: New Jedi Temple, Chandrila

Date: 6 ABY

The communication room hummed softly with the glow of holo-screens. Luke Skywalker leaned against the central table, arms crossed, while the others trickled in, yawning or sipping caf. The quiet of early morning was broken by the soft coos of a distant Grogu and Ygnacio Bridger, barely audible through the walls.

"Did we really have to wake up this early, Anakin?" Kata asked, slumping into a seat, her hair slightly mussed from sleep. She'd only just returned from their trip and looked like she hadn't fully adjusted to the local time.

Vader stood at the head of the room, imposing even in his relaxed stance. "Yes, Kata... but not for why you think," he said, his voice steady, calm.

Kata rolled her eyes but said nothing more, shrugging with the resigned air of someone who knew better than to argue. Across the room, Spectre Seven, the Former Seventh Sister—crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, her sharp gaze flickering between Vader and Luke.

Once everyone was seated or leaning against a surface, Vader began. His deep voice resonated through the room, commanding attention.

"Kata and I have completed negotiations with the Arkanians. They have agreed to develop a bioweapon tailored to neutralize the Vong discreetly. Their research team estimates the project will take several months."

Barriss raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "A bioweapon? That's a dangerous path. Are we sure—"

"Enough," Vader interrupted, raising a hand. "We are not here to debate ethics. The Vong pose a threat. And we must use every tool at our disposal."

Barriss fell silent but exchanged a glance with Merrin, who remained unreadable.

Vader continued, "After completing negotiations, we traveled to Wayland—a planet once used by Palpatine for his cloning experiments. Rumors suggested valuable treasures and data might remain amidst the ruins. These rumors proved true. Within an ancient vault, we discovered information about a species called Ysalamiri."

At this, Ezra straightened, his interest piqued. "Ysalamiri?"

"A lizard species," Vader explained. "They create a localized barrier that nullifies the Force. While within their range, one cannot sense or wield it."

Baylan frowned. "I heard you encountered these creatures."

"Yes," Vader confirmed. "The Noghri attacked us shortly after we unlocked the vault. They carried these Ysalamiri with them, rendering Cal, Merrin, and Kata powerless."

Kata shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "It was like losing a sense you've always taken for granted. I couldn't even feel danger coming."

Luke tilted his head. "Explain what happened to you, Father..."

Vader's helmet inclined slightly. "The entity within me bypassed their effects. It allowed me to defeat the Noghri Death Commandos and capture them. They will now serve as allies against the Vong, with the promise of assistance in making the terraformed lands usable for farming."

Spectre Seven, who had remained silent until now, leaned forward. "Pragmatic. But can they be trusted?"

"They have no choice," Vader replied simply. "Their survival depends on our success."

Luke tapped a finger against the table, drawing attention. "Speaking of survival, we have another issue to address."

The room quieted as Luke activated a holo-projection, showing a schematic of the Temple. "Several rotations ago, this very room was breached in the middle of the night. Vong warriors, accompanied by an unidentified smaller figure, accessed our database and downloaded sensitive information."

"Sensitive how?" Cal asked, his voice tense.

"They stole our records on the midichlorian counts of Jedi within the Order and children across the galaxy."

A sharp intake of breath rippled through the group.

"They're targeting Force-sensitives," Baylan said grimly.

Barriss stood abruptly, her face pale. "If they're targeting the children—Ygnacio, Ben, Grogu—then none of us are safe."

Luke said calmly, "We're already increasing security."

"It's not enough," she snapped. "We should move the children to a secure location. Somewhere far from Chandrila, where the Vong won't think to look."

Vader interjected, his voice a rumble of authority. "Running only delays the inevitable. Better to strengthen our defenses and confront the enemy here."

Kata, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her voice steady. "Are they not just targeting the strongest Force-sensitives? Maybe they're looking for patterns—weaknesses they can exploit? I've been thinking about it since Wayland. Ysalamiri aren't just weapons. They're a strategy. What if the Vong have something bigger planned?"

Her words drew murmurs of agreement. Even Vader seemed to pause, his helmet tilting toward her.

"Interesting point," he said finally. "They will find which of us to target with the data."

Kata blinked in surprise but nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Luke nodded in approval. "For now, we focus on fortifying our defenses and tracking down the source of the breach. Once we have more information, we'll act."

The room fell into a thoughtful silence, broken only by the faint hum of the holo-projector.

Merrin leaned closer to Cal, her voice low. "Lately it feels like we're playing defense."

"Not for long," Vader said, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "The Vong underestimate us. That will be their downfall."

The meeting concluded shortly after, leaving the group to their thoughts and preparations. As the others filed out, Luke lingered behind, watching as his father deactivated the holo-projector.

"Do you ever sleep?" Luke asked, half-joking.

Vader turned to face him. "The galaxy doesn't pause for rest..."

Luke smirked. "Well, maybe it should. Just for a minute."

Vader didn't respond but placed a hand briefly on Luke's shoulder before striding out of the room, his cape billowing behind him.

Luke sighed, glancing at the now-empty table. "No pressure," he muttered to himself before heading out to prepare for the day ahead.

XX

Time: Late Evening

The air in Vader's quarters was still, almost unnervingly quiet. The walls, bare and unadorned, reflected his pragmatic nature—no trophies, no sentimental relics. The room mirrored a philosophy he had lived during the former Empire: attachment was a weakness. There was no comfort here, just function. A bed, a chair, a desk with a glowing terminal. The space could've belonged to anyone, but the weight of its occupant's presence made it uniquely his.

He sat at the desk, hands clasped as he stared at the terminal's encrypted interface. The glow of the screen illuminated the matte black of his mask. With a subtle exhale, he keyed in the coordinates for the private channel Luke had suggested earlier in the day.

The connection cycled for a moment, the screen flickering, until a face appeared— Eli Vanto.

Eli looked like he'd been moments from bed. His casual sleepwear and slightly tousled hair gave him a far less formal demeanor than the sharp officer Vader had met before. Despite his fatigue, his posture straightened the moment he saw who was calling.

"Lord Vader," Eli greeted, his voice steady but low. "This is… unexpected. But I suppose now is as good a time as any, given the privacy."

Vader inclined his head slightly. "Eli Vanto. I trust I'm not disturbing your rest too greatly."

Eli waved it off with a faint chuckle. "Sleep's a luxury these days. I'm guessing this call isn't social, though."

"No," Vader said simply. "I received word earlier. Thrawn… has been killed?"

Eli's lips pressed into a thin line. He exhaled slowly, scratching the back of his head. "Not quite."

Vader's head tilted, the silent gesture urging him to elaborate.

Eli leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk in his own quarters. "There was an explosion at Thrawn's penthouse residence. The kind of spectacle that makes the message clear. Officially, he's gone—dead. That's the story being circulated, and yes, even the Vong's spies are buying it."

"And the truth?" Vader's voice was low, measured.

"The truth," Eli said, his tone equally deliberate, "is that he's alive. Escaped to the Chiss Ascendancy with Admiral Ar'Alani. He's planning to investigate the remaining Star Flash weapons at their disposal. Thrawn assured me he'll return when the time is right—when the Vong least expect it."

Vader absorbed the information in silence, his expression unreadable behind the mask.

"Let's keep it simple," Eli continued. "If anyone asks, Thrawn is no longer with us. It's cleaner that way."

Vader nodded. "Understood. The fewer who know, the better. I will inform only Luke and a select few Jedi I trust. Beyond that, the secret dies here."

Eli's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Thank you, Lord Vader. It's critical we keep this under wraps. Thrawn's survival is an advantage we can't afford to lose."

"You have my word," Vader said firmly. "And congratulations, Admiral Vanto."

Eli blinked. "Admiral?"

"You have assumed command of Thrawn's fleet, have you not?"

"Well, yeah, I—" Eli rubbed the back of his neck. "Didn't think anyone was paying attention to that detail yet."

"I do not miss details," Vader said plainly.

Eli chuckled softly. "Right. Thank you. It's been… a lot. Pellaeon has his own fleet, so it's just me and Thrawn's men now. It's daunting, but I'll manage. I have to."

Vader's tone softened, though only slightly. "I hope this conflict brings your homeworld peace in time."

Eli's face darkened slightly. "You know about Lysatra?"

"Thrawn mentioned it."

Eli nodded slowly. "Yeah… we lost a lot in those hyperspace attacks. Fighting on the New Republic's side isn't easy after what happened. But we don't have the luxury of dwelling on that. The Vong are here. We fight for the present, not the past."

"A sentiment I share," Vader said.

Eli offered a faint smile. "Well, best of luck to you and your Jedi allies, Lord Vader. I hope your efforts on this front bear fruit."

"And to you, Admiral Vanto."

The screen flickered as the connection ended. Vader leaned back slightly, staring at the now-dark terminal.

For a moment, he allowed his thoughts to drift. Thrawn's brilliance had prepared them for the Vong. Without him, the galaxy might have remained complacent, lulled into a false sense of peace. Vader owed much of their current readiness to Thrawn's foresight and relentless pragmatism.

But now, the burden fell on those left behind. On leaders like Eli. On warriors like himself.

His thoughts shifted, unbidden, to another strategist—a Jedi. Ahsoka Tano. Snips.

It had been years since that fateful day on Cymoon 1. Ahsoka, stubborn and determined, had stood against him. And he… he had struck her down. Her death haunted him still, one more sin in a long list of atrocities he could never atone for.

Would she still see his efforts as redemption, or would she condemn him for the path that had brought him here?

The answer didn't matter. He couldn't allow himself to dwell on it.

Vader stood, his cape flowing behind him as he moved to the adjoining room. His nightly routine was as spartan as his quarters—functional, efficient. The mask came off, revealing repaired skin, but weary eyes. The suit followed, piece by piece, until he was just a man.

As he settled into bed, his thoughts briefly returned to Thrawn, to Ahsoka, and to the battles yet to come. The galaxy's survival demanded everything he had, and he would give it without hesitation.

For now, the silence of the night offered rest.