HP: Dance of the Veela

Trak'el Sigma, The Unknown Regions…

The Empire's probing into the Unknown Regions for new systems to conquer had finally brought success as new discoveries were made and new worlds revealed.

Trak'el Sigma as it had been designated by the Empire was the sight of a human colony, sometime over the last ten thousand years it had been settled by humans who had either lost their technology or given it up and maintained a fairly primitive existence ever since. There was a good-sized population now reaching early industrialisation under a monarchy that ruled their society. They had little in the way of conflict and lived in reasonable peace.

Until the Empire came.

For people who had only just started discovering the steam powered engine the sight of Tie Bombers and fighters approaching from the sky terrified them, never having seen anything like it. Then when they started firing green lights at them and their buildings below which exploded the real panic started. They screamed and ran for whatever cover they could find as their settlements were bombed back a few epochs of development, then the dropships descended and began to unload Stormtroopers and walkers that joined in attacking the locals.

They had only primitive weapons to defend themselves with and few of them given how peaceful they had been before today. Only some very simple chemically propelled projectile weapons which would have been referred to as guns anywhere else but they had such limited power and the projectiles they fired were so soft that they flattened against Stormtrooper armour harmlessly which they got those using them shot by much more advanced blasters.

The castle where the royal family lived was no exception to the invasion, in fact it was one of the first places hit as the Empire realised its importance.

The king and his queen were defiant, so where the princes and princesses along with their loyal servants who fought hard to defend their home but all fell so quickly it was like a joke. The Imperials laughed as they forced the surviving population into line, it had been so easy they had taken the planet in less than two hours.

The only surviving royal, the youngest daughter was secure in the same castle her family had once ruled, they kept her alive just in case she proved to be a useful puppet and they could always kill her later.

- x -

Aldorax, Expansion Region…

Aldorax was a planet in the Expansion Region of the galaxy, fairly unpleasant to live on but after a recent event had discovered massive new chemical and gas supplies beneath its surface after a massive volcanic eruption.

This made the people happy as it meant they had a source of wealth that would make their planet and themselves so much better off. Workers flocked to the planet in search of work and unfortunately so did the Empire.

Aldorax hadn't been a part of the Republic and until the eruption not judged to be a threat or a useful target with the chaos in other areas of the galaxy but with the facilities on Kaldera lost to them, the Empire was keen to replace it and would use Aldorax to ensure it did.

But instead of Stormtroopers, the Empire sent in their new shock troopers, the Ogami to prove their worth to the Emperor and the Empire as a whole.

The Ogami were slow and lumbering but when they landed, they attacked with great force, their shields and strong bodies allowing them shrug off most blaster shots and it took either a very powerful one or a great many smaller hits to take even a single one down. Combined with the heavy armour of the Imperial Army there was little the planet could do to resist.

The Ogami had a contract with the Empire to conquer this planet and they always completed their contracts so they didn't really care what it took to get the job done. How many people they had to kill or destroy mattered little to them, they were ruthless in their practicality which would serve them well in service to the Empire.

Either way by the end of the day the planet was taken and its resources would serve the Imperial war machine as would those of Trak'el Sigma especially when they had been suitably improved.

Sky City, Bespin…

Using an unregistered freighter Anakin and his family had travelled to the cities of Bespin, smaller than the better-known Cloud City, Sky City was built around a Tibanna gas refinery and made a decent profit.

The only reason the Skywalkers had come here was to meet a contact about securing Tibanna gas supplies for Liber8, the city's administrator was apparently willing to slip a small supply to them from their standard output.

Anakin and Padme watched with a smile as while Mace sat quite happily in Padme's lap, Luke and Leia were being hoisted up by Kahr, one in each arm by spun them around making them squeal before all collapsed onto the nearby sofa, all of them laughing. Kahr loved Luke and Leia who adored him right back, he had become the fun uncle to the twins and always had time for them when he wasn't training with Anakin.

He was also a good ear for Padme who was glad to have him around.

Then they were disturbed by the arrival of the administrator who was surprisingly familiar to Anakin. Anakin likewise was also familiar with him.

"Greetings." Djinn Altis said as he greeted them, mindful of the aides with him as to what he said and Anakin thankfully did the same. Padme and the others didn't know him but they were able to sit down and got to work.

When the aides had finally gone Anakin and Djinn went out to get some fresh air in private and finally have a word.

"Anakin. Good to see you again." Djinn said warmly as they leant against the railing. Anakin smiled with genuine joy that he was alive.

"You too Master Altis. I'm glad you managed to get through alright. And the rest of your followers?" Anakin asked carefully and Djinn nodded.

"They are safe, hidden away where even I don't know. Better that way to keep them safe while I gather any recruits I find. Several force sensitives have gone already and some Jedi younglings I discovered. What about you though? A family…the offer is still open you know." Djinn told him carefully.

Anakin was tempted to get his family and go to wherever Master Altis had hidden the rest of the Altisian Jedi, a place where he and his family could live safely and as themselves but he knew that their place was here, fighting this war. He wasn't happy about Luke and Leia and Mace being here but he was determined to be a part of their lives and not leave them to be raised by others.

"No, I appreciate the offer…but no." Anakin told Djinn who nodded with understanding. Anakin and Djinn then caught up while Anakin was hoping that Allara was doing well on her mission he thought with worry.

Yaga Minor, Outer Rim Territories…

The Free Ryloth Movement had recently begun growing in number while Senator Orn Free Taa collaborated with the Empire to oppress their world.

The only problem with having more people was they then needed more weapons and equipment, existing supplies were insufficient and so they had asked Liber8 for help. Kagame had not been able provide anything but he had managed to find them an opportunity to arm themselves. A freighter carrying weapons to the now expanding Yaga Minor Shipyards. The Empire now having lost the facilities of Kaldera wanted to expand here and at Sluis Van.

Given the importance of this Kagame had also sent someone else to help, Allara in her first solo mission.

Allara was leading the mission, a squad of Twi'lek rebels at her side as they skimmed the surface of a nearby gas giant to pick up fuel as they prepared to ambush the freighter. They had a single ion torpedo for the task and so she was the one who would make the shot.

She was nervous as they only had one shot at this and if she missed then the whole mission would be ruined, in fact it might get them into very hot water if the freighter managed to report them to the Empire before they got away. The lives of not only herself but of all the people on board where now in her hands and since she had never really led before or been so far from Anakin it was terrifying but her own determination refused to let her step aside for someone else to do it.

She sat behind the sights of the launcher, primed and ready as they all waited for the critical moment, they were all so tense that none of them would dare to speak.

Then they saw the Star Galleon class freighter appear. It was large with an enormous cargo pod underneath but they had managed to account for this and thankfully since the Empire believed the system secure it had no escort. The ship rose from out of the edges of the gas giant right in its path, surprising the Imperials as it too was a Star Galleon, captured by Liber8 a while ago but this one had no cargo pod which was by design.

Allara at the weapons station took aim, allowing the force to fill her and when the time was right, she felt the push and fired. The torpedo rushed out and hit the Imperial ship hard, covering it in ionic lightning as systems flickered and failed leaving it broken in space.

The Twi'leks all cheered excited when the shot landed and Allara allowed herself to smile at least a little before she reminded them of their task.

"Right, swing the ship round, cutting lasers online, cut that cargo pod free." Allara said quickly as knew they wouldn't have long before the Empire came.

The Twi'lek manning the helm station quickly swung the ship around and they activated the cutting lasers to slice into the Imperial cargo ship and break the locked keeping the cargo pod attached.

As the Twi'lek ship swung around and engaged the tractor beam and pulled the cargo pod free and into their own docking bay where magnetic locks would hold it in place.

But while they were doing this, Allara felt something in the force, a ship was approaching she thought. Looking at the displays she saw an Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor, a Jedi fighter or rather it had been. Allara knew since the ship was so distinctive that no Jedi would use it now, far too much attention would be brought to the pilot.

But the Inquisitors and other force wielders in the Empire still used the class, Allara remembered with a chill running down her spine. Seeing it was going to dock with them before they managed to complete the extraction and jump to hyperspace, Allara gritted her teeth and told the Twi'leks who now saw the ship coming.

"Continue with the operation, this is my fight." Allara told them and without another word she left the flight deck, running down the corridor until she reached the small docking bay where she saw the fighter had docked, the sight of an old Jedi Fighter made her nostalgic for a moment but the sight of an Inquisitor climbing from the cockpit brought her back to the moment and drew her lightsaber in preparation.

The Inquisitor looked over and seemed surprised at her before removing her helmet and shocking Allara.

"Iskat?" Allara said in disbelief, not able to believe that it was her friend was an Inquisitor. They had been friends at the Temple together and Iskat had supervising the Gathering at the same time Allara had taken that trial.

"Allara." Iskat said with surprise, her red skin with blue eyes and brown hair.

"How? How can you be an Inquisitor?" Allara asked her with anger coming to her voice. Iskat scowled before telling her.

"What? You ask me that? Why I want to be on the winning side? To not be hunted and have power in the new order? What possible reason would I have to turn that down?" Iskat said with arrogant dismissal. "I can least walk down the street without a disguise."

"You betrayed the Jedi, Master Vey, who choose you out of a dozen other padawans? Because you want to be 'on the winning side'?" Allara said with disbelief that she would betray everything she believed in for that.

"The Jedi Order failed to protect the galaxy. Master Vey as you call her was a poor teacher, I have learned so much more with the Empire. I have freedom, more freedom than I ever had before. You know you could join us too? Have the same power I do." Iskat said with venom but Allara growing anger and now with her saber ready in hand shot back.

"You are slave Iskat." Allara said with disgust at her foolishness. "Freedom? You mean having every moment of your time monitored and controlled by the Empire. Taught just enough to be useful but never anymore. I can go where I like, when I like with who I like. I am freer than you could ever be Iskat. Master Vey would be so ashamed of you."

That finally triggered Iskat who ignited her red lightsaber and leapt at Allara who was calm as she lit her own, side stepping away and letting Iskat sail past her before throwing her to the side of the landing bay into the wall with the force. Iskat was winded and shocked but more so when she turned and engaged Allara who while younger than her proved much more capable with a lightsaber than she had imagined.

Allara was much more fluid in her movements, going flawlessly from one to the next and deflected all attacks away before applying some of her own that stretched Iskat to the limit. She just couldn't keep up and soon found herself with a saber through the gut.

Iskat stilled, not able to believe how quickly and easily she had been bested by a younger woman but Allara didn't allow herself to wallow, she left the landing bay without a backward glance, depressurised it and blasting Iskat and her ship into space. She held back her own tears, not wanting to think that her friend could be like that and wondered just how it had happened? When had she changed from the driven and happy explorer that she'd been into the power-hungry creature she had become?

She did her best not to think about it, they had a mission to complete and she felt rather than saw the ship make the jump to lightspeed, eager just to return to base and talk with the masters about it.

Bogano, Outer Rim Territories...

The grassy world of Bogano was largely undiscovered, most maps didn't feature the planet at all which made it an ideal hiding place, especially of a Jedi.

Cere Junda stepped out of her old master's workshop and wiped the sweat from her brow, she had been working for hours to fix the damaged equipment here without much success. After a few years looking for lost Jedi, she had finally decided to exile herself here in the hope that she might continue her master's work of investigating the Zeffo and uncover their mysteries. There was little else to do here besides exploring the planet's many sinkholes and avoiding the various creatures who lived here. An electronic hum made her smile a little.

"I know BD, another day." Cere said as she looked down at the little droid who had been her master's companion for so many years and now had attached itself to her. She sighed as it was a lonely life living here and she was left with only the company of her own thoughts.

She was haunted by the face of Trilla, Cere still to this day blamed herself for being so careless with her apprentice. She had left her behind and who knows what had happened to her, had she escaped in one of the other ships and finished her training with one of the other Jedi? Had she died at the hands of the Empire or worse been turned into one of their Jedi hunting puppets.

She almost didn't want to know if that was a possibility.

Cere had taken much time to think and realised she had never been an attentive master or really understood Trilla, something she now deeply regreted. She hadn't been ready for a padawan and only her own arrogance had made her think she had been.

However incessant beeping from BD-1 made her come back to the present and she asked him as he chatted excitedly.

"What is it?" She asked him and his excited binary was hard to understand but she managed to hear that someone was coming.

She reached for her lightsaber, just in case the intruder was dangerous but then she heard a familiar voice and felt a very comforting feeling in the force.

"My old apprentice, come out of there and join us! We have much to celebrate."

She could hardly believe it and quickly made her way out of the hole with BD-1 on her shoulder. Emerging she saw to her amazement that Master Cordova stood there smiling at her. He was no ghost or hologram, he looked older but was still very much alive to her shock.

And he was not alone, Master Obi-Wan Kenobi was with him! And Kalifa his apprentice although now she stood a Jedi Knight although Cere didn't know that at first.

"Master Junda, so this is where you have been hiding all this time." Master Kenobi said with a smile, welcoming her.

"Masters, I didn't know either of you had survived." Cere said breathlessly and Master Cordova only smiled at her before saying.

"It is better to let others believe that to freely to move about in a galaxy as things stand." Master Cordova said before staring at her a moment and frowning. "Your heart is heavy; much sadness resides there…surrounding your apprentice."

Master Cordova has always been able to see straight through her Cere thought with depression knowing she was going to have to explain about Trilla. But they were interrupted before she could start.

"There will be time for that later, we hoped that we might set up a safehouse here and to recover the holocron. We were just lucky to find Master Cordova." Kalifa said boldly, now a knight she felt more certain of herself.

"Indeed, the list will be very useful in finding those with the force and moving them to safety." Obi-Wan agreed with his former apprentice.

Cere despite herself felt some excitement at the thought of getting involved again despite her previous failure. Master Cordova seeing the need to speak to his apprentice told her gently.

"I am in the process of rebuilding the Jedi Archive and your help would be greatly appreciated my friend. There will be plenty of time for us to talk while others gather the children for the Hidden Path. I know you will tell me what happened with Trilla when you are ready. So, will you join us?" Master Cordova asked but he didn't need to as Cere had already decided to join him before he had even started talking. He was the wisest man she had ever met and if anyone could help her find some solace, it was him.

Reijar, Ordo System…

Merrin stood in front of the assembled Mandalorian leaders, all of whom stood there in full armour and none revealing their face to her. It was intimidating as she knew that she needed to enlist their help to save her people from the Empire, she was usually assertive and unafraid regardless of the situation but the fate of her planet hung in the balance so with an encouraging nod from Cal, she made her case.

"My world is not the strongest but we are powerful and do not forget those that fight with us. The power of our magic is great." Merrin said as she started talking to them. "I know we have little to offer but what we can offer is our friendship and our help." She said after describing her world and its problem.

The silence after she had finished was intense and it unnerved her the longer it went on before the one who had a mask over his helmet and had great strength in the force spoke.

"Very well, we will now have to discuss this among ourselves. Leave us." He told her and Cal at her side nodded and replied.

"Yes Mandalore. Come on." Call said and guided Merrin out of the room. Merrin turned to Cal and asked him something to try and take her mind off the meeting that was going to decide the fate of Dathomir and its people was happening on the other side of the door.

"Why do you people all wear your helmets all the time? How do you eat?" She asked him bluntly and Cal smirked although she couldn't see it before telling her.

"It is seen as a sign of weakness to remove our helmet in the presence of an outsider, not in private though so we eat just the same as you do." Cal explained to her but she frowned as she asked him another question.

"Then what about members of your people who aren't warriors? Do they have to wear masks in the presence of outsiders too?"

Cal found himself becoming a bit uncertain as she was asking questions that he hardly even thought about anymore having been a Mandalorian for five years now, he had to think a bit more to answer them properly and in a way that wouldn't invite more deeper probing.

- x -

"The girl's planet offers little and requires much. It would be a waste of our time." Duke Ralmiz said coldly but Duke Korkie had something else to add.

"But her people are exactly the kind of people we need, who have power and hate the Empire. An ally worth the effort." Korkie said, his own sympathy for an oppressed people guiding his opinion on what they should do.

As the dukes all started talking among themselves Haron pondered in silence, Dathomir was a strange world to liberate next but the witches of that planet might be a useful ally for the future not to mention if they captured the sensor array being constructed there it would enable them to spy on several adjacent sectors.

"I believe it is a good opportunity, it would certainly be a cool thing to have rancor war mounts accompanying us into battle." Haron said with a smile at how much that would scare the crap out of Stormtroopers. "But she has yet to finish her training and I would fold them into our territory, giving us another world and with Merrin we have the perfect person to place in charge there. But to do so we will need to make sure she knows our ways and her training is complete. She will train with the Akaan for a year before we mount any kind of operation. It will also allow the Imperials to carry out more work on the monitoring station, expending their resources while we can take over and complete it at our leisure. While I doubt that they will fight as truly part of us it is a good planet to add to our territory." Haron said feeling that in his wife's absence it was his job to see the big picture.

Dathomir might seem useless in most ways but its selling points would be exceptionally useful in the long run. So far, they had only their own force users to draw on and they were few in number, having the Witches of Dathomir would be a key asset in the battles ahead.

- x -

Earth, Wild Space…One Month Later…

The ruins of Hogwarts again were the location of trial, a test for a young girl who wanted to prove herself.

Lelia Ordo, now thirteen years old was already one of the top students of the new order, she had been studying with Luna since she could talk and it showed. She was powerful, she was well trained in the force and magic, fighting hand to hand and with weapons, she could fly better than most of the pilots at the Sky Point Academy as it was known. She had been trained to run the holdings that her siblings had been taking care of for her and even expanded and improved so what she inherited would be far greater than what House Qarl had possessed when her grandfather had died.

She saw the cave ahead of her and the force that was so strong here that she hesitated, she knew nothing of what awaited her inside but knew she had to face it to continue her training.

She took a deep breath and stepped inside, the darkness was intense and she turned her helmet lights on but the beams didn't create much light as she felt the force begin swirl around her.

"Gods it has been annoying, taking care of that brat all these years." A familiar voice said and Lelia looked for the source and saw a light in the distance, she approached it wondering if this was part of the test when she saw her three siblings standing around a campfire. She was surprised and stepped out to join them but then Deera said something that honestly Lelia had never expected to hear from her sister's lips.

"Her holdings are useful but honestly, I have about had it looking after her all these years! I was about ready to pull my hair out." Deera said without even acknowledging her, Lelia was deeply hurt and went over to her sister and pulled her arm to yank her around but Deera wouldn't budge. Lelia got in front of her only for Haron, Deera and Vysa continued to ignore her.

"I mean, she's just so whiny! Can't wait to see the back of her. I mean I have my contacts in the Underworld and now House Kane as part of the extended family. Deera is a genius with mathematics and computers. Haron you've united all the Mandalorian houses and are probably the best military commander in the galaxy. What use is she?" Vysa said with a disgusted look on her face.

Haron and Deera just nodded which broke Lelia's heart, she couldn't believe her siblings would say that! She loved them! Adored them!

But at the same time, she honestly felt they must have always seen her as a burden.

They were all gifted, all had incredible accomplishments to their names.

She did not.

She was no war leader like her brother.

No genius like her sister.

Or have a network of contacts and big heists to her name like her other sister.

She was the runt of the litter, the least capable Lelia thought bitterly, she would never be as useful or as important as them.

Lelia honestly was disgusted at herself, growing up in the shadow of greatness and yet knowing you had no chance of being great yourself.

But at the same time, she was stubborn, her red hair wasn't the only thing that was bright about her. She had a temper to match and immediately she started calling them out even if they didn't seem to even acknowledge she was there.

"I am not useless!" She yelled at them. "I am smart, I'm brave! Vysa didn't even consider herself part of this family! Deera and Haron are hardly ever there! Always running around the galaxy! I am not you and I will find myself and what I am good at!"

The three then all look at her for the first time and smiled warmly which surprised her given how they had been talking about her a moment ago.

"Then you have found your own sense of self-worth. We are proud of you and always have been Lelia." Haron said before he, Deera and Vysa all faded away before eyes.

Lelia was left alone and confused when she noticed a strong glow where the campfire had been a moment ago, looking down she saw a small group of glowing crystals at her feel, she picked them up and held them carefully. Staring at them with awe as she began to realise just what her trial had been.

To believe in herself and not judge her own success by that of her siblings, they had never thought less of her and so neither could she.

But for now, before she discovered just what it was that she was good at she had to make the most of her new gift she thought proudly as she held the crystals in her hand.

Reijar, Ordo System…

With Ara and Hannah both away Haron and Neville had found themselves primarily responsible for the children. For Neville this wasn't so unusual as he was home much more often but for Haron who often had to be away from home on business it was very strange.

Still both men loved it immensely as they got to spend time with their children.

Neville was playing football with his two sons, him against both Frank and Alex. He let them win and take a few goals but the important thing to him at least was that his sons were having a good time. He gathered them up in his arms and hugged them both tight before rolling about in the grass laughing all the time till they were dizzy and had to stop to steady themselves.

He cherished such moments as he knew how quickly they could be taken away, making him more determined to protect them and ensure they were safe.

Nearby Haron was likewise enjoying some time with his sons and daughters. They all sat in a circle while Haron told them some fun stories from the Hogwarts days, of course he changed the names so they wouldn't get it was him that the stories were about.

"He reached from the Snitch, balancing himself on the broom like a tight rope only to fall just as he managed to get hold of the snitch." Haron told his excited children about his first Quidditch game. "James stumbled forward and for a moment he thought the snitch had gotten away from him but instead he managed to catch it in his mouth as he fell." Haron told them.

All the children started laughing, thinking it was funny and Haron now older was able to laugh with them.

Markus was nine now, he thought amazement as his son grew so fast, Astoria was seven, Corridan six and the twins Siri and Tyus were three.

His children were growing up, he thought sadly and soon they wouldn't be children any more.

Their training was already underway, Markus and Astoria were already studying with Luna while attending the high-level classes demanded of House Ordo and Corridan was doing the same. The Twins were still a little young but already they were using the advanced learning systems to accelerate their learning.

It still deeply unsettled him how fast they were growing up, he turned away and they seemed to grow and he honestly was haunted by the thought. Before he knew it, they would be flying the nest and having their own adventures and one day having families of their own.

If there was one thing no-one could control it was the passage of time.

It depressed him a lot but he was going to enjoy this time and treasure every moment Haron decided there and then.

A short distance away Deera sat with her daughter Mari, now five years old and Vysa had her little girl Cera in her lap. She was two!

They too were listening and laughing at the stories which Haron loved, having only been an only child in the old world he had never had the experience of having nieces. The closest had been Scorpius Malfoy and he and Draco had hardly been close so had made little impact in his nephew's life.

But he could be here for his nieces now he thought and was about tell them more when he saw two more guests had arrived.

Sabine and Tristan, his seven-year-old niece and five-year-old nephew had arrived for a visit. They both smiled excitedly as they were to see Reijar again and to spend time with their cousins.

Astoria beamed and ran over to Sabine who excitedly started chatting with a girl her own age, something she didn't get to do very often. Tristan meanwhile was very dutiful came to him though and gave his little bow which made Haron smile while the others giggled and he told his nephew.

"Tristan. You are family, and family is always welcome here. I am more your uncle than I am your Mandalore. You need not be so formal around me." Haron reassured him with a smile, glad for once to not be wearing his armour so his nephew could see his sincerity.

"Yes…uncle." Tristan said with a small nervous voice which made Haron sigh as the boy was too dutiful for own good but he put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently before telling the younglings.

"Right how about we head inside as it looks like rain." Haron told them all and while they complained they all did as he said and they all went inside, sitting down to enjoy some holo-programs together. Neville even joined them with his two boys and they all just enjoyed the moment together.

As they watched Haron noticed Sabine was drawing on a pad, he looked at what she was doing and realised she was very advanced for her age. Impressive he thought in amazement as even though he knew little about art he knew talent when he saw it.

"Sabine, have you ever thought of pursing your art, professionally?" He asked her knowing she was probably too young to have thought much about her life career but Sabine smiled and told him.

"I love colours." She told him, being flamboyant in her use of them as if to prove her statement. "Mama says I must focus on other things though, like fighting and science and stuff. For when I lead Clan Wren." She said sounding like she wasn't really excited by the idea.

Haron nodded knowing the pressures that came with running a family and a world all too well and wondered if he and the others hadn't had those pressures what other paths they might have chosen in life. Clan Wren due to the support of House Ordo and House Farr had risen up the ranks in Mandalorian Society and as the eldest child it was expected of Sabine to take it over some day.

And Sabine was gifted, Haron thought knowing she was highly intelligent and resourceful. She would be well accomplished in whatever she decided to do but he wondered if art was her true passion.

"If you decide one day to pursue it. I will find you a place at any art school you want." Haron offered her and Sabine looked at him excitedly.

"Any?" She asked eagerly and Haron nodded.

"Any. You have a talent; it should be allowed to bloom." He told her and she beamed at him before they both went back to watching the holo.

- x -

Merrin was duelling with Roon, one of the Akaan here and was doing fairly well, her two sabers giving her more angles of attack but not as much strength and Roon was easily keeping up with her. Merrin gritted her teeth as she pressed her attack only for Roon to pull a feint and she felt rather than saw the blade that was now hovering at her neck. She fumed at the loss but ever since Asajj had died she had not been herself. Her frustration frequently got the better of her and she knew she had to find a way around that or it would destroy her. Asajj had told her time and time again how letting her anger control her would take her to a dark place, something she knew herself and had told her about.

"Enough." Luna, the teacher called out bring the bout to an end. "Excellent performance from both of you. Now Roon, you go and handle telekinetic training for the recruits while I talk to Merrin." The blonde-haired human female said, Roon did as she commanded without question surprising Merrin with the authority she had. She was of pleasing dimensions the young girl thought with a slight blush but far more impressive was her considerable knowledge of the force and magic.

She had already learned a great deal from her Merrin thought impressed as the older woman knew much more about those subjects than she had imagined she would. Likewise, though Merrin had imparted some Dathomiri tricks of her own.

Merrin's eyes meanwhile reluctantly looked over and saw Cal who was now duelling with a male of a species she didn't recognise; they were shirtless and despite only being the same age as her Cal was very…well built. His muscles were hard and easy to see and it brought a flush to her cheeks as she struggled not to stare.

"Interested? I know he is interested in you." Luna's voice suddenly said from the side which startled Merrin.

"Lovegood…I." Merrin started saying but Luna just smiled and told her.

"Cal is only really close to Trilla. His adopted sister and former Jedi like him. But with you, it's like he really wants to trust you. He took his helmet off for you within moments of meeting you. He doesn't do that for anyone." Luna said with a knowing look in her eyes.

Merrin was confused, not sure what to make of that comment but couldn't help but feel that warm feeling in her bones as she looked at Cal. He appeared in many of her dreams, her face growing hotter as she remembered some of the more explicit ones.

Luna finally disturbed her from that by handing the girl a gauntlet which Merrin could clearly feel the force flowing through. She examined it and found some kyber crystals in the fingers and the force which was weaved into the gauntlet itself.

"We discovered how to enchant objects and that kyber crystals can act as a natural focus for magic. I will have to look at these 'Dathomiri Blood Stones' to see if they work better with your people's magic. It is a fascinating difference." Luna said with a distracted look in her eyes.

Merrin slipped the gauntlet on and she felt her power being amplified and her control sharpened, that intrigued her, no one to her knowledge had used crystals like this and it was something that her people would be very interested in when she returned.

Unregistered System, the Unknown Regions…

The Mandalorian Expeditionary Force dropped out of hyperspace on the edge of the system pointed to by the data they had obtained. On the bridge of the Ferocious, the new Keldabe-class Battleship leading the small fleet Ara Ordo was standing at the display table with Hannah smiling on the other side.

"At last, we're here!" Hannah said after a couple of weeks of trying. Ara smirked.

"Well with no defined hyperspace routes I think we did pretty well to get here in two weeks." Ara told her friend who scoffed.

"Come on, it's a miracle we got here at all. Even you have to admit that." Hannah said with a raised eyebrow and Ara just stared at the display and told her.

"I will admit what I like. Now, full scan. According to the maps the station is here and I want to know just where it is." Ara said to them all. The crew rushing to obey her orders while Hannah shook her head at her friend's stubbornness.

The rest of the fleet took station around them, four Dreadnaught-class Heavy Cruisers, 6 Crusader-class Corvettes and 2 Gladius class Heavy Corvettes flew in formation around them.

They waited in silence as the crew scanned the area, looking for the so-called station that was supposed to be here. Even now though they had no idea just what it was supposed to do, whether it was another Star Forge or something else altogether they had no idea.

"Duchess Ordo, we have something." The science officer said from his station. They all looked at him to explain further and he did so. "Energy readings similar to those of the terminal but on a much greater scale on the third planet of the system."

"On the planet." Hannah asked with curiosity and he told her.

"Indeed Lady Longbottom. On the planet in the southern hemisphere on its biggest landmass." He reported.

Ara thought for a moment, clearly whatever it was must be much smaller than the Star Forge if it was on the planet and Ara just hoped it was portable or movable otherwise this might be difficult.

"Set a course, prepare the landing party." Ara ordered and just hoped they didn't regret this.

"Yes Duchess." The crew responded and went about following her orders.

She stared at the screen, still wondering if this was worth the risk they were taking and what exactly had they discovered down there.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity they finally came into orbit and managed to get a closer scan.

"Duchess, we have a large metallic object, circular and over two thousand meters across." The science officer reported.

"Much smaller than the Star Forge. What is it used for though?" Ara asked while Hannah asked a question of her own.

"Surface conditions?" Hannah asked wanting to know if it was safe to send down the landing party.

"Oxygen nitrogen atmosphere, very abundant plant life." The science officer reported with surprise as it was extremely supportive to life down there.

"Deploy the landing party. Advise extreme caution." Ara ordered, not sure what was waiting down there but it was time to find out.

- x -

The new dropship the Mandalorians were using for this mission was designed jointly for troops as well as vehicles, the D77 as it was known was a compact and robust design while being reasonably fast and agile in atmosphere and having sufficient weaponry to act as an aerial support unit for land-based forces.

It flew through the atmosphere towards the strange mass and landed vertically, the back hatch opening and while there would normally have been a Canderous Assault tank in there this time they brought a Basilisk war droid which followed the party out of the ship.

Zara who was leading the mission was sweating under her helmet it was so hot, the temperature regulators needed adjusting she thought with annoyance but pressed on. Makla at her side walked with her and the party, Makla was confused though at what he was feeling.

"I had read the Rakata used the dark side with their stations, but here…I can't sense it. If anything, this feels much more like the light side of the force." Makla said with surprise which likewise confused Zara who frowned and suggested as they arrived at what looked like an airlock of some kind.

"Maybe the Rakata didn't always use the dark side. There is a lot about them we still don't know." Zara said with a shrug.

The airlock thankfully still had power, a testament to Rakatan engineering that it still worked after all this time. They turned on their torches and proceeded into the structure, not sure what was waiting for them inside.

The corridors and interior spaces were more cramped than they had thought they would be due to previous descriptions of other facilities built by the Rakata. There was though no turrets or droids waiting for them which put them somewhat on edge as it was not like the Rakata not to leave some kind of defence behind.

Eventually they managed after hours of walking around to discover a control room with a bank of computers where they started accessing the data, the Basilisk was carrying a special translation device to help access the console and it booted up, allowing them to access the computers and find out just what this facility was meant for.

- x -

In orbit the planet while they waited for the landing party to report in, the air was tense as they wondered more and more as time went on if something had gone wrong down there and a second team was being prepared that was far better armed then the first.

But unfortunately, as Ara was about to dispatch the second team and considered the worst, especially given her sister-in-law was leading it and she didn't want to have to tell Deera that her wife wasn't coming back, they had uninvited guests arrive.

The long-range sensors suddenly triggered an alarm as they picked up new contacts.

"Duchess, an Imperial Fleet has dropped out of hyperspace. They are approaching at high speed." The Sensor officer reported. Ara frowned and asked with a grimace on her face.

"Fleet Composition?" Ara asked and the officer was fast to respond given the situation.

"One Imperial-class Star Destroyer, Three Dreadnaught class Heavy Cruisers, Two Arquitens-class light cruisers and 6 Gozanti-class escort ships." The Officer reported and Ara frowned, technically speaking their two small fleets were about equal but she had a few tricks up her sleeve she thought with gritted teeth.

"All ships launch fighters. Prepare drones and mass driver cannons." Ara ordered.

The gunners prepared themselves, along with the Vipers and X-wings that were launching. The drone control officer sat into his special chair, he had an implant that allowed him to link mentally to the drones' targeting system and guide them with his thoughts, allowing for great accuracy and irregular patterns of attack.

The Drones were based on versions found on Iokath, surrounded in an energy field they could pass through shields and burn through hull plating with ease before exploding inside. They had been added to the Keldabe class to add some significant teeth to the ship after the mass drivers were installed. This would be the first time they had used either in a battle.

"Drones, lock on the star destroyer and fire." Ara ordered and then added. "Have the corvettes screen against Tie Fighters while Gladius class ships use missiles on Gozanti escorts."

"Orders confirmed." The Communication Officer said as she transmitted her commands to the other ships.

- x -

The Imperial class ship was confused at the Mandalorians being here but fairly confident of success as despite being even in terms of power there was no opportunity for ambush.

Then the largest ship in the enemy formation that was about as large as the star destroyer began launching what looked like a swarm of small missiles at them. The Star Destroyer's captain ordered defence systems to intercept but the swarm moved erratically and to their surprise seemed intelligent enough to evade most of their defence systems. He ordered that the shields be increased to full power and was again confident given the missiles were too small to be that powerful.

He was wrong again.

The drones surrounded by their exotic energy field punched through the shields like they weren't even there and straight into the bridge and exploding, killing all there while more suddenly changed direction and went along the hull and underneath the ship, then in through the hanger and exploding.

The explosions tore the ship apart and then to make matters worse they brought their mass driver cannons to bare on the Imperial Dreadnaughts' as they turned to flee, catching them amid ships and even the thick armour did not prevent them from being damaged. Especially when more drones were fired to harass the ships. They did fire their reasonably strong turbolasers at the Crusader class corvettes who were screening the larger ships from Tie Fighters.

The corvette closest to them found itself being hit hard and its shields while good didn't hold out for long under their concentrated fire, shields failing before it was blasted to pieces.

But they didn't live long to celebrate their accomplishment, the improved sublight engines in the Mandalorian Dreadnaughts allowed them to close the distance and bring their own improved turbolasers to bare. Already damaged they were unable to escape especially as the Ferocious managed to add its own heavier turbolasers to the attack.

The Mandalorians took a great deal of pleasure in avenging their fallen brothers and sisters, tearing the ships apart. The Gladius class ships meanwhile used their missiles to destroy the Gozanti escorts which were poorly armed and shielded.

The two light cruisers seeing the situation turn against them went to leave but one of the Mandalorian ships managed to disable the engines of one while the second one panicked as the enemy closed and jumped randomly into hyperspace along an uncharted vector.

"That was stupid." Hannah said as she saw the light cruiser jump to hyperspace, knowing there was no telling where it might end up.

Ara could only nod as they all knew the risk of making an uncalculated jump, looking over she saw the drone officer had passed out from the effort of co-ordinating the drones, some kind of neural overload. That was dangerous she thought and knew they would need to use the drones sparingly till they could correct that issue. A medical team was taking him down to the med bay where hopefully he would recover.

"Duchess! A large contact is coming up from the surface, it's the Rakata structure!" The science officer reported astonished.

Ara and Hannah both shared a look of confusion especially when a familiar voice appeared on the communicator.

"Lifebringer to Ferocious, are you receiving us?" Zara's voice called out and Hannah answered.

"This is Ferocious. Zara, what the hell?" Hannah asked and Zara laughed before explaining.

"Turns out the station is more of a ship. A ship that was built by a faction of the Rakata that used the light side of the force. And they built it to terraform planets, that's why they called it Life Bringer." Zara told them excitedly. "It's hyperspace capable and we can bring it back to our space."

Ara was stunned at the development, glad at least they could move it to a more secure location but still surprised that some Rakata had used the light side of the force. Clearly their society had been more diverse than they had thought but right now she was already thinking of the use she could think of for this station.

So, adventure? Ara thought with a dismissive tone, not that exciting.

Mandalorian Scout Ship, On route in Hyperspace…

The Special Operations squad, now known as Krayt Squad after the infamous Krayt Dragons of Tatooine sat down in their seats as they listened to their new director of Special Forces.

"Krayt Squad. Today your mission is extraction." Neville told them sternly. "Target is an Imperial Research Station, two scientists. One wants to defect, the other is dangerous and we want both of them." Neville told them, two holograms appearing briefly in his place. One of a middle-aged human female and the other a male Neimoidian.

"Doctors Ismar Brengle and Drugindi. Doctor Ismar wants to defect; she is an expert in the areas of neurodevelopment and cybernetics. Doctor Drugindi meanwhile a key player in some of the nastiest bio-weapons being developed by the Empire and will resist you. Both have useful Intel so we want them alive. They are currently on a research station that you are on route too, you have been given some additional support this mission. This Akaan Trilla Suduri, she will be an extra set of eyes and ears on this mission." Neville said as his hologram returned.

The squad not keen an interloper looked over to the young woman who had full Mandalorian armour on but unlike them she had a lightsaber at her waist. She didn't remove her helmet so none of them could gauge how they were feeling except for her who could sense their feelings.

She herself was nervous, it was her mission away from Cal and she was working with the super tough Mandalorian Special Forces. They had a reputation for toughness that was beyond any other unit in the military and she was being forcefully put with them against their wishes.

"Right." Neville said sternly. "You know the plan. Proceed." He told them before the hologram faded and that left Trilla alone with the Special Forces warriors who all shared looked before one of them came up to her and told her in no uncertain terms.

"We will not carry you little girl."

Trilla was angered by that statement but she managed to keep her temper under control and told him back.

"And I won't carry you either."

The fact she actually dared to answer back and with their own taunt too stunned them but soon they started chuckling to themselves, amused. Trilla had no idea whether that was a good thing or not but it was something at least.

- x -

The scout ship was modified with a cloaking device for these kinds of missions so it was able to approach the station undetected and then fired a canister into the landing bay before disappearing again.

The canister the moment it went into the landing bay revealed its secret, it unfolded itself into a version of the infamous buzz droid from the Clone Wars. The small droid scuttled into the air duct and then without any hesitation, it exploded released a blast of blue gas straight into the station's air ducts.

The station immediately went into lockdown mode when it detected the gas which was dispersing a virulent if perfectly harmless version of the common cold. The system registered this as a viral outbreak and immediately locked down the station to limit exposure.

The Mandalorian Scout Ship meanwhile was moving around the outer ring of the station which held the science labs, built this way so that if one lab was contaminated it could be ejected from the station. But this also made extracting their targets easier, providing Trilla could find the right lab.

She reached out, letting the force guide her to the right spot while the others impatiently waited but then Trilla felt their targets, a vile mind that cared only for their own ego and another who was desperate to leave.

"There." She said pointing out the spot before the warriors reluctantly decloaked and latched on where she told them. She ignited her viridian blade, the lightsaber having changed colour when she took her trial and plunged it into the station's side. The metal was tough but no match for her lightsaber which let her cut open a hole big enough for her and the warriors fairly quickly.

She pushed the now separated section into the station and leapt forward while the warriors hesitated for a moment, eager to see if she could handle herself.

Stormtroopers that were in the lab which hadn't been planned for but that didn't matter to Trilla who held her lightsaber aloft and leapt over the lab table, delivering a hard kick that broke the receiver's neck with its sheer force before she spun around and killed two more with slashes to the chest from her lightsaber.

The three remaining Stormtroopers started shooting at her but Trilla easily began to deflect their blaster fire away from her as she advanced at a run. The Stormtroopers shot desperately but she cut them all down with a series of slashes to the chest and head.

The troopers now dead she turned to the Neimoidian, Drugindi who was trying to throw some kind of vial at her but she didn't let him finish, seizing his body with the force and making him drop the vial into the biohazard bin.

The female doctor Ismar looked over impressed and did them a favour by injecting him with a sedative that she had prepared. Drugindi looked at her with shock before falling unconscious. Trilla asked.

"Doctor Ismar Brengle?"

"That's me." The woman said nervously and Trilla nodded.

"We are your extraction. Please, we don't have much time." Trilla said while the Krayt Unit had finally decided to emerge and carry the unconscious Drugindi into the ship. Doctor Ismar had a copy of the work they had been doing here and she would brief them when they were safely in Mandalorian Space. Ismar and Trilla both climbed through the hole and sealed the hatch of the scout ship before the ship pulled away, recloaked and left the system with all speed.

"Not bad kid." A member of the unit told Trilla who smiled in triumph at her success, wondering if maybe working with the special forces was something she could do more often.

Imperial Palace, Coruscant…

The Emperor was troubled by a vision of late, something was threatening his Empire, stabbing them brutally in his visions of the future but with no idea just how.

The other losses he had sustained didn't register as much as this strange vision and he wondered just what was the source. It was not any of the enemies they had faced so far so he had no real clue as to its identity.

Besides he thought with a cruel smile, he had something else to distract him now.

A girl who had been discovered had a great deal of power in the force and with the right training and conditioning would make a fine spy for him…an assassin and more too.

Her red hair was bright and her green eyes flashed with a strong will that would have to bend carefully but when he was done, he thought with satisfaction she would be a true extension of his will and not fail him as so many of his other servants had. She would be raised to believe that he trusted her alone, that she would be the only hand rather than one of many and he would train her harder than any other.

Mara, he would call her as he looked down at the small girl as he looked at her with a sinister grin as he considered the plans he had for her, Mara Jade.