HP: Dance of the Veela

Mandalore, the Mandalore System…

The great Lifebringer was now resting on Mandalore's surface, the surface now looking very different to the barren desert. The sands had been replaced with jungles that while humid had no animal life, insect life from the nearby moons and other planets had been brought in to maintain the biosphere but so far animal life had yet to be added.

The ship itself was powered by solar winds and the planet's own rotation which honestly was incredible but it got the results. Now for the first time in living memory, Mandalore was more than just a desert, the domed cities where now no longer a necessity but would be maintained as survival centres should it ever be needed.

Plans were already in motion to have the Lifebringer moved to other worlds that had been devastated so they too could be restored. It had to land on the surface to actually start regenerating the biosphere and could take a year to do it properly but it was highly effective. Ara was directing the program and planning out a priority list for all the planets that could be made verdant by this machine.

Elsewhere though, the news was not so positive.

Gyloth, Mandalorian/Imperial Border…

A far-flung outpost in the Mandalorian Territories, Gyloth was just an insignificant planet with nothing much there and so it had been here that the Empire had launched their second invasion of Mandalorian Space.

It was a combined ground and space battle this time, so in fact it was two battles in one.

Duke N'Val was commanding in space, using a new ship that he and his people had just introduced to the Mandalorian Fleet.

The Viper Mark 2 had been much more of a success than any of them had anticipated, it was a fast attack interceptor with the ability to fight any Imperial Fighter deployed against it. Combined with the U-Wing Bomber and X-Wing it was now one of the most coveted fighters for its incredible agility, replacing the Fang-class in the fleet.

And now, they had an improved model, the Viper Mark 3.

It was based on the same basic frame as the Mark 2 but slightly larger as a number of advancements and improvements had been made after observations made by engineers and pilots alike. For a start the hull plating was thicker, making the ship more robust and was equipped with better control surfaces like ailerons that drastically improved its manoeuvrability especially in an atmosphere but also in space with the more powerful thrusters that all could oscillate, so despite being heavier it was equal to the lighter Mark 2 in speed and agility. This also allowed for a larger fuel tank.

It still had the same two front mounted laser cannons that the previous version had but it held its missiles inside the hull rather than on wing mounted racks like the Mark 2.

This was the first test of the new design and it was in the hands of one of the best pilots Fenn Rau, who was loving the fighter.

He twisted it through extremely tight turns and flips around TIE fighters, smirking as they went down with ease. He was definitely recommending them for full fleet deployment.

- x -

Below on the rocky and barren surface of Gyloth the ground battle was no less intense, the main fighting around the mountain ridge where the Mandalorians held their position against the Imperial army. They had all their heavy artillery deployed, Basilisks and Canderous assault tanks alongside snipers picked off approaching Imperial units as they tried to push forward. The fighting was intense and the large Imperial Walkers lumbered slowly along with the awkward and unsteady ground alongside their smaller counterparts and Stormtroopers.

Haron was personally directing the ground battle, looking out at this he had the Imperials in a fairly tight area and rather than call down the busy fleet in orbit, he raised his hands now he the enemy where he wanted them and decided to use some magic to turn the battle in their favour.

"Fiendfyre." He called out.

The elemental fire burst free from his hands and surged towards the enemy, Haron was surprised as he honestly found it much easier to control this time then it had been in the past, maybe due his force training and greater experience he thought but he had to concentrate deeply regardless to make sure it did as he commanded.

The fire swirled around the battlefield, the Stormtroopers stood no chance and the smaller walkers despite being metal soon burned in the intense flames, Haron felt the pain of trying to control it but he could endure it.

Then he turned his attention the larger walkers and concentrated the flames around them. The joints fused under the great heat and soon the walkers couldn't move before the flames began to melt their way inside.

The Mandalorian warriors looked on with awe as their Mandalore cut down their enemies with powers they had never imagined and were in awe, seeing what the force was capable of in their hands.

Reijar, Ordo System…One Week Later…

"The Mark 3 Viper performed superbly; it may be more intensive to learn to control but they are the perfect fast interceptor for the fleet." Fenn Rau reported to the council. The council looked pleased with the report and the decision was made to put the ship into full production, the VR training technology would be helpful in training new pilots for the tricky fighter.

"I take it you have all established your own teams?" Haron asked them and they all nodded, referring to the ministries or the beginnings of ones anyway that would help the council conduct their duties across their territories.

"I have established a judge on every Mandalorian inhabited world and moon. Men and women that can be trusted to handle legal affairs on behalf of yourself and all clans and houses." Ijaa said with an almost proud look in his eyes.

Haron nodded, trusting Ijaa's integrity and judgement as one of the most honourable and dutiful men that he had ever met.

"So, what do we do to retaliate against the latest invasion?" Duke Sarek Ralmiz asked with a cold eagerness. The other members of the council except for Luna and Neville all looked at him with eagerness, Haron and his two friends frowned before Haron told them.

"We can't mount another invasion right now. In time yes but our people are busy at the moment with establishing our new domains. We will instead turn to another weapon in our arsenal to express our anger. Neville, is it prepared?" Haron asked his friend, who nodded, not liking this weapon but it was the best way to hurt the Empire without risking a costly invasion.

"The ship is prepared, tests on the missiles have been even more promising than we hoped." Neville said. The other looked at him with confusion before Haron explained.

"Along with other weapons from the past we discovered there was one other, the stealth missile. Missiles that are near completely invisible to sensors and armed with a considerable payload. The original design with some upgrades was as useful now as it was then once we modified one of the old Providence-class ships to carry them, but when we expanded the design to include a small droid brain, a small faster than light unit and a fuel tank, with the help of a magnetic accelerator like the one we fitted to the ship they can make one short range hyperspace jump." Neville said.

The look of shock and awe at the announcement was enough to make Haron, Deera, Neville and Luna smirk a little. Revan had left the stealth missile technology in his vault but it was Mandalorian scientists that had taken it to its full potential.

"It is only a short-range jump." Deera told them quickly so they understood its current limits. "The Launching Ship has to be within one system of the target or it won't have the range but still, if used sparingly given how complex the missiles are and the risk to the mothership then they will be most deadly."

Haron nodded, they had many weapons that were incredible most of them coming from Revan's Vault but they had issues and they certainly couldn't risk the Empire getting hold of them so they had to be used sparingly.

"Do you have a target?" Eliza Kane asked them with an excited grin on her face.

"Oh yes." Haron said intending to hit a real jewel in the Empire's crown this time.

Imperial Naval Space Station Validusia, Validusia...One Week Later…

The massive space station above the planet Validusia was easily one of the biggest and best equipped service yards in the entire Empire. Its massive docking berths allowed even the largest Imperial vessels to be serviced here including the brand new Secutor class Star Destroyers, rushed into service to make up for recent losses and to project strength given their immense size. All the ships of the class, six currently were being fitted out here.

The Missile Launch ship had travelled with a small fleet for protection under complete communication silence to get to the target undetected, sneaking deep into Imperial Territory before taking careful note of its position relative to the target before the magnetic accelerator on the front came to life. While firing the sheer amount of power it required meant that all engines had to be stopped and all power channelled to the accelerator.

The Missiles were slowly loaded into position and armed, the targeting being done with the utmost care to make sure they hit the target although the small droid brain put in them would make sure of that.

The accelerator was now fully charged and ready, it was time for launch.

With a blast of energy, the afterburner on the missile engaged and was sent flying through the accelerator which gave the missiles' small hyperdrive the power it needed to get into hyperspace. Once the first one was away the next one followed, followed by the next and the next until the supply was spent.

In the Validusia system the Imperials were quite secure, the impressive defences they had put up would keep out any potential intruder and they were a way into Imperial Space so they felt secure.

Then the main spire on the orbiting drydock was hit.

The explosion nearly ripped it in half and it was followed moments later by another explosion on the central support column which buckled and the gravity of the planet began to tear at the space station.

Then while the Imperials were confused at the sudden and completely invisible attack, another hit the central defence control station nearby, followed closely by another hit to the central column on the shipyard which finally severed as more explosions hit all around. The ships in drydock all still tethered to the space station as it started falling apart and fell towards the planet below.

Imperial Palace, Coruscant…The Next Day…

The reaction of the Empire to the sudden and as of yet unexplained destruction of a vital facility and most of their new fleet of Secutor class Star Destroyers was one of complete shock and a good deal of fear and panic since they had no idea of just who was responsible.

The Emperor who had just finished extracting the secrets of one of these Dathomiri witches was far from concerned, the station could be rebuilt and was thinking of his visions of late instead.

He had seen a clouded area of space, somewhere they might allow him to break his enemies.

Looking at the star charts he realised just where his visions were leading him and smirked as at last, he saw a way to bring the most dangerous of his enemies down low. The means to destroy them and ensure the so-called alliance of his enemies fell apart.

But then he felt something sudden, a great disturbance in the force…something had happened he thought confused. A shift in the balance of power and not one from any of the factions he had ever considered.

Commenor, The Colonies Region…

The massive space ports of Commenor were always busy, there was never a single moment of inactivity regardless of what was happening in the galaxy, war or peace they were never silent.

Being on a junction of different trade routes made it a highly important world, a Core World in everything but its galactic position.

But this also made it extremely vulnerable.

The large number of incoming and outgoing ships also made it difficult to immediately tell friend from foe.

A fleet of ships though coming out of hyperspace was noticed, they were largely Imperial warships though so at first the officers though it might be a taskforce moving through to assist in operations at Validusia after the recent disaster as had been happening frequently over the last few days. That hesitation would prove disastrous.

Freighters filled with unstable hypermatter fuel rushed forward and smashed themselves into the star destroyers and defence satellites, causing incredible explosions that destroyed or crippled them. That was exactly the point as the ships ploughed on, opening fire on everything that came into range, tearing them apart whether they had people on them or not.

The people of Commenor looked to the sky with confusion as they heard the sound of engines approaching the surface, they began to panic as they finally got a look at whoever it was.

Dropships like none of them had ever seen before accompanied by Tie Fighters with rough blood-coloured markings strafed the ground sending many running in terror at the sudden attack, the drop ships opened doors on the side and dropped cables which soon had vicious and heavily armed Kalderans swinging down the cables and snarling vicious war cries in their native tongue but the moment they hit the ground they began shooting at just about anything that moved! Aliens, Humans, Droids they didn't care. If it wasn't Kalderan, kill it…that was their new mantra.

So that their people would never be threatened again.

They moved through the cities and spaceports killed everyone they came across while tearing the place apart, destroying and stealing anything useful. Smoke rose all around the cities as large commandeered freighters took the looted cargo away before they lay the rest of the cities to waste.

Few would be left alive after this raid and it was sent across the galaxy as other raids fell on other worlds while the Kalderans emerged with a roar, taking the rest of their sector and slaughtering any species other than their own. Their raids spreading further beyond their space and sowing fear of them across the galaxy.

The Hutts, thinking since they had nothing to do with the situation tried to strike a deal with the Kalderans who had now taken all the ships the Empire had them building before the uprising and put them to their own use. The Hutts hoped this might be a useful and profitable alliance but the Kalderans without hesitation killed the envoy and fed his corpse to wild animals.

Word of this spread across the galaxy very quickly, the fear of the Kalderans and their raids striking deep into the hearts of every world around them or even remotely close. Fortifying themselves in any way they could.

Great Jedi Library, Ossus…

Yoda had been meditating on the discoveries he had made since his rather ill-advised journey into the crystal chamber. Reaching out through the force he had even managed to reach Bendu and while perhaps not as deep into the light as the Jedi would have liked he was Yoda thought with a smirk very insightful and the Grandmaster had learned a great deal in their chats.

He was in the process of writing a new text of his own about the discoveries he had made since his rather incredible encounter with the crystal chamber which was now sealed off to prevent others from facing such a trial given the great toll it took.

Yoda had honestly never been happier, the old being thought with a smile. He was learning more about the force each day and so were the others here, their colony was slowly growing with the first Jedi/Ysanna younglings being born. It had caused a fair bit consternation in the older and more traditional Jedi but the celebration had been a truly joyous occasion. One that still brought a large and warm feeling to his heart.

But then he saw the Partisan Jedi again, which replaced his smile with a frown.

Saesee Tiin, Yoda thought with his thoughts deeply troubled. He had always been one of the hardest and most severe Jedi but since the fall of the Order he had become even worse. His forceful recruitment of Jedi and wilfully exposing those that were hiding to either leave them with no choice but to join him or run from the Empire. Some Jedi who had tried to hide had been killed due to that Yoda thought with deep sadness.

But their ruthless and many times bloodthirsty actions unsettled him even more, they cared nothing for the damage they caused. They had fallen and not even realised it Yoda thought sadly and knew something had to be done. This was too dangerous a situation to ignore any longer.

So, he reached out through the force, knowing just the pair of Jedi to deal with this.

- x -

Hidden Path Base, Bogano…

The next bunch of children and their families were coming in and making themselves as at home as possible given the circumstances of their urgent relocation. The Inquisitors were doubling their efforts to find surviving Jedi and people with the potential to become Jedi. Anyone with even the vaguest connection to the force was now a target and regretfully they hadn't managed to get to them all.

Obi-Wan sighed as he saw a pair of younglings that by rights should be safe at home tucked in their own beds, instead they were roughing it here.

Sometimes he really wished he could just disappear himself but he wouldn't allow harm to come to these poor people so he stayed.

Watching Kalifa guiding the new arrivals to the safe area they had set up made him smile a little as she had become so capable and strong. He honestly was as proud of her as he was of Anakin, both of his students had come so far and learned so much. It eased his tired and battered soul to see them both doing well.

His chain of thought though was derailed by the sight of the person who had flown them here, an undercover member of the Hidden Path who risked her life day after day to keep them one step ahead of the Empire…Tala Durith. She posed as an Imperial Officer and spied for them but whenever she was around Obi-Wan they both became awkward. There was no real reason for this as they were both perfectly friendly with each other and neither had any reason to dislike the other but for some reason they were just awkward around each other.

- x -

Vergesso Asteroid Field, the Outer Rim…

Anakin was sat behind the controls of an X-wing chasing down Tie Fighters that had gotten a little too close for comfort, his hand was firmly on the control stick as he moved the ship through the belt and fired his lasers, determined not let them survive to report back on the new joint Rebel Alliance/Liber 8 base they had been constructing in the area.

It was both a small service yard for their limited fleet with the ability to build a few smaller vessels, the local asteroids which were much more stable than a normal asteroid belt also meant it was good place for flight training.

Anakin managed to get the Tie Fighters in his sights before he pulled the trigger on his control stick and blasted them out of the stars.

He smirked a little wondering just who they had training these pilots as they were amateurs, clearly put in the cockpit with only minimum training.

Then he like Obi-Wan was hit by a sudden vision of the Partisans and what the Jedi and them were currently doing.

They saw Saesee Tiin was flying over an Imperial Factory and dropping a large canister that split open and released a sickly brown gas that spread out with a blast of air. It fell to the ground and the civilian workers and Imperials who weren't Stormtroopers started choking from the gas and the wind blew it straight into the settlement that surrounded the factory.

Many of whom would have died from the gas before a V-Wing came down and deployed a team of Jedi and Partisans all wearing gas masks which ambushed the Stormtroopers and dying people. Stealing a cache of proton bombs and other weapons from the facility and then flying off with their stolen ordinance.

Both Obi-Wan and Anakin saw it and frowned with a disturbed look in their eyes as who knows how many innocent people the Partisans had killed with their gas.

Both of them showed how much of a moral code they shared as they turned to their former apprentices.

"Kalifa, see if you can find Master Vos. I think we will be needing his help." Obi-Wan told his former student who nodded confused but did as he asked.

Anakin meanwhile turned on his comm system and called his own current apprentice.

"Kahr, get Allara to meet us. I think we have a mission to attend to." Anakin said which Kahr like Kalifa was confused by but did as they had been asked. In truth he would see if Kagame would come with them too but he doubted it since he and Padme were both busy with devising new plans and caring for the children.

Mandalorian Shuttle, Edge of Mandalorian Territory…

The tight confines of shuttle were awkward for Cal and Merrin as they sat there, the budding romantic tension between them was keeping them both silent. But finally, Merrin couldn't help but ask a question that was nagging at her.

"Okay Cal, just where are you taking me?" She asked him and Cal checking their location as they were about to drop out of hyperspace decided to finally tell her as this was their 'date'.

"One of the most beautiful sights in the galaxy, I always wanted to see it…and I wanted for you to see it with me." Cal admitted reluctantly. It was true he had learned about this place while studying at the temple and always wanted to see it for himself but never had the time until now.

And he was sharing it with her.

Merrin was unsure what to make of that before they dropped out of hyperspace and she saw what they had come to see for herself.

A red giant lay in the distance and around it was an enormous belt of ice that seemed to simmer, between the different pieces of ice, coloured bursts of light moved in between them. It was hypnotising and both stared in awe at the sight.

"It's beautiful." Merrin said with her eyes wide at the sight before her. "What makes it happen?"

"No one knows. People have tried to find out but no one ever has." Cal told her with the same look of awe in his eyes, while he had read about the place but it was quite a different thing to see it with his own eyes.

Merrin honestly felt confused as she had never felt this way for a male before but as she looked at the incredible sight that Cal had decided to share with her, that fluttering sensation in her stomach came back and she blushed, her cheeks darkening before she leaned across and kissed him.

Cal was caught by surprise but soon was kissing her back, pulling her over onto his lap as they continued making out both caught up in their own passion.

Reijar, Ordo System…

The jungles of Reijar were the place that Haron and Deera had learned from their uncles, to hunt, to track, to shoot, to fight. Many lessons that had carried them far in the galaxy had been learned here and it was now the place where they themselves became the teachers to the next generation.

All of Haron's children; Markus, Astoria, Corridan, Li'anna, Siri and Tyus sat with Mari their cousin Deera's own daughter. Not to mention Sabine and Tristan were also present to learn alongside the rest of their extended family. Grahuur and his mate and their cubs too were present if they had anything to add.

"Technology is a crutch." Haron told the children as he and Deera stood there both completely serious. "It is all well and good when it is working but if it doesn't, or it is taken away from you then most people are completely helpless. In this day and age basic survival skills are rare." Haron told them.

"So, we are going to teach you how to survive." Deera said feeling very odd as she felt like it was yesterday that she was receiving these lessons alongside her brother, now she was the one giving them. "The environment can provide nearly everything you need to survive if you know what you're doing. The three basic priorities for survival; water, shelter and food although not necessarily in that order. What is available depends on the environment you are in, but for food that will often mean hunting." She said before taking bits and pieces from around her to assemble a basic snare.

The children watched in rapt attention and then she intentionally triggered it, allowing it to catch her wrist. Both her and Haron smiled a little as they knew how much the children had to learn.

"There is no prey that cannot be caught." Haron told them. "Whether it is intelligent or not any creature can be caught with the right trap. Remember that lesson as it applies to other things than just hunting for food." Haron told them before moving on to rudimentary weapons.

"The right weapon is just as important." Haron said holding a makeshift javelin in his hands. "Poor quality weapons will break but if you work them into better ones, they will serve you well." Haron told them before taking a knife and stripping away excess wood on the javelin so it would fly through the air easier and sharpened the point before throwing so it buried itself in a target not far away.

The children were wide eyed with awe, Haron and Deera shared a look of amusement as they realised that they had a lot to teach them all, they had already taught these things to Lelia who was almost ready for field duty however much they feared it.

For Deera it meant she had more free time as Lelia began to assume the responsibility of running House Qarl as was her birthright, something Deera secretly treasured since she could spend more time with her daughter and wife not to mention she was working with Professor Mors to establish a Science Collective.

A body that not only brought scientists from all over Mandalorian Space to discuss ideas and theories but would actively look for potential scientists in the youth of their people, special children so their gifts could be identified and nurtured.

But for now, she was a teacher to her own daughter along with her nephews and nieces she thought with a smile, they were getting old she thought to herself ironically but didn't mind. It was sad though she thought as both Haron and her were now older than their own mothers had lived to be. She had never met her own mother but through the force she dreamed of her sometimes, despite the terrible thing that she had done, Deera knew she would have adored Mari.

It was a shame that none of them had grandparents she thought looking at the children but at least they were safe and had family that loved and adored them, uncles and aunts aplenty. Love cost nothing but it was the most valuable thing you could give someone she thought as she alongside her brother continued to teach the next generation.

- x -

Luna meanwhile was deep in thought; she had been wondering if what Harry had told her about using Fiendfyre being easier to control was due to their increased connection to the force or something deeper. It could be many things she thought with confusion, she had tried it out herself and it was she admitted much easier.

She would have to put more thought into this, Luna thought before she was interrupted by someone.

"Excuse me, Lady Lovegood." A nervous voice said and Luna turned around to see the archaeologist she and her organisation employed to seek out force sensitive sites for them to explore.

He was a nervous man, a true genius in the field but around people he was totally clueless and very nervous but a real gentleman and a good-hearted person which she appreciated.

"Hi Edric." She said to him with a warm smile on her face that held him completely spell bound as he showed her the latest leads he had turned up before asking her in a voice so shaky it might have been done in an earthquake.

"Would…would…would you let me treat you to dinner?" He eventually managed to blurt out before he lost his nerve. Luna smiled, wondering how long he had been practicing this very proposal. She had sensed his feelings for her some time ago but since he had not acted on them neither had she. Now it seemed he had finally gotten the courage to ask her out Luna thought with a smile and told him gently so she wouldn't scare him.

"Of course. When did you have in mind?"

Nar Shaddaa Orbit, Hutt Space…

Vysa smirked as she sat at the conference table of her Lucrehulk'sstate room, her guards stationed around the room as she sat across from Talon Karrade who had come to her through some mutual contacts.

"The Underworld Alliance is a growing force and with much to offer. We have hiding places, sources of our own. Connections all over the place." Talon said and Vysa cut him off.

"But so do we. Cut to the chase, you need larger shipyards that won't rob you blind and can handle larger warships. A steadier supply of arms. Places to hide where the Empire won't go. In short you want to ally with us." Vysa said with a smirk.

"Yes." Talon Karrade admitted bluntly. "The Hutts are making it difficult to use their facilities without draining us of credits. Access to Mandalorian shipyards and factories would be a real important edge in our expansion."

Vysa nodded, understanding his position and in some ways empathising with it but she was representing the Mandalorians today. Honestly, she still couldn't believe that Haron had empowered her to act on his behalf and make binding agreements with them using her own judgement to make the best deal for their people. He had told her it was not just a matter of trust; she knew the Underworld after being a part of it for so long so she knew how to handle herself around people like Karrade, better than anyone he knew so when the choice of who to send came up it had been her.

She wasn't sure her brother wasn't crazy but she shrugged to herself, it was fun to watch people squirm.

"I'll be straight with you Karrade. The Mandalorians are unlikely to like the idea of criminals using their territory after not only the Time of Chaos as they refer to it, but then there was the Shadow Collective's Invasion of Mandalore."

"We understand that, we don't intend to base ourselves on any of your inhabited worlds." Karrade said quickly. "A few small outposts and a breakers yard for ships we take, not to mention the ability to access Mandalorian shipyards and purchase arms. That is all we are asking for. Especially given Terrick's new ship and its rather impressive needs." Karrade said before nodding out of the window to the rather impressive achievement of his Underworld Alliance. Vysa raised an eyebrow at the sight of an Imperial Star Destroyer surrounded by Ravager vessels.

"You captured an Imperial Star Destroyer?" She asked impressed if it was true, her people had managed ships just like it in the past with the use of Null Cannons but the Underworld Alliance didn't have those, so if they had achieved it, that was impressive she thought with a conceding nod.

"We hijacked it from drydock." Karrade told her. "One of my men Booster Terrik took it, calls it the Errant Venture. It's a great ship but we need a proper shipyard that can maintain a ship that size. The Hutts would make us pay through the nose to use one of theirs, the only ones who have the right facilities are your people."

"A breakers yard, for the ships you capture. And access to our shipyards not to mention the ability to purchase weapons. I think we can come to an arrangement." Vysa said with a smile, impressed at their gall to actually steal a Star Destroyer and get away with it. What they were asking for wasn't unreasonable and it had the potential to benefit them both.

They would be watched of course but she didn't think they would be too worried about that, not when it gave them sanctuary from the Empire without the ruinous fees of the Hutts.

Reijar, Ordo System…

Lelia was sitting in her room at the compound working on her pad, smiling as she worked on creating her idea for a new ship.

She was so engrossed in what she was doing that she failed to notice Ara coming in to the room. Nor when Ara saw what she was working on.

"Lelia, did you create that?" Ara asked with genuine interest.

The suddenness of it made Lelia jump and drop the pad which Ara caught with the force and pulled to her hand.

"Ara!" Lelia said still in shock and seeing Ara now had the pad was feeling very embarrassed at her early efforts being seen so soon by a woman that been both an older sister and almost surrogate mother during her early years. "I…I."

"This is very impressive." Ara told her with surprise as she had no idea that Lelia was interested in ship design. Despite her young age and relative untrained state, the girl had managed a fairly advanced design, clearly based on the Aden class it was simplistic at the moment but the principle of it was remarkable.

"Really?" Lelia asked almost shocked as she had almost expected Ara to laugh at it. It was so basic and she had really wanted to work more on it before she let a single person see what she had been working on.

"Absolutely. When they all get back, we are going to show these to the others. This is excellent work and with time and the right help you could really make this into something." Ara told her with a smile, an actual warm one that she would only show her closest friends and family. She felt Lelia's unsettled emotions and asked. "What's the matter? You have gift, you shouldn't hide it."

Lelia was silent with her own uncertainty; she hadn't shared this interest of hers with anyone yet and wasn't at all confident in her ability.

Ara sighed, knowing there was nothing she could do that would help here.

This was something Haron, Deera and Vysa would have to fix.

Sembla, Outer Rim Territories…

The Rift Alliance Taskforce was orbiting the planet Sembla, home world of the Vurk. The planet was a relatively undefended one but still occupied by an Imperial Research Station which was experimenting to harness the large amount of geothermal energy the planet could produce given its unique conditions, the damage this did to the environment was of little concern to them or the strip-mining employed there either. The Vurk in areas where it wasn't happening didn't see the evidence so they did nothing while those that did were enslaved and treated brutally.

Although not a high priority planet, the Rift Alliance had decided to liberate it.

In orbit Mon Calamari cruisers battled with the few Imperial Ships around while the New Separatist Alliance as the holdouts had renamed themselves deployed ground forces to the surface. The Mandalorians and Wookiees both had brought units to assist in the battle and leading them was Trilla and Din, accompanied by Chewbacca.

"The seas are shallow and we'll be fighting on land; you won't need to get wet." Trilla assured the Wookiee who didn't look pleased at the idea of going for a swim.

"I wouldn't either with all that fur." Din said smirking, finding it funny that the big strong Wookiee would be afraid of a little water but the sudden growl made him take a step back. "Okay, I get it." Din said quickly.

The laughing went out around the landing barge, Wookiee and Mandalorian alike which made Din feel foolish and embarrassed. He was however with Trilla the commander of the landing force which was now finally ready to deploy.

The large door opened and immediately they were surrounded by blaster fire as they ran forward into the heart of the fight.

The Wookiees led by Chewbacca joined with the Mandalorians at their side, blasters in hand while Trilla had a lightsaber in her other hand, blocking and deflecting blaster bolts back at the enemy.

The Imperial forces were small and easily overcome, breaking open the slave pens so the Vurk could escape, some of whom even picked up Imperial weapons and joined in the fighting. Trilla used magic to force the door open, parting it before leading the rest into the building.

It didn't take long for them take over the place and cheers went up as they achieved victory.

Village, Shili…

The village life was a remarkably…simple existence Ahsoka thought as another day passed.

She honestly had been used to a much faster pace of life so having a day when the same thing happens over and over again had both an appeal in its certainty while also driving her mad with boredom at the same time.

But one thing that would make her stay regardless was her family she thought with a smile, as she had gotten to know them, she had discovered a lot of things about herself too. Some of the foods she liked were the same as her parents, unconscious habits too.

But more so was her younger brother. Yul'xe had an enthusiasm about him that reminded her of herself at that age, so eager to learn and she was thankful to be able to teach him what she knew of the force not to mention help him avoid some of the mistakes she'd made. She had never thought to have an apprentice of her own even though she honestly didn't feel it right to think herself a master.

Either way though Ahsoka thought with a smile, Yul'xe was coming along leaps and bounds. He would have made a fine Jedi Ahsoka thought but wouldn't wish that life on her younger brother. He was currently out hunting with his friends she thought as she helped prepare a new dwelling for a young couple.

Then she felt a sudden and harsh disturbance in the force that made her drop the vase she was carrying, making it shatter on the ground and she almost in a panic ran out of the house leaving everyone confused at what she was so worried about all of a sudden.

- x -

In the forest nearby Yul'xe was showing off his new force powers to his friends, entertaining them with his new empowerment when a terrible sonic blast hit them. Their senses scrambled by the harsh frequency of the attack and making blood seep from their ears and noses until they passed out. Yul'xe fought the longest but even he could hold out forever under the unforgiving assault.

Falling to the ground and a moment later the noise stopped, a smirking older human male with grey hair who stepped out of the tree line and looked down at the unconscious Togruta and picking Yul'xe up with ease, walking back to his waiting ship. Putting him in a force cage, one of several in his ship and not all were vacant.

Ahsoka only arrived as the ship was taking off, too late to stop it but thankfully old habits die hard and she still wore the utility belt the Jedi had given her, she thought quickly and threw a tracking beacon from her belt onto the ship and with the power of the force it latched on, transmitting the moment it was secure.

As Ahsoka watched the ship carrying her brother disappear she snarled in anger, vowing there and then to follow him and get her brother back.

Border of Mandalorian Space…

There was an area of space near to Mandalorian Space and Wild Space, somewhere that spacers just didn't go. A region of over a fifteen-hundred-star systems that was swamped by a radiation that while not dangerous to organic life made it extremely difficult to navigate. The source of the radiation was debated but what wasn't was that for over ten thousand years this region had been cut off from the galaxy with the few that dared go inside never finding their way out again.

But a ship appeared on the edge of Mandalorian Space, a ship of a design that was in no database. It looked positively archaic to modern eyes with very awkward and even hull arrangements and very bulky engines. But it parked itself on the edge of Mandalorian Space and began transmitting signals in very old basic.

The transmitters were extremely large but their ancient design limited their range and they demanded a great deal of power. If a random patrol had not been passing close to the area at the right moment the Mandalorians would probably have remained unaware of it but they did pick it up.

"To whoever may be listening, this is Lady Jessica of House Atreides of the Pasdisahah Imperium. We are in need of assistance. Civil War has engulfed our people and it was vision that led us to this place…in the hope of finding a way to save ourselves."

- x -

It didn't take long for the message to be translated and then relayed to central command, who responded quickly and mobilised a taskforce to intercept the strange vessel.

Aboard the Ferocious leading the taskforce Haron and Neville watched with confusion as they finally got a look at the ship first hand, bulky, flat with many corners. The technology on it seemed ancient compared to the rest of the galaxy but there was a powerful presence aboard the ship that they both felt immediately. Someone maybe two who were strong in the force.

"A small shuttle has departed the ship sir. Shall we intercept it?" The Officer of the Watch asked Haron who looked at it for a moment with everyone hanging on his word.

"No." He said surprising them all. "Let them dock. Full security team to the hanger bay. We need to find out just what we're dealing with."

"Yes Mandalore." They all echoed before he and Neville went down to the hanger bay to meet their new guests.

"Are you sure this wise? No one has had contact with these people for ten thousand years." Neville asked and Haron shrugged.

"Wise? Probably not but I have to follow what my instincts tell me, this is important. How I can't say but I feel it." Haron told his long-time friend as they made their way to the hanger bay. He could feel his friend's concern which he thought very wise, but there was no profit without risk.

The small shuttle entered the bay as they arrived and the number of guards all wearing their beskar armour watched like hawks for any sign of trouble.

The shuttle landed and the small ramp descended, revealing a pair of tall and armoured if oddly armed guards coming down the ramp first. They had knives and old-fashioned swords combined with old fashioned projectile weapons, the Mandalorians honestly wanted to scoff at their old weapons but then the final two members of the party descended down the ramp.

One was a young boy, teenager at best with dark hair and hazel eyes, he walked with an intense look in his eyes, also studying all that was around him.

The woman at his side was older, in her thirties but was still a stunning woman with dark auburn hair and enchanting hazel eyes, just like the boy showing them to be mother and son especially with how closely they stood together.

Haron and Neville though felt that she and her son were the source of the force presence they had felt, both were very strong in the force not just raw power but both had some training, the mother far more than the son. Given the age difference that was to be expected but the fact a force culture had evolved there surprised many of them.

"Greetings." The woman said, her accent smooth and refined, definitely highly educated. "Thank you for responding to our call, please forgive the intrusion into your space but we are in a desperate situation."

"Understandable, I assume you are the Lady Jessica." Haron said and with her nod of confirmation he gave her his name. "I am Duke Haron Ordo, Mandalore and leader of the Mandalorians. This is my trusted friend and comrade in arms Neville Longbottom." Haron told her introducing them both.

"Indeed, it is a pleasure to meet you." Lady Jessica said politely before introducing her own companion. "This is my son and heir to House Atreides Paul."

"Greetings." Neville said with a nod of the head. "Shall we retire to a more comfortable setting to discuss just why you have come into our territory."

"Yes, I think that would be best." Lady Jessica said, looking at them with interest as she had as many questions about them as they did about her.

- x -

Retiring to the ship's conference room the four of them sat around a table while Lady Jessica described the situation inside the Imperium.

"The Imperium has as you know been cut off from the rest of the galaxy for a long time. We formed our own small empire and under the Empire peace was largely maintained, but as House Atreides grew more powerful and influential the Emperor became jealous and scared that we might usurp him so he set us against the only other house as powerful as us…House Harkonnen. But then they begin using weapons the likes of which we have never seen." Lady Jessica said with a worried look on her regal face.

Paul took out a rifle from his back and put it on the table. "The new weapons punch straight through our armour but they don't always work. The anti-proton radiation disrupts them." Paul told them and both Haron and Neville frowned when they saw the blaster rifle that Paul had put on the table.

"E-11. Standard issue Imperial Stormtroopers." Neville said with a sigh, both of them knowing now just who was backing the other house.

"If they gained access to the Imperium, that would give them no less than three routes into our territory that aren't reinforced. This matter concerns us both." Haron said with gritted teeth. They had assumed no one would be able to navigate the Imperium as all the anti-proton radiation screwed up navigational systems and technology. But if the Empire managed to gain control of it then they could launch a massive invasion of their territory bypassing all existing defences.

"House Harkonnen recently increased the tension by assassinating the Empire of the Imperium himself and the spacer guild by holding the Navigator world hostage." Lady Jessica said with a worried expression. "If the situation continues like this, we are sure to fall, a vision led us here in hopes we would find help."

"I will consider it. I must now consult with my advisors." Haron said before saying. "If you require refreshments, please inform the guards they will see to it."

The guards nodded and Haron left the room quickly with Neville at his heels. They went to a nearby cabin and put an emergency call through to Professor Mors and Deera. Both thankfully responded quickly. He explained the situation and then asked them.

"Is there anything we can do about the radiation? Can we modify equipment to resist its effects?" Haron asked them and the Professor thought for a moment smiling.

"Yes, anti-proton radiation is so rare you hardly find it anywhere apart from the Imperium but we did find some machines that generate it in the Iokath sphere. When we realised the droids there were unaffected, we studied some and found they had circuits that were hardened against it. We can integrate them into other things like weapons if we use the Iokath factories." Mors said with a pondering look in his eyes. "We can even put them into navigation computers and hyperdrives to make them function there."

"Good, if you equip House Atreides and help them win their war, we secure not only our flank but make an ally that has the potential to really be a new force on the galactic stage with our help." Deera said with an interested smile, what they might have to offer she didn't know but there was bound to be something.

Haron nodded, it would take a long time to get them up the rest of the players in the galaxy but the Pasdisahah Imperium was a potential new power that could tip the scales of power in the galaxy.

"We will make the offer, besides making sure the Empire doesn't gain control of them benefits us in the long run. Begin production of anti-proton proof equipment as fast as possible." Haron said before letting them get back to what they were doing and get the factories on Iokath working on their new project. They nodded and disappeared as the transmission was cut.

"Involving ourselves in another war?" Neville asked wondering if this was one step too far. Haron could only sigh as he to be honest would rather not do this for the sake of their own people but for that same reason they had to do it.

"It is the only real option. Our people and even when combined with our allies are not strong enough to take the Empire. Defend against yes but not take over it completely when they are united. It might take years for us to reach that point but we will get there especially as resistance grows across the galaxy. The Imperium is a big risk but the reward might be far greater." Haron told him and Neville nodded, seeing his point.

Unless they were able to shatter the unity of the Empire somehow then it would remain too unified to break quickly. The more people that fought with them the better their chances to not only protect themselves but to get enough people together to finally one day tear the Empire down.

Returning to the conference chamber they saw Lady Jessica and her son sitting there calmly, Haron smiled under his helmet and told her as she sensed his presence.

"You are lucky Lady Jessica, for not only are we willing to arm you with weapons that will work better than the ones the Galactic Empire has been providing to House Harkonnen but other advantages as well. We even might be able to provide some more…covert assistance." Haron offered and Lady Jessica nodded with a smile coming to her face.

"That would be most appreciated Mandalore. House Atreides will not forget this." She assured them, perhaps forming an alliance that would benefit both their people for a long time to come.

The Wheel, Space Station…

Ahsoka had pushed her fighter to its maximum speed to pursue the one that had kidnapped her brother, the beacon had led her here. The infamous space station known as the Wheel; she knew all about the place from all the stories she'd heard.

Sneaking her sabers in had been hard enough but following the hunter was even harder, the Wheel was so full of confusing sensations she could feel through the force it was impossible to pick up on the hunter but she managed to sense an echo of her brother and ran towards it, desperately hoping to catch him this time.

She arrived in the landing bay to see to her amazement thugs fighting someone in a cloak wielding a green lightsaber! Ahsoka was momentarily stunned at the appearance as she hadn't seen another Jedi in a while now and to her anxiety, she saw the hunter's ship begin to take off. Dashing forward she rushed towards it hoping to stop it before it could take off but it fired its lasers at her, making her dodge to avoid it till she could activate her sabers.

The other Jedi had noticed her presence and cut through the remaining thugs, both of them getting a look at the destination board which listed it was heading towards an Imperial Facility with an ID number although why it didn't say before it rushed out of the bay.

Ahsoka stared after it with her heart aching at the near miss, she had almost had him she thought with anger creeping in and it seemed she wasn't the only one. The Jedi let out a screech of frustration which sent a chill through Ahsoka, turning in shock and glad to have her sabers in hand as she knew that voice!

The Jedi turned to her in turn and was as surprised by her, lowering her hood so for the first time in years, since the courtroom back on Coruscant they saw each other.

"Barriss!" Ahsoka said in shock.

"Ahsoka!" Barriss said back just as shocked.

Both of them were older, not that much older that they didn't recognise each other instantly though. Barriss wore her hair longer now, tied back in a braid while Ahsoka's montrals where much larger than they had been. The tense air between them was enough to distract them both from the situation temporally.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't cut you in two?!" Ahsoka said with distrust written clearly on her face especially as she recognised the green saber Barriss was holding as belonging to Master Unduli.

Barriss though wasn't keen to waste time arguing with Ahsoka.

"I don't have time for this! Do you know who that was? Crovan Dane! The Empire's little freelance force hunter, he hunts down force sensitives and delivers them to the Empire!" Barriss said almost snarling at Ahsoka. "I need to find out where he's gone!"

"I got an ID number. I can find him." Ahsoka said coldly, hardly surprising given their history and given the animosity flowing between them you would never have thought they were once best friends.

"Did you? Because I saw a second part to that code and I got that part! He took someone from me and I will get her back." Barriss challenged her. Ahsoka gritted her teeth as she realised that she had only seen the first part of the number which meant she needed Barriss's half to find just where the hunter had been going.

"So…what now?" Ahsoka asked her sharply, not liking the idea of working with Barriss again, any more than clearly Barriss was to work with her, although the mention of the hunter having taken someone from her intrigued as to just who could mean that much to Barriss.

If she was telling the truth Ahsoka thought, knowing better than to trust anything Barriss said.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me Ahsoka thought but with anger knew that she had to work with her to find that facility.

"I have some contacts that can get us the information we need. Come, walk in front of me or beside me. But I won't let you be behind me." Ahsoka told her firmly and Barriss nodded with her teeth visibly grinding against each other.

"Fine." Barriss agreed out of desperation, walking alongside her as they both reluctantly extinguished their sabers and walked out of the hanger bay.

Caladan, Pasdisahah Imperium…

Caladan was a lush and verdant world that was the ancestral home of Atreides, the planet had been a highly successful one under their leadership so when the Imperium's Emperor had demanded that they take up control of Arrakis as well they had taken great steps to ensure they kept a firm hold of their home world.

When the ships of House Harkonnen had come, they had mustered their own ships to defend it as regardless of Arrakis being potentially more important due to the spice found there.

House Harkonnen was mobilising a large force for this battle, large numbers of Ballista, Crushers and frigates had been deployed not to mention swarms of accompanying Kindjal fighters.

House Atreides meanwhile had many of the same ships but fewer in number, House Harkonnen due to their weapons being superior and having such a large fleet were confident in their victory and planting their flag on Caladan.

Paul stood on the bridge of his command ship, the recent assassination of his father making him the head of House Atreides now. His most trusted advisors all standing with him; Thufir Hawat the head of their security, Gurney Halleck their warmaster, Duncan Idaho a close family friend and their swordmaster and of course his mother Lady Jessica.

"I just hope these new weapons of yours work Duke Atreides." Gurney said as he saw the size of the fleet against them but Paul who had seen firsthand what the improvements the Mandalorians had made to their ships could do and turned to Duchess Ceta Farr who was here as their observer who nodded that they were ready.

"All ships." Paul said with his voice slightly trembling with the weight of command but managed with the encouraging looks of his family and friends to give the order. "Raise shields and open fire."

The Atreides ships had replaced their traditional bulky laser emitters with turbolasers donated by the Mandalorians while the shields that enveloped their ships and the white/yellow blasts erupted with great force from the Atreides ships.

The Harkonnen ships were shocked at their enemy now having the same weapons as they but not only were they more powerful than the Imperial versions evident by the deep gouges they made in Harkonnen ships before they could even come into range to shoot back.

Smaller ships were being torn apart while the larger ones could take the damage to get close enough to shoot back. But unlike the Mandalorian turbolasers their versions spluttered and struggled to work before having to be restarted as the radiation messed with them. Not to mention their blasts were intercepted by shields, something the Harkonnen shields couldn't have reliably.

The Kindjal fighters darted forward in hopes of supporting their larger ships but then the third major upgrade the Mandalorians had made was revealed. Smaller laser cannons dotted all over the hulls of Atreides ships, they tracked their targets with computers that were able to keep up with all their fast-moving targets and shredding them to pieces.

Paul was entranced as were the others by the sheer power and effectiveness of these weapons, having seen some of the technology aboard the Mandalorian ship earlier he realised just how far behind his own people were and that was something he decided to change.

He would new to lean on his new allies much but from what little they knew of them the Mandalorians honoured their word when they gave it and more to the point, they wanted allies much as he did.

This could be the beginning of a very valuable alliance for both their peoples.

Desert, Jedha…

Anakin landed his ship, Kahr and Allara behind him immediately started unstrapping themselves from their seats with grim looks on their faces as they like him knew a confrontation was in the offing. According to the information Kagame had managed to dig up the Partisans were here on the holy planet. The idea of them using this place as a base to launch their campaign angered Anakin a little but he suppressed it. He had to remain in control of himself given what he was about to be confronted by.

They saw three other small ships were waiting, given what they were facing Kagame had worked hard to find them some other Jedi to assist them in this situation. Anakin exited the ship followed by Allara and Kahr, standing there to greet them were another three Jedi, including one that he was extremely grateful to see again and have at his side during all this.

"Anakin." Obi-Wan said with a smile as they came over and gave each other a hug. Allara and Kalifa did the same, it had been so long since they had seen each other.

"How's the family?" Obi-Wan asked, wanting to know how the children and Padme were doing. Anakin smiled, wishing the children had more time to get to know their surrogate uncle.

"All good, growing so fast." Anakin told him and Obi-Wan nodded glad to hear it before looking to Kahr.

"How is your new apprentice coming along?" He asked and Anakin told his former master proudly.

"Kahr is doing well, advancing quickly. I see Kalifa has finally been knighted." Anakin commented and Obi-Wan nodded with a proud smile.

"She earned it." Obi-Wan said proudly before Anakin told him.

"You should take another apprentice. You taught us both pretty well." Anakin said seeing how strong and confident Kalifa had become after learning under Obi-Wan who smiled.

"I probably won't. I think I'm getting too old for this." Obi-Wan said but a scoff came from nearby.

"Speak for yourself Kenobi. I still got plenty of years left in me." A familiar voice said.

"Master Vos, good to see you again." Anakin said and shook the man's hand, Quinlan shook back and with his particular smirk told them.

"Glad to hear you got a woman and some kids Skywalker. Wish I could be with my wife and son right now but here we are." Quinlan said which made Anakin and Obi-Wan blink in surprise.

"You've got children?" They both asked and Quinlan laughed before telling them.

"Yeah, my girl Khaleen and our pair of boys." Quinlan said with a look of pride in his eyes before turning to Obi-Wan. "You found anyone yet Kenobi?"

"He's got a sort of girlfriend now." Kalifa piped in which made them all look at her in surprise Obi-Wan especially.

"Really?" Anakin asked with a somewhat hopeful look in his eyes. He hoped Obi-Wan would find someone, he had given up so much for the galaxy, he deserved some happiness.

"Yeah, her name's Tala." Kalifa teased, knowing full well that despite the tension between them they had done nothing yet but wanted to have a little fun. She had no doubt Master Kenobi would make her pay for this later but it was too much fun not to do it.

"Tala?" Quinlan asked with a glint in his eyes and Obi-Wan honestly wished a hole would just swallow him up but was spared further embarrassment by the arrival of the two other Jedi Master Kagame had managed to find.

"Greetings, it has been some time." Bultar Swan said with a small smile at being around so many Jedi again after hiding for so long. She had not been neglected her own training, quite the contrary, she had been training harder than ever while building a small life for herself. Anakin smiled as he greeted her, one of the first to agree with him that the Order needed to change and had been a big help in developing his understanding of moving meditation.

"Greetings, it has indeed. Too long." Anakin said as they shook hands.

"I had personally never thought to be around so many Jedi again, but what the force wills must be." A Bothan male with a groomed white beard while the rest of his hair was greying from its original brown. None of them were particularly familiar with him but knew of him.

"Master Kai. I had not expected you to come out of hiding." Obi-Wan said, Kenobi as a former member of the Jedi Council he was technically the superior here although that hardly mattered these days. But he nonetheless greeted the other master.

"I hadn't either." Kai Hudorra told them with a weary look in his eyes. "But what these rogue Jedi are doing is wrong. They are killing thousands, maybe tens of thousands with their actions and dragged the Jedi's reputation more through the mud than it had been already. They were making it easy for the Empire to label us as villains and spreading distrust. It must stop."

The mention of the renegades ended any good atmosphere that the meeting had, all of them frowning as they knew these fanatics had to be stopped but not wanting to do what they all knew in their hearts had to be done to achieve it.

Now in silence they all turned and walked towards the Partisan Hideout, easily guided by the presence of other Jedi in the force, even if none of them considered the Partisan Jedi as real Jedi anymore.

They saw the guards but weren't bothered by them, fear of the Jedi they sensed which did little to improve their mood as they walked into the base.

Saw Gerrera was there to greet them alongside the one they had come so far to see. Saesee Tiin stood there without a hint of humility or worry at all. Keelyvine Reus, Jaizen Suel, Renij Jaa, Onli Shi'en, Melik Galerha, Aven Rolk, Sanya, Nam Poorf, A'Sharad Hett and Torhaa Phaa stood alongside him. Clearly, he had managed to recruit more Jedi to his cause the newcomers all thought with dismay, wishing they had found a better path than this.

Anakin especially when he looked to Hett who had once been a close friend, he had hoped his old friend might listen to reason but he wasn't going to hold his breath.

"Saw, best leave us. We will deal with this." Saesee told Saw who took one look at the group with disdain and anger before leaving them as did the guards, now only the Jedi stood in the room facing each other.

"What are you doing Master Tiin?" Obi-Wan confronted the Iktotchi male who scowled at the sight of them.

"I am actually fighting the Empire, securing a future for the Jedi. Unlike most of you." Saesee scowled at them before looking in particular to Anakin and Quinlan, both of whom had he had issues with in the past.

"What future?" Quinlan challenged, not willing to let them being talked down too. "Ruining whatever good will we have managed to claw back after all the Empire's rancor dung? Is that what you think is helping the order?" He said with an edge of threat in his voice which was not received well by the others, all of them keeping their hands close to their lightsabers.

"Silence Renegade." Saesee snapped at Quinlan which only angered the Quinlan more as Tiin loved to drag out his own flirtation with the dark side which was hypocritical as Tiin had done far more damage than he had ever caused and was much further down the path to the dark side than he had ever been.

"Master Tiin, this is not the Jedi way." Kai interjected already feeling very worried at all the tension in the air. "All of you must know that. To kill so many, cause so much destruction that people fear the Jedi rather than respect or listen to them." He implored them hoping that they might show some sign that they realised this was wrong.

But there was nothing, all of them looked him with no small amount of disgust and no guilt at all.

"I am at least am avenging all the Jedi that died at Palpatine's hand and taking the fight to him." Saesee scoffed at their words.

"You have killed tens of thousands at least! How many more before you realise you are achieving nothing!" Obi-Wan said which provoked a reaction from Saesee Tiin, proving just how far he had fallen by igniting his lightsaber and leaping straight at Obi-Wan, he moved so fast they had no time to react but Kai Hudorra stepped forward and gasped as Saesee struck him down.

The Jedi were shocked, completely stunned as they watched the old Jedi Master fall. Not able to believe what Tiin had just done but they all recovered very quickly and drew their own lightsabers and ignited them, Tiin's own Jedi doing exactly the same. However, while Anakin and Obi-Wan had brought fewer Jedi with them than Tinn had, those that came with them were experts.

Tiin himself was faced by Obi-Wan who surprised Tiin with a strange blend of From 2 fencing and the cleaves and lunges of an altered Form 4. Not his usual Form 3 which Tiin found hard to judge. Obi-Wan was in complete control of himself regardless of what happened, Kai's death was a shock but he would not lose control over it. Tiin however was a mess of rage and struck wildly at Kenobi.

Kahr was finding his large frame something of a hinderance in a fight but his crossguard lightsaber was excellent for saber-to-saber fighting. Torhaa Phaa was not at all skilled in this sort of fighting as he had not encountered any real situations that he would need to fight against another lightsaber duellist. Kahr had been trained by Anakin though and knew to handle himself.

He battered his way through the clumsy defence of Torhaa and kicked him hard in the leg which forced him down on one knee where Kahr ended him with a single effortless stroke.

Allara meanwhile was fighting with Aven Rolk and Sanya, the two trying to double team her but she had been trained by easily one of the finest lightsaber duellists of the modern age, all those sessions with having to block stun blasts had sharpened her reflexes and reactions to a much greater level, meaning she could keep up with both of them at the same time. But that was to her advantage as Anakin had brought a secret surprise just in case a fight broke out.

Aven Rolk was struggling to break through the solid defence of Allara but he failed to notice a certain droid waiting in the wings nearby until it was too late and a metallic slug was buried in his head, the slug thrower used by HK-47 being incredibly lethal in his hands. This left Sanya vulnerable as HK-47 dropped the rifle and engaged his flame thrower arm, something her lightsaber couldn't defend against.

She screamed as the flames hit her but it was only for a moment as Allara ended her life with a single stroke of her lightsaber. She nodded gratefully to the droid and he just said.

"I claim both those kills little Jedi."

Allara despite the situation rolled her eyes, that droid really got on her nerves.

Vos meanwhile was engaged with perhaps the most dangerous of Tiin's Jedi, Keelyvine Reus. A Jar'Kai user she had two lightsabers and had been trained in the art of lightsaber combat by Dooku himself. This made her an extremely dangerous opponent who was as swift as she was precise.

She was swiping away at him with vicious, accurate strikes and clearly trying to kill him, Quinlan almost snarled at this. They had come to talk to them and they had killed Master Hudorra in cold blood and were now trying to kill them too.

Quinlan felt no need to hold back, not only attacking with Form 4 which he had educated in by his own master but also the Form 7 Juyo fighting moves he had learned from Sora Bulq during the war when undercover as a Dark Acolytes.

The chaotic mix of these styles caught Keelyvine by surprise, she found him being hit with a ferocious assault that she struggled to repel and then to make matters worse he kicked her with a hard hit to the stomach, she fell back winded and Quinlan was on her in a moment which she was barely able to meet. He then managed to grapple with her and elbow her in chest, which winded her even more but she was hardly one to give up.

She slashed at him, forcing him back but he parried the strike and then blasted her with the force, the constant changing of styles confusing her so she couldn't find a way to defeat him. She was hurled back int the wall and hit it hard, sure some bones must have broken with the hit but before she could look up, Quinlan was there stabbing her through the gut with his lightsaber. Her eyes widened in shock but Quinlan just pulled his saber free and stared at her with contempt as she died.

Bultar Swan was not the most aggressive duellist the order had seen but she was a master at martial arts and had kept herself trained and in a good shape, this allowed her to keep up with two opponents at once. Jaizen Suel and Nam Poorf, both attacked her together sure they could defeat her but her solid defence and acrobatic style of fighting meant she was extremely hard to pin down, but what made the fight even harder was occasionally if they did manage to get close, she would hit them with unarmed combat moves and catch them off guard.

As Nam tried to engage her in a blade so Jaizen could get a strike in, Swan parried instead and delivered a move from the deadly Teras Kasi martial art that she had mastered. Striking at his shoulder hard with a Striking Sarlacc, breaking the arm at the joint. He cried out in pain but given it was also the arm that held his saber so he dropped it allowing her a brief window to end him and she took it, a single slash to the torso ending him in an instant. Jaizen saw her partner go down and was immediately enraged, charging straight at Bultar with fury but Bultar demonstrated a rather secret skill that no one knew she had but had been practicing for the last few years.

She lashed out with a blast of emerald green lightning, catching Jaizen completely by surprise who was stunned by the blast that while nowhere near as harsh as the blue lightning employed by Darth Sidious it stunned the female dark jedi which allowed Bultar to impale her through the gut.

Kalifa was proving to have taken many lessons of her master's form 3 fighting as she repelled the fast and fierce attacks of Renij Jaa, an Iktotchi Jedi Knight like Saesee Tiin and just as aggressive. She sidestepped and parried his attacks before switching to Form 2 fighting she had learned from her master, swiping at his joints, taking a knee an arm before impaling him through the chest.

Anakin easily defeated Melik Galerha before being faced with his old friend A'Sharad Hett. They scowled at each other and Anakin challenged him.

"I had thought you were better than this Hett." Anakin said with fury but A'Sharad was scowling back just as hard.

"At least I can take responsibility for myself Skywalker!" Hett said back as they locked blades with each other, referring to the slaughter of the Tuskan village. Anakin said back.

"Have you? Killing the innocent to fuel your anger? You don't even think about the things you do." Anakin snapped at him before they began to trade blows. Anakin had come a long way from that person that used to spar with Hett. It had been before he started training with Tuwan and received the teachings of Revan, his powers and skills had more than tripled since they had last met. Hett to his credit though had become stronger too.

They battered away with their lightsabers, fierce showers of sparks erupting as they clashed but Hett was so far into the dark side now he could only draw on that now, slipping deeper and deeper each day. He had no-one that was close enough to pull him back and no one who he would listen too. He had nothing left to lose so the wildness of his attacks was almost animalistic in how savage it was.

Anakin though had everything to fight for, a family and a belief in what they were doing. Fighting to restore peace and freedom to the galaxy, more so he was now in control of himself. Using both sides of his nature and of the force to make him all the stronger reinforced by that belief.

He easily matched the two blades of Hett, managing to grab one of his wrists and twisting hard so Hett was forced to drop one of his blades which Anakin stamped on hard, breaking the hilt.

That enraged Hett who lashed out with his remaining saber but Anakin easily countered those moves with his incredible mastery of Form 5. His heavy cleaves and counter attacks battering away at Hett who was soon on the back foot as he clearly was too dependent on using two sabers. He blasted Anakin with a force push but Anakin repelled it with ease which seemed to surprise Hett but Anakin was hardly done yet and used the force forms Tuwan had taught him to enhance his own powers.

Now moving with a speed that seemed impossible, he resumed his attack seeming to be everywhere at once as Hett tried to defend but it was a delaying action only as Anakin was just too much for him to handle, ending it with a swift decapitation.

Anakin stared down at his old friend with dismay that he had allowed himself to give in to such things but understood as he himself had nearly done it too. He just wished Hett had someone to pull him back like he had.

Anakin then pivoted around and then stabbed Onli Shi'en in the gut, who had been rather foolishly trying to creep up on him. Not today Onli, Anakin thought with anger that the situation had happened in the first place.

That left only one fight still going on, Saesee was fighting Obi-Wan.

The two Jedi Masters fought each other with completely different temperaments, Saesee was enraged his anger eating him up inside and twisting him into a rage filled beast.

Obi-Wan was the complete opposite, he was in complete control himself, focused and alert on his surroundings. He led the fight onto the beams that held the roof up above them, letting the difficult battlefield keep Saesee off balance as he lunged and cleaved, meaning he was constantly in danger of falling off. Obi-Wan however was keeping careful attend to his footwork and launching the jabs of Form 2 which was perfectly suited for this terrain.

They moved between each beam and along them with a very fast pace, but Obi-Wan kept the fight exactly as he wanted it, waiting for the best moment to strike.

Then it came as Saesee Tiin tried to leap over Obi-Wan to attack him from behind but the force was with Obi-Wan who pivoted around and stabbed Tiin straight through the chest.

Saesee stilled, not able to believe he had been bested by the passive and weak Kenobi, falling to the floor. Obi-Wan landed beside him, looking at all the dead Jedi and feeling a great deal of sadness that they had allowed their fear and hatred to control them, that in fighting to defend the order they had betrayed all it stood for.

"I suppose, we should give them a burial." Vos said with disgust as he looked at the fallen dark Jedi before concentrating on Kai. The sight of his body made all of them feel grief even if they hadn't known him that well, to lose your life not at the hands of the enemy but of your own people was horrible.

"They may have forgotten that they were Jedi…but that doesn't mean we have too." Bultar added with a mournful look in her eyes at their lost colleagues. They all nodded in sad agreement, just because they had lost their way didn't mean they had to abandon their own morals and beliefs too.

- x -

A short while later they all stood around a burning pyre as the dead were given a proper Jedi funeral, all standing in silence as they watched them burn. They stayed quiet for some time before finally they walked back to their ships.

"The Rebellion could really use your help." Anakin mentioned to Vos and the others who all smiled slightly before Bultar admitted something.

"Sorry Anakin but no. I didn't mention it earlier but you and Vos are not the only ones who are 'not alone' anymore." Bultar said with a warm smile having overheard them speak of those things earlier when they met.

The news surprised them all as it had never occurred to them that Bultar might actually have a family of her own now but were glad as no one should be alone. The Dark Jedi they had just faced were proof of that.

"Good to hear." Vos said with a smirk. Allara meanwhile had a question to ask.

"Masters? Can I take Onli Shi'en's ship? It's a Firespray-31 patrol ship. I could really do with a ship of my own." Allara asked and it was rather crass to ask such a thing at a moment like this but the Anakin sighed before telling her.

"Fine take the ship, better than it going to rust anyway." He then turned to the others even HK-47 and told them. "Thank you for standing with me. I know this wasn't easy and it will haunt me for some time…but we had to stop them. Who knows how much damage they would have done if left unchecked." Anakin said proudly to have fought with them despite the circumstances.

- x -

Saw meanwhile was infuriated at them slaughtering his people, deciding from this moment on that if a Jedi didn't help, they were to be avoided or killed.

The mission was far too important to let them interfere again but fortunately he wouldn't be without Jedi for too long hopefully as Saesee Tiin had managed to find more Jedi in hiding and some with leverage that he could use against them. It might take a while but he would get some good fighters from this he thought with certainty.