HP: Dance of the Veela

Solis, Outer Rim Territories…

Haron himself meanwhile was working on liberating another planet, Solis which had been conquered by the Empire not long after it had been rediscovered and now it was being invaded again.

Due to the primitive technology of the locals the Imperials had only a slight presence here and it was fairly easy for them to overcome but regardless of adding another planet to their territory or liberating/saving two more the intention of these attacks was to provoke a response from Thrawn, Haron thought with coldness. They knew so little about him, about the Chiss and if they were going to find a way to stop him, they had to know more Haron thought with concern.

So now as they attacked, it would be time to see how he reacted and what he would do.

The Eye of Ashlanae, Knossa, Ossus…

Yoda and Tuwan sat in meditation at the sacred site for the Jedi, enjoying the purity of the location as they looked out on the now restored and inhabited city beyond.

Knossa was a thriving city again, after years and years of work its streets were busy with Jedi and Ysanna working living together. A couple of other settlements had been established across the planet as they developed more and made what effectively amounted to a self-supporting Jedi Colony.

In the distance they saw Master Sinube was teaching a big class of younglings, many Jedi had now merged with the Ysanna and even had families of their own…younglings of their own Yoda thought with a warm smile.

Their numbers were growing and they had also completely restored the Great Library, it was again the centre of knowledge for the Jedi, learning from their ancient past and even now experimenting with new and unusual abilities.

Casting their minds out they could see the hidden temples across the galaxy, some of which regretfully had been destroyed by the Empire but many still thrived having blended with the local population if they had one. Auratera too was becoming a thriving Jedi Colony under Masters Tholme and T'ra Saa among others, new families beginning that might become dynasties in the times ahead with help from the force. Tanalorr under Master Kenobi's steady hand too was beginning to flourish as force sensitives were moved there by the underground network of the Hidden Path.

Altisian Jedi with their own special world hidden from the galaxy also had their own numbers growing while in the wider galaxy publicly Jedi led the fight against the Empire, Corellia becoming a hub for them and more survivors were coming out of hiding to join in battle against the dark side.

There was even a mobile Jedi Academy of sorts now, both masters thought with pride. Minisa Anari and Bene now ran a casino ship that moved around the galaxy and picked up force sensitives they found, signing them on as crew while training them in secret, moving even in the Core Worlds undetected.

Neither master had ever felt more secure that they had made the right decision and as more force sensitives in whatever order they served flourished the hold on the force that the Emperor had slackened. More and more each day they pushed the shroud of the dark side back and with it his influence. There was still great danger they both knew and sensed that but things were at last finally turning around.

But one sad spot remained they both knew, recent territory expansions by the Rift Alliance had forced the Empire from Ilum. While normally this would be a cause of celebration, they could not do so in sorrow for the great damage the Empire had done to the planet in their search for giant kyber crystals. They had torn out its heart and soul, leaving great misery where once there had been harmony and it could take centuries for the planet to heal from the hurt that had been inflicted on it. There were of course other places Jedi could go for Kyber Crystals even here on Ossus but it was a disheartening thing to see such a sacred and important world broken and twisted by the greed of the Empire.

Both got up reluctantly as they had to attend a council meeting regarding some ruins that had been found which contained a former Jedi temple under the water on this planet! A temple purely for Aquatic Jedi! It was a fantastic discovery and merited a great deal of investigation for who knows what might be found in there both of them considered.

Ye'trax, Inner Rim…

Ye'trax was a fairly industrialised world that bordered on the Core Worlds and as such was strategically important and well populated.

As the Rebellion spread across the galaxy it was now imperative that they establish more small cells to grow their network and spread their ideas as far as possible.

So, Meetra had dared venture to Ye'trax and set up a rebel cell here, the Foundry was allowing them to equip themselves but somethings needed a personal touch and with her ability to recruit others to her side it made her the best choice for such a mission.

Seeing the galaxy so changed made her feel depressed sometimes but the work that they were doing helped her find the hopeful spark to keep on going.

Meetra was glad to see that she had not lost her touch, smiling to herself as she gathered the small unit to develop a rebel presence here on Ye'trax. They were she admitted an odd bunch but then again, she had once led a crew of very different if extremely capable people just like Revan before her and they had saved the galaxy. While she wasn't expecting that much with this group, she knew they would help establish the rebellion here.

A brilliant if very eccentric Rodian data slicer who was a lone wolf who now had to adjust to working with a team, an angry Weequay former bounty hunter and mercenary who was a skilled fighter and expert at weaponry, an Ardennian whose four arms and quick reflexes made him an excellent if strange pilot and a human female who was a perfect spy and sniper.

They shouldn't work together but somehow, they did surprisingly and covered for all their own shortcomings. Meetra was sure they would do well here and help spread the rebellion across this world and be the leaders of a big cell when they started to gather more people with them.

She herself was returning to the Alliance with satisfaction as she wondered just what Satele had gotten up to in her absence given that she was busy training a new Jedi Order out of the rebel recruits.

Open Sky, YT-1300 Light Freighter…On Route to Gazian…

While the heavily customised freighter sped through hyperspace, Anakin was taking some time to train his apprentices.

"Now let the movement ease your mind and let go of your worries, concentrate on the stances as you let the force flow through you." Anakin said as he practiced moving meditation with the five children in the cargo bay. Luke and Leia, he noticed with pride were taking very well to it, moving perfectly in sync with each other, Mace was not far behind them as he lacked their practice but that would smooth out with time.

Tash and Zak were struggling a bit he saw with a knowing smile, recognising the difficulties they were having as the same sort that Ahsoka herself had once suffered from when trying to learn this technique so while the others were still moving, he stopped them both and told them gently.

"Don't force it. Just relax into the movements, let it come to you without worrying." He told them and while not completely understanding they both did as their master ordered. Anakin smiling again as he felt them both start to relax into it and let the force move through them naturally.

Anakin stood back with pride as his students all began to develop their connection to the force, each of them was different in their own special way he noted even the twins from each other which he found amusing. Each had their own talents and interests which would guide them in their path forward as Jedi.

After a couple of hours passed it was time, he thought with some of his old eagerness to start saber practice. Bringing them all back to the present he gave each of them their training sabers and began guiding them in their stances.

"Now once we have practiced Form 1 so you all have a firm base, I will be giving you all a talk on the other more advanced forms of lightsaber combat. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages so when it comes time for you to select a specialisation, think carefully on which suits you best." Anakin told them firmly as he ignited his own blue lightsaber, he still carried Mace Windu's one but that was more in honour of the man that had wielded it originally.

Luke and Leia both ignited their own sabers, having already gone through the gathering and retrieved their own crystals. Blue blades appeared just like his which did give him some pride, Mace on the other hand had yet to harvest his own crystal so would like the Arranda siblings be using the synthetic red ones until he could take them to get their own crystals.

"Now remember, footwork is extremely important as not having a firm base will leave you vulnerable especially to physical attacks like kicks and grapples. It will also let you give more power in each strike." Anakin said as he started leading them through the basic moves. Luke and Leia both were flawless as they had been doing this for years now and Mace was hardly any different. Tash and Zak still hadn't quite gotten the muscle memory of the others yet but to his satisfaction they were starting to become more fluid in their movements and sure of themselves.

This went on for another hour before Padme walked in to see her husband teaching their children to use a lightsaber, she smiled sadly as she leaned against the doorway and watched them. They were growing up so fast. It seemed like only yesterday they had been babies in her arms and yet now they were teenagers she thought, sad they weren't her little children any longer and would soon be spreading their wings on their own. But she smiled too as she had the experience of raising them herself, seeing them grow she thought with all the happy memories of the years gone by.

She eventually pulled herself back to the present and cleared her throat to get her husband's attention. He and the children turned to face her and she told him.

"We're coming up on Gazian Anakin."

He nodded and came up to kiss her which she returned, their sons and daughter all awkwardly looking away but it would only be a matter of time before they found romantic partners of their own Anakin and Padme thought to themselves. Then it would be them that was doing the kissing.

- x -

Separatist Jedi Training Facility, Gazian, Separatist Space…

The strong force aura of this planet was invigorating to all of the Skywalkers and Arrandas the moment they disembarked, even Padme could feel it if not consciously and their Noghri friends found it relaxing too. The aura of the living sea in front of them was comforting.

Their arrival had not gone unnoticed as a tall man approached them wearing robes different to Jedi robes with metal pauldrons and vambraces with a greying beard and he cut an intimidating figure as he moved towards them. The sight of him scared the children slightly along with C-3PO while the Noghri and Hk-47 prepared for a fight but Anakin fearlessly walked towards him and when the two men met in the middle the tension was broken as they smiled in greeting.

"Baylan Skoll." Anakin said knowing the man by name and face, the man had even gone through some of Tuwan's classes back at the temple and was quite a powerful force wielder and fighter in his own right. Baylan smiled back as he extended his hand which Anakin shook.

"Anakin Skywalker." Baylan said back with some warmth as he had not seen another from the order in many years now. They had not known each other well but had met in passing at the Temple.

"Setting up an order of your own now." Anakin noted as he saw the building which housed the academy but Baylan shook his head.

"I am merely opening them to the force and from here they will decide their own path. Some I know intend to serve the Separatist Alliance in whatever capacity they can which I might feel is a shame but it is their path…one we must choose for ourselves. Some intend to continue here and train others. I myself will not remain here forever, there is something I else I feel I must find." He said not sure of what exactly was calling to him but he knew in his bones that he must seek it out.

Anakin nodded with understand before offering some wisdom he had learned through his own journey.

"Then I will wish you well in your quest but be aware, sometimes the worst thing that can happen is that you find what you are looking for." Anakin told him and Baylan nodded, understanding his point but that would not dissuade him. Turning to look past him he smiled as he saw Padme and the children.

"I see I am not the only one that has parted ways with the Jedi." Baylan said with a knowing look in his eyes. Anakin then introduced his family.

"Baylan Skoll, my wife Padme Amidala who you will know." He said as he introduced the love of his life first. Baylan knew who she was immediately, as a famous senator she was hard to forget. He gave a gentlemanly bow to her which she smiled and nodded her head in return. Then Anakin moved on to the others. "Luke, Leia and Mace my children. Tash and Zak Arranda of Alderaan, our Noghri friends Ghazhak & Kohvrekhar. Then my droids C-3PO, R2 and HK-47."

"Indignant Statement: Master why do you feel you have to insult me by introducing me last? Surely the walking pile of neuroses that make up this ridiculous protocol droid make him a far less useful asset than myself." HK-47 said which made C-3PO exclaim in great distress.

"Excuse me, I was serving Master Anakin while you were rusting away in that lab." C-3PO said and Baylan could only raise an eyebrow before saying.

"I see you are still having weird droids follow you around." Baylan said with amusement at the argument that C-3PO and HK-47 were having. Anakin could only frown in embarrassment before mercifully one of Baylan's apprentices, a human girl maybe only a couple of years younger than Luke and Leia appeared.

"Master, it's time for saber practice." She reminded him and Baylan nodded before telling her.

"I remember Shin. But since you're here…Shin Hati…Anakin Skywalker." He said introducing his prized pupil to Anakin who gave her a smile while she looked very nervous. Bowing slightly to him and Baylan decided after looking at Anakin's children for a moment and especially the sabers at their waists and a smile appeared as he got an idea for how to teach his favourite pupil in humility. "Since we have some highly skilled visitors today, perhaps we can have a practical sparring match? Your eldest son against my student?" Baylan suggested carefully.

Anakin looked uncertain for a moment as did the rest of the family, Luke more than anyone but then a knowing smile appeared on Anakin's face as he understood just what Baylan intended and he nodded in agreement much to their astonishment.

"I think it would be good for them both. Luke, don't hold back. You do yourself and your opponent and injustice if you do." Anakin told his son who nodded despite not fully understanding just why his father was making him do this and Shin was being rather cocky as she was the best at lightsaber fighting among Baylan's students and had only been defeated by their master himself. This boy she thought with a touch of arrogance would be easy to beat.

They both took up ready positions and lit their sabers in training mode, Luke's blue blade a direct contrast to Shin's orange/red one. Baylan and Anakin looked on with a knowing smiles, they both already knew how this fight would end.

"Begin." Baylan called out.

Shin went on the offensive straight away which surprised Luke a little but he was learning to specialise in Form 5, both Shien and Djem So like his father so he had a powerful defence which he immediately employed against Shin's determined assault. She too used Form 5 but used Shien primarily and soon her confident smirk disappeared as Luke's defence did not falter under her assault as her previous opponents had. It held strong and then before she knew it, Luke launched a heavy and precise counterattack, powerful cleaves and strikes bashing hard against her lightsaber and then he caught her in a blade lock.

She tried to break his hold but he again wouldn't break, she was powerless as Luke used his greater strength and leverage to force her saber aside and then deliver a kick to her stomach, winded she reeled back but he wrenched her lightsaber from her hand before she could recover.

"Luke Skywalker is the winner." Baylan said with a smile before walking over to him and his sheer size scared Luke a little but he told him. "Well fought."

Baylan then took Shin's saber back and gave it to the still winded girl who grimaced as if expecting to be scolded from her loss but as Baylan handed her the saber back, he asked her.

"And what did you learn?" He asked her plainly and she looked at him annoyed.

"I don't understand master." Shin asked before Baylan smiled and explained to her.

"Impatience for victory…will only bring defeat." He told her knowing her rushing into it rather than using her head to figure out how to break through Luke's defence had cost her dearly. "But also, that you must have pride and humility. Pride in your abilities but also the humility to realise that your opponent might be better than you think. There is no shame in defeat, only in not learning from the experience." He told her imparting some wisdom that would hopefully help her in life as well as whatever she chose to do with it.

But he was also teaching it to Luke, Leia, Mace, Tash and Zak at the same time who all looked deeply into their selves to see what he was trying to teach them. Shin herself was nodding, understand what he was trying to teach her and she smiled before suddenly surprising them all by running up to kiss Luke on the cheek and then run off before they could react.

That surprised everyone and Luke went bright red before Leia started giggling, now enjoying her brother's embarrassment as was Mace and Padme who knew Luke had little exposure to girls that weren't a part of his family in some way wondered if she didn't have the beginning of a lady's man, vowing to teach her son to be more respectful than that.

- x -

While everyone else went to have a meal and relax Anakin and Baylan spoke about their own issues with the Jedi.

"Signing on with the Republic, looking back into history that was when the Jedi started to decline. It might have given us resources and more authority but it also tied us to its rules and as the Republic stagnated and grew corrupt so did the Jedi. Tying ourselves even closer to it after the New Sith Wars was easily a major error in judgement." Anakin said as he debated his own opinions with Baylan who surprisingly held many of the same views.

"Look at history and it's all…inevitable. Fall of the Jedi, the raise of the Empire. It repeats again and again and again." Baylan said as he agreed with him.

"When the Jedi can move freely around the galaxy again, when the Empire is beaten…we will not serve a Republic or any other government again." Anakin said with determination to return the Jedi to what they should be. "Odan-Urr and his code will be forgotten and we will follow not only the will of the force but go where we need to go and do the kind of work that the Jedi once prized making the most of what we have rather than be dependent on the Republic like before. No one temple this time, smaller ones scattered across the galaxy doing our best to help the people out there. That is the future I see for the Jedi." Anakin explained to Baylan who looked at him with considering eyes before nodding in agreement.

"I only wish you good luck with that. Change does not come easily." Baylan said which Anakin slowly nodded too. "You have the right idea Anakin and I agree with most of what you say. But everyone has their own path that we must follow."

The pair continued to debate, unaware of what was happening on the shore elsewhere.

- x -

Mace while his mother and siblings were all looking around the academy was staring at the living ocean, his mind drawing him towards it with a powerful compulsion that he didn't fully understand, Tash and Zak at his side felt it too and while no one was looking they slipped into the water and dived beneath the surface.

It was warm and pleasant as they dived down, not sure why but they were drawn to a cave that they saw surrounded by plant life. They all swam inside and found a cave that had air, they all clambered up into the strange cave that was illuminated by crystals that glowed in pale colours all around.

They were looking around in awe of the cave when they all felt a shiver run through them and then world turned black.

They each found themselves in a strange temple that they had never seen before, its corridors were large and made of marble in white and cream. But crucially they were separated from each other, Mace found himself in a sparring room of some kind as a tall robed figure stood before him with his back turned.

"Who dares think they deserve to be here?" The robed figure said, a male voice that Mace didn't know. Mace was so flustered as he didn't understand just what was happening.

"I don't know where here is!" Mace said quickly but the robed figure was having none of it. Instantly a purple bladed lightsaber appeared in his hand making him step back, he saw a lightsaber that looked like his father's, he pulled it to his hand and a red blade appeared to his shock. The robed figure bitterly chuckled.

"You show your ignorance and fear. There is no place for you in the Jedi or in your family." The robed figure said as he attacked him. Mace was immediately angered and did his best to fight back as their sabers crossed and he snapped back at the robed man.

"I am a Jedi; I have dreamt of being one all my life and my father is the greatest Jedi ever." Mace said with an almost snarl on his face, the robed figured chuckled and told him.

"No, you are not a Jedi. And you never will be until you know what it is you want." The robed man said as he continued to duel with Mace. Mace himself was stunned, not having ever really thought about what he might want in life. All his life he had always assumed he would be a Jedi like his father and he knew his older siblings would be too. He had never imagined that he might do something else with his life or even what that would be. He tried his best to retort but told the figure as they locked blades again.

"No, I don't know if I will be a Jedi. All I know is that I must live my life, find my own opportunities and then decide what I want. But this is my life, I choose what to do with it." He told the robed man who to his surprise deactivated his lightsaber and lowered his hood, revealing a dark-skinned human male with a stern face but a kind smile.

"Then you have learned something about yourself. Well done young Skywalker, do not let opportunities pass you by just because you want to be like your father or your siblings, Find your own life." The man told him before peering past him. "It seems you may have found something else too." He told him with a nod in that direction.

Mace turned around and saw to his surprise that a green light behind him hovering in the air. He smiled and reached out for it, touching it and the small green crystal fell into his hand.

- x -

Tash meanwhile was wandering around the corridors of the temple and saw to her horror that bodies were lying all around her, she checked them and to her sadness they were dead. People wearing Jedi robes and hearing sounds ahead she ran up to see a tall blonde-haired woman in dark armour with a red bladed lightsaber in hand was butchering a bunch of Jedi. She stared in shock as the figure turned around and her own face, older was staring back at her.

"What?! They deserved to die!" The older Tash told the younger but what really scared the younger Tash was that the older woman's eyes, they were a horrible shade of yellow with red around the rims. Tash was horrified, she fell to the dark side?! She thought fearing that this was a vision of her future, more so as with a horrified gasp she saw that her brother Zak was among the dead. She fell to her knees and held his body before turning to a lightsaber that was laying there on the floor.

But then a deep sense of fear stopped her from reaching for it, she couldn't fight! She thought with desperation to avoid what she was seeing in front of her. If she fought…she thought with fear then she would become her she thought looking at the adult version of her who was sneering at her with disgust.

But then a robed figure appeared at her side and whispered in her ear.

"Fear is the path to the dark side but only if we let it control us. Fighting for those we love is the way overcome our fear. It is not something to take lightly but to do the right thing, sometimes we must." The robed figure told her before vanishing.

Tash nodded slowly even though he wasn't there and gathered her courage, grabbing for the lightsaber and turning to face her older self but then found she was alone, she had disappeared as had all the bodies of the dead Jedi, even the lightsaber had vanished from her hand.

Completely confused she looked around and saw a dark-skinned human male in Jedi robes smiling at her and told her.

"The force does not control you. The choice to fight is yours and yours alone but avoiding conflict is allowing your fear to control you and that will draw you down a path that makes the worst of you come forth." The man told her and gestured with his hand towards a small purple light. Tash was confused but walked towards it, reaching out with her hand and touching it, it was a small purple kyber crystal and her face lit up with joy as she realised what this was and went to thank the man but he had disappeared.

- x -

Zak meanwhile was in a large open chamber of the temple, not sure exactly what he was expected to do when he saw that two men were arguing in the middle of the room. One was a tall dark skinned human man in jedi robes while the other was a noble man from Alderaan, they were talking fiercely with each other and he tried to get their attention but they both just ignored him.

That confused Zak who didn't understand why they didn't even react when he waved his hand in front of their faces. He whistled but again they didn't respond.

Zak was feeling annoyed, all his life he felt invisible when he was among the others, he didn't stand out like the Skywalkers or his sister did. That no-one even noticed if he was there half the time and he was getting incredibly frustrated before finally saying to both men.

"I have a voice!"

That to his surprise got their attention and the dark-skinned man in Jedi robes smiled and told him with a smile.

"Never forget that, you matter as much as your sister or anyone else. You are your own person and must discover what that means."

A yellow glow then appeared between them and Zak carefully reached out and touched it, a small yellow crystal in his hand. Knowing what it was he smiled and turned to the man but then to his surprise found himself out of the cave and back on the beach with Mace and Tash who were holding crystals of their own and looked as confused as he was. The dark-skinned man wearing Jedi robes stood there in front of them surrounded by a blue aura and told them with a smile.

"Well done young Jedi. Today you start a new leg of your journey, remember that as you move forward in the path you will walk." The Man said before disappearing before any of them could ask just who he was.

They were left standing on the beach with their new crystals, not sure exactly what had just happened but knew this was another step into a larger world.

Imperial Testing Ground, Classified Location…

General Rom Mohc was proudly watching his creations show just what they can do. The mechanical soldiers he had pioneered where lightyears ahead of the Separatist Droids and were mowing their way through the stormtroopers used in this test with ease.

The Rebel scum wouldn't know what hit them he thought with great pride, not when they got their first look at his Dark Troopers, he now just had to decide on where to attack first.

Gallordan Sigma, Separatist/Imperial Border...

The plan to trigger a response from Thrawn had not been successful, instead he had ignored all of their efforts to force him into a rash retaliation and bided his time before going after one of the more powerful factions in the Rift Alliance, the Separatist Alliance itself.

Thrawn was standing on the bridge of the Admonitor, his flagship for this assault which would smash the Separatist Fleet and leave them defenceless to an Imperial Invasion. He had studied their fleet commander closely and the Muun, Admiral Polz Harva who would be leading the enemy fleet favoured using long rang turbolasers and missile cruisers to shatter the enemy at range due to his previous career in banking where he was always far from the action.

He had therefore brought a dozen of the new Broadside Missile Cruisers with him; they were far superior the ships currently used by the Separatists and would devastate their lines so the Star Destroyers could come close and finish off any enemy ships that remained before being followed by the support ships.

Thrawn stood on the bridge watching everything but as the tactical displays of the different lines were generated, he saw something that didn't make sense to him. While the Missile Cruisers and ships with long range turbolasers were there, they were further back if they were there at all and instead coming straight towards them at extremely high speed were a massive swarm of Mark 4 Vulture Droid fighters accompanied by Mark 2 Droid Tri-fighters with Mark 3 Hyena Droid Bombers bringing up the rear.

This was confusing to Thrawn as he had studied his opponent carefully and this was not how they operated, heavy units always led the way while the fighters provided support he thought with confusion. Worse these improved droid fighters had been upgraded with better evasive programming, allowing them to weave their way through any missiles the cruisers launched and began attacking the poorly shielded cruisers, shredding their shields before using missiles to destroy them! All of them gone within minutes and then the droid fighters turned their attention to the Star Destroyers which were next in the Imperial line while larger Separatist warships now approached at as fast a speed as they could manage.

Thrawn turned to his captain and ordered the corvettes they had brought forward to deal with the droid fighters and for all Tie Fighters to be launched immediately, but the corvettes were too far back to arrive quickly and Tie Fighters were flimsy and poorly designed Thrawn thought with dismay as the Tri-fighters would run rings around them.

This he thought with anger was not what he had planned and he had no choice but to launch a general attack as he had no time to rearrange his ships and had not even brought all of them as he had been saving them for the invasion, so reluctantly ordering his forces forward.

The two fleets met in a furious fight of turbolasers, flack batteries and missiles. Raging for almost an hour before both fleets disengage with no clear winner, although they had lost more ships than the Empire in the battle, the Separatist Alliance had held its ground and kept Thrawn out.

Thrawn himself was furious, he was going to have some serious words with Imperial Intelligence over their failure to provide him with accurate information because clearly, what he had been told was false and they would pay dearly for his humiliation. He had intended to use this invasion to overstretch the Rift Alliance and continue to drive it further apart but with the invasion failing he would need to find a new target and soon. He wanted to isolate the Mandalorians as much as possible especially as while he had a good grasp of their culture, they would have no allies by the time he was done and then he would destroy them Thrawn thought coldly. An entire galaxy united was what was needed to stop the far outsiders and he would ensure the Empire did just that so that he would have the army he needed to destroy them, whoever he had to crush to achieve this was meaningless to him.

- x -

Reijar, Ordo System…A Couple of Days Later…

Haron looked at reports and frowned, glad that the Separatist Alliance had held its border but not happy that they had lost so many ships and suffered so much damage that it would be at least a year before they could even think of launching any offensive actions or aiding any other members of the Alliance in a meaningful way until they had repaired and rebuilt their forces. Worse yet the attack had convinced the Mon Calamari, Dornea and the Corellians to keep their ships close to home just in case they too would be attacked, leaving it extremely difficult for a united taskforce to be assembled effectively. The Than Hegemony were now holding back too although trade was thankfully still flowing between them.

But that wasn't really what was bothering him, Haron thought as he pondered on what had happened. Thrawn had completely overwhelmed the Salient Federation in less than a day and destroyed most of their armed forces with ease. All their tactics had been countered and swept aside but this time Thrawn had completely failed, he had not countered the enemy at all and in fact had arranged his forces poorly and that wasn't like him Haron thought with a pondering look.

There was only one thing that he had noticed that stood out, an unexpected case of Ascomycetous pneumoconiosis had forced Admiral Polz Harva to stand down and a Sullustan Admiral Tzzur Pilti had taken over command of that battle only a couple of hours before it had started.

That intrigued Haron who looked over the two admirals and realised that Polz Harva favoured using long range weapons to devastate enemies without getting close, Tzzur Pilti on the other hand was an aggressive commander who favoured the use of starfighters and frontal assault before the enemy could properly rally. If he had been fighting Harva Haron realised that the way Thrawn had arranged his fleet was exactly how he would have done it. Only bad luck or will of the force if you wanted to call it that had deprived Thrawn of victory Haron realised and that was when he realised just how Thrawn predicted his enemies so well.

He studied them in great detail but not just them personally, but their culture as Muun commanders would usually favour engaging at long range, Sullustans thought in a completely different way and that was why Thrawn failed. That last minute change in leadership was what had saved the Separatists Haron thought with a nod.

So now Haron understood what Thrawn's weakness was, the unpredictable. Odd chance that was so out of place that no one could have predicted it or was so out of character he would never imagine it.

With that in mind he now had to develop a strategy to beat him, Haron thought with worry as his people's culture was quite well known and he could only imagine the reason Thrawn hadn't come after them yet and instead gone after their allies was that he was trying to isolate them from help first. So, he would need to think quickly Haron thought as they were in danger already and intelligence indicated he was planning a strike at the Corellians to regain lost ground so he sent the order to Neville to use their long-range stealth missiles to stop them.

But his planning was interrupted by a message from Yal Takan, he had extremely good news which Haron sighed in relief at hearing.

Jyn Erso had been found and better yet, Yal had discovered a potential lead through the Underworld Alliance on Galen Erso.

Imperial Repair and Resupply Station RR-7455, Inner Rim...Hours Later…

Thrawn's fleet was docked having its battle damage repaired before he launched his attack on Corellia, it was a rather desperate act to regain lost ground but he had intended to go after them soon enough anyway. He had travelled down to the planet while his ship's life support was shut down for repairs. His defeat stuck into him like a blade in the side and it was infuriating that while he had won the battle in a sense that he had removed the Separatists from the war for the moment, he had failed to break their resolve.

When he was done with the Corellians he would need to correct that he thought with cold ruthlessness.

Meanwhile in orbit the Imperial Station where dozens of Imperial ships were docked a rebel cell had been planning a bombing of the fuel dump whenever a fleet had been docked here for maximum effect but Mon Mothma had forbidden the act as it would in her words 'incite too much violence'.

But the Mandalorians didn't care for her politics or reasons and were more focused on helping Corellia, so in an adjacent system nearby two Mandalorian Missile Ships stood ready with a small support fleet around them before firing their deadly cargo into hyperspace.

The Station while busy was calm at first but that all changed as the missiles struck the station, explosions ripping it all around as they kept on hitting, destroying support structures and docked ships with impunity. Regretfully the Mandalorians were forced to leave when they were nearly spotted by an Imperial Patrol and so while they had not completely destroyed the station or the fleet both were extremely damaged, it would take some time before Thrawn's fleet was replenished but having missed him…this campaign was not over yet.

Zantia...

The Zantian Prime Minister was nervous as she waited for her new ruler to arrive, it had been hard all these years maintaining the pretence that they had a well defended border and all their people ready to resist when they were still struggling to recover from the Imperial Invasion years ago.

A shuttle approached and she pondered if it had been wise to make the bargain that she had but it had been the only way to save her people she thought with desperation. The ornate shuttle landed and its ramp lowered, guards in ceremonial garb walked out and formed an honour guard before her new ruler disembarked. The Prime Minister knelt and held her head down as they approached and said as respectfully as she could.

"Queen Mother, we are honoured by your presence." The Prime Minister said and the woman with her thin wire veil looked down on her new subject with an air of smug superiority before telling her.

"Then I will enjoy touring the sixty fourth planet to have entered our union. I am sure that with time this planet will earn the Battle Dragon that is being constructed for it and the investment of our time and energy." Queen Mother Ta'a Chume said with a smirk knowing she had this resource rich planet in the palm of her hand. "The Hapes Consortium will graciously accept you into our loving embrace and I am sure you will serve well as one of our worlds."