Chapter Text

Star Wars: The Old Republic

THE PRODIGAL ORDER

It is a dark time for the Galaxy. War
burns across thousands of worlds as
the SITH EMPIRE and GALACTIC
REPUBLIC fight both one another
as well as smaller factions looking to
increase their power.

Years of conflict have left both
superpowers weary, sapped for
resources and dispirited by endless
war. Leaders look for one decisive
battle to change the course of the
Galaxy.

Now, in a bold assault, the Republic
moves to capture the Sith Academy
on KORRIBAN. Controlling this
symbol may just be what ends the
war…

--︱Prologue

3639 BBY

Labor Valley

Coronet City, Corellia

Nothing compares to flying high over one of the jewels of the Republic, Unaw Aharo thought to himself as he took in the view of Corellia’s urban cityscape.

Unlike most areas of Coronet City, where the heavy lifters had cleared away debris and a rebuilding effort was underway, the city was still devastated. The war had taken an incredible toll when it rolled over Corellia, one it continued to recover from. Many shops had reopened and the rocket trams were running again on limited service, but that was the bare minimum in comparison to the usually bustling atmosphere.

Things were especially difficult here in the area the locals knew as ‘The Black Hole’ - where most of the Hypermatter refineries were located. Divided between the Refinery and Administrative Districts, its fuel and lifeblood for fleets that was key to the war effort for whomever controlled the flow. Even after the Battle of Corellia had been determined in space and throughout most of Coronet City, holdouts remained where the most precious resource lay. The situation quickly devolved into a three-way battle between the Coronas criminal gang, Republic military forces, and Imperials under General Adele Konya that had been left behind when the fleet retreated.

Fighting had been a brutal and slow process. Pushing block by block to reclaim the area meant close quarters battles and high casualties on all sides. Bombing runs and artillery to dislodge their positions were completely out of the question. One stray bomb would ignite the multitude of pipes and storage tanks filled with volatile Hypermatter, creating an explosion that would vaporize half of the densely packed capital.

By the time the worst of the combat had ended, the neighborhood had sustained incredible damage. The Coronas had been mostly wiped out, and their leader - disgraced Councillor Harmon Torvix - was killed. Most of the Imperial forces had eventually retreated, but only after they’d sabotaged facilities and gathered a supply of Hypermatter to take back to the Imperial fleet. A pyrrhic victory at best.

Unaw and his fellow Jedi had fought the good fight, but it seemed they could never truly rid this world of the Empire’s presence. He chose the path of a Jedi Knight to protect the innocent and pursue peace, but to become embroiled in relentless combat. Sometimes he grew tired of it all, although he knew his only choice was to endure. And the best way to keep balanced was through finding quiet spots to meditate whenever he could. The Black Hole had become peaceful with a sad beauty in its empty and ruined landscape.

Now he was behind the controls of a surplus Corellian Security Forces skycar that they had loaned him for his duties. Battered and a bit spartan, the vehicle had been reclaimed and refurbished by CorSec following the liberation of the planet. It was no luxury speeder, but as a Jedi, it suited his needs for avoiding the less than reliable roadways.

Much like CorSec, in a way. Their numbers had been devastated between the Sith invasion slaughtering many of them on the first day, just to further dwindle from desertions and those killed as part of the resistance. But the law enforcement agency, and the Corellian people, had survived what seemed impossible. Unaw felt honored to be counted among them, if only in an honorary capacity. It allowed him to help the struggling civilians, and his CorSec colleagues - especially Sal Dakron - had been unwaveringly kind.

Although he still didn’t understand some of their sayings - like how they loved feeling the wind in their hair while they flew. It wasn’t something the Bith could sympathize with in the same way.

The Jedi master’s bulbous head was yellowish-pink and hairless with large lidless eyes. Instead of a proper nose, his species had highly sensitive olfactory organs hidden in the skin flaps around their small, round mouths. Unlike humans, his senses of smell and hearing were his strengths. That and the Force, which gave him abilities far beyond most beings in the Galaxy. Perhaps it’s similar to how my robes flap in the breeze?

A question to ponder another time, he decided as the haphazard landing zone in the Administration District came into view. It was more a cleared bit of street than an official shuttle pad, but at least he wouldn’t forget where he parked. It appeared he wasn’t alone out here, however. A civilian shuttle was parked behind an old barricade nearby. In all his trips out here, he’d never seen another person, especially not one that seemed to be hiding their presence. Strange indeed.

Strolling away from the speeder, he passed through the shadow of the colossal Hypermatter Tower. The skyscraper office was still imposing as the tallest building around, even without the Corona leadership within. Sitting on a thick, wide base, the ferrocrete building tapered as it rose into the sky. Two large landing platforms jutted out from the upper levels to allow even large luxury yachts to land comfortably. Its glowing emblem shone brightly between the platforms, along with a halo of slowly turning lettering hovering like the rings of a planet.

Unaw was surprised that they remained online, even in the midst of the fighting when most other buildings were empty husks. Luckily, Republic forces were able to restore much of the operations in the Refinery District to the north, although there were still a number of key facilities offline from damage or a lack of personnel.

Instead of turning toward the park where he would normally sit and meditate, the Jedi changed course and headed for the abandoned building nearby. His reprieves were something he looked forward to, but there was time to both investigate and enjoy the quiet. If it was scavengers or criminals looking to squat in the ruins, it would be better to drive them off now. Although the facade had taken serious punishment, pitted and cracked from absorbing heavy blasterfire, it seemed familiar somehow. Reaching the doorway, the reason came to him in a flash - this was Horizon Outpost. At least that was what the building had been known as for the months it served as the main Imperial field base. Even the specter of someone using an Imperial symbol was cause for concern. Finding himself here couldn’t be mere coincidence.

Wait, I’m not alone. Voices came from deep inside, barely audible from here. That at least solved the mystery of the shuttle outside. It immediately put him on alert, as this building had been purposely left abandoned until teams could ensure there were no traps still hidden as a parting gift. Unaw moved more cautiously and was mindful of keeping his steps quiet as he made his way down the ramps. Through the Force, he could sense a grouping of lifeforms close by, more than just a couple looking for a private rendezvous.

“I’m beginning to doubt your commitment to the cause.” A clipped Imperial accent sharply admonished.

“How dare you?” Came the response. “Using my ship as a bludgeon isn’t as easy as you might think. Our flagships are meant to take a hell of a lot of punishment. I doubt you’ve practiced.”

A third tried in vain to diffuse the situation. “We all know our role, and it’s not like we’ll get a second chance.”

Reaching a stack of abandoned shipping containers, Unaw got a glimpse into the main room. Horizon Outpost’s main room was an old warehouse that still had the catwalks and claws of deactivated cranes hanging overhead. Consoles that had served in both supply tracking and military planning sat dark against the walls. A cold and surprisingly dim place to run a battle from, but it was protected from attack by the heavy buildings and solid foundation around it.

Its floor was still an absolute mess, with abandoned Imperial supplies and litter everywhere. When the troops pulled out, they’d left anything that wasn’t absolutely essential. Personnel could only take themselves and anything that fit on what transports were still functioning. That meant boxes of scraps, rations, and even weapons had been discarded. The clutter was unsightly, but allowed Unaw to creep in closer than he might have when the place was tidy. In the center of the room were two lines of soldiers, around four or five each from the Republic and Empire.

He spotted the Imperial side still in their crisp uniforms. One stepped forward, holding himself with that rigid posture. “You’re all losing sight of why we’re doing this. Our sacrifice will spread necessary discord through our forces. With our flagships crippled and burning, they’ll be forced to question everything. They’ll pull back from offensives and expend key resources”

“Don’t forget the effect it’ll have on remapping the Hyperlane routes to avoid further attacks.” A woman in a Republic pilot’s uniform shot back. “That’s assuming you guys actually follow through.”

If they were plotting to kill innocents and betray their oaths, there was no way Unaw could stand by and let them carry it out. Ten armed opponents against a single individual would be dangerous, but against a Jedi? The Force had a way of evening the odds.

“Apologies for interrupting,” Unaw announced with a bit of cheeky flair as he stepped into view, “but I can’t allow you to do that.”

Everyone froze, casting glances between one another. A mix of confusion, anger, and fear on each face. It was clear that there was distrust between the two factions, a worry that one of them had betrayed the others to the Jedi. Finally one of the Republic officers in the center straightened, reached in his pocket, and removed a small cylinder. The others’ faces creased with concern before they followed suit. Unaw had removed his saber hilt from his belt, but kept it unlit until he knew if they planned to threaten him or not.

“Our sacrifice protects the Order. Like our Master, we shall be reborn!” The man cried in a final proclamation before jamming his thumb down on the trigger.

Giving himself over to the Force, the Jedi hurled himself behind the nearest shipping crate and pressed himself as flat as he could. The noise around him was like the world was ending. A wave of scorching heat and devastating concussive pressure blew past that would have obliterated him in an instant. In its wake was a shock of cold and a burning stink.

Stumbling to his feet, Unaw’s head screeched with ringing pain from the concussion of the blast. He threw one hand out to steady himself while the other clutched his aching earholes. When he came out from cover, he found the room had been utterly destroyed. Mangled corpses and blackened debris littered the floor in a horrific display.

I... I could not stop them. The voice was internal, yet he still found himself justifying his actions. It had all happened too fast.

Unaw stood disconcerted by what lay before him. These soldiers chose the surety of death over the uncertain chaos of continued hostilities. But why did they feel the need to act in concert? Strange and unsettling, the ways in which war could alter one’s perspective. He could only hope this conflict would end soon, and that the Force would be with the Republic.

Still, something nagged at him. Did I inadvertently stop their plot? Or have I merely delayed it?

1︱Incursion

3637 BBY

Korriban

Launching from the hangar bay, the trio of Rendaran-class assault shuttles avoided the groups of Republic and Sith fighters tangling in a deadly dance around the massive cruiser. Colorful bolts gave it a violent beauty alongside the bloom of fire from an Imperial frigate splitting in half.

As one they dove in unison through the vacuum towards the reddish-orange planet below. The gull-winged Republic ships were the workhorses of the military, delivering troops and supplies to systems across the Galaxy. A soaring symbol of freedom and liberation used in hundreds of Republic holofilms. Light reflecting off of the arid surface only made their orange and white hulls appear more sinister on approach, however, especially as the friction of the upper atmosphere turned them into glowing meteors.

There was no slowing down as the skies over Korriban were filled with sizzling turbolaser fire and dark clouds where cannon shells exploded into burning clouds of shrapnel. A desperate attempt from the anti-aircraft gunners on the ground to destroy or drive off the Republic attackers. The wreckage of at least a dozen fighters and shuttles littered the cliffsides and barren, arid wastes. More blasterfire lit up the shadows as the landed Republic troopers hid behind ruined walkers and boulders, clawing for ground. A gauntlet of destruction they had to wade through to make it to the objective.

Angling for a large and unnatural mountain at the end of a canyon-like valley, the craft took evasive maneuvers to dodge the worst of the incoming fire. This massive pyramidal structure, angular and imposing, was built into the red rock around it and known simply as the Sith Academy. One of the most sacred places for the Empire, where almost all Sith were first indoctrinated into the dark side and trained to be brutal, lethal fighters. A temple of power, rage, and death.

But luck only held so long against the onslaught. One of the many heavy shells exploded only a few meters too close to the lead shuttle with a reclining scantily-clad Chagrian emblazoned under the two-seater cockpit. Razor-sharp shrapnel carved gouges into the ship's starboard wing, embedding itself in the hull and damaging the stabilizer. The hit forced the pilots to fight the wounded wing to compensate, but they managed to stay airborne. Their landing zone was just ahead, a flat and empty patch of hard mesa hemmed in by jagged ridges.

Slowing from a full burn with limited space was no small feat on a normal run, but nearly impossible after taking critical damage. The repulsor that should have dampened the momentum enough for a proper approach sputtered off and on before finally failing. Landing hard, the damaged wing warped with a sickening sound of rending durasteel. Even for its reduced speed, the ship left a shower of sparks behind it before it came to its final resting spot. Leaning unnaturally, the engines wound down in a final recognition that it wouldn’t be returning to the skies.

From the shuttle’s cargo area came a couple muted clangs before a glowing yellow blade protruded through the metal and melted the malfunctioning catch. The loading ramp fell free and made a rattling noise as it impacted.

From the new hole sprang a bulky droid with a glowing turquoise photoreceptor, colorful chassis, and carrying a heavy rifle in one hand. A leather bandolier containing power packs and a selection of grenades was slung across his metal chest. Dropping heavily, he brought the rifle up and moved with a singular purpose to search for threats.

Not far behind the droid came a man in black armor over his blue combat suit, lightsaber hilts attached to his belt. Unlike on Corellia, however, Ashnox Blackstar’s bushy beard and lower face was covered by a mask to filter out the planet’s dust. Not the best landing he’d dealt with over the years, but as someone would quickly remind him, at least he didn’t die. Hopping to the ground, he turned and called back inside. “Everyone okay?”

“No injuries, sir!” One of the soldiers confirmed from the darkness.

Ashnox pulled his saber hilts in case he needed to defend the downed craft. “Regroup with the others then. And tell the pilots to transfer to the other shuttles for evac. I don’t want to risk anyone unnecessarily.”

“Roger that.”

A squad of Republic soldiers poured out of the hatch now, moving to rendezvous with those from the other shuttles. Their heavy armor was the standard white with distinct purple patterning to denote the 211th Assault Battalion. Although a few carried heavy weapons, that wasn’t their role here, and they definitely didn’t have the space for anything larger than a couple rockets. Ashnox would have loved a good walker or tank right now, but there was no way a slow moving target like that would have made it to this ridge without being shot to pieces.

"How did you talk me into this again?" Jae Doraan asked as she gripped the doorframe and leapt.

"Your love of the Republic and appealing to your compassion?"

The Mirialan shook her head and adjusted the billowy poncho she was wearing. Grey with purple stripes on the sides and lower border, she’d ‘acquired’ it from the battalion’s gear lockers before they’d set out. “No, that definitely wasn’t it.”

“A chance to show how smart you are and blow some things up?”

“Getting warmer.” She raised her borrowed carbine to check it hadn’t been damaged while moving against the shuttle’s hull for cover. “Where’s Emtoo?”

Ashnox chuckled. “Off securing the landing zone perimeter. Probably winning the war by himself.”

Jae shook her head in amusement. There were few people that knew M2-D7 as well as his re-maker. “You can take the memory core out of a battle droid, but not the combat protocols.”

With the shuttle about empty and the knowledge that his partner was safe, Ashnox headed across the uneven stone for the cluster of soldiers around the other two craft grabbing the last of the gear. It was stiflingly hot and strangely red. Even as the day waned towards dusk the light reflected off of every surface with shades from the russet of the rocky ridges to the orangish sand that drifted past his feet. It filled the cracks in the ground and whipped into a fine dust that left the air hazy with decreased visibility.

Especially standing on the surface of the ancient Sith homeworld it struck him that this whole planet just felt wrong somehow, a perversion of everything he knew. An ocean of rage and despair permeating everything here with the dark side. Even just being here wrapped Ashnox in the emotional weight of it all, like struggling to walk through chest high water. It was no wonder the Sith had chosen this place of hopelessness to train their next generation. Outside of dry scrub brush, it looked like this world was meant to be completely devoid of life.

Vibrations turned into tremors under his feet and made him stop in his tracks. Does this place have groundquakes? The others seemed to notice it as well, searching the ground for any sign of the cause. Moments later, however, patches of the dirt exploded like mines had been triggered. Each explosion sent a pillar of soil and sand flying without the flash or heat of a charge.

When the dust had barely begun to clear, there were at least four large worm-like creatures screeching and moving to attack the prey that had disturbed them. Each one possessed a serpentine body propelled by at least six legs with spiky talons at the end. Even without eyes, their mouths were a gaping circular maw filled with concentric rings of teeth.

“K’lor’slugs!” Someone yelled. Blasterfire ripped through the air as the soldiers frantically tried to exterminate the mindless beasts. Many of the shots went wide at first, more out of panicked response and distracted muscle memory. K’lor’slugs only knew the need to shred flesh and feed, almost a symbol of the planet they lived on.

Jae let out a gasp when one of the leggy predators sprinted at her with impressive speed. Ashnox raced to try and protect her, but she was already pulling the trigger on her weapon as she fell backwards. Its pinkish body was almost on top of Jae as sapphire bolts blew blackened holes into the creature’s carapace at near point-blank range and destroyed vital organs. That hideous head reared back in agony before slumping into a heap.

“You alright?” Ashnox’s yellow and cyan blades burned brightly against the muted landscape as he stood over her. Deactivating his shoto, he helped her back to her feet. He looked her over to ensure she hadn’t been bitten or injured by the fall.

Jae made a disgusted noise as she ran her hand over the longer strands of her auburn side cut. “Think I got guts in my hair. Is it possible to already hate this planet? Haven’t even been here ten minutes without almost crashing into a cliff and getting eaten by that nasty thing.”

“Captain Milenec!” He yelled over to the officer wearing a red beret rather than a helmet. “What’s our status?”

As the commander of the 211th, Milenec had placed the rest of the troops in a defensive formation. And from the carcasses in the dirt, they had already dealt with their targets as well. The Captain was currently keeping his head on a swivel to ensure there weren’t any other creatures about to make an appearance. “If we discount your ride, we’re doing alright. Two wounded with those bugs showing up and we lost some gear. I’ll have the injured returned to Pultimo when the skies are clear. Ready to proceed inside on your order.”

“Thank you. We should let the Admiral know we’ve made it safely, and we’ll need a contingent to cover our rear. A little pressure on the capital should keep their reinforcements at bay until we’ve secured the Academy.”

“I’m on it, Master Jedi.” He stood and hurried over to another group nearby. Ashnox preferred it this way, as he trusted those with years of tactical military experience over his limited time on the battlefield. Too many Jedi fancied themselves as Generals, taking command just to get their people killed.

In the skies above he could see the small outlines of capital ships battling in orbit. A one-sided fight, but the few Imperial defenders were doing their best to hold the line. Ashnox had been skeptical when intelligence reported the massive fleet that usually defended this strategic planet had disappeared. Why would the Sith choose to leave it undefended without a more sinister reason? Is this arrogant hubris or a trap? But perhaps it was the will of the Force, as everything turned out to be just what SIS’s sources had predicted. And Colonel Darok, the Special Forces mastermind of this whole operation, had clearly been able to pull off such an audacious plan.

“Which way is the bridge?” He asked Jae as she used the fabric from her poncho to wipe her hair again.

She pointed with her chin so she could keep a firm grip on her rifle. Among the requests she’d made before agreeing to come was that the Jedi Council provide any ancient map or layout files they had on the Academy. Defenses mattered less than the essentials for any building - water, power, and passages for repairing whatever broke. “Straight down this footpath. It should lead to the one of the old auxiliary entrances Acolytes used to get to Dreshdae during the Jedi Civil War.”

“Lead the way, and I’ll cover you.” Motioning to the rest of the troops, they took position and broke into teams so as not to group up too much. The 211th had drilled themselves into a good balance between speed and recklessness. Even Jae kept low and moved from rock to rock to avoid exposing herself.

Still, Ashnox was a bit torn. He was oddly excited to see the inside of the Sith Academy after years of hearing myths and tales about what happened within, but he was also curious about the capital of Dreshdae. Allegedly it was a place ship captains and Imperial citizens with the proper authorization visited for trading, shopping, and entertainment, even with the true rulership coming from the Dark Council. How normal could a city be when it existed in a place like this?

Perhaps once we have a proper hold on the planet, I can check it out.

Progress was slow as they moved down the slope toward the old bridge in the distance. The battle raged on the other side of the rocks, but things were far more muted up here. Only the occasional fire of a turbolaser tower on the hill at the ships high above broke the relative stillness. Spinning on its base, it spit blood red at anything it could track moving overhead.

There was no good way of hiding so many soldiers marching to the side entrance, however, especially with their bright armor standing out against the terrain. When one of the soldiers cried out with a glowing hole in his armor, everyone else dove for the nearest rock.

Crimson robed members of the Academy’s Dark Honor Guard had appeared at the far end of the bridge, their high-crested helmets and armor plating meant to evoke both ceremony and prestige. Trained to carry out the will of the now-dead Emperor, they were incredibly skilled warriors with all manner of weaponry and vehicles. All of that conditioning meant a handful were holding off a platoon of Republic troopers, a Jedi, and whatever Jae and M2 were considered.

One of the soldiers behind the Jedi let out a grunt of frustration. “Still wish we could kick in the front door of this place.”

“As do I, but you saw the valley as we flew in. The offensive is stalled, so they’ll be sending in the strike team soon enough to push for the Dark Council chambers.” Ash noted. “Besides, taking the scenic route is better than facing down an army of Sith lords head-on.”

Jae chuckled and shook her head. “I don’t know about that. If it’s anything like my time in school, they’ll probably be pushovers. Most of these places rarely put the best and brightest in teaching positions when they could actually be out doing what they’re good at. Why teach a bunch of angry kids when you could be conquering worlds and seizing power?”

They were interrupted when a pair of fighters streaked just overhead, so close it felt like Ashnox could reach out and touch their hulls. Such brazen maneuvers were extremely dangerous, but kept the guns from getting a solid lock against the terrain. Watching them bank for another pass, he recognized at least the custom Liberator model instantly. He would know the burgundy, white, and dark blue paint anywhere.

“Loke Sanna.” He said with a smirk. They’d told him a massive task force had been pulled together for this attack. Nocturne was an odd ship to have among the Republic fleet above, and the sight of the Jedi Master’s starfighter gave him hope. That meant the Flashfire interceptor flying on her wing must be Lieutenant Ibri, who was an incredible combat pilot in her own right. Whipping his head around, he found Milenec moving up to join him. “Captain, is that our air cover?”

“Negative. Starfall Squadron’s bombers are about to make their attack run to soften things up a bit for the next wave.”

“Not with the guns operational, they’re not.” Ash said under his breath. Clipping the hilts in place, he bellowed a simple command to everyone around him. “Cover me!”

The bombers were coming in from a far steeper angle when Ashnox ran into the open to find a clear vantage point on the turbolaser. Starfall was a fitting name for their dive from the stratosphere and the rain of destruction they brought with them. That was only if they weren’t turned into burning debris themselves.

And if I don’t get killed by a lucky shot while standing here like an idiot. Commandos from the Korriban Regiment had appeared from the stone archway to reinforce their brethren. Luckily the Dark Council only kept a limited number planetside, preferring to rely on Sith and the dark side as the first line of defense. Hopefully they would figure he was bait.

Reaching out with the Force, he focused on the long, twin barrels of the large weapons platform, imagining himself gripping each one and trying to drag the aim down and away. It was an oversimplification, but there wasn’t time for anything more complicated. As long as the weapon was stalled, it would buy the bombers the seconds they needed to close in on target.

“Emtoo!” Jae’s tone was commanding as she urged him forward.

The droid moved past the pair, using his metal body and steady blasterfire to shield Ashnox from danger. Although not invincible if he took a hit, M2 was more than capable of keeping the enemies’ heads down. One of the Imperials made a dash for new cover, only to be cut down by a group of troopers that had moved to cover their flank.

A sound of painful grinding came from within the tower and the barrels visibly shuddered against the strain of fighting the Jedi’s pull. Clearing his thoughts and pushing the battle around him from his mind, Ashnox decisively closed his fists and channeled everything he could muster into stopping the guns from firing. Both barrels began to warp and bend as the crushing grip squeezed and curved the straight metal into an unusable state. Just as the guns had rotated into the proper firing position, they disappeared in a baradium blue-tinged dust cloud of smoke and flame.

Stumbling from the exertion, Ashnox fell to one knee and worked to control his breathing. A wave of concussive pressure rolled through his body from the destroyed anti-aircraft, rattling to his bones even at this distance. Overhead he heard the roar as the bombers leveled out and pulled away, heading back to their ship to refuel. Pulverized rock tumbled down the remains of the mountainside in the aftermath.

“You alright?” Jae’s voice echoed in his head as she crouched to lay one hand on his backplate. Bolts ripped overhead as everyone else around him traded luminous death.

“I’ll be fine. We have to get across the bridge.” Ashnox reassured her, hands moving back to his main saber’s comforting presence. There wasn’t time to slow down when the objective was just ahead.

Battered and scarred, the bridge was showing its age. Bolted directly into the natural rock, its durasteel surface was pitted and discolored from centuries of wind and wear but looked sturdy enough to cross. Obscuring smoke and the artificially created dust storm roiling around them in the wake of the destruction had the added effect of providing concealment for both sides. It created an ideal, if fleeting, opportunity to turn the tide for control over such a strategic point.

From the humanoid shapes ahead, the Imperials had started their own push. A tactical mistake that drew them out in the open rather than allowing his forces to funnel into what could have been a kill zone. Focused on the ground in front of them and not drawing attention to themselves, they’d held their fire for the moment. The particulate burned his eyes as the Jedi surged forward and led the charge. His boots echoed as he sped up and bent at the waist to keep his profile smaller.

Gripping his saber tightly, he dodged right and threw a wide blast of the Force at the clustered group of suddenly panicked opponents. Slamming into them like a wall, it hurled all of them backwards, with only one clipping his calf against the side rail before they plunged into the ravine below. A terrible way to go, but necessary to protect the lives of those behind me, he thought somberly.

Planting his feet, the yellow blade blazed to life as Ashnox worked on deflecting incoming shots back into the gloom. It was a temporary solution while the rest of the soldiers caught up and raced past his whirring shield to seize the far end. A half dozen troopers were backing into an unexpected retreat, taking casualties as they went. It was futile, but it was only natural to try and escape.

The only surviving Imperial guard had no such illusions, however. Tossing her rifle aside, she pulled her cortosis-laced vibrostaff from her back. It thrummed with devastating vibrations as she angled to kill the Jedi personally. Striding with purpose, she let out a battle cry - and was immediately struck by a dozen blaster bolts that scorched the red of her robes. Lurching forward a couple steps, she topped forward and lay still.

“Sergeant Varn, secure the entryway and the bridge. Everyone else, prepare to move in.” Milenec ordered his soldiers as they spread out, stepping over the dead and slapping fresh power packs in their weapons.

Jae trotted up just behind the rest of the group with M2. “This is the place. At least it should be, based on the resistance we just dealt with. Looks like they went with the ‘cursed and haunted tomb’ style when they built this place.”

Ashnox stared up at the deceptively narrow stone archway engraved with Sith runic letters and worn patterns of screaming faces. What statues were out here had collapsed long ago into amorphous ruins. Slaves, warriors, or symbolic sentries, they’d been lost to the ravages of time. The empty void that led to the Academy’s inner sanctum felt more like the yawning maw of a profane beast.

Gripping his humming saber a bit tighter, he took a deep breath and moved to let the darkness swallow him whole.