CHAPTER SIX
The moment the Millennium Falcon exited hyperspace and the world of Dromund Kaas came into view, Toah's head pulsed with agony. He let out a scream, but he could not hear it. He barely managed to open his eyes to see that Raj, Neelo, and the rest of the crew were clamping their hands over their ears as well.
Gritting his teeth, Raj staggered towards the viewport to find the source of their 'discomfort'. He quickly stepped back though, when he saw a huge rock fill the Falcon's screen. To the crew's horror, they realized it was not just a passing asteroid.
It was an arm.
Raj seized the pilot controls and swung the ship in order to avoid collision with the arm. As the Millennium Falcon accelerated towards Dromund Kaas, Toah could now see what appeared to be a large, titanic being. Emerald eyes glowed from the being's stone-like head as it watched the ship fly pass it. The titan seemed to disregard it however, as it then followed an Bellator-class Star Dreadnought, which was blasting off into lightspeed.
The agony Toah and the others had felt was finally beginning to lessen. But for Toah, the relief did not last long, as he suddenly felt a pang of dread as the Falcon descended towards the Sith planet. He then felt a different and more distant feeling. As they landed, he realized what that feeling was.
It was loss.
* * *
All eyes were on General Norr Ruk'thri as he stood in the doorway of Republic Headquarters' command center. Wedge Antilles stared hard at the Bothan, though his ire was not aimed at him, but the subject of the general's devastating words.
"What do you mean Supreme Commander Bel Iblis just resigned?" Wedge finally managed to say.
Norr bowed his head. "He told me that he was getting to old to serve the Republic, and that he would just cause more trouble for us."
Wedge shook his head, incredulous. "Tell him that's not true, and that we need him, especially now."
"It's too late," Norr replied. "I already sent his resignation form in, and he's most likely on his way to Corellia."
Wedge groaned as he held his head in his hands. "This is not like him. As much as I respect the man, this has got to be the stupidest thing he's done."
"Well, what do we do now?" asked Commander Hawk, who was standing at a console which showed the approaching Imperial fleet. "The Empire's just passed Stentat and are clearing Muscave. They'll be here any moment now..."
Wedge sighed as he tried to think on what to do. There wasn't enough time to have 'Chancellor' Valorum appoint a new Supreme Commander, and Bel Iblis' right-hand, Admiral Madine, was not present at the moment...
"Nien Nunb, send all fleets!" Wedge ordered. "Hawk, call together all squadrons! Norr, set up the ground defensed and deploy whatever troops, tanks, and ground vehicles that we have!"
He gritted his teeth as he turned to watch the Empire approach Coruscant.
"Let's make this day one worth remembering."
* * *
"You want us to leave Ossus?" Jedi Master Plun Kil asked, almost incredulously, to the holographic image of Luke Skywalker. "Wouldn't that leave the Jedi Temple vulnerable?"
"Not unless the Sith know where the Jedi Temple is," Luke replied. "Besides, we need all of our Jedi Knights here on Coruscant. The entire Imperial fleet has entered the system, and I'm sure there are dozens of Sith Lords among them."
"Don't worry, Master Skywalker," Kro Sadoon said before Kil could protest. "We will be there as soon as we can."
Once Luke's hologram had dispersed, the Besalisk Jedi Master faced Sadoon angrily. "We can't all go!" he said loudly. "It's too dangerous! If we all die, the Jedi Order will fall once again!"
"Better to die protecting our Republic than to be betrayed by it," Master Morin Tharr interjected. "We shall go to Coruscant, per Master Skywalker's request, and help the Republic in fending off the Sith."
Plun Kil scowled but remained silent as he and the rest of the Jedi High Council headed out of their chamber.
* * *
The Millennium Falcon slowly came to a stop as it landed on the outskirts of Dromund Kaas' capital city. As he stepped off the ship, the dreadful feeling Toah had felt earlier was suddenly gone, replaced with the feeling that life on Dromund Kaas no longer existed.
Months ago, when Toah, his master, and Kyle Katarn traveled to Dromund, several buildings were lighted up, albeit dimly. Byt now, the city had plunged into darkness, nearly as dark as space itself. The only light that served as guidance were the frequent flashes of lightning that struck across the stormy sky.
Raj, Neelo, Vima, and the rest of the Falcon's crew followed Toah down the ramp and observed the abandoned city in awe. Raj let out a quiet whistle. "Guess there's no need for infiltration," he said. "Looks like everyone got up and left."
"Typical too," Neelo muttered. "We had this all planned out! We had the droid to sneak in and the Jedi to kill the Sith Lord! And they ruin it!"
Toah frowned as he looked around. "Thiss isn't good," he said quietly. "If the Empire isn't here, then where are they?"
"The last place you'd want them to be, of course."
Toah spun around, lightsaber in hand, to see a pale-skinned, dark-cloaked man. Immediately recognizing him to be the Sith Lord who had captured him, Kyle, and Luke a year ago, he activated an azure blade from his lightsaber.
The Sith Lord held up his hands. "I mean you no harm," he said. "Please, hear me out if you want the Empire to fall."
Toah glared at the man. "Why should I trust you? You're a Sith Lord."
"That may be true," the man said, "for now. But I've come to realize how far my master has gone. He's manipulated everyone, both Republic and Empire, for his ultimate plan."
Toah scowled. "And just how long did it take you to figure that out?"
"Too long," the Sith Lord replied bitterly. "But there's no time to explain. Darth Vorath has taken his entire army to Coruscant."
Toah's eyes widened. "You mean...everyone in the Empire?"
"Yes. Every Sith Lord, admiral, captain, general, commander, and stormtrooper is at Coruscant, and if we don't hurry..."
The Sith Lord's face darkened. "Everything will end."
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