CHAPTER THIRTEEN
As the Adventurer traversed the stars of the Dantooine system, Anakin sat in contemplation at the ship's navigational controls. With the Revanchist's revelation on the truth behind Toah Jarsan's message, he was no longer sure on where he and the others were going to do next.
"We could just head back to Mon Cala," Arek said from the pilot's seat nearby. "No sense in going to any of those planets if these Glorians are there."
"What, and let those planets fend for themselves?" Anakin heard Ronn Jokar say from behind him. "And here I thought the Empire was heartless..."
Anakin stared at the navigation map, debating with himself on whom to agree with. Finally, he turned to Arek and said, "Set a course for the Tatoo system."
Arek gave him a surprised look. "Seriously?"
Anakin nodded. "Commander Jokar is right. We can't just leave the people of those worlds in danger of being killed by these invaders. Out of all the planets, Tatooine is the most defenseless. And also..."
He glanced towards the cockpit's viewport, gazing at the stars. "It'll be nice to visit the planet where my uncle and grandfather were raised."
"Sounds good to me," Kyle Katarn said as he entered the cockpit. He nodded to Arek. "Go ahead and make the jump to lightspeed."
The pilot looked as if he was about to protest, but he seemed to decide against it for he soon set in the coordinates for the Tatoo system and activated the hyperdrive.
As the stars began to elongate into hyperspace, Anakin briefly heard a voice speak in his head, in the same tone that the Revanchist spoke in. The same tone the man in his dream on Mon Cala spoke in.
Do not go to Tatooine, it said. Beware the Glorians. Turn back. Beware....
He shook his head and the voice went silent. Shrugging it off as nothing, Anakin sat in the chair besides Arek's seat and simply watched the hyperspace tunnel open.
* * *
The moment Cal Omas had just finished packing for his return to Coruscant, he had heard the news from his secretary, who had received the message from Admiral Sovv.
The Imperial Remnant had attacked Kuat Drive Yards.
Omas nearly tossed the suitcase he had just closed. First, Saxan had threatened him with the blockade of Kuat. And now she had ordered the Imperials to attack it.
The Corellian governor had taken it too far. He was actually almost glad that her people had seceded from the Senate, through he knew this would cause many problems for the Galactic Alliance.
Taking a deep breath, he turned to his Twi'lek secretary and said, "Tell Admiral Sovv to prepare the Defense Force. Once I arrive on Coruscant, I will speak with Grand Moff Verradun over this. If things go wrong..."
He sighed. "Then we may have another conflict on our hands."
* * *
"Rogue Squadron, this is General Ruk'thri," the Bothan commander's voice said through the comset of Jaina's helmet. "I have contacted Admiral Sovv, but reinforcements will not be able to arrive in time. He says we have no choice to concede."
"Are you crazy?" Jaina heard Soos snap. "We're just going to let the Imperials have Kuat? The senate will be furious!"
"Actually, I think they already are," Ruk'thri muttered. "I have already given the surrender to the Imperial fleet's commander. All squadrons, fall back."
Jaina let out a sigh before saying, "You heard him, Rogues. We're done here."
Even without having to use the Force, she could already sense the fury and anger that her comrades were most certainly feeling....
* * *
The Revanchist stared down at the corpses of the Glorians he had just slain. Only a dozen of them laid dead; the rest had retreated back to where ever they were hiding. But he knew that, with their commander dead, they would no longer pose a threat to Dantooine.
Deactivating his lightsaber, the Revanchist stepped over the bodies and walked out of the ruins of the old Jedi enclave. He began crossing through the lush green fields outside, passing by farmers and roaming Jedi, who did not notice him even through the Force. He was an invisible phantom to them.
After nearly half an hour of walking, the Revanchist finally reached his destination; the ruins of an ancient structure that was destroyed during the days of the Old Republic. Very few people alive knew of its origins, and even fewer knew of its purpose.
Despite the attack that had destroyed it, the contents of the ruined temple still remained intact, albeit buried underground. But the Revanchist knew there was a way to reach the object within, and he knew the Glorians did as well.
And he would make sure they did not live long enough to try.
He turned and gazed at Dantooine's setting sun. He knew that Anakin Solo and his companions would not listen to his warning, and that they would go on to Tatooine, Kashyyyk, and Manaan. All he could do was hope and pray that they did not find the objects on those worlds that were similar to the one he was guarding.
And if they did, it would mean the end of the galaxy as they knew it...
EPILOGUE
The shadows of the scarcely-lit stone chamber were not enough to conceal the fear that quaked the cloaked messenger's featured as he spoke to his master.
"The plan...is not going quite as planned, my lord," the messenger said. "The Galactic Alliance Senate is greatly angered by the blockade at Kuat, let alone the attack. And Corellia has seceded from the Alliance..."
The cloaked being gulped. "But the Chief of State is meeting with Grand Moff Verradun, who is just as displeased by these events. Thus, it is unlikely the Imperials will be siding with Corellia's predicted separatist movement."
His master responded with a voice that sounded colder than the empty vacuum that surrounded their chamber. "A pity. I was hoping to give the remnants of the Empire the end they deserved; as victims of democracy."
"That is a rather...politically philosophical way of putting it, master."
The master gave a quite chuckle. "A result of decades of studying the affairs of governments and factions in this galaxy."
The messenger nodded. "So, what shall we do now? With the Imperials most likely still at peace with the Alliance..."
"Oh, do not worry. We will find a way." The master stood up from his throne. "The peace between the former Republic and the Empire is like a piece of rope. Find a sharp enough blade and they will both be cut apart and free to claw at each others' throats like the animals they are."
A cruel smile broke through the shadows. "And we shall watch this galaxy tear itself apart."
TO BE CONTINUED
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