Question Through the Eyes of a Sith

3627 BBY (The Present)
Ruuria System, Xappyh Sector , Outer Rim Territories

Nyeomi thinking about not understanding the concept of 'Marital Bliss' until she became a wife. I never realized how bad it was in TV and movies until she pointed it out, yeesh. Ouch, ex-wife now Lanaka Fargo ditching Nyeomi so quickly. And stupid memory blanked on Lanaka doing that, even I would have ended her for saying to abandon those I love just to save my own butt.

I hope all this reminiscing about Lanaka doesn't mean she is coming back into Nyeomi's life again. Aww, feeling Kale and Bree's true feelings instead of just seeing the eye roll when they kiss. Hehe, they certainly have an obvious way of showing they love each other. When a Jedi or Sith feels something is wrong or off you know there is trouble brewing. Living by Banudan Bay, that morning breeze must be awesome.

At this rate how many children are Nyeomi and Torm going to have together? I wonder why Jaydis Vannacen has shown up this time, good for Nyeomi to see her master again.

“Remember these happy moments, my apprentice. They will bare you through the trials you have ahead of you. Cling to them, and know, the Force will be with you. Always.”

Well, that wasn't cryptic or ominous.

*eyes bug out* Just how many people did this attack kill in the City of Banudan, why the attack? 'Go' bags, Fable and Silas living with them and getting ready, can't raise the planetary defense directorate.

“Banudan is gone,” I told her as we ran. “Either a thermonuclear device or an impactor big and fast enough to be an equivalent. Get Kale!” I ordered as I stopped at Bree's room and my thumb opened the door for me.

The odds of anyone surviving that are almost nil. Can't even finishing fleeing before another impactor hits, who is attacking?

Now that is a house designed to get out alive of in virtually any attack. Aces and Eights in a hanger below the house, wondered where they kept the old girl. All those shortcuts and still 5 minutes to get into the air, yikes. Bree in the top turret, Kale in the bottom turret, those kids are combat trained.

Out the canopy I could see a dozen...somethings scrambling out the escape chute with blasters. It could be some kind of full armor, or it could be robots, I wasn't sure.

Crud, extremely bad.

Finally booking it out of there and Fable spots the source of the threat.

Dwarfing Vaiken Spacedock and hanging in the sky like a new moon. It was roughly octagonal, with a massive pair of arms that were reaching down as if to embrace or swallow the planet. It dominated the sky, visibly seven or eight times the size of sun.

It is a lot worse than expected, who or what could have built this monstrosity? A full-on assault on the whole planet and everyone on it, if Lanaka is somehow connected to this she is going to die.

So the ships aren't old Sith Empire, nor Republic design which Nyeomi is familiar with. Feeling more and more like a new player or something with outside knowledge of the world possibly. No room for a pilot, don't tell me we are being attacked using drone-piloted ships? Nyeomi not trying to outrun the fighters, so using the home-court advantage to fight them it seems.

“I got him! I got him!” exalted Bree over the com link.

“Don't get cocky!” Torm cautioned her from the navigator's place behind me.

Nice callback to a classic scene from the Star Wars original trilogy. Awesome maneuvering to limit their enemies' movement, plus get aid from the Warspite. Nice use of the torpedoes to take out frigate.

Finally escaping into space and having to watch the enemy take the Ruurian Orbital docks from a distance. Calling in Imperial crafts for back-up, they might just turn this around. Pride Leader aka Tari, yay! She is still alive and leading three squadrons of mixed fighters to come to the rescue.

“This is Prince Marr. All forces are to coordinate to rally point Alpha. All ships with functioning hyperdrives are to flee and return with the Imperial fleet. This is Prince Marr.”

Flee and return with the Imperial fleet, the situation is that bad, eep.

3627 BBY
Hyperspace, aboard the INS Warspite, en-route to Dromund Kass, Outer Rim Territories

The networks and information spheres had been critically disrupted as part of a dedicated cyber-attack before the primary invasion. Ruuria had not been alone as the target of this invasion. This unknown aggressor had attacked from the uncharted regions across a front tens of thousands of light years across. Key planets and facilities had been first wave targets, and with Ruuria being the primary shipyard of the New Revanite Sith Empire, it had also been in the first wave.

Okay, who has the resources to do all this? Coordinating all of these attacks at once, the logistics to have built this armada for the attack, feels more and more like some vast machine mind is behind all this.

Captain Tucmax Barsal, commander of the Warspite, hosted Lieutenant Commanders Antdami Alliswin, and Joy Ireclay of the Moff Ceptor and the Indefatigable respectively in his wardroom. In addition to three squadron commanders, myself, Torm and Tari. We had been joined by four escort frigates and even two additional cruisers, the Hotspur, and the Witch of Endor, but even with that level of resupply, we didn't have the resources to take back even a single planet, let alone defend our Empire.

Only five Force users amongst them all, the situation looks very grim. Stand down, formal surrender of the New Revanite Empire, eep.

Tucmax Barsal was a fine figure of a Navy man, grey at the temples with a mustache giving his face a bit of rugged authority. “My lord, Commander Alliswin is correct that there has not been sufficient time for the Dark Council to issue such an edict with the whereabouts of the Emperor unknown. However, that may be only unknown to us. I don't doubt we're back on our heels, but a complete surrender seems premature, unless the Council has information we do not.”

Sure sounds like the Dark Council is either connected to all this or being blackmailed. I knew Nyeomi and those Captains wouldn't roll over like this, even Tari heavily pregnant is going to follow Nyeomi. Handing Bree over to Tari until she returns, I can think of no one better to be a second mother to her daughter. Boy, with all the friends and allies they've made over the years this force is going to be bigger than expected. And of course, Nyeomi takes the hard task of rescuing Darth Marr.

Making love with her husband before going out on a dangerous mission, Torm sure knows how to make Nyeomi feel special. Voice in his head tried to keep him from trying to seduce Nyeomi when they first meet just because she is a Sith Lord, that voice is an idiot. Ouch, Torm would surrender to keep his family safe. Crud, all of this is Vitiate finally coming for them. Nyeomi and Torm are so cute together.

Ruuria System, Xappyh Sector , Outer Rim Territories

S-12 Blackbolt sounds very impressive. Sneaking in on the most traveled approach, nice. Nice use of the probe droids and buoys. Darth Marr lives and is free to message, those are good signs for Nyeomi's rescue mission. Yikes, enemies already know she is there and is searching, needs to hustle.

Flying down like that sounds like a thrill ride with little margin for error. The Redoubt is a very hidden Imperial base, if you didn't know it was there it would be hard to find. 8 hours before she could get out to stretch her legs, ow. Darth Marr in worse shape than expected, the long burn on one side, could Vitiate have more Sith working for him in these attacks?

Telling Darth Marr of the situation and the small fleet she assembled, upon hearing the order for surrender Marr becomes enraged and thinks Darth Acina's hand in it, calling him a coward. Banudan spaceport still intact, good. Marr's personal dreadnought, the Courageous, still intact and where it landed, you'd think the enemy would take out a potential threat like that quickly. Steal the Courageous and rescue the 4-5 thousand POWs being processed by the enemy, never an easy job.

People being 'processed', I can guess for what, Vitiate is planning a massive ritual and needs all the sacrifices he can get. At least that seems his style. Soldiers disguised as civilians, nice tactic. Skytroopers that are just advanced battle droids, turn them into slag! Humans mixed in with the attackers, decision making roles, hhm. 1 to 500 ratio, that is a horrible ratio for human commanding droids. Yikes, once again reminded not to anger Nyeomi, those human guards better not even twitch.

Nice to see trained military men hitting the ground when warned, rescue job just got a lot easier with no friendly targets in the way. 4 thousand people just rescued and now to get the Courageous up and running.

Leading these troopers were humans. Humans in silver armor with gold accents. Who carried lightsabers.

I knew it, Vitiate has Sith or at least lightsaber-trained troops on his side, just as things started to look better.

Blasters to stun and take them alive, I guess Vitiate wants to get his revenge personally.

George Lucas took a significant amount of heat about the battle of the Jedi Temple, that troops armed with blasters and a single Sith Lord wiped out scores of Jedi. Well, I can testify that, when you are facing dozens of opponents, while trying not to be cut in half by men with lightsabers who know how to use them, the blaster bolt will get through.

Darn it! Nyeomi stunned and captured as the Courageous escapes, how to rescue her now?

Zakuul System, The Eternal Empire , The Unknown Reaches

Waking up to find her arms in huge binders, they aren't taking any chances with Nyeomi. Strapped to a jump seat, wonder why. Darth Marr, unconscious or dead, and all the spikes cut off from his armor, dang. Okay, the level of engineering on this planet is amazing just based on the buildings and the Spire.

Behind the pilot stood a man in white and gold robes, his back was to me, though his head was bald and for some reason his left arm and collar was gray and stood out against the white and gold.

Strange robes for someone to wear. Ah, mechanical left arm from the shoulder down. Don't tell me he is a cyborg, wonder what required that. A voice like General Grievous, yikes. And says Father is waiting, please say he isn't Vitiate's son, please.

And this guy has a temper too, threatening to kill Marr if he tries to attack them and escape again despite Father's orders. Knights with lightsaber pikes, scary. This whole place is a testament to Vitiate's massive ego.

Sitting on it, sprawling on it, was the last thing you might expect from how I have described the Sith Emperor Vitiate before. Now, before me was a handsome man, just stepping from his middle age to a somewhat premature 'grandfatherly' look. His greying hair still had plenty of dark beneath it and his dark, full beard had just enough gray to be distinguished, like a Victorian Admiral on his way to Portsmouth and just as impeccably groomed.

Crud, he regenerated himself with the ritual.

“His Imperial Majesty, Immortal Master and Protector of Zakuul, Emperor Valkorion.”

Great, sounds like brainwashed an entire culture for centuries now. All this a means to an end, all to ask them what they want with him after chasing him for 10 years. Vitiate is insane not to get what they want after all he has done. Telling them to kneel before him, so sure of his power, ugh.

Dang, Marr does all that with a lightsaber pike taken from one of the knights and it doesn't even misplace a hair in 'Valkorian's' beard. Force lightning from Valkorian hits Darth Marr head-on, while Nyeomi gets a lesser dose and is left on her knees in agony. Marr killed by Valkorian, how to avenge him and everyone else this monster has taken.

He towered over me now, his eyes bright with zeal and a horrible, loathsome expression on his face. “The Eternal Throne commands a fleet more vast and powerful than any ever built. It has the power to reshape the galaxy into any image I choose.” He paused and if possible, the lustful expression became even more vile. “That we choose.”

*dry heaves into a nearby garbage can* And Nyeomi rejects his 'offer', so he orders his son to kill her, typical thug tyrant.

As I stared into the son's eye, I felt his thoughts waiver, then his own rage exploded like a volcano. “You wanted to kill him,” he whispered. “Now is your chance!”

His son turning on 'Valkorian', wasn't expecting that twist. Ah, figures. He killed his own brother and wants to kill and replace his father now. Distracted by gloating over his own son Nyeomi is able to strike, destroying Valkorian's heart and searing his lungs. But he spun his face towards Nyeomi and smiles, what kind of monster is he!

Knocking Nyeomi back with what seems to be his raw power, her striking her head so she is seeing stars, yanked to her feet by guards. That is when Valkorian's daughter shows up, the son blaming the murder of Father all on Nyeomi, not even mentioning his part in it. Shit! Carbon freezing chamber, no! How will Nyeomi get out of this one? I hope the next part of this story isn't too far off, that cliffhanger has me wanting me.

Unable to feel nothing, not even the Force, now that is terrifying. Unable to move, nor to speak, yet someone spoke to her, this is very strange.

Still you do not understand the nature of Power.

Please don't tell me that Vitiate's spirit somehow possessed Nyeomi.

Okay, this is very confusing, where is Nyeomi? Almost seems like her spirit is in some kind of inner world right now. This barren wasteland doesn't seem familiar, plus that voice taunting her sure seems like Vitiate's style. She has her lightsabers and can speak now, I'm as confused as Nyeomi about where she is right now.

Even in death, the childish turning of your mind to find meaning amuses me.

This has to be Vitiate, it just has to.

Walking along in a direction and using the time to think, all those thoughts brought to mind, curious why Darth Vitiate's son did things the way he did, it makes little sense. Yikes, starting to sound like she is in a dream and being woken up by torture.

The Vault of the Damned, Zakuul, The Eternal Empire, Unknown Reaches

Someone trying to wake her up.

“Arcann's 'Vault of the Damned',” the voice replied. A moist cloth was pressed against my eyes and I allowed it because it was soothing. “It's where he keeps his political prisoners.”

So that is the son's name, Arcann. And Lana Beniko is still alive, good. Who is this other young woman, another Sith or a Jedi?

And this girl gives Nyeomi her lightsabers, I want to know how she obtained them in the first place. Alarm going off and guy named Koth contacted on commlink, things just got more complicated again. Hhm, why does the Force 'taste' different to Nyeomi now, could it be the taint of Vitiate's spirit latched onto her?

Directing the Force into herself for an energy boost with a crash later, good for an emergency at least. Ah, those that is what Nyeomi was experiencing earlier, mindscape while she was trapped in carbonite, that makes being frozen in carbonite a lot more terrifying.

“I know,” she replied over her shoulder. “They broadcast all of it, including your spectacular strike against Valkorion. Though I always felt it had been heavily edited.” She paused for a moment, then asked, “Did you really yell 'You won't undermine my evil plans?' when you stabbed him?” I let the expression answer her and she chuckled. “No, I thought not.”

Figures, edited news footage to paint the hero as the villain.

They turn those they capture into Skytroopers, brains with robot bodies under their control. That is sick and wrong on so many levels. Yeah, I would have had the same reaction to this news, Nyeomi. Nyeomi wishes to kill Arcann badly but they have to flee again, a dozen or more Knights and Vaylin showing up, probably the daughter's name. The other girl remote controlling a turbolift car to help them escape while leaving herself trapped to deal with the incoming threat.

“Not Jedi, Knights of Zakuul. Force users, evidently trained to use both the light and dark, but neither very well. They are trained to work together so don't underestimate them! They're led by Arcann's sister, the High Justice,” Lana told me. “Her name is Vaylin. I'm not sure why Arcann puts up with her, she's a complete psychopath, who delights in things the darkest of the Dark Council members would find distasteful. And she's powerful, my lord, more powerful than...”

Vitiate's bloodline seems filled with psychos and backstabbers.

Beniko smiled and shook her head. “You have, actually. I've called in every favor I could, Sith, Republic, even in the Hutt Cartel and the criminal underworld, but the core of the Alliance was your doing. The Warspite, the Hotspur, they assembled everyone still willing to fight. When you were drug away, we feared the worst, that's when I began working, keeping what you started together.” She smiled and reached out to touch my arm. “You, you can't know the joy that swept through all of us when we found out you were still alive and in the Vault of the Damned. This rescue is the result of eight months of planning.”

Not quite 10 years, nooo! These monsters must pay, she missed her children growing up, 10 years away from her husband and loved ones she can't get back.

And lets Lana call her Nyeomi and ask for her help to kill these monsters, this needs to end finally. No wonder these people followed Vitiate, giving them this level of lifestyle and comfort, too bored and catered for to ever ask any questions. An entire planet with nothing better to do than worship him, that sounds like a living hell.

And picked by Koth in an action-packed way.

Koth Vortena, Zakuul deserter.

Interesting. Darn, no guns on the shuttle. When a braggart who says he is the best pilot in the galaxy says to buckle up, it is very bad. Ouch, rough landing in a swamp, brutal.

3617 BBY
The Endless Swamp, Zakuul System, The Eternal Empire

And once more fleeing from a sinking craft. Nyeomi able to carry Koth and leap 20 meters to solid ground, and even without training as an apprentice, Lana makes the leap too, nice. The Endless Swamp sounds like a nightmare to survive in.

And they have to get out of this swamp and back to the liner by tomorrow without getting caught, good grief. A Captain in the Zakuul Army and none of them wanted to be there, guess they weren't told what was expected of them before being deployed. Refused to massacre civilians and the Skytroopers did it anyways. At least Len help Koth escape, we've seen what Arcann does to traitors. Nice plan for getting off the planet, Lana. Too bad most plans never go off as planned, I expect trouble.

Out of the swamp and near Izak Spire now, but official vehicles swarming the swamp looking for them, knew it wouldn't be that easy. Ascension guns sound very handy, like a more high-tech version of Batman's grapple-gun. And from the sounds of it that is one powerful, but compact battery powering it.

A unit for rent, wonder how many people actually work on this planet.

“My lord, the Sith Empire was conquered by Zakuul. As was the Republic. They are both puppet states to the Eternal Empire in all but name. The only members of the Dark Council you would recognize would be Darth Acina, who is now Empress Acina, and Darth Vowrawn, who was the Sith who formally surrendered the Empire to Zakuul.”

So that is the coward who surrendered, probably to insure himself a place of power. Emperor Malgus and his wife missing and presumed dead, the hits just keep on coming.

Yikes, that is a lot of pressure to put on Nyeomi. Help from the Republic and Empire even in small amounts, rebellions always need allies and resources. Droid-based technology that is remote-controlled by a signal, wonder what would happen to them if someone could figure out the signal frequency and override control of all their technology.

And their own people think the Skytroopers are just another type of battle droid, now that is scary. Technically 45 but still looks 35, this could be awkward for a few people. Yikes, being Sith and having your emotions be that much stronger sounds like it takes extreme discipline to have control when needed. And ouch, I was right, 10 years and not getting to be there as her children grew up hit Nyeomi hard.

Dang, that gown, if it is still intact when Torm next sees Nyeomi I don't think an armada will keep them from doing what they wish together. Dressed in that outfit while eating a survival ration bar, she has been through a lot of stranger situations. Koth definitely not used to dealing with Sith Lords, Nyeomi telling the tale of how she came to serve Darth Malgus and worked against Valkorion aka Vitiate.

He stood up a bit straighter and squared his shoulders. “I'm here because what we did was wrong,” he declared with conviction for the first time in the conversation. “We had no business attacking your Empire or the Republic! If helping you puts a stop to that, it's something I have to do!”

Good man, Koth, good man.

Lana coming out right then and Koth getting shoved into the shower for his turn, Nyeomi doesn't wish to wait to learn about her family any longer. The crash found and poor Koth has to rush his shower now, poor guy. Whoa! These bracelets are a brilliant part of the disguise, lightsabers on her wrist and not even noticeable.

Crud, I knew Torm would take it hard but not this badly, a crusade to find Nyeomi and they lost contact with him 2 years ago. Please let him be okay.

She brightened immediately. “Lieutenant Kale received a field commission from Captain Barsal. He is probably one of the best slicers and ECM men in our little Alliance! He's getting nothing but glowing reviews from the Captain and he's serving on the Warspite.”

Oh good, her son is safe and sound, glad Torm was of sound mind enough not to let him tag along on his crusade. Bree wants to have her Lordship given by her mother. And that girl with them was Bree, crap!

So Darth Mur is considered Bree's Mistress now, ouch, another hit for poor Nyeomi.

“You stopped being her mistress when you left her in the care of Darth Mur and were captured by the enemy!” she shouted back. “Those are our traditions, you know that, my lord! Taybri Fens is an accredited Sith Warrior and she would have come if I needed her or not! At least this way I had hoped to keep her recklessness in check!”

And you just knew the security deposit was toast at this point, Nyeomi still has that temper and need to vent. I just hope the glass doors exploding in that many pieces off the spire don't alert the Skytroopers to their exact location.

If Bree isn't on that liner waiting for them I will eat a mushroom...and I hate mushrooms. Well, she sure knows how to get people moving, Koth getting out and not even drying off before getting dressed.

10 minutes on a lift, just how tall is this spire!?! Yikes, having to walk around like that when you are used to walking to places with purpose, maddening might be understating it. And time to be brought up to speed on the Galaxy, 10 years and so many changes.

“Arcann rules the galaxy with an iron glove over Vaylin's stone fist,” she informed me sotto voce. “Few will dare oppose him after the war of retaliation he launched when you killed Emperor Valkorion. Five years of pointless destruction for its own sake and an additional five years of back breaking tribute wrenched from the Empire and the Republic. We, the Alliance you created, are the only ones who will oppose him, and even that is done as discreetly as possible.”

This, plus having to come begging for mercy each year, dystopian sounds right for this situation.

Therran Shan contacts Lana and Nyeomi still loves teasing her about him, heh. And Arcann knows Nyeomi has been freed and just announced it to the whole planet, can't they catch a single break today. That is a huge liner, the car has ten decks! Better part of a day to reach the platform, so much time for things to go wrong, eep. That poor old lady is going to have a confusing conversation with her daughter next they chat.

My searches throughout the Net for any trace of my husband did yield some fruit. I learned he had become an outspoken critic of the Eternal Empire and what he had called the Rape of Ruuria which seemed to have stuck as a name. The attempts of the Zakuul authorities to shut him down or censor his posts had only underscored the truth of the Streisand Effect and had made re-posting of Torm's videos a relatively safe act of rebellion.

So the Streisand Effect exists even in a Galaxy Far Far Away, hehe. Arcann is going to be living in fear for a while until Nyeomi comes back to finish him and this whole corrupt regime off. Pictures, videos, and snapshots of Nyeomi's children growing up without her, ow.

The Alderaan Princess, Zakuul System, The Eternal Empire

I'll admit I was humming a certain Jack Jones song as the papers Lana had provided me with which labeled me Sutti Jin, a marketing executive with Czerka Arms from Naboo of all places, were checked and authenticated.

Darn, I can't figure out which of his song she would be humming. A private suite and dang is it extremely nice. And darn it, why did Zakuul have to get essentially taken over by a power-mad emperor, would be a great place for a vacation otherwise.

Those aren't stars! Millions of cruisers around the planet, a direct attack would be suicide. All robot piloted and completely unmanned, a terrifying force. Subvert the Eternal Fleet, yes, please let this happen. Bree sent the code signal, aboard and waiting in the first-class lounge. Lana goes to get Bree, while the Alderaan Princess is finally underway. Bantha Piss, bwahahaha, that name for an alcoholic drink still gets me. And the Force trick for extra energy plus beer equals Nyeomi finally drifting off to sleep. I hope things keep getting better for them, especially after Nyeomi lost 10 years with her husband and children.

Ack! I hate lucid dreams where you think you've done something, then wake up and actually have to do it. Force visions sound horrible, plus that nightmare Nyeomi had...*shudders* Interesting about not coming to the Force with fear. And having to relive Darth Marr's death again, to be blamed for it, talk about pain. *eyes bug out* Okay, never had a nightmare where I almost died in it.

Aww, Bree all grown up, nice to get to see her grown-up, but sucks we missed her growing up with her mother.

“Mommy I've missed you!” she cried into my shoulder and that set my eyes to tears and for a long time I just held her as we cried together.

Dang it, have me tearing up here. Taybri Fens now a Lord of the Sith, glad her mother could do the honor.

“Though I am more than a little concerned about this reckless streak of yours...”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, mom! I haven't done anything you wouldn't have!”

They are so much alike it is actually funny. Nice to see them catch up, Nyeomi and Bree are so cute when they chat.

3617 BBY
The Alderaan Princess, Keskin System, The Outer Rim Territories

Dang, Nyeomi hasn't heard of the Keskin System.

It gives you an idea of exactly how far out into the Unknown Reaches Zakuul was that the system closest to civilization from it was this little nowhere planet, on the tail end of an unused trade route, such that Hoth and Bespin are the closest well known planets.

Good grief, that is ridiculously far. Ouch, the Galactic Republic and New Sith Empire are treated worse than dirt by the Eternal Empire.

Boy, even as allies the Republic and Sith Empire still like to taunt each other any way they can.

So, Sutti Jin disembarked on Thon Station, followed by her executive assistant, a twenty-something BeAnn Sundar from Tattooine along with VP of Outer Rim Expansion Maayi Ren-Var and her body guard Koffi Tan.

Just when you think the names can't get any more interesting. More than 30k planets in the galaxy, dang. No wonder they wouldn't expect a Jedi or Sith to show up.

Reference to Bartitsu martial arts, nice.

More to the point there are dedicated groups of slicers employed by the Jedi and Sith whose sole job is to crack the firmware of every scanner on the market so that when it 'sees' a light saber, it marks it as something innocuous. 'Industrial Tool' is a common favorite. Between that and most people living their entire lives never seeing a light saber, most of the guards didn't even know to look for one.

Now that makes a lot of sense, working behind the scenes to prevent lightsabers from being detected by scanners. Okay, that food Nyeomi eats, does it have an official name?

Cute, Bree likes Koth. Someone that strong in the Force, yet apathetic to that level, I think I would prefer someone emotional. High Justice Vaylin, the evil sister shows up again. Facial recognition, thousands of ships from the Eternal Fleet, just when things were looking up for Nyeomi and friends. Vaylin had Exar Kun station blown up, she is insane! Zakuul soldiers, humans in the armor in front of them with 4 Skytroopers, from bad to worse with each moment.

At least Nyeomi is able to destroy the commlink before he can call for backup. One Skytrooper for Lana, two for Bree, with Koth blasting the last one, but doesn't put it down. Only for Nyeomi to skillfully deflect his attack and strike, and Bree taking out his left leg and then stabbing him in the forehead, brutal and fast.

She looked down, her face hard and her anger welled up a bit. “I delight in killing them, Mistress.” Her eyes came back up and they were full of hate that was slowly fading as she looked at me. “For taking you away from me.”

Okay, Nyeomi needs to have a talk with Bree later.

I'd never encountered a Force User who would so blindly attack with neither defiance or call to surrender.

I'd never fought a Force User who was a zealot before, and it meant that our war had just become orders of magnitude harder.

Zealots are dangerous to deal with, no matter who they follow. The Defender-class ship, I hope it is small enough to avoid notice by the Eternal Fleet outside. So the crew should have left 6 hours ago, hope they did as adviced.

Out the window, I saw every other ship I could see also expelled and every escape pod on the station launched. “Punch it!” she commanded me.

Bwahaha, the old escape in a crowd, much harder to pick out who is who. Idiots, Eternal Fleet shooting down escape pods and empty ships, that's the problem with using robots.

Hyperspace, aboard The Messenger, Gendius sector, on the Cerean Reach Trade Route

Uhm, dismissing Bree and Koth to busy themselves somewhere else might not have been a good idea. Rendezvous with the fleet instead of looking for Torm, aww. Arcann and Vaylin need killing so bad, I know it is a matter of time but the anticipation is painful. Parents both dead, in Banudan when the attack happened, when will she get some more good news.

Silas married Fable, yay for good news. In his forties with 3 kids under 10, yikes. Dam it, at least Darius went out a hero, but needs avenging.

“Darth Marr always said that war was the crucible that perfected the Empire.”

Interesting answer from Lana.

She started to say that we, the Sith and Jedi have hated each other for so long we've forgotten how to set our differences aside, how to let the other live and be left alone in return.

Their galaxy needs more like Darth Vannacen around.

A third of their Force users are Jedi, will wonders never cease, guess this common enemy changed things.

“He said you'd say that, and that if he didn't make it back, he told me to say to you, 'Even the pacifist has a right to protect himself, and the moral obligation to protect others he can protect.' Do you know what he meant?”

I'm going to miss Darius and his brand of wisdom.

Naked in bed to get in touch with the Force, interesting technique.

Koth and Bree stood out like a beacon as they were, ahem, indisposed.

Knew this was going to happen. Hehe, Nyeomi's reaction to this, such a mother response. *winces* I pity Koth if he ever breaks Bree's heart.

I came to realize that a great deal of my surety and confidence was anchored around him and his approval, frankly, of me. The little part of me that was still Edward needed Torm to feel as if this was more than a stolen body and role he was playing at. The Nyeomi part of me had not been alone for a long time and she didn't like it.

Yikes, that is a scary view on herself and her relationship with Torm.

“Stop!” the Sith Lord commanded. “There will be time to grieve. But that time is not now. Now is what is important! Now is when you are living. Don't waste time now wailing about what happened then! Use now! Live now! Nothing else matters!”

Boy, for a reflection it is very insightful. Tries to go to sleep and still awake an hour later due to what Bree and Koth are still up to, dang, talk about stamina. *eyes bug out* Did not expect Lana to come out and say it, to come to Nyeomi and offer herself in this way.

The Messenger, Endor System, Modell Sector, The Outer Rim Territories

Welp, Nyeomi spent the night with Lana and vows to tell Torm everything when she sees him again, fearing she might never see him again, ouch.

After a long and unhappy line of thinking, I resolved that if that was the case, we would be adults and discuss things rationally.

Yeah, and while I'm dreaming, I'd like a pony for Christmas.

Good grief, you both love each other deeply, I'm sure you can move past such things together.

Oh boy, Mother would like a word with the boy who is with her daughter.

So, as a word to the wise, Koth, if you are trifling with my daughter's affections, you'll be far better off putting that blaster in your mouth and blowing your own head off compared to what I will do, and how long I will do it, to make my displeasure known to you. Do we have an understanding between us?”

Even a father with a shotgun won't scare you a 1/10th as much as this. Nyeomi can be a sadist sometimes.

“If you start 'using' me, I'll let you know,” she promised. “Otherwise, we're both adults, and we both know each other's situations. You haven't lied to me, nor I you.” She took a sip of her coffee and winked at me. “We both know that battlefield friendships can be...intense. At least, I assume...”

Lana sure knows how to put things straight.

Hhm sounds like Lana is bi, but Theron isn't her type because he is a spy who lies for a living.

Her chin lifted in disdain. “Diplomats are vague,” she declared haughtily. “Spies are liars.”

I almost lost my sip of coffee via my nose, and the look on her face told me she'd timed it that way on purpose.

Lana sure knows how to joke too. Above the moon of Endor, wasn't expecting that for a base, though it makes sense. They sure built that fleet up over the last 10 years, Lana did a great job.

The Courageous, Endor System, The Outer Rim Territories

Sith trained to work with the military, can't wait to see them in action.

I knew this because I'd made time to read Lana's summary of the current state of the fleet and I knew that the ability of my Sith Lords to cooperate to achieve group goals as a way of proving their individual worth and thus their individual power via awards and promotion meant the scuffles between the Jedi who had answered my call and those same Sith Lords had stayed as arguments and debates and only a couple of fist fights and 'spirited' training sessions.

Keeping all those egos under control, now that is truly impressive. Tari, Jedi Master Tunan-Obi Vost, and Admiral Bey'wan Aygo of the Republic Navy and Commodore Tucmax Barsal, impressive bunch.

Love the comment about Tari not being pregnant for a change, just how many kids does she have now? Nyeomi taking command of the fleet, a flag of their rebellion raised on each ship, nice. Nice speech, very inspiring. Carving a base of operations from the wilderness, shouldn't be that hard after surviving for 10 years under this tyranny.

Aww, Nyeomi got to meet Silas and Fable's kids. Odessen, interesting location for their base in Wild Space.

“There shouldn't be anyone on Odessen,” I replied. “It's a blank slate. But, we'll have raw materials to upkeep the fleet, food to feed everyone and a safe place for kids. Seems ideal.”

Dang, Fable lost someone important to herself to become like this. How to take one of the ships of the Eternal Fleet, how they are controlled, hope we don't lose more people in this mission.

Tari suggests making another deal with the Void, dang, never thought I would see the day. Sending Bree on a mission to find Torm or report if he is dead, I hope he is still alive after all this. And once more reminded never, ever, ever to get on Nyeomi's bad side. If Torm is dead I have no pity for what she will do to those involved.

Now, the War of the Eternal Alliance had begun.

This whole tale was brutal from start to finish. The sudden attack by the Eternal Empire, all those lost, Nyeomi calling in allies, and set out to rescue Darth Marr. Only to be captured by Darth Vitiate, Darth Marr dying in an epic last stand, Arcann turning on his own father to help Nyeomi kill him only to have her frozen in carbonite. Then to be rescued only to learn it took 10 years, losing all that time with her husband, being there for her kids growing up, that is a fate worse than death for Nyeomi.

The escape and learning that Bree was the mystery woman along for the rescue, having to escape from Zakuul, Nyeomi getting to catch up with Bree on the ship, then learning about Bree and Koth's relationship, heh. Seriously, when Nyeomi confronts Koth about this and how he better treat Bree or else, I would rather face down an angry Hulk than her. Uniting the rebellion together like that with Nyeomi in command, you could feel the weight of it all. And Odessen sounds perfect for a hidden base if they can avoid any of their ships being tracked back there. And please, please let Torm be alive. Losing Darius was bad enough, I think Nyeomi might snap if Torm is dead. Can't wait for the next story to continue this tale.