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_ " __ There is a place in the galaxy where the dark side of the Force runs strong. It is something of the Sith, but it was fueled by war. It corrupts all that walks on its surface- drowns them in the power of the dark side. It corrupts all life, and it feeds on death. Revan knew the power of such places... and the power in making them." _

~Kreia

"_Observer-V _is within range. three minutes till deployment."

Thresher nodded silently in lieu of verbal acknowledgment, his eyes peering into the void beyond the sealed hatch. Decades of training had allowed him to see where others could not, in ways they could not imagine in their wildest dreams- penetrating the physical to perceive that which was out of sight. He paid no heed to their course, monitoring the space battle some few kilometers to their port side- as leader of the operation, it fell on him to ensure the plan was executed without loose ends. Fortunately, it seemed the squadron that had been temporarily assigned to the operation was doing nothing short of excellent work.

The swarm of TIE Fighters and Interceptors outnumbered the slower yet more robust Republic fighters, and while the latter was putting up a brave defense, they were slowly being whittled away. Every one or two minutes seemed to be marked by an abrupt explosion as an X-Wing or B-Wing was shattered apart. Overwhelmed with the fighter screen and with a nearby Interdictor Star Destroyer preventing them from running or using long-range communications to request assistance, they could not prevent Thresher's team from making its approach, aiming for the hangar of a medium-sized space station.

None of it interested Thresher nearly as much as the planet it was orbiting- or rather, the shattered remains of the planet it was orbiting. Massive, mile-long arcs of wild green lightning seemed to zap between and along the larger chunks, the largest of them wreathed in a smoke-like vapor that prevented all sight, both physical and Force-based, from observing its surface with any clarity.

The wound in the Force, it seemed, had receded. Somehow.

"Thirty seconds!"

Pulling himself out of his Force sight, he turned to the group of Sith Knights, elite Imperial soldiers, and tech specialists at his back- most of them were prepared, save for the blue-furred Lepi female who was snapping modular parts onto her pistol- in the space of a few seconds, the same pistol had become a rifle.

Ignoring her for a moment, he addressed the team. "You've read the operation details- they still stand. Eliminate all Republic guards on the station, capture and detain the rest of the crew- I want them all alive and unmolested for questioning. I'd prefer to administer the pain myself," he added with a cruel smirk, turning away from the team as he looked to the pilot and nodded.

The ship accelerated, closing the remaining distance to Observer-V's nearest hangar in a matter of seconds- with the magcon shield lowered, there was no strong enough barrier to prevent the transport from landing in its bay. The ship had not even landed when both of the vessel's side-hatches slid open, allowing its occupants to leap an easy twenty feet down onto the deck below.

The station's security force had been waiting for them, but had not been prepared for what they would face. Four crimson lightsabers rushed in different directions, their wielders exhibiting no fear as they intercepted blaster bolts and began to cut through the defenders. Screams rent the air as Thresher and his Sith Knight allies slaughtered the Republic soldiers like cattle, supported by the rifles of eighteen elite Imperial troopers. What defenders had been spared from Sith lightsabers and dark side abilities, were cut down by the Imperial soldier's blasters. And while Thresher moved quickly and slew his opponents with hesitation, he did not miss the progress of the rest of the battle.

Yuda moved the fastest, brandishing a double-lightsaber and slipping into combat like a dagger sinking into a man's ribs. With a stylistic and malignant grace, he penetrated the vulnerable gaps of the onboard security force and dealt his damage with precision and agility. In the space of three seconds he had slain five soldiers, and he showed no signs of stopping. In contrast, Apex's calm but threatening approach was both slow and inexorable, as the dark-scaled Chistori lumbered forward. What he lacked in speed, however, he made up for in relentlessness; at no point did his pace lessen as his comparatively fast bladework intercepted each blast bolt and either deflected them away or sent them back with inhuman accuracy. Once he was with within range, his right foot raised and stomped the floor- at once the station shook violently as a shockwave of Force energy exploded around him, tossing up cargo crates and soldiers alike. Those few fortunate enough to remain on their feet were quickly cut down by his lightsaber.

Of them all, however, Snaire's approach was unique. She moved with moderate speed, but unlike her companions her lightsaber remained at her hip. Despite this, the Twi'lek displayed a superior means of defense, as her agile hand intercepted each blaster bolt; though they exploded against her palms, they failed to do any visible damage whatsoever. She did not lack offense, either- with a wave of one arm, three soldiers were tossed into the air like rag dolls; with another, an intense blast of fire issued from her palm and engulfed the remaining four soldiers standing against her. Their screams filled the hangar moments later as she intensified the flames, immolating them without a hint of remorse.

With the surprise assault, it was unsurprising that the station's defenders were rapidly losing ground- Thresher suspected that despite the effectiveness of their presence, not a single Sith Knight needed to be here, as the soldiers were doing an exemplary job as it was. Yet Thresher did not fail to notice that while most of the tech specialists had also taken cover and added fire support, one had not. His eyes lingered on the Lepi female, who had her modular weapon raised but had not yet fired a shot. Her face was stoic, almost impassive- and yet, he could sense the hesitancy in her scarlet eyes and movements, the dissatisfaction of her surroundings as the Republic soldiers finally began to retreat from the hangar. He could see her gaze turning to the still writhing, barely living soldiers covered in flame, their howls having been reduced to moans of agony- and a glint of pity flickered within them.

He frowned, glaring at her for a few moments while issuing orders. "Snaire, Yuda, Apex- you have your orders. Take your teams and secure this platform's vital systems, starting with communications. You are to capture, not kill, any researchers and technicians you come across, am I understood? Apprehend all Jedi, if possible."

Snaire and Apex nodded, though Yuda merely snorted and gestured to his team as they all separated and exited the hangar through different hatches. Once they were finally alone, save for Thresher's own team, he approached the Lepi. Immediately, the well-armed technician backpedaled away, looking wary.

"You didn't fight with us," Thresher pointed out, his eyes narrowed.

"Your boys had everything covered," she replied. "Besides, you hired me for slicing and maintenance, not soldiering. And I don't recall you givin' me orders to shoot."

He stared down at her, jabbing a finger into her chest. "If you have reservations against fighting, you will be of no use to us. You possess a weapon- use it. Consider that a standing order, am I understood, slicer?"

"Call me by name, and I might consider it," the Lepi replied shortly, pushing his hand away and glaring back in defiance.

The shark scoffed in amusement. "Very well... Saph, was it?" She nodded. "You're a bold one for your age, so far from your warrens, but if you can so easily look me in the face while restraining your fear- and make no mistake, I can feel your fear- then it should be a trivial matter to restrain your objections to taking lives. Bear in mind, however, that we possess three other tech specialists who can perform your duties should something... unfortunate happen to you." He raised his active weapon, noticing that her eyes followed the hilt all the way up to the blade cautiously.

The Lepi said nothing for a moment before shrugging noncommittally. "Fine."

Without another word spoken between them, Thresher took point and gestured for his team to follow. There was much work to do, and only so little time before they would be discovered.

"Awwww!!! She's looks so adorable!" Keris purred delightedly, as Iaora showed her a still image of a 5-year old Syrra. "And you're right, she does look like you, ma'am," she added, glancing between the image and the older woman with interest.

"I agree," Locke said as Iaora offered him the holoprojector, taking it and smiling down at the sight of the golden puffball. She was not the only one in the photo, however, as a strong, powerfully built Trianii with a brown pelt and black hair held her in one arm while waving at the holocam. "And this male- this is her father, Ka'un?"

"It is," Syrra said as she approached from behind, resting her head on his shoulder. "That must have been maybe 3 or 4 months before he left us, during the summer months. That's Nidma's Ravine in the background- a canyon city near the Western Coastline." The Trianii Padawan took the holoprojector from Locke, sighing wistfully yet smiling all the same. "So you finally found it."

"I did," Iaora said with a nod. "I know it was important to you, perhaps now more than ever after what happened between you and your sister."

Syrra nodded as she strode forward and embraced her mother. "It is... although I wish we could have found an image where you were included."

"There's no need, cub- your advice to take solace in the memories he and I made together has aided me in ways I hadn't expected," she informed the younger feline, as they hugged tightly.

Markus, Calya and the rest of the crew of Ekibo's Light had left Baarok Manor two days prior, intent on delivering the newly wedded couple to their honeymoon location, and leaving only the crew of the Gold Rush and the Black Tomb pack to spend a few more nights of rest. Yet they all agreed that they had spent more than enough time recovering from their last mission, and it was best that they resume their work by the end of the week. These last few hours had been spent with Aarn and some of his employees upgrading the ship's onboard trauma unit and refilling its bacta reserves- the doctor had been exceptionally pleased to learn that it had aided in safeguarding lives.

All told, the "vacation" had ended up being largely productive, with most of the Black Tomb pack having studied beneath Kajex, Locke and Moarn; Retsa and her family having arrived earlier in the day so they could accompany everyone back to the Inspired (additionally bringing in what seemed to be several years worth of her noodle bowls); Kajex getting a decent grasp on the basics of Force healing; Keris having completed her lightsaber and making great strides in producing convincing Force illusions; and both Talrik and Rook demonstrating themselves to be excellent training partners for everybody.

Now time was running short, and everyone had convened on the landing pad, hauling in cargo, offering final goodbyes and handshakes. Off to the side, Kajex, Miles and Liam were engaged in a farewell discussion, as the human had decided not to accompany everyone back to the Inspired.

"You're sure about this?" the wolf asked, feeling a little disappointed.

"I'm sure, my friend," Liam acknowledged. "Doctor Baarok has graciously offered to transport me to Denhaven so I may pick up transport back to Orron III. After that, I need to give my final report to the CSA regional office, find out where I stand with getting my job back- and if that fails, find a way to give them a giant 'fuck you' before coming back here."

"Back here?" Miles repeated confusedly.

Liam grinned and glanced at Aarn, who nodded at the human as he exited the Gold Rush. "Syrra's uncle has been very pleasant to work with, and I believe my efforts to have his business bypass CSA regional red-tape nonsense has increased his opinion of me- to that end, he's offered me employment here, should I ever need it." He moved forward and slid his arms around the raven-haired Miraluka, smiling up at him. "So if you'd like, love, you can always convince Syrra to come back here, if you ever want to visit me."

Miles said nothing, smiling back and leaning forward to catch the human's lips with his own for a few moments.

"Well, I know it's a bit late to admit this, I should've said it sooner," Kajex said as the two drew away, offering his paw to the CSA officer, "but... I'm glad you were with us, Liam. You fought hard and saved Syrra, and that's something neither of us will forget."

"It was my pleasure, Sentinel," Liam replied with a genuine smile as they shook hands. "You and your pack take care of yourselves."

"Sentinel Surnahm!" Master Moarn called out from the ramp. "The crew of the Inspired sent word, Master Skywalker requests you and your team return as soon as possible for your next mission briefing!"

The wolf let out something between a chuckle and a groan. "Not a moment more fitting. Alright everybody, let's get ready to go."

"Wait!"

Everyone turned to see who had shouted, their eyes falling on Aarn holding a holocam in his paws.

"... Wouldn't be a proper vacation if it didn't end with a family photo, would it," he suggested.

As everyone got into position, Kajex half-expected Master Moarn to say something about running short on time, that it was necessary for them to return to their duty as Jedi- yet as the Trandoshan Jedi shifted into position behind both Kajex and Syrra, he leaned in and spoke. "Though it conflicts with how I used to operate as a Jedi... I feel now that moments like these are important and not to be missed, if at the cost of only a few minutes more."

"I agree," Kajex grinned as Aarn started snapping images. "Still... I gotta say, I like this newer you. What changed?"

There was a brief pause as they both smiled for the holocam, before he nodded towards the front of the group, at the Black Tomb pack.

"Kentoh and the others?" Syrra asked.

"In all my time as a Jedi Knight, I never once possessed a student," Moarn said quietly. "Master Skywalker only granted me the title due to my skill and experience- you were my first student, and I failed you. Yet this pack... they are my friends, and the closest I have to a family of my own. I have never truly wanted anything for myself, trained as I was to risk possession, but after delivering the images of you and your fathers... I'm not ashamed to admit I'd want something to remember this pack by."

Neither Kajex nor Syrra said anything, though they did smile as Aarn took a few more images, fully aware that Moarn could sense their approval. When the group started dispersing and Syrra ran to embrace her mother a final time, Kajex turned to the elder Jedi.

"Do you miss them?" Kajex asked.

"The old Jedi Order?" Moarn replied, catching on immediately. "... Yes, I do miss them. I grieve that they were killed... and I grieve that they were lost. They were good people, but... I see now how such subtle misguided teachings damaged them. All we can hope is to pass on better teachings- the way your fathers did." The two glanced back at the crowd of Trianii and packmembers converging to say goodbye. "This period of rest, giving everyone time to connect with the rest of the universe, has proven to be invaluable. Hopefully the lesson will be taken to heart."

"I hope so," Kajex murmured quietly- to say he had not been affected by this extended leave would be untrue. Being able to visit his parents' graves with his fiancee and friends, training with the Black Tomb pack and meeting many new people in between it all had been incredible to experience- he would miss it all when they left, he knew.

"Way to go, bro!" Syrra cheered at high volume, causing both of them to turn to her as she pumped both fists in the air with elation. There was a look of excited fascination on her features as hollered at two figures standing at the base of the ramp. Kajex felt his muzzle lift into a grin as he recognized Tegrim holding a brown-furred, blonde-haired Trianii male- the Black Tomb's beta had embraced Syrra's older brother, Ra'Tasum, and the two were now expressing their feelings with an unreserved and passionate kiss. Best of all was that Kajex could feel the normally shy and reserved Trianii brimming with joy and confidence. When the kiss broke, the entire Black Tomb pack converged on the two to the sound of cheers, offering their congratulations and support.

"Well... I admit I didn't see that one coming," Moarn admitted with a lopsided smile. "It would appear the lessons have taken root extremely well."

An hour later, the Gold Rush was nestled against the Inspired's ship umbilical, deprived of any space due to the presence of a dozen starfighters in the ship's hangar. Far from it being an inconvenience, the extra time it took for the crew to disembark gave Kajex and Moarn time to explain to the Black Tomb pack that they were not being snubbed by keeping their missions secret. As new students of the Jedi Order, they weren't quite prepared to handle any sort of dangerous assignments. While Kentoh seemed slightly disappointed, Rexxis' opinion of the Sentinel appeared to have improved by the decision- at worst, the 'Rah twins chafed a little at the idea of being stuck in a ship for a few more weeks, and quickly brightened when they were told they'd be training with other Jedi while Kajex and Locke were away.

While the Sentinel would very much have preferred he give Retsa and her family a tour of the ship they'd be living in, they were already running late for their discussion with Master Skywalker. Master Moarn volunteered to show them around instead, a decision that both Retsa and Garsh seemed to like- Kajex and Syrra had to hold back their laughter as Retsa gave the elder reptilian Jedi "the look", and when the group had left and Locke and Keris asked what was so funny, the Sentinel promised he'd explain later.

Master Skywalker was already waiting for them when they arrived, though Kajex was relieved that he could sense no impatience or disappointment for how late they were. Nevertheless, he felt it would only be polite to begin with an apology and honest explanation as he took a seat. "Sorry about that, Master Skywalker- it took a little while for us to pull away from family and friends. Master Moarn is getting the new additions to the Inspired settled in."

"Very well- and don't worry about running late. Finding it difficult to pull away from family not something I would find as a fault in anybody," Luke replied kindly. "I'm glad to see you're well, particularly you, Padawan Syrra. Do you feel you'll be able to perform at your full potential?"

The Trianii nodded. "Losing an arm didn't stop me from doing my job on the Omega-Orr- I'm ready to pull all the weight I can now that I've got a new one," she assured him confidently, raising her songsteel cybernetic limb up.

"Very impressive hardware- may it serve you well. I've also been informed that your second pack, the Black Tomb group, has started training as Jedi. How is it?"

"It's a new experience for us, but so far it's been rewarding," Kajex answered. "We'll try to take the time to swing by Yavin IV so you can get a closer look at them."

Luke smiled approvingly. "Excellent. I'd considered giving you more time to recuperate, but after hearing you were going to return to the Inspired either way I took it as a sign that you were all ready to get back into it- which is good," he added, his smile fading. "I was alerted yesterday of a potential threat that is likely within your abilities to respond to, and time may not be on our side. I'd considered sending other veteran masters instead, but given location and the fact that you possess a combat-capable ship, I would prefer if you handle it instead."

"We're ready to hear the details," Locke replied resolutely.

"Who among you have been to, or heard of, Malachor V?" Luke asked.

Syrra frowned. "Ray mentioned it, while we were on Southern Star Station."

"I know of it," Kajex answered seriously. "Locke too, no doubt."

The white wolf nodded. "And I'm certain most of us have heard it or even used it as a curse-phrase."

"I always thought it was just a swear word referring to a kind of hell-planet, before Ray talked about it," Talrik added.

"It might as well be," Rook said with an uncharacteristically subdued voice. "It's a fitting curse, when you consider what happened to it."

Luke's expression was sympathetic. "You are a Mandalorian. You are aware of its history, are you not?"

The otter swallowed and looked away- but nodded. "Yeah... my old man used to tell me about it. And you ain't gonna find a Mando'ade that doesn't know that bloody history." With an expression of pain and a few moments of hesitation, she started.

"'Bout four thousand years back, the Mandalorians started wagin' war with the Republic. Technically, the Mandalorian Wars didn't officially start till about 3,976 BBY, when the Republic finally decided to face us in battle- but for about a decade before then, our people had raided the Outer Rim and conquered a lot of its territory. By operatin' just outside the influence of the Republic worlds, they didn't see us comin', ignoring the approach for years. The Republic was still tryin' to lick its wounds after the Great Sith War."

Rook leaned back in her seat. "The story, like most Mandalorian stories, was passed down orally after Mandalore the Lesser re-established our people and culture, and after a couple centuries of tryin' to find our place in the universe again. But what we did figure out is that at some point after the Great Sith War- a conflict our people fought in and lost alot to- a member of the Sith Empire got an audience with Mandalore the Ultimate. Somehow, probably by usin' the Force to trick his mind into thinkin' it was a good idea, that Sith bastard managed to convince Mandalore that going to war with the Republic would bring us glory again. The only upside to that Sith fuckin' everything up is that the Mandalorians, who at the time were all Taung, agreed to admit into its ranks anyone that followed the Mandalorian code, or Resol'nare, regardless of species, sex, or sexual orientation."

"'Resol'nare?'" Keris asked.

"The six core tenants of the Mandalorian way of life," Talrik answered. "Teach children to be Mandalorian; maintain and keep their armor; train to defend themselves and their people; contribution to the clan they belong to; learning the language and keeping it restricted to Mandalorians; and answering the call of the current Mandalore."

Everyone stared at him.

"... I mean... it's just what Rook told me," he finished, looking a bit sheepish.

Rook, despite her cheeks burning a bright red, looked like she was holding back an otterish squee, but when she cleared her throat and continued it was with the same serious tone- though a bit stronger. "Right. Basically it made it so that the we Mando'ade would be self-sufficient, relying on tradesmen to support whatever war effort we decided to be a part of- and it allowed us to bolster our ranks with the brave and defeated. Not gonna lie, it was at a time when we were... barbaric. But even back then, we still had some honor. And it was pragmatic, too- if we didn't do that, we wouldn't have been able to wage the war in the first place. 'Course... the Republic sure took its sweet-ass time responding."

"The Republic was only interested in restoring the planets in its borders, plus whatever promising planets they had an interest in," Kajex interjected. "Most Jedi at the time remained silent on the issue, either because they felt the Republic was right, or because they detected the influence of the Sith behind the Mandalorian's actions. I agree with Rook, though- they sat on their asses way too long, thinking they could spot the problem from a distance. Only a handful of Jedi at the time voiced any true concern for the Outer Rim Territories. One of them was a gifted student of the Force, a charismatic Jedi Knight and leader who advocated a more proactive response to the Mandalorians- Revan."

"The Jedi who married Bastila Shan?" Syrra inquired.

"The same," Locke replied. "Against the wishes of the Jedi Council, he gathered followers through passionate speeches and solid logic, insisting the Mandalorians would not stop until the Republic was under their control, and that allowing non-affiliated worlds to suffer and burn went against everything it meant to be a Jedi. When the Mandalorians finally did start attacking Republic worlds and the Jedi Council offered no support, Revan stepped up and the Republic made him a general. His contributions thwarted the Mandalorian advance and put them on the back foot."

"He definitely bloodied th' fuck outta our noses," Rook agreed with a sigh. "The war came to a head at Malachor V- Revan had pushed us back, but we'd shredded the Republic Fleet at the same time and they didn't have much to fight us with during that last battle. I ain't got a reason to deny the descriptions of that battle as bein' violent and brutal, pullin' out the worst and darkest evils of every combatant there. But worst part wasn't how long it dragged on either."

"What was?" Miles asked.

"... Worst part was how quickly it ended," she answered simply, looking away with a troubled expression.

"The Republic had a superweapon on its side," Kajex explained, taking up the rest of the story. "A device called the Mass Shadow Generator. Imagine an Interdictor's gravity well, simulating a planet's gravitational mass to pull a ship out of hyperspace. Now imagine a device that can amplify a planet's gravitational influence to the point that it releases a gravity wave that pulls in and crushes everything within its influence. Everything on its surface was said to be gone, crushed and vaporized in the space of a moment. Both fleets were almost completely wiped out."

Syrra's brow furrowed skeptically. "So... why are you telling this story as if it's a ghost-story?"

"You should know by now what happens when that much death happens that quickly," the wolf responded grimly.

"... A wound in the Force," she answered, finally understanding.

After a brief period of silence, Rook started to speak again. "Mando'ade called it Ani'la Akaan- the Great Last Battle. In a way, it was the first step towards us losin' the desire to go to war, and more towards personal growth through battle. But even when everybody forgot what happened during the battle or how it finished, it ended up becomin' a curse phrase for Mando'ade and military from that point on. And we don't go there for any reason. Ever. You can call us superstitious if you want to... but that place is fuckin' cursed."

"As it happens," Luke finally said, "I don't believe you're superstitious in the slightest. There is a presence of evil in that place, something about it that existed prior to the conclusion of the Mandalorian War. I've learned from several Jedi Masters and our collection of Holocrons that it was once the site of a Sith institution, the Trayus Academy. I'd actually first learned of Malachor when the Alliance got their hands on a copy of the Imperial Handbook a few months after Endor. At the time, I'd entertained the idea of re-establishing the Jedi through my own academy, and wondered if I should scout the area for Jedi and Sith artifacts. But partially due to my own fears of failure, and mostly due to the dangers surrounding that area, I ultimately chose to leave it alone back then."

"So what brought your attention back to Malachor V, Master Skywalker?" Keris asked.

"Well, just because I thought it was a bad idea to go nosing around the ruins of a shattered Sith planet doesn't mean I didn't recommend to certain people to keep an eye on it. A few years ago, around the time I established the Praxeum, I managed to convince New Republic Intelligence to set up an observational platform near it just in case the Imperial Remnant or Inquisitorius decided to take a look- or worse, if Emperor Palpatine managed to be resurrected once again. After I established the academy I even started sending a handful of trusted Knights and Masters there to study with Padawans interested in Jedi history, though I've given them strict instructions not to visit the ruins directly, allowing only qualified Republic researchers to check and bring back salvage. So far, nothing serious has happened- it's eerily quiet," he mused quietly. "In fact, perhaps the most alarming thing about the region is what we shouldn't have found, yet did anyway."

"What did you find?" Syrra asked.

"You'll recall that Katarr suffered a devastation as well, and no life exists on the planet any longer. Malachor V suffered a wound in the Force- but unlike Katarr, surface reports showed that there were signs of life on the largest continental shards. And not all of those reports are recent, either- there were similar ones made as far back as the Galactic War, nearly four hundred years after the battle itself." He paused, an expression of concern on his faces. "Something about the planet or the area is different, something that might be worth investigating... and there's a chance the Circle of Syn thinks so as well."

"Did something happen?" Kajex asked.

"Word is supposed to come in from the facility every day, a standard for NRI facilities located outside Republic jurisdiction. Yesterday, contact was established with Observer-V, but they failed to use the proper code phrase in their response. Two hours ago the station was contacted again, on schedule- once again, they failed to use the proper code phrase."

"You think the facility is compromised?" Miles reasoned.

"I do," Luke acknowledged.

"With all due respect, Master Skywalker, as powerful as you are shouldn't you have felt any loss of life through the Force?" Talrik asked.

"With a Force wound around the planet, it might not be all that clear to anybody, regardless of connection," Syrra reminded him.

"Exactly," Luke agreed. "It was suggested by some members of the old Jedi Council that the Sith Empire might have actively caused such regional wounds to mask their own movements- whether or not that's the case with Malachor V, my ability to see or feel anybody in that area is effectively nullified."

"The plus-side is that they won't see us coming either, will they?" Kajex said with a knowing smile, which Luke mirrored.

"Indeed. They likely don't know we're on to them yet, either. It's an advantage we'd do well to make use of. Now, there's no telling who might be behind this, but given the location and it's significance to Jedi and Sith history it would be foolish not to be prepared with a Jedi response team. I've not yet ordered anyone to scout the area, I want to minimize the risk that we lose the element of surprise. So for now, the mission is for you and your pack to travel to Malachor V with a team of Antarian Rangers and the squadron of Jedi pilots I've hand-selected; ascertain the situation and provide aid if required; and get back to us as soon as possible. If there are any surviving staff members, do your best to rescue them- they'll likely possess information valuable to the Circle, and will therefore be kept alive. I apologize that I'm giving you very little time to prepare for this."

"What about the Inspired?" Locke asked. "We do have a new family on board, not to mention to Black Tomb pack."

"I'm aware of this," Luke acknowledged. "Hopefully your ship and the squadron will be enough to at least recon the area and get back to us- the Inspired will have to sit this one out, at least until we have a clear picture of the situation. Are you all up to it?"

Although he nearly nodded reflexively, ready to jump into the mission with a solid acknowledgment, Kajex stopped short and turned to regard Rook hesitantly. "I know you're hired to go where I go, but if you'd rather sit this one out..."

"I ain't a coward, boss," the otter replied stoutly, sitting up straighter. "I just don't think it'd be a good idea to get any closer to Malachor V than the station itself. I'm comin' with."

"I guess that's all of us, then," the Sentinel said, getting to his feet. "We'll get started as soon as everyone is ready."

"Excellent. I'll inform Master Moarn of your mission details once he's available. Good luck- and may the Force be with you all."

Talrik did not expect Kajex to waste any time once the meeting had ended, and he was not disappointed. As pleasant as the last few weeks had been training in a peaceful setting, he knew the wolf would much rather be in the thick of things so he could help others. Talrik felt similarly, itching to get back into the swing of things; and while Rook had voiced her concerns about the region, a quick glance at her told him she was satisfied with the return to action.

The moment Luke's hologram disappeared he was in full alpha mode, telling Locke and Syrra to find Master Moarn and give him a summary of what to expect and telling everyone else to follow him to meet with the squadron. It was a different change of pace from most missions, though Talrik thought he knew why- while Kajex might have otherwise taken a more relaxed approach to some operations, he took Master Skywalker very seriously when it involved older Jedi history, and so the fox found it unsurprising that the wolf wanted to meet this challenge swiftly.

About halfway to the hangar, however, a distraction occurred.

"Talrik! There you are!"

Trailing behind the rest of the group, the Ranger whipped around at the sound of the voice, eye falling on his mother jogging up to him. With a smile he crossed the remaining distance and embraced her, realizing how long it had been since he'd spoken to her. "Hey mom- I missed you."

"Did you have a good break, kit?" she asked, nuzzling beneath his chin.

"Minus a couple of hiccups from some of Syrra's family, it went smoothly," he responded, pulling away reluctantly- the brief joy he felt was quickly deflating. "I wish I had more time to tell you about it."

"Leaving already?" she said with a sigh and a smile, reaching up to brush the hair out of his eyes.

A pang of regret ran through him- the amount of time he'd spent with everyone, Rook especially, had eclipsed any time he'd spent with his own sibling and mother lately. "Yeah... Master Skywalker had something lined up for us, and time is a factor. I'm sorry, mom, I know I haven--"

"Don't apologize for a moment," Etina chided him gently, squeezing his shoulders and beaming up at him. "Seeing you be so active and putting effort into making people safe, keeping up with and aiding Jedi- I'm so proud of you, son. If there are people out there who need you and your friends, I can wait."

"I know... but I should still be trying to find some time with you and Arrik," he said guiltily, his ears folded back. "I keep hanging out with Kajex and the rest of the pack, but it's not like you guys aren't still my family."

Etina laughed softly and leaned in, pressing her nose against his. At once, the fox understood she was not angry at him in the slightest. "He's family to you, kit. I don't begrudge him for being intimate and treating you like his kin, not after knowing how you saved each other's lives. At the end of the day, your brother and I are still here for you too, thanks to him and Syrra."

"Tell you what," Rook said from behind, causing the Ranger to jump slightly- he hadn't noticed she'd remained nearby. "As soon as this mission is over I'll clap him in some cuffs and drag him to engineering, so he can't escape while you guys catch up," she offered with a grin, reaching over to rub his ears and causing him to blush. "I'll 'borrow' a few of Surnahm's noodle bowls and alcohol, and you can feed Talrik while he tells you about Ekibo."

Etina chuckled. "I appreciate it, lass. And you're more than welcome to join us, we only had a couple hours last time to speak. If my son is dead set on you, I'd like to know a bit more about who you are."

"I'd be happy to oblige, ma'am," the otter responded pleasantly, grabbing Talrik's arm and tugging him away. "But for the time being, we better get going- it was good seeing you again, Miss Lye."

"Likewise," Etina said, waving as they hurried to catch up with the rest of the pack. "Watch my boy's tail while you're out there!"

"Will do, 'cause I can't get enough of it!" Rook hollered back, prompting the elder fox to chuckle as they rounded the corner.

"Is that a fact?" he asked, arching an amused eyebrow

"I told you back on the Omega-Orr, love- I like the butt it's attached to," she purred. "Still, keeping Kaj's ass covered is also my job- just don't get too jealous, he's got a nice butt too."

"I'll try to restrain my envy," Talrik replied with a smile as they caught up with the rest of the pack, having now entered the hangar where the squadron had collected.

While a typical unmodified Dreadnaught cruiser would have no fewer than nine thousand hands to keep it maintained, the Katana-fleet designed Inspired was more or less automated in most respects, lowering minimum crew to little more than seven hundred, about fifty of whom were Jedi, fifty of whom were Antarian Rangers, and most of the rest of the crew family members with skilled engineering profiles or past combat experience. But for a starship with nearly a dozen decks, the end result was that most times the ship felt empty. Now, however, the hangar was abuzz with interest as a healthy fraction of the ship's crew (including a dozen Rangers, Mica, Kentoh and the Rah twins) gathered to look over the squadron of fresh-off-the-assembly-line X-wings- each of the sleek snubfighters bore a gold streak from the nose to the sides, a color matching both the Gold Rush's paint job and each of the pilots' flightsuits.

Most of this squadron was engaged in talking with some of the civilians or else doing last-minute tinkering on their ships- save for the commander, a blue-and-white feathered avian Nediji wearing a sleeveless flightsuit and a lightsaber on his hip, whose sharp violet eyes flicked between each of the packmembers as he spoke.

"That's all of you, then? Ranger Talrik Lye and 'Rook', is it?" Both of them nodded. "A pleasure- I'm Tay-Ir Naull, or just Tay, Jedi Knight and the assigned squadron leader to this little band of pilots," he explained, gesturing to the pilots and starships behind him. "Master Skywalker already briefed us on the significance of Malachor V, and made it clear that we're to defend Observer-V and the Gold Rush as well as we're able to." He cleared his throat. "I, ah... hope you don't mind, Sentinel- but as I'd seen your ship back at Yavin IV, I took the liberty of having the squadron repainted to match your colors."

"It's no problem," the wolf assured him, his eyes scanning the starfighters. "If it helps us identify each other in the thick of a firefight, it'll come in handy. Are these new fighter variants? They don't like your standard T65-Cs," he remarked, noticing the subtle but unmistakable differences that most civilians would miss.

Tay nodded, folding his winglike arms. "It'll be their first run in a combat situation, designed specifically for Force-sensitive pilots. They're a bit touchy at the stick, but it's meant to give us Jedi an edge- we'll be able to keep up with any situation." He nodded towards the pilots, roughly half of them human. "Each pilot here has at least 50 hours combat flight time, a mix of Republic and civilian star pilots with Force sensitivity- and every one of them has fought the Empire before."

Kajex peered at them critically, an expression of mild skepticism on his features. "Sounds promising- just as long as they're used to taking orders. How long have you been flying as a team?"

"Ah... well, this is actually our first engagement as a team," Tay admitted with an awkward expression, casting his eyes away while he ran a feathered hand through the medium-length multi-crest along his head. "But they're brave folks, and they're ready to give their lives if needs be."

Kajex sighed, glancing to Locke and Miles- the former looked doubtful, while the latter nodded. "Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that. Just don't any of you go taking any risks while we're out there. We'll keep our eyes on you all, but don't be too proud to pull back if necessary. For now, we'd better get a move on- if the Remnant isn't paying rent to the Republic for using their station, we'd better move fast so we can evict them," he suggested, holding out his paw.

The avian nodded, shaking with the Sentinel. "Understood. Alright folks," he barked at the rest of the pilots, "get to your ships and be ready for takeoff in five!"

"Yessir!" most of them responded as they scrambled to their starfighters.

"Any Antarian Rangers assigned to the Gold Rush- follow me," Kajex called out- immediately, no fewer than ten Rangers jogged after him and his pack following him towards the airlock leading to the ship. "This might get tricky," he said uncertainly, glancing back at the squadron. "I'm sensing a lot of fear in these guys, so I might need to put in some focus towards battle meditation while I'm flying, just to settle their nerves."

"How d'ya wanna do this, boss?" Rook asked as he keyed open the hatch for the umbilical.

"If we're gonna be forced to fight in space, I'd like at least some of us to be onboard. Talrik and Rook are going to stay onboard with me and Syrra so we can aid with any space engagements; I want to get into the hangar, or otherwise find a safe docking point so Locke, Keris, Miles and our Ranger team can find out what's going on." He glanced at Locke as he pulled open the hatch. "You good for it, bro?"

The white wolf nodded. "We'll keep you updated. Alright, inside everyone- stop by the ship armory for gear and medical supplies and get strapped in!"

Knight Thresher had many routines to keep his mind occupied while he was between missions, ways of training his mind and body so he could better serve the dark side of the Force. While the average spacer might have scoffed at the idea of a Sith immersing himself in meditation, Thresher had found that it was as essential for the Sith as it was for the Jedi- to immerse himself in violent, negative feelings, yet barricading his inner self to control them.

After all, he was not an animal. A monster, perhaps- but not an animal.

"Not.... telling you... shit, you Sith... scumbag..."

The Karkarodon's eyes slowly opened, the Sith Knight's half-lidded gaze falling upon the heaving form of a blonde-haired Miraluka Jedi Knight, laying at the feet of Knight Snaire. Tendrils of smoke were rising from his body, accompanied by the bitter scent of ozone as the figure stirred feebly. A small, cruel smile played on the shark's muzzle, his teeth glinting.

"I must give you credit for holding out this long. The two Jedi Masters that were here before you didn't last half as long as you have." His gaze flicked upwards at Snaire, who arched an eyebrow in interest. "Knight Snaire is an expert at using the Force to subdue enemies. To her credit, she does a fine job at ending the lives of others, but I have humbly suggested she lessen the experience so you feel every moment of it. There's nothing to be gained from your death."

The Miraluka's breathing was ragged, but his words were clear. "There is no death; there is the Force."

"The final and most foolish sentiment in the Jedi Order," Thresher spat derisively. "The fact that the Jedi can't even acknowledge death, their willingness to accept it, is a testament to their weakness." He paused, then chuckled darkly. "However... I do agree with the Second Precept; 'there is no ignorance, there is knowledge.' And I'm here to take that knowledge from you by any means necessary. So unless you want Snaire and I to repeatedly demonstrate the reality of pain, it would be in your best interest to tell us what you know."

The Miraluka said nothing.

"... Again."

At once, the room was filled with rapid crackling and a prolonged scream of agony. Bolts of electricity flew from Snaire's outstretched fingers and coursed through the Miraluka's body, searing flesh and causing his body to flail uncontrollably. 5 seconds of this torment passed, but Thresher was certain it felt much longer to the Jedi. When it ceased, Thresher got to his feet and folded his arms, staring down at the prisoner. Though he had lasted this long, the ragged breathing indicated he would not last much longer- and while this had briefly been amusing and interesting to watch, the shark's patience was starting to wear thin.

"You can stop this, you know," he stated, as he used that impatience to immerse himself in the dark side of the Force, pouring his focus towards the Jedi. "All you have to do is tell me where the Engine is."

"I told you... I don't know anything," the Knight gasped, still shaking. "And even if I did... I'd tell you to go to hell firs--"

A sickening snap cut him short, followed by his screaming. Without warning, the Miraluka's left arm had exploded, tearing the sleeve of his robe open as gouts of blood issued from the seemingly spontaneous wound- little more than a few threads of strong flesh connected his now-useless hand to the shattered remains of his arm. The sight was enough that the two troopers who had brought the Jedi in backpedaled in fear, and even Snaire took a step back, bewildered.

"What in the hell?!"

"At some point, this poor lad must have taken a tumble and broken his arm," Thresher explained to the Twi'lek. "An injury that would take little time to heal... but the dark side reveals all, eventually. Allow me to impart some knowledge of my own, Jedi- with great focus and concentration, I can see the minute flaws and irregularities of your body. All it takes for me to reopen those wounds is pouring my focus into those flaws." He knelt next to the Miraluka, grabbing his hair and wrenching up his head. "So enough with the games."

"M-my arm," the Jedi gasped.

"Darth Revan left something behind here- many things, in fact, but the legacy of his time with the Rakata persisted into the time of the Eternal Empire. There would have been a fragment of it, something that called out with the dark side of the Force." A pause, before Thresher slammed his head into the floor, a crack sounding out as the Jedi's nose shattered. "Tell me where it is!" Thresher roared.

"I-if... my masters didn't tell you," the Jedi choked out, "what makes you think... I know anything about it...?"

Another crack- now the Jedi's leg had exploded, blood issuing and pooling from the violent wound. But this time, he did not scream. Thresher shook with rage as he realized the Miraluka had suppressed all pain- and was now smiling at the shark.

"You're a Miraluka!" the Sith Knight snarled. "You see things through the Force, can sense the influence of the light and dark without the use of your eyes! Even in the Force wound, you must have seen it!"

There was a moment of silence as the expression of pain turned into an expression of stunned revelation- now the Miraluka was laughing softly, weakening. "Yeah... I have. And I'm looking at it right now," he added, wheezing through his laughter. "I thought... it was just a shard of the planet. But now... I see it for what it is..."

Rage was replaced by brief relief- but not enough for the rage to subside. With unexpected strength, Thresher grabbed the Miraluka by the throat and held him up, squeezing hard enough to keep him aloft and in severe pain, yet loose enough for the Jedi to speak.

"Tell me- and I shall ease your passing," he murmured.

The Jedi grinned. "... Find it yourself... you stupid Sith bastard. If you were of the light... maybe you'd see things... the way I do."

Those words eroded the last of Thresher's patience. With little more than the application of more pressure, the Karkarodon fingers tightened and collapsed the Jedi's throat. It would not be an easy death- it would instead be long and torturous. But while the shark would have taken dark joy in such pain and fear, watching the life of this man slowly ebb away until his eyes were dull and lifeless, he instead turned to Snaire with an expression of barely-contained fury.

"Redouble the search. It's here on this station."

She frowned. "We've looked everywhe--"

"Obviously not!" Thresher snarled, causing Snaire to step back again. "This Jedi was our last chance, and now we at least have confirmation that it's here! Check for any secret compartments- cut away the walls with lightsabers if you have to!"

The Twi'lek stood straighter. "I'll check in with Knight Yuda and ensure he isn't wasting our time just to spite you- and I'll get Apex to start checking the walls."

Thresher turned, his eyes falling on the Jedi- even now, there was a glint of defiance in his dying eyes. With a frustrated growl he addressed Snaire before she left. "One more thing- have the troops check in with the technicians, and send a message to the ISD Grim Return to double their fighter patrols. We don't have much time left to find Revan's discovery."

The first thing to alert Saph to the fact that troopers were moving towards her position was the distant sound of their bootsteps coming down the hall. Although they said nothing as they approached, she could tell just from the hurried pace that they were anxious. It was not long before they finally came into view, the black-armored soldiers glancing in her direction as she regarded them with moderate disinterest, before going back to her work- though she knew full well a question was coming.

"What are you doing here, slicer?" one of the soldiers barked.

The Lepi sighed, holding up her data pad even though she knew the pause in her work would set her back a ways. "I'm slicing into this door, obviously. It's one of the few we haven't breached yet."

The two troops turned to each other briefly. "... Why the hell would we want to breach the waste system?" the officer grunted.

Saph rolled her eyes. "For fuck's sake... look, every question you ask sets me back about 3 minutes because the security measures keep reinforcing each level I breach. Won't take that much time to lock me out and force me to start over again. If I'm right- and I have a hunch that I am- then opening this door will help us find whatever these Sith guys want us to find... whatever the hell that might be," she added irritably.

"Mind your tone when referring to the Inquisitorious," the officer growled, stepping forward aggressively. "You might regret it just like the last technician did."

"Ooo, scary," the bunny mocked him coldly, not even bothering to treat them with a glance. "No, seriously- did they tell anybody what they were looking for, or not?"

"They found a holocron, a few Sith artifacts, lightsabers, mental nullifiers, by last count," the other soldier informed her.

"... That doesn't answer my question," she replied, working quickly to regain her ground. "Did they tell you what it is we're supposed to be looking for?"

"A fragment," a cold voice said quietly.

The malice with which it was said was enough that even Saph, who considered herself unspookable in most regards, flinched slightly and drew her long ears back reflexively. Taking a moment to swallow and knowing that she was about to lose all her progress, she set her datapad down and got to her feet, turning to face Knight Thresher. The look on his face was murderous, contorting the scar along his features in a way that effectively made him seem more threatening. Worse were the void-colored eyes that were smoldering with a cold hatred, seeming to penetrate the rabbit's icy shell.

Still, she held her head high. "Just doing my job, sir."

"Your 'job' is to search for cargo containers and unopened accessways throughout the facility. You and the technicians have had a day and a half to find what we're looking for, and--"

"With all due respect," she bit back while glaring at him, "you didn't give us half a fucking hint about what we're supposed to find! Your orders were for us to slice into locked down containers, outgoing communications, checking hyperspace logs and questioning the staff. And yet somehow, we've got thirty or so artifacts that you don't seem to want; so tell me, boss- what the fuck is it you do want!?"

Though the two other soldiers were helmeted, their wary backsteps were enough of a clue that they felt she'd gone too far in addressing the Sith Knight. Yet the glare that Thresher once held had shifted into a confused frown. "... You are a strange one. You understand how easy it would be for me to kill you, correct?"

Saph folded her arms, her eyes narrowed. "Took you half a second to kill the first tech that gave you stupid backtalk."

"And yet you learned nothing from his mistake?" he asked, as he drew his lightsaber and activated it. Once again, the two nearby troopers backpedaled away, out of striking distance- but while he felt the twinge of fear filling the lapine spacer, she stood resolute. "Perhaps you have more nerve than sense."

She shook her head. "My backtalk ain't stupid- I have a point. What I'm doing here might end up saving us a lot of time."

Thresher paused. "... Explain."

"I don't have a fucking clue about the history of this place, but from what I can tell it seems like some ancient space battle got out of control," she observed. "Lotta wreckage and shit, some of it probably useful for scrap, but not much more than that, yeah?"

"A battle between Jedi and Mandalorians, on a Sith planet," Thresher remarked. "What's your point?"

"D'ya really think every cargo container we've busted open has every piece of shit that's floating out there right now?" Saph asked. "What's the chances they just chucked whatever they found useless into the garbage heap? They probably have a fuckton of ship parts in there with compartments and what-not."

Thresher arched an eyebrow.

"... I've scavenged before," Saph said quietly.

The shark said nothing for a moment, and in that moment it occurred to Saph that he was gauging her for something. The expression confused her enough that when he finally moved with incredible speed and abruptness, the Lepi barely had time to react to it. With a flourish, he swept his lightsaber up and darted forward in a smooth stabbing motion- at the same moment, the rabbit's instincts kicked in and she side-stepped hastily out of the way, drawing her pistol and raising it at his head.

Thresher smirked. "You have an exemplary means of hiding your fear, little rabbit. But to a student of the dark side, that fear could not be more apparent- you exude it like the stench of a corpse. To your credit, you possess good instincts and intellect, things that will keep prey like you alive. So I suggest that you do two things while under my command, which will ensure your survival."

"Y-yeah?" Saph said uncertainly, her heart racing. "What're those?"

"You'd first do well to know your limits, and not push your attitude such that I no longer find it tolerable. The Circle of Syn has a tendency to eliminate that which serves no use, and which goes too far."

The Lepi swallowed, keeping her pistol-hand steady. "And the second bit?"

"Don't waste my time." With a twist, Thresher's scarlet blade turned and drew out of the access panel he had punctured- a detail Saph hadn't noticed until the hatch slid open. "Fortunately for you, I do agree with your assessment. And if you're lucky, you might well have prevented a further expenditure of time," he added her as he switched his weapon off and returned it to his belt. "The device we're looking for is onboard the station, and your ability to think out of the box might have revealed its location."

With a silent gesture at the troops, he stepped into the dimly-lit interior- they followed in short order, their vision apparently unaffected by the darkness as they touched their helmets. With a few seconds hesitation, Saph sighed and lowered her pistol, taking a moment to snap a rifle stock and barrel to the weapon as she followed.

Metallic groaning filled the large space as they moved towards the heap, which was filled wall-to-wall with derelict ship parts and debris. What appeared to be months of collected wreckage had been collect and hastily organized as best as their inconsistent shapes would allow. Most of the pieces were large and heavy enough that, even inexpertly stacked, they did not shift dangerously as Thresher began to scale them.

Without prior warning, Thresher spoke, his soft voice amplified by the silence around him.

"You asked what it is we're searching for. I shall tell you. A short time after the Battle of Malachor V, and the cataclysm that ended it, Revan became a servant of the dark side, and sought to conquer the Republic through war. In his travels he uncovered many relics, but none as impressive as the construct known as the Star Forge."

"Sounds impressive," Saph said, following him up onto what appeared to be the hollowed out remains of a command bridge, which served as a kind of stable platform. "What'd it do, blow shit up like the Empire's Death Star?"

"Far from it," Thresher replied. "The exact opposite, in fact. It was capable of drawing energy from planets and stars, using the Force itself to construct anything that was requested from it; armor, weapons, rations- even entire fleets of ships. Imagine that. A hybrid shipyard and battle station, a supposedly non-living object, consciously using the Force to create what it needed. It was this weapon that allowed Revan to attack the Republic and bring it to its knees, before he was captured and converted."

"So that's what you want to find?" Saph asked, grunting as her boot slipped and she caught a hanging wire to keep herself upright. When she looked back up, Thresher was staring at her with a serious expression.

"No. The Star Forge was located in the Unknown Regions, and was destroyed in the final battle of the Jedi Civil War. But while he still controlled it, Revan found something within- a fragment. Or perhaps more accurately... a seed."

Saph would have asked him to elaborate, had a gentle thumping not interrupted her. Thresher and the two accompanying stormtroopers must have heard it too, for they stood frozen in silence. Two more beats followed, rhythmically. Another moment of silence, then another two beats. A chill filled the Lepi as it sounded horribly familiar to a beating heart.

Thresher stepped forward, his eyes closed and his finned hand held out. Though the question bubbled up and nearly left the tip of her tongue, Saph remained silent, curious. After half a moment, Thresher stirred, his eyes flicking open.

"Behind this hull section," he muttered, pointing to a thirty-foot tall, ten-foot wide section of durasteel.

Saph nodded, sizing up the fragment of hull- it looked easily to be several tons in weight. "I'll grab the other techs, see if we can find a scrap hauler or rig up a plasma cutting platfo--"

"There will be no need for that, slicer," the shark said softly, eyes close in concentration once again, both his hands held out in front of him.

Saph had heard of the feats of Jedi and Sith from her family and other spacers- one of her many older siblings had even known a Jedi, years ago. But while she did not doubt that they possessed mystical abilities far beyond her reckoning, she was almost certain that most tales about them exaggerated the extent of their powers. Thus when the massive hull fragment began to tremble and lift from the platform, shaking centuries of collected space dust from its surface, she could only gape in awe at the sight. Two feet, three feet, five feet- and only seconds later it was ten feet in the air. And through it all, Thresher stood silent, unmoving save for his raised hands.

His eyes opened one more and he issued a snarl, his arms motioning as if throwing an invisible object. The hull fragment followed the motion, flying through the air as if hurled by a giant hand, crashing into the far side of the massive waste chamber with a deafening din that caused Saph to wince and grab her ears to shield them from the painful racket. Violent trembling shook the area, her knees buckling as she tried to find stable enough footing to prevent falling over. The two stormtroopers had fallen to the floor, now on their hands and knees, though looking no worse for wear.

The Lepi drew in a steadying breath. "Well... guess that's out of the way," she remarked over the echo of the crash, trying to straighten herself out as she stepped forward. Before them was a kind of alcove in the wreckage, hidden in shadow. "Did you find what you need?"

He did not answer with anything but a raised finger, gesturing her to remain silent. After a few moments, the silence returned.

Two beats. And with it, concealed in the alcove's shadow, a light pulsed on the surface of an egg-shaped construct. Saph stared at it- it looked very much like a generator of some sort, with power cords and socket insertion points at different angles. She turned to ask Thresher what it was- yet he had already strode forward, reaching out with a finned hand and placing it on the surface of the machine.

"... At last... we have found you," he said, stroking the top of it almost lovingly.

Saph swallowed. "What is it?" she finally managed to ask.

His answer was not immediate. Instead, he breathed in and gave her an evil smile that caused her blood to run cold. "Saph, was it?" She nodded. "Run to the other Sith Knights and have the troopers meet me here. Have someone get the ship ready to take cargo, and tell them to send a message to the ISD Grim Return."

"Yes sir," she said warily, stepping back and inwardly thanking the Eternal Hutches she wouldn't need to be in the shark's presence any longer. "What's the message?"

"Tell them we have found the Infinite Engine."

It had been thirty minutes since the Gold Rush and it's X-wing escorts had slipped into hyperspace in a coordinated formation. Kajex was pleased to sense that the pilots' connections to the Force were strong enough that they'd entered lightspeed at precisely the same moment his pack had, allowing for an exceptional communication transmission between them. Yet with the distance between the Inspired and Malachor V meriting only a short period of hyperspace, Kajex had to work quickly to go over the plan, gathering everyone but Rook and Talrik into the lounge.

"The moment we appear and fail to see any Republic starfighters flying patrol is the moment we'll know something is wrong. Lode Squadron will fly escort and keep any starships we come across off our backs, while the Gold Rush will make a landing in the hangar or else find a docking apparatus to connect to. While this is happening I'll give the Republic a heads up of what we're facing, in case it's too much for us to handle, while Locke leads a team into Observer-V and secures or locks down the hangar to prevent any vessels from leaving."

"And the research staff?" a human Ranger asked.

"Rescue them if possible, if there's anybody to rescue," Locke answered, sitting on the lounge table with several cases next to him. "Master Skywalker believes that the Circle of Syn will keep some of the staff alive for questioning, if they haven't already found what they've needed." He flipped open one of the cases and held up a device that looked much like a miniature barbell, save for a switch on the side. "As we'll likely be engaging Force-sensitives and stormtroopers, I'd like for everyone here to carry at least two of these ABC charges- they should prove useful."

Syrra cocked her head as the Rangers approached him. "ABC charges?" she asked Kajex.

"Aural-Biological-Chemical scramblers- it's a nasty little suppression device that causes complete sensory overload, the Empire used to use it on Jedi when they were hunting us down. Officer Saine was gracious enough to give them to us back on the Omega-Orr." He smiled. "It didn't work worth a damn against the Infection, but it'll work just fine on Sith."

"Keep in constant communication at all times," Locke advised as each of the Rangers began to stock up on the charges. "I'll want situational reports anytime something new comes up. If the Gold Rush needs to disengage from the station for any reason, we'll be stranded until it comes back. Take no unnecessary risks at that point."

A console alarm rang out at that moment, prompting Kajex to sigh. "That's us, Syrra- one minute 'til showtime, folks, get your makeup on! Rook, Talrik, get those guns ready!" he ordered as he and his Trianii fiancee jogged to the cockpit. As he quickly worked his paws over the console, he spared a moment to glance at Syrra. "Nervous?"

She nodded. "A bit. This is the first time I've ever been in a space battle, I don't know what to expect."

"Just keep your eyes on the sensors and work with the computer to pick out targets- it's set up to counter-track the closest ship that has us on their own sensors," he explained. "And keep an eye on our defensive systems, let me know if we lose a deflector shield. The Gold Rush is a bit of a tank, her hull can take a moderate beating, but best not to risk it."

The Trianii nodded, taking in a deep breath and staring ahead into the undulating blue void of hyperspace. "Just... gotta let the Force guide me."

"Work with it," he corrected her gently as he adjusted his headset. "A Jedi's relationship with the Force is two-way, you need to focus on what you need it for." He glanced at his console. "Ten seconds- Commander Naull, are you ready?"

"We're ready- may the Force be with us," he added hopefully.

"Pull us out, Syrra."

The Trianii nodded, pulling back the lightspeed lever with her songsteel paw firmly. The ship gave a slight lurch forward as the Gold Rush slowed and slipped out into sub-light speeds, her engines generating a loud, healthy burst and propelling the vessel forward again, just as the lines of starlight receded back into pinpoints. It was at this point the two Jedi got a clear view of the chaos in front of them.

Malachor V lay straight ahead, a shattered planet barely held together by gravitational anomalies seemingly marked by the constant green bolts of lightning that arced between each fragment. Kajex had heard the stories, read the history of the doomed planet, yet only now was he able to put an image to the darkness of those stories, a reality that he inwardly wished he hadn't seen for himself. It was like the approach to Katarr, months earlier- a wound in the Force that gnawed at his Jedi senses relentlessly, making him shudder.

And like Katarr, there were others waiting for him when he arrived.

Almost immediately, an alarm blared on the console, bringing him out of his momentary distraction. "We've got contacts!" Syrra warned. "Talrik, Rook, are you guys on the guns?"

"We're ready to hit 'em, boss!" Rook growled.

Kajex swore, visually picking up the opposition- the massive, wedge-shaped warship ahead was difficult to miss. "Shit, we've got an ISD- Syrra, get that over to New Republic Intelligence, now!" he barked, swinging the ship around and trying to find the orbital station.

"On it!" she responded, switching the frequency on her side.

"All fighters, report i--"

But before he could finish the sentence, the Gold Rush rocked violently, pelted by a barrage of fire and forcing him to break off from the squadron. A brief glance at his sensors was enough to show him that they'd picked up no fewer than three TIE fighters, while Lode Squadron split formation and moved in to engage the remaining patrol. They were not defenseless, however- moments later, the ventral and portside cannons sprang to life and opened fire on their pursuers, causing two to scatter and the third to take a direct hit. The heavy thumping of the cannons reverberated through the ship as Kajex started marking all contacts.

"Alright, fuck the roll call, Tay- what do we got?!"

"Looks like the Imps have dumped about half their Eyeballs out on patrol, about 32 fighters," Tay responded calmly. "Lode 7, watch it- you've picked up two Squints."

"On it, shaking them off," a female voice responded.

"That's a three-to-one ratio- perfect for X-wings with Jedi pilots. Everyone give the Gold Rush cover while it makes the approach to the orbital station!"

While Kajex would have preferred to yank the throttle back and make a beeline for Observer-V, he was well-aware that it would require diverting defensive systems into the engines to outrun TIE interceptors. Nevertheless, years of experienced space combat kicked in as he grabbed the yoke and directed the ship by hand, swerving to avoid laser-fire while remaining stable enough to allow his gunners to get off accurate shots.

"Alliance picked up," Syrra told him, running her paws across her console and logging in nearby contacts, "they're fifteen minutes out, they'll bring in a cruiser coming in from Almania- Master Moarn was contacted, he'll be coming too!"

Kajex whipped his head around. "With everyone else onboard?!" he yelped.

"We need the guns, Kajex!" she told him. "Even if Lode Squadron can go three-to-one against TIE fighters, what are we going to do about the Star Destroyer? Now focus on flying, you've got four marks ahead!"

"Your Padawan is right, sir," Tay informed, still sounding calm and collected. "They're down five ships already, but that ISD just launched another squadron in response, and it's not going to wait around- a Dreadnaught would easily level the playing field. Just focus on getting to that facility."

Kajex grimaced, knowing it was useless to argue- although deep down, he was a little happy knowing there were people he could trust coming to support them. With redoubled focus he directed his ship through the hail of firepower, watching as the ventral turret sent three bursts of cannon-fire and blew apart two of the four ships ahead.

"Boss, the space is thick with these fuckers," Rook pointed out. "How're we gonna land this thing?"

The wolf growled. "It's not gonna be easy."

"We got a lock!" Syrra shouted, sounding panicky as a rapid beeping emanated from the console. With a deep breath, he reached out to her and settled her nerves. "W-what do we do?" she asked, looking worried.

"Get the chaffs ready," he told her calmly, trying to fight down his own fears as well. "We may not need to use them. Tay, focus on the interceptors, keep them out of locking distance."

"You heard the boss, squadron- nail those Squints and keep them from getting too close!"

They were only three kilos away, but as Kajex closed in he noticed that many of the TIE interceptors were breaking off from Lode Squadron and gunning for them, forcing him to weave around and break off in order to avoid taking too much flak. The Gold Rush continued to thump repeatedly, cannon fire filling the space around them and shattering any ship too slow or too stupid to retreat. When one of the hangars came up on him visually and the console continued to beep with a lock-on warning, he swore, forced to break off his approach and being pushed off-course until one of his gunners shattered it

With a grimace he tried again, gunning the throttle and trying to make a straight bee-line for the hangar, but within moments three marks tailed him and started hammering away at the ship's aft shields, forcing him to break off yet again. "I can't get close, they're swarming us!"

"Missile away!" Syrra called out.

The wolf's eyes caught the scanner, noticing the approaching red blip. "Launch the first chaff once it's within two hundred meters- it'll take care of the rest." Dismay filled him as a second missile launched- even as Syrra deployed the chaff and destroyed the first, its partner ignored the triggering pulses and closed in. It took a last-second swerve for him to dodge it, just as it detonated some ten meters away. "If they keep doing this, we're never going to be able to land!"

"Kajex, I have an idea."

The last voice he expected to hear was his own brother's, but for some reason it calmed him down immensely, despite his rapid heartbeat. "I'm ready to hear anything you have, bro."

"Launch the escape pod at the hangar."

A moment of relative silence passed as Kajex seemed to suffer a moment of stunned surprise. "... Are you fucking serious, Locke?"

"I've already gathered everyone into the pod- this way you can break off and engage the fighters while we conduct our operation. They already know we're here, they'll be scrambling to leave- we're not going to get reinforcements for another ten minutes, and by then the station might be evacuated. This is the best option we have."

The Sentinel swore, more out of surprise as he barely managed to veer his ship away from a third concussion missile. "Alright, fine- strap your asses in and get ready for the pod to launch! Syrra, keep an eye on them- I'd like to get this done in one shot."

"This is crazy, love," she whimpered.

"Even for me, yeah," the wolf agreed, wincing. "Rook, keep the fire up, I'm gonna swing her around- it'll be up to you to keep the pod covered once I've launched it!"

"You got it, boss," Rook acknowledged.

Hoping desperately that this would work, Kajex swung the ship around. A pang rent through him as he noticed one of the Jedi pilots take a direct hit to their engines, blowing apart the X-wing and making him wince. While he did not hold any delusions that an operation of this size to be conducted without a loss of life, he still felt bad for it. Doing his best to suppress his emotions and hoping that they could make the cost worth it, he poured his focus into flying, weaving through the rain of starship barrages and angling the Gold Rush's pod directly at the nearest hangar.

"Brother... I love you, and I believe in you. You can do this."

Fear seemed to evaporate the moment he felt the gentle caress of Locke's admiration and affection reach him. In the moment that his paw slapped the console and released the pod, he knew the plan had already worked.

A mechanical hiss echoed through the ship as the Gold Rush launched its soldier-filled package directly into the hangar, spinning very much like a bullet as it penetrated the magcon field. Kajex managed to whip the vessel just in time to see the escape vessel slam into the back of the hangar, letting out a relieved laugh as he saw it had not exploded or taken massive structural damage.

"Th-they made it!" he managed to choke out.

"CEC builds 'em tough," Syrra replied, looking thankful that they'd landed intact. "Locke, can you read us?"

There was a pause, then a crackle of static. "--... fine, pod made it in! Wherever they landed--... not in here, must be oppos--... side of the installation!"

Hearing Locke's voice again boosted the wolf's spirits. "Alright, that's fine- just keep yourselves safe in there and get to the other hangar. As soon as the Republic gets here, we'll try to land and rejoin you."

"Copy--... moving out!"

Despite the brief moment of relief, Kajex shook himself back into reality and started adjusting the Gold Rush's systems. "Diverting from engines into deflectors and cannons. Syrra, can you man the ventral cannon and give them hell?"

"Won't need me up here, love?" she asked, getting up.

"I might, but right now Lode Squadron needs our help," he observed with dismay- another of their ships had been destroyed. "We need to help where we can- the rest is up to Locke and his team."

As he prepared the ship to jump into the fight, however, he reached out to his sibling, swallowing as he passed a message of his own to Locke.

"I love you too, bro- keep everyone safe... and give 'em hell."

Knowing Locke had heard him, he steeled himself and turned the ship into the fray.