Chapter Summaries

Anakin Skywalker and Rex discovered that communications between Christophsis and the Republic fleet had collapsed, while Obi-Wan Kenobi uncovered an infiltrated transmission falsely describing the fleet’s situation. Rex led a team to reclaim the occupied communications tower, where Slick’s clones opened fire on them.

• Rex reported that Republic communications had completely failed, and Anakin decided to head for the communications tower with Ahsoka Tano.
• Sefrans Tann attacked the Republic fleet from the north and south with support from Martha-class missile heavy cruisers, forcing Wullf Yularen to commit 5,000 fighters.
• Obi-Wan Kenobi discovered that an unauthorized message identifying the Separatist fleet as Dawn Star Planet Fleet A was being transmitted, but the communications officer could not stop it.
• Sergeant CI-3331 Slick prepared his clones to defend the central communications tower from an approaching Republic special forces unit.
• Rex led his team toward the tower, and Slick’s clones opened fire on them.

Anakin Skywalker discovered that Clone Troopers at the communications tower had mistaken his forces for enemies, while Slick manipulated the confusion and disrupted Republic communications. The Republic army’s command collapsed under false orders, droid assaults, and zombie attacks, and Anakin finally heard Obi-Wan Kenobi calling him.

• Anakin Skywalker and Rex halted their attack after realizing the defenders at the communications tower were Clone Troopers, and Anakin rushed over to investigate.
• Slick mistook Anakin for Ulu Ulix and ordered the tower defenders to hold their position, while Slick’s false communications orders sowed chaos across the Republic forces.
• A false order caused incendiary rounds to ignite a civilian shelter in White Light District as the droid army and zombie hordes broke through Republic positions.
• Volm Lotham led Kloiden militia into a gap in the Republic line, while isolated Republic units were overwhelmed and scattered.
• Anakin reached the communications tower and learned Slick had tricked the defenders, then found Clone Trooper corpses inside and heard Obi-Wan Kenobi call over the comm.

Anakin and Obi-Wan restored communications and learned that the Republic army had been scattered across Christophsis while the Separatists pressed their attack. Though Obi-Wan urged a retreat, Anakin decided to raid the enemy commander to buy time for the remaining forces to withdraw, and Ahsoka joined him.

• Anakin reconnected with Obi-Wan, who revealed that a Trojan had disrupted communications and sent false distress signals implicating Dawn Star Planet’s fleet.
• Anakin learned that fewer than two hundred thousand Republic and local troops remained, scattered into more than 170 isolated forces as the front collapsed.
• Ahsoka told Anakin that a Kloiden force pursuing her squad might lead them to the Separatist ground commander, Volm Lotham.
• Obi-Wan urged Anakin to retreat, warning that the Republic fleet was suffering catastrophic losses and that General Trench and Tann led the Separatist assault.
• Anakin kept his plan to raid the enemy commander and buy time for the retreat, and he agreed to let Ahsoka support him.

Admiral Magellan’s Republic fleet nearly destroyed the Agonev-class star base at Bespin, but learned that the mysterious fleet at Christophsis was not Dawn Star Planet’s Fleet B. As Magellan ordered a retreat, the damaged fortress delayed the fleet’s hyperspace departure and a large force approached.

• Admiral Magellan ordered the defenders on Planet Kaal to leave and threaten the Modell Sector while Fleet A was at Annaj Planet.
• A staff officer reported that the Separatist reinforcements at Christophsis were not Dawn Star Planet’s Fleet A or Fleet B, but had come from Hutt Space.
• Magellan ordered the Republic fleet to retreat from Bespin Planet, but learned it would take five hours to enter hyperspace because the Agonev-class star base was disrupting the fleet’s hyperdrives.
• The radar officer detected strong hyperspace fluctuations as a large fleet approached.

Lin Nanyi led Fleet B in a surprise attack on the retreating Republic 19th Army above Bespin, while Admiral Magellan ordered a desperate assault that destroyed the Agonev-class star base. The star base’s destruction rocked Cloud City, where Igor Zavalov collapsed in pain.

• Lin Nanyi commanded Fleet B’s sixty warships to attack the fleeing Republic fleet and prevent its escape.
• The Hiigaran-class battlecruisers destroyed two exhausted Aquitenes-class light cruisers as the Kohl-class battlecruisers prepared their Hypermatter Railguns.
• Lin Nanyi ordered the railguns to fire on Hunter Class Battlecruisers as they recovered fighters, destroying several ships and turning the battle against Admiral Magellan.
• Admiral Magellan learned that Dawn Star Planet Fleet A and the Planet Kaal garrison were heading toward Cerea, then ordered the Republic ships to make a final attack on the Agonev-class star base.
• After seven Hunter Class Battlecruisers were destroyed, Longbow and another Hunter Class rammed the star base, triggering a chain of explosions that devastated it and shook Cloud City.
• After the tremors subsided, Igor Zavalov clutched his chest in pain.

Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano captured Volm Lotham, but the Republic’s ground forces on Christophsis were defeated and the fleet was close to destruction. Anakin and the surviving ships escaped through hyperspace toward Tatooine, leaving Christophsis and many Republic forces behind.

• Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano escorted Volm Lotham aboard a shuttle after capturing him, then the clones locked him in a cell.
• Anakin ordered Ahsoka and the other pilots to launch as the Acclamator-class ships rose from Christophsis into the devastated space battle.
• Anakin and the Republic fighters fought the Vulture droids while Wullf Yularen warned that no more ships could escape the planet.
• Wullf Yularen told Anakin that General Kenobi had been seriously injured and that the fleet’s only escape route ran through Tatooine and Hutt Space.
• The Republic fleet left two damaged ships and over five hundred volunteer fighter pilots behind, then five Hunter Class warships and four Acclamator-class ships fled into hyperspace.

The Fourth Civilization destroyed the Republic’s 19th Army main fleet at Bespin and crippled its detachment near Cerea, while Republic authorities prepared to arrest several commanders. Tang Xiao then learned that the surviving Republic fleet had escaped through Tatooine despite his order to Gaddula to stop it.

• Sefrans Tann learned that General Wolm had been captured by Jedi and ordered an immediate attack, threatening his troops with execution unless they killed at least one hundred enemy soldiers each.
• Lin Nanyi’s Fleet B helped destroy the Republic fleet at Bespin, where Admiral Magellan rammed his flagship into an Agonev-class star base and all 607,000 crew members perished.
• Lin Nanyi ordered Garda Flak Frigates and Vulture droid fighters to eliminate a remaining squadron of Republic fighters that included a suspected Jedi.
• Matt Hona’s Fleet A defeated the Republic detachment near Cerea, destroying or capturing twelve Hunter Class Battlecruisers and opening the Planet Kaal defensive line.
• Governor Sulama set off for Coruscant to blame Christophsis for the defeat, while the Republic Supreme Strategic Command issued arrest warrants for Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, and Wullf Yularen.
• Tang Xiao learned that the Republic fleet had escaped through Tatooine and questioned why Gaddula had failed to block it.

Tang Xiao learned that Alok Besadi had agreed to Jabba and Gaddula’s marriage alliance, giving the Desilijic kajidic joint control of Tatooine and threatening Tang Xiao’s influence. He began plotting against the Hutts, then heard from Count Dooku about Separatist victories and a request for the Plague to help blockade the Hydian Way.

• Alok Besadi told Tang Xiao that Jabba would marry Gaddula and that the Besadi and Desilijic kajidics would jointly administer Tatooine.
• Tang Xiao concluded that Jabba’s proposal had secured Besadi support and that Alok intended to claim Titan Security and the Calamity Legion.
• Tang Xiao ordered Madam M to use hidden connections to turn Ziro Desilijic against Jabba and to make use of the ostracized Hutt Boorka.
• Count Dooku told Tang Xiao that the Separatists had destroyed a Republic battle group at Falrin Planet and praised Dawn Star Planet’s victory at Bespin.
• Count Dooku recognized Dawn Star Planet’s and the InterGalactic Banking Clan’s interests on Christophsis, then revealed that General Grievous was using the Malevolence along the Hydian Way.
• Count Dooku asked Tang Xiao to request that Lord Archangel of Death send the Plague to help blockade the Hydian Way and attack Kamino, and Tang Xiao agreed to convey the request.

Governor Tang celebrated the Confederacy of Independent Systems’ victories at a gala and enlisted Dryden Vos for a plan involving the Hutts. Meanwhile, the Republic’s battered 19th Army faced collapse, and Sulama stood trial for the defeat at Bespin, blaming the Christophsis command.

• Count Dooku celebrated the victories at Christophsis, Bespin, and Falrin Planet, praising Governor Tang, Passel Argente, and General Grievous.
• Dryden Vos approached Governor Tang, who invoked their shared connection to Hego Damask II and directed Vos to speak with Glosse-Shelbia about a matter concerning the Hutts.
• Sulama returned to Coruscant, resigned as governor of the 19th Army, and agreed to stand trial before the Supreme Military Court.
• Fourth Civilization fleets advanced toward Gerrenthum Planet and Planet Kaal as the Republic lacked mobile fleets to reinforce the 19th Army.
• At trial, Sulama blamed false intelligence from Christophsis for his attack on Bespin and accused the Christophsis commander, facing Wullf Yularen, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ahsoka Tano.

After the Christophsis defeat, Anakin Skywalker visited the newly awakened Padmé Amidala and his mother on Naboo. Meanwhile, the Republic’s retreating forces encountered a massive Separatist warship near Phu Planet, but electronic jamming blocked their distress signal.

• Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ahsoka Tano accepted responsibility for the Christophsis defeat before the military tribunal postponed its verdict and sent them back to the Jedi Temple.
• Sheev Palpatine told Anakin that Padmé Amidala had awakened and urged him to protect her, restoring Anakin’s resolve.
• Anakin rushed to Naboo, reunited with Padmé, and learned she had been awake for four days.
• Anakin visited his mother Shmi Skywalker, whose caretaker Rock Johnson said she was physically healthy but had limited intellectual capacity.
• A Republic fleet led by Jedi Master Ares Nune encountered a gigantic Separatist warship near Phu Planet, but jamming prevented it from sending a distress signal.

Ares Nune faced the Malevolence and tried to warn the Republic before its EMP disabled the fleet and General Grievous destroyed the battlecruisers. A day later, Plo Koon found Ares Nune’s body and recovered a data recorder that might contain evidence of the Separatist superweapon.

• Ares Nune judged the Republic’s inexperienced fighter force unable to threaten the Malevolence and ordered battlefield recorders to preserve information about the enemy ship.
• Ares Nune launched in his Delta-7 fighter, but the Malevolence released an EMP that disabled the Republic fleet and left his fighter drifting without power.
• General Grievous ordered the Malevolence forward, and its turbolasers destroyed the powerless Hunter Class Battlecruisers.
• Ares Nune recorded that the enemy weapon was an EMP, then entered a deep meditative state as his fighter’s life support failed.
• Plo Koon arrived in the Puy Star System a day later and found Ares Nune’s body in the wreckage.
• Plo Koon recovered a data recorder from Ares Nune’s robes.

The Jedi Council reviewed the defeats at Christophsis and Bespin, while Plo Koon revealed that the mysterious weapon attacking the Hedia hyperspace lane was a massive warship. Tang Xiao received updates on Separatist advances and plans, including efforts to control the Indjori, as the war continued to escalate.

• Mace Windu reported that Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ahsoka Tano had been barred from military operations and ordered to reflect at the Jedi Temple, while Anakin departed for Naboo to protect Padmé Amidala.
• Yoda announced that he would travel to Toydaria to persuade it to join the Republic, and Plo Koon revealed that Master Ares Nune's fleet had been destroyed while leaving evidence of a massive warship along the Hedia hyperspace lane.
• Daphne Clement briefed Tang Xiao on Separatist campaigns, new funding and production deals, and the Republic's defenses slowing Fleet B's advance toward Nothoiin.
• Clement reported that Chief Engineer Rory Swann had beaten an InterGalactic Banking Clan representative, and Tang Xiao questioned why Swann had repeatedly assaulted people.
• Tang Xiao ordered a propaganda response to accusations over the Indjori Vengeance, and Clement reported that Shen Yuanhao had used addictive cigars to bring at least twenty Indjori tribes under his control.

Tang Xiao oversaw the Rebirth Plan and revived Lieutenant Li Yifei, one of the pilots killed at Bespin. After fixing Li Yifei’s memory rejection, Tang Xiao sent him to recover his battle memories and ordered him to keep the program secret.

• Tang Xiao ordered the Gran to fund and staff the army’s rearmament, while Daphne Clement agreed to manage the Ayrou situation.
• Tang Xiao reviewed the awakened personnel roster and selected someone for awakening.
• Lieutenant Li Yifei emerged from a medical pod and learned that he had died during the Battle of Bespin.
• Li Yifei suffered memory rejection, but Tang Xiao used the Force to stabilize him.
• Tang Xiao directed Li Yifei to receive his battle memories, return to his family, and keep the Rebirth Plan classified.
• The Mainframe told Tang Xiao that the newly awakened person had completed a physical examination and was waiting in his office.

Li Yifei returned home after the Rebirth Plan and spent his three days of leave with his wife, Juan'er, before reporting back to the front. Meanwhile, Tang Xiao received word that Gabriel Tosh had completed his assignment.

• Li Yifei woke from the rebirth procedure, traveled home to Silver Ash City, and reunited with his wife, Juan'er.
• Li Yifei told Juan'er about the Battle of Bespin and reassured her that he would keep fighting the Galactic Republic despite her plea for him to transfer away from the front lines.
• After Li Yifei's leave ended, Juan'er pinned his Nebula Medal to his uniform, and he departed in a military car as news reported Admiral Igor Zavalov's death and Admiral Sefrans Tann's attack at Hoth Planet.
• Gabriel Tosh told Tang Xiao that he had finished his assignment and offered to pose Sulama's corpse for inspection.

Tang Xiao hired Gabriel Tosh to capture Hoth Planet, while Sefrans Tann led the Fourth Civilization’s fleet to seize the Republic 19th Army headquarters. After Sulama was killed and the planet’s defenses were isolated, Tann began bombarding Hoth’s planetary shield.

• Tang Xiao offered Gabriel Tosh five million credits to capture Hoth Planet and required him to remain reachable.
• Sefrans Tann took five Kohl-class Battlecruisers and five Sova-class Carriers through hyperspace sub-routes to Hoth Planet.
• Sulama activated Hoth’s planetary shield and orbital defenses, but he was killed inside the Governor’s Mansion.
• With Sulama dead, the 19th Army lost command and its frontline troops received no orders for a day.
• Sefrans Tann’s fleet captured Hoth Planet’s seven spaceports on the night of August 17, cutting off the planet’s external connections.
• The next morning, Tann’s ten warships began bombarding Hoth’s planetary shield with high-yield nuclear bombs.

Matt Horner’s Fleet A broke through Planet Kaal’s defenses and captured Hoth Planet, destroying the Galactic Republic’s 19th Army. The Mugali declared independence and joined the Fourth Civilization, while Wilhuff Tarkin received orders from Darth Sidious to destroy Dawn Star Planet.

• The release of Mugali political prisoners and the Republic’s faltering defenses plunged Hoth Planet into chaos.
• Matt Horner used Big Ivan Super Proton Torpedoes to destroy Planet Kaal’s armed space stations and break through its defensive line, forcing the planet to surrender.
• Fleet A joined Sefrans Tann’s raiding fleet at Hoth Planet, bombarded its Planetary Shield, and took the planet after it surrendered.
• Matt Horner and Sefrans Tann took control of Hoth Planet and received former Governor Sulama’s head.
• The Mugali declared an independent government, joined the Fourth Civilization, and announced their accession to the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
• Darth Sidious ordered Wilhuff Tarkin to destroy Dawn Star Planet without leaving survivors.

Wilhuff Tarkin demanded the forces and time he needed to prepare for Dawn Star Planet, then ordered the torture of Colonel Lott for intelligence about the 19th Army’s defeat. Meanwhile, Tang Xiao led the funeral procession for Marshal Igor Zavalov, whose refusal of revival left him reflecting on death.

• Wilhuff Tarkin told Darth Sidious that he needed five years and five hundred Hunter Class ships, while Darth Sidious rejected the delay and arranged two Jedi Masters to protect him.
• Tarkin ordered his staff to gather every detail about Dawn Star Planet and questioned Colonel Lott about the intelligence that had doomed the 19th Army.
• Tang Xiao led the Fourth Civilization’s honor guard in a funeral procession for Marshal Igor Zavalov, accompanied by ninety-nine ceremonial cannon shots.
• Tang Xiao recalled offering to revive Igor Zavalov, who had refused and died, and reflected on the possibility that some things transcended death.

Count Dooku reported his failed search for the Archangel of Death to Darth Sidious, who ordered him to find and kill the renegade Sith and destroy a mysterious warship. Dooku then sent Quinlan Vos to contact the Archangel of Death and form an alliance against the Galactic Republic.

• Darth Sidious ordered Count Dooku to find and kill the Archangel of Death, citing his theft of the Book of Sith and threat to their plans.
• Count Dooku said his investigations of San Hill and Tang Xiao had yielded no evidence, while withholding details of his clash with the Archangel of Death.
• Darth Sidious announced that Tarkin's 18th Legion would attack Dawn Star Planet and ordered Dooku to destroy the unidentified massive warship.
• Count Dooku summoned Quinlan Vos, praised his commitment to the Dark Side, and discussed Darth Bane's Rule of Two with him.
• Count Dooku revealed that Darth Lilim served the Archangel of Death and ordered Quinlan Vos to find him and form an alliance against the Galactic Republic.

After Count Dooku secretly ordered Quinlan Vos watched and assigned Khaleen Hentz to report on him, Quinlan discussed the war and the mysterious second Sith Lord with Aayla Secura. The chapter left Quinlan heading to meet Khaleen, unaware she was spying for Dooku.

• Count Dooku ordered two men to watch Quinlan Vos without interfering and instructed Khaleen Hentz to report his activities.
• Quinlan contacted Aayla Secura and learned that Republic supporters were losing confidence as businesses prepared to withdraw from the Outer Rim Territories.
• Quinlan told Aayla that Count Dooku had tasked him with finding and allying with the second Sith Lord, the Archangel of Death.
• Aayla said the Jedi Order was also investigating the second Sith Lord but had found no leads, and Quinlan decided to pursue the search to gain Dooku's trust.
• Khaleen invited Quinlan to Hila Bar, and he went to meet her despite claiming he was exhausted.

Quinlan Vos told Karin Henz that another Sith Lord might be connected to Dawn Star Planet, and they decided to investigate Ni Yongxiao through a smuggler. Meanwhile, General Grievous’s Malevolence encountered a Republic fleet led by Plo Koon, and both sides prepared to fight.

• Karin Henz asked Quinlan Vos what Count Dooku had sent him to do, and Vos revealed that he was investigating another Sith Lord.
• Vos said Jedi intelligence linked the other Sith Lord to Dawn Star Planet, and Karin named Ni Yongxiao as a powerful crime boss who employed the smuggler Srilanka.
• Karin and Vos decided to start by questioning Srilanka, though Karin said she could not easily meet him.
• General Grievous ordered the Malevolence’s droids to hurry their hyperspace calculations as five Hunter Class Battlecruisers arrived in the Abregado system.
• Plo Koon ordered his fleet to spread out and prepare for battle after the Malevolence jammed their communications, and the Separatist ship began charging its weapons.