Chapter Summaries

Sefrans Tann used Plague’s Hypermatter Railgun to destroy Republic capital ships while Master Windu ordered the fleet to withdraw and the Jedi to attack. When Tann identified Windu’s Hunter Class as the flagship and fired, Windu’s last-second maneuver let the ship dodge the direct hit, though the near miss left it badly damaged.

• Tann ordered Plague to fire again, and its second shot destroyed a Dreadnought-class cruiser and blasted apart the damaged Commander-class Dreadnought.
• Windu ordered the Republic’s remaining large ships to withdraw and sent ten Jedi Knights to attack Plague.
• A radar operator reported that the Separatist fleet was retreating and activating its hyperdrives, but Windu realized the move concealed an attack on his flagship.
• Windu turned the Hunter Class sharply to port and altered its gravity just before Plague fired, causing the railgun shot to graze the ship and hit Nubia’s planetary shield.
• Tann revealed that she had identified the Hunter Class as the Republic flagship from the fleet’s movements and positions, then ordered Plague to fire at it.

Sefrans-Tann escaped the Republic fleet after devastating Nubian Planet, then fortified Kato-Neimoidia while her raids helped the Separatists gain ground across the war. The Senate blamed Sheev Palpatine for failing to protect the Core Worlds, and the Republic diverted ships and supplies to build a fleet to destroy the Plague Titan warship.

• Sefrans-Tann crippled Master Windu's flagship, escaped the Republic fleet, and returned to Kato-Neimoidia as Republic forces watched helplessly.
• Nute Gunray seized wealth from Republic supporters, raised Kato-Neimoidia's droid forces to more than ten million, and began building factories and orbital defenses.
• Sefrans-Tann's attacks on trade routes and Nubian Planet disrupted Republic operations, while Separatist forces expanded their offensives and the Fourth Civilization gained time to fortify Terminus Planet.
• The Republic suffered heavy losses at Nubian Planet, and Sefrans-Tann's repeated escapes convinced Core and Inner Rim oligarchs that the Republic could not protect them.
• Sheev Palpatine faced fierce condemnation in the Senate, and the Republic held back ships and supplies from the Outer Rim to assemble a fleet against the Plague Titan warship.

Tang Xiao ordered Sefrans Tann to end her raids and withdraw Plague before her attacks pushed the Trade Federation out of the war. Tann reluctantly accepted the order after Darth Lilim threatened her, while Quat Planet's representative condemned the Trade Federation in the Senate over the attack on Nubian Planet.

• Tang Xiao told Sefrans Tann that her raid on Nubian Planet had become a political liability and ordered her to retreat with Plague.
• Darth Lilim rebuked Tann for challenging Tang Xiao and threatened to kill her if she refused to obey.
• Sefrans Tann reluctantly agreed to carry out Tang Xiao's order, despite believing she could launch another raid using a hidden hyperspace route.
• In the Galactic Senate, Quat Planet's representative accused the Trade Federation of waging war by attacking the Republic's Core Worlds.
• Lott Dod denied the accusations and claimed the fleet had acted to protect Trade Federation assets on Kato Neimoidia.
• Quat Planet's representative's earlier demands for reinforcements had helped Sefrans Tann's fleet carry out its strategic deception.

Tang Xiao agreed to withdraw Plague from Kato Neimoidia, easing the Trade Federation’s crisis in the Senate. Sefrans Tann warned Darth Lilim that leaving the Core Worlds now could send Plague into a dead end.

• Tang Xiao ignored Nute Gunray’s repeated calls before sending word that Plague would withdraw from Kato Neimoidia.
• Lott Dod told the Senate that Plague was making a temporary resupply stop and that the Trade Federation would not attack the Core Worlds.
• Chancellor Sheev Palpatine ended the argument and warned Lott Dod that the Republic would take extreme measures if the Trade Federation threatened the Core Worlds.
• Rune Haako told Sefrans Tann that Count Dooku had ordered Plague to leave within twenty-four standard hours or face the Trade Federation fleet’s guns.
• Sefrans Tann warned Darth Lilim that withdrawing through the Republic’s gathering fleet could trap Plague, and insisted she needed to complete her combat objectives before leaving.

Tang Xiao sacrificed the Plague Titan warship’s position at Kato Neimoidia to preserve the Trade Federation’s loyalty, while Darth Malthael pressured Nute Gunray to hand over a place controlled by Count Dooku. After escaping the Republic fleet, Sefrans Tann asked Tang Xiao to save her life.

• Tang Xiao withdrew the Plague from Kato Neimoidia, and the Republic assembled more than a hundred warships to intercept it.
• The Plague Titan warship emerged covered in thousands of Vulture droid fighters, which attacked the Republic fleet and helped the ship escape.
• Darth Malthael threatened Nute Gunray and demanded that he surrender a place Count Dooku closely controlled.
• Sefrans Tann escaped the Republic fleet aboard the Plague Titan warship but expected its weak hyperdrive to leave them vulnerable to pursuit.
• Tang Xiao told Sefrans Tann that she had lost value in his calculations, and she knelt and begged him to save her life.

Tang Xiao demanded that Sefrans Tann retrieve the Plague, and Darth Lilim defeated her in a duel before taking temporary command of the battleship. Tang Xiao then traveled to Draay II to investigate Zekrath’s discoveries and check on the Twilight Covenant.

• Tang Xiao rejected Sefrans Tann’s pleas for forgiveness and ordered her to bring back the Plague or lose her head.
• Sefrans Tann fought Darth Lilim after they argued about loyalty, but Darth Lilim overpowered her with Force lightning.
• Darth Lilim had Sefrans Tann taken for secret treatment and ordered her to plan a route through Colla Planet and Ord Mantell to Makito.
• Tang Xiao returned to Dawn Star Planet, arranged some work, and departed aboard the Red Comet for Draay II.
• Tang Xiao went to see Zekrath’s excavation discoveries and assess the Twilight Covenant.

Tang Xiao returned to Drai II, where the Geth were establishing a base around the abandoned temple of Lucien Dray. He discussed Lucien’s failed True Covenant with his spirit before Zekrath and Taarim appeared, and Tang Xiao left them to continue their conversation.

• The Geth built a space station, turrets, and frigates in orbit around Drai II as their settlement began to take shape.
• Tang Xiao flew to the restored temple Lucien Dray had built as the last stronghold of the Jedi Covenant.
• Tang Xiao reflected on Lucien’s history and the temple’s desolate state, then spoke with Lucien’s spirit about the failure of the True Covenant.
• Tang Xiao argued that Lucien had shut himself away, while Lucien defended his creed of self and survival.
• Zekrath and Taarim emerged from the temple, and Tang Xiao said he would take a walk around.

Tang Xiao toured the Jedi Covenant temple with Zekrath, learning about the Protoss’ research and their support for the Twilight Covenant’s Force-sensitive children. Zekrath then revealed that the temple records mentioned the Muur Talisman, prompting Lucien Draay to warn that it was forbidden before Tang Xiao silenced him.

• Zekrath showed Tang Xiao the temple’s repairs, collections, and research into a Kyber-powered Force engine.
• Tang Xiao discussed the Force with Zekrath and Lucien Draay, who told him he still had much to learn.
• Zekrath introduced Tang Xiao to the Twilight Covenant children and explained how the Protoss helped teach them.
• Zekrath led Tang Xiao to the library and said its records mentioned an artifact the Jedi Covenant had sought.
• Lucien Draay urgently forbade them from searching for the artifact, but Tang Xiao sealed him away with the Death Force.
• Zekrath identified the artifact as the Muur Talisman, summoner of the Death Army.

Tang Xiao discussed the Muur Talisman with Zekrath, explaining its power to turn non-Force-sensitives into controlled monsters and the danger it posed. Zekrath revealed that ancient Force artifacts drew power through a passage into an unknown source, and asked Tang Xiao about the other talismans.

• Tang Xiao corrected Zekrath’s description of the Muur Talisman, explaining that it transformed non-Force-sensitives into a stronger army under its wielder’s control.
• Zekrath said records traced the talisman to Taris, and Tang Xiao confirmed its power while warning that only the Force could resist its corruption.
• Tang Xiao said the talisman was not on Taris, but suggested Zekrath send Force-users to investigate for clues.
• Zekrath said the Protoss would study the talisman but would not use it for killing or give it to Tang Xiao.
• Zekrath explained that ancient Force artifacts used Kyber Crystals to open a passage to a source of immense power, which the Jedi Order may have feared.
• Zekrath asked Tang Xiao whether the Muur Talisman was one of three talismans.

Tang Xiao secured Protoss research on the Temple Guardian robots’ Force engine and assigned it to Arroyo Barlow for testing. As the war shifted toward a major battle for D'ron Planet, Tang Xiao prepared the Fourth Civilization to reenter the conflict through a naval reform.

• Tang Xiao explained the three talismans to Zekrath, who gave him the Temple Guardian robots’ Force engine research and warned him about its risks.
• Tang Xiao returned to the Glory mothership and gave the research to Arroyo Barlow, assigning him a captured Prosecutor-class battlecruiser as an experimental platform.
• Arroyo told Tang Xiao that fleet reform discussions with Professor Modin were scheduled for fifty standard days later.
• The Fourth Civilization and the 18th Army remained unable to launch offensives, while General Grievous continued his campaigns and surrounded D'ron Planet in 21 BBY.
• Tang Xiao decided the Fourth Civilization had to return to the war, beginning with a reform of its navy.

The Fourth Civilization began preparing a naval reform centered on integrating its fleets so specialized warships could combine their strengths against increasingly capable Galactic Republic ships. The chapter introduced the Dunov Class Battlecruiser, whose immense power supply made it central to plans for integrated fleet shields, and ended before explaining its full capabilities.

• The Fourth Civilization's High Command and Research Department developed fleet integration as a way for smaller forces to counter powerful Republic warships.
• The Fourth Civilization Admiralty proposed linked fleet shields after Army Lieutenant General Cheng Shitao inspired the concept.
• The Fourth Civilization's scientists planned to build on Trader Emergency Coalition technology from the mothership database to realize integrated shields.
• The chapter identified the Dunov Class Battlecruiser and The Givin's secret Ankolon Plan as key to the project.
• The chapter described the Dunov Class Battlecruiser's weapons, crew, and enormous antimatter engine, then contrasted its design with larger Republic ships.

The Fourth Civilization developed the Durov-class Battlecruiser’s remote shield restoration and Flux Field technologies, allowing nearby warships to share recovered energy and reinforce one another’s shields. With production underway and further technologies planned, the fleet’s shield integration remained a work in progress, with the Ankolon Plan set to complete the reform.

• The Durov-class Battlecruiser’s Remote Shield Restoration Device sent energy to a friendly warship’s shield capacitors over a distance of up to 10 light-seconds, provided the target had a synchronized receiving device.
• Fourth Civilization scientists developed the Flux Field, which altered nearby friendly reactors’ vector fields and improved their efficiency.
• Arroyo Barlow combined Flux Field research with Malevolence directed EMP technology and discovered that the field could recover wasted energy from friendly warships and project it as shields onto ships under attack.
• The Flux Field increased the engine efficiency of ships within range by 22.5% to 33%, improving shield restoration and weapon cooldown speeds.
• The Fourth Civilization planned to expand shield integration through further Selurite research and the Ankolon Plan, while Durov-class production moved to Dawn Star Planet and Kohl-class production to Semirres Planet.

The Fourth Civilization used the pause in its expansion campaigns to develop the Kuna Cluster and Modell Sector, strengthening colonization, industry, and local administration. The chapter ended as it began describing the newly occupied 19th Army Expansion Zone, with its four core planets under Fourth Civilization control.

• Volgograd-Kanidi oversaw the Kuna Cluster’s growing colonies, whose population exceeded 700 million and whose diverse residents had begun defending their new home.
• The Ayrou established a pro-Fourth Civilization government in the Modell Sector, while Humans on Annaj Planet formed an independent government and opened diplomatic relations.
• The Fourth Civilization and its corporations renovated Orville III’s factories, turning the planet into a major producer of army equipment.
• Vaxians supported industrial development across the Modell Sector, while the Fourth Civilization used Thonner’s prisoners for agriculture and formed the Beast Legion.
• The Fourth Civilization took control of Hoth Planet, Planet Kaal, Gerrenthum Planet, and Bespin Planet after destroying the Galactic Republic’s 19th Army.

Tang Xiao expanded the Fourth Civilization’s territory by organizing its newly acquired worlds into specialized economic, industrial, agricultural, and military hubs. The chapter ended with Christophsis Planet under joint control and exploitation by the Fourth Civilization and its allies.

• Tang Xiao established the Hoth Sector on Hoth Planet and appointed Graham as its Sector Governor.
• The Fourth Civilization developed Gerrenthum Planet as an industrial frontline, Planet Kaal as a supply hub, Bespin Planet as a resource world, and Cerea as an agricultural and tourist region.
• The Fourth Civilization expanded Terminus Planet into a transport and fleet hub while Matt Hona gave Hutt Oruba Goresla broad authority to conduct criminal activities there.
• Tang Xiao approved the arrangement on Terminus Planet because it could help him win over the Goresla Family amid his efforts to manipulate the Hutts’ conflict.
• Tang Xiao brought the InterGalactic Banking Clan, the Corporate Alliance, and the Retail Clan into the joint development of Christophsis Planet, where they installed a friendly government and took control of its companies and crystal resources.

The chapter surveyed the Fourth Civilization’s development across Drai II, Kiffu-Bil, Yinchorr, and Makito as the galactic war continued. It ended with the Fourth Group waiting for an opportunity created by the Geth.

• On Drai II, Zekrath led 21 Protoss, while the moon housed the Twilight Covenant, Jedi Covenant archives, and Protoss research into Force technology.
• On Kiffu-Bil, the Selurites expanded their population and built floating cities, offshore industries, and high-tech manufacturing operations.
• Annette Birkin developed an addictive substance for the Indjori and pursued T-Virus biological weapons research with help from Sherry Birkin, while Shen Yuanhao administered the Indjori system.
• Golden Nyss Shipyard shifted production to Martha-class heavy missile cruisers and Fire Cloud missiles, and prepared to build up to thirty kilometer-class warships at once.
• Glosse Shelbia worked with the InterGalactic Banking Clan to defend Makito and Muunilinst and establish a fleet centered on Behemoth-class battlecruisers.
• The Fourth Group stayed on the defensive against the Republic’s 8th and 9th Armies and waited for an opportunity involving the Geth.

Tang Xiao surveyed the Fourth Civilization’s population, military industry, and expanding alliances as its power grew across the galaxy. The Geth remained an independent force poised to strike Darth Sidious, while the Trade Federation began moving closer to the Cooperative Alliance.

• The Geth kept their home on Sojourn Planet and continued covert raids on Galactic Republic border colonies, after deploying about 350 warships against a Republic battle group.
• Tang Xiao maintained the Fourth Civilization’s population-first policy on Dawn Star Planet, relying on robots to expand its navy while educating humans and integrating the Ewoks.
• Dawn Star Planet’s Star Ring expanded its capacity to build warships, Dor Planet supplied minerals, and the Glory mothership continued producing advanced equipment in secrecy.
• The Fourth Civilization strengthened its alliance with the Semirians, The Givin, and the Muun, helping them expand their fleet and infiltrate the Confederacy of Independent Systems’ economy.
• Count Dooku began favoring Kohl-class Battlecruisers over Munificent-class frigates, and the Trade Federation moved closer to the Cooperative Alliance.

Tang Xiao questioned Count Dooku about the war’s origins and predicted that the Confederacy of Independent Systems would lose militarily within two years. After dinner, he told Senator Mina Bontri that he had warned Dooku they would lose the war.

• Tang Xiao and Count Dooku debated whether the war would have happened without Darth Sidious and what had driven Dooku to rebel against the Galactic Republic.
• Tang Xiao predicted that the Confederacy could not overcome the Republic’s industrial advantage and would lose the war within two years.
• Dooku asked about General Sefrans Tann, whose fleet was being pursued, and toasted to her safe return.
• Tang Xiao left Dooku’s office and walked with Senator Mina Bontri through the parliamentary plaza.
• Tang Xiao told Mina that he had told Dooku they would lose the war.

Tang Xiao clashed with Mina Bontri over the war and Onderon’s political stability, then met Jabiim’s King Alto Stratus, who asked Dawn Star Planet for help with the Confederacy’s wartime taxes. The chapter ended with Tang Xiao considering how the Confederacy’s corporate powers shifted the costs of war onto its member planets.

• Tang Xiao warned Mina Bontri that Onderon’s political situation might not endure the war, and she accused him of undermining Count Dooku’s faith.
• Mina Bontri called Tang Xiao reckless and left after he challenged her understanding of war.
• Alto Stratus thanked Tang Xiao for Dawn Star Planet’s aid to Jabiim and for paying a fair price for its mineral resources.
• Alto Stratus asked Tang Xiao for help because the Confederacy’s wartime taxes burdened Jabiim as it recovered from devastation.
• Tang Xiao reflected that corporate giants benefited from the war while most member planets paid its costs.

Tang Xiao directed Alto Stratus to seek mercenary work for Jabiim’s Nimbus commandos through Titan Security, then ordered Rosana Goodes to watch Senator Mina Bontri. Elsewhere, the damaged Plague emerged from hyperspace with a Republic fleet close behind, and Sefrans Tann believed the ship could not survive the coming siege.

• Tang Xiao refused to directly help Jabiim, but suggested Alto Stratus send the Nimbus commandos to Titan Security on Nashadda as mercenaries.
• Tang Xiao told Rosana Goodes to keep an eye on Mina Bontri and noted that Mina’s husband was on a mission on Aargonar.
• Tang Xiao said Mina would soon face the cruel side of war and that he cared chiefly about her political position.
• The battle-damaged Plague emerged from hyperspace after more than a month of flight, with fires burning across its hull and its crew’s damage-control systems overwhelmed.
• Sefrans Tann said the Plague had missed resupply and would have to face eighty Republic warships for roughly fifty hours, leaving her convinced it was over.

After being forced to abandon Kato Neimoidia, Sefrans Tann led the battered Plague through a month of Republic pursuit and accepted that her poor political judgment had helped create the crisis. As eighty Republic warships arrived for the final battle, a lone Delta-7 fighter appeared and charged toward them.

• Sefrans Tann realized that her raids had endangered the Trade Federation and left Plague isolated, and she accepted Tang Xiao’s order to bring the ship back intact as a chance to redeem herself.
• Darth Lilim urged Sefrans Tann to face the coming fight without fear, and Tann ordered the crew to eat, rest, and distribute the remaining supplies before battle.
• The Plague crew prepared to fight to the death after detecting a large hyperspace jump, and an eighty-ship Republic fleet emerged nearby.
• Plague began combat preparations as a Delta-7 fighter suddenly appeared and charged toward the Republic fleet.