Chapter Summaries

Onana Kuat confronted Lila Blythex over the Separatist technology she had recovered, while Little Kuat explained Kuat Drive Yards’ growing technological and development gap. Onana then revealed that an opportunity lay before them.

• Onana Kuat showed Lila Blythex that the recovered Extractor technology had originally been provided by Zhang Jiarui and criticized its limited value.
• Little Kuat argued that Extractor could still help Kuat Drive Yards’ Kyber Crystal focusing work and explained that the Eclipse-class project had been halted over energy-focusing problems.
• Onana Kuat warned that the Executor-class could barely match the Separatists’ Plague Titan warship and criticized the Knight-class Star Destroyer’s failures.
• Lila Blythex defended the Knight-class and argued that the Separatists’ many new warship designs revealed a far greater development capacity.
• Little Kuat said Kuat Drive Yards’ slow development and technological inferiority drove its interest in Separatist technology, and Onana Kuat said an opportunity now lay before them.

Onana Kuat decided to involve Kuat Drive Yards in the Republic’s coming offensive in the Modell Sector, hoping to seize Dawn Star Planet’s advanced technology, while Little Kuat warned that the plan could destroy the company. After leaving Onana, Lila Blythex returned to her private design room and, troubled by the limits of her warships, contacted Willix Blythex.

• Onana Kuat told Little Kuat that the Republic’s planned offensive in the Modell Sector presented an opportunity to take Dawn Star Planet’s technology.
• Little Kuat opposed interfering in a military operation and urged Onana Kuat to consult Council Representative Giddean Danu.
• Onana Kuat dismissed Little Kuat’s warning and declared that Kuat Drive Yards would join the operation and claim Dawn Star Planet’s warship technology.
• Little Kuat left after warning that Onana Kuat’s decision would begin Kuat Drive Yards’ downfall, and Lila Blythex departed soon afterward.
• Lila Blythex returned to her private design room, doubted that her warships could match the Separatists, and connected to Willix Blythex.

Lila Blythex contacted her father, Willix Blythex, and found him designing a passenger ship to evacuate people from Rendili Planet. As Lila recalled their past work together and admitted she needed his genius, Willix said he had found no freedom in the Duchy of Dawn, but Lila's appeal for him to return remained unanswered.

• Lila Blythex contacted Willix Blythex, who was busy designing a giant passenger ship for emigrants from Rendili Planet.
• Willix explained that the ship would carry twenty thousand passengers and needed space for their belongings and food.
• Lila remembered how she and Willix had worked together to design the Acclamator-class assault ship, Hunter Class Battlecruiser, and Aquitenes-class light cruiser.
• Lila decided she needed Willix's genius to win the war of warship design and thought he should belong to her alone.
• Lila asked Willix whether he had found freedom in Rendili, and Willix said the Duchy of Dawn was merely another great power opposing the Galactic Republic.
• Lila urged Willix to return, saying that Little Kuat and she missed him.

Lila Blythex tried to persuade Willix Blythex to return to Kuat Drive Yards, but he rejected the arms race and defended his choice to leave. The chapter ended with Willix giving Lila a final warning as their conversation turned bitter.

• Willix Blythex and Lila Blythex discussed Onana Kuat’s fear of losing power to Gideon Danu and the growing success of the V-wing fighter.
• Lila asked Willix to return to Kuat and help design warships to compete with the Separatists, and he explained fleet tactics through the concepts of spears and shields.
• Willix said he had left Kuat because he wanted no part in an endless arms race or a war of power.
• Lila accused Willix of wasting his talent by designing ships for the Separatists, and he replied that their leaders had not forced him to focus on warships.
• Lila pleaded with Willix to return and pursue stronger warships with her, but he gave her a final warning not to chase what was beyond her abilities.

Lila Blythex argued with her father, Willix Blythex, about his rejection of warship design and his defection to the Separatists. After he ended their call, Lila sought Dunn Vesex’s support and told him her father had abandoned her.

• Lila Blythex accused Willix Blythex of wasting his chance to use Kuat’s resources and end the war, while Willix said his warship designs had only fueled an arms race and that he wanted to live peacefully with her.
• Willix told Lila that war had not reached every part of the Milky Way Galaxy and that she had chosen to enter the conflict, prompting Lila to cut off the call and curse him.
• Lila composed herself and called Dunn Vesex, using a distressed, hesitant manner to draw his attention.
• Dunn Vesex left a meeting and traveled from Paarin Minor to Quat Planet to meet Lila, ordering others to handle his battle plan.
• Lila told Dunn that Willix had defected to the Separatists and refused to acknowledge their father-daughter bond, leaving Dunn unsure how to respond.

Dunn Vesex comforted Lila Blythex over her father’s defection and promised to help bring him back from Rendili. At the Galaxy Grand Theater, he showed off his influence and warned Lila to avoid Onana Kuat’s plans in the Modell Sector.

• Lila Blythex told Dunn Vesex that her father, Mr. Willix, had joined the Separatists, and asked Dunn to help her reunite with him.
• Dunn promised to use his agents and his uncle’s connections to find Mr. Willix, then took Lila to the Galaxy Grand Theater.
• Dunn and Lila spotted Sheev Palpatine at the theater, and Dunn said he could arrange a meeting with the Chancellor if Lila needed one.
• Dunn identified Onana Kuat meeting Tannon Praji and guessed she was seeking Palpatine’s support for involvement in the fighting in the Modell Sector.
• Lila feared Onana would blame her designs for a failed operation, and Dunn pledged to protect her and ensure the Republic military continued ordering her warships.

A'Sharad Heite, a wounded Jedi Knight, recalled surviving Order 66 and being captured after escaping to an unknown planet. He learned he was being transported with criminals and arrived at Thonner, where an officer shocked him unconscious.

• A'Sharad Heite woke in a prisoner transport and remembered Clone Troopers turning on him after Order 66 during the battle for Saleucami.
• Heite recalled escaping his warship, crashing on an unfamiliar planet, and being captured after trying to steal food.
• Heite failed to sense any other Jedi and feared he might be the only surviving Jedi Knight.
• Heite introduced himself to Ramadan Biso, who said the prisoners were headed somewhere worse than Kosher.
• An officer welcomed Heite to Thonner and struck him with an electrostaff, knocking him unconscious.

A'Sharad Heite was brutally interrogated after being accused of killing a woman and two peace officers, then sentenced to death by the Duchy of Dawn. After recovering enough to be imprisoned on Thonner, he learned from Ramadan Biso that the prison was notorious for its Beast Legion and human experiments, and wondered what fate awaited them.

• Heite woke tied to an iron chair and recognized the Dawn Star Planet insignia, realizing he was in Separatist territory and hiding that he was a Jedi Knight.
• An officer accused Heite of killing a homeowner and two peace officers, and beat him while a doctor advised where to strike.
• Heite sensed the Dark Side might have caused him to kill the peace officers while he was unconscious, but the authorities treated him as an ordinary criminal.
• The officer declared that the Duchy of Dawn had sentenced Heite to death, then Heite lost consciousness.
• Several days later, Heite recovered in a heavily guarded prison on Thonner and was told he could earn redemption through obedience and good behavior.
• Heite spoke with Ramadan Biso and learned that the prison was notorious for the Beast Legion and human experimentation.

After brutal physical training at Sonell Prison, Heite and nineteen other prisoners were selected for a program using the Duchy of Dawn’s CMC-300 powered armor to fight in exchange for reduced sentences. The chapter ended as the prisoners learned the points system and ‘Butcher’ Bacheco threatened the officer in charge.

• Heite endured Sonell Prison’s extreme training and befriended Ramadan-Biso, who told him how a smuggling job carrying stolen Thyssel tree bark had led to his arrest.
• Heite concealed that he had been a Jedi Knight and gave Ramadan a limited account of why the Republic had pursued him.
• After several days of training, Heite, Ramadan, and eighteen other prisoners were taken blindfolded to an advanced engineering laboratory.
• A Sonell Prison officer introduced the CMC-300 powered armor and said the prisoners could reduce their sentences by killing enemy soldiers and clone troopers in battle.
• ‘Butcher’ Bacheco mocked the offer and threatened to kill the officer, prompting prison guards to aim their guns and the Destroyer droids to activate their shields.

A'Sharad Hett and other criminals were forced to join the Black Beast Squad and wear CMC-300 armor that would remain welded to them until they died or cleared their sentences. Meanwhile, at a Republic medical station, Luna Huan and Luna Meng faced danger after Order 66 was issued, and Luna Huan revealed she was awake and listening.

• An officer warned the prisoners, including A'Sharad Hett and Romarimonte, that the CMC-300 armor would be welded onto them and add twenty years to their sentences.
• The officer named the prisoners the Black Beast Squad and began their two-week armor training.
• At a medical station in the Ando system, the chief physician and security commander discussed whether to kill the injured Jedi sisters Luna Meng and Luna Huan under Order 66.
• Luna Huan revealed herself by joining the conversation and urging the others to kill the sisters, while the security commander hesitated because they were beautiful.

Luna-Dream and Luna-Phantom turned the medical space station’s plot against them into a nightmare for its conspirators. After claiming they had dealt with two Jedi Knights, the sisters prepared to keep using the station as their castle of dreams.

• The Commander and Chief Physician planned to drug and assault the Dream Sisters, while Luna-Dream and Luna-Phantom discussed the Jedi Order’s fall and their fear that the twisted Force was influencing them.
• Luna-Phantom revealed more than a hundred dead Clone Troopers in the cafeteria, and the station’s staff treated the bodies as ordinary rubbish.
• The Commander and Chief Physician led the sisters toward an empty room, believing they were carrying out their plan, while Luna-Phantom and Luna-Dream watched from the control room.
• Luna-Phantom and Luna-Dream ordered the gas released at dangerous levels, then left the conspirators to die.
• The next morning, Luna-Dream told a supply officer that the two female Jedi Knights had been dealt with and requested more wounded clone soldiers for the station.
• Luna-Phantom called the medical space station their castle of dreams as the supply transport departed.

Jing Fang lived on Tatooine with Aden-Lin, a hard-drinking former Jedi who pushed him to take a commission against a Tusken Raiders chief. As Jing Fang rode into the desert, he mourned the Jedi Order’s destruction by Anakin Skywalker and Order 66.

• Jing Fang practiced his fighting techniques at a moisture farm outside Mos Eisley.
• Aden-Lin arrived drunk, teased Jing Fang, and handed him a commission to kill a Tusken Raiders chief.
• Jing Fang refused to kill people, but Aden-Lin argued that the chief’s attacks on moisture farms made the job necessary.
• Aden-Lin vomited outside the house as Jing Fang prepared to leave on his speeder bike.
• Jing Fang rode across Tatooine toward the commission, troubled by the Jedi Order’s destruction under Order 66.

Jing Fang reflected on the Jedi Order’s destruction, his flight from Rendili with Arden Lyn, and the combat training that had brought them closer. As he rode his speeder bike, he dodged a sniper round fired from a Tusken Raider rifle.

• Jing Fang recalled how Plo Koon’s death and the Jedi Order’s teachings had shaped him before he fled Rendili with Arden Lyn.
• On Tatooine, Jing Fang asked Arden Lyn to train him, and she taught him Ters Ksi through punishing daily practice.
• Arden Lyn sent Jing Fang on combat commissions while drinking and claiming he was her godson, and the two grew closer through their bickering.
• Jing Fang sharply changed direction on his speeder bike and avoided a sniper round from a Tusken Raider rifle.

Jing Fang stormed a Tusken Raider settlement to find its leader, but after accidentally killing a warrior and being overwhelmed by the tribe, he was poisoned and left disoriented. The chapter ended with him fearing he might die at the Sand People’s hands.

• Jing Fang rode into Tusken Raider territory, evaded the sentries’ shots, and charged into their mountain settlement.
• Jing Fang fought the warriors barehanded with the Iron Hand Technique, knocking them unconscious as he searched for the tribe’s leader.
• A Tusken Raider’s poisoned Gaderffii stick struck Jing Fang, and he accidentally killed its wielder when his counterblow sent the warrior into a rock.
• Jing Fang hesitated after seeing a female Tusken Raider mourn the dead warrior, but the tribe attacked him more fiercely.
• Several Tusken Raiders pinned Jing Fang down, and one poisoned his ankle with a Gaderffii stick, leaving him dizzy and fearing for his life.

Jing Fang woke in a Tusken dwelling to find Arden Lyn had defeated the Rahr tribe and discovered its Force-sensitive young leader, KkH'Oar'Rrhr. Arden Lyn decided to stay on Tatooine, take KkH'Oar'Rrhr as her apprentice, and have Jing Fang teach him Galactic Basic.

• Jing Fang emerged from the dwelling and watched Arden Lyn overpower the Tusken who had helped defeat him, recognizing the Tusken as a powerful Force-sensitive.
• Arden Lyn scolded Jing Fang for losing to an untrained opponent and said she had spared the Tuskens but ordered them to leave.
• KkH'Oar'Rrhr knelt before Arden Lyn and offered the Rahr tribe in exchange for becoming her apprentice and gaining power to avenge his people.
• An elder explained that armed humans had killed members of the tribe, and Arden Lyn recognized KkH'Oar'Rrhr as the target of her commission.
• Arden Lyn chose to stay with the Rahr tribe, take KkH'Oar'Rrhr as her apprentice, and assign Jing Fang to teach him Galactic Basic.

Master Windu traced the Destruction’s attacks to Akiva and moved the Second Systems Army toward Planet Fandal to threaten it. Meanwhile, Pre Vizsla kept Mandalore’s supplies from Windu while following Shen-Jon’s orders, and Windu’s fleet began its deployment.

• An intelligence officer reported that hyperspace disturbances linked the Destruction’s attacks pointed to Akiva, and Master Windu decided to threaten the system from the Findar route.
• Ki-Adi-Mundi agreed that the Second Systems Army should gather at Findar, while Master Windu ordered continued pressure on the Neutral Alliance and Mandalore.
• Pre Vizsla and Bo-Katan Kryze discussed withholding supplies from Windu, and Pre Vizsla revealed that Mandalore’s food facilities had been rigged with bombs.
• Shen-Jon told Pre Vizsla to keep Windu’s fleet hungry, defeat Almec’s remaining forces, install Bo-Katan as Duchess, and later rejoin the Galactic Republic.
• After extracting more supplies, Master Windu split his fleet between Planet Garros IV, Mandalore, and Planet Fandal, leading the strongest force toward Fandal.

Mace Windu brought the Second Systems Army’s main fleet to Planet Fandal, alarming both the Neutral Alliance and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. General Grievous learned that Sefrans Tann had deliberately lured Windu toward Akiva and agreed to consider deploying the Dark Titan Warship against the Second Systems Army.

• Mace Windu moved the largest part of his fleet to Planet Fandal, worsening unrest in the Neutral Alliance, which could not afford to sustain his forces.
• General Grievous learned that the Second Systems Army had moved to Fandal and worried that Mace Windu had discovered the secret droid factory on Akiva.
• The T-series tactical robot reported no unusual cargo traffic and warned that splitting the Saleucami forces could invite a Republic offensive.
• Sefrans Tann admitted to General Grievous that she had leaked Akiva’s hyperspace signals to lure Mace Windu into a trap.
• Sefrans Tann asked General Grievous to deploy the Dark Titan Warship, and he questioned whether the battle would truly be low-intensity.

Mace Windu’s fleet discovered the Destruction at Antewei Planet and launched an operation to trap it. The Second Systems Army raced to block the hyperspace routes, setting up a decisive confrontation.

• Mace Windu ordered reconnaissance of Akiva and continued pressure on Mandalore while his fleet waited at Planet Fandal.
• Reconnaissance craft detected signs of a concealed spaceport on Akiva but found no trace of the Destruction.
• An intelligence officer reported that the Destruction had been found at Antewei Planet.
• Mace Windu ordered the fleet to deploy Interdictors and advance immediately, while reconnaissance craft and escort frigates tracked the battleship.
• The Second Systems Army split its main fleet into three formations to seal the hyperspace routes around Antewei Planet.

Palpatine learned that a Separatist Titan warship was heading toward the Yavin System and chose to watch events unfold while preparing supplies for Mace Windu’s fleet. Mace Windu’s three fleets moved to attack the Destruction at Planet Antewei, where the chapter left them beginning their assault.

• Mas Amedda reported that a sister ship of the Plague had been spotted near Port Pament and was likely heading for the Yavin System.
• Palpatine declined to interfere in the Separatists’ apparent move against Mace Windu, ordering Intelligence to keep watch and supplies prepared for the Second Systems Army.
• Mace Windu divided his fleet into three forces and sent them toward Planet Antewei to destroy the Destruction.
• The three fleets arrived at Planet Antewei and deployed fleet-scale Interdictors after reconnaissance confirmed that the Destruction remained beside a moon with a small escort.
• Mace Windu ordered all three fleets to activate their hyperspace engines and attack the Destruction.
• The chapter described Planet Antewei’s harsh environment and its later-discovered deposits of rare elements used to make Frik alloy.

Mace Windu led the Second Systems Army to Antewei and bombarded the satellite where the Destruction battleship was hiding, forcing Sai Franas Tann’s fleet into battle. The Destruction fired its directional EMP cannon at the Republic formation, crippling fighters and striking Hunter Class Battlecruisers.

• On June 28, 20 BBY, Mace Windu divided the Second Systems Army into three groups and approached the Antewei System with its fleet of capital ships and smaller warships.
• Mace Windu ordered the fleet to bombard Antewei’s barren satellite, where reconnaissance had found the Destruction battleship and its escorts hiding.
• The bombardment triggered massive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, forcing the Destruction to emerge and its accompanying Behemoth-class battlecruisers to fire their Yamato Cannons.
• The Fleet Commander ordered Republic ships to disperse, prepare for the Destruction’s EMP, and launch fighters; 1,000 fighters began attacking the battleship.
• Sai Franas Tann ordered her ships to tighten their formation, focus on the Republic fighters, and charge the Destruction’s starboard directional high-energy EMP cannon.
• Sai Franas Tann ordered the EMP cannon to fire, and its expanding blast crippled Republic fighters and struck Hunter Class Battlecruisers.