Chapter Summaries

Darth Pregas explained how Tang Xiao would make a Lightsaber his own by conquering its Kyber Crystal and assembling it uniquely, then began teaching him. Meanwhile, the Hunter's Moon Sojourn continued as its powerful guests hunted, indulged themselves, and made corrupt deals.

• Darth Pregas explained that Tang Xiao had to refine his Kyber Crystal with the Dark Side and assemble his Lightsaber in his own way.
• Darth Pregas made Tang Xiao attack him, then broke apart the hilt and seized and hurled Tang Xiao into a machine.
• Darth Pregas said he would teach Tang Xiao to assemble a Lightsaber and reforge a Kyber Crystal, and left him the Book of Sith to study.
• The guests at Hunter's Moon Sojourn continued their extravagant revelry, hunting helpless beasts and indulging in food, wine, and other excesses.
• The influential guests at Hunter's Moon Sojourn struck corrupt deals with consequences for populations across the galaxy.

Hego Damask II received the galaxy’s scheming elites at the gathering while the Force around the ancient castle drew his attention. Inside, Tang Xiao reflected on his year in the Star Wars galaxy and recognized how much he resembled the Sith Lords in the Book of Sith.

• Hego Damask II accepted Proxima’s offer and promised she could acquire any company on Malastare for one-tenth of its market value.
• Dryden Vos threatened Governor Sotamo, who begged Hego for help before the Echani Sun Guards dragged him away.
• Hego dismissed Sotamo as a failure, sensed the chaotic Dark Side Force surrounding the ancient castle, and resumed speaking with Nute Gunray about the Trade Federation governorship.
• Tang Xiao sat alone with the Book of Sith and a Kyber Crystal, reflected on his year in the galaxy, and realized he resembled the Sith Lords.

Tang Xiao embraced the Dark Side as the path to strengthening himself and the Fourth Civilization, while his Kyber Crystal began turning red. On Coruscant, Douglas Stamp confronted Rune Haako over embezzled Trade Federation funds and identified Nute Gunray as Haako’s intended target.

• Tang Xiao accepted that war and the Dark Side were his only path to protecting the Fourth Civilization from the Galactic Empire.
• Tang Xiao faced the dark will in the Book of Sith without fear and resolved to grow stronger and conquer for the Fourth Civilization.
• The Kyber Crystal before Tang Xiao trembled as red strands spread through it.
• Douglas Stamp confronted Rune Haako in a Coruscant restaurant over Haako’s embezzlement of more than a million Galactic credits.
• Rune Haako offered Douglas the stolen money, but Douglas said Haako had intended to use it to bribe Nute Gunray.

Douglas forced Rune Haako to act against the Outer Rim Planets Mutual Aid Fund, while Claire Underwood’s rally was attacked and the Trade Federation moved to pressure its member worlds. News coverage linked the attack to the Federation’s control of trade and transport across the Outer Rim.

• Douglas revealed Rune Haako’s ambition, intercepted his backup, and coerced him into following a plan in exchange for a future and a reward.
• Claire Underwood announced that the Mutual Aid Fund had gathered signatures from ninety-four planets, but a blaster shot destroyed the podium and her bodyguards rushed her to safety.
• Rune Haako ordered the Trade Federation to threaten the Rodian planet and Jabiim planet with a fifty-percent increase in transport taxes unless they left the fund.
• Reporters spread news of the attack and speculated that the Trade Federation opposed the fund because it threatened the Federation’s influence over Outer Rim trade and transportation.

After Claire Underwood survived a staged assassination, Francis Underwood explained how they would use the attack to damage the Trade Federation while protecting their political plans. Claire questioned the human cost of their scheme, and the chapter left Rune Haako facing ruin unless the Administrator intervened.

• News reports blamed the Trade Federation for Claire Underwood’s attack, while Jabiim and Rodia withdrew from the Mutual Aid Fund after Rune Haako pressured its supporters.
• Francis Underwood replaced the Trade Federation’s flowers in Claire’s hospital room and discussed their plan to make her publicly deny the Federation’s involvement.
• Francis explained that Rune Haako’s secretary would be framed for the assassination and the effort to divide the Mutual Aid Fund, then sold to a slaver on Corellia.
• Claire asked about Rune Haako, and Francis said his future in the Trade Federation had been ruined unless they helped him; Claire insisted they let him face the consequences.
• Francis reassured Claire that her public image would grow her influence, then helped her settle down to sleep.

Francis and Claire Underwood discussed the political opportunities opened by Claire’s public stand against the Trade Federation and the Outer Rim tax bill. Two months later, Hego Damask II sensed that a mysterious presence had emerged from the ancient castle on Sojourn Planet.

• Claire told Francis she would make a public appearance to keep Rune Haako from leaving the political stage too soon.
• Francis planned to sell retired Blade-class fighters to the Rodian planet and expected Palpatine to recruit them into the Outer Rim tax bill debate.
• Francis predicted Palpatine would secretly support the Trade Federation while publicly presenting himself as a peacemaker.
• Claire told Francis to apologize to her when he became Imperial Chancellor.
• On Sojourn Planet, Hego Damask II discussed dividing Malastare’s industries with Madam Proxima and Dryden Vos.
• Hego sensed the dark wills inside the ancient castle vanish, then felt a cocoon of Dark Side Force burst open.

Tang Xiao drew Dark Side remnants into a Kyber Crystal and fought to bring them under his control, collapsing part of the ancient castle in the process. He emerged with a blood-red crystal and assembled a black Lightsaber around it.

• Tang Xiao absorbed hundreds or thousands of Dark Side remnants from the Sith reliefs into a Kyber Crystal, while sensing powerful consciousness traces in the Book of Sith.
• Tang Xiao confronted the remnants within the crystal and used his will and Dark Side Force to suppress them as the chamber and its reliefs began to crumble.
• The room collapsed, and Hego Damask II noticed that a corner of the ancient castle had fallen in.
• Tang Xiao burst out of the rubble with injuries, used the Force to lift the stones, and summoned the red Kyber Crystal into his hand.
• Tang Xiao assembled a black Lightsaber with a concealed switch and sealed the screaming Kyber Crystal inside it.

After emerging from two months of seclusion, Tang Xiao reunited with Hego and met underworld leaders Madam Proxima and Dryden Vos. Hego then tested him by revealing a supposedly uncontrollable Morristine Eight-Legged Dragon and a terrified girl trapped in its path.

• Tang Xiao tested his crimson Lightsaber, then bathed, shaved, and cut his hair after returning to the plaza.
• Tang Xiao met Madam Proxima and Dryden Vos, who greeted him warmly after Hego introduced him as his disciple.
• Hego led Tang Xiao and the others to an arena and explained that Kaminoans cloned rare animals for guests to hunt.
• Hego released an untreated Morristine Eight-Legged Dragon and had a cage containing a frightened girl brought into the arena.

Tang Xiao accepted Hego’s challenge to rescue Ailiya-Isabel from a Morristine Eight-Legged Dragon and defeated the beast with ease. Ailiya-Isabel watched him in awe, forgetting that he had helped put her in danger.

• Hego offered a Longsword to the guests and challenged them to save Ailiya-Isabel from the beast.
• Madam Proxima and Dryden Vos declined, and Tang Xiao accepted the sword and jumped into the arena.
• Tang Xiao faced the Morristine Eight-Legged Dragon as it attacked him with its claws and other weapons.
• Tang Xiao used the Force to evade the beast and severed two of its claws with the Longsword.
• Ailiya-Isabel watched Tang Xiao fight in fascination, forgetting he had been involved in placing her in the cage.

Tang Xiao rescued Ailiya-Isabel from Hego-Damask II’s beast and claimed her as his private property, while Dryden-Vos and Madam Proxima discussed the rescue. Hego then turned the group’s attention to exploiting the conflict between Malastare and the Corporate Alliance over fuel taxes.

• Tang Xiao killed the Morristine Eight-Legged Dragon, freed Ailiya-Isabel from her cage, and declared her his private property.
• Ailiya-Isabel became infatuated with Tang Xiao, and he carried her back to the viewing area.
• Hego-Damask II gave Ailiya-Isabel to Tang Xiao, while Dryden-Vos offered to trade an entire planet’s industries for her.
• Hego-Damask II explained that Malastare opposed the Corporate Alliance’s planned fuel tax increase and that the dispute was an opportunity to ignite a crisis.

Hego Damask II arranged for Dryden Vos and Madam Proxima to join the Corporate Alliance’s coming assault on Malastare, while Tang Xiao agreed to contribute ships. After the others left, Hego revealed himself as Darth Pregas and began teaching Tang Xiao how Force users fight one another; Tang Xiao tried to use the lesson to attack him indirectly.

• Hego Damask II outlined a plan to seize Malastare’s fuel supply, and Dryden Vos and Madam Proxima agreed to provide fleets for the operation.
• Hego said Trench would command the mercenary fleet assembling at Agomar in seven days, and Tang Xiao agreed to gather every usable ship he could.
• After Dryden Vos and Madam Proxima departed, Tang Xiao sent Ailiya Isabel to rest, and Hego revealed that he was Darth Pregas.
• Darth Pregas taught Tang Xiao that Lightsaber combat between Force users involved controlling the space around opponents, then immobilized him with the Force.
• Tang Xiao resisted, blasted a flowerpot with Force lightning, and extended his Force toward a bench behind Darth Pregas as the two powers collided and shattered it.

Tang Xiao completed a day of Lightsaber training with Darth Pregas, then hurried back to the Endor system to prepare for the Battle of Malastare. He brought Ailiya Isabel aboard the Glory mothership and welcomed her into his domain.

• Darth Pregas taught Tang Xiao how Lightsabers drew in the Force and explained the dangers of Lightsaber combat.
• Tang Xiao left Hego’s residence and told Ailiya Isabel to dress quickly because he needed to return to the Endor system.
• Ailiya Isabel accompanied Tang Xiao aboard a Ministry-class shuttle, and he avoided using the Glory mothership’s communications while leaving Sojourn.
• The shuttle arrived above Dawn Star Planet, where Ailiya Isabel saw the Glory mothership and learned it was Tang Xiao’s flagship.
• Tang Xiao reassured Ailiya Isabel and welcomed her aboard the Glory mothership as pilots and fighters trained in its hangar.

Tang Xiao asked Francis Underwood about Coruscant’s political rumors and learned how the Republic’s financial crisis, corporate monopolies, and bribery had fueled a power struggle over taxes in the Outer Rim. Francis revealed that Sheev Palpatine had pushed for the Republic’s intervention against pirates at Niele, leaving Tang Xiao to consider how that precedent might affect the Malastare dispute.

• Tang Xiao settled Ailiya Isabel aboard the mothership and went to his office to ask Francis Underwood about the situation on Coruscant.
• Francis explained that corporate monopolies and bribery had weakened the Republic’s finances and government, prompting calls for authoritarian rule.
• Francis described how Sheev Palpatine had built influence by helping Chancellor Phineas Valorum while appearing loyal to him and respected by Orn Free Taa.
• Francis said Orn Free Taa had exposed Valorum’s bribery through the Nebula Front and had launched two impeachment proceedings, both of which Palpatine helped Valorum survive.
• Francis explained that Valorum planned to tax the Outer Rim, prompting the Corporate Alliance to raise fuel taxes on Malastare as a challenge to his authority.
• Francis revealed that Palpatine had pushed the Republic to send its Judicial Fleet against the Bislanka pirates at Niele the previous year.

Tang Xiao and Francis Underwood discussed how Palpatine turned the failed Judicial Fleet campaign into political advantage, then prepared to influence the upcoming Galactic Senate session. Tang Xiao recalled Volgograd Kanidi from Tatooine and ordered him to return to the Endor system before departing for Malastare.

• Francis Underwood explained how Palpatine persuaded Phineas Valorum to support the anti-piracy campaign, whose losses and scandal fell on the Judicial Fleet while Palpatine emerged as a hero.
• Tang Xiao suspected that Hego Damask II had known the Bislanka pirates and that the Judicial Fleet's ambush depended on a deliberate leak.
• Francis told Tang Xiao that Palpatine had invited him to represent Dawn Star Planet at the Galactic Senate session, and Tang Xiao agreed to play his part.
• Volgograd Kanidi reported that his forces had destroyed thirteen smuggling fleets and twenty-nine ships near Tatooine, while Super Lotus's Trojan gave them control of local bounty hunters' movements.
• Tang Xiao ordered Kanidi to return to the Endor system, rest for two days, and then leave for Malastare; Kanidi eagerly accepted.

Tang Xiao prepared the Fourth Civilization to enter a major fleet battle on Malastare as a mercenary, while he and Baron Zemo discussed using the conflict to advance their plans. He traveled to the Engineering Science Department's research station, where Qu Xuewen told him a new frigate had rolled off the production line.

• Tang Xiao learned from Ni Yongxiao that Black Sun was entrenched and that Vigo Kash Garulan appeared to be directing operations toward the Endor system.
• Tang Xiao invited Ni Yongxiao to return to the Endor system and join the Fourth Civilization's fleet for the coming battle on Malastare, and Ni Yongxiao agreed.
• Baron Zemo told Tang Xiao he had acted to keep Gaddula alive and proposed a plan for the Malastare battle; Tang Xiao asked that Professor Chi arrange the Engineering Department's part.
• Tang Xiao went to the Engineering Science Department's research space station after notifying Qu Xuewen.
• Qu Xuewen greeted Tang Xiao and reported that a new type of frigate had rolled off the production line.

Tang Xiao inspected a Pulsar-class light frigate and heard Xiao Guanghua's demands for better army equipment. The frigate appeared ready for mass production, though Chi Jianjun explained that its powerful ion cannon could not fight independently.

• Qu Xuewen took Tang Xiao to the research spaceport, where he found a Pulsar-class light frigate under construction.
• Xiao Guanghua introduced himself as the Army General and asked Tang Xiao to improve the army's outdated weapons and equipment.
• Chi Jianjun said the M-8 Avenger assault rifle was entering service, and Tang Xiao promised the army would receive vehicles, missiles, and other gear as resources allowed.
• Tang Xiao asked whether the Pulsar-class frigate could be mass-produced, and Chi Jianjun said it could but lacked independent combat capability.
• Chi Jianjun explained that the frigate's miniature short-wave ion cannon could damage shields and light armor from up to 15,500 kilometers away.

Tang Xiao reviewed the Fourth Civilization’s new warship and energy research before gathering the fleet to plan the Battle of Malastare. The chapter ended with the Supreme Operations Command presenting the ships available for deployment, including five newly completed Cobalt-class heavy frigates.

• Tang Xiao admired the Pulsar-class light frigate, while Chi Jianjun explained that it still needed inspection and would take about a month to enter mass production.
• Chi Jianjun reported progress on antimatter research and estimated that cold fusion would take at least a year to master and antimatter energy at least five years to apply.
• Tang Xiao told Chi Jianjun that the technology database gave the Fourth Civilization a path to rapid advancement, while Chi Jianjun insisted that research still required proper facilities, equipment, and personnel.
• Ni Yongxiao’s fleet and Kanidi’s Black Ship returned to the Endor system, and Tang Xiao began planning the Battle of Malastare with the Supreme Operations Command.
• Qi Jian presented the deployable fleet, and Tang Xiao learned that five Cobalt-class heavy frigates had been completed ahead of schedule.

Tang Xiao ordered the Fourth Civilization’s entire fleet to deploy to Malastare as a mercenary force, assigning Igor Zavalov command while Qi Jian stayed behind to defend the Glory mothership. The fleet gathered outside the mothership, and Tang Xiao ordered it to depart for war.

• Tang Xiao told the navy that it would fight on Malastare as a mercenary legion under an outside commander and ordered every ship to deploy.
• Tang Xiao appointed Igor Zavalov fleet commander and Carl Walton deputy commander, while Volgograd Kanidi was told to operate independently.
• Tang Xiao ordered Qi Jian to remain aboard the Glory mothership and organize its defenses, despite Qi Jian’s concerns about leaving the Endor system exposed.
• Tang Xiao reassured Volgograd Kanidi that the fleet was going to war as mercenaries and claimed the battle was certain to be won.
• The Fourth Civilization assembled 72 ships and 42 Wraith fighters outside the Glory mothership, and Tang Xiao ordered the fleet to depart.

Francis Underwood met with Sheev Palpatine on Coruscant to settle the Trade Federation’s response to an assassination attempt and discuss Republic taxation in the Outer Rim. The conversation turned to Chancellor Phineas Valorum, whom Francis called incapable, while Palpatine urged him to offer support.

• Francis and Claire Underwood met Sheev Palpatine, who praised their advocacy for Outer Rim planets and apologized for the Senate’s rejection of Dawn Star Planet’s bid to join.
• Palpatine revealed that he had intervened to stop the Trade Federation from targeting Claire and offered the Federation’s proposed compensation for the assassination attempt.
• Francis demanded that the secretary responsible be severely punished and that the Trade Federation issue a public apology, while Palpatine proposed a freighter lease and trade agreement.
• Palpatine asked Francis about the dispute over fuel taxes on Malastare and Republic taxation in the Outer Rim.
• Francis said the Republic must take responsibility if it taxes the Outer Rim and called Chancellor Phineas Valorum a coward; Palpatine objected and said they should help him.

Francis Underwood attended a Senate session with Palpatine to discuss the dispute between Malastare and the Corporate Alliance, though he already knew how the meeting would end. As the sides traded accusations, Malastare appealed to Chancellor Valorum for arbitration and sanctions.

• Francis argued that the Republic should not let corporations exploit the Outer Rim, and Palpatine invited him to speak at the Senate meeting.
• Palpatine brought Francis and his wife to the Senate Chamber, where Chancellor Phineas Valorum convened a session on Malastare.
• Senator Tim accused the Corporate Alliance of raising Malastare’s fuel tax, exploiting its resources, and damaging its environment.
• Passel Argente defended the Corporate Alliance’s business practices and insisted its agreement allowed the tax increase.
• Senator Tim asked Valorum to arbitrate the dispute and impose sanctions, while Argente threatened him.