Recaps

Sherry Birkin used her perfect G-Virus adaptation to destroy a Mongal-Mongal organism, then discovered that the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium’s facility concealed a vast chamber filled with the sludge. She ordered the area isolated for research rather than destroyed, despite the danger it posed to the planet.

• A Mongal-Mongal mass attacked Sherry Birkin, but she seized it with her altered hand and injected it with G-Virus until it became lifeless mud.
• Sherry Birkin explained that she hoped to force Mongal-Mongal into uncontrolled evolution so she could study its original biology.
• Ruper warned that the facility felt like a trap, and the floor collapsed, dropping the containers and several Umbrella personnel into a hidden chamber.
• Sherry Birkin used tentacles grown from her back to suspend the U.S.S Delta Squad above a vast lake of Mongal-Mongal sludge.
• Beltway proposed an Orbital Bombardment, but Sherry Birkin ordered more ultrasonic barriers and chose to study the aggregate.

Sherry Birkin confronted the intelligent Mongar-Mongar, ordered the laboratory sealed, and approved preparations for orbital bombardment. Elsewhere, Shepard’s crew detected three Xirui-class battlecruisers near a Ssi-ruuvi planet and considered whether they belonged to the missing squadrons.

• Mongar-Mongar spoke through Umbrella staff members controlled by tentacles and warned Sherry Birkin that mortals should not intrude on the domain of gods.
• Sherry Birkin used a drop of blue liquid on a controlled staff member, then escaped with U.S.S Delta Squad as they attacked Mongar-Mongar’s sludge.
• Sherry Birkin kept her plan to seal off the laboratory and study Mongar-Mongar, and she approved Ruper’s proposal to prepare a Kohl-class ship and an orbital bombardment window.
• Jeff Moro reported that the Normandy’s probe had detected capital ships near a Ssi-ruuvi planet, and Shepard identified three vessels as likely Xirui-class battlecruisers.
• Shepard ordered the probe closer for an optical scan despite Jeff Moro’s warning about the enemy ships’ stronger sensors.

Shepard’s crew discovered that the missing Ssi-ruuvi fleet had been infected by Mungal-Mungal and prepared to land on the planet. Tang Xiao learned that Mungal-Mungal was an intelligent life-form worshipped as the God of Decay and sent Legion to aid Sherry Birkin and Shepard.

• Shepard sent a probe toward the planet, and the Ssi-ruuvi fleet failed to detect it or transmit any communications.
• Shepard and Ashley Williams concluded that Mungal-Mungal had infected the planet’s population and that its cities were silent and likely full of walking corpses.
• Ashley Williams gave Shepard her captain’s insignia, and Shepard ordered the Normandy to activate stealth systems and prepare to land.
• Tang Xiao read Sherry Birkin’s report, which described Mungal-Mungal as an intelligent, complex life-form revered by some Ssi-ruuvi officials as the God of Decay.
• Tang Xiao met Legion, a specialized Geth unit, and sent it to Levik to assist Sherry Birkin and help Shepard if needed.
• Tang Xiao asked whether the Second Exploration Fleet had contacted the Chiss and told his contact to ask them about Mungal-Mungal.

Tang Xiao directed the Second Exploration Fleet to help address the Mongar-Mongar crisis while searching for the Chiss. On Kruda planet, Shepard questioned Mongar-Mongar’s motives and found a fortified town whose defenders were firing on infected Xilu people, including women and children.

• Tang Xiao noted that the Second Exploration Fleet was searching the Unknown Regions for the Chiss and would assist with the Mongar-Mongar problem.
• Shepard and her team explored Kruda planet and debated why Mongar-Mongar controlled Xilu people without directing their actions or infecting small animals.
• Senluo spotted a civilian ship taking off, and Shepard suggested Mongar-Mongar spread between planets in a deliberate, intelligent manner.
• The team heard gunfire and found a makeshift-walled town whose survivors and combat robots were fighting off infected people.
• Shepard watched infected Xilu women and children approach the town and wondered what Mongar-Mongar was trying to do.

Shepard and her team investigated Mungal-Mungal’s purposeful attacks on Xilu survivors and learned that the infection had spread across Kruda after a Lepix fleet detachment arrived. They concluded that the detachment’s warships might reveal the source of the infection, and Shepard proposed checking their navigation logs.

• A Mungal-Mungal infected tormented Xilu survivors with the remains of a victim until they fired on the infected.
• Shepard, Ashley Williams, and Senluo recognized that Mungal-Mungal acted intelligently, while Reaper detonated explosives and projected a fake attack to draw the infected away.
• Shepard approached the survivors and learned that Mungal-Mungal used infected hosts, could operate vehicles and weapons, and tortured its victims without gaining their memories.
• The survivors told Shepard that a Lepix detachment had arrived on Kruda before the infections spread across the planet.
• Ashley Williams wondered who had infected the detachment, and Shepard proposed boarding its warships to examine the Navigation Log.

He Ru struggled to contain Mongal-Mongal as stowaways and infections overwhelmed the Levik planet, while Sherry Birkin refused to share research and continued her experiments. Meanwhile, G.K. resolved to grow stronger after losing to Han Xiao, who prepared for the arrival of a new wave of players.

• He Ru learned that Mongal-Mongal had infiltrated ships and the civilian population, and ordered more B-1 battle droids to help secure the Levik planet.
• Huang Yehao reported that the Xilu rebels in Nuka City had surrendered after Mongal-Mongal outbreaks and incendiary bombings spread fear of the God of Decay.
• He Ru and Huang Yehao confronted Sherry Birkin for research findings, but she said they had no results to share and reminded He Ru that the G-Virus could stop Mongal-Mongal from spreading.
• Sherry Birkin ordered her researchers to begin a seventh experiment to test whether a juvenile Mongal-Mongal could develop an independent consciousness.
• After reviewing his defeat by Black Star, G.K. spent experience on mechanical engineering skills and prepared to resume research and manufacturing.
• Han Xiao anticipated the arrival of the second batch of players and returned to work at his workshop.

Shepard and her team escaped Kruda with a Navigation Log that pointed to six more planets possibly infected by the Mongar-Mongar. Back on Levik, they proposed investigating those planets with the Normandy to find the Mongar-Mongar’s homeworld, and He Ru agreed to send powerful companions with them.

• Shepard and her team escaped three pursuing Xirui-class battlecruisers by cloaking the Normandy and jumping to hyperspace.
• Sherry Birkin discovered that the Mongar-Mongar avoided the G-Virus and gave He Ru a refrigerated test tube to use if its spread became uncontrollable.
• He Ru struggled to manage Levik’s infections and unrest while the Duchy of Dawn’s leaders supported Umbrella Pharmaceutical Group’s research.
• Shepard returned to Levik with the Navigation Log from Kruda and identified six planets along the detached fleet’s route as possible Mongar-Mongar infection sites.
• Shepard proposed that the Normandy investigate the six planets without alerting the Mongar-Mongar, and He Ru agreed to send powerful companions with the team.

Shepard recruited Legion and set out to investigate Mongar-Mongar’s homeworld, while the Second Exploration Fleet prepared to explore the Unknown Regions under deputy commander Kace Thomas Maxwell. The chapter ended with the two expeditions beginning separate journeys toward the unknown.

• Shepard learned that Legion, a Geth collective with 3,149 bodies on Levik planet, would assist her Mongar-Mongar expedition.
• General He Ru told Shepard that Sherry Birkin remained isolated in Laboratory 101 and had stationed a cruiser overhead, so Shepard decided to proceed without her.
• Shepard ordered the expedition to depart and warned Legion not to cause trouble.
• The Eternal, an Endless-class Super Carrier, established communications with Dawn Star Planet from the Northwest Territory as the Second Exploration Fleet prepared to explore the Unknown Regions.
• Kace Thomas Maxwell, the fleet’s deputy commander, discussed the threat of Mongar-Mongar and prepared to lead the expedition aboard his Stetheus-class cruiser.

The Second Exploration Fleet discovered evidence of a destroyed colony and used its communications broadcast to draw the Chiss Defense Fleet into contact. Lieutenant General Brent sought diplomatic relations, but Admiral Ziyala rejected them until Brent mentioned Mnggal-Mnggal, which shocked her.

• General Brent warned Kace Maxwell to avoid confronting Mnggal-Mnggal and said the fleet needed to find the Chiss for information and assistance.
• The Second Exploration Fleet completed its route calculations and reached a barren planet marked in the Outer Rim Exploration Program records.
• Kace Maxwell deduced that a colony had once existed on the planet, and a probe confirmed radioactive contamination and buried structural remains.
• Brent deployed the fleet and broadcast communications signals, drawing a Chiss fleet of more than thirty vessels into the system.
• Admiral Ziyala rejected Brent's offer to establish diplomatic relations and dismissed Sefrans Tann as a disgraced former Chiss citizen.
• Brent solemnly mentioned Mnggal-Mnggal, and Ziyala's expression changed dramatically.

Lieutenant General Brent told Admiral Ziyala about Mongal-Mongal on Levik and sought peaceful relations with the Chiss, who agreed to meet a Duchy of Dawn delegation after three days of deliberation. When Kace Maxwell’s stealth cruiser appeared close to the Chiss fleet, Ziyala recognized how vulnerable her forces could be and reconsidered the threat posed by the Duchy of Dawn.

• Lieutenant General Brent learned from Admiral Ziyala’s reaction that the Chiss knew about Mongal-Mongal and explained the outbreak on Levik and the fall of Kruda.
• Brent described Levik’s population and defenses, and Ziyala warned that the planet could fall within a year and urged the Duchy of Dawn to prepare for the worst.
• Brent proposed a forward base and peaceful relations with the Chiss, and Ziyala agreed to report his intentions and the Mongal-Mongal crisis to the Chiss Senate.
• After three days, Ziyala told Brent that the Chiss ruling families would meet him, but permitted only one shuttle and required him to come personally.
• Brent summoned Kace Maxwell, whose Stetheus-class cruiser appeared within a thousand kilometers of the Chiss fleet and alarmed Ziyala.

Lieutenant General Brent and Captain Keth Maxwell traveled to Csilla to meet with the Chiss, where Keth learned about their political system and customs. At the family palace, the Chiss cabinet demanded to know whether the Duchy of Dawn had come to bring peace or war.

• Brent and Keth flew from the Eternal Super Carrier to Admiral Qiyala’s flagship aboard an official Duchy of Dawn shuttle.
• Keth discussed the Chiss government and customs with Qiyala during their journey to Csilla.
• After docking near Csilla, Keth spoke with female soldiers and gathered more information about the Chiss.
• The Chiss cabinet received Brent and his party at the family palace in Csaplar.
• The cabinet asked whether the Duchy of Dawn had brought peace or war.

Lieutenant General Brent negotiated with the Chiss Family Cabinet, offering peaceful exchange while emphasizing the Duchy of Dawn’s ability to enter the Unknown Regions. The Chiss leaders remained wary as they considered whether cooperation would protect them or entangle them in outside conflicts.

• Brent introduced the Duchy of Dawn’s peaceful intentions to the Chiss Family Cabinet, whose nine families identified themselves.
• Nuruodo family and Sabosen family questioned what the Duchy could offer and warned that accepting it could draw the Galactic Empire’s hostility toward Chiss territory.
• Brent argued that Chiss territory was not truly isolated and warned that it could eventually be swallowed by the outside world.
• Brent presented gifts, including seeds, animal embryos, and a Warp Drive blueprint, and said the Duchy used at least three other technologies to enter and leave Chaos.
• The Chiss families privately discussed Brent’s offer, then asked how the Duchy could guarantee it would not invade or drag Chiss territory into its wars.
• Brent proposed trade and cooperation as safeguards and pointed out that the Duchy would not share its access technologies with its enemies.

Lieutenant General Brent proposed joint action against Mongal-Mongal and a relay base to the Chiss Cabinet, revealing that the Duchy of Dawn could move millions of battle droids through a Stargate. The Chiss accepted the offer of friendship and arranged accommodations while agreeing to share intelligence about Mongal-Mongal.

• Brent urged the Chiss Cabinet to cooperate against Mongal-Mongal and proposed a joint operations command staffed by him and He Ru.
• Brent said the Duchy of Dawn would commit forces as the Chiss requested, then proposed building a relay base with Chiss assistance.
• Brent revealed that the relay base could enable Stargate transport of battle droids, including forces from the Duchy's 4.1-million-strong army on Levik planet.
• The Chiss Cabinet reacted with alarm to the Stargate revelation, and the Csapla family acknowledged the Duchy's friendship.
• The Inrokini family offered Brent state-guest accommodations, and Brent requested intelligence about Mongal-Mongal threatening Levik planet.

The Chiss families debated whether to help the Duchy of Dawn build a stargate, weighing the danger of provoking them against the chance to gain an advantage. The discussion ended without a decision, while the Illyz family began a plan to infiltrate the delegation and approach Kace Maxwell.

• The Nuruodo family told Admiral Qiyala to send the Duchy of Dawn intelligence on Mongal-Mongal, and she left after receiving instructions from the cabinet.
• The Chaf family called for an attack, but the Illyz and Nuruodo families argued that keeping the Duchy of Dawn under surveillance was safer than driving it away.
• The Csapla family proposed cutting off supplies, while the Sabosen and Brast families questioned whether that would work or whether the stargate story was a deception.
• The Myss family demanded accountability for Admiral Qiyala, but the Inrokini family reminded her that the cabinet had jointly approved contacting the fleet.
• The Nuruodo family proposed using the Duchy of Dawn against other enemies, and the Illyz family urged limits on the relationship before the cabinet postponed its vote until the next day.
• The Illyz family ordered attendants to send beautiful women to the delegation and place an agent near Kace Maxwell.

Kace Maxwell and Lieutenant General Brent discussed the Chiss ruling families’ infighting as the Duchy of Dawn exploited their divisions to secure an alliance. The Chiss territory agreed to host a forward base and stargate on Masos Planet, and the two sides established joint operations against Mongal-Mongal.

• Kace Maxwell and Lieutenant General Brent discussed how the Chaf family’s political ambition and the ruling families’ rivalries made the Chiss vulnerable to the Duchy of Dawn.
• Brent’s delegation received gifts, bribes, and incriminating information as the Chiss families tried to discredit one another and win the Duchy’s favor.
• The Chiss territory accepted the Duchy of Dawn’s alliance proposal and allowed it to build a forward base and stargate on Masos Planet.
• The Chiss and the Duchy of Dawn established a Joint Operations Command to strike Mongal-Mongal, led by Admiral Ziyala with Lieutenant Generals He Ru and Brent as deputies.
• The two sides formally established diplomatic relations and signed economic and technology agreements, including the transfer of warship designs and Gen 2 synth technology to the Chiss.

Tang Xiao and Helmut Zemo reviewed the Duchy of Dawn’s agreements with Chiss territory and its plans to use a stargate and joint operations to extend its influence into the Unknown Regions. The chapter then shifted to Terminus Planet, where Oruba’s Goresla Family rose amid the escalating feud between the Desilijic and Besadi kajidics.

• Helmut Zemo reported that Chiss territory had agreed to help build a stargate in seven standard months and had selected technology and warships to receive in exchange.
• Tang Xiao approved the arrangements and discussed how Lieutenant General Brent was cultivating Chiss families while the Joint Operations Command pursued Mongar-Mongar.
• Tang Xiao and Zemo concluded that the stargate would let the Duchy of Dawn steadily expand its influence throughout the Unknown Regions.
• The Desilijic kajidic and Besadi kajidic moved toward open conflict as Ziro and Gaddula led increasingly violent attacks amid the Clone Wars.
• Oruba used the turmoil between the two great Hutt families to expand the Goresla Family’s influence from Terminus Planet.

The chapter explained how Republic-backed Desilijic and Separatist-backed Besadi divided the Hutts during the Clone Wars, while Tang Xiao covertly supported figures within both sides. It left the Goresla Family excluded from the Hutt Council, with Oruba’s appearance helping make him an outcast.

• Palpatine secretly backed Jabba, while Tang Xiao helped Ziro reunite with Zorba and challenge Kiliak, splitting the Desilijic kajidic.
• Aruk-Besadi suppressed Gaddula and drove out Tang Xiao’s Calamity Legion, then allied with Marlo-Kunnarac against the growing Desilijic power.
• Aruk made a secret pact with Count Dooku after the Clone Wars began, strengthening the Besadi kajidic as Zorba’s assassination removed Ziro from the Hutt Council.
• The Republic-backed Desilijic and Confederacy-backed Besadi factions gave both sides access to Hutt Space, helping the Confederacy keep its territories connected and prolong the war.
• The Goresla Family lost its Council seat as other kajidics shut it out, while Oruba’s albinism and appearance made him a freak in Hutt society.

The Goresla Family rose to power through smuggling and military strength, allowing Oruba to reclaim a seat on the Hutt council. After the Empire helped the Desilijic kajidic defeat the Besadi kajidic over Saleucami, Palpatine ordered Kiliak to dissolve the Hutt Council, and Kiliak expelled every member outside the Desilijic kajidic.

• The Goresla Family expanded its smuggling network from Terminus and used its powerful fleet to crush rival families that attacked it.
• Oruba forced Marlo of the Kunnarac Family off the Hutt council and reclaimed a seat for the Goresla Family.
• After the Galactic Republic became the Galactic Empire, Palpatine supported the Desilijic kajidic while the Besadi kajidic came under increasing pressure.
• The Desilijic and Besadi kajidics fought for four years around Saleucami Planet until the planet fell and the Confederacy of Independent Systems lost its final fortress.
• After Count Dooku died, Palpatine ordered Jabba and Kiliak to dissolve the Hutt High Council, and Kiliak expelled every member outside the Desilijic kajidic.

Kiliak Desilijic allied with Ziro Desilijic and broke Hutt tradition by attacking the Besadi kajidic, triggering a war after Durga Besadi was killed in a spacecraft crash. Jabba Desilijic and other Hutt leaders rebuilt the Hutt Council to oppose the war, but Hutt Space descended into civil conflict.

• Kiliak Desilijic rejected Jabba Desilijic's opposition to unifying Hutt Space under his rule and allied with Ziro Desilijic, who offered to surrender her claim to the patriarch position.
• Kiliak Desilijic and Ziro Desilijic's forces killed twelve Besadi Hutts, violating Hutt tradition.
• A spacecraft crashed into a tower on Nal Hutta where Durga Besadi was present, and Aruk Besadi blamed the Desilijic kajidic for his son's death.
• Aruk Besadi deployed the Besadi family fleet and bombarded a city with Desilijic holdings, prompting Kiliak Desilijic and Ziro Desilijic to assemble their own fleet.
• Jabba Desilijic, Marlo, Oruba Goresla, Gorga, and Vedo Anjiliac Atirue rebuilt the Hutt Council and proposed forming a council fleet to end the war.

On the Duchy of Dawn’s eighth National Day, Tang Xiao visited Kafe Bir to receive a major gift from the Salarians. The gift was a new Divinity-class battleship capable of jumping into a gravity well, and Tang Xiao welcomed it with bloodlust.

• The Duchy of Dawn celebrated its eighth anniversary as Tang Xiao toured key planets during the National Day holiday.
• Tang Xiao canceled his visit to Yag'Dhul after forecasts predicted an unusual astronomical event and joined its celebration remotely from Lothal Planet.
• Tang Xiao arrived at Kafe Bir, where the Salarians prepared a grand National Day gift for him.
• A massive warship emerged from hyperspace inside the Endor gas giant’s gravity well, demonstrating that the Duchy of Dawn had extended Forerunner jump technology beyond its Endless-class Super Carrier.
• The 3,820-meter-long vessel flew before Tang Xiao’s shuttle and was identified as the Divinity-class battleship (Revelation-class).

Tang Xiao toured the Divinity-class battleship as Arroyo Barlow explained its specialized armor and combat capabilities. The ship was designed to withstand the Galactic Empire’s main weapons, though its armor came at the cost of hangars, Marines, and substantial point defense.

• The chapter explained the Fourth Civilization’s ship classifications and distinguished specialist Titan warships from standard classes.
• Tang Xiao boarded the Divinity-class battleship, where Arroyo Barlow described its laser arrays and adaptive armor instead of Deflector Shields.
• Arroyo Barlow explained that localized armor damage and the ship’s structural design helped it survive attacks and escape encirclement by twenty Imperial-class Star Destroyers.
• Arroyo Barlow said the Divinity-class’s electromagnetic armor would blunt Imperial-class ion cannons, leaving much of their firepower ineffective.
• Arroyo Barlow noted that the Divinity-class and Hell-Angel Class Battlecruiser lacked hangars, carrier-based aircraft, Marines, and more than minimal point defenses.

Tang Xiao watched a Divinity-class battleship demonstrate its Flagship-class laser arrays, which destroyed three Hunter Class Battlecruisers almost instantly. After seeing the weapon shatter an asteroid, he was satisfied and imagined Imperial-class Star Destroyers being destroyed just as easily.

• Tang Xiao and Arroyo Barlow discussed carrier development and the transfer of Protoss interceptor technology as the Divinity-class battleship headed to its testing area.
• Arroyo Barlow ordered the Divinity-class battleship to test its Flagship-class laser arrays against three captured Hunter Class Battlecruisers.
• The laser arrays fired brief flashes that destroyed all three shielded targets within seconds.
• Tang Xiao questioned the weapon’s unimpressive appearance, and a human scientist suggested testing it on an asteroid.
• The Divinity-class laser arrays blasted the asteroid into fragments of lava, prompting Tang Xiao to praise the weapon and envision it destroying Imperial-class Star Destroyers.

Tang Xiao admired the Divinity-class battleship’s destructive power and learned how its battle equipment could make it a nearly immobile fortress. He then welcomed the Chiss delegation with a coercive banquet, ending by toasting Mitth'raw'nuruodo and using the Force to return spilled wine to the Nuruodo family’s cup.

• Tang Xiao praised the Divinity-class battleship after its laser array turned an asteroid into lava and asked whether it could carry a Particle Beam Lance, but Arroyo-Barlow explained why the weapon would not suit the ship.
• Arroyo-Barlow revealed that the battleship’s battle equipment could concentrate its energy to let it contend with twenty Imperial-class Star Destroyers, but would shut down its engines and leave it immobile.
• Tang Xiao approved of the battleship’s capabilities, expressed his desire for total victory in the coming war, and left for Dawn Star Planet after Helmut-Zemo informed him that the Chiss delegation had arrived.
• Tang Xiao greeted the Csapla family and the Nuruodo family, dragged them to a banquet, and forced them to drink to the Chiss territory and Sefrans-Tann.
• Tang Xiao proposed a third toast to Mitth'raw'nuruodo, prompting the Nuruodo family to spray wine across the table, and Tang Xiao used the Force to send the spilled wine back into his cup.

Tang Xiao confronted Chiss representatives over the Borg-Ray Incident, using the Duchy of Dawn’s leverage to press Chiss territory toward closer dependence. The chapter ended with Chiss leaders preparing to sign an agreement as the Grysk Hegemony threat loomed.

• Tang Xiao revealed his authority as Grand Duke and warned the Nuruodo and Csapla representatives that he had received a troubling gift.
• The representatives explained Chiss resistance to military commitments, while Tang Xiao raised the Borg-Ray Incident and the colonists killed there.
• Admiral Ziyala’s joint fleet had bombarded Borg-Ray to eliminate Mongal-Mongal, then discovered that five of seven Grysk Hegemony colonies had been destroyed.
• When Grysk warships fired during a confrontation, Lieutenant General Brent ordered the Duchy of Dawn fleet to destroy them, prompting Ziyala to warn that the incident would start a war.
• The Chiss Supreme Cabinet sent the Nuruodo and Csapla families through the Stargate to meet Tang Xiao and ordered Ziyala to guard the border against the Grysk.

Tang Xiao forced the Nuruodo and Csapla families to submit to the Duchy of Dawn, then questioned them about the Grysk Hegemony. Their evidence suggested the Grysk could control other species and manipulate their memories, leaving Tang Xiao concerned that hidden agents might already be among them.

• Tang Xiao killed several members of the Chiss delegation with the Death Force until the Nuruodo family agreed to bring Chiss territory and its fleets under the Duchy of Dawn.
• The Nuruodo family explained that the Chiss had avoided deploying their crewed fleets against the Grysk because the enemy was powerful and combat droids might be better suited to fighting them.
• The Nuruodo family showed Tang Xiao DNA results from Bog-Ray indicating that the crews of the destroyed Grysk ships came from seventeen species, with no Grysk among them.
• The Nuruodo family presented a recording describing the Grysk as beings who controlled populations, twisted their wills, and altered their memories.
• Tang Xiao asked whether the Grysk used brainwaves to control other species, and the Nuruodo family said they had found no physical evidence of the control and could not tell whether Grysk-controlled people were hiding among them.