Chapter Summaries

Doctor Halsey offered Jango Fett the Spartan Program to give him the strength to save Mandalore, in exchange for an alliance with a Mandalore under his rule. Jango refused to rule the planet or draw its civilians into war, but chose to pursue augmentation and ordered Boba Fett brought to him.

• Doctor Halsey explained how Mandalorian ancestry and a culture of combat had produced powerful warriors, then told Jango Fett that he had untapped potential.
• Halsey described the Spartan Program’s mechanical, biological, and genetic augmentations, warning that the process would take months and might fail.
• Jango Fett reviewed the terrifying procedures and learned that their cost was roughly equivalent to a destroyer.
• Halsey offered the augmentations in exchange for Mandalore becoming an ally under Jango’s rule, but Jango rejected ruling the planet or dragging civilians into war.
• Jango Fett removed his helmet, declared that he would crush Death Watch’s conspiracy, and asked for his son, Boba Fett.

Darth Malthael and Helmut Zemo discussed the Fourth Civilization’s military setbacks, rescue plans, and defenses as the war intensified. On Abola Island, Darth Malthael completed his experiment, creating a powerful warrior from Darth Tenebrus’s body and Darth Venamis’s soul.

• Darth Malthael ordered Jango Fett and former followers recruited as test subjects for the early Spartan Program.
• Zemo reported that the Republic had captured Doctor Zhang Jiarui after the Fourth Civilization’s defeat on Onderon, and Darth Malthael ordered a team sent to rescue or kill him.
• Darth Malthael and Zemo reviewed threats to Yag'Dhul, Rendili Planet, and Balmorra-Neimoidia as Republic forces advanced.
• Darth Malthael told Zemo to convene the Fourth Civilization’s supreme summit after he returned to Dawn Star Planet in about a week.
• Darth Tenebrus’s body and Darth Venamis’s soul were fused through Essence Transfer and Sith Alchemy, and the resulting warrior pledged loyalty to Darth Malthael.

Darth Malthael taunted the Soul of Vengeance, who had no name or sense of purpose, then forced him to fight for the right to exist. The Soul of Vengeance unleashed powerful attacks but was ultimately struck down by Darth Malthael, leaving the altar ravaged.

• Darth Malthael mocked the Soul of Vengeance for having no name, soul, or power of his own, and the Soul of Vengeance erupted with Dark Side Force.
• Darth Malthael offered the Soul of Vengeance a Lightsaber and attacked him with a scalpel and Force lightning as a trial of survival.
• The Soul of Vengeance countered Darth Malthael's lightning with Crimson Lightning and seized a blood-red Lightsaber.
• Darth Malthael unleashed Death Force, summoned decaying arms and dark phantoms, and drove the Soul of Vengeance to the brink of annihilation.
• The Soul of Vengeance's mysterious tattoos glowed as he slashed through the Death Force and charged Darth Malthael, who struck him with Crimson Lightning and left him motionless.
• The clash carved a sword scar more than ten meters long through over seventy meters of earth, opening the altar to the starry sky.

Darth Malthael used the Soul of Vengeance to threaten Darth Tenebrus with a fate tied to his own body, while Darth Tenebrus prepared to delay his predicted death and entrusted his plans to Shen-Jon. On Tatooine, Zorba Desilijic’s will naming Ziro Desilijic Tiur as manager of the Desilijic kajidic deepened the family’s split.

• Darth Malthael revived the dying Soul of Vengeance and urged him to kill Darth Tenebrus and claim his body.
• A modified Corellian YT-1000 freighter left Abola Island, followed later by a scarlet Viking fighter bound for the Endor system.
• Darth Tenebrus told Shen-Jon that he foresaw his death and instructed him to continue their plans, leaving Mandalore to Pre Vizsla and focusing on the Kwa Relics.
• Zorba Desilijic died and left a will placing the Desilijic kajidic’s holdings under Ziro Desilijic Tiur’s management.
• Kiliak rejected the will, which intensified the Desilijic kajidic’s division and conflict over its leadership.

On Tatooine, Jing Fang cared for the injured Arden Lyn after escaping the Republic’s defeat at Rendili. Arden Lyn regained enough clarity to recall her defeat by the Archangel of Death and vowed revenge on him and Darth Sidious.

• Tatooine’s population and criminal factions grew amid the Hutts’ escalating war between the Desilijic and Besadi kajidics.
• Jing Fang returned to his shack in the ruins of Mos Espa Port and found Arden Lyn awake.
• Arden Lyn questioned Jing Fang about their location and why he had left the Jedi fleet.
• Jing Fang explained that the Republic had lost Rendili, their ground forces had been wiped out, and he had escaped with her.
• Arden Lyn remembered losing to the Archangel of Death, accused him and Darth Sidious of lying, and vowed revenge once her power recovered.

Jing Fang left the Galactic Republic with Arden Lyn and asked her to teach him combat skills while he held to his own principles. At the Twilight Covenant Temple, Zhang Xucheng and Xiao Yan learned that the Republic had lost on Onderon, where Zhang Xucheng’s father was stationed.

• Jing Fang told Arden Lyn that Master Yoda had revealed the Republic was controlled by darkness and that he had chosen to leave with her.
• Arden Lyn explained that the Dark Side Force had changed, and she revealed that she was trying to resurrect her husband, who died twenty thousand years ago.
• Jing Fang asked Arden Lyn to teach him her combat skills so he could save people without losing sight of his true heart.
• Arden Lyn agreed to teach Jing Fang and asked him to get her a mechanical arm as tuition.
• At the Twilight Covenant Temple, the Priestess told Zhang Xucheng, Xiao Yan, and Kryster that they had failed meditation and urged the children to focus on their studies.
• Xiao Yan told Zhang Xucheng that the Republic had lost on Onderon, where his father was stationed.

After learning that Zhang Xucheng’s father, Zhang Jiarui, had been captured by the Galactic Republic, Zhang Xucheng and Xiao Yan recruited Karina to help rescue him. Shen Yuanhao and Kryster joined them at the transport ship, and the group prepared to leave for the rescue.

• A news broadcast revealed that the Republic had captured Zhang Jiarui and claimed credit for the victory on Onderon.
• Zhang Xucheng decided to rescue his father, and he and Xiao Yan went to ask Karina for help.
• Karina agreed to join the rescue after Zhang Xucheng calmed her rampaging Force by holding her finger.
• Xiao Yan led Zhang Xucheng and Karina through disabled security systems to a Protoss transport ship prepared by Kryster.
• Shen Yuanhao appeared at the ship with Kryster and agreed to pilot them, while Karina insisted on going.

The Priestess objected to Tang Xiao sending Zhang Xucheng and Xiao Yan into Galactic Republic territory, while Tang Xiao insisted they needed to grow up amid the war. In the Republic Senate, Padmé Amidala challenged Wilhuff Tarkin over the casualties and costs of the Onderon campaign, and Sheev Palpatine defended the Clone Army.

• Geth ships built industrial zones and armories across Drai II while a Protoss transport ship left the temple unchallenged.
• The Priestess questioned Tang Xiao’s decision to send Zhang Xucheng and Xiao Yan deep into Republic territory, but Tang Xiao said they had to learn to survive the war.
• The Priestess accused Tang Xiao of being willing to kill Zhang Jiarui if anything went wrong and declared that Zhang Xucheng and Xiao Yan were her students.
• Padmé Amidala condemned the slaughter on Onderon and warned the Senate that the Republic could no longer afford the war’s mounting costs.
• Wilhuff Tarkin argued that battle droids were relentless and showed a B-1 battle droid defeating five soldiers in a demonstration.
• Sheev Palpatine praised the Clone Army as the Republic’s best answer to the Separatist droids and credited the late Master Dias with its creation.

Palpatine and Wilhuff Tarkin pushed the Senate to approve a new army of rapidly grown Spaarti clone troopers, despite objections over the clones’ expendability, the secret Centax-2 facility, and the cost. Padmé Amidala and Bail Organa opposed the plan, while Tarkin proposed making former Separatist worlds pay for it.

• Bail Organa and Padmé Amidala warned that the war’s escalating weapons and losses demanded caution, but Palpatine argued that victory required rebuilding the Clone Army.
• Wilhuff Tarkin introduced Arkanian Microtechnologies’ Spaarti clone troopers, which could mature within a year but had short lifespans and were treated as expendable.
• The Clone Master revealed that Arkanian Microtechnologies had secretly built a facility on Coruscant’s moon Centax-2 and had prepared enough clones to supply an army of eight million.
• Bail Organa denounced the unauthorized facility, but Palpatine said he had approved it under emergency authority and submitted funding for a new Clone Army to the Senate.
• Padmé Amidala objected to the cost of another army, and Wilhuff Tarkin proposed making planets recently liberated from Separatist rule pay for the project.

The Galactic Republic debated financing the war through reparations and adopting short-lived Spaarti clone troopers as the conflict expanded across several fronts. By May 20 BBY, Republic advances threatened key Separatist worlds in the south, while fighting on Kashyyyk and Grievous’s fleet at Saleucami left the northeastern front stalemated.

• Bail Organa opposed imposing ruinous war reparations on liberated planets, while Wilhuff Tarkin argued that the Outer Rim should pay for the war.
• Sheev Palpatine promoted Spaarti clone troopers as an inexpensive way to field troops quickly, and the Arkania Clone Master explained that they aged rapidly and died after about a year.
• In May 20 BBY, the Republic retook Rynoth, and the Tusken joined the Republic and declared war on the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
• Sheev Palpatine reestablished the Republic 14th Army as an administrative organization overseeing strategic worlds, including Geonosis, Christophsis, and Hypori planet.
• The Republic fought the Confederacy of Independent Systems on Kashyyyk with Wookiee support, while General Grievous kept his fleet at Saleucami and the northeastern front remained stalemated.

The Galactic Republic blockaded Mandalore and pressured Prime Minister Almec to surrender power, while Count Dooku ignored his pleas for support. Pre Vizsla and Death Watch gained Republic recognition and launched a violent coup, leaving Almec powerless as the Second Mandalorian Coup began.

• After a week of blockade, Prime Minister Almec abandoned the referendum results but insisted Mandalore remain neutral, and the Republic continued demanding that he step down.
• Pre Vizsla offered to overthrow Almec and establish a pro-Republic government if the Republic recognized Death Watch, and Mace Windu approved the deal.
• Governor Fliry Vorru and the Galactic Senate approved official recognition of Death Watch.
• Pre Vizsla publicly declared himself a Death Watch member and denounced Almec's government, while Bo-Katan Kryze publicly supported the group.
• Death Watch members attacked city administrative centers and executed officials, and Almec watched from the royal palace as he lost control of Mandalore.

The Jedi Council debated Mace Windu’s agreement with Death Watch as Mandalore’s unrest threatened to destabilize the Neutral Alliance. Windu defended the alliance as necessary to prevent a wider crisis, while Shaak Ti condemned cooperation with terrorists.

• Mandalore’s unrest intensified as residents blamed Sundari and persecuted people from the city.
• The Jedi Council gathered with only seven members, while Windu and other Masters joined remotely from campaigns.
• Shaak Ti asked Windu why he had recognized Death Watch, and Windu argued that their involvement could help the Jedi secure Mandalore peacefully.
• Windu explained that his fleet’s presence was meant to keep Mandalore stable and prevent disorder across the Neutral Alliance.
• Shaak Ti objected that Death Watch were terrorists, but Windu insisted that principles could not bring victory after the Jedi Order’s heavy losses.

Mace Windu and Yoda accepted that the Jedi Order would end rather than compromise its creed, while preparing to oppose Darth Sidious and protect the younglings. An explosion interrupted their plans, and Ki-Adi-Mundi revealed himself with the Second Systems Army fleet, resolved to fight the Sith.

• Shaak Ti condemned Windu’s willingness to use ruthless wartime tactics, but Windu insisted the Jedi had to fight the darkness at any cost.
• Yoda declared that the Jedi Order would cease to exist after the war and expelled Windu, who secretly pledged the Second Systems Army fleet to their cause.
• Yoda ordered Shaak Ti and Stass Allie to evacuate the younglings, while Windu asked them to send the injured Dream Sisters away to protect their potential.
• An explosion rocked the Jedi Temple, and Shaak Ti left insisting that the Jedi Order would never disappear.
• Windu revealed that Ki-Adi-Mundi had joined him aboard the Second Systems Army fleet, and Ki-Adi-Mundi vowed to make the Sith pay for their crimes.

After Anakin Skywalker exposed Barriss Offee as the mastermind behind the Jedi Temple bombing, Ahsoka Tano was cleared but rejected the Jedi Order and left for a remote neutral system. Her departure deepened divisions within the Order.

• The Jedi Order arrested Ahsoka Tano after Letta Turmond was murdered in custody, and Mace Windu's faction treated her guilt as established.
• Anakin Skywalker investigated the case and revealed that Barriss Offee had orchestrated the attack on the Jedi Temple.
• Barriss Offee denounced the Jedi Order's wartime conduct in court and apologized to Ahsoka Tano as guards led her away.
• Coleman Kcaj cleared Ahsoka Tano and offered to readmit her, but she said she was no longer a Jedi.
• Ahsoka Tano left despite Anakin Skywalker's pleas and boarded a flight to a remote neutral system.

The Jedi Order fractured as the Blood Knights embraced vengeance, while Master Yoda stopped trying to prevent the Order’s destruction. Jax Pavan saw the faction’s influence firsthand, then recalled the Sith Lord Archangel of Death’s warning and decided to inspect I-5YQ for what it concealed.

• Blood Knights condemned the Jedi Order’s restraint and Master Yoda’s failed Modell Sector Campaign, while Yoda chose to focus on defeating the Sith Lord before considering the Order’s future.
• Jax Pavan noticed the Jedi Temple’s growing emptiness and learned that the Dream Sisters had been seriously wounded and sent to a secret medical space station.
• A Blood Knight greeted Jax Pavan with “Blood for blood,” but Jax saw the Knight exchange the same greeting with another Jedi and left without confronting him.
• After I-5YQ welcomed him back to his quarters, Jax remembered Archangel of Death’s warning about the robot and the sacrifice of Jedi Master Ploo Koon.
• Jax Pavan calmed himself and told I-5YQ that he would uncover what Archangel of Death had hidden inside it.

Jax Pavan discovered a hidden recording from his father, Lorn Pavan, revealing that the Trade Federation’s blockade of Naboo was a plot to remove Chancellor Phineas Valorum and that a Sith Lord had orchestrated it. Master Yoda confirmed the voice belonged to Sheev Palpatine and confronted him by playing the recording in the Chancellor’s office.

• Jax Pavan found that I-5YQ’s memory sectors concealed a coded audio recording and deciphered it.
• Lorn Pavan’s recording revealed that Hath Monchar had given him evidence of the Trade Federation’s Naboo blockade plot and warned that a Sith had murdered him.
• Jax Pavan realized the recording implicated Sheev Palpatine in Valorum’s removal and brought the memory core to Master Yoda.
• Master Yoda said the Jedi had already received intelligence from the Archangel of Death, took the memory core, and sealed Jax out of the council chamber while he handled the matter.
• Sheev Palpatine discussed funding Arkanian Microtechnologies with Mas Amedda before Master Yoda entered and played the recording.

Master Yoda confronted Sheev Palpatine after confirming that the Chancellor was Darth Sidious, while Wilhuff Tarkin’s forces surrounded the Republic Senate Building. Shaak Ti revealed Sidious’s identity to the Jedi and ordered them to flee to Ossus, but Coruscant’s martial law and communications controls left the Order trapped.

• Master Yoda confronted Palpatine, who admitted he was Darth Sidious and attacked him with Force lightning as a blood-red blade struck through the flying metal fragments.
• Wilhuff Tarkin ordered clone troopers to search the Republic Senate Building under the cover of an assassination attempt on the Chancellor.
• Shaak Ti told the Jedi that Sheev Palpatine was Darth Sidious and urged the Order to leave Coruscant for Ossus.
• Anakin Skywalker and other Jedi rushed to confront Palpatine, but Shaak Ti stopped them because they had no evidence and the Chancellor was legally elected.
• Military and police forces imposed martial law across Coruscant, suspended flights, restricted movement, and blocked the Jedi from leaving the planet.

Shaak Ti struggled to understand why Coruscant had been locked down without the Jedi being consulted, while Tang Xiao prepared to exploit the crisis and travel to Korriban. Meanwhile, Zhang Jiarui resisted Kuat’s attempt to obtain his Particle Beam Lance technology, and the Geth launched a final assault on Dorin Planet’s capital.

• Shaak Ti learned that the Republic had declared martial law after an attempted assassination of Palpatine, while the Jedi’s communications and attempts to leave Coruscant were blocked.
• Tang Xiao heard that contact with Coruscant had been lost, told Madam M to prepare for major changes, and arranged a Republic-registered ship to take him to Korriban.
• Little Kuat tried to tempt Zhang Jiarui into revealing Particle Beam Lance technology with promises of wealth, status, and pleasure, but Zhang pretended to cooperate while keeping General Kalani’s chip hidden.
• Little Kuat gave Zhang three days before requiring him to reconstruct the Particle Beam Lance technology for Kuat Drive Yards.
• The Geth overwhelmed the Republic fleet near Dorin Planet and sent hundreds of thousands of Corpse Puppets toward the planet’s last fortress, Dor’Shan.

Gillard Perine took command of the Republic fleet after a Geth attack devastated its flagship bridge and wounded Admiral Eureka. He announced that he would lead the surviving ships out of danger.

• Geth fighters attacked the Republic flagship, and Admiral Eureka ordered the Thunderbolt to fire its close-in defense guns across the bridge to stop them.
• The barrage destroyed several fighters and intercepted most of their torpedoes, but one detonated beside the bridge, wrecking it and killing or wounding many aboard.
• Gillard Perine emerged from the casing of a control console, where he had taken cover during the blast.
• Perine found the badly wounded Admiral Eureka, who told him that more than two-thirds of the fleet remained and gave him command as his final order.
• Perine used the backup communications system to tell the fleet that he was temporarily in command and would lead them out of danger.

The Seventh Army's Second Sub-fleet was nearly destroyed by the Geth fleet near Dorin Planet, so acting commander Gillard Perine ordered the remaining warships into a tight defensive formation around the Flagship Mingxing. He then directed the fleet toward coordinates at a black hole, leaving his officers stunned.

• The Geth fleet used its speed and maneuverability to isolate and attack the Republic warships, nearly destroying the Flagship Mingxing.
• Gillard Perine ordered the remaining ships to abandon their targets and close to within two hundred meters of the Mingxing.
• Despite objections, the ships followed Gillard Perine's orders and formed a dense sphere around the flagship, concentrating their guns and fighter defenses.
• Gillard Perine ordered all personnel to prepare for zero gravity and shut down artificial gravity in ten minutes.
• An officer recognized the coordinates Gillard Perine had provided as a black hole and shouted that he was insane.