Planet Stenos, Pef Empire

On board HMS Firepower, a Meteor II battleship

17 BBY 3 months later

"There are things in the universe that are simply and purely evil. A warrior does not seek to understand them, or to compromise with them. He seeks only to obliterate them." - Thrawn

"Well then Colonel Mitth'raw'nuruodo, I am glad that we agree. You have 100 Mountains, 6 Meteors II, and ten thousands smaller ships, and even more starfighters. You have ysalamiri, and Culexus droids to protect yourself and your staff, and one billion war droids and other warmachines. I believe it should be enough to civilize the Sith pocket. Rest assured, Pef Empire still has 1000 times more ships and droids, should you fail and die miserably." I said politely, handing over a golden Hand to my new Chiss subordinate.

"It will be more than enough, Avatar. Or else I'll strangle myself in shame. Such 'firepower' I have here...is ten times the total firepower of the Chiss Ascendancy. Maybe more. No, only those dark priests and dark jedi worry me." Thrawn said calmly, checking the way the golden hand worked, then pinning it to his armor.

"Pretty much, yes. Kinda scary, for such primitives. Miss Lyn and Morne here have fought their kind for...a long time, while the VSS and the Grey Paladins need to earn more experience. Do you best, Colonel." I replied politely, then teleported to my own ship.

Now, where to go? Thyton?

Sure, why not? I was certain to find adventure there.

But first, pick up my new wife, Serra Keto Grayshade, and install her as a proper Empress on Empress Teta.

I mean, come on! It was called Empress, it had to have an Empress, not a prince or duke.

---------------------

Planet Malagarr, Pef Empire

Centerpoint Station.

'You want to discontinue the B11/d series, forever?' the Core AI wondered, like it was strange.

'Of course, my friend. The trillion units we already have, will be used to crew our ships, in the future. For ground combat, and boarding or underwater operations, we will use the model you had created. The Centurions. Low profile head, full shield, repulsorlifts, redundant circuitry and photoreceptors, backup arms, vibroblade, and carbon nanotubes extra muscles. I never liked those skinny droids anyway.' I said in a friendly tone.

'But, they cost 7 times as much! Maybe more! Just the factories...' my Eighth Hand complained, like money was an issue.

'Exactly. The population of our empire is growing fast, with all the new trade nodes and immigrants. We are making a profit! That's silly! We need to invest more credits into factories and shipyards and research. We haven't even spent 200 quadrillion credits, even with 10 thousands inhabited worlds. We can spend 50 times more, just from our debit accounts with the Galactic Bank. Plus, the new droids will also be 5 times more effective, at least." I explained politely, and watched the AI go over his own calculations at speed.

Hmmm. He increased his processor numbers again, now 12 times what I gave him originally.

Then again, he had 12 dead and uploaded Altisian Jedi giving him new ideas. Almost dead.

Maybe next century I'll give them new bodies to enjoy organic life again.

Perhaps those extra AI modules were for his friends.

'I see, Immortal Pef. New factories and factory lines for those components, premium checks for employees who invent new or better devices...already we have twice better hyperdrives and sensors that we had at Lianna and Boonta. A few more technological jumps...' the AI realized too.

'Now you get it. So any signs of those extragalactic Silentium droids?'

'Not yet. But you said they'll appear sometime in the next 20 years ?' he wondered naively.

'Yes...at Lothal, and Mon Calamari and Renatasia. But I suspect they already reached our galaxy, with the Vong hot on their...tentacles.'

'I am patrolling the borders with Silencer cruisers. Blades deployed and all. Let's hope we don't have to fight them too' Core said with a bit of worry.

'We'll prepare for worst. If they'll be friendly, everything is fine. But if not...' I said softly.

'They'll die screaming. If they can scream...'

'See. you're adapting perfectly dear Core. Now, do you want more asteroids or planets?' I asked rhetorically. Of course he would.

'Hmmm. Just some 50 planets for hypermatter and land factories. I prefer my asteroids already crushed and placed orderly, than the mess I get when I blow up planets. And at least one planet with cortosis. Baneblades and Titans eat up a lot of my transports.' my AI friend demanded logically.

'Right. I'll teleport planet Xo , for Force replenish and testing grounds, then Gertafuu VI and Anicand Apatros . The Zanibar have escaped my predecessor, Xim the Despot, and fled to Xo, but I hope you can do better. You know they frequently sacrifice sentients? They believe that the rituals involving a feast of their enemies' bodies will give their life forces to their gods . I mean, when they do work as mercenaries, they take payment in people, so they can sacrifice them. Not cool!' I exclaimed in fake outrage.

It was a bit cool, in a Freddie Kruger and HK-47 way, but eh. They would have been massacred by the Vong anyway, since they Vong want the exact same thing. But have bigger ships.

'Well...I am a little sympathetic to their plight...but if I must, I will test my new droids and weapons on them.' Core said, in fake sentimentality. I bet he was sharpening the vibroblades for his new legions already.

'But remember!' I said in a warning tone, after finishing stealing a few thousand rich asteroids from Roxuli and Bilbringi, and 50 barren planets from everywhere, to be gouged out and let their cores produce hypermatter through solar ionization.

'No bioweapons. Just chemicals and acids, and clean up afterwards. No self-replication pathogens, I know. And leave most trees and wildlife alone. Life is precious, and we care for it, and only kill when we must.' The AI replied dutifully.

Good, he was learning. And those evil things needed exterminated anyway. Sacrifice!

What need has a god for sacrifice, damn morons!

If something needs fuel, it's not a god, is it?

Oh well, I'll have to clean up the theological mess of this galaxy one day.

I already drained Pomojena. If there were more such gods around, I'll just have to eat them too.

Planet Thyton, Pef Empire, Deep Core

17 BBY, next week

You know how it feels when you know something changed, but you don't know what exactly?

Well. I do now.

The conclave on Kessel didn't happen, first because Kessel was interdicted by me.

Secondly, because Darth Vader died soon after he took the Sith Lord mantle. Still by me.

And thirdly, because our Gand Explorers mapped the route to Thyton, and the planet became visible in the Force again. For us and for others.

Thus, three beautiful jedi and a few ugly males have gathered on Thyton, planning to kill Palpatine.

Might even work, if they had a solid plan, not a few cortosis blades and lightsabers. Sigh.

Guess I can keep the cute ones.

"Hello brave warriors of Ashla. What brings you to the Pef Empire, and carrying force weapons, without license?" I asked politely, sitting down and decloaking on a log next to their campfire.

Cozy eh?

In a medieval setting, maybe. Which swords fit perfectly in.

And like a lightbulb, they exploded into light, their flashlights came up, in a blue and green pattern.

"Who are you? How did..." a scared woman exclaimed, possibly Sia-Lan Wezz , going by her red hair and her leather chest armor. Very nice chest too.

"Fried lizard? That must pretty heavy for an evening meal. Even for former jedi, with healthy stomachs..." I mused out loud, poking the nearest lightsaber, just to test if it was hot. Didn't feel a thing.

"Calm down people. That armor...it's a Voice. Perhaps the Avatar himself, since the voice seems masculine..." Koffi Arana said in a doubtful tone.

"Well, Palpatine has about 50 Inquisitors now, so just the six of you won't be enough. And the girls aren't allowed to go anyway. Miss Kuro wants every surviving girl brought to her garden on Gand, for more training. She is a very good teacher too. Look at me for example" I said gently, and stole all their lightsabers at once, holding them in my fist like a bouquet of flowers.

By the blades, of course.

The former jedi trying to call their weapons back, to no avail.

And disappearing trick again, throwing the lightsabers over my shoulder, and turning them off as my Culexus droid collected them in mid air. Cortosis blades were all right though. Someone was at least trying to think laterally, for a change.

"You are the Avatar? The one with many...maids?" Miss Swan asked timidly.

"They are wives and ministers and generals, not just maids. Even Empresses or Queens, if the local customs allow. Now, what was your plan again? Sneak into Palpatine's opera booth, and chop off his head?" I asked rhetorically.

"W-well, it has a good chance to work..." Master Tsui Choi said, a bit hesitant.

"Does it? Didn't Palpatine meet with the Jedi Council every week, for a decade? Didn't he mastermind the clone army and the clone wars, even turned Skywalker, under your noses?" I asked with a sad tone. Damn losers.

They did lose it all, acting high and mighty, pretending to be generals...

"You have a better plan, Avatar?"

"Well, the Pef Empire is under a non-aggression treaty with the Galactic Empire. So...can't help you. I might know where you can find Miss Fay, and other Rebellion leaders. Although Mister Arana is like you say...fallen. Perhaps he should go out in a blaze, before he betrays the rest of you..."

"Master Arana, that's not possible..." Shadday Potkin whispered with a bit of fear.

"Perhaps. And perhaps to destroy the Sith, one needs to go to the dark side! Has not the dark side proven stronger, after all? To save the galaxy from the Sith, do we dare not use any weapon?" the man yelled into the night, and stared at the Bogan moon.

"Then again, some insurance, like a timer bomb, just in case Master Arana falls too soon and too deep..." I whispered wisely.

"Indeed, Avatar Greyshade. I see master Kuro taught you well. She always was devious and cruel. Always walking the fine line...almost dark. Dark Woman she called herself, when she cast out her name. Hmmmm. I will be the Dark Man then. And my funeral pyre will end the Sith, and save the galaxy. There is no death, there is only the Force." The former Jedi said, with a pulse of conviction, making the Force resonate all over Thyton.

Huh, I guess all the galaxy felt this. But just conviction won't get you past security, Mister suicide-bomber.

"We do have some acquaintances with access to personal cloaking and Taozin amulets, Dark Man. Perhaps try this suicide with a semblance of a plan and equipment, eh?" I asked, a bit amused.

"You're sending him to die? Just like that?" Miss Swan yelled at me, in outrage.

"Did any of you, even hope to survive, the previous plan?" I asked with some confusion.

They looked at me confused as well.

They did? Just assassinate the leader of the galaxy and run away?

Live happily ever after? Maybe lose a finger, to show the wound proudly to their children?

"You said that out loud, Avatar. But, you're right. We would have all died." Master Potkin said with some sadness and regret.

"Even if we succeed, our Order...there might be 50 of us left?" Master Choi mused to himself.

"27, with the 6 of you, Mister Choi." I said with a certain tone. Numbers were small enough to know them by name already.

My droids came with a few plates of real dinner, and even some brandy.

A last meal, before the end. Nef meat, on a stick.

"How can you be so strong, Avatar? I can't even sense how deep your force connection goes..." Miss Wezz asked with wonder, as I ate a bite as well.

"I was born this way, Miss Wezz. And trained every day, since I could talk. I tamed a hundred rancors when I was five, mastered all saber forms by ten, learned abilities from a dozen different sects, and then...I entered the Temple of the Whills on Jedha, and emerged on planet Lothal, through a painting, just last year. What can I say, the Force is with me..." I explained humbly.

The Jedi Conclave stared at me like I was some alien from another galaxy. Ha!

"You're weird, Avatar. Strong and polite, but weird. What are you doing on Thyton?" Miss Wezz asked me, curious.

"Well, there's a Nanogene spore here, left by Dark Lord Belia Darzu in her fortress. Just making sure it is contained. Because, upon infection, the nanogene seeds would consume living tissue, replicating themselves within minutes while simultaneously growing metallic tumors on the body of the victim. Throughout the infection, the virus would instinctively move towards the brain of the subject and lobotomized their frontal lobe, rendering the victim incapable of higher thought. By this point, the transformation of the subject into a technobeast was complete and irreversible. Although, perhaps if a skilled force-user might save his brain, his body would be totally infected anyway." I explained calmly while the women became a bit green.

"That's a horrible plague. Just something the Sith would make. How do you even know about it?" Miss Swan asked naively.

"I see things. It's a gift, Miss Swan" I replied with polite nod.

"It appears that the Avatar is indeed strong in the Force. We will listen to your advice, Avatar, and relocate to Gand. Perhaps our order can..." Master Jastus Farr said last, having remained quiet till now.

"The accepted refuge for oppressed force cults is on the moon Ruul, wise master. There are some 30 cults there already, so a few more jedi without lightsabers won't bother anyone. Though, most of the other jedi chose to follow Grandmaster Fay and guide the rebellion. Only the Jedi with kids of their own have stayed on Ruul..." I explained gently producing a hologram in my palm, with a few jedi playing with their kids in the sun.

"Kids...they're heretics...not jedi anymore..." Master Choi muttered in a low tone.

Well, that's kinda the point.

"We will join Master Fay...or Grandmaster. Huh, I always thought she was a myth..." Master Farr muttered for himself.

"Master Fay trained me for a year, so...definitely not a myth. She may look young and pretty, but...she's very strong and even smarter. I heard she killed a Sith Lord on Brentaal, by shoving his own lightsaber down his mouth. She's really skilled too..." I admitted with real admiration.

"And she doesn't use lightsabers, like the stories say?" Miss Swan asked with real admiration too.

"Well, Miss Fay can punch through a tank and shave her legs with a vibrosword. And...nevermind. But yes, no lightsaber, unless some stupid Sith brings one so she can grab it and boil him inside out. I wish I can be..." I said with wistful eyes.

"You're young Avatar. In 500 years you'll be as strong as Master Fay too..." Master Potkin said with a wise voice.

That's not what I meant...I wish I can be with her...damn religion.

Maybe she'll mellow with age?

She's really old already...

Maybe...the crystal trick?

Eh, there's time. She won't stay single forever. I think.

--------------------------

Korriban, Sith pocket, Pef Empire.

17 BBY

Colonel Thrawn looked over the former Sith capital with distaste.

A few thousands people, digging through the ruins after artifacts, and most of them sick with various signs of corruption, like yellow eyes and evil stares.

"Capture and inventory everything and everyone, my droids. And I want the number of heads to match the number of bodies. We'll burn them later" he commanded with a sad voice.

The Emperor wanted to collect all scraps of knowledge he could find, and likely hoped to increase his magic powers even more.

Like teleporting suns or planets wasn't good enough...

He'd have to prove himself, in this mission, so he could lead the real fleets against the real enemies.

The Pef Navy lacked real commanders, with just a dozen Dornean Admirals, which were corvette Captains a few years ago. He would rise as a better Admiral soon enough.

Too bad this droid Emperor or his Voices didn't approve of orbital bombardments or bioweapons.

He could have finished this whole pocket yesterday.

Planet Dromund Kaas, Sith pocket

2 weeks later.

"Welcome to Dromund Kaas, where freedom goes to die, and legends are forced on the galaxy."

―Vette

POV

Thrawn was horrified of what he had found here, in this Sith pocket. Hundreds of worlds, drained of life by mad wizards, other worlds with mutated life, like those Rhak-skuri , which Voice Solana said they'll be very useful for armor plates...

This Pef Empire certainly was pragmatic. Insane...give him mercy. Insane and a force-user? Drain him for powers like they did on Bosthirda and now Dromund Kaas.

And these Prophets of the Dark Side in their vile Dark Force Temple did unspeakable things, like this Cronal did to his own daughter, Sariss. The girl was abused by all members, including his own father...

There would be no saving for these madmen, as they were all gassed to sleep, and one by one, the VSS agents and the Paladins would come and drain one of these Prophets, with their magic crystals.

This strange water woman would sometimes drop the camouflage, and appear as glowing blue water shape, when straining to drain a powerful dark jedi.

Truly the galaxy was a wondrous place, just going by the species he'd seen or heard.

But this Immortal Pef wasn't just a crazy droid. He knew about the Outsiders, or the Vong. He knew about the killik hives, even about the Mnggal-Mnggal and most other dangers in the unknown regions.

Much better informed and prepared than anyone could have anticipate. And these huge fleets the Pef Navy had? They were only the beginning. They were ignoring the Core, for a simple reason. What were a few million worlds, when the galaxy had a trillion?

Hmmm. The scouts have mapped Jaguada and Jaguada's moon where they found a single city and some smugglers.

"Arrest everyone and check them for signs of infections. Use the force detectors to locate dark jedi and their alignment" he ordered with a tiny smile. Such a marvelous invention again, beside the armors and the amulets and the ysalamiri.

The Pef Emperor really liked to be prepared.

"Colonel. Two women have force powers here on the moon. Jula Shryne is pale and Olee Starstone is blue, on our detectors, Orders, sir?" a commando droid transmitted soon after.

Hmmm. Not red, or black, and not grey like his own troops.

Miss Celeste was green...

Oh well. Voice Solana will know what they meant.

"Secure them and bring them to our Voice, Sergeant" he ordered, a bit amazed how well programmed these commando droids were. And really effective, at least as much as the rookie Paladins.

The other droids from the B11 series were being discontinued, and replaced with the next generation, a scaled down model of the Culexus droids. Which were scarily competent.

Some of them even got promoted to Colonels.

On the flanks, Rhelg and Khar Delba as long with its moon, Khar Shian were all deserted, barring a few pirates or smugglers, which were trapped in this pocket for years.

Kalakar Six had some darksiders as well, now being 'pacified' and their cultural inventories confiscated.

Dromund Fels had significant presence of criminals, mainly belonging to the Exchange, or simply pirates.

"Escort elements in vicinity, interdict Dromund Fels, and cover the Paladin dropships." Thrawn commanded, eager to see this new unit in action.

Well, the Paladins were mostly a police type of organization, roughly a million organics and 10 million droids. Of which, he had only 1000 of course.

But with power armor, and hi tech weapons and flash memory training, and backed by their own droids and ships...

More than enough for criminals. Only...

"Colonel, an electric storm is forming in the path of our dropships. We're holding and sending Orions first" The Paladin Librarian said politely on the holocoms.

Oh, another elemental user? The Pef Empire doctrine was right on this...cloaked ships and proton torpedoes.

Few dark jedi would withstand a direct hit, unlike those wearing Terminator armor like himself...as Colonels and higher ranks in Pef Empire were all gifted such precious armors, worth as much as a Meteor battleship.

It felt good to be part of such powerful empire...even if they seemed too mild in his opinion.

A wave of whispers passed all over the bridge, and he turned towards his nearest VSS.

"Explain" he commanded sternly.

"A shift in the Force, Colonel. This humble Findsman believes Lord Palpatine was killed. Many Inquisitors as well." The VSS agent muttered through his vocoder.

"Coms. Can we slice through the nebula and find out for sure?" Thrawn demanded, a bit anxious.

This really was important. If...

"Everyone settle down. Our Avatar is at the scene, filtering through the remaining souls. And yes, the Sith Lord's essence is captured. This fleet will continue its mission, while 500 Pef Navy fleets come to the aid of the freedom fighters in the Core. It seems former Emperor Palpatine didn't understand our warnings, and ordered a biological attack again. And you know what happens next"

Voice Solana proclaimed in a flat tone, and everyone on the ship nodded in concert.

Eternal torment. Maybe this Pef Empire wasn't so mild after all.

---------------------

Planet Humbarine, Galactic Empire

Block 233, Level -398, Golden Hand Corporation Headquarters

"Grandmaster Fay, you felt it too?" A young padawan asked with wonder, raising his head from the holo instruction deck.

"Yes Padawan. Palpatine is dead...almost. His body vaporized and his soul captured, by the Avatar..." Fay whispered with regret,

looking around her command center, with only a dozen jedi remaining.

"So, we've won! We can start..." the boy exclaimed with radiant eyes like all rodians.

Fay sighed in defeat. There is no victory, only lies.

"Where can we start again, my fellow Jedi? I can sense hundreds of thousands of ships, converging on the Core, from all sides.

This galaxy will be soon the Pef Empire. We won, and in winning we gave the victory to that slimy droid. Even our holocrons are made by him. Our money and corporations are his. Our own base on Ruul...I'll try to obtain our independence, and use this golden Hand to start over, but..." Fay muttered to herself.

Without their temples, without being given new children...they'll become just another nomad sect, drifting in the winds.

Richer and more knowledgeable than the rest, but in 50 or 100 years, after the padawans will die of old age, she will be the last Jedi.