Four young officers were heading toward the ship's bridge, riding the turbolift in tense silence.
"Listen… why were we called?" O'Connor finally asked.
"I have a theory," Cerri said, nodding thoughtfully. "But whether it's correct is another question."
"Mirro, admit it—you screwed something up again?" Grace asked with a smirk.
"No, no, no, it wasn't me!" the midshipman protested, waving his hands defensively. "Why is it always me? Maybe it was Sumeragi?"
"That's basically impossible. But you are a master at getting into trouble," Lichtendal replied dryly.
"Traitor," the man hissed. "Heartless bastard."
"We've heard that before."
"Enough chatter," Li Noriega ordered calmly. "We're here."
The turbolift doors slid open.
She stepped out first, the others following close behind. Captain Ragnos and General Dagon were already waiting for them in the bridge's main hall just behind the command pit.
"Sir, did you call for us?" Li asked.
"Yes," Dagon replied. "Time is limited, so we'll skip the formalities."
The Jedi stepped forward and stopped in front of Ensign Mirro, handing him a small case.
"Congratulations, Ensign. You are now a Second Lieutenant and the corps' communications officer."
"Sir…" Christen Mirro took the insignia slowly, clearly confused.
Dagon then turned to the Zeltron.
"O'Connor, I am also promoting you to Second Lieutenant. You are now officially the commander of the corvette *Akatsuki*."
"Thank you, sir!" the Zeltron said, beaming with excitement.
"Now, Li Noriega," Dagon continued. "Your new rank is First Lieutenant. You are hereby appointed Chief of Staff of the corps."
"Sir, I—"
"No need for unnecessary words, Sumeragi," the Jedi interrupted gently. "Prove with your actions that you deserve it."
Finally he turned toward Cerri.
"And you, Lichtendal, are promoted to First Lieutenant. I appoint you commander of the *Midway*."
"Yes, sir!" the Antoan saluted sharply, gripping his new insignia with pride.
At that moment an **OOM-series B1 command droid** approached the general. The young officers already knew it was one of the two droid aides assigned to assist the Jedi.
"General," the droid said in its flat mechanical tone, "the droid squads have been distributed among the ships."
"Excellent," Dagon replied with a nod.
He looked back at the officers and smiled slightly.
"You are dismissed, ladies and gentlemen."
The four officers saluted and left the bridge.
The moment the turbolift doors closed, Mirro burst into a small victory dance while Grace threw her arms around Sumeragi's neck.
Sumeragi simply smiled, perfectly understanding her friend's excitement.
---
## **Elsewhere**
Having finished the mountain of paperwork that had accumulated throughout the day, Senator Chuchi remembered something she had nearly forgotten.
She had yet to thank the Jedi.
After sending the request, she waited patiently until the holoprojector finally flickered to life. The small blue hologram of the Jedi appeared.
"Senator Chuchi. How can I help you?"
"Knight Dagon, I wanted to thank you for the assistance you provided to Pantora. I didn't expect such a fast response."
"Please, don't mention it, Senator. It's my duty as a Jedi—and as a person."
He bowed slightly.
"And please… call me Mikore. I'm not much older than you, Senator Chuchi, and all this 'Knight' business feels painfully formal. We're not in the Senate, after all."
The Pantoran was momentarily flustered, but years of political composure prevailed.
"I think I'll accept your offer… Dagon. But then you must call me Riyo."
She blushed faintly.
"When will you be on Coruscant? I would like to thank you in person."
"That's the problem," Dagon said with a small shrug. "For the next two months or so, I'm unlikely to be anywhere near Coruscant."
"That's unfortunate. May I ask what you'll be doing?"
"I'm afraid that's still a military secret. But you'll hear about us soon enough."
"A dangerous mission for the Order?"
"Not exactly," the Jedi replied. "But you're not far off, Riyo. And as for danger… no one has yet invented a safe way to wage war."
"Good luck, Dagon," she said softly. "I hope we meet again."
The Jedi nodded silently before the hologram faded.
Riyo walked slowly toward the tall narrow window of her office.
Something about the conversation had unsettled her.
Was it really because he asked her to call him by name?
No… that was absurd.
Then the realization struck her.
It wasn't what he had said that unsettled her.
It was **him**.
But… why?
She didn't understand.
Still, when he called her **Riyo**, something in her heart had stirred.
---
## **Elsewhere — Aboard a Separatist vessel**
Count Dooku knelt before the towering hologram of
Darth Sidious.
"My lord?"
"I am dissatisfied, my apprentice," Sidious said coldly. "The situation on Jabiim is slipping beyond your control. This threatens the balance of power… and could lead to disaster."
"My lord, I will correct this immediately," Dooku replied calmly. "However, influencing the Separatist leadership will not be simple. Many of them lack the foresight to understand the danger."
Sidious leaned forward slightly.
"Then we shall remove the problem directly. Send your best hunters."
A pause followed.
"Eliminate the Jedi on that world."
"Yes, my master."
"Dispatch
Durge.
And contact
Mother Talzin. I want her new creature unleashed upon this Jedi."
Dooku raised an eyebrow.
"You sense something unusual about him, my lord?"
"The Jedi's presence is… irregular. Perhaps nothing. But caution serves us better than regret."
"I understand."
The hologram vanished.
Dooku immediately activated another holoprojector.
A massive armored figure appeared.
Durge.
"I have a hunt for you," Dooku said.
Durge chuckled darkly.
"Another Jedi?"
"Yes. On Jabiim."
"I'm already interested."
The connection ended.
Moments later another figure appeared—horned, powerful, cloaked in shadow.
Savage Opress.
"Savage," Dooku said. "You will go to Jabiim. Hunt the Jedi."
"As you command, master."
---
## **Dathomir**
The mist-covered world of
Dathomir trembled with dark energy.
Within a cavern temple,
Mother Talzin stood before a swirling pool of green ichor.
"The Jedi on Jabiim…" she whispered.
Her yellow eyes glowed.
"Yes… I feel him."
She turned toward her warriors.
"Prepare the Nightbrothers."
Dozens of armed warriors stepped forward.
All members of Savage's clan—except one.
Her final son.
Feral.
"Go," Talzin commanded. "Aid Savage. Spill Jedi blood."
The Nightbrothers roared their approval.
The hunt had begun.
---
## **Lantilles**
A small high-speed courier ship exited hyperspace above
Lantilles.
The vessel was little more than a powerful **Class-9 hyperdrive** attached to engines, a cockpit, and a compact cargo bay. Ships like this normally transported urgent cargo.
This time, however, it carried passengers.
Elite ones.
"Seventeen, what do you think?" asked Alpha Thirteen, adjusting the **DC-17m grenade launcher** attached to his chest. "Does General Dagon seem like a competent commander?"
"I thought the Jedi would be better prepared for war," replied Alpha Seventeen, running a hand along his reinforced blaster rifle. "But I've been disappointed so far. The Force is impressive and all—but if they lack brains, it doesn't help much. The reports show Jedi dying every day."
"General Ti spoke highly of this one," Alpha Fourteen added while carefully carrying a case containing the sniper configuration of the DC-17 system.
"We'll see what he's worth."
"They say Jabiim is a nightmare," Fourteen continued. "Ion storms make atmospheric flight nearly impossible."
Seventeen shrugged.
"Weather doesn't matter. We were trained to fight anywhere."
The trio exited the ship.
Before them stretched a massive launch platform.
Three **Acclamator-class assault ships** stood nearby alongside several corvettes. Equipment and endless lines of clone troopers were boarding through the open ramps.
"Looks like that's our destination," Thirteen said.
After walking about a hundred steps they stopped a passing clone trooper.
"Soldier," Seventeen asked, noticing the unusual markings on the trooper's armor, "are you part of General Dagon's forces?"
"Yes," the trooper replied. "Are you joining us?"
"Straight from Coruscant. Where can we find the general?"
"The first ship on the left."
Seventeen nodded.
"Well then, boys," Thirteen said.
"Let's go meet our Jedi."