The sky above Coruscant still shimmered with the remnants of battle ion trails fading, burning hulls falling through atmosphere, and rescue craft crisscrossing between shattered capital ships. In one of the military landing bays, a battered Actis-class starfighter touched down, cockpit hissing open as Anakin Skywalker climbed out. The clone crews saluted in silent respect; losses had been heavy, but another Separatist siege world had fallen.
Anakin dismissed them and boarded a private speeder. His mind replayed the battle: explosions, screaming fighters, collapsing Separatist shields, and clones dying by the hundreds to breach final lines. He felt no pride only exhaustion and the familiar weight behind his sternum.
When he arrived at Padmé's apartment, the door slid open before he could knock. Padmé Amidala rushed forward, embracing him tightly.
"You're alive."
"Of course I am," he said, managing a tired smile. "You didn't think I'd miss you that easily."
Padmé guided him inside and waited until he'd removed his gauntlets. Her breath trembled; words caught in her throat.
"Anakin… I'm pregnant."
The exhaustion vanished from him in an instant. His eyes widened, his breath caught, and for the briefest moment, war ceased to exist.
"A child?" he whispered. "Padmé, that's… I'm going to be a father."
She nodded, tears forming. Anakin pulled her close, one hand on her cheek, the other on her stomach.
"We'll raise our child," Padmé said, voice steadying. "Away from all of this. Away from the Senate. Away from the war."
Anakin nodded. "I want that too. More than anything. The fighting, the council, the losses… it's all wearing thin." His jaw clenched. "When this war ends, we'll disappear. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere safe."
For the first time in months, hope felt tangible.
The Jedi Council
The message arrived within the hour: Anakin was summoned to the Jedi Temple.
Council Chamber doors opened, revealing Masters seated in their customary circle Yoda, Windu, Obi-Wan, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, and others. Shadows clung to the room, heavy with tension.
Mace Windu spoke first.
"Skywalker. We acknowledge your service in the Outer Rim Sieges. However, you must understand that your attachment to the Chancellor is troubling."
Yoda's voice followed, weary and deliberate. "Clouded, your future is. Too close to Palpatine, you have become. Dangerous, attachments may be."
Obi-Wan shifted uncomfortably. He did not meet Anakin's eyes at first.
"The Council has voted," Windu continued. "You will sit on this Council, but we do not grant you the rank of Master."
The words hit like a blow. Anakin stared, incredulous.
"What? How can you do this? I've led armies, won battles, saved entire sectors"
"This is not about your records," Windu cut in. "It is about trust. The Council's trust."
Anakin's fists clenched.
"Calm yourself," Yoda said. "A step, this is. Not the final path."
Obi-Wan finally spoke, quiet and apologetic.
"Anakin… we need you to spy on the Chancellor. He has extended his term beyond what is necessary. We must know his intentions."
Anakin's breath turned cold.
"You want me to betray him."
"We want you to observe him," Obi-Wan clarified. "Nothing more."
But the meaning was already carved into Anakin's bones.
The Chancellor's Shadow
Anakin arrived at Palpatine's office still vibrating with anger. Palpatine sensed every thread of it.
"My boy," the Chancellor said, rising from his chair. "You seem troubled."
"They denied me the rank of Master," Anakin snapped. "After everything."
Palpatine's expression was perfectly measured.
"How arrogant. How narrow." He placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "You are the most gifted Jedi of your generation. They fear you."
Anakin said nothing, but bitterness simmered behind his eyes.
Palpatine led him toward the window overlooking the city.
"I sense your nightmares, Anakin. The visions of someone dying. Someone you care for."
Anakin flinched. "How"
"There are many abilities in the Force that the Jedi do not teach. For example… the legend of Darth Plagueis the Wise." He spoke slowly voice low, coaxing, hypnotic. "A Dark Lord of the Sith so powerful and so wise, he could use the Force to influence the midichlorians to create life… and even stop death."
Anakin's heart hammered. "Stop death?"
"The Jedi would never share such knowledge. They hoard it. Fear it." Palpatine studied him. "But I could teach you."
Hook set. Line cast. Patience applied.
Shepard's Ascension
Far from Coruscant, deep in uncharted blackspace, Shepard activated the primary command deck of his newest creation.
The Rathsend.
Seventy kilometers in length, five kilometers tall, shaped as a colossal wedge with layered armor plating and reactor spires that resembled jagged obsidian mountains. Its silhouette alone dwarfed Star Dreadnoughts and Mandator-class super destroyers.
Its engines were fueled by dark-matter reactors and artificial singularities. A secondary absorption array allowed it to feed on stellar mass, converting energy into raw construction resources.
Its primary armaments included:
– Axial Quantum Singularity Cannon (capable of ripping open localized gravity shear)
– Planetary Concussion Megamasers
– Multi-Deck Turbolaser Envelopes (long-range and point-defense variants)
– Hypervelocity Mass Drivers (for capital ship penetration)
– Dark Matter Lance Batteries (ship-disruptive particle weaponry)
– Stygium Cloaking Array (full-spectrum stealth)
– Gravity Well Projectors (interdictor capability)
– Tractor-Web Arrays
– Class VII Shield Matrices (overlapping multi-layer deflectors)
Entire hull surfaces crawled with self-repairing nanofabricators.
Behind it existed seven full fleets:
– All-Abandon-Class Battleships
– Escort destroyers
– Carrier groups
– Strike corvettes
– Fighter swarms
– Missile barges
Shepard's clone army had surpassed one hundred million in total elite, disciplined, and loyal only to him. Overan's crust was stripped bare; its resources consumed entirely. In the unknown regions, the reconstructed Star Forge rebuilt without Force dependency continued fabricating ships, weapons, and logistical nodes at inhuman capacity.
Shepard observed the tactical star map.
"Palpatine is dangerous," he muttered. "But he is not the only danger."
There were threats older than the Republic. Older than the Jedi. Older than the Sith.
And Shepard intended to meet them fully armed.