(3rd Person POV)
On the planet Tython, the air is thick in anticipation of the arriving fleet of the Despot Queen. The Je'daii have positioned themselves in the different temples on Tython and spread their forces, not knowing where Hadiya will land. But their preparations are false, and they have made one big mistake. During the months of the first part of the Despot War, the Supreme Grandmaster, Primus, told the Je'daii what to do and where to strike. But the months of seemingly useless and pointless battle have bothered the Je'daii, and the High Council has decided to act on their own accords. They ignored Primus' warnings and further suggestions and did it on their own. But that was a mistake.
There were few who were utterly loyal to Primus, and the older generation knew about Primus and what he was capable of. They taught their padawans about him as well. But simply telling someone about something and seeing proof are two different things. So roughly 95% of all Je'daii chose to change tactics. In response to this, Primus pulled back and stayed in Akar Kesh. Akar Kesh, or the Temple of Balance, was one of nine temples of the Je'daii Order on the verdant world of Tython. Erected atop a towering pillar-like rock formation, the temple at Akar Kesh served as the Order's academy for instilling the ideals of balance in the Force among its students.
When the philosophers and scholars from across the galaxy first arrived on Tython, they were brought forth from the stars on giant pyramidal constructs called the Tho Yor by Primus 10 millennia ago. These nine massive ships scattered across the planet and landed in separate locations, releasing those held within to settle the planet. The Tho Yor themselves would serve as the foundations for these travelers' new homes and places of study.
The ninth and largest of these Tho Yor, remained at the place where the others met, hovering above an open-air temple used by the Je'daii Order to teach balance through introspection and meditation. This is Akar Kesh. Right now, only Primus is there as the other Je'daii wanted to protect the rest.
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Hadiya's forces cut through Tython's clouds and atmosphere, aiming for Talss, also known as the Dark Continent. Hadiya was smart and a strategic master. She had Daegon Lok and used him as an information bank to tell her where it would be best for her to land. She chose Talss because it was sparsely populated and wild. She knew that by the time she had landed there and sent a large chunk of her forces on land, the Je'daii wouldn't be ready for her.
The continent of Talss was most easily defined by the massive and deep canyon known as the Rift, a thousand-kilometer-long stretch of volcanic mountains. Prone to seismic quakes and eruptions, the Rift was riddled with pits of quicksand and acid.
Landing crafts were released and crashed onto the ground with loud crashes. The Dark Continent was plunged into further darkness and fire. Hundreds of these pods were released, and from them, men and women of all sizes and droids exited, starting to line up for war. More and more soldiers poured out, and the continent, riddled with seismic activity, was awoken. Volcanic tremors could be felt, and eruptions could be seen from where they landed. The plan was dangerous for Hadiya's forces, bold but dangerous.
Faced with the invaders, the Je'daii were alerted to the strange place they had landed. They had expected to be targeting the temples but not land on a Continent where only Vur Tepe was located, the Forge. Nevertheless, the Je'daii Council sent out word to respond to the invasion. The Je'daii were told to stop the growing army of Hadiya from allowing it to organise further and attack.
And so the Je'daii defenders were hit by the attacking Despot army. A torrent of blaster fires was unleashed upon the Je'daii, who desperately tried to defend themselves and stop the advancement of the army. At the front of the Despot Army was Hadiya herself, leading her soldiers forward and killing Je'daii in an impressive display of martial prowess and cunning. She knew that the Je'daii might have the advantage of that mystical power she knew as the Force, but what good did it do them if they were overwhelmed and didn't know what to use said power on? But she also had another weapon, the traitor Daegon Lok himself. Her lover pushed forward, hiding his face and cutting through his former colleagues and fellow people with glee. Something was strange within Daegon and it had taken root during these months, starting to grow.
Amidst explosions and bloody chaos, the army pressed forward, cutting through the Je'daii lines. One young Je'daii saw the mighty Queen and rushed forward, trying to end this war before it got further out of hand. But the young man was too inexperienced and forgot his teachings. He attacked the Queen. Hadiya's vibrosword clashed with the Je'daii's Force-imbued blade. The Je'daii used the Force to push his body to greater limits, but he was just about to overpower him when the Queen used her sword to cut the ground. Sand and dirt shot through the air, blinding the Je'daii and causing him to lose his concentration.
*Shing*
The Despot Queen's vibrosword cut through the young Je'daii's abdomen and killed him, leaving him dead as one of many more to come.
The landing of Hadiya and her forces and the badly organised Je'daii response mark the first step in the relentless march forward, towards the other parts of Tython. The landing area on Talss was secured, and the first batch of thousand Je'daii killed in a matter of hours. Banners were planted in the ground, declaring her rule over the lands they walked on.
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The days passed, and the war, which had started out rather well, was quickly turning into a terrible disaster. After setting up their base on Talss, the Despot Army moved forward and captured the sparsely defended Vur Tepe, also known as the Forge. The Je'daii were killed without remorse or hesitation. Hadiya didn't take prisoners. They went through Vur Tepe and discovered the knowledge of metallurgy the Je'daii used to forge their Force sabres. They were mostly useless to the invaders, though, as very few were Force sensitive and even fewer could use the Force.
It served as an outpost, where they observed the movements of the Je'daii and responded in time. Vur Tepe enjoyed a good working relationship with neighboring Anil Kesh, the Temple of Science, also located on Talss. So, that was another target of the Despot Army.
"What do you think, my Queen?" Chief Advisor Bakko asks.
"I believe in keeping our momentum going. Targeting a temple that isn't on Talss would spread our forces more than necessary."
"You are correct, my Queen. It wouldn't be perfect. But from what Daegon Lok told us, Vur Tepe is their Temple of Science. It may be tempting for us, but it will also be heavily protected. All the secrets of the Je'daii are located there, and they won't allow us to get access to them this easily. When we win this war, we will get access to them anyway."
"I believe, Bakko is correct, my Queen. The Je'daii are very proud of their history and will have many forces there. It is also a good strategic move on our part because they will never believe we wouldn't try to take control over the entire continent. So we will certainly catch them off guard in other places."
Hearing Daegon Lok speak, Hadiya ponders her options. He is right; the Je'daii have many defenders in Vur Tepe and will never allow someone to gain access to their knowledge.
"Very well, you have convinced me. Order a small force to move towards Vur Tepe, but not attack. Meanwhile, we strike in a different location. The Je'daii will die under my feet."
"As you command."
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The Je'daii were truly overwhelmed when a large force arrived at Qigong Kesh, the Temple of Force Skills. Located among the dunes of the Silent Desert on the continent of Thyr, Qigong Kesh served as the Order's academy for enhancing and improving one's mental and sensory skills with the Force. The Master who was overseeing its protection was a strong Force user. He knew what he was teaching very well and managed to hold off the forces of Hadiya.
But it was no use; they were caught off guard since their headquarters were unprepared for the attack. They had calculated that Hadiya would strike Vur Tepe, but she didn't, and now Qigong Kesh was being overwhelmed by tactical skill and sheer numbers.
Daegon Lok advanced. He made his way to the front, where one of his former Masters was keeping the soldiers in check. He saw his teacher use the force masterfully, using the sand in the air and around the area to blind them and have them attack each other. The Silent Desert was full of sand, and the old Je'daii had long been training here, honing his skills and growing more in tune with the Force. Daegon knew that he was powerful, but he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could defeat his former teacher in a Force duel. He used to teach his students that a true master of the Force wouldn't need a Force sabre. I know that he came up with that saying as other, older Masters preach that the Force sabre is not only meant as a weapon to kill, but to finalise and prove one's connection to the Force.
"Master! Master!!" Daegon Lok shouts.
A powerful gust of wind blows around, giving way to the man. He looks at Daegon, and his eyes widen in confusion.
"Daegon, what are you doing here?! Quickly come here!"
Daegon rushes forward and positions himself next to his former teacher. He swings his Force sabre and deflects the blasts from the Despot soldiers.
"What are you doing here, young Daegon? You are not the most skilled Force practitioner, are you? Did the council assign you here?"
"Ah, you see ... I did a bad thing, Master."
"Oho, I'm sure they will forgive you after we defeat these pathetic excuses for lifeforms."
"I don't think we will manage that ..."
"And why's that? You are still as sceptical as ever, Daegon. You should trust in the Force!"
*Shing*
"URGH!"
Blood flows out of the Master's mouth. He looks back and sees Daegon holding his Force sabre, which is impaled into his back. Daegon's eyes shine as he looks at his former teacher and smiles.
"Daegon ... why?"
"Because it is time for a change. Everyone agreed on that, but none of you dared to go through with it ... but I do."
"Dae-gon ... your ... eyes ..."
With these final words, the Master falls to the ground, dead. The sand falls to the ground, revealing the two Je'daii and the dead Master on the ground. Hadiya arrives from the crowd and looks at the scene. She then looks at her man and smiles. He has proven himself loyal in more than one way. She walks forward and pulls Daegon's face forward, kissing him passionately.
"Let's go. There are more where he came from." Daegon says, and Hadiya smiles.
"Let's kill them all."
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With their master gone, the remaining Je'daii in Qigon Kesh lose all hope and are quickly taken care of. Daegon Lok and Hadiya mow through the forces. Both of them fight as if they are possessed by something. An urge to get this over with and indulge in each other's bodies. Their lust urges them forward, wanting to devour each other. And this lust is stimulated through bloodshed.
While they are dealing with Qigon Kesh, Hadiya's Generals, Shri-Lan and Gav Vannar, are fighting at Stav Kesh, laying siege and doing their work.
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I'll see you all next week.