1 year later
Planet Epsilon-34124
It was the final planet before they finally laid siege to the Killik's homeworld. The Federation's campaign had resulted in around 2 million deaths, which was a lower estimate than the original calculations.
Sitting down in his own quarters on the surface, Daimon mediated with his lightsaber floating around him. He was using the Force to see the possible future and what it brought. In the beginning of the war, the Force gave little to no clear picture, but now it seemed that it was clearing up.
Daimon could see how the battle was going to play out and the role he needed to play to ensure their absolute victory. But he also saw another vision. When they advance upon the Killik's homeworld, Aruun will not be there. From what he saw, he will appear elsewhere in the Galaxy while they were distracted by attacking his throne world.
The place he will appear in is the capital of the Imperium, Veldari. Daimon didn't know how he would get there, but the vision was clear enough to where he could see exactly where he would appear.
From his knowledge of Aruun and from what he learned from the Daughter, he knew that if he was to Force teleport to Veldari and wait, then Aruun would sense him and decided not to attack Veldari which would lead him down a long goose chase.
But, if he let Aruun appear, then he could trap him on the planet and finally eliminate him. Now this plan was not without its faults. Aruun would appear on Veldari and likely start massacring people left and right.
Daimon wasn't worried about this since Veldari was a sacred world to the Imperium and the Balance Keepers. Already on the planet were over 200,000 Balance Keepers and the top 5 most powerful Balance Keepers right now. Those 5 Balance Keepers were people who had been around since the beginning and have been leading the Order, or carrying out top secret missions across the galaxy.
With those 5 present, Daimon was sure that they could hold off Aruun until Daimon and the Daughter showed up to finish the job.
Veldari also had a very good shelter system in place where deep underground shelters capable of withstanding the most devastating attacks were present all across the surface. Though, it is still unfortunate that some people will still die because of how unpredictable Aruun was. While Aruun would appear on the planet, the question was how?
Sometimes Daimon wished he could just reach his hand out and crush Aruun's neck with the Force and be done with it. Unfortunately, Aruun is not a simple being to die by something like that. The only way to kill him would be through attacks that could harm his body such as Force lightning, Force blade, or other types of attacks.
As he was in meditation, he heard a knock on his door. Daimon told the person to come in, revealing Lord Maxim who bowed his head upon entering. "My Lord, the army is ready for the final push."
Daimon let his body lower to the ground, before he stood up. "Let's get going then," he said as he walked past Lord Maxim.
Lord Maxim fell in beside him. "You know, there's a deep admiration for you among the Federation soldiers, My Lord. They speak of you the way my own generation spoke of you during the Abominor War. Some of them have started calling you the Defender of the Galaxy."
"They can call me whatever they like after the war is over," Daimon said as they exited the building.
Outside, the Empyrean Guards and Balance Keepers were set up in two neat formations on each side. Daimon walked right by them, while Lord Maxim gave them a hand signal to follow behind.
Past them were the Federation soldiers which consisted mainly of Imperial soldiers, but also a good number of federation member soldiers as well. When they saw Daimon, they all straightened up and their faces were filled with adoration. Many had seen the Emperor's abilities firsthand as he jumped around the battlefield aiding the frontlines with abilities that they couldn't even imagine.
Most had heard about how strong and powerful the Emperor was, but seeing was believing.
Once he made it the front of the army, he gazed out in front of them seeing the last stronghold where the Killiks were held up. Usually, they would throw numbers at them, but after seeing that wasn't working, they decided to stop. He also felt fear from them after he appeared at the front, which wasn't surprising considering the things he had done to them over the past year.
Daimon then turned around and looked at the mass of soldiers. "Beyond that ridge lies the last obstacle between us and the heart of our enemy," Daimon said, his voice carrying across the plain without amplification, carried instead by the Force into the ears of every soldier present. "One year ago, we set out from a thousand different worlds, speaking hundreds of different languages, owing loyalty to thousands of different flags. Look around you now. You are one army. You have bled together, buried your dead together, and slept on the same battlefields. Whatever flags you carried here, you leave carrying something greater."
"The Killiks believe their numbers will save them. They believed that at the first system, and the tenth, and the fiftieth. Each time, they learned the same lesson. Numbers do not save you. Resolve does. And no force in this galaxy possesses more resolve than the one standing before me now."
He drew his lightsaber, igniting it as he held it high in the sky.
"I promised I would be the first in every battle. That promise holds today. Follow me, and by nightfall, this world will be ours. For the Federation! For the fallen! Forward!"
Daimon yelled as he turned and charged forward. In his hand, he summoned Force lightning and shot it forward at the Killiks defense line. And just like for the past year, he increased the power on the lightning, causing to disintegrate everything it touched. Whatever wall was in front of him was completely gone, and the Killiks behind it were nowhere to be seen.
From there he went on a killing spree across the defense line. A few minutes later when the Federation army managed to catch up, all they saw were various parts of the wall completely gone and flashes of lightning going off in the distance.
Air support flew overhead via gunships, raining down fire from above and dropping elite troops off in key locations to destroy various weapon emplacements that the Killiks had and hold key positions.
The battle went on for a few hours, with Daimon going on an endless slaughter of the Killiks. The Federation army had caught up to him after the first hour and were valiantly fighting by his side. But it was hard to keep up sometimes since he moved so fast. The Empyrean Guards and Balance Keepers had taken up their positions alongside him as they were used to the speed at which he fought.
By nightfall, as promised, the stronghold had fallen. Daimon stood atop the shattered remains of the Killik Hive Queen, watching the last pockets of resistance being erased by Federation ground forces. The Empyrean Guards had already secured the perimeter around him, though the precaution was largely ceremonial. Nothing on this planet could threaten him in the first place.
Lord Maxim approached, his armor covered with Killik blood and scratches. "The last elite Killiks on this world are dead. Progenitor Raelos reports half of the fleet has secured the outer system. All that remains is the Killik homeworld now."
"Good. Let's give the soldiers a few days of rest." Daimon said. "Once those days have passed, we finally finish this."
"As you command." Said Maxim. But before he could walk away, Daimon called him back.
"Maxim. I have one more thing to tell you. Aruun will not be there."
Maxim stiffened and was confused. "My Lord?"
"I have seen it. While we fight his army on his throne world, he will strike at Veldari itself. I don't know how he means to do it, only that it will happen." said Daimon turning to look at the stars.
Maxim wanted to ask if he was just going to let it happen, but he also thought that Daimon had a plan.
"You are right, I do have a plan." Daimon said as if he was reading Maxim's mind. "I will not be teleporting back before he arrives. If I leave now, he will sense my presence and try to fleet yet again. We would lose the only trap we will ever get."
"Then who will defend Veldari?" Maxim asked.
"The Balance Keepers, Imperial forces there, and others. The shelters will save the majority of the people, though I suspect we will still lose some to the conflict." Daimon stared at the ground for a few seconds lost in thought.
"I won't say much but know that the Balance Keepers have a way to hold him there. As soon as he arrives on the planet, the chosen Balance Keepers whom even you don't know, will emerge to hold him. In addition, the planet itself, which is a Force Nexus and completely overflowing with my Force energy, will see him as a hostile and prevent him from leaving. Once that happens, I will arrive and end him once and for all."
Hearing his explanation, Maxim felt a little relieved, but still wished there was another way. Sometimes he wished he could wield the Force so that he might understand even a small portion of what the Emperor sees and deals with every day. Unfortunately, he was a pure blooded Gen'Dai which meant he would never be able to wield. But maybe one day when he dies, a mixed blooded Gen'Dai who wields the Force could take his place.
He bowed his head and turned around, sighing internally for his lack of Force abilities.