**Chapter 540**
**Scene 1**
**Dagon POV**
**Xifal Surface**
The dry, cracked surface of Xifal stretched out beneath a harsh orange sky. Colicoid Creation Nest facilities dominated the landscape — massive, angular factories built for one purpose: war. According to the freed Queen, this offshoot colony had dared to vote against full commitment to the Separatist cause. In response, the main hive and their Separatist allies had taken the Queen hostage and enslaved the entire population.
I stood on a ridge overlooking the central factory complex, the Shield of Wrath humming on my back.
"Enough," I muttered.
Twenty Cinder orbital satellites drifted into position above the planet. With a focused surge of Force lightning channeled through the Shield, I linked myself to their weather modification arrays. Crimson lightning arced upward into the sky.
Dark clouds boiled into existence. Within minutes, heavy rain began to fall — not the gentle drizzle of a normal storm, but a torrential downpour that hammered the parched ground. Rivers of water carved new paths through the dust, filling reservoirs and transforming patches of desert into muddy wetlands.
The Colicoids clicked and buzzed in awe as the first real rain many of them had ever seen soaked their chitinous bodies.
**Scene 2**
I moved alone into the main factory, cloaked by the storm and my own presence in the Force. The tactical droid commanding the facility never saw me coming. One precise thrust of my lightsaber ended its existence.
Hundreds of thousands — eventually over a billion — Colicoids were freed as I systematically destroyed control nodes and slave collar transmitters. The insectoids rolled across the factory floors in protective balls before unfurling with vengeful fury.
One group of workers froze when they saw me, curling tightly into armored spheres.
I lowered my blades and raised my hands. "Easy. I am a friend."
They remained curled. Strange — they were supposed to be highly resistant to mind tricks. Then I felt it. The Shield on my back grew warm. Its surface shifted, the black wrath-metal flowing into a new pattern: deep emerald green with glowing butterfly-like wings etched across it.
A message resonated directly in my mind:
*Translation unlocked — Insect Shield.*
The clicking and humming of the Colicoids suddenly resolved into understandable speech.
"You… freed us," one warrior buzzed, slowly unfurling. "The Queen lives?"
"She does," I confirmed. "And now you're free."
**Scene 3**
Twenty Pelta-class medical frigates descended through the rain, carrying supplies, building materials, and medical droids from Lantilles. The Colicoid Queen — still weak but standing tall with the support of her warriors — met me outside the central hive complex.
"We accept protection under the Kingdom of Jaminere and joint technical cooperation with Sienar," she clicked. "But we will remain neutral in your greater war. We have no desire to return to building weapons for tyrants."
"Understood," I replied. "You'll have autonomy. In return, we ask only that you deny the Separatists any further support."
The Queen's multifaceted eyes regarded me for a long moment before she dipped her head in agreement.
As a gesture of goodwill, her people turned over everything they had been forced to build: seventy-five brand-new Scorpenek annihilator droids and twenty massive SD-6 "Hulk" infantry droids. These four-meter-tall behemoths were walking fortresses armed with dual E-Web repeating blasters and shoulder-mounted ion cannons.
"These were commissioned by a Sith Lord," the Queen revealed. "A Muun. He called himself Darth Plagueis. He convinced the main hive three years before the Battle of Naboo to fully commit to the coming war."
I stored that piece of information carefully. Another confirmation.
**Scene 4**
**Grey Wolf Communication Room**
Only three Council members were present in the holoconference: Master Yoda, Plo Koon, and Kit Fisto.
"I believe I have identified the Sith Lord behind much of this," I said without preamble. I played the recovered recording from the Xifal representative — a clear image of a gaunt Muun speaking with Colicoid leaders three years before Naboo. "This is almost certainly Darth Plagueis… and very likely Count Dooku's Master."
Yoda's ears lowered. "Hmm. Grave news this is. Keep this quiet for now, you must. Inform the others, I will."
"Highly important news, Dagon," Plo Koon added solemnly. "Keep it within a very close circle. We will decide how and when to inform the Chancellor."
The transmission ended. I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly.
**Scene 5**
The girls were waiting for me in the ready room.
"Informing the Chancellor — or Darth Sidious, as we know him — about his former Master still being alive might not be the best idea," Kayla said carefully.
"Right," I agreed. "Until I'm named Jedi Lord, we're still playing his dangerous game. He holds too many cards. If we tip our hand too early, he could accelerate his plans and plunge the galaxy into even worse chaos."
Erictia looked troubled. "I have friends in the Temple… they could be saved if we act now."
"But they could also be killed," Shin replied gently, placing a hand on her padawan's shoulder. "We must stay cautious, for the greater good."
Sakura, who had been listening quietly, suddenly spoke up. "How about 'No sacrifice, no victory'? It was one of Dagon's most popular battle cries, apart from 'Devote your hearts.'"
"Please don't go there, Sakura," I said, rubbing my face. "The past isn't that pleasant."
She smiled softly and quoted anyway, voice steady:
> "It has been said throughout the ages, that there can be no victory, without sacrifice. We live and die in the shadows, for those we hold close and for those we never meet."
Stella's eyes brightened. "I kind of like it."
The rest of the girls murmured agreement, the bond warming with quiet resolve.
I looked at all of them — my complicated, loving, impossible family — and felt the weight on my shoulders lighten just a fraction.
One step at a time.