**Chapter 565**
**Scene 1**
**Valahari Orbit**
**Resolute – Hangar Bay**
Etain Tur-Mukan stepped onto the hangar deck of the *Resolute*, her boots echoing slightly on the metal plating. She was no longer a child, but not yet a full adult — three or four years younger than Anakin himself. Chestnut hair framed her face, drawing attention to vivid green eyes flecked with amber. Her clothing marked her clearly as a Padawan, though the lightsaber at her belt seemed almost secondary to the monstrous blaster rifle resting on her shoulder. The weapon was so large it nearly swallowed her small frame by comparison.
She was bored.
"Master," Etain called out, her voice carrying across the hangar, "how long are you going to continue fiddling with your ship?"
Anakin Skywalker emerged from the cockpit of his matte-black TIE Advanced, grease smudged across his cheek and a boyish grin on his face. "Not much longer. This thing was a gift from Dagon after our joint operation at Christophsis. It's proven way better than any standard Jedi fighter so far — faster, more heavily armed, better sensors. I've been tweaking the power couplings."
Etain shifted the weight of her oversized rifle. "At least change the color. Look at you — black armor, black starfighter. Only R2 is still blue because he refused the color change. You're Gold Leader of Gold Squadron. Gold. Not… Shadow Squadron."
Anakin chuckled, wiping his hands on a rag. "Point taken. But Dagon also said something that stuck with me. In space, either stick out like a weirdo in a banana… or blend into the shadows."
Etain rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. Before she could retort, a squad of clone commandos approached in crisp formation. Their armor was scarred from multiple campaigns, and they moved with the quiet confidence of elite operators.
"General Skywalker, sir," Major Darman said, offering a crisp salute. "You and Commander Tur-Mukan are requested in the briefing room immediately."
Anakin straightened, the playful tinkerer vanishing in an instant. "Understood. Lead the way, Major."
**Scene 2**
**Resolute – Briefing Room**
Anakin and Etain entered the briefing room to find Obi-Wan Kenobi already waiting, arms crossed, staring at a tactical holomap of the Valahari sector. The older Jedi looked weary but composed, as always.
"Well, Obi-Wan," Anakin said as he took a seat, "what's the news? Have we won yet?"
Obi-Wan's expression remained dry. "Your jokes never stop, even as a Knight. We've just received urgent reports from the Outer Rim. General Dagon has engaged and destroyed a sizeable Separatist fleet over Quell — including at least seven of their new super ships. Meanwhile, Master Windu has finally broken the blockade at Mygeeto and begun landing troops."
Anakin leaned forward, interest sparking in his eyes. "Dagon did all that? With what forces?"
"Apparently with skill and superior firepower, and fewer ships than expected," Obi-Wan replied. "Mace, on the other hand, suffered significant losses pushing through to Mygeeto. We are to report back to Coruscant immediately for a private Council meeting."
Anakin's brow furrowed. "A private meeting? What's this about?"
Obi-Wan hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Dagon sent a direct message to Master Yoda. The details are classified for now, but it concerns the broader strategic situation — and possibly something about the identity of the Sith Lord we've been hunting."
Etain shifted uncomfortably, her massive rifle leaning against the table. "Master, does this mean we're being pulled from Valahari?"
Obi-Wan nodded. "The sector is stable enough for now. Our presence is no longer required here. We leave within the hour."
Anakin stood, already thinking ahead. "Then let's not waste time. If Dagon's sending messages directly to Yoda, something big is happening. I want to know what it is."
As they prepared to depart, Etain glanced between her master and Obi-Wan, sensing the undercurrent of tension in the Force. The war was shifting again — and once more, General Dagon Marek seemed to be at the center of it.5