**Chapter 605**
**Scene 1**
**Coruscant Orbit – Venator-class Star Destroyer Resolute**
**Admiral Yularen POV**
Admiral Yularen stood on the bridge of the *Resolute*, hands clasped behind his back as he watched the tactical display. The traffic around Coruscant was always heavy, but today it felt different — charged with anticipation.
"Sir, we're picking up several hyperspace signatures," a clone officer reported. "Broadcasting alpha-level clearance. Code: Darkstar."
Yularen's posture straightened immediately. "That's General Dagon Marek's fleet. Send the signal to the Jedi Temple that they have arrived."
He moved to the viewport, eyes narrowing as the first ships emerged from hyperspace in tight, disciplined formation. What he saw was unlike anything he had witnessed before.
Seven Nebula-class Star Destroyers led the way — sleek, menacing vessels painted in dark gray with crimson accents. Each bore the stylized dragon emblem of the Darkstar Legion on its hull. Following them were three Venator-class Star Destroyers, one Resurgent-class battlecruiser (the *Grey Wolf*), eight Lancer-class frigates, and five Arquitens-class command cruisers. At the center of the formation floated a unique vessel — the *Olympus Mons*, a heavily modified Arquitens-class that had been reclassified as a strike carrier. Its hull gleamed with reinforced plating that looked far beyond standard Republic specifications.
The ships were not the bright white or red of standard Republic vessels. Most were black or deep charcoal gray with bold red markings. They looked… dangerous. Professional. Like a fleet that had seen real war and come out victorious.
"Trooper, what are the callsigns of those ships?" Yularen asked.
The clone checked his datapad. "Abyssal Devourer, Noxian Sovereign, Stygian Serpent, Umbral Drake, Void-Ripper, Erebus Maw, and Blight-Scale for the Nebulas. Defender, Redeemer, and Guardian for the Venators. And the Resurgent is the *Grey Wolf*."
Yularen nodded slowly. *Of course.* Dagon had a way of operating that Skywalker often called "Gray Jedi" — Jedi who didn't strictly adhere to the Temple's rigid interpretations of light and dark. The naming conventions alone made that clear.
"Sir, we're receiving a message," another officer reported. "A ship is detaching from the *Olympus Mons* and heading for the Temple."
Yularen zoomed in on the scans. It was a heavily armored, modified gunship — far more robust than anything the 501st used. It moved with purpose, slicing through the crowded Coruscant traffic like a predator.
"Clear its path," Yularen ordered. "And inform the Temple they're coming in hot."
**Scene 2**
**Warden Dropship – Approaching Jedi Temple**
**Dagon POV**
The Warden dropship cut through Coruscant's upper atmosphere with smooth precision. Sienar-Jaemus had outdone themselves with this design — a pan-atmospheric, multi-gravitational strategic airlift craft capable of functioning as a combat dropship, gunship, or heavy transport. Its unique materials made heat shielding unnecessary, and the modular cargo bay allowed it to carry everything from troops to vehicles with ease.
Length: 34 meters. Wingspan: 19 meters. Height: 6.5 meters. Rocket booster speed up to 130,000 km/h. Four independently articulating thruster nacelles, VTOL thrusters, jet engines, and RCS ports gave it unmatched maneuverability. It could carry 20 personnel plus 8 combat robots, or 18 marines with TX-130 tanks or 2M repulsor tanks. Five E-Web heavy repeating blasters provided defensive firepower.
It was, in every sense, the perfect shuttle for someone who expected trouble.
"I must not fear," I muttered mentally, repeating the old Litany against Fear. "Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
Sakura's voice chimed through the Force bond, warm and teasing.
*Must you always say dramatic stuff like that? I get you're still carrying the weight of what I guess is the multiverse on your shoulders, but can you at least be more cheerful?*
I smirked. *And can you stop interrupting my thoughts? I think we at least still need a little mystery in our relationship. Also, do you girls want me hearing every personal thought — even you, Kayla?*
Kayla's laughter echoed in the bond. *Hey, it's not that bad. I did get you all to myself in the Temple this time remember I won the challenge.*
*Yes, and thinking about all the things you want to do in bed and sharing it is not exactly subtle,* Flare added dryly. *Heck, Ahsoka is still sixteen.*
*Hey!* Ahsoka protested.
*Oh come on, she's the weirdest in bed right after Zule,* Kayla shot back.
*Hey!* both Ahsoka and Zule said out loud at the same time.
Puck, the Alpha-class ARC trooper seated nearby, turned his helmeted head. "What happened, sir?"
"Nothing, Puck," I replied smoothly. "Just tell Havok to land."
The Warden touched down gently on the Jedi Temple landing platform. The side and rear doors hissed open. I stepped out first, still wearing my updated Krayt Dragon armor, the Wrath Shield resting on my back. The girls followed close behind — all in their matching beskar armor with their individual color accents.
I could already feel hundreds of eyes on us.
**Scene 3**
**Jedi Temple Landing Platform, Coruscant**
**Dagon POV**
I felt like everyone was staring at me a lot more than they should.
*Probably because Kayla is holding your arm,* Flare noted through the bond, amused.
Kayla didn't hesitate. Right there on the landing platform, in full view of Temple guards, mechanics, padawans, and several visiting Jedi, she reached up, lifted the front of my helmet, and kissed me deeply on the lips.
The reaction was immediate and electric.
Gasps rippled across the platform. A group of younglings froze mid-step, mouths open. Two Temple guards nearly dropped their staffs. A senior Jedi Knight walking nearby stopped dead, his face flushing with a mixture of shock and jealousy.
One mechanic whispered loudly to his companion, "Is that… General Marek? With a Zeltron Jedi? In public?"
Another voice, a younger padawan, muttered, "Lucky bastard…"
Anakin Skywalker stood near the entrance with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka's old friend Barriss Offee. Anakin's expression darkened instantly.
"It's that wrong?" he asked, voice tight.
Obi-Wan sighed, folding his arms. "She is a Zeltron, Anakin. If she chooses to be with Dagon, it is allowed. The Order accepts other cultures, races, and customs."
"But Master, I thought no attachments," Anakin complained, his jealousy barely concealed.
Obi-Wan gave him a patient look. "Zeltrons are… different. Their culture views deep emotional and physical connections as natural. Plus, Dagon has openly stated he follows the Gray Jedi path. That creates something of a loophole in the traditional rules."
Anakin's fists clenched at his sides. Inside, he was furious. *Why does he get everything? The power, the respect, the protection from jedi strickest moral code… even etain Skywalker's own padawan looks at him like that sometimes.* The thought burned.
Kayla finally pulled back from the kiss, smiling sweetly up at me as if nothing unusual had happened. The rest of the girls wore matching expressions of quiet satisfaction.
I simply replaced my helmet, hiding my own slight smirk.
*Well,* I thought to the bond, *that certainly made an entrance.*