The trip back from Arvala-7 was relatively uneventful. The ship was quiet, the pair of Revan and Shae quite alright with the comfortable silence that had fallen over the cockpit. It was that silence that revealed just how layered and experienced Shae was. Most leaving what they had known would either be nervously apprehensive and making that well known to all around them or looking back with sadness and reminding those nearby of what they were leaving behind with tears and sobs. But Shae fell to neither side of the spectrum, simply remaining calm and even keeled, her spirit not noticeably lifted or reluctant. But as Revan reached out with the force to gauge his new companion, he was struck by the small traces of joy that shot through her spirit like blaster bolts. That was all the confirmation that he needed.

She hadn't taken much prodding to come along and had scarcely spent another minute on the planet than she had needed to. A run back to a run-down hut not far from the spaceport was all that she requested, a trip that took only fifteen minutes in its entirety. Revan had followed her inside the hut to find one room, with a small bed tucked in a corner, a kitchenette in the other, and not much else otherwise. But Shae reached out with the force and slipped a small slab of clay from the wall, revealing a small, hidden compartment.

The compartment had contained the Vizsla family crest and a small pendant, designed in the shape of a Convor bird, wrapped in a silky white kerchief. Now Shae, sitting in the cockpit, wore her cloak wrapped around her body and pinned up with the Convor pin. Revan noticed the care that she took when she gently touched the pin, looking at it with a soft, saddened smile. Revan noticed this several times before asking, "That pin…why is it so important to you?"

She looked up and replied, "My mother…loved Convors. We used to go to the arboretum near our home. We would sit and watch the Convors fly around the trees…those were my favorite days."

Revan noticed the tear slip down her cheek and asked, "Your mother…how old were you when she died?"

She looked back up at him. "How did you know?"

Revan sighed and replied, "I lost my mother, too. I know what the hurt looks like. It's not hard to see, sadly."

Shae nodded and was quiet for a minute, turning her head to look at the streaking lights of hyperspace. After a few moments, she replied, "I was seven when my mother found out about my father's involvement in Death Watch. She confronted him as a loyal Mandalorian…he turned against her. That was the last I saw of her. She came into our rooms that night, kissed us goodnight, and told us that she would always be with us, no matter what. She pressed the pendent into my hand and whispered, "Fly strong like the Convor, Shae. Fly high, my love. Remember, your feet never touch the ground unless you step down to the earth."

Shae shook her head, the tears flowing faster. "The next morning…she was gone. Father had taken her to the Death Watch base…she never made it out."

Revan was quiet for a moment before responding. "I left for the academy when I was very young…but I managed to smuggle a holopad into my room. I would spend hours at night talking to my mother back on my home world. She was sweet, kind…I loved her so, so much."

Revan shook his head and then said, "I was seven when I called, the day that she didn't respond she always used to wait for my calls. I became concerned and tried to find out what happened on my home world, if there was anything wrong. I could sense that something was out of place, could sense that my grip was slipping. The Jedi did what they could to keep me away…to protect me. The next day was when I found out about the slavers."

Revan sighed, a single tear slipping down his face. "My mother had stood up to the Trandoshan slavers that had come that day for the people of my village. She refused to stand by and watch as our people were enslaved. They killed her for standing up for our people."

Revan was quiet for a moment and the two shared a long, solemn silence as they pondered how different life would have been if the ones, they had loved most had managed to escape death. Revan broke the silence by saying, "I would give anything to hug her one last time."

Shae nodded. "I would too…"

Shae dropped her head again as images of her mother in the arboretum flashed through her mind, the smile, the deep and kind blue eyes, the wavy blonde her, her kind smile. In that moment, she felt as though her mother reached out a hand and whispered, "Peace, my love…it will all be alright."

She felt a hand rest on her shoulder and looked over to see Revan, his eyes closed, facial expression rigid…but with a comforting hand still placed on her shoulder. He whispered, "We can't change the past, Shae…but we can look towards the future."

The ship landed at the Temple with little fanfare. The small party that awaited them consisted only of Bastilla, Ahsoka, and Skywalker. The ramp to the ship dropped and revealed not only Revan, but his new companion Shae. The pair walked down the ramp, Revan at the lead, and were quickly greeted by Bastilla, who met Revan with a tender kiss while Anakin and his companion eyed Shae, who returned the confused and measured look as they sized one another up. After the short, tender moment, Revan pulled Bastilla into an embrace and looked out at the other three, Bastilla holding Revan with her head leaned on his shoulder. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Shae."

Shae nodded and bowed to the three. Bastilla smiled and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Shae. I'm Bastilla, Revan's wife."

"Likewise, Master Shan. Master Revan has told me a lot about you."

Bastilla looked up at Revan and asked, "All good things, I hope?"

He smiled and kissed her forehead. "The best, my love."

Anakin stepped forward and introduced himself. "I'm Anakin Skywalker. This is my old padawan, Ahsoka Tano."

Shae nodded her greetings to all and Ahsoka turned to Anakin, remarking, "It still feels weird to not be your padawan anymore, Master."

Revan smiled. "Wait, they knighted you without me?"

Anakin nodded and laid a hand on Ahsoka's shoulder. "The proudest moment of my time as a Jedi."

Ahsoka smirked. "Well, there aren't that many to choose from, Sky guy."

Anakin chuckled and replied, "Point well taken, Snips."

The group fell in step alongside Revan and Bastilla. Anakin walked next to the Jedi Master and asked, "So…what's your plan?"

Revan looked over at him and remarked, "I think that Shae would make an excellent padawan. And one day, I think she will make a fine Jedi."

Anakin asked, "Do you think the council will go for this?"

Revan smirked. "I suppose we're about to find out."

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

Mace Windu had quickly shot down the idea at its presentation, followed by a defense of the measure from Master Khaar and Master Kenobi trying to maintain a peace. Revan held up his hand, somehow bringing about silence, and said, "Masters, with all due respect, I was not asking your permission."

Master Windu bristled and replied, "If you think you can just walk in here and tell us how you are going to go about your business-"

Revan interrupted him, adding a level of cold steel to his voice. "I just did."

Windu shook his head and leaned back in his seat. Kenobi voiced the collective opinion of the council in a more political manner. "This is…strange, to say the least. You have to admit that at least, Revan."

Revan shrugged and replied, "This whole situation is strange. What's your point?"

Yoda remarked, "Well past the age of training, she is."

"She has been trained. She knows the force. She's adept in combat. She's been bred to fight her entire life. I think of that as an asset, not a detraction from who she can be as a Jedi."

Windu pointed out, "But she still must be trained. She must learn the ways of the force from the Jedi, not just from her experience…"

Revan muttered, "And here I thought we were making progress…"

Kenobi jumped in. "It's just…she's…"

Revan cut in. "She's what, older? I struggle to see how exactly her age can restrict her from becoming a Jedi. Why do we have this arbitrary ruling about who can and cannot be trained based on when we find them?"

The Jedi Masters looked to one another to see who would answer Revan about the basics of Jedi tradition. Revan seized on the silence. "Let her go through the trials. Let her serve alongside me. Let her prove to you as she has to me that she is capable of serving as a servant of the people."

Revan was quiet for a moment before quietly yet pointedly stating, "Shae gave up everything to fight for what was right…I think that we could all learn a thing or two about what it means to sacrifice for what you believe in from her."

The council was quiet, all members knowing that the ever-eloquent Revan could argue circles around anything they presented as evidence. Yoda slowly said, "Conditionally agree, the council does."

Revan nodded and bowed. "Thank you."

As Revan turned and walked away, Windu asked Yoda, "Are you sure that we're making the right decision?"

Yoda replied, "Felt her power, you have. On the side of the Sith, would you want her? For her safety and ours, remain, she will."

Windu quietly nodded. "It's her power in his hands that I'm afraid of…"

Alex Roth arrived at Senator Ana Malric's penthouse apartment for the first time in what felt like a millennium. And he, more than anyone else, knew exactly what that felt like. But he as he parked his speeder and slowly slipped out and onto the platform, he felt unsure for the first time approaching the door. The kiss had changed everything, that much was certain. He was not sure where to go from that point.

But worried as he was, he caught sight of her and felt those worries melt away. Standing in a royal blue robe that was draped with gold ornaments and fixings, her long blonde hair tucked back in a formal styling, she was as beautiful as any woman in the galaxy. Roth instantly felt his breath be taken away as she smiled and gestured for him to come up. Nodding and bidding a greeting to a couple of the senate guards that were a constant at her apartment, he walked up the flight of stairs and through the foyer, into her apartment.

He found her sitting in her living room, the apartment not all that different from Padme's. She was sipping wine from a glass and had a few delicacies spread out on the center table, including grilled Bhudde, a type of bird that Ana knew Roth loved to eat. He smiled and said, "It's really good to see you again, Senator."

She gave him a mischievous grin and replied, "It's good to see you too, Master Jedi. Please. Sit."

She patted the spot on the couch next to her and Alex took a few steps forward, sliding his long robe out from under him as he took a seat next to her. She slid closer to him, there legs touching, and she looked up into his eyes. She whispered, "I was worried you weren't going to come back for a while. I thought that I might have scared you off."

In a husky voice, he replied, "Not a chance of that, milady."

She grinned and whispered, "I didn't think so."

She leaned forward, biting her lip as she lowered her gaze and closed her eyes. Roth, though he knew that he probably should, couldn't resist. He gently leaned forward and kissed her, slipping his hands around to grab hold of her neck as the two were lost in the moment.

After a long moment that didn't last nearly long enough for either of them, Roth leaned back and whispered in a joking manner, "I can't believe that Council thinks that this is a bad idea."

Ana raised her eyebrows. "Do they know?"

Roth shook his head but replied, "It's not exactly a secret how they feel about romantic attachments."

She grinned and asked, "So this is a romantic attachment?"

Alex smiled. "It is for me."

She grinned and leaned in for a kiss again. "Good."

They were quiet for a few minutes, lost in the chance to physically express how they felt. But the nagging question was on the back of Alex's mind and eventually, as they paused to reflect on what had just transpired, he asked her, "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Ana shrugged and replied, "Are you sure that it's a bad one?"

Alex shook his head and replied, "To me? Absolutely not. I don't care what the Order says. But…"

Confused, Ana asked, "But what?"

"Well…you're still a senator."

She leaned back, in that moment a bit heated, and asked, "Senators aren't allowed to have feelings?"

Alex shook his head. "That's not what I meant. It's just…I'm still a Jedi. I'm not the one who has to go before the Senate and advocate policy with everyone knowing that you are involved with someone on the front lines. That's all…"

Ana nodded, her anger momentarily passing. "I suppose you're right. But…how I feel about you doesn't change how I feel about this war."

Alex nodded and leaned forward, kissing her forehead. Ana leaned her head onto his shoulder, locked herself in his embrace, and whispered, "I missed you, Alex."

He kissed her once more and said, "I missed you too, Ana."

Revan had taken a break from a long series of Jedi texts that were being studied by Bastilla to take a walk outside on the terrace. Revan had always been a mild mannered academic at heart. He just happened to be a great warrior with a passion for protecting the defenseless as well. It was a mix that was needed, to be sure. But despite his love for Jedi history and theory of the self, Revan had tired of studying ancient texts of Jedi philosophers and the history lessons of times that had passed. The first time through had been enthralling. But now, as Bastilla attempted to catch up in short order? It had become a labor of love, to put it mildly.

So, Revan had finally kissed his wife, a sight that no doubt infuriated Master Atris, and separated from the library, taking a much needed walk away from the academic. As he walked, he pondered going to work the physical and finding Anakin for a sparring session but decided against it. He needed a chance to clear his mind, first. To disrupt the foggy cobwebs that were threatening to enclose his brain.

He walked out onto the terrace and caught sight of a beautiful sunset beginning to fall over the planet. He stopped, sat down, and centered himself, closing his eyes for a moment as he began to let the force flow through him. As he began to meditate, he felt trillions of beings in the world around him. But he also felt a familiar flicker of joy.

Without opening his eyes, he called out, "Ahsoka, as long as you walk around with that spirit, you will not be sneaking up on anybody."

Ahsoka, who had slowed her pace nearly twenty yards away so to not disturb Revan, chuckled and replied, "I'll try and become old and grouchy as quickly as I can, Master."

Revan smiled and opened his eyes. "Are you making fun of us old Jedi Masters?"

Ahsoka nodded. "You pick up sarcasm well for someone three thousand years old, Master."

Revan rolled his eyes. "That joke is not funny."

Ahsoka cheekily replied, "It is to me!"

Revan looked over at her, the padawan braid gone, any remaining signs of her youth seemingly drifting away by the minute. He smiled and asked, "So, how are you, Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano?"

She smiled. "Well…with having some time to step away and think about it, time to process…I'm happy. You were right. Staying alongside my Master…it was the right decision."

Revan smiled. "I'm happy for you, Ahsoka. Tell me about the knighting."

Ahsoka was brought before the Jedi Council, accompanied by Anakin. Anakin strode forward with purpose, his pride and happiness echoing in every step. Ahsoka was happy, and while still distrustful of the Council, seeing Anakin's joy with her return and her agreement to step forward as a Jedi Knight was more than comfort enough for her in what was admittedly a somewhat awkward meeting with the Council that she had turned her back on.

The pair arrived at the doors and stood, waiting to be summoned. The corridor was dark, the only lights present those that echoed from the Coruscant night below. Ahsoka was apprehensive, wary, excited, terrified, and every emotion in between. For a role that she had been willing to walk away from a couple of days earlier, she was certainly experiencing the plethora of emotions that accompanied a knighting ceremony.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the doors opened. The Council chamber was pitch black, the only light seeping through coming from the door. Anakin and Ahsoka entered, the door closing behind them. The loud thud of the closing door accompanied the total darkness that enveloped the chambers. Ahsoka, now standing in the middle of the chamber, was soon in view of the Council.

In unison, the Council and Anakin ignited their lightsabers, a cornucopia of greens, blues, and purples revealing the faces of the Council members. Behind her, Anakin said in a solemn voice, "Padawan Ahsoka Tano, kneel."

Ahsoka turned and knelt before Anakin. Anakin looked up to Yoda, who smiled and nodded, his satisfaction with the moment and Ahsoka's decision clear to anyone who could see his wrinkled expression. Anakin smiled and placed his saber first to her left shoulder, then over her head and onto her right shoulder. In a formal yet proud voice, the beaming Anakin said, "By the right of the Council, by the will of the Force. Ahsoka Tano. Rise,

Jedi Knight."

Ahsoka stood unsteadily, her knees wobbling. Despite her qualms with the Council, qualms with the Order, she had never felt such a sense of pride and joy as she did when she stood and saw her master's smiling face. She nodded and whispered, "Thanks, Sky guy."

He smiled, stepped forward, and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Anytime, Snips."

Revan smiled. "What a moment for you both. I'm so proud of you, Ahsoka."

Ahsoka looked over at him. "What about you? What was yours like?"

Revan sighed and replied, "I don't know, little one."

Ahsoka raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

Revan replied, "The force can do terrible things to the mind, little one. When the council rescued me from Malak's betrayal, there was only a fragment of my life left, a little flicker of hope. The Jedi healed me, but they went into my mind. Changed details. Blocked memories…there's almost nothing I remember beyond my time in the Temple as a child."

Ahsoka was shocked. "Wait…so, there's a gap?"

Revan nodded. "I see bits and pieces. Occasional visions. But from about seven or eight…there's a fog over the time in between that and when I woke up on the Endar Spire over Taris."

Ahsoka, curious, asked, "What's that like?"

Revan shrugged. "I don't really know, to tell you the truth. I can't remember what it's like to remember everything…a sad paradox, isn't it?"

Ahsoka then asked, "Well…what DO you remember?"

Revan was quiet for a moment. Then, he replied, "Fighting Mandalore the Ultimate. The Mass Shadow Generator at Malachor. The fall…leaving to find the Emperor…and pain…so…much…pain…"

Revan sighed, shook his head, dropped his gaze to the ground, and said, "I brought it on myself, Ahsoka. It is no one's fault but mine. If I had just…if I hadn't have let myself begin to fall, none of this would have happened. But our actions have consequences. Living my life without memory of how I became who I am is a stark reminder of that reality."

Ahsoka was quiet for a moment and then asked, "Revan, why do you care what happens to us? I mean…this isn't your war. This isn't your fight. Why does this matter to you? You have a second chance at everything. You and Bastilla could leave tonight, find some corner of the galaxy, and live out your days in peace. So…why are you here?"

Revan looked over at her and smiled. "Because I care about you. I care about Anakin. I care about Padme. I care about Shae. And I care about the trillions of innocent people who just want to live their lives in peace. As long as there's a threat, I will be here to fight it. That's what this galaxy deserves."

Ahsoka nodded, chuckled, and remarked, "Good answer. You should have gotten here in time to take my theory tests for me when I was a Padawan Learner."

Revan grinned. "I loved those classes."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes. "Why am I not surprised?"

Days passed with little action for those at the Temple. Even Revan, who healed as quickly as many of the Healers had seen, needed time to heal from the brutal punishment his body and mind had endured at the hands of Sidious and Maul. Anakin and Ahsoka were equally thrilled with the chance to take a break from combat, with both thrilled to spend time with Padme. They spent most of their days at the Temple, but their nights were spent at the apartment. They spent time together talking, eating dinners, and just generally enjoying one another's company.

One of these evenings came at the end of a long workday for Padme, the arduous process of getting a piece of anti-tax evasion legislation getting to her as the day turned to night. As usual, the three enjoyed a lovely dinner and joyful conversation, but Padme had clearly tired much earlier than normal. The three left the dining room and moved to the sitting area that overlooked the Coruscant skyline. The three sat, with Anakin wrapping his arms around both.

It was a strange moment for Ahsoka, sitting next to Anakin and watching as Padme slipped her head onto his shoulder and quickly fell asleep. Anakin's other arm was wrapped around her shoulder, his warm touch comforting in nature. It was still strange, knowing about the marriage and being a part of their family, complicated further by the fact that Anakin was no longer her Master and she no longer his Padawan. Anakin had noticeably relaxed over the preceding weeks since she was knighted, as though the realization of her importance to him and the thought that she was no longer his student had allowed for certain walls to be broken down.

Ahsoka leaned her head onto Anakin's shoulder and closed her eyes. Going unnoticed by the tired Jedi was the smile that adorned Anakin's face. The two were the most important people in his life. Having them here and being able to love them, secret or not, filled him with joy that could carry him through a thousand bloody, brutal battles.

Anakin looked down at Ahsoka and whispered, "Hey, Snips?"

Ahsoka didn't open her eyes but replied, "Mhm?"

"Have I ever told you one of the reasons that I appreciate you so much?"

Ahsoka chuckled and replied, "Because I save your life more often than not?"

Anakin rolled his eyes and replied, "I'm trying to be nice."

Ahsoka smiled and replied, "There's a first time for everything."

Anakin nearly flicked her ear, but simply rolled his eyes and muttered something about students under his breath. After a few moments of continued silence, which the tired Ahsoka appreciated, Anakin softly said, "You and I similar in a lot of ways, Snips. That's part of the reason I've loved being your Master. When I look at you, I see a better version of myself."

Ahsoka smiled. "That's sweet, Master. Thank you."

But Anakin wasn't finished. "You and I…we never really had much of a family, Ahsoka. You are my family. I can't tell you that enough. You are my family and I'm your family. We both spent most of our lives looking for it…and that's why we have each other."

He was quiet for a moment before closing his eyes. He squeezed Ahsoka's shoulder and whispered, "I love you, Snips. Always will."

Ahsoka smiled, her eyes still closed, but wrapped her arm around his torso and for the first time locked herself in his embrace. Master, friend, brother, all the same to the young Togruta Jedi. She whispered back, I love you, too, Sky guy."

The three had fallen asleep om the couch locked in one another's arms. Not the most comfortable position, but the sheer exhaustion that all three had experienced and the comfort of one another's presence made it far easier than would have normally been the case. But alas, the galaxy never stopped turning and as C-3PO came in at dawn to wake them for the day, the groggy Jedi felt their commlinks begin to buzz.

Anakin stretched, yawned, and answered the call. "What is it?"

Obi-Wan responded, "I've been looking everywhere for you. Where are you?"

Anakin, who in that moment didn't exactly care to lie, nor did he have the ability to as his mind dusted off the cobwebs, replied, "Out. Why?"

Obi-Wan was clearly unsatisfied with the answer, but replied shortly, "We have a briefing. Updated intelligence came in on Metalorn. The time has come to strike."

The news of the strike immediately woke Anakin. "What's the news that changed the minds of the senators?"

Obi-Wan replied carefully, "I don't want to get into it on an open channel…but rest assured, the Metalorn production facilities have not been nearly as truthful as they should have been about their production capacity and shipped material, nor their factory output. That's all I'll say."

Anakin nodded, the scenario beginning to click in his mind. "The Sep's have been using the planet as a massive droid foundry. I told them that it wasn't maintaining normal production with the Trade Federation…"

Anakin replied, "Alright, I'll be in soon."

Anakin woke Ahsoka quickly and explained to her what has happening. Ahsoka, like her old Master, woke very quickly at the mention of an offensive strike against Metalorn. Anakin kissed Padme goodbye, wished her luck with Senate procedures that day, and then rushed off with Ahsoka for the Jedi Temple. They arrived not long after, parking their speeder near the main entrance and quickly making their way into the Temple. They fell in step alongside Revan not far from the briefing room. Anakin asked him, "Did they tell you anything?"

Revan shook his head. "Only that I should get to the briefing quickly."

Anakin asked, "Do you know much about Metalorn?"

Revan replied, "Only that if the planet has shifted production towards the Separatist war effort, that would explain why exactly they have a seemingly endless supply of cruisers and battle droids."

Anakin nodded in agreement. Ahsoka remarked, "You're not wrong."

They arrived inside the briefing room and gathered around the holomap, joined by Master Kenobi and Master Windu. Mace Windu began the briefing. "The Trade Federation has long maintained foundries and production facilities across the planet Metalorn in the Talcene sector. While within the Mid Rim and near many of our military facilities, the Senate decided that striking Metalorn with no proof of military production could prove costly to trillions of individuals across the galaxy and make us to appear as aggressors. However, intelligence sources within the Separatist military and on the ground have confirmed that as much as ninety five percent of planetary production capacity has gone to the war effort and that nearly sixty percent of Separatist production capacity, from droids to snub fighters to blasters, is coming from this planet. Further, the vast majority of shipments off planet that the Republic blockade have been stopping and boarding have had false manifests and false destinations. The Trade Federation have been sending trillions of credits worth of material off to shipyards to continue naval production. We have not seen a target this critical in over a year. However…"

Revan nodded, looking at the hologram in front of him. "There's a massive fleet guarding the primary space station."

Mace nodded. "And that space station is a level six planetary defense space station. It's capable of taking on multiple capital ships, to say nothing of the fleet. We need to take this planet, destroy the space station, and crush the fleet. This is a victory that we need right now. The tide of the public is turning against this war. If we don't win a major victory against the Separatists soon…I fear that the Senate will sue for peace."

Revan shrugged. "So, let's get a fleet and pound them. What's the problem?"

Obi-Wan replied, "Our forces are stretched thin enough as it is. We cannot afford to take many warships off their assigned operating regions, much less risk losing them in open conflict."

Revan was quiet, pondering the hologram in front of him for a moment. After a long pause, he asked, "What do we have available?"

Windu replied, "Two squadrons from Battle Group 3 of the 7th Fleet, the Open Circles. Fifty warships plus supporting craft. Up against a planetary defense station and nearly four hundred Separatist cruisers."

Anakin theorized, "Perhaps we could get aboard one of their capital ships? Sneak in, blow it from the inside? That could disable some of the droids, even the odds a little."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "Getting in would be nearly impossible. Then once you are, you have to be able to get back out again. Even if we timed the attack perfectly, I just don't see a scenario where you easily make it off a detonating droid control vessel and back to one of our warships safely."

Ahsoka asked, "Maybe try and draw the fleet away from the station?"

Windu shook his head. "They know their purpose. Their commander is the Devaronian admiral Kleeve that Anakin ran into near Azure a few months ago. He won't be baited"

Anakin shook his head bitterly. "He wouldn't bite, no matter how hard I try. He's no normal Sep commander. He makes no bones about who he is or how his fleet handles. He's deadly efficient. We can't pull him off. There's no way he would fall for that with a planet this important."

Anakin asked, "Could we really not pull off more warships? Perhaps a spare battle group?"

Obi-Wan shook his head. "All battle groups are currently engaged, with many of them being split into squadrons and sections. The Separatists know how badly we need this and what a sitting target they are. There is no doubt in my mind that they are baiting us. Maneuver us into a trap and strike elsewhere that we have left undefended. There are too many worlds critical to the war effort nearby. We can't sacrifice them for one victory. That defeats the whole purpose."

Anakin groaned and snapped, "Well, we have to take care of this fleet somehow! Windu is right. We need a victory. And we can't watch this one planet almost singlehandedly hand out endless reinforcements to our enemy! We have to do SOMETHING!"

Revan, who had been silently staring at the hologram and a map of the surrounding planet, was particularly intent on a nearby nebula that was casting a mass shadow. Revan asked, "I assume part of our issue is that our forces will trip alarms lightyears out and give them time to mobilize reinforcements along our approach vector?"

Obi-Wan nodded. "Among many problems, yes."

Revan grinned. "Good. I have an idea."

Windu asked, "Do you care to elaborate?"

Revan replied, "Master Windu, how much do you know about gravity bombs?"

Revan stood in the bridge of Revenant, the aptly named Venator-Class Star Destroyer that was now serving as his flagship. Revan had been handed command of Squadron One and had split his forces, sending a few star destroyers and their support craft to Squadron Two. He was left with twenty star destroyers at his command, all flanked around the Revenant in empty space not far from the edge of the Talcene system. It was a strategic move. They were just close enough that spies would notify Separatist forces of a massing fleet not far from Metalorn. The alarms would be tripped on the way in and Revan would arrive facing a massive armada on his exact approach vector.

Just like he wanted.

Revan turned from the bridge viewport and looked over at the captain. "I'll be back on station in five minutes. Notify the fleet and begin mobilizing. Prepare to move when I return."

The captain nodded. "Right away, sir."

Revan left the bridge, striding back to the lift. He stepped on, dropped down a couple of levels, and arrived at his quarters. They were fairly large but decorated and furnished modestly. While the entire floor was there for him, the majority of it was taken up by a dueling arena and viewing area, the rest taken up by a relatively small living area. He strode past the living area and the dueling arena, walking through to find his wife calm and centered, meditating on the floor in front of the suite viewport. Her battle meditation had begun. Revan quietly asked her, "Are you ready?"

She simply smiled and nodded. "I'm ready when you are, my love."

Revan nodded and took a deep breath. "Alright…let's not keep them waiting any longer, then."

Revan walked away, careful to not interfere with her through a kiss or light comment. Once Bastilla entered her meditative state necessary for battle meditation, Revan knew that disturbing her was worth nothing compared to what it would cost. He returned to the bridge to find the captain ready for service. He nodded and said, "Your fleet is ready, Commander."

Revan was calm. He closed his eyes and reached out with the force. Lightyears away, Anakin, who felt the call through their force bond, heard the call. "Are you ready?"

Revan quickly felt a reply from Revan. "I'm ready."

Revan opened his eyes and nodded. "Take us to hyperspace, Captain. Set course for Metalorn."

Lightyears away, Anakin stood aboard the Valkyrie, his flagship that had replaced the Resolute after it went down over Sullust. The idea of communicating through their force bond had been one that Anakin hadn't considered and frankly had been a bit skeptical of, but so far it had worked well. He, Ahsoka, the other Jedi from the task force, and the thirty warships and support craft that made up the rest of the small battle group formed from parts of Battle Group Three were hidden a short hyperspace jump away from Metalorn in the Talcene Nebula, a small blind spot for the hyperspace sensors since nebulas were impassable at light speed. It had taken a painstaking two days, but the long column of warships had carefully navigated the nebula and were now placed in formation within the mass shadow of the nebula, their electronic signature nowhere to be found for any scout that might pass by.

Revan had made a gamble, but he had found the Sep's blind spot.

The ships had shut down anything more than local communication, communication only occurring through Revan and Anakin's force bond. It was untraceable and would not be stopped by the raising of deflector shields. It was almost too good to be true, but Revan knew that it was, in fact, fantastically effective so long as the Jedi could remain calm in the face of chaos.

But the gamble was far from over. With a fleet as large as the Sep's had, dropping in out of hyperspace in their rear would be confusing, but the Sep's would have a chance to reform, the droid control ships have a chance to engage rear deflector shields and return fire. That was where the second part of the gamble came into play.

Anakin looked over at Ahsoka, who had started a timer when Anakin had been contacted by Revan. They were precisely seven minutes away from first contact, seven and a half minutes away from the starfighters emerging en masse from the hangars of squadron one, and ten minutes away from the gravity bombs being put into place. Anakin took a deep breath and tapped his foot anxiously. He was normally the aggressor. Being the one to wait was not the most pleasant experience for the Jedi.

Revan emerged out of hyperspace seven minutes after they jumped from the edge of the Anzat system. The moment they dropped in, Revan gauged the distance. They were well out from space station. Perfect. The fleet would have to come out to meet his warships. Revan gave the command and in unison, the hangars aboard the twenty star destroyers and supporting craft opened, revealing hundreds of star fighters.

Revan kept his eye on five squadrons of starfighters in particular as the battle began. These V-Wings were escorted by ARC-170 starfighters and were, like many, setting off on a bombing run of the droid control ships. Nothing out of the ordinary in terms of combat, nothing that would raise the eyebrows of the Separatist warships any more than a normal bomber wing would. But as the bombers commenced their run, in between volleys of proton torpedoes were the clanking of outdated gravity bombs to the hulls of the five droid control ships present.

Gravity bombs were relatively outdated and had not been used much in the Clone Wars. If one could get close enough to strike a vessel with a gravity bomb to prevent it from escaping, one could just as easily hit it with a proton torpedo and do damage. The emergence of starfighter led battles between capital ships that functioned as starfighter carriers had only furthered a move away from gravity bombs and that form of combat doctrine.

But Revan knew the old tricks were the old tricks often because they worked and Revan, ever cunning, had a trick up his sleeve. Revan waited patiently as his warships engaged, waiting for the captain to signal back into him that there was success. At precisely the ten-minute mark, just as Revan had calculated, the fleet had moved out to engage the squadron and the bombers had hit their mark. The captain notified Revan, who immediately calmed his mind and reached out with the force. "Anakin. It's time."

From lightyears away at the edge of the system, Anakin replied, "On the way, Master. Start the countdown."

Revan turned to his bridge. "Concentrate all long distance turbolaser fire from our squadron onto the five droid control ships. I don't care where you hit them. Just hit them. And hit them HARD!"

Anakin ended his communication and immediately ordered the fleet to jump into hyperspace. Now the crux of Revan's plan would either be proven wildly successful or he would have to turn and retreat, hopefully without losing too many forces in the process. The fleet, almost in an instant, jumped to hyperspace together. Anakin looked over at Ahsoka, who started the one-minute countdown. Sixty seconds. That's how long it would take to see if Revan's gamble had paid off.

The time in hyperspace felt like a short eternity. Gunners were at their positions, fighters were primed and ready to emerge the second that the dorsal hangar bays opened, the whole ship prepared to strike immediately. Anakin shook his head at the knowledge of Revan. "The rear deflector shields, once down, will take fifteen seconds to have power diverted back from the front deflector shields, ten seconds to charge, and twelve seconds to engage. Thirty-seven seconds, Skywalker. Thirty-seven seconds to blow those ships to scrap."

Anakin gulped down a large lump in his throat. He had fought in a lot of battles. It was rare that he fought in one that he felt could alter the course of the war.

Ahsoka looked up at him. "Ten seconds, Master."

Anakin called out as Admiral Yularen communicated the message to the rest of the ship, "Here we go! Get ready!"

Inside the ship, gunners activated their batteries, slid energy shells into place, and prepared to unlock their turrets. Starfighters in the hangars, already engaged, lifted and slid forward into the hangar bay, hovering and waiting for the bay to open. Bridge officers sat with their eyes on their screens, prepared to make frantic target acquisitions and compute firing solutions.

And then, in an instant, hyperspace slowed, the stars streaked by as the twisting lights of hyperspace disappeared, and the squadron dropped into space a mere hundred meters from the droid control ships and scarcely fifty meters at the bridge height from the top of the control ship.

Revan had been right. The gravity bombs had created small mass shadows, which forced a ship to be pulled from hyperspace as if it were going to run into a planet. The bombs were just small enough and the capital ships just big enough that rather than being stopped one hundred kilometers out, they were stopped a mere one hundred meters away and on a perfect approach vector.

Revan had also instructed the squadron to fly in inverted. Upon arrival, the dorsal bays opened to reveal hundreds of fighters and bombers, while the turbolasers were primed and ready. The onslaught was on. The droid control ships, who had redirected power from their rear deflector shields to boost their front shields, were caught completely flat footed. With only a few ships hanging back and most fighters engaging in dogfights several kilometers away, there was nothing they could do. One minute after entry, the ships had taken such damage that the chain reaction had begun, unstoppable in all forms. Two minutes later, all control ships were shattered and the rest of the fleet had ceased to move, the only droids still functional being those that were placed onboard the space station.

Revan smiled from his bridge. After a moment of basking in victory, he returned to business and said, "Gentlemen, there are a lot of ships out there. I suggest we blow them all to scrap and get started on getting this planet back on the right side of the fence."

The bridge officers cheered and as the onslaught of immobile frigates, cruisers, and snub fighters began, Revan stood and watched carefully. An important victory, to be sure. But the war was far from over.