The Emperor of Mankind stood on the Bridge of the Bucephelus, staring at the map before him, Miss Evelyn Jade stood to his left, his son Horus to his right.

"And for the past five years the galaxy has been at war, the war between the Galactic Republic and the Separatists who wish to leave the Republic," Evelyn finished the explanation of the galaxy, she had been speaking for five hours almost non-stop and her voice was Hoarse.

The last five hours had been enlightening for the forces of the Imperium, the galaxy they were in had empires as old as theirs that hadn't had anywhere near the number of problems they did. There was no state of constant war against the alien, and the machinations of Chaos seemed to be limited to the beings known as the Sith, who were believed extinct before their return in the last twenty years. But the Emperor knew that that would soon change, wherever he was the Ruinous Powers endeavoured to be.

Horus turned to look at him, "Father, what is our plan? How do we get back home?"

"I am unsure my son," the Emperor replied, "We are a long way from home, and I still do not know how to ensure we return. The light of the astronomican is so far away that it is almost gone. As a result it cannot be used to guide us home. However we are in luck, the terraforming of the planet below and the power I used was sufficient to create a second, natural astronomican. We can use that and this map to travel this galaxy, and hopefully, I can find a way to link this galaxy to our own to allow us to return home."

"But what would that take father? How would we even achieve that?"

"It can be done, but I will need help. As I said earlier, this galaxy is rich in psykers, but they seem to be divided into two groups. If we can convince some of these to help us then I may be able to get us home. We already have one who may be willing."

"Do we father?"

The Emperor turned to look at Evelyn, "Yes my son, we do."

Evelyn stared at them curiously, "What do you mean my Lord?"

"You my dear miss Jade, are a psyker."

"A psyker? What's a psyker?"

"They are those capable of using powers of the warp, capable of feats which many would consider magic, I believe you referred to a power known here as the Force. This Force of which you speak is but a minor part of the immaterium, those who use it are psykers."

"You mean, I'm force-sensitive? I could have been a Jedi?" Evelyn stumbled and fell to the floor in shock, "But why wasn't I found? I remember seeing the Jedi often back home. Why didn't one of them notice me."

"You my dear have a remarkable capacity to shield yourself. The warp just seems to flow by you to the average psyker, but I am no average psyker. It's also part of the reason you were drawn to me and spoke up down in the hangar. I believe my arrival has caused a disturbance felt by all psykers. To my regret some may have died, unable to cope with the backlash. There will undoubtedly be many however, who, like you, are drawn to me and will seek me out. Those who do are the future, for they are safe from many of the dangers of the warp."

"I though I felt something yesterday, and I knew that something good would happen to me today. I've always had good instincts and seemed to be able to sense danger and those who were untrustworthy. But I thought it was a result of my life and upbringing," she looked up at the Emperor, "Teach me."

The Emperor smiled, "Of course. But first, I wish to explore."

With advice from both Horus and Evelyn, the Emperor transferred his flag from the Bucephelus, to the Everest, a Firestorm Class Frigate.

During the transfer Evelyn was gobsmacked, she had been told that this was one of the smallest ships in the fleet, but it was till large than almost anything fielded by either the Republic or the Separatists. It was a long vessel, similar to the Venator class Star Destroyer, but had an armoured prow with a giant laser slung underneath. The broadsides bristled with weapons, both projectile and energy, and there was a giant cannon turret on the top. This ship alone would be capable of wiping out an entire Republic fleet.

The captain of the Everest had been killed in the warp transition, so for the duration of the Emperor's stay Lieutenant Delia Kasr was in command and had been promoted to captain, "My Emperor, what are your orders?"

The Emperor stood silently at the main window, reaching into the warp for any premonition of where to go. He span about and walked to the helm, he inputted a heading and destination, using Korriban as the epicentre, "Let's go Captain."

"All hands prepare for warp transition," Captain Delia announced.

The ship began to shake beneath them, and the groan of the warp engines powering up grew louder and louder.

"Gellar fields active. Warp transition in 3...2...1...Mark."

Outside the ship a rip in space appeared, purple light flooding the bridge as the doorway to the immaterium opened.

"What the hell is that?" screamed Evelyn Jade.

"Exactly that miss Jade," said Horus, "Hell."

The frigate leapt into the tear and with a flash was gone.

Republic battleship Ryloth - en route to Felucia

"Of course masters, I the fleet is in orbit above Felucia, I'll send out search parties for the source of this disturbance. Master Secura out."

Aayla Secura sighed, as if her life wasn't stressful enough. She ran a hand down her lekku as she pondered the new development. She too had felt the disturbance, but for some reason it didn't disturb her as it evidently did the council, and she couldn't help but wonder why. For some reason the disturbance relaxed her and filled her with hope. It had also made the force seem clearer to her and she knew that something dangerous was waiting for her on felucia but she couldn't tell what.

Turning she left the bridge and headed for her private quarters. Upon arriving she lay her lightsaber on the desk and looked out of the view port at the blue tunnel of hyperspace. The future is always in motion master Yoda said, but she felt that whatever was approaching was something that could not be avoided, even with the intervention of this new factor. Diving into the depths of the force, Aayla sought peace in an attempt to stem her worries and troubles. What she found brought both peace and more worries. A violent light was moving through the force, it drew her towards it as moths to a flame and she couldn't bring herself to ignore it.

Hesitantly she reached out towards it, on guard in case it was a temptation of the dark side. As she touched the light she was blasted across the room. The light had been so powerful, it was more powerful than anything she had sensed before, it was even more powerful than the feeling of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. But somehow, she knew that it wasn't a danger. Reaching out again, she was shocked, the light had cleared the fog of the dark side from her mind. She now sensed the location of the Sith Master, they were on Coruscant. But that wasn't the most important thing on her mind, the light had reinforced her force powers on had given her a glimpse of what was to come. She saw herself gunned down by her on men on the planet of Felucia, at the same time she saw that happening all across the galaxy. She saw her friend Mastet Shaak Ti swarmed by clones in her quarters on Kamino, being killed violently without a chance to defend herself. She knew she should warn someone but the disturbing images caused too much grief and she collapsed to the floor crying.

Kamino - Shaak Ti's private quarters

Despite being a Jedi Master Shaak Ti was often exhausted when she returned to her quarters for the night, and most of the time she went straight to sleep. Today however would be different and would change her future.

When she arrived she was surprised to see a light on her personal, private holocom blinking, signalling an incoming call. Accepting the call she was even more surprised to see her friend and fellow master Aayla Secura, what was even more surprising was the obvious tear tracks streaking down her face, "Aayla, what's wrong?"

"Shaak, hic, please listen to me and listen well. You are in danger, we all are," Aalya broke down into sobs.

"What do you mean?"

Composing herself, Aayla carried on, "Danger, grave danger. Beware the clones Shaak, beware the clones."

"Aayla please explain, why should I beware the clones."

"There's no easy way for me too say this but they're going to turn on us, they'll kill us Shaak, all of us. From masters to the younglings the Jedi will be killed."

"What? That's unlikely, why would you even think that?"

"A vision Shaak, the force is clear to me and I had a vision of the clones killing us."

"A vision? But the force has been clouded for years, why would you get a vision now?"

"The disturbance Shaak, remember the disturbance yesterday? It cleared the fog of the dark side from my mind."

"But how, what do you mean?"

"There's a new player in the game, in the force, there's a light..."

"A bright light that draws you towards it."

Aayla looked up surprised, "So you've seen it too."

"Yes I have, but I've been too busy to investigate it."

"Do it now, find it in the force and touch it."

"What? Why?"

"Trust me Shaak, do it."

Trusting her friend, Shaak ti reached into the force, she quickly found the light and approached it. As it did Aayla, it drew her in. Touching it she too was flung across the room.

Pain

Shock

Horror

Loss

Death

'Don't do it Anakin'

'You were my Brother Anakin. I loved you.'

With a gasp Shaak Ti sat straight up, chest heaving.

"Shaak, Shaak, are you ok?"

She could hear her friend calling for her, but what had just seen was too much for her and she broke down in tears.

"It was horrible, Aayla, absolutely horrible."

"I know Shaak, I know."

After recovering, Shaak Ti had sat down facing the holocom, "It was Skywalker."

"What, Skywalker, what does Skywalker have to do with it?"

"It was him Aayla, I saw him leading the clones on the Jedi Temple, he killed the younglings. The Temple burned because of him. He joined the Sith."

That revelation silenced Aayla Secura, who thought about it logically. Strangely enough she could see Skywalker turning to the dark side. It was no secret that he struggled with the Jedi code, especially attachment, and that he had constant disagreements with many of the masters. But the Skywalker she knew always cared about people, so for him to kill younglings seemed a bit far, but she trusted her friend.

"So then," she said quietly, "What do we do?"

"Well, first I have to find a way to leave Kamino. Alone."

"It shouldn't be too hard, with everything that's happened recently the council shouldn't notice you leaving. And once you are off planet you can jump and meet up with me."

"But aren't you commanding a fleet at the moment, heading for Felucia?"

"I am, but it's easier for us to survive if we are together. Plus, I get the feeling that something big is coming, but it doesn't seem dangerous."

"I have the same feeling, and it seems to be somewhere near you."

"Yes, this also happens to be near the source of the disturbance yesterday. I recently received orders to investigate once the fleet is preparing to invade Felucia."

"That seems awful strange timing, the disturbance yesterday, followed by our visions today, and then the presence in the force moving towards you."

"I know, and that bothers me too. But if this thing can help us then we'll have to accept the danger."

"Agreed. When should I leave?"

"As soon as possible, now if you can."

"I suppose it's night now, I could get to the hangar easily, but getting out of the atmosphere will be difficult."

"I hate to say this because we are still unsure what it is, but use the presence. When I touched it I felt a burst of power fill me, if you maybe use some of that you could hide yourself from light control."

"But how can the force hide a physical object?"

"I don't know, but for some reason I know you can do it. Don't ask me to explain, I just know."

"Understood, Shaak Ti out. I'll see you soon."

"Good luck Shaak, good luck."

As the holocom powered down the room became dark. Knowing what she had to do, Shaak Ti steeled herself and left the room, blanketing herself in the force.

Things were peaceful aboard the Everest, the information provided to them by Evelyn told them that despite being more technologically advanced in some areas, the forces of this galaxy would prove little danger to the forces of the Imperium. As such, those who could relax were. The only people not relaxing were the Emperor and Horus, both of whom knew that something bad would inevitably happen. As such, both were training hard, and convinced their men to as well.

Horus faced off against his father, he knew victory was unlikely, but the longer he lasted the better. Swinging his power sword as hard as he could, Horus tried desperately to disarm his father, but the flaming sword remained steady in his father's hands. Taking a step back, Horus leapt into the air as much as he could, to bring his sword down on his father, but the Emperor span away, and using Horus' lack of balance, ripped the sword from his son's hands.

"You are getting better my son, that bout lasted three hours longer than the last one," the Emperor chuckled.

"That it did father, but you still beat me."

"Ahhh my son you forget, I am thousands of years older and have more experience."

"No need to remind us how old you are father, you don't look a day over five thousand."

"Cheeky brat, I should put you over my knee."

Before Horus could reply the Captain's voice came over the tannoy, "My Lords, warp transition in 5 minutes."

"Understood Captain, we'll be there now."

Despite the size of the ship, the journey to the bridge took only two minutes and by the time they arrived it was a bustle of activity as servitors and crewmen prepared for warp transition.

The seconds counted down slowly, as they did the Emperor thought that this had been a fairly quiet and safe trip through a usually violent and tumultuos warp.

"Transition in 3...2...1...Now,"

A purple tear opened before them and the ship was spat out into realspace.

"Where are we captain?" asked the Emperor calmly.

"Initial scans and correlation with the pirate's map indicate the Felucia system My Lord," Captain Delia answered, "One planet inhabited by several sentient and non-sentient species, orbited by eight moons. No sign of any space presence at the moment, but long range scans indicate two large blips approaching, most likely battle fleets."

"Understood, move us to the asteroid field and power down all non essential systems. Our objective isn't here yet."

"Yes My Lord,"

The engines flared as the sixteen hundred metre long ship moved deep into the asteroid field, turned to face the planet, before powering down, looking to most like an extremely large asteroid.

In the quiet and dark, the Imperium of Man waited for its first major encounter with the locals.

It had taken her a while, but Aalya Secura had finally managed to control her fear and face the clones she knew would soon try to kill her. She had made her way to the bridge, careful to remain composed, but she was still apprehensive when facing them.

"Nice to see you General," came a voice, despite sounding the same as every other clone, Aayla knew it belonged to one she though she could trust with anything.

"Sorry about that Commander Bly, I had some meditating to do after receiving the new orders from the council."

"Understood General, no worries. We are now on final approach to Felucia."

"Are all units ready? We may face heavy resistance."

"Yes General, all fighters standing by, and all weapons armed and shields up."

Master Secura nodded, "How long until arrival?"

"Ten minutes General," came the reply from the crew pit.

The minutes ticked by slowly, tension growing as ten minutes approached.

"Arrival soon General,"

"Upon arrival I want all fighters launched, if an enemy fleet is there target the droid control ships first, all capital ships target the cruisers and frigates, escort vessels concentrate on destroying the enemy fighters. I will lead the fighters towards the control ships. You have your orders."

"Sir yes sir,"

From the cockpit of her fighter, Aayla Secura barely felt as the ship left hyperspace, but it was soon obvious from the sounds of laser impacts on the shields, "All fighters launch."

She was pushed back into her seat by the acceleration as her ship raced from the hangar and out into the blackness of space. The battle for Felucia had begun.

Deep within the force, Darth Sidious searched desperately for the source of the disturbance, he scoured in the galaxy in an instant but found nothing. This angered him greatly as nothing should be beyond his perception. If this disturbance could hid from him then it could be a threat to his plans. Refusing to give up her searched again and again, finding nothing.

With a cry of rage Sidious unleashed a barrage of force lightning at the walls of his chambers, the anger was so great that his control over the fog in the force almost slipped. As such, he didn't notice that when he dove back into the force he was no longer alone. He didn't notice the four beings that followed his every move, subtly guiding him, nurturing his hatred and anger, enthusiastically cultivating the chaos he would sow.

As Sidious continued his search, the Ruinous Powers laughed. Their original plan of turning Horus against the Emperor had been derailed, but this could prove to be so much better.