*** Coruscant ***
Luke sensed something horribly off with Anakin. This didn't feel like him. Not his touch, certainly not his presence in the Force. "You're not Anakin Skywalker. My father would not have brazenly risked coming into the open against my wishes after that talk we had." Luke's hand immediately went to his lightsaber and he put himself between this imposter and Xander.
Meanwhile, the Assassin would hear a guttural croak that sounded like a woodpecker in the forest behind him, followed by a very distinct sound of dual blades unsheathing from a gauntlet.
*** First Impressions ***
"I don't think so - Rex here served with the Army of the Republic, during the Clone Wars. The metal beast Malgus and I found was of Separatist Origin. So you could say Rex fought against them," Ahsoka explained. "It's... a long story."
*** Indari Manor, Dragon'taan ***
The food was kept on the counter, and easily within Michen's reach.
"Feral dragons, Kanan, not Anthro," Kyle told Kanan. "That preserve is their hunting ground."
Maria came in to the dining area next, with her young son in her arms, putting him in a hi-chair.
*** Tatooine ***
Fayam would find a Needle Rifle pressed into his back, and a Kig-Yar voice saying, "You move, you die!" Behind Fayam were a fire team of Kig-Yar Pirates.
*** Starship Stryker, Tatooine Orbit ***
While Cobalt went about getting her tasks done, K'Tath piloted the Stryker to a safe haven so they could plan their next move. "Talk to me, Cobalt," he called out to her, "What was in the data? Anything saying where the Eternal Fleet is?"
*** Warship Draconis Furiam, Coruscant ***
"We can discuss that after we get this situation under control," Viktor said, plugging the black box he found in his father's quarters at the Jedi Temple into his ship's hologram computer console. There was a brief pause before the console went blank, then went active, and displayed a hologram of a wolf very much like Viktor over the box, in lifelike size. In fact, if Ori or Spyra looked between Viktor and the Hologram, they'd definitely see Viktor was a spitting image of this wolf. There was a pause before the wolf spoke:
"Viktor... if you are hearing this, then my efforts have not been wasted. I hid this device in the hopes that you would track it down and find it. It was important to me that my message lived beyond my death. Obviously, you already know I am dead. You have my Lightsabers, you have my power in the Force. I know you have many questions. I can't imagine what you must think of me. You grew up without me. I had thought I would get more time, but unfortunately..." a laser blast sounded in the background. "... I waited too long. When I left you and your mother to my Jedi career, I faced some bitter truths. I knew if I had stayed, Aldukaal would have found you, and my legacy will have been ended there and then. I could not let that happen. I hope you'll understand, but I know you might be angry. But as I foresaw, you would find this box, and finish what I started. Sadly, I will not live to see this through, hence this message. You must do what I could not, my son. Aldukaal must be stopped. He is a creature that does not belong in this galaxy, and left unchecked, he will consume everything. Everything and everyone. But there is a way to cut him off from his power - I left the secret in the last place Aldukaal would think to look. If your mother was true to her word, you will know where that is. She will have told stories of the place from her own experience." In an unexpected move, the wolf turned his head to look directly at Ori. "And lastly... in my visions and dreams, I saw you there, Ori. I know how important you are to my son... and I saw truly wonderful things in your future with him. So I ask you... take care of my boy. Never let him feel alone. And above all, no matter what, always remember what you two share. If the visions are right... you and yours will be a proud family. Proud... and powerful." the wolf's head shifted back to Viktor. "Now, Viktor... once you have your secret, there is only one place you can lure Aldukaal. It was a place I intended to duel him long ago - it is an abandoned, but still functional, space station, in Wild Space. Gorinth Station. I have rigged the station to emit a pulse that would keep Aldukaal there. The rest... falls to you. I have also developed an AI that will help you in your endeavors - by the time this message finishes, it will have already been loaded on to your ship's computers. Good luck, my son... and may the Force be with you."
After that long-winded message, the father looked to Ori, nodded to her with a smile, and vanished. Then, the AI's voice made itself known, in the voice of Viktor's father: "Commander Horgus, this is Ulrich Horgus... ready for duty."
"Ulrich Horgus..." Viktor chuckled. "... Mom always did say you can be a bit of an egotist, sometimes, dad."
"I must inform you, sir, that while I carry the voice and name of your father, I am not him," the AI said.
"Either way... welcome aboard," Viktor said. He then looked to Spyra and Ori. "Hope neither of you have anything against Nar Shaddaa."
(Anna, I'll get to the spots on New Romulus and Cardassia soon as you get there.)
*** Kar'Fi Carrier Great Fox II, Peragus III Asteroid Field ***
"The scrambled sensor readings isn't that surprising - the metal content of those asteroids, not to mention their valuable resources, make sensor readings unreliable," Slippy said as the team followed Fel to the Normandy.
"Either way, Slip, something caused a loss of communication here," Fox stated. He looked to Fel. "But you needn't worry about our nerves - this isn't the first Op we've ever been on, you know."