STAR WARS: The Heir of The High Republic-Chapter 13: The Twion Sith Sects

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. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Aboard the Hope – Korriban Orbit

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The Royal Harpy ascended through the crimson skies of Korriban, its engines roaring as we left the wreckage of the Sorzus Syn laboratory behind. The underground Sith facility was nothing more than a collapsed ruin, buried beneath tons of rubble and scorched debris. But the destruction of the facility didn’t bring the closure I had hoped for—because the Sith Lord’s final words still echoed in my mind:

"You... can’t... stop... what’s coming..."

A warning. A prophecy. Or something worse?

I clenched my jaw as the ship docked inside the Hope. The moment the boarding ramp descended, Major Ikarus and Admiral Tempra were waiting for us.

I barely had time to step off before Tempra barked, "Report, General."

I took a breath. "The facility was more than just a training ground—it was an experimentation site. The Sith were conducting unnatural experiments on Force-sensitive beings. The laboratory was destroyed, but we don’t know how many test subjects escaped before the collapse."

Tempra’s face darkened. "You’re saying the Sith are building something... something worse?"

I nodded. "Yes. And whatever it is, it’s not over."

Ikarus folded his arms. "And the Sith commander?"

"Dead. But he wasn’t the mastermind—he was just a soldier following orders."

A heavy silence fell over the hangar. The victory felt hollow, knowing that the true danger was still out there.

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Hours later, I stood inside the Holo comm Chamber of the Hope, facing the Jedi High Council. The blue holographic projections of Masters Yoda, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and Shaak Ti surrounded me, their expressions unreadable.

Master Windu was the first to speak. "You’ve done well, Knight Kriss. The Sith threat in Korriban has been significantly weakened. But I sense your thoughts are troubled."

I exhaled. "Because we’re still missing pieces of the puzzle. This wasn’t just a rogue faction of Sith—this was an organized operation. The experiments, the secrecy... this wasn’t some small cult hiding in the shadows. Someone with real power was behind this."

Master Ki-Adi-Mundi stroked his beard. "We have long believed that the Sith operated in secrecy, but this suggests something deeper. Do you believe another Sith Lord is out there?"

I hesitated. "I believe they were preparing for something bigger. The Sith I fought knew it. And he wasn’t afraid to die—because he believed his death was meaningless in the grand scheme of whatever they were planning."

Master Yoda hummed, his ears twitching. "More than darkness, sensed you have. A storm on the horizon, I fear."

I squared my shoulders. "Then let me chase it. I request permission to continue the investigation. We can’t afford to sit back and wait for them to strike."

Master Windu exchanged glances with the other council members before speaking. "You will remain stationed in the Korriban system for now, gathering intelligence. We will dispatch reinforcements to aid in your efforts."

Plo Koon’s voice was calm yet firm. "Your mission is not only to fight, but to uncover the truth. The Sith’s greatest strength is deception. Do not let them dictate the battle."

I bowed. "I won’t, Masters."

Shaak Ti’s hologram flickered, and her tone softened. "And... you won’t be alone. Padawan Kassy Carsen is en route to your location."

I raised an eyebrow. "Kassy Carsen?"

Master Yoda nodded. "Promising, she is. A Jedi padawan without a master. Of strong will, attuned to the Force. Complement your strengths, she may, as you train her."

I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Another Jedi would mean more responsibility, but I wouldn’t refuse assistance, not after what we had just uncovered.

Master Windu concluded, "Make preparations for her arrival, Knight Kriss. May the Force be with you."

The holoprojectors dimmed, and the chamber fell silent.

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The Hope’s bridge was quiet as I stood alongside Ikarus and Tempra, waiting for the transmission confirming Kassy Carsen’s arrival. The Jedi transport carrying her dropped out of hyperspace, and within minutes, a sleek Delta-7B Aethersprite escorting a Republic shuttle approached our hangar bay.

I folded my arms as the boarding ramp extended, and the sound of hissing hydraulics filled the air. Stepping down with purpose was Kassy Carsen, a Jedi Padawan with an air of confidence and focus. She was clad in a revealing Jedi tunic slightly modified for battle efficiency, reinforced with flexible armor plating at the forearms. Her dark auburn hair was bob cutted, her piercing Blueish-hazel eyes scanning the hangar as if already assessing the battlefield.

She wasn’t as tall as I expected—about 5’7", but her presence made up for it. There was an aura of intensity around her, like someone who had spent years preparing for war.

She locked eyes with me as she approached. "Knight Kriss. It’s about time we met."

I extended a hand. "Welcome to the front lines, Padawan Carsen. I hope you’re ready."

She smirked slightly as she shook my hand. "More than ready. I read your reports. Whatever was happening in that facility... it’s just the beginning."

I nodded. "Exactly. We’re going to find out who’s behind all of this. And we’ll stop them before it’s too late."

Kassy exhaled, glancing out toward the vast expanse of Korriban’s orbit. "Then let’s get to work."

I glanced at Ikarus and Tempra. "Prep the command briefing. We start now."

As we walked toward the war room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to escalate faster than any of us expected.

This war wasn’t over.

It was just beginning.

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