After a few days of scouting for Killik worlds, the Balance Keeper scouts had finally found a system that was brimming with Killik activity.
The system, designated only by an alphanumeric string in Imperial charts since it had never been formally cataloged, contained six planets, three of which showed signs of Killik hive construction visible even from orbit. Massive organic structures, grown rather than built, spread across continents like coral reefs the size of nations.
The scout team, led by Balance Keeper Ashira, had approached with extreme caution, their ship running silent with all non-essential systems powered down to minimize any Force presence that might alert Aruun's forces to their arrival.
"No sign of the homeworld Kaelduun described," Ashira reported back to the Leviathan. "But the hive activity here is extensive. Population estimates in the tens of millions, possibly more. We're also detecting non-Killik life signs on the second planet. Humanoid, consistent with several known species including Duinuogwuin biosigns in juvenile or transformed states."
Daimon received the report in his private quarters aboard the Leviathan, Kaelduun's massive presence lingering nearby in the Force even though the dragon himself remained flying nearby in the darkness of space as he was unable to fit within any Imperial hanger bay.
"Transformed states," Daimon repeated. "Explain."
"The readings suggest partial genetic manipulation," Ashira continued. "Consistent with what Kaelduun told us, but more invasive. If Kaelduun's people are being converted into some kind of hybrid drone, we may be looking at not just captives, but active soldiers being grown for Aruun's army."
Daimon felt something cold settle in his chest, the particular anger that came from confirmation of something he had feared but hoped to be wrong about. He had seen this pattern before, species stripped of their identity and repurposed as tools, and it never sat well with him no matter how many times he encountered it.
"Do not engage," he ordered. "Maintain distance, continue gathering intelligence. I want troop estimates, defensive capabilities, and any sign of Aruun's personal presence before we commit to anything."
"Understood, my Lord. There's one more thing." Ashira's voice hesistated before she continued. "One of the hive structures on the second planet is different from the others. Larger, more ordered, with a geometric symmetry the other structures don't share. It reads almost like architecture rather than growth. We believe it may be Aruun's personal command center, or something he's built specifically rather than allowed the Killiks to grow organically."
"Send me the imagery," Daimon said.
The holographic display flickered above his desk, showing a structure that rose from the jungle canopy like a black thorn, its surface reflecting no light despite the planet's twin suns. Even through secondhand sensor data, Daimon could feel something radiating from it.
It wasn't a being; it was more like the structure itself was some powerful presence in the Force.
"Kaelduun, does this match anything from your people's history? A structure like this?"
"Nothing built by my kin. My people did not build such things. We grew our homes as we grew ourselves, in harmony with what already existed. This is something else. Something that wanted to impose order on a world that never asked for it." Kaelduun responded.
"An outsider's construction," Daimon murmured. "Cortana, cross-reference known Celestial architecture. If Aruun built this using Celestial knowledge then we need to proceed with caution around it."
"Processing now," Cortana replied. "I will need more detailed scans to provide a definitive answer, but preliminary comparisons show structural similarities to the structures we've found around the galaxy. The proportions, the geometric ratios, even the material composition as best I can determine from remote sensing all suggest Celestial origin or at least Celestial-derived design principles."
Daimon studied the image a moment longer, the black spire cutting through the jungle canopy like something that didn't belong to the world it stood upon.
Whatever it was, Daimon was sure it meant no good. He had the Balance Keepers continue their scouting and investigation, while he called for additional forces to be brought to the region. He also requested Progenitor Malis Kaevor to be present as his second in command.
Within the week, Progenitor Malis Kaevor, 5 million Ascendants, and 5 million of the Immortals had arrived in a massive fleet. The Immortals were similar to the Ascendants and could be considered Daimon's own legion outside of the Empyrean Guards.
Despite their names 'The Immortals' they could still be killed, technically, but the process of restoring them through a combination of cloning and memory transfer made permanent death almost impossible to achieve. It was a program Daimon had created himself and improved upon as centuries passed.
Progenitor Malis Kaevor stood on the bridge of his flagship, the 'Aegis Undying', reviewing the same scouting data that Daimon had already looked over a dozen times. Malis was known throughout the Imperium for his spiritual approach to warfare. He fought battles using the power of the Force as his main weapon.
"The spire troubles me," Malis said, addressing Daimon through the holographic link connecting their two flagships. "Not because of what it might contain, but because of what its existence implies. Aruun has existed for longer than even the galaxy itself. His knowledge of Celestial technology is something we'll never achieve. So, if he is constructing something like this, then there is no guarantee this is the only one."
"You think there are more," Daimon said.
"I think we would be foolish to assume otherwise. A being who has watched the galaxy rise and fall does not build a single fortress or whatever it is and calls his work complete. If I were in his position, I would have contingencies layered upon contingencies, redundant strongholds scattered across systems we have not yet discovered, each one capable of an unknown number of things."
Daimon agreed with this and figured that they needed to do something to learn more. And the best way to do that was to go there in person and see what exactly the structure was.
So, for the next two months, Daimon and Progenitor Kaevor planned the eventual invasion of the system to gather more information.
During this, Cortana had reached out and informed him about the situation with Progenitor Nyssa, ignoring her request to not tell him.
Daimon looked over all the reports and data and decided that this was something that they should be cautious about.
So, he tasked 5 powerful Balance Keepers with secretly protecting her from the shadows. Little did he know, these 5 powerful Balance Keepers would come in handy.
———
As Daimon and Progenitor Kaevor made their invasion plans. Progenitor Nyssa was heading to defend the Republic planet of Chad that had been retaken recently by local militia. The planet was extremely close to Sith space and the surrounding systems that were formerly controlled by the Republic were under Sith control.
The people there were poorly equipped and the reserved was running low. After they had established somewhat control over the planet, they reached out to the Republic and requested reinforcements.
Progenitor Nyssa accepted as Chad was a critical world to have if they could hold on to it. It was also because she had identified 5 other capable Admirals and Generals to add to the High Command that she was able to take such a trip.
With her were 10 million Republic troopers who would help receive the planet and hold it until more reinforcements can arrive.
When she arrived on the planet, the surface was pure chaos. Sith remnants had dug into the ruins of what used to be the planetary capital, using the shattered buildings as cover while local militia forces tried to hold a perimeter around the spaceport where Republic reinforcements would need to land.
Nyssa's dropship descended through smoke-choked skies, the pilot navigating around anti-air fire that the militia had warned them about but couldn't fully suppress. She stood near the ramp, watching the ground get closer as they descended.
"Set us down at the secondary landing zone," she ordered. "The primary is still contested."
The dropship banked hard, avoiding a stream of tracer fire from a Sith emplacement dug into what had once been a residential tower. Around her, the Republic troopers checked their weapons one final time, faces set with the particular focus of soldiers who had learned, over months of brutal fighting, exactly what was expected of them.
Unknown to her, five Balance Keepers had embedded themselves among the reinforcement convoy days earlier, their presence in the Force muted deliberately so as not to draw attention even from her. They moved as quiet shadows among the Republic ranks, watching, waiting, patient in the way that only those trained directly as a Balance Keeper could be.
The dropship touched down hard, kicking up ash and debris. The moment the ramp opened, Nyssa was moving, her white lightsaber igniting as she led the charge toward the militia's failing perimeter.
Republic troopers poured out behind her, weapons raised, shouting orders to the exhausted defenders who had been holding this line for nearly three days without proper reinforcement.
"Fall back to the secondary line!" she called out to the militia commander, a weathered woman with a bandaged arm and eyes that hadn't slept in what looked like a week. "We'll hold here. Get your wounded to the medical tents."
"You're the Progenitor," the commander said, in disbelief. "They said you might come, but I didn't believe it."
"Believe it," Nyssa said, already turning toward the sound of approaching Sith forces. "Now get moving." The Commander saluted and retreated to the secondary line.
However, as she was doing this, the ten agents had managed to infiltrate one of the supply transports, using another disguise.
As soon as their ship landed, they acted like the typical crew and unloaded fresh supplies. Once they could, they sneaked away and blended into the chaos of the battlefield, moving with the practiced ease of soldiers who had done this a thousand times before, even though every one of them wore borrowed faces.
This planet was perfect for their plans, and they would make sure to stay concealed until they could catch Progenitor Nyssa in the midst of battle.