Second Galactic Civil War

Following the Yuuzhan Vong War's end, much of the galaxy had been devastated by the Yuuzhan Vong. Corellia, however, remained largely untouched, enabling it to enhance its already substantial economic strength and provide reconstruction loans to struggling planets. Almost ten years after the Yuuzhan Vong's defeat, most sectors and systems were experiencing economic recovery: wealthier worlds were aiding poorer ones, and unscathed populations pledged support to those affected.

The Galactic Alliance rewarded Corellia by eliminating the office of Governor-General. The Five Brothers were unified under a system government, with each planet electing its own Head of State and the system governed by Prime Minister Aidel Saxan. As the Five Worlds prospered, it pardoned wartime criminals like Thrackan Sal-Solo, who was subsequently elected as the system's Minister of War and Head of State of Corellia.

Yet, this relative calm saw the resurgence of historical tensions between the central government and distant worlds: the war's destruction of the galactic economy led to poverty and unrest, while the Galactic Alliance's rebuilding efforts were hindered by inefficiency and corruption. Economic gains in some systems were offset by losses in others, fostering resentment and accusations of favoritism. Corellia began to resent the Galactic Alliance, similar to its past experiences with the New Republic and Galactic Republic: Corellian funds and Corellian Defense Force ships were being used by the Galactic Alliance for reconstruction across the galaxy, seemingly offering little in return for Corellia except for limitations on its fleet and its ability to establish trade agreements with other systems.

In 35 ABY, the Galactic Alliance became embroiled in the Swarm War between the Killiks and the Chiss. This conflict highlighted the Galactic Alliance Defense Force's lack of preparedness for a major war, prompting the Galactic Alliance Senate to pass measures demanding increased reconstruction taxes and military resources from the GA's member states. Some systems and sectors resisted the idea of ceding more funds and warships to centralized control, further complicated by the Sector Defense Limits of 37 ABY. The galaxy's various Planetary Security Forces were being significantly expanded by governments fearing piracy, threats from the Unknown Regions, or other conflicts in the destabilized galaxy. The Sector Defense Limits imposed restrictions on military forces and their capabilities, but enforcement proved challenging, and determined sectors were able to re-arm with little intervention.

The Swarm War coincided with Jacen Solo's return to the New Jedi Order. Solo had left the Jedi after being exposed to the philosophy of Vergere, a Jedi mystic, during the Yuuzhan Vong War. Vergere argued that the dark side of the Force was not inherently corrupting or evil, contrary to the Jedi belief. During a five-year journey learning from diverse Force traditions across the galaxy, Solo experienced a disturbing vision of a dark, armored figure ruling the galaxy. Determined to avert this future, he concluded that any sacrifice was justifiable for the greater good. During the Swarm War, he even advocated for the extermination of the Killiks to preserve galactic peace. This philosophy would heavily influence his decisions during the Second Galactic Civil War.

Corellia, with its history of resisting central authority, became the primary catalyst for mounting tensions against the Galactic Alliance government. Corellia began delaying its military contributions and tax payments to the Alliance while still benefiting from Alliance infrastructure and trade advantages. It also consistently opposed greater central control over systems and sectors. Gradually, other industrialized planets like Commenor, Fondor, and Bespin started exhibiting similar rebellious tendencies. While Corellia did not issue any overt public challenges, it secretly began constructing a fleet comparable to a planetary assault force, equipped with fast-strike capabilities and long-range weapons, supplied by planets like Adumar.

In 40 ABY, Alliance accountants discovered records of Corellia's secret fleet, while Jedi Knight Jacen Solo and his apprentice Ben Skywalker uncovered an Adumari arms manufacturer producing concussion missiles and proton torpedoes in violation of Order GAO-B11333B. Corellia argued that the Sector Defense Limits were unjustified given the galaxy's dangers and that the Galactic Alliance was exploiting its wealth. Meanwhile, Corellian scientists worked to reactivate Centerpoint Station, hoping to leverage the power of the supernova-inducing Celestial artifact in negotiations with the GA. As tensions escalated, Corellia's subtle rebellion led to the imprisonment of key Corellians like Wedge Antilles, a hero of the Galactic Civil War, whom the Galactic Alliance Intelligence Service considered potential threats.

As the crisis and the security dilemma between Corellia and the GA worsened, the Galactic Alliance decided to subdue the rebellious Corellia and its allies with a demonstration of military strength. Admiral Matric Klauskin was placed in command of elements from the Second Fleet, including several Jedi teams, to execute Operation Roundabout, a plan to neutralize the Corellian government and military, including Centerpoint Station. Meanwhile, Wedge Antilles escaped from the Galactic Alliance Intelligence compound where he was held and became the liaison between Sal-Solo and Saxan.

As Klauskin's flagship, the Dodonna, arrived above Corellia, five Jedi operations—Slashrat, Purella, Tauntaun, Womp Rat, and Mynock—were initiated. As the Jedi taskforces headed for the surface, Klauskin, haunted by his deceased wife's voice, faced a prepared Corellian warfleet, including Nebulon-B frigates and Strident-class Star Defenders. A collision triggered an intense starfighter battle.

On the surface, the Jedi operations encountered strong resistance. Team Purella, led by Jaina Solo and including Zekk, Kolir Hu'lya, and Thann Mithric, ambushed Prime Minister Saxan's motorcade but faced exploding YVH droids. Task Force Tauntaun, including Tahiri Veila, Doran Tainer, and Tiu Zax, infiltrated Thrackan Sal-Solo's mansion but were also attacked. Zax remained hidden on Corellia, providing valuable intelligence later. Both teams were rescued by Luke Skywalker's Hardpoint Squadron, part of Task Force Womp Rat. Team Slashrat, a two-person operation monitoring Behareh Spaceport, was not needed due to the assault fleet's arrival and lack of launches. As Klauskin's starfighter forces, including a disguised Syal Antilles, were forced into engagement, Ben Skywalker and Jacen Solo, or Team Mynock, infiltrated Centerpoint Station to disable it. After training with Centerpoint scientist Toval Seyah, Ben Skywalker convinced a droid that believed it was Anakin Solo to shut down the station's destructive capability, while Jacen distracted Thrackan Sal-Solo.

Admiral Klauskin struggled against the Corellian fleet until he ordered all Alliance forces to prepare to withdraw. Syal Antilles unknowingly engaged her father, and her tactics allowed VibroSword Squadron to disable a Nebulon-B frigate before returning to Klauskin's fleet. The Alliance forces, including the Mon Calamari cruiser Blue Diver, micro-jumped to Tralus, the system's fifth inhabited world, and Rellidir, Tralus's capital city, was secured by the Alliance two hours later. The Alliance saved face, disabled Centerpoint Station, and established a foothold in the Corellian system.

As the relationship between the Galactic Alliance and Corellia worsened, both parties agreed to peace talks. The Galactic Alliance chose a neutral setting in the Kuat system to reopen negotiations. However, the talks failed after an attack on the delegates, which resulted in Prime Minister Saxan's death. Lumiya, the Dark Lady of the Sith, orchestrated these attacks to instigate a Corellian-GA conflict.

The Battle of Tralus marked the beginning of the Second Galactic Civil War. Wedge Antilles, after hearing Thrackan Sal-Solo's plan to retake Tralus, presented another plan: Operation Noble Savage. The Galactic Alliance had established a base in a Tralus museum of arts, protected by a shield. At the edge of the shield sphere was a half-constructed building with an opening for a fighter to fly through, creating a gap in the Alliance's shields. Wedge's plan involved two new YT-5100 Shriek bombers flying through the building to destroy it, eliminating the GA's beachhead on Tralus. Han Solo was secretly chosen to fly one of the bombers, with Wedge flying the other.

The next day, with the Alliance fleet and the flagship Dodonna in orbit above Tralus, the Corellians dispatched squadrons of fighters to distract the Galactic Alliance ships. During the chaos, Wedge and Han Solo flew the Shriek bombers to the surface, navigating through the structure with difficulty, and reached the interior of the shield. They destroyed the museum and the shield generator, and the remaining Corellian fighters covered their escape. Afterward, the Galactic Alliance fleet withdrew from the system.

Following Aidel Saxan's assassination, Jacen and Ben attempted to track down her assassins. They traveled to Lorrd and met up with Jacen's former apprentice Nelani Dinn. On Lorrd, they were contacted by individuals claiming to be under the influence of a Force Ghost, who was revealed to be Brisha Syo, the Dark Lady Lumiya.

Lumiya took the three Jedi to her asteroid home, claiming it was the lair of a Sith Lord named Darth Vectivus. The four went into the caverns to confront Vectivus, where Lumiya separated them. Ben and Nelani battled Force ghosts, while Jacen and Lumiya confronted Vectivus.

Lumiya told Jacen that Vergere had trained her to complete Jacen's training after her death. She turned Jacen to the dark side, but Nelani attacked first. Lumiya and Nelani engaged in a brief duel, but Jacen intervened and killed Nelani. Now serving the Sith, Jacen concealed Lumiya's existence by wiping Ben's memory.

In the weeks following the Battle of Tralus, Jacen Solo successfully convinced Cal Omas and the Senate to create a new organization to counter the growing threat of terrorists sympathetic to Corellia. This followed the bombing of The Elite Hotel in Galactic City, which was linked to Corellian terrorists. The bombing resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries.

After Mara Jade Skywalker declined the position, Omas asked Jacen to lead the new paramilitary organization on Coruscant. Jacen accepted and achieved the rank of colonel. Recruiting operators from the Coruscant Security Force, former agents from the New Republic Intelligence Service, and special forces members, the Galactic Alliance Guard, or GAG, used effective and public methods to crack down on Corellian insurgents. This move prompted Supreme Commander Pellaeon to resign as leader of the Galactic Alliance Defense Force and was replaced by the ambitious Cha Niathal.

Luke Skywalker and the Jedi Council were dismayed by high-profile images of Jacen and Ben Skywalker leading the Galactic Alliance Guard on raids, leading to contentions that the Galactic Alliance was transforming into the Empire and that another member of the Skywalker bloodline was at the helm.

Under Captain Lon Shevu's tutelage, Ben Skywalker found refuge in the Guard. His enthusiasm for learning and making a difference in "adult" situations added tension between the young Jedi and his parents. When Jacen convinced Omas to intern Corellians on Coruscant, the Galactic Alliance Guard's 967 Commando detachment became known as "stormies." This move fueled riots and secession movements by dozens of worlds. Han Solo, enraged that his son was leading the effort to intern thousands of Corellians, realized he no longer recognized the boy he had raised.

The Galactic Alliance Guard became Jacen Solo's "fist," mirroring his grandfather, Darth Vader, and the 501st Legion (aka "Vader's Fist"). With the GAG at his disposal, Jacen led the Blockade of Corellia, launching the first open strike against the Five Worlds to force their surrender.

Months of skirmishing followed as the Corellian Home Fleet attempted to break out of the Corellian Exclusion Zone. Many system governments were outraged by the blockade, and planets like Bothawui, Atzerri, and Commenor joined the war on Corellia's side as the Galactic Alliance Defense Forces' agenda of centralizing military resources became clear.

Concurrent with the events unfolding on Coruscant, Han and Leia Solo received contact from Dur Gejjen, a member of the Democratic Alliance of Corellia, who harbored a clandestine desire for the permanent removal of Thrackan Sal-Solo from his position. Gejjen proposed the concept of assassinating Sal-Solo, a proposition that required deliberation by the Solos.

Due to a lack of complete assurance in the Solos' execution of the task, Gejjen also engaged Boba Fett to eliminate Sal-Solo. Fett was already contemplating accepting an assignment from Thrackan to safeguard Centerpoint Station against the Galactic Alliance's blockade. Nevertheless, Boba consented to Gejjen's agreement.

Prior to his arrival at Sal-Solo's office, Boba (accompanied by his granddaughter Mirta Gev) confronted Han Solo. Solo, who already had a bounty on his head (as well as his family) placed by Sal-Solo, was being pursued by Fett's estranged daughter, Ailyn Vel. Fett perceived this as an opportunity to reconnect with his daughter, whom he had not seen since her infancy. Han informed Fett that Jacen had already apprehended Ailyn (who was in hiding with Corellian insurgents on Coruscant). Subsequently, Solo and Fett reached an accord. If Han were permitted to kill his cousin, he would persuade Jacen to release Ailyn (it was later discovered that Jacen killed Ailyn during interrogation).

Boba, Mirta, and Han (disguised in Mandalorian armor) made their way to Sal-Solo's office. Boba briefly discussed his arrangement with Sal-Solo before Han revealed his true identity and attempted to assassinate the Corellian president. Sal-Solo disclosed that he had deliberately lured Ailyn to Coruscant. His intention was for her capture to conceal the threat posed by the other bounty hunters Sal-Solo had hired to kill the Solo family. Overwhelmed by rage, Mirta fatally shot Sal-Solo in the forehead. Fett then fired a shot into his chest to guarantee his demise. Han, seeking some form of retribution, deliberately placed a final blaster shot into his cousin's lifeless form.

In the aftermath of Sal-Solo's assassination (for which the Galactic Alliance was blamed), Gejjen seized control of the Corellian government. Under Gejjen's governance, the Corellian government persisted in declining discussions with the Alliance. Consequently, Chief of State Omas formally declared a state of war between the Galactic Alliance and Corellia.

As the crisis deepened, Jacen found himself increasingly reliant on Coruscant's World Brain to aid in his pursuit of terrorists. This entity was a Yuuzhan Vong dhuryam, a remnant from the invaders' occupation of the planet during the Yuuzhan Vong War, cultivated to orchestrate terraforming. However, fearing assassination by Bothans belonging to the True Victory Party, who were determined to continue the ar'krai genocide against the Yuuzhan Vong, the Brain absconded from the World Well, compelling Jacen to pursue it into the depths of Coruscant. Unbeknownst to him, he was also being shadowed by Alema Rar, the former Killik Night Herald. She sought to kill Jacen as revenge for the Solo family's alleged abandonment of her during the Battle of Tenupe in the Swarm War.

Jacen eventually located the World Brain and attempted to reintegrate it into the fold. However, Alema attempted to assassinate Jacen with a poisoned dart, but Lumiya intervened, alerting Jacen, and the dart struck and killed the World Brain instead. Enraged by the World Brain's demise and convinced that Bothans were responsible, Jacen ordered the execution of numerous Bothans on Coruscant, prompting Bothawui to align with Corellia. Meanwhile, Alema persisted in shadowing him and Lumiya. Alema ultimately revealed herself to Lumiya when Jedi Tresina Lobi was on the verge of exposing her to the Jedi. Together, Alema and Lumiya assassinated Lobi, and Alema pledged her allegiance to Lumiya's service.

Upon receiving news of Lobi's death, Luke surmised that Lumiya was responsible. Accompanied by Mara, he traced the trail from Lobi's body to Lumiya at the Roqoo Depot. There, they engaged Lumiya and Alema in separate battles. Mara triumphed over Alema and discovered that she was carrying a bomb vest. After disarming it, she pursued Luke, whom she found engaged in combat with Lumiya. Mara informed Luke about the bombs and evacuated the building before it detonated, leaving Lumiya and Alema presumed dead.

During the war, the Corellian leadership devised a plan to involve the Hapes Consortium in the conflict on their side by assassinating Queen Mother Tenel Ka Djo and her daughter Allana, and replacing them with a pro-Corellian faction. The Corellians formed an alliance with disgruntled Hapan nobles - who operated under the designation of Heritage Council - and dispatched a clandestine force of new Corellian Dreadnaughts to bolster the forces of these Hapan rebels. Ultimately, both aspects of the plan failed, as the Hapan rebels and their Corellian allies were defeated in the Battle of Hapes and the Queen Mother and her daughter survived the assassination attempts. Reportedly, the majority of the Hapans allied with the Five Worlds were either captured or killed. However, the unsuccessful coup attempt only exacerbated tensions further.

By the latter part of 40 ABY, the Galactic Alliance's blockade of Corellia remained in effect. However, Bothawui, incensed by the assassination of several prominent members of the True Victory Party on Coruscant and suspecting the GA's involvement, had begun assembling a battle fleet. The Alliance was aware of this and had implemented measures to ensure that the fleet could not depart from Bothan Space without the GA's knowledge. Nevertheless, the sabotage of the Alliance observers by Admiral Matric Klauskin under Lumiya's influence enabled the Bothans to jump to the Corellian system, where they assisted Corellia in breaching the blockade. The Alliance was compelled to retreat, attempting to inflict irreparable damage on Centerpoint Station before their departure.

As the war escalated, Ben, who had been separated from Jacen due to Luke's apprehension that Jacen would lead Ben to the dark side, received a message through Seha Dorvald, an apprentice working with Jacen. He was instructed to locate the Amulet of Kalara on the Almanian moon of Drewwa. He accomplished this, only to discover that it had already been stolen by a man named Faskus and taken to Ziost.

Ben encountered a dying Faskus on the planet, a victim of an attack by agents led by the Bothan Byalfin Dyur, dispatched by the Dark Lady Lumiya, who was assessing Ben's readiness to become Jacen's apprentice. Ben, accompanied by an R2 unit named Shaker, rescued Faskus's daughter Kiara and brought her with him, discovering a Sith Meditation Sphere and utilizing it to escape the planet, destroying Dyur's ship in the process.

Ben returned Kiara and Shaker to Drewwa and relinquished the ship and the amulet to Jacen. However, his trials had eroded his trust in his cousin, while Lumiya concluded that Ben would never be suitable as Jacen's apprentice.

Shortly after the breaking of the blockade, Commenor and Bothawui joined Corellia, resulting in the formation of the Confederation. Other planets soon followed, notably Fondor, Bespin, and Adumar. For several weeks, the GA and Confederation remained in a state of standoff, prioritizing preparations for an inevitable war over direct assaults, engaging instead in sporadic and minor raids against each other.

Galactic Alliance Intelligence obtained information indicating that the Confederation was planning a meeting on Gilatter VIII to elect a new Supreme Commander. In response, Jacen Solo devised a four-step plan to ambush the Confederation and disrupt the supposed meeting. The Alliance's attempt to sabotage the meeting culminated in the Battle of Gilatter VIII, where the meeting proved to be a Confederation trap, the election having taken place the previous day. The battle ended in a draw, prompting both sides to retreat and intensify their war preparations.

The individual fleets were reorganized into the unified Confederation Fleet, with former Imperial General Turr Phennir appointed as Supreme Commander of the Confederation military.

While the battle raged on the planet's surface, Jacen and Lumiya, who had accompanied him, were ambushed by Luke, Mara, Han, and Leia. In the ensuing conflict, Mara defended against the Corellians, while Lumiya once again partnered with Alema to confront the other three.

The duels concluded with Leia forcing Alema to flee and Lumiya offering a truce with Luke before departing. Following the duel, Lumiya and Alema proceeded to retrieve the Sith ship from Ben, who had acquired it on Ziost, while the others escaped a freighter collision.

Following the events on Gilatter VIII, the war continued to intensify, with additional worlds seceding from the Alliance, including Beris and Las Lagon. While these losses were relatively minor in terms of overall impact, they represented a continued worsening of the conflict and a step closer to a full-scale galactic civil war.

Actions escalated in Bothan Space, as Alliance fleet units engaged a Bothan flotilla during the Battle of Bothawui. Simultaneously, numerous worlds across the galaxy began to pursue old vendettas against rival worlds, forcing the Alliance government to further disperse their fleets to maintain peace. Increasingly advocating for peace within the upper echelons of the government, Cal Omas struggled to maintain the Alliance's unity.

In an attempt to create a false sense of peace on Coruscant, thereby buying time for a massive Confederation strike on the galactic capital, Dur Gejjen approached Cal Omas for clandestine peace talks. Omas, eager to end the war and preserve the Alliance, traveled to the neutral world of Vulpter for direct negotiations. Due to the Galactic Alliance Guard's surveillance of high-ranking Alliance leaders, Jacen was able to dispatch several GAG units to the meeting location.

During the meeting, Omas was enticed by the prospect of the Confederation calling for a cease-fire and rejoining the Galactic Alliance. Gejjen's sole demand was the removal of Jacen and Cha Niathal, either politically (Omas's preference) or permanently (Gejjen's). The meeting was bugged, providing Jacen with the justification he needed to arrest Cal Omas and remove him from office. Furthermore, Ben Skywalker assassinated Dur Gejjen on Jacen's orders, inflicting a significant blow on the Confederation.

Having successfully manipulated galactic law to acquire powers unseen since the end of the Old Republic, Jacen Solo moved to seize control of the Alliance. Utilizing the footage of Omas seemingly agreeing to enemy demands for the sake of peace, Jacen and Admiral Niathal orchestrated a bloodless and quiet coup. Placing Omas under house arrest, the duo established a duumvirate, governing the Alliance as co-Chiefs of State. While Admiral Niathal genuinely believed that the military coup was temporary, intended only for the duration of the war, Jacen began formulating plans for his eventual rule of the entire galaxy as a Sith Lord.

Now holding the position of Co-Chief of State of the Galactic Alliance, Jacen Solo was prepared for his ascension to Dark Lord of the Sith. However, he first had to make his sacrifice to demonstrate his commitment.

Ben Skywalker, distraught over his assassination of Dur Gejjen, confided in his mother Mara about Jacen and Lumiya. After failing to assassinate Lumiya on Hesperidium, Mara pursued her to Kavan but encountered Jacen instead, leading to a vicious duel. Mara managed to subdue Jacen and was about to kill him when he used a Force illusion of Ben to distract her before stabbing her with a poison dart, resulting in her death.

Having made his sacrifice, Jacen was now prepared to become a true Sith. Lumiya recognized this and departed to fulfill her part of the plan and provide Jacen with some time. She approached Luke and falsely claimed to have killed Mara. Luke pursued her to Terephon and shot her down before dueling and decapitating her. With Lumiya's death, Jacen was ready to assume the mantle of Darth Caedus, Dark Lord of the Sith.

With the breakdown of peace negotiations, the war continued to escalate and spread throughout the galaxy. The Confederation initiated a push towards the Galactic Core. Bolstered by a Commenorian and Hutt fleet, the Confederation laid siege to Balmorra. Jacen Solo, now Darth Caedus, led the Galactic Alliance Fourth Fleet in a counterattack. Despite the loss of Balmorra, the Confederation suffered significant losses and was prevented from reinforcing their own fleet at the Battle of Kuat.

The Battle of Kuat spanned nearly a week. Darth Caedus spearheaded the attack on the Confederation Fleet from the Star destroyer Anakin Solo. Caedus relied on the Jedi to swiftly conclude the battle and had already dispatched a substantial GAG force to hold the Jedi Academy on Ossus hostage. Luke Skywalker, still mourning the death of his wife, led the Jedi force, but upon discovering that Jacen had used Ben to assassinate Cal Omas, he broke away and jumped to Kashyyyk, where his fugitive sister and her husband were attempting to persuade the Rock Council to support the Jedi, eventually swaying the Wookiees to their cause, thereby depriving both the Alliance and the Confederation of a considerable fleet. Unable to quickly resolve the battle at Kuat, Caedus decided to attack Kashyyyk and make an example of other rebellious star systems.

Having transformed into Darth Caedus after killing Mara Jade Skywalker, Jacen was determined to turn the young Ben Skywalker to the Dark side of the Force. During a brief exchange with Ben during the Battle of Kuat, Caedus revealed a fabricated conversation compiled from recorded meetings with Cal Omas, which allegedly ordered Mara Jade's assassination. While not entirely convinced that the former Chief of State was responsible for his mother's death, Ben infiltrated Omas's Coruscant residence, prepared to kill him. However, Omas was already anticipating his arrival.

In a manner reminiscent of his predecessor, Borsk Fey'lya, he had rigged a proton bomb that would detonate upon the cessation of his heartbeat. Learning the truth from Omas, Ben attempted to persuade the ex-Chief to fake his own death. Omas refused and impaled himself on Ben's lightsaber. Ben fled before the bomb exploded, but, having discovered the identity of his mother's murderer, he was prepared to kill Caedus.

To maintain the Jedi Order's allegiance to the Alliance, Jacen had a battalion stationed there since the masters had departed for Mara Jade's funeral on Coruscant. This battalion was under the command of Major Salle Serpa, an officer teetering on the brink of insanity and willing to murder the occupants of the Academy to maintain order. Only Masters Kam Solusar and Tionne Solusar remained to safeguard the children, along with a handful of Jedi Knights.

However, Jaina Solo, Jagged Fel, and Zekk had tracked Alema Rar to Ossus, believing that she had killed Mara. Although Alema escaped, the three of them remained to assist in protecting the children. Following the Jedi withdrawal from the Battle of Kuat, Serpa launched his assault on the Academy.

Serpa employed coma gas to incapacitate the two Jedi Masters swiftly while taking the children hostage. However, Jaina was forewarned by Ben Skywalker and alerted the other masters. Nevertheless, GAG troops had already killed many of the Jedi within the Academy, and Tionne was wounded by Serpa and captured. Serpa then used Tionne as bait, shooting off her arm and leg in front of the children and the other Jedi. Kam Solusar could endure no more and, along with two other Jedi Knights, attempted to intervene, but they were shot down by snipers. The two Knights were killed, and Kam Solusar was injured. Jaina and Fel managed to eliminate the snipers, and Jaina confronted Serpa, who then attempted to shoot her. However, Zekk arrived and disarmed Serpa, twice, and he was taken captive. The Jedi were then forced to abandon Ossus for fear of reprisals.

Following Lumiya's death, Alema commandeered the Sith ship to search for a Sith artifact to aid the new Sith Lord, Darth Caedus. She infiltrated the Jedi Temple on Ossus and downloaded some data before traveling to Vectivus's asteroid, which led her to the One Sith on Korriban.

Meeting with the Sith leader known to herself as "White Eyes," Alema discovered the meaning of Vergere and Lumiya's plans. "White Eyes" provided her with a Sith holocron, which she attempted to deliver to Jacen during the Battle of Kashyyyk. The holocron was revealed to contain useless data, demonstrating to Jacen the low regard in which the Sith on Korriban held him.

Determined to punish Kashyyyk and seize its fleet for the Galactic Alliance, Caedus led the Galactic Alliance Fifth Fleet to the planet and proceeded to incinerate its forests with the Anakin Solo's long-range turbolasers. A squadron of interceptors began to attack the Anakin, at which point Ben Skywalker marched onto the bridge and attempted to kill Caedus. A Jedi shadow bomb struck the bridge, killing much of the bridge crew and causing Ben to miss Jacen with his lightsaber and accidentally bisect Commander Twizzl. Caedus took Ben to a torture chamber in the depths of the ship and locked him in an Embrace of Pain, a Yuuzhan Vong torture device. Meanwhile, a large Confederation and Bothan fleet entered the system and engaged the Galactic Alliance forces. Luke Skywalker boarded the Anakin Solo and engaged Caedus in a lightsaber duel. Simultaneously, the Hapan Royal Navy arrived, led by Caedus's lover Tenel Ka. Instead of aiding the Alliance, the Hapans joined the Jedi, Wookiee, and Confederation forces in attacking the Fifth Fleet. Aboard the Anakin Solo, Luke bested Caedus in a duel, and Ben was determined to finish him off. Caedus escaped, but was badly wounded. The Fifth Fleet only escaped by exploiting a hole in the Bothan lines, which had been created by Alema Rar, manipulating the Bothans from a Sith Meditation Sphere. Due to the threat coming from Jacen Solo, the New Jedi Order, Hapes Consortium and the Confederation concluded a pact of neutrality.

The Battle of Kashyyyk represented a significant setback for the Galactic Alliance. The New Jedi Order and Hapes Consortium seceded from the Alliance, resulting in a twenty percent reduction in the GA's fleet strength.

The Galactic Alliance's forces launched an assault on Commenor, aiming to confine their adversaries rather than seize control of the planet. During this conflict, elements from the Galactic Alliance's Third Fleet covertly deployed a concealed asteroid toward Commenor. The consequence of this action was the release of the affliceria virus by the Commenorians onto Coruscant, leading to widespread infection among both civilians and military personnel.

Caedus was devastated and felt betrayed after Tenel Ka's opposition. He confessed his willingness to eliminate Tenel Ka, along with anyone else obstructing his access to his daughter, Allana. His strategy also involved coercing the Hapes Consortium back into the Alliance by taking Allana from Tenel Ka. He proceeded to abduct Allana, issuing a threat to kill her unless the Hapes Consortium resumed providing military support to the Alliance.

Following the Devastation of Kashyyyk, Luke Skywalker determined it was necessary to eliminate his nephew, Jacen Solo. Implementing a strategy conceived by Kyp Durron, a Jedi team, under the leadership of Kyle Katarn, journeyed to Coruscant to confront Jacen. This team consisted of Katarn, Valin Horn - the offspring of Jedi Master Corran Horn, Thann Mithric, Kolir Hu'lya, and Seha Dorvald, a former intelligence operative for Jacen.

Despite successfully engaging Jacen, the operation devolved into a complete failure. Jacen, wielding the capabilities of a Sith Lord, proved to be a formidable opponent for the Jedi team. The arrival of a GAG trooper squad then significantly shifted the balance in his favor. Katarn was incapacitated when Jacen stabbed him in the chest. While Seha and Horn evacuated Katarn to safety, Mithric was beheaded by Jacen. The remaining Jedi escaped with Katarn. Although the mission appeared to have failed, it served as a ruse, enabling Seha to discreetly attach a tracking device to the Sith Lord, allowing the Jedi to monitor his movements.

Shortly after the attempt on his life, Jacen convened with Cha Niathal, who informed him that Five Worlds Prime Minister Sadras Koyan sought to defect to the Alliance and desired to initiate negotiations. Jacen was dispatched with a small detachment to an area in space between Corellia and Coruscant, where he encountered a small fleet commanded by Captain Hoclaw.

The discussions continued, with Hoclaw being hesitant to reveal significant information. The Alliance forces grew suspicious upon discovering that the Corellian ships were only manned by a minimal crew. Following the arrival of Leia Organa Solo, Jacen ascended into space in his fighter, accompanied by Allana. A Corellian force then appeared, prompting Jacen to instruct the Second Fleet, led by Admiral Tarla Limpan, to engage them.

However, this was all a component of the Corellian strategy. The Corellian leadership commanded Centerpoint Station to fire. The resulting blast obliterated a substantial portion of the Second Fleet, resulting in Limpan's death. However, Jacen and the Anakin Solo managed to escape. This action also rebounded on the Corellians, resulting in an embargo of the Corellian system, as ordered by Turr Phennir, the commander of the Confederation forces.

Following the Battle of Kashyyyk, Alema Rar absconded to the lair of Darth Vectivus, establishing it as her operational base. From this location, she mastered the Force Phantom ability, which she then employed in an attempt to assassinate Leia and Han on Kashyyyk. However, this endeavor was unsuccessful. Han, Leia, Jaina, Zekk, and Jag subsequently tracked her to her newly established lair.

Due to Alema's utilization of Force Phantoms, coupled with the arrival of an enemy frigate, the Poison Moon, commanded by the Sith Dician, the group was separated. Han attempted to evade the Sith, while Leia engaged in a duel with an Alema phantom. Jaina confronted another Alema phantom on the surface, and Zekk confronted Alema's Sith ship.

Zekk successfully persuaded the Sith ship to depart, which distracted Alema and caused the Force phantoms to dissipate. Dician resolved to pursue the Sith ship and exited the asteroid field, but not before detonating explosives she had planted on the surface. Jaina confronted the real Alema and pursued her toward the asteroid's surface.

Jag arrived and instructed Jaina to assist Zekk, who was in a state of shock after employing the dark side to compel the Sith ship to leave. Jag engaged Alema in combat, sustaining injuries. Alema seized his blaster. As she prepared to eliminate him, the blaster detonated when it was no longer in Jag's grasp, severing Alema's arm. Jag then employed his crushgaunts to break Alema's spine, resulting in her death and ending her threat. Jaina, Zekk, and Jag all managed to escape the asteroid before it exploded.

Following the destruction of the Second Fleet, Jacen journeyed to Centerpoint at the head of a task force, intending to seize the station for use against the Confederation. Recognizing that possessing its immense destructive power would significantly tip the balance of power, Grand Master Luke Skywalker and the New Jedi Order launched a raid on the station with the ultimate goal of destroying it. Jedi Master Kyp Durron spearheaded the raid, accompanied by Toval Seyah, a Galactic Alliance scientist and former spy who had previously worked on the station. Seyah was able to manipulate Centerpoint's galactic data reserves in such a way that all coordinates in the galaxy were altered to match those of the station.

During the intense conflict between Confederation and Galactic Alliance forces, a technician named Rikel, who had lost his wife on the galactic capital of Coruscant, was left in control of the station's firing mechanism. He programmed the coordinates to target Coruscant, and when he activated Centerpoint, the massive structure targeted itself. The resulting gravitic pulse caused the station to detonate, obliterating all traces of the enigmatic structure from the system, killing everyone on board, and destroying countless vessels within its blast radius.

During the battle, a strike team boarded the Anakin Solo and rescued Allana from Caedus, removing the sole leverage Caedus held over Tenel Ka and the Hapes Consortium. Meanwhile, Sadras Koyan was assassinated by an Alliance operative while attempting to flee the battle.

Shortly after the dismantling of the Blockade of Corellia, the planet Fondor declared its independence from the Galactic Alliance and initiated the supply of ships to the Confederation. Acknowledging the necessity of reintegrating Fondor and its extensive shipyards into the GA, Caedus commenced planning the invasion of Fondor.

Facing a shortage of ships and requiring new allies, Caedus dispatched Tahiri Veila (now his Sith apprentice) to the Imperial Remnant to negotiate an alliance with Grand Admiral Gilad Pellaeon. Anticipating Pellaeon's inevitable refusal, Caedus offered the planets Bilbringi and Borleias to the Moff Council, led by Grand Moff Quille, Pellaeon's primary rival. Bilbringi possessed extensive shipbuilding capabilities, and Borleias served as a significant financial hub. Despite Pellaeon's considerable influence among the Moffs, the Council consented to join Caedus in the conflict.

Caedus apparently neglected to inform the two planets that he intended to cede them to the Remnant. This revelation was sufficient for Admiral Niathal to initiate plans to defect from Jacen Solo to the Resistance. Meanwhile, Pellaeon recalled Admiral Natasi Daala to the Remnant to aid in his opposition to Caedus.

Recognizing that she was uniquely positioned to defeat Caedus, Jaina journeyed to Mandalore to acquire the skills necessary to accomplish this. Boba Fett agreed to instruct her in Mandalorian martial arts and weapons proficiency, commencing her training. Throughout this process, Jaina gained valuable insights from the renowned bounty hunter.

Jaina gained a profound understanding of Mandalorian culture and contributed to the healing of Sintas Vel's mind, Fett's wife, who had long been presumed dead. Jaina later attended the wedding of Mirta Gev, Fett's granddaughter, and became integrated into Mandalorian society. She also began training in total war and acknowledged that she would be the only one prepared to kill Caedus.

She later accompanied the Mandalorians to Fondor, where they had been employed by Admiral Natasi Daala. Jaina subsequently overheard a conversation between Daala and Fett, in which they both expressed their desire to eliminate the Jedi and the Sith.

The Galactic Alliance initiated an assault on Fondor. Upon the fleet's arrival, Caedus discovered that the minelayers he had dispatched to establish a vast minefield around Fondor had vanished. There was no evidence of the minefield, nor any indication of the enemy fleet. It was later revealed that Niathal had informed Luke Skywalker of Caedus's strategy, and the minelayers had been destroyed immediately upon exiting hyperspace.

After demanding the planet's surrender, which the Fondorians refused, Caedus advanced toward the planet. At that juncture, the entire Fondor defense fleet, having been concealed within the shipyards, commenced firing. Caedus forced his way through and ordered the bombardment of its capital city.

Admiral Niathal signaled the planet to surrender, which it did, but Caedus persisted in bombarding it. Niathal relieved Caedus of his command due to this, but Caedus did not acknowledge her authority and continued. A significant portion of the Alliance fleet sided with Caedus, but Pellaeon decided to support Niathal and instructed his ships to provide them with protection.

As the battle began to turn against Caedus, Pellaeon retreated to his cabin to confer with Daala. However, he was followed by Tahiri Veila, who attempted to persuade him to align with Caedus. Pellaeon refused, so Tahiri shot him, and the Moffs, led by Quille, witnessed Pellaeon's death. As Pellaeon lay dying, he became aware of the Moffs' treachery and whispered Quille's name to Daala before ordering her to attack as he died.

However, the coup did not unfold favorably for the Moffs. Although they convinced the Imperial fleet to side with Caedus, the crew of the Bloodfin rebelled, trapping the Moffs. Daala attacked Caedus's fleet, and the Mandalorians she had hired, under Boba Fett's command, killed Quille and the other Moffs before compelling Caedus and Veila to flee the ship. They retrieved Pellaeon's body and transported it to Corellia for a funeral.

With the assistance of the Jedi Coalition, the Maw Irregular Fleet under Daala's command, and a team of Mandalorians led by Boba Fett and Jaina Solo, Niathal's forces successfully drove Caedus away. Niathal subsequently occupied Fondor and established it as the capital of her faction within the Galactic Alliance.

During this period, Ben resolved to demonstrate that his cousin Jacen had murdered Mara. Traveling with Lon Shevu to Kavan, he encountered his mother's spirit, who instructed him to search for some missing hair. After conducting an investigation into Jacen's StealthX, Ben discovered a strand of Mara's hair, which matched one that Luke still possessed.

This evidence, combined with Jacen's confession to Shevu, was sufficient to convince the Jedi that Jacen had killed Mara. This discovery solidified Luke's determination to eliminate Jacen as a threat.

The Imperial Remnant, having allied with Caedus, launched an attack on the Verpine in the Roche asteroids in an effort to acquire their advanced technology and shift the course of the war. The Mandalorians, in accordance with an agreement with the Verpine, swiftly came to their aid with Jaina Solo's assistance. The Imperials employed a nanovirus to eradicate the Verpine soldier caste, leaving the workforce available for Alliance service. However, the Mandalorians and the Verpine repelled this initial Imperial force and destroyed its flagship, a Super Star Destroyer named Dominion, but the Imperials seized control of the planet nonetheless. The Moff Council landed on Nickel One, later joined by Darth Caedus, who purportedly traveled there to safeguard them.

Subsequently, the Jedi Coalition responded to the attack on Roche by launching a counter-attack at Nickel One. They were later joined by a Confederation fleet and forces from the Alliance-in-exile under Cha Niathal's command. However, Admiral Nek Bwua'tu successfully outmaneuvered them, inflicting heavy casualties and securing victory for the Galactic Alliance.

Meanwhile, Jaina Solo landed on Nickel One, intending to assassinate Caedus. Accompanied by a group of Mandalorian commandos, including Boba Fett's granddaughter, Mirta Gev, Jaina traversed the asteroid's tunnels, unnoticed by Caedus, whose attention was focused on Luke Skywalker's presence in the battle above. After the Mandalorians attempted to assassinate the Moff Council, Caedus intervened, killing all the Mandalorians except Mirta. Jaina and her brother engaged in a duel, resulting in Caedus losing his arm. The duel concluded when Jaina was compelled to retreat with the rest of the Coalition.

Concurrently, Admiral Atoko and the remnants of the Galactic Alliance Fifth Fleet attacked Mandalore in an attempt to remove the Mandalorians from the war. He released a second strain of the nanovirus, which eradicated numerous old clones and their descendants.

As both sides prepared for their final confrontation at Shedu Maad, Jacen dispatched Tahiri Veila to ascertain the location of the Jedi's hidden base. Tahiri captured both Ben and Lon Shevu and subjected the latter to torture in an attempt to coerce Ben into betraying the Jedi. However, Shevu succumbed to the torture, and Ben escaped, rendering Tahiri unconscious in the process.

However, Jacen had already learned of the base's location at Shedu Maad. After losing his arm to Jaina on Nickel One, Caedus' blood had splattered across Jaina's face and neck. Utilizing an obscure Dathomiri Force spell known as a Nightsister Blood Trail, he was able to track his sister to the remote location.

The Alliance also captured Isolder, Tenel Ka's father, and Caedus attempted to torture him into revealing the location of the Jedi's base in the Transitory Mists. However, unbeknownst to Caedus, the Moff Council had acquired some of Isolder's DNA to create a nanovirus intended to attack the Hapan Royal family. Upon discovering this, Caedus attempted to free Isolder, but Isolder refused to trust him, so Caedus snapped his neck. The nanovirus was released regardless, and Caedus had no time to warn Tenel Ka of it.

The Galactic Alliance and the Imperial Remnant launched an assault on the Jedi Coalition at Shedu Maad, in what would prove to be a pivotal moment in the war. Prior to the battle, members of the Moff Council had completed the nanovirus they had developed from Isolder's DNA and released it aboard the Dragon Queen, Tenel Ka's flagship. The resulting outbreak killed most of the crew, since most of the people staffing the Dragon Queen were all related to Isolder in some way. As far the public knew, the Hapan Chume'da Allana also succumbed to the nanovirus, but this was a ploy developed by Tenel Ka. The Queen Mother and Allana both remained unharmed, possibly due to an unexpected warning Tenel Ka received through the Force from Darth Caedus.

As the battle raged, Ben Skywalker confronted Tahiri Veila on Shedu Maad and persuaded her to surrender to him. Meanwhile, Jaina Solo boarded the Anakin Solo to duel her brother. The resulting duel ended in Caedus's death when he allowed Jaina to strike him down in order to save Tenel Ka and Allana from the Moffs' nanovirus by warning Tenel Ka through the Force of the threat to her and their daughter. Jaina Solo was severely injured in the process and spent several weeks recovering in a medical facility.

The Coalition emerged victorious, with the Imperial Remnant being compelled to switch allegiances and join them, and the Confederation surrendering. Jagged Fel was appointed as the leader of the reconstituted Imperial Remnant. The war concluded, with former Imperial Admiral Natasi Daala being designated as the Chief of State of the Galactic Alliance after Admiral Nek Bwua'tu declined the position. Tenel Ka, in order to protect Allana, asked Han and Leia to adopt her, which they did.

Although the war had ended, the Confederation, Imperial Remnant, and Hapes Consortium refused to integrate with the Alliance, prompting Daala to convene the Unification Summit in 43 ABY in an attempt to unify the galaxy. However, responsibility for Darth Caedus's rise to power would ultimately be attributed to the Jedi, particularly Luke Skywalker, who was placed under arrest and subsequently exiled by Daala.

Following the conclusion of the war, Jaina Solo believed Jacen had realized his ambition of galactic peace, sacrificing his name, his reputation, and ultimately, his life to achieve it. But unknown to everyone else, there were other Sith on Korriban, lurking in the shadows, expanding in numbers, and awaiting the opportune moment to strike when the Galaxy would once again turn against the Jedi, in 86 years.

Even though a period of stability was required in order to allow the galaxy to recover, this war erupted, and turned out to be one of the greatest scourges of the last aeon. Although the length of this war paled in comparison to the first Galactic Civil War, this conflict had, in a sense of irony, destroyed the fledgling peace and order throughout the Galaxy in just over a year (40-41.5 ABY), though Chief Daala promised peace throughout the galaxy during her inauguration, that peace was destroyed when Daala and the Jedi Order began to engage in a war of wills, war that was pushed by the military officers who had risen to power after the war and who harbored the ambition to destroy the Jedi. In 44 ABY, peace was destroyed when anti-slavery movements started to rise up around the galaxy, Daala ordered swift and ruthless repression. The Jedi Order turned fully against her to support the rebels.

The Second Galactic Civil War is portrayed throughout the Star Wars: Legacy of the Force book series. It was initiated in Legacy of the Force: Betrayal by Aaron Allston and concluded in Troy Denning's Legacy of the Force: Invincible. The novels chronicle the progression of the war, as well as the evolving mindsets of the central characters. The Fate of the Jedi novels address the aftermath of the war in the years that followed, with particular emphasis on Luke Skywalker's exile. The war was first formally designated as the "Second Galactic Civil War" in Invincible. The Essential Atlas provided substantial information pertaining to the war, encompassing portraits of Darth Caedus, Lumiya, Mara Jade Skywalker, Ben Skywalker, Tenel Ka Djo, and Boba Fett, as well as a map and a comprehensive account of the war.