#granted avar was also largely in the OZ for a while but at least she's been keyed back into republic ops for a little bit

[ct-hardcase]

I think it's significant that when Keeve's fleet is being assembled (presumably including Sskeer, Kelnacca, his Padawan; and Lourna, Quin, Tey, Skoot, etc. potentially volunteering based on the comic covers), when Keeve asks whether Terec and Ceret will be joining them, Sskeer says that their presence is still to be decided.

To segue into what's happening plot-wise, Keeve just got a lot of responsibility heaped on her shoulders, similar to what broke Avar and Stellan in Phase I, and she was already hanging on by a thread before this. We also know about her inevitably becoming a member of the Lost 20, and I feel like Tempest Breaker continues to set up how she goes down that path.

We've also learned throughout Phase III that people who are surrounded by friends have a healthier relationship to the conflict with the Nihil and Blight—Bell and Burryaga's friendship kept their spirits above water, Elzar's variety of relationships has turned him more responsible than he was, Reath's support system pulled him back from total collapse when working with Azlin, etc.

Keeve has a network of people, but most of that network has, to a certain degree, asked far more emotional support of her than she's gotten from them within the last year (Avar, Sskeer, Lourna, Ceret, etc.), and there's a dynamic with many where Keeve looked up to them, aside from Terec, Ceret, and Lourna. Of these, though Terec and Ceret have leaned on her for support, they've also demonstrated a reciprocal loyalty and commitment for the year they fought on the border of the OZ—they're her friends.

(notably, OrbaLin stands as an exception from the dynamic Keeve shares with a lot of the Jedi Masters, as he's also provided a gelatinous shoulder to lean on when appropriate. we stan OrbaLin.)

Though Keeve will be with Sskeer, and he's promised to be with her during her time as Fleet Marshal (and I do believe he's sincere in his promise), he's leaned more heavily on Keeve over the last two and a half years than she's leaned on him, with her taking on a caretaker's role during THR 2023 and Tempest Breaker. I'm not certain that he's completely cured of his Magrak Syndrome and won't need support from Keeve again.

These factors make the uncertainty of whether Ceret and Terec will join Keeve's fleet, based on Sskeer's words and their lack of presence on the comic covers (the first of which notably includes almost the ensemble cast), and the fact that if Keeve loses two people she could lean on, a concern for Keeve’s mental well-being, as her friends not being close by may put more strain on her emotions.

Given the effort that Cavan's put into Ceret and Terec's stories, with the disconnecting of the bond notably danced around in Tempest Breaker, and Ceret going back to using "we" pronouns though iirc Terec stuck with "I"; as well as what I've been going on about with Keeve and Terec's close relationship, I think we'll eventually see them in Fear of the Jedi, but I wonder how long they'll be separated from Keeve, since I think it's fairly certain they'll be apart for a time.

Credit on many of these thoughts where it's due to collaboration with @deusexvalerate, who I thank for also being unhinged about this dynamic.