#sw rogue planet

[currentlyonstandbi]

not sure exactly how canon the legends novels are at this point (whether it's maybe an 'until proven otherwise' situation) but the revelation in rogue planet that anakin deliberately tests the boundaries and patience of those closest to him in order to gauge whether their love for him is real or not was too much to handle

[darthskys]

"He had once vowed, after a particularly trying moment, that he would reward himself with a year of isolation on a desert planet, far from Coruscant and any Padawans he might be assigned, once he was free of Anakin. But this did not stop him from carrying out his duties to the boy with an exacting passion."

Greg Larson, Star Wars: Rogue Planet (2000)

guys,

[brazen-kenobi]

“Anakin suddenly jumped out of his chair and hugged his master with a fierceness that took Obi-Wan by surprise. Obi-Wan held the boy gently, and let the moment flow into its own shape. Some padawans were as simple as quiet pools. Only in training did they aquire the depth and complexity that showed maturity. Anakin had been a deep and complex mystery from the first day they had met. And yet, Obi-Wan had never felt such a strength of connection with any other being – not even Qui-Gon Jinn.”

- Greg Bear, Star Wars: Rogue Planet

[grumfield]

patron saint of non-answers that will fuck up the baby

[kenobster]

Star Wars Reading List

Figured that since Ao3 is down, this might be a good time for y'all to get into reading actual Star Wars books/comics. Thus, here is a list of excellent books that focus on Obi-Wan & Anakin or beloved prequel-era characters.

Note: With whatever credibility I've earned, I ask you to please consider ordering these books from somewhere other than Amazon. Not only is Jeff Bezos a plague upon planet earth, but his site is also wreaking havoc on the publishing industry. Amazon is a huge contributor to current bestsellers sucking and diverse, marginalized voices not getting heard. Local bookstores are best, but even Barnes & Noble is better. I am happy to assist you with an Amazon book boycott if you PM me.

Karen Miller

Reading actual books & comics is gross, you say? Fanfic is more palatable in style to your interests? Not a problem, my friends; do I have the author for you. Karen Miller writes some excellent Obi-Wan & Anakin centric books that feel just like reading fanfiction (if only minus smut XD). The way she writes the protagonists goes deep into the bonds they feel (and/or develop) with each other. If you're used to reading fanfiction, this won't feel much different.

Note to the wise: Don't worry about Karen Traviss—you don't need her.

#1: Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth

Even though Wild Space (below) is the first book in this storyline, I recommend starting with this one. The beginning of the book is Obi-Wan & Anakin & Ahsoka engaged in a multipronged battle. From a starfighter, Anakin engages his squad in an air assault while Obi-Wan fights on the ground with Ahsoka. After that, it has one of my favorite Obi-Wan tropes ever in which Anakin spends about four chapters assigning miscellaneous members of the GAR to escort Obi-Wan to the medbay for neglected injuries. (If you like my fic Every Shadow, then you will love this.) Afterward, the story veers toward a mission that Obi-Wan & Anakin embark on together, in which the two of them bicker lovingly whilst exhausting the ever-loving shit out of themselves to endure dire, hostile straits. The amount of sweat, fatigue, and desperation drenching their characters by the end of this novel will make you feel alive.

#2: Clone Wars Gambit: Siege

The direct sequel to Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth, which is no less fun of a read. Oh? You thought the nonstop sweat-drenched, desperation-fueled survival instinct and fatigue were over? You thought that? Cute. Being the direct sequel to Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth, this book starts as Obi-Wan jolts awake from an unexpected, impromptu nap and yells at Anakin for letting him fall asleep in the first place. (In response, Anakin is shrugging like wtf was I supposed to do, we're tired and tired ppl sleep.) In the midst of their argument, the stolen speeder which Anakin is piloting decides to demand an immediate crash-landing in the middle of nowhere. From there, Obi-Wan & Anakin are stranded on a planet under intense Separatist surveillance and are forced to find sanctuary in a local and suspicious village. But this book is titled "Siege" for a reason. Catastrophes are not over, and despite what you may think, they have not yet scraped the absolute bottom of their limits yet. They will though. They will. My favorite scene involves Anakin (running on sheer fumes and willpower alone) throws a tantrum about Obi-Wan healing civilians so much he's practically keeling over. You will like this book. I guarantee it.

#3 Clone Wars: Wild Space

Now that you understand Karen Miller is a fellow author of all your favorite Obi-Wan & Anakin fanfic tropes, you can read her fanficiest fanfic of all published Star Wars material. The amount of Obi-Wan whump in this novel is batshit, y'all. It starts out with a lot of satisfactory Obi-Wan & Anakin scenes, especially re Obi-Wan enduring physical injuries and Anakin being intensely upset and worried. Then, for the second half of the book, Obi-Wan embarks on an investigative mission with Bail Organa based on the Senator's mysterious intel. This leads the two of them to Zigoola, a Sith planet of utter despair and Obi-Wan's worst nightmares. This is the origin story of Obi-Wan & Bail's friendship, but mostly you'll like it because Obi-Wan is so fucked up by the end of it that he can't even stand. The whump cuts deep on a physical, emotional, and cosmic-Force-magic level. A true treat.

When Ao3 is back up, I recommend the incredibly written fanfic A Thousand Satellites by stark2ash as a follow-up to Wild Space.

Matthew Stover

Alright, you're with me on why reading published Star Wars content is good now? You're ready? Amazing. Let me introduce you to one of the most incredible authors of our time. Matthew Stover writes so expertly that his books feel like literary masterpieces, regardless of their inclusion in the Star Wars franchise. If you read nothing else on this list, please read something by him. You will not regret it.

#1 Revenge of the Sith novelization

If you always liked the prequels but felt they were kinda rushed or shallow or failed to adequately suspend your disbelief for certain plot points, then this is the book you should read. Every single aspect of the movie is portrayed with such care in terms of themes, characters, and attention to detail. There is incredible characterization for Obi-Wan—the hopeful but tragic hero of the clone wars; the brilliantly competent and yet endearingly humble Jedi Master. The emotions Stover puts this man through successfully makes us sob rivers, alongside the masterminded and horrifyingly abusive manipulation that Palpatine directs onto Anakin—the child prodigy who struggles so desperately to stay in the Light and ultimately fails. You know how people always watch a movie and come out saying how the book was better? Somehow, Stover managed to achieve this feat after the movie was already released! Again, if you read nothing else, please read this book. Otherwise, I can't talk to you, lol.

#2: Shatterpoint

Since you followed my advice and read the above book (you did read the above book... right?!), I am now assuming you realize Stover is a literary genius and a true master of his craft. Thus, may I present you with Shatterpoint, an equally inspired character study of Jedi Master Mace Windu. You like Mace Windu, right? Yeah, of course! We all do. But I bet the content featuring him has always been a little boring. I bet that makes you a bit nervous to give this book a try because you're worried it will be boring. Well, ho boy you are wrong, my friend. This book is a fascinating deep dive into not only the political landscape surrounding the clone wars but also the human element of what constant war can do to a society. At all times, the book is intense, chilling, and thrillingly page-turning. If you're a loser and don't like Mace Windu, you absolutely will by the end of this. I cannot convey how utterly this book strayed from my usual interests and still managed to zip me through to the very end.

Miscellaneous

Aha! You have read all of the above and are still looking for some more? Well well well, you fucking nerd, you are definitely someone I'd would like to engage in friendly conversation with. XD Now that I've proven my good taste, please add these additionally nerdy books your list.

#1: Brotherhood by Mike Chen

Hey look! It's a canon book! Yeah! This book is canon! And it's good, too! If you always wish for more political/investigative drama in your Star Wars content, Mike Chen has you covered. Obi-Wan is a brilliant Jedi in terms of getting to the bottom of some forensic shenanigans, pulling all-nighters to write persuasive essay-length speeches to extremely important people, evading enemies who intend to do him dead without harming a single one of them, and most notably displaying a strong inclination (and talent!) for diplomacy even when it means doing none of the above. On the side, he maintains an adorable relationship with his newly knighted Padawan, who embarks on an interesting journey of his own. Anakin bonds with a Jedi initiate who is struggling with a intense Force empathy, both of whom decide to go "rescue" Obi-Wan. I love this book. It is one of my all-time Star Wars faves.

Also in this book, Anakin manages to have the most hilarious scifi equivalent of an "I'm going through a tunnel" phone call while talking to Mace Windu. 😂

#2 Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray

This book is also canon, horray! If you're dissatisfied with many two-dimensional portrayals of Padawan!Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn, then this book will satisfy the relationship you never knew you craved. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fumble to overcome their rocky dynamic well into their Master-Padawan relationship—causing Obi-Wan a massive amount of anxiety and Qui-Gon a massive amount of guilt. Their miscommunication, however, goes both ways! Both of them are beloved Jedi who are trying really hard to understand each other—and eventually do! Obi-Wan righteously abides by Jedi guidelines, but in the most obnoxious and bratty way possible. XD Meanwhile, Qui-Gon's interest in myth and precognition is actually more complicated and nuanced than it seems. This book characterizes these two characters, including their relationship with each other, not only in the way George Lucas originally intended but also in a super emotionally compelling way.

#3: Dark Disciple by Christie Golden

Quinlan seems to have become a bit of a fanfic favorite for some, but his character is actually a lot more complicated than you'd ever know! Read this book for the beautifully intricate story regarding the choices he has to make and the paths they take him down. He has a hell of a time and he struggles dearly between right and wrong because of it—but the layers of depth to his character, including his devotion to the Light side, his intelligent kindness, and his endearing façade of humor shine through the darkness he is subjected and temporarily falls to. Obi-Wan himself is a central character to this story; likewise, his fierce perspective on forgiveness, atonement, and redemption are essential cornerstones to understanding this novel and his character. Plus, there is some very cute Anakin to boot. If you made it through the other books, then this one is an absolute must-read.

#4: Rogue Planet by Greg Bear

Ever wonder where all the "Barriss Offee once was great" discourse comes from? Ever intrigued when fellow fans talk about the Blood Carver? Well, my friend, you're in luck! This book are both conversations' source. I'll admit, this book is the driest of all of my recommendations, but it is no less worth the read! The moments where Obi-Wan struggles to be a good mentor to Anakin, teenage mom style, are adorable, particularly in the early scenes where he must stop Padawan!Anakin from competing in a podrace-like competition. If you're literally out of things to read, this book will get you over the spell. And after you're done, you'll finally feel knowledgeable enough to start engaging this Barriss Offee discourse!

Comics

Damn it, you're still not with me on the book-reading thing? Books are too wordy for you or something? Sighs, to each their own, I guess. Here's some incredibly well written comic runs that achieve fantastic storylines but with super pretty pictures, too.

#1: Obi-Wan & Anakin (5-issue run in 2016)

The comic in which, despite Palpatine's disgustingly creepy attempts to the contrary, Obi-Wan is an incredible teacher and Anakin is an incredible student. Obi-Wan's style as a Jedi Master is shown to be lovingly wise and gentle. In fact, it is so uplifting that it repeatedly brought me to tears when I read it. Similarly, Anakin's struggles with the Jedi Order are defined with a satisfying level of depth. He is trying and sometimes he fails—but he learns. The storyline overall is gorgeous, both in art and in narrative value, and the ending itself is something truly beautiful. Furthermore, this artist paints Obi-Wan in a way that makes me reconsider my sexuality. You will stare for decades at his face.

#2: Darth Vader (25-issue run from 2017 to 2018)

What happens after ROTS you wonder? How does Darth Sidious begin to instruct his new apprentice? What measures do the surviving Jedi take to attempt to preserve their culture? Where do the Inquisitors come from? How does one "bleed" a Kyber crystal? All of these questions and more are answered in this 2017 comic run (not to be confused with other Darth Vader comic runs). Besides the really interesting worldbuilding immediately post-Order 66, I don't think I've read a comic run this absurdly well-written ever. Of particular note, the author & artist use a sort of magical realism in Darth Vader's Meditative Hellscape™ to convey intricately detailed emotions/metaphors/themes. You have to see it to believe it. For example, I feel the below two pages are so full of depth and meaning that they should be added to any kind of college art/film/fiction curriculum:

#3: Slaves of the Republic (6-issue run from 2008 to 2009)

This comic definitely isn't of the same caliber as the former two, but it's still ideal reading. If you feel the show left some stuff out or should have gone differently or should have handled certain subject matters with greater respect, then this will bring you closure! This comic's issues fills in so many holes in its plots and thematic values left in the Zygerria/Kadavo episodes. It also characterizes its protagonists Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka in a way that makes huge amounts of sense. Obi-Wan is kind and brave and self-sacrificial in a way he failed to be in the show. Anakin is intelligent, compassionate, and competent, especially regarding matters of slavery. And Ahsoka contains the fun characterization of her iteration in earlier seasons before Dave Filoni stripped it from her. The worldbuilding, too, in these comics is much more rich and interesting than their episodic counterparts.

Now that you're done reading comics, I would like to implore you to please please please go back to the top of this post and try again. I prefer fanfic to books a vast majority of the time, too, but I've tailored this list specifically for you. I promise you won't regret the effort.

[obrother1976]

whatever. killing myself.

[that-gay-jedi]

Honestly whenever I think about how both Rogue Planet and the comic Obi-Wan and Anakin take place when Anakin was 12, plus that's around the time the Jedi Quest books start too, I'm like "jesus christ that has to have been the most eventful year of his life right up until the year he went Vader" like. He was just about to turn 13 when Yaddle died if you go with the Jedi Quest version of her death and Anakin basically thinks he got her killed and he's like fucking 11 when Obi-Wan takes him to Ilum like.

He had his first prophetic vision of becoming Vader, violently killed another preteen who was coerced into trying to take him out (and immediately regretted using excessive force & tried to save the kid but he like died in Anakin's arms), participated in illegal podraces on Coruscant (and almost got assassinated), his Best Friend the Chancellor took him to the Lower Levels and convinced him to low key use the Force make a corrupt Senator with a gambling problem lose at dice and then they got politely thrown out of the establishment for Palpatine laughing too loudly at the loser, he almost left the Jedi Order and he NEVER FOUND OUT Obi-Wan was gonna go with him, had an obsessive crush on a girl who didn't exist, physically tried to tell the Jedi Council his emotions were all fucked but he couldn't figure out how, like, he's got a lot going on okay?

[the-boroughh]

i am on page 15 of "Rogue Planet" and i have two key points:

"rougher neighbourhoods on Coruscant: as a hoodrat, let me just say fuck yes

"pirate entertainment channels that fed into elite apartments": as someone who relied on digital piracy since their infancy, let me just give another fuckkk yESSSS

[cottonraincoat]

Star Wars: Rogue Planet - Greg Bear

the thought that anakin had been having premonitions about vader since age 12 :')

[currentlyonstandbi]

careful what you wish for 🤡

[darthskys]

"Obi-Wan ... felt a strong urge not to wake the boy up, to let him sleep like this forever, to forever anticipate a great adventure, forever dream of personal triumph and joy. This feeling held too much sentiment and weakness to be allowed, but he allowed it nevertheless.

"This must be how a father feels, looking down on his son, worried about an uncertain future, Obi-Wan thought. I would hate to see him fail. But I would hate far more to lose this boy. I would almost rather freeze time here, and freeze myself with it, than face that.

"[L]ost in this un-Jedi emotion, self-critically, wonderingly, Obi-Wan murmured, 'He is no more special than any other child, is he?'

"Like a whisper in reply, 'To you, he is. And now you know.'"

Greg Bear, Rogue Planet (2000)

hahaha OW OW OW OW OW

~if you tag with øbikiñ, i will block you!~

[brazen-kenobi]

STOP QUI-GON WAS COMMUNICATING WITH ANAKIN THROUGH HIS DREAMS

[intermundia]

@buying-the-space-farm in answer to your ask, here's a list of options!! karen miller's works really do have some incredible obikin moments and are worth checking out

which sw books would you recommend for superior obikin/obi wan content? i know the rots novel is supposedly really good and i plan to read it but i was wondering if there were any others that the fandom likes particularly?

I'm glad you mentioned Stover's Revenge of the Sith, that really should be the first priority. It transcends the genre with its elevated prose style and is one of the more deeply homoerotic texts I've ever read lol so yeah it is essential. I listened to it on audiobook as well as reading it and I'm pretty sure parts of it are now etched in my brain like cuneiform on clay lmao.

There is a lot of fandom famous obikin content in the works of Karen Miller, like Wild Space in particular, but also some in the Clone Wars Gambit duology, so her work is what I would probably recommend next. I think there's some great moments in Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno too. After that, there’s a couple good moments in the Approaching Storm by Alan Dean Foster and Dark Disciple by Christie Golden. Kenobi by John Jackson Miller doesn't have a lot, but it's still worth reading. Mike Chen's Brotherhood has some, but it's pretty mid in my opinion. Jude Watson’s short story “The Last One Standing” will give you psychic damage from depressed post-Mustafar Obi-Wan, so be prepared for that, but it is absolutely worth a read as his thoughts turn toward Anakin plenty.

If you are willing to look into Legends comics, there is a 5 issue arc called "Obsession" collected in Clone Wars Volume 7: When They Were Brothers, which contains homoerotic sparring, jealousy between the two of them, Obi-Wan over Anakin's attention to Padmé and Anakin over Obi-Wan's attention to Ventress, and other fun things. It is in continuity with Republic comics #55-58, where Ventress takes Obi-Wan captive during the Battle of Jabiim, and Anakin believes that he is dead, which believe it or not, he doesn't take very well lmao. Both of these I recommend very highly.

I will add that Greg Bear's Rogue Planet is a book that should not be read through a ship lens (Anakin is in his early teens), but rather read for the sake of understanding who Anakin and Obi-Wan are as individuals at their core, so that you see the cracks in the foundation of their relationship that are exacerbated by the Clone Wars and Anakin's transition to adulthood. Bear's characterization of each of them is so perfect, Rogue Planet a text that illuminates and deepens the value of reading the others above. Admittedly the plot is kind of silly, but it's not the point of reading it. The beating heart of the characters is there to be understood.

[obrother1976]

"thy grace may wing me to prevent his art" - not this time

[empress-violetlight]

Hyperspace Beacons: The Empire of the Hand’s unique way of navigating the Chaos

Another in my Empire of the Hand world-building series, written for my fanfic series. Please see my document on Nirauan, the capital planet, here, on the Empire of the Hand's capital ships here, and on the Empire of the Hand military's ranks and the Explorer program here.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

How Hyperspace travel seems to work in most of the Galaxy Far Far Away:

It seems that very little thought was actually put into how exactly hyperspace works in Star Wars, but there a few "rules" that seem to pop up (mostly) consistently:

Firstly:  You can't jump to hyperspace while still within the effects of a large gravity well -- i.e. a planet. 

(Note:   Rise of Skywalker can eat a bag of dicks for ignoring this long-established rule first set by Han Friggin' Solo in Ep. 4 for Force's sake!)

Second:  Objects in real space cast "mass shadows" in hyperspace, so you can't go right "through" a star, for example, without killing yourself. 

Third:  When ships unexpectedly encounter a large mass while in hyperspace, they will exit into real space as a precaution.  This is the basis for how interdiction technology works, where an artificial gravity well is generated to give the appearance of a large mass, and ships are either pulled out of hyperspace, or prevented from jumping to begin with.

Fourth:  There are a lot of chaotic, unexpected and unpredictable large objects (i.e. large asteroids, rogue planets, black holes, etc) in most of the Unknown Regions/The Chaos, which makes hyperspace travel through the region a lot more difficult than in the rest of the galaxy.

Fifth:  Hyperspace travel is very fast.  No consistent speed is given, and travel times in stories vary by plot, but it is implied it takes no more than about two weeks to travel all the way across the diameter of the Galaxy.  If we assume the Galaxy Far Far Away (GFFA) is similar in size to the Milky Way, that would mean it has a diameter of about 100 000 lightyears.  That's so fast I can't do math well enough to determine just how fast it is.  Compare that to another well-established sci-fi franchise, where it was predicted the “hero” ship would take about 70 years at maximum warp to travel across the galaxy (they found a few shortcuts, but still). 

My idea, based on the rules established above (in both Legends and Disney Canon) is that when a ship "jumps to 'lightspeed' ", what they are actually doing is jumping into a dimension where the speed of light is not the absolute speed limit it is in our universe (or in SW's "real space", presumably).  The time spent in hyperspace is actually the time it takes the nav computer /astromech droid /Navigator /skywalker/etc. to plot the course based on how fast they can determine where mass shadows lie along the wanted path.

Therefore, it's not the Millennium Falcon's engines that are fast, for example, it's the ship's nav computer.

Ships "pop out" of hyperspace when the nav computer/whatever determines where the "exit" is.  With well-established hyperspace routes, this is why a planet can be “blockaded” by just blocking off a small area in the orbit of the planet, as seen with Queen Amadala’s escape from Naboo in Episode One, when logically, a ship should be able to jump from any point in space as long as they were far enough away from the gravity well.  It’s not the planet itself that is being blockaded – it’s the long-established hyperspace jump point. Heading for a different point is like making a beeline for a highway instead of using the exit ramp – technically doable, but likely to wreck your vehicle if you try. 

Say, for example, you were plotting a course between Tattooine (Outer Rim) and Alderaan (Core) .  There are X number of stars and planets between your "entrance" and "exit".  The nav computer's job is to plot the most efficient course around those large masses that occur between the two points, and the hyperspace engines do little more than open the entry and exit points into real space at either end.  It accesses its most up-to-date astrometrics information available (likely through the holonet, and knowledge of well-maintained hyperspace routes) and plots its course accordingly.  The time spent "in" hyperspace is the time it takes the computer to finish its calculations.  For well-established routes, the computer doesn’t even try to plot a new course – it just reads the “road map” and follows that. 

This is also why the non-inhabited planets of any given solar system in the GFFA tend to be ignored.  Unless there’s something in the outer solar system of interest (i.e. a metal-rich asteroid belt), nobody’s going to be visiting Saturn when they can jump right to Earth.  Hyperspace routes to outer planets are simply not established at all, and when plotting new routes takes so much comparable “work” (comparable to blazing a new trail instead of taking already-established highway), most people and computer systems simply don’t bother.

This system, as imperfect and even counter-intuitive as it seems, does seem to be so much the norm in the majority of the GFFA that even people who perhaps should understand the value of blazing new trails (i.e. the Rebellion, smugglers) almost never even think to do so, never mind bother.   

In the Unknown Regions, however, there are so many objects going every which way that real-time astrometrics information is required, and nobody has apparently figured out a way to do this except for using the Force.

The Empire of the Hand's Hyperspace Beacons:

However, a clever use of communications technology could end the dependency of a relatively tiny portion of most species' populations.

Using an Imperial probe droid as a basis, the Empire of the Hand has developed a "hyperspace beacon".

A Viper probe droid, as seen in The Empire Strikes Back, the basis for the Empire of the Hand's hyperspace beacons.

Dropped in small clusters, in regular intervals in real-space, the beacons continuously scan real space around their locations, and communicate astrometrics to any ships that can pick up their signals, who are part of the beacons’ network. The network is only usable by ships with nav computers or specially programmed astromech droids that can pick up the signal.  To everyone else, the data looks like regular space background radiation (R2-D2 or other similarly “independently-minded” astromechs might be able to pick up on it themselves, but such droids are a rarity).  All ships on the network can use it to communicate with each other as well as the beacons, and the network can act as a safety tether to track ships’ locations and to call for help in the event of emergencies. 

A line of beacons could act like a "trail of breadcrumbs" or “railroad tracks”, and allow ships to safely and efficiently navigate through the Unknown Regions/The Chaos without reliance on a Force User, since all the beacons working together transmit real-time data.  The beacons are dropped in clusters so that if one becomes damaged, the others in its group can cover for it until repairs are completed.  If all the beacons in any given cluster are disabled, a star destroyer is dispatched to the nearest other beacon cluster on the “trail”, then uses jump-by-jump navigation to get to the beacons’ last known location to investigate. 

One of the primary purposes of the Empire of the Hand’s Explorer program is to drop these beacon clusters as they go, using their own powerful sensors to plot "microjumps" through hyperspace (journeys of less than a light year) and creating trails of beacons as they, well, Explore.

To a lesser extent, Navy vessels also drop beacons, though they usually follow the paths the Explorers establish for them.

Also, because Explorers create these beacon trails, when they get in trouble, they can signal the nearest Star Destroyer for help, and by "following the breadcrumbs", the Star Destroyer can arrive at their location much faster than they would be able to otherwise.

Similarly, established “beacon tracks”, like that down “Thrawn’s Cut” between Watchtower Station, just outside the border with the Chiss Ascendency, and Nirauan, can make travel between these points far faster and more efficient than traditional hyperspace routes, since the nav computers need to spend far less time checking their routes, instead following the paths the beacons tell them to.  Such “tracks” connect all the major systems in the Empire of the Hand. 

Hyperspace Beacons’ Strategic Benefits:

Hyperspace beacons can also be used in the “known” regions of the Galaxy to give the Empire of the Hand a navigational (and thus strategic) advantage, letting them carve their own paths around and through known systems of interest, regardless of established hyperspace routes.  Probe droids can be delivered by jump-by-jump scouts (often Explorer ships) to the outskirts of a solar system, which, as established earlier, are usually ignored.  The droids are small and independent enough to travel well into a system on their own, then go into low power mode (which subsequently makes them extremely difficult to detect), to wait to activate their beacon signal, which Hand ships can use to jump into (and out of) a solar system well away from established hyperspace entry/exit points.  

As was utilized in the Honoghr mission, where a probe droid was used to find the asteroid in the outer solar system, which would be sent on a collision course to the planet of the race that murdered Grand Admiral Thrawn

"Nightfall of the Final Day"

This technique, the “Faro Ambush”, was first developed by Admiral Karyn Faro for use against enemies of the Hand and later saw extensive use in the Far Outsider War. It is very similar to the “Thrawn Pincer” technique, which uses interdiction ships, only it does not block off entry/exit to and from hyperspace.  It is thus not used to trap enemy forces, but to just get the jump on them.  It is not a technique that can be used on the fly – it requires planning.  However it can be used to devastating effect against hit and run targets, allowing attacking ships and fighters to come in from a course not expected by the enemy.

Systems of interest within New Republic, Imperial Remnant and Chiss Ascendency space have had their solar systems “seeded” with probe droids on stand-by, so that the Hand Navy can jump in and help if needed. 

Cultural Ramification of Hyperspace Beacons:

Unlike in “Lesser Space”, where star systems form economies and coalitions spanning  tens of thousands of cubic lightyears, often advertised as “Galactic” in scope, the space-farring cultures of the Unknown Regions, or as its inhabitants aptly put it, “The Chaos” are usually a lot smaller in scope of area and influence.  This is because in order to navigate the ever-changing hyperspace hazards safely, they are forced to rely on Force-capable navigators.  Most cultures use the Pathfinders or similar navigational guilds, comprised of Force-Sensitive adults who choose to hire out their ability to navigate.  Most only use their ability to communicate with the Force (Great Presence, Third Sight, etc.) strictly as navigators, with no training or interest in the further abilities demonstrated by the Jedi, Sith, and other Force-using groups of Lesser Space.  However, there are notable downsides to the use of essentially mercenary navigators:

Rarity.  Force users comprise of a tiny minority of any given population.  Navigators are correspondingly rare, and thus can be quite expensive to hire, and may not be available on short notice. 

Security.  Despite most navigator guilds’ guarantees of client confidentiality, many cultures do NOT wish to use hired navigators for military or otherwise sensitive missions, preferring to use their own loyal people, who, because of the rarity of Force users, may not be available.

For the Chiss Ascendency especially, where the ability to sense hazards through “Third Sight” is limited to only a tiny number of pre-pubescent female children, (known as “sky-walkers”) this is a severe strategic weakness, and that is before addressing the ethical problems with the sky-walker program.  The girls are taken from their families, with their memories erased, and used as child labour aboard Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet ships, usually only being allowed to interact with their assigned caretakers, who are often far from nurturing.  The Chiss are well aware of how terrible the program is, which is why it was kept secret from the general public, with only CEDF bridge officers, high-ranking members of the Syndicure, and the perpetrators of the program even aware of its existence (officially speaking, at least).  There has only been one known instance of a sky-walker keeping her abilities past early mid-age, which suggests the children are overworked to the point of burn-out. 

Despite “improvements” said to be made to the system in recent years, the children are still often abused, isolated, and not given the time for a proper education nor for social development.  It is still essentially child slave labour, completely against the “light of civilisation in the Chaos” that the Chiss Ascendency portrays itself as.    

As stated earlier, a huge advantage of the Hyperspace Beacon Network, especially in the Unknown Regions/the Chaos, is that it allows navigation through that chaotic third of the Galaxy without relying on Force Users, or any kind.  The Empire of the Hand’s ships, from Explorers to Navel vessels, down to civilian transports, do NOT have to hire expensive, liable navigators nor rely on literal child slaves. 

During a diplomatic visit to the Chiss Ascendency, the Empire of the Hand’s chief diplomat and Heir to the Empire, Princess Mitth’andor’randeth – Andorra – offered to outright give the Chiss Ascendency hyperspace beacon technology, saying, in a public forum, that by setting up their own beacon network (which does not even need to be connected to the Empire of the Hand’s), they could finally eliminate the need for the sky-walker program.  Princess Andorra claims had been unaware that the program was secret when she exposed it to the Ascendency publicly. 

Princess Andorra, the Heir to the Empire of the Hand, daughter of Grand Admiral Thrawn and Empress Xelarra

The Ascendency declined at the time, but due to the political ramifications of Princess Andorra’s revelation, the Empire of the Hand is confident that they will eventually change their position. 

In the meantime, the Empire of the Hand offers refugee status to any sky-walker, would-be sky-walker and their families or caretakers who manage to seek refuge with Empire of the Hand forces.  Once on Nirauan or another long-standing Hand world, they are granted the same educational opportunities as any other child, and are given a special gift from the Empress herself, a comforting and low-maintenance pet ysalamir.

[the-might-v]

Edric & Emira Blight/ The Wonder Blights

Upon the arrival of Superwoman. The empire society and government became very wary of the potential threat of The Woman of Steel as such, they had several groups work on weapons and contingency plans if or when the most powerful being on the planet would go rogue. However, after a battle between Parasite & SuperWoman did Amity’s siblings end up in the crossfire. Needing an immediate blood transfusion Amity volunteered as a donor disguised in her heroine persona but proved to not be enough and so in a desperate effort to save their lives the twins DNA was mixed with a sample of alien origins too not only save their lives but unknowingly become a weapon to take down SW.

So The Wonder Blight Twins were born.

After the successful transfusion the twins became a dynamic superhero duo with a few moments of mischief here and there. As well as becoming a superstar duo all while unaware of the manipulation of capturing and containing their own sister for the government/empire’s society’s use.

Powers & Abilities

Emira

(Therianthropy.)Animal morphing: Emira can After fist bumping her brother and saying "Wonder Twins powers, activate!", The elder blight twin gains the ability to transform into any animal. This hypothetical animal does not have to be from Earth, or even Emira’s home dimension whether real, mythological, indigenous to Earth, or indigenous to some other planets.

Super strength: Can gain this feature by turning into animals such as gorillas

Flight: By transforming into a bird, Emira can take to the skies with the use of wings. Though she can only go as fast as whatever she transforms into naturally can.

Hand-to-hand combat (basic):

Edric

(Hydrophysiology) After fist bumping his sister and saying "Wonder Twins powers, activate!", Edric gains the ability to transform into water. Being able to transform into water at any state (solid, liquid, gas) and add to his mass by incorporating water in his immediate area.

Hydrokinesis water manipulation

Cryonkinesis ice generation

In the case of becoming solid ice, he can also become any form he chooses, from a 5,000-foot (1,500 m) humanoid ice giant to a cage for a criminal to complex machinery (such as a jet engine

Intelligence: Edric has moments of intelligence in coming up with plans or ideas as well as, making a inventions.

Blight mind-link: In addition to their powers of transformation, the two share a telepathic link, enabling one to alert the other over a distance when in dire circumstances.

Weakness

Lack of contact: unless the twins are able to perform physical contact with each other they are unable to activate their powers.

Emotionally distress: if either of the twins is unsettled it can have an effect on the other given their shared telepathic link.

Vocal Pronunciation: while the twins are able to change/form it’s the vocation which makes the transformations much more accurate. Otherwise the risk of turning into the wrong animal/liquid form is possible.