The border crisis between the Chiss and the Killik heats up – as do tensions within the Jedi. Join the Legendary Adventures as we read the finale to the Dark Nest trilogy, The Swarm War!
The Dark Nest, a brood of telephatically connected insectoid aliens called the Killiks, led by Nomi Plo and Alema Rar, are waging war on the known galaxy. The Swarm War, as it came to be known, was a battle waged between the Chiss and the Killik, as the two shared a contentious border. After the war began in earnest, a battle broke out on the planet Snevu. The Chiss, led by Jagged Fel, waged an all-out assault on the Killik, even going as far as dropping a massive bomb on them with the hope of wiping them out. A few Jedi, led by Jaina Solo, tried to deactivate the bomb. The Jedi’s role in the war shifted as the battles went on, sometimes trying to help relocate the Killik, but also trying to prevent the Chiss from escalating too much. Jaina herself, though, along with Zekk, have joined the Nest as Joiners, fighting the Chiss. These Jedi, and Jag, are still joined by the telepathic connection between the Killiks, making them amenable to helping the Killiks. After Jag’s ship was destroyed, though, Jacen saved him and asked him to activate the bomb. As the battle with the Killiks has gone on, Jacen has advocated for a stronger response to them, just as he had against the Yuuzhan Vong.
Jacen isn’t the only one who has been questioning the role of the Jedi in galactic events. Jedi Master Luke Skywalker has also wondered about the place of the Jedi, and calls for a reformation of the Jedi Order. As he has been seeing clips of his late mother, Padmé and the fall of the Galactic Republic, in the midst of the Dark Nest Crisis, he has realized that the Jedi and politics don’t always mix well. He also sees the way the interference of the Republic may have contributed to the fall of Anakin Skywalker as he turned to the Dark Side. In fact, he calls for a separation of the Republic and the Order, declaring himself Grand Master. The politicians that have been influencing the Jedi Order are ousted, and only Jedi sit on the Council now. During the war with the Yuuzhan Vong, rogue Jedi operated across the galaxy, kind of tending to their own needs and wants. Luke pulls the plug on that, recalling all Jedi from non-Order business. A few Jedi, such as Danni Quee and Tenel Ka rescind their status as Jedi, continuing to focus on their place in the galaxy apart from the Order. Unfortunately, these are not the only changes the now Grand Master Luke Skywalker is considering ending the Killik threat. One way he is considering this is assassination, talking about it with his nephew Jacen Solo. They start to believe that if they kill Raynar Thul, the leader of the Killik Dark Nest, they can end the Dark Nest trilogy. Luke is unknowingly heading down a dark path, one that is starting to show in the recordings R2 is showing him of his father, Darth Vader.
Tensions open in the Jedi Order. Lowbacca and Tahiri hear about Luke and Jacen’s idea of assassinating Raynar, which gives them pause. Luke, as the new Grand Master of the Order, exiles them to Dagobah in an effort to get them to reaffirm their loyalty to the Order. The exiled Jedi don’t see their battle with Luke as one of being disloyal, but coming from their loyalty to the Order. Luke also learns Jacen mind-wiped Ben after a recent mission, thinking they had come from Endor. Jacen admits he mindwiped Ben, but claims it was about monsters and Ewoks, when in reality he was concealing the knowledge Ben had about Jacen being a father.
After their last battle, Luke Skywalker also believes that he needs to end the leader of the Killiks in general, Lomi Plo. Though she is not the public face of the Nest, because that role belongs to Raynar, she is the shadow leader. She is powerful in the Force, and if she is allowed to continue leading the forces, the galaxy may be in for a greater threat than the Killiks. After battles at Nickel One and Sarm, Luke has a chance to battle Lomi Plo. While he is learning more about his past, seeing Anakin’s descent into the dark side, he may not be seeing it within himself. In fact, recent attacks at Thyferra suggest the Killik have control of the major bacta supplier for the galaxy. During the battle, Mara Jade is wounded, almost fatally. Luke and Jacen watch the rest of R2’s footage about Anakin’s relationship with Padmé, learning that Anakin/Vader didn’t deal the final wound that killed Padmé. This helps him, and lifts some of the fear Lomi used against him in their battles.
As Luke considers what to do about Lomi, a battle rages on a planet named Tenupe. The Chiss have a bioweapon designed to wipe out the Killiks, which Jaina, Han Solo and Leia Organa-Solo, find terrible and do everything they can to disarm it. Leia and Saba travel to the planet to disarm this bomb as well, leading to a battle between Leia and Alema. Leia digs into her abilities in the Force to summon a beast to take Alema away, leaving them to believe the battle is over. Luke leads a contingent of Yuuzhan Vong Hunters after Raynar Thul, hoping to bring him out of the Killiks telepathic control, either through death or being persuaded otherwise, a recent change in his attitude toward the leader. As he battles Raynar, though, Lomi confronts him. Raynar takes off Raynar’s arm, but then duels Lomi in a one-on-one battle ending in her death. She tried to use her power over the Force, which preys on their fear and brings it to the surface, but as he has processed all that happened with Vader, he is able to defeat her. This ends the Swarm War.
The future of the Jedi Order, though, is just beginning. Leia is Knighted as a full Jedi Knight, and Grand Master Luke Skywalker looks forward to the future of the Jedi. But a darkness is brewing within the Order, as Vergere’s teaching still works in the heart of Jacen Solo. The Order now has to consider the Legacy of the Force…
You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisWerms, and of course, you can follow the Manor on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor!
Legendary Adventures
The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime | Dark Tide Duology | Agents of Chaos: 1 – Hero’s Trial | 2 – Jedi Eclipse | Balance Point | Edge of Victory: 1 – Conquest | Edge of Victory: 2 – Rebirth | Star by Star | Dark Journey | Traitor | Destiny’s Way | The Force Heretic Trilogy | The Final Prophecy | The Unifying Force | The Joiner King| The Unseen Queen
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