The Dark Nest survives! The telepathic Killik, thought to be destroyed, have moved their focus from the Chiss border to war with the New Republic.
One year ago, a battle broke out between the Killik, a telepathic insectoid species, and the Chiss, the reclusive aliens that live at the edge of Wild Space. The New Republic was petitioned to intervene in the struggle, bringing the Jedi against the Killik. As the Jedi unraveled the mystery of the Killik, some were affected by a telepathic connection shared between the aliens. They use their telepathic abilities to communicate with one another, building a sort of hive mind. There is a specific hive mind that proved especially pernicious to the Jedi, the Dark Nest. Alema Rar, a Jedi who was part of the Myrkr mission, became a part of the Dark Nest, eventually leading them as the public face of the Dark Nest. Since the hive mind can connect to non-Killik, it’s a little more insidious than originally imagined. Jaina Solo and Zekk, for example, are still greatly connected by the telepathy, trying to use it to their advantage. They uncover a connection between the Killiks and some smugglers they were hiding.
The whole range of Jedi go to investigate the smugglers, including Leia Organa-Solo, Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade-Skywalker, and other dignitaries like C-3PO and Han Solo. The group travels to the home the New Republic gave to the Killik in the Utegetu Nebula. They were given this portion of space in order to ease the tensions between them and the Chiss over their shared border. Unfortunately, the Nebula may not be a great home for the Killik, as it is infected with something called the Fizz. No one, at the time, knows what Fizz is, knowing only that the Fizz is specifically killing the Killik. This reveals a few grudges the Killik hold. First, it turns out that the Dark Nest is led by the wife of a late Imperial, a banker who was killed by Mara Jade when she acted as the Emperor’s Hand. Second, the Killik as a whole believe that the New Republic gave them the Nebula they’re in as revenge for the trouble they caused across the galaxy.
Tensions grow between the Jedi and both the New Republic and the Killik. Chief of State Cal Omas, at a funeral for a general in the military killed by smugglers hidden by the Dark Nest, promises revenge against the entire Killik species. He specifically challenges the Jedi to end the problem with the Killik before he does so with even greater force; and retribution on the Jedi, as well. Alema Rar says that she will help Luke both in staying away from the Jedi as they combat the Fizz and by revealing more information on his parents. She releases more information from R2’s databanks, showing snippets from his life in the days leading up to the formation of the Galactic Empire. There is even a little tension building in specific Jedi, like Jacen Solo. He learns from Tenel Ka he is a father, and since the baby is Hapan royalty, the fact they are unwed is a problem. The two vow to work something out for the baby as they combat an assassination attempt against her. Jacen uncovers that Tenel’s grandmother was working with the Killik to create the attempt on her life in exchange for new technology. Unfortunately for the Jedi, Jacen’s descent down the dark path led him to torture this information out of his grandmother, rather than asking for it. Ever since his teaching from Vergere, Jacen has been haunted by visions of war and has been questioning the Jedi Order. Seeing his family put in peril has forced him down an even darker path, one that causes a rift between him and his sister, Jaina.
Answers on the Fizz come too late, as Cal Omas runs out of patience for solving the problem with the Killik. As Luke and Han continue to investigate the Fizz, they are imprisoned by Alema Rar, who wants to turn them into Joiners. Luke is granted more scenes from Anakin’s life, this time seeing Operation: Knightfall. As the two are imprisoned, they deduce the Fizz is a chemical agent that has been turned on the Killik. Back on Coruscant, scientists are able to discover the nature of the Fizz: it is an agent that comes from the beginning of the Nebula. Somehow, the Fizz works to destroy anything that does not evolve naturally in the Nebula. These answers can’t stop Cal from appointing Corran Horn as leader of the Jedi, and both he and Jacen lead attacks on the Killik. Cal Omas also orders a blockade around the Nebula, one that both Leia and fellow Jedi Saba Sebantyne and Luke have to run.
The titular unseen queen is revealed in a battle with Luke Skywalker. He duels with a former Jedi, now leader of the Dark Nest, named Lomi Plo. Somehow, Plo uses the dark side to remain invisible and feeds off the doubt of others. Alema Rar, as the public leader of the Dark Nest, battles Leia Organa. Both Luke and Leia are able to win their battles, but neither end the war. In fact, it truly begins in earnest with Plo and Rar teaming up to become even stronger against the Jedi. Begun, the Swarm War has….
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
Essential Legends Collection: Revan | Deceived | Darth Bane: Path of Destruction | Darth Bane: Rule of Tw0 | Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil | Darth Plagueis | Shatterpoint | Kenobi | Rogue Squadron | Rogue Squadron: Wedge’s Gamble | Rogue Squadron: The Bacta War | Heir to the Empire | Dark Force Rising | The Last Command |