Countdown to Destruction is the thirty-first installment in the Untitled New Sith Wars series by Sakaros. After a year of war, Jedi Master Kussam Bnodd and Sith Overlord Darshkére come to their final clash.
Opening Crawl[]
Excerpt[]
| Source: Countdown to Destruction | Attribution: Sakaros |
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1 hour ago "Ma'am, the outermost cruisers are reorienting to track our progress," Lieutenant Tarscon reported. "They're accelerating to attack speed." "Will they be in range of us before we can hit the Triumphant Successor?" Tarscon bent over a crewer's station for a moment. "At pace, they might reach our outlying ships, ma'am." It's about time he did something sensible. Aloud, Captain Tetri Oraldos said, "Acknowledged. Keep me informed." Darshkére's fleet—if the remnants that had stayed loyal could really still be called a fleet—had assembled to meet the Republic at Llanic in an absurd V formation. Darshkére's flagship, the Triumphant Successor, lay at the point of the V, closest to Llanic, with two cruisers flying close support; there might have been some scant military logic in making the Republic run the gauntlet—though they would have simply picked off the enemy ships two at a time—but Darshkére had positioned half his support ships out of firing range. There would be a firefight closer to the apex, of course, but even if the entire Imperial fleet had been in range, the Republic still outnumbered them three to one. The distant point of light that was the Triumphant Successor was starting to look like a ship; when the destroyer took shape, it would be time for the end. It was, Tetri thought, a fitting coda to Darshkére's bizarre career. The upstart Overlord had always been unorthodox, but of late, lack of orthodoxy had translated to lack of effectiveness.
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| Characters | Creatures | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
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Plot Summary[]
Tetri Oraldos, captain of the Republic destroyer Visions of Temalir, prepares an assault on the Triumphant Successor, flagship of Sith Overlord Darshkére, while she and Jedi General Kussam Bnodd reflect on the events that led Darshkére to the precipice of defeat.
One year before, Darshkére overthrows and kills his Sith master, Zirist Lakalt, and seizes control of his fleet. Pledging his loyalty to Vedya Gasald, Darshkére becomes one of her anointed Sith. After her defeat Allanteen, while the Republic plans next steps, Darshkére defies expectations by successfully leading the Imperial fleet back to "safe" Imperial territory in Operation Back Door. Surprised by Darshkére's boldness and success, Bnodd reassesses him as a threat and dedicates his fleet to defeating Darshkére.
Over the following months, Darshkére's forces check and sting Bnodd's, but Bnodd wins a series of victories, including killing Darth Nyewlk'ek at the Battle of Ando. As Darshkére withdraws forces from contested systems and funnels resources to Lakalt's former strongholds of Eriadu and Sullust, both Republic Intelligence and his own Lords conclude he is planning to either give up swaths of territory and retreat, or simply to desert the Empire to reestablish his own kingdom. Some of his Lords begin plotting against him, viewing it as their duty to the Council of Five, while Bnodd tries to pin Darshkére down before he can escape.
While Bnodd identifies a chance to catch Darshkére at Llanic, the Council of Five sends Lord Ko Davad, leader of the Furies, to assess the situation in person and remove Darshkére if necessary. Darshkére and Ko come face to face, but Darshkére persuades Ko to give him a day to win. At the Battle of Llanic the next day, Darshkére successfully pins Bnodd with his fleet, causing massive destruction to the Republic fleet. Darshkére and Ko board Bnodd's flagship, the Visions of Temalir, where Darshkére duels and kills Bnodd.
In the aftermath of the battle, the devastated Republic force sues for an exchange of prisoners, while Darshkére rededicates his forces to conquest in the Empire's name.
Behind the Scenes[]
Countdown to Destruction is the first UNSWS installment to include multiple POV sections in a single chapter; Sakaros was committed to the "countdown" format, but felt using only a single perspective left too much out of certain chapters.
The 3DO protocol/service droid existed circa 4,000 BBY, and the 3PO-series protocol droid was in production circa 112 BBY. Sakaros considered the series's location roughly two-thirds of the way from the first date to the second, adjusted for periods of developmental stagnation related to the Great Galactic War and the New Sith Wars, and decided Cybot Galactica would have been on the 3LO series around the time of the series. Sakaros does not know how not to overthink such things.
Shout-outs include:
- The installment was named for a pivotal episode in Power Rangers in Space.
- When Darshkere tells Asanaldi Tyrn Kaseias to trust him, she responds, "I will", then corrects to "I do." This mirrors dialogue between Morpheus and Link early in The Matrix Reloaded.
The Bottom Line Up Front is a communication principle codified in U.S. Army Regulation 25–50.