The stars shimmered through the viewport of the stealth frigate as Serion sat alone, deep in the Outer Rim, far beyond any charted hyperspace lanes. This region of space was dead. Silent. The Force here felt withered, yet somehow ancient like a relic left to rot by time itself.
"Approaching designated coordinates," HK-47's modulated voice echoed from the pilot's chair. "Query: Master, are you certain this world is not cursed or, perhaps, primed to annihilate all sentient life?"
cassian smirked. "It's what's buried beneath that matters."
He had spent months decoding the fragmented Rakatan data extracted from the vaults HK infiltrated. Pieces of ancient star maps, gravitational anomalies, and corrupted AI subroutines eventually led him here: to Lehon, the long-lost home world of the Infinite Empire.
As the ship descended through the dense, storm-choked clouds, the world came into view a shattered oceanic landscape filled with broken spires, corroded ziggurats, and the skeletal remnants of a once-planet-spanning civilization. Lightning danced between metallic towers, and great constructs loomed beneath the waves.
The Star Forge or what remained of it hung partially submerged off the coast, like a scar upon the ocean itself.
cassian stepped onto the surface, the air thick with static and memory. Ancient sentinels lay dormant, shattered by time. He placed his gauntleted hand on the Forge's inner hull.
"I've found you," he whispered. "You were built to dominate through the Force. But I don't need the Force. I have science."
HK-47 trailed behind, scanning the architecture. "Statement: This facility appears catastrophically broken, Master. However, preliminary scans indicate residual AI matrices buried deep within the structure."
"Exactly. That's what we're here for."
With careful precision, cassian began the process of restoring power to the ancient system not through the Force, but via reactors and Halo-derived solar collectors. He deployed dozens of autonomous drones and repair units machine intelligences that worked without rest, swarming over the fallen titan like scavengers rebuilding a god.
As night fell, Serion activated his neural link and connected with the remnants of the Star Forge's central AI.
At first, there was only darkness and static.
Then: a whisper.
"Unknown interface... you are not Rakata... yet you carry echoes of their code... what are you?"
"I am Serion," he said flatly. "I am the future."
The fragmented AI flared. Memories spilled across his mind thousands of years of conquest, slavery, and creation. The Star Forge had once consumed suns and life itself to birth fleets of war. Now, cassian would turn it into something new reforged in solar purity and technical precision.
"I'll make you better. No Force. Just light. Just will."
Behind him, HK-47 adjusted its rifle. "Observation: This would be more inspiring if the structure wasn't bleeding entropy, Master."
The rebuilding process would take time, years perhaps. But Serion was patient. This Forge would be his final card, the blade he would wield when the Republic fell, and the Empire gave way to whatever darkness Palpatine summoned next.
He tapped his wrist pad and opened a secure channel.
"Father. I want to show you something."
Back on Zereth Prime, cassian's father stood overlooking the orbital station that now functioned as the central node of Cassian Spaceyards. The massive scaffolding of his son's influence could be seen in every direction ships, drones, weapon systems evolving far beyond what Republic or Confederacy minds could match.
When Serion's image appeared, his father blinked, surprised by his son's gaunt appearance and quiet voice.
"I need to show you something important," cassian said. "I want you to understand what I've been doing… and why."
The transmission fed into a real-time hologram, displaying the half-rebuilt Star Forge surrounded by artificial satellites and solar arrays, basking in the light of a dwarf star. The magnitude of what Serion was building stunned his father into silence.
"You're... rebuilding it?"
"Yes. But not as it was." cassian stepped into frame. "No slavery. No Force-feeding. No dark will guiding it. I've rewritten the AI, adapted the core architecture to run on tech and sun-fed reactors. It will birth machines, fleets... even weapons. All without touching the Force."
His father stared for a long time. "You could take everything, cassian. Republic, Empire... all of it."
"That's not the point." cassian's voice hardened. "I've seen where this galaxy is going. Jedi, Sith they're just two blades of the same broken sword. And Palpatine… he's not the final threat. I've seen echoes of something else. Something outside."
His father stepped closer to the transmission pad. "You've always gone further than anyone. But this…"
"I need you with me," cassian said. "Not just as a figurehead. I want you to undergo Spartan modification. I've refined the process perfect gene therapy, neural enhancement, shielded bone lattice. You'll become something more. You'll live longer. Think faster."
The silence between them stretched.
Then, his father nodded slowly. "If we are to survive what's coming… then yes. I'll stand by you."
cassians allowed himself a rare smile.
They would be ready.