News of the Empire's defeat at Endor spreads like wild fire. This battle was a pivotal moment in the Galaxy. This was the beginning of the end of the Empire. The deaths of Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader dealt a powerful blow to the Empire. The Empire was now on it's last legs as the Rebel Alliance was on the verge of victory. But as the one empire was on it's final days, another was on the rise. As the Empire was falling, X1 under Dark Ace's orders had assembled his fleet on Cyclonia. In the Sith Temple, Dark Ace meets with Darth Cyclonis who was overlooking the Mass Shadow Generator of Tulak Hord. As he approaches her, Dark Ace kneels before the ancient Sith Lord. 

Dark Ace: My master, X2 has gathered his fleet and brought them to Cyclonia. 

Darth Cyclonis: Very good, my apprentice. 

Dark Ace: I have just recieved word that the second Death Star has been destroyed by the Rebels. The Emperor and Vader were killed. 

Upon hearing this, Darth Cyclonis was satisfied at the news. She had been waiting the opportunity to overthrow the Emperor. With him dead, the Empire was now vulnerable. In this fall came an opportunity for the ancient Sith Lord. 

Darth Cyclonis: This is the opportunity we have been waiting for. With the false Emperor dead, the Empire is no longer a threat. Now we may act upon our ambitions. 

Dark Ace: What of the Rebellion? 

Darth Cyclonis: The war with the Empire has greatly weakened them. They do not have the resources to maintain control of the Galaxy. With our fleet, we can finish off the Rebellion and reclaim the Galaxy. 

Darth Cyclonis reflected on this with glee. Never in wildest dreams had she been this close to total domination of the Galaxy. Her ambitions had finally paid off. She had returned to the Galaxy with nothing but her mastery of the Force. Now she had outlasted her former rivals as well as outlast the Galactic Empire. The balances of power in the Galaxy had changed and Darth Cyclonis was ready to take full advantage of the situation. 

Darth Cyclonis: Everything is moving as I have foreseen it. The heretic's empire is breathing it's final breath. The Jedi are all but extinct and the Galaxy is within our grasp. 

Dark Ace: What of the girl?

Darth Cyclonis: She knows of the threat we pose on her allies. She will come to us. This will be her final chance. She will join us or die. Now let us prepare for out conquest. 

In that moment, Darth Cyclonis prepared for her final conquest of the Galaxy. She would strike at the weakened Rebel Alliance. With her newly formed fleet, Darth Cyclonis had the means to initiating her endgame. Centuries of patience would finally pay off. Meanwhile onboard the Home One Star Cruiser, Piper along with Aerrow and X2 met with Admiral Ackbar and General Leia Organa on the bridge. Piper bowed her head while Aerrow and X2 saluted them.

Ackbar: At ease! 

Leia: I would like to commemorate you and the Storm Hawks for your bravery on Endor. Thanks to you, our attack was an astounding success. 

Piper: We only did our part, your highness.

Leia: No need to call me that, Master Jedi. Leia will do. 

Piper: Thank you, Leia. 

Leia: Endor was only the beginning. Destroying the second Death Star showed the Galaxy that the Empire is not invincible. We've shown them that hope can prevail. 

Piper as well as Aerrow and X2 took pride in what they had done. Despite this victory, there was still one concern in Piper's mind. 

Piper: What of the Inquisitor Dark Ace?

Leia: I'm having my best people searching the Galaxy with him. He disappeared shortly before Endor. 

Ackbar: He wasn't alone. Intel shows that the Imperial Commander X1 has gathered a large fleet of Imperial Star Destroyers. 

Aerrow: Do you know where they were going?

Ackbar: No. We had to focus our resources for the attack on the Death Star. 

X2: With the Death Star gone, now we can focus on finding both X1 and Dark Ace.

Leia: I'm afraid it won't be that simple. Defectors from the Empire inform me of Operation: Cinder. From what they told me, the Empire is launching a scorched earth campaign to destroy Imperial worlds to leave nothing behind for the New Republic. 

Upon hearing this, Piper as well as Aerrow and X2 were deeply disturbed by this. It seemed that even in the face of defeat, the Empire sought to unleash untold destruction in the Galaxy with it's final breath. 

Piper: What should we do?

Ackbar: The intel from the defectors will prove useful in our efforts to stop Operation: Cinder. 

Leia: But I have a special mission for the Storm Hawks. If what you've told me is true, then the Dark Ace is preparing something terrible and it cannot bode well for the Galaxy. I have faith that you will succeed. 

Upon hearing this, Piper took a moment to process this. For years, the Dark Ace had chased after her to turn her to the Dark Side. Along the way, he had brought her great pain. 

Piper: I'm ready to end this, Leia. 

Leia: You won't go alone. While we cannot spare much troops and ships, Dove and her squadron has already volunteered to join you on her mission. And if I'm not mistaken, you have a capable Captain with an even more capable ship at your disposal. 

Piper: We won't let you down. 

Leia: Good luck, Storm Hawks. May the Force be with you. 

With that, the Storm Hawks had been given their mission. They would search the Galaxy for Dark Ace as well as the ancient Sith Lord Darth Cyclonis. The mission wouldn't be easy, but they were more than ready to take on this mission for the sake of the Galaxy.