By Joran Kael – The Kael Report
"Sometimes holding the line isn’t about victory. It’s about making sure there’s still a line to hold."
ARTISIA — THE INVASION BROKEN
The guns have fallen silent. The smoke drifts west with the wind. And on the scarred plains outside the capital, the fires of the Galactic Empire have burned out.After more than twelve hours of continuous combat, the invasion of Artisia has failed. The Galactic Alliance, supported by the Diarchy, the Lilaste Order, the Imperial Confederation, and the High Republic, has repelled the assault — though at staggering cost.
Artisia’s cities are wounded, its skies littered with the wreckage of war. But the defenders still stand.
THE BRIDGE HELD — AND NEVER BROKE
At the heart of the defense stood the Lilaste Order, dug in around their forward operating base near the bridge to the expansion ward. When the situation turned critical, Lilaste commanders made the call: the bridge was destroyed, cutting off the Imperial advance and halting enemy armor before it reached the inner city.The blast leveled the approach, creating a burning canyon of debris and severed durasteel. In the chaos that followed, Confederation reinforcements dropped into the line — battle groups from orbit, dispatched by the Imperial Confederation to reinforce the ground defense. Together, Lilaste and Confederation forces stabilized the perimeter and began a systematic counterassault.
By the end of the night, the line hadn’t moved an inch. The FOB still stands.
THE SKY AFTER THE FIRE — EMPIRES COLLIDE
The turning point came above. The Imperial Confederation committed its fleets fully to the battle, taking the brunt of the fighting in orbit and forcing the Galactic Empire into retreat. The Death Star III, once the unchallenged symbol of the Empire’s might, was destroyed by Federation forcesEyewitness reports confirm that one of the Empire’s own Star Destroyers collided with the station, tearing free the spire that contained the Emperor’s throne room while he was supposedly still inside. The floating wreck was later hijacked by unidentified pirate elements, its current location unknown.
The Galactic Empire’s chain of command has since gone dark.
THE HIGH REPUBLIC — A LIFELINE AMID RUINS
As the guns fell silent, High Republic transports descended through the atmosphere to evacuate survivors. Thousands of civilians are being ferried off-world aboard Republic medevac frigates. Their convoys remain active in orbit, coordinating with the Galactic Alliance Relief Corps to triage the wounded and stabilize planetary infrastructure.For the displaced, the High Republic has promised sanctuary — a rare moment of light in a war defined by shadow.
THE SITH ORDER — A DISTURBANCE DEFLECTED
The Sith Order, who appeared in-system during the invasion, have withdrawn with minimal losses. Their presence was brief, their purpose unclear — though sources inside the mercenary Guild confirm their objective was fulfilled.Rumors persist that the Galactic Empire’s assault was tied to a ritual attempt to fracture the Blackwall, a mythic barrier said to isolate the Sith Empire from the wider galaxy. If true, the massive civilian death toll may have been more than collateral damage — it may have been the point.
The Sith Order’s presence ensured that effort failed. Whatever disturbance was forming in the Core has reportedly been deflected.
THE ALLIANCE FRACTURED — AND SILENCE IN THE SENATE
Though the defense succeeded, the Galactic Alliance now faces new turmoil. The destruction of the majority of the Alliance navy has thrown the Senate into chaos. Leadership fractures are already emerging between military and civilian branches, and internal sources describe emergency sessions devolving into “open shouting matches.”For the first time since the formation of the Alliance, Planets are talking about total abandonment in favor of their own sector Defense fleets
THE PRICE OF DEFENSE
Artisia stands, but barely. Vast districts remain without power or shelter. Thousands are missing. Relief ships orbit overhead, their holds already full. The Lilaste Order maintains control of their FOB, turning it into a rally point for reconstruction and refugee coordination.The Imperial Confederation remains in system, patrolling the orbital perimeter — both as deterrence and as declaration. Their intervention made the difference between survival and annihilation.
The Galactic Empire has gone silent. The Black Sun’s fleets have withdrawn to their own sectors. And below the smoke and ash, the people of Artisia are beginning to count the cost of what it means to endure.
ASHES, ALLIANCES, AND THE QUIET THAT FOLLOWS
The bridge was destroyed to stop an army. The city was broken to save itself. The defenders held — not for power, or glory, but because no one else would.Artisia has become the first real line in a war that can no longer be ignored. What comes next will depend not on strength, but on what’s left after strength runs out.
"This is Joran Kael, and you’re watching The Kael Report — bringing you the truth, no matter where it leads."
