50 years later
The dimensional gate prototype has been completed, and the first network was established between Veldari and a few dozen worlds across the Imperium.
Standing in front of the one that was constructed on Veldari, Daimon was admiring its design, a massive ring that was thirty meters in diameter. Fifty Force engineers stood around the dimensional gate waiting to channel the Force and activate it.
"This is just the commercial version of the ring that will be used for Civilian travel between worlds. The military version of the dimensional gate is bigger and will be able to move thousands of troops at once." Cortana announced.
Daimon nodded, watching as the Force engineers took their positions around the ring. Each wore specialized robes embedded with small Kyber crystals filled with Daimon's own Force energy which helped channel their Force abilities through the gate's framework.
"Begin the activation sequence," Cortana commanded.
The Force engineers closed their eyes in unison, their breathing synchronizing as they entered the meditative state required for the gate's operation. The center of the gate began glow a white light and after a few moments, the light turned into a stable portal.
Through it Daimon could see the arrival platform on Rakata Prime, thousands of light years away, as clearly as if it were in the next room.
"Portal stability at ninety-eight percent," one of the technicians announced. "Energy consumption within predicted parameters. Force engineer vitals are stable."
A test drone was sent through first, its sensors recording every aspect of the journey. It emerged on Rakata Prime instantaneously, confirming that the dimensional gate functioned exactly as designed. No time dilation, no molecular degradation, just perfect transmission across galactic distances.
"Remarkable," Progenitor Thoryn breathed, standing beside Daimon. "We've actually done it. Instant travel across the galaxy."
"Communication, resource distribution, military deployment. This changes everything about how we can govern the Imperium." Daimon knew that a revolution was going to happen throughout the Imperium and they would need to prepare for the effects that would bring.
For now, the dimensional gate will just be used for civilians and transporting a limited number of goods between various worlds. But eventually once the dimensional gates get built for ship travel, shipping between worlds will changed, making some jobs obsolete.
They would have to come up with ways to prevent mass unemployment after certain shipping jobs become obsolete.
Daimon had already considered implementing retraining programs and transitioning those who worked in traditional shipping to other sectors of the economy. Mining, manufacturing, and terraforming operations constantly needed workers.
"What's the maximum operational time before the Force engineers need to rest?" Daimon asked.
"Currently twelve hours," Cortana replied. "After that, mental fatigue begins affecting portal stability. We're working on rotation schedules that will allow continuous operation, but we'll need at least two full teams per gate to maintain twenty-four hour availability."
"And the military gates?"
"Larger scale, as I mentioned. We're talking portals capable of passing dreadnoughts. Those will require two hundred Force engineers working in synchronization. The strain will be considerably greater, limiting operational time to perhaps six hours before rotation becomes necessary."
Daimon walked closer to the gate, feeling the way it warped space-time. The Force flowed through the structure in patterns that reminded him of living tissue. The Celestials had understood something fundamental about the universe that even he was only beginning to grasp.
"What about the power consumption?" asked Archon Garrik, who had joined them for the demonstration. "Even with the first Dyson sphere operational, we're drawing enormous amounts of energy."
"The sphere is currently operating at twelve percent capacity," Cortana replied. "We have significant reserves. Once the second and third spheres are completed, we'll have more than enough power for a galaxy-wide network and still maintain surplus for other projects."
"What security protocols do we have in place." Daimon asked as these gates were not something that they could allow to fall into enemy hands.
"I have fail-safes built into every gate. If anyone attempts unauthorized manipulation or tries to reverse-engineer the Force components, the gate will self-destruct. In addition to that, each gate has a quantum-locked core that requires specific Force signatures to operate. Only registered Imperial Force engineers can activate them, and their signatures are tied directly to genetic markers that can't be faked."
"Even with all that," Elara interjected, "we should form a security force exclusively for the gates."
"That was my next suggestion Elara," replied Cortana. "I was going to suggest that we create a security force called the Dimensional Gate Security Forces who direct and supervise the daily operation of the gates."
Daimon thought about it and came to the conclusion that it was a good idea to form an independent force for guarding the gates. "Approved. Draw personnel from the Veldari Armed Forces, then establish a dedicated training pipeline. I want veterans who understand both military tactics and Force-based technology." Cortana nodded as she had already started creating the layout of the new Security Forces.
The demonstration continued for another hour as various tests were conducted. Cargo containers were sent through, biological samples, even a volunteer technician who emerged on Rakata Prime reporting nothing more than a slight tingling sensation. By all measurements, the dimensional gate network was ready for limited deployment.
"Begin installation on the core worlds," Daimon ordered. "Veldari, Rakata Prime, and the industrial centers first. Once we've confirmed stable operations for six months, we'll expand to secondary systems." He didn't want to rush things without first making sure that everything worked over a period of time.
Following that was the testing of the only military dimensional gate which was connected to one of the border colonies. The gate could move 1,000 soldiers standing in a single line through the gate at once, which would be great for reinforcing frontline planets. These gates would be exclusively guarded by the military as they would only be used for military purposes only.
After several hours of testing the gates, it was decided that a year from now, the gates would be revealed to the public and then the wider galaxy. Daimon didn't care what the other empires thought, so long as he continued advancing the Imperium.
———
While new revolutionary technology was being creating in the Imperium, Darth Velan of the Sith Empire had decided to launch an assault on an Outer Rim world claimed by a Mandalorian clan. The assault was an attempt to provoke the Mandalorians into waging war against them so that the current Sith Emperor could be deposed and replaced by Darth Asid. Over the past 50 years, Darth Asid has been completely corrupted by the Dark Entity and was extremely powerful in the dark side.
The only thing stopping him now was the current Sith Emperor who wanted to not engage in war with the Mandalorians. But Darth Asid had other plans and had convinced one of the other Dark Lords to attack the Mandalorians first.
The attack took place on the Mandalorian colony of Ordo where a Sith fleet of three hundred ships emerged from hyperspace without warning and attacked the planet. Ordo was a frontier world that was lightly defended and populated by less than two hundred thousand people.
The Mandalorians, caught off guard by the attack scrambled to mount a defense against the invading Sith forces. But Darth Velan had chosen his target well. Ordo had little in the way of defenses and was outnumbered by Sith force five times their size.
Still, the Mandalorians managed to put up a fight. Their warrior spirit helped them to cause a lot of casualties to the Sith, but in the end, they were outnumbered and getting overrun.
Clan leader Jaster Ordo led the defense personally, rallying his warriors to the settlements walls. "Buy time for the evacuation!" he ordered, "Get the children to the ships!" he wanted to get the non-combatants out of the city immediately so that they could focus on defending more important areas.
The Sith attack was quick and efficient as they weren't here just to conquer; they were here to send a message. Warriors fell one after another and buildings were burned as the Sith advanced into the city. Darth Velan himself descended to the battlefield and began to cut down Mandalorian warriors with ease.
The Mandalorians, who did not understand the power and abilities of Darth Velan were defeated quickly. Eventually Darth Velan arrived in the area where Clan leader Jaster Ordo was located. The two stood face to face, studying one another.
"You lead these people to their deaths," Darth Velan said, "Surrender, and I will grant you a true warrior's death."
Jaster couldn't speak the language that Darth Velan was speaking, but he knew that he was trying to challenge him, so he raised his sword in retaliation.
And so it began, the first fight between a Mandalorian and a Sith Lord.