Seraph Team Aurek deployed first. Their transport was an abandoned Separatist flagship stripped of insignia, running under dead transponders, and piloted by nano-droid clusters inhabiting the helm systems. The ship emerged from hyperspace above Yavin Prime's fourth moon and drifted into a slow, silent orbit.
From the hangar, the commandos assembled. Their armor was matte black, markings minimal, equipment optimized for information recovery rather than combat. The nano-droids flowed ahead of them as a silver haze, infiltrating the moon's thin upper atmosphere and guiding a descent corridor.
Sergeant Varro broke the silence while they prepped drop thrusters. "Always wanted to see one of these Jedi secrets. Figured they hid temples. Didn't think they built cities under moons."
Specialist Ryn checked charge levels on the data-siphon rigs. "Everything the Jedi touch turns into a mystery wrapped in more mysteries. Just hope the air down there is breathable."
The drop sequence commenced. Dark capsules streaked into the moon's surface and vanished into deep caverns carved by ancient machinery. The Lost City of the Jedi waited unseen beneath kilometers of rock terra-formed chambers, geothermal power conduits, bioluminescent gardens, and crystalline archives.
The nano-droids slipped in first microscopic reconnaissance units passing through fractures, vents, and ancient air ducts. Their sensor up-links mapped the internal layout with escalating clarity. A synthetic voice relayed in the commandos' helmets:
"Primary structure intact. Power source stable. No life-signs beyond residual fauna. Master computer located at coordinate cluster Theta-One-Three."
Varro keyed his mic. "Copy. Aurek Team descending to Theta grid."
The lift tubes still functioned powered by dormant systems that reactivated upon detection of movement. The team rode down in silence until the doors opened to an immense circular chamber.
The Lost City's master library stretched before them. Holographic star-maps remained suspended in stasis fields. Rows of databanks hummed with stored power. Shelves of manuscripts and bound volumes curved along the walls some printed on paper, others etched into metal, leather, or crystalline plates.
Ryn exhaled slowly. "This is stars above this is every world we've ever heard of and a thousand we haven't."
Corporal Jek approached a towering shelf, running a gloved hand over ancient bindings. "Why would anyone leave this down here? No one even remembers this place exists."
A nano-droid cluster emerged from a vent and coalesced into a hovering, fist-sized cloud. Its voice modulation carried no emotion. "Jedi archivists designated this location for long-term survival of knowledge. Probability calculations indicate preservation goals rather than concealment of power."
Varro gestured toward the master computer. "Let's get what we came for. Command wants it all."
The nano-droids interfaced with the computer core, unfolding like metallic pollen across the console. Download pathways opened, and petabytes began streaming into remote storage satellites hidden above the system. Holo-screens flickered to life displaying star charts, genealogies, histories of forgotten civilizations, planetary terra-forming logs, ancient wars, and pre-Republic treaties.
Ryn monitored progress. "Faster than expected. Whoever built this didn't lock it down hard."
Jek shook his head. "Or they trusted no one would ever find it."
Meanwhile, the nano-droid reconnaissance units evaluated the books and manuscripts. Their processors assessed structural fragility, scanned contents, and then called for retrieval.
"Organic texts optimized for manual extraction. Recommending physical evacuation."
The commandos moved quickly stacking tomes into hardened containers lined with shock-absorbent gel. Some volumes weighed more than armor plating; others threatened to crumble if handled too roughly.
Halfway through the sweep, Varro paused at a terminal displaying a planetary index.
"These records go back farther than the Republic. Some of these species aren't even around anymore."
The nano-droid cluster answered automatically: "Historical attrition normal. Extinction cycles cataloged. This repository confirms 4,392 sentient civilizations lost prior to Republic formation."
Ryn muttered, "And no one ever told the Senate any of this."
The download completed. Status lights turned white across the master computer. The nano-droids disengaged and formed a suspended mist above the console.
Varro gave the final instruction. "Order was clear. After extraction, the computer goes."
A demolition charge was fixed to the core. As the team withdrew, Jek looked back at the towering databanks.
"Hate to blow it. Feels like erasing part of the galaxy."
Varro replied sharply. "Mission isn't preservation. Mission is acquisition. Command doesn't want the Jedi getting this back."
The team boarded the lift and ascended. Once clear of the library, Varro triggered the demolition. The blast muffled itself within the chamber insulation, but the team still felt a tremor beneath their boots.
The nano-droids reported the aftermath calmly: "Core destroyed. Local collapse contained. Remaining knowledge secured."
The flagship departed orbit minutes later with cargo holds full of recovered knowledge. The commando commentary continued on the return flight.
Ryn leaned back against a crate. "We just stole the galaxy's memory."
Jek replied, "Then burned the backup."
Varro remained expressionless. "Orders complete. Next extraction awaits."
The nano-droids rested in containment fields, silent but processing cataloging, decrypting, cross-indexing. Their final assessment floated through the cabin speakers:
"Acquisition successful. Value: incalculable."
The Lost City fell back into darkness, minus its secrets. The Republic, the Separatists, and the Jedi would continue their war unaware someone else had just rewritten the terms of the future.