One thing before you start reading. I won't be referring to the android Lana and Ruby as Android Lana or Android Ruby, but rather just as Lana and Ruby. Anyways, that's all.
Seeing a sphere of lightning rushing towards her at a speed she couldn't see. Android Ruby had gotten from sleep mode after experiencing a memory of the real Ruby. She sat up, thinking about what she remembered. She went over to the dresser across the quarters, picking up a lightsaber identical to the one Lana gave Ruby, and stared at it.
"Are these... nightmares I'm having?" She asked herself.
Lana had walked in on her as the Commander's captain and Renwil waited outside. She looked up at the taller android, placing the lightsaber aside.
"Come, my love...its time." She said, taking Ruby's hand and walking out of the room.
Walking along the hallway with her, Renwil, and the captain, she stood at the right side of Lana as an apprentice always would.
"Captain, are the turbolasers primed and ready?" Lana asked the captain.
"Yes, my lady. I double checked with the weapons chief." He replied, putting a smile on Lana's face.
"Good." She said.
A few moments went by, the group had reached the bridge of the Commander. Lana and Ruby both looked outside of the window of the large Star Destroyer, hovering above a forested area and above Cinder Actual, the bunker where Torian's New Republic allies were waiting. One of the bridge's officers had walked up to Lana and the captain with confirmation.
"My lady, captain...we have Cinder Actual targeted and locked. Ready to fire on your word." He reported as he waited for a response from her.
"Thank you, lieutenant. You may fire when ready." She replied as the lieutenant nodded upon hearing her reply.
"With Varin Cole out of the picture, my lady, things will be much easier." Renwil said to her as the sound of the turbolasers were heard coming from all three ships.
"Tell me again, Renwil...why can't we just convince Jek 'Nrahom to side with us?" She asked the one question Renwil and the captain avoided, but decided to come with a clean answer, and a lie.
"He was...instrumental in the New Republic's attack on the Fortress. He disabled the turbolaser batteries defending the structure, causing your injuries." He replied.
"But we did manage to chase him off, my lady...he wouldn't be much trouble to us now. He's alone." The captain continued Renwil's response.
"Very well. If he was responsible for both the Fortress' destruction and my injuries, then I declare Jek 'Nrahom, and everyone who sides with him, an enemy of the New Empire. Traitors will be dealt with swiftly, and with no mercy! Allow everyone in the New Empire to know that!" She spoke up, gathering the attention of the entire command bridge crew, Renwil, the captain, and Ruby.
As the turbolasers began firing on the bunker, the New Republic soldiers heard and saw the lasers coming their way. The sergeant attempted to alert Torian and his superiors but wasn't fast enough as the bunker was destroyed, collapsing on everyone within. Lana had a villainous smile on her face, and let out a small chuckle.
The antenna dish had fallen down, losing its support to stay up as the structure up went in flames. All of the data and information of the Old Empire as well as the equipment, weapons, and supplies used by Jek's forces were now buried under all the rubble. And the secrets below were forever lost, and to never be found.
As the New Republic dropship flew towards Beacon Academy, Torian and Yang talked about the message and speculated what route High Command would take to dealing with this seemly resurrected Lana Beniko.
"But despite all that, it doesn't really make sense, Yang. I know that Skywalker killed Lana when the Fortress was destroyed, your...sister said that. Before she left." He replied to her speculation about what if Lana wasn't at the Fortress.
Yang sighed, talking about her sister was a subject she didn't really like to get on. But at the same time, she missed Ruby a lot, and was unaware of her death.
"I'm just speaking my mind, Torian. I mean we weren't there, right? So there's no telling if she was, I mean I'd believe my sister if she said that." She replied.
"Whatever happens, Yang, we should keep an open mind about High Command's decision. Whatever they decide anyways..." He finished.
One of the New Republic dropship pilots had walked through the door.
"Sir, we are making our final approach on the Valkyrie. We notified them of your arrival and High Command is waiting for you." He reported.
"Thank you, lieutenant." He replied.
Along the river leading to Beacon Academy was the Beacon itself, ruined and left as a reminder of the damage a single Shadow Guard could do to the New Republic. The captain of the ship also perished, believed to have been killed by Jek before it was scuttled. After the second battle of Mountain Glenn, and the public now knowing that the New Empire might be back, the Kingdoms' militia forces were on high alert as well as the New Republic itself, which was now under the command of a military leader.
As the dropship was given clearance to dock with the Valkyrie, Torian closed off their conversation by saying they'd continue it some other time to which she agreed. The doors opened and they made to the command bridge where they had High Command waiting.
While they were on the way, Ozpin and Ironwood were standing in front of the window on the bridge, looking out at the city of Vale with other MC80 cruisers visible.
"Guess this is the sight of when the Supreme Commander takes charge, James." Ozpin commented on the New Republic's sizable fleet above Vale.
"I'm just being prepared, Oz. You know this. Besides, with Leia...gone, this is now a military concern, not the Order's." He replied to his comment.
Ozpin sighed. "Its not me to say this, James, but that makes two of us. While I do think it is in your best intention to protect the people, I'd rather just keep the fleet out of sight and on stand-by." He replied.
An officer came up to them, getting their attention as they turned around. "Excuse me, sir, but everyone's ready." He said to them as they nodded.
"Thank you, Ward." He replied. They both had went to the command console.
Everyone was seated in their seats. Grand Master Luke Skywalker, Generals Han Solo and Lando Calrissian, Fleet Admiral Ackbar, the New Republic General of the Army, a few admirals and generals alongside some Jedi Masters who were commanders in the Defense Forces as well as three Huntsmen, and fireteam JNPR. James decided to start off the meeting first.
"Ahem. This meeting was called for a number of reasons, one of them being that Torian and Yang claim they have something that's much bigger than our current problems. They haven't told me yet but we'll know in a bit once they arrive." He said to the members of High Command as they waited.
"Permission to speak, sir?" Pyrrha asked Ironwood.
"Granted, Commander." He replied.
"I know you may have a plan already, but what are we going to do about the White Fang's raids on our supply freighters?" She asked about something that had been bothering the New Republic's logistics personnel since the first raid.
"I know you are worried about that, Commander. I've spoken with the colonel about it. You should speak to him later." He answered her question.
"I will, sir." She replied.
At the corner of his eye, he spotted Torian and Yang walk in and looked their way, causing everyone else to follow as well. Everyone's attention turned to them as they walked down to Ironwood. Torian saluted out of respect despite his position as a Mandalorian ally.
"Torian Cadera, glad you could join us." He said as he nodded in response to his salute.
"Thank you, Supreme Commander." He replied.
"Now that you're here, would you care to show us what you two found at the bunker?" He asked as Cadera loaded the message onto the console in front of them.
"After we captured the Imperials within the bunker Solo was kept in, we decided to poke around, see what they were doing, and all we found was data entries, logs, locations, all revolved around locating my younger sister Ruby Rose." Yang said, Luke and Ozpin began to think in their heads, the same with everyone else even JPR (Jupiter).
"And then after a while, the bunker received a message from what we think is a ship called the Commander." Torian continued. Luke, Han, and Lando then had an idea of what they might've found as they knew the Commander was the flagship of Lana Beniko, and that it was a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer.
"And this message?" The General of the Army asked.
Torian then played the message for them all. "Varin Cole, I am disappointed by your decision, it hurts me that you did not accept my invitation to be part of the resurrection of my Empire." He paused it before it was finished. Everyone had that one look on their faces upon seeing Lana. Luke was most definitely shocked.
He saw Lana die in his own arms that night, he was certain she was dead. Ozpin, James, Han, and JPR were also shocked, as Luke told them what happened. Hearing her say "resurrection of my Empire" had sparked a lot of thoughts within each of them, to think that Lana was resurrected was a much greater threat to the New Republic, Jedi Order, and the Mandalorians than anything else. Everyone turned to Luke, waiting for a response.
"I..." He was speechless. He didn't know what to say, knowing Lana died in his arms, he didn't want to believe she was still alive.
James turned off the hologram message. "I think... we all know my decision now." He said, everyone looked back at him.
A few hours later, Jek stood on a ridge overlooking the bunker. He saw the ruins in flames, still burning from the turbolaser fire hours earlier. He went with that his commander was dead, and all those who still followed him. The only thing he could do was contact Luna. And he did just that, and Luna answered.
"Luna." He said, catching the Faunus off-guard.
"M-my lord? Is there anything you need?" He asked.
"Yes. It appears that my...hideout was found. Is it possible for my arrival?" He answered and asked straight up, sounding strict.
"But wouldn't Jaina be able to sense your Force-sensitivity, my lord? She's Skywalker blood, isn't she?" He sounded concerned.
"I have been working on that. Empress Beniko gave me two lessons on masking my Force-sensitivity to match that of a weakling, to infiltrate our enemies. Its called Force Concealment." He remarked.
"Are you able to fully master this, my lord?" He asked curiously.
He sighed, getting out of the open. "I'll have to make do with what I have learned so far from the Empress, Luna. I will contact you again once I made my decision. Be prepared." He told him before ending the transmission between them.
He walked east towards the ocean separating Sanus and Anima from each other. Without a dropship, he had only one way to get to the other continent and that was to board a civilian ship, it also meant that he had to let go of his armour and helmet in order to blend in with the other people around him, much to his displeasure but it was the only choice he had.