5 ABY, the planet 5251977

Inside the room, it was dark and stuffy, compliments to the two dozen people stuffed into it. Among the New Republic soldiers in the room were, Mon Mothma, Admiral Ackbar, General Calrissian, and Thane Kyrell. A holographic image of a planet appeared above the table in the centre of the room, written above the image was 'Jelucan'. For a moment Thane's breath caught in his throat as he recognized his home world.

"This" said Mon Mothma "is Jelucan. A planet in the Outer Rim, it is still under Imperial control. The New Republic has seen fit to liberate it and give them the opportunity to join us."

Admiral Ackbar spoke next, "your job is to infiltrate the capital city of Valentia and destroy the stormtrooper garrison there, and to capture the Imperial governor, alive."

Next to speak was General Calrissian, he said "I'll lead a few squadrons to engage what Imperial defences remain, the squadron's I'll be leading are:"

Thane waited, listening to know if his squadron would be in space, or on the ground.

"Green Squadron," continued the general, "Gold Squadron, Red Squadron, and Wraith Squadron.

Thane let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in.

"The rest of you will infiltrate Valentia and do as Admiral Ackbar has ordered, once you've completed your mission you will signal us and we'll come and pick you up, as soon as we finished off the Imperial fighters."

As if on cue, everybody in the room left, many of them went to prepare their fighters, while Thane got combat ready, strapping on his blaster and some thermal detonators, just in case the stormtroopers decided to put up a fight. Which they will, Thane knew, he knew all about their refusal to surrender, from both his academy training and from seeing them firsthand when fighting with the Rebel Alliance and, now, the New Republic. Ciena. The thought came to him unbidden. Ciena Ree, the woman he'd known for over a decade, the woman he loved, the woman who was now in a New Republic prison cell, convicted of war crimes due to her involvement fighting against the rebels at Hoth, Endor, Jakku, among others. The last time he'd seen her he had promised to pull a few strings and get her freed and she had promised to go back to the Empire because of her stupid oath. She'd crashed her star destroyer on Jakku; she'd rather die than serve the Empire for another hour. The thought of what would have happened to Ciena had Thane not boarded the Inflictor barely had time to register in his mind before a voice boomed throughout the entire base, saying "all soldiers to your ships. The liberation of Jelucan is underway". For a moment Thane just stood there, he was going back to Jelucan, his planet, his home. No, not his home, not really, his real home was wherever Ciena was. He made his way to the hangar, where he found a small transport vessel waiting for him and the rest of the ground troops. Among the ground team he spotted Yendor, his fellow pilot in Corona Squadron, along with Kendy Idele, his former classmate at the Royal Imperial Academy on Coruscant. Yendor was a blue-skinned Twi'lek and his lekku hung down his back, while Kendy was a fellow human with long, dark green hair. Yendor entered the transport as Kendy spotted him; she walked over and said "Ciena?" Thane merely said "the same." Kendy and Ciena had been roommates at the Academy, but Ciena didn't yet know that Kendy fought for the New Republic. Jude Edivon had also been her and Ciena's roommate, but Jude was dead. She had been aboard the first Death Star when it was destroyed by Luke Skywalker over Yavin IV. Sometimes, Thane still mourned for Jude, but she had died five years ago, and there was no point focusing on the past when a planet had to be liberated now. Not just any planet. Thane and Ciena's home planet.

General Dax Rennard stood at the door to the transport, he saw Kendy and Thane standing there and said to them "are you guys coming or what, we've got a planet to free"