(A/N)- So here is one of my other pet projects as far as Fanfiction writing goes. Originally I decided against uploading this anytime soon as I have three stories going already, however, I have several chapters done for this story already and I decided that it's not doing me much good just sitting in a folder on my PC. So against my better judgment, I am going to upload this for people to read and review however while I do work on this story quite often my focuses are still on my other three stories that I already have. The last couple of things I want to point out is that this is sort of AU as some things do change, aside from that there is also some bits of EU (Expanded Universe) in here as well. Lastly, this is Ezra x Sabine as far as romance is concerned so if you don't like them paired up that way then I recommend you move along or just skip any romance scenes. Without a further ado here is There are always Two Sides
There are always Two Sides
Prelude
The Lesson of War
Planet- Mandalore
Location- Imperial Navy Academy
Year- 3 years before the events of Star Wars Rebels Season 1
A class of Imperial Cadets at the Imperial Navy Academy on Mandalore waited in anticipation as their instructor had announced that a very important Imperial Offical would be coming into their classroom to give a speech about the Empire and Naval Warfare. In this class, there was a young Mandalorian girl named Sabine Wren. Sabine has tan skin, brown eyes and has short black hair she was dressed in an all white Imperial Uniform with the black Imperial symbol on the side. She was a grade five cadet despite this being her first year she had passed the entrance exam with flying colors giving her the rank of grade five. At this point in her life, she believed in the Empire and all that it stood for, peace, protection, and a united galaxy.
The classroom door suddenly opened and a man in an all gray Imperial uniform, the class awed at the man he was a Fleet Admiral as one could see by the layers of the pin to the right breast of his uniform. A Row of six blue bins on top with a row of six red pins at the bottom. The classroom instructor who was standing at the front of the room waiting for the guest to arrive outstretched his hand to greet the man. The was a white human male, with brown hair, no facial hair, and was in his early thirties. He greeted the instructor with the handshake and said
" Thank you for having me, instructor Corvax"
" Sir it is an honor to have you at this academy"
The Fleet Admiral nodded then let go of the instructor's hand. Instructor Corvax said
" I shall let you introduce yourself, sir, however, I think everyone here should recognize you."
" Yes I am quite well known throughout the Galaxy, however, there are many who don't know me"
Instructor Corvax proceeded to sit down at his desk as the Fleet Admiral began his speech
" For those of you who don't recognize me from holovids, news broadcasts and from Imperial Posters. I am Fleet Admiral Kale Saratoga, I command the Star Destroyer Peacekeeper and it is the flagship of Task Force Lawbringer"
Kale paused for a moment then proceeded
" Now before I jump into my speech I would like to know about some of you in this glass, many of you are older teenagers but some of you are still fairly young. So how many fourteen years old do we have here in this class"
Only one person raised their hand and that was Sabine Wren, she was embarrassed and blushed
Kale walked began to walk over to her and spoke directly to her
" Well only one, that's quite alright my dear is this first year at the Academy"
" Yes sir" She replied nervously
" Ahh very good and what is your name"
" Sabine Wren"
" a pleasure Cadet Wren," Kale said with a smile causing Sabine to loosen up
" Now the rest of you how many of you here are fifteen"
Half the class raised their hands
" Ahh I see half the class and sixteen"
Half the class raised their hand short of a few students Kale then proceeded to say
" Ok, so the rest of you are either seventeen or eighteen well very interesting, so many young talented minds decided to join our glorious Empire. It pleases me to see this as I did as you did when I was your age, except then the Empire was known as the Republic. Like you, I sat in those exact seats on a different world, but like you all, I was eager to learn and to fight for the Republic just like all of you I am sure are eager to learn and fight for the Empire. Now there is only one more thing I want to ask you all"
" How many of you are Grade, Five cadets," Kale asked
Ten students raised their hands most of them were older around the age of seventeen and eighteen, but one cadet that caught Kale's eyes before once more grabbed his attention
" Well, Cadet Wren yet again you must have done exceptionally well on the entrance exam to be grade five in your first year"
" Pardon the interruption Fleet Admiral Saratoga, but Cadet Wren is a very exceptional student she will make a fine officer some day"
" Instructor Corvax she will be more than just an Officer she will be a Grand Admiral...that's if you continue on this current course, Cadet Wren"
" Yes sir I will sir" Sabine replied eagerly
" Glad to hear it, now that's enough those of you who are grade five have most likely been assigned to study tactics used by various Admirals and Fleet Commanders throughout our Galaxies History."
" Well I am here to talk to you about War and more precisely Naval Warfare, War, in general, is exceptionally brutal it is not something I wish on anyone and it's not something you should wish to see. However it is a cruel part of our Galaxies history and there for the knowledge I have shall be passed down to you through books, documents, and memoirs written by me and a course these speeches."
Kale paused for a moment to let that all sink in before continuing
" I fought during the Clone Wars around your ages, I was a Cadet at the Republic Officer academy at age fourteen I was placed under the watch of a very excellent Republic Admiral who taught me everything I know, His name who still echoes the greatest of Imperial Admirals. Admiral Wulf Yularen, Yularen taught me a lot of things the academy could not teach me. The experiences I learned throughout the Clone Wars propelled my career in the Republic Navy, at age eighteen I was commanding my own small fleet and by the time of the Empire I was in my twenties leading an entire fleet of Star Destroyers and other various Imperial Warships."
" It was at this time that I learned that in order to defeat an enemy you must first know yourself and where you stand as a person, are you willing to cross certain lines. Second, you must know your enemy, not just their tactics and their capabilities, but their art, history, philosophy, and most importantly what they are fighting for. If you know these things you need not fear the result of a hundred battles for you will be victorious. If you know one and not the other then your victories will be hollow if you know neither then you have already lost the battle. This is a lesson all good military commanders should know whether there fighting in space, on the ground or in the ocean. All good military leaders know this one basic rule, now you are only Cadets but in time you will apply my words here to your own lives. It's just a matter of how and when."
Kale paused once again as the Cadets learned in their seats to hear this great war hero's advice
" Another lesson I learned during the war is that no matter what happens out on the battlefield. What you do at home, what you do in front of your men judges what kind of leader you are. Again this goes back to you must know yourself and the enemy. Now many of you I am sure are aware that are some things the Empire knows that you don't need to know...and that's all for a good reason, my young cadets. However I have clearance tell you one such thing the Empire does not want everyone to know, and this comes from my personal battle experiences. The Empire as a military whole is prideful many of our officers now days will not retreat they see it as cowardice and that's on the officers own self. Instructor Corvax used to command a Ship and he will be the first to tell you retreating is always a viable option, it is better to retreat than to waste ships and lives on pointless battles. If you have nothing to gain from fighting a battle then why are you fighting it?
As Fleet Admiral Kale Saratoga was finishing that part of his speech his comlink went off, he unattached from his belt and said
" Excuse me for one moment" Kale then turned it on and said
" Fleet Admiral Kale Saratoga here go head"
" Admiral Saratoga its Captain Neehlis we need you back on the bridge you have a priority one transmission incoming from Lord Vader"
" Very good Captain inform Lord Vader that I will be returning to my ship immediately," Kale said in a commanding tone
" Aye Sir" Captain Neehlis replied
Many of the students did not know who Lord Vader was but they knew if he was requesting a fleet Admiral personally then he must be a person of great importance, perhaps an Imperial Governor or Senator
" Unfortunately Cadets I must take my leave"
The Instructor stood up and said
" At attention present salute"
All the Cadets stood up and gave the Imperial salute, which was their arm crossed against their chest with a closed fist and then back down at their sides. Kale smiled and returned the salute before saying
" Long live the Empire and the Emperor"
The students remained at attention while Instructor Corvax walked outside the classroom with Kale
" Fleet Admiral Saratoga it was true honor having you here old friend"
" The honor was all mine Corvax give the head of the academy my thanks for having me, and...keep me up to date on Cadet Wren I might take her on as my personal student I see a lot of potential in that one" Kale replied casually
" A course Admiral" Corvax before saluting
Kale returned it and proceeded to walk down the Academy hallway, It would be the last time he would see Sabine Wren as an Imperial Loyalist the last message he got about her was that she had left and deserted the Imperial Academy.