The Lambda class shuttle landed with a resounding thud in the hanger day, the engines powering down from the long flight.

Inside its bay, Grand Admiral Thrawn stood from his seat, ready to face the day ahead. One that would no doubt be full of politicking and arguing, as was the standard for most imperial meetings these days.

Why the Emperor had insisted that Thrawn go ahead to analyse the situation first was beyond the Chiss, but Thrawn did not question. He was loyal to his Emperor, and would do his bidding.

Even if it meant dealing with the likes of Tarkin, and other power hungry zealots.

Thrawn didn't know much about this top secret experimental project he had been sent to report on, only that it was some new kind of battle station, and that it was the pride and joy of Director Orson Krennic.

Thrawn had never met the man in person, only hearing news of him through rumours and hearsay. From what he had heard, Krennic sounded like just another power hungry despot.

Exactly the sort of person Thrawn despised if he was honest.

Still, they were allies against the growing rebellion. And whatever this battle station was was clearly important to the Emperor's plans, otherwise he would not be coming to visit it personally.

Thrawn's attention was shifted as the ramp of the shuttle descended. It was time to face the welcoming committee.

Proceeding to walk down the ramp with his usual gait, Thrawn was unsurprised to see what awaited.

The hanger bay was chaos. Troopers and Officers ran about, trying to do some kind of duty. Various droids scuttled around, delivering information or just generally being a nuisance.

And there, a short distance away and marching straight towards him were two human males.

Thrawn recognized Tarkin immediately. The man reeked of arrogance and self-superiority. But he was competent enough, so the Emperor kept him around.

The second man was shorter than Tarkin, and had peculiar fashion choice, not that Thrawn was an expert in that himself. The man sported a white uniform, much like his own, but seemed to have a billowing cape attached to his back.

Thrawn resisted the urge to laugh at the sight of it. Who wore a cape like that?

"Grand Admiral Thrawn, it's a please to finally meet you. I am Director Orson Krennic."

Ah, so that's who he was. Thrawn had to say he was surprised. When he had heard of this Krennic, he had envisioned someone a bit more… intimidating.

Still, Thrawn was use to appearances being deceptive.

"Yes Director, it is a pleasure to meet you to." Thrawn replied, shaking the hand the Director presented to him.

Behind Krennic, Tarkin rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically.

Barely three seconds in the same room and Thrawn already wanted to punch him. Oh well.

"I trust the Emperor is with you?" Krennic's eyes seemed to light up at the mention of the Emperor, as if he was some sort of child expecting praise.

'Just what exactly is this station?' Thrawn thought. From space, it had the appearance of a small moon like construct. Perhaps a mobile headquarters for the Emperor? Or a garrison for the troops?

Regardless, it mattered little at the moment. No doubt Thrawn would find out in time.

"I'm afraid not Director. The Emperor was preoccupied with personal issues on Coruscant. He will arrive within the fortnight however."

Krennic's face shrunk a little, before acceptance came over his face, as well as pride.

"I understand Grand Admiral. In the meantime, I offer my hospitality to you and any companions you have brought with you."

Thrawn nodded. Krennic seemed polite enough. Perhaps Thrawn had misjudged him.

Tarkin chose that moment to speak up.

"Colonel Yularen arrived this morning as well. We now merely await the Emperor and a few other of the Grand Moffs."

Tarkin was talking about the annual imperial leadership meeting that they had every year, in which the key members of the imperial hierarchy all met to discuss plans and problems, as well as allocation of funding and resources.

This would not be Thrawn's first time the meetings, and while they were useful, they were not half tedious.

Clearly however, it was Krennic's first time being invited to such a meeting.

"Yes, all should be in place for the 'Meeting of the Moffs'. I am honoured to host the event this year." Krennic spoke with enthusiasm.

'Meeting of the Moffs' was some nickname given to the annual meeting that had emerged one day. Thrawn wasn't sure where from, but it stuck.

"The Emperor would not have honoured you this opportunity without good reason Director. You have clearly earned it." Thrawn spoke, his attention solely on Krennic, ignoring the scowl from Tarkin.

"Thank you Grand Admiral." Krennic replied with a nod.

Thrawn broke eye contact with Krennic, taking another glimpse around the hanger bay of the battle station.

The various troopers and officers were still going about their duties. Clearly Krennic valued efficiency. Thrawn could work with that.

"No offensive but standing around chatting is not my idea of a warm welcome. Where can I put my things?" A sarcastic voice sounded from behind Thrawn, and the Chiss turned to look at the approaching figure.

Thrawn had almost forgotten he had come along.

"Director Krennic Governor Tarkin. This is the Inquisitor known as the Eighth Brother, and the personal agent of the Emperor himself." Thrawn introduced the Terrelian Jango Jumper as he approached.

Something about the Inquisitor made Thrawn's skin crawl. Ever since he had shown up in the Imperial Palace, Sith holocron in hand, the Emperor had been dispatching him as his personal agent, welcoming back into the fold with open arms.

But Thrawn had read the reports from Scarif. This Inquisitor had not only broken into a top secret compound, but had then killed the guards, and later another Inquisitor.

And yet the Emperor welcomed him back, in exchange for a Sith artefact.

Every bone in Thrawn's body told him not to trust the Inquisitor. But he was an agent of the Emperor, just as Thrawn was.

For now, he would play nice.

But he would still keep an eye on the Inquisitor, just in case.

One thing was for sure. This meeting would be an interesting one.

Thrawn only hoped that it would not diverge into the same petty squabbles it did every year.

Sighing, Thrawn made to follow Krennic and Tarkin as they led them deeper into the battle station.

Ahsoka Tano entered the control room of the Great Temple on Yavin Four, now the home of rebel central command. The temple itself was a marvel to behold, constructed by a long extinct culture. It was archaic and rustic, and thus a perfect fit for a rebel base.

Since the destruction of Chopper Base on Atollon at the hands of Grand Admiral Thrawn, Ahsoka and the remnants of Phoenix Squadron had relocated to Yavin Four, joining up with General Dodonna and Mon Mothma. Together, they continued their campaign to overthrow the empire, and restore democracy to the galaxy.

But that wasn't why she was present right now. An important meeting had been called, with all of the rebellion leaders being summoned. The reason for this… apparently one of her own Fulcrum agents had uncovered something big that needed addressing immediately.

Ahsoka could only begin to fathom what it was.

Entering the control room, she noticed the presence of Commander Sato and General Dodonna, talking in hushed tones. Behind them, Mon Mothma was running through a series of reports.

"Commander Tano, so good to see you again." A voice came from beside her.

Ahsoka allowed a wide smile to arise on her face as she turned to face her agent, and the reason for this meeting.

"Cassian, my friend. What have you got yourself into this time?"

Cassian Andor was a tall man, one who had seen many a battle. War had shaped his life for better or for worse, much like it had hers. It was no wonder then that they got along so well, and that he was her best Fulcrum agent.

"You know us Ahsoka, always looking for trouble. And boy did we find it!" Cassian replied in his accented tone. The 'us' Cassian was referring to was himself and his partner in crime, a reprogrammed Imperial Droid named K2SO.

Ahsoka liked K2. He had a wicked sense of humour, adding dry wit to situations where it was needed, but being serious when necessary.

"Well I'm sure this meeting will reveal all. Am I the last one to arrive?" Ahsoka enquired, moving with Cassian to take her place at the holographic table in the centre of the control room.

"Third to last actually, we are waiting on two more people." Mon Mothma spoke this time, moving to take her position at the head of the table, nodding at Ahsoka.

For some reason, Mothma had always been reserved around her. Ahsoka wasn't sure why, and after recent revelations regarding Bail and Leia, Ahsoka wasn't sure she wanted to know why.

"Who else is coming?" Ahsoka asked, just as she felt two more people enter the room via the force.

A young cheerful voice sounded over the control room.

"Auntie Soka!"

Ahsoka froze as she recognized the two people who had arrived, promptly making their way to the table. She hadn't spoken to Bail since her last report, and she had been avoiding Leia.

Leia… the daughter of her master. One of two remaining remnants of Senator Amidala.

And it had all been kept from her for sixteen years.

Because Bail had not trusted her.

"Sorry we're late. It's getting harder and harder to leave Alderaan these days." Bail Organa stated as he moved to stand beside Mon Mothma. Leia on the other hand chose to stand beside her favourite 'Aunt'.

"Hey Princess. You ok?" Ahsoka whispered to her. Leia merely smiled and nodded back. Through the force, Ahsoka could feel Leia's dormant sensitivity.

Ahsoka moved her attention away from Leia, just in time to see a hologram spring up representing the one person who couldn't be with them tonight. Admiral Raddus was a Mon Calamari, and one who had willingly served the rebellion since his people's mass exodus during the rise of the empire. He was loyal, and a brilliant tactician.

"Excellent, we are all here. Now Captain Andor, what have you uncovered?" Mothma offered Cassian centre stage at the table. The human male flashed a quick smirk at Ahsoka, before moving to take command.

Entering a small disc into a receiver on the table, Cassian begun.

"About two months ago I receive a gift from an anonymous individual. It was a data drive containing various encrypted files from a secret imperial installation. K2SO and I have been decrypting the data ever since, and in doing so have stumbled across something that poses a dire threat to our survival."

That got Ahsoka's attention. If the empire was up to something it was never good. But something that threatened their survival?

Cassian's hand inputted a series of codes into a console, and a hologram of a spherical object appeared in the centre of the table.

"What are we looking at here?" Dodonna spoke, curiosity in his voice.

"At first glance it appears to be nothing more than an imperial battle station, not unlike those used by the Confederacy during the Clone War. However, this station has had trillions of credits, as well as the best minds the empire can throw at it working on it." Cassian continued, pulling up the schematics for the rebel leaders to look at.

Cassian was right. At first glance it did seem harmless. So there must have been more to this story.

Cassian then continued. "Furthermore, I recently received another encrypted file of data, this time from an individual calling himself Galen Erso. He is apparently the head scientist for this project, developing some kind of superweapon."

"What kind of weapon?" Bail asked.

Cassian looked up at the assembled rebels, a look of severity on his face, something Ahsoka rarely saw in him.

"One capable of destroying planets."

The gasps that went around the room were evident. Beside Ahsoka, Leia gulped in fear. Sato's face had become one of shock. And Raddus was spluttering to himself.

"How the Kriff have the empire been able to develop a weapon capable of doing that? It would take an abnormal power supply!" Raddus spoke after calming himself.

Cassian nodded, pulling up another hologram of a long object that looked suspiciously familiar to Ahsoka, just much larger in size than she was used to.

"A kyber crystal?" Ahsoka spoke with shock, seeing the image of the large green crystal.

"A what?" Mothma interrupted, intrigue and concern on her face.

"Jedi and Sith use them in their lightsabers, only much smaller in size, no bigger than a fingertip. One of that size and magnitude…" Ahsoka detailed, horrified at the concept. Kyber crystals were volatile at the best of times. One of that size could so far more than just destroy a planet.

With a weapon such as that, The Emperor would easily be able to rule with nothing but fear of it being used.

"This is preposterous! Even if the empire could get that thing working, they wouldn't dare use it on any planet." Leia voiced her opinion on the matter. How Ahsoka wished she was still that naïve and innocent. But sadly she was not, and she knew better.

If the empire had such a weapon, they would use it, consequences be damned.

"Please tell me there is some good news to come from all of this." Sato spoke, worry in his voice. He had already lost most of his rebel cell. He didn't want to run the risk of losing everything they had worked so hard to achieve.

Cassian nodded in response, before pulling the previous image of the battle station back up.

"Indeed Commander. Our saving grace is that the battle station is not yet complete. The kyber crystal is installed, and the majority of the systems are functionally, however, according to Erso, some structural work still needs finishing, and the weapon needs testing. From Erso's estimations, it will be complete in roughly one month."

Silence filled the control room. That didn't give them much time to deal with the weapon. They had to move fast.

"There's more as well." Cassian continued. "According to Erso, the station and its Director are due to host the annual 'Meeting of the Moffs' as they call it. The entirety of the imperial leadership will be present on the station in a fortnight's time, including the Emperor himself."

Another silence fell over the assembled group.

Internally, Ahsoka was full of strife, but she also had a plan. A risky plan, but one nonetheless.

"We let them keep building it for now, and attack when the leadership is assembled. We can cut of the head of the snake in one fell swoop."

All heads turned to Ahsoka, some nodding in agreement, others not.

"Commander Tano, the empire will have an insane amount of security on the station during the meeting, and we possess no weapons capable of scratching the paint on that thing!" Dodonna replied first, shocked at Ahsoka's proposal.

"Then we infiltrate the station with a small team, and destabilize the kyber crystal. The resulting explosion from a crystal that size should obliterate the station."

Cassian pulled the image of the crystal back up, allowing the rebel leadership to analyse it again.

"It would be a suicide mission for anyone going. And we risk provoking the wrath of the Emperor if we fail." Mon Mothma spoke with caution.

Ahsoka resisted the urge to roll her eyes. They had already provoked Palpatine's wrath by staging this rebellion.

"If the Emperor gets the chance to use that weapon, we are all screwed. I agree with Ahsoka. We have to take the risk." Cassian spoke up in defence of Ahsoka.

"We do not possess the resources to enact such a dangerous plan." Mothma spoke up again, clearly against the plan.

"Agreed. We need to wait and find another weakness, one that is easier to exploit." Dodonna sided with Mothma in his speech, preferring a more patient approach.

Inside herself, Ahsoka felt a rise of anger. Why was this even an argument?

"I support Commander Tano's plan. We must attack now!" Commander Sato intervened, siding with Ahsoka, throwing a gracious nod in her direction, one that Ahsoka returned with a somewhat smug look on her face.

A look that Bail noticed. Through the force, Ahsoka could feel his displeasure of her mood. Ahsoka found she didn't care.

"A vote then. Those in favour of following through with Commander Tano's plan?" Mothma spoke, gesturing to the rebels assembled.

"Aye." Ahsoka spoke, voting for herself. In any other instance, Ahsoka would have considered that a selfish action, but right now they needed action, not hesitance.

"Aye." Cassian spoke, siding with his fellow Fulcrum agent.

"Nay." Dodonna voiced the first negative.

"Nay." Raddus followed shortly afterwards, surprising Ahsoka. He was usually up for this sort of thing.

"Aye." Sato chose his side, nodding again at the Togruta woman.

"Nay." Mon Mothma placed her vote, bringing it to a tie. Now it was all down to Bail Organa.

Ahsoka turned to look at the Senator from Alderaan. Their eyes locked over the table. Guilt was still present in Bail's eyes, the lies he had told to Ahsoka at the forefront of his mind.

Surely he would side with her… he had to.

"Nay."

Ahsoka's mouth dropped open. Bail had voted against her?!

"Four to Three Commander Tano. I'm afraid we shall not be going through with your plan this time." Mon Mothma spoke, moving to take her place at the head of the table, shutting off the hologram of the battle station and handing the data drive back to Cassian.

"Hey, don't I get a vote!" Leia interrupted from Ahsoka's side. "I agree with Auntie Soka, we should take the risk and attack the station."

"Princess you are not even supposed to be here, and you are not a member of this council." Dodonna spoke, referring to the other members present. Leia grumbled lightly under her breath.

Nevertheless, Ahsoka appreciated the gesture.

"Well tough, I'm still going through with the plan regardless. If you want to sit back and do nothing, fine by me!" Ahsoka couldn't resist the snippiness that came in her tone.

Mon Mothma however clearly didn't appreciate her attitude.

"We have taken a vote Commander, and the answer is no. You are not permitted, or given leave to conduct such a mission."

Ahsoka rolled her eyes, anger swelling up in her again. "I practically made this rebellion Senator, I think I'm entitled to do as I wish if it means saving the rebellion. While you and Organa had been sitting in the Senate chambers, my friends have been dying to build this rebellion, just so you can take over!"

Mon Mothma was growing equally angry it seemed, as her face contorted. Around the table, the other members of the rebellion leadership seemed to back away in fear.

"And I respect that, but it is not the time to openly attack the empire in any way yet. We are not prepared for such an assault."

"You stupid fool! Do you think the Siege of Atollon was anything but an all-out battle! Or that the disappearance of the Geonosian people is anything but a war crime. We've actively been at war with the empire for years now. You're just too blind to see it!" Ahsoka rarely shouted at anyone, even when they were in the wrong. But Mothma was trying her patience, and coupled with recent events and revelations…

Silence flooded the control room once again. Across the table, the two woman stared daggers at each other, waiting for the other to strike.

Then Mon Mothma spoke.

"Since you will not relent, you leave me no choice. As the official leader of the rebellion, as well as commander in chief of all assets and peoples, I hereby place you on temporary leave of absence till I say otherwise. You are stripped of all rank and privileges, as well as any authority or command over any rebellion asset. Captain Andor will be in charge of the Fulcrum network until further notice."

Memories flashed in Ahsoka's head. She had experience a similar dismissal before, long ago.

And now it seemed history was repeating itself.

She wanted to attack, wanted to provoke Mothma.

But that was what Mothma wanted, Ahsoka could tell.

So she relented, and turned to leave the room.

As she headed for the door, she heard Leia call out to her, but chose to ignore it. Ahsoka was angry, and the last thing she wanted to do was take it out on Leia.

Before she crossed the threshold of the doorway however, her montrals picked up Mothma's voice, speaking to Bail.

"I told you she couldn't be trusted. She's too volatile, much like her master was. Even the Jedi recognized it."

If anyone in the room was strong enough with the force to be able to reach into it and sense it, they would have felt the blast of rage and anger, as well as the cold flood the room.

Ahsoka halted in her step, pivoting on her feet and bearing her fangs at the assembled rebel leadership.

Staring both Mon Mothma and Bail Organa squarely in the eyes, Ahsoka spat with venom.

"Go Kriff Yourselves!"

And then she turned and marched out of the control room, anger following in her wake.

Author's thoughts

Here we are... the beginning of the end. This is the final story of my four part rebels AU. If you have not read the past three stories, please do so, or you will be lost.

So we have only just begun, and everything has already gone to hell. Still, what's a story without a bit of drama.

Now, a MAJOR WARNING regarding this story. People will be dying in it. I have already decided who lives and dies, so there is no use begging me to spare someone. Some beloved characters die, other hated ones do not. I am sorry in advance.

However, the deaths will not begin to occur until much later in the story. I will post another warning when the time comes, so rest assured, everyone is safe for now. If you really want to know the fate of a character before hand, PM me and I will tell you. I know what it's like to read a fanfic, and then have your favourite die. It puts me off.

I hope you all liked the opening. In case you can't tell, Thrawn is going to be present much more in this story, as he is the secondary protagonist this time around.

Also, unlike the past three stories, this is an entirely original plotline. Thus, no elements of season four will be brought into rebels, excpet of passing mentions and characters showing up.

Now since I have no comments to analyse, all I will say is enjoy and let me know what you think.

:)