Star Wars: Rebels: World At War

Disclaimer: Star Wars Rebels and all Star Wars characters and Lore are not my property, as they are all owned by Lucasfilm and the Walt Disney Company.

A/N: Welcome back! After several revisions, I've finally got an update for all of you. Just a heads up, keep an eye out for some appearances and name drops from previous installments in this series. Fair warning, this chapter is the longest one I've written in a while, and by far the longest for this particular story so far. I've kept you all waiting long enough, so, enjoy!

Chapter 4: Preparations

Three Months Prior:

It was a rare honor, for everyone in attendance. After Mand'alor the Vindicator had announced Clan Wren would be allowed to remain as a Mandalorian Clan following Sabine and the Jedi's trials on Dxun, the relief among Tristan, his parents, and the rest of their clan was cut short. Mand'alor added the ban that barred them from traveling to Mandalore itself would be maintained until he decided he could trust them completely as equals, and he made it clear he wasn't sure that day would ever come. For now, the knowledge they weren't going to be driven from Krownest or killed outright would have to suffice.

So, when his parents revealed they had accepted Bridger's request to marry his little sister, his initial shock was somewhat nulled by the revelation the ceremony would be held at the courtyard gardens in Sundari. The city, which had served as the planetary capital during the Clone Wars, held special significance as the site of the Siege of Mandalore, where the rogue Sith Lord Maul's honorless, tyrannical regime was vanquished once and for all. Mand'alor himself had led the charge in a joint operation with the Old Republic, alongside his parents and Bo-Katan Kryze.

Evidently, Mand'alor was willing to give them at least one full day on the homeworld for this special occasion. He said he would allow Clan Wren accommodation on Concordia, the primary moon orbiting Mandalore, but only for two days leading up to the ceremony and one day after.

Tristan had known for a while his little sister and her Jedi companion were, as some put it, something of an item. He saw something between them when she first returned to Krownest with Bridger and his master in tow a couple years back. It didn't surprise him when he eventually learned they started dating not long after that. No, it was the swiftness with which both his parents agreed to their engagement that surprised him.

Sure, his father, Aldrich Wren, had quickly taken a liking to the boy, but his mother, Ursa Wren, was a different story. It wasn't that she was necessarily hostile to Bridger or his Rebel friends, but she certainly hadn't been amiable to such breaches of custom in the past, with the exception of her previous allegiance to Death Watch during the Clone Wars. Evidently, Bridger had grown on them, not that Tristan was complaining. He saw how happy Sabine was with the young Jedi, and it was obvious he felt similar feelings for her. As long as he kept treating her right, he was worth giving a chance.

While traditional Mandalorian weddings had both bride and groom in their full armor with some additional, ceremonial adornments if opted for, this ceremony was anything but traditional. Bridger had, after some assistance from his master and Mand'alor, opted for a black and gold tuxedo suit of intricate detailing. Apparently he'd picked it out from design options presented to him. Tristan didn't recognize the getup, but his father had said it was apparently replicated from Zakuulan, a style from a long-lost, ancient civilization. His groomsmen consisted of his master Kanan Jarrus, two fellow Lothalians, Jai Kell and Zare Leonis, and Mand'alor himself. With the exception of Mand'alor, who was never seen outside his armor in public, the other groomsmen wore similar suits to Bridger's, albeit less-decorated.

Sabine, despite being Mandalorian by birth, had opted for a less than traditional approach to her clothing choices for the ceremony as well. Not that anyone who knew her didn't see it coming; she may have accepted her role as harbinger for their clan's redemption, but her experience in studying and traversing through the art and cultures of outsiders would be something she carried with her, always. Her bridesmaids consisted of her piloting mentor Hera Syndulla, the Rebel leader Princess Leia Organa, ex-bounty hunter Ketsu Onyo, and Iria Shysa, Mand'alor's own wife and the younger sister of his right hand man, Fenn Shysa. Apparently the female Shysa had been instrumental in persuading her husband to show leniency and allow Sabine to have the ceremony where she wished, and for that, Tristan knew his sister was immensely grateful.

Each of the bridesmaids was dressed in light orange gowns with decorative silver finishings. Apparently Ketsu had resisted the decision at first, and Tristan wasn't surprised given her obviously strong tomboyish demeanor, but his mother said eventually the former Black Sun enforcer was talked into it.

Finally, once everyone was seated and the groom had arrived, the ceremony began. There was at least one noticeable characteristic for this wedding that adhered to tradition: someone of Mandalorian blood ordained by Mand'alor would affiliate the ceremony. Ultimately, Kuervo Ordo agreed to perform the necessary rites.

Drums and trumpets sounded off, heralding the arrival of his sister. Tristan had to admit she looked pretty, but the moment her husband-to-be laid eyes on her, the warrior of Clan Wren had to resist the urge to roll his eyes, albeit in good nature. It was clear Ezra Bridger thought Sabine Wren looked gorgeous in her wedding gown. His eyes were practically bugging out of his head, and a nudge from Jai's elbow reminded him to retract his jaw.

Sabine had opted for an open-back gown of similar design to her bridesmaids using the same material of rich silk, but it held a number of key distinctions. First, it was eggshell white and had gold finishings, instead. However, the same shade of light orange was applied around the rim of the dress, painted on by the bride herself. Her hair was dyed a matching shade as well, naturally.

Her brother didn't miss the way the two of them seemed to enter a trance, a world of their own, the second they locked eyes. He didn't have much experience with this type of thing, romance, such as it were, but he knew if anyone had any doubts about the prospect of his sister and her favorite Jedi as a married couple, this was the image that would prove them wrong. Tristan almost chuckled at how surreal it all seemed.

"Hey," Ezra muttered weakly through a ridiculous grin and face transitioning to a shade of red that brought gundark pack leaders to mind. Sabine merely smiled back, almost shyly, quite unlike her. Ceremonies and pageantry weren't really her thing, but she was only planning to do this once. May as well do it right, as far as she was concerned. Her own cheeks tinged pink.

"Hey yourself," she replied in a similar tone. It seemed he wasn't the only one completely wrapped up in the moment.

"Children of Mandalore, esteemed allies," Kuervo Ordo began in a firm, absolute tone, after allowing the couple a minute to bask in the moment, "we are gathered here today to witness the bonding of this young, noble couple within the sanctity of the Manda, blessing them forevermore as life-mates. If anyone objects, they will speak now or remain silent."

It went without saying the sight of Mand'alor reaching for the hilt of his sheathed vibrosword effectively deterred any potential dissenters.

The Ordo Chieftain continued officiating the ceremony, and after Chopper arrived with the rings, the moment everyone had been anticipating was upon the would-be newlyweds at last. Kuervo stood back, allowing the two to face one another and deliver their own vows.

"Sabine," Ezra's voice held an odd mixture of contentment and disbelief as he looked her straight in the eyes, lacing their fingers together, "from the moment we met, I knew you were something special. I felt drawn to you from the start. Yet, looking back on those earlier times, I now understand I had no idea what love truly is. At some point, between my admittedly less-than-subtle attempts to draw your attention," he paused as he finished the last sentence with a chuckle, which she mirrored," at some point between all that, on our missions together and otherwise, I learned what true love is. It's putting someone else's needs above your own, doing what's right for them over what's convenient for you. I learned this because it's all I want for you. If you'll have me, I'll be everything you need me to be for the rest of our lives and whatever awaits us afterwards. I love you, Sabine Wren, and that's not just a vow, that's a truth I carry with me always."

At this point, Sabine had to blink a few times in rapid succession to stave off the tears threatening to pour from her shimmering amber eyes. She spared a glance over her shoulder back at her bridesmaids. Hera was on the verge of tears herself, clearly taken aback and sharing in the joyous mood. Ketsu gave her an encouraging thumbs up with a wink. Leia and Iria both nodded with warm and supportive smiles.

Ezra had taken the opportunity to do the same as his bride had. His groomsmen all gave him approving and encouraging grins, and Kanan added two thumbs up himself. Mand'alor, meanwhile, simply gestured for him to get on with the ceremony, but the young Jedi could sense the supreme ruler of the Mandalorians held no true irritation or disdain.

"Ezra," Sabine summoned his attention back squarely to her as she picked up where he left off. Her own soft-spoken tone was a near perfect parallel to his own. "I used to have this idea worked out in my head what the ideal guy for me would be like. I never gave it much thought beyond that. The mere concept of romance and some fairytale wedding seemed so preposterous. But, you've given me so much more than what I can only assume is the average girl's fantasy," she lightly chuckled and he patiently waited, a new smile forming on his features. "No, when I met you, I was a distant, broken shell of what I once knew I could be. You reminded me of what it means to face adversity, to make something meaningful from the hand you've been dealt. True, our entire crew helped me along the way, but you were the one who helped me see what I was too stubborn and afraid to face. You made certain I would never face anything on the path ahead alone, even when I foolishly pushed you and everyone else away. You helped me help myself, just by being you. You taught me what true love is, just by being you. I don't just give you my heart and soul as a gift, I give them to you because there is no one else I trust with everything I am more than you. I love you, Ezra Bridger, and if you'll have me, not even death will keep us apart. That's my own promise to you, forevermore."

At this point, Ezra could feel the muscles on the sides of his face starting to clench from how wide his toothy grin was. He just couldn't help it. Sabine allowed a faint giggle to slip past her lips at the sight. Her own grin returned even as she blinked away more tears. The two barely noticed Kuervo as he stepped back in to finish the ceremony.

"Now, it's time for the traditional vows, thus sanctifying this union officially within our borders. You may continue when ready."

"Mhi solus tome," Ezra began, and Sabine wasn't the only one caught off-guard at how fluent he sounded in Mando'a. Clearly he'd been rehearsing this for awhile. She felt her heart skip a beat as he continued, "mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde."*

"Mhi solus tome," Sabine readily returned the vows, matching his grin with her own once more. She felt like she couldn't stop herself from smiling even if she wanted to, "mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde."

It took Kuervo a moment before he was certain they weren't going to just glop onto each other right in front of everyone. Mand'alor rolled his eyes in good nature under his helmet before his subordinate continued.

"Then, by the power vested in me by our glorious leader and the will of the Manda, I now pronounce you two life-mates! You may now... Heh, go on kissing each other."

A celebratory applause sounded off from everyone else around Ezra and Sabine. From here on out, they would be one together in mind, body, and soul forever, regardless of whatever remained ahead for them.


Present Day:

The young Mandalorian officer was pulled out of his thoughts by the Separatist commander who landed on Ryloth with him.

"I appreciate the work your gunners did keeping the Imperial fighters off of us," Cirro Stratus, commanding officer of the Nimbus Commandos, extended his gratitude to Tristan Wren, who was leading a strike team of his own warriors.

"Your own starfighters helped, but appreciated," Tristan replied with a nod.

While the Hammerhead corvettes and their droid gunship escorts made up the majority of ships to slip past the Imperial blockade after it was temporarily broken, a lone Crusader corvette, one of the two brought to the battle by Clan Wren, succeeded in following them. It was joined by a group of four Shethipede-class shuttles and two Vulture droid squadrons from the Separatist flagship.

Tristan steeled himself. There would be time for further reminiscing later, after glorious battle.


While the Imperial headquarters on Ryloth remained the tower base inside the walls of Lessu, the planetary capital city, smaller outposts dotted the surface inside the life zone of the Twi'lek homeworld. The primary outpost inside the Tann Province was built into the charred rubble of the Syndulla compound, replacing use of the previously-occupied homestead for the same purpose. Now the facility resembled a more traditional, colorless and lifeless Imperial installation inside and out. While the stubborn and proud Slavin found his new surroundings better suited to his personal tastes, he still loathed the thought of literally sitting behind a desk with a war going on outside, which was his current predicament.

"Am I really supposed to stay holed up in here while Nostromo and the Mandalorian go out and claim all the glory for themselves?" the disgraced Imperial army captain huffed at the live holoimage of Colonel Kosh, who remained back in his office at the base in Lessu. The aging superior officer's expression was one of stoic indifference, though his tone suggested at least some irritation.

"This is seriously what you've called about while I'm over here preparing for a meeting with High Command? You know as well as I that with the exception of our glorious Emperor, the word of Lord Vader is absolute. He differed your command to Commander Nostromo, and Nostromo believes it best if you manage the reserves while he and Fett keep up the hunt for Syndulla and his hiding place," Kosh thought for a moment before continuing, ready to end this unwelcome conversation immediately, "Also, I will say it that certainly seems like he made the right call. Now that Rebel forces have broken through the blockade, we can't afford to overextend ourselves."

"But sir, you're a colonel!" Slavin whined and complained. "You outrank that upstart Volker! Can't you overrule his authority if you see fit?"

"I certainly can, but I won't," Kosh stated outright and bluntly. "I may find his methods impractical, but he gets results, and I trust in Lord Vader's judgement. For now, I suggest you just be grateful whatever success he and Fett achieve will reflect on you if you mind your station."

"Fine," Slavin grumbled after a moment.

"Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I have that meeting to attend. I'll be conferring with all three of you afterwards," and with that, the textbook Imperial officer ceased communication, leaving the captain to wallow in self-pity and frustration.


It was only several minutes later when two Imperial gunships arrived outside the outpost, one carrying Volker and the first squad from the Wingguard, and the other carrying Boba Fett and a squad of Storm Commandos assigned to his direction.

"I take it you've heard the news?" the Imperial officer asked his Mandalorian ally as they disembarked their respective transports.

"That the Rebels finally got more personnel on this rock? I wish I could say I'm surprised," the son of the last Mand'alor joked in spite of the situation. "Ah well, should at least give us more room to work with from your superiors."

"I suspect we're about to find out," Volker emphasized as they entered the facility, knowing the colonel would likely be conferring with his own superiors soon if not already.


Meanwhile, across the Outer Rim at the Rebel outpost on Destrillion, the Millennium Falcon had come to rest inside one of the underground hangar bays. The cargo of supplies recovered from the downed Black Sun frigate was originally intended for this destination, and while Han had initially protested, decided the extra pay Mon Mothma promised him was worth it.

So it was that on her way back to Hoth, the heavily modified Corellian light stock freighter made a stopover at the former mining facility repurposed by the Rebellion. Inside the command room which overlooked the barren, dry salt flats that stretched across most of the surface on Destrillion, the outpost's commander was just finishing their present task, using a datapad to take inventory of the supplies, with the heroes of the hour present.

"… and one crate of bacta storage tanks. Yep, that's everything," Commander Omar Sarusan, promoted after providing vital assistance to Hera and the rest of the Ghost crew at the Battle of Hutta over two years prior, looked up from the electronic tablet in his hands to extend gratitude to his compatriots. "Well done, Captains Bridger and Wren. You three as well, Captain Solo, Chewbacca, and… HK-47, was it?"

"Hey, it's my ship that made the delivery even possible. Why are they getting most of the credit?" the Corellian questioned in annoyance while pointing at the younger Rebels, but his Wookiee companion merely looked off to the side, signaling he wasn't interested in getting involved. Sabine simply rolled her eyes under her helmet while Ezra smirked mirthfully.

"No offense meant," the darker-skinned Human officer clarified, "It's just knowing these two over here, they did most of the work," he finished while gesturing to Ezra and Sabine, who couldn't help but feel proud at the recognition.

"Oh come on, why would you just assume that?" Han tried protesting further, but caught the sight of his co-pilot nodding out of the corner of his eye, "Hey, whose side are you on, fuzzball?"

Chewbacca simply shrugged while grumbling dismissively in his native tongue. Next, the ancient assassin droid interrupted.

"Observation: The need for an established norm of punctual gratification and ego-stroking suggests a fragile constitution. I believe this is a textbook situation of what organics refer to as 'sad'."

Now it was Han's turn to fume as the other four organics present, including Sarusan, had to stifle either a chuckle or full-blown laugh.

"Why I outta-!"

"In any case," the ranking officer present decided to move onto the next order of business, "I recommend the five of you proceed back to Echo Base once my men finish refueling your ship. No doubt General Riekkan and Princess Organa will be interested in going over the other items of interest you got from the Black Sun."

"I'd say so, but commander, we have another question," Sabine began, and Ezra chimed in once the officer nodded.

"Have you received any word on the status of our forces at Ryloth?" Truthfully, the impending and crucial fight Kanan, Hera, and Chopper would be undertaking without them concerned Ezra and Sabine greatly. They knew the operation would begin without them, but all they currently knew was it had been scheduled to begin a short while ago.

"We received a transmission from Riekkan's staff shortly after you arrived: the Separatist and Mandalorian ships broke through the Imperial blockade," the commander started clarifying. Sabine took off her helmet, greatly interested at the mention of Clan Wren's role as well. Naturally, she'd been clued in on their function as backup. "All but two of our transports made it safely planetside. We also lost some fighters and capital ships in the blockade run. General Syndulla and Commander Jarrus are among the confirmed survivors."

Both Ezra and Sabine let out an audible sigh of relief at the last statement. At this point, the former smuggler turned Rebel decided it was time to cut in.

"Well if our work here is done I think it's time to head back to your base for payday. I assume you two will be needing a ride back, so let's get a move on," the Corellian looked over to the Jedi and Mandalorian as he finished, gesturing over to the doors that led back to the turbolifts.

At that moment, a pinging from the holotable in the center of the room signified a caller was interested in establishing communications. Raising a hand to let his staff know he'd handle it, Sarusan rushed over and quickly figured out who it was.

"It's Echo Base! Everyone, wait right where you are," the darker-skinned Human commander instructed before answering, and a familiar live holoimage appeared out of the projector and over the table.

"General Riekkan! We are at your disposal," Omar Sarusan quickly greeted and saluted his superior.

"At ease, commander. First of all, please accept my sincerest gratitude to all of you for your fine work in dealing with that supply run," the Human general then focused squarely on the duo of former smugglers, "Captain Solo, you and your co-pilot have already received the transfer of credits to your account as promised by Minister Mothma. She has another paid assignment lined up for you, if you're willing."

"Thank you, uh… general, sir," Han couldn't help but soak in what he saw as the recognition he'd been waiting for, "What's the job?"

"I need you to ferry a company of infantry to the base from your current location. I've already worked out the details with Commander Sarusan," Riekkan explained.

"I hate to see those boys go, but we're not seeing much action out here, and the main base needs all the personnel it can get," Sarusan replied in agreement. Han, however, had a concern to voice.

"Uh, the Falcon ain't exactly equipped to be a full-blown passenger transport. She's only got enough bunks for six, and I still got these two punks and their new smartass droid to bring back with me," he gestured to Ezra and Sabine as he finished.

"Not to worry, captain. These two squads are more than capable of sleeping on the floor with their own portable gear. As for your current three passengers, they won't be joining you. Command has new instructions for them."

"Wait, what?" Ezra questioned with an arched brow. Sabine formed a similar expression as the general elaborated.

"When Captain Wren informed us your group had acquired the personal assassin droid of the former Grand Inquisitor, I decided to consult with the Princess and the Minister. They agree with my assessment; we can't afford the security risk of bringing an untested Imperial droid back to Echo Base. Instead, the two of you are to proceed to the safe house on Takodana. We believe the risk is minimal if a diagnostic is performed on it, there. A shuttle will take you there from the outpost as soon as it's prepped." Obviously, at this assessment, HK was in immediate, sharp disagreement.

"Objection: 'Untested'? Listen, you audacious, arrogant meatbag, I do not require any of your meager 'tests'! My new master most certainly agrees that my worth is beyond your feeble comprehension! Isn't that right, master?"

Ezra grumbled, knowing he had just been put on the spot, and Sabine simply formed a smirk as she watched, waiting for her husband to answer.

"Would you please stop calling me 'master'? And actually, I agree with the general's assessment. I do have one concern, however."

"As do I," the female Mandalorian added.

"Retort: Oh, master, I am so disappointed in you right now! No, don't look at me."

"What of the Starbird?" Sabine inquired further with the general.

"Your ship is being transferred via courier to the safe house. You will be free to return to base the moment your task is complete."

"What about the battle on Ryloth? Shouldn't Sabine and I go and reinforce the others?" Ezra voiced his own concern, but Riekkan pressed the severity of their current situation.

"While the Ryloth campaign is of utmost importance, the princess believes there's something more to that droid. Suffice to say, she's certain whatever information it holds in its memory banks could be a game changer for the entire war effort and more, no doubt the reason this cult you encountered was so dedicated to getting it back, and might still be."


All the while, back on Ryloth, the battle in question had resumed. In order to help minimize the risk of loss or capture, the Hammerhead corvettes had split into groups prior to landing while their escorts held off their TIE pursuers. However, Imperial ground forces successfully tracked the lead group to one of the aforementioned cliff bottoms in the mountain range bordering the Tann Province.

Currently, the confined landing zone was cordoned off by a detachment of infantry from the 338th Imperial Legion, the very same once commanded by the former Grand Inquisitor. Frustrated with Cham Syndulla's resistance making the standard rank-and-file Stormtrooper look like a fool time and time again, Colonel Kosh called in one of the few divisions still comprised entirely of Fett clones. He had wasted no time sending a good portion of them after Syndulla's last confirmed position in the mountains, and naturally the closest group was rerouted to intercept the Rebels as they landed nearby. From a mobile command post set up further back in the mountains, Clone Commander Alpha carefully analyzed the firefight from over a live holofeed.

"Keep on their flanks, let the TX-140's smash their center! Air support and reinforcements are inbound!" the veteran of the Clone Wars informed his soldiers, who maintained their positions behind rocks and portable barricades. The hovertanks were threatening to overrun the Rebel positions around the boarding ramps of the Hammerheads. Kanan was doing his best to ward them off, but a lone Jedi with infantry support could only do so much against tanks outfitted with energy beam cannons and missile launchers. The smoking wreckage of the attack shuttle Aldrich Wren had prepped for him lay embedded in the rocks just behind the lead corvette.

"Hold the line! Where're those T1-B's?!" the veteran Jedi Knight knew if there were to have any hope in their current predicament, the Rebels would need their own tanks. A full unit had been carried on one of the corvettes.

"They're still being armed and fueled, sir! That older Syndulla said this would be a secure landing zone! Command didn't have them pre-prepped for combat!" one of the Rebel soldiers yelled back from his perch behind one of their own portable barricades. The one right next to him, and his fellow troops behind it, were annihilated with a single missile from one of the TX-140's. "Damn it all!"

"Karabast!" Kanan cursed much like his late Lasat squadmate. He constantly had to keep his lightsaber raised to block incoming blasterfire. The Fett clones were always the best shots.

At that moment, a sudden barrage of laserfire from above demolished two of the Imperial tanks, the familiar sound of the blasts and roar of the engines instantly giving the craft responsible away; an X-Wing, one Kanan recognized immediately.

"Hera! Thank the Force!"

"Shoot it down!" one of the Imperial sergeants ordered. One of the remaining tanks fired their beam cannon directly at the back of the Rebel fighter. Its clone gunners knew Kanan would be able to seize any missiles fired skyward with the Force if he had enough time.

"No!"

With her shields already struggling to recover after fighting off dozens of TIE fighters and ground-to-air weapons, and the speed with which it fired, Hera had no time to or means to avoid the green laser beam from searing right through the engine block on the back of her X-Wing within a second of it making contact, narrowly missing Chopper from his perch in the astromech socket. The droid immediately warbled out in his binary-coded language.

"No kidding!" the Twi'lek general retorted to her co-pilot, "Hang on! This is gonna be rough!"

With all the skill she could muster, and to her immense credit, Hera was above to pilot the increasingly-burning fighter in a semi-controlled descent further down as the cliff bottom closed into a ravine. Unable to deploy the landing gear and knowing it would be useless, the X-Wing crashed belly-up, the lower two of the jammed s-foils breaking off instantly on impact.

Kanan knew he shouldn't be distracted in the middle of a battle, but he couldn't tear his eyes off the sight of the burning wreck until his wife safely ejected, followed closely by her droid. The entire craft blew apart seconds later as the blaze finally reached the fuel tanks. The sharp sting of two blaster bolts, one grazing his side and the other hitting just below the ribcage, brought his attention back to the fight. With a pained grunt, he fell back while blocking incoming fire, clutching his more serious wound with his free hand. Defensively, the blind Jedi Knight kept his lightsaber raised defensively as the troopers of the 338th closed in. The remaining two tanks provided all the firepower needed to obliterate the remaining Rebel barricades, killing and driving any potential backup back.

"Commander Jarrus!" one of the Rebels soldiers, wounded, shouted in alarm while diving for cover behind a landing gear strut.

"Heh, it's been years since we killed a Jedi," one of the troopers remarked coldly, he and his brothers in arms moving to flank Kanan while he was down. He couldn't block blasterfire from multiple angles at once.

"Incoming!" another trooper alerted.

Just in the nick of time, a unit from the resistance on Ryloth arrived, using the ravine Hera had crashed in as an access route. The smoke from the still-burning remains of her X-Wing provided the perfect cover for their approach. The battle was resumed. For her own part, however, Hera was surprised at who was leading them. A familiar face had leaned down to help her up.

"Father!"

"We'll have to catch up after this," Cham Syndulla told his daughter hurriedly, but his eyes shone of sincerity. Hera managed a brief smile before joining her people in providing the pinned Rebels much-needed backup.

"Where the hell is our air support?! Fan out, don't let them encircle us!" the sergeant from before ordered. The surviving Rebel soldiers went back on the offensive, giving Kanan the opportunity to recover. For the first time since the engagement began, a number of the 338th troopers went down. Still, their quick-wits and backup from armored hovertanks gave allowed them to maintain the upper hand. A new line in the dirt was drawn. The two TX-140's formed up to focus fire on the more-numerous Rebels, while more of the troopers kept the Twi'lek resistance fighters pinned behind rocks, halting their advance. "Up high! More hostiles inbound!"

From atop the cliff walls, more reinforcements for the Rebels had arrived. Clan Wren and the Nimbus Commandos had arrived.

"Clan Wren, we're heading in! Think you got our cover handled?" Tristan looked over to Cirro, who nodded.

"I suggest you cut off their retreat while you're able!" the Jabiimi revolutionary replied, taking aim and firing with the rest of the Nimbus.

"Attack!" the young Mandalorian instructed to his own. Using their jetpacks, the warriors of Clan Wren rocketed down to the battle below, wasting no time joining in on the action. By now, a full unit of four T1-B Rebel hovertanks began rolling down out of their transport, their quad-heavy blaster turrets opening fire. It was clear to the Imperials they were finally outgunned.

"Fall back, fall back!" the Imperial captain leading the attack ordered. Steadily, the detachment from the 338th retreated the way they came, some risking life and limb to provide supportive fire or retrieve their downed, wounded comrades. The majority of troopers evaded enemy fire successfully, but some weren't as fortunate. The TX-140's provided all the firepower needed to cover them, using missiles, beam cannons, and heavy blaster guns. The Mandalorians used their jetpack missiles to finally disable one of the remaining two tanks. A couple headshots from Cirro took out the gunner on the beam turret. It was only about a couple minutes before the last shots were fired. The Rebels and their allies were in the clear, for now.

"Thank you, General Syndulla, both of you," Kanan remarked sheepishly as his wife and father in law came over to him, knowing they both now held the same rank. "And thank you as well, Tristan," he nodded at the young Mandalorian officer, who returned the gesture. "Your warriors, Syndulla's unit, and the Nimbus are the only reason we're still alive."

"Wait, the Nimbus?" Hera questioned as she moved to support her husband, who disengaged his lightsaber and nearly doubled over at the pain in his midsection. Indeed, it was clear just by looking up as the Confederate commandos one by one rebelled their way down the cliff walls to join them.

"You allowed Separatists to come with you to Ryloth?!" Cham growled in anger. He began reaching for his blaster as the Nimbus formed up and began heading over to them.

"Father, wait, I can explain-" Hera began, but was interrupted by the roar of more hover tank engines, not stationary like their own, but moving closer at full speed.

The cloned Imperial troopers of the 338th Legion had returned, this time backed up with two TX-225 hover tanks, the familiar, heavier variant of the TX-140's, and a second battalion, this one led by Commander Alpha himself. Using their repulsor boots, Cirro and the Nimbus immediately rocketed out to get on their flanks, and Tristan and the warriors of Clan Wren raised their blasters to resume fighting as well.

"Advance and fire!" the clone commander ordered, taking the first shot himself. Bringing up the rear of their formation were two AT-MP walkers, their missile batteries locked and loaded, escorted by two TX-140's. Quickly some more Rebels and their allies started going down.

"The Hammerheads need to get out of here! The tanks can cover our escape! Everyone, fall back!" Hera ordered.

As the T1-B's resumed firing, Tristan and Cirro led their respective units in escorting the Rebels and the resistance fighters out of the canyon. The landing gear and boarding ramps of the Hammerhead corvettes retracted, and their engines roared to life as they began to ascend, dirt and dust kicking up around them. The two AT-MP's unleashed volleys of their missiles the moment they locked on target, and the explosive projectiles penetrated the shields of the lead corvette, directly into the engines. The aging warship fell back to the ground in a fiery heap, crushing two of the Rebel tanks and the aft section detonating in a blazing inferno. Alpha and his troops dove for cover behind the rocks, and Kanan knew he had only one chance to make sure they wouldn't be pursued. Reaching out through the Force with both hands, he seized as much burning wreckage from the downed warship as he could and flung them out to the other side of the canyon. With an effective, temporary barrier in place, the allied forces made their retreat.

"Can I expect less complaints about my decision to marry an off-worlder, now?" Hera snarkily asked her father, who rolled his eyes with a huff as they continued on.

"Maybe just for this visit," he retorted, "Come on, we have flergs tethered up ahead!"


It wasn't long after the Rebels and Cham's unit made their escape when, back at the Imperial outpost in the Tann Province, a Lambda-class shuttle arrived under TIE fighter escort. Having been made aware of its impending arrival, Volker, Boba, and Slavin had come out to meet their superior officer as he walked down the boarding ramp. The Spec Ops commander spoke first.

"Colonel, sir, this is unexpected. What's the situation up in orbit?" Volker saluted as he inquired respectfully, joined by Slavin and the troopers present a moment later.

"I am happy to report Admiral Sloane has reestablished the blockade and driven all surviving enemy vessels, save the few that broke through into the atmosphere, back into hyperspace. Now, gentlemen, please follow me," the older Imperial officer instructed in his typically droll voice, his hands clasped behind his back as he led the way inside. The Mandalorian present couldn't help but make a snide comment.

"You certainly don't sound happy."

"I am, this is my happy voice," Kosh retorted without turning around.

"He's right, that is," Volker commented from beneath his half-mask as a-matter-of-fact, earning a chuckle from the bounty hunter.

"Colonel," the Imperial army captain began, following from the back of the group, "We've received an update from Commander Alpha. His troops engaged the Rebel invaders at their primary landing zone. We have a confirmed sighting and firefight with Syndulla and his personal guard, but unfortunately the traitor and his allies were able to escape once again."

"The timing of Syndulla's recent push towards the capital combined with the arrival of reinforcements from the Rebellion is not a coincidence," Kosh continued as he led his lieutenants around a corner further inside the facility, "He has greater long-term plans in mind, coinciding with those of the Rebels' own leadership. We must accelerate our own efforts."

"There is a Jedi amongst them, if the reports from the field are accurate," Boba chimed in, "Sign over a few extra credits and I'll be glad to deal with him for ya."

"It may come to that, but for now, I've reassigned the first company of the ATR from riot duty in the capital. Major Sentarion and his troops will be arriving here shortly," the colonel explained. The four men came to a halt outside a sealed door at the end of a hallway.

"Worse comes to worst, we could always summon Grand Inquisitor Starkiller," Volker added.

"Perhaps, but for now, we have matters to attend to right here," Kosh gestured for his associates to step aside as two troopers and an IT-O MK2 interrogator droid arrived.

"Finally, something fun to watch," Slavin commented grimly with a cruel grin, thinking about what was to come.

The door in front of the Imperials and their Mandalorian ally flew open, and behind a second door inside another, shorter corridor, a lone prisoner awaited them. She was a female Twi'lek with bluish-green skin, though several cuts and bruises marred her features. She was latched to a rotating "questioning" table inside the dimly-lit chamber, bound at the wrists, ankles, and neck. Weakly, she slowly opened her eyes with a faint groan, the lights in the hallway outside drawing her attention. Finally, her captors came into focus.

"Now, Miss… Numa, was it? It's time we have a chat about your revered war hero and his daughter," Colonel Kosh informed her simply, underlying what was about to be the young woman's personal nightmare. Indeed, it was only Volker who appeared somewhat sympathetic as the torture drone floated in through the doorway.

A/N:

Mando'a Translation:

"Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde." -

- "We are one together, we are one apart, we will share everything, we will raise our children as warriors."

The traditional vows for an authentic Mandalorian wedding in the Expanded Universe. It remains one of the hallowed pieces of their culture passed down since the days of the early crusaders.

And there you have it. I hope this was worth the wait. The next chapter will continue moving the plot lines forward while shining some light on the future of Ezrabine and Kanera in this series. Also, the most intense of the war scenes and action sequences are soon to come as well.

As always, a most sincere thank you to each and every one of ou for your continued viewership and support along with my hard-working beta reader. As I've said before, I consider each and every one of you contributors to this story just by doing what you do.

I expect Chapter 5 to be ready in about 2 weeks. Until then, safe journeys my friends. Also, regardless of your religion or lack-thereof, Happy Holidays to all! :)

Edit: Complications have arisen that required me to delay Chapter 5 longer than expected, and I apologize profusely for the inconvenience. However, I've decided as a means to rectify this dilemma, I'll be releasing Chapters 5 and 6 together back-to-back. I expect both to be ready before the end of the month. Your patience is much appreciated, everyone.