Here it is! This one's the longest yet, but that's because it's really a three part chapter that I decided was good enough all in one. A few things, before you start:
Ahsoka's appearance is not really described, but it's nothing original. Just picture her appearance from Star Wars: Rebels. We also get a tidbit on her species that's completely headcanon and based on clothing tendencies and a few things from Star Wars Legends non-canon content. I hope it makes sense!
I know I'm missing something. If I remember what it is, I'll edit this or add it to the next chapter, which brings us to an extremely important character and element of this story. Enjoy!
Ahsoka was barely done with a much needed visit to the refresher when she got the news: another attack, by the same dreaded gray Star Destroyer.
Half naked and barefoot in true Togruta fashion, she proceeded to strap her armored top on, pondering the meaning of these attacks. The target had been a large exploration fleet, scouring through the Unknown Regions for signs of advanced civilizations that might be convinced to join the relatively small New Republic.
Commander Adiri asked for permission to enter her small apartment in the Temple, bringing her out of her musings. Ahsoka welcomed her in, and smiled at the raised eyebrow the Mirialan gave at her bare feet.
"Something on your mind, Commander?" -she asked amusedly.
The Mirialan swiftly looked away. "Still getting used to the new approach of the Order, I suppose. I still remember my last visit to the Temple quarters. School excursion from back home, we got to meet Master Unduli and learn all about the Jedi. I think it was about a year before the Clone Wars started."
Ahsoka smiled. "Quite a long time ago. Back then, Jedi Knights would have barely a room with a bedroll and a nice view." -she said, then motioned to her living room. "I get the shock. I couldn't believe it when I got back into the Order and they told me I had a whole house to myself."
The Commander chuckled. "You sure seem comfortable in it, Ma'am."
The Togruta sat, putting on her rugged boots. "Well, not to be a stereotype, but we Togruta are not overly fond of clothing. The sun, weather, and red grass seas back on Shili are best enjoyed as the homeworld saw us born. That, and we're predators, so we developed the habit of trying to blend in with the landscape. We may not be the hunters of ages past, but cultural habits prevail. I wasn't in Shili for long befpre Master Plo found me, but I did develop the instinct."
"Completely opposite to the children of Mirial, then." -Adiri mused.
Ahsoka nodded. "That's right. I don't think I've ever seen more than the face of one of your species."
The Commando shrugged amusedly. "It's all the same under my gear, Ma'am. We're all humanoids, I suppose."
The Jedi laughed. "Obvious differences aside." -she said, tilting her head, and thus her montrals and lekku as well, and referring to the obvious skin tone and markings traditional to the Republic Commando's species.
Adiri nodded with a faint smile, but sobered once she handed the Holopad she was holding to the Togruta Jedi.
"This is like the Malevolence all over again." -said Ahsoka, frowning after a couple of minutes of analysis.
"The Malevolence?" -asked Commander Adiri confused.
Ahsoka nodded sourly. "Before your time. You know how scary Subjugator-class Confederate Battlecruisers are? Imagine the first one, out of nowhere, when no one knew anything about them."
The commander pursed her lips. "I see your point. But this new enemy doesn't have an ion cannon the size of a cruiser. That we know of, anyway."
"It apparently doesn't need to. Three on ten and still victorious doesn't bode well for future engagements. I believe this attack was simply a way of testing our strength." -Ahsoka surmised.
"We're in trouble, then."
The Jedi hummed. "Perhaps. Where one sees problems, others may see opportunities. We know they can be destroyed just as any other enemy. Now we just need to figure out how to do it without losing so much."
The Mirialan was about to reply when Ahsoka's comlink blinked.
"Ahsoka Tano here."
"Knight Tano, Lyra Blissex of Kuat Drive Yards is requesting an audience with you within the hour. Says it's about a Star Destroyer?" -said one of the Temple's communication aids.
Ahsoka blinked in surprise. "I'll be there in half an hour."
"Understood."
The Togruta pursed her lips, immersed in thought. "Miss Blissex has come up with the designs of Republic warships since before the Clone Wars started. She's quite the personality, too. For her to voluntarily come down and talk about this mystery Star Destroyer...she knows something."
Commander Adiri nodded. "Agreed. Shall I accompany you on this interview?"
Ahsoka nodded. "Yes, but prepare your team and gear. The Force tells me we're about to have a lead to track down."
"Understood."
The Mirialan smartly saluted, jogging away. Ahsoka called her Padawan. "Leia, I need you to come to the Temple. We may have someone to question."
"Understood, Master. Can Luke come as well?" -she asked.
Ahsoka thought for a moment. "He may come if his Master allows it."
"See you in 10, Master."
The Togruta smirked, sitting cross-legged on the floor, and drawing upon the Force to meditate on the acts to follow. She was worried, if not surprised, to find that the Dark Side of the Force was clouding the future. Perhaps not as strongly as it had during the Clone Wars, but definitely muddled.
The Jedi Knight finished getting ready, then walked off to interrogate the designer.
Lyra Blissex had once been a spry, attractive young woman, with one of the brightest minds for design and engineering the Republic had ever seen. Almost everything from the Acclamator to the Victory had been created from her imagination.
Nowadays, however, she was relegated to occasionally providing upgrades for the existing designs, and her displeasure was apparent in her now aging visage. Miss Blissex had red hair streaked with gray in a tight bun, was olive skinned and green of eyes. She had a tight jaw and high cheekbones. Her attire was simple, yet elegant, in true Kuati fashion, completely black and showing off her rather impressive figure for a 50 year old.
"Typical Jedi. So late to a simple meeting." -she said testily.
Attractive? Sure. A genius? Most likely.
A nice person? Definitely not.
"I apologize for the delay. I realize you are a very busy woman." -said Ahsoka calmly.
The Kuati huffed. "You realize. How considerate of you. Let's get to business. I utterly despise any time spent on Coruscant."
Ahsoka hid a smirk. "Of course. You said you had information on the mystery Star Destroyer?"
Blissex gave her a look that just said 'idiot'. "It's no mystery. I designed it."
She tapped the holographic display in the middle of the interrogation table. The dreaded Destroyer appeared front and center in all its glory.
The designer's entire body language changed to that of a wistful lover. "The Imperator. Ah, so beautiful, even now. I have kept this perfection secret since the waning days of the Old Republic."
Ahsoka was surprised. "17 years? Is this an old stolen prototype?"
"Of course not, silly girl. The Imperator-class never went into production, and no prototypes were ever constructed."
Leia frowned. "Why? You talk about it as if it was the best ship in history."
Lyra shot the Padawan a glare, but sighed. "It would have been. Alas, even if Palpatine had not turned out to be scum, the designs were stolen some ten years ago. The Navy could not afford to produce new ships with already discovered weaknesses. That's why I'm stuck upgrading your ancient fleet."
Ahsoka rubbed her chin. It made tactical sense - it was no use to unveil a thoroughly analyzed warship. "Why was the theft never reported? Or followed up on?"
"And admit that the weak New Republic had lost a vital new design to a bounty hunter? Your leaders decided to keep the Imperator buried under wraps. And Fett was already safe in Hutt space." -she explained derisively.
The Togruta was surprised. "Fett is alive?"
Lyra gave her an eye roll. "The son, not the father. I hear Mace Windu did a number on Fett Senior back in the day."
Ahsoka, of course, already knew about Boba. She'd run into him and his band of rogues and gotten Aurra Sing on her case for her troubles. Arguing was not the Jedi way, however, so she feigned some surprise.
"We know of Boba Fett's deeds. Hutt space has an extradition treaty with the New Republic, though. Why was he not at least brought in?" -asked Commander Adiri, disgusted at the idea of Hutts and the company they kept.
Lyra looked at the Mirialan like she was stupid. "You really think that the Hutt cartels would give up their best bounty hunter? I can see you're a Republic soldier, but please tell me you're not that naive, dear."
Adiri stiffened, but Ahsoka put a calming hand to her shoulder pauldron. "Understood. Can you provide intel to the Navy so they can put a stop to these attackers?"
The Kuati looked as displeased as ever, but the fire in her intelligent eyes was all the assurance Ahsoka needed. "The Imperator was to be my life's achievement. A vessel of war meant to be fast, immensely powerful, and nigh-indestructible. And that Mandalorian dog stole my pride and joy. If it means seeing him and whoever paid the bastard to do it blasted to atoms, I'll make your Navy better than you can imagine."
"So, what've we learned?" -asked Ahsoka.
"That Kuati engineers need to learn some manners?" -said Leia, deadpan.
Adiri smirked. "I have to say, I agree with the Padawan."
Leia gave the Commander a bright smile. Ahsoka rolled her eyes in a most un-Jedi fashion. "Aside from that particular bit of information?"
"Well, we have a bounty hunter to hunt down. I hear he's the toughest in the galaxy." -said Adiri.
Leia gave a predatory grin. "Where do we find this nerf-herder?" -she said, punching her palm.
"I assume you're deliberately ignoring the whole 'not the Jedi way' argument by seeking conflict?" -asked Ahsoka resignedly.
"Of course not, Master. I fully believe in the power of diplomacy. That the negotiations may be aggressive, though, that's entirely up to the aforementioned nerf-herder." -Leia said politely.
The Togruta chuckled. "I suppose I can work with that. As for where we can find Fett, he's the best of the best. We'll start looking at the top of the food chain. We'll pay a visit to Jabba the Hutt."
Leia grimaced. The most powerful Hutt out there had, like pretty much every other, a very unsavory reputation as a drug lord and provider of rather illegal entertainment. Slavery may have been banned by force courtesy of the New Republic, but as part of their agreement with the Hutts, the rest of their activities remained untouched.
Worse still, they had to go to Tatooine.
Ahsoka gave her a smirk. "Look on the bright side, Leia. This big a mission, deep into criminal territory, after such a high value target? The Council is sure to send more than just our little group in."
The young Skywalker gasped. "Does that mean we can call the Ghost's crew?"
"Go ahead and see if Kanan and the gang would like to join us, and meet us at the Daughter in half an hour. I'll go inform the Masters." -she said, nodding at the Mirialan Commando to follow her.
Leia smiled widely, and ran off. Ahsoka walked off toward a turbolift, and Adiri followed. "Are you sure they'll let Knight Jarrus and his team help us?"
The Togruta flashed a knowing grin. "Definitely. It'll be a big party, but between you and me, knowing Master Windu's opinion on Boba Fett, we'll be lucky if he doesn't send half the fleet, Commander."
The Mirialan stifled a laugh respectfully. "Understood ma'am. And please, if we're going to get into half as much trouble as I expect we will, you might as well call me Lara."
Ahsoka nodded. "You may dispense with the titles as well, then. Just Ahsoka will do."
Lara gave her a smart salute, and both women entered the lift to make preparations.