Hashing Out A Plan:

D3/1 BBY, Mandalore

Everyone stared at Sabine for two whole seconds of shocked silence before there was an eruption of voices.

"Out of the question!" (Fenn)

"It's simply not feasible." (Bo-Katan)

"Why would we do that?" (Alrich)

"I doubt the Lothalians would be impressed with the idea." (Hera)

"How does that help anything?" (Ezra)

"She's officially lost it." (Chopper)

"What the hell?" (Passing bystander who almost fell over as they whipped back around to see who'd said such a ridiculous thing.)

"I haven't lost it!" Sabine said passionately into the momentary vacuum of silence before anyone could say anything else. "I think this would benefit everyone if you'd just hear me out."

Kanan was the only one who hadn't said a word. He had his arms crossed and his eyes closed behind his mask (automatic reflex) as he searched the feelings of the Force on the matter. He wasn't feeling anything negative. "I think we should listen to Sabine," he spoke up. "And somewhere more private would probably be a good idea," he added with a nod of his chin towards the few people who'd been close enough to overhear and had all frozen and were visibly straining to hear what would be said next.

"Thank you, Kanan," Sabine said gratefully. She'd thought more people would be open to the idea, but apparently she was going to have convince them.

Bo-Katan glanced around them, raising an imperious brow at the gawkers. They instantly made themselves look busy and walking elsewhere. "I'm afraid the whole camp is going to know within a minute and all of Mandalore within the hour, but we might as well go to the Command Tent and have the rest of this discussion in peace."

So they all trekked across camp to the big tent. As he walked beside her, Ezra shot Sabine a questioning look. "Are you sure about this?" he asked in a barely audible whisper.

"Trust me," she mouthed back, not quite a question.

"All right," Ezra said, linking his fingers with hers to show his support.

Sabine smiled at him gratefully and squeezed his hand.

They assembled in the tent and Bo-Katan focused on Sabine. "Okay, Wren. Explain how you think this is supposed to work. I'm going to have my hands full as it is re-establishing control of the current Mandalorian systems. Adding another one is not something I was even contemplating."

Sabine set her helmet down on a table and took a deep breath to settle her thoughts. "First off, I just came up with this idea like ten minutes ago, so bear with me." She looked at everyone with her big eyes sincere and a just a little bit pleading. "I once vowed to Ezra that I would never give up on helping him free his planet and I have no intention of breaking that vow."

Ezra shot a beaming smile at her. "That's true. It was after one of our practice sessions with the Darksabre," he explained to Kanan and Hera's hologram, who were looking curious. "I asked her what she would do if she actually did become the next Mand'alor."

"And I said I would free Mandalore, but no matter what I did in the future, I wouldn't forget about Lothal, and I meant it; it's your home." Sabine's eyes locked with Ezra's for a moment before she faced the others. "And as far as I'm concerned, aside from the Ghost, Lothal is my home too. And the Empire is destroying it."

"But Krownest is your home," Alrich said in a reasonable tone that barely disguised the hurt.

"I'm sorry, Father, but Krownest hasn't been my home since I was twelve and was shipped off to the Academy here in Sundari."

Alrich's head bowed as he thought about that, eyes sorrowful.

"But you're the Countess now," Fenn said. "You have to call Krownest your home."

"Do I?" Sabine said with a raised brow. "What if I said I wanted to move Clan Wren to Lothal and establish Mandalorian control over the planet? Moving a Clan's main stronghold is not without precedent by any stretch of the imagination."

"This is true," Bo-Katan said. "My own homeworld of Kalevala was taken over by my parents while it was in a state of chaos. It flourishes now with prosperity. I have no objections to you moving your clan, but what do you intend to do about Krownest? You can't just leave it empty. Someone must continue to protect the covert diamond mining operations already in place. You and I both know we need the steady income of those credits now more than ever."

Sabine smiled slightly at this in Fenn's direction. "No. I wasn't going to do that. I was thinking Fenn Rau was the perfect person to assume control of the planet. You lost your base by Concord Dawn because Kanan and I kidnapped you; it is only fair that I give you another one. I'm sure there would be plenty of volunteers to start up the Protectors again once they knew you were looking."

Fenn looked shocked at first and then drifted into intrigued. "I would not be opposed to this idea," he said stroking his jaw as he thought. "I've even been approached by a few warriors who were curious to see if I was re-establishing the Journeyman Protectors again, but I had no base and nothing to protect."

"Well, now you do," Sabine said with a grin. "I will not force my clan members to leave Krownest if they really want to stay, so you might end up with a few already on site volunteers."

"That is fine with me," Fenn said. "I like your clan."

"I noticed," Sabine said with a smirk. "You've been living with us for months."

"Pardon me," Hera said, interjecting. "But what does this mean for Lothal exactly? Assuming we can chase the Empire out of the system, that is. And are you including Garel? Because it's just the next system over and only a seven minute hyperjump. I doubt you could keep the Empire off Lothal if they still have control of Garel."

"Those are good questions, Hera." Sabine said. "As far as Lothal is concerned, just like Krownest and Kalevala, the reigning clan would oversee and protect the planet. I would put Ryder back in power as the Governor, since he has experience with the job and someone has to deal with the day to day running of things, but he would answer to me in regards to major decisions like establishing a new military, mining concerns, and expanding current infrastructure."

"That sounds reasonable," Hera said. "What do you think, Ezra? It's your planet."

"I'm all for it if it means Sabine lives on Lothal with me and not me on Krownest with her. The snow's pretty and all, but I'm definitely a summer person." Ezra grinned at Sabine as she snorted in amusement.

Everyone chuckled once or twice.

"But seriously," Ezra continued, finding a mature stance. "I actually really like this idea. Lothal is suffering under Imperial rule. Suffering badly. I doubt there would be too many protestors to a new ruler who promised them peace and prosperity."

"That's all well and good," Kanan said. "But Hera's right. What about Garel?"

"I've been thinking about that," Sabine said. "The Imperial presence there is minimal at best at the moment. They're concentrating on Lothal big time with their factories and mining operations. Bo-Katan, Hera, if we helped the Rebellion clean out Garel first, do you think Rebel Command would be interested in using Garel as a secondary base of operations? This would mean that Mandalore would support the Rebellion in a passive fashion, since I know you don't have enough forces to contribute to the cause full time, but that would also make Mothma and Organa happy. I know they've been trying to get Mandalorian support for years."

Bo-Katan didn't even have to think about it. "I have no problem with allying with the Rebel Alliance, but as you said, I cannot promise any ships or warriors for their fight. But they can use Mandalorian hyperspace routes and will have sanctuary on any of our planets. Once we have control of our farming planets again, I can also provide supplies as needed."

Hera was almost speechless. "Oh my. I had no idea this was where this discussion was heading. I can't speak for Command, being only a Captain, but I think they'll be all for it. As a trade planet, Garel is a perfect location for another base, as we know from when Phoenix Cell was located there. I'll talk to them first thing in the morning. It's three a.m. here, if anyone was wondering."

"What are you doing up?" Sabine said curiously.

Kanan winced. "That was my bad. I forgot the time difference and woke her up with my call."

Hera's hologram looked at Kanan affectionately. "Trust me, I didn't mind, love."

More than a few eyebrows rose at her tone and Kanan's resultant flush that appeared on the skin not covered by his mask or beard. Sabine and Ezra fake shuddered, since they knew what that tone meant. Kanan and Hera weren't exactly their parents, but the relationship between all of them was close enough to make no difference. And no child wanted to think too much about the parental units' love life.

To get the attention off him and Hera, Kanan focused on Sabine. "So what is your actual plan then of how to make this happen? I'm sure we're all dying of curiosity. Lothal is currently blockaded by at least twenty Star Destroyers and under the personal supervision of Grand Admiral Thrawn. What you want to do and what is actually possible seem like two vastly different things right now."

Everyone stared at Sabine as they nodded in agreement with Kanan. She stood taller under their focus, a determined set to her jaw. "I know the odds are stacked against it, but I just know this is the right thing to do."

"It feels right to me," Ezra said supportively.

"We're listening," Bo-Katan added.

"Right," Sabine said on an exhale. "First, I have to go to Krownest and talk to my clan."

"I was hoping you'd say that," Alrich said, having been quiet for a long time now. "I will support you in this endeavour, Daughter, even though I think it might not be well received by many. "I owe you too much, and I owe your Jedi my life. I see that this means a lot to both of you."

"Thank you, Father," Sabine said with a sweet smile in his direction. "Next, I think just a small party, probably consisting of just our Ghost crew, Hera, if you're up for it, are going to sneak onto Lothal and do some scouting and planning. We need to know exactly what our opponents are up to and what targets to hit since we haven't been there for months."

"You know I'm more than willing to do that," Hera said, "But there's no way I'm getting anywhere near that blockade with the Ghost; I'm pretty sure every Imperial officer in the galaxy knows my ship. We can't take the Gauntlet either. A Mando ship would stick out like a sore thumb."

"I have an idea of how to get on the planet," Ezra said with a hesitant grin. "But you're not going to like it."

Kanan shook his head at Ezra. "If you say Visago, Hondo, or Calrissian, then yep, you're right. We don't like it."

Ezra's grin widened. "Then I won't say it." He turned his focus to Sabine. "What's after that, cyar'ika?"

Sabine melted a little at the term of affection in front of the others. "Then we get off planet again in whatever fashion is necessary, meet up with Clan Wren and whatever ships Rebel Command wants to send and we take Garel. Then we have a staging ground for the battle for Lothal. I was hoping we could come up with some kind of diversion to get most or even all of Thrawn's fleet to leave orbit so we could take control of the ground and blow up the Imperial Dome and their factories."

"Ambitious, but not insane," Bo-Katan said with a hint of admiration in her voice. "Your plan has definite potential. I would even send some fighters if you could remove most of the ISDs from the area. As we proved today, we can handle two Star Destroyers at a time with a fleet of about a hundred fighters. If the Rebels also sent the same number, you have a real shot of making this happen."

Sabine beamed with pride and gratitude. "Thank you. I told you that this idea would benefit everyone in the long run."

"You were right," Hera said. "Now we just have to get Rebel Command on board. And as I said, I'll talk to them first thing in the morning. In the meantime, everyone should start thinking of a good way to draw Thrawn's fleet away from the planet. And don't say flaunt the Ghost at them and then just fly a little faster than their laser cannons can reach."

"Awww," Sabine pouted playfully. "I was totally going to suggest that," she teased.

Hera scowled for a moment as Chopper beeped out laughter.

"I actually have an idea for that too," Ezra said tentatively. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously as everyone focused on him curiously.

"What?" Kanan said. "It can't be that bad?" he asked, sensing his Padawan's reluctance to say his idea.

Ezra winced. "Weellllll. It kind of is. And I doubt anyone's going to believe me."

"Just spit it out, Ezra. I promise we won't laugh," Sabine said, nudging him with her shoulder when he was silent too long.

Still making a face, he said, "You remember the purrgil?"

"I don't think we're ever going to forget them," Hera said dryly.

"What about them?" Kanan said encouragingly.

"When I saved their food supply, they promised to help me once in return. They said I would know when the time was right and they gave me a frequency to use to call them." Ezra peered out from under his brows to see how everyone was taking that.

There was a lot of gaping mouths.

"Are you saying the purrgil are intelligent beings?" Sabine said, the first to put the clues together.

Ezra nodded eagerly. "That's exactly what I'm saying. I think they could come chase the Star Destroyers out of the system. They might even be able to do a great deal of damage if they wanted to."

"Wait," Alrich demanded, brain finally wrapping around everyone's words. "Are you saying you can talk to animals?"

"It's a Jedi thing, I believe," Bo-Katan said.

"Yes, I can," Ezra said matter of factly. "All Jedi can, to some extent, but Kanan says I'm better than most. And it's not talk so much as communicate feelings and impressions. The purrgil though, they TALKED to me. Telepathically. They're really quite amazing. It's kind of like the Ghost, an A.I. computer, and a space whale decided to get together and have a baby. That's what the purrgil are like."

"How come you never told us the purrgils were intelligent?" Hera demanded. "I thought you were just commanding them like you do with all the other animals you encounter."

Ezra shrugged and winced some more. "I didn't think you'd believe me, so I didn't bother?"

Hera and Kanan sighed in unison. "Of course we believe you," Hera said soothingly. "Though this brings up some interesting issues about what to do with the purrgil race."

"Someone can have that debate at another time," Kanan told her. "For now, it's nice to know we have a viable option to chase Thrawn's fleet from the system. And we all know the purrgil are more than capable of scaring the living daylights out of any ship's Captain, so it should work."

"That's settled then," Sabine said happily. "My plan really does look like it will work, doesn't it? Everyone's happy with my ideas?" She received a series of nods and, "I ams," mostly in synch.

"I think your ideas are brilliant," Ezra said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and giving her a half hug and a kiss on the cheek. "But I'm not surprised at all; your ideas are always brilliant."

"Suck up," Sabine replied to him fondly, putting her own arm around his waist and leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Yep." Ezra said with a grin. "And proud of it." He kissed the top of her head and sighed happily into her hair. "Force, it's nice to be able to hold you without a really good excuse like the time you twisted your ankle. I've been dreaming of doing this for years."

That elicited a round of laughter as Sabine's face turned red and she hid it in his shirt. "So I'm a little slow," she mumbled into it. "Feel free to sue me."

Ezra chuckled. "I wouldn't dare," he said, hugging her more fully by adding a second arm. "You could talk circles around a lawyer in your sleep."

Sabine looked up at him and laughed. "Very true."

Kanan, Hera, Alrich, and even Fenn were watching the absolute adorableness that was blossoming right in front of them with that happy and indulgent look parents have. Bo-Katan was wondering how she'd gone for so many years without finding a mate to hug and tease like that. She glanced at Fenn assessingly yet again, thinking that she might just have found someone to fill the empty space in her life. Maybe she should corner him somewhere private and try kissing him to see if there was any chemistry. From the way he'd been looking at her, she didn't think he'd mind.

Feeling rather content with how everything was working out, Kanan turned his focus back to Chopper and thus Hera's hologram. "It sounds like things are pretty much decided here for the time being, Hera. Why don't you try and get a few more hours of sleep?"

Hera raised a brow at him, even though he couldn't see it. "You're not trying to get rid of me, are you?"

"Wouldn't think of it, darling," Kanan said reassuringly. "I'm just trying to be helpful."

Hera snorted, then said teasingly, "You keep telling yourself that, love. Sometimes, it might even be true." She focused on the group as whole again. "Is Kanan right, though? Are we done for now?"

That inspired everyone to look at each other with questioning eyes and shrugging shoulders.

Bo-Katan made the decision by saying, "I'd say we're done here, Captain Syndulla. Have Command contact me to talk about an alliance."

"Will do. Thank you, Mand'alor Kryze."

Bo-Katan nodded regally. "You're welcome. But please, feel free to call me by my given name in informal settings like this."

Hera smiled. "Of course, Bo-Katan. And please call me Hera." Bo-Katan nodded. Hera gave everyone one last glance. "Goodbye for now then. I'll be in touch." She gave Kanan an extra special smile that he unfortunately couldn't see. "Thank you for calling me, Kanan. I'm glad I got to be part of this. Come back as soon as you can talk Ezra into it. I'm going to catch a few more hours of sleep."

Kanan smiled sweetly back. "Night, Hera."

Ezra, Sabine, and Chopper then added to the well-wishing by all saying, "Night, Hera," too at the exact same time.

Hera smiled at her 'kids'. "Be good, my little Spectres. Oh, and I'm happy you've finally gotten together. I'm proud of you," she said, her eyes shining even through the hologram. Then she disappeared as she turned off the comm from her end.

While Hera was talking, Bo-Katan had raised an amused brow at the synchronous 'good nights' and said quietly to Fenn, "You'd think they'd practiced that."

Fenn shook his head. "Not so much practiced on purpose as practiced from doing it for so long. They really are a family."

"I think I see that."

Alrich sighed forlornly. "I know I do. I'm glad my daughter found a new family, but it hurts more than I can say to know that she had to look for one in the first place."

"Makes you wish there was a do-over button, doesn't it?" Bo-Katan said sympathetically.

Alrich nodded and sighed again, watching his daughter and the two Jedi huddle together around the astromech and have their own conversation. "After watching them for only a day, I've already seen how much they all love each other. I'm sure she sees Master Jarrus as a second father and I can guarantee she's never looked at Ursa with as much fondness as she just did Captain Syndulla. If there was such a thing as a do-over button, I would refuse to let Ursa send Sabine to the Academy, despite how smart she is. Everything would be so different now if she'd never left home."

"If it's any consolation, Alrich," Fenn said softly, "Despite everything she's gone through, she's turned into a remarkable young woman. You and Ursa obviously did something right for the first twelve years of her life so she had a solid foundation of strength and integrity to build on and get her through to this point. Yes. She found a new family, but they're a good family. She could be working for Black Sun right now or sitting in a prison somewhere if it weren't for them. I would just be thankful to have her back and count yourself fortunate for every day you get to spend with her from now on." His mouth quirked up and his voice took on a teasing tone. "And just think, with the way she and Bridger look at each other, you'll get grandbabies to play with sooner than later, I'll bet."

Alrich beamed like a ray of sunshine at the idea.