ME: Now time for the crew of the Ghost (AKA Spectre Team; it sounds cooler than "Ghost cell") to try their luck at fighting a Dark Lord of the Sith.

The seven rebels moved as quickly as possible to where the Ghost was docked, the crew of Phoenix Home wisely clearing the way.

A pair of guards standing attention at the airlock saw the group and stood at attention.

"Officers on deck!" The older of the two said while they both saluted.

Ahsoka returned their salutes. "At ease, Marines. We're taking the Ghost to engage the bandit."

"Ma'am," the senior Marine, a Corporal, said, "we have orders from Commodore Sato to accompany you aboard for security."

The Togruta Jedi nodded. "Alright, Corporal, I require no escort but I'll allow you two aboard."

The nine rebels entered and found several technicians.

"Captain Syndulla," said the lead technician, "we've finished upgrading your thermal converters."

"Thanks, Electrician's Mate First Class," Hera said gratefully, "but you and your team need to get back aboard the frigate. My ship's not as shielded, you'll be better protected aboard Phoenix Home."

"Of course, ma'am."

Zeb, Sabine, and Ezra moved to the gunnery stations as the rebel sailors headed for the airlock while Ahsoka, Hera, Kanan, and the Marines headed for the cockpit.

Hera strapped in along with Kanan (who had to be helped by a Marine due to his lack of arms) and Ahsoka after sitting down. "Everyone, check in."

"Tail gun, check!" Zeb reported.

"Turret, check!" Sabine called in.

"Nose gun, check! Check!" Ezra told her.

"Alright, kids, do Mom and Dad proud."

Ahsoka tapped at her earpiece after they detached. "Commodore, be advised: Ghost is moving to engage, over."

"Copy that, General," Sato replied. "Be advised: He just took out the rest of Phoenix Squadron, I say again, the last fighters have been destroyed. You and Spectre Team are on your own, ma'am."

"Copy that, Fleet Actual. We'll give 'em hell, get ready to jump as soon as we're clear. We'll RV at Safe Haven, how copy? Over."

"Negative, General Tano. No one gets left behind, and I don't want you taking on that TIE alone. If he can shoot down eight A-wings, he can shoot down a Corellian freighter."

"Just have your escape vectors set, then," Ahsoka replied. "Spectre Zero out."

The Ghost pursued the TIE, the smaller vessel evasively maneuvering but taking the time to disable every point-defense gun Phoenix Fleet had.

"Liberator Actual to Ghost Actual," Captain Ackbar said. "We're trying to hit him with our turbolasers, but he's too fast and small. Now I know how the Imperial Navy feels."

"Acknowledged, Liberator Actual," Hera replied as predator and prey moved beyond the fleet. "My boys and girls can take 'em out with precision, so hold your fire. I'd rather not risk any friendly fire, over."

"Roger that."

"The Force is strong with him," Ahsoka said. "Kanan, let's find out how strong."

"How can I help?" After losing both his arms to the Sith Lord, the younger Jedi wasn't as confident in his abilities.

"Just remember your training," Ahsoka replied as she put her hand on his back.

After they reached out into the Force, Ezra reported in. "I think I know who it is! Back on Lothal, I sensed something. Kanan did too! The fear, the anger, the hate...it's the Sith Lord we faced!"

Ahsoka desperately tried not to believe it was who she was sensing-this couldn't be Anakin, he could never fall to the dark side. It was impossible-.

"The apprentice lives," a deep baritone said.

Ahsoka screamed in pain as her eyes widened before falling unconscious.

*CUT TO: BRIDGE OF THE LIBERATOR*

"Captain Ackbar," his sensor technician said. "I'm detecting additional contacts coming out of hyperspace in t-minus thirty!"

The Mon Calamari gasped. "No wonder why that Imp destroyed our point-defenses; he's acting as bait, now we only have our turbolasers!"

He tapped his earpiece. "Liberator Actual calling all available units, come in! It's a trap!"

*CUT TO: COUNT CHAD VADER'S TIE INTERCEPTOR*

Seventy-six TIEs of varying types exited hyperspace, one of them being a TIE Interceptor.

The brother of Lord Vader smiled under his helmet. "Brother, we have entered the system and await your orders."

"Target the frigate, it's the enemy flagship," he ordered. "Destroy their engines and shields as well as any remaining weaponry, but I want these rebels alive. The leaders of this insurrection must be interrogated, and if the crew of the frigate are allowed to evacuate the corvettes will have to retrieve the escape pods. That weakness of these terrorist insurgents will be their downfall."

"Right away." Chad switched channels. "Lady Offee, take Commander Jade and Group A. Raana and Group B, with me."

"On it, Chad."

Raana rarely used his given name, but Chad didn't comment. He had a job to do.

Group A were all TIE fighters, while Group B had a squadron of TIE bombers and two TIE fighter squadrons for escort.

"Gold Leader," he told the Commander of the bomber pilots, "target the shield generator. I need the shields down in order to disable the engines; we cannot allow them to escape. Blue Leader, Red Leader, you and your fighters are to guard Yellow Squadron with your lives. Allow the rebels to flee, and I will personally report any failure to obey your orders directly to Lord Vader."

The Corellian corvettes opened fire with their turbolasers, sending red particle beams through space.

"Count Vader," said Barriss, "the rebel ships are concentrating fire on your group."

Undoubtedly the insurrectionist gunners were prioritizing the bombers for an obvious reason; while the rest of the TIEs could strafe, it would take the bomblet generators aboard the bombers to crack the shields of the frigate.

As soon as the TIEs had a clear shot at the frigate, they opened fire. Against a capital ship, even the most inexperienced pilots couldn't miss such a large target with or without radar.

The TIE bombers got above the ship, and dozens of energy bombs rained down upon it.

"Shields down, Count Vader," Gold Leader reported in.

"I'll take the engines," Chad replied. "Everyone else, destroy all remaining weaponry and initiate a tactical jump; I want us out of range of the enemy fleet."

Technically the group of rebels wasn't even a battle group, just a squadron, but no one bothered to correct the Count of the Empire.

Getting behind the ship, Chad noted that, as with all Pelta-class frigates, it (he refused to refer to a rebel vessel as she) had one primary engine unit and two auxiliaries.

Angling his shots for maximum deflection, Chad fired his six laser cannons three times.

"Count Vader," said Baron Fel, "objective achieved. Entering hyperspace now, sir."

I wonder if the good rebels know we're using this frigate as bait. Oh well-even if they abandon the escape pods, hundreds of insurgents are onboard for both the reeducation camps and interrogation.

"Gold One here, going for the hyperdrive!"

Count Vader cursed silently. "No, you idiot!"

*CUT TO: BRIDGE OF PHOENIX HOME*

Sato grimaced as the sensor technician reported that the TIEs had escaped into hyperspace. "Damage report!"

"Sir," said the Lieutenant at the operations station, "we lost all the engines. On top of that, Engineering reports the hyperdrive was damaged by the last attack by that bomber. They're trying to stabilize it, but things don't look good."

The Commodore swore. Phoenix Squadron had been entirely annihilated-save for Phoenix Eight, who had been rescued by the Liberator-the shields had been disabled, the engines were out, the hyperdrive was in bad shape, and Phoenix Home had no weapons to defend itself.

"Sir," Captain Syndulla said via comlink, "from what I've heard from the rest of the fleet things don't look good. If she's crippled, you must abandon ship."

"I will not initiate an evacuation with those fighters around!" Sato replied. "We'll be helpless in escape pods!"

"Liberator Actual to Fleet Actual!" Said Captain Ackbar. "Commodore Sato, we have bogies coming out of hyperspace, looks like Imperial warships!"

*CUT TO: BRIDGE OF HIMS EXECUTRIX*

Grand Moff Tarkin smiled. His flagship, the Executrix, was a powerful Imperial I-class Star Destroyer. The centerpiece of the Executrix Battle Group, she was armed with dozens of turbolasers and ion cannons capable of eradicating rebel blockade runners and carried a wing of TIEs on top of ships like assault gunboats and Skipray blastboats.

Accompanying the Executrix were three Victory II-class Star Destroyers and eight Carrack-class light cruisers. Though not as well armed (though still dangerous) as the Executrix, the smaller Destroyers were cheaper (one could buy three VSDIIs for the price of one ISD), faster in hyperspace (standard ISDs used Class Two hyperdrives, only half as fast as the Class One model used by VSDIIs), and required far less crew. The Carracks were more than twice as long as the CR90 corvettes commonly used by pirates and rebels and much better armed, with two flanking each Star Destroyer. The light cruisers protected the Executrix and the VSDIIs from missile and starfighter attacks, while the larger Imperial warships protected the Carracks from bigger enemy vessels; it was a symbiotic relationship.

"Sir, the other ships have jumped out of hyperspace."

Tarkin nodded. "Excellent, Lieutenant. Sensor, scan the terrorist flotilla; I want a sitrep."

The sensor technician did as ordered. "Grand Moff, the enemy fleet matches the description of the insurgent unit that attacked the Garel Shipyards. Five Corellian corvettes, one Pelta-class frigate. Be advised: The latter appears to be heavily damaged, sir. Additionally, Lord Vader appears to be in pursuit of a rebel freighter."

The Governor of the Outer Rim smiled. The Executrix Battle Group outnumbered the rebels by just over two-to-one; between his battle group and Tion's, they would be crushed like insects.

Tarkin tapped his earpiece. "Lord Vader," he said, "we have entered the system and await your orders."

Vader: "Move the fleet to block their escape, but no turbolasers or TIEs. I say again, ion cannons and tractor beams only, Governor. I want these rebels alive."

"Of course, Lord Vader." Tarkin switched frequencies, knowing Vader's decision made sense; after all, there had to be more to this rebel alliance than a simple squadron of small ships, and interrogating the survivors would help restore order faster. "All ships, stay in formation and move to engage. I want them taken alive, I say again, ion cannons and tractor beams only. Use no turbolasers and dispatch no TIEs; any officer who fails to obey the rules of engagement will be reported to Lord Vader." The Eriaduan paused to take a breath, knowing no one would risk invoking the wrath of the Emperor's Executor. "All available troops, prepare to board."

The 501st Legion, currently embarked aboard the Devastator, would easily overwhelm the defenders of any rebel vessel with their superior skills. The 105th CompForce Division would also be ideal, but more so for their fanaticism and disposability.

Droids probably have more self-preservation instincts than those cretins.

*CUT TO: COCKPIT OF GHOST*

Kanan shook his head as a Marine helpfully held a comlink for him; there was no way Sato could afford delaying now. "It's now or never, Commodore. You must abandon ship."

"I regretfully agree, Colonel Jarrus," the older man replied. "Captain, give the order. Captain Syndulla, keep the Imperials occupied. We'll be vulnerable during the evacuation and recovery efforts."

"Too late!"

The hyperdrive must've detonated, for the entire ship exploded and was reduced to fragments.

Kanan felt the hundreds of voices crying out in the Force.

The Marines gaped in horror. "Everyone we knew was onboard Phoenix Home, all our friends..."

The Jedi Knight shook his head and shouted, "Marine, I need that comlink open! Now!"

"Yes, sir." Force, even a normal person like Hera could tell how devastated the Marine was just by his voice.

"Phoenix Fleet," Kanan began, "this is Colonel Kanan Jarrus, call sign Spectre One. Due to the death of Commodore Sato and the incapacitation of General Tano, I am assuming command over all remaining units and order an immediate retreat. I say again, all ships are to jump to hyperspace and eventually RV at Safe Haven."

Captain Ackbar immediately responded. "But, sir, we can't just abandon you and Spectre Team!"

"My ship can evade turbolaser fire, Captain Ackbar," Hera replied. "Yours can't, now follow the Colonel's orders!"

Fortunately Ackbar and the other Captains knew what was at stake, for the five corvettes escaped into hyperspace one-by-one. Ion cannon rounds narrowly missed; the Imperial warships must've just come into range.

Ironic-I worry about being a part of an organized military force after the Clone Wars, but the first order I give saves thousands of lives.

"Fleet is away," Sabine reported, somewhat redundantly. "Get us out of here!"

"Yeah, this buckethead's not making it easy!" Zeb added.

"Hate to spoil your fun, Zeb," Hera responded, "but I'm ordering Chopper to divert all power to shields and engines! Including cannons!"

"Hera, what are you doing?!" Sabine asked as the astromech obeyed.

"I think I know," Ezra answered for her.

Kanan smiled; in spite of everything, it seemed a certain Twi'lek rebel had a trick up her sleeve. "You're gonna surprise our friend in the TIE?"

"Ding, ding, ding."

*CUT TO: BRIDGE OF HIMS DEVASTATOR*

"Admiral," said the sensor technician, "the last rebel ship is moving into range."

Lord Tion smirked, pleased with his good luck. The fact the majority of the insurgent fleet had narrowly escaped (even if the flagship had been lost with all hands) annoyed him, but the capture of the rebel freighter that apparently carried an important cell of terrorists could very well earn him a promotion from Lord Darth Vader himself.

"Excellent," the Rear Admiral replied. "Lieutenant Zataire, have a tractor beam readied. You are to personally activate it on my signal."

"Sir, yes, sir." A young woman from Naboo, Padmé Zataire manned the weapons station and came from a loyal Imperial family. Not as prominent as the House of Tion, but Zataire still had proper breeding.

That's more than can be said of the rebel rabble.

"Target has moved into range, sir," reported the sensor tech.

"Lieutenant?"

"Tractor beam ready, sir," came the reply.

Wait for it, wait for it...

"Now!" Tion ordered.

"Activating tractor beam, sir!" Zataire replied. "Okay, it's locked onto a ship!"

"Dammit!" The sensor tech swore. "Admiral Tion, target has escaped into hyperspace!"

"Impossible!" Tion replied. "We have a lock!"

Zataire shrieked; since it was unbecoming of both an officer of the Imperial Navy and the daughter of an Imperial Navy Captain, she had to be seriously frightened. "Sir, the gunner in charge of that beam reports it's...Lord Vader's ship."

Tion gasped. He looked around, and noted everyone on the bridge, officer and enlisted alike, wisely had looks of fear on their faces.

"Re-release him immediately," Captain Montferrat ordered, his voice shaky.

Zataire did so, while Tion straightened his cap. "It's not your fault, Lieutenant."

She sighed in relief and turned to him, her eyes hidden by a pair of tactical glasses. "Thank you so much, sir."

"But Lord Vader won't know that."

ME: A/N: See, Darth? If you choke your underlings for every minor failing, they'll start to lie to you.

I figured it would make more sense if Phoenix Home was taken down by bombers than Vader himself. If two strafing runs from a TIE Advanced were enough to take her down, the frigate would've been toast the moment those two Imperial light cruisers showed up during the raid earlier on that Imp convoy.

I killed off Sato not out of racism (I am half-Vietnamese on my mother's side; not that I care about a person's race at all, I believe in individuals) but for a Player (or in this case, Reader) Punch. Considering Tua survived in my headcanon, I wanted to make an emotional impact on y'all like how we all felt when she died in Siege of Lothal. Here's some Fridge Horror: Considering the Databank says there were 900 or so crew aboard Home and we only saw three escape pods, realistically the majority of the crew got killed off anyway (unless the animators were lazy). I gave y'all a bit of an inversion of What Measure is a Mook (or in this case, Red Shirt) by having Phoenix Eight, a pilot who I haven't even named yet, and two random nameless guards be the sole survivors. Plus I did end up deconstructing his Honor Before Reason tendencies-seriously, he reminds one of an Imperial (hah!) Japanese Navy officer, only unlike IJN guys Sato was smart enough to abandon ship when the ISDs showed up.

I figured it would make sense if the rebel infantry/security aboard the ships were the rebel equivalent of US Marines, plus I am a USMC fan who wants to become a Marine myself.

Lieutenant Zataire is a canon character mentioned in an excerpt of The Rebellion Begins I read via Google Books. I gave her tactical glasses like Mara since she works aboard an ISD and to maintain Faceless Goons without being impractical like in canon (where the unnamed ImpNav characters have their cap visors tucked down, which would realistically hinder their vision). She's named after Padmé for an obvious reason; assuming she was, say, 26 around 5 BBY, she'd have been born in 31 BBY, a year after the invasion of Naboo. Considering Captain Zataire owns a couple of plantations on Naboo, he could be from that planet and odds are everyone's favorite fourteen-year old Queen (admittedly a young age to be elected, but hey, for all we know the Humans of Naboo gave the Gungans the vote) had a number of girls named after her.

Yes, Lord Tion is a case of Aristocrats Are Evil. I already had the dude scapegoat Konstantine, and from what I've read he was a...pleasant...individual in Legends.

Final note: I have a theory on why Zeb, Hera, and Sabine were able to survive in the stolen TIE. I doubt Sabine was able to do anything beyond apply a new paint job to it, since the financial problems of the crew were the cause of two separate plots in Season One. True, TIE cockpits are larger than modern ones, but odds are the life support system aboard wouldn't be able to support three people (especially Zeb, who as a Lasat likely needs more oxygen just due to size than either Sabine or Hera).

Then it hit me, along with at least one other person (who actually came up with the idea):

It was modified to accommodate Baron Valen Rudor's oversized ego.