Star Wars Rebels – Shattering P12 – Scarellia
The swirl of patterns was hypnotic, and Ezra stared at the colourful display while the rebel commanders argued about things that he really didn't care for.
They were in the command centre of the rebel space station, waiting for a high-ranking rebel commander to start the presentation for their next mission. Other important figures stood around the table, debating points of interest, or observing the others, keeping themselves distanced from whatever inter-rebel politics might be going on.
He ignored it all, letting himself sink into the relaxing flows of lines and curves that made up the holographic representation of their star system. It stopped him from focusing on the guilt gnawing at his stomach. His apology had been pathetic.
I should've thought of a better apology, he scolded himself. Instead of saying something so simple and stupid.
What was worse was that Sabine had rejected his help, rejected the chance to know the truth.
Why wouldn't she? She no longer trusted him, maybe even trusted him less than when he'd first arrived.
There was a rap on the table, snapping Ezra's attention away from the display and his thoughts, silencing the rebels around the room.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, sit down," announced the gravelly voice.
"Well, I'll be damned," said Zeb as he sat down next to Ezra. "Admiral Ackbar himself."
Admiral Ackbar stood tall at the holocontrols, observing the rebels scattered around the room as they came together and sat down, picking up the datapads from the seats as they did so.
Outside, the Home One was silhouetted by the star they orbited, a huge warship that made the Ghost look like a minnow. It wasn't just able to go toe-to-toe with an Star Destroyer; it was far superior to almost every single one that the Imperials could throw at them, and the admiral was already famous for his masterful directing of his rebel fleet.
"Our agents have located a target of opportunity for us to strike a crippling blow to the Empire," the admiral started, tapping a button on the table and changing the view to that of a vibrant multi-coloured planet, with a single, huge continent in the centre, surrounded by ocean and a few smaller continents, if they could even be considered such.
Ezra looked at the datapad he held and began scrolling through the information provided, paying half attention to the Admiral's briefing.
.
Imperial-controlled Planet: Scarellia. Lenthos system, sector 14a. Planet mostly ocean, with a Pangea continent containing the 4 major powers, and 3 smaller ones containing the 5 small democracies and the one socialist country. Nearby planet Clyriga shares similar properties, but has a single country occupying all of the smaller ones and some of the mainland.
- The Imperials have direct control over the Vierra territory. Previous controller was Sin-Lau-Fe, semi-democratic dictator (N.B. members of govt. Except for him could be elected or voted out). Major city obliterated during initial Imperial invasion, along with majority of the army. Fragile but effective control established over remaining countries quickly. Countries are kept poised against each other.
- Azcoth territory ruled by Monarch Lazo Rihne. Population extremely loyal, army one of the most powerful on the Planet. (N.B. Protector General Quis effective, but predictable Commander-in-Chief of the army.) The unwavering dedication of the populace to their monarch, while still remaining aware of everything that goes on without being led like sheep, is a galactic rarity, no doubt due to the enigmatic, vibrant and creative Monarch and his own dedication to his people.
- Zerthen territory ruled under the iron fist of Dictator Mar Krey. Population loyal through fear, army most powerful after the Empire. (N.B. CIC run by a council of generals. Ace General Frith is a rarity in most armies; honest, effective, inspiring, willing to go in with the troops to the front, and courageous, and this is only exemplified by his peers, who are generally the opposite.).
- Territory under Trans-National State (TNS) control lacks a formal name, and is referred to differently across the entire star system. Currently in a state of civil war after a coup replaced the religious hemogony with a dictatorship. Dictatorship has surprising support and a powerful army.
- Other nations not worth mentioning. Generally conservative. Offered least resistance to Imperial takeover.
It should be noted that the political situation is particularly volatile here. During the civil war, many of those who had fled the civil war due to the TNS takeover had set up in the Azcoth territory, at which point they began offering very vocal criticism of the Monarch, who refused to aid either side in the conflict, only those who were fleeing (N.B. – Zerthen territory offered verbal support and a 'show of force' in favour of the Religious Homogony.) Eventually, they decided to rise up in a coup to overthrow the Royal Family, but they were suppressed by both the Royal Army and the local population, and the TNS found themselves in the awkward position off accepting refugees fleeing the Royal Army, even though those same people had fled from them just a year prior.
As well as this, three of the democracies have made hints towards a union of sorts, and border tensions with the Socialist country nearby have flared up recently, prompting the Empire to redeploy a Division to prevent a war.
.
"We've discovered that the Garrison has settled down and is estimated to be weak and undisciplined," Ezra heard as he finished reading the planetary data. "Its governor is also unpopular, and the people have expressed a desire to rebel against the Empire."
The door slid open behind them and Ezra glanced back to see who'd entered.
His breath caught in his throat for a second, and then he tore his eyes away from Sabine and looked back at his datapad, doing his best to remain calm. A quick glance around the table revealed that the only spare seat was next to him, and he heard the chair scrape the floor next to him as she sat down.
"What'd I miss?" she whispered to him quietly, much to his surprise. She was tense, unsure of what she was doing, but for once, not openly hostile.
There was still some uneasiness there though. She leaned away slightly, and her voice was controlled, showing no emotion.
He shrugged, trying to feign nonchalance as he replied. "Just the basics. Nothing important."
She nodded, her face passive and controlled, like her voice. Era noticed her swallow silently, and her eyes flickered around the room, before resting on the Admiral.
"It has a single stronghold in the centre of the Vierra sector," Ackbar continued, ignoring the disruption. "That will be where we must focus our efforts."
One of the commanders, a Bothan, raised his hand. "How will we get a large enough force on the ground to be able to attack the base?"
"We won't," the Admiral replied confidently, slowly blinking his giant fish eyes. "We can only get a small strike team to the ground."
"We hope to get the nations on the planet to cooperate with us," Hera continued, leaning against the table. "This would grant us access to all of the armies they have, and not even the Empire would be able to supress a planet-wide uprising, at least with the forces they have there now."
"And then we bring in the fleet," another rebel continued, standing up to address the room. "we will crush the Imperial fleet while they are looking at the ground and liberate the planet. We hope to solidify the political situation with the burning wreckage of Imperial ships."
"I leave it to Commander Hera Syndulla and Captain Rogas to discuss the infiltration," the Admiral stepped back and Hera gave him a polite nod as she took over the holotable controls.
"We will take Striker and Phoenix squadrons and enter orbit of Clyriga," she started, tapping the panel to bring up the lush, vibrant main continent, complete with Imperial blockade force and space stations. "Where Captain Rogas will lead his team down to the surface," she gestured to the Bothan who'd spoken up before, getting a nod in return.
The view shifted from Clyriga to the much duller Scarellia, central desert sticking out from all the surrounding green, with no apparent landmarks of notice over the entire continent.
"I will lead the second team down onto the surface of Scarellia" Hera continued, gesturing to a specific point on the map, just of the western coast of the continent. "We will use the same infiltration method for both insertions, and then meet up with our contacts on the ground."
A schematic took over the display. A narrow, angular ship with a retrofitted cargo space that could take 20 people.
"We've manage to acquire several specialised smuggling ships for this operation, and retrofit them for the mission."
"Isn't that too risky?" a voice asked from the table. "Smuggling ships don't exactly have the best track record for performance, and I don't mean to insult the skills of any of our mechanics, but can we be sure the hull is airtight?" She pointed at the display. "The retrofitted walls look like they're about to fall off."
"That's the point Sargent," Captain Rogas stated from where he was sat in his seat. "We're going to need to reach the water to be able to infiltrate. I'll let the commander explain," he deferred to Hera, leaning back in his chair and crossing his legs.
"We can't escape them in the air, and, as many have found out the hard way, the Imperials around this planet have been particularly good at shooting down smuggling craft. It's a fifty-fifty chance that we'd be destroyed within minutes of landing on the surface, so we require a new approach."
Hera changed the display again, showing a flight plan that terminated in the shallow water near one of the red-orange cliffs that seemed to form the entire western coastline.
"To get us there safely, we're going to have to improvise," Hera quirked a smile at that last word, while the other rebels around the table murmured as they considered the plan. "So we're going to fool the Imperials into thinking that they shot us down in the ocean, then fool whatever scanners they will send after us."
She brought up the schematic again, tapping a couple of buttons. The oversized, misshapen walls flashed a couple of times as she continued.
"We're going to eject some extra stuff to make them think they hit us," Hera continued, now playing what would happen as they travelled through the atmosphere. Their hologram ship flashed suddenly, and little pieces flew off as it spun downwards, seemingly out of control.
"What about pressure sensors?" Sabine asked, gesturing to the Imperial probe model that was quietly spinning off to one side of the main display. "If they send one of those down, it'll be able to detect the pressure difference between the ship and the ocean."
"That's why the walls look like they're about to fall off," Hera grinned. "As soon as we hit the water, everyone will put on oxygen masks and I'll flood the ship with water."
There were several surprised mumbles and Hera waited for a few seconds before quieting them with a wave of her hand.
"Any questions?"
"Permission to go on the mission," Sabine requested before Hera had finished.
"Denied," Hera said firmly, clasping her hands behind her back.
"Hera…"
"Denied," Hera said flatly, voice brooking no argument, and Sabine slouched in her chair crossly, folding her arms. "Any questions?"
There were many, and they dragged on for several minutes, while Sabine sat slumped in her chair, fuming at Hera's refusal to let her go on the mission.
"You can't blame Hera," Ezra said quietly, looking over at Sabine. "She's only trying to help you-"
"And you'd know all about helping me," Sabine cut him off with a sarcastic comment, rolling her eyes and dropping her head onto the back of the chair.
She sighed. "Sorry. That was… uncalled for."
Her voice was again neutral, and she lifted her head off the seat.
"No, I deserve it," he leaned against the holotable, hanging his head when she didn't reply. A brief glance at Sabine revealed the emotions that were playing across her face. To those who didn't know her, the subtle signs that Ezra could see were invisible, and she could've passed it off as simple boredom to most people.
"You don't really want to speak to me, do you?" Ezra asked quietly so Zeb couldn't hear.
She rolled her eyes as though it should've been obvious, then frowned.
"Are you looking inside my mind?" She probed, annoyed at how quickly Ezra had deduced the fact.
Ezra sighed, crossing his own arms defensively. "Sabine, that's not how the force works. You know it."
"Yeah, you can only 'see people's feelings' or whatever," she grumbled sullenly, glaring at the floor. "And you can see people through the force."
That's not exactly true either, Ezra thought to himself, but he didn't say anything.
"Why are you forcing yourself to speak to me?" The question was blunt, and to the point.
"That's not true," she began, looking up at Ezra to see if he bought it. He just raised an eyebrow, arms still folded.
"Fine. Kanan and Zeb were breathing down my back for how I treated you earlier. Happy?"
Ezra shook his head, but made no reply.
That hurt.
Sabine huffed something that sounded like a sorry, and turned away to look at Home One out the station's viewscreen.
"Don't apologize," Ezra bit his lip as he said it. "I don't blame you for hating me."
That came out too defensive.
"Good. Because I don't either." She spun around to face him, doing her best to control the anger in her voice. "I blame you."
Ezra hung his head at the expression on her face and the bitterness in her statement, then started to form a reply.
But she was gone. The meeting was over; people were starting to pack up, so Ezra got up and trudged to his room on the station.
His lightsaber. A blaster. A few other bits and pieces that he needed or might need.
And the darksaber.
Huh. I didn't leave that there.
He dismissed his curiosity as he strapped it onto his belt as well, his room automatically locking behind him the instant he left.
There were rebels making their way to the hanger, and Ezra quietly let himself be assimilated into their ranks.
He could hear Hera's voice as he approached the Ghost. She was standing on some crates, speaking to the rebels that would make up their strike team.
"Okay, but before we board the Ghost, I swear that I will throw anyone who tries to smuggle a rocket launcher with them out of the airlock."
There were several chuckles as the soldiers boarded the Ghost and sat in the cargo bay, while the rest of the Ghost crew went up to the cockpit.
Ezra trudged on board and climbed the ladder up, ignoring the comforting feel of the ship, the familiar smells and shapes. Light shone through the open turret hatch above as the ship rumbled out of the hanger, illuminating the ladder and casting rigid patterns on the floor.
The door opened with a whoosh, and he sat himself down, folding his arms and doing his best to hide his feelings from his face.
"You alright Ezra?" Hera asked, glancing over to him as she navigated to the head of Phoenix and Striker squadrons.
He shrugged and mumbled a yes, instead looking over their fleet.
It was huge, for the rebellion at least. There were 2 large capital ships, one on either side of Home One, a Liberty-class called the Liberty, and an MC-80, the Exemption, and they were surrounded by CR90s and various support ships, ranging from Bulk cruisers to Nebulon B-2s and even a refitted Dreadnought, one of the most resilient ship models in the galaxy.
They were passing the Hermes when the rest of Phoenix and Striker formed up around them, and they drifted to a position 2km from the main rebel fleet.
"What's that?" Zeb asked, pointing to something drawn on the hull of the Hermes.
The Hermes rotated into view and reveal a large, red crosshair painted over where the ship had previously been gutted.
"I don't recall authorizing that," Hera said matter-of-factly, and Ezra sneaked a grin. Officially, that is.
Hera tapped some buttons and the ship drifted to a halt.
She frowned and stood to reach a dial at the top of the craft.
"What's wrong?" Kanan asked straight away, leaning forward to get a better view of the fleet.
Hera cursed in Twi'lek, and opened a comm to the Admiral.
"Admiral, I've got unidentified hyperspace contacts," she reported with worry, biting her lower lip as she examined the scanner reports.
The Admiral was ignoring her, instead looking at his crew, away from the camera.
"What's going on?" The Admiral demanded to know as the bridge klaxons began blaring out.
"Admiral!" a bridge member cried. "Imperial contacts!"
The admiral's eyes widened.
"It's a trap!"
3 Star Destroyers warped into the system not far from the rebel fleet, fighters spewing from the hangers of 2 of them, while the third… the third lacked a hanger.
Shit, Ezra thought. A Tector. Just what we needed.
"Phoenix and Striker squadrons are dark," Hera commented as she powered down all the ship's systems, along with the rest of her command. Being the farthest from the main fleet, they were least likely to have been detected, and with their attention elsewhere, the Imperials might pass them by.
"Anyone get an ID on those ships?" Striker One asked over the short-range radio, the only thing not powered down.
"Let me check," Hera activated a single console and ran through the readings taken before they'd powered down. "Okay, I have the Ironclad, a Tector-class Star Destroyer, the Milestone, a modified Star Destroyer, although these modifications aren't known to us, and the…"
Her voice trailed off, the concern practically visible as it hit its final note.
"The Chimera."
Ezra shot Zeb a confused glance, getting a shoulder-shrug and similar confusion in return.
"What's so important about the Chimera?" Ezra asked. When she didn't reply immediately, he asked again, more desperate this time. "What does that mean?"
Her head shot up and she practically snarled the name.
"Thrawn."
Notes:
So, what did you guys think of that? Little bit of Sabine and Ezra alongside the mess known as Scarellia. You'll learn more about it later.
The political situation is partly based off real life. The TNS is, in essence, Israel, and Azcoth is Jordan, and what happened here is the barebones of what happened in real life. The Palestinians fled into Jordan, where they began protesting that the King wasn't doing enough to stop Israel, and tried to initiate a coup. They were suppressed and Israel ended up in the awkward position of having to take in Palestinians fleeing Jordan.
Life is weird, isn't it?
There are a few references in this one. There is the Star Wars: Battlefront II trailer "That's the point Sargent", the Vierra territory is a territory on the planet Reach from HALO: Reach, and of course, who would I be if I didn't have Ackbar say "It's a trap!" at least once in my stories?
Anyway, shoutout to ja54591 for reviewing this chapter, even though he's under no obligation to do so, and the next chapter should, unless something happens, be here next Saturday. What time it is depends on the London rail service and how many people are taking the trains. I try to improve the chapters on the train as well, because it takes 1 1/2 hours to get back home sometimes, which is far too long to waste when I could be showing the Imperials as the monolithic force they are supposed to be XD.]
Onto the reviews:
Fanfiction:
Nathan: Hi, U might remember me, I just want to say you're doing great and keep up the good work.
Me: Cheers Nathan :) I appreciate the support.
Specter 7: Nice chapter :) a bit short but interesting. I hope Sabine will finally get over herself and just keep a conversation with Ezra. He doesn't deserve all the icy glares and angry yelling she's been giving the poor boy lately. :_(
Me: I know... I'm being evil. But trust takes years to build and seconds to destroy, and Sabine perceives her torture as Ezra's fault, meaning the trust will not re-grow until she changes her mind about that.
Sleepless-actual: Solid chapter! Great work, and goodluck with life and such! I look forward to the next installment!
Me: Thank you for wishing me good luck. I'm just very busy, that's all.
DustySpartan32: Very good. I like it how Kanan and Zeb know how upset Sabine really is, and that her blaming Ezra isn't going to help her in the long run.
Me: Good. That's what I was aiming for in that last chapter, and I hope this one expands the interaction a little bit.
Again, no comments on Archive of Our Own. What is it over there? Why hast thou forsaken me? ;)
Have a nice week everyone.
