While on the way to Mistral, Ironwood was notified of the Senate's destruction and told his pilot to rush over there immediately. He then told his lieutenant to send a message to the admiral in command of the fleet he had amassed to have the fleet deploy to Atlas. He was also notified that the Imperial pilot that surrendered was killed by a New Republic security guard.
"What's the situation in Atlas? Were there any survivors of the attack?" Ironwood asked the Atlesian general of the army in command of the New Republic Atlesian division.
"There are only some survivors, sir. But... Leia Organa is not one of them." He replied.
James stood quiet upon hearing that. His best friend was gone, the one person he understood the most. Eventually everyone who knew Leia was affected. Luke, the same as Jaina, felt the disturbance when she was killed. Han was deeply affected by her death the most, his ex-wife gone, the woman he fell in love with all those years ago. Gone. But that wasn't the end, the New Empire remnants were on the loose and the New Republic were the ones looking for them.
"The freighter we saw leave the hanger was New Republic. If they aren't going to Atlas then we don't know where." Pyrrha said to the captain of the Beacon.
"Blue Squadron found nothing when they searched that area. But they did find the Falcon not far from the antenna dish." The captain replied. "Also did you see the hull classification on the freighter before it took off?" He asked.
"No, unfortunately. We were unable to see it. We ran into the hanger as it was taking off." Ren answered.
The captain sighed. "That's gonna make things a lot harder. We got hundreds of cargo freighters coming in and out of Vale during the day. Oh yeah, there's a lot going on at Mountain Glenn right now. The general of the army's forces have engaged a New Empire force at the ruins. General, if you are back in the fight then I suggest going over there to provide air support." The captain said to them.
"Of course, time to babysit soldiers." Was all he said.
When the New Republic army reached Mountain Glenn, they were engaged by Cinder Three, one of the six AT-ATs the Commanders found out were part of Cinder Squadron, an Old Empire AT-AT brigade. The ruined city became another battleground like the one two months ago.
"I want sniper teams, here, here and here. And the TX-130 tank will provide covering fire for our troops on the north side." The Third Commander gave his orders to his troops.
"Yes, sir. I'll notify the scouts to get their rifles ready. What about the Juggernauts, sir?" The lieutenant asked.
"They will stay where they are. When Lord 'Nrahom gets the information on the Empress' murderer from the Beacon, we'll need to use the Juggernauts for a quick escape." He replied to the lieutenant.
"Very well." The lieutenant said as he walked off.
A group of troopers were running from one position to another as they had orders. Blaster bolts had hissed and snapped by them with two of them being hit.
"This is Cinder One, the New Republic troopers are bringing in M-45 repeating ion blasters! They're going to tak-" The transmission had cut off as the AT-AT's front legs were struck by ion bolts, disengaging the support of its legs and causing it to fall forward.
In terms of weapons, the New Republic army had an advantage over the Commanders' forces. The ion blasters and grenades they had proved effective against the Old Empire walkers and vehicles. With Cinder One destroyed, the New Republic began to advance further into the city, however Cinder Two was stationed not far from One's position.
"Sergeant! Take care of those M-45 troops! We need to hold back the enemy, keep them from getting to the command post!" An officer shouted orders.
As the battle was going on, the battle droids with Jek's faction were B1 and B2 models. The B1s were similar to Atlesian Knight line of androids while the B2s were much more taller and armoured. Due to M-45 troops on the battlefront, these battle droids were being destroyed quickly.
Within the stolen cargo freighter, Emerald had forgotten to mention that the freighter they stole was going to the Beacon to deliver uniforms, supplies and food resources to the ship. Jek then had an idea; his troops put on New Republic Fleet security personnel uniforms while the Second Commander, his officers and the three criminals put on New Republic officer uniforms and were going to present Jek 'Nrahom as their prisoner.
"Are you sure this will work? We've been on the Beacon a few times, they will notice us three." Emerald protested as she had the uniform on, standing beside Jek.
"From the information we gathered on the Beacon, its the only ship in the New Republic that has had its personnel changed since the last time you and your associates were onboard. So yes, I am certain your disguise will not be broke, Emerald." He replied to her.
"My lord, once we find the information... how are you going to get to the traitor's location?" The Second Commander asked.
"I have a way, Commander. I always do." He answered.
As the freighter approached the city of Vale, the Beacon was hovering above the river leading to the Academy but was facing towards the city itself. The pilots onboard saw X-wings, A-wings, and B-wings flying patrol along the river and around the cruiser. Before they got close to the city limits, Shadow Squadron and Renwil's pilots were called off and were ordered to join the forces at Mountain Glenn.
"NR cargo freighter Vale, you are approaching the MC80 command ship Beacon. Transmit clearance codes to be allowed docking with the Beacon, immediately!" The pilots received a transmission from the Beacon's command crew.
"Copy that, Beacon. Transmitting clearance codes now." The pilot replied, transmitting the codes to the ship.
On the Beacon's command bridge, the captain was looking at solutions to finding the freighter that was stolen and with Han's team going to Mountain Glenn, Shadow Squadron was in for a surprise.
"Sir, the Vale has arrived. They've transmitted clearance codes and I cleared them to dock with the ship." Bride reported to the captain.
"Thank you, Bride." The captain replied.
As the Vale docked with the Beacon, there were personnel waiting to collect the cargo on the freighter. The doors had opened, revealing Jek in cuffs and everyone else in disguise. The ship's deck officer told his personnel to unload the cargo on the freighter while he told the disguised Emerald, who had the uniform of an Admiral, that he was going to have a lieutenant escort them to the brig where Jek was to be taken too.
"Follow me, ma'am, and I'll take you to the brig." The lieutenant said to them as they began to follow him.
With Jek's troops disguised as Fleet security personnel, none of the New Republic suspected a thing about them at all. However, everyone noticed Jek, a captured Shadow Guard. The captain was notified by the deck officer about his arrival as the prisoner. Without a thought, the captain immediately told him to stall whoever was escorting him.
"Where is the intelligence center, lieutenant?" Emerald asked the officer.
"The intelligence center is located on the upper north quadrant, ma'am. Do you need to get there?" He replied.
"Upper north quadrant, got it. Well thank you, lieutenant but your usefulness has run out." She said as she raised her officer's blaster at him, firing into his stomach as he fell to the ground.
"Some infiltration." One of the troopers said.
"Yes... some infiltration." Jek said, looking at Emerald.
"Lieutenant! Lieutenant!" They heard the dead lieutenant's comlink.
"Either the deck officer found the troopers' armour in the freighter, or he's just in love with his lieutenant; we should be going before someone sees this body." Mercury said the last second as two officers turned at the corner to which they were spotted.
"Halt! In the name of the New Republic!" One of the officers shouted.
"You had to open your mouth, huh?" One of the disguised troopers said.
As the officers approached, they asked how the lieutenant was killed, and they replied with Jek doing it. He then grew tired of sneaking around and just disengaged his cuffs, and began to Force-choke the two officers. Emerald, Mercury, Neo and the troopers stepped back a bit. He then pulled out a lightsaber, slashing at the officers to finish them off.
"Now let's just get to the intelligence bay and find that little brat, hmm?" He said as they all began to head towards the upper north quadrant.
As they were walking along the hallway, Jek was in front of them. The disguised troopers kept their weapons cocked and ready to handle any soldiers or security who would get in their way. As they walked out of an elevator, they went north as they were on the second floor above the one below and the floor below the one above.
"If security does not find those troopers with the Shadow Guard then I'm initiating the Schnee Protocol." The captain said to the crew around him.
"You're going to scuttle the Beacon, sir?" Bride asked with concern.
"We cannot let this ship fall into the hands of the enemy, Bride. If they gain access to this ship's database, they will uncover sensitive New Republic information." The captain replied to his bridge officer.
"Captain, something's wrong! There is unauthorized access to the Ruby Rose file, coming from the intelligence center." One of the command crew went up to the captain.
"The Ruby Rose file? Who would look into it, there's nothing in there but documented locations." The captain replied.
"What is this!?" Jek said as he Force-choked one of the Intelligence officers.
The officer attempted to breath for air. "S-s-sh-she se-s-s-sel-self..." He tried to answer but ran out of breath and died.
Jek was absolutely furious about this find. He had hoped this folder was going to contain Ruby's location but rather it only contained locations the New Republic had documented and thought where she would be if they ever needed to find her. One of the Intelligence officers were bleeding out from the firefight earlier, and Jek went up to him, kneeling down.
"Tell me," He said as he looked at the rank plaque on her shirt. "second lieutenant, where can I find Ruby Rose? Why are there so many locations in that folder?" He said as he pressed down on the officer's wound.
"Ru-Ruby Rose exiled herself!" The officer replied in pain. "That's the idea of self-exile. We don't know where she is exactly! Those locations are places that we think she may be in." She finished.
"My lord, one of these locations are close by, its on the island of Patch." The Second Commander said to Jek as he looked through the folder.
In the folder, there were many locations. Before Yang left to join Clan Cadera, she was asked to help New Republic Intelligence with the locations of her little sister, she had admitted that she didn't even know where she went. Many within the New Republic and Beacon Academy knew that the deaths of her bestfriends Weiss Schnee and Nora Valkyrie were factors in her self-exile as well as the experiences Lana gave her; the execution of Adam Taurus at her own hands.
"Download everything in that folder. It will help me in my search." Jek ordered as the Second Commander did as he was ordered.
"Attention personnel of the Beacon, this is the captain speaking. We've been infiltrated by a team of Imperials, as of now, I am initiating the Schnee Protocol, Article 5. Report to your stations immediately!" The captain sent a message to everyone on the ship.
"That's probably the protocol Solo was talking about. Commander?" He said as everyone went to the door.
The Second Commander pulled out a scroll he took from one of the dead officers. "Got it, my lord. All of the folder's contents have been downloaded into this scroll." He said as he gave it to him.
Outside of the door, they saw New Republic Defense Fleet personnel running by, possibly to the hanger bay or escape pods. Aside from the personnel of the ship getting off the ship, the captain wanted to make sure everyone was off first before he would get off.
"I know you are listening, Shadow Guard..." The captain spoke directly to Jek. "My command crew were notified of your access to Ruby Rose's file. Disappointed? I know, we were too. But you will not find Ruby Rose. Believe me, we tried to locate her for the past three months since she disappeared." The captain said.
"My lord, we must move. If the Schnee Protocol is to kill us then I fear we must leave now." The Commander said as everyone had ran out and back to the hanger bay.
Jek and his men went back to the hanger bay to use the freighter they came with to get off the ship. Killing New Republic personnel who got in their way.
The bodies of Faunus had fallen to the floor as dioxis gas filled the room. Krim, Angelo, and some of the leaders from the Vacuo-Atlas White Fang groups didn't agree to Blake's plan. However, only half of the leaders from Vacuo and Atlas agreed. The only White Fang remnant leader who didn't come to Menagerie was the Lieutenant from Vale, he wasn't about to follow and work with a deserter.
"So what now?" One of the leaders from Atlas asked Blake.
Jaina felt something in Blake just awakened, a change in her character. With the Followers of Sienna, Taurus Loyalists, and the Vacuo-Atlas White Fang emerged into hers, she had power. A lot of power. And Jaina didn't like it at all.
End of Blake and Jaina's arc for this story.
