Disney owns everything Star Wars, please don't sue me!
"There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer."
Chapter XXI
The Liberator exited hyperspace in a cloaked state, taking up a course parallel to the shipping route in the Argost sector. Captain Deens looked out the right side of the main bridge viewing window and could see a fleet of Imperial cargo vessels being escorted by only a few Venator class star destroyers. Deens pressed the comm. button on the bridge to the hanger bay. "General Skywalker, we have arrived. We're going to begin mining those generators. Prepare your pilots."
"Understood Captain! Skywalker out."
Deens then turned to a nearby bridge officer. "Lieutenant, prepare for mine laying operations."
In the hanger bay of the Liberator all the pilots of Amidala's Angels had lined up. Anakin began to walk past each of them. Obi-Wan nodded to him, Ahsoka smiled, even Artoo had lined up with the pilots and whistled at him as he walked by. Anakin couldn't help but smile at the astromech droid as he patted his dome. Anakin took a few steps back and looked at his entire squadron. It was time for him to formally address them before the upcoming battle.
"The Force has chosen us for a very special mission. For what we do here today will determine the fate of the galaxy. A dark shadow descended upon our galaxy three years ago, when the Republic was usurped by a man who would declare himself Emperor. A man some of us once trusted and believed in, a man who betrayed everything we believed in and swore an oath to protect. Since the Declaration of the New Order we've seen our freedom's eroded, from freedom of speech, association, to even a return of slavery in parts of the Empire. That cannot be tolerated. When conditions such as these become impossible to accept brave men and women of honor and conviction must rise up. When tyranny becomes law, then rebellion becomes duty! There isn't a single one of us who doesn't believe in the promise the Republic held: Freedom and self-determination for all. For every generation there is a cause worth fighting for, now comrades this is our cause, this is our time. We are the Alliance! And this is the Return of the Republic! If you want the future, you must fight for it!"
There was a loud cheer from the pilots as they raised their helmets above their heads. "For freedom! For the Republic!" They all said in unison before letting out a battle cry.
Anakin smiled and nodded. "Amidala's Angels, man your interceptors!" He ordered. The pilots all put on their helmets and began to take up positions in the cockpits of their interceptors. Obi-Wan quickly ran up to Anakin. "Padmé would be so proud of you right now Anakin," he said to his former Padawan. The two of them hugged before Obi-Wan climbed into his interceptor. Now it was time for Anakin Skywalker, the leader of Amidala's Angels to man his. He walked over to his Eta-2 interceptor, the Iego Angel. As he climbed up he kissed his two fingers and placed them on the lips of the painting of Padmé on top of the closed S-foil and climbed into his cockpit. Anakin reached inside one of his pouches on his belt and pulled out a small digital photograph of Padmé and their two children. He stared at it momentarily before mounting it on the side. He then looked over at Artoo who was already secured in his socket on the left side of the Iego Angel. "Feeling like kicking some butt Artoo?" Anakin said with swagger. The astromech droid replied with a feisty vigor that brought a smile to Anakin's face. Clearly Artoo was ready to take the fight to the Empire all by himself.
On the bridge of the Liberator, Captain Deens was monitoring the deployment of the cloaked mines throughout the shipping lane. If all went well they would not only take out some Imperial ships, but would disrupt what had become a major logistical hub for the Empire.
A bridge officer looked up from his computer console. "The mines have all been deployed Captain."
Deens nodded. "Very good Ensign. Helm, set us on a course just outside the asteroid field and prepare to detonate the mines."
"Aye, sir," Lieutenant Asol Revenscar said as she took the steering column and guided the star cruiser out of the asteroids. She was a young woman, at the age of 22, and hailed from the ice moon Argel V. She had fair skin and chestnut hair pulled up in a bun. Her people's most distinctive feature however was their bright almost luminous green eyes. Her parents were imprisoned by the Empire two years earlier for being democracy advocates who were fermenting dissent. All this occurred when she was at the Imperial Naval Academy. She was expelled after her parents were arrested and imprisoned. A year later they died of exposure while at the infamous Imperial penal colony Fulstena - Which was known throughout the galaxy as the Empire's graveyard. When the Alliance had been looking for volunteers to serve aboard its flagship, she eagerly offered her services as a pilot.
Deens pressed the comm. button on the communications console. "General Skywalker, we're in position, is your squadron ready?"
"Yes sir, we're ready to go as soon as you give the order," Anakin replied over the comm.
"Battle stations, raise shields, and prepare to engage," Deens ordered as the bright bridge lighting dimmed to a red hue and a klaxon sounded. Deens kept watch on a nearby convoy; he could see an Imperial cargo vessel being escorted by a Venator class star destroyer moving out of the asteroid field. "Divert all available power to the ion cannon, when I give the order detonate the mines and drop cloak. Let's see if we can disable that star destroyer first. If I'm right they're running with shields down."
On the bridge of the Abaddon Captain Vernon Bernhuff was escorting a cargo ship. After his humiliation at Bruma VI three years prior he had been relegated to escorting convoys. He had unfortunately built up too good of a reputation, and once he failed the Emperor he had been demoted. Nevertheless, he was determined to win back favor with the Emperor. In fact, he had received word that his days as a convoy escort captain may be coming to an end. The Empire would soon be commissioning newer Imperial class star destroyers and his name was in the running for commanding one of these newer capital ships.
"Captain, I'm detecting a series of explosions in the asteroid field behind us! The artificial gravity generators are being destroyed!" A bridge officer said in an alarmed voice.
Bernhuff turned to face the officer. "What!?" Bernhuff then quickly walked over to the officer's console and could see all the artificial gravity generators had been destroyed. "What in the blazes is going on?" He questioned.
"Alert! Ship decloaking off the port bow!" An officer shouted.
Bernhuff looked out the left side bridge window and could see a modest size delta wing star cruiser decloaking. He had never seen a capital ship of that design before. "What the hell? Shields, shields!" Bernhuff quickly ordered. But it was too late; the delta winged star cruiser fired off its ion cannon and scored several direct hits on the Abaddon.
"We're losing power! Ship's computer is non-responsive!" Shouted a bridge officer. Bernhuff ran up to the young officer and grabbed him by his tunic. "Then get it back!" He ordered before releasing him. Bernhuff was quickly realizing his dreams of commanding a new Imperial class star destroyer were going up in a similar manner that the artificial gravity generators just had.
The hanger bay doors of the Alliance cruiser opened and Eta-2 Actis class interceptors began flying out into space. "All right Amidala's Angels, the Liberator will draw fire from any Imperial ships that come this way, we need to intercept that cargo vessel and capture it. Lock S-foils in attack position and assume formation for escort," Anakin ordered from within his interceptor, the Iego Angel.
On the bridge of the Liberator, Captain Deens was receiving tactical updates. A bridge officer looked up from his console and addressed the Captain. "Sir, we've got some V-Wing starfighters inbound from one of the surviving star destroyers in the asteroid field. They are headed straight for us, starboard side."
Deens looked outside the large bridge window and could see a squadron of a dozen V-Wing starfighters on a direct course for the Liberator.
"Bring our broadside to bear, let's drown these bastards in laser fire," Deens was a man well known for his almost swashbuckling swagger in combat, and this occasion was no exception.
The incoming V-Wings opened fire with their blaster cannons. The star cruiser rocked slightly from the impact, before returned fire with its point defense and turbolasers.
As the Liberator was occupied with Imperial fighters Anakin lined up the Iego Angel to the rear of the cargo ship as his other wings took up their escort positions on either side of the vessel. "This is lead. I'm going to give them a little tap on the shoulder," he said as he fired his blaster cannons into one of the ship's engines, which exploded. "That should prevent them from engaging their hyperdrive to escape. I'm now going to pull up alongside."
Anakin maneuvered the Iego Angel along the right side of the cargo ship near the cockpit where he could get a clear view of the pilots. "Imperial cargo vessel. This is General Anakin Skywalker of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, you are ordered to surrender your vessel."
"You Rebel scum!" Was the only answer Anakin received from one of the pilots.
Very well. Anakin thought. "Imperial cargo vessel, look outside your right window." The two pilots inside looked over at Anakin as he tilted the wings of his interceptor, showing off his armament. "Show me a sign that you understand," he said flatly.
From inside the cargo ship the co-pilot looked over at his comrade. "They're getting ready to light us up!" He said frantically. "They aren't paying us enough for this shit!" The co-pilot added.
The pilot huffed in anger, but ultimately agreed with his co-pilot. "General Skywalker, we surrender."
Anakin smiled in triumph and nodded his head. "Amidala's Angels, we got 'em!"
On the bridge of the Abaddon Captain Bernhuff was rubbing his right-side temple in frustration. "Status! status!" He shouted.
"Captain, I think I can give you some power now to the turbolasers, it isn't much, but it's all we have," a bridge officer said.
"Then it will have to do, bring our weapons to bear on that ship!" Bernhuff ordered. Shortly thereafter the Abaddon unleashed a barrage of turbolaser fire at the Liberator.
The Alliance cruiser shook violently as it sustained several direct hits from the Abaddon. On the bridge a console exploded and sent its station officer flying back. As the ship rocked violently an electronic alert klaxon sounded. Captain Deens grabbed onto a nearby wall to balance himself. "Report!" He ordered.
"Shields are weakening, we've sustained damage to our drive section and bridge," an officer said looking over at Deens.
"Miss Revenscar, take evasive action," Deens ordered his helmswoman. Although the star destroyer outgunned the Liberator, the smaller star cruiser was faster and more maneuverable.
Inside his cockpit Anakin could hear Captain Deens' voice. "Amidala's Angels, we're under heavy fire from a star destroyer, taking evasive maneuvers. Have you secured your objective?"
Anakin spoke through his radio headset. "Yes, Captain, the objective is safe. I'm returning to you now to render assistance - Obi-Wan, take command here."
"Don't get yourself killed Anakin!" Obi-Wan cautioned.
"I wouldn't dream of it, I haven't brought Palpatine to justice yet. Angels, I need five volunteers, on me!" Anakin performed a somersault and broke off from the cargo ship, five other squad members did as well, including Ahsoka, Alicé, and Xander.
"I'm not letting Deens die out there," Alicé said resolutely.
"And no way am I letting you go back there alone," Ahsoka added.
Xander also spoke through his headset. "I've got your backs!"
Anakin flipped a switch on his controls and armed his concussion missiles. "Let's see if we can take out some of those turbolasers. Go to your missiles," Anakin commanded as the six interceptors began making a dive run towards the half-crippled Abaddon. They began drawing fire from the star destroyer. Anakin launched a salvo of concussion missile at the star destroyer as did the five other interceptors. Anakin quickly pulled out just as he saw a massive explosion erupt from one of the turbolaser turrets, followed by a series of successive explosions behind it.
"Whoo! I think we hit one of the magazines!" Alicé whooped as she watched the fireworks.
The Abaddon shook violently from the series of explosions. "Damage report!" Captain Bernhuff snarled.
"Captain, we've lost our port side turbolasers!" An officer said looking up from his console.
Bernhuff reached into the chest pocket of his tunic and pulled out a pen; snapping it in half snapping throwing the pieces to the ground in consternation. "You see that!? That's what I'm going to do to all of you unless you shoot down those starfighters!"
One of the bridge officers leaned over to another one of his comrades and whispered. "How does he expect us to do that without half of our turbolasers?" The other officer shrugged his shoulders in response.
Around the Abaddon a few more Imperial V-Wings entered the fray. In a bold move Anakin decided to go head-to-head with one of them.
"Skywalker, you're going head-to-head, do you have a death wish!?" A shocked Alicé said.
Anakin did not respond. He was centered and focused with the Force, letting it guide his hands as he piloted his interceptor. The enemy V-Wing fired off a salvo of lasers as Anakin did the same. One of the shots grazed over the side of the Iego Angel while the V-Wing exploded from taking a direct hit.
From inside her interceptor Alicé witnessed the engagement. She was thoroughly impressed with Anakin's skill and gumption. "Wow! I see your reputation is well earned Skywalker!"
Anakin looked over to his right and saw a panel had been blown off. "Well... I don't think Trentower is going to be very happy with me," he said while wincing. Artoo whistled in acknowledgement.
"More fighters, inbound!" Xander commented.
"Watch your six!" Alicé said while maneuvering around.
Captain Bernhuff watched the dogfight play out from the bridge of the Abaddon. One of the ships in particular caught his eye; it was the one that had the painting of a girl with angel wings on the left side S-foil. The pilot had grace and skill he had seen only once before; back in the asteroid field where the Bruma VI station once was. "The pilot!" Bernhuff growled as he gritted his teeth in anger. A few of the other bridge officers around Bernhuff exchanged glances of worry and concern. "Captain if I may -" one began before he was cut off.
"If I want your opinion I'll ask for it Lieutenant!" Bernhuff yelled. The Lieutenant looked down at the deck plate beneath his feet in response. Bernhuff then pointed out to the Iego Angel. "Look! You see that ship! I'm talking to you Lieutenant, are you blind!" Bernhuff then grabbed the Lieutenant by the face and focused it on the Eta-2 interceptor that was the Iego Angel. "That ship, I want it blown out of the cosmos. That's the pilot who humiliated me at Bruma VI. I know it in my bones!"
"Aye... Captain!" The confused Lieutenant said as he scampered away. All Captain Bernhuff could do was watch in an enraged state as Rebel ships routed the Imperial V-Wings. He then watched as the Iego Angel did a taunting loop-to-loop in front of the bridge and flew away. By then Bernhuff had become completely unhitched; he tossed over a chair and ran up to the bridge window and slammed it with his fist. "Whoever you are, I know it's you, and I will find you, I will cut your heart out, I will kill you in ways you can't even begin to imagine!"
One of the bridge Officers leaned over and whispered to one of his comrades while pointing at the now crazed Captain Bernhuff. "I bet you his next assignment will be commanding a cargo carrier full of rubber Bantha poo-doo flying out of Tattoine."
Amidala's Angels squadron began lining up for approach to dock inside the Liberator's hanger bay. They had managed to secure the Imperial cargo ship with a tractor beam inside as well.
"My congratulations Amidala's Angels on a job well done. I'll have some beer waiting for you in the mess hall tonight," said Captain Deen's voice through the comm.
"Whoo! Party time tonight boys!" Alicé proclaimed.
"Is it in your quarters?" An anxious Xander questioned.
"Dream on Xander, just dream on," she said, denying the Alderaanian pilot.
One of the other pilots made a 'crash and burn' sound effect from his mouth as the entire squadron shared a laugh. They had just deprived the Empire of a major shipping route, and tonight was the Alliance's first successful mission in striking a blow to the Empire, and there would be much to celebrate.
Captain Gaius Deens was making his way into the hanger bay where his team of engineers was examining the contents from the Imperial cargo ship they had captured. He stepped into the hanger bay and was greeted by Chief Petty Officer Ryon Trentower. "Captain, thank you for coming, we've analyzed the contents of the cargo ship."
"And?" The inquisitive Captain asked.
"And, we've determined the contents are a new type of duranium hull fragment. Either for a ship, or a space station. I've never seen duranium milled this way however. Whatever the Empire is up to, it's doing it in complete secrecy. The databanks on the cargo ship were wiped clean before the crew abandoned it. My guess is the Empire is working on a new weapon, and it's big."
Deens brought a fisted hand under his chin and looked at the Chief's report, his expression was one of deep thought. "I'll pass this report along to Amidala Skywalker. If the Empire is working on a new weapon of new weapon our spies will have to find it." Deens turned to leave but was stopped by Trentower. "Oh, and Captain, please tell her husband to avoid blowing off panels on my interceptors next time!"
Deens cracked a smile as he departed the hanger bay. One thing was certain at this point; he had the best crew he could ever ask for.
-1 Month later-
"Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall set me free," the young Anakin Skywalker clone said, reciting the Sith Code from memory.
With the Imperial Senate in a period of two-week recess Darth Sidious was spending his vacation time on the ocean world of Kamino training his future apprentice. The Anakin Skywalker clone had grown to six years of age and the time had come to have the boy begin his Sith training. As he recited the ancient code of the Sith as taught by the legendary Sith Lord, Darth Bane, Sidious clasped his hands together in approval. "Yes, my child, remember this code. Burn it into your memory. For this is the creed in which you shall live your life by."
"Yes, father!" The boy said enthusiastically. The Anakin clone had come to look upon Sidious as his father. Sidious for his part saw the boy as his son, or at least finally the closest thing he could ever have to a son. The boy had been programmed in his DNA to be absolutely loyal to him, and thus he would not have to worry about betrayal. The boy was almost as strong as the real Anakin Skywalker which would made him undoubtedly the most powerful future Sith Lord to ever grace the stars.
Sidious then reached into a small box and handed the boy a small training lightsaber. "This is the weapon of a Sith Lord. You will find it to be a perfectly balanced weapon. It is a weapon of discipline, pride, and power. This weapon will become your life my son. In combat use it aggressively, draw upon your hate to give you power!" Sidious said while pointing to the boy's heart.
"My hate gives me power?" The boy asked.
"Without question! This is one of the most central tenets of being a Sith! Rely on your passion, rely on your strength, rely on your power! Use them to crush all who would oppose you! But most of all... The Jedi, our sworn enemies."
"I want to know more father!" The boy said anxiously.
"In due time my child, in due time. Right now, we must begin your introduction to lightsaber form."
On Naboo everyone was preparing to celebrate Queen Apailana's 16th birthday jubilee. The city of Theed was being decorated for the occasion, and everyone on Naboo was in great spirits. Senator Jamillia had also returned to attend the celebrations. Everyone had fully expected Emperor Palpatine to be in attendance. He instead chose to skip the celebrations in favor of attending to some ambiguous "Imperial business" of his. Padmé for one was glad his frightful face would not be making an appearance. Although another part of her was wishing he was so she could drive a stake through his heart; if he even had one. She was presently watching her children play with their toy lightsabers in the small clearing outside the vacation house.
"Don't get too close to the water children!" Padmé warned.
"Yes, Mommy!" The children replied as they continued their playful duel.
Anakin walked up behind his wife and held out a small wooden box in front of her. The box was beautifully hand crafted and contained the emblem of the Jedi Order on it. "Oh, Ani, it's beautiful! Did you carve this?"
"MmmHmm," he said with pride. "I know it's not your upcoming birthday, but I made you a gift. Open it."
Padmé opened the wooden box and found a small lightsaber hilt inside. "Wow," she said breathlessly as she took it out. Anakin gently grabbed it with his hand as Padmé was examining it.
"It's called a 'lightsaber shoto'. It's a short lightsaber. You can wield it with one hand. I made it for you as a personal self-defense weapon. I think you've progressed enough with the basics to handle this."
Padmé held the lightsaber shoto hilt with her right hand and pressed the activation button on the side. The weapon made a snap hiss sound as an amethyst colored short blade shot out and hummed. Padmé swung the weapon around a few times before sheathing it and placing it back inside its box. She looked over at her husband adoringly and slipped her arms around his neck and drew him into a kiss. "Oh Ani... I love you," she whispered.
"Just wait till tonight my Angel. You will feel love like you have never felt before" Anakin replied mischievously.
"Oh, my..." Padmé said with aroused and curious anticipation of what her husband had in store for her that evening.