ME: Time for an update. I think I'll try and finish TECD before updating TFM, if only due to lack of ideas for TFM. I got over 200 pages of Shadow Hunter to read after posting this, though, and I may not finish this story before the Season 3 finale.
Lothal's celebrations of the fifteenth anniversary of the galaxy's salvation may have been disrupted by anti-Imperial terrorists, but both Governor Kira West and Minister Maketh Tua have vowed to ensure that Capital City will be safe for this Empire Day. Already Lord Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin report that the self-proclaimed Rebel Alliance that has threatened the Outer Rim will soon be neutralized.
(Alton Kastle, HoloNet News reporter assigned to Lothal)
Ahsoka did her best to sleep, but ever since her visit to Lothal's Jedi temple, it was easier said than done...
"Ahsoka," Anakin said. "Why did you leave?"
Ahsoka tried to answer him, but she stayed silent. It was as if her vocal cords refused to work. "Where were you when I needed you the most, Ahsoka?" he added. "Where were you when all of us needed you the most?!"
Ahsoka blinked back tears. "I'm so so-."
"'SORRY' DOESN'T CUT IT, AHSOKA!" screamed Anakin. "YOU FAILED ME! YOU FAILED THE JEDI! AND ON TOP OF THAT, YOU FAILED THE ENTIRE GALAXY! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT I'VE BECOME?!"
As Anakin ranted angrily, his form changed. No longer was he the young Jedi Knight that was on many a teenage girl's (and some teenage boys as well) bedroom wall; now he was an imposing figure dressed from head-to-toe in black, his face hidden by a sealed helmet.
"I couldn't stay, Anakin!" Ahsoka said, tears flowing from her eyes. "I made a choice, I couldn't keep being part of the Order!"
"Neither could we."
Ahsoka turned to find three new figures; Barriss, Chad, and Raana. Unlike Anakin, they looked exactly like they did in the present rather than appear as their old selves.
"Why are you guys with the Empire?!" Ahsoka said, failing to keep her voice level. "The Emperor is an evil Sith tyrant that's subjugated the entire galaxy!"
"Ahsoka, our benevolent Emperor is the best leader the galaxy has ever had," Raana said. "He understood that the Jedi Order was loyal to and would defend the Galactic Senate, a corrupt institution that was either apathetic to or sped along the Republic's decay, no matter what. As such, His Imperial Majesty was right to have the Order destroyed. What you call subjugation, Ahsoka, I call the establishment of a new and better way of life-there is a reason the savior of the galaxy has been called 'the Great Uniter.'"
"Sidious brought this so-called unity about through fear and force!" replied Ahsoka. "What about all the younglings killed at the Temple on Coruscant?! The Sith butchers had them murdered!"
Barriss shook her head. "As a healer, I learned about cancer," she told Ahsoka. "An archaic disease that, left unchecked, can kill someone quite horrifyingly. You can't merely use radiation therapy or pharmaceutical drugs on cancer, Ahsoka. A doctor, particularly one without Force-sensitivity, has to cut it out surgically in order to truly rid a body of cancer, and the Great Uniter cut out the cancer that was destroying the galaxy. It is unfortunate that the younglings perished, but what is ten thousand men, women, and children compared to the rest of the galaxy?"
"What about Luminara?" Ahsoka shot back. "What about the One-Eighty-Second Legion? Were they all some necessary sacrifice for Sidious to become the most powerful dictator ever?"
The trio all recoiled, evidently not appreciating Ahsoka's reminder of their own losses. "My men are all dead now because of the Jedi, not Lord Sidious," Chad retorted. "Just end this Rebel nonsense and join us, Ahsoka. It'll be just like old times."
"No, I won't join the Empire!" Ahsoka said. "I am not becoming some jackbooted thug with a red lightsaber!"
Anakin-no, Vader-ignited his own blade. "Then you will be destroyed," he said in a flat tone before attacking her.
Ahsoka awoke in a cold sweat and with one of her own lightsabers active, the white blade of plasma ready to defend her.
Kanan knocked on the door. "Ahsoka?" he asked. "Are you okay?"
Ahsoka deactivated her lightsaber. "I'm fine, Kanan," she answered.
There was a pregnant pause, then Kanan said, "You make a poor liar, Ahsoka. Want me to get you some caf?"
"Yes please, Kanan," she replied. "Thank you."
While waiting for the caf, Ahsoka pulled out a photo she had kept. It was of herself, Anakin, Chad, and Raana during the first year of the Clone Wars. It had been nearly two decades since the photo had been taken. Now it was all but certain that Anakin had been turned to the dark side, Chad was now Tarkin's brutal right-hand man, and Raana had become an Inquisitor.
I suppose Raana, Chad, and Barriss unintentionally saved me from getting shot in the back or decapitated. But even if Ahsoka had left the Order, she refused to give up on the galaxy.
She decided to send a message to Lux, telling him she was still fine and hoping that all was well on Onderon. His homeworld had, unfortunately, attracted even more negative attention from the Emperor thanks to the actions of the Partisans. While not as vile as the JAN terrorist organization, the Partisans' brutality and disregard for collateral damage made them galactic pariahs.
Soon Ghost had landed aboard Phoenix of Ryloth, the renamed carrier captured over Ryloth. Renamed in tribute to Cham Syndulla's fighters and to the people of Ryloth that had suffered under the Imperial occupation, Phoenix Fleet had become a battle group rather than a mere squadron. As such, Ackbar been promoted up two ranks from Captain to Rear Admiral, while H'Arman had been made a Captain and been placed in charge of the carrier's fighter complement due to his experience during the Clone Wars as a pilot.
"Thanks to intelligence that's been gathered from various sources," Ahsoka said, beginning the meeting, "Phoenix Fleet may finally have a base."
"Indeed, General Tano," said Admiral Ackbar. "But Yost is a considerable distance away, ma'am, and Phoenix is low on fuel."
"Unfortunately, sir, the Empire has increased security around nearby gas giants," said Lucas. "So looks like we'll have to steal fuel from the Imperials, Admiral, if that means keeping this carrier going."
"That sounds rather risky," said Ensign Hoban "Wash" Washburne, the pilot of Serenity. "Wouldn't the Imperials have beefed up security around their ports and bases as well, Lieutenant?"
"They have, but we'll have an easier time securing the fuel without a light cruiser or a Star Destroyer taking potshots at us, Ensign," Lucas replied. As an intelligence officer who took to the field, the Vektan Rebel naturally saw things differently than a pilot who was averse to ground combat.
"Besides," Sabine added, "have you ever seen bucketheads shoot, Ensign? Stormies can't hit the broadside of a barn, and the Imp Fed Guard's got even lower standards than the Corps."
"That's due to inconsistent training standards and complacency," Ahsoka said sharply. "Don't underestimate the Empire, Sabine. Back during the Clone War, battle droids could and did kill Jedi and clones alike all the time, and the most common ones used by the Separatists were not what I would call skilled soldiers."
"Indeed, General," Rex said. "Stormtroopers might be piss-poor on average compared to my fellow original clones, but I'd keep on my toes for the exceptions to the rule, Corporal Wren." Sabine had recently been promoted, and the newly-minted NCO had ended up helping to train Marines in the safe use of explosives.
Before the Spectres could leave, Walon Vau, a Mandalorian Rebel who had been a Cuy'val Dar trainer on Kamino prior to the start of the Clone Wars, handed Sabine a package. "It's for you, Wren," Vau said. "Courtesy of Clan Skirata."
Sabine thanked him and boarded Ghost with the rest of Spectre Team. Opening the package onboard, it turned out that her fellow Mandalorians had given her a kama, a flexible leather accessory that provided protection against debris and shrapnel, among other things.
"Sweet, I'm definitely thanking Kal and the rest of his clan in person for this," Sabine said as she put on the protective kilt. "I always wanted one."
"Nice skirt, Sabine," stated Ezra, a smirk on his face.
Sabine sighed and rolled her eyes. "It's a kama, Ezra," she said, putting extra emphasis on the official name of her new article of clothing. "It's a unisex item anyway."
"Don't worry, Sabine," Zeb teased, "you can indulge your feminine side all you want. You're still a girl, after all, even if you are a Mando."
Diana snorted. "You guys do realize Mandalorian females tend to be more deadly than your average male sentient, correct? And Sabine's very creative when she puts her mind to it."
"Hey, I'm always creative."
Ghost touched down half an hour later on a landing pad. "Alright," Kanan said as the landing ramp lowered, "we'll have to blast our way out of here fast after we get the fuel. Chopper, stay here and be ready to help Diana." The young Concordian had been receiving lessons from Hera, enabling her to fly Ghost (albeit not as efficiently as the older pilot).
Looking into the distance as Sabine patted him on his dome, Chopper got excited as he saw a new droid leg for sale that matched his right one. If he could get it, he'd be able to discard his unimpressive left leg. Getting Hera's attention, Chopper displayed a hologram of the leg.
"Chopper, we're not here to shop," Hera said sternly. "This is a dangerous mission, so you and Diana will have to be giving two-hundred percent just like the rest of us or we all end up dead or worse. I know Diana, the girl's gonna do her part, so you have to do yours."
"Shop?" Zeb said. "Well, too bad, Shopper! You heard Hera!"
Kriff you, you ugly purple meathead, Chopper said, but to his annoyance Zeb didn't even seem to mind being insulted. Kriff you.
"Just relax and stay here, Chop," Ezra told him. "Get a leg up on the Imps."
"Yeah, Shopper."
"Do all you Lothal country bumpkins tell bad jokes?" Lucas said, mildly annoyed at Ezra and Zeb's lowbrow humor.
"Hey! I'm from Capital City on Lothal, Lucas! I didn't grow up on a farm!"
Chopper chortled at Ezra's expense. Good one, Lieutenant Meatbag. For that, I will spare you. Then he waited for the Spectres to depart, already formulating a plan to acquire his new leg.
*CUT TO: BRIDGE, ARRS PHOENIX OF RYLOTH*
"We'll be dropping out of hyperspace in t-minus five minutes, General Tano," Ackbar told Ahsoka.
Ahsoka nodded, feeling uneasy for some reason. "Thank you, Admiral," she said. "I'll be in Hangar Two."
Stored in Hangar Two was Blade Wing, Phoenix Fleet's sole B-wing. Ahsoka had flown it more than once. It was fast and agile in addition to being a blockade-buster, but the B-wing's gyroscopics made it a maintenance nightmare, to the grief of Phoenix's mechanics, and Doctor Quarrie had indicated that the problem would not likely be solved in the production model B-wings, which would lose.
The ship decelerated out of hyperspace-and, through the force field, Ahsoka saw an Imperial battle group.
Oh, kriff me...
Alarms began to blare, and Ahsoka turned to the hangar crew. "Get me every ion weapon you can find and load them into my fighter," she said. "We got a battle group to save, people, so let's move!"
"Ma'am, yes, ma'am!"
*CUT TO: COCKPIT OF ARRS GHOST*
"We have to go back for Chopper!" Ezra said as Ghost headed towards the RV point. "It's what he did for us back when Kanan got captured by the first Inquisitor!"
"I warned Chopper to not get distracted by that karking leg!" Hera cursed, having relieved Diana of her temporary assignment.
"Hey, maybe he's going through a droid midlife crisis," Zeb suggested. "That C-One might be older than me for all we know."
"I know that droid, Zeb, he's always thinking of himself!" snapped back Hera. "Trust me, I rescued him back on Ryloth after his Y-wing got shot down during the Clone Wars and he still pulls stunts like this." Her uncharacteristic anger was linked to both Chopper's disappearance and the nature of the mission.
"Wait, Chopper's a veteran like Kanan?" Sabine asked. "I never would have guessed that."
Hera: "That's understandable, Sabine. I never would have pegged him as ex-military myself."
Ghost dropped out of hyperspace, only to find Phoenix Fleet engaged in combat with Imperial vessels.
"Battlestations," Hera ordered instinctively after only a moment's hesitation, both disappointed and unsurprised that the battle group had come under attack.
"Fleet Actual to Ghost, come in," said Admiral Ackbar. "Ghost, do you copy?"
"I copy, Fleet Actual," replied Hera. "We're already on our way, just give me a hangar bay. Over."
"Proceed to Hangar Four, I say again, proceed to Hangar Four! We need to get moving fast, Captain Syndulla!"
"Acknowledged, Fleet Actual."
The infamous (amongst Imperials) VCX freighter raced towards Phoenix of Ryloth. TIEs were sent after Ghost, their pilots' superiors having correctly guessed that she was loaded with fuel vital for the continued operation of the Rebel carrier, only to be shot down by either Ghost's gunners or Ahsoka, who had already been quite a headache for the Imperial forces.
Against all odds, Ghost successfully landed in Hangar Four. Kanan, Lucas, and Sabine immediately got to work offloading the fuel, while Hera breathed a sigh of relief just as a certain someone contacted her.
Hera: "C-ONE-TEN-P!"
"...pardon me, madam, but what did Chopper ever do to you?"
*CUT TO: BRIDGE OF ARRS PHOENIX OF RYLOTH*
"The Yost system has been compromised?" Admiral Ackbar asked. First, we're low on fuel. Second, we get ambushed at the rendezvous point. Last but not least, we could very well need to spend precious time trying to calculate a new jump and could get killed for it. Not a very good day for the fleet.
"Affirmative, sir," replied Captain Syndulla. "I'm sending the new coordinates now to all ships."
Already one of the Hammerheads had been destroyed and Liberator had been crippled, her crew now fleeing their doomed vessel. Fortunately, the Imperials seemed largely uninterested in the escape pods, but that was likely due to the fact that the Rebels recovering them would take time rather than moral or ethical restraint.
Despite this, the coordinates were inputed into the navicomputers and courses were calculated as fast as possible while Phoenix Fleet completed the other prerequisites for its escape.
*CUT TO: LIVING ROOM OF ARRS GHOST*
"W-where am I-I?" AP-5 said as he reactivated. "W-what's going on? What happ-."
"Don't worry," a young Human woman who was wearing Mandalorian armor plates said. "You're fine, AP-Five, you're safe. I'm Sabine, one of Chopper's teammates. I ended up using parts from the leg Chopper stole to save your beskar'shebs."
"You sacrificed the full functionality of your new leg to save me?" AP-5 asked the beaten and battered astromech. Curiously, both of Chopper's legs seemed to be white now. Maybe he had simply had his old one repainted or had gotten the internal components from his old leg installed into the new one.
Affirmative, Chopper answered solemnly. You're my friend, AP-Five.
"I knew you had a malfunctioning logic circuit!"
Lucas rolled his eyes as the two bickered. "So, how did you two meet? I'm curious, Chopper, as how you were able to steal an Imperial cargo ship even with AP-Five helping you out. I'd appreciate the details, I mean it."
Let's just say it's a long story that is admittedly kind of comical and ridiculous, the grumpy astromech told the Vektan.
AP-5: "For once, I agree."
*CUT TO: HANGAR OF HIMS EXECUTRIX*
"Just please tell me that the uprising on Raxus was at least defeated, Count Vader," Tarkin said to his second-in-command, who had arrived with Lord Vader and two separate entourages for the Imperial brothers. He had grown considerably irritated for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was the twins arriving with their forces literally seconds after the Rebels had escaped into hyperspace.
"Those Separatist holdouts never do know when to quit, but yes," Chad replied. "I admit that taking out the Jedi and a key part of their insurrection would be great, Governor, but Raxus was the Seps' capital and a successful insurgency there would embolden practically every anti-Imperial fighter from here to Corellia. Fortunately, Captain Soot was able to snag a nice bonus in the form of capturing a would-be weapons smuggler."
A dark-skinned woman with purple eyes was dragged forward by two CompForce guards, spewing out a steady stream of profanities in several languages, including Basic, Huttese, and Mando'a.
"Some two-bit mercenary is not an impressive catch, Vader," Tarkin snapped.
"But this is no ordinary Black Sun goon, sir," Chad told him. "This is Ketsu Onyo, a deserter from the Imperial Academy linked to Sabine Wren, one of the regular Rebel insurgents from Lothal. I'm certain she can be of use to us."
Ketsu spat on the ground. "I'd rather rot and waste away on Kessel than be labeled a rat, you pig," she snarled.
Tarkin shook his head. "Brave but foolish girl." He nodded over at a man in an ISB uniform. "Major General Sinclair, is it?"
"Yes, Governor Tarkin." A loyalty officer born and raised on Vekta, Sinclair was one of the most dangerous men employed by COMPNOR that Tarkin knew of, if only for his devotion to the New Order. It was fitting that he was assigned to watch over Lord Vader's personal corps.
"Dispose of this traitorous garbage for her crimes against the Empire, General, and do so now."
Sinclair didn't even respond verbally. The dark-skinned man simply drew his pistol and fired a single shot into the back of Onyo's head.
"Thank you, General." Tarkin then turned to his right-hand man again. "Lieutenant Governor, come with me."
Admiral Grey clicked her heels in salute as the two men came into view. "Grand Moff-."
"-save it, Grey," Tarkin cut her off. "You've been rather deficient as a commander lately."
The Vektan woman shook her head. "Governor, I did the best I could with what ships I had."
"You had an Imperial battle group to fight a squadron's worth of blockade runners and a stolen light carrier. Even without an Imperial Star Destroyer, the Rebels should have been defeated."
"Sir, there was an attack starfighter and I didn't want to damage the carrier before recapt-."
"-that carrier is expendable," said Tarkin. "More importantly, I'm certain damaging the electrical systems with ion cannon fire would be an acceptable price to pay for taking her out of the game. Count Vader, if you will."
Chad ignited his lightsaber and ended Grey's life quickly, to the shock of her second-in-command, Rear Admiral (lower half) Rae Sloane. "Congratulations, Admiral Sloane, on your promotion," Chad said dryly.
Sloane nodded. "Thank you, my lord."
Chad: "By the way, Governor Tarkin, we really must get Thrawn promoted as well. I believe it was his idea to secure the local gas giants."
ME: I may not have explicitly had Lux as Ahsoka's husband and did not mention any kids, but let's be real here, just as Anakin would have a lot of explaining to do if Padmé survived, to say the least, I doubt Barriss's chances would have been good after framing Ahsoka even if either of them ever had feelings for each other. The Barrissoka ship may not have been sunk as badly as HIMS Mallus, but it still took a nasty blow given how Season 5 of TCW ended.
I won't have a chance to read the Thrawn novel until May, so no spoilers, please, unless I've indicated I've read it.
I admit that not really covering AP-5 and Chopper is lazy, but I wanted to get an update out and I felt covering Chopper's shenanigans would have been unoriginal compared to the meeting between the Spectres and Clan Skirata. Plus I don't know how he could have realistically snuck onboard the Imperial freighter, though maybe the Captain was a moron at security in addition to an asshole.
I decided to off Ketsu because she really is an unimportant character in the grand scheme of things, and while I don't hate her, I don't really like her either. Plus Ahsokafanboy1138 wanted Sinclair to be a scary Imperial political officer. If you guys want to complain about offing a non-white character, remember I already killed off Sato. Some might call me sexist instead, then, but I spared Tua even if Pryce got killed.
I mentioned the sixteenth Empire Day coming up because I wanted to show the passage of time. Hopefully this didn't suck, guys. If so, my most sincere apologies. I was up late finally finishing this off.
