Sabine stood on the bridge of the experimental MC-65 cruiser and chewed her lip absentmindedly as the craft cascaded through hyperspace. Glancing to her left and right, she saw two squadrons of Kom'rk-class transports formed up on either side of the cruiser. Their plan was relatively simple: Break the Imperial blockade, get the cruiser to Mandalore's surface, rescue the remaining Mandalorian warrior holdouts, and blast their way out. Relatively simple, yes, but simplicity didn't always translate to ease of completion. Moff Gideon would no doubt have the Imperial defenses primed to face any attack.
The bridge was hauntingly quiet, save for the cold clinking of Bo-Katan's boots on the metal floor as she paced back and forth, muttering the Mandalorian Rite of Vengeance under her breath over and over. Sabine couldn't help but feel sorry for the Regent as she looked at her prosthetic arm.
If I was in her position, she thought, I'd want revenge, too.
Her internal musings were interrupted by the blaring of an alarm tone and the voice of one of the cruiser's Mon Calamari technicians.
"We're coming out of hyperspace, Commander", the fish told Sabine. She nodded and looked at Bo-Katan.
"One step closer, My Lady."
Bo nodded and put on her helmet, clenching her robotic fist over and over to loosen the joints.
When the ship dropped out of hyperspace, Mandalore's blinding white form filled their vision. The Imperial blockade was silhouetted against the planet behind them, their triangular shapes appearing as daggers ready to impale anything that tried to get past them.
"Mother", Sabine spoke into her comlink, "Clear out the fighters as best you can while we plow our way through. Then, get to the surface and help us."
"Affirmative, Sabine", Ursa responded, "For Mandalore!!"
The comm channel rang with several voices repeating Ursa's battle cry. Sabine deactivated her comlink and put a reassuring hand on Bo-Katan's shoulder.
"For Mandalore."
"For Mandalore", the Regent repeated.
The Kom'rks moved ahead of the cruiser to intercept the incoming swarm of TIE Fighters. Green and yellow plasma bolts crisscrossed the vaccuum of space, several Imperial fighters going up in flames almost instantly while the Mandalorian ships barely suffered a scratch in the initial volley.
On the bridge of the lead Star Destroyer, a naval officer was speaking to a hologram in the war room.
"An attacking fleet has just come out of hyperspace, Moff Gideon. Several Mandalorian troop transports and one strange cruiser of unknown design, presumably Mon Cala."
"Don't let them past the blockade, Captain", the Moff responded sternly, "If so much as one of those ships reaches the surface, I will have your head on my desk."
The hologram faded and the Captain swallowed nervously. "All ships, open fire."
"Incoming fire!!", one of the Rebel technicians called out from their station.
"Full power to forward shields!!". Sabine exclaimed. The technicians were quick to act, raising the shields just in time. They watched in awe as the massive volley of green turbolaserfire slammed into their shields, the energy from the impacts being absorbed to give them more power. Bo-Katan whistled in amazement at the sight. "Impressive."
"Alright", Sabine stated, "Start looking for a weak point in the blockade and prime the battering shield."
"Yes, ma'am", the lead Mon Cal tech responded before setting his amphibious fingers to work.
Back on the bridge of the Destroyer, the Imperial techs were shocked by the strength of the rebel cruiser's shields. "Unbelievable", one of them gasped, "Our weapons are at full power and they're not making a dent in their shields."
"Maintain the barrage", the Captain ordered, "They have to give out eventually."
Sabine leaned over the railing overlooking the bridge and bit her lip again as she watched the starfighter battle happening a short distance away. She offered a silent prayer to the Force, asking it to give them a swift victory, lest she wouldn't be back on Lothal to meet Ezra if he happened to return.
To be continued...