Chapter 9: Royal Visit
March 15
The federal offensive was progressing, but not as fast as Jaral had hoped. Columex had been occupied only after a week of stiff resistance, and the imperials had clearly changed their tactics, showcasing that Iulius was overhauling the doctrines of his forces to slow down the Coalition. Problem was: what was he biding time for?
That was the question that bothered both her and the Intelligence. The most logical choice for the Grand Admiral, the salarians officers argued, would've been to keep pressure on the rebel flank, after his forces had taken Saleucami. However, he had halted his offensive and the front had been stabilized.
Speaking of Saleucami, Jaral was still quite upset. The rescue of Iblis and his remaining forces had been successful, since the imperial Admiral tasked with capturing him had run away the moment the massive rebel fleet had appeared in the system, allowing the rebels to recover the hotheaded general.
Since the disaster at Charros had been caused by Iblis' disobedience, Jaral had had no other choice but to court martial him, and the trial had ended only two rotations before. Iblis had been found guilty, and not simply because there were many in the higher ranks of the Alliance that distrusted him. However, Jaral had put him in front of a choice: he could accept being demoted back to 2nd Lieutenant and maybe recover his rank one day, or he could leave the Alliance and establish his own splinter group. He had chosen the latter.
Many had questioned Jaral over this decision, but it was actually driven by pure logic: the defeat was only caused by Iblis underestimating Iulius. After the thrashing at Charros, Jaral was sure that the corellian general would not repeat that mistake.
Besides, Iblis didn't like Mon Mothma and Jaral's prudent strategy for the war, and his presence only caused factionalism inside the Alliance, so it was better for everybody if he just left and waged his own war against the Empire, though Jaral had managed to negotiate that he kept contacts and accepted to be resupplied by the Coalition. Apparently, he was now trying to establish another base somewhere in the Mid Rim, right in the middle of imperial lines.
However, all of this paled in front of the next activity on the horizon. For today, Empress Benedetta IV dei Vignoli, together with her daughter Anastasia and the Citadel Council, was coming to visit Lothal as part of her royal visit to the new Sister-Nations of Andromeda and the soon-to-be-proclaimed allied nations: the New Republic, the Mon Cala Kingdom, the Raxus Conglomerate and other independent governments, either of freed territories or in-exile.
The visit to Lothal was also going to be used to discuss the current state of the war. The Empress had expressed the desire to meet with Jaral and Admiral Edrix, who had just arrived on Lothal for the occasion.
Meanwhile, Jaral was at her mother's home, putting on her new Systems Alliance's Admiral uniform to greet the woman that was now her Head of State and Supreme Commander.
"It's a bit tight, compared to the one I usually wear." she commented as she looked at herself in the mirror.
"Have you ever noticed how strapped your father looks in his own?" Mira quipped loudly from the next room.
Jaral felt a bit of embarrassment. "I never judged him that way. But I guess everybody on the Constantinople has similar clothes." she replied.
Then a loud cooing came from the next door, followed by a giggle that made Jaral smirk. As she finished polishing her rank strips on the shoulders she headed into said room, where Mira was feeding Jacen with a baby bottle of milk. The Grand Marshall of the Rebellion and Admiral of the Systems Alliance stepped closer to take a close look at her godchild.
Jacen noticed her. He detached his little mouth from the bottle and extended his hands toward her, giggling and demanding attentions.
"Oh, you want auntie Jaral, now?" Mira quipped to the baby as she carefully passed him to the godmother, who graciously accepted him.
"Hi, Jacen!" Jaral squealed with a large smile on her face that the baby seemed to like very much. Even more when she swayed him up and down as a game.
The baby seemed to have some sort of affinity to his godmother, though Jaral was pretty sure that it was proof that Jacen was Force-sensitive, and it was that invisible force that tied the two of them, and would one day tie him and Ezra together, as the siblings were the closest thing that Jacen would ever have to a direct memory of his father.
Jaral tried to see what little good there was in that notion. Kanan's death was something that scarred her much more than she would ever let anybody see. Only Ezra could understand that.
But she had Jacen to care for, now. At least until Hera was back from the expedition, Jaral had promised herself to visit Lothal regularly in her stead.
As her mind lingered on this thoughts, she noticed that Jacen was staring at her eyes with what remotely seemed like a questioning face.
Jaral huffed in amusement. "Your mommy will be back soon, Jacen. You'll see."
The sound of footsteps recalled her attention toward the threshold of the door, from which Darvos peeked out.
"I hate to interrupt you ladies, but we should really go." he said in a comprehensive tone.
"Right." Jaral agreed, then handed Jacen back to Mira. She gave him a little rub on the forehead, then she followed her husband all the way to the skycar waiting in the square of the Bridger Complex.
As Darvos drove toward the Capitol, they talked about Jacen.
"I hope Hera is doing okay." Darvos commented at a certain point. "The last thing Jacen needs…"
"Don't worry," Jaral reassured. "I mind-talked with Ezra just an hour ago. They are fine and they have started the search for a new location."
"Oh. Good enough, then."
Then there was a bit of silence, with only the eezo of the skycar making a soft humming. Jaral was staring out of the window, thinking over how she could approach the topic.
"Hey…" she started timidly.
"Yes?" Darvos asked with a relaxed tone, his eyes focused on the road ahead.
"It's just...seeing Jacen these last days...It got me thinking."
"Uh-uh…" Darvos hummed, with a tone that clearly suspected where this was going.
"When we married, you said that, if we had children, you wanted them to bear my family name."
"That is correct."
"Well...I never stopped thinking about that part, before. But with this war seemingly far from being over...I'm seriously considering the idea of having a child. Like...not immediately but...in the short period." she concluded in a shy tone.
Darvos hummed again, but he seemed a bit distracted, and not just because he was driving. "You mean, before something bad happens?"
Jaral didn't know how to answer to that. "I guess…" she said with hesitation. "Anyway, what do you say?"
Darvos breathed loudly with his nose and exhaled.
"Honestly, I'm not sure what to think." he said as they skycar entered into the center of the city.
"What do you mean?"
"I...actually thought about this chance before. That is, I would be happy to have a child with you, Jari, but I'm not sure I can pull through with being a father."
Jaral shook his head in shock. "What are you talking about? You would be a great father."
"Would I?" he asked back without hesitation. "I'm not sure you noticed, but I didn't grow up with parents worthy of this name."
Jaral, however, immediately found the counter-argument. "That would be the problem? Look at my da. He was an orphan, and yet he is the best parent in the universe."
Darvos considered those words. "You're right about that." he conceded. Then he raised his head slightly. "But we'll have to postpone this discussion. We're here."
Jaral then looked outside of the frontal glass and spotted the main plaza of the city. The Empress' personal cruise ship, which was only slightly bigger than a corellian corvette, was docked to a pair of magnetic clamps. A huge crowd surrounded the fence put up by the police, so much that Jaral and Darvos needed to squeeze their way in the middle of that chaos.
Eventually, they reached the fence and were allowed to pass. Waiting in front of where the access ramp was supposed to lower at any moment there were Wolffe, leading the parade unit of the local militia that would greet the Empress; then Admiral Edrix and even Prince Claudio.
"Admiral Bridger, we were starting to get worried." the prince quipped as he shook hands with both of them.
"Apologize, your Highness. I had to take care of the baby at home."
"I hope young Jacen is fine." Edrix said.
"He is, colleague. Thanks." Jaral replied politely.
'Warning. Please clear the area.' a mechanical voice coming from the small frigate said as she blew out the exhaust fumes and the ramp started lowering.
While she waited for the process to end, Jaral took a glimpse at the sky. Even if a bit blurred because of the distance, she could distinguish the dreadnought INS Everest, and the other ships that had accompanied Benedetta on this voyage.
The ramp finally lowered, but the first people to come out were a squad of the Imperial Guard with their black armors. A mix of Turian, Human and Krogan soldiers.
Then she finally appeared. Contrary to the other occasions Jaral saw her, this time the Empress was wearing a white uniform similar to her own. An Admiral jacket with a couple golden stripes added to emphasize her superior rank.
Following the Empress, a pretty big group of diplomats: the representatives of the Citadel Council. Jaral even spotted the Elcor councilor, the Volus and the Krogan.
The delegation walked down the ramp and reached Jaral's group. Claudio smiled at his mother, who returned the expression, and he walked to embrace her.
"It's so good to see you again, Claudio." Jaral heard the Empress say fondly.
"Likewise. Mother." the prince replied with a simple, but happy voice.
While Wolffe ordered the soldiers to present their weapons, the royals undid their hug and Claudio stepped back to let the other officers greet their Empress. Edrix stepped forward and bent the knee in a completely natural gesture. A sign of the deep respect that the Turian had for his liege.
Benedetta made a small nod with her head. "Thank you, Admiral. You may rise." she said gently, and the Turian obeyed before straightening back up.
Finally, Benedetta smiled at Jaral and went to shake her hand.
"A pleasure to see you again, Jaral Bridger."
The young woman made a small bow with her upper body. "And an honor to me, my Empress. Welcome to Lothal."
Just a minute later, Governor Shweera arrived to show submission to the Empress, before inviting the delegation to her palace to start the summit.
"We see Her Majesty," the journalist of the Alliance News Network broadcasting from Lothal reported. "she's being greeted by the Governor and from Admiral Jaral Bridger, one of the planetary symbols of the liberation from the Empire almost a year ago."
Jordan smirked at the images of his daughter standing tall and dignified in front of the Empress, but a voice on the Intercom informed him that it was almost time for the drop, so he had to shut it off and head to the hangar bay.
There, his marines were mounting on the Kodiaks, and even the crew of Besotten Jenny were warming up the tank, which was going to be deployed along with the Atlas to support the allied infantry on the surface of Trogan.
The Legionnaires divided among the two teams: Jordan and Michalina on one dropship, Thabo and Gutierrez on the other. The squads themselves, however, were led respectively by Sergeant Vetra Nyx and Lieutenant Aun'Roi'Ka, since the Legionnaires worked better on their own.
As soon as Jordan was aboard, the doors closed and the ramp of the hangar allowed the dropships to fly out into the skies of the desert world. Right now, that zone of the planet was undergoing a small sandstorm which only caused the sky under a certain altitude to be yellow, as if someone had put a filter on a camera, but the visibility was still good.
"All right, listen up." Jordan said to his troopers. "There is a battalion down there which is being pinned down by two different imperial artillery posts. While Bravo Team takes the one on this ridge, we're going to clear out the trenches in this village. This road is a necessary passage to reach the planetary capital, so we need to be swift and deadly, Uh-Ah?"
"Uh-Ah!" the marines replied.
"Approaching the drop zone. Forty seconds." the pilots announced.
"Sir, we have a visual on the battlefield." the copilot added.
"On screen." Jordan ordered, and the Kodiak's small screen in the cargo bay sent the footage of the ship's camera.
Indeed, they could see two couples of imperial walkers, SPMA model (Self-Propelled Medium Artillery), shooting heavy turbolasers against the human soldiers of the Alliance, who had been forced to dig in wherever they could find cover just outside a ruined village but required immediate assistance.
Wreckage of alliance tanks and corpses from both sides littered the no-man's land in between, showing that a first assault had been repelled.
Jordan unfolded his M8 rifle and went in front of the left door, ready to lead the charge, though Karg seemed pretty eager to be the first to jump into the fray.
Eventually, the Kodiak was brought almost to touch down on the landing zone, which was a small area with a few dead plants and separated from the position of the artillery pieces by a small hill.
"Move it, people!" Jordan ordered as he sprinted outside, followed suit by Michalina and the rest of the marines. "We need to reach the top of the hill." he quickly explained. "Vetra, bring the men in, me and Micha are going forward."
"Yes, Captain!" the turian female replied.
Then the Legionnaires augmented their speed, using their muscles and the perks of the armors at their peak performance.
"Just another day in paradise." Michalina commented.
"Hey, Her Majesty has just arrived in this galaxy. Let's make sure she receives good news."
"Aye, aye, boss."
They soon reached the top of the hill and faced the opposite side, just in time to see an entire platoon of imperial Army troopers trying to reach the top as well.
The Legionnaires pointed their weapons first and opened fire, cutting down the imperial NCO and two other troopers before the others opened fire.
Jordan and Michalina not only enjoyed a great armor and efficient shields, but their position was highly advantageous, because the two slopes of the hill were connected only by a small gorge. Big enough to let the infantry go through, but it also prevented any attacker from making flanking maneuvers.
For the Legionnaires it was a piece of cake to keep the imperials at bay for two minutes, allowing their companions of the Constantinople to reach them and forcing the imperials to flee.
"Spirit, this is Bravo Team." the voice of Gutierrez arrived through the comlink. "We've secured our landing zone and we're engaging the enemy artillery."
"Copy that, Bravo. We're proceeding against our target, as well."
Jordan took a quick look with the integrated binocular of his helmet. From his position, he could spot the SPMAs in the distance, firing at the allied forces outside of the village.
They were protected by the army troopers, who were establishing a small line of fortifications as quickly as they could, so Jordan decided there was no time to waste.
"Micha, Karg, you and I are going through that cavern." he said, pointing at the entrance of said cave. "Vetra, you and the rest of the squad distract the enemy with a frontal assault."
"You heard the boss, Marines. Move out!" the turian ordered to the rest of the squad and they all went their separate ways.
The Legionnaires and the Krogan entered the cave. Both Jinx and Michalina's AI confirmed that it led right upon the position of the artillery.
"Easy, now." he said to his underlings, slowing his own pace. "Let's try to keep our approach stealthy."
"If you want to sneak around, you shouldn't bring a Krogan." Karg commented.
"Nobody else among us can demolish those walkers bare-handed, if necessary." Jordan quipped.
The Krogan giggled with his croaking voice. "That is true."
The cave seemed quite empty, though. On the other hand, Vetra contacted the Captain a few minutes later. "Captain, do you copy?"
"I read you, Vetra."
"We've come across an enemy patrol. But something doesn't quite fit: it's a mix of soldiers and what seemed an irregular militia. There are non-Humans, too."
That statement surprised Jordan. "Are you sure about that?"
"I've never seen a Human with horns, sir. Or it's a subspecies in this galaxy?" she asked back. "I'm sending you my Tac-cam."
On the top left corner of his visor, Jordan saw the patrol. Vetra and her men were hiding behind an old pipeline that probably conveyed water to the nearby settlements, but they had a good visual on the imperials. The Legionnaire indeed spotted at least two men in civilian clothes but armed with blasters and light protections, marching with the soldiers. One of them was a Zabrak.
This was totally new, to Jordan, however, this wasn't the time to investigate. "Doesn't change anything. If they shoot you, you shoot back." he stoically ordered.
"Understood. Engaging."
At that word, Vetra and the marines peeked out and opened fire. One of them had a machine gun. He placed it on the pipeline and unleashed a storm of bullets that quickly pinned down the imperials. It wasn't a fair fight at all, as the Marines had the surprise and a superior rate of fire, and they quickly wiped out the enemy patrol.
Jordan and his team kept walking in the trail of the cavern. He still looked at the camera of Vetra, though, wondering what was happening.
"Jinx, call the Constantinople and have them make a scan for civilians in the area." he ordered, not needing the reply from his loyal AI.
Instead, he watched as the second team inspected the corpses, confirming that the imperials were employing an irregular militia.
Eventually, Vetra's team moved on and found a position that would suit their objective, waiting for Jordan's signal to engage the imperials defending the walkers.
"Jordan, the scan has been completed." Jinx replied as they approached the end of the cave. "I detected a column of civilians fleeing north toward the capitol, mostly women and children."
"And the men?"
"The rest of the militia seems to be escorting them. There are many non-Humans among them."
"This doesn't make sense." Michalina commented. "Since when does the Empire trust non-Humans enough to give them weapons? To civilians, nonetheless."
"If they take up arms, they aren't civilians anymore." Karg noted with an absolutely natural tone.
"Jinx, send a report to Command. For now, let's focus on the artillery, our men are still dying." the Captain concluded urgently.
Ten seconds later, the assault commenced. Vetra and her squad easily drew the attention of the enemies, and by firing from a naturally fortified position, they inflicted the first casualties. The imperials thus tried to counter-attack, but in doing so left the walkers unprotected. Jordan and his team quickly exploited the opportunity and attacked the walkers. The crews tried to defend themselves with their anti-personnel turrets, but the trio simply ran on the flanks, where the turrets, placed on the front of the hull, couldn't reach.
Karg took the first kill by diving onto one of the legs of the first SPMA, which weren't as solid as those of an AT-ST or stronger walkers, so it bent forward, making the walker slide. Before the crew could readjust the position, Karg climbed on the broken leg and reached the interior of the walker, going into a Blood Rage.
Almost pitying the crew, the Legionnaires proceeded to the second walker. By punching the armor, Jordan exposed a reactor on the back of the hull, and Michalina threw an adhesive grenade to it.
With the walkers gone, and with the news that Bravo Team had also taken out their targets, the surviving imperials broke ranks and tried to retreat. Some managed to get on parked troop transports, but most were either killed or surrendered.
"Spirit to 43rd Company. The artillery is no more, you're clear to advance."
"Thank you, Captain Bridger. We're in your debt."
In the distance, Jordan could spot the column of the Alliance resuming its march, with a Mako opening the line. As the bigger unit walked inside the village, by now completely abandoned and destroyed by the bombs of the recent fighting, Jordan started to ponder.
Seeing civilians fighting side-by-side with the imperial military was a first. But what was happening? Were they loyal citizens of the Empire who wanted to defend their homes? Were they being forced to fight? But if the latter was true, why would they run away from the Alliance?
The column of refugees, furthermore, was mostly made up of non-Humans, mainly Zabraks, who were a consistent minority of Trogan. They were also a species who suffered much under the xenophobic laws of the Empire.
Then Jordan remembered that the Mid Rim was now administered by Iulius Tanis, a man who had time and again proved to be, if not open, respectful toward other cultures.
If he was winning the loyalty of the non-Humans, who until now were important fifth columns for the Coalition in its advance toward the Core, then this war was about to enter a new stage. A stage that Jordan wasn't able to fathom, right now.
March 20.
On a break from the formalities of the Empress' visit to Lianna, Jaral and Darvos were assessing the latest reports and a new message from what was now the most influential Fulcrum agent.
"First a new TIE Defender, now aliens among the imperial ranks." Jaral sighed. "Your brother is always full of surprises."
"I know." Darvos said with resignation. "A pity he's an imperial to the core."
The omni-tool of the Marshall beeped, signaling that it was time for the main event of the day.
In a few minutes, Mon Mothma was going to proclaim the formation of the New Republic, and Jaral was expected to also give a speech to declare that the nations of the Universal Allied Cooperation Treaty were going to stand together against any aggression to their newfound independence.
This was a huge responsibility that was weighting on her heart. Many treated her as if she was some sort of saint, and insisted on her being a Jedi as the main reason why she should give the speech, as she would be perfect to represent the hope for all free beings in the galaxy. Jaral, though, was not feeling much honored from this.
In fact, she was starting to hate all of this. She should've been at the very least in the command room, planning a new strategy to defeat the Empire and the Sith. Instead she was trapped between political debates and elegant meals that only disgusted her, considering that billions of people out there were still suffering and starving because of the war.
Meanwhile, her mother was on Lothal, tending to the needy and the constant stream of wounded soldiers. Her father was fighting on the frontline of the Federation by her own orders.
And the one she missed the most, her brother, was on the other side of the galaxy, with the only way she could talk with him being her mind. Right now, she would've traded all of her ranks and titles if that gave her even a minute of talk with the real Ezra, to see him smile and reassuring her that everything was going great.
But she had to endure. She couldn't always rely on her brother's moral support. Besides, she still had her husband at her side, though the atmosphere between them had become a bit chilly, in their private time. Darvos was still heavily thinking about the conversation they had a few days before.
The two reached the main room of the new Senate of Lianna. It wasn't as majestic as the once there was on Coruscant, but it was still an impressive hall, built a bit like an amphitheater, so the president of the assembly and the government would have the center of the stage and the senators would sit at the rows of chairs and desks in front of it.
Jaral immediately drew almost every gaze in the room as she headed toward the two main characters of the room: Mon Mothma, who had already been chosen as President ad interim, and the Empress.
Standing next to Benedetta was also princess Anastasia. She looked almost exactly like her mother in the pictures of her biography on the Codex. The only substantial difference was the hairstyle: in her youth, Benedetta went with a bob, since it was more practical for a soldier. Anastasia was a princess specialized in diplomacy, and she sported an elegant, long braid falling on her right shoulder.
So far, the princess had acted as the main councilor for her mother, showing an enviable attention to all details of politics. Jaral sometimes didn't understand everything she told, but Mothma and her diplomats had commented that she was an astounding gray eminence, so the Jedi trusted their word. She also wondered how good would the Crown Prince be, considering that he was supposed to be the most knowledgeable of the imperial siblings and was now ruling in his mother's absence.
Jaral approached the women and Mothma asked. "How do you feel, Marshall?"
"Nervous, honestly." she simply replied.
"The script given by my writers didn't help?" Benedetta asked seriously.
"Oh, no, Your Majesty. I'm going to recite every single word, because I don't know what else I am supposed to say."
"All you have to do is to give hope to the billions of beings that are still longing for liberation from the Empire." Anastasia said with her calm attitude.
"Do they?" Jaral asked skeptically. "You read the reports from the Mid Rim. Now even non-Humans are fighting for the Empire."
"True, but so long only the regions under the administration of Grand Admiral Tanis have shown such tolerance. We still receive countless requests for help from the Outer Rim and even in the Colonies." Mothma reassured.
Jaral mumbled affirmatively, but in her heart she was still unsure what to think. If people started to actually support the Empire, how could the New Republic present itself as the liberator, the more it advanced toward the Core?
"There is no one else who could give more hope than you." a voice said from her right side.
Jaral turned around and saw the friendly face of a mandalorian man.
"Count Alrich." she greeted with a surprised tone, then the two shook hands. "I didn't hear that you would be here as well."
"The Mand'alor has sent me as her representative to acknowledge the New Republic. She sends her regards to you, in particular."
"I appreciate it. How's the situation on Mandalore?"
"It surprises even me. Safe for a very few extremists who refuse to join Lady Kryze, all clans are working together for the first time in millennia."
"Glad to hear that. However, I hope Lady Kryze got my warning about the movements of the Empire."
"Yes, the news of the imperial victory at Charros was surprising. But if Tanis will come to fight us, he will find a hard bone to chew." Alrich concluded with confidence.
"I hope you are right." Jaral simply replied. "Speaking of something else, I hope the Countess and Tristan are doing ok?"
"Ursa was a major ally of Lady Kryze during the last war, so her and my son are on Mandalore, right now, overseeing the production of new ships and training recruits."
"I see. I wish you could say that to Sabine, as well."
"I heard the news. I'm sure she's making herself a name alongside her husband."
"As if they haven't already." Darvos quipped.
"Master Bridger." said one of the camera operators as he walked to Jaral and bowed to her respectfully. "We are ready to transmit."
"Thanks, I'll be there in a second." Jaral politely replied. The alien bowed again and returned to his post right in front of the stage, ready to broadcast the speech. Alrich also rejoined the massive group of ministers and heads of state who were gathering in the hall.
Jaral looked more hesitant, now. Then Darvos confidently grasped her hand and kissed her softly.
"Go give some hope." he quipped with a smile.
Jaral replied with a smirk, but this encouragement helped her find the strength to carry on the task. After she separated from Darvos, she headed at the edge of the stage. Mon Mothma stepped aside to let her take the center. The politicians formed a group behind her, so they would appear like a wall following her lead.
"Let us begin." Jaral loudly ordered with the decisive tone that often distinguished her.
"Starting the countdown." the director of the troupes (there were more than one, coming from both galaxies) announced. "We're on air in 5...4...3...2…" he lowered his arm to signal the start. To help Jaral see herself, there was a screen behind the cameramen that received the transmission, so she could adjust accordingly.
As she saw her image appear, she calmly put her hands behind her back and straightened her back.
"Greetings, everybody listening." she started, knowing that she wasn't just being watched by all the freed systems, but also on clandestine channels deep into imperial territory and, through the bond, she somehow felt that Ezra was watching as well.
"My name is Jaral Bridger. Jedi Knight and member of the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Almost a year ago, me and my brother Ezra had fought to free our home planet of Lothal. We have been called 'Heroes', 'Saviors of the galaxy' and else. However, all we've done would've never be possible without the brave stand that millions of free beings all around the galaxy took. And without the help of the generous souls of the Milky Way, who stepped in to help us in our fight even when they had no reason to get involved.
"However, today I'm here not to deliver a message to the people, but to the so-called 'Emperor' Palpatine." she said with a defiant tone, then also made a step forward, shifting her weight in a threatening lean. "Or should I call you Darth Sidious? Lord of the Sith and greatest liar in the galaxy?
"Twenty years ago, you promised the galaxy peace. Instead, you seized power for yourself, subjecting countless beings to brutal oppression, constant violence and despoiling them and their planets of everything.
"You have called the Jedi 'demons', even when you and your pet Vader make use of our own 'sorcery'. You have called us 'rebels' because we refused to be exploited by your Empire. Well, guess what: we stood up and we won. Thousands of systems are free from your grip, and as of today, I'm here to tell you that we will never give up our liberty. We will fight as one, we will give you no quarter until your Empire lays in tatters and the your veil of cruelty is lifted from the galaxy.
"So do your worst, Sith. We are right here, and we're going nowhere. Before this is over, you will realize that a tyrant has no real friends in the time of need."
As thunderous applause resonated through the hologram, many rebel soldiers gathered in the common room to listen the speech also cheered.
"Yeah! You tell him, gal!" Zeb also commented loudly.
Ezra simply smiled proudly at the image of his sister and sent his congratulations down the bond. Jaral stepped away and left the stage to Mon Mothma.
"Your sister is truly one of a kind." Leia commented.
"Yeah. She wasn't just reading the script." Han added. "You can say she really meant it."
"Of course she does." the Jedi replied proudly.
Hera gently asked them to shush as Mothma was about to reach the point of her own speech.
"Today, the representatives of 283 systems are here to proclaim the restoration of the Republic. Together with our allies of the United Allied Cooperation Treaty, we will stand for our rights as free beings, and oppose the illegitimate rule of the Empire, by any means necessary."
Another round of applause rose both in the halls of Lianna and on the Amerigo.
But as everybody partied and enjoyed the moment of joy, Ezra simply sat there, lost in his thoughts, even if he was smirking.
From the seat next to him, Sabine extended a hand to intertwine fingers with his own. "Hey, you ok?" she asked a bit worried.
Ezra nodded slightly. "Yeah, yeah. It's just...it still seems a bit weird. I guess I just miss her a bit."
"Just a bit?" Sabine quipped, trying to liven up the mood.
Ezra chuckled. "Ok, I miss her a whole lot. But I know very well that this mission is important. She wouldn't have asked me to be here if she didn't consider it as such." he replied calmly.
Sabine gave him a comprehensive smile. "She was right, you know. I know you will make us all proud, Ezra."
Ezra squeezed her hand back. "Thank you, cyar'ika."
The two smiled at each other just before Ezra's omni-tool beeped. He answered.
"General Bridger, we're about to leave hyperspace."
"Thanks, Captain." Ezra replied, then took a look at the rectangular window of the room.
Indeed, a few seconds later, the blue tunnel disappeared and the Amerigo came out into a slice of empty space, with only the stars in the distance illuminating the area.
Ezra stepped down from his seat and spoke to the crews of both the Falcon and the Ghost. "All right, people. Suit up and get to the ships. We're going on a field trip." he quipped.
Luke was the first to stand up, quite excited, knowing what they were going to do. Ezra let them all go and instead walked to one of the federal soldiers in the room. "Master Gozo. You ready?"
"Sure thing, General." the woman replied as she stood up from her spot on the couch. "Looks like this is going to be an interesting experience."
"Eh...you'll be the judge." Ezra shrugged. "We'll be waiting for you at the hangar."
"Give me a minute to suit up and I'll be on my way." the psionic concluded before walking out of the room.
Differently from many psionics, Gozo wasn't a Legionnaire, but she was still an N7 soldier, so she headed to the armory to get her suit. Ezra headed to the hangar, where the two corellian freighters were being prepared for their 'secret' mission in a nearby system. At the same time, the engineers of the Federation were preparing the unmanned probe drones that were going to inspect a few of the planets on the 'Bothawui list', a process that was going to take a couple of days.
Just the amount of time Ezra needed for this investigation.