Chapter 10
Enter the Militia
PHOENIX SQUADRON
Liberty, Interim Flagship
It was quiet, a row candles were placed on on a crate, with a sinlge Phoenix Squadron helmet behind them one candle for every pilot lost in the attack, the cargo hold was filled with crew members of the remaining ships, who could attend or were willing. Commander Sato stood behind the candles silent as a star his face somber looking at the candles. The Ghost's crew were on the left side of the room, across from them Turok stood between two rebel troopers wearing handcuffs his striking of Sato hadn't been forgotten. Ahsoka stood next to Ahkilleon, then Sato cleared his throat "Defeat is inevitable in any conflict, casualties are to be expected… but that does not mean they're loss is not felt. The pilots of Phoenix Squadron were the first to answer the call to the Rebellion, and though the galaxy does not know the price of their courage we do, we will remember them always as they become one with the Force, and from their ashes Phoenix Squadron will rise stronger than before." Sato said and a long pause followed.
"I know a time of mourning is not something one should waist, but with the damages our fleet has suffered, we must continue on. For the time being all missions and operations are suspended until the fleet is back up to fighting capabilities, dismissed." Sato said.
The crew trickled out of the cargo hold one after another, everyone was quiet and Ahkilleon noticed the guards leading Turok away in hand cuffs, "Why are they doing this to Turok, he saved everyone on Phoenix Home?"
"He struck a superior officers Ahkilleon, using violence to get your way is wrong." Ahsoka said down to him as they walked with the specters.
Shaking his head Ahkilleon stopped "But Commander Stao wouldn't listen, you heard him he new it was the Sith Lord."
"But he didn't tell us, Turok had disobeyed Sato and me many times, his credibility was in question." Ahsoka told him, the Ghosts crew watched the start of the argument unfold.
"Credibility, Mom, we've known Turok longer than anyone here but you didn't even try to stick up for him?" Ahkilleon asked.
Ahsoka frowned pausing for a brief moment "I'm not the commander of Phoenix Squadron, Sato is Ahkilleon, it was his call to retreat or not."
"And it's Sato's fault that Sith Lord killed those pilots just like dad!" Ahkilleon shouted suprising everyone with his outburst. He looked up at her fuming mad but Ahsoka starred down at him, her mind was back to a time when she was a padawan, when she lost her entire squadron in another battle and she was their Commander. With nothing to say, Ahkilleon turned to leave and Ahsoka stood there watching him go caught in the middle between being a Commander, a Master and a parent.
LAST LAUGH
Enroute to Lothal
Dray folded up his yellow pilot suit and placed it in a metal trunk in his bunk aboard the last laugh, getting up he looked over at himself in the nearest mirror he was dressed in more informal wear. A brown coat with quilted stitching and white a fleece collar to keep warm, he wore a purple tunic under it and a belt with a bronze buckle and dark gray pants. The boots he wore were black with wrappings around the heels to give more worn appearance. His dark brown hair was combed back in wavy locks and he looked at himself in the mirror, no longer the Jedi padawan he use to be, no longer a Jedi. Reaching into the trunk he pulled out his lightsaber and tucked it away behind his back hidden under the coat. His main weapon unless he was forced to draw the saber would be his blaster, a standard issue Militia pistol, one handed with a rectangular body an extended barrel and power cell revolver mechanism to not overheat.
Dray olstered it before he reached into his coat and pulled out a yellow better and fitted it onto his head walking out if the quarters to the bridge, Hyena Squad we're already their Naqia the Zygerrian Captain sat at the helm next to the hooded Fang, going clockwise their was Gaser the big armored juggernaut, Butch their super tactical battle droid, the short technical specialist Wyre on the other side at a computer finally the youngest member Jay, he wasn't wearing his helmet his skin wasn't as dark as Dray's and he had jet black hair opposed to Drays dark brown.
"Commander on the bridge." Jay said loudly jumping to his feet, the rest of the crew stood up at attention as Dray walked in.
He stood in front of them and looked around "At ease Hyena Squad." Dray said to them as he walked in.
Everyone loosened and he looked them over, everyone besides Dray, Butch, Naqia and Jay had their helmets on. "Remove your helmets I'll see your faces." Dray said to them.
One by one they removed their helmets, Fang was first as he pulled off his helmet and lowered his hood, to reveal Fangs pale white skin, he had silver hair and pale blueish skin and gray eyes, which had black markings around them going down both cheeks. His silver hair was in a military fashion and he had a narrow jawline with slim nose to match "Fang Druid, formerly of the of the Umbaran Militia, part of their long range recon division. Trained in long range elimination, sabotage and close quarter combat expert in guerrilla warfare."
Gaser was next, he took his helmet off, he was human with pale skin, chestnut hair styled in a beard with a braid, and shaved on his head into a long braided Mohawk, "Gaser Stratus, once part of the Jabiim National Army before they were defeated by the Republic Loyalists, heavy weapons expert, certified for gunships, tanks, and… D.A.E.'s, finished top of his class at our training facility on Selucamia hand picked for Hyena squad. Gaser held his helmet tight and looked at Fang who gave him a playful nudge to take it as a compliment.
"Wyre of the Junkers, you're kind are new to the galaxy, from what our intro has told us you don't just know how to hack machines you talk to them." Dray said, Wyre gave a nod of gratitude as he couldn't remove his helmet, then he turned to their other non organic "STB-1415 call sign 'Butch' you were reactivated four years ago, and found wandering Sarrish by scavengers before we raided their chop shop following a distress signal you've had quite a journey." Dray said.
The droid simply stood there not saying a word, "Then our cadet Jay was it, you have no prior field experience besides being captured, You'll stay aboard the ship after we land, is that clear?" He asked Jay.
"Roger Roger." The boy said.
Dray nodded "Last but not least Naqia Scintel, homeworld Zygerria, you've been with the militia almost as long as I have, skilled with a sword and blaster in each hand, formal education on Raxus, the rest all redacted." Dray said looking at her. "Each of you brings a set of skills, and a reason for our cause, as you know the Militia isn't the only dissident force in the Galaxy, this so called Rebellion has kept the Empire's attention away from us. To the Empire they are scattered cells of terrorists and freedom fighters, make no mistake though they are not our friends." Dray said.
He paused, hands behind his back "Lothal will be our home for the next few cycles, it's under imperial occupation as of now, majority of its population is living in the capital or in scattered villages. We know there are three star destroyers blockading the planet, fully armed and a full garrison of Imperial Stormtroopers." Dray said as he paced the bridge. "Now we cannot fight this war for Lothal, a rebel presence was already there these operatives are the same you encountered on Garel and we have it in good authority they won't be back on Lothal any time soon. In addition when this ship was aboard Cabal One, one our many fronts for operations you probably noticed your cargo hold is full, with enough arms, armor and ammo to arm a whole battalion."
When he said this everyone looked at one another, but still no one spoke "Our mission, is to expand the our cause to Lothal, to raise a Militia of their own, any questions?"
"Sir?" Fang asked.
Dray turned to the umbaran "Permission to speak."
"Granted."
"Sir, Lothal is a back water it's doesn't have any strategic advantage, minimal infrastructure compared to other worlds, and politically speaking had nothing to do with the War of Core Aggression?" He stated plainly Gaser nodded in agreement, but the others looked to Dray to answer him.
Dray smiled "There's a question following this soldier?"
"Yes, why are we going to Lothal why not somewhere like Raxus, Onderon, Jabiim." He asked looking to Gaser the young Jabiimite didn't say anything but he shared Fangs opposition.
"Hmph you make a fair point, the last time the Outer Rim had a standing army they were droids, programmed to follow and obey without question. I will make no such demand, I'm unable speak for those worlds but our Intel has told us publicly is a treasure trove of resources for the Empire. It's why it has so many factories and ports, but the fact remains of no strategic value gives us grace to operate more freely, the lack of infrastructure also allows us to evade the enemy, but more importantly we've learned the Emperor himself chose this world for some ulterior motive besides colonial ambitions." Dray said walking up to Dray "Command is in agreement to start moving up our plans, but to do so we must begin training the Outer Rims people for the war come."
"Does that answer your question soldier?" Naqia asked him.
Fang stood up straight "Ma'am yes ma'am."
"Know this hyena squad, I will not ask you anything I would not do myself, Militia Invictus."
"MILITIA INVICTUS!" They all shouted.
PHOENIX SQUADRONS FLEET
The four remaining ships in the rebel fleet were still under repair, the ghost assisted where it could. Hera towing one of the blockade runners with a set of cables to a nearby when it was brought alongside the stand in flag ship Sato was in command of he watched his crew dock with the stranded vessel. The boarding clamps docked and the crew began to move parts into the ship.
"Well done Captain Syndulla I didn't think the Ghost could pull such a haul?" He asked.
Chuckling Hera took the compliment "She's tougher than she looks Commander."
"Indeed." Sato said as the door to his bridge opened
Ahsoka walked in and Sato turned to greet her "Welcome back Commander I trust you are well rested?" He asked.
"I am, you wanted to speak to me about something?" She asked.
Sato nodded "Clear the bridge." Sato ordered, Ashoka watched the crew leave them alone and she starred at him until the bridge was empty, "I want him gone." Sato said plainly rubbing the bruise under his left eye. Ahsoka frowned and slouched her shoulders.
"Commander, I understand Turok was out of line but you've already confined him to the brig." Ahsoka said.
"Discipline in the fleet cannot waiver now Commander Tano, his every word has been a challenge to my authority he may be only an agent but he has no respect for the chain of command." Sato told her turning to his side hiding the bruise from her sight.
As much as he wanted to disagree she he was right "Let me talk to him, despite your differences Turok is… uhh complicated." She sighed.
"I respect your judgment here above all others Commander Tano, but I fear your own personal reservations about Skell are clouding your choice to keep him here, regardless of him being Godfather to Ahkilleon." Sato said respectfully.
Pausing for a few moments, "What if I brought in another person, not another agent but military to help balance command."
"Balance?" Sato asked.
"With all due respect Commander, Turok may be just an agent but he did order the retreat, he's well liked and respected by the squadron, not to mention his legacy to fighting the empire is good for morale. But you need another military mind not an agents." Ahsoka countered.
Commander Sato paced, "Who did you have in mind?" Sato asked.
LOTHAL
The Last Laugh dropped out of hyperspace and within minutes the Last Laugh was hailed by the Imperial Blockade, "Unidentifed freighter, this planet is under Imperial Lockdown, state your business and any access codes." The Imperial fleet signaled them. Dray was standing while the others were all at their posts, he looked at Naqia and reached into his coat to pull out a small set of codes, handing it to her.
"Understood Star Destroyer, this is the Jackdaw we're delivering farming equipment to the outlying settlments, sending our access codes now." Naqia started to send the the codes and a few more
A few seconds past and then the Imperial transmission returned "Jackdawn these codes our outdated prepare to be boarded for inspection."
Everyone looked ahead with a jolt of panic, "Fang get ready to make the jump to hyperspeed-" "Belay that." Dray said.
"But Commander the weapons-" "Fly casual, respond that we will follow their orders." Dray said to her calmly.
"But sir, Captain trust me." Dray asked her.
Naqia took a gulp of air, "Roger, roger." She said as the flew to the fleet, a Gonzati cruiser flew towards their fighter slightly bigger than the Last Laugh, "All of you hang back here, Cadet with me." Dray said.
The boy looked to Naqia who gave him sideways nod for him to follow, Jay got up and followed Dray across the ship to the port side dock, the Gonzati's docking clamps locked on and shook the ship. The Cadet was pale as they headed to the door, Dray grabbed his yellow beret and hid it and took out his blaster "Are we going to fight?" Dray asked.
"No, if you have a weapon give it to me." Dray told him holding out his brown gloved hands.
Jay reached into his pocket and pulled out a small double edged dagger with a serrated edge on the left side, "No blaster?" Dray asked.
"I lost it." Jay squeaked before the docking bay opened.
"Hands up." Dray said before the door opened and the commander put on a big smile when a squad of Imperail Stormtroopers and an officer walked in, dressed in black navel fatigues. Dray held his arms up one finger on the blaster trigger guard the other holding the knife with his thumb "Greetings, these are our only weapons I'm putting them down now." Dray said as he got up in an impartial bow.
He rose up slowly, "We heard there was some trouble on Lothal, we we've been in hyperspace from the corp for a few days, terrible mishap about the codes." Dray said suddenly speaking with a core world accent of someone highly educated. Jay looked bug eyed at the man with a fake accent.
"My name is Falstaff, this is my son Hal, the rest of my crew is on the bridge preparing our manifesto." Dray said as the officer approached.
"Have them come here to that they're all accounted for." the officer said.
Dray nodded "Son be a good a lad and get the rest of our crew." Dray said and Jay nodded stammering "y-Yes sir." As he ran off he looked back to see Dray had his hands behind his back, he was giving him hand sign sthat read 'stand by'.
"Good lad, apologizes Captain my son is nervous it's his first time making a drop." Dray said smiling at the Captain who approached him he walked past Dray and watched the boy run off into the ship. Looking around the vessel the Imperial Captain took a step and Dray flicked his wrist, the Imperial Captain stumbled and Dray caught him "Sir are you arlight?" Dray asked catching him, suddenly the stormtrooper had their sights set on Dray.
The Imperial staggered back up and held his hand to make them stan down "I must have tripped?" he said as Dray held him steady before he let go dusting off his hands.
"Forgive the Jackdaw, she's an old ship probably a loose pipe or something." Dray said as one of the stormtropers reached down and picked up the pistol handing it to their officer.
The Imperial looked at it and turned to Dray, "This is an unusual model of blaster, where did you acquire it Captain 'Fallstaff'?" the officer asked.
"Ah a gift from my wife, she's nervous about our boy going off here into the wild outer rim, not as safe as-" Dray rubbed his fingers looking at the Captain and saying "-Vardos." he said.
Around the corner, Hyena Squad was lying in wait blasters and knives ready to fight their way free, but the Imperial Captain gave a laugh "You're from Vardos Captain?"
Dray's eyes went wide and he smiled again "I thought I recognized your accent sir, my boy and our at Kestros, my wife and I hope he'll be accepted into the Future Imperial Leaders Military Preparatory School?" Dray said.
The squad in hdining looked confused at how he was being so chummy, "I'm sure he will, with a good citizen like you adhering to the law perhaps I will see him ther next time I rotate back, unlike the rebel problem we have out here?"
"I've heard terrible rumors, an Imperial Minister murdered in cold blood by terrorists, may the pay for their crimes." Dray said to him as the officer said.
The Imperial officer nodded "Indeed, now we shall proceed with this inspection?" the Imperial officer said as Dray nodded, before he held his hand up as if to gesture for him to follow "That won't be necessary."
"That… won't be necessary." The Imperial officer said.
Dray looked to the other stormtroopers and Hyena squad still hiding behind the walls wondered what was going on, unable to see around the corner without being caught in their full armor and literally armed to the teeth, "Your inspection found only farming equipment, and you gave us permission to land."
"We found only farming equipment and you have permission to land." The Imperial officer said.
Dray gave a sigh of relief and lowered his arms, still keeping up the accent "Bless you Captain, long live the Empire." he said.
"Long live the Empire." Dray said before the Imperial officer and his inspection team leaving the Last Laugh behind. Dray holstered his pistol looked at the blade, it had a red scarf around the handle. Turning back around he walked to the hallway and looked at the squad of Militia soldier and held the knife out to Jay, he took it and the rest were watching speechless.
He passed by them, "Let's head down, find a far settlement away from the city."
The Last Laugh descended down over Lothal and flew over the fields and stalgtite mountains before Naqia spotted a small settlment, "How about that one?" She asked Dray.
"Set us down time to get the lay of the land." he ordered.
The Last Laugh landed in one of the hangers, and started to exhaust out all of the extra air, as the ramp lowered and the away team left. Dray walked forward ahead of Naqia, Gaser and Fang, all dressed in their own disguises.
Naqia was dressed in a poncho draped over her shoulders and went down to her knees hiding her armor and the top of her Kama. It was sandy beige with a continual spiral pattern and metal clip. Gaser had removed some of his armor to better fit in, wearing a straw hat with a hooded burgundy coat it had cuts and tears king since mended except for two holes with singe marks on the front seams and two on the back. He had the coat clipped over the rear of his armor. Fang wearing the lightest of the armor had settled to wear a leather jacket with a fleece collar with a scarf around his neck hiding some of his many knives. "So this is Lothal, what a dump." Fang said walking into the outpost.
"I've seen worse." Naqia said passing by the small buildings. There were only a few dozen over the two hangars.
The battle droid Butch stood next to Jay and Wyre, Dray stopped and looked at the boy "While we're away study the Imperail Broadcast, learn everything you can about this place Cadet." Dray ordered.
The dark haired boy nodded "Roger, roger."
"Good lad and well done back there." Dray said before he and the rest of the mheaded out of the hangar into the outpost.
"What's this place called?" Gaser asked.
Dray looked over at one building right an old Republic Gunship gunship on the front above an entry way that read 'Old Jho's Pit Stop' in bright yellow writing "Jhothal, our intel suggests this was a spot the rebels came to for safe harbor." Dray said walking to the pit stop.
Walking into the cantina they saw it had a small holoprojector was mounted on the wall behind the bar. There they saw owner, an Ithorian with a translator on his neck, there was an antiquated hauler beneath a tarp behind the Pit Stop. Many of the interiors furnishings were made from repurposed goods, such as lamps built from pit droid and an overhead fan made out of a gunship engine, as well as repurposed moisture vaporator tanks. Scavenged relics from the Clone Wars were scattered around the bar, including a Phase I clone trooper helmet on a shelf behind the bar and what appeared to be the nose of a Low Altitude Assault Transport known as the Crumb Bomber. The repair facility's signage, written in a combination of Outer Rim Basic and Aurebesh, was featured on a pair of LAAT/i wings attached on either side of the gunship's nose.
Finding a small corner to sit at, there weren't many other people in the cantina, "What are we doing here?" Gaser asked.
"Recon, we need to know the people we plan to recruit, cantinas like this." Dray said looking around the cantina.
It was sparse with only a few people in it, a couple of humans, a gotal, some aqualish and the ithorian owner behind the bar. "Time to meet the locals." Dray said getting up from the table, he approached the bar and sat down.
"What'll it be." Jho asked him.
"Four, one here and the others for my friends at the booth." Dray said.
The ithorian poured the drinks "Haven't seen you around here before, we're not getting a lot of travelers since the blockade happened."
"So I can tell, nasty business with those rebel assassins." Dray said as he looked at the drinks.
The bartenders hand stopped for a moment, it was only a second but it was enough for Dray, "They didn't kill the Minister, not their way."
"Oh, what is?" Dray asked.
Jho finished topping off the last drink and his translator said "Those rebels don't kill, they steal from the Empire but mostly give it back to the people, like the ones in Tarkin Town… when there was a Tarkin Town."
"Tarkin Town?" Dray asked when he heard the rumbling of Imperial TIE fighters descending on the out post. Three TIE's landed in the hangar connected to the bar, and Dray didn't move, the other militants reached under their table for their blaster pistols.
Jho sighed "Not again."
"Ithorian, the usual." One of the pilots said walking up to the bar next to Dray, keeping his head down, the bartender grabbed three bottles.
"You going to pay this time?" Jho asked.
The pilots snickered, they were all dressed in their imperial black uniforms and helmets, "Be grateful we're out they're protecting a dump like this, never know when those Specters are going to come back." the lead pilot said grabbing the drink.
Dray could feel the anger coming from Jho, but also the fear wrestling with it, there was something else, Jho was reaching for somethng under the bar, a blaster, a slug thrower maybe? "Where are they?" A new voice asked.
The pilots looked around to see one of the humans in the bar standing behind them it was a young man, no just an above average tall boy with sandy blonde hair, wearing overalls and a shirt stained with dirty that whatever colors they were before it was now a dirty beige brown "Where's who boy?" the pilots asked.
"My sister, my mother they were in Tarkin Town before you all burned it to the ground." the boy snapped walking up to them, one of the pilots drew their blaster attached to their leg and aimed it at him.
But the boy wasn't flinching, Dray looked over at his squad, Gaser and Fang looked like they were about to flip the table over and start shooting, but Dray shook his head very slowly, telling them to stand down. "If they were then the whores got whats coming to them, Tarkin Town was a known rebel camp."
"Rebel camp, they were refugees, displaced by the Empire- by you!" the boy poked his finger into the Imperials chest.
And the pilot chuckled "Uh oh that looked liked assaulting an Imperial Pilot."
"Looks like." Another said.
"Should we arrest him?" the other asked.
The lead pilot just chuckled as he took the bottle he had and poured it down the boys head getting his hair sopping wet, "Not worth the paperwork." The pilot said before he smacked the boy in the face, and to Dray's surprise the boy didn't fight back.
At first.
The others laughed before the boy was shoved by the other, then punched in the gut "Where… where is my family?" He wheezed as he fell to his knees hunched over.
"No one gives a damn about your family lothrat." One pilot said about to hit him with the butt of his blaster rifle "RAAAH!" the boy pounced like a wolf attacking the pilot wrestling him to the ground, he started to throw wild fists at the mans helmet, for the whole bar to see. The other two pilots rushed to help the other and throw the young boy of him, then they started to stomp and kick him before the third one got up and did the same kicking and punching the patrons were forced to watch helplessly before a blaster shot rang out.
All heads turned to the doorway, there stood an Imperial Officer with neatly combed red hair, a gray officers uniform and a smoking blasters. "Whats going on here?" he asked walking in, he was a young man too, with hawkish features and a scar on his cheek.
"Captain, this boy- this Rebel attacked us." one of the pilots said out of breath.
The Captain looked down at the boy, "Well think the retaliation has taught him not to again, now what are three of his Imperial Highnesses pilots doing in a bar on duty?"
"We were uh…" "I don't want to hear it, back to your posts pilots." The Captain ordered as he saw the sorry state the boy was in. He had a black eye, bleeding from his mouth and bruises already starting to swell dark purple.
He walked up to the boy "Reik." the captain held out his hand to the boy but it was slapped away.
"What do you want Captain Messela?" the boy said standing up, they were almost even heigh and as Dray looked closer they were almost the same age, the red headed one just happened to look older because of the scar and the neat hair. The boy named Reik pushed past him but the Imperial named Messela grabbed him and whispered something into his hear.
Dray was the only one close enough to hear him "I told you to stop this, I'm looking into it I swear, I'm doing everything I can to find your mother and sister." Messela said before the boy tore away from the Imperial.
"Not good enough." Reik said storming past the officer, Dray took out some unmarked credits and laid them to cover their tab before he followed the boy out into the streets. He found Reik in the corner of the building throwing water from a barrel onto his face to wash the blood. Dray watied till he was done and when he turned the boy nearly jumped out of his own skin.
Dray frowned "If I had been an assassin you'd be dead by now."
"Assassin, what the… who are you?" he asked.
"An observer or now, I saw what you did in there?" Dray said.
The boy scoffed as he wiped off some flecks of water "Get my ass handed to me."
"Holding your ground, out numbered three to one with no weapons but your fists some in the Outer Rim would call that bravery." Dray said.
Reik laughed "Dumbassery more like it."
"And the wisdom to know a poor strategy." Dray said walking up beside him, reaching into his jacket Dray produced a small white cloth for him to clean himself, Reik looked down at it and took the rag washing off the blood.
"What are some kind of soldier?" Reik asked seeing the blaster holstered at his hip.
Dray shrugged "In a manner, whats this Tarkin Town I heard you talking about?"
"Outlander then." Reik said blowing his nose, "Tarkin Town is- was a refugee camp for all the people here on Lothal who got displaced by the Empire, few weeks ago they burnt it down because of the Rebel attack."
Listening Dray looked up to see the TIE's flying away "The people there, taken prisoner I assume?"
"Yeah, no bodies when I came back." Reik said.
This got his attention, "You're from there?"
"Your from there?" He asked.
Reik froze, glaring at him "No… who are you some sort of ISB agent?"
Dray could sense Reik was about to flee, no attack then flee "... I am not." Dray said as he took out his blaster pistol, Reik tensed before he saw Dray offer him the pistol "Here, you'll need it."
"Need it for what?" Reik asked taking the pistol looking at it, "To free your mother and sister, because I"m going to helpyou find out what happen to them."
PHOENIX SQUADRON
Liberty
"Try it now." Sabine said in the engine rooms of the corvette, her armor was covered in grease marks and her hair wet with sweat as they fired up the engines hearing the pur like nexu, the other rebel engineers all cheered to see it was working. Hera who was overlooking the repairs smiled down at the mandalorian girl as she walked by the other engineers who patted her on the back or applauded her.
She made her way up to Hera, "Nice work." Hera said.
"It's nothing, we learned about these older models in my old life." Sabine said.
"Well not everyone has an education or technical smarts like you do Sabine." Hera said meaning it as a compliment.
The mando slicked some of the grease in her hair back, "Ugh." Sabine said.
"What, that grease?" Hera asked.
Sabine took out her paint guna nd redyedh er hair th blue and teal it had been "Worse my actual hair color."
Hera chuckled at it, "Well we can't have that." she said looking down her itinerary. "Alright thats the last of the fleets engines we needed to repair, hmm Zeb and Kanan are helping reorient the main batteries, Ezra and Chopper are in helping get inventory stocke d, looks like Ahkilleon is in the hangar making sure the rest of our A-Wings are functioning, who do you want to help next or do you want to take a break?" Sabine asked.
Sabine smiled at the last part, she brushed back her redyed hari and said "I think I'll head down to the hangar."
"Really, I thought you'd have enough ship fixing for today?" Hera asked.
Sabine avoided her gaze, her lip curling "It's… nothing really."
"Well I'm glad to see you stepping uuuuuhhhh-" Hera drew out her sentence as sudden realization ran over her face, her mind jumping back to hearing them speak in Mandalorian, and a few other moments like when he called her Most Impressive on Lothal "ooooooooohhhh." Hera said hands on her hips as Sabine was halfway out the shot a glare at Hera who just has a catlike smile on her green lips, and if she had eye brows they would be jumping.
Sabine turned around and her cheeks began to turn pink like some of her armor "It's not…. Hera no I just… shut up." Sabine said getting flustered as Hera shook her head.
"Kids." Hera said.
Leaving the back of the ship, Sabine made her way to the Liberty's hangar inside, Ahkilleon was under an A-Wing trying to get it to work the way he wanted to "Try it now?" Ahkilleon slipped out from under the blue A-wing, he has grease on his cheeks and staining his blue and white clothes. Taking a rag he wiped his hands as the thrusters came alive Ahkilleon watched the blue hue of the engines and listening to it as Sabine walked in. "Alright check the turns?"
The ships back fins went up, down, left and it stalled on the right and Shaking his head Ahkilleon made a motion like cutting his neck "Shut it off, still stiff on the turns."
Walking up behind him Sabine saw Proxy pop out of the cockpit the droids yellow eyes blinking "Young Master, I'm sorry I'm not more help but I'm not an astromech."
"Yeah well take it up with mom, she said no last time I asked." Ahkilleon said as he saw Sabine "Hey."
"Need some help?" She offered.
Ahkilleon smiled happy to see her "With this last one, for sure I've made modifications to the others, worked out any kinks I saw but this last one…. Every time I try to fix one problem it's like another one pops up." He sighed as he walked around the ship Sabine followed him looking at the various adjustments. To the untrained it looked like any other ship.
But Sabine could see the spots where old wires and pieces of metal were switched out and she didn't see anything wrong with them. "Can't have the fighters not be ready." He mumbled taking out a splicer he cut open the fin and started to fiddle with the mechanism.
Sabine turned her head to see the remaining fighters they had left which were only two including the third he was working on "How long have you been at this?" She asked, noticing the other two had piles of replaced parts lying around the entire hold.
"Since that uh… argument I had with my Mom, Dave I mean Phoenix Leader he showed me how to fly the A-wings when we first got them he said he'd… he'd let me join Phoneix Sqaudron when I was ready…" He said quietly.
Coming up beside him, she took the splicer out of his hand, "It's okay to be sad Ahkilleon." she said.
He pulled away, "I'm not sad, I'm angry." he said as he slipped under the A-Wing and started to do some more work, "Why?" Sabine asked siting on the floor across from him.
"Because, my mom new that… that thing killed my dad, she didn't let Turok tell me, she hasn't told me anything and now our pilots are dead, and we're just suppose to move on and forget about them?" He asked.
Sabine sighed "I know it may seem callous, but Commander Sato is trying to do whats best for the Squadron this is a military operation."
"I know, I've read all the histories of the Republic Wars, from the Unification ones, to the Great Hyperspace War, Galatic War, even the Crusades Jedi and Mandalorian, I was taught navel strategy by one the Greatest Admirals in the Galaxy I-" "Should know that one fighter against an entire fleet is a sound strategy." Sabine corrected him.
He stopped his work knowing she was right "Just because your mother was silent, wasn't because she didn't feel anything, she's a pillar of strength here, Ezra, Hera, maybe even Kanan look up to her."
"Yeah well you'd think with everyone looking to her, she could look at someone else every once and a while, can you hand me that wire cutter?" he asked pointing to his tool box. Sabine realized she was treading a bit to close to a senstive subject and decided the best thing for Ahkilleon was to be present.
LOTHAL
Jhothal Outpost
Back on Lothal, the Hyena's were gathered outside their freighter, the Last Laugh, Dray returned from his conversation with Reik, to see his squad waiting for them. "Commander." Naqia said greeting him, as he approached Dray looked at the Militants and turned to Jay, the young cadet.
"What have you found out?" he asked.
Jay cleared his throat holding up a datapad, "Lothal is an older world than many thing, it's had settlers here for a long time but due to it not being really close to anything it's growth has been mostly stagnant compared to worlds like Telos, Nar Shadda or Raxus even." Jay said.
"It became part of the Republic soon after more Outer Rim worlds did." He added and Gaser spat when he heard the name Republic. "Very few conflicts every reached Lothal, mostly just skirmishes over space or old stories of Jedi."
Dray lifted a brow "Jedi?"
"The Republic Peacekeepers Commander, they were Generals in the Clone Wars- I mean War of Core Aggresion, but they never came here during that time." Jay said as he moved his hand down to scroll more data.
"I did look at our own Militia Files and recovered Separatist Secrets, Lothal appeared on a list." Dray said.
This got everyones attention "Is their Separatist storehouse here, a hidden armory?" Fang asked.
Dray felt everyone looking at him and got really smalle "Uh… um, no, it was listed as a potential sight for the um… Dragons Lair."
Everyone froze, a hush falling over them as Gaser gasped "The Dragons Lair?" Dray asked.
"A rumor Commander, one I didn't expect my men to belive?" Naqia aksed her men who all avoided her gaze.
"Tell me about it?" Dray asked.
Clearing his throat again Jay continued "The Dragons Lair was a file that early Miltia agents discovered on Cato Nemdoia in the private archives of Nute Gunray the former Viceroy, it detailed a secret facility created by the Separatist Council as both mining facility, foundry and armory-" "It's a myth." Fang said cutting the boy off.
Butch stepped forward, the Super Tatical Battle Droid held up one hand "A myth would entail it was never created, however my datafiles from both the Militia and my time as a Separatist Commander though fractured as they are, do detail various assets vanishing from the Separatist inventories to an unknown location.'
"This is all fascinating but we've raided every Separatist storehouse and factory that wasn't already plundered, what makes this one so special?" Dray asked the droid.
Butch turned its three eyes to him, "Commander the Dragons Lair is an entirely droid operated foundry, independent from the the Separatist Command, the reason for it being so as you say special is that when the codes that deactivated the droid army were sent out, the Dragons Lair would be unable to access the codes do to its hidden nature."
"Are you telling me this was a failsafe for the Separatists, that if say a jedi or Republic forces accessed the codes, this is a second droid army?" he asked.
Butch's metal head knodded "Roger, Roger, in theory the factory would have no idea the war had even ended and continue to mine, build and store weapons, ships and droids."
"Such a facility would be impossible to hide." Dray said.
"See a myth." Fang said.
Sighing Dray waved his hand "Is there anything about Imperial Concentration camps, the boy I spoke with says his family was taken their along with hundreds of displaced civilians."
"Nothing on public record." Jay said up to him.
"Not surprising Concentration Camps aren't anything new for the Empire, but on a world so underdveloped we'll need to do planet wide scans for large numbers of scentiens, it'll take time." Wyre said out from behind his mask.
Dray gave the nod "Do it, in the meantime we prepare, Gaser, Fang take inventory of our equipment, Jay assist Wyre and Butch in the scans, look for places far from roads or outposts." he ordered.
"Roger, Roger." They all said.
That left Naqia and Dray outside the ship, "Commander?"
"Do your men know, about my past?" Dray asked her.
She shook her head, her pale green cat eyes looking at his brown human ones "They know your a Militia Officer, not sure where from that little trick you did on my ship gave them a start, but none of them have said anything."
"But you Naqia?" Dray asked the Zygerrian.
She looked over at the the ship to see if anyone was listening in, flicking her shoulder to have them walk out of ear shot. She led Dray a over to a small alcove in the hangar "I know Dray is a name for a type goat in the outer rim, it's a common enough one in some systems no one bats an eye, but I also know there was a young boy of the same name in the Black Knights in the Jedi Crusade." Naqia said leaning on a wall.
Dray smiled as he pushed back his coat just enough for her to see the lightsaber, "Very good, do you know happen to him?"
"As far as I and anyone with an ear who was brave enough to listen, he died with the rest of them on Rhen Var." Naqia said back to him.
Dray pulled out his yellow berret and rubbed his thumb on it, "I should have, but I didn't I wasn't even there."
"Where were you?" Naqia asked.
Dray was silent, "The Black Knights, weren't all Knights, there were padawans, younglings who'd fled the Captail, I was one of the first to get away and by the time Rhen Var happened I was one of the older padawans. My Master had gone to Coruscant to try and… well you know what happened to all of them." Dray said looking at her.
"And you?" Naqia asked.
"I'll tell you about it sometime, for now I need to know about your squad if any of them will have problems following a former Jedi?" He asked.
Naqia looked over at the ship, "Butch, Wyre will fine, Jay's told me about the stories about his father fighting with the Jedi, but you should be careful around Fang and Gaser." she said bringing up the only other adults of the squad, the two men in question gave her pause. "Fang fought the jedi on Umbara when it was invaded by the Republic, it took time for him to come to peace with the fact he was working with other former Republic forces in the Militia, he doesn't trust force users he had a sister who joined some Witches on his homeworld, and Gaser I'm sure his last name brought up some files." She said to him.
Dray nodded as Gaser walke down the ramp holding a case of something, "I heard the stories of Jabiim, the fierce fighting that broke out after they discovered rich ore under the muddy surface, civil war broke out between Republic Loyalists and and Separatist Nationalists, Gasers father was killed by a Jedi." Dray leaned his hand into his belt his lightsaber jingling "Just another casulty of war as he tells it, but you should know." Naqia added
"Thank you Captain, when the time is right I will tell them." Dray said about to leave.
Naqia got in his way, "Commander, while I will respect your rank and your orders, know this. These are my men, my comrades, if you play with their lives recklessly, jedi or not I will be your death." the said hand on her sword.
Dray met her gaze, she was serious and he leaned in to have the final word "As you say, jedi or not, but I am Ikar now."
Phoenix Squadron
Lower Deck of Liberty
Walking down in the lower depths of the ship, Ahsoka approached the cell that Turok was in, two guards stood at each entrance as the laser wall showed only two scaley clawed feet laying on a bench. "So which is it, two more months in the brig or are you finally getting rid of me?" Turok asked.
"Leave us." Ahsoka asked the guards, who obeyed she opened the cell and walked in to see Turok laying down on the bunk hands behind his head.
She walked in and stood over him, sitting up he stretched "Why did you tell Ahkilleon, that Sith Lord killed his father?"
"Because he did, because has a right to know." Turok said up to her.
Ahsoka frowned, trying not to let her emotions get in the way of her words.
"Let me ask you another question Turok, why did you hit Sato, why didn't you just tell us it was the him it was- the Sith Lord." Ahsoka stammered out.
"So now I have to explain every action, ever since we got to this Phoenix Squadron, you've changed." Turok said leaning back against the wall.
Ahsoka didn't want to argue, "You still haven't answered my question, you said this was like before, how did you know it was the Sith Lord?" she asked again.
"Because I saw that type of flying before, over Rhen Var when we escaped." Turok said as he looked at the floor.
Ahsoka frowned "And I wasn't there."
"I was, I had Ahkilleon with me and about two dozen other jedi younglings trying to get away from the Empire." Turok said as he leaned forward rubbing his claws "So which is it, exile or brig?" he asked.
Ahsoka sat down next to him, "Brig for now, until missions start up again, Sato wants you gone but I know if I send you away, Ahkilleon will probably follow."
"He's a good kid, how's he taking the loss?" the lizard asked her.
The togrutan woman sighed, she cupped her jaw and shook her head "He's angry, confused, I can feel it and I… I don't know how to help him without… without sounding like the Jedi Masters who raised me and I don't want that for him, I don't want him not feel these things like Leo did." She said.
"You can't shut him out, he needs his mother but he also needs to know what's coming so do you." Turok told her seeing she was trying to keep her emotions in check.
Ahsoka dried her eyes before any tears could form, "When I was still a padawan, my master made it a game, we'd keep score to see who broke the most droids but I can't do that with my son, I want to see him grow up strong but part of me is to afraid to see him…" She cut herself off.
As he waited, Turok took a deep breat "Those pilots, won't be last, and maybe next time it'll be worse this little game of different cells and networks can only last so long Ahsoka, the boy needs to know that Civil War is coming and he has to be ready for it when it comes."
"How, I had training in the Temple, I had two jedi masters always watching over me and even then the Clone Troopers, Ahkilleon-" "Has you, has me, to look out for him and he has a crew of friends who from what can tell will fight tooth and nail to protect one another. You have to try to trust your son to know what he has to do, it's sad to say it but he's part of this like or not" Turok said standing up pacing.
Shaking his head "It wasn't what Leo wanted for jedi like Ezra and him, to fight in a war."
"Turok we aren't-" "Then we're heading for one, anyone who claims to be part of a militarized Rebellion and isn't heading for civil war, is a fool." he cut her off.
Ahsoka sighed "But why did you tell him about the Sith Lord Killing his father."
Turok starrted to snicker as he said out of nowhere "It was madness, it was brilliant, a boy with just a sword charging at Darth Vader and not just cutting him- but running the metal bastard through!" Turok shouted loud and proud holding up a fist "Ahsoka you've kept him in the dark about so many things, his fathers death, his grandparents, even your history with the Jedi…."
He took her hands in her claws, "I know Sato wants me gone, and I know you want to keep hold of your son but I'm NOT his father or his mother, you have do what you think is best." Turok finished
"But if you want my opinion, tell him everything." Turok said.
Ahsoka looked at the floor "I already I told him about Vader, how he killed Leo so you can skipp over that part."
"Turok I asked you-" "You asked me to protect your son, protecting him from the truth will do more harm then good, if you want him to not end up like his father, always fighting, always trying to prove something, tell him where that leads." Turok said finally as he patted her hands and stood up "And this is the harder part… he needs a Master, and it can't be you."
LOTHAL
Jay was sitting at the Last Laughs monitors looking at screens with Wyre and Butch, "So the new Commander what do you guys think?" the cadet asked them he was fiddling with his knife twirling it in his hands and catching it when it almost fell.
Wyre was scanning for life signs as Butch ran diagonistics "Commander Dray is unexpected, but we are doing a new type operation which the Militia have never attempted, having someone of his experience should be benefical to our cause." Wyre said.
"Experience, I've never heard of him before?" Jay asked.
Butch unplugged from the terminal he was at, "Much of his operations are left unreportd, he like Agent Wraith and Agent Shade are part of Protocol 99."
"Proto what?" Jay asked, the boy blinking his brown eyes a few times.
"Protocol 99, it's the unofficial title of all black ops operation, their are to be no logs, no recordings no data of the agents involved, we are not to know the Commanders past unless he tells us." Butch said.
Suddenly their was loud beeping from Wyre, "I found something."
The other two leaned in, "Hmm a large structure located here, in the planets southern marshlands, massive amounts of organic signs but… they are very weak, it could be a school of fish or potentially a breeding ground for fauna?"
"No, look at how they're gathered." Jay said pointing at the screen, their were a large amount of glowing dots all cramemd together in a perfect rectangle, "Thats a base or a camp of some kind?"
Butch processed it "Alert the Commander."
Meanwhile, inside his personal room. Dray was sitting on the floor meditating, he took a deep breath as his legs were crossed and his lighsaber sat in front of him in pieces, it rose up and started to assemble itselft, he started to whisper to himself as it connected a prayer, a creed, a code.
"...Passion without Peace, is emptiness…
Strength without Knowledge, is useless
Power without Serenity, is chaos
Victory without Harmony, is defeat
Life without Death, is the.."
"Commander!"
Dray caught his lightsaber as it reassembled and turned it on, outside the door Dray saw the glow of an green light before he saw it go off, and then the door opened, Dray was standing in front of him "Cadet, what is it?"
"We found the camp." he said as Dray hid his lightsaber behind his back.
Later Dray walked out with his yellow beret and brown coat on, he went into the communication center of the Last Laugh to see Wyre sitting their with Butch, the screen showing the image "We've verifed it with surrounding imperial flight patterns, ships fly around it and redirect any and all air or ground traffic from the civilian populations."
"How many people to you estimate are there?" Dray asked the junker.
The cyborg tapped his metal fingers against the table "With how many are bunched up we could be talking hundreds, maybe over a thousand."
"One is one to many, time to arm up." Dray said.
Leading them out into the landing pad, Gaser and Fang stood over the same crate he brought down in it were blaster rifles, thermal detonators and other weapons. Fang was already working on his sniper rifle equipping a scope, Gaser was checking the sights of a militia rifle, "What do we have to work with?" Dray asked.
Gaser held up the blaster "The E-7 assault blaster, standard issue Militia, i've adjusted this one to have laser dog sights, and an extended barrel, like our former droid counter parts easy to make, easy to modify easy to shoot." Gaser tossed it to Dray who looked at it smiling "You need something since you lost the last one."
Jay's smile vanished remembering it, "What about sniper rifles?" Dray asked glancing at Fang who held his up to Gaser.
The weaponmaster held it up, "While I do care more for being in the thick of the fight, BAW E-5s sniper rifle is still a classic, this one in particular is another one of many moddifcations I removed the four round cartridge and replaced it with rotating power cell, like our pistols one cell cools the other reloads, never run out ammo." he said handing it back to Fang.
"An artist." Fang smiled at the human who feigned a blush.
"Finally, when you want to go with a bang, keep it simple, keep it straightforward, always keep a rocket launcher on standby." Gaser said holding up one of three rocket launchers he even sniffed the long metal weapon and sighed "Momma always said, Gaser when in doubt blow it up." he chuckled.
Dray gave a soft smile as Naqia took the rocket launcher and looked down the sights, "And your father?"
Everyone grew still hearing him say it, Naqia looked at Gaser. "I remember one thing my father told me, when he first taught me to shoot. Every weapon has the same flaw, blaster, blade, explosives, ship, tank all of them carry the same imperfection, their user."
Dray saw Gaser looking right at him with his green eyes, the young man even though he had a beard and towered over the others, believed every letter of that sentence. "Well done Gaser."
"Load this up into the ship, prep it for travel I'm going to our first recruit." Dray said heading to the outpost exit.
"Can we trust him?" Fang asked.
Dray didn't look back "If we can't, we kill him." Dray said walking out.
Outside the landing pad, Dray walked the street and noticed Reik in an alleway when he saw him he came up to him and looked both sides of the streets noticing some stormtroopers at the entrance to the base. "H-hey, you find out anything… uh I never got your name."
"Dray." he said waving his hand for Reik to follow.
Reik followed and kept looking over his shoulder "Stop doing that." Dray said leading him down the street.
"Doing what?" the boy asked.
"Checking to see if someones watching, you look suspicious." the commander explained walking over to the landing pad entrance. He stopped just short of the door and turned around to look Reik in the eye.
The young man stood there looking back at him, "My people and I are heading there right now, we intend to free your people, including your mother and sister if they are there." Dray said to him.
"You are… you can, how how many are there are you with…. Are you with the Rebellion?" Reik asked looking halfway then stopping remembering what Dray had said.
Dray frowned, "No, not the Rebellion something more, before we go any further I need to know something."
"What?" Reik asked.
"Our scans indicate a large number of organics, we can't be sure how many are prisoners and how many are stormtroopers, so if you want to get your family back, how many men are you willing to kill?" Dray asked him, Reik was breathing hard as Dray leaned in "Ten, a hundred, a thousand?"
Reik's hand was trembling, Dray looked as it slowly curled into a fist "I'd… kill them all."
"Then let's get started." Dray said leading him into the landing pad, where Reik saw the Last Laugh getting ready to take off.
PHOENIX SQUADRON
Ghost
Meanwhile in the rebel fleet, Kanan was meditating aboard the Ghost, his door was sealed and his eyes closed. He was on his hands and knees before he heard a door ping. "It's open." Kanan said when the door opened, Ahsoka walked in she
LOTHAL
Southern Marshes
The Last Laugh descended down on the edges of the southern marsh, sinking into the mist the metal landing gear sank into the mud before settling. When the ramp lowered the squad plus Reik walked out, with Jay holding one end and Reik holding the other end. "Couldn't we have landed closer?" Reik asked.
"This was the only place that had moderately solid, we'll be lucky if the ship doesn't sink." Captain Naqia told him. The marshes were covered in a thick fog as the sun set, giving the mist an orange hue and the murky water a change of colors. The Hyenas tecked through the mud and water till the ground began to rise into a thick groggy hill covered in reeds, thick bramble and piles of wet earth. Dray walked ahead and stopped, looking over the hill he signaled to the other Hyenas everyone except Reik got low before Gaser pulled him down and he squatted low with Jay holding the crate of weapon, "Damn whats even in this."
"Stuff we'll need greenhorn." Gaser said he was dressed in a thick poncho holding some large device on his back covered in the poncho, hiding it. The others slowly made their way up to the top of the hill to look out and see the camp.
Dray took out some binoculars and saw a large facility the size of a rugby pitch, their were laser wire fences linning it and a series of eight towers running all around the rectangle size. In the back corner was a large military barracks but the rest of the buildings were all shacks, made loosely and of poor material.
"By the Stars?" Jay asked looking out at her binoculars, the other Militia members looked down at the camp the tall laser fences, the small amount of huts and hundreds of people crammed into it. They had little clothing on them the ones who had barely any appeared gaunt and malnourished, the sound of children crying and the elderly moaning in pain echoed to their hill. Naqia's nostrils flared as she did her best to hold her composure, "Everyone get ready." Dray said, the fences had guard towers with Stormtroopers in them, all armed with E-Web turrets to fire down below into or out of the wire fence.
Gaser blinked a few times "I thought these were illegal?" Gaser asked.
"They are, but not when the Empire make the laws." Fang said as he started to set up his sniper rifle.
"How could they do this, why would they do this a camp for- for death?" Jay asked.
Butch turned his three optics to him, "It's… a place where large numbers of sentients, especially political prisoners or members of persecuted minorities, are deliberately imprisoned in a relatively small area with inadequate facilities, sometimes to provide forced labor or to await mass… termination." Butch had a hard time bringing up the last part.
"We have to do something." Reik said looking at them.
Naqia held him back "We will."
Dray suddenly took of his coat, and looked at his squad "Gaser with me, the rest of you hold position here until you get the signal."
The Commander knelt down and looked at them, "Fang, you shoot out the guard towers. Captain you and the rest of the men arm up with the rocket launchers and hit laser fence generator, Cadet you stay here with Fang spot targets, Reik."
"Y-yes." The young man asked.
Dray reached for him and touched his shoulder, "Do whatever the Captain says."
"But uh, Dra- Commander Dray, what about you?" Reik asked him.
Dray took off his beret and handed his coat to the Cadet, "I'm going to introduce myself." He said standing up, he looked over at Gaser who got to his feet and followed him. The two soldier moved down the hill and slipped down to the fog thick waters of the the marshes outside the camp by the time they got there night had fallen. They moved behind a thick bush of bramble, "Gaser, I have a very important part of the mission for you."
"Whats that Commander?" Gaser asked him.
The former Jedi looked forward "Hold your position here, when you get the signal unleash hell"
"Roger, roger sir." Stratus added.
Dray came out from the Bramble and walked up to the gate, by time the first stormtrooper saw him he shouted and watchlights were lit up to shower him in the white light. The gates open and Dray took a deep breath raising his hands up as a squad of stormtroopers came out and grabbedh im draggin him inside the camp. As he was brought in to the field fillled with political prisoners, Dray stood out in his purple shirt and his lean build, but as the stormtroopers led him down the muddy street of the camp. He looked around at all the suffering there were even bodies of people laying sprawled out in the mud face down dead or dying till he was brought into a large barracks at the end of the camp. There stormtroopers guarded the entrance as he was let in. Inside he saw it was clean, polished and totally opposite of the camp outside. Finally Dray was brought into a large room where a fat Imperial officer with graying brown hair sat behind a desk, their was music playing and he hate off a golden plate eating large piece of meat with vegetables and a dark red drink.
"My men tell me they found you, wondering around our perimiter." The Commandant said sipping blue milk.
"I like the marsh air, espcially at night you can't smell the hyprocircy." Dray said.
"The marsh air hehe thats good, this is a secret facility for political prisoners, the only way you would know about it was if you were an rebel spy." The Commandant said standing up, his belt was to small for his massive gut and Dray smiled.
The Commandant grunted "Something funny?"
Dray nodded "Indeed Commandant, I am no spy nor am I rebel."
"Then pray tell, what are you sir?" The Commandant asked him.
Dray kept his smile, "Allow me to introduce myself." with that Dray raised his hands and both stormtroopers guarding him were flung into the metal walls so hard their armor shattered and the metal crunched under their impact. The Commandant gasped backing up to the table taken totally by suprise, then Dray held his hand up and force choked the Commandant off his feet and brought him toward him "I-am-the-reckoninging."
SNAP
Outside alarms began to go off in the barracks and any stormtrooper outside it made a mad dash to the barracks entrance, "Thast it, thats the signal." Naqia said as she drew her cutlass and pistol, "Finally." Gaser said from his location the squad had made his way off the hill to the lower rocks and armed his rocket launcher, firing it at the front gate tower. The rocket was seen to late by the gunner and he went boom in a flaming inferno. Fang on the sniper rifle took out the second gate tower gunner and proceed to pick off the other tower gunners one by one.
"Butch, Wyre with me, Jay, Reik stay here with Fang." Naqia said as she and her three other squad mates ran up to the fence, using grapple guns on their pistols they pulled themselves up to the first tower.
Wyre knelt down, "I've jammed their communications system Captain."
"Good work, Butch the gun." Naqia ordered the super tatical battle droid, the droid got on the turret and opened fire on the stormtroopers amassed outside the barracks as the prisoners screamed and ran for cover "Wyre, where's the generator for the fence?" Naqia asked him.
Wyre scanned the area with his optics and looked to the far north corner to see a large machine with pylons sticking out of it, "North side, four degrees." the junker replied.
"Butch." Naqia said.
"With pleasure Captain." The droid said shooting at it. But after loosing their cover the stormtroopers at the barrack entrance started to shoot at them before the generator went down in an explosion the laser gates came down and the Reik couldn't wait any longer he ran down off the hill despite Jay's protests and into the camp.
"RUN, RUN YOUR FREE!" Reik shouted to the prisoners, those that were strong enough to run and walk fled for the downed gate, and then the barracks exploded. The stormtoopers who were in front of it looked back to see Dray walking out with the Commandants head and holding the same knife the commandant had used to eat in his hand. The stormtroopers were paralyzed with fear at the sight of Dray covered in their commanders blood and then he screamed at them, this wasn't a battle cry or yell of anger this was a force scream so loud the entire camp heard it. The shrill power of the shriek made the entire company of stormtoopers break off in a terror fleeing for their lives "Retreat, retreat." One sargent said as he ran for the main gate, pushing and trampling the prisoners to get out as they fled to the main gate.
Dray reached into his pocket "Gaser, are you in position?" He asked.
"Roger…" Dray tossed off hs cloak and pulled out a massive rotary blaster canon "Fucking Roger." He said walking out from behind cover to see the stormtroopers running right at him.
"Fire at will."
Back in the camp the prisoners including Reik heard the stormtroopers screams and the sound of cannon fire before it was all silence. Then walking out of the shadows to the front of the gate was Gaser, the juggernaut towered over their gaunt and frail people of Lothal. The smoking barrel of his blaster cannon and the bulky armor made him apepar more machine then man he passed through them walking up to Dray and the rest of Hyena Squad their liberators.
PHOENIX SQUADRON
Ghost,
Back with the rebel fleet, Ahsoka had left the brig behind and was walking through the hallways she turned a corner and saw Hera, "Hera, have you seen Ahkilleon?" she asked the pilot.
Hera stopped and gave a half smirk "He's with Sabine working on the ships."
"Good, thank you." Ahsoka said.
Walking to the hangar, Ahsoka looked around for the room and saw all the enhanced Starfighters, before she came to the last on to see two sets of boots under it, and giggling. "What, no way." Sabine said under the ship.
"It's true." Ahkilleon replied as the two of them laughed.
Clearing her throat, Ahsoka got their attention their was a loud bang followed by Sabine slipping out her face red and Ahkilleons forehead red from where he hit on the undercarriage of the ship. "Ow." he moaned rubbing his forehead, Sabine quickly got up and fixed her hair "Commander Tano- Ahsoka, hi I was… we just finished up."
"Yeah, Sabine helped me calirbate the others ships targeting systems and make it so they turn at least six degrees tighter, it's amazing." Ahkilleon said as he got up wobbly.
Ahsoka gave thankful nod to the mandolorian, "Sabine, I'd like to speak with Ahkilleon alone please."
"Uh sure thing." Sabine said walking out.
When they were alone, Ahsoka looked down at her son who avoided her gaze still upset about their last conversation, taking a deep breath "Would you sit down, I think we need to talk."
"Really, you think?" Ahkilleon asked walking over to a low crate with another across from it, Ahsoka sat opposite to him and there was more silence.
Cupping her hands together as he still wouldn't look her in the eye, Ahsoka cleared her throat "Turok told me what you did on Lothal, it was foolish for you to attack the Sith Lord alone." Ahkilleon snapped his head to her ready to start another shout but she held her hand up "But, it was very brave of you to save Ezra."
Ahkilleon smiled at the compliment, "He would have done the same for me."
"Of that I no doubt, I'm happy you and him, even Sabine have become great friends. It reminds me of when I met your father." she told him, this got her sons attention as Ahsoka had rarely spoken to him about
He looked right at her blue eyes and her into his green ones, the same as his father, the same as Leo. "He and I were the only padawans in our fleet for a long time, we went on a lot of adventures together and… I'm getting ahead of myself." Ahsoka said cutting herself off, she took out the metal ring she kept hidden under her glove and looked at it. "Your father gave me this ring, the last time I saw him, it was part of his lightsaber it's, all I have left of him besides you." Ahsoka said to her son.
"M-mom, why are you telling me this?" Ahkilleon asked.
"Because you need to know, not just about my past but yours as well. I'd like to tell you our story, your fathers and mine from when I met him as a padawan to the last day I saw him, if you wouldn't mind?" Ahsoka asked him.
Smiling ear to ear, Ahkilleon nodded at her, "Good, it all started when my Master and I received a distress signal in the mid rim, I had no idea how that day would change my life…"
LOTHAL
Concentration Camp
Laster the Hyenas had regrouped inside the burning remains of the camps, the former prisoners were now gorging themselves on the barracks rations drinking canteens full of water woofing down food and breaking open medical caches for their sick or injured. Dray was getting his coat back on and fixing his beret back to the top of his head when Gaser approachedh im with his rotating blaster cannon, "Did any get past you?" he asked.
"No sir." Gaser said under his four eyed helmet, "Well done, Wyre, Cadet Jay go to the officers quarters download anything you can find, see if there anymore camps like this."
The two obeyed, walking past a group of former prisoners, Reik was walking around looking in every direction asking for his sister and mother, but no one seemed to know or could point him in the right direction. Suddenly an old man came up behind Dray, his hair was white and skin wrinkled, dressed in rags he held up one bony finger to a lone hut at the back of the camp, which Reik ran to. Reik ran up to the tent and looked inside. Dray saw the young man pull back and puke before he wiped his mouth and went inside. Following him Dray stood out in the doorway to look in, inside were bodies.
Hundreds of them piled up rotting, filled in their own excriment and rotting flesh, Dray dug through the bodies "No, no, no, Stars no please Stars in Heaven hallowed by they names don't be here don't don't be he-..." Dray saw Judae stop, he was on his knees in teh filth when he uncovered two people, a woman with sandy blonde hair like Reik and a girl to match clutched close to the remains of the womans still breast. Both of their faces were pale and sunken in, with early signs of rotting. Walking up behind him slowly Dray stood in silence as Reik fell over the bodies starting to weep.
The young man felt Dray touch his shoulder, "I am sorry Reik, this shouldn't have happened."
Before he could say another word their was a commotion outside, Dray left Reik with his grief and headed back outside to see two stormtroopers being pushed at blaster point by Fang and Butch. Their hands were open and they were disarmed, "We surrender, we surrender." One said.
The other was caked in mud, "Look j-just take us prisoner okay, we won't resist." The other one said.
"Prisoner, you mean like these people?" Dray asked gesturing to the crowd around them.
"We… were just following orders." the first stormtrooeprs said his voice cracking.
The other one nodded "I… I didn't join the Empire for this, we were told these were rebels and sympthizers, please we're sorry."
"Rebels?" Dray asked walking up to the soldiers, "You ask them for forgivness." Dray said backing up he looked to the crowd "Do with these 'men' what you will." Dray told the crowd, Fang and Butch backed away and the prisoners moved in. The two stormtrooeprs saw them coming at them slowly like a mob of death inching closer and closer til one ran at them. The first stormtrooper pushed them away the other punched at one but soon they were overwhelmed and their screams echoed throughout the camp followed by the sound of armor being ripped off, bones breaking and the tearing of flesh.
Like a Pack of Wolves