A/N: You'll probably notice that I borrowed a line from the new Mandalorian show. I adore it, and I think it's a perfect line for a Mand'alor to say. Anyone else also completely in love with the new show? Gaga over the baby Yoda? (Will they finally name Yoda's race so we can stop calling it Baby Yoda?) I have no idea what this show is going to do to mess up the Mandalorian world that I've built up in my stories, but if it does, we'll just all kindly remember that ALL of my stories are A.U.'s to the canon one. :P
How to Appropriate a Star Destroyer (part 2):
Bo stood in front of the empty windows, broken pieces of transparisteel littering the decking around her, the dark blue sky of the burgeoning dawn behind her. Her hands were tucked neatly behind her back and she'd pulled off her helmet and given it to Kar to hold for her so that people could confirm that it was, in fact, her. Someone had found a black cape in the officer's meeting room and it now sat on her shoulders, completing her look of calm sovereignty.
At the back of the bridge was the ancient orange astromech known as Chopper, who was recording her speech to broadcast to the people of her worlds and the galaxy at large once their coup on and above Mandalore was complete. (Undoubtedly some editing would be needed first.) This was something she'd thought of herself after hearing Sabine's plan. The girl might have a brilliant strategical mind, but she didn't yet have the experience to lead entire systems worth of people. They needed to know what was happening if Bo had any hope of rallying her entire race of warriors and pacifists to her cause.
She gazed down at the officers who glared back with varying degrees of hatred and resignation for the most part. A few younger ones just looked curious, and she noted their faces as possible new allies or perhaps even graduates of the Academy who had ended up in Imperial ranks through lack of choice.
"I am Duchess Bo-Katan Kryze, the new Mand'alor," she said matter of factly, watching the Imps closely for reactions. Unsurprisingly, most of the officers didn't look impressed, Tigfeld especially. But the few that Bo had picked out gasped audibly and then immediately bowed their heads in obeisance. Nice to be right. I wonder how many other Mandalorian graduates are part of the ranks of these Imperial ships? There's an easy enough way to find out. But later. First, the matter at hand.
"And as such, I am the new leader of all of the Mandalorian systems. We will no longer recognize Imperial rule, and as of right now, I'm declaring all Imperial ships to be trespassing in our space and they will be seized or destroyed if they don't immediately jump out of the Mandalorian sector."
"There's no way you can reinforce that!" Tigfeld all but yelled.
Bo ignored the interruption of what undoubtedly would be the first thing to be edited from the recording. (The blind Jedi standing quieting off to the side would also not make the final cut. There was no need to endanger him or incite a riot over her choice of friends.) "Furthermore, any facilities and supplies located on our worlds will be seized and or destroyed." Bo was essentially giving the entirety of her people instructions to follow; all she could do was hope they heeded them when they saw the broadcast because it was going to take weeks for her to tour every Mandalorian / Imperial controlled planet. The clan leaders that occupied each of those worlds would most likely do their part in enforcing her words, but she needed to be seen in person on each planet to solidify her new role as their leader.
She kept her eyes steadily locked on Chopper's optic sensor, letting the galaxy see her determination and inner strength. "As you can see, I've already begun by taking control of or eradicating the Star Destroyers located on Mandalore." (Someone would add footage of the still smouldering and crackling Revengar by the dome of Sundari at this point. And perhaps some images of the destroyed Imperial Headquarters of Sundari.) "For those Imperials that are caught, you will be given three choices. Whether you live, die, or get locked up for the rest of your life in the pits of a mining planet is entirely up to you. Anyone wishing to switch their allegiance to the Mandalorian way of life will be allowed a trial period to prove your sincerity. Those who were raised Mandalorian but switched their allegiance to the Empire either by choice or by force will also be given a second chance. But not a third." The unspoken warning was clear enough in her tone and her hard green eyes. "Those who wish to stay loyal to the Empire can pick either of the latter choices."
Bo paused and swept her eyes over the officers packed into the pits, not surprised to see that a few more were thinking over her words very carefully. They would be the smart ones who didn't like option two or three. Her eyes returned to Chopper. "This is your Mand'alor, and I have spoken."
She would not be repeating herself in words. Blasters would speak loud enough from now on.
Kar handed her back her helmet. "I have spoken; I like it. That might be the most badass ending to a speech ever," he murmured with delighted cheer in his tone.
Bo flashed her friend a smirk before putting her helmet back on. She turned her attention back to the men in the pits and waved a blaster at them, just realizing that there was not a single female in the group. Why am I not surprised that Tigfeld is a chauvinist nerfherder? "You heard me. If you wish to join me, climb on up here and go see our Jedi friend over there. Because I don't have time to test your loyalty right now, he will determine whether you are sincere or not."
The three young officers she'd noticed earlier quickly, almost eagerly, climbed out; two from the left and one from the right. Four more out of the approximately forty people they'd gathered up also climbed out, but much slower. To their credit, though, they had a determined set to their shoulders and jaws that Bo liked. Breaking Imperial conditioning wasn't the easiest thing to do, and those four were showing admirable qualities in doing so.
Ezra eyed the twelve men and five women who'd elected to skip the short and hard life of a mine worker. There were more standing on the decking than he'd expected when he'd first seen the Imperials' sneering attitudes as they'd all woken up and found themselves held at blaster point with a few new aching body parts, but Sabine's speech had been pretty persuasive, especially with those big eyes of hers flashing with passion as she spoke.
"I was once forced to be an Imperial like you. But I was raised a Mandalorian and I will die a Mandalorian. We might like to fight a little too much, and we might go to war with an enemy for centuries out of sheer stubbornness, but unlike the Empire, we will NEVER plant ourselves on another person's planet and strip all of the resources from it for our own ends. We will NEVER oppress the downtrodden or weak. We will NEVER even think to try and rule the ENTIRE galaxy with a durasteel fist. So you have a choice, my Imperial drones. You can take control of your life and join a Mand'alor who actually cares about the wellbeing of her people, or can live out your life doing hard labour in a prison camp, or you can die here and now."
Ezra would remember her impassioned speech for a long time to come. And so would the Mandalorian warriors with them, if the way they'd all looked at her with amazement in their emotions was anything to go by. I hope someone recorded that with their helmet cam, because it should be added to Bo-Katan's broadcast.
Now he had to do his duty as a human lie detector and make sure none of these people were going to betray them in the next stage of their missions for the day. After taking off his helmet and setting it down on the floor by Sabine's, he walked up the line, giving them all his best stink eye (which wasn't all that intimidating, to be honest, considering he was in too good of a mood, but it was the thought that counted) and made himself look as big as possible. "We'll keep this simple and short, people. I will ask you one question. You will answer one at a time. I WILL know if you are lying."
Someone snorted behind his back, but when Ezra spun around, every face was blank. Grrrrr.
He started with the first man in line; a man who just happened to be the Captain of the ship, which was very convenient for them considering they were going to need the captains to do some communicating with the captains on the ISDs in orbit, not to mention keep control of the approximate forty-six thousand people that served on each of the ships they commanded. It would definitely be easier if they didn't have to mind control them into it. Ezra stared up into the tall man's golden brown eyes. "Do you renounce your loyalty to the Empire?"
The man stared back at Ezra, his gaze steady. His emotions were also calm, determined, and just a little bit rejoiceful, like the man was celebrating a freedom he never thought he'd achieve. "Yes," he said clearly and firmly.
Ezra nodded. "Good. I believe you."
Ezra moved on down the line.
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."
Every answer was the same. All of them came with a mix of emotions ranging from relief to joy to resignation, but they all felt sincere to him.
Until the last man.
He said, "Yes," but his emotions did not. The lean and stone-faced human was filled with malicious intent that he tried to mask under a strong sense of duty, which in itself could go both ways.
Ezra sighed and shook his head. "Sorry, but that was a lie."
The grey uniformed Lieutenant shook his head quickly, eyes narrowing. "No, I'm…"
Ezra cut him off. "Quiet!" He poured the willpower of the Force into the word and the man's mouth snapped shut, his eyes widening in surprise at the involuntary action. Ezra put more effort into accessing the man's mind. He waved a finger in front of the man's face. "You WILL tell me the truth."
"I will tell you the truth," the man repeated, monotone, eyes blank.
"Do you renounce your loyalty to the Empire?"
"Never." Still in a monotone, but the answer was clear enough for everyone to hear.
Ezra relaxed his mental hold on the man and life returned to his eyes. As well as resignation now that his game had failed. A Rook warrior prodded the man with a blaster in the side. "Back into the pit, scum."
The man went.
"Thanks, Ez," Sabine said quietly as she walked past him, brushing his arm with her fingers briefly in a 'come with me' gesture as she made for the Captain. She nodded respectfully to the tall man who had a sprinkle of grey in the short black hair visible under his hat. "Welcome to our side of the war, Captain."
The man smiled and Sabine did a double take as he suddenly looked very familiar to her. She looked at Ezra to see if he saw it too and found him blinking at the man with his head tilted slightly in puzzlement. Not just my imagination then. But who?
And then the Captain spoke an entire sentence and the familiar deep voice was unmistakable.
"I reckon I might finally be on the right side of the war, but the various stories I've heard have kept me doubting for a long time. Either way, I had no choice in my affiliation until now."
Sabine practically jumped out of her shock. "By the Manda! You're a clone!"
The man's smile turned self-depreciating. "I am. How'd you guess? Most people have forgotten we even still exist."
Ezra and Sabine beamed at the man. "Rex. You sound just like him," Ezra answered.
"You look a decade or two younger though," Sabine added.
The man raised a brow just like Rex did. "I'd imagine so. I was only a young cadet when the war ended and the Empire formed. The Emperor still considered myself and my brothers his property, though, and we were raised just like our older brothers to become soldiers in his army. I'm one of the few left still in service. Most of my brothers ended up as mud or stormtroopers on the front lines of recalcitrant worlds and didn't last long."
"That sucks," Ezra said sympathetically.
The clone captain nodded solemnly in agreement. But then his expression lightened. "Hey, did you say Rex? As in THE Captain Rex?"
Ezra and Sabine nodded, smiling widely. "Yep."
The clone breathed out a wonder filled, "Whoa. I can't believe he's still alive. The man's a legend."
Ezra chuckled. "He certainly thinks so. We definitely need to get you two together; I know Rex will go nuts to see another brother."
"And I will go 'nuts' also," the dignified man said with some amusement. "I am also quite interested in spending some time with you, Master Jedi," he said, giving Ezra a quick once over as if expecting someone a bit larger or intimidating looking. "I remember being in awe of Master Ti, and I remember the stories that used to trickle back to Kamino about the feats of the Jedi Generals. I also remember that we were told that the Jedi had betrayed the Republic but I never quite believed them. I've always wanted to know what was real or not."
Ezra grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably. "I think the one you really want to talk to is my Master. I was born the day the Empire rose, I don't know much. But my Master was there. He fought in the Clone Wars as a Padawan."
The clone's eyes lit up. "Really? Then yes, I would like to talk to him. Where is he?"
Ezra nodded his chin in the general direction of Kanan. "On the other ship, doing the same thing I just did with that ship's 'volunteers'."
"Ah. I doubt there'll be many. Captain Tigfeld has a mental stick up his arse and is fiercely loyal to the Emperor, and he likes to surround himself with like-minded people."
"Fun," Sabine said dryly, rolling her eyes. She'd met the type, more times than she'd care to think about.
"Not really," the clone answered, his eyes twinkling.
Ezra sent his Master an excited thought. "You will NOT believe who's captaining this ship, Kanan!"
Kanan ignored his Padawan's mental chatter for the moment, because he was currently having a battle of wills with Captain Tigfeld; the man was decidedly more stubborn minded than most of the beings that Kanan had encountered.
He blindly glared at the man shaped Force image that two of Lady Kryze's people had dragged before him and poured more Force into his words as he pushed harder against the natural shield of the obstinate man's mind. "You WILL obey every order Duchess Kryze or one of her people give you!"
The man was shaking and sweating and drooping in the hold of the warriors but he glared just as defiantly back at Kanan as he had at the start of this a few minutes ago. "I… Will… Not!" he gritted out through clenched teeth.
Kanan had to give the man kudos for putting up such a valiant resistance, but it didn't mean that he liked him. Time for a new tactic, Ahsoka Tano style.
Keeping up the pressure on the other man's mind, Kanan's lightsabre magically appeared in his free hand and he lit it with a flick of his thumb. Holding the blue laser beam against the man's groin just enough to singe his grey uniform a little, he repeated his command. "You WILL obey every order Duchess Kryze or one of her people give you, or you will die slowly as I cut off bits of you until all that's left is a spinal cord attached to your heart." Kanan said this with a dead calm and matter-of-fact expression that earned him some very admiring looks from the nearby Mandalorians. He didn't actually mean it, but no one knew it but himself; he could never do such a gruesome thing to another being, but it sure was a fun threat to say. (He'd once heard Kasmir say it to another smuggler who'd tried to steal their cargo, and the line had stuck with him for years, just waiting for the opportunity to be said again. Unlike Kanan, though, Kasmir would have gone through with the threat if he thought it was necessary.)
Finally, the Captain's shields cracked as fear for his dangly bits overcame his concentration. Kanan dove into his mind and inserted his will over the other man's. Tigfeld's eyes went blank and his body stilled. "I will obey Duchess Kryze and her people," he monotoned out.
Kanan kept his lightsabre in place for one more sentence. "And you won't do anything to jeopardize the next mission." (Bo-Katan would have to figure out how to deal with her ship full of Imperials without him after that, because Kanan was sure his Force 'suggestion' wouldn't hold beyond what he'd just done, and he had no intention of being the man's puppet master indefinitely.)
"And I won't do anything to jeopardize the next mission."
The lightsabre was returned to Kanan's belt and he nodded. "Good." He retreated from the man's mind with a mental shudder at what he'd had to do, but kept his expression calm and peaceful.
Tigfeld straightened in the warriors' hold and tugged at his arms. Kanan nodded and they let him go. He turned to Bo-Katan who was standing nearby. "What are your orders, Duchess?" His eyes were dead, and his voice was flat, but he was behaving, so Bo called it a win. (Hopefully his people were less observant.)
Bo looked at the seven men who'd changed sides willingly, and then down into the pits where the rest were watching resentfully. "How many people do you actually need to fly this ship and man its weapons and defensive systems?"
The Imperial stared back at her with his flat expression for a moment before he answered. "A minimum of six, Duchess. But more is recommended."
Bo was somewhat worried about that moment of hesitation, and vowed to keep a close eye on the man. She would not trust the Jedi's mind trick to last. She indicated the seven men who'd switched sides. "And are these men up to that task?"
Tigfeld looked them over quickly. "Five of them have the appropriate training for at least one of those positions. The other two are in communications and security. We are short one pilot."
"Do you happen to know how to fly your own ship?" Bo asked condescendingly.
The blond shabuir that Bo decided that she really really didn't like drew himself up a little taller, a hint of indignation creeping into his flat stare. Definitely not mind-whammied well enough for my liking, Bo thought with a flicker of a frown. "Of course I can," he said.
"Then you shall be the second pilot as necessary."
Tigfeld nodded stiffly. "Yes, Duchess."
"And the astromech can help where needed."
Chopper beeped in protest from beside Kanan, but a swift kick from the Jedi had the droid sulking but obedient.
The Captain looked at the old droid with the barest hint of a sneer of disgust curling his lip upwards. "Yes, Duchess."
Bo turned to the officers still in the pits. "The rest of you, out, and back to the officer's meeting room. We'll sort out who's dying and who's getting imprisoned later. I don't want to deal with dead bodies right now."
The officers reluctantly climbed out of the pits with multiple blasters keeping them under heavy guard, and marched down to the far end of the command deck. Once the thirty-some people were crowded into the room, Bo nodded at Kar and the other Kryze warrior who blocked the doorway. As she walked back towards the bridge, the sound of blaster fire echoed through the wide hallway as they stunned the lot repeatedly to keep them all asleep for the next couple of hours.
Bo didn't intend to actually kill any of them unless they forced her hand; the Mandalorian systems had plenty of mining planets that could always use more workers. She very much liked the idea of the Imperials working for her and providing credits that would feed and house her people.
Sabine's team had just cleared the bridge of the Imperial diehards when she received another call from Bo-Katan. She pressed the button on her vambrace to answer the rerouted call.
"How's it going on your ship, Sabine?"
Sabine watched their new recruits move to their stations and Captain Colter (a round of introductions had finally been made) settle into what looked like a favourite spot at the end of the bridge where he could keep an eye on everything. His hands were held neatly behind his back and there was an expression of righteous peace on his face that made Sabine's chest feel just a little too tight with emotion. "It's going astonishingly well over here. The captain is on our side. He's a clone, believe it or not, and seems quite relieved to be free of a life of servitude."
"Surprising, but nice to hear. Kanan had to mind trick the captain on my ship into behaving. And I don't trust it to hold for long; the bastard gives new definition to the word stubborn. Are we ready to roll into phase three of this morning's entertainment so your Jedi doesn't have to spend his entire day reinforcing his mind suggestions?"
Sabine smiled at Ezra as he came to stand beside her and handed her her helmet with a warm flash of his eyes. "I do believe we are, My Lady," she said just before placing her helmet back on her head. "Those idiots up there are in for a very big surprise."
Sabine and Ezra walked purposefully down the hallway in appropriated black TIE fighter pilot uniforms that had been fetched for them by one of the Imperials who had chosen to side with them. Trailing behind them were the three super commandoes and another dozen clan Rook Mandos in the same pilot gear as they all made their way to the TIE hangar.
Over the loudspeaker, Bo-Katan's voice was suddenly heard, saying in Mando'a, "This is your new Mand'alor. If you are true to the Resol'nare, meet in the fighter hangar in five minutes."
They passed confused looking officers and troopers as the announcement was made, but Sabine was pleased to see one stormtrooper tense for a second and then casually turn and start marching in the same direction they were. That's one. It's a start.
Bo-Katan's announcement was immediately followed by one spoken in Basic from Captain Colter. (Hearing someone who sounded just like Rex over the comm was disconcerting.)
"This is your Captain. Please ignore whatever rubbish you just heard. Something went a little screwy with the comms and we picked up a radio transmission from the city below just as I was about to make an announcement... Which was that after the cleanup of the unfortunately bombed Saxon destroyer is complete, all personnel will be granted another four hours of leave time in Sundari, in a staggered schedule. The schedule will be sent to your personal comms by your C.O.s. Enjoy!"
Kanan must have had a fun time getting his recalcitrant captain to say the same thing, she thought with a grin inside her borrowed helmet.
Two maintenance techs that they were passing practically cheered at the announcement.
"We have the best posting," one guy in an orange vest said to the other. "This is our second leave time in a week."
"Yeah. I heard the crew on the Redoubtable never get any leave time. Something about the Captain not wanting his people to mingle with the Mandos and get any ideas."
Sabine snorted silently as Ezra bumped his shoulder into hers playfully. "Hear that? You Mandos are a bad influence," he teased her over the private comm channel she'd set between their new helmets.
"I should hope so," she replied proudly. "I like to think I've certainly influenced you, at least."
His helmeted head turned to look at her pointedly for a moment. "Oh, there's no question of that," Ezra's voice rumbled back in her ear. "If I was a Jedi from before the war, I'd have been kicked out from all of the non Code-like things I plan on doing to you. We're gonna make Kanan and Hera's not-so-secret assignations look tame in comparison."
Sabine all but shivered from head to toe at the promise in his tone. "Stars, I'm holding you to that, Bridger." She sucked in a steadying breath. "But first, we have a job to do."
His tone returned to businesslike also. "Of course. Work before play makes for a satisfying day."
She laughed. "Where did you hear that cheesy saying?"
"Uhhhhh. Don't know actually. Maybe kindergarten class? Been a long time since I was anywhere near a school, but, yeah. I think my kindergarten teacher said it."
"That makes sense. It does sound like a saying for children," she teased.
"If the combat boot fits..." he countered with, unperturbed.
She huffed good-naturedly as they finally arrived at their destination. (Travelling anywhere on a Star Destroyer was more often than not akin to walking multiple city blocks.) The TIE hangar was already starting to fill up with troopers, officers, techs, and (yay!) a large number of TIE fighter pilots. Definitely Mandalorian bred. Sabine looked at the gathering group in surprise. "Whoa. There's more of my people stationed on here than I would have guessed. Though, I'm not sure why I'm surprised. The Imperial Academy here on Mandalore has been spitting out trained Imp slaves for years now, and I know that ISDs have been stationed above Mandalore ever since the Siege eighteen years ago to help keep our people in line. It makes sense that they'd pull their newer recruits from the Academy here."
"That... kinda sucks," was Ezra's sympathetic comment as they watched even more people file in to the rapidly diminishing space.
"Yep." Sabine sighed and then shook off the glum thoughts. "I need to get someplace where everyone can see me," she said as she started scanning the area. Her gaze landed on a rolling ladder pushed off to the side. That'll do.
"How bout on top of a TIE?" Ezra suggested. She followed his line-of-sight to a TIE parked dead center at the side of the hangar where the entire crowd would be able to see her perfectly. That'll do even better.
"I like it." Sabine turned to the super commandoes that still looked mostly Imperial, if you didn't notice that their armour was beskar instead of plastoid under the white paint. "Guard the door for now. Anyone tries to sneak out while I'm talking is not as loyal as they should be and should be dealt with accordingly."
"Yes, Countess," the tallest one called Rontil said briskly. They took up semi-casual positions on either side of the door, and Rontil sent the shortest one (by only half a head or so) called Adnar to stand by the secondary exit.
Sabine turned to the other Mandos in disguise. "Rooks, patrol the crowd, Anyone looks or acts unhappy with what I'm about to say, escort them off to the side and deal with them."
"Understood," one of them nodded, and they faded away into the accumulating mass of Imperials with questionable loyalty.
That left Sabine and Ezra to sidle their way over to the TIE they'd picked out as a stage.
Upon arrival at the base of it, Sabine took two running steps and jumped up and grabbed the frame between the pod and the solar panel wing, then flipped up and on to it. She was standing on top of the TIE's cockpit only seconds later.
"Show off," Ezra said affectionately from below her.
"A good Mando doesn't need the Force," she teased back, looking out over the crowd that was still growing.
"That's true. But I've seen how hard you train to keep up with me. I'll take the Force enhanced abilities any day."
"Keep up with you?" she scoffed. "Ezra, I still kick your butt from here to next week when we spar."
"Only because I let you," he protested.
"Oh, really?" disbelief rampant in her tone. "All right, then. Next time we spar hand to hand, I dare you to do so without holding back, using the Force and everything. We'll see who's really better."
"You're on," her new boyfriend said determinedly, staring up at her with his arms crossed over his chest.
She laughed silently. Kriff, he's so easy to play.
Sabine focused on the crowd again; there were no more new arrivals coming through the doors, and the majority had noticed her on top of the TIE. Murmurs swept through the crowd as they all turned and looked up at her. And then even the murmurs stopped as they waited patiently like the well trained soldiers they were for instructions. I wonder if Bo-Katan has the same numbers looking up at her right now on the other Destroyer?
Speech time again, Wren. She took a deep breath and then pulled off her helmet and tucked it under an arm. More than a few reacted as they recognized her from the wanted posters of her plastered all over Sundari. She held up her free hand to stop the mutters before they could get started. Everyone stilled and then the only sound came from a MSE droid as it skittered along the edge of the wall. Rontil stopped it with a well placed shot before it could escape out the door.
Some of the more nervous jumped at the blaster bolt, but most just stared up at Sabine, faces and helmets looking up expectantly.
She took that as her cue to start talking. So she did.
In a voice that carried.
And in Mando'a.
If they don't understand me, then they have no business being here.
"Some of you may know me. It's even possible that I went to Imp school here on Mandalore with you. But for those of you who don't, I am Sabine Wren, the new Countess of Clan Wren. Yesterday, I lost many of my family, including my mother and brother, to a weapon that I naively built for the Empire many years ago while I was a student at the Academy." A few of the female officers gasped in sympathy, but most looked skeptical of her intentions.
Sabine stared down the crowd with hard amber eyes. "I just blew up that weapon for the second time on Tiber Saxon's ISD, with him tied to it." More gasps. And some looks of respect. Good. "My Clan has been avenged," she said, her tone more durasteel than anything.
"Now, I, and the new Mand'alor, your rightful leader, Duchess Bo-Katan Kryze, are determined to avenge all of Mandalore for the wrongs done to it by the Emperor. Thus, we have already launched an attack on the Imperial locations in the city, and have taken over these two ISD's and are now going to claim the three up in orbit, which our secondary fleet is already keeping busy."
The approval on most of their faces was a bigger relief than she thought it would be. And, even more surprisingly, no one had made any move to leave and tattle on them.
"What do you want us to do?" A blond male in a Lieutenant's uniform from near the front of the group called out.
"Good question. If you know how to fly a TIE, get in one. We're going to pretend to follow and attack a couple of Kom'rks from the battle in the city up into space. Please don't shoot them for real, though, considering that my father is in one." This inspired a small wave of chuckles and sympathetic looks that she took heart from. "Once in the chaos of the battle above, we'll infiltrate the three ISD's with our borrowed TIEs and storm their bridges, similarly to how we took over these ships. The rest of you will stay here and act normal. When you are assigned your shore leave, you'll be responsible for taking out anyone in your shuttle with you that is not a loyal Mandalorian. Use lethal force if necessary, but stunning and tying up is fine. Any Imps who do not wish to become a Mando are going to find themselves employed in one of Mandalore's many mining operations scattered across our space."
She studied their faces, the ones she could see anyway, and found almost every single person wearing a look of hope and approval. "Any more questions?"
Almost as a whole, everyone shook their heads.
"Good! Now let's go take back our pride!"
They cheered. And her chest tightened with emotion. Shab. I'm actually doing this. I'm leading my people. Not as Mand'alor, but this is more than enough.
As the crowd started to move, Sabine plunked the slightly uncomfortable black helmet back on her head and popped the hatch to the TIE she was standing on. As she jumped down into it, Ezra said over their comm channel, "Kriff, cyar'ika. I might have understood only a bit of that, and I know I've said this before, but I would follow you to the end of the universe and back."
She looked out and down through the window at him as he looked up at her with his helmeted head. But she imagined she could see his blue eyes anyway through the black visor, practically glowing with love and pride for her. Stars, I love him. Why did it take me so long to see it?
Putting a hand on the transparisteel, she said back, "Ditto, Ez'ika. Ditto. Now go get in a TIE before they're all taken."
He saluted her cheekily. "Yes, Ma'am!"
Sabine was grinning, her heart light, as she sat in the chair and started up the engines of the familiar fighter.
A/N: All right. I'm done writing tactical stuff for a bit. (If you can really call it that, lol) I'm leaving what comes next up to your imaginations and I'm finally (and eagerly) going back to the fluff from the original story!