The council of the Galactic Alliance is a group of military and civilian leaders, charged with governing the Alliance as well as coordinating the war effort against the Empire.
The council is now assembled in a large conference room, with a circular table in the center. Kira, Ben, and Ezra are present as representatives of the Jedi-Bendu Order. Ben appears as a hologram, since he is off world. Also present- Chief Wicket of the Ewok tribes of Endor; Ambassador Ferrar, representing the wookiees; General Kalani, a tactical droid representing the Separatist Remnant; Former Senator Riyo Chuchi, a pantoran woman in her seventies; General Lando Calrissian, Resistance representative; Princess Leia Organa, Resistance representative; Regent Calen Wren, representative of Mandalore; General Kyle Katarn, Jedi-Bendu Knight and Director of Alliance Intelligence; General Wedge Antilles, Commander of Alliance Starfighter forces; Admiral Miara Larte, Admiral of the Alliance Fleet; General Hera Syndulla, Supreme Commander of the Alliance; and finally, standing behind a podium at the head of the table is Sabine Wren, Chancellor of the Alliance and Empress of Mandalore.
At this moment, the council members are facing two people, who are standing- Major Cassian Andor and Commander Jyn Erso, Jedi-Bendu Apprentice and leader of the team known as Rogue One, a group of rebels from the past, who were rescued from certain death by Ahsoka Tano.
"This council is now in session. I've called this meeting to hear the report of Rogue One's recent mission. Commander Erso, please proceed." Sabine says.
"Thank you, chancellor. Our mission was a success. We landed on Damaris without incident thanks to our cloaking device. We did have to fight our way into the base, but it wasn't much of a fight. Once we were in, we got the intel, and got out." Jyn says.
"Sounds like it was an easy mission." Calen says.
"Too easy." Ezra says.
"Tell me about it. Our people haven't been able to get this level of intel until now. There has to be a spy in the Empire leaking this intel to us." Kyle says.
"What kind of intel are we talking about here?" Leia asks.
"The location… of the Empress." Kyle answers.
"The Empress? We know where she is?" Kira asks.
"According to the intel, The Empress has abandoned Korriban, and is now on a planet called… Exegol." Jyn answers.
"Exegol? Are you sure?" Ezra asks.
"Positive." Jyn answers.
"Damn." Ezra says.
"You've heard of this Exegol, haven't you?" Jyn asks.
"It's a Sith planet in the Unknown Regions. Apparently, it was artificially created using the dark side of the force." Ezra answers.
"The Sith… created a planet? Why?" Sabine asks.
"They thought it could be a nexus for the dark side." Ezra answers.
"A nexus? What's that?" Hera asks.
"It's a place that's unusually strong with the force. If Umbra is there…" Ezra says.
"She'll be even stronger." Kira says.
"Yeah." Ezra says.
"She's already immortal, and she always seems to be one step ahead of us." Sabine says.
"She seems to be failing as a ruler. We've beaten the Imperial fleet on several occasions, killed their fleet commander, and we've destroyed all of the Death Stars. Now, we also have six hundred and fifteen planets under Alliance control. It looks like we're winning this war." Calen says.
"Are we?" Sabine asks.
"We're not winning anything. She's allowing us to have these victories, because she has something planned. I don't know what it is yet, but I'd like to find out before it's too late." Ezra answers.
"So would I. Is there anything else we need to know, commander?" Sabine asks.
"The Empire... it seems like they're pulling back from the core systems. There was a fleet of Star Destroyers blockading Coruscant. Now, they're gone. Same with Chandrila and Corellia." Jyn answers.
"They're withdrawing from the core systems? That doesn't make any sense. Of course I find it puzzling that the Empress has not relocated to Coruscant." Riyo Chuchi says.
"We don't really know the Empress at all. For all we know, she doesn't give a damn about Coruscant." Kyle says.
"This could all be a trap of some kind. She could be daring us to take the core worlds." Kira says.
"It's possible." Ezra says.
"Agreed. We need to verify this intel. Kyle, have our agents contact their informants in the core. Find out what they know." Sabine says.
"I'll get right on it." Kyle says.
"Very good. If there's no further business, I call this meeting adjourned." Sabine says.
The assembled council members get out of their seats, and begin to leave the room. Ben looks at Kira, and she smiles. Ben smiles in return, then his hologram vanishes. Ezra and Kira walk away from the table, and approach Jyn, who is speaking to Cassian. Jyn looks at Kira, and smiles. Kira approaches her, and the two young women embrace.
"Hi Cassian. Hi Jyn. It's good to see you made it back safely." Kira says.
"Thanks, Kira." Jyn says.
"You and your team know what you're doing, and you get results. That's why the council sent you." Kira says.
"I wouldn't have minded having the Ghost as backup. Of course, if you had went along, you'd have been in charge of the mission, since you outrank me." Jyn says.
"Rank… doesn't always matter. A friend of mine used to say that experience outranks everything." Ezra says.
"In that case, K2 would have been in charge." Kira says. Jyn laughs.
"Don't let him hear you say that! We'd never hear the end of it!" Jyn says.
"That droid doesn't ever shut up, does he?" Ezra asks.
"Nope." Jyn answers.
"If you aren't too busy, Jyn, do you have time for a little saber practice?" Kira asks.
"Actually, I want Jyn to run the obstacle course. You two can spar later." Ezra answers.
"The obstacle course? I hate that damn thing!" Jyn says.
"I know, but I make everybody do it." Ezra says.
"The course is a pain in the ass, but it's a good workout, and it's a good test of your force powers. I run it three times a week, and I make Chana do the same." Kira says. Jyn sighs in frustration.
"Okay. Fine. Fine. You win. I'll go run the course." Jyn says.
"I'll be busy for a while, so I'll have Luke supervise you. He'll be expecting you in twenty minutes." Ezra says.
"Understood." Jyn says.
"Well… looks like you have Jedi things to take care of." Cassian says.
"Sorry, Cassian, but you know the training is important." Jyn says.
"I know, and I support you, one hundred percent. Come on, I'll walk you there." Cassian says.
"Thank you. I'll see you later, Kira. Ezra." Jyn says.
"Later, Jyn." Kira says. Jyn and Cassian leave the conference room.
"You've been a big help to Jyn. It's been hard for her and her team… dealing with the fact that they've skipped thirty years." Ezra says.
"I wasn't sure about her at first. I figured… visitors from the past. They'd help us for a while, then they'd be gone." Kira says.
"You know they can't go back. It would change history. This… is their time now." Ezra says.
"I know that. I think we've done a good job making Rogue One feel welcome here." Kira says.
"Me too." Ezra says.
"Jyn's turned out to be a great friend. She's… been there for me since… what happened with Finn. Since Kamino, he's cut himself off from anybody that can use the force. Me included. He'll only talk to me over the comm. I haven't actually seen him in six months. It's been hard." Kira says.
"He's afraid of that chip in his head. He's afraid that it might force him to hurt you." Ezra says.
"I know why he's doing this, but it hurts. He should let us help him." Kira says.
"Actually, I think I might be able to." Ezra says.
"How? Our doctors have said that the chip couldn't be removed! Did you… learn something? Some force ability that could help him?" Kira asks.
"Yeah. I learned it from one of my holocrons. I think I can use the force to dissolve the chip. I'll break it down at a subatomic level, and Finn won't feel a thing." Ezra answers.
"How soon can you do it?" Kira asks.
"Right now, if he agrees to it." Ezra answers. Kira smiles, then hugs her father.
"It'll be good to have Finn back. I've missed him." Kira says.
"I know, sweetheart. He's a good kid, and I know he's important to you." Ezra says.
If what I've found out is true, then Finn is important to... everything. I'm not sure how he fits into all of this yet, but I know he will have some kind of role in what's to come. Ezra thinks.
"Well, let's go see him. I'd better comm BB-8 and Poe. Let them know we're coming." Kira says.
"BB-8 and Poe… they live with Finn, don't they?" Ezra asks.
"Yeah. They're probably there now if they're not busy." Kira answers.
"Alright, then. Since the Ghost is off world, we'll need a speeder." Ezra says.
"I'll ask Aunt Sabine if we can borrow one of hers." Kira says.
"Sounds good." Ezra says.