Later that day, the Ghost is flying through hyperspace, on its way back to Mandalore after delivering supplies to the Alliance base on Selasco.
Kira is alone in the cockpit of the Ghost. She is in the pilot's seat, with her feet propped up on the console in front of her as she reads a book. Ben Solo enters the cockpit with two drinks in his hand.
"Hey. Made you some caf." Ben says. Kira gets out of her seat, sets down her datapad, and walks to Ben. He offers her one of the drinks, and she accepts.
"Thanks." Kira says.
"You look like you were about to fall asleep on us." Ben says.
"Oh... yeah. I was just doing a little reading." Kira says.
"Which one is that?" Ben asks, glancing toward the book.
"The Rammahgon." Kira answers.
"Oh. That's the one with all that old astronomical data… " Ben says.
"And information about the Unknown Regions, including… Exegol." Kira says.
"Exegol? What does it say?" Ben asks.
"Very little, actually. Exegol is described as… a dark, barren wasteland that the Ancient Sith used as one of their strongholds some time prior to the Great Hyperspace War." Kira answers.
"Great Hyperspace War… if I remember right, that was about five thousand years ago." Ben says.
"That's right. The text also mentions that Exegol was a dark side nexus, possibly even artificially created by the Sith, which of course, we already know. That's… really all there is. At least in the texts." Kira says.
"There are of course, other sources of information." Ben says.
"True, but force ghosts…" Kira says. She stops speaking when, suddenly, a beeping sound is heard, coming from the pilot's console. Kira sighs in frustration.
Great. Incoming message. Don't get any time off, do we? Kira thinks. She reaches toward the console, and presses a few buttons. A hologram of Sabine Wren appears.
"Alliance Command to Phoenix One. Do you read me?" Sabine asks over the ship's comm.
Oh. It's Aunt Sabine. Must be important then. We just gave her a status update four hours ago! Kira thinks.
"This is Phoenix One. I read you loud and clear, Chancellor." Kira says.
"I copy, General Bridger." Sabine says.
"What can we do for you, chancellor?" Kira asks.
"I'm contacting you because I'd like to have a council meeting tonight… at 1700. Do you think you'll be back to Mandalore in time?" Sabine asks.
"We should be." Kira answers.
"Good. We have some things to discuss." Sabine says.
"We'll be there, chancellor." Kira says.
"Very good. See you when you get back." Sabine says. The hologram vanishes.
"Well… there goes our night off." Ben says.
"Whatever this meeting's about, it has to be important. Sabine wouldn't just assemble the council for the hell of it." Kira says.
"I know. Still, we just did a supply mission. It was long and boring. You and I both did a lot of hard, physical work. Same with the rest of the crew. Honestly, we could all use the downtime." Ben says.
"Except for Chopper. He didn't do anything. As usual." Kira says.
"I believe he calls it 'supervising'." Ben says.
"That's Chopper for you." Kira says.
"And I thought Artoo was strange." Ben says.
"Artoo is a beacon of sanity compared to Chopper. And I think you've figured that out for yourself." Kira says.
"Yeah, I noticed." Ben says.
Two hours later, the Council of the Galactic Alliance is now assembled. At the head of the conference table is Chancellor Sabine Wren, standing behind her podium.
"Thank you all for coming. I apologize for the short notice, but… I've received some intel that this council needs to be made aware of. I'm now going to turn this meeting over to our Intelligence Director. General Katarn, please proceed." Sabine says. All eyes look to Kyle Katarn, Jedi-Bendu Master and husband to Sabine. Kyle, who is seated next to Sabine, stands up.
"I've just gotten an update from several of our agents. They've all told me the same thing. The Empire… has withdrawn all military forces from the core systems. Not one ship left. Not even a single stormtrooper." Kyle says. The shocked council members stare at him in silence for a moment.
"Where… did they go?" Kira asks, breaking the awkward silence.
"It looks like they headed for the Unknown Regions." Kyle answers.
"So, Coruscant is undefended?" Leia Organa asks.
'Looks that way." Kyle answers.
"We should use this opportunity to take Coruscant and reestablish it as the center of galactic government." Riyo Chuchi says.
"Agreed. If we can take Coruscant, then… the Alliance would have a stronger position in the eyes of the people. Maybe more of them would be willing to join us in openly opposing the Empire." Leia says.
"It could be a trap." Ezra says. Everyone looks at him.
"I concur with General Bridger. I calculate a seventy one percent chance that the Imperial withdrawal from Coruscant is part of a strategy that as of yet is not known to us." General Kalani says.
"I wouldn't put it past the Empress to try something like this. She's fooled us before." Kira says.
"Agreed. The First Order used to use tactics like this too. They would remove their forces from a planet, wait for their enemy to get comfortable, then... Base Delta Zero." Ben says.
"What is… Base Delta Zero?" Calen Wren asks.
"Also known as Protocol 13. In the event an Imperial world became compromised, all Imperial forces would retreat to a safe distance, then… they would carry out an orbital bombardment across the entire planet… until there's nothing left." Ezra answers.
"That's the Empire for you. Destroying things… is what they do best." Sabine says.
"We cannot allow that to happen to Coruscant! There are billions of innocent people there!" Chuchi says.
"I agree, senator, but… what can we do?" Admiral Miara Larte asks. The room falls silent for nearly a minute.
"We send the fleet to the core, and we take Coruscant, along with any other world willing to join us. " Hera Syndulla says.
"Once we take Coruscant, we broadcast all over the holonet… that I'm there. The Empress wants me, so she can come get me. Then, when she decides to show herself, we hit her, with everything we've got!" Kira says.
"You… want to use yourself as bait?" Chuchi asks.
"This is crazy! There has to be a better plan!" Lando Calrissian says.
"It's the most obvious way I can think of to draw her out." Kira says.
The odds are not in our favor, but… we have to do this. I have to go to Coruscant. I just… know it. Kira thinks.
"Do we really need to be rushing in to retake the core worlds? Shouldn't we just worry about the territory we have now?" Wedge Antilles asks.
"I am in agreement with General Antilles. Our current strategy has been successful, and I see no reason to alter it at this time." General Kalani says.
"You have to go to Coruscant. That… is where the final battle will be. This… must come to pass." A disembodied female voice says, only heard by Ezra.
I know, Ahsoka. Ezra thinks.
"Then, you know what must be done." Ahsoka Tano says.
"We take Coruscant. We draw out the Empress, and we fight her." Ezra says.
"Master Bridger, I have the utmost respect for you, but I find this plan to be reckless. Surely you see that?" Chuchi asks.
"You're right, senator. It is reckless. It's also our best shot at defeating Umbra, once and for all." Ezra answers.
"Are you absolutely certain of that?" Chuchi asks.
"I am." Ezra answers.
"Then, I will support this plan." Chuchi says.
"Alright then, let's put it to a vote. All those in favor of sending the fleet to Coruscant, raise your hands." Sabine says. Everyone raises their hands except for General Kalani, Regent Calen Wren of Mandalore, and Chief Wicket of the Ewok Tribes of Endor.
"Alright… the vote is… twelve to three in favor. We will commit our forces to taking the core systems, beginning with Coruscant. General Syndulla, General Antilles, and Admiral Larte will work up a mission plan. Then, when our forces are ready, We'll begin. We'll put the Empire on notice… that we are here to stay." Sabine says.
"I admire your chancellor's confidence, but this is not going to go the way you think. This is a trap, and I believe you know it." A disembodied female voice says, only heard by Kira.
I know it's a trap, but we have to do this, Bastila. I just… feel it. Kira thinks.
"Yes, you are correct. You must go to Coruscant. Events will then unfold as the force wills it. There are trials ahead for you, but have faith that when all is said and done, you will prevail." Bastila says.
I will. Kira thinks.
"We'll meet again once the plan is finalized. Until then, this council is adjourned. Regent Wren, would you please stay for a moment?" Sabine asks.
The council members get out of their seats, and start leaving. Eventually, only Sabine and her son remain.
"I figure you want to talk about my vote." Calen says.
"Why… vote against the mission?" Sabine asks.
"If we commit everything to a siege of the core, then Mandalore will be vulnerable. Some of the Clan leaders… have said that we should focus more on protecting our own territory instead of trying to take the rest of the galaxy." Calen says.
"And what have I told you about always listening to the clan leaders?" Sabine asks.
"Don't." Calen answers.
"You can hear what they have to say, but at the end of the day, you are the one on the throne. The tough choices are yours, and yours alone." Sabine says.
"When you were on the throne maybe, but… I'm not you. Some of the leaders see me as weak. They didn't exactly welcome me with open arms when you stepped aside and named me Regent of Mandalore. They don't always take me seriously." Calen says.
"So, you think making yourself seem independent of me might make you appear to be a stronger leader, and earn you greater respect? You might be right. There are many of our people who believe that we should put Mandalore first. I don't agree with that, but I understand why they feel that way." Sabine says.
"When you asked me to take the throne, you told me that my first duty is to do what's best for Mandalore. I felt that doing what the majority of the clans wanted… was the way to go. Still, I know that this push into the core needs to happen, and the Empire needs to be stopped. We can't allow them to just retake everything!" Calen says.
"That's… the burden of leadership. Making the hard choices." Sabine says.
"I'm figuring that out." Calen says.
"How about a compromise?" Sabine asks.
"I'm open to suggestions." Calen answers.
"We'll leave a fleet here... to defend this sector." Sabine says.
"Sounds good to me. Retaking Coruscant can go ahead as planned, and… we'll still have ships to protect our territory. It's not exactly what everyone will want, but, as you said. I'm on the throne. It's my decision, and they'll just have to accept it." Calen says.
"See? You're catching on." Sabine says.
"Was it really this easy for you, when you first took the throne?" Calen asks.
"Hell no. After I became Empress, I was challenged. Four times in fact. I answered in the Mandalorian way. Ritual combat, and I won every time. You should always be prepared to fight for what you have, if necessary." Sabine answers.
"Then, I guess I'll just have to remember everything you taught me. At least, until your term as chancellor is up. Then, you'll be back on the throne, where you belong." Calen says.
"I'm serving until this war's over and the Empire's gone. However long that may take. Could be next month. Could be five years from now. I'm alright with it. I'm doing what's best for the Alliance, and… I know Mandalore's in good hands." Sabine says.
"Thanks, mom. I'll do my best." Calen says. Sabine smiles, then hugs her son.
"I know." Sabine says.