ORD MANTELL SYSTEM
Four Jedi StealthXs appeared in hyperspace above the Ord Mantell system, where massive chunks of debris from the skyhook and Dor'bulla were still floating.
"Watch out for the debris," Luke said as he and Artoo steered his fighter through the wreckage.
Kira likewise took evasive action, swerving her StealthX as a chunk of durosteel flew past her viewscreen.
"The dark side haunts this planet," Tionne remarked as the four of them flew towards the surface of Ord Mantell into the pink and red clouds. By now, night had fallen on Ord Mantell, and the sky had blackened.
"We'll have to make this a fast victory," Luke said as they soared over the planet's lakes, which appeared red and violet from the sky above, "I'll patch a signal to Han and the others."
Setting the radio of his StealthX to contact Rogue Squadron, Luke said, "General Solo, do you copy? This is Luke."
"Maybe something happened to them," Tahiri suggested worriedly.
"No, they're all okay," Kira said, "I can sense them." She could feel the presences of her parents as well as her brother nearby. She felt comforted at Ben's presence, knowing that he would have her back like nobody the base of the stream leading into Ord Mantell City's irrigation system, Ben Solo looked up, then poked his mother Leia on the arm.
"Hey, do you feel that?"
"They're here," Leia replied.
"Han, do you copy?" Luke repeated into his radio as the Jedi StealthXs continued to hover about two hundred meters over the surface of the planet.
Finally, a reply patched through from the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.
"Nice of you to stop by," Han said.
"I was wondering if I'd hear from you," Luke said with a small chuckle, "Is Leia there?"
"Right beside him," confirmed the Jedi Senator, "We're glad you could make it."
"Hi Mom, hi Dad!" Kira blurted, not able to restrain herself.
"Kira's there too?" Han asked, now feeling uncertain.
"We'll make our business here quick," Luke promised, "And keep everybody together."
"I'm sending you our coordinates now," Han said.
"We'll be with you soon," Luke replied, leading the group of StealthXs towards the cluster of Republic vehicles, including the Falcon and the roughly two dozen Interceptors docked in an arrangement forming a circle around the personnel stationed around
The New Republic pilots had changed from their flight uniforms into ground combat gear, carrying blaster rifles.
"I see them!" Kira said, looking down from her cockpit at the enlarging figures of Han, Leia, Ben, and Chewie as they regrouped with the rest of the strike team.
Likewise, the Republic forces looked up at the approaching Jedi fighters as they began to land.
The Solos and Chewbacca, followed by the wobbling tottering Threepio, rushed towards the docking StealthXs and waved broadly as the four warriors emerged, along with Artoo Deetoo.
"Hey, looking good, kid," Han said.
"Thanks Dad," Kira said, throwing her arms around him.
"I was talking to Luke, but you're not too bad yourself."
"It's been way too long," Leia said, joining in on the family embrace, before Chewbacca let out a roar and enveloped them all in his big, hairy arms.
"How did it go on Nar Shaddaa?" Luke asked his nephew Ben.
"I helped clear the Pykes from the city, and then let the Republic Special Ops do the rest," Ben replied.
Kira turned her attention to her older brother and said, "So that's what took you so long. I missed you!"
"Missed you too," Ben replied, "I hear you're the top of the class."
"Well, Tahiri's up there with me," Kira replied, gesturing to her best friend coming up next to her.
"We'd better get a move on," Han said, gesturing the group back to the awaiting Republic pilots.
"Oh, Artoo, how good it is to see you!" Threepio exclaimed as his blue and silver counterpart let out a series of beeps. "You'll have to tell me everything."
When Artoo replied, Threepio protested, "Lucky? With lasers flying every which way and nearly crashing all the time? I'd rather be in your shoes any day!"
Kira, Tahiri, and the two droids followed the adults back to the camp where the holoprojector was displaying the capital city of Ord Mantell.
Kira gazed intently at Commander Fel as he stood at attention, and smiled.
Sam returned her look with a nod of recognition, retaining his professional composure.
Kira had last seen him about eight months earlier on a visit back home to Corellia. She could not help but feel disappointed at Sam's nonverbal acknowledgement of her. She felt Tahiri nudge her from behind and didn't dare respond.
"Commander, have your reconnaissance scanners picked up anything new from the capital?"
A probe droid emerged from the open ramp of the Blue Harvest and released its switch that allowed it to tap into the holoprojector, displaying closer images from the city's interior.
"It looks like pockets of armed resistance are hiding in the city, including government officials," Sam replied, "Black Sun and the Hutt Cartel are taking over the banks and city offices, and mercenaries are prowling the main streets. But Ord Mantell has an elaborate transportation network between hangars. The crime syndicates don't know the city like the people do."
"We'll have some help then," Leia commented, "Once we can get in touch with the resistance."
"Ben, Tionne and I will travel into the city, along with half of the Interceptors," Luke said, "Kira, Tahiri, you'll stay with the Falcon and the rest of the ships while we keep the Dark Master's lieutenants and the Coalition leadership busy enough. Then, Han and Leia will lead the rest of you into the city to combat the guerrilla forces."
Kira summoned the courage to speak up. "We should go with you, Master, you'll need as many Jedi as you can get sneaking in."
Luke shook his head. "It'll be a dangerous mission. You two Padawans will have your share of the battle, but you'll need to stay as safe as possible."
"We can't risk any more casualties than necessary," Master Tionne amended.
Kira could not help but visibly flush with annoyance.
"It's okay, kid," Han whispered to her.
Luke frowned with worry, then turned his attention back to the images of the city.
"The local government has a wall around the metropolis that will make it hard to break through the defenses and surprise the Coalition. But a few Jedi StealthXs and Interceptors can go unnoticed and keep them busy enough. Then, the rest of the group can charge into the city once the Coalition forces are divided in two."
Han stepped forward to address his troopers.
"Sam, you stay with me along with red group. The rest of you will be led by Trix along with the Jedi ships."
"We won't let you down, General," Trix promised, while Sam gave a silent, withdrawn salute.
Kira felt slightly reassured of her place, looking between Tahiri and her parents, then to Sam.
"You two should stay in the Falcon with us," Leia said to the two Jedi trainees.
"Why?" Kira asked, "We have our own fighters." She turned to Luke, who sighed reluctantly.
"You'll need as many ships as possible flying into the war zone," Luke said, "It'll probably be better if Kira and Tahiri fly in their StealthXs."
A little more softly, he added, "I'm sorry, Leia."
Leia nodded in understanding, having been trained as a Jedi and knowing well not to let her personal feelings come before the greater good.
"We should move quickly if we are to catch them off guard," Tionne cautioned.
"All right, come on, Ben, Artoo," Luke said, beckoning to them as he started back to his StealthX.
"I can't say I envy you this time," Threepio said as Artoo wheeled along after his Master.
"Hey, take care of yourself out there," Han said to his grown son, giving him a clap on the arm.
"I will," Ben promised, slightly embarrassed that nobody else's parents were there.
"Stay close to Uncle Luke," Leia told him.
Kira was last, saying, "It's not fair that I finally get to see you and now we're splitting up again.
"Hey, I'll see you inside the city," Ben replied, "You're going to show them out there, I know you will."
"Take care of yourself out there," Kira said solemnly.
Ben nodded and grinned, turning to join his uncle and Tionne as they started up their StealthXs.
By now, Trix Azer and her designated squad mates had begun firing the engines of their Interceptors, while the others remained stationed on the ground level.
"We'll have to go slowly," Trix said to the Republic ships, "Our scanners should be able to tell where the Coalition leaders are."
"On my mark, slowly lift off," Luke said, pulling the throttle and allowing his StealthX to rise above the heads of the party staying behind.
The others joined him as he gazed at the nighttime horizon ahead.
Han, Leia, and the others silently watched as Luke led Ben, Tionne, and the others over the plains and the pipes leading to the distant cities.
"I hope he knows what he's doing," Han said, "Especially when Ben's with him."
"I trust Luke with our children completely," Leia replied, "We'll just follow the plan, and everything will be okay."
Chewie gave his affirmation as Kira and Tahiri turned to one another.
"You feeling ready for this?" Kira asked her friend.
"We don't really have a choice," Tahiri replied, somewhat less eager to taste the heat of combat than Kira was.
"The new Sith are there, the ones that Skyler trained," Kira whispered, making sure Han and Leia weren't listening, "I hope Luke doesn't finish them off so that we can."
"I hope he does," Tahiri disagreed, "He has a much better chance against them than we do."
Within the walls of the capital city, Talon and Nihl met with the assembled Vigos of Black Sun, who had arrived in the hangar of the main plaza building.
The Falleen Yerrin Serri said, "Are you sure the city is cleared of the Republic?"
"Our combined forces will crush General Solo's fleet," Talon replied, "The spoils of war will be yours for the taking, as long as the Jedi are ours."
Serri countered, "I didn't know Jedi were involved. The loss of our skyhook was bad enough."
"This is more than we bargained for," Vigo Tek Lota replied.
"You should be grateful to us," Nihl chimed in with a vaguely threatening tone, "Even with your skyhook and the Hutts' firepower, you could not stop a small fleet of Republic fighters from penetrating your offensive. Without the Sith, you would have lost. I'd do what we say if I were you."
Talon nodded in agreement, but scowled at the fact that it had been her rival apprentice and not herself who had successfully intimidated the Vigos
"Our mercenaries will be ready to counter their next strike," Serri promised.
Had Abaddon
The Dark Master's SuperStealther was docked in a small, private hangar high above his fortress's main landing platform, where Coalition ships and Infiltrators were positioned.
Determinedly, Skyler, now thinking of himself Darth Ultor, exited the black steel tower leading to his ship.
Two cloaked Shadowtroopers stood on either side of the small doorway from which Ultor exited. He did not break stride as he climbed into the hatch of his SuperStealther, sitting in the pilot's seat himself once he reached the cockpit. Ultor did not trust anybody's piloting skills but his own.
The scowling warrior allowed himself a smile as he set his course for Ord Mantell, knowing that victory was upon him. Darth Ultor would rule the galaxy as he was always destined.
Sailing into the stars and the vacuum of space ahead, Ultor could hear the voice of the ancient Sith Lord who had spoken to him via PROXY droid.
"My line of Sith will meet its downfall before rising, led by the blood of my heir."
Ultor knew he was guaranteed to crush the Jedi and their Republic. Once, he had been uncertain of his path. He had wondered if Ben and the others were right, that things such as family and friendship were worth keeping for their own sake. Now, however, he knew better. Ultor's one regret was showing mercy to Ben on Taris, letting his talk of camaraderie get into Ultor's head. He would not make the same mistake twice.
Ord Mantell
Han and Leia, along with Chewie and Threepio, had gone into the Falcon, in order to prepare the command ship for Rogue Squadron's counterattack.
This left Kira and Tahiri to sit by the fire that the Republic soldiers had started, with Kira watching them talk amongst themselves and refuel their Interceptor fighters.
Tahiri noticed the wander of her friend's gaze and said, "You might not get a better chance."
"What are you talking about?" Kira asked, snapping back to attention and now on the defensive.
"Your parents are going to give the takeoff signal any minute, and then, well, you know..."
Kira nodded, knowing exactly what Tahiri was talking about. This would be a risky battle, and the Coalition would be as ruthless as they were capable of being.
She said, "I'll be right back," getting up and making her way over to the Harvest, where Sam and McCallum were polishing their rifles side by side.
Kira stopped behind them, thoroughly unprepared for the situation. She clenched her body with dread, able to imagine her grandfather Anakin laughing.
To Kira's great relief, Captain McCallum got up and said, "I'll check the fuel of the attack shuttle, Commander."
"Thanks," Sam replied as his comrade strapped his rifle and went past Kira aboard the Blue Harvest.
Sam finished with his own weapon and looked up at Kira standing behind him.
"Hey there," he said, turning around.
"Hello," Kira replied, trying to save herself in the heat of the moment. She finally mustered, "So, you probably do a lot of these?"
"A lot of...what?" Sam asked in confusion.
"These suicide missions...you're probably really good at beating the odds when they're stacked against you."
"Well, the Republic only has so many ships it can spare," Sam replied, "But I have a feeling that's going to change soon. The Senate is actively working to expand our military."
"Oh," was all the flushed and embarrassed Kira could manage.
Sam was merciful enough to keep up the conversation. "You Jedi have pretty good piloting skills yourselves, I hear. Special reflexes, is it?"
"Something like that," Kira replied, not trusting herself to say too much.
"You can't be half bad yourself, between the Jedi and having a dad like Han Solo. I'll have to admit you impressed me a lot in the Hutt System against those Syck fighters."
Kira's entire body jumped high into the air without her moving a muscle. "It's just a lot of practice," she said, very flustered.
Suddenly, a buzzing sound spread from the Falcon all the way through the arrangement of Interceptors, and the Blue Harvest.
"That'll be the General's signal," Sam remarked, hopping up and hurrying towards the ramp of his ship. "Good luck out there, kid."
Kira's flash of annoyance at the word "kid" immediately subsided. "May the Force be with you, Sam," she replied, before hurrying back to Tahiri and their StealthXs.
Tahiri sprang up as Kira joined her and said, "This is the real thing now. Not like at the Jedi Academy."
"I know," Kira replied, not wanting to dwell on that fact for too long. She had a very tentative hold on her nerve, and that was her most valuable tool.
"See you on the other side," Tahiri said, giving Kira a salute as she climbed into the cockpit of her Jedi fighter.
Kira returned the gesture with a sigh of anticipation, hopping from the wing of her own vehicle into the seat before closing her cockpit.
Over the radio, Han said, "All craft, lift off on my count."
Kira kept her eyes straight ahead as she started the engine of her StealthX, making every effort to clear her mind of everything except the mission. Sam and the Sith would both have to wait. Kira wished it was that simple.
It didn't help when Sam spoke up from the Blue Harvest.
"All Interceptor fighters, proceed to attack formation."
Kira took in as much air as she could as she launched her craft in sync with all the others.
"We're going to have to give Luke and Ben a good headstart," Leia said, "We'll have to move very slow."
"I wonder if they're there yet," Han sighed, piloting the Millennium Falcon to the front of the miniature armada of Republic vessels.
The pipes and river networks of Ord Mantell seemed infinite as Kira passed over them. She knew that she would have to be patient, but she was eager for the approaching opportunity to prove herself as a warrior as well as a student. She would make sure that the two mystery enemies were left to her. Kira wanted to have something to show for her long years of training and waiting for the chance for an adventure such as this. That chance would show itself here, she told herself. Her parents and uncle Luke would be there to witness her great triumph, not to mention Tahiri, Ben, and even Sam.
The further Kira piloted her craft between Tahiri's vehicle and the Interceptor on her left, the more she tasted the victory that was to come. And the closer they got to Ord Mantell City, the more comfortable Kira felt in her small vehicle among what felt like a sea of fighters.
It was still night when the three Jedi StealthXs reached the walls of Ord Mantell's capital.
"Ben, Tionne, do you read me?" Luke asked.
"Copy, Master Skywalker," Tionne replied.
"I see them now," Ben said, looking down from his cockpit at the armored mercenaries still lurking the streets.
"Do we have a plan of attack?" Tionne asked.
Luke paused before continuing.
"Ben, you'll go and seek out the local militia that Sam's probe droid found in the lower levels. Tionne, you'll be coming with me and Artoo. We're going straight into the Capitol Building."
"Do you think they'll be able to take on the Coalition forces?" Ben asked, "Black Sun trains their mercenaries well. I don't know how well-equipped the Ord Mantellans are. "
"They'll be enough," Luke promised, "The strong will of good will always triumph over powerful evil." He knew this from his years fighting for the Rebel Alliance against the Empire, as well as his success in turning his father Darth Vader back to the light side against all odds. "Stay on course, Artoo."
Artoo beeped his affirmative response, while Ben started to break away, all three Jedi making sure to remain unnoticed.
"Wish me luck," Ben said as he steered his ship low, past the cameras perched on the marble towers.
"You don't need luck," Luke replied, staying on course towards the Capitol building.
"How could I forget?" Ben quipped, now turning his attention to the collective living Force of the local population.
He sensed great corruption within the city walls, but also genuine purpose and resolve. There were good people here, ready to fight back against the terrorists.
The Black Sun Vigos surveyed the armored guerrilla mercenaries stationed outside the Capitol building.
Pacing the floor inside, Talon said, "I sense Skywalker is with the Jedi. Only one Jedi can radiate such an aura of power. Time to strike."
"You do what you want ," Nihl replied. "I'm not about to commit suicide. I'm leaving Skywalker to the Dark Master."
"You just prove your incompetence with every breath you take," Talon snarled, "You can run away like a coward, or help me fight."
Nihl brought out his own lightsaber. "I'm no coward. I just have no use staying here."
With that, the humanoid Sith apprentice took off through the back corridor as the mercenaries outside opened fire on the two StealthXs emerging.
Luke always regretted having to take lives, but sometimes there was no alternative. He dodged as much fire as he could without returning it, only blasting in the direction of the pavement below to scatter the Black Sun guerrillas.
"We're under attack!" Serri yelled, fleeing for cover.
Talon ignited her red lightsaber blade and darted outside to confront the two Jedi ships attacking.
"Don't worry, Artoo, we've got this," Luke said as he flew in circles around the Capitol building, still working to split the teams of mercenaries apart.
It was working. Most of them were still firing at his and Tionne's StealthXs, some armed with DTL-19 Heavy Blaster Rifles, but many were fleeing from the front of the Capitol building.
Ben carefully approached one of the underground hangars in the city, lowering his StealthX with care.
He did not sense the small, metallic sphere tracking his ship as he climbed out of the cockpit into the vacant, remote hangar underneath the railway system that was now inactive.
Ben crept from the round hangar exit into a hollow station that led to a railspeedertrack.He threw the hood of his cloak over his head as he proceeded onto the track, following the scent.
The young Jedi Knight kept his focus on the presences of honesty and goodwill, in contrast to the stenches of corruption and criminal intent that the Coalition was filled with. He knew there were goodpeople who needed the proper initiative to strike back against their conquerors.
He walked along the tracks for what seemed like hours in the damp, sewage-filled tunnels, through winding trails and slopes pathways, until finally, Ben spotted a railspeeder train at theabandoned station.
He could feel a sense of resistance associated with the train, and the people on it.
Using theForce, Ben slid open the entrance to the main passenger car of the train, revealing an armed Ord Mantellan woman.
"Who goes there?" the woman asked.
"I'm Ben Solo, Jedi Knight. I'm here to help."
"Come in, Jedi," the woman said.
Ben climbed aboard the train, taking in the sight of about thirty armed warriors, and several more uniformed government officials.
The leader of the armed personnel, an older Ord Mantellan man said, "I am Captain Acheron. We are grateful for your help, Master Jedi. We fell under attack from the Coalition and we are not prepared to face such a threat."
"That's...why I'm here," Ben replied confidently, "My fellow Jedi and I serve to protect the peace, and that includes liberating those who need it. If you come with me, we can fight back against their hired thugs and get the Coalition off the planet."
Hearty cheers rang from across the coach.
"Do you have a plan?" asked the woman who had welcomed Ben onto the railspeeder.
"Does this transport still operate?" asked Ben.
"Aye," Acheron replied.
"Then why don't we assemble any available forces, and take this train into the city. My Jedi and Republic friends are already engaged in battle with the Coalition. Us being there can turn the tide in your favor."
"We have other allies who are hidden with us under the transport network," Acheron said, "Scattered from the deadly attack. We can contact them to help us."
"I have a good feeling about this," Ben remarked, smiling.
He then turned away from his new allies, focusing his thoughts on his parents and sister, who by now would nearly be there to join the battle.
By the time the Falcon, Blue Harvest, and the rest of the arriving party reached the city, Luke and Tionne were both engaged in ground combat with the guerrilla fighters, both deflecting fire from all directions with their sabers.
In frustration, Darth Talon scoured the surrounding block for the two Jedi, finally spotting them taking down Coalition mercenaries.
She raised her saber and charged to attack, but was distracted by the arrival of the Falcon and the rest of the Republic ships.
Talon growled in frustration as she was forced to flee from laserfire headed directly her way.
She deflected a shot from one of the Jedi StealthXs as it nearly blew into her.
"I see them," Han said from the cockpit of the Falcon, "Chewie, fly low."
Once she had leapt to a clearing, Talon pressed a button on the gauntlet attached to her belt, and several Syck fighters emerged from the surrounding structures and hangars, blasting at their attackers.
"Prepare to engage!" Sam yelled as McCallum steered the Harvest dangerously close to a building ledge to avoid the incoming onslaught.
Kira narrowed her eyes with determination, steering her craft towards the nearby landing platform ahead, where Luke and Tionne had docked their StealthXs.
"Kira, what are you doing?" Tahiri asked.
"There's Luke and Tionne!" Leia exclaimed, pointing at the two Jedi as they made their way to the steps of the Capitol building, with Talon in pursuit.
Kira barely had time to slow her descent as she landed on the platform, causing sparks to fly in all directions in her wake. She summoned the Force to spring out of her cockpit as it opened, pulling her saber from her belt and igniting its blue crystal blade.
As she turned her focus on the ground battle, Kira sensed a dangerous presence approaching.
She turned to find a young Nagai, hardly older than her, wielding a red bladed lightsaber with an exceptionally long, twisted hilt and a blade longer than his own body.
"Well, it looks like I will be the first to have a Jedi kill," Nihl taunted his new opponent.
Kira pointed her blade at the dark warrior, grasping the handle with both of her hands. The blood inside her was speeding through her veins as her muscles braced for action.
"We'll see about that," she growled, rushing towards Nihl as he simultaneously sprang to attack.
