Sylphi: As always thanks for the review. I agree with you about Luke's laser sword comment. I think it shows how much he has come to view the Jedi with distain. It is such a dramatic shift from what he was like during his younger years. But this only makes his character and story since more realistic and intriguing. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
Wulfmoe: Thanks for your review. I agree. Grand Admiral Rae Sloane literally said that the First Order was the Empire improved. They were meant to 'get it right this time'. But instead they just took the Empire and jacked up the tyranny to the point when soldiers do not even have names. I agree that stories and wars are always so much more interesting when both sides make good points and have flaws. It is always much better than the simple good and bad guys thing. While Star Wars has shown that the Jedi and Republic are far from perfect. The story still needs some balancing out.
I also agree that the transition TLJ to RoS is an utter mess. Palpatine's return has made things more complicated. I am still struggling to piece the intended story together. But hopefully I can make it a good read while keeping to the overall canon universe.
Auguste the Clown: As always thanks for the review. I enjoyed our discussions on the PM messaging system. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much.
Berna45: I hope you enjoy this chapter. I take everyone's suggestions for characters to be included to heart.
Artgirl162: Thank you for the review. I always enjoy hearing that people are enjoying the story. I hope you continue to like this chapter as well.
.2020: Thank you for the review. I hope you continue to like this chapter as well.
Loken 16: As always thanks for the review. I enjoyed our discussions on the PM messaging system. I have taken your suggestions regarding Snoke and Palpatine into account. It has helped me when trying to decide where this story will go. I want to keep it as accurate to the canon universe as possible. But as you said this is an AU and some things must change. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter as much. If you have further suggestions, I would like to hear them.
BlackWatcher1234: Thank you for your review. It is a good question you asked about Han and Chewie suddenly being on Ach-to. I should have clarified that part. At the point when Rey is speaking to Luke with Han and Chewie, a number of days have passed since the Raddus surrendered. I think this more or less keeps to the realistic time frame based on all that has happened since then. Han and Chewie were not willing to wait around and they had the map location from the Resistance base. So, they took a small ship off the Ninka before it got to Crait to go and help Rey and Luke. I also think it is realistic since Han wants his ship back.
I hope this answers your question and clarifies things a bit.
Guest: Thank you for your review. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Truth's Hierarch: As always, I really enjoy reading your lengthy reviews. I am glad you saw the intentional contrast between Kuvira and Poe. But in truth this is how I think Poe would have reacted if the situation had gone this way. I am glad you liked the rant that Poe received. I always thought that he should have been punished much more severely than a slap and demotion. In any respected military he would have been arrested for insubordination.
With Luke I was once debating with someone who did not like how beaten down luke was in TLJ. But I pointed out to them that Luke is not a Jesus figure. He is a war veteran who has seen and done a lot of nasty things. After facing such a crushing loss and failure in Kylo Ren I think it would only be natural for him to have a crisis of faith. Jedi are not immune to such things. This is why many of them turn to the dark side in the first place.
And with Kaz. Yeah, I enjoy the Resistance series. But as with the entire franchise his nativity and outrageous luck really annoy me. This section was him getting a dose of cold water and facing the reality that not everyone cares about the Resistance for New Republic like he does. As always thanks for the review. I hope to have the next chapter up soon.
Lady Syndra: Thanks as always for your review. I am glad you liked the rant that Poe received. I always thought that he should have been punished much more severely then a slap and demotion. In any respected military he would have been arrested for insubordination.
Zathalos: Thank you for your review and your suggestions about who to include in the interlude POV's. Also luke didn't try to kill Kylo in his sleep. He was going to. He even got to the point when he pulled out his lightsaber to do the deed. But in that moment, he could not bring himself to do it. But in that moment Kylo woke up and saw Luke standing over him and realised what he was thinking. The rest is history.
Graymar1: Thank you for your review. I am glad you liked the chapter. Sorry about Rose but I never really cared much for her and felt the story could survive well enough without her. Besides she is so fanatically against the First Order that a suicide attack is something I can see her doing. Besides it gave me an opportunity to showcase Kuvira's differences between her and other barbaric commanders.
As for your questions about Kuvira in Westeros. Hmm, in that situation I think Kuvira would have gone with Theon Stark to Andalos. There she would have ordered that the Stark army burn the land to the ground so that the Andals understood the price of attacking the North. Then she would round up all the infants and young children and have them transported to the North. She would make it known that if the Andals stayed away the children would be spared and treated well. But if they attacked then their children would suffer for it. This would also help bolster the Northern population for future wars.
Finally, I think she would contact the Valyrian Empire and try to convince them to attack Andalos to try and reduce Andal numbers and force some to return to defend their homes. I hope that answers your question about that scenario.
Lieutenant Lekau: Thanks for the review. Glad to hear your enjoying the story.
belladu57: Thanks for the review. Glad to hear your enjoying the story.
bauers374: I am not really sure what the Articles of Confederation are. But based on what I quickly read on Wikipedia. It sounds about the same as the New Republic.
Spades231: Yeah it was even more awkward trying to right out that scene. I hope you enjoyed it anyway.
gibsonroad: Thank you for your review. I am glad you like Kuvira as an OC character. I agree that many OC's in fanfic's either have no personality and thereby no impact on the story. Or they are so overpowered that you know nothing can ever threaten them. I also agree with you point about Star Wars being too one-sided. Stories and wars are always so much more interesting when both sides make good points and have flaws. It is always much better than the simple good and bad guys thing. While Star Wars has shown that the Jedi and Republic are far from perfect. The story still needs some balancing out.
Many times. So many times, in the Star Wars Universe. I have been on the edge of my seat wishing for the Empire, First Order or Sith (my team) to win the battle. But at the last second, they don't due to the outrageous amounts of luck and divine intervention that the Rebels enjoy. So, I wrote this story to see what would happen if the rebels did not have everything almost always magically work out for them. This is to put the war on real terms and see what happens. As a result, there are times when I am not even sure what will happen. It is just the story unfolding with far less miracles.
I am glad you like it and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
The Colossus – D'Qar System
Captain Canady – The Fulminatrix
Captain Canady of the First Order stood on the bridge of the dreadnaught that was his pride and joy. Ever since he had been raised to the rank of captain, he had dreamed of being placed in charge of one of the Empire's finest ships. An Imperial Class star destroyer was the dream of every ambitious captain in the Imperial Navy.
When he had received his commission. He had felt that he would never receive a greater prize.
True he could have been placed in command of a Super Star Destroyer. But that was more of a fantasy then a dream. In a galaxy of trillions and a navy of millions. Being placed in command of one of the thirteen Super Star Destroyers was almost as likely as becoming Emperor.
So, had had been content in his command and in the knowledge that he would live and possibly die as the Captain of an Imperial class star destroyer.
He had never aspired to become anything more. He was a fair commander. Not a bad one but not a great one. He knew he was not made for the upper echelon of command. He was fine with that. His desire had always been to have a career of usefulness rather than glory.
But when he had been placed in command of the Fulminatrix, a dreadnaught that dwarfed even a Resurgent class star destroyer, he had almost fallen over in shock.
The responsibilities that came with the command post were immeasurable. But he had accepted the role and had endeavoured to prove that he would prove he was worthy of the ship. And that the First Order was right to trust him with such a powerful weapon.
That goal had taken severe blow during the battle of D'Qar.
He had made a titanic mistake that had cost the First Order a total victory. It had also nearly cost it the Fulminatrix itself (and his life and those of his crew) if those bombers had gotten much closer.
Losing his life would have been a disappointment.
But there were moments when he wondered if it would have been preferable then being summoned to the Reclaimer to account for himself to Grand Admiral Kuvira.
True the meeting had not resulted in a blaster bolt to the head or a laser axe to the neck.
In fact, the meeting had gone better then he could have reasonably hoped. He had not been discharged, demoted or even seriously reprimanded. The Grand Admiral herself had even taken some of the blame for the incident on to her own shoulders. Her refusal to blame him for a mistake she saw herself guilty of, caused his already immense respect for her to increase further.
He had returned to his ship, still a captain. Given a reprieve for his error due to the circumstances of the day.
It should have filled him with elation, and for a time it had.
But after a day or two those feelings began to turn sour. The fact that he had been spared from a punishment that by all rights he had deserved due to random luck was a hard thing to accept.
It had also no doubt diminished him in the eyes of the Grand Admiral. While she made no sign of it and clearly expected him to correct his mistake. He knew she would not trust him quite as much as she had before.
Not until he had proven himself competent to her again.
When his dreadnaught had been ordered to remain in the D'Qar system. He had been concerned that this was the start of a deliberate attempt to side-line him and to keep him away from any of the critical campaigns or operations.
As he had stated for years, he had no interest in higher command. But a career or impotence and irrelevance was not something he could accept.
The reason to remain the system had made tactical sense, but his paranoia had been sparked due to the recent failure on his part.
When his bridge crew had confirmed that a large ship had entered the D'Qar system he had quickly asked for them to scan it and confirm if it was a Resistance ship or simply some random spacers in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It had not taken long for the sensor officer to confirm that the new vessel was a mobile supertanker fuel depot. An ancient design but one that was still in use across the greater galaxy as a fuel station and mobile supply depot.
They also confirmed that the identification codes registered the ship as the Colossus. A station well known to the First Order as a Resistance cell base. A quarry that had escaped its previous location on Castillon from Commander Pyre and Agent Tierny.
Once he heard that he had seized the moment to vindicate himself, if only in a small way.
"Move the ship to intercept course, order all fighters to launch and charge the auto-cannons to fire!" He commanded as the bridge crew scrambled to obey. Canady looked back out the view port with a look of determination.
He might have failed to destroy the Resistance command ship. So, he would have to make due with a Resistance cell.
Kazuda Xiono - POV
Kaz watched with ever mounting horror as the First Order dreadnaught moved closer towards the Colossus. The command console was flashing red as the sensors confirmed that the dreadnaught was now in range
At least they assumed it was. Neither they nor the Colossus systems had ever seen a ship even approaching the size of the dreadnaught.
He somewhat heard Captain Doza order for the shields to be raised and for the Colossus to move away from the planet as fast as the sub-light engines could take her. They would not be able to outrun the massive dreadnaught. But they might buy themselves a few precious minutes.
Yeager was also being more active in the moment. "Captain Doza, if we can't jump away and we cannot outrun them we have only two other options. Fight or Surrender." Yeager stated with direct bluntness.
Doza looked at Yeager with an expression that was half pleading and half demanding. "How do you propose to fight them Yeager? That ship could easily destroy the Colossus, and they have thousands of TIE fighters at their command. Without the pirates we have you, Kazuda and the Ace's, less than a dozen ships. Even if each of you took out a hundred fighters, and you know you can't! We would still be overwhelmed and the Colossus would be destroyed by the dreadnaught!" Doza finished as his temper clearly began to fray.
Kaz could not blame him. They had gone through so much in their flight from Castillon and fled to D'Qar. But instead of safety and help, they had run right to their enemies. No wonder the captain was losing his cool. Especially with his daughter on this ship.
Kaz turned to Yeager hoping he would come up with something. Yeager had always had a plan in the past. When Kaz had needed his help to get out of trouble (often trouble of Kaz's own making) he had somehow always managed to help him avoid detection. While helping him complete his spying mission for the Resistance.
Kaz hoping that Yeager could somehow pull them out of this situation. Some rebel trick or some cleaver military ruse to turn things around. He was very good at that sort of thing. He desperately hoped this was the case because if it was not. Then the newly risen Colossus was going end much sooner then he could ever have imagined.
Kaz stared at Yeager who was clearly deep in thought. His eyes kept darting from the Command console to the rest of the bridge crew and finally to the viewport where the massive First Order dreadnaught continued to close in.
Finally, after what felt like eons but was probably only a few moments. Yeager turned to Doza and Kaz. "I have a way for us to escape." He said with a heavy tone of voice.
Kaz felt his heart leap and elation began to flood through him as he realised that they had a plan. They had a way to escape.
But then he noticed that Yeager's voice and his eyes carried no hint of victory or triumph. If anything, he looked like a man who was watching something dear to him die before his eyes.
"We need to abandon the Colossus." Yeager forced out as if the words caused him physical pain.
For a second Kaz, Doza and Neeku just stood and stared at him. They looked as though they could hardly believe what he had just said. They must have heard it wrong.
But Yeager put an end to their desperate self-delusions the next second.
"We cannot fight them and we can't escape. All we can do is make sure that they don't catch us and thereby get any information about the Resistance. If there is going to be any long-term victory against the First Order, it is with the Resistance." Yeager stated with grim certainty.
The other three stared at him a moment longer. Even Doza's droid had stopped what it was doing and was regarding Yeager closely.
Then Kaz found his voice. "We can't just abandon the Colossus Yeager!" He blurted out. "It's important to the Resistance that we get this ship and the people to them. And besides its…" Kaz trailed off. But it was clear what he had wanted to say.
After so long and so many memories on the Colossus back on Castillon. The massive fuelling platform had become like his home. It was doubly so for the people who had been living on the platform for far longer than him. They would never abandon it if they had a choice.
Unfortunately, Yeager knew they had no such choice.
"We have too Kaz. The Colossus cannot escape this system before the First Order captures or destroys it. The ship is lost. All we can do is try and save the people we can and to make sure the First Order learns nothing useful to use against the Resistance." He turned to look Kaz dead in the face. "That is the only thing we can do here. We cannot stop this loss. But we can try to make sure it's not a total loss for the Resistance." He summarised bluntly.
Kaz sat in stupefied stillness at those words. His mind was clearly working on overdrive to find a problem with Yeager's decision or a plan to save the ship that he had not thought of. But even as the emotions sped across his face, he seemed to shrink into himself as he failed to come up with a solution.
Doza chose that moment to add a question of his own.
"We cannot abandon the Colossus even if we wanted to. We have only two transport ships. Even if they were filled to bursting, we could not evacuate everyone on them. The Aces have their own ships but they are one person fighters and no use for an evacuation. We could evacuate more on the pirate ship but they are already leaving."
In a moment of what could only be called, cruel confirmation. The pirate command barge that Kragan was so proud of, rose into view outside the viewport.
The bridge crew momentarily forgot their debate as they watched the beat up, battle scarred and clearly illegal pirate barge move away from the Colossus before it jumped into hyperspace.
Captain Doza and Yeager watched it go with an unmistakable air of 'good riddance'. But Kaz could not help but mourn the loss of so many skilled fighters and weapons. This was made even more hard to bear when he knew that Synara was probably on board as well.
She might have been a pirate. But she was the only pirate who he was confident was also an ally and a friend in this fight against the First Order.
As the pirate barge vanished into hyperspace. Kaz was forced to watch his hopes sink even further. But time waited for no one. And Kaz was soon pulled back into the conversation between Doza and Yeager.
"How do you propose to get everyone off the Colossus before the First Order attacks?!" Doza demanded.
Yeager turned to face Doza directly. And Kaz could see that his face was completely ashen. He forced the next words out. But his mouth seemed to have trouble forming them as if his muscles were working unusually hard.
"We are not going to evacuate everyone." Yeager forced out.
Kaz looked at Yeager as though he had lost his mind. Or maybe he had lost his and was hallucinating. That was the only rational explanation for this. There was no way Yeager was proposing what it seemed that he was proposing.
In the stunned silence, Yeager continued. "That Dreadnaught has us cornered. We cannot out run it, we cannot out fight it. We don't have enough ships to evacuate everyone and even if we did, we could never get everyone out in time. We can't save the Colossus." He stated with a bluntness that was shattering but increasing in certainty.
He started talking again as he saw Kaz and Doza were about to jump in to argue, and they did not have the time for that. "We can only get the people who are actually a part of the Resistance away from the Colossus. As well as save the people that the First Order will want to see punished or dead. That means us and the Aces."
As Yeager talked, he was typing away into the command console, ordering the hanger droid crews to prepare the remaining ships for launch. These included his personal ship, the Fireball, the Ace's racers and the two small transports used for short range trips. He was also sending the message to Tora to get the Ace's to the hangers and to get them ready to leave.
There was so much to do and they had to do it now.
Doza took that moment to ask the question hanging in the air. "And what about the rest of the people in the Colossus. There are hundreds of them. Are we just going to leave them?!" Doza demanded but his question was without any bite. A military man of many years, he was already beginning to accept Yeager's logic. No matter how cold it was.
Kaz was much less understanding. "We can't just leave people! What about Aunt Z, Flix, Orka everyone! We have to save them. They trusted us to save them. If we abandon them here, we would be betraying them!" He shouted. "We have no idea what the First Order would do to them. Or if they will just kill them when they blow up the Colossus!" Kaz shouted his arms gesturing wildly to emphasize his opposition to this plan.
Yeager turned to face his young assistant; his face was drawn with anguish. But it was still resolute in spite of Kaz's objections. "Your right Kaz." He admitted. "We will be betraying them. But it might be the best thing for them." He ground out.
Kaz looked at him in disbelief. But Yeager did not let him interject. "You know as well as I do that aside from Aunt Z and some others. Most people on the Colossus are not happy with us. They did not sign up to the Resistance and they had no desire to drive the First Order away from Castillon."
Neeku chose this moment to jump in. "That is true. I have heard the muttering in the cantina and in the hallways. People were really quite annoyed by the events on Castillon. They also said some decidedly unpleasant things about you, Kaz and Captain Doza." The green Nikto reported with his usual cheerful obliviousness.
They turned to face him with looks of resigned exasperation. "Thank you Neeku." Kaz said sarcastically. But clearly the tone went over Neeku's head as he smiled back.
Yeager decided to get things back on track. While he was talking, he began erasing all the critical data from the command consoles. "The point is they were not going to stay passive much longer. With the pirates here stirring things up. We would have been facing riot within a week. This way they will get what they want. They will be rid of us and free to return to their lives back on Castillon."
Yeager now moved to contact Aunt Z and the few other Resistance sympathisers. Fortunately, there were not many and they should be able to get them out in the transports. While he believed that the rest of the population would be fine. He had no doubts what the First Order would do to those people who had actively opposed them.
Doza was also rushing about contacting Tora to make sure she was heading to her ship and clearing the data and other essentials from the ship's logs. Anything potentially useful needed to be erased. Meanwhile Neeku had cottoned on to what was happening and was gathering his mechanic tools into a bag and contacting Kel and Eila in the tunnels to make their way to the hangers.
But Kaz was not willing to let this go yet. "How do we know the First Order will even spare them. They might just blow up the Colossus with them on it. Or they might just take them prisoner and send them to the spice mines of Kessel!" He yelled as he desperately tried to get them to stand and fight now. Even as he mentally admitted he had no idea how to fight back right now.
At least not in a way that would be easily confused with suicide.
This time Doza was the one who answered. "I do not think that will happen young Kazuda. During all my meetings with the First Order. They emphasised that they did not want to disrupt the civilian lives. And given their relatively light touch during the occupation, I think they meant it. Pyre was clearly not pleased by their restrictions. So, I think someone high up in the First Order commanded them to toe the line."
"The First Order wants the Colossus back on Castillon to act as a fuelling station and supply deport for their fleet and military routes from the Unknown Regions. They will take the Colossus back to Castillon and if they want the station to run smoothly and quickly. They will keep as much of the original workers as they can. If they surrender without a fight, they should receive mercy." Doza stated.
Seeing Kaz's expected comeback he cut him off. "No, I don't know all this for certain. For all I know your right and the First Order will show no mercy. But I do know that we cannot win this situation. If we stand and fight, we will all die. If we surrender, we will likely die but the Colossus and the rest might be spared. If we flee and the Colossus surrender's, the people should be safe and we can live another day. It is the best option we can take in this nightmare." Doza finished.
They were interrupted as the First Order dreadnaught began to open fire on the Colossus. Green energy blasts slamming into the invisible deflector shields that had been raised earlier.
For now, the shield was holding. But that would not last long. Already they could see the status of the shields decreasing as on the command consoles as the green blasts continued to pelt the Colossus.
That was not even taking into account the fearsomely huge cannons that could be seen hanging from beneath the dreadnaughts hull. They looked powerful enough to rip the Colossus apart. In fact, it was possible that they had caused the devastation on D'Qar. And if they could do that, nothing could save them. It was only by the mercy of the Force that they had not already brought those weapons to bear on the Colossus.
But who knew how much longer that strange restraint would last?
Yeager grabbed the hand rail to steady himself and looked up with fresh urgency. "We are out of time. We need to leave now or we will all die here." He shouted.
Kaz looked at each person. Still unwilling to admit defeat. "I…...but…we…..." He stuttered without any indication of finishing or even starting a sentence. His mind was working on overdrive as he stubbornly tried to think of a plan to turn this all around. To pull victory from the jaws of defeat. But he was simply unable to alter reality.
As the Colossus continued to shake and shudder under the barrage of cannon fire. Yeager knew this had to end now. "Kaz, we can die here and now without taking a single Stormtrooper with us. Or we can escape and fight another day." He paused as he looked Kaz dead in the eye. "Which will help the Resistance more?"
When Kaz did not answer, he raised his voice to a shout. "Which one?!" He demanded.
Kaz flinched at his tone. He hesitated for a second longer. Then he bowed his head in resigned acceptance.
Immediately they all turned and bolted for the door to the turbo lifts. As they left Doza gave instructions for his guard droid to prepare to lower the Colossus's shields and to prepare a message of surrender to the First Order dreadnaught. They would send the message and lower the shields once they were away from the Colossus and ready to make the jump to lightspeed.
They could only hope that the First Order accepted the offer and stopped attacking. If not then they were really about to abandon hundreds of people to their deaths. Given that they had dragged them into this mess in the first place. It would feel like they had put a blaster bolt into each of their skulls personally.
Kaz was not sure he could live with something like that.
Before long they arrived at the hanger bay as the impacts of the dreadnaughts attacks against the shields continued to increase as the enemy ship moved closer.
Thankfully due to the warnings Yeager and Doza had sent out the Ace's were in their cockpits and ready to go. The Fireball was waiting for Kaz.
And he received one piece of good news as he jumped into the cockpit and glanced at the second transport.
"Synara?" He shouted in surprise.
Sure enough, the pink skinned Mirialan was sitting at the flight controls of the transport. Aunt Z and the others sitting behind her.
Hearing Kaz's shout she turned quickly and grinned. "I was bored of working for Kragan anyway." She chuckled as she closed the transport doors and the ship began to rise off the ground.
Kaz smiled as the Fireball booted up. At least he had some good news on an otherwise unbearable day. He had already lost to many people. His parents were probably dead on Hosnian Prime. He had lost Tam to the First Order. And who knows where Poe and the rest of the Resistance was.
But at least he was not going to be losing another friend to this war. Not yet at least.
With that the small Resistance force moved towards the hanger entrance and with heavy hearts, began streaking away from the ship that had been their home for so long.
Captain Canady – POV
Captain Canady watched the viewport intently as the Fulminatrix continued to fire energy blasts at the retreating Colossus.
While it was true that he could have ordered the auto cannons to fire and destroy it already. He had reminded himself of the lesson he had been forced to learn over this very planet a few days ago. He had to remember to not simply aim and shoot at the target with no forethought. He needed to consider all the ramifications of his actions.
And so, he had ordered the cannons charged, and had spent the time watching the Resistance ship very closely.
It had not taken him long to realise that the Colossus was not making plans to jump into hyperspace. First of all, if they were going to do that, they would have definitely done it by now. The only reason that he could fathom that they had not done it was that they were unable.
That, combined with the fact that the dreadnaughts advanced sensors detected no increased energy readings from the Colossus hyperdrive also supported this theory.
With this discovery, he had considered what the Grand Admiral would do in this situation. In the end he had resolved that the Grand Admiral would not simply destroy an almost helpless enemy. When instead they could capture them. Interrogate them and gather valuable information. And take possession of a useful mobile fuel depot in the process.
With all that to gain with virtually no risk. He had ordered that the ship fire the standard turbo laser batteries at the fleeing ship while the fighters scrambled to take out their defences and any fighters they possessed.
He had failed before because he had not taken the whole picture into account. It was a mistake he vowed never to repeat again.
For several moments the Colossus had continued to desperately try to outrun them. But it was an exercise in futility. They could not escape and soon enough the shields would be down and he would be free to send in borders to secure it.
At that moment the sensor officer called from his station on the bridge. "Captain several smaller craft are leaving the Colossus."
Canady turned to regard him with a sense of foreboding. "What kind of craft and how many?" He demanded.
The sensor officer consulted his readout before he responded. "Almost a dozen light fighter craft and two small unarmed transports. Sensors confirm lifeforms aboard." He reported
Canady considered. Such a force defending the Colossus against the hundreds of TIE fighters that were even now heading towards the enemy. Even with the Colossus defence turrets, it would be a massacre.
The only logical explanation was that the Resistance was trying to flee. He quickly consulted his tactical officer. "How long until the TIE squadrons get within range of the enemy fighters?" He asked.
The officer did not bear good news. "Too long Captain. They will not reach combat range before the enemy fighters are able to jump to hyperspace." The officer reported regretfully.
Canady grimaced. It was likely that the Resistance agents would escape him. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do about it.
Then it occurred to him, that the Resistance fighters were still placed very close to the Colossus. They were clearly hugging the larger ship to remain out of the path of the incoming fighters and to present a smaller target to the First Order gunners.
If he were to order the auto-cannons to fire at the Colossus. There was a good chance that the resulting explosion would obliterate the Resistance fighters as well. True he would lose the Colossus and any valuable information that might still be aboard. Not to mention that hundreds of civilians would be killed in the attack.
But the Resistance agents would be destroyed. They would never again plague the First Order or the galaxy.
He tried to consider the long-term benefits and losses of either choice. Well aware that he had only a few seconds to come to a verdict before the choice was taken from him.
He was on the point of opening his mouth and intaking air to give his next command. But at that moment the comms officer called out to him.
"I am receiving a message form the Colossus. It seems to be automated." The officer reported.
Canady raised an eyebrow in interest, but he considered that this could simply be a distraction to buy time. But in the end, he decided to risk it while making sure the TIE's were still on their attack vector. "Put it through." He ordered.
Instanly the recorded message began to play and artificial audio only on the bridge of the Fulminatrix. "First Order dreadnaught. This message is to inform you that the Resistance agents and allies. Including but not limited to Captain Doza, Kazuda Xiono and Jarek Yeager have fled this installation. The only remaining people on the Colossus are civilians who have played no part in the current war in the galaxy. Therefore, the Colossus is hereby surrendering and asking for mercy. The shields will be lowered at the end of this message and all defences will be disabled. The station is yours. All we ask is that you show mercy to the remaining people. They have never taken up arms against the First Order or joined the Resistance. Do not treat them as enemies or make them such."
The message concluded and seconds later his sensor crews confirmed that the Colossus had lowered its shields.
They also confirmed that the Resistance fighters and transports had jumped to lightspeed out of the system.
Canady ordered the cannons to cease fire. After a few more moments to consider his next course of action. He gave his next orders.
"Order the fighters to take up position around the station. Inform the stormtrooper core that I want boarding parties prepared and sent to the Colossus immediately. Inform them that the station is to be taken intact and without bloodshed if possible."
New Republic Defence Fleet - Duro System
Fleet Admiral Garm Bel Iblis – The Peregrine
"I am sorry Admiral. The ship simply refused to answer the communications. By the time we were able to get within range for the tractor beam. They had jumped to lightspeed. They are probably back at Hypoori by now." The ensign stated with regret clear in his voice as he made his report.
Garm Bel Iblis, Fleet Admiral of the New Republic navy who now stood on the bridge of his flagship, closed his eyes as he fought to keep himself from cursing out load. Such behaviour was not expected from a Fleet Admiral. Particularly in a time when the situation was so dire and the men needed to see their leader as unshakable and resolute. As if they were confident of victory despite whatever was happening.
But he was not and had never been a patient or temperate man.
For most of his life that had been considered an advantage more than a weakness. If he had been a calmer man, he would probably have never strived to become senator for his world of Coreilla. He might never have joined and become a founding member of the Rebel Alliance. He might never have gone on to command their fleet in many battles against the Empire over the years.
He had been famous for possessing and embodying that stubborn defiance and independence that Coreillians were so well known for. It was a quality that his men needed to see now as the galaxy seemed to be collapsing around them.
But it was not a quality that came with greater understanding or a massive supply of temperance. And this was what was compelling him to begin shouting and cursing the traitors and weak-willed defectors that were infesting his fleet and were dismantling his efforts at every turn.
"Have the crew of that ship recorded and denounced as deserters. If they are encountered by New Republic forces. They are to be detained and tried as traitors." He ordered.
Even as he gave the order, he knew it was an almost meaningless gesture. More symbolic than anything else.
Clearly the Ensign knew it as well. "Admiral, since Hypoori has declared its secession from the New Republic and their surrender to the First Order. It is not probable that we will be able to enforce the order." He said despondently
Garm gritted his teeth as he fought to reign in his frustrations. "I am well aware of that Ensign. But we must ensure that the rest of the fleet understand that desertion will not be tolerated. And that those who commit it will be named as the traitors that they are!" He ground out fiercely.
The Ensign nodded quickly and he made the order into the command system.
Garm took a few deep breaths and then turned back to the Ensign. "None of the good men have fled. Nor will they." He said partly to the Ensign and partly to himself. The Ensign looked unconvinced about that statement but chose to say nothing.
Garm grimaced as he was forced to admit that the statement was optimistic at best. He forced himself to look at the situation honestly.
He had been in the role of Fleet Admiral of the New Republic Navy since its inception as the Rebel fleet. In the years since the battle of Jakku and the fall of the Empire, he had maintained his role in the navy and ensured that the New Republic they had all fought to build was stable and had protection.
Admittedly this had been greatly hampered by Chancellor Mon Mothma's disarmament bill that reduced the size of the fleet drastically. It had brought their military might down to the point when it was virtually impossible to patrol or protect all of Republic space. It had also ensured that the Navy was not given the resources it needed to project strength into the outer rim.
This had led to a major confrontation between him and Mon Mothma. Their relationship had never been the best one in the Rebel Alliance. Though they were firm allies, they were simply very different individuals.
Mon Mothma was the Politian and the idealist. The one who would reject any plan or offensive if it was deemed too bloody or too damaging to the image of the Rebellion. She saw the disarmament act as the only way to show the galaxy and themselves that the Empire was gone and the New Republic would not simply be replacing them with their own rule by force.
By contrast he was a soldier first and foremost. While he would not advocate wanton destruction or bloodshed, like maniac's like Saw Gerrara. He would do what he felt was necessary to win. He understood that you could not fight a war by toeing the line of impossible morals against an enemy that had no such weakness.
This had strained their relationship in the Rebellion. It was only through their mutual friendship with moderates like Leia that they were able to work effectively together.
But the disarmament act had led to a real argument between them that had damaged their relationship ever since.
Garm had accepted Mon Mothma's decision as Supreme Chancellor. But he had made it clear he was not in support of it. He had left Coruscant that day and had returned to that world or the later capitals like Hosnian Prime since. He resolved that he would rather stay with his fleet before he would set foot on a world controlled by infuriating bureaucrats and politians again.
It turns out this choice saved his life as he had not been present with the Home fleet when the First Order ultimatum had run out. Instead he had been with the expeditionary fleet on the borders of the New Republic and the First Order waiting to receive the inevitable attack.
He had known that the First Order was becoming a very real danger to the New Republic for a while. It had been clear when the border systems fell and the skirmishes started increasing that their defences were being tested. All his attempt to gain increased support for the fleet had been ignored by the senate and so he was forced to work with what he had.
The destruction of Hosnian Prime had thrown all his careful plans for the war into complete chaos.
Politically the chain of command had been decapitated in one blow. While he acted as Fleet Admiral, his authority was granted to him by the Senate. With the senate gone his authority was now called into question.
Economically the supply lines and the resources that his fleet would normally depend on where devastated. Without reinforcements, weaponry, ammunition or rations his fleet had been unable to maintain their defensive position on the borders and had been forced to retreat before the First Order onslaught.
But the most damaging effect had been on morale.
When he had retreated from the border regions, he had wanted to take the fleet to form a new defensive line at Coreilla. His home world was strong and prosperous with a population which embodied stubborn independence as a cultural trait. He was confident that they could form a strong defence to block of the hydian way and to seal off the core worlds from the First Order.
He would be lying if he said that his desire to protect his homeworld from an advancing army did not factor into his decision as well. But he was enough of a military commander to only allow that thought if it coincided with military tactics. Which thankfully it did.
If they could stalemate the First Order here for a period of time. Then the New Republic would have time to its footing and begin to fight the war.
He knew that not all of the Republic senators were on Hosnian Prime when it was destroyed. The centrists had abandoned the planet in droves when the ultimatum was issued. He knew most of them were sympathetic to the First Order. He would not have been surprised if some of them had been actively in the First Order's service. But he was confident that the majority were not and he hoped that after the barbaric act of evil at Hosnian Prime, that many would re-consider their stance. If so, they could provide a cohesive and powerful coalition of worlds for the New Republic's defence. The worlds of Arkanis, Coruscant, Comra, Hevurion, Kuat, Orinda and Riosa would make a formidable start.
The populists had taken a large hit with almost their entire political party being destroyed by the attack on the capital. But even with the loss of the senators the populist worlds would hopefully be inspired to commit to the war effort against the First Order. He knew that populist worlds like Chandrila and Balmorra possessed strong industry that would be vital to the galaxies defence.
But just as he settled his fleet in a defensive formation around Coreilla. His high hopes had come crashing down.
Far from his predictions of resolve and defiance. The remains of the New Republic senate had declared the senate to be dissolved and the New Republic dismantled. In addition, the senators and political leaders of the various New Republic worlds had ordered their commanders to dissolve their taskforces that were contributed to the New Republic and to return with these forces to their homeworlds to defend them.
After that things had quickly begun to collapse.
Despite desperate and passionate pleas from himself and other Republic loyalists. The commanders and captains of his fleet had quickly made their intentions clear. They would take the citizens of their various worlds along with any ships provided by their worlds and return home as ordered.
In truth it had not come as a surprise. While the New Republic was a unified government. It was in truth a coalition of sovereign planets. In fact, the New Republic had been far less united then the old Republic in the effort to prevent the rise of another Empire.
As a result, the Republic citizens. Even those in the military often saw themselves as loyal to their homeworlds before the Republic. Now that policy, meant to prevent the rise of an Empire, might very well be acting as the catalyst for a new one to rise.
Garm had met with the commanders who were threatening to leave. He had tried to convince them with logic. By reminding them that the only chance they had against the First Order was to remain united. That if the New Republic dissolved into single worlds the First Order would conquer them with ease.
But his arguments had fallen on deaf ears. It was every system for itself.
Then he had tried to convince them by reminding them of the oaths they had all sworn to defend the New Republic and all its people. That if they left now, they would be spitting on their pledges and betraying all the people they had sworn to protect.
But that too had failed. The commanders had pointed out that they had sworn oaths to the militaries of their homeworlds as well. And that if they had to choose between their planets and the now dissolved Republic. Then it was no contest.
Finally, Garms already limited patience had frayed. He had accused the rebel captains of disloyalty, cowardice and even treason.
He had at one point moved aggressively toward one of them. Only to find himself caught between two rows of blaster pistols. In front of him the rebel captains and their officers, clearly showing thy were serious in their intention to leave. Behind him had been his own loyalist officers acting in defence of their Fleet Admiral.
Garm had almost shouted for the rebel leaders to be captured and detained in the brigs. But he quickly realised that if he did, their subordinates on their ships would retaliate. Then his fleet would dissolve into a bloody battle against itself. He could imagine the delight of the First Order at hearing that the New Republic fleet had destroyed itself before they could even get there. It was a humiliation he knew they could do without.
In the end he had been forced to let them go. Then he had been forced to watch as his once proud fleet had been reduced in number to less than half of its original strength.
It had been made even worse when he was informed that a First Order fleet was reportedly heading straight for Coreilla. Based on the intelligence reports, the enemy fleet would arrive in a few hours.
He had quickly called a council of war with his remaining captains attending along with the Council members of Coranet city and the Prime Minister of Coreilla in attendance via hologram. Together they had discussed the situation. All of them well aware that time was running out fast.
In the end they had quickly realised that they had no chance of defending Corellia or any of the surrounding systems in a stand-up fight against the First Order. The incoming fleet was said to outmatch them in firepower by at least two to one.
It had been one of the most painful meetings of his life. But in the end the decision had been made.
Garm would withdraw the fleet to a safer location further within Republic territory. With his fleet out of immediate harm's way he would contact other commanders across the Galaxy as well as Leia's Resistance and try to begin gathering support to conduct a real (if smaller war effort).
Meanwhile Coreilla would wait until the First Order arrived. If and when it did. They would negotiate terms of surrender.
As much as it galled a people renowned for their stubbornness to admit defeat so easily. The truth was that they simply did not have the power to hold off a determined First Order attack. Clearly the First Order knew this too since Coreilla was obviously one of their main opening targets.
They could only hope that the terms that Coreilla received would be fair. But based on what they had heard. Standard First Order doctrine for peacefully surrendered worlds was rather light. A garrison and orbiting fleet would be established. A regional representative would be assigned to work alongside the head of state and represent the world in the sector council. The details of the annual tribute to the First Order would be decided. And military based industries would be monopolized to support the First Order.
Beyond that not much should change. They hoped.
Garm had pulled his remaining fleet back to Duro. The planet was secure enough to gather his fleet while remaining far enough behind the lines to allow some breathing space while the First Order consolidated their position.
Still, he knew that the planet would not remain secure for long. The front lines were racing backward all the time as the First Order encountered no or middling resistance in its advance into the Core. Sooner rather than later, the First Order would come to Duro as well. If the situation did not change soon. He might be forced to abandon his position yet again.
That would damage morale even further. And it was low enough that his fleet was suffering as it was.
The Ensign took this moment to break the silence again. "The good men may not want to flee back home Admiral. But unless some kind of strategy for plan is presented to them soon, they will not remain much longer." He admitted sadly.
Garm was forced to admit that the Ensign was right. A man could be loyal, devoted and true. But if the cause was fighting for appeared to be directionless and hopeless. Well, even the most loyal men would not fight for a cause that was already dead.
That was clear in the fact that over the last few days. More and more of his men and even entire ships were leaving the fleet in secret. The fact that these were the men who had remained loyal on Coreilla only to defect now, showed how dire the situation was becoming.
He had to face the fact that he was rabidly running out of options.
He had sent out multiple communications to allies across the galaxy. It was his hope that they could coalesce into a stronger force and then take the fight to the First Order. If they could score some early victories against lighter targets. Then maybe they could show the rest of the galaxy that the fight was not hopeless.
If nothing else it might show the galaxy that they were not defeated yet.
But so far, his messages had been met with less than stellar results.
He had reached out to the expanse fleet and to the remains of the outer rim patrol fleets among others. All the existing New Republic fleets had been exposed to the same issues he had. Desertion and (in some cases) civil war had greatly damaged their forces.
The outer rim fleets in particular had suffered as First Order forces had quickly driven them from the outer and mid galactic rims as they advanced.
If that was the only problem. They could still have rendezvoused to form into a larger and stronger fleet. But they faced problems there as well. The First Order had placed interdictor ship with escort ships along all the main hyperspace lanes.
These interdictor ships and the gravity wells they generated effectively pulled any and all ships out of hyperspace that crossed their path. With them placed in the hyperspace lanes, the First Order had a choke hold on inter-galactic travel. No one moved between the core or the rim unless the First Order allowed them. Trade and commerce only existed because they allowed it.
This made it virtually impossible for their forces to move across the galaxy easily and quickly. Because of this, they had been forced to make micro jumps from system to system to avoid detection and to avoid the now sealed off hyperspace lanes.
Garm sighed at the situation.
His efforts to contact the Resistance had met with even greater failure. At least he had been able to make contact with the other New Republic fleets. But so far, all his attempts to contact Leia or the Resistance had met with failure.
The location of the Resistance base was not widely known among the New Republic for obvious reasons. But high-ranking members of the Rebel Alliance (and old friends) were granted the knowledge to contact the base. He had tried to contact the Resistance base on D'Qar but had failed. More then failed, he had not even been able to make a connection with the base on D'Qar. He did not take long to theorise what that meant or what might have happened at D'Qar.
Afterwards he had tried to contact Leia directly. Only to fail again.
With rising concern that was quickly evolving into desperation. He had tried to contact Ackbar, Nien-Numb, Sella and others before he was forced to admit defeat and focus on his duties in the here and now.
He only hoped that the silence from the Resistance meant that they had gone to ground and were in hiding.
He did not want to even consider the alternative.
For now, all he could do was try to keep the New Republic in this war. The senate may have surrendered. But those cowards and traitors could all fall into a black hole for all he cared. He and his friends had fought too long and too hard to take down the Empire and bring peace to the galaxy just to allow another one to rise from its ashes.
He would not fight for the senate, or the politians, or the bureaucrats or the myriad of other power-hungry lackeys that made up the New Republic.
He would fight for the people that it stood for. He would fight to avenge the deaths of those who died at Hosnian Prime. And he would fight to protect the lives of those that were still here from the tyranny of the First Order.
"Admiral we have incoming ships. Coming out of hyperspace." The Ensign reported with emotion in his voice.
Garm spurn around to face him. His mind reeling through the different battle scenario's and the tactic's he could use to survive this with his fleet still in existence.
Even as he did, he could not understand how the Force hated him so much. How had the First Order been able to reach Duro already? How had they even known his fleet was at Duro? He supposed it was possible one of the deserters had sold them out. He did not want to believe it but it was the most likely scenario.
But even if they had known, they would have taken time to gather a strong enough fleet away from their assigned targets to attack them and Duro. Unless the First Order's military was even larger than their predictions estimated. Which to be honest was a very real possibility.
"All ships battle stations, raise shields and order all pilots to their fighters." Garm ordered as he turned to his sensor officer. "How many First Order ships are heading towards us?" He asked with clear urgency.
The officer studied his instruments for a few more moments before he responded. "Thirteen vessels in all sir. Three heavy cruisers and ten frigates sized. But its not the First Order sir." The officer said with relief beginning to creep into his voice.
At that moment the new fleet burst back into real space right in front of Garm's fleet with the planet of Duro situated behind them. He saw three Acclamator-class cruisers along with a number of Corellian covettes and Thrandra class hammerhead frigates.
There was no denying it. Those were New Republic ships. Garm turned to the communications officers. "Order the fleet to stand down and lower shields. Cancel alert order and return to standby." Garm ordered with relief singing through his entire body.
"Admiral we are receiving a transmission from the other flagship. It is registering as the 'Lodestar'. The sensor officer reported with rising elation in his voice. Understandable since a moment ago most people in the fleet had probably thought they were going to die.
Garm himself was fighting the urge to smile but he maintained his military bearing and schooled his features into one of gruff politeness. "Put it through, Ensign."
In a moment a hologram appeared on the bridge of the Peregrine. The figure wore the uniform and the rank bars of a New Republic Admiral. Similar to his own uniform baring the Fleet Admiral insignia.
The Admiral was a Twi'lek woman. Though the hologram did not show it her skin was a light shade of green and her Lekku extended down her back. Though she was clearly entering her later years, being in her early or mid-sixties. She held herself with a confidence and a natural authority that shook of any hints of weariness or fragility.
She regarded Garm with piercing eyes. Eyes that had clearly seen much and more in her lifetime. And when she spoke, her voice was authoritive but at the same time commanded a great sense of comradery.
"Fleet Admiral Garm Bel Iblis. This is the Lodestar of Battle Group Barma. We have come in answer to your call. We stand ready to serve the New Republic in this time of war." The Twi'lek Admiral declared with firm conviction in her voice as she stood to attention.
For the first time in what felt like months. Garm smiled. "We are proud to have you and your brave soldiers with us, Admiral Hera Syndulla.
Authors Note
Hello all.
Sorry this chapter took a while. I have found it hard to find time to write. I understand how that might sound weird in the middle of a global lockdown but it is the truth.
I also might start shortening chapters since currently each one is about 10,000 words and it takes some effort summon the will to start writing a new one.
Anyway, I will hopefully get the next one up quicker.
I hope you enjoy and I hope everyone is staying safe.