Tales from the Rebellion Chapter 25: Thrust Vectoring Owns The Sky!, a Star Wars + Phineas and Ferb Crossover fanfic

This was a fun chapter for me to write.

The character "Sneeze"-you'll see him about halfway through-is inspired by the character George Constanza's mannerisms. If you've ever seen the acclaimed American comedy television program Seinfeld, imagine George Costanza's voice and style of speaking when reading Sneeze's lines.

Btw, the character referred to as 'The Blonde Woman' is the same person who visited the Tenloss Syndicate complex on Sperin back in chapter 23. Just in case anyone forgot

Oh and apologies in advance if something repeats-there might be a copy/paste error I am tracking down.

Altor 14 was an arid, terrestrial planet in the Zoraster sector's Roti-Ow system. The planet was home to two sentient species: the reptilian Nuiwit and the avian Avogwi. Roughly fifteen years before the Battle of Yavin, Altor 14's vast mineral deposits were discovered by the Rego Mineral Company, a corporation owned by the wealthy Rostov Conglomerate from the planet Messert. The Rego Company signed a treaty with representatives of the Nuiwit that allowed them to mine, though the Avogwi distrusted the outsiders.

In the years since both the Mining Guild, with the backing of the Galactic Empire, and the greedy Czerka Corporation had slowly been trying to force their way onto the world. Even after the Battle of Yavin and the loss of the Death Star, Imperial adjudicators still held that the treaty provided the Rego Mineral Company with exclusive rights to the mining concerns on Altor 14, but under pressure from the Imperial Military they had been forced to allow the Mining Guild access to limited areas on the planet. (The Czerka Corporation, on the other hand, was unable to break into Lord Rostov's territory like it wished)

Resistance from much of the Avogwi and even select factions of Nuiwit necessitated the presence of a fortified Imperial base on the planet (as well as providing the Empire with the means to eventually kick the Rego Mineral Company off the planet, using the excuse that they were backing the anti-Imperial raids).

The Avogwi especially suffered from abuse by the Galactic Empire-an avian species like them had to fly through the atmosphere polluted by the Mining Guild's refineries, which were not bound to the same environmental codes the Rego Company's were. On top of that Avogwi nests in Imperial territory were often used for target practice by bored Imperial soldiers, who were perfectly free to visit whatever punishments they liked onto aliens.

This was the General's target. She did not seek merely to kill more Imperial personnel, but intended for a commando team led by Captain Zhal to use the chaos to access a secure terminal in the facility, from which they would glean the Imperial fleet's deployments within the Zoraster sector.

The Sunsrping dropped out of hyperspace in the Roti-Ow system.

In the pilot's seat was Ferb. He had been all too eager to help the rebels, as he hated the Empire and knew that the Rebellion was his path to reuniting with Phineas and eventually rescuing Perry and their parents. Shortly before liftoff Ferb had switched AZI back on to update the droid on the situation and remind him to only refer to Ferb as "Coryn Polo".

In the seat next to Ferb sat Captain Zhal, his team of commandos assigned to infiltrate the base and receive the data. His team sat in the back, the empty spaces filled. It didn't feel right to simply replace his fallen soldiers, but it was for the sake of the mission.

Sergeant Mosk, his bravery and leadership during the skirmish in Mann City noted and commended by the higher-ups, had been selected to fill up one of the vacant spots.

The slicer's replacement was-well hey now, isn't this interesting. Our Twi'lek friend Vanessa was acting as the new slicer. It seems she had the skills necessary to hack into the terminal and since there was nothing to do hanging around at the rebel base she had volunteered.

In the seat behind Ferb sat a rebel officer, a Major with the normal name of Reaches the Rice Slowly. Major Reaches the Rice Slowly was a human man from Rendilli who had light brown skin and a beard. He had been sent by the General to accompany and observe Ferb.

Already on the surface was Colonel Brucosl. The General, still annoyed with his failure to completely obliterate the Imperial forces headed to Ivort 4, had ordered him to personally oversee the attack on Altor 14.

He was commanding the rebel forces in the diversionary attack, meant to draw out the Imperial garrison forces. This would allow the commandos to slip in and access the terminal, then plant charges around the base. Once Zhal's team had returned to the Sunspring they would detonate the charges, leaving the Empire with the impression that the raid's only purpose was to harass Imperial forces and cause indiscriminate damage.

"Is coming up now," said Major Reaches the Rice Slowly. "The time to attack."

"Yeah," said Captain Zhal. "Should I signal the Colonel?"

"Do it," said the Major.

On the surface the rebel forces were encamped just south of the forward Imperial defense line.

Colonel Brucosl was conferring with an Avogwi sympathizer who was acting as a guide for the rebel forces when Lieutenant Ran'o, a Sullustan officer, came up to him.

"Captain Zhal's signal has been received," Lieutenant Ran'o said.

"Good," replied Colonel Brucosl. "Begin the attack."

Rebel marksmen shot at the sandtroopers patrolling the edge of the Imperial base. All but two were hit and killed-those soldiers were left alive so they could report the attack and draw more enemy soldiers out of the Imperial base.

Alarms sounded once the facility was alerted to the attack. Sandtroopers and stormtroopers began racing into the surrounding hills to seek out the rebel attackers while All Terrain-walker crews rushed to their vehicles.

"It's working," reported a rebel soldier. "Troopers moving out now."

"Good of good," Colonel Brucosl muttered. "Lieutenant Ran'o, order our forces to begin the strategic retreat. We need to keep the lousy bucketheads chasing us, to."

"Colonel, I is to follow your instructions," Lieutenant Ran'o replied. The Sullustan saluted and hurried to carry out the orders he had been given.

The rebel soldiers began drawing back, taking shots at the sandtroopers as they did.

"We've got the go-ahead," Major Reaches the Rice Slowly reported.

"Right," Ferb said. "Bringing us down now."

The Sunspring dropped through Altor 14's atmosphere. The Imperial base came up before them.

On the landing fields outside the base were several Zeta-class Heavy Cargo Shuttles, around a squadron's worth of TIE fighters, a lone TIE reaper, and a couple of LAAT/le patrol gunships. From the cockpit they could see Imperial infantry and vehicles moving away from the base, which meant that Colonel Brucosl's plan was working.

"Target those TIEs first!" shouted Major Reaches the Rice Slowly. "We don't want any aerial interference!"

The soldier operating the lower gunwell began firing. He destroyed the first two TIE fighters, leaving ten more fighters on the ground.

"I wonder why they're all out in the open," Ferb asked. "Stupid to have them just sitting there as easy targets."

"But fortunate for us," Major Reaches the Rice Slowly responded. He scratched his chin. "Still, 'tis odd, I agree. Perhaps there are more in the main hangar."

The Sunspring's guns had destroyed all but five TIEs now. The surface-to-air turbolasers were turning towards the light freighter and firing.

Ferb moved to evade the laser blasts.

"Shit!" he swore.

The guy in the turret fired back at the turbolaser emplacements.

"I can't land 'till those turbolaser cannons are destroyed!" Ferb said

"I'm trying," the gunner replied over the comm. "Don't fly so erratically!"

"Just shoot the damn things," Ferb snapped back. Really, he couldn't see how it could be so hard-the turbolasers were stationary targets after all.

"Hurry up and destroy them!" Major Reaches the Rice Slowly snapped. "We need to land and start our mission! Our comrades are dying out in the hills to distract the Imperial garrison!"

At that moment the gunner managed to target and destroy one of the turbolasers.

"Aight!" Captain Zhal said. "How soon until we are able to land?"

"Another couple minutes," Major Reaches the Rice Slowly said. "We have to take down the other turbolasers! And, for that matter, destroy the rest of those TIEs!"

Ferb kept pulling the Sunspring around, desperately trying to avoid getting hit. The lower gunner kept on firing, managing to destroy another turbolaser after two or three minutes.

By this time the TIE fighter pilots were rushing to their starfighters. Major Reaches the Rice Slowly pointed that out to the gunner, and he fired at the remaining TIE fighters.

The single remaining turbolaser on that side of the Imperial base was naturally still firing at the Sunspring. It managed to clip the port side of the hull, but just a few seconds later the gunner hit and destroyed it.

"Direct hit!" Major Reaches the Rice Slowly said. "Bring us down, Coryn Polo."

"Right," said Ferb.

The gunner cleared out some of the soldiers on the landing pad and Ferb brought the Sunspring down to land near the entrance to the enemy fort.

Captain Zhal and his team ran down the Sunspring's boarding ramp.

Very few Imperial soldiers remained outside, but Sergeant Mosk and Lieutenant Fox, who were the first down the ramp, made short work of the few sandtroopers and stormtroopers in the immediate vicinity of the Sunspring.

"Hurry, go!" Captain Zhal ordered. The other soldiers and Vanessa nodded. They ran towards the nearest door. Sergeant Braus slammed his large fist down on the control panel and the door slid open.

Sergeant Braus and Lieutenant Fox took point in the infiltration, with Corporal Wo escorting Vanessa behind (as the slicer, she was key to the mission and had to be protected) and Mosk and the Captain bringing up the rear.

It was the custom of Captain Zhal that he personally watch the new member of a squad, a custom he had learned from his first commanding officer four years prior, and so he had placed himself near Mosk.

An Imperial Navy Trooper came around the corner at the end of the corner. His face changed from a determined expression, the look of a man on his way to carry out an important task, to one of shock when he saw the rebel team.

"Hey-!" he began to exclaim, but he was cut short when Sergeant Braus shot and killed him.

"The soldiers outside no doubt raised the alert when our ship began attacking," Lieutenant Fox said.

"Yes," agreed Captain Zhal. "The officers are certainly aware we are here, and 'tis very possible they have realised the attack outside is a distraction. We knew this would happen. We have t' hurry."

Per the plan, Lieutenant Fox turned and shot the nearest security cam. Then they reached into their pack and removed an explosive charge, which they set on the wall. There were several more in their pack-nine in total, counting the one already on the wall-and once the rebel infiltration team had accomplished their mission and returned to the Sunspring they would be detonated.

Moving quickly, Captain Zhal's elite team advanced further into the complex. The secure terminal they needed to access was on the second level, in the officers' conference room. They made it there quickly, leaving another explosive charge attached to a wall in the stairwell and several more security cams destroyed.

Most of Altor 14's Imperial garrison had gone out to repel Colonel Brucosl's diversionary attack and they had only encountered three stormtroopers on their way.

Sergeant Mosk shot and destroyed the security cam outside the officers' conference room while Lieutenant Fox got the door open. Vanessa entered-the console was on the far side of the room, past the long conference table.

"Braus, stand guard." Captain Zhal said. "Fox and Wo-go to the far end, keep placing charges. Mosk, you're with me."

Lieutenant Fox and Corporal Wo walked further down the hallway. Two minutes later the pair encountered an Imperial sandtrooper, but made short work of them. A minute after that, Lieutenant Fox stopped to attach an explosive charge to the wall.

"Where should we place the next charge?" Corporal Wo asked once the charge was set.

"Further down the hall," Lieutenant Fox said. "According to our intel there's a circuitry station there."

"Oh," said Wo. "Okay then,"

In the other direction Mosk and Captain Zhal had surprised a stormtrooper. Before the enemy soldier could react, Zhal had unsheathed his prized vibroknife (a present from his mother), kicked the blaster rifle out of the stormtrooper's hands, shoved them against the wall, and jammed the vibroknife into their neck at the open point between the white chestplate and white helmet.

Mosk found himself impressed by the Captain's quick movement and skillful killing of the enemy soldier.

"There'll probably be more soon," Captain Zhal said. "To be honest I'm surprised we've encountered as few Imperials as we have, even with the majority of the garrison lured out by the Colonel's attack. I guess we have gotten lucky, eh?" He grinned.

Captain Zhal and Sergeant Mosk continued to hold their position there, with the intention of stopping any Imperials from making it to the officers' conference room and stopping Vanessa.

It didn't take long for more stormtroopers to come. Mosk and the Captain quickly found themselves fighting for their lives.

A blaster bolt flew by Mosk's head, missing his ear by barely a centimetre. Captain Zhal ducked to avoid a punch thrown by an advancing stormtrooper and shot the soldier in their abdomen. Another stormtrooper ran up and Captain Zhal shot them too. An Imperial Navy Trooper almost hit Mosk but he dodged her blaster shot just in time and the Captain took her out.

"Is this what it was like on Ivort Four, sergeant?" the Captain asked.

Mosk grimaced, remembering the comrades he'd left behind.

A minute later the two fell back, with Sergeant Mosk shooting a control panel to seal shut a blast door that blocked the hallway.

"Aight," said Captain Zhal. "That should hold them for a while."

"What now?" Mosk asked.

"We return to the terminal," the Captain said, "and see if our slicer is finished."

Out in the badlands and hills beyond the Imperial fortress the rebel soldiers under Colonel Brucosl were bravely struggling against the forces of the local garrison.

Sergeant Matthew Devoria was leading a six-man squad dug in near an ancient stone circle.

The circle was all that remained of what was once a fort built by the Ugona Empire, a powerful Nuiwit country which had ruled over much of Altor 14's southwestern continent well over a thousand years before the Battle of Yavin.

"Right then," said Corporal Horgave, a fair-skinned (cisgender) human boy from Corellia. He was watching the advancing Imperial forces with a pair of macrobinoculars. "They're almost in range of the mortars."

Sergeant Devoria was commanding Squad Two in the Third Division of the sector forces. His unit, along with four other squads from the Third Division, had been ordered to defend a position near the where the mortars had been set up and where the rebel vanguards-elite troopers equipped with rocket launchers-were.

"Time to kill some Imptards," chuckled Lance Corporal Gaius Algo, a tall and light-skinned (transgender) human man from Telerath.

"Hell yeah!" said Private Chaco Moliv, a dark-skinned human (cisgender) woman from the Expansion Region world Gizer.

"Yeah!" echoed Private Gradfor Lagostoib, a Zabrak man from Liaq.

The final member of the squad, a Koorivar Private named Blaine Leftor, remained silent and only checked over his blaster rifle.

"In range…now!" Corporal Horgrave said. The three squads of rebel troopers opened fire. The advancing enemy troops consisted mainly of Imperial sandtroopers, but there were a few scout troopers and regular stormtroopers there as well.

Sergeant Devoria took down a sandtrooper with his second shot. The Imperial infantry continued to advance-the strategy apparently to overwhelm the rebels with their superior numbers. Matthew was unsurprised that the Empire would casually throw its soldiers' lives away like that, but still, he had expected there would at least be some support from assault vehicles.

As if on cue, an Imperial walker-an All Terrain Scout Transport-came up and over the ridge. It fired its cannons and took out the majority of the soldiers in Squad Two.

"SHIT!" Private Moliv yelled. "Chicken walker!"

"I see it!" shouted Corporal Horgave.

"Inform the vanguard soldiers!" Sergeant Devoria shouted. "Tell them we've spotted the first walker!"

The Vanguard Trooper name was odd and non-indicative. They could often be found at the forwardmost line, the vanguard, but in other cases, such as this battle, they could be dug in in a position further back.

Corporal Horgave did as ordered and a minute later he and his squad watched as a few missiles flew through the air. They hit the AT-ST and the walker exploded.

"Guess they didn't realise how close to the front our missile launchers were," smirked Private Lagostoib.

"At least those guys from Squad Four are avenged now," said Private Leftor.

They continued trading blaster shots with the Imperials for a good while. Sergeant Devoria managed to kill two more himself and bagged one more on an assist with Private Moliv.

Then two more AT-STs crested the ridge, and an All Terrain Missile Platform stopped around behind them.

"Shit!" Corporal Horgave yelled. "More walkers!"

"Get down!" Sergeant Devoria yelled. He and his squad hit the deck as the enemy walkers' laser cannons and side-mounted grenade launchers pounded the ground around them. Matthew heard screaming and shouting all around him and felt a spray of soil and sand-kicked up by Imperial cannon fire, no doubt-hit him.

Once the ringing in his ears subsided, Matthew decided to risk looking up. When he did he swore an oath and it was a very foul oath indeed, for the Imperial infantry forces had used the walkers' bombardment as cover to continue advancing towards the rebel position. In addition, Private Lagostoib had taken a direct hit-from a stormtrooper's blaster rifle or an AT-ST's cannons, Sergeant Devoria didn't know, but what mattered was that the poor man was dead now.

"I can't raise the vanguard troopers on the radio!" said Corporal Horgave.

Sergeant Devoria scowled. "We can't take care of those walkers without them!"

In the next moment, Corporal Horgave fell to blaster fire from the Imperial sandtroopers.

"Horgrave!" Lance Corporal Algo screamed.

"Shit!" shouted Private Moliv.

"Fall back!" Sergeant Matthew Devoria ordered. "Squad, fall back!"

Sergeant Devoria fired off a few more shots at the advancing sandtroopers, managing to kill one more, before he turned and sprinted.

It's an awful thing to care, isn't it?

To feel so strongly about something that you feel terrible when things are on the downturn, that you feel like screaming and kicking and sobbing uncontrollably.

Too many people hate my great country, the United States of America. That's what this is about. It's stupid and childish, I know. There are actual problems in the world-the wars in Ukraine and Yemen, the brutal ethnic cleansing carried out against the Rohingya people, climate change, the numerous endangered species, decrease in sperm counts, the oppression of the Palestinians, transphobia, the rise of the despicable People's Republic of China, the bans on abortion-yet I care about my country and it really bothers me when people hate on it, to the point I'll want to cry sometimes….

I just want what's best for my great country is all. Which is why, despite generally distrusting the left I do like Senator Bernie Sanders and a lot of progressive ideas-specifically on healthcare-even if I'm skeptical about the government's ability to adequately pay for them

Sorry…I was trying to avoid inserting a comment into the narrative during this chapter. I'm failing in my job as the narrator, but I needed to vent a little.

Sorry. We'll return to the actual story now. Sorry. Sorry. I'm sorry, sorry. I'm sorry.

Sorry.

"I've got what we came for!" the Twi'lek slicer Vanessa announced.

"Good!" shouted Captain Zhal. "Let's move!"

Lieutenant Fox finished placing the last explosive charge-near the very computer terminal Vanessa had just finished accessing-and stood up.

"How many soldiers are between us and the landing pad?" they asked.

"Shouldn't be too many," Sergeant Braus said. "We dispatched quite a few on our way in, and most of the garrison should be out fightin' in the hills."

"Let's hope so," said Lieutenant Fox.

They encountered only a squad's worth of stormtroopers on their way out to the landing pad. The resulting firefight was brief and ended with a rebel victory, but Captain Zhal's leg got hit and he had to be supported by Mosk and Braus.

Major Reaches the Rice Slowly was waiting for them at the bottom of the Sunspring's boarding ramp. He rushed forward to help load Captain Zhal into the ship. Once everyone was aboard he signalled the pilot and the Corellian freighter lifted off.

Once in the air, Lieutenant Fox pressed down on the detonator and the explosive charges detonated, seriously damaging the Imperial base.

Sergeant Matthew Devoria and what remained of Squad Two and the other four squads reached the position where the mortars and Vanguard Troopers were.

All of the mortars had been blasted to pieces. Most of the Rebel Vanguards lay dead-only a few were tended to by other soldiers.

"What happened?" asked Matthew. "What happened here?"

"Missiles!" said one of the soldiers. "The Imperials launched missiles!"

"That AT-MP!" exclaimed Private Leftor. "While the AT-STs fired at us, that missile walker launched its payload here!"

"Blast!" said Private Moliv.

"Sir!" said another soldier who had accompanied them, a woman from Squad Three. "Lieutenant Ran'o is ordering a fall-back to the evacuation point."

"Captain Zhal's commando team must've succeeded," said Matthew.

"Indeed," said Sergeant Landon Toam, leader of the Third Division's Squad Five. He and most of his squad had survived the assault on the original position. "But those walkers could threaten our transports, Sergeant Devoria. We have no air support to take care of them."

"I mean," said Sergeant Devoria. "The missile launchers have little damage, I'd wager. Fire a few times and we should at least take care of the AT-STs. Sergeant Toam, would you uh, y'know, take the rest of the men back to evac? I mean, me and two soldiers of my squad shall stay a bit to hold off the walkers."

Sergeant Toam eyed Sergeant Devoria for a few seconds. "Very well," said he. "If you feel that is best."

"I do." said Sergeant Devoria. He turned. "Algo, Leftor, you're with me. Moliv, go help carry the wounded."

"Sir!" all three responded.

Algo, Leftor, and Sergeant Devoria each took a PLX-1, the preferred weapon of the rebel vanguards. They moved to the top of the hill and carefully aimed their rocket launchers. Private Leftor fired his first, and the other two followed suit scarcely a second later.

The rockets destroyed one AT-ST and the AT-MP. The second AT-ST started moving towards their position while the sandtroopers began charging up the hill.

"Algo, you reload!" Sergeant Devoria ordered. "Leftor and I will handle the bucketheads!"

The sandtroopers-there were less than twenty left-were almost at the top of the hill now. They were close enough that Sergeant Devoria and Private Leftor each downed two right away.

A scout trooper threw a grenade up at them, but fortunately landed just short of their position and rolled back down the hill. It detonated near one of the lead troopers, killing them instantly. Private Leftor managed to dispatch the scout trooper with one blaster shot.

Then the AT-ST began firing on their position.

"Shit!" yelled Sergeant Devoria. The blast knocked him and Private Leftor down. Lance Corporal Algo picked Matthew Devoria up.

"I was only able to reload one!" Algo said.

"In that case…" Matthew replied. "One shot is all we get!"

A pair of sandtroopers came over the ridge. Leftor and the Sergeant shot one each. Another sandtrooper appeared and Private Leftor shot and killed them too.

Then Sergeant Devoria picked up the missile launcher and ran up to the top of the hill. Leftor and Algo sprinted up ahead to try and keep the advancing Imperial troopers occupied.

He knew he had maybe a few seconds to aim and fire before either the enemy soldiers or the AT-ST fired at him.

Fortunately the AT-ST had stomped closer and Matthew had no trouble hitting his target. The pieces of metal blown off the AT-ST hit several of the sandtroopers.

"Go go go!" Sergeant Devoria shouted. He turned to fire a few shots in the direction of the final couple of sandtroopers, killing one.

It took not even three minutes for them to make it back to the transports. Lieutenant Ran'o and Sergeant Toam were waiting outside the closest one.

"The enemy walkers are all destroyed," said Sergeant Devoria. "We've strangled their ability to shoot down our transports."

"Time to go then," Lieutenant Ran'o said. "Colonel Brucosl's ready to pull out. We accomplished the objective."

"Was it worth it then?" Matthew asked. "I mean, all the sacrifices we made?"

"We did as we were ordered," Sergeant Toam replied. "We lured the Imperials out of their base."

"Was it worth it?" Matthew repeated. "We lost a lot of good people."

"We accomplished the objective," Lieutenant Ran'o repeated. "It's time to go, Sergeant."

Captain Zhal was laid down on the floor of the Sunspring's common area. Ferb-Major Reaches the Rice Slowly had taken the pilot's seat at the boy's suggestion-was helping by getting the medpac ready.

They had taken off his pants to expose the wound.

"How bad is it?" Captain Zhal asked.

"Doesn't look too serious," said Lieutenant Fox.

"Your definition of serious would be 'grounds for amputation'." snarked Captain Zhal. Fox allowed themselves a smile in response.

"From my battlefield experience, it's not too bad," said Sergeant Braus. He was stroking his chin. "A simple bacta patch should do most of the work, though an actual medic looking at his wound would be preferable."

"Or a medical droid, if we had one." added Lieutenant Fox.

"Erm, I can help with that," said Ferb.

"What?" said Lieutenant Fox.

"We do." Ferb said. "Have a, uh, medical droid, that is. We do have a medical droid."

"You do?" said a new voice. They turned to see a young-looking human man, with light skin and brown hair. Ferb recognised him as the lower gunner who had destroyed the TIEs during the raid.

"Yeah," said Ferb. "I do."

"Really?" the gunner said. His tone remained friendly, but his eyes narrowed a little.

"A surgeon droid, specifically," Ferb replied. "But he should be able to provide sound medical advice. He's helped me before."

"I see," said the gunner. He nodded slightly but did not say anything further.

"Could you get him please?" asked Lieutenant Fox. Ferb nodded and walked off.

"How'd the mission go?" the gunner asked nonchalantly.

"We accomplished our objective," Lieutenant Fox replied. They did not look him in the eyes.

The gunner smiled and nodded. Vanessa looked over at him, and he winked at her. She rolled her eyes and looked away.

A few seconds later Ferb came back with a medical droid hovering after him.

"This is AZI-3," he said.

"Where is the patient?" the medical droid asked.

"He's right there," Ferb said, pointing at Captain Zhal on the floor.

AZI-3 went to attend to Captain Zhal, advising Lieutenant Fox on what they needed to do.

"That's an AZI-series surgery droid," the gunner said. "An older model, usually used in military camps and higher-end hospitals."

Ferb didn't say anything.

"Interesting that you have one, young sir," said the gunner.

"I bought him used and fixed him up myself," said Ferb.

"I see," the gunner said. He smiled and went and sat down.

"We're about to jump to hyperspace!" said Major Reaches the Rice Slowly over the ship's internal comm. "Hold on!"

"We heading back to base, then?" the gunner asked.

"No," grunted Captain Zhal. "Degul lol Outpost, a secret asteroid base of the General's. We're to report back there."

"Not to Keilosren?" the gunner asked.

"The General has other plans." said Captain Zhal.

"Should I man the turret then?" the gunner asked nonchalantly. "In case we run into trouble-the Imperial kind of trouble, I mean."

Captain Zhal shook his head as much as he could without further injuring himself. "I wouldn't worry 'bout it." We shouldn't run into any trouble."

The gunner smiled and nodded and said nothing more.

Varl, located within Hutt Space, was the ancient, ruined homeworld of the region's eponymous leaders. It was there that the Hutt clans first began competing with one another ages ago.

Millenia before the rise of the Empire, Varl's system was devastated in a mysterious cataclysm caused by a war between the Hutts. Forced to abandon their homeworld, the Hutts conquered the planet Evocar and terraformed it into a swamp world they called "Nal Hutta". The Evocii, Evocar's original native species, were forcibly repatriated to Nal Hutta's moon and forced by the Hutts to build it into a city-planet.

Nar Shaddaa, as Nal Hutta's moon became known to the galaxy, was a seedy, pollutted urban sprawl of apartments, casinos, slave markets, weapons factories, shooting ranges, junkyards, brothels, spice refineries, recreation dome-pods, shipyards, and spaceports. Most major corporations did business there despite galactic law outlawing it since the long-gone days of the Old Republic.

Species of all kinds could be found living on the Smuggler's Moon under the rule of the Hutt ganglords. Nikto (members of all five of the major subspecies), Duros, entire Gamorrean clans, Humans, Khil, Zabrak, Weequay gangs, Vippits, Trandoshan brutes, Rodians, Chagrians, Pantorans, Twi'leks, scattered Evocii tribes, Krish, hordes of Gank killers, Anlari, Vurk, Imroosians, Yahk-Tosh, Sullustans, Falleen, the occasional Kyuzo mercenary group, Anomids, the Frostmen of Iopko VI, Bothans, Emmerians, Nimbanel, Zeltrons, Nuiwit, Kerkoidens, Jawas, Quarren, the rare Genosian refugee fleeing the genocide that the Empire had wrought upon their homeworld, Dybrinthe, Nautolans, Whipids, Jablogians, Ugnaughts, Narqouis, Tajreejoans, Gand findsmen, Selkath, Cyborreans, Acrona, Ho'Din, Givin, Qhuloskians, Verpines, Abenedos, Variags of Khand, Zisians, Lutrillians, Nothoiins, Zygerrians, Mon Calamari, Arkanians, Jilruans, Mibtoorians, Cingulons, Sakiyans, a modest amount of Utai mechanics, Vodran, Toydarians, a Gungan here and there, Tarnab, Vaathkree traders, Kessurians, Xofians, Ardennians, and countless other races could be found coexisting (more or less) and breathing the same poisoned air on the crime-ridden shithole of a moon that was known as Nar Shaddaa.

Located not too far from Nar Shaddaa's Corellian Sector was the headquarters and main power plant of the Robertson General Electric Corporation, a privately-owned energy company to whom the Hutts had contracted the maintenance and operation of the majority of the Nar Shaddaa power grid. RGECorp's main office was a great tower over seventy stories tall which overlooked the ten square kilometres occupied by their power plant.

The Blonde Woman's ship, a Sheathipede-class Type B shuttle, flew across Nar Shaddaa's skyline towards the RGECorp HQ tower. After leaving the Tenloss Syndicate's complex on Sperin she had immediately departed for Nar Shaddaa.

"Beginning our descent ma'am," said the pilot, a (cisgender) male Duros named Ixgil Gurhost.

"Good, very good," said The Blonde Woman.

Three snubfighters (a pair of old Z-95 headhunters and a Cord-class starfighter) flew up in the direction of their shuttle from the RGECorp facility.

"Looks like their security has sent out a welcoming party," Gurhos remarked.

"Let's hope we don't get blasted out of the sky." The Blonde Woman joked. Gurhos did not laugh.

"Sheathipede-model shuttle, this is RGECorp aerial sentry team two. Please state your designation and business," someone-a pilot of one of the approaching starfighters presumably-hailed them over the radio.

"RGECorp fighter team, this is Class Type B escort shuttle Goaan, on business from the Renaj Guild." said Gurhos.

"Please transmit your clearance code!" ordered the pilot on the other end of the com.

"Transmission commencing," said the Duros pilot, flipping a few switches on the shuttle console in front of him.

"They're pretty serious," observed the shuttle's third living occupant, a (transgender) human man named Tao Huan. "For a power company, I mean."

"They're the main electric provider on Nar Shaddaa." said Ixgil Gurhos. "Securing the size of that facility alone…and then of course, rival syndicates looking to hurt the Hutt Cartel might try an' stage terrorist attacks to shut down Nar Shaddaa's power grid. For anyone looking to attack Nar Shaddaa, the Robertson Corporation's facilities are a prime target. It's not surprising that they maintain a small army, especially given who's, uh, really behind them..."

Several F-143 emergency speeders, commonly used for firefighting, and a couple personnel transports were on the landing pad the Goaan was directed to.

"Alright then," said The Blonde Woman as she stood up. "Huan, you're with me. Gurhos, stay with the ship."

She and Tao Huan walked down the shuttle's boarding ramp to the landing platform. A security team was walking towards them. The team consisted of several Human, Klatooinian, Weequay, Twi'lek, and Duros guards wearing gray uniforms and white helmets, along with a GK-5 sentry droid and three K5 enforcer droids. In front of the security team was a red-plated protocol droid and a humanoid man, his skin tinted light blue, dressed in a nice suit.

"You!" he snarled, pointing at The Blonde Woman. "You…you b-b-bi-argh! You..you..y-you…." He was shaking in what was obviously extreme rage, but calmed down enough to get out what he was trying to say. "You bitch!"

"Hello, Sneeze." The Blonde Woman said, smiling at him. "It's nice to see you again too."

'Sneeze' scowled even harder.

"I ought to shoot ya." he said.

"I hope you won't," The Blonde Woman said in reply. "I'm here under a parley after all. To shoot me would violate the truce, which breaks the rules."

"You have a lot of nerve showing your face here, after all ya pulled." Sneeze said.

"Your superiors seem to feel differently," The Blonde Woman replied. She was still smiling and perfectly calm.

Sneeze sucked in a breath.

"Okay," he said. "Okay, okay." He smiled joylessly. "Okay!"

"Are you alright, sir?" the protocol droid asked its master.

"Alright?" Sneeze fake laughed. "HA! HA-HA! I'm better than alright! I'm good! Everybody is good!" He clasped his hands together. "Ohhh….everything is so good right now!"

"Oh, that's good to hear!" the protocol droid said as cheerily as a droid could. It had seemingly missed the sarcasm.

"Can we get going please?" asked The Blonde Woman. "I myself am on a schedule, and I know the one whom you work for prefers things to move quickly."

Sneeze grimaced, but motioned for The Blonde Woman and Tao Huan to follow him.

They followed him and the protocol droid off the landing pad and into the headquarters tower. The security team fell into step around them. They were in a maintenance bay where a few transports and a cargo skiff were being repaired by a team of J9 worker drones and a few Ugnaught mechanics working under the supervision of a red-skinned Twi'lek foreman with a peg leg.

The Blonde Woman had last seen J9-model labour drones two years ago, at a loading dock in Coronet City on Corellia. The droids were designed to resemble the Verpine species, giving them a distinctive insectoid appearance.

Sneeze led the group across to the far side of the RGECorp maintenance bay and into a spacious turbolift. One of the RGECorp guards pressed a button and the turbolift began to move upwards.

"I disagree with the boss letting you come here," Sneeze said.

"You have, uh, made that rather clear to me," said The Blonde Woman. "Quite clear, in fact."

"I disagree with it!" Sneeze repeated, this time more loudly. The Blonde Woman did not reply.

The turbolift jolted slightly as it stopped.

The doors opened and the group moved forward into a long, dark hallway. A Riorian, a Koorivar, and a Gran were talking in low, hushed tones near a doorway not far from where they came out. The Rioran glanced at their group and nodded at them before turning back to continue their conversation with the Gran and the Koorivar.

A minute later they passed under an archway and walked up a short flight of stairs. Sneeze turned to their escort.

"Wait here fellas," he said. "The boss don't need all of ya traipsing all o'er his office. Let myself going to. This is the private matter."

The squad leader-a short, stocky humanoid with light gray skin and bright green eyeballs, nodded to indicate that he understood.

Sneeze, his protocol droid, The Blonde Woman, and Tao Huan walked on further, coming to a lift. Sneeze took a code cylinder out of his breast pocket and inserted it into a computer port on the wall. The terminal beeped cheerily, and the doors to the lift slid open.

The four stepped inside and Sneeze pressed one of the buttons-the button for the one of the topmost floors. They spent a tense few minutes as the turbolift rose quickly to its destination.

When it chimed and the doors opened a few floors above the seventieth floor, Sneeze stepped out, followed by his android, The Blonde Woman, and Tao Huan.

After exiting the turbolift, the group four found themselves in another hallway. Sneeze led them down it and around a bend until they reached a large door. Outside the door were a pair of sentries, dressed in peaked caps and the same grey uniforms the soldiers downstairs had worn. There was also a secretary-an older human woman with light skin and greying auburn hair-sitting at a desk. She was wearing a pair of thick glasses.

"I have escorted the boss's guests," Sneeze said.

"I, uh, see that," the female secretary said. She sighed. "I shall buzz y'all in,"

"That'd be nice lady," Sneeze spat.

"They unarmed?" one of the sentries asked.

"I mean, no, but for whatever reason the boss trusts them not to pull anything," Sneeze muttered. He looked at the sentries again, suddenly realising something. "Wait wait wait-the fuck are your sorry asses topside for?" he asked.

"The Boss wanted us up here for the occasion," smirked the other sentry.

Sneeze snorted. "Heh, I see."

The secretary woman looked over to Sneeze. "Y'all may enter."

The door retracted into the wall and the group walked through, trailed by the two sentries. They were in a spacious office, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking over the power plant on three of the four walls. The room itself was hardly lit-the many floodlights in the power plant outside and brightness of the Nar Shaddaa skyline beyond provided enough light to keep the room lit enough that one could see, but still covered in shadow.

Towards the further end of the room was a large wooden desk. The man sitting there was human. He had long blonde hair and a similarly-coloured bushy beard, giving him a leonine appearance.

"Welcome," said The Yellow Devil. He turned to his side. "I told you they would honour our invitation!"

Standing there, not looking directly at the approaching group but instead watching the outside world through the window, was a tall human man, with dark hair that was short and smoothed back. He wore a small pair of glasses and a dark purple suit. The tall man turned to look at the Yellow Devil and nodded.

Then, he adjusted his glasses and looked directly at The Blonde Woman. She made sure that the Force was shielding her thoughts.

"Now, to business," said The Yellow Devil. "You seek information that we can provide. In return, we seek the guarantee of the Parliament that they shall not interfere with our affairs and assist us in tracking…our, uh, mutual foe, the witch."

"Is," agreed The Blonde Woman. "That is the purpose of this meeting."

"Yeah…" said the Yellow Devil. "But anyway, uh… you came all the way from… uh... you hungry?"

"Oh– no, I'm not hungry. I ate on the way here, really."

"Oh,"

"Yes, there were provisions aboard my shuttle. Just a quick snack."

"Oh," the Yellow Devil repeated. "I see. Hmm. Yeah... we could get you some water?"

"No," said The Blonde Woman patiently. "I'm not thirsty, as well."

"Oh,"

"Yeah."

"It's interesting to think about, isn't it?" asked the tall man. He looked directly at The Blonde Woman.

"I'm sorry?" she said.

"Not needing to eat or drink, it's interesting," he said. "To transcend physical needs like that…"

"…what?" said Tao Huan.

"Transcend physical needs, huh?" The Blonde Woman smirked. "Your tone resembles an Abruption Doctrine."

The Yellow Devil snorted. "Abruption Doctrine come together in the Virtuous."

"Do they now?" asked The Blonde Woman.

"That's what our spies tell us," said The Tall Man. "Everyone is-everyone is suddenly making moves now; things are coming to a head very quickly."

"People are very strange these days." agreed The Blonde Woman.

"Yes," said The Yellow Devil, nodding in agreement.

Sneeze snorted in irritation and began to interject, but a glare from The Yellow Devil silenced him.

"We have worked hard to build our presence here on the Smuggler's Moon," said The Yellow Devil, as he stroked his golden beard. "You know how in nature, in a given ecosystem, among which every species fills some niche? Hmm, yeah. We're like that." He paused, then continued. "We fill a niche by providing power across the Smuggler's Moon. We are a core part of the 'ecosystem' here, you see."

The Blonde Woman nodded patiently. "Yes, I understand."

"Society is like an ecosystem, you see." The Yellow Devil continued. "Everyone plays their role, everyone has their niche, so the community functions as it should. Rarely by design, more like it just…happens that way, y'know? Because it's optimal, the community just tends towards improvement. Communities that don't, well they can't thrive, y'know? It's just like evolution."

"Some would say it is the Force which guides us on that path towards cooperation," suggested The Blonde Woman.

Sneeze snorted. "Beh, the Force? 'Tis naught but simple black magic. Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerous ways!"

"Reggie!" The Yellow Devil roared. "Quiet!"

Sneeze-Reggie-cowered. The Yellow Devil actually growled, like an animal, before he turned his attention back to The Blonde Woman.

"It's not easy running this business."

"Oh, I'm sure," she replied. "Supplying power to an entire moon is no simple feat I imagine."

The Yellow Devil snorted. "'Tis a nightmare often, yeah. Logistics are hell and the rival syndicates-among which the Black Sun and the Zann Consortium especially-send their best men to sabotage us. Shutting down power on the whole damn Smuggler's Moon would shut down a lotta trade. It would-it would be a catastrophe! Something as bad for business as that would hurt the Hutt Cartel pretty bad and such." The Yellow Devil paused and grinned nastily at The Blonde Woman. "But you knew that already, I'm sure."

The accusation hung unspoken between them.

It wasn't entirely unfair for him to accuse her of subterfuge-they both served agendas with radically different outcomes and had clashed in the past. They were only meeting under a flag of truce now to swap intelligence on their mutual enemies.

"There's a lot of people who'd have their eyes on Nar Shaddaa's power grid," The Blonde Woman said neutrally. "A lot of people who would want to hurt the Hutts in some fashion."

"Heh, yeah…" chuckled The Yellow Devil. "Too many crooks, I suppose you could say. Too many crooks. Hmm."

"There is no law on Nar Shaddaa save that of the Hutts," said The Blonde Woman.

"Indeed," nodded The Yellow Devil. "We are-this company is a subcontractor hired by the Hutt Council to manage the moon's power grid."

"Curious that the Hutts would trust an outside entity for a task so crucial," remarked The Blonde Woman.

"It's the logical choice given the amount of infighting between the various Hutt families that the Cartel has to deal with." The Tall Man said matter-of-factly.

"Yes," agreed The Yellow Devil. "When you're more honest with yourself, it better reflects outward in being more comfortable with being direct and honest with others." He snorted. "But the Cartel, by nature, is fairly dishonest."

"Of course," said The Blonde Woman.

"We're talking an awful lot of talk," observed The Taller Man.

"You can say that again," Reggie snorted derisively. No one acknowledged him.

"I suppose 'tis true, we are." agreed The Blonde Woman. "There's no point in putting it off-we should commence our information trade then?"

The Yellow Devil and The Tall Man both nodded.

"Yes, we should." The Tall Man said.

"I agree," said The Yellow Devil.

"As promised, I have information on Howell's operations." said The Blonde Woman. "There's a datacube left at a drop point. I'll give you the location, provided you hold up your end of the bargain."

"I assure you ma'am, we will." said The Tall Man. He looked at The Yellow Devil.

"This is very sensitive information, as you no doubt are aware," began The Yellow Devil.

"I know," said The Blonde Woman.

The Yellow Devil looked around furtively. "Reggie, dismiss your protocol droid." he ordered. "I -I don't want there t' be any visual record."

Reggie/Sneeze bowed and snapped at his droid to be gone. The droid obliged its master and disappeared.

"You understand the need for security, I'm sure." The Yellow Devil said.

"Of course," The Blonde Woman nodded. The Yellow Devil looked around again.

Then he told her.

"I think you actually managed to surprise her," The Tall Man said later, once the meeting had concluded and Reggie and the two guards had taken her and Tao Huan back out to their shuttle.

"I don't imagine you could get a read on her?" The Yellow Devil asked.

The Tall Man laughed and shook his head. "The Force interferes with that, I'm afraid."

"Yes," grumbled The Yellow Devil. "Force sensitive individuals can obscure their thoughts from you."

He scowled. "'Tis very annoying, ugh."

"It is what it is," said The Tall Man. "Besides, it is of little concern. Our agenda moves forward nicely. We need not worry."

The Yellow Devil grinned. It was a nasty grin, the sort that made your skin crawl to see.

"No, everything is going just fine." he said.

Stacy Hirano, Prefect of Ivort Four, walked across the carved Selonian marble floor of Mann City's Municipal Administration Center. She and Chief Bansoro had just concluded an emergency meeting with the city's Magistrate.

Behind her were two Imperial Stormtroopers, Chief Bansoro, and Sergeant Banu Jonium of the Mann City Police Department.

"I've got to get back to the station," Chief Bansoro said. "Captain Orsho messaged me-he's awaiting you back at the base."

"Very well then," Prefect Hirano said.

"And, uh, ma'am?" Chief Bansoro said.

Stacy turned.

"Yes, what is it?" she asked.

"I'm a former navy trooper, I trust the military and understand the gravity of what's goin' on here." Chief Bansoro began. He frowned. To Stacy it looked as if he was choosing his words carefully. "A lot of my officers aren't happy we're being shoved to the side. This is our city, after all."

"There's not much I can do," Stacy replied. "Two major rebel incursions happened in our city, and a troop convoy was attacked in orbit. We're on a war footing right now, Bansoro."

"I understand, ma'am." replied Chief Bansoro. "But…" He looked around furtively and lowered his voice. "The military-the stormtroopers in particular-tend t' be a little rough." Bansoro swallowed.

"Chief Bansoro!" Stacy said, putting an edge into her voice. "We are at war!"

"And our duty is to protect Imperial citizens!" Chief Bansoro protested. "Not to loose the military upon them! They're detaining more than a few innocent people and-"

"Chief"

"Madam Hirano, I implore you to do your job as the Imperial Prefect of this moon and protect our people!"

Stacy and Bansoro stared at each other for a long moment.

"I will see what I can do," the Prefect of Ivort Four said coolly. The Mann City Police Department's Chief of Police nodded slowly.

"I have to go fill out some forms ma'am," he said. "I'll report back to you later." He saluted and then walked off towards his landspeeder, Sergeant Jonium following behind him.

Prefect Hirano bit her lip and went over to her own landspeeder. She got in the back while her two stormtrooper guards got in the front.

The drive back to the Imperial complex was only a couple of minutes long. Captain Orsho was waiting for her just inside the gate.

"Ma'am!" he saluted.

"Tell me, commander…" she began. "What of the reinforcements survived the rebel attack up in orbit?"

Captain Orsho grimaced and did not meet her gaze. "Erm, uh, not many, Madam Prefect."

"How bad is it?" Hirano asked.

"Well," Captain Orsho began. He sucked in a breath. "They were sending us three shuttles full of soldiers-both regular Army and of the Stormtrooper Corps, as well as eight patrol walkers and two AT-ATs. Of that, well…."

"Yes?" she prompted. She really was dreading the answer but her job required that she knew.

"Of that, one shuttle escaped destruction by jumping back to Mubon. It's scheduled to discreetly attempt a return voyage in a few hours. The only units from the convoy that actually made it to the surface were two AT-ATs…" He paused and looked away again.

"I'm sensing a 'but', Captain Orsho." she said. Orsho swallowed.

"Both of those AT walkers were seriously damaged. They're currently sitting outside the city, but we can't do anything with them. In other words…"

"They're completely useless," Stacy scowled. "Why even bother bringing them here if we can't use them?"

"They couldn't stand the hyperspace jump back to Mubon without breaking apart completely." Captain Orsho said, frowning. "Landing here was the only way to salvage those AT walkers.

"I suppose repairing them is a problem that's been left on our plate?" Stacy grumbled.

"Surprisingly, no." Captain Orsho told her. "We should be expecting Imperial engineers from a facility on Mubon to arrive at some point this week." He swallowed. "Hopefully. Sometime this week, hopefully."

"What about other reinforcements to replace those destroyed up in orbit?" Stacy asked him. "Any word on when we can expect those?"

Captain Orsho shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry ma'am. Governor Tiberian's officers tell me they don't think they can spare anyone else. There's unrest even on peaceful Mubon."

"This whole sector is going to hell," Stacy grumbled. She noticed a small rock sitting on the ground near her and kicked it.

"The destroyer Shogun and its pair of light cruisers should protect us from any more rebel incursions though," said Captain Orsho. "Until it gets recalled elsewhere we should be fine."

"I hope so," Prefect Hirano said. "Gosh, I really hope so."

Colonel Rilvert stared at the tactical display in front of him.

"What are we looking at?" he asked. "How badly did they hit Altor Fourteen?"

"Not too seriously," said the command room staffer. "The rebellion forces held off against our infantry and destroyed three light walkers. The main attack seems to have been a diversion designed to allow an infiltration unit to slip into the Altor 14 base, as a small commando team penetrated the Altor fortress' defences and placed explosives inside, which they detonated after escaping."

"How did the rebels get behind the base's defenses?" asked General Forgus.

"It seems once the garrison forces had been drawn out, a Corellian freighter operated by the rebels landed and the infiltrators exited." said the staffer. "We're still analysing to be sure, but at the moment it appears to be the same freighter that blasted out of Mann City."

"For real?" said Lieutenant Commander Antilles, a Human man from Metellos and Navy officer who served as Vice Admiral Smith's aide. The Vice Admiral himself was currently in another room, discussing deployments with the commanding officer of the 467th Fighter Wing via hologram.

"The one that helped the rebel spies escape after ISB disrupted their rendezvous?" asked General Forgus. "Hmm, interesting. What do we know about this freighter?"

"Not much, unfortunately. 'Tis registered with the Space Ministry to a Coryn Polo, though we have very little else other than the name-not even a picture or a chain code. The only other thing we know for certain is that the pilot is a human male."

"That's quite a serious oversight on the part of the Imperial Space Ministry bureaucrats," muttered Colonel Rilvert. "What does BoSS have on the ship?"

The Bureau of Ships and Services was an ancient organisation which had long busied itself with regulating the ownership of starships across the entire Galaxy. For nearly eighteen millennia it had weathered the storms of galactic conflict and mass political turmoil. Even with the Galaxy firmly under the iron first of Imperial rule, the Bureau of Ships and Services stubbornly retained independence from Coruscant's power. Why the Emperor did not make a bigger push to fully bring the Bureau under control of the Galactic Empire was a mystery to most Imperial officers and bureaucrats, but of course none dared publicly object to his decisions.

"It's a Corellian Engineering Corporation YT-2400 light freighter named the Sunspring," said the staffer. "Bureau officials say that they are looking into their databases now."

"Hmph," said Colonel Rilvert. "Very well."

"How much damage did the rebel infiltration team do to the base?" asked General Forgus.

"It got messed up pretty bad," said the staffer. He swallowed. "A few floors collapsed. If their aim was to render the base on Altor 14 unusable…well, they didn't quite succeed but they did come pretty close."

"That raises a good point," said General Forgus. "What was their aim? Their goal?"

"I assume," General Baker said, "That their intention was to use this distraction to force the garrison officers to recall forces to the base, to relieve pressure on the attackers."

"But for what end?" retorted the younger General Forgus. "The attacking force had no apparent goal. Unless further reports from Altor 14 provide contradictory details, everything we know from the SPOTREPs we've got indicates that the attacking rebellion soldiers withdrew after only a short time." Forgus turned and looked directly at the command room staffer. "That is correct, Lieutenant?"

The staffer nodded vigorously. "Yes, commander." he said. "It is."

"Is their goal just to strike at random and gradually wear us down?" asked Colonel Rilvert. He bit his lower lip. "Small-scale attrition is often in the playbook of organised rebel insurgencies, but this feels like-at least, it feels to me like the start of something larger…"

"Even if the attackers were a diversion and the goal of the infiltration was merely to cause damage to the base, that..just doesn't make sense," said General Baker. "There's not enough damage for it to have been worth it. It's…irrational."

"If they were rational people they would not believe in the treasonous ideologies of the damn Rebellion," sneered Colonel Rilvert. "Still though, even the rebels wouldn't be that reckless with the limited forces they have. They don't have the resources to replace things like we do-their reserves are limited and as a result their strategies have to be different."

"Perhaps they were forced to flee ahead of their schedule, then?" suggested Lieutenant Commander Antilles.

"Perhaps," said General Baker. She frowned. "Even so, I can't see what the value of their assault was."

"We can't even decide if the infiltrators were a diversion for the attackers or the attackers a diversion for the infiltrators," grumbled General Forgus.

"Yes, I-wait, Colonel. Say that again." said General Baker.

"Er, ma'am?" said Colonel Rilvert.

"What you just said, Colonel." she said. "Repeat it."

"Uh, the rebels can't be rational because believing in rebel ideology is irrational…?"

"No no, after that."

"Er, 'Their strategies have to be different'?" Colonel Rilvert said. His eyes widened as realisation slammed into him at lightspeed. "The rebel strategies to-their strategies have to be different. Their strategies have to be different!"

"Exactly!" said General Baker. "We're looking at this from the Imperial officer's point of view. The rebels don't have the same fleet, the same resources…and they don't have multiple systems and space stations to garrison and defend."

"So what could have been their goal here?" asked Lieutenant Commander Antilles. "What was their aim in attacking the Altor base?"

Colonel Rilvert scratched the back of his neck. "We can't rule out a simple attack just for the sake of an attack." He frowned. "It could just be for the sake of keeping us on our toes and attritional warfare and all that jirks bacti. But still, there is something we're overlooking because our perspective as Imperial officers doesn't let us think like rebels."

"If we're overlooking something though, then what could it be?" asked General Forgus.

General Baker scowled. "That's what I can't figure out."

The Infkuenxe Nebula was a beautiful sight to behold. A reddish-green mixture of gasses that after an eternity or two would coalesce into young stars, it was located on the Rimward side of the Zoraster sector, between the Kellis system and the Greater Risoj Expanse.

The Imperial Arquitens-class command cruiser Blastiron had been on patrol there when ambushed by rebel spaceships belonging to General Fenwhudn, whose strategists had determined its position using the intel seized from Altor 14. Two squadrons, Maroon Squadron and Boom Squadron, along with a CR90 Corellian corvette and a HC-556 light cruiser attacked the light cruiser Blastiron on the edge of the Infkuenxe Nebula. Its single escort ship, a Tartan-class patrol cruiser, had been disabled by the Corellian CR90 corvette's ion cannons immediately and then cut to pieces by the snubfighters of Maroon Squadron.

The Blastiron had deployed its complement of nine TIE fighters, which had then engaged Maroon Squadron. Commander Harkson's X-Wings and Z-95 Headhunters had destroyed four of them already.

Some of Commander Harkson's pilots were unhappy at being redeployed so soon after losing quite a few of their comrades during the raid on L-sei IV. The Commander sympathised with their feelings, but they were soldiers and their commanding officer, General Philoswa Thurnion Fenwhudn, had given them orders to attack the Blastiron.

The aim was to destroy the light cruiser. Not only would doing so be a victory in of itself, but destroying the Blastiron would also limit the Empire's ability to effectively patrol in the Zoraster sector. Furthermore, their attack would draw the Empire's attention while the Leaveykurarupid went to pick up the shipment from General Fenwhudn's mysterious allies.

Commander Harkson angled his T-65C-A2 X-wing starfighter, Maroon One, forwards. He flew one of the only T-65Cs in Fenwhud's starfighter forces-most of their X-Wing starfighters were of the much more common T-65B X-wing model.

Boom Squadron's Y-Wing bombers had been reinforced with a pair of H-60 Tempest bombers, a sturdy model of ship that was manufactured by the Verpine-owned company Slayn & Korpil.

Commander Harkson adjusted his X-Wing's trajectory so he was pursuing one of the remaining five Imperial TIE fighters. It was heading back in the direction of the light cruiser. Harkson assumed the pilot was hoping they would be protected by the Blastiron's turbolasers.

"Oh, no you don't." Commander Harkson said to himself. He grinned as he launched a proton torpedo at the TIE fighter. The projectile shot out and impacted into the enemy fighter's spherical hull. The TIE exploded in a burst of colour.

"Maroon Leader to Boom Leader," Commander Harkson said over the communications channel. "We're down to four eyeballs between us and that light cruiser. The show's almost over."

("The show" was pilot slang for dogfighting, dear reader).

"Copy that, Maroon Leader." Boom Squadron's leader, Captain Eisenhower, said over the communications channel. "Preparing to make a run on the Imperial light cruiser."

"Copy that, Boom Leader." Commander Harkson replied over the communications channel. "Maroon Leader to Maroon Two, take your flight and chase down the other four eyeballs while the rest of us cover the bombers.."

Maroon Squadron was divided into "flights", each led by a designated pilot Harkson felt had enough experience.

"Copy that Maroon Leader," said Jsall. "We'll close out the show while y'all take out that light cruiser."

Jsall and the three starfighters under his command flew after the four TIE fighters, which were flying in a downwards arc that would terminate near the Blastiron. Commander Harkson and the rest of Maroon Squadron fell back to support the Y-Wings and H-60s of Boom Squadron.

The Corellian corvette and the HC-556 light cruiser had been pounding the Blastiron with their turbolasers. The Imperial Arquitens-class command cruiser had fallen back closer to the edge of the Infkuenxe Nebula as its shields buckled under the turbolaser barrage from the Rebel ships.

The cruiser was firing its own turbolasers back at the attacking rebels. The starfighters and bombers avoided the Imperial blasts as best they could.

"Maroon Squadron!" Commander Harkson barked. "Fan out to draw their fire! Keep the path clear for the bombers!"

Commander Harkson pulled his X-Wing starboard to dodge a laser blast from the light cruiser.

"Kriffing hell," he muttered.

"Maroon Two to Maroon Leader!" Jsall said over the comm. "There's only two eyeballs left!"

"Copy that, Maroon Two!" Commander Harkson said. "Good work."

They were coming up on the Blastiron now. The rebel bombers began launching their payloads. The Imperial light cruiser's shields buckled under the combined assault of the proton torpedoes and the turbolaser blasts from the rebel light cruiser and blockade runner.

"Boom Leader to Maroon Leader," Captain Eisenhower said over the radio.

"Maroon Leader, I copy," Commander Harkson said.

"Looks like one more run and we'll take care of the shields, shan't be too long afterwards before the whole cruiser goes down."

"Copy that Boom Leader," Commander Harkson replied. "Let's blast this Imperial garbage hauler all the way back to the Core Worlds!"

Senior Lieutenant Garavle stood on the bridge of the carrier Atrisa Three.

The 487th's various squadrons had been sent to patrol distant parts of the Zoraster sector on the orders of Vice Admiral Smith of Zoraster Sector Command. When the light cruiser Blastiron had sent out a distress call, the cruiser/carrier Atrisa Three had been among the Imperial warships that were within a couple parsecs of the Infkuenxe Nebula. Garavle ordered the carrier into hyperspace and Major Civ Darklancer, the 487th's ranking officer aboard the Atrisa Three, had gone to ready her pilots.

"We're coming up on our exit point," said Sublieutenant Zario, the helmswoman. A dark-skinned human woman from Coruscant, she was dutiful and professional. Zario was an ideal subordinate in Garavle's eyes.

"Major Darklancer says that all four TIE squadrons are prepped and ready to launch," said Ensign Siko-ti, the tanned human Imperial Navy Trooper who served as the communications officer on the Atrisa Three's bridge. "She's requesting clearance to deploy the moment we drop out of hyperspace."

"Tell her to hold off," said Lieutenant Garavle. "I don't want our TIEs immediately jumping in when we have no grasp of the situation."

Technically, Lieutenant Garavle was subordinate to Major Darklancer, due to both her higher rank and the fact that she was a leading officer of the 487th while he was essentially a glorified ferryman for them. However, the Atrisa Three was still his ship and he could override her authority on issues relating to his ship, such as clearance to launch from its hangar bays.

"Dropping out of hyperspace in fifteen seconds!" Sublieutenant Zario shouted.

"Weapons ready! Prepare to raise shields!" Garavle barked.

There was a slight tremor as the Atrisa Three reverted to realspace near the edge of the Infkuenxe Nebula. Lieutenant Garavle could see the Imperial light cruiser Blastiron some distance off, almost in the gas clouds. The small shapes of enemy starfighters whizzed around it, darting here and there. Its hull was smoking and visibly damaged. Closer to the Atrisa Three were two small ships-a Corellian corvette and a winged light cruiser.

"Sir!" Ensign Siko-ti said. "Major Darklancer wants a report. What are we looking at?"

"I'm scanning multiple fighter craft-snubfighters and bombers." said Sublieutenant Zario. "Two starships-a blockade runner and some model of mercenary attack cruiser. The fighter craft are all in the vicinity of the Blastiron; they've left their ships unguarded."

"Major Darklancer is requesting permission to launch," Ensign Siko-ti relayed. "She intends to send one squadron after the larger rebel ships to force them to recall some starfighters in defense while taking the other three squadrons to go after the bomber craft harrassing our light cruiser. She wants us to support the lone squadron by firing our cannons at that Corellian blockade runner."

"Clearance granted!" said Garavle. "Have them launch!"

"Fighters away!" Siko-ti announced as Garavle watched the four squadrons zoom out from under the bridge. One squadron of TIE interceptors split off and angled on a vector that terminated at the rebel cruisers, while the other three squadrons-one consisting of TIE interceptors and two consisting of regular TIE starfighters-banked towards the Blastiron.

"Turn our cannons on that corvette!" Garavle yelled.

"Gunners report cannons ready!" the bridge's weapons officer said. "Targets locked!"

"Fire!" Garavle barked.

The carrier's laser cannons blasted and bolts of green energy flew through the dark void of space. Passing by the TIE interceptors-the Atrisa Three's gunners naturally would take care not to aim in their flight path-the cannon blasts hit the CR90 corvette. Garavle watched as the blasts dissipated on the corvette's shields.

"Helm! Bring us closer to the enemy ships!" Garavle ordered.

"Sir!" Sublieutenant Zario said. She moved the Atrisa Three forwards.

"Captain, update from Sector Command!" said Ensign Siko-ti. "Reinforcements are inbound!"

"Excellent," smirked Lieutenant Garavle. "There will be no escape for these filthy terrorist agitators."

"Karrabast!" Commander Harkson swore. Imperial reinforcements showing up was a known risk, but he had hoped that they would have a little more time before their arrival.

"Boom Leader!" he shouted into the radio.

"Copy that, Maroon Leader."

"We've got company, Eisenhower!" Harkson shouted. "I'm reading eyeballs and squints, inbound!"

(As an aside, friend reader-eyeballs was what pilots of the rebellion often called TIE fighters, while squints was a pejorative for TIE interceptors.)

"Another run should put this thing on the shelves for good," Eisenhower said. "Cover us."

"Copy that!" Harkson said. "Boom Squadron, form up behind me! Prepare to engage!"

The enemy starfighters were on them instantly. One of the wings on Commander Harkson's fighter was clipped by a laser beam from a TIE interceptor. Maroon Two destroyed a TIE fighter with his first shot. Two TIE interceptors ganged up on one of the Z-95 headhunters and destroyed it.

Most of the enemy starfighters flew past Maroon Squadron. They were heading towards what was left of the Blastiron-and the defenseless bombers of Boom Squadron!

Before Commander Harkson could order his pilots to swing around and chase after the TIEs, however, his comm unit crackled to life.

"Maroon Leader, come in Maroon Leader! This is the corvette Sullust-do you copy?"

The Sullust was the Corellian corvette sent with the attack force.

"This is Harkson, I copy. We're a little busy here, Sullust."

"Maroon Leader, we are under attack! Full squadron of TIE interceptors plus their carrier!"

Harkson gritted his teeth. "Sorry, Sullust, but we have to protect the bombers. Our orders are to make sure that light cruiser goes down. We need to protect the bombers!"

Commander Harkson did not like having to abandon the corvette and light cruiser, but they were soldiers, this was war, and tough choices had to be made to ensure completion of the mission.

Captain Eisenhower's bombers were coming around and preparing to make another run at the light cruiser now. Commander Harkson couldn't let these TIEs stop them.

Harkson angled Maroon One to move so that it was pursuing one of the TIE interceptors. Upon realizing it was being tailed, the squint dipped and spun to keep Harkson from targeting it. Harkson tried to match its movements.

When his targeting computer locked on, Harkson fired his laser cannons. The interceptor darted to the side at the last moment and he only managed to clip its starboard wing.

The bombers were coming back around now-directly in the firing line of the enemy fighters!

The TIEs opened fire as the Y-Wings began launching their payloads at the light cruiser. The bombers of Boom Squadron broke formation to avoid the Imperial fighters. One of the Y-Wings was hit and spun out of control, crashing into the light cruiser Blastiron. Commander Harkson would've found the damage caused by the explosion satisfying had it not cost the life of one of his pilots.

The TIE interceptor Harkson had been tailing had moved to try to follow one of the scattering bombers, leaving it vulnerable to him. He fired once the squint drifted into his sights, and destroyed it.

"Boom Leader to Maroon Leader!" Captain Eisenhower called over the radio channel.

"I copy, Eisenhower!" Harkson replied.

"We're gonna need to make another run on this thing. Cover us!"

"Copy that!"

As the bombers moved to come around again, the enemy fighters chased after them.

"This Maroon Six! I've got two on my tail!" Marcus Antilles shouted over the open communications channel.

"Copy that, Six!" Commander Harkson said. "I'm on my way, hang tight rookie! Maroon Two-take the rest of the squadron after those TIEs. Don't let them get close to the bombers!"

"Copy that, Maroon Leader!" Jsall replied over the radio.

Harkson flew in the direction of Maroon Six. Young Marcus Antilles was being tailed by two regular TIE Fighters. The pair of eyeballs were firing on him again and again, and despite his best attempts to evade their blasts they were landing hits that were slowly wearing down his X-Wing's shields.

Commander Harkson lined his X-Wing up behind them and opened fire. He hit one of the wings on the left TIE, causing it to spin out of control. The other TIE fighter continued firing on Antillies' X-Wing. His fighter's shields were still holding up for the most part, but the upper starboard wing was beginning to smoke.

Commander Harkson chose to use a proton torpedo to destroy the TIE fighter. Ordinarily he preferred to use proton torpedoes sparingly and not to waste one on a single regular TIE fighter, but the life of one of his pilots was worth more than every single torpedo his fighter carried. He fired and the proton torpedo honed in on the TIE fighter, chased after it, and detonated on impact. Commander Harkson found the sight of a TIE being vaporised very satisfying.

"You're clear now, rookie!" Harkson said into his comm.

"Copy Commander. Thanks for the rescue!" replied Marcus Antillies.

"Aight, follow me rookie." Harkson said.

He and Antilles flew towards where the rest of Maroon Squadron was engaging the TIEs around the light cruiser. The Blastiron itself was slowly attempting to make an escape-only two of its three main engines were still operational and it looked as if the crew was repeatedly halting to course-correct to avoid drifting all the way into the Infkuenxe Nebula, where the light cruiser's weakened shields could not protect them from the harmful gasses and radiation.

"Sullust to Maroon Leader! Sullust to Maroon Leader! Do you copy Harkson?" the comm buzzed.

"I copy Sullust!" Harkson said back. "I'm kind of busy right now!"

"Harkson, more Imperial ships just dropped out of hyperspace!"

"What?"

"We're looking at two escort gunboats, a-a cruiser-"

Commander Harkson gritted his teeth.

"Sullust, we have our hands full here!"

As the Commander said that, his astromech warbled in alarm-a TIE interceptor was on his tail!

Commander Harkson swore and jerked his X-Wing to one side. As he did the squint began firing! Crimson laser beams zoomed past-had Harkson not moved when he did his fighter would have been vaporized.

He cut power to his thrusters suddenly, dropping behind his pursuer. He swore even harder when he saw that the TIE interceptor bore crimson markings-his opponent was an elite pilot, an Imperial Flight Baron!

(This was Major Civ Darklancer, though Commander Harkson had no way of knowing that.)

He fired a blast when the interceptor crossed into his sights but the pilot had already spun away.

"Maroon Leader, this is Boom Leader." Captain Eisenhower said over the comm unit. "We're beginning our attack run!"

"Copy that!" Commander Harkson replied. "Maroon Squadron-put yourselves in the line of fire if you have to! Don't let the Imperials save this light cruiser!"

The Flight Baron with whom Commander Harkson had been dogfighting suddenly banked towards the Blastiron. Harkson pursued, firing his cannons but not landing a single hit.

The Flight Baron zoomed towards the approaching rebel bombers, falling in with the rest of the TIEs.

The snubfighters of Maroon Squadron were holding their own against the Imperial fighters. Commander Harkson saw Jsall shoot down a TIE fighter.

Two TIE interceptors dropped in behind the Flight Baron (Major Darklancer had called for them to assist her as she made her attack on the bombers).

Commander Harkson opened fire on them, nearly hitting one of the escorting TIE interceptors.

They bombers were directly over the Blastiron now, and unleashed their payload on the helpless light cruiser. After only a few hits the cruiser finally began to explode. The main hull cleaved in two and the bridge tower collapsed.

Commander Harkson's radio was filled with the sound of his pilots cheering.

"Eisenhower, I owe your boys drinks when we get back!" Harkson grinned. "Y'all did good."

"I'll hold you to that, sir." Captain Eisenhower replied over the radio.

"All fighters, return to the ships. We're leaving!" Commander Harkson said over the radio. "Maroon Squadron, cover the bombers!"

"Sullust to Maroon Leader-we can't hold on much longer! Hurry, dammit!" The naval officer on the other end of the comm line was getting panicked.

"We're on our way Sullust!" Harkson replied.

As the bombers turned the TIEs took the opportunity to open fire. One of the Y-Wings was hit and its port engine nacelle began smoking. The Flight Baron and their two escorts flew towards this Y-Wing, like predators separating a wounded animal from its herd. Commander Harkson growled and pursued them, firing again but still not managing to land a hit.

The three interceptors began firing but the bomber pilot had redirected all power to their rear deflector shields and the blasts failed to directly damage the Y-Wing. Commander Harkson knew they didn't have too much time left even with their shields. Again he fired and this time he did manage to graze part of the rightside escort TIE's wing.

"Almost got 'im!" Harkson shouted. His ship's astromech unit beeped in encouragement.

"Commander!" someone shouted over the radio. "This is Boom Eight! I can't shake 'em!"

Boom Eight-Tiberius Io, a (cisgender) male Vurk from the Outer Rim planet Garel. He was a skilled pilot who had flown for a long time. This was who the TIE interceptors were attempting to kill.

"Don't worry Eight, I got your back!"

The three squints fired on the Y-Wing again. Its shields still held, barely. Harkson gritted his teeth. He would not let this bomber get destroyed.

He fired a proton torpedo at the damaged TIE interceptor, but the Imperial fighter dodged and the torpedo zoomed off into space.

"Karrabast!" Harkson swore. These were very skilled pilots. He fired his cannons again, managing to clip the rightside TIE interceptor's wing. With this the leftside TIE interceptor suddenly turned around and headed straight for him! It began firing and Harkson didn't have the time to-

From behind Harkson someone fired on the approaching interceptor! It exploded instantly!

"I have your back, Commander!" Marcus Antilles shouted over the radio.

Harkson couldn't suppress a grin. "Nice rookie!"

"I'm already on my way to being an ace, sir!" Antilles cheered.

Five confirmed kills made a pilot an Ace-this was Antillies' first kill.

"We need to stop those squints from downing that wishbone!" Harkson said.

"Copy that Maroon Leader!" said Antillies.

The two of them chased after the pair of interceptors. Boom Eight's shields would not last much longer. The Flight Baron and the other squint had begun firing again.

They were nearing the Sullust and the HC-556 light cruiser now. In addition to the cruiser/carrier and some TIE fighters the two rebel ships were under attack from a pair of escort gunboats and a Gozanti-class cruiser. The rebel cruisers looked to be taking quite the beating.

"Maroon Leader to Maroon Two!" Harkson said into his radio.

"I copy, Maroon Leader!" Jsall replied over the comm.

"Jsall, take your flight and assist our cruisers. See if you can't knock one of those gunboats out while you're there."

"Copy that, Commander."

Jsall and his pilots flew away towards the cruisers. The rest of Maroon Squadron was hanging back to protect the slower bombers from the TIEs.

Boom Eight tried to dart to the left. As the Flight Baron and the other interceptor moved to follow, Harkson and Antilles fired their cannons. Harkson succeeded in clipping the Flight Baron's wing. The two squints fired on the Y-Wing again, but had to move to avoid another volley of lasers from Harkson and Antillies' X-Wings.

"We've almost got them, Maroon Six!" Commander Harkson said. "Fire torpedoes!"

He and Antillies launched proton torpedoes at the pair of interceptors. But before they hit-they were shot down and exploded!

"What the-!" Harkson exclaimed. His astromech warbled in alarm.

"Com-commander!" Antillies shouted over the comm. "Multiple eyeballs inbound!"

"Evasive action-now!" Harkson barked, though there was no need to give Antilles any such order as the young pilot had already begun his maneuvers the moment he spotted the TIEs. Harkson himself spun down and to starboard

"Power to the shields!" Commander Harkson ordered his astromech. "Now!"

His astromech raised Maroon One's shields just in the nick of time because then volley of lasers from the approaching TIE fighters-it had to be at least half a squadron's worth-hit his craft. Maroon One's shields held, though they were weakened severely.

(This was Major Darklancer's plan: while she pursued the damaged bomber that had been cut off from the main squadron, more TIEs would approach to drive off the fighters that inevitably would come to the bomber's rescue)

"Commander!" Tiberius Io shouted over the comm. "I can't-"

"We're on our way Boom Eight!" Commander Harkson yelled. "Antillies?"

"Sir!" Antillies affirmed.

"We're on our way!" Harkson repeated. "We're on our way!"

The two TIE interceptors fired again, striking Boom Eight.

"Commander-augh!" Tiberius' cry was cut short as his Y-Wing exploded.

The Flight Baron and their wingmate flew up and away.

In an act of enraged grief Harkson slammed his fist on the fighter canopy, swearing.

"Commander?" Marcus Antilles asked.

"Tiberius Io, callsign Boom Eight, killed in action." Harkson muttered. "That's the report. That's-" He swallowed. "Behind me, rookie! We're returning to the fleet!"

"Sir!" Marcus Antillies responded.

The two X-Wings flew towards the rest of Maroon and Boom Squadrons.

Boom Squadron had already begun targeting the attacking Imperial cruisers. The Tempest bombers moved quickly and evaded turbolaser fire as they launched missile volleys at the Gozanti-class cruiser. The X-Wings and Headhunters of Maroon Squadron dogfighted with the TIEs while the Boom Squadron Y-Wings fired at the escort gunboats.

Their cruisers weren't in good shape. The Corellian corvette was smoking while the HC mercenary cruiser looked like it had also taken a pretty serious beating from the Imperial ships.

Commander Harkson fired his cannons at a TIE fighter unfortunate enough to cross his path; his lasers impacted with the underbelly of its cockpit and he destroyed it in one hit.

"Boom Leader to Maroon Leader!"

"I copy Boom Leader,"

"We're attempting to clear a path. Requesting that your fighters back us up with torpedoes."

"Copy that, Eisenhower. Maroon Squadron-ignore the TIEs and target the imperial warships! Use proton torpedoes!"

"Copy that, Maroon Leader!" Jsall said.

"Copy that!" Marcus Antilles said.

"I copy, Maroon Leader!" said Maroon Eight, Neil Dustor, a (cisgender) human man from Uviuy Exen.

The rest of the squadron responded affirmatively as well.

Forming up behind Commander Harkson, they flew towards one of the escort gunboats.

"Fire!" Harkson shouted.

The starfighters of Maroon Squadron launched their proton torpedoes at the gunboat. The sheer number of torpedoes was enough to erode the Imperial gunboat's already-weakened shields. With its shields worn down, the torpedoes began impacting directly on its hull.

Commander Harkson swung Maroon One around and fired his cannons at the escort gunboat, then he fired another proton torpedo at it. That was enough-the whole ship exploded!

"Yes!" he said. "Sullust, Boom Leader, we've cleared a path! Hurry and jump to lightspeed!"

"Copy that, Maroon Leader!" said the bridge officer from the Sullust. Even with the Rebel forces having won the day, Harkson could still hear an edge in his voice.

As the Sullust and the light cruiser prepared to jump, several TIE interceptors came towards them. Harkson and his squadron flew towards the attacking squints, their cannons firing. As the TIEs broke formation to evade rebel fire, the cruisers jumped to hyperspace.

"All fighters, jump now!" Commander Harkson shouted.

As Maroon and Boom Squadrons made their jumps, Harkson let out his breath-he hadn't even realised he had been holding it in.

Despite the losses, the Battle of the Infkuenxe Nebula had ended in what was unambiguously a victory for the forces of the rebellion. Everything was proceeding according to Genral Fenwhudn's plan.

"Major Darklancer, the rebels have jumped to hyperspace." Senior Lieutenant Garavle said over the comm.

Beneath her helmet, Major Darklancer's features twisted into what was quite an ugly scowl.

"I see that," she grunted. "We're returning to the ship, Lieutenant. Have the hangar bays prepped."

"Major Darklancer…"

"Yes?"

"Vice Admiral Smith from Sector Command is requesting an update-what should I tell him?"

Darklancer growled.

"Bah!" she snapped. "Stall him, Lieutenant!"

"Major?"

"I will inform him of our defeat myself!"

It stung for her to admit out loud that that's what this was-a defeat. But Colonel Jag had always taught her that a true warrior did not shy away from acknowledging their failures as such-to deny that one had lost was to refuse to learn from your mistakes.

Her pilots should've been better than this. She had to correct whatever error had cost the Navy a victory.

"Y-Yes, ma'am."

The comm line went dead.

Major Darklancer slammed her fist down in frustration.

DAMN IT.

The corruption of the Dark Side of the Force had turned the planet Mustafar even more hellish than it originally was. The now-common geological shifts and storms were caused by the evil energies oozing from the castle of the Lord Darth Vader, master of the dreaded Imperial starfleet, chief enforcer of the Emperor's Will, and one of the strongest Sith Lords to ever terrorise the galaxy.

The Dark Lord's castle towered above the Gahenn Plains, a strong and big fortress of evil.

In his throne room Darth Vader sat, his back to the large floor-to-ceiling window which gave a sweeping view of the lava plains.

In front of Darth Vader were Admiral Ozzel of Death Squadron, General Veers of the Army, Commander Daine Jir of the 501st Legion, his attendant Vaneé, and Vaneé's protocol droid NI-L8. A holographic map of the galaxy was displayed between them and him, with major flashpoints, key systems, and fleet movements marked. Darth Vader and his inner circle regularly received briefings, given by Admiral Ozzel on behalf of the Joint Chiefs, on the state of the war.

"Rear Admiral Sleanon continues his pursuit of one of the main rebel attack fleets in the Mid Rim, while Admiral Meorti moves to secure the space around Eriadu in the Outer Rim," Admiral Ozzel said. "As you requested, I looked into the continuing unrest on Sullust and Tibrin. It proves a challenge but the local garrisons are confident they can handle it. 'Tis of no concern to us."

"You are certain, Admiral Ozzel?" Darth Vader asked.

"My Lord," Admiral Ozzel said with an air of indignation, "Minor rimworld disorder is of little concern to us."

"I would not dismiss such things so readily, Admiral Ozzel." said Commander Daine Jir. "The Rebel Alliance was originally nothing more than rimworld disorder itself, and with the guidance of just a handful of traitors hiding in the Imperial Senate it grew into a formidable challenge to Imperial authority over the Galaxy."

"Precisely why I want to ignore these minor uprisings. The rebel fleet must be destroyed to crush the symbol of defiance it represents. It of course is no real military threat to the Empire-"

Commander Jir scoffed. "No real military threat? Admiral, do not blindly regurgitate the words of the Coruscant propagandists. These rebels have caused widespread disruption in the Outer Rim before pushing deep into the Mid Rim."

"The Imperial Navy is invincible!" Ozzel rebutted furiously. "It-!"

"Admiral Motti shared your overconfident appraisal of the Empire's power," interrupted Darth Vader. "At Yavin it cost him his life."

Ozzel opened his mouth to protest but said nothing.

"As it would seem, the disorder on Tibrin and Sullust is of no concern to us." Darth Vader said. "Skywalker does not appear to be there."

No one disputed how Darth Vader knew this-all were used to his mastery of the Force.

"Lord," began Commander Jir. "Skywalker himself is not our main priority."

"We have discussed this, Commander." Darth Vader said. "The matter is settled." He turned back to face Ozzel. "Continue, Admiral."

Admiral Ozzel looked down at his datapad and after finding his spot, continued with the report. "Rebel spies on Kuat were arrested while attempting to sabotage the Imperial shipyard there. The civil war on Xof continues to progress towards an Imperial victory. General Adelhard reports Stormtrooper Corps recruitment is up. The Navy has been unable to track down the rebel force that took down one of our Star Destroyers near Ultaar, but-"

"There's been a lot of Rebel activity in that sector," remarked General Veers. Admiral Ozzel nodded before continuing with the briefing.

"They have been unable to track down those attackers, but Rear Admiral Sleanon is confident that his efforts to hunt down the main unit of the Rebel Fleet in the Mid Rim will also lead to the destruction of those units involved in the Battle at Ultaar." Admiral Ozzel coughed to clear his throat, then continued. "A Czerka Corporation factory in the Triewhal system was bombed by an as-yet-unidentified criminal element. Commander Befa reports that the mining operation on what's left of Jedha is slowly yielding results. A rebel spy escaped capture after being caught snooping around the Navy's base in the Validusia system. The Dark Pirate Brandon's crew is raiding fuel shipments in the Outer Rim, driving up prices for civilians. Saw Gerrera's Partisans raided a Navy convoy near Ryloth. Director Krennic says that the new Death Star's equatorial ring should be complete within another standard month, so long as people stop doubting his-"

"Director Krennic is prone to being melodramatic and pompous." snorted Vaneé.

"Regardless," said General Veers. "I can confirm the construction is proceeding apace. I was among a selection of ranking officers given a tour of the station's construction site in the Moddell sector. Director Krennic will deliver the weapon the Emperor desires."

"That is your professional opinion, General Veers?" Darth Vader asked.

Veers scoffed. "Not that I enjoy admitting it, but Director Krennic might be the only person capable of managing a project of this scale. He did it once before, after all."

"With several delays." noted Commander Jir.

"To be fair, that was mostly due to development issues with the original superlaser weapon." said General Veers. "Now that Dr. Erso's team is sure of what they're doing, there should be no issues with this iteration's superlaser."

Ozzel arched an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Continue, Admiral Ozzel." said Darth Vader.

Once again Admiral Ozzel looked down at his datapad to find his spot.

"Right..skirmishes around the planets Uyter and Lantillies suggest the Rebel push into the Mid Rim is heating up."

"If they're going to target major Mid Rim worlds we should go out to meet them." Commander Jir argued. "Take the 501st and Death Squadron and-"

"It could be a diversion," said General Veers. "Trying to draw our attention away from something else."

"Our priority is Luke Skywalker," said Darth Vader.

Admiral Ozzel looked down.

"Our priority should be the Rebel fleet, milord." said Commander Jir. "Skywalker-"

"Skywalker is the priority!" repeated Darth Vader.

"Lord Vader," said Commander Jir. "The Emperor himself has tasked you with locating and destroying the Rebel fleet. A single enemy pilot, even one as famed and dangerous as Luke Skywalker, should not take precedence."

It was a common misconception that Darth Vader took no counsel and anyone who talked back to him would find themselves executed.

In reality, Darth Vader welcomed sound advice and respected those brave enough to speak their mind-so long as what they said was worth the time it took to listen. No true Dark Lord of the Sith would suffer fools gladly, but even a Sith Lord could do to listen to wise counsel.

And Commander Daine Jir offered wise counsel.

A man as confident as he was cunning, Daine Jir had always said exactly what was on his mind. This did not endear him to his superiors early in his career but his grasp of strategy, firm devotion to the Empire, and reputation for success propelled him up the ladder. When Daine Jir became an officer of Lord Vader's 501st Legion, those who knew him remarked that his penchant for speaking out of turn gave him an even shorter life expectancy than most Imperial officers assigned under Darth Vader. It was therefore a great surprise to everyone except Jir and Vader themselves when the two developed an excellent working relationship. Initially merely intrigued by Jir's forwardness, Darth Vader had grown to respect his boldness and insight. When the previous commander of the 501st had failed him one time too many, Darth Vader considered Jir the natural replacement.

Commander Jir was one of the few who would regularly risk criticising Vader's goals and actions without fearing reprisal. When he disagreed with Vader, as he did now, he would not hold his tongue out of fear.

"Luke Skywalker is my priority." Darth Vader said. "I am prepared to deal with the Emperor's dissatisfaction myself. You need not concern yourself with that, Commander."

Commander Jir frowned but made no further protests.

After a quiet thirty or so seconds Admiral Ozzel realised Darth Vader wished him to continue reading the report.

"The final major item on the briefing the Joint Chiefs prepared for you is that Imperial Intelligence believes the Zann Consortium to be preparing a major operation of some sort, though details are sparse." Ozzel said.

The Zann Consortium was a young but powerful criminal cartel headed by the ruthless warlord Tyber Zann that had risen to galactic prominence in recent years. The Consortium had made a name for itself as a third major faction in the Galactic Civil War by successfully opposing the Empire, the Rebellion, the Hutt families, the scattered Mandalorian clans, Black Sun, the Tenloss Syndicate, the Mining Guild, Czerka Corporation, the Bounty Hunter's Guild, TaggeCo, the InterGalactic Banking Clan, and any other organisation unfortunate enough to find itself in Tyber Zann's crosshairs. The Zann Consortium possessed a sizable fleet under the command of Admiral Jerid Sykes, a former officer of the Republic Navy who had deserted after the end of the Clone Wars, and many gangs and crime families across the galaxy had sworn fealty to Tyber Zann.

"This is concerning," said General Veers. "Zann's ambitions are quite a thorn in the side of the Empire."

"Yes," said Commander Jir. He turned to Darth Vader. "I suggest we move to attack his holdings before he can put his plans in motion, Lord."

"Tyber Zann is a distraction." Darth Vader said.

"A 'distraction' who stands on even footing with the Hutt Cartel for control of the galactic underworld," retorted Commander Jir. Few men would dare talk back to the Lord Darth Vader, but Daine Jir possessed both confidence. Not arrogance mind you-no, what he had was true confidence.

"We need to move against him quickly," Jir continued.

"We are the Empire!" Admiral Ozzel said suddenly. "Lord Vader, we mustn't waste time on mere criminal gangs, no matter how powerful they may be."

"Just because the Empire is strong and big does not mean we can afford to overlook such things." Commander Jir replied.

"You're correct, Commander." said Darth Vader. He turned to Ozzel. "Admiral, prepare our fleet."

"Sir?"

"You will take Death Squadron to target Zann's associates in the underworld," Darth Vader said. "Kill his allies. Wipe out his power base."

Admiral Ozzel opened his mouth to protest but thought better of it, bowed to Vader, and swiftly left to return to the Executor.

"There's one other thing I believe you should be aware of, Lord." said Commander Jir.

"Earlier today I received a message from an academy mate of mine, Commander Friedgren." He paused for a moment before continuing. "He's currently attached to the Sector Command office in the Zoraster system's sector in the Outer Rim. They've recently experienced several rebel incursions."

"We're aware," said General Veers. "All commands were alerted."

"But Friedgren's on the ground." said Commander Jir. "He's seen what's really going on, not the story the reports are spinning. He told me the Zoraster sector's Imperial garrison was hit hard-rebel snubfighters attacked one of their main Army bases."

Despite the fact that Moff Irion wanted High Command to realise how urgent the situation was and agree to deploy more star destroyers and soldiers to his territory, General Forgus had downplayed what had occurred when he had gone to prepare the report to Coruscant. He had feared that having his name associated with the series of defeats would be detrimental to his career, and so omitted some details in order to lessen the gravity of the situation in the eyes of High Command.

"I see," said Darth Vader. "Remain in contact with Commander Friedgren and keep me apprised of the situation."

Daine Jir bowed. "Yes, Lord Vader."

Degul Outpost was built into a large asteroid in the Daral belt, a large asteroid field in the Zoraster sector's Kesbaisbs system on the edge of the Lesser Risoj Expanse. Originally a forgotten pirate hideout, a small rebel band under the command of the then-Colonel Fenwhudn had used Quarren mining droids to expand the tunnels into a proper base. Pre-Clone Wars defensive turrets had been installed and large freight containers had been dragged and attached to the asteroid in order to create modular expansions.

It was here that the Altor 14 attack force under Colonel Brucosl had sped to after the successful conclusion of their raid. The Sunspring and the two Wayfarer-class transports that carried the returning troops had landed in the main docking bay.

Docked with the station was a great winged military transport. This was an old C-9979 landing craft, one of three under General Fenwhudn's command. They had been used during the Clone Wars to ferry the dreaded war machines of the Separatist Alliance into battle against the mighty Grand Army of the Republic, and after the war's end many had fallen into private hands or the clutches of the major crime families, with some of them eventually winding up in the small naval forces of the Rebel Alliance.

Once Commander Harkson's starfighter forces had arrived at Degul Outpost he had proceeded directly to the command center, leaving Jsall and Captain Eisenhower to take charge of the squadrons' after-action debriefing.

In the command center were Colonel Jacques Brucosl, Major Reaches the Rice Slowly, and the outpost's C.O., Lieutenant Commander Darius Publicus Shan.

"Excellent work, Commander Harkson." said Colonel Brucosl. "An entire Imperial light cruiser, destroyed."

"You love to see it," remarked Major Reaches the Rice Slowly. He grinned.

"We took some losses." Harkson grimaced.

"Ships and pilots can be replaced," said Colonel Brucosl. "Though do be more careful, we can't wear down our starfighter forces too much. We can't affect the General's schedule, after all."

"What of the General? Was she able to retrieve the delivery?"

Lieutenant Commander Shan nodded. "Is what transpired, yes."

Commander Harkson folded his arms across his chest. "So what's our next move?"

"We'll be lying low for a few days," replied Colonel Brucosl.

"Good," said Commander Harkson. "My pilots need time to rest." And time to grieve. "Besides, our cruisers took a lot of damage in the battle." He frowned. "After that?"

"The General has some targets you're to go after," said Colonel Brucosl. "I'll be returning to Keilosren-Major Reaches the Rice Slowly will be taking charge." Harkson and Reaches the Rice Slowly nodded at each other.

"We'll be harassing Imperial patrols in the vicinity of the Dodz and Foe-Gosruuk systems; just light skirmishes, enough to keep them constantly on their toes. The hope is that the Empire will eventually move their bigger ships-perhaps even a Star Destroyers-out here to deal with us. With their attention out here…" He grinned. "We're hoping for an opening to hit the big Imperial base on New Syvris."

"And then?" Commander Harkson asked.

Major Reaches the Rice Slowly grinned even wider. "Then we go to do battle on the fourth moon of Ivort."

Vanessa was walking down a corridor near Degul Outpost's main hangar bay when she ran into that gunner who had served aboard the Sunspring at Altor 14.

"Hi!" he greeted her.

Vanessa paused and folded her arms across her chest-she noticed his eyes had glanced at her well-shaped breasts.

"Hello there," she said.

"Are you busy?" the gunner asked. "I was wondering if you wanted to-"

Vanessa smirked and held up a hand. "I'm going to stop you right there, hotshot."

The gunner pretended to look hurt.

"You aren't even giving me a chance!" he protested in mock-indignation. His smile revealed that he wasn't really hurt.

"I have a boyfriend," Vanessa replied.

It was true, she did.

"Oh!" the gunner said, raising an eyebrow. "A member of this rebel cell?"

Vanessa looked away. "Sort of."

In fact, Johnny wasn't a member of any rebel cell.

And to be frank, she wasn't really either.

She decided to change the subject. "I don't believe we know each other's names." she stretched out her hand. "I'm Vanessa."

The gunner grabbed her hand with his own and shook it.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Vanessa." He smiled. "Call me Monty."

In the Imperial Palace on Coruscant, Emperor Palpatine was in his private study. In front of him were his trusted confidantes Mas Amedda, Ars Dangor, and Sate Pestage. They were watching as he and the mysterious Fleet Admiral Gallius Rax played a game of shah-tezh. Palpatine's droid 11-4D sat in the corner near a bust of the ancient Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Jadus.

"I believe, my liege, that we should be concerned about some of those who serve you." Sate Pestage said. "Director Krennic's ambitions are a cause for concern, in my opinion. We also must watch Kren Blista-Vanee."

"Really?" the Emperor said. He arched an eyebrow and gave the three of them an enigmatic smile.

"When it comes to Krennic, Your Excellency," Sate Pestage began. "His ambition knows nothing of limits or restraint, and he makes no secret of his pathological need to climb as high as possible in the hierarchy."

"Orson Krennic has always been ambitious," scoffed Mas Amedda. "But he is loyal to the Empire and a capable administrator and engineer."

"We must watch him though," said Pestage. He scowled. "Do you remember Dodd Rancit's betrayal? Ambition will bring down any sort of Imperial officer."

"Krennic has had many opportunities to betray the Empire," Ars Dangor observed. "But he's never shown a hint of disloyalty."

"He would have reason though," Gallius Rax chimed in. "Governor Tarkin made it his mission to deny the good Director credit for building the Death Star."

"Aye, 'tis true," agreed Sate Pestage. "He may feel that he is not being recognised for his service to the Empire."

Emperor Palpatine moved a game piece on the shah-tezh board. Fleet Admiral Rax scowled, trying to figure out the best response to this move.

"What proof have you for this?" said Ars Dangor.

"All I'm saying is there's no harm in being suspicious." Sate Pestage replied.

At this Emperor Palpatine began laughing hard.

"Master?" Sate Pestage asked.

"Lord?" said Mas Amedda.

"Gentlemen, my friends…" the Emperor said slowly. "Have any of you heard The Tale of Jeelg the Guardsman?"

"I am familiar with it," Ars Dangor said. "Though I do not recall the specifics."

Rax moved a game piece a few spots forward on the shah-tezh board, capturing the piece Emperor Palpatine had moved in the last turn. He grinned smugly.

"Hmm," said the Emperor. "As the story goes, a man called Jeelg was a trusted servant of the ancient Sith Lords in the elder days, long before the final defeat of the old Sith and the rise of Darth Bane. He was to be rewarded for his skill in battle and leadership of the other minions of the Sith. He would become a great Captain of Kaas City, trusted with the security of the Sith dungeons and temples."

"What happened?" Sate Pestage asked. Emperor Palpatine looked at Fleet Admiral Rax.

"Galli?" he said. Gallius Rax nodded and stood up.

"The Sith minions who Jeelg commanded learned of their leader's great fortune and began preparations for a surprise party." Rax said. "To be recognized by their Sith masters was always a cause of much celebration." He started to laugh, then composed himself. "Jeelg noticed those he commanded were suddenly discreet around him and he became paranoid that he was about to be the victim of a mutiny. Fearing for his life Jeelg attacked them." Both Rax and the Emperor began laughing at this. Pestage, Amedda, and Dangor were all trying to process the tragic irony. Eventually Rax composed himself and continued. "As punishment for his error, the Sith Lords commanded Jeelg to take charge of the jungle patrols outside Kaas City's gates."

"Jeelg was cautious to the point of stupidity," growled Emperor Palpatine. "And it cost him dearly. He should've prepared himself and gone to efforts to determine if his underlings were plotting to revolt against him. Instead, he leapt to conclusions in a panic."

"I see," Sate Pestage said. "As always your wisdom eclipses the knowledge of all others, my master."

Emperor Palpatine did not say anything in response. Instead he merely stretched out his hand and shocked his three advisors with a blast of Force lighting. It lasted not even a second but it was long enough to leave all three men smarting for a good minute afterwards.

"And you see," Emperor Palpatine. "You will not even need to worry about betrayal if you're so strong and big that none can stand against you."

He smirked and turned back to the shah-tezh board. Picking up a piece, he moved it to capture an opposing piece far more valuable than the one Rax had captured from him. The Fleet Admiral's mouth fell open.

"Dank farrik," Rax swore.

"Language, Galli." said Emperor Palpatine. "Cussing does not befit a member of an Emperor's inner circle, you know."

"You know, Sate." Palpatine said. "You're not entirely wrong to be suspicious of others in the upper echelons of my Empire." He laughed. "But I assure you that all cabals plotting against me or who have designs that are different from mine own will be defeated in the end."

Degul Outpost had a small mess hall that served triple duty as a recreation center and briefing room. It was located in a large shipping container, one that had once been one of thousands carried aboard an old Herglic freighter that hauled cargo up and down the main trade routes in the decades before the Clone Wars.

The lead cook, a muscled Duros man named George who hailed from a mining colony in the Sluis sector, guarded his domain fiercely. While the apprentice cooks remained in the kitchen to wash the dishes in the evening George would sit in a corner of the combination lounge/mess hall ready to break up any fights or other disturbances that occurred in what he called his 'dining room'. George had a stun baton to use on those who would abuse their recreational privileges, though he would've preferred to discipline misbehaving personnel with his fists. However, after putting one of the late Lieutenant Obitn'Pa's men out of commission for two weeks with a single punch Lt. Commander Shan and the base's resident medic, Juthori, had forced him to agree to use a non-lethal baton to settle future disputes in order to placate a livid Obitn'Pa.

Lieutenant Obitn'Pa had wished for the cook to receive a formal reprimand, but Lieutenant Commander Shan had firmly refused.

Cooks were one of the most frequently overlooked essential members in any military service. Any General worth his rank badge would tell you couldn't fight with an army fed on just field rations. A good army cook was worth his weight in beskar, and then some.

Lieutenant Commander Shan was unwilling to risk offending his skilled chef.

The mess hall's serving bar was located just right to the cafeteria door; behind it was a set of swinging double doors leading to the kitchen. There were eight tables, arranged in two rows of three, in the room. Each could seat ten people, giving the mess hall's main dining tables a capacity of eighty.

There were a few more green chairs and smaller tables scattered here and there, as well as a small and mostly empty bookshelf, a viewscreen with a movie player hooked up to it, a dejarik table with a few stools around it, and a second shelf with board games and three holovids-a copy of the famed Pantoran drama The Patient, the classic Tarisan comedy The Bubble Skit, and a (fairly dull, according to general consensus) nature documentary called Varn, World of Water.

Degul Outpost was the home base of the unit Mosk belonged to. Late in the ''evenings" (Degul Outpost operated under a standard 24-hour day/night schedule despite not having a proper orbital rotation) Mosk liked to go into the mess hall/recreation room, when it was mostly empty, and sweep up.

Technically speaking one squad was on cleanup duty each night, but most evenings they were too busy with training and the chef George, out of spite, refused to clean the room for them-his job was only affected if the kitchen was messy. Lieutenant Commander Shan and the base's other ranking officers had a small stateroom near the command centre, so it did not affect them if the mess hall was not cleaned each night and therefore they took no action against the squads who skipped cleaning duty.

The evening after the Battle of the Infkuenxe Nebula was Mosk's first night back in Degul Outpost since the skirmish in Mann City. He had retrieved the broom, dustpan, bucket, vibro-mop, plastic bucket, and electromagnetic duster from the cleaning closet.

At that late hour the mess hall was mostly empty, save for a few. Of course George was watching in his usual spot. Two of the base's hangar mechanics-an Ishi Tib named Roy Bijuto and Human woman whom Mosk only knew by sight-were in the back, quietly playing a game of shogi. And sitting alone at a table, quietly reading a book, was that young freighter pilot Coryn Polo.

Mosk began to sweep the floor.

He had not really had time to process the events in Mann City. Lieutenant Obitin'Pa was dead. Coleman Retep was dead-having been killed while under Mosk's command. Quayle was dead-or so Mosk had thought before Captain Zhal said they'd rescued him.

Dealing with all of that was not easy. Mosk was beating himself up far more than he should've been-he had, at least in the opinion of both myself and his superior officers, performed admirably during the skirmish in Mann City. His leadership had ensured their escape and that the datacard made it to General Fenwhudn. It was not his fault that Coleman Retep had been killed in the spaceport.

Mosk had finished sweeping down near the serving counter. Once he was done sweeping the entire room then he would mop it down.

He again looked over at Coryn Polo.

"What are you reading?" Mosk asked him, loud enough so that Polo could hear him from a couple tables away but not so loud he was shouting and disturbing the rest of the room.

Coryn Polo looked up and angled the book so Mosk could see the title.

"It's about the Stark Hyperspace War," said Coryn Polo. "One of the big conflicts before the Clone Wars began."

"That was, uh, when the Trading Federation attacked the Naboolians, right?" Mosk frowned. "I didn't pay enough attention in history class as a kid."

"What? Er, no, not at all." Coryn Polo said, looking confused. "It involved the Trade Federation but this was a good many years before they invaded Naboo. They are totally different wars! How could you mix them up?"

Coryn Polo-that is to say, Ferb-had only been confused as to how Mosk had mixed up something very clear to him. He hadn't meant anything beyond confusion, but sadly Ferb was not socially adept enough to realise how rude his response actually was.

Mosk was irritated a little bit by what to him seemed like quite a rude response from Coryn Polo.

"I-"

"Sergeant Mosk!"

As Mosk went to retort, he was interrupted by someone loudly calling his name. He and Coryn Polo both turned.

At the door to the mess hall was a rebel trooper, dressed in the blue tunic, black vest, and white helmet that had originally been used by Alderaanian militiamen before becoming the common uniform of rebel soldiers across the Alliance.

The soldier was a light-skinned human man, with red hair beneath his helmet. Mosk knew him-this was Corporal Parker, a security officer stationed at Degul Outpost.

"Corporal?" Mosk asked.

"Sergeant, you are ordered to report to the command center, to." Corporal Parker said. "Major Reaches the Rice Slowly requests your presence."

Mosk set the broom down. "Understood."

"He waits you there," Parker said.

The Major and the Sullustan officer Lieutenant Ran'o were waiting for Mosk.

"Ah, Sergeant." said Major Reaches the Rice Slowly. He smiled at Mosk but did not get up to stand. "Welcome."

"Sergeant," Lieutenant Ran'o said politely.

Mosk saluted crisply. "Sirs."

Major Reaches the Rice Slowly was a dark-skinned and bearded human man of average height who possessed what was a very normal name. His brown hair was not cut particularly short, but the Major managed to keep it neatly combed enough. His eyes were coloured a dark brown which matched his hair. Major Reaches the Rice Slowly's father had been a foundry engineer on the shipyard planet Rendili, but his support of the Separatist-affiliated provisional government that had overthrown the legitimate planetary government during the Clone Wars lead to their family being persecuted by the Galactic Empire. Reaches the Rice Slowly had known Imperial injustice from a young age.

"I'll make this quick." Major Reaches the Rice Slowly said. "You're being promoted to Lieutenant."

"Sir-?!" Mosk blurted. "Major, I-"

"We're in need of capable people, Lieutenant Mosk. Congratulations on your promotion." Major Reaches the Rice Slowly said. Lieutenant Ran'o handed Mosk a small silver plaque with a single red dot on it-the standard rank insignia badge across the Rebel Alliance for those of lieutenant rank. Mosk silently took the rank plaque and affixed it to the left breast pocket on his uniform.

"I-" Mosk began again but again Major Reaches the Rice Slowly interrupted him.

"You've been on command's radar for a while, Lieutenant Mosk." The Major said. "We were impressed by how you took charge and got our people out safely back in the Mubon system after Obitn'Pa was, uh, taken out of action."

He committed suicide, you mean. Mosk thought.

"That's why you were attached to the commando team for the raid on Altor 14." the Major continued. "We wanted Captain Zhal to have a chance to see you in action so he could give unto us his take on your skills. He was genuinely impressed, which is something rare of-something fare-something rare for him, I assure you Lieutenant."

Major Reaches the Rice Slowly kept deliberately referring to Mosk as "Lieutenant" in order to emphasize to him that he now possessed a new rank.

"I'm not sure I'm the right being for the job," Mosk replied. He was understating his self-doubt. He blamed himself for Retep's death. And there were other things too…

Mosk removed a small, silver sphere from his coat.

"A grenade?" Coryn Polo said.

"Close." Mosk replied. "An EMP grenade. One of these will disable that whole cohort's blasters and those security droids. Lieutenant Obitn'Pa and I were each given one before the mission."

"Why not a regular grenade?" Coryn Polo asked. "That seems like it would be more useful than a device that simply disables technology."

"Fair." Mosk said. "But the Lieutenant said that it wouldn't be good to be caught with thermal detonators or the like on our person if the police decided to search us. These are still suspicious, but won't immediately raise alarms the way explosives would. Secondly, EMP grenades cause a lot less collateral damage than regular grenades. And in a populated urban area…"

"Makes sense." Coryn Polo conceded. "But why didn't you or the Gran use yours back in the plaza?"

Mosk frowned. "In the chaos I kind of forgot about it. Lieutenant probably did the same. There wasn't much of an opportunity to use it, except for maybe that group we dealt with just before we escaped."

"Why didn't you remember it back then?" Coryn Polo asked angrily. Mosk's frown deepened. "We were lucky to escape the plaza! Anything else that we could've thrown at them would've helped immensely!"

Hell, half the reason they had all made it out of that plaza in the first place was because of Quayle volunteering himself as a sacrifice to distract the stormtroopers.

As it turned out, Quayle had survived and been taken prisoner. Captain Zhal's team, who had been aboard the second shuttle for dispatch to some secret mission, went and rescued Quayle.

Thinking about that gave Mosk pause.

Just where in the heck was Quayle now? Was he doing okay?

Night had fallen over that part of Keilosren.

In an isolated surgical bay in the rebel fortress Quayle lay in a bed, unconscious and hooked up to a multitude of life support systems. The skirmish in Mann City had injured him much more than his Imperial captors had first thought when they treated him, and after his rescue by Captain Zhal he had required emergency medical treatment.

The room was dark. The only noise was the steady beeping of the heart monitor and hum of the life support. General Philoswa T. Fenwhudn sat there, stoically watching the sleeping Quayle's chest rise and fall with each breath he took.

"It's all ready Quayle," she said aloud. "I have all my pieces on the game board now."

Quayle did not answer of course. Even if he was awake, talking would have been hard-and it would be hard for the rest of his days, for Quayle had cut off his tongue back on Ivort 4.

That was fine. General Fenwhudn only needed to speak.

Quayle was the last surviving member of the motley crew which had been both her original rebel cell and her second family. He never showed much interest in a leadership role and seldom behaved like a proper soldier, so she had just kept him by her side. Quayle made for a good confidant, she'd found, and a damn good friend.

"It's strange," General Fenwhudn said. "I thought when this step was reached I would feel more trepidation, that I would experience more self-doubt." She chuckled. "But no, I'm fully confident."

Quayle, of course, did not stir.

"There's no turning back now," Fenwhudn muttered. "Like Darth Revan after the Battle of Foerost, I have passed o'er the brink." She slowly got up to stand. "Goodnight, Quayle."

She turned and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Get better soon please."

I would say I'm fairly happy with how this chapter turned out! Though I will say I wish it had not taken so long to write, but ah well :| The next chapter is already coming along nicely so there shouldn't be a great gap between this one and the next one. I'm setting a 10,000 word minimum for each chapter to ensure I get enough done in each one. I'd like to post that chapter on September fifth, which will be the sixth anniversary of when I posted the first chapter of Tales from the Rebellion all the way back in fucking 2016.

I'm tryna get better at moving plot points along faster, so things don't slow down quite so much. Sometimes I worry this is approaching One Piece's levels of pacing, heh. :P

Also, writing scenes of space warfare is fun. Real fun.

A few notes on the content of this chapter:

-Historical names: In real life there's a tradition of naming people after historical figures-this is a reason why some names become embedded in culture and stay popular while others fade. I've adopted this practice for some characters in Tales of the Rebellion-namely two Duros who've appeared in the past couple chapters. Banu Jonium, the police officer from Mann City, is named after (both by me out-of-universe and by his parents in-universe) the Duros hyperspace explorer Banu Hydia, for whom the hyperspace route known as the Hydian Way was named after according to the 2009 Jason Fry and Daniel Wallace reference book The Essential Atlas (something, by the way, I wholeheartedly recommend purchasing). Ixgil Gurhos, the Duros shuttle pilot from this chapter, shares his name with a Duros citizen of Taris in the opening of Knights of the Old Republic who stands up to a Sith trooper and pays for it with his life-it's possible he could be named after a man who is mentioned in Revan's journals as resisting the tyranny of the Sith, or it's equally possible that the name 'Ixgil' is just a common name among the Duros species.

-Commander Daine Jir is the Imperial officer speaking to Darth Vader about the likelihood Leia will not divulge any information during the scenes aboard the Tantive IV at the opening of A New Hope. His frank nature towards Vader is at odds with Vader's low tolerance for insubordination and incompetence that would later be established, so E.U. Material has long held that Commander Jir was a capable officer who impressed Vader with his openness and intelligence, much to the surprise of his fellows.

-General Fenwhudn's 'Battle of Foerost' remark: this is my attempt to create a Star Wars version of the phrase 'crossing the Rubicon', which refers to passing a point of no return. Given that Julius Caesar does not exist in the world of Star Wars, nor does Rome nor does the Rubicon, a new historical/cultural reference was needed. The Battle of Foerost from the Jedi Civil War seemed to me like an excellent choice. The Battle of Foerost was the opening battle of the Jedi Civil War, where Darth Revan and Darth Malak led their fleets to attack a Galactic Republic shipyard world, Foerost, in the Core Worlds; they delt serious damage to the navy of the old republic and announced to the galaxy that they were Dark Lords of the Sith bent on galactic conquest. While Lords Revan and Malak had already fallen to the dark side (in the case of the latter, irreversibly) this was the wider galaxy's first exposure to this. Hence, the Battle of Foerost could be considered a "point of no return" much like Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon is in real life.

-Nar Shaddaa's history as described here is pretty much essentially what happened in the Star Wars Legends continuity. In ancient times the Evocii species lost their world to the Hutts and were then enslaved to turn the moon into the urban shithole Nar Shaddaa. 'Tis pretty horrid, basically like if instead of just expelling native tribes to reservations the US government instead exiled them all to the state of California and then enslaved them wi the intention of turning Cali it into a massive golf course for rich white people.

-The meeting between The Blonde Woman and The Yellow Devil on Nar Shaddaa is deliberately vague but everything there has a meaning behind it tying into the larger myth arc of Tales from the Rebellion.

-Jeelg is a character from the MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic. An officer of the Sith Empire's Imperial Army, he was promoted and did attack the soldiers serving under him when paranoia made him mistake celebration preparations for a potential mutiny. It would seem that an account of his career has entered into Sith lore as a cautionary tale about being too paranoid, heh.

-Monty, the gunner, is indeed Major Hologram's son and the Star Wars counterpart to Monty Monogram

Originally posted Monday August 22, 2022.