A/N: It's now time for the first Rebel perspective, because when your best fighter squadron is captured on a routine scouting run, you notice. But what will the Rebels do as a result?
Central Hangar, Home One, in orbit over Ryloth
Princess Leia Organa pinched the bridge of her nose as she read the latest intelligence the Rebellion's officers had gathered, while overseeing the shuffling of new supplies they'd recently acquired. For some unknown reason, Death Squadron was going to be on the prowl, after one of its latest Captains, Firmus Piett, had been assigned to Executor for reasons unknown. She knew it was only a matter of time before they isolated their position and, with no base to flee to, they would stand no chance, forces decimated as they were after the disaster at Mako-Ta.
As she thought about the utter devastation Death Squadron had raged on the shipyard, and Luke's formation of Rogue Squadron in order to cover the Alliance retreat and grant some much needed morale, the princess-cum-senator found herself wondering just where Rogue Squadron was. Even with their annoying habit of not reporting in on certain missions until they were already done, for an expedition like the one they'd been on, they'd expected a report some hours ago, and yet none had come. In a small corner of her mind, she prayed that Luke had merely let the report slip his mind, but most of her already knew the truth: they'd either been stranded, or worse, captured, likely by the very same Captain Piett now in command of Executor.
At the very least the Twi'lek resistance on Ryloth had managed to truly, finally wrest control from the remaining Imperial forces, lending the Alliance a much-needed staging ground. It was certainly not viable for a permanent base, of course, but any forays into the southeastern Rim would be well-served by the supply stations that the Imperials had left behind. Indeed, it was one of these very supply runs that was the reason the Rebel fleet was in the system: They were gearing up to find a new location, one far away from Death Squadron, which was likely scouring the southern Rim, eliminating threats, even as the Alliance loaded crates of foodstuffs, weapons, and ammunition.
One of the ships aiding in the resupply was the Millennium Falcon, seeing as Han Solo had decided, a little off-handedly, that his debts to Jabba could probably wait a little longer. Well, so long as he didn't run into any particularly zealous bounty hunters. The battered yet brilliant YT-1300 was a welcome sight, one that kept Leia at ease even as she found her thoughts drifting back to Luke.
Realizing though, that she had better mention their presence before people started asking some major questions, she decided to order an impromptu meeting of Rebel high command. She didn't know why, but she had a feeling their time over Ryloth was due to end quite soon…
Primary Briefing Room
Leia watched as the rest of Alliance high command trickled into the room: her friend and fellow senator Mon Mothma, the brilliant Admiral Gial Ackbar, a recent recruit to the Rebels after Mon Cala, the gruff, if generally well-intentioned General Crix Madine, the stern General Carlist Rieekan, as well as Cham Syndulla and his daughter, and overall commander of the Phoenix Cell, General Hera Syndulla, together with Ahsoka Tano and Commander Rex. Leia's mind, again, drifted back to Mako-Ta, where the cruiser Yavin's Hope, carrying much of the command staff instrumental at Yavin, had been utterly annihilated by the overwhelming firepower of Executor, which up until then had only been a rumor. She sighed, and merely hoped all those deaths had not been in vain.
Once the room was sealed, she linked the datapad she'd received to the holoprojector, and began explaining their situation.
"As of 5 hours ago, Rogue Squadron has been declared MIA, last known coordinates somewhere within Greater Javin, reportedly engaging an Imperial task force of some kind. About two hours after that, Captain Firmus Piett, formerly of Accuser, was transferred to Executor. Records are spotty past this point, but I think we all know what this means." She paused, fighting herself to say it, until finally she spat it out. "Commander Skywalker, and the rest of Rogue Squadron, has been captured."
Almost immediately the room descended into chaos, though Mothma eventually managed to temper the shouting by cutting through the uproar to ask Leia, "What would you have us do?"
"Scatter the moment we're fully restocked," Leia sighed, cursing silently that this was their only option. "I'd bet Vader's fleet is tearing its way towards us as we speak, and I will not see another Mako-Ta so soon after we recovered from that disaster. Once we're separated, do not communicate until we are absolutely certain Vader is no longer following us, even if Vader finds you. If even one of us breaks, the entire Alliance fails outright, and we doom the galaxy to eternal tyranny."
The others steeled themselves, knowing that it would be the only way the Alliance survived. Still, Ahsoka put forth an… interesting idea. "Do you suppose a rescue would be viable?"
Leia shook her head. "An extraction from a normal Star Destroyer, certainly, but it is almost impossible that Luke is not being held aboard Executor. Any mission directly to Vader's flagship would be doomed before it even left our hangars. We just have to hope the Rogues can maneuver themselves out of their situation as best they can."
Rex had to smile at that. "If Luke's anything like his father, I'd say there's plenty he'll be able to do to leave. Besides, Artoo's with him, and that droid's got enough gumption in him to tear Coruscant to pieces, I'd bet."
"We can only hope," Leia nodded. "In any case, Admiral, Generals, what have our other scouts determined about viable systems for a permanent base?"
General Madine pulled up a report, seeing as this was primarily his domain, and explained. "Well, while I would normally not suggest any world that previously had a major outpost on it, I personally believe Rishi may prove a fairly viable location for a long-term base: After its primary raison d'être was… relocated, the structures there were abandoned, and there hasn't been much of an Imperial presence in the sector since."
Rex tensed up at the mention of Rishi: he remembered that day, early in the Clone Wars, when he'd traveled with Commander Cody to inspect the outpost, and in so doing, recruited two of his best troopers, Fives and Echo. Silently, he wondered where Echo was now. Then, realizing he likely had the most pertinent knowledge of Rishi as a base, he spoke. "General, if you're intent on settling at Rishi, I would suggest settling quite far from the previous outpost: there's always the likelihood its sensors are still active and in tune to Imperial frequencies, and one would need to reconstruct the landing pad, in any case. The cave systems about a hundred klicks south should be a fairly quiet locale… as long as you remove all the eels."
"Eels?" asked Madine, as many of the others also raised eyebrows.
"Yes, eels," Rex nodded. "Killed one myself back in the day, after a routine inspection suffered a droid incursion. It's also why the original landing pad got torn up… it got blown to hell that night."
"Fascinating story behind that event, I'm sure," said Madine, steering the conversation back on track. "In any case, thank you for the recommendation; I hadn't realized you'd ever been to Rishi."
"Was a long time ago, sir," Rex admitted. "A long time ago, in a simpler time."
With that, General Rieekan asked, "I suppose we should call a vote on this matter? Or should we look into a few other locations?"
"Unfortunately, my suggestions are probably all directly on Death Squadron's warpath," said Hera. General Rieekan, any reason you're not sharing yours?"
"My recommendations were in the Anoat sector, I'm afraid," sighed the general. "Unfortunately, given recent events…"
"…They are no longer viable," Leia finished. "Very well, we shall call a vote. All in favor of Rishi?" Of the 7 voters, (Mothma and Cham Syndulla abstained, the former not being much of a strategist and the latter technically not an Alliance member) 5 agreed, with Ahsoka and Rieekan voting no. "Alright, it would seem that, if we do escape Vader, we'll be moving to Rishi. Any questions?" There were none. "Then let's get to it. Meeting adjourned." With that, the projector shut off, the door opened, and the Rebel commanders filtered out of the room to return to their previous tasks.
As Leia began walking back to the hangar, however, she realized that maybe, just maybe, Ahsoka's idea had, well, something to it. They'd need to be very discrete about it, but she figured that with the right people she might be able to sneak aboard and stage a breakout. It'd be tough, yes, but not necessarily impossible: after all, she'd managed to get off the Death Star with just Luke, Han, Chewbacca, and Obi-Wan… relatively unscathed. Something told her that if she got just the perfect team together, they'd be able to infiltrate and extract the Rogues without too much retaliation, at which point they'd be home free, probably with a new Imperial craft to work with.
Cell Block Aurek-Varys-16, Executor
The whole cell block was on alert when a decorated TIE pilot, the cream of the crop of the Academy, entered, and ordered the Rogues out of their cells. As he looked over them, he had to scoff. "These are the Rogues, are they? Evidently Lord Vader still outflies all of you six ways from Centaxday. In any case, I am Baron Colonel Soontir Fel, commander of the 181st Imperial Fighter Wing, and leader of Saber Squadron, the Empire's best pilots, bar Vader and Black Squadron."
At this, Hobbie froze. Unfortunately, the Baron took notice, and turned directly to the Rogues' resident comedian, and gave him a once-over. Fel, who had never quite forgotten that day on the Rand Ecliptic, said, voice stern with clear annoyance, "Derek Klivian. It seems we meet again. How has serving this ragtag group of misfits treated you?"
Hobbie, having spent the last few years among friends and slightly more… patient superiors floundered, before Tycho stepped in.
"Colonel Fel," he said, "My fellow cadet never learned discipline, still hasn't, apparently."
"And you are?" Fel put forward, still placing the face to a name.
"Tycho Celchu, sir," admitted the man. "I believed in the Empire until they annihilated Alderaan: it was there I saw it for the corrupted shamble it truly was."
Fel considered this, and realized there was some truth to Tycho's statement, but continued on with the statement he'd intended to make: "Well, your thoughts on the Empire aside, Lord Vader has deigned to assign all of you to a new squadron: the Reapers. Personally I do not see the benefit but I have seen enough of your performance to know that, at the very least, you will not immediately perish."
For a few moments the Rogues stared at Fel, and each other, utterly baffled. Zev, as Rogue 2, and therefore acting commander, eventually said, "We're… not going to be executed? Or sent to a work camp? By Vader's order?"
Fel sighed, and nodded. "That is correct. I imagine that wherever Commander Skywalker is, Lord Vader is giving him the same briefing as I am, seeing as he will still be your commander. Reportedly the two have… bonded, in a way."
Wedge scoffed. "Bonded? Luke and Vader? Fat chance. Vader's forces got his aunt and uncle killed, Vader murdered his father, and they've fought against each other multiple times!"
"Lord Vader can be rather… convincing," said Fel. "In any case, those are his orders. I expect all of you within your assigned quarters by 1800, and it is currently…" he glanced at his watch, a gift his wife had gotten for their anniversary some weeks ago, "1740. If you are not there at the designated time, you will be treated as prisoners and contained accordingly." With that, the baron left, and the Rogues ran to find their new barracks. And wasn't that something, the best pilots the Rebels had, assigned to Executor of all ships? With no time to ponder that, however, they simply ran.
Skywalker Quarters
Luke blinked his eyes open and glanced around, noticing the holopad and plate set out on the table next to him. Clambering up into a proper sitting position, he took a bite of the bantha sandwich he'd been offered, a sip of the authentic Tatooine blue milk, and read the holopad, which only served to confirm his worst fear ever since hearing the stunning revelation only a short while prior: Genetic sampling by one of Vader's personal medical droids confirmed the Dark Lord was his father, but seemingly as a consolation prize, Luke would still remain in command of a squadron… only an Imperial one, which didn't sit right with him in the slightest. Luckily, the Rogues would be with him, but something told him that this assignment had much more to it than meets the eye. As he scrolled through the rest of the details of his new command, he read a final notice at the very bottom that stated that he would be granted the use of his lightsaber if, and only if, he agreed to train with Vader in lightsaber combat and Force usage. There was some vague threat about the Emperor destroying him if the two attempted to fight the man without Luke being properly trained, but Luke knew he would never train with the Sith Lord in the Dark Side, for that is what he would do.
In any case, he put on his uniform, noting the time and realizing he was due to form up with his squadron, the Reapers, at 1800, and headed out of his sealed quarters. Or, well, he was about to, when out of nowhere he heard some utterly indignant beeps coming from down the hall. Knowing it could only be Artoo, he ventured over to where he'd heard the incensed droid's angry whoops and realized Vader was with him, and, bizarrely, Artoo seemed to… recognize him?
"Lord Vader, what are you doing with my droid?" he asked, stepping inside the… workshop, it would seem. And wasn't that strange, that Vader was a tinkerer. Likely came with the suit.
"Son," Vader said, and there was that word again, notably with… exasperation, "When did you first come upon R2-D2?"
"A little before I rescued Princess Leia from the Death Star, why?" asked Luke.
"Well, it would appear someone ordered he keep quiet on some very key information," Vader said, clearly annoyed at… whoever that was. "Namely, that I owned him for some time."
"Artoo was your droid!?" Luke shouted. "When?"
"Initially he was your mother's, just one of her Royal Starship's retinue," Vader reminisced. "During the Clone Wars your mother and I exchanged our droids; she granted me Artoo, whilst I gave her C-3PO, which my networks state that you have interacted. Quite frequently."
"Why would you give her Threepio?" asked Luke, knowing there was only one Threepio that Vader could possibly be talking about. "What, did you build him or something?"
Vader… chuckled. "Indeed, my son, at the tender age of 9, still a slave in a Tatooine junkyard."
Luke's jaw dropped. "OK, that is complete and utter bantha poodoo… you did not build that nattery golden fusspot. I mean, I like him, don't get me wrong, but that was you!?"
Vader nodded. "That is correct. In any case, Artoo was rather… livid about that particularly memory block, something to do with a particular code instated by one Bail Organa. As his previous owner and father to his current owner, I triggered an access code that restored full memory. He has been lecturing me about, in his view, 'poor decisions regarding operational capacity,' ever since."
"OK then…" Luke groaned. "Anyway, I'd like to talk to you about this new… Reaper Squadron, and why you decided to form it. You didn't need to, but you clearly pulled some strings and made it happen."
"There is a quite simple explanation for that, son," Vader replied. "As a Skywalker, I know you have the urge within you to fly, as I always did. And as my son, I would not stand to see you languish in a dull officer's position when you and I could stand to rule the galaxy as father and son, starting with leading the forces of the Empire from the cockpit of a starfighter. You proved your ability numerous times, as well, so I am confident you and your friends will succeed."
Luke sighed, realizing Vader was, impossibly, correct. He did want to fly, and he knew it. "Can I at least know what sort of fighters I'm dealing with? Because I'm not taking a TIE."
"Unfortunately given this is an Imperial vessel, you will take your TIE and like it," Vader countered. "However, I have deigned to make your vessels TIE Defenders; while the project was scuttled after the events on Lothal, enough viable prototypes remain for a squadron."
Luke shuddered, remembering some of the tales Phoenix Squadron had had regarding their fights with skilled pilots in Defenders. "We'll put them to good use… father," he said tentatively.
Vader looked up. "So you accept the truth, now?"
"I have accepted the truth that you were once Anakin Skywalker, my father. All these chances you've given me have proved that. Whether you still are…" Luke trailed off.
"That is immaterial," Vader stated. "You have dallied here long enough. Get to your newest assignment before I have someone else fill in for you; aboard the Executor there are a myriad loyal men and women who would gladly take your position."
Luke nodded, and stepped back out, leaving Artoo to go back to his shouting match with Vader. He smiled at that: Good to know Artoo was on his side, still.
A/N: And now Reaper Squadron has fully formed, and the Rebels are rendezvousing at Rishi! Bet you didn't expect that. But what will happen when Death Squadron appears at Farstine only to realize the Rebels are not there? Well, let's just say things are going to get very interesting, very soon.
In other news, Luke and the gang are in TIE Defenders, which are some of the coolest fighters in Star Wars. They'll be sure to wreak plenty of havoc with those, but against what targets?
