Chapter 5

Ahsoka and her team had been training almost constantly for the past 5 weeks. The other 6 were already in tune with one another, but with Ahsoka as their new member they had to change strategies.

It took a while to figure out how this would work best now. Which role Ahsoka would take in this small team. What was obvious from the start was the fact that Ahsoka had a lot of battle training and was a master strategist. That led them to giving Ahsoka a leading position quite quickly.

At first Ahsoka didn't want to take it. These people had been together for a while now, and she came in only recently and was put in a commanding position. Everyone assured her it was fine, though. Especially Deo, having been in the army and all. He knew Ahsoka, as a former Jedi, would be perfect for her new position as leader. Or co-leader to be exact. Lorey was still leader of the team as well.

=O=

Right now, Ahsoka was sparring with Jax and Thea. They were all using training swords – also known as wooden sticks according to Ahsoka – not lightsabers, much to her chagrin, but that was to be expected. This wasn't the Order. They didn't have training sabers.

Ahsoka got used to the 'training swords' quite easily though. Fighting with a real sword was very much the same as fight with a lightsaber. She didn't want to brag, but she was totally winning against Jax and Thea. They were skilled, sure, but she had been trained in many different forms of lightsaber combat. She could implement all of them in this sparring session.

In fact, Ahsoka was that good, that they decided it would be two against one. Jax and Thea had been given a little time to prepare a strategy to attack Ahsoka while she planned one of her own.

Suddenly Jax and Thea got back up and circled around her. Ahsoka got up and ready, holding her dual sticks up in defensive position. They charged at her from opposite sides, planning to overwhelm her.

Ahsoka, having sparred with Anakin and Obi-Wan at the same time on occasion, knew how to block the attack. She put one stick high and one low to block both attacks and pushed them back. Not with the Force. They'd made the rule that she wouldn't use the Force during the sparring session, only if it was explicitly asked.

Both assailants were sent back a few steps and Ahsoka quickly scanned their stances to see who she could attack first. Jax recovered first, and she charged at him, one stick at the ready. She brought her stick down once she was in range and he blocked her. They exchanged several blows before she saw an opening and floored him using her other stick.

Then she turned around just in time to block an attack by Thea. Jax was more head on and full of strength, much like Anakin had been when they used to spar way back when. Thea, on the other hand, preferred a quick and swift attack, like Ahsoka herself. It almost seemed like they danced around each other. Exchanging blows only occasionally while constantly trying to get the other to fall.

In the end it was Jax that got Ahsoka to the ground. While Ahsoka made to attack Thea, he got his foot in her way and she tripped. She quickly recovered by rolling out of the way of the quickly descending stick of Thea, and in her move tripped her with one of her own sticks, swiping it low past her ankle. She quickly got up in a crouching position and held her stick at Thea's throat. Jax made to attack but Ashoka saw an opening at his stomach and pointed her other stick there. This move rendered both of her opponents useless and they were at a standstill. It was obvious who had won the fight.

Yet, before one of them could comment on it, Lorey came into the training room.

"Good, you're done. We have a mission." She held out a datapad.

Ahsoka quickly got up and helped Thea get up as well. They put away their training swords and made their way over to Lorey. Ahsoka was the one who took the datapad.

"The Empire is enslaving Wookiees from Kashyyyk? Why?" she asked as she handed the datapad over to Jax who then began reading it.

"From what we know it's for a secret project. They apparently need the manpower. And who better to use than Wookiees." Lorey shrugged.

Ahsoka saw the logic behind the situation, but of course she didn't agree. But she was also a little excited. Her first mission since joining the rebellion. Her first act of doing right by the Galaxy.

=O=

Lorey said they would depart in an hour and everyone left to prepare for the mission. Lorey also said they would be talking about the plan on the shuttle.

Ahsoka made her way to her quarters – she had her own living space now. She was so thankful – to get the stuff she would need for this mission. She changed out of her training outfit and put on the gear she'd kept of her fight on Mandalore.

She hadn't touched this outfit in 5 years, but it was needed now. This was the best battle outfit she had. Her other, quickly throw together refugee outfit, wasn't something she'd want to fight in, to be honest.

Ahsoka looked at herself in the reflection of a window. She saw her old self, 5 years ago, ready to fight again after having a year to reflect on herself. She remembered being excited to be important again. To see Anakin again…

Ahsoka turned away in pain. That was the past. This was a new situation. A new era in her life.

She hooked her lightsabers on her belt and pulled her robe out of the closet. She pulled it on and put the hood up. Best to remain incognito, she decided.

When she was done preparing Ahsoka made her way to their assigned shuttle. She wasn't the first to arrive. Cornan was already inside.

"Ah, Ahsoka. You're quick. I didn't expect anyone for at least-" Cornan checked his… time thingy. Ahsoka didn't even know what he used to check the time. She wasn't a tech person okay. They had special trained clones to do that back in the war. "-15 minutes," Cornan finished his sentence.

"Yeah well, back in the war we always had to be ready to go every second. I learned to be quick." Ahsoka shrugged.

"I see. Well, it's nice to have you here. I was formulating a route to the planet and could use some input," Cornan said, turning to the small HoloProjector on the shuttle. He turned it on, and it displayed a map of the planet.

"Have you ever been to Kashyyyk?" Cornan asked.

"No, but I have a friend who lives there. Or, friend, more like someone I met on a mission of some sorts back in the war. I hope he's okay."

"Well, Kashyyyk is a jungle planet, so we have lots of cover to make our landing. But that leaves the question about where to go. And how to get onto the planet in the first place. Our intelligence says the planet is victim of an Imperial blockade."

"I know a way we can pass by their blockade. I have done it several times with my master back when the Separatists had blockades around a planet. Tell me, where does this shuttle originate from?"

Cornan looked at Ahsoka skeptically. Ahsoka smiled at him, reassuring him that she truly had an idea. "I believe used to be Coruscanti shuttle. I don't know who it belonged to though. Some higher-up. I only know it came to be in our hands due to an… unfortunate incident with him."

The implication of what had happened to the previous owner was quite clear. Ahsoka didn't dwell on it.

"If this ship is of Coruscanti nature, that means that access codes will be in the system. If we can get those codes, we can pass through the blockade as officials checking up on the progress. If they handle their blockades the same as the Republic would've done, the news will never reach the Commander of the fleet."

Cornan again looked skeptically at Ahsoka. She understood why, but it irritated her. Anakin would've taken her up on her plan immediately and if it failed would've bugged her about it endlessly. Thinking back about it now, Ahsoka actually didn't know which way she preferred. Anakin's or Cornan's reaction.

"Just try and see if you can find the codes in the system. With any luck the ships memory systems weren't wiped before you got your hands on it."

Cornan got to work. Meanwhile, Ahsoka overlooked the map of the planet. She studied it thoroughly. It was important to know the terrain you would be infiltrating. She wasn't against just going in, lightsaber blazing – thanks again for your excellent example, master – but it was always good to know where you would end up.

=O=

Cornan was still working on the codes when the rest of the team slowly assembled on the ship. Lorey was the last one to arrive.

"Alright, everyone's here. I see you have been studying the map Ahsoka, good. Cornan what are you doing?"

Lorey was all business. It was something Ahsoka would have to get used to. Playful banter was usually her way of going into battle situations, but okay.

"I'm trying to find transmitting codes of the Empire in the ship's database. Ahsoka told me a plan to get past the blockade using those codes," Cornan said, not looking up from his console, scanning every single thing that flashed by on the small screen.

Lorey turned to Ahsoka. "You have a plan? Care to fill us in?"

Lorey sounded just as skeptical as Cornan. Great, and Ahsoka hadn't even started to explain it yet. She'd been made co-leader for her strategizing capabilities, right? Why this reaction?

"Well, Cornan told me this ship was of Coruscanti nature. That means it probably has codes on board that could get us in Empire controlled space. If he can find the codes in the system, we can use it to pass the blockade by saying we're a special team here to inspect the 'transfer'."

Ahsoka used air quotes to implicate what she meant by transfer.

"And you think that will work?"

Ahsoka turned to the voice who questioned her. It was Dara.

"Yes, I do. Back in the war we used this tactic to get past Separatist blockades several times. It hasn't failed me yet."

"She's right. It has been used before and has proven effective for sneaking in. If you don't have access to a stealth ship of course. That would make all this unnecessary." It was Deo who had spoken up. Ahsoka should have expected him to understand her. He'd been in the army. Of course he would know of the tactics they'd used back then.

"Alright, so we have a plan to get on the planet, next part is where to get on and how to get the Wookiees to safety."

Lorey's voice was stern and all businesslike. At least they'd accepted the plan. Ahsoka was happy with that. Now it was time to move on to the next phase.

"I've studied the map and the biggest settlement on the planet is Kachirho. It's their capital according to the data. My guess is that's where they are keeping them. It would be easily accessible by ship so easy to transport the Wookiees off planet."

Again, Ahsoka was the first one to come up with a solution. She would prove her worth in being a strategist.

"Okay, we'll be moving towards Kachirho. Deo, I want you to plot us a course of where we can land. This is a rescue mission, yes, but we want it to go over as quietly as possible. If the Empire gets word of this operation too early, we might all end up in slavery," Lorey stated.

Deo nodded and started inspecting the map in more detail. It was then that Cornan spoke up again.

"I think I've found the codes!"

Lorey and Ahsoka moved towards the console. Ahsoka was the first one to recognize he was right. She nodded to Lorey.

"Well done Cornan. Clear us with traffic control and we'll prepare for take-off."

This made Ahsoka wonder. Who was the pilot of this ship anyway? She turned to ask Lorey, but she was already walking to the back of the shuttle. Ahsoka quickly followed.

"Not to be intruding on your team dynamics, but who's your pilot?" she asked once Lorey had stopped before a compartment.

"Cornan, Thea and I have experience in flying. But I assume you're asking this question because you do too."

Lorey's voice had changed back to her casual way.

"Uh, yeah. Not to try and take someone else's post here, but I was just curious."

Lorey laughed. "Don't worry Ahsoka. We always switch who flies. Cornan is very skilled in the general sense of flying, but evasive actions aren't in his skillset. Thea and I are more skilled in the acrobatic aspects of flying. It's always one of us three as pilot and co-pilot. What about you?"

"My master was one of the self-proclaimed best pilots in the Order and the army. He taught me a lot. I believe I'm quite skilled in both aspects, if I do say so myself."

Ahsoka wasn't one to brag, but she felt like she spoke the truth. She'd had to save Anakin and herself from crashing more times than she'd like to admit, that she'd become quite skilled in that too. It was mandatory for a Jedi to be able to fly, if she thought about it.

Lorey laughed again, pulling Ahsoka out of her train of thought.

"Well then, we'll switch. How does that sound?"

Ahsoka smiled at that, showing she agreed.

The doors slit open and Dara walked in. "We've just gotten permission to take off from command. We're leaving immediately," she said. Lorey nodded.

"Let's get this show on the road, shall we?"

All three of them made their way back to the cockpit. Cornan started the shuttle and took off.

"Coordinates are set. The navi computer is starting up and the hyperdrive is charging. Estimated time of our journey, 5 hours. Strap in everyone."

Everyone took a seat and strapped themselves in. Once the shuttle left orbit, Cornan activated the hyperdrive, and they were on their way.

Ahsoka's first mission within the rebellion. She was ready.


So, Ahsoka gets to test her military skills again after 5 years. I believe she's doing quite well so far. Let's just see how long that goes next time, shall we?

Thank you for reading! Reviews are always appreciated. Feedback really helps :)