Ahsoka Returns – Chapter 3: What Have We Here?
A new face - this one actually from SW canon - appears in this installment. We are laying further groundwork for the story.
Thanks to followers: MVG Syndicate, PJMurray1991, Sued13, blakeho123, heatherxenia, iltanen, Clance5, ColdOnePaul, SoarintheSky
Chapter 3: What Have We Here?
Ryloth, 4 ABY, 3 months, 8 days, 7 hours
After a quiet night spent at a small guest accommodation in the Ryloth Underground, Ahsoka and Sabine awoke, feeling refreshed. Cham Syndulla had gone over the situation regarding the planet and how the Imperial army had basically pulled out of all operations on the surface. After a few successful ambushes - which not only involved outmanned stormtrooper battalions and some trashed AT-AT walkers - the morale of the "Empire's Finest" was in short supply.
But the big question was why that remaining ISD was still hanging around. That craft still - in theory - carried enough firepower to devastate the planet below. Cham wasn't entirely satisfied with the explanations he was getting from his underlings. They seemed to think the Empire would soon pull this particular boat out of the system and look to shore up their forces elsewhere - in more strategically important sectors. Though this seemed a reasonable Expectation, the nagging question remained - why was it there? With each passing day, it seemed there were reports of Alliance victories and Imperial retreats. Smart military planners would be expected to pull their forces together and decide which sectors and worlds they had to defend.
The Ryloth Resistance, however, wasn't concerned with larger aims - just liberating their world, and this goal seemed to be close at hand. So, they were planning to do something about this particular ISD, and this time - thanks to Alliance intelligence - they knew the Emperor and Vader weren't going to be around to stop them. Finishing off the Imperial occupation would be a day long-remembered.
The original plan as used on the ISD Perilous was to compromise the hyperdrive unit and the main reactor. It was around 14 BBY when Syndulla and a well-trained team went aboard that ship and carefully laid explosives that were used to bring down those units and in doing so, brought down the ship. The four of them - Hera, Sabine, Ahsoka and Cham - all agreed to put the plan into motion. Hera contacted Alliance regional headquarters and got a commitment from them to send a wing of about 10 fighter aircraft - the same A-wing models which Hera had commanded during the Rebels era. Once these ships had arrived in-system, Ahsoka and Sabine would follow them into the battle space near the ISD, utilizing the Essence II, which would be fully cloaked.
Ahsoka then led Sabine back to her ship, and Hera tagged along, wanting to get a look at it. As the Togruta uncloaked it, Hera let out a low whistle.
"Pretty slick," she said, approvingly. "How did you come by it?"
Ahsoka could only shake her head. "That's just one of the things I cannot remember. Along with where I was - for the past six years."
Hera looked at her in disbelief. "This sounds really strange. What exactly do you remember?"
Ahsoka said nothing and led them aboard. While they were waiting to hear from the Alliance, Ahsoka invited Hera and Sabine to wait in the plush lounge area, while she asked R6 to take their drink orders.
"Bet you have a hard time getting Chopper to do that …" Sabine smirked, while Hera chuckled.
Amazingly, Ahsoka checked the fridge for the first time, and found it fully stocked.
"Who wants ale?" She called out, in a cheerful tone.
"Why not?" Hera laughed. "You've become quite the hostess, Soka …"
Soon, all three of them were drinking from the bottle and taking good swigs.
"Where's this stuff from?" Sabine asked, checking the label. "Says something about Almania."
"Don't know it," Ahsoka laughed.
"I do," Hera remarked. "It's not far from Malachor, as it turns out. You sure you don't remember stopping there?"
"Search me." Ahsoka deadpanned.
Hera shook her head again. "Really strange. My friend, we've got to find out what happened to you. Because all I can remember was Ezra telling us that you shoved him out of the way so Vader wouldn't go after him. Then he couldn't see anything beyond that."
"Yes, Hera. That much I do remember. But tell me this, what did eventually happen with Anakin, er, Vader?"
"Anakin?"
"He was my master. Turns out he turned evil … somehow. Now they say he is dead."
Hera nodded, with a smirk of her own. "Yeah, that's what they tell us. I suppose it's pretty reliable. The Alliance top brass all seem to back it up."
Ahsoka thought for a second. "Sabine tells me you were at Endor. Is it true?"
"Yep. It was crazy. I never saw so many ships in one place … everybody seemed to be shooting at everyone else. And that Death Star … oh my."
"What were you flying?"
"That new B-wing. They couldn't touch me!" Hera laughed again, taking a big gulp of the ale. "I think that day was the beginning of the end for the Empire. When that thing blew, it was like a supernova. "
Ahsoka nodded as she took another swig. "So what's left … some mopping up? I find that hard to believe."
"You know what?" Hera deadpanned. "I think I agree with you. The Empire had over 20 thousand of those Star Destroyers. There must be a lot of them left."
"Yeah, and the dreadnaughts, too." Sabine added. "Those things are 30 kilometres long."
Hera nodded and pursed her lips. "Maybe when those pilots get here, they can fill us in."
"So …" Ahsoka started, "How do you feel about the war now? Are you going to stay on Ryloth?"
"You know what, I've really not had time to think about that. What about you, now that you're back?"
Ahsoka shook her head. "It's funny. All my life, it seems, all I've done is fight. Might be nice to get a break. But we need to finish off what's left of the Empire."
Sabine and Hera both nodded in agreement.
Ryloth, 4 ABY, 3 months, 8 days, 10 hours
About 90 minutes later, Hera received an alert on her com device. She turned to Ahsoka.
"They're here."
"So, what happens next?"
"The squad will land, and we'll have a short meeting. Then the plan commences."
Ahsoka nodded. "So, you all take off and head over to the ISD, and Sabine and I will follow in my ship. Once we're in range, we go to stealth mode while your team engages the TIEs. Sound about right?"
"Yep, let's do it."
Hera, Sabine, and Ahsoka debarked from Essence and strode over to where the A-wings had landed. They were soon greeted by an Alliance pilot.
"Shara!" Hera called out. "I'm glad you could make it. Were you promoted to Leader?"
Shara Bey was an experienced starfighter pilot about 32 years of age, dark-haired and light-skinned, with brown eyes. She and Hera embraced quickly.
"So, what can we do for you, General? When I heard it was you, I had to come. You saved me more than once at Endor. And, yes, I was promoted to Leader after half of our squadron was destroyed."
"Shara, you remember Sabine?"
The pilot nodded, "I sure do. We had some good fights together at Mandalore about three years back. How are you, Lieutenant?"
Hera continued. "And this - is Ahsoka Tano. The legendary warrior from the Clone Wars."
"I've read about you, Commander Tano. You were only a teenager but you won battle after battle. But I had no idea you were still around. I once asked someone and he said you were likely killed during the Jedi Purge, but no one really knew. I'd always hoped they were wrong."
Ahsoka stepped forward and smiled as she shook hands with Bey. "Pleased to meet you, Shara."
Shara was quiet for a second, while thinking of something to say.
"So, Ahsoka, are you … still …"
Ahsoka chuckled. "Yes … but I'm no longer any kind of Jedi. As far as know, the Order basically went away - about 23 years ago, if I recall."
Hera broke in. "Ahsoka became the Rebel intel chief asset - that's when I first met her, over ten years ago. We called her Fulcrum."
A light went on in Shara's mind at that reference. "Oh … of course, yes. Fulcrum. So you were her? Except we never knew if it was male or female."
Ahsoka laughed again. "Nice to remember some of that. I've … been away."
"Well, anyway," Hera laughed. "We've got a mission for you, Shara. I need your wing to engage with some TIEs that we expect to meet when we take on the ISD that you likely noticed when you came here."
"Yes. What exactly is that thing doing? They seemed to totally ignore us. No attempts to contact us, either."
"We're not sure," Hera replied. "The Imps stopped sending forces to the ground about two months ago. We'd been giving them a hard time, so maybe they just decided it wasn't worth it. Now that the Emperor's gone, it's anyone's guess right now who's in charge of this part of the Outer Rim."
Shara thought it over. "So, this is the final piece to liberating your world, Ryloth. What exactly is the plan?"
Hera proceeded to explain. "We engage the TIEs, with me backing your group up with my B-wing. Ahsoka and Sabine take her ship and go aboard the ISD. The plan then is for them to target the hyperdrive system and the main reactor with planted high-intensity explosive devices. These will then be triggered from that ship once they have exited the hangar bay. The explosions are likely to trigger a series of other explosions that will eventually destroy the ship. We will want to be down on the planet once that starts as the debris field will be considerable."
Shara looked at Ahsoka. "You and Sabine by yourselves can carry this out?"
Ahsoka nodded, replying softly. "We can handle it. I've acquired some … new powers … in my time away."
Hera laughed. "She's probably not going to tell you more than that. But I know what she's referring to. The Force. And she's a master now. Am I right?" The Twi'lek smiled, while winking at her Togruta friend.
Ahsoka simply smiled, as if she'd said enough. She then turned to Shara. "Where exactly are you from, Commander Bey, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Not at all. Ahsoka, I was born on the planet Brentaal, in the Core. I met my husband before the Civil War began … his name is Kes Dameron."
"Oh, is he also in the Alliance?"
"Yes, indeed. He's a soldier that served with General Solo at Endor. Their team blew up the shield generator that was protecting the second Death Star. They're all heroes."
"Ah …" Ahsoka smiled. "I'm very glad to hear that."
The four of them continued to chat for a few more minutes, then it was time to get ready for the mission. Cham Syndulla soon arrived and reviewed the plans to all involved personnel. Once everything had been nailed down, he closed his remarks.
"May the Force be with us!"
Ryloth, 4 ABY, 3 months, 8 days, 12 hours
A-wing engines roared to life as the squadron made ready to leave. Hera had taken the pilot's chair aboard her B-wing and Ahsoka and Sabine were manning Essence II. Soon, all ships were in orbit, headed toward the Imperial Star Destroyer Mistreater III. Hera, as the mission commander, asked for all coms to be open.
Shara reported in first. "Coming up on the ship, General Syndulla. It's … a bit ... strange."
"How, exactly?" Hera asked.
"Most of it is dark. Just some lights on in the bridge and some activity stations at midships."
"Lead your group in for a pass. Try to circle the ship and see if we get any response."
Ahsoka kept Essence back from the fighter group, waiting to see what would develop. As the A-wings closed in, soon a small group of three TIE standard interceptors came out to engage them.
"Hold fire until they start shooting," Shara ordered. No sooner had she given the order, then the TIEs grew aggressive, flying in formation straight at the A-wings and opening cannon fire.
But then a funny thing happened. Shara's squad returned the volleys and all scored direct hits and the TIEs were destroyed. It was as if those ships were merely decoys.
"What in the stars was that?" Hera scoffed. "Were those ships even manned?"
"From the looks of it, I'd say no." Shara replied.
Ahsoka had now brought her ship forward. "I saw that. Those ships were just token resistance, most likely meant to scare away non-military craft that might get too close."
"Let's stay with the mission." Hera directed. "I'll take the lead. We will circle the ISD twice and see what shakes loose."
The group did as directed, but nothing seemed to matter. The Mistreater, aside from its engines maintaining orbital velocity, seemed almost dead in space. Hera then asked, "Essence - it's up to you. Do you want to board them?"
Ahsoka answered. "I'm still game. I've located a hangar bay near the area of the main reactor. It seems I have full technical details on Imperial craft in my ship's computers. I'm going to download some of it to my com device and go ahead with the mission."
The Essence entered the hangar bay and landed without incident. Both Sabine and Ahsoka were in full battle gear, and carrying holstered blasters and they had on backpacks that each carried several detonators. The Togruta, of course, also had her twin lightsabres strapped on in their normal places at her waist. She turned to Sabine for a second.
"By any chance, do you have any training with a lightsabre? Just asking …"
"Not really. For a while, Kanan was trying to train me - so I could use the Darksabre when I went to Mandalore. But I never got comfortable with it. I'd prefer you do the swordwork."
Ahsoka chuckled. "Fine by me. But if you are ever interested in learning, just ask …"
Sabine smiled. "You'd be the one I would."
There was little doubt between the two of them that a bond of friendship was steadily growing.
Hera's voice sounded over the com. "Keep in touch, Ahsoka. We'll let you know if we see anything up here."
"Roger, General," Ahsoka chuckled. "We're going to go silent now, but we have earpieces. Let's keep it low."
They opened the hatch and jumped to the hangar bay floor. As they looked around, the area was well lit, but no personnel seemed to be there. A few TIE interceptors could be seen, apparently ready to fly, but there were no attendants.
"Let's head to the reactor bay," Ahsoka said softly. Sabine simply nodded.
As they proceeded, they used the ISD deck diagrams that Ahsoka had on her device. Soon, they were in the area they were looking for. A small company of armored stormtroopers appeared.
"Freeze!" One of them shouted.
Almost instinctively, Ahsoka and Sabine whirled around and stood back to back, ready, Sabine with her blaster drawn, while Ahsoka's hands went to her sabre hilts.
The troopers scattered once they saw the intruders were armed. From partially protected vantage points, they opened fire.
Sabine returned some of it, while Ahsoka lit both blades and casually diverted the troopers' volleys. Another group of soldiers was soon on the scene and the action started to heat up.
"Cover me!" Ahsoka shouted to Sabine, as she swung into action. Advancing headlong into the group of stormtroopers, she easily deflected all shots and then sprang into the air with a Force-assisted leap. Before the soldiers realized what was taking place, the Togruta's sabres were on them, viciously hacking away, as limbs were flying in different directions. The others - who had witnessed this - wanted no part of it. They quickly beat a hasty retreat and disappeared down a corridor as bulkhead doors were flying open.
Ahsoka switched off her sabres and looked around. "That was quick. Imperial troops don't really seem to be all that interested in fighting."
Sabine nodded, and added, "It's almost like they too were just a token force. But I can't blame them. You're no joke with those lightsabres."
They started down the corridor, heading for the reactor. Once they reached it, Ahsoka opened the bulkhead via the Force and they were in the control room. She and Sabine went to work, each placing a few detonators in key positions.
"This should do it," Sabine noted. "We can trigger these anytime we're ready. I've set our coms to give the signal."
"I think we'll do this once we're ready to leave. Now on to the hyperdrive …"
As they emerged back into the corridor, Ahsoka checked the diagrams again.
"We go up two levels, then head aft."
A few minutes later, they had reached their destination. But this time, there was a different result. As they entered the open bulkhead into the hyperdrive control chamber, they encountered another company of troopers, all with blasters drawn and trained on the two of them.
"What have we here?" A voice sounded, and soon, a man in an Imperial uniform appeared. From the insignia, Ahsoka guessed he was of senior rank. He continued. "A couple of Rebel scum …"
Ahsoka didn't waste any time - or words. She quickly jumped ten feet in the air and soared over the troopers. As she came down behind them, she stuck out both palms and unleashed a mighty Force push that knocked them back several feet. Before they could respond, she had Force-grabbed all of their weapons and pulled them to her.
"You won't be needing these, gentlemen," She said with a soft, yet firm, tone. I would suggest you all abandon ship - as soon as possible."
The officer, quickly realizing that they were dealing with something different, tried to buy time.
"Are you some kind of Jedi survivor? Lord Vader will be after you …"
Ahsoka laughed. "I think he has other plans." She added, "Oh, just so you know. I'm no Jedi," the last word apparently having a bad taste in her mouth as she spat it out. "Plant the devices, Sabine."
The Mandalorian started to do just that, as Ahsoka quickly rounded up all of the blasters and then neatly sliced them to pieces with her sabres. The captain wasted no time as he exited the control room, presumably heading for safety - somewhere. The troopers also hightailed it out, wanting no part of the strange Togruta warrior who seemed quite ruthless.
After the last detonator was in place, Ahsoka opened the com and called.
"Hera, it's done. We're heading back to our ship. We plan to set off the charges as we head out."
The reply came quickly. "Great! But … Ahsoka, we're seeing some shuttle craft leaving the ISD already. It seems they may be evacuating."
Ahsoka chuckled. "Not surprising. We'll see you soon."
She and Sabine ran down the corridors as they headed back to Essence. Soon they had made it and the ship seemed undisturbed.
"Probably they had no time. The smarter ones likely figured out what we were doing and they wanted to get out while they could."
Near Ryloth orbit, 4 ABY, 3 months, 8 days, 14 hours
As his shuttle had cleared the ship, the Imperial captain radioed ahead.
"We're abandoning ship, ma'am. The rebels got aboard and have planted explosives."
A return voice could be heard, one with a quite proper Core-world accent.
"Very well, Captain Ingray. We will be awaiting you on Lianna. That is all."
The Imperial shuttles then all made the jump to hyperspace, heading to various destinations.
On the planet below, the men and women of Ryloth Resistance toasted and high-fived each other as they saw the ISD start to explode and then one huge boom as it shattered into a million pieces.
"To Ryloth!"
To be continued …