Yavin IV
Sabine sighed. She had taken a seat atop the great temple of the Massassi people. She had done her research to know what it's purpose was. The temple was built to worship the Sith Lord Naga Sadow over 4000 years ago. Gazing out over the lush green jungles. Sabine's mind drifted away to the last time she saw Ezra.
Her thoughts continued on, thinking long and hard. Her comm soon trailed her attention away. Lifting the comm. Sabine sighed. "Spectre 5 here" Sabine waited for the reply. "Sabine, you might want to come to the command centre at once." Sabine's gaze faltered, her brown eyes falling down. Shaking her head. Sabine slowly climbed down the temple.
Entering the command centre. Sabine observed the others, each seemed somewhat worried. Her gaze soon fell upon the image of an Imperial Officer. "Sabine Wren, just the Mandalorian I was looking for." Sabine's gaze soon turned into a hated glare. "Admiral Pellaeon. What do you want?" Pellaeon kept his eyes focused upon Sabine. His body remained straight.
"I require you immediate surrender to Imperial custody." Sabine's gaze faltered for a split second. Shortly returning to it's hatred fill glared afterwards. "I won't hand myself over." Pellaeon remained calm. His eyes dashing to the others in the room. "Not even if your own family is at risk." Sabine hissed. "You wouldn't dare."
Pellaeon lifted his gaze slightly. His eyes meeting Sabines. "Oh, you remember what happened to Naboo don't you?" Sabine's glare vanished. Her eyes widening slightly. "You wouldn't want that upon your family. How would your Jedi friend think, that you cast shame upon your people by becoming a coward and leaving your family to die." Sabine's fists started to shake in anger. "You will come to Krownest at once, or your clan will die."
The hologram vanished in an instant. The room becoming tense. Sabine's gaze never leaving the holotable. After what seemed like hours, Hera spoke. "Sabine, what do you plan to do?" Sabine bit her lower lip before closing her eyes. Many different feelings rushed through her mind at once. Anger, pain, sadness, fear.
Sabine let out a deep breath. "I have to hand myself over. I can't let my family die because I joined the Rebellion." Sabine turned and started to leave. "Get an A-wing prepped for me." Mothma nodded. Sabine then left.
From the shadows, a rusty red droid stood. Silently listening to every word spoken. the orange eyes glowing dim as he processed the information. Stepping away, the droid walked off. Sneaking out into the jungle surrounding till he came to a clearing. Advancing forward, the droid entered the ramp of a Kom'rk fighter. Launching shortly after Sabine.
Krownest
Pellaeon stood upon The Duchess' bridge. His eyes watching as he waited for Sabine to arrive. Behind him, cuffed and guarded by two Death Troopers. Was Ursa Wren. "She'll never come." Pellaeon turned on his heel, approaching Ursa steadily. "On the contrary. My commanding officer's confident that by calling her a coward, she'll come." Ursa narrowed her eyes. "Ori'buyce, kih'kovid." Pellaeon shook his head.
"Sir, rebel fighter dropping out of hyperspace." Pellaeon quickly turned, his eyes darting to the sea of space. "Alright Admiral Pellaeon, I'm here, now let my family go." Pellaeon sighed. "We will talk once you are aboard."
Sabine was escorted to the bridge. Her eyes darting towards Pellaeon as she entered. "Ke nu'jurkadir sha Mando'ade" Pellaeon stood forward. "The Grand Admiral is going to have fun drawing out your Jedi lover." Sabine's gaze narrowed. Her eyes displaying her anger. "Captain, prepare to jump to Lothal." The captain nodded. Pellaeon walked forward, his eyes observing Sabine before he turned to face Ursa. "Her use has served it's purpose. Kill her."
Ursa widen her eyes. Sabine's gaze faltered. "Statement: My master would be displeased with your current actions." All eyes darted towards the rusty red droid. His orange eyes now glowing brightly. Pellaeon blinked. "A Battle Droid?" The droid grabbed his carbine rifle. "Observation: Meatbag has never met an assassin droid before. Conclusion: Meatbag is still young." Pellaeon narrowed his eyes. "New target, kill that droid."
The droid fired a round into the Death Trooper holding Sabine. "Statement: I shall free these two Mandalorians for my master. You shall deliver a message." Pellaeon rolled his fists up in anger. "Destroy him" The two Death Troopers holding Ursa quickly turned, moving in fast. The droid glanced to both of them before leaping to the side and throwing a bomb at one. The explosion engulfing the target. The droid then turned his carbine towards the remaining Death Trooper and fired.
Pellaeon watched before he went for his blaster. The droid soon spoke. "Statement: Your current course of action is not recommended." The droid quickly fired his carbine, removing the blaster from Pellaeon's hands. Sabine and Ursa were quick to run. The droid coming stopping to remove their cuffs and hand them their weapons. "Who are you?" The droid glanced at Sabine. "Statement: My name does not matter."
Arriving in the hangar. The droid was quick to fire upon the Stormtroopers guarding the two ships. Running over. The droid then spoke. "Statement: Master wishes to see Ursa Wren." Sabine sighed, entering her A-wing and leaving. Unaware of the tracker located within the cockpit.
Lothal
-3 hours later
Doom sat in his office. Pellaeon standing opposite him. Fear was radiating of him like fire. Doom soon chuckled. "Of course that droid would serve the Jedi. Never the less. I now have a lovely location on where the Rebel base is." Pellaeon bit his lower lip. "Grand Admiral, the tracker was lost on Phindar" Doom smiled. "Precisely" Pellaeon blinked. His mind attempting to figure out what Doom was planning.
"So, the base if on Phindar?" Doom shook his head. "No, that would be too easy. The Rebels are smarter then we give them credit for. Phindar is too remote and far from being able to commit hit and run attacks on Imperial transports along the hyperspace lanes. No, the base would be in close proximity to one. And judging by the direction of the tracker. It was headed towards a star system located along the Gordian Reach. The Yavin system."
Pellaeon widen his eyes. "But, which world?" Doom smirked. "I did my research on these worlds. But have also visited them myself. Yavin 8 is a cold and arid moon. Where every now and then, the snow and tundra would melt. Resulting in oceans. A weather system not suited for a full time base. Yavin 13 is a hot and arid climate. Mostly rocks and deserts with the cacti forests. A glassy plains and a shallow ocean. No place to hid a rebel base as equipment would often overheat from the climate. But Yavin IV, that moon holds the keys to housing Rebel base. The jungles and Massassi temples offering plenty of cover for them to operate." Pellaeon's gaze shifted towards the helmet of Revan.
"Should I prep the fleet to leave then?" Doom's gaze rose. The image of Yavin IV remaining still. "No." Pellaeon stood back in confusion. "No?" Doom stood tall. "I wish to continue to study their tactics and strategies. And with Yavin located along the Gordian Reach. These select worlds will be the staging points of our observation. Garel, Lothal, Vorzyd, Phindar, Gala, Junction, Toprawa, Ord Radama, Elom and Thule. Admiral Pellaeon, I want a fleet stationed at each of these systems. Monitoring and recording all Rebel tactics and strategies. They are not to engage but remain passive."
Pellaeon saluted and left the office. Doom soon turned towards the map. "Rebels, my handy work is only but partway done. You will notice the sudden change. Imperial forces increasing in a circle around the Yavin System. Encircling you in a web of warships, ready to squeeze you into submission. I will be the last thing you recognise, the one who you call out to for mercy before your lives are ended."
_
A nice look into Doom's leadership style.
Doom states what he told Tarkin, Pryce and Vader he was going to do when he discovers the Rebel base in the prologue.
Pellaeon get his first meeting with a droid who some Old Republic people will recognise from his speech pattern.
Doom's vast knowledge of Yavin is more evidence of how much he's traveled the galaxy.
History lesson about Yavin IV from legends.
Hints that Pellaeon and Sabine have met in the past. Somewhat like how it was hinted that Pellaeon knew Ezra last chapter.
Mando'a translations
Ori'buyce, kih'kovid- All helmet, no head-Insult for someone with an overdeveloped sense of authority. In this case, Ursa sees Pellaeon as having an overdeveloped sense of authority that isn't true. Making this all more insulting.
Ke nu'jurkadir sha Mando'ade-Don't mess with Mandalorians.