Hey, everybody. Hope you like this chapter.
So, this may not be the most well done chapter ever, but I think the subject will please you all. I will be covering the "reunion" of Ahsoka and her old master, as well as Vader's first rematch with Hall. Hope you like what I do with this.
Let's get to it.
mitchsharwig15: They took him because he's an Imperial, and he technically probably could be tried for war crimes. And they can't really afford to let him go. He's technically a prisoner of war.
the mysterious Mr.E: Well, I will say that I think you and everyone else will like how I do the hunt for Han after he's frozen in carbonite.
Guest: Yes, all those soldiers will be honored. And it won't be too long before the Terrans return to finally liberate Kashyyyk.
Sammyboy94: I'll be routinely mentioning the classes in the story, and I hope to have all of the wiki pages for all of the classes completed. But, for those having trouble remembering, I will try to routinely mention their names and types throughout the story. I've also created a Warship category on the wiki that has the links to all the classes used by the Terrans. And no, the Terrans have not found a way to slow their aging.
Guest DCDGojira: No, I don't mind you fixing typos. And we'll see the Zulu Force again soon enough.
Lorenzo Ferrari: Well, at the moment, the Alliance doesn't have any more Freedom-class SSDs in planning. The TAS Yamato is a Dreadnought class battleship.
Guest221: Given that the war will last after Obama leaves office, I'll probably just stick to history and have Trump be elected, but I'm not totally decided.
Chapter 16- Master and Apprentice
Ahsoka watches as the planet of Geonosis appears below them. The Terran Alliance had received intelligence suggesting that Darth Vader was currently on Geonosis. So, Terran Joint Command had dispatched her and Colonel Hall on the London class Star Destroyer TAS Dubai to Geonosis to see if they could possibly capture or kill Vader.
Ahsoka feels someone walk up beside her. She glances to the side and sees Hall walking up beside her.
"Are you ready to face him again?" Hall asks.
"I don't know, Tyler. I've tried to prepare myself for the last 19 years for the possibility that I'd face him again. But, I don't think I have, despite 19 years of trying," Ahsoka says.
Hall smiles a bit and says, "Well, I know you can do it. You're the strongest, most courageous woman I know." He smiles and puts an arm around her shoulder as he says, "I mean, my brother didn't marry you for nothing."
Ahsoka smiles and laughs a bit, putting an arm around him. "I'm glad to be a part of your family, Tyler. When we first met that day in DC, and I was helping to train you and the rest of the team, I never, ever would've imagined that you'd one day be my brother in law," she says.
Hall chuckles. "You've got that, Snips," he says with a grin on his face.
Ahsoka pulls away and hits him on the shoulder. "Hey!" she protests. Neither of them can hold out at this point, and they both start to laugh. Many officers on the bridge find it hard to keep a straight face.
When they finally calm down, Ahsoka hugs Hall and says, "I love having you around, Tyler."
"You too, sis," Hall says as he hugs her back.
"General Hall! Master Tano!" The two turn around and see Rear Admiral Hiroshi Yamamura walking towards them.
"Yes, Admiral?" Hall asks.
"We think we have a fix on Darth Vader's location, and we're nearing the planet. I suggest you get down to the hangar bay and prepare to depart," Yamamura says.
"Right you are, Admiral," Hall says. He then glances at Ahsoka and says, "Let's get going."
As they make their way down to the hangar bay, Hall says, "I wish we knew what Vader was doing here."
"Perhaps if we could get Thrawn to talk, we might know what's going on in the Empire a bit better," Ahsoka says.
"Yeah. Thrawn is too dedicated to the Empire at this point. I don't think we'll have him talking anytime soon," Hall says. Ahsoka nods in response.
They reach the hangar bay and board a shuttle. They'll be going down to the surface with a platoon of men from SEAL Team 6, and with a squadron of SFA-18s providing escort and close air support as necessary.
Just a few minutes after they board the shuttle, the shuttle lifts off and flies out of the hangar bay, followed by a dozen SFA-18s. The fighters form up around the shuttle, and the group descends into the atmosphere.
As they descend, Ahsoka looks over at Hall. "This is really it, isn't it?" she asks.
"Yes. It is. Hopefully it all works out," Hall says.
The two sit in silence, until the pilot finally calls out, "One minute from touch down!"
"Gear up!" Hall orders, and the SEALs begin to gather their gear and prepare to land. Hall and Ahsoka check their lightsabers, then stand and prepare to land.
Only a minute later, the shuttle touches down, and its back ramp opens up. "Alright! Go, go, go!" the pilot shouts from the cockpit, and Ahsoka and Hall lead the SEALs out of the shuttle.
They find themselves outside a large hill, with cave entrances dotting the rock wall.
"Why is he here?" Ahsoka asks.
"I don't know. But if he's on Geonosis, it can't be for a good reason," Hall says.
Suddenly, a chill falls over them. Both of them look at each other.
"I felt that. And I'm not even Force sensitive. It's him," Hall says.
The two just look at each other, then back at the hill. As they watch, a dark figure appears. Moments later, Darth Vader comes walking out of the cave. To their surprise, he's being followed by battle droids.
As he sees them, Vader comes to a stop. For several tense moments, they stand there, none of them moving, with the Sith, Jedi, and ASAT leader just staring at each other, and the SEALs all aiming their weapons in Vader's direction.
Finally, Vader speaks. "Tyler Hall," he says. Even with his voice changed by his mask, it's clear the amount of anger and hate in his voice.
"Lord Vader. It's been a long time," Hall says slowly.
Vader stares at him for a moment before turning his head towards Ahsoka. "So. The apprentice lives," he says.
"Yes. I'm alive. But you're not my master. The man I knew could never be as vile and evil as you," Ahsoka says.
"Anakin Skywalker is dead. I destroyed him," Vader says.
"Really? Because I thought I did that," Hall says.
Vader again turns his head to Hall, and Hall can feel the hate swell in Vader, even without being Force sensitive. He can just feel the chill grow.
"You have caused me pain and anguish far more than most can endure, Tyler Hall. You and your Terran Alliance cost me everything. Including my wife. I will greatly enjoy killing you," he says. With that, Vader removes his lightsaber from his belt and ignites it, it's crimson red blade shining brightly.
Hall glances to the side, to where the leader of the SEALs is standing, still aiming his assault blaster at Vader. "Commander. Once the fight starts, get into those caves. I want to know what's down there," Hall says.
"Yes, General," the SEAL responds.
Hall removes his lightsaber from his belt and ignites it, its blue blade shining brightly. Ahsoka removes her lightsabers and ignites them, their blue blades shining just as brightly.
"Anakin Skywalker was like my brother. And meant more to her. Now, we will avenge his death," Hall says. As he finishes speaking, Ahsoka sprints towards Vader.
Vader raises his blade, blocking Ahsoka's sabers as she swings them at his head. He forces her back and slashes at her head, but Ahsoka ducks under the blow. She slashes with one of her sabers, and Vader blocks it.
Vader then forces her back, and quickly has to bring his saber up to block a strike at his waist from hall, who has just reached them. Hall whirls around and attempts to bring his saber down on Vader's head, but Vader blocks the blow.
As Ahsoka and Hall are attacking Vader, the SEALs race around the duel and open fire on the droids. They fire both blaster bolts and grenades, destroying the droids outside the cave. They then race into the caves before Vader can notice them.
As the SEALs race down the cave, they suddenly emerge into a vast open space. And, to their shock, they find themselves in the middle of droid factory.
"What the h***?" one of the SEALs mutters.
"Come on, men. Let's set charges," their commander says, and the SEALs quickly busy themselves with setting charges against the most critical systems, all while wondering where this factory came from.
At the same time, outside, Ahsoka and Hall fiercely exchange blows with Vader. Ahsoka stabs one of her sabers towards his chest. Vader deflects it, and then uses a Force wave to push her away.
Hall rushes towards him, slashing at his right shoulder, but Vader blocks it. Their sabers clash in a crackle, the two very close to each other.
As the two struggle against each other, their faces just inches away, Hall growls, "I should have finished the job I started on Mustafar. I won't make that mistake again."
"Neither will I," Vader says before he shoves Hall back. He then slashes at Hall again, forcing Hall back. Vader follows up with several quick strikes that force Hall further and further back, before finally striking a blow powerful enough to knock Hall onto his back.
Vader raises his saber, ready to bring it down on Hall. But, as he does, he finds a blue bladed lightsaber come out of nowhere and block it. He looks up and sees Ahsoka standing there right before she pushes back away from Tyler.
"You will not touch my brother in law," Ahsoka says.
Vader stands still for a moment before saying in confusion, "Brother in law?"
"Yes. You heard right. I married Tyler's brother Dakota, and we have two children. I will not let my brother in law, and my children's uncle, die at your hands," Ahsoka says.
Vader is quiet for several moments, then says, "You not only abandoned me, but married the brother of the man who nearly killed me?"
Ahsoka's face firms. "You wouldn't understand. You may have known love a long time ago, but you don't anymore," she says.
She then strikes at Vader again, who blocks her blow. He tries to strike back, but Hall rushes up and blocks the blow for her.
The two continue their duel with Vader, alternating strikes against him. To their slight surprise, he manages to hold his own, blocking their blows and even forcing them back several times.
As their duel continues, they suddenly hear the sound of ion engines and explosions. Before they can understand what's happening, a laser blast hits near them and knocks all three of them flying.
Hall and Ahsoka look up, and to their surprise, see TIE fighters engaging the SFA-18s. Right then, Hall's radio crackles to life.
"Attention General Hall and all your forces on the ground! Three Imperial Star Destroyers have just come out of hyperspace. We are engaging them, but we're outgunned! We need you back here immediately so we can retreat!" Rear Admiral Yamamura's voice shouts over the radio.
Hall and Ahsoka look at each other. Right then, the SEALs come racing out of the caves. Several start firing at Vader, forcing him onto the defensive. Several more SEALs race up to Hall and Ahsoka and pull them to their feet, shouting, "Let's go!"
The leader of the SEALs shouts over the radio as the group begins to race away, "We need fighter support down here!"
As the shuttle descends to pick them up, an SFA-18 dives to the attack, firing its normal 20mm cannon at Vader. To the shock of the pilot, Vader uses the Force to stop the cannon rounds, then stops the Hornet in midair. Vader then uses the Force to yank the fighter down, sending it into the ground where it explodes.
However, despite the loss of the SFA-18, its pilot gave Hall, Ahsoka, and the SEALs the chance they needed to get onto the shuttle. As Vader turns around, he sees the shuttle flying off into the atmosphere, the other Hornets grouping around it to escort it back into orbit. As they fly off, the charges that the SEALs set detonate, destroying the factory. Vader again curses the Terrans, cursing the fact that he ever met them.
As they get up into orbit, they see the three Imperial Star Destroyers exchanging fire with the Dubai, which is firing back with every weapon it has. The shuttle heads right for the hangar bay and lands. As soon as the shuttle lands in the hangar bay, and those fighters without hyperdrives have returned to the hangar, the Dubai and all the fighters with hyperdrives turn to assume their new course and make the jump to hyperspace.
As Hall and Ahsoka leave the shuttle, they are quiet at first. Then, Ahsoka looks at Hall and asks, "I know who he is now, and what terrible things he's done. Why did it hurt so much to do that?"
"Because you still remember and love the man he used to be," Hall says. Ahsoka just nods in return, her thoughts going back to the Clone Wars, before her master fell to the dark side. Before everything changed.
And, I'll end there. Hope you liked this one.
So, Hall and Vader have had their first rematch. And I say first because they will probably face off again before the end of the story.
And, of course, Ahsoka has met her old master again, and Vader now knows of her marriage and children. Of course, he's bitter right now, but I think he'll change his mindset before the end.
Now, to address something I said in this chapter, that I actually put on the wiki timeline page a few days ago. In this universe, when the purgills took the Star Destroyer Chimaera into hyperspace, they ended up travelling to the Terran system. So, Thrawn is currently in Terran custody, and Ezra has joined the Terran Jedi Order. Now, what I want to know from you all is if you would like me to just keep Thrawn where he is (in a Terran military prison), or should I have him actually join the Terran Alliance at some point during this story. Please let me know.
So, quick PSA. I'm now under complete quarantine, as I have most likely contracted coronavirus (still waiting on test results to know for sure). In any case, I'm on complete quarantine for at least a week, probably longer, so you'll be getting more updates to this story, and other stories, and the wiki more often for at least the next week. I'm making it my goal to try and post a chapter a day until I'm out of quarantine.
So, next chapter will be up tomorrow, and feature the first true offensive action of the Terran Alliance against the Empire. Until it's up, please leave a review, and stay tuned!