Entering the hanger bay of the Massassi temple on Yavin 4, Ahsoka and Kaeden immediately spotted Cassian, who upon seeing them enthusiastically waved them over, a cheeky smile on his face.
Once again, he was clearly up to something, and Ahsoka had no doubt that she would be left to clean up the mess, not that she minded to be honest.
Except that she wouldn't have to clean up his mess, as she had been dismissed from service. That meant that for once Cassian Andor would have to clean up his own mess. Ahsoka almost felt like rubbing it in his face.
As the two women approached earshot of Cassian, Ahsoka spoke.
"K2 said you wanted to see me Cassian. Everything ok?"
Cassian nodded, taking a quick glance behind Ahsoka, as if checking for something, before heading off towards a small room in the back of the temple, gesturing for Ahsoka and Kaeden to follow.
Their destination was a small meeting room, often used for classified meetings among fellow Fulcrum agents.
But today, it seemed Cassian had ulterior motives.
"I've spoken with Commander Sato and we both agree that going through with your plan is our best course of action, Senator's opinions be damned." Cassian whispered to Ahsoka as they approached the door to the meeting room, stopping outside of it.
"I'm glad someone agrees Cassian, but I don't think the three of us alone will be able to take down the Emperor." Ahsoka replied, a slight edge in her tone. Memories of her recent vision flashed before her. Sidious was far too powerful for any one individual to handle.
"Agreed, and whilst neither Sato nor myself can actively be involved, we found some people who are willing to help you." Cassian replied, turning to open the doors to the meeting room, before heading inside.
For a brief second, Ahsoka was perplexed. What had Cassian done this time?
Shaking out of her inner monologue, Ahsoka moved to follow Cassian, entering the room.
Upon entry, she realized what Cassian had meant.
"Lady Tano, I am offended you didn't ask for our help sooner."
Packed into the small room was the crew of the Ghost, minus Sabine who was still with her family, as well as Rex, Maul, Kallus and Kaeden's younger sister Miara.
"What are you all doing here?" Ahsoka enquired, fear evident inside of her. She didn't want her friends to get hurt because of her suicidal plan. She'd rather undertake the mission alone.
"You didn't think we would let you do this alone now did you Commander?" Rex spoke up, moving up next to Ahsoka, a smile on his face.
"Yeah, a chance to destroy the emperor, how could we resist?" Zeb spoke next, bumping shoulders with Kallus, who looked stumbled slightly, yet smiled also.
Ahsoka couldn't say she was surprised, her friends did seem willing to help her in her missions. And if past experience was anything to go by, there would be no convincing them otherwise.
Looking around the room, Ahsoka analysed each individual present.
Kanan and Ezra stood silent in the corner, no doubt reading Ahsoka's emotions through the force.
Maul would most likely be doing the same, just with significantly less discretion. Ahsoka could feel his presence trying to get into her mind, to understand what she was thinking.
Instinctively, she put her mental shields up. She may trust Maul, and he may have proven to be a stable ally in the past two months, but he was still a former Sith.
Clearly Maul understood, as his presence retracted from her mind.
Zeb and Kallus had become good friends despite their past, often going on missions together, and they both had a joint grievance against the empire as a whole.
Miara and Kaeden had lost their planet and their home because of the empires intervention, and because of Ahsoka's own attempt to hide out on Raada after Order 66.
Ahsoka knew that Hera would insist on using the Ghost for the mission, as it was one of the most powerful and reliable ships the rebellion possessed.
Chopper and AP5 were a surprise. Both would usually cower in the face of a mission as dangerous as this. But clearly they understood how serious the situation was, and Ahsoka would welcome their technical expertise.
And Rex? Rex would follow her to hell and back it seemed. There would be no convincing him otherwise. And other wouldn't have it any other way.
They were a strong team, one who had gone up against impossible odds time and time again and survived.
But this was different. Ahsoka knew all too well that this would most likely be a suicide mission. Not everyone would return.
"I'm honoured, truly. And I won't stop you if you wish to come along, but there is a strong chance that none of us will return." Ahsoka spoke clearly, approaching the table in the centre. The various other members present took their positions by the table despite Ahsoka's statement, refusing to back out.
"Every mission we undertake is dangerous Ahsoka. Why should that stop us now?" Kanan spoke this time, a small smile evident on his face. His mask blocked out his eyes, but Ahsoka could tell he was looking right at her.
Ahsoka resisted the urge to sigh audibly. There really was no convincing them all otherwise!
"Fine, you can help me. Has Cassian told you what I have planned?" Ahsoka relented, before casting a glance over at Cassian.
Cassian smirked before opening his mouth. Ahsoka knew some sort of sarcastic answer was coming.
"Infiltrate Imperial Superweapon during important meeting, destabilize massive kyber crystal, run the hell away!"
Ahsoka did sigh this time. Cassian certainly had a way with words.
"Yeah that's about the gist of it." Ahsoka replied, turning to gauge the reactions of the other individuals present.
No one seemed to question Cassian's description, suggesting that he had already most given a more accurate rundown of the situation, as well as Ahsoka's proposed plan.
Then, Hera spoke up, voicing a concern that Ahsoka herself had not considered.
"I'm all for taking it to the emperor, but this mission is a bit much for the thirteen of us to handle. We are going to need some more volunteers."
"Ten actually." Cassian spoke, significantly reducing the numbers. "The Larte sisters and I will stay behind to work with Sato, ensuring that rebel command doesn't get wind of what you are up to."
Ahsoka nodded understanding. In reality, what they needed was an army. Or a really good team.
"Anyone have any ideas?" Ahsoka asked of those assembled.
Kanan spoke first. "Since we will need explosives to destabilize the kyber crystal, I'll go speak to Sabine and see what she can do."
Bringing in Sabine would be vital to their success, Ahsoka knew that. The girl may have been young, but she was a savant when it came to all things explosive. If anyone could find a way of destroying a crystal that size, it was a Mandalorian.
"Ok, so Sabine is one option. Anyone else we know of?"
Ezra took that opportunity to speak up. "Ryder will probably help us. I'll go speak to him."
Ryder Azadi was the former governor of Lothal, and had proven to be a valuable asset on Lothal in the past. Ahsoka had never met him in person, but from what Ezra had told her, he was reliable.
Rex then took an opportunity to suggest someone.
"What about Saw Gerrera?"
Silence fell over the assembled rebels. Saw was an extremist, one who had recently broken off from rebel command, following his own path. He had a strong loyal cell by his side, one who agreed with his methods.
It would be difficult to recruit him, especially if he saw them as lackeys of Mon Mothma.
"I'll go speak to Saw myself. Hopefully he will listen to me." Ahsoka spoke. She had trained him during the Clone War, and had also been responsible for the death of his sister Steela.
Ahsoka only hoped that he hated the Emperor more than he hated her.
"Sounds good. I also know some people who would be willing to help, I'll talk to them." Rex spoke, agreeing with Ahsoka's assessment over Saw.
"I know someone as well, I'll speak to him." Hera noted, nodding at Ahsoka.
Ahsoka didn't enquire as to who they were talking about. She would no doubt find out in time, and she trusted her friends.
There was also no guarantee that everyone they asked would join in. It was a matter of chance really.
"Well I suppose I should ask someone too." Maul spoke up for the first time since greeting Ahsoka. That surprised her. Who could Maul possibly recruit for a suicide mission? Did he even have friends? Associates?
Still, she didn't complain. The more people they could recruit, the better chances they had.
Cassian then revealed a piece of information that Ahsoka had been working on for the past few months. One she had worked hard to keep a secret, as to not rise any false hope up.
"What about that Jedi you have been tracking? The one you think is hiding on Kashyyyk."
Every pair of eyes at the table lit up in surprise, including Maul's, which almost made Ahsoka laugh.
Since encountering Obi-Wan, Ahsoka had dedicated more resources into a hunt for surviving Jedi. If Kenobi was alive, surely others were.
And through some kind of divine intervention, she had found a lead to one hiding on Kashyyyk. She had no idea who it was, whether they were a master or a padawan. The only scrap of information she had been able to use to possibly identify the Jedi was that they possessed a green lightsaber blade. But that hardly narrowed it down.
"There's another Jedi out there?" Ezra asked excitedly, always eager to meet more Jedi.
"Possibly, I can't be sure. But if there is, they could be a valuable asset." Ahsoka spoke calmly.
"Assuming they will help us that is. They may have settled into the domestic life, not wishing to fight anymore." Kanan spoke wisely. Ahsoka agreed. If the individual didn't want to fight, she wouldn't force them. Still, it wouldn't hurt to at least ask. Assuming she could find the Jedi in the first place. Kashyyyk was full of jungles and forests. Finding anyone in there would be nearly impossible.
"I'll go there first, see if I can find them. Then I'll go to Saw." Ahsoka concluded, stepping back from the table.
The group acknowledged the plan, each preparing themselves for what lie ahead.
"Ok, we need a secret rendezvous point where the rebellion won't follow us. We are going against orders here after all." Hera spoke up, surprising Kanan by showing her rebellious side.
The team made a few suggestions briefly. Kanan suggested Lothal, as it was out of the way. However, the heavy imperial presence could lead to them being revealed.
Ezra suggested Atollon, arguing that the empire would have left the system by now. Ahsoka refuted, suggesting that the empire would most likely be monitoring the planet for any stragglers.
After a few more unsuccessful suggestions, including one by Maul to meet on Dathomir, which had been instantly denied by Kanan, Kaeden entered a suggestion.
"What about Raada? It's out of the way. We could meet in the caves that we hid in in the past." Kaeden's gaze shifted towards Ahsoka. Memories of that place came to the Togruta. They were well hidden, and large enough to accommodate the team, as well as plan for the mission.
And it was unlikely that anyone would find them there.
"Agreed, sounds like a good meeting space. How long do we have before we need to be there?" Hera replied, the rest of the team agreeing with Kaeden's suggestion, surprising the Human woman.
Beside her, Ahsoka smiled lightly in pride. Kaeden had come far.
"The 'Meeting of the Moffs' is scheduled for a fortnight's time. We meet just before then." Ahsoka replied to Hera's inquiry.
"And from there, we take the fight to the Emperor!"
Author's thoughts
Another short exposition heavy chapter I know, but it is necessary to advance the plot so you all get a feel of what is happening. No need to worry though, as the next chapter is more Thrawn.
Now, it is time to do some explaining. As you have just read, Ahsoka and the others are going to be forming a team to attack the Death Star with. Once the mission to the Death Star had begun, any member of this team can die at any point, so be warned.
So basically, this story is seperated into two large acts. Act One consists of everyone going to recruit possible team members. It will essentially be a series of mini stories to give everyone screen time before the end.
Once the mission to the Death Star begins, (This is Act Two), that is when people will start dying.
So... a present to you my readers... a challenge. Who do you think will be on Ahsoka's team by the end... and who do you think will die!
There are 22 places on the team that will be filled.
The first ten are already present, consisting of: Ahsoka, Rex, Kanan, Ezra, Maul, Hera, Chopper, AP5, Kallus and Zeb.
The rest are left as question marks. I wonder who they could be?
Now before you begin guessing, Cassian and the Larte sisters are exempt, as stated in this chapter, so they will not be part of the team that goes to the Death Star, and are thus safe from death.
So place your bets... who will fill the remaining 12 spots on the team. I've given a few potential candidates in this chapter as well, but that doesn't mean they will join.
Also... who's death would upset you all the most... just out of interest. ;)
Anyway, I've spoke garbled nonsense enough now. Onwards with comment analysis:
LukeDude: Sidious and Ahsoka will have a strange dynamic in this story. Both despise one another, but then for some reason they can talk semi-amicably. As for your questions:
1. Sabine... I wonder?
2. I debated at giving Chopper screentime with K2, but then I decided on something better in my opinion. K2 and AP5.
3. C-3PO and R2 will not appear. I couldn't really find anywhere for them to fit.
4. KnockOut is loyal... to his paint job! To be honest, I was going to have the Eighth Brother quote KnockOut for a laugh at one point. I will have to wait and see if I think it fits.
5. For the unexpected volunteer, think of the least likely person to ever do something out of the kindness of his/her heart. That should give you a clue.
6. Ketsu shall not return, sorry.
7. Mustafar will most likely appear in a vision at some point.
Mogor: I'm glad you are liking this story so far. The Ghost team shall be involved in this mission. Why would I leave them out now?
Mysterious Guest number 1 that commented on chapter 2: Yoda or Barriss. Reasonable guess. Guess you will have to wait and see.
Mysterious Guest number 2 that commented on chapter 2: Sidious is so sure of himself he loses sight of just how many people want to kill him. I can assure you it is more than just Ahsoka and Maul after his blood.
SLE's fave guest: Ahsoka really is that dense yes. Oh well, I'm sure she will figure it out soon. And I couldn't resist having K2 interrupt them.
And Cassian has got Ahsoka's back. Team Fulcrum forever!
Travis Middleton: I'm glad you liked the interaction between Ahsoka and Sidious. It was fun to write, and there is more coming.
Maul does not have an official rank in the rebellion, simply because no one trusts him. (except for Ahsoka). Therefore, he has mainly been acting as a solo operative, sneaking around and doing Maul like stuff to the empire. It will be fleshed out later in Maul's chapter.
Poor Ahsoka, she is dangerously close at this point to falling. We can only hope she can hold it off long enough...
FossilQueen1984: Yeah, lucky for Ahsoka indeed. At least she had someone to stop her going crazy, unlike Anakin.
K2 is the ultimate troll, but he is a perceptive troll.