The Saturn entered the Royal Airdocks, smaller craft rushing around the battered, carbon-scored Impstar. Ranma, his cloak billowing behind him and Setsuna by his side, rushed to the airlock at the slip assigned to the Senshi of Destruction's ship. A medic team was already standing by, having received the call as soon as ship reverted to normalspace. As the stretcher was wheeled aboard the damaged ship, Ranma began practicing a padawan breathing exercise to keep his temper in check. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hatred. These are the emotions that power the Dark Side. Give in to the Dark Side, and forever will it control your destiny. The words of Master Yoda, spoken to all Younglings and young Padawans during their training, echoed through the Jedi Master's thoughts. "While I want to hunt down whoever did this to our daughter and slaughter them, and drop a planetcracker just to make sure," he said to his wife as the stretcher bearing Hotaru was rushed out of the ship, "we can't. We hold ourselves to a higher standard than our enemy. But this does tell me that we need more ships. There has to be more mynock-pasted Star Destroyers that Palpatine retired when the Clone Wars ended. More than just the Dreadnoughts and Vicstars we've got now. Although I will freely admit that our Impstars were a lucky acquisition."

"I know that look, anata. Just exactly *what* are you planning to do?"

"Other than taking the Wild Stallion, multiple commando teams, and cruise through Imperial space staging raids on holding yards?"

"Then let me come with you. If we encounter former Republic forces, they may not recognize you while they may have known about you. I can be that liaison to your past self."

"You know I could never refuse a request of yours."

"Except when you physically threw me on to that cruiser before the fall of the Temple."

"That was different. I couldn't stand to lose you to Skywalker and Palpatine's clonetroopers."

Setsuna wrapped her arms around her husband as they walked to the medical bay. "And for that I'm eternally grateful for."

"We need to calm Haruka and Michiru when they find out. Otherwise they *will* nuke a planet."

Setsuna gave her husband an enigmatic smile. "One of the Vulcan embassy officials told me about a planet of Amazons, who sentence any males who violate their sacred laws with 'Death by Snuu-Snuu'." That would be a perfect First Contact and embassy for them. And it'll keep them from nuking whichever planet the pirates that Hotaru-chan encountered are from."

"Good, good. Let's go talk to Gerrod and the Command...can I help you, Doctor?"

Standing before Ranma and Setsuna was a young EarthForce Medical Corps Captain. "General, Lady Lim, I'm Dr Tofuu, the on-call ER doctor. We've finished up our preliminary assessment of Hotaru. The Two-One Bees weren't able to determine that she was suffering from chi-exhaustion. It's something that only someone trained in esoteric arts, like acupuncture and chakra manipulation, would be able to detect. I've prescribed bedrest and food, and sent her back to her quarters."

Ranma and Setsuna smiled. "Thank you Doctor, that's good news. Very good news."

Tofuu gave a slight bow, and excused himself to return to his patients. The two Lims walked out of the medical facility, and instead of heading for the command center, headed for Hotaru's quarters to check in on their oldest daughter. "We still need more ships. And more manpower, otherwise we'll lose this war. At this point, I'd take even just the Katana fleet, and figure out where we're getting our personnel later."

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The Outer Rim

The fleet of Venator-class Star Destroyers, escorted by Dreadnoughts, cruisers, and corvettes prowled through the spacelanes, near the system they had colonized. Standing on the command deck of the Lawgiver, Jedi Master Sk'lar looked out through the viewports at the fleet. Once the pride of the Grand Army of the Republic, this fleet had been dispatched by the Jedi Council to seek out and destroy any Separatist forces in the far corners of the Outer Rim. As such, they were beyond Holonet range...and Palpatine's transmission invoking Order 66. One random encounter later with a smuggler, Master Sk'lar discovered that the Jedi were extinct throughout the galaxy. His clonetroopers, and even Master Sk'lar, had for the most part settled down and had families. With the power at his command, Sk'lar could have created a sizable small empire outside Palpatine's sphere. However, he remained faithful to the Jedi Code, as he had been Master to two of the Jedi Masters lost on the Outbound Expedition had struck a chord with the now-elderly Jedi Master.

His introspection was interrupted by his flagship's commander. "Master Sk'lar, six ships are on the screen. Two Dreadnoughts, two corvettes. The others are not in our database, although one conforms to standard Star Destroyer design theory, and is broadcasting a standard Republic transponder ident of Wild Stallion."

"The Force wills as the Force wills, standby to initiate hail. But bring all ships to alert status, as a precaution."

"By your command, Master."

000000

Aboard the Wild Stallion, a similar conversation was going on between Ranma and Captain Dodge. "All ships set to Condition 1, batteries and fighters are manned and ready. We're looking at 20 Star Destroyers, Venator-class, and 50 to 60 Dreadnoughts and smaller ships. Appproaching long range heavy turbolaser range."

Ranma looked up from the holotable. "Hailing frequencies, Captain Dodge; let's see if they want to talk. Before they decide to open fire."

"Master Sk'lar, the Wild Stallion is hailing us."

The elderly Master turned to the holotable, where Ranma's image came up. "This is Master Sk'lar of the Galactic Republic. To whom am I speaking with?"

Ranma's image bowed courteously. "Master Sk'lar, you may not remember me, but I was once Master Tarquin Lim, and now known as Ranma Lim. I was reborn on an obscure planet called Earth (there was a derisive snort off camera), in a galaxy far, far away. We served together during the Clone Wars before your mission into the poorly explored sectors of the Outer Rim, hunting the Separatists."

"If there is some truth to what you say, then you would know things about Master Tarquin known only to him and the Force."

"Such as the SOE raid on Zathros 7? Or the disaster at Tapora 3? Or how Tarquin had lost his authority to take on a Padawan or adjudicate disputes and assigned as a diplomatic escort?"

Sk'lar inclined his head. "What can I do, then, for you Master Lim?"

"Let me cut to the chase then, Master Sk'lar. My adopted planet, Earth, is under threat from the Empire. I have a small fleet of Star Destroyers and other warships, including four Imperator-class ships and indigenously designed ships. The Empire has dispatched their 33rd Fleet initially after me, and launched their assault on my new homeworld. The Empire's presence has now turned this into a war of attrition in Earth's galaxy. I've come back to former Republic space in search of personnel and vessels. Earth had just begun a building program, and while some of their local allies have vessels, they aren't designed for prolonged, toe to toe combat."

Sk'lar inclined his head. "I see, Master Lim. I will discuss this with my clonetroopers. Since the fall of the Republic, we've settled down in our small sector of the galaxy, and have been content to patrol, to have pirates and slavers see the error of their ways. But should we join you, you will have our fleet and the 3647th Legion."

"Then, if you and your clones have families, you will need to bring them as well. Palpatine trucks no dissent, and even families of rebels are in danger. Better for them to be safer in another galaxy."

Sk'lar nodded. "I will discuss that with the clones as well. Stand by, Master Lim."

The Earthforce formation maintained position while Master Sk'lar conferenced with his clonetroopers. The pros and cons of leaving for a new galaxy and new adventures were weighed against remaining here, and possibly be executed by Palpatine's elite stormtroopers.

As Sk'lar and his clones deliberated, Setsuna watched her husband pacing their quarters on the Wild Stallion. While not admitting not his wife that he was nervous about being surrounded, he had Navigation was continually updating their hyperspace exit vector; he was also concerned about how much damage the Prometheus could absorb. Simulations indicated that Earth's first cruiser could withstand numerous hits, but simulations weren't reality. "Will you settle down. Master Sk'lar would not fire on us unless he thought we are a threat to his ships."

"I know. Other than what you did, contacting Gerrod and building the nucleus of our forces. Now we're contacting unknowns. I knew of Master Sk'lar through the Jedi Council, mainly hearsay however."

Setsuna forcibly pulled her husband to the couch, and wrapped her arms around him, pillowing her breasts against his back. "You need to relax, and let the Force will as it wills. You taught me that when we first met, all those years ago, when you were forbidden from taking an apprentice. It was the Force that brought us together on Coruscant, the Force that saved me when the Purge began, the Force that brought you to Earth, and the Force that brought you back to me as former loudmouthed martial artist."

"And those were pleasant memories on Coruscant before the fall. Even your meeting with the ambassador from Blattidae." Ranma chuckled at that particular memory, even as Setsuna slapped the back of his head.

Her comment was cut off by the intercom. "General Lim, I have the Lawgiver on the line."

"Transfer it to my screen, Lieutenant."

With a nod, the communications officer took the Holonet transmission and transfered it to the Ranma's display, taking the three-d image and transfering it to two dimensions. On the Lawgiver, Ranma was just a two-d overlay. "Master Sk'lar, what was the results of your deliberation?"

"Master Lim, we will be joining your forces. I have sent a transmission to our base to prepare to depart, and to include all families. Our fleet will be escorting our troopships and transports."

"I absolutely understand. I will have our navigation send you coordinates, frequency information, silhouettes and copies of our starcharts."

"That is greatly appreciated, Master Lim. Tell me, have you heard of any other Jedi having survived the Fall of the Republic?"

"Regrettably, I have not. However, I have begun training some born on Earth with the potential to be Jedi."

"Nor have I. A shame. A force of trained Jedi-Masters, Knights, and Padawans-would go a long way to helping our fight against the Empire. Perhaps the Force will grant us a native boon.

"Master Lim, we have received your data, and will be heading home. May the Force be with you."

"And also with you, Master Sk'lar." Ranma hit a stud on his desk. "Bridge, prepare to resume our explorations."

"Yes General." With a flicker of pseudomotion, the Wild Stallion and her escorts leapt into hyperspace.

00000

A shuttle dropped out of hyperspace on the edge of the Kuati space. Cruising gently in towards the Kuat Drive Yards on sublight, broadcasting Imperial codes, it was simply taken for a regular Imperial shuttle, carrying either personnel or supplies. "Shuttle Falcon, state your cargo and destination."

"Supplies and technical crew for the Maintenance Dock 13134."

"Understood, Falcon. You are cleared to Dock 13134."

The Falcon, carrying a mixed bag of Spetsnaz, Royal Marine SBS, and former Republic commandos, continued through the navigation lanes crisscrossing from the various airdocks, drydocks, and construction stations towards their target-the newly launched Executor-class Star Destroyer Formidable. Slicing into the Kuati and Imperial networks indicated that it had a minor skeleton crew aboard her.

The shuttle docked in the Admiral's docking bay, on the aft side of the command module. From there, the commando team quickly triggered the ship's anti-intruder defenses and disconnected from the drydock. Firing up the thrusters, the Formindable began to pull out of her lane and out of the dockyards, away from the defensive battlestations.

Two Dreadnoughts manned by Kuati crews responded, but the commandos on board the Super Star Destroyer opened up with automated long range fire from the Formidable's heavy turbolasers. The first Dreadnought didn't even open fire before succumbing to the massive barrage and turning into a self-feeding ball of plasma. The second managed a few futile hits on the massive starship's shields, before two well placed shots took out its drive section. Shifting fire, the commandos opened up on ships inside the yards. It didn't matter if they were in for repairs, completed, or partial, the commando team opened fire on all of them.

With the management screaming for assistance from the local Moff, the Formidable jumped to lightspeed, headed for the Zelos Sector. Throughout Imperial shipyards and dockyards, small shuttles of commandos repeated these actions, sometimes successfully, sometimes taken down in flames, and sometimes with the manufacturer's covert support, like the transports of X- and Y-Wings that were discovered mysteriously as salvage. But always harassing the Imperial war machine with their missions.

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Wild Stallion
Currently skirting the edge of Hutt Space

Ranma stood on the bridge of his ship, looking out the viewports into deep space and letting his mind wander in meditation. The Prometheus was close by the flagship, the dreadnoughts Kaga and Akagi trailing behind while the corvettes Kraken and Pampanito were on point. Captain Dodge walked up and stood a respectful distance from the Jedi Master. "Yes Captain?"

"General, we're picking up the old Jedi 'run and hide' message. Seems it's still being repeated throughout the communications backbone."

Ranma chuckled. "That signal's been bouncing around for over twenty..." His voice trailed off, as the communications officer called up from the crew pit. "Captain, I'm picking up a distress signal, two parsecs from our current position."

"Sensor report," Dodge asked.

"Sir, long range sensors are picking up a Space Master class transport, currently adrift. No hostile targets within a 5 parsec radius."

"Dispatch the Prometheus with the corvettes as escort. Their to offer assistance if the ship can be repaired on site or recover the crew if her hull is too far gone." As the orders were relayed, the three ships assigned leapt into hyperspace with a flicker of pseudomotion.

Ranma and Dodge stood, watching, even as the bridge changed shifts around them. Flight operations rotated out the combat aerospace patrol with fresh fighters. "Captain, the Prometheus and her corvettes are returning, with survivors. Colonel O'Neil will be ringing them over when they return to formation."

Standing in the ring room, Ranma looked out, through the bulkhead to where the Prometheus would be. "It's been at least 20 years since I've last felt this presence."

"General," Dodge asked, intrigued, as the rings of the transporter appeared and four shapes coalesced inside them.

"Just how in the Force did we get here," came a female voice within the rings.

"A simple matter of matter teleportation. I'm Captain Dodge of the Earthforce Ship Wild Stallion."

"Captain Ahsoka Tano of the freighter Skyguy," which got Ranma chuckling, as the former Torguta padawan introduced herself. "What's so funny."

"That you would name your ship after your pet name for Knight Skywalker," Ranma replied.

"How would you know that?"

"Ah, I apologize for not introducing myself, Padawan Tano." Ahsoka's eyebrow went up at that. "I was once Tarquin Lim, Jedi Master."

"'Once', you say?"

"Sorry, I'm late." Setsuna stepped out of the shadows. "Padawan Tano, I recall seeing you several times at the Temple during the Clone Wars."

"I remember you. You were usually with Master Lim." Ahsoka jabbed her thumb at Ranma. "Is he really Master Lim?"

Setsuna smiled enigmatically. "Yes, he is," she replied, nodding her head slightly. "The circumstances around his rebirth are most unusual."

"Really."

"Yes, really," Ranma replied. "Colonel O'Neil reported that your ship was crippled, the engines destroyed and the hull leaking atmosphere." He led them out of ring room and into a conference room just off the corridor, and motioned Ahsoka and her survivors to have a seat at the table; Setsuna sitting on his right, Captain Dodge on his left.

"It was. We tangled with an Imperial dreadnought, and barely managed to escape until the hyperdrive motivator fried. We were attempting repairs when your ships dropped out of hyperspace."

Ranma nodded. "We would be willing to bring you to your destination, but," he said, leaning forward, "I'd like to propose an alternative plan. The Empire is still hunting down those of our Order who've managed to survive both Order 66 and the intervening years. That includes any families they've founded.

"We're in the process of establishing a new Jedi Order, as well as a sanctuary, in a system far from Imperial control but caught fighting Imperial forces to maintain its independence."

"So what does this all have to do with me? Or my passengers?"

"Padawan Tano, you are on the Jedi rolls, even if you've never completed your training. Which means you are on Palpatine's kill list. I've had an entire Imperial fleet with a Dark Jedi come after me. At let me tell you, it wasn't fun."