I do not own Star Wars Rebels
Sorry I had planned to post this chapter earlier but there were some revisions to the story I had to work in and usual rush to get everything ready for Christmas so I fell a bit behind.
That said I hope everyone has a Happy New Year!
This chapter draws heavily on the Legends Continuity
Chapter 6 – Consequences
As the Ghost now again at hyperspace returned to where the Rebel fleet had been only what seemed to them like hours before they all were gripped with a fierce sense of foreboding. Their actions during the unexpected trip into the past had left them worried about what they might find there. Zeb was putting Hera carefully in her bunk as the Twi'lek woman slept still affected by the concussion, the clone medics that had checked her out said she had hurt her lekku which was why it was taking longer for her to heal than it should have but with time she would be alright.
Time that word made Zeb snort in mocking irony. It had always been a sure thing to him at least that the past was fixed in stone and nothing could change it, now even that certainty had been taken from him. He looked down at Hera's still sleeping face as he knelt at her side and told her in a quiet whisper.
"Hera, I don't know if you can hear me but." He stopped for a moment as the enormity of the situation pressed down on him again. "We might have made a huge mistake. Yes we tried to help the Jedi survive the rise of the Empire but for all we know we might have made things worse. Before we had a chance fighting the Empire…now who knows?" He said worried that they might find a galaxy where the Empire ruled totally with no resistance against them, Ahsoka and Kanan long dead and no hope anymore. "You were always the smart one, I just hope that we did the right thing."
Zeb stood up and looked down at Hera's face again as she slept on unaware of the dilemma that they had created. Sabine and Ezra were still sitting in the cockpit wondering many of the same questions as Zeb. Chopper behind them looked on forlornly as he picked up the mood of the two humans in front of him.
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When the ship was coming up on the last known position of the fleet and was about to drop out of hyperspace Zeb re-joined Ezra, Sabine and Chopper in the cockpit. Their faces all became tenser as the moment of truth approached. Sabine's hands gripped the flight instruments harder and Ezra sat there feeling more anxious than he could ever remember.
Then finally the ship reached its destination and reverted to normal space. At first glance everything was exactly as they had left it, three Corellian Corvettes with a squadron A-wing interceptors with blue and white livery. They all nearly breathed a sigh of relief while at the same moment feeling an almost crushing sense of failure that they hadn't managed to change the here and now despite their previous worries. However those feelings disappeared in a blink of an eye as they registered that the fleet was currently under attack by an Interdictor class cruiser and several escorting cruisers.
When it finally sank in the crew of the Ghost quickly went into action and dived in.
"Rise the shields." Sabine said as she took the controls and plunged the ship into the fight. Ezra being her co-pilot went to the controls and started to follow her orders while she turned to Zeb and said. "Get on the main gun."
Neither male questioned her orders as they went to work. They lined up on one of the escort cruisers that was on the outskirts of the battle and started firing. They made their first pass and caught the imperials from behind knocking out their main shield emitter before swinging around for second attack run.
As they did this a voice appeared over the communications.
"Well I didn't expect you back so soon. Did my old business partners cause you some grief?" The familiar voice made all of them smile despite the situation. Ezra feeling relieved that his master was still here.
"Kanan, you know who I am right?" Ezra asked nervously needing to hear the words before he finally let his fears go.
"Kid now is not the best time to be messing around." Kanan said sternly before telling Ezra who could almost see the smile on his master's face. "But I know my apprentice anywhere."
"Maybe we could have a chat later when the Empire is not trying to blow us all out of the stars." Sabine said as she piloted the ship into its second run on the escort cruiser and hit the bridge with a blast causing the ship to fly forward blindly as its engines were still running into a light cruiser destroying both vessels. Then just as they were feeling good that they had destroyed two ships they heard the voice that was annoyingly familiar.
"This is Admiral Titus of the Imperial Navy. We have you trapped and outgunned, surrender and prepare to be boarded or be destroyed." The blond haired admiral said with his own unique blend of arrogance and distain. His hologram appeared on all the ship's bridges but while the others were worried about the bad situation that they had found themselves Kanan surprised them all with a smug response.
"Oh I think it is the other way around Admiral, it is we who have you outnumbered and outgunned. So it is you that should surrender." Everyone was shocked at his suggestion as a clear look at the battlefield ahead of them showed six Imperial Light Cruisers with a dozen light transports for support all clustered around an Interdictor-class cruiser and four squadrons of Tie fighters against their one squadron of A-wings, a light freighter and three Corellian Corvettes showed how badly one sided the battle was going to be. Titus thought so too from the safety of his reinforced bridge and replied with a smirk.
"While I admire your optimism Mr Jarrus I think you must agree that the odds are definitely not on your side." But the smirk slipped from his face when Kanan shocked them by laughing and saying back.
"Oh no it is over for you Admiral, we went to a lot of trouble to get you and your ship out here, now it is time to reveal our hidden assets." Kanan drew out the last two words causing both Imperials and Rebels alike to wonder if he had finally gone barmy. On the Ghost the four of them could only exchange a brief look of confusion before the meaning of what Kanan had said became clear as a fleet of ships jumped into their area of space.
As everyone stared the new fleet drew closer led by a trio of ships that were as big as Imperial-class Star Destroyers and shaped like enormous sea going creatures with their hulls made up of smooth curves rather than the flat edges of Imperial ships. Behind them was a fleet of vastly different vessels that clearly outnumbered the Imperial forces by over three to one. From the Ghost's cockpit Sabine quickly began identifying the new ships.
"The biggest ships are Mon Calamari Cruisers almost as big and powerful as a Star Destroyer. Behind them there are; refitted Dreadnaught-class heavy cruisers, Venator-class Star Destroyers, Lucrehulk-class battleships and that is just the larger vessels!" Sabine said drawing on her knowledge of different starships from across the galaxy. Even then she could not identify all the different classes of ship in the armada that had just arrived. The Imperials couldn't care less about identifying all the different types of ship as their only escape route was cut off and more annoyingly they could not jump to hyperspace because of their own gravity wells. The larger ships came into range first and started firing on the Imperial light cruisers which staggered under the fierce blows before their hulls splintered and broke apart. The Imperial Escort cruisers were then set on by the smaller ships of the new fleet which tore into them like a pack of wolves. Squadrons of fresh Starfighters joined the heavily outnumbered Phoenix squadron and began dogfighting the enemy Tie fighters with covering fire from the different corvettes. The Interdictor itself quickly found itself surrounded and on its bridge the crew had abandoned the disciplined efficiency that they boasted so much about and in the centre of all the running and shouting Titus just stood there staring out at the scene ahead of him not really grasping how what had seemed certain victory just moments ago had turned into a hopeless defeat. He did not even hear the lieutenant that told him that Rebel soldiers had boarded the ship and were overwhelming their Stormtroopers.
While soldiers secured the interdictor the Ghost and the Liberator docked with one of the Mon Calamari cruisers named the Faithful. From the moment they exited the Ghost into the much larger ship they saw Kanan, Rex and Ahsoka standing at the end of the corridor waiting for them. Seeing his master Ezra broke into a run followed by Sabine and Zeb with Chopper wheeling along as fast as he could after them. Stopping just short of him they looked up and saw that grin that they were so familiar with smiling back at them as they grinned themselves.
"Wow slow down, what's the big rush?" Kanan asked in surprise at their eagerness to see him. Ezra just said.
"It just feels like it has been a long time since we saw you." Zeb said with a knowing smile which made Kanan frown along with Rex and Ahsoka but Rex soon went back to business.
"Now we have the Interdictor, attacking Imperial supply convoys will be far easier, especially when we manage to copy the technology."
"Thank the Alliance for coming to the rescue Kanan. We should organise more operations like this." Ahsoka said and the four that had been displaced in time looked on in confusion.
"What is the 'Alliance'?" Ezra asked confused having never heard the term. Kanan turned to face him and said.
"You can ask the boss yourself, she wants to meet you. And by the way where is Hera?" Kanan asked noticed her absence.
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While Ezra, Sabine and Zeb were escorted by Rex and Ahsoka to the ship's war room to meet the leader of the 'Alliance', Kanan had went to Hera's captain and his face fell when he saw her lying on the bunk still unconscious from her injuries. He quietly made his way over so as not to disturb her and sat down on the small chair next to her bunk. Her beautiful face only moving slightly as she took in and expelled each breath and he smiled. As if sensing it, Hera began to stir and her beautiful aqua eyes opened to stare up at him and she smiled.
"Hey." She said in a voice that was barely a whisper.
"Hey." He said back taking her wrist gently and kissing it.
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When the three other members of the Ghost's crew arrived at the Faithful's war room they were greeted by a scene that surprised all of them. The room was bustling with activity; on the wall screens and on the many consoles and displays in the centre of the room there were many operations being displayed from all across the galaxy. Battles and covert missions on many different planets or in the vacuum of space gave them a clue to just how big this organisation was and how far its reach went. Their eyes however were drawn to a figure standing in the middle of the room around a large map of the galaxy displayed on an interactive table. Sensing their stares the figure turned to face them and smiled showing a familiar face as she walked over to meet them as Rex and Ahsoka went over to talk to a Mon Calamari officer in some kind of navy uniform.
"Hello again, it has been a while since I saw you last." She said as the smiling face of Depa Billaba was revealed. The woman had aged gracefully with only a few new lines around her eyes and mouth and her hair was now a simple ponytail. Apart from that she looked the same as when they had last seen her.
"Master Billaba! So you made it through." Sabine said having been very worried when they had left her on that ship years ago although to Sabine and her friends it was only hours. Master Billaba, her apprentice and her clone commander had been fighting a pitched battle to secure their ship from clones being controlled by the chips implanted in them since they were born. Depa smiled and told them.
"Follow me to my office, then I can explain just how much you have missed." Depa said with a grin and she set off towards a door on the far side which they took as their cue to follow. The door opened when Depa put in her special code and allowed them to follow before it slammed shut. They were surprised at how Spartan it was; just an interactive desk and a couple of chairs and a large safe in the corner. She walked over to her desk and turned to face them.
"Well." She said thinking it was best to start with what had happened immediately after they had left fifteen years ago although that was still very strange for her to process. "After you left myself, Kanan or Caleb as he was back then and Commander Grey led our own loyal clones in securing our ship. Once that was done we travelled to the Hoth System were we joined with the other Jedi survivors we were able to contact thanks to your warning and before I continue I have to offer my greatest thanks as because due to your warning we managed to save seventy two percent of the Jedi Order, five thousand or so Jedi and as an added bonus many of the generals were able to bring loyal clones into the fold, giving us an army of eighty thousand men including vehicles and ships. Once we were organised we resolved to continue the war but this time it was against the Empire so we approached the Separatist holdouts who refused to accept that the Clone Wars were over. It took some convincing but they agreed to join forces with us, our clones formed the elite and heavy divisions while their droids made up the bulk of our army. We started hit and run attacks against the Empire while it tightened its grip on the galaxy and as more rebel movements started we absorbed them into our ranks until six years ago when the Mon Calamari, Wookiees and inhabitants of Sullust joined us. That was when we really turned up the pressure on the Empire and formally became the Alliance."
"And just what is the Alliance?" Zeb asked finally proud that they had apparently made such an positive impact.
"The Alliance is the combined forces of nearly every rebel movement in the galaxy, from regular humans to Mon Calamari. Wookiees to Rodians you get my drift." Depa explained as they took in what she was saying. "I sent Kanan to liaise with Miss Tano's Rebel Network so we might work together. But even then we have had enormous success, our combined strength has managed to force the Empire to abandon the Outer Rim and areas of the Mid Rim as we push inwards. Unfortunately that has had the effect of making the Empire even more brutal in its oppression of the galaxy, the massacre of the Imperial Senators when it was formally dissolved was not a pretty sight." Depa said with a sigh as she thought about all the senators that had dared to speak out against the harsh Imperial occupation while the others had stayed silent but it didn't matter whether they spoke out or not, the Emperor had had them killed anyway as a warning to others. Some had managed to escape but had to keep a very low profile or else they would be found and brutally murdered as a reminder to others of the might of the Empire. It had been a major propaganda victory for the Alliance but it came with covered in blood as far as Depa was concerned.
"Really? You freed the Outer Rim? What about Lothal?" Ezra asked wondering about his homeworld. Depa looked at him feeling his intense curiosity which reminded her so much of her first apprentice, Kanan had managed to find a student so like himself that it made her laugh that he would finally get a taste of his own medicine given how he had bombarded her with questions during his apprenticeship.
"Yes Generals Grey and Bly freed Lothal six months ago and now its inhabitants use the factories that the Empire forced them to build to make weapons we use to fight the Empire. Kessel was a great win for us too, now its spice mines help us fuel the war effort using more efficient droids instead of slaves. Scientists from Omwat and Polis Massa now fuel our research and development groups. Shipyards on Mon Calamari, Yaga Minor and Sluis Van supply our fleet and so on." She told them to try and give them an idea of the scale of the operation they were joining. All worlds that were a part of the Alliance contributed but some more than others like those she had mentioned who had been treated to some of the worst Imperial brutality. "The clones at first were our elite infantry and Starfighter pilots but as they have matured many of them have retired from active combat and now act as leaders and instructors for our own forces. Some still fight but thanks to their leadership and training our forces are lightyears ahead of the enemy."
"Who leads the Alliance?" Sabine asked wondering if perhaps this organisation was just a more humane version of the Empire and Depa gave her a smile before telling her.
"There is a parliament of elected representatives from member worlds and they hold power in most civilian matters. The main leadership however rests with three triumvirs; the President of the Parliament Garm Bel-Iblis, the Supreme Military Commander Admiral Gial Ackbar and the Grand Master of the Jedi Order who acts to meditate the other two in major decisions."
"And who is the Grand Master of the Jedi Order?" Ezra asked having never heard of the title before, Depa didn't bother answering and he quickly caught on.
"Grand Master Billaba." He said and she gave a sad look.
"I only took the role because the old grand master refused to carry on retreating into exile. When I asked he just said that he felt own hubris and arrogance had almost doomed the Jedi despite whatever me and the other masters told him to the contrary. He has a quiet retreat where we sent some of our padawans to learn from him." Depa said sadly wising that Yoda would not blame himself for what had happened. The Jedi Order could use his wisdom but he refused saying he was too old to get involved again.
They were disturbed when the door chimed and they turned around to see it open revealing a teenage girl about the same age as Ezra walk into the room. She was pretty Ezra noticed immediately; warm chestnut brown hair fell to her lower back, her face was heart shaped with delicate cheek bones but her brown eyes were almost burning with a strong will that refused to bend for anyone or anything. She was dressed in a white version of the standard Jedi robes with armoured plates protecting key areas of her body while leaving her free to move freely. The lightsaber clipped to her belt along with the robes gave away her allegiance.
"Oh sorry Master, I didn't know you had company." She said in a sophisticated tone. Depa smiled at her and said.
"Not at all my padawan. These are some of our latest recruits I was just giving them some information on the Alliance. This is my current apprentice Leia Organa from Alderaan."
"Well master I thought I should give you the latest tactical and strategic data." The girl said ignoring the other three and she handed Master Billaba a number of data cards while relaying some of it herself. "The battle of Bothawui has been won, Master Swan reports the local population are willing to join our cause. Masters Secura and Sitra have made contact with our Core Worlds allies and report that massive resources are being poured into a project known as the Death Star but they haven't managed to learn what it is yet."
"Death Star…that does sound worrying. Have our new Bothan allies see if their spy network can dig up anything." Depa told Leia who nodded before leaving the room and Depa then turned to her young rebel friends and asked with a grin.
"So ready to get back out there?" The three of them turned to her and Ezra said.
"Where do you have in mind?"
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Later that night when information about the capture of an Interdictor reached the Imperial Navy there was a meeting on the holonet between four people. On the Star Destroyer that was nearest the last known position of the Interdictor Agent Kallus of the ISB (Imperial Security Bureau) and the two Inquisitors Fifth Brother and Seventh Sister were standing to attention as they relayed their report. The fourth person was represented by a hologram as the other three addressed him.
"Our most recent information indicates that the Jedi planned and carried the ambush by using the rebel cell we have been tracking as bait." Kallus told him feeling nervous at having to report such bad news, it was this activity that would usually get someone killed as an example of what happens when someone failed and he had no intention of being the next victim of that harsh policy. "All reports indicate that the Rebels intend to not only use the Interdictor but copy its technology allowing them to pull our ships out of hyperspace at any moment of their choosing."
"The Jedi that led the attack was Grand Master Depa Billaba herself, her former apprentice Kanan Jarrus, Ahsoka Tano and the boy Ezra Bridger were also present." The Seventh Sister said wondering if she might get a shot at Depa Billaba, killing the Grand Master of the Jedi Order would certainly be an accomplishment worth a big reward. The Fifth Brother remained silent as he observed preferring not comment until he had something worthwhile to add.
"Not to worry Agent Kallus." The fourth person said as he absorbed the information. "I have sensed their presence and it may be the time that I become involved…personally." The voice was cold and without a hint of compassion. Fifth Brother then chose that moment to speak.
"Oh course…Grand Inquisitor." He said bowing slightly to the Pau'an dark side user who only grinned his toothy grin.
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This is the end of this particular story…I hope you all enjoyed it and I am thinking of continuing it into the Original Trilogy but I haven't made any plans yet.
I am also thinking of doing a series of X-overs with Star Wars about different Rebel Cells across the galaxy. I have a few other projects on the backburner but nothing definite yet.
Anyway thank you all for reading and especially those who gave me feedback it was really good to know what you thought.