"How far to the shield generator?" Cara Dune asked as she followed Lee.

He was leading the way after they had gotten separated from their squad that was tasked with taking down the shield generator located on Endor. General Solo and Commander Skywalker had spotted a small imperial patrol unit on their way and Princess Organa had gone ahead to follow two that had taken off on speeder bikes into the forest. Jules had followed the Princess but lost her after a mile out. Unfortunately, Lee and Cara had tagged along and now were lost in the dense forest.

"I say we're about five miles off course. Should arrive on time to regroup with General Solo and the others," Lee said hopefully as he checked his coordinates. "You said that five miles ago," Dune grunted with her blaster at the ready.

"What's the matter Dune? Getting tired?" Jules mocked as she cleaned her knife against her pant leg. It was full of sap from chopping a pathway for them.

"Of being lost? Yes." Dune retorted and stopped to drink some water. She offered the canister to Lee who gratefully took the canister.

"Thanks," Lee said. "If we keep heading North we should be there by O-300."

"I doubt that," Dune said, laying down her supplies and preparing to make camp.

"What are you doing?" Jules asked, annoyed.

"We're losing the light and even if we're on track to meet up with everyone in the middle of the night, I'm not taking my chances with the wildlife out here in the dark." She answered as she prepared to make a fire. "We can continue at first light."

"I'll check the perimeter," Jules reluctantly agreed. She knew Dune had a point. Her arms were tired from chopping most of the day.

Once the light of day vanished the fire thrived to keep away the cool of the night surrounding them. Lee pulled out some rations and split it in three. The three ate in silence, exhausted from not only the day, but the years of fighting. They all could sense that this strike mission was going to be the game changer. It was the ace in the hole if they could pull it off.

"I'll take the first watch if you want to get some shut eye," Dune said as she found a comfortable position and began to clean her blaster.

"Thanks but I haven't been sleeping much," Lee said looking over to Jules envious as she snored. He took a deep breath and twirled his wedding ring around his finger. He had been gone from Lothal for what seemed like an eternity. When he arrived on base he received an angry message from Denz:

I can't believe you. Leaving now, when Rya needs your most. There is no excuse for this Lee. You better come back alive or I'll find a way to resurrect you and kill you myself.

"Happens a lot to soldiers before a battle," Dune said as comforting as she could. "Especially your first time."

"I wish it was my first time," Lee chuckled. "Then I wouldn't know what laid ahead,"

"How many battles you've seen?" Cara asked curiously.

"Too many…not counting the endless intel heists, I was at Scariff, Yavin, and Hoth…." Lee replied. He paused thinking of Riq's frozen eyes when he found him, then each ship from Gold Squadron, and then the blast of the first death star as it shot toward Rogue One. He had known so much loss. But he didn't what to think of what more he could lose. "What about you?"

"I've seen my fair share since 'the Disaster'," Cara replied.

"Alderaan," Lee acknowledged. "That's rough."

"Lothal right?" Dune asked. "Not to sound distrusting but what you doing here? Isn't Lothal free from the Empire?"

"For now. It won't last if the Empire is next door. I've fought too long, lost too much, and am too close to just leave it to chance that Emperor won't come knocking again. I've got to see it through, for my friends that gave their lives to the cause, the ones that lost theirs at the hands of the Empire, for my father, and my kid who's on the way….I've got to finish what I started." Lee paused slightly embarrassed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to go into a monologue."

"At ease, soldier. I get it." She smiled. She glanced over to Jules who was muttering in her sleep. " Your friend there, she's a good fighter but a bit overzealous when taking out Imps even for my standards."

"That's Jules for you," Lee smiled watching her sleep. It was the only time she was peaceful. "Just be happy she's on your side."

"Wish that made me feel better, but it doesn't," Cara remarked.

"Well I'll do my best to keep her in line but that's a tall order," Lee joked. "The war has altered her more than others."

"Not really a viable excuse in my opinion," Cara countered. "But I am glad to fight alongside a seasoned veteran. Try and get some sleep Captain."

"Thanks Dune," Lee said, closing his eyes.

Lee began to dream. He had no idea where he was. There was a familiar figure in front of him. As he approached he could see who it was. It was Saw Gerrera.

"These have been hard years. We've lost comrades, friends, family...to the Empire. Dark times. And yet the fire still burns. Hope still burns. We are not lost yet. For the cause, Tersu."Saw said, turning and looking at Lee.

"For the cause,"Lee replied as he could feel the heat of a large explosion go off and everything went white.

"Lee wake up,"Jules shook Lee awake. He jolted up. "You're safe. Just take a deep breath. There you go."

"Sorry, I was dreaming," Lee realized there was no explosion.

"More like having a nightmare," Dune said as she packed up and covered their tracks leaving no trace they had been there. "Let's move out."


"Looks like we're late to the party," Dune peaked over a hillside at the shield generator where General Solo and the squad were surrounded by the Imperial Shield Base Platoon.

"How many AT-STs are there?" Jules said as the walkers surveyed the area.

"There's gotta be a hole in their defenses somewhere. How many detonators do you have? Ouch!" Lee exclaimed and turned around and saw a small fuzzy bear-like creature. It was an ewok. It had a spear and poked Lee again. "Stop that!"

"Tersu look," Dune pointed to a line of more ewoks standing behind them. "I think they're here to fight."

"Ewoks versus Imperial Troopers?!" Jules remarked sarcastically. Before Dune and her could debate who would come out on top they heard a voice call out across the way.

"Hello! I say over there. Where you looking for me?" It was Princess Leia's protocol droid C3PO.

"What's that droid doing?" Jules asked, annoyed.

"I think it's a diversion," Lee said, turning slowly away from the ewok hoping he wouldn't stab him in the back.

"AYEEEYA!" Sounding through the forest followed by war horns a dozens of ewoks emerged from the forest prepared for battle. Armed with bows, arrows, and spears, the group of ewoks behind Lee stepped forward and began to shoot at the Imperial troopers.

"Well, I'm not gonna wait for an invitation," Lee said and grabbed his blaster and headed toward his captive squad to help free them. He kicked a trooper in the side and fired his blaster. He then took his e-11 and tossed it to his fellow soldier. "Set up a perimeter around the bunker!"

"We gotta take out those AT-STs," Dune shouted as she joined Lee.

"Come on," Lee said as he led the way toward one of the walkers that was following a group of ewoks. Lee saw them desperately launching rocks from a catapult at it. The AT-ST turned and aimed at the contraption. Lee darted as fast as he could toward them and tackled the small but fierce creatures to the ground. They were safe from the blaster fire. "Stay down!"

PEW! PEW! PEW! PEW!

The walker turned and continued to chase the rebels and ewoks as they scattered into the forest. Lee sat up as three ewoks patted his shoulders in gratitude for saving them. They were kind of cute.

"Lee!" Jules called. Lee motioned for Dune and the ewoks to follow him as they came behind a firing line of stormtroopers targeting the rebels who had surrounded the shield bunker. Before Lee could fire, the ewoks jumped to attack them with their spires and hammers. "I like these little guys."

PEW! PEW! PEW! PEW!

"RUN!" Dune yelled as a flood of ewoks came rushing from an AT-ST in pursuit. As they ran alongside them Jules tripped. Lee turned back to pull her up.

"Ah my ankle," She screamed in pain. "I think it's broken."

Lee bent down and pulled Jules over his shoulders and carried her as they continued to run from the AT-ST's fire. He did his best to keep up with the fleeing forces but it was difficult to keep the pace and mind his footing. Eventually Lee fell forward and dropped Jules. He scrambled to get her but before he could reach her the AT-ST loomed over them and rotated its guns. Lee grabbed Jules hand tightly and closed his eyes prepared to die.

BOOM!

Suddenly the AT-ST exploded. It had been hit by another walker. The AT-ST began to fire at Imperial Forces. It must have been hijacked by the rebels.

"Yahoo!," exclaimed the ewoks. Jules and Lee both took a deep breath of relief.

"Looks like we've got the upper hand," Cara said, helping Lee lift Jules up. "Best to regroup with Solo and see about orders."

"Tersu, with me," Solo called out as the three arrived at the bunker. Lee followed Solo and a small group inside. They began to set up multiple charges around the control room.

"Throw me another charge," Solo asked Lee. Lee took the charge from his pack and held it in his hand for a moment. This was it. Everything they had been fighting for came down to this moment. He thought of Saw Gerrera, Cassian Andor, Riq, Stobo, and all the others he had lost. This was for them. He tossed the charge to Solo who set the timer and quickly moved the squad out.

"Move! Move!" Solo yelled for everyone to take cover.

BOOM!

The shield was down. It was in the hands of the rebel fleet now. The Endor strike team regrouped and waited for word from star command.

"Where's Dune?" Lee asked.

"Went with a few others to track down left over Imps fleeing into the forest," Jules said as a medic set her foot.

"How are you?" Lee asked.

"I think I'm good now," Jules said, looking up into the sky seeing the explosion of the Death Star. Lee looked up as the group began to cheer and celebrate. "How does the view compare? You got to see it up close and now from a far." Jules asked Lee.

"Not sure," Lee said solemnly. "Just a different point of view I guess."

"Hey thanks for not leaving me back there," Jules thanked him.

"Of course," Lee said. "Denz would never forgive me if I left his favorite Twi'lek behind."

"He might not for leaving Rya behind. You think Rya will forgive you?" She asked.

"I don't know," Lee admitted. "But I have hope."


The night sky was filled with light from the bonfires and celebratory fireworks set off by star fighters flying overhead. Dune and Jules conversed with the other soldiers over the day's victory. Lee didn't feel much for reminiscing and slipped away to a bridge away from the celebration and stared up at the sky. His thoughts were on Rya. He wondered if he had ruined what they had. Was this the end of the Empire and their marriage? Would she forgive him? Was their child here yet? What would they do for work? How would he provide now? Would he go into politics? As Lee began to try and comprehend life after the Empire, he had company.

"Captain Tersu," Princess Organa greeted. "Why are you out here away from the celebration?"

"Your Highness," Lee bowed his head in respect.

"I think today of all days we can dispense with the formalities." She smiled warmly, "Leia."

"Yes, quite a day," Lee repeated awkwardly. "Feels unreal."

"It'll take a few days to register, but I'm afraid now the real work will begin," she said. "I hear congratulations are in order. You're going to be a father."

"Yes," Lee said grimly. He was embarrassed to accept the praise as he felt ashamed for leaving Lothal in the first place. "Thank you Leia. I know Rya wasn't thrilled about the timing. She wished she was here."

"On the contrary the timing seems to be perfect. Your child will be born into a free galaxy," Leia empathically remarked. "But that's not what's troubling you is it?"

"Forgive me your highness but I don't think I can address you on a first name basis and tell you about my personal problems," Lee replied.

"Fair enough. Anyway I can help?" She asked.

"I don't think so. I just wish I was back on Lothal….with my family," Lee began to open up. "I've missed so much in this final strike…I think I may have made a mistake. It'll take weeks to get a transport back."

"Take my shuttle," Leia said. "Go home to your family."

Lee stared into the princess's eyes amazed by her generosity.

"Your highness-"

"That's an order captain," she said and turned to head back to the celebration. "Give Rya my best."

Lee took Leia's shuttle and headed home to Lothal to tell his wife the war was over. Now they needed to figure out if they could begin again.