Chapter 44

The Forgotten Droids

To Kill a Sith Lord

LOTHAL

Militia Camp

It was night, a small fire was burning for a militia patrol that was taking a break after a long night on watch, they heard speeders coming and got to their feet. Blasters ready when out of the darkness came Reik and Dray, "Chief Bloodwolf, Commander we didn't know it would be you coming?" One of them said, and the two men followed his directions getting off another land speeder was Captain Naqia, Butch and Gaser holding a stretcher.

"At ease soldier, where is she?" Commander Dray said, they gestured behind some large rocks to a few other fires burning.

Around the rocks laid out on the ground was a tarp, there a lightsaber staff laid on top of it, with Tai standing in front of it, a makeshift crutch under her arm, and leg reset in a field cast. When they came around Reik shut his eyes knowing it was Declan under the tarp, dead.

"I am sorry for your loss Master Jedi." Reik said behind Tai, the woman had her hood up hiding her face and emotions from the world.

"How did this happen, his armor is cortosis, lightsaber proof?" Naqia asked Tai.

Tai turned her head slightly, "Energy resistant yes, but not invulnerable, too much energy can break down the structure and…" Tai used the force to pull back the tarp, no one looked away to see a hole in Declans chest just below his chestplate, "A well placed strike where he doesn't have armor." she waved her hand and the tarp recovered Declan.

"Take him, make sure he gets back to Arcadia." she asked.

Naqia walked up and placed a comforting hand on Tai's shoulder, Gaser and Butch lifted Declans body up onto the stretcher "Gently." Tai told them. "The Last Laugh will see to it personally."

Even if he was dead, the two treated Declans body with respect, Tai watched them take the body away but didn't move. "Did he have any family?" Reik asked aloud.

"A mother and an older brother, Shimada right?" Dray asked Tai who was silent "... Yes, they won't take it well." she said squeezing her crutch watching Declan's body be taken over to the speeder and laid down on it before being strapped down.

Reik placed his arms behind his back "We would be honored if you would allow us to bury him here?" Reik asked.

"No, Arcadia was his home; he should be burned there." Tai said to him.

"As you wish, there are… other things we need to discuss when you are ready." Reik said, walking back to the speeders leaving her to mourn.

"Other things?" Tai asked.

Dray turned his head to her smiling "Revenge."

REBEL FLEET

Phoenix Squadron, Phoenix Nest

Back with the rebels, the rebel fleet continued its search for a base, they had gathered in the hangar and were waiting on a new arrival who could hold the key to their success. While also watching a new pastime, seeing how long Ahkilleon could deflect stun rings, Ahkilleon was in the center of the room and a few new volunteers had joined. That being Sabine, Ezra, Rex, Zeb and Kanan they shot at him with their blasters set to stun and he deflected their incoming shots, Ahsoka watched from a distance when Ahkilleon got knocked out again. Ahsoka sighed, shaking her head. Kanan holstered his pistol and walked up to her "Thought he was doing better, but ever since we left Lothal he's been distracted." Ahsoka said.

"The vision he had, has he spoken to you about it?" Kanan asked her.

She shook her head "I need him to come to me willingly, tell him he can take a break when he wakes up, I'm off to go investigate the Malachor lead." she said.

"But what about his vision?" Kanan asked her.

Ahsoka paused, "There's no guarantee he saw what thinks, visions are tricky I once saw a vision about a friend of mine getting killed, I thought if stayed by her side constantly she'd be safe but I had to work with her to save her life, thats what Ahkilleon needs to learn, to trust us." Ahsoka walked off to her A wing.

"Not taking the Jedi Starfighter?" Kanan asked her, "It'll draw too much attention, if for some reason you all need to leave the Ghost, I want Ahkilleon to stay here what happened on Lothal was a lot for him."

Kanan glanced over at the unconscious boy, Proxy was already there standing over him before the droid sat down and laid down next to him. Hands over the droid's chest as if looking at the ceiling. "He won't like that, maybe a mission will get his mind off it, help him refocus?" Kanan suggested.

"No, he blames himself for the padawan's death, he needs to reflect." She said heading to her A Wing.

Hera walked up to Kanan as everyone took a break from the 'training exercise' "Sabine's contact is here, where's Ahsoka off to?"

"She's following up on a lead, and this is the same friend who tried to kill Sabine right?" Kanan asked Hera to change the subject.

Hera walked with her "You know how girls are at that age, always changing their hair, trying to kill one another."

They walked over to an open spot in the hangar and a patrol shuttle landed, leaving its ramp was none other than Ketsu Onyo, Sabine's former bounty hunter partner. She walked out taking her helmet off "Sabine." Ketsu said seriously, Sabine folded her arms "Ketsu, have what we asked for?"

"Yep, right from those lasat's." Ketsu said while walking down tossing Sabine a datafile, Sabine caught it before handing it off to Chopper. Ketsu left her ship's ramp and looked over at Ahkilleon still passed out on the floor, she gave Sabine a cocked brow.

"Oh he's fine." She said unworried.

Ketsu shrugged "Now about my fee?" She asked.

"You'll get your money, bounty hunter." Commander Sato said walkin up with some of his guards keeping a stern eye on Ketsu, "How thoughtful." Ketsu replied.

Hera gathered everyone around "Thanks to Rex's Old Republic map and the map Zeb's Lasat friends made, I believe we finally have a suitable location for our base." Hera said as Chopper projected two holographic maps in front of them and then synced them together to form a more clearer picture of the system "The Yawst system. There's no sign of the Empire, but there's a small habitable moon, one that I think will provide everything you need." Ketsu explained.

"Promising, but Yawst is several parsecs away, and our carrier does not have enough fuel to complete the journey." Commander Sato said unsure if they could even get there.

Hera was in agreement but she also pointed out "We can't afford to leave it unguarded and immobile."

"Well, I've been tracking Imperial fuel shipments, there's one scheduled to arrive at the Horizon Base soon." Sabine said starting to get a plan in motion.

"Eh, it's risky. The Empire's tightened security at all its depots in the sector." Kanan added.

"If there's fuel there, what choice do we have?" Ezra said.

Hera and Kanan exchanged curious looks with one another and nodded, then Hera looked to Sato who seemed to read her mind "Very well, but do not delay, we need that fuel." Sato said.

"It's decided then, everyone prep for a heist." Hera ordered. Ketsu then turned to Sato with a hand outstretched "Money please?"

Sato rolled his eyes "Very well, I will retrieve your funds."

"Great, I'll get my account ready." Ketsu said.

Meanwhile, over on the floor Ahkilleon had started to come to and saw Proxy laying on the floor next to him, "Proxy what are you doing?"

"I noticed you lying on the floor Young Master, I wanted to lay down to so no one would think you were doing it alone, so that we were how would you say, 'just chilling'?" Proxy asked.

Getting to his feet Ahkilleon asked "Thanks Proxy, how'd I do that time?"

"You are improving with your deflection, but evasion needs work, Young Master." Proxy said as the boy noticed the crowd of rebels planning out the mission, he then saw Ketsu Onyo and immediately went for his lightsaber "Ketsu!" He snapped running at her.

Everyone heard his lightsaber go on and saw Ketsu draw her blasters she opened fire and he deflected them, he swatted the first three shots away but the forth he redirected back at her and right into her blaster knock it from her hand before she could go for her gunblade he kicked her in the chest and held his lightsaber at her neck "Don't know how you got on board but I know how your getting off, the hard way."

"Easy psycho boy I was invited!" Ketsu snapped at him.

"Ahkilleon stand down!" Hera came rushing over with half the hangar behind her and Ahkilleon looked around seeing everyone starring at him, Sabine came up to him "We hired Ketsu to bring information to us." Sabine told him.

"... oh." Ahkilleon said turning his lightsaber off, Ketsu shoved his foot off him and he stepped back "Fun friends you got little sister." Ketsu said to Sabine as Ahkilleon looked abashed at his actions.

Zeb just snickered "Anyone remember shooting Snips in the head?" he asked.

"Ummm maybe?" Ezra said jokingly.

Hera and Kanan both sighed as Sato came up to Ketsu with a case of unmarked credits, "Here you are, bounty hunter." Sato said, handing it to her confirming Sabine's story.

"Oh… sorry." Ahkilleon replied to Ketsu she just scoffed, picking up her pistol, "Yeah well next time don't go waving around a laser sword like you're some type of jedi, freak." She said heading over to her ship.

Ahkilleon squeezed his lightsaber tightly glowering at Ketsu's back before clipped it back to his belt, the crowd walked off and Proxy stood behind him "Excellent form young master, you could have killed her." Proxy said cheerfully.

"Don't think that would be very popular right now Proxy." Ahkilleon said walking over to the Ghost, everyone started to board the vessel.

"So where are we going?" Ahkilleon asked.

Hera stopped halfway looking at Kanan, "Uh you want to take this or me?" She asked.

Kanan gave her a nudging look and then turned to Ahkilleon, "Let's take a walk." Kanan said.

"A walk?" Ahkilleon asked.

Kanan led Ahkilleon away from the Ghost, "You've grown a lot in recent days, but there are some things you need to iron out." Kanan told him.

"Such as?" Ahkilleon asked.

Kanan stopped just in front of the hangar shield, the vast void of space out in front of them, he turned around and crossed his arms "You're skill with a lightsaber and the force are growing, being able to go into the Temple is a testament to that, but your still impatient and reckless. Wanting to fight isn't wrong, but that desire to fight, even if it's right, can lead to mistakes… like what happened to Padawan Koi."

"I… I didn't ask him to be there I-" "am not to blame either, that young man made his choice, it's not your fault." Kanan said, putting his hand on his shoulder.

"Kanan, the vision I had, we can't go to Malachor we- we just can't." Ahkilleon stood up to him.

Kanan knelt down and put his hand on the other shoulder so they could be eye level "I hear you, I do, your mother is investigating it right now, I'm sure we can all talk about it when she gets back but for now, meditate, train, do whatever you want just take it easy." Kanan told him.

Ahkilleon gapped "I want… to come with my crew?" He asked.

"Believe me, we'd appreciate the help but if your not here, and Hera's not here Phoenix Squadron won't have any good pilots to protect the flagship before we go to the Yawst system." Kanan said, smiling at him.

"Yawst system, what's there?" Ahkilleon asked.

"According to Ketsu, a new base?" Kanna said.

Ahkilleon looked away "Okay…"

"We'll be back for you to know it, and then you and Ezra can find more entertaining ways to try and get yourself killed." Kanan said walking off to the Ghost.

LOTHAL

Capital City

Governor Pryce was walking briskly through the hallways of the Imperial Center, she tightened her collar, fixed her hair and stood up straight as she could before she entered into her office to see Lord Vader standing at the window, "Lord Vader, I was unaware you were coming to Lothal, I would have prepared a proper welcome." she said hands behind her back.

"You may dispense with the pleasantries Governor Pryce, my arrival was not planned but necessary, the Inquisitors have discovered something here that the Emperor himself will find most important." the Enforcer stated candidly.

Governor Pryce's eyes grew wide hearing the name of the Emperor invoked, "Then by all means, I am your service my lord."

"Indeed Governor, with the recent betrayal of Governor Greelanx, the Emperor is wanting to know his Outer Rim territories are secure, so he is vexed as to why there are still reports of rebel activity in your sector?" Vader asked her walking around the table and standing over her.

Pryce did her best not to flinch "Those reports are… exaggerated, I saw to it personally that examples were made and the number of rebel activities have dropped to near zero."

"Near zero?" Vader asked.

She nodded profusely, "Yes, this new rebel movement calling themselves Lothal Militia have all but dispersed we still see small bands of them in the outlands on speeder bikes but they are of no consequence."

"My Inquisitors would disagree, as they encountered two Jedi recently." Vader said to her turning around.

"For the time being I will remain here to oversee that near zero becomes, zero." Darth Vader said looking back out the window.

Governor Pryce bowed, "B-but of course Lord Vader."

Meanwhile, down in the underground the Militia were all in a tense mood, they worked around the clock but in silence, up above in the higher levels where the holotable and command center was, Reik looked over the bull pin, "We need to discuss it." Dray said behind him, "I know."

Turning around Reik walked over to the holotable, Keiza, Colin, Fairfax, Dray and Tai leaning on her cruch were there, "Today we kill Darth Vader."

REBEL FLEET

Hangar

Ahkilleon was looking at the Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor, more commonly known as the Jedi Interceptor or Jedi Starfighter, he walked around it and looked it over a few scorch marks from lucky blaster fire by Imperials from Nar Shaddaa, he walked around to the back where the engine had been replaced with one that had a hyperdrive giving it an additional exhaust port for hyperspeed jumps. He hopped up onto the orange haul and looked at the cockpit "Now thats something?"

"What is?" Rex asked walking over with two smoking ups of caff, "This interceptors been modified for Hyperspace travel, and the cockpits been reinforced with durasteel laced along the glass, the original models needed hyperspace rings to jump?" Ahkilleon said.

Rex snickered "Oh yeah I remember those things, took up more space then you'd think on a Venator, bet if we sold it to a collector we'd make quite a shinny credit?" Rex suggested setting the caff down on the haul.

"Sell it, noway, I lost mine at Nar Shaddaa when I got hit, I'm keeping this one." Ahkilleon said as he opened up the haul and started look through one of the frames.

Rex leaned on it and sipped his coffee "Suit yourself, but you'll need an astro droid to copilot it, I new this one crazy droid that belonged to my General, hehe he'd make Chopper blush."

"Yeah Artoo… maybe we should ask Princess Leia to bring him around sometime" suddenly both of them thought of the chaotic battle that would ensue if Chopper ever met Artoo

"On second thought junior, maybe not." Rex said sipping his caff.

Ahkilleon reached for the cup Rex brought up and sniffed it "Yeah-hnn." he scrunched his nose up "Bad idea, anyway think I'll update some of the systems in here."

Rex smiled "Alright, starfighters ain't much of my forte, but what do you need?"

"A splicer, some new wires and dashboard components and the A wings we've been scavenging for parts should have what we need." Ahkilleon said to him.

Rex set down the coffee "What are we waiting for then." Rex said as Ahkilleon got down and headed over to them. There were three A-wings, more aptly called two and a half wings one was gutted beyond repair with wires hanging out of it, parts of the haul removed and its skeleton laid bare. "Alright what did you say you needed again?"

"Don't worry I got it." Ahkilleon went into the pile and started to take a part the A wing tossing out parts to Rex one by one, before Rex noticed a small device leap from Ahkilleons pocket and roll over to Rex's boot, be bent down and picked up the small modified holodisk the Militia transmitter trench gave Ahkilleon.

Rex bent over and picked it up "What's this?"

Ahkilleon looked over his shoulder and when white as Rex's armor, "T-that oh that's uh-" He stumbled over starfighter parts and then managed to wiggled himself toward Rex.

"Looks like a holodisk but… got an amplified signal beacon?" Rex asked.

"Nnnnn- yessss." Ahkilleon replied unsure if he should lie knowing Rex already deduced what it was.

Rex shrugged then tossed it to him "Something the Commander gave you no doubt, she's a smart one she is." Rex said not thinking much of caught it making sure he didn't press the on switch knowing he'd be even more trouble if he brought the Militia fleet there. Speaking of fleets just then the alarms began to ring out as out of hyperspace dropped an Imperial fleet with a full Star Destroyer and complement of support cruisers.

Rex and Ahkilleon looked out to see TIE fighters swarming out of the Destroyer and, "That's not good, battle stations!" Rex shouted ot the hangar as A-wing pilots came rushing out of the hangar entrance to their A wings, Ahkilleon looked at Rex who rolled his eyes "Don't just stand their junior get in that Jedi Starfighter, we need a Squadron commander while Hera's away." Ahkilleon didn't waste another second he b-lined for the orange interceptor and hopped in powering it up before he took off out into the space battle.

LOTHAL

Capital City, Underground

Beneath the city, the Militia were all processing the news "Kill Vader, are you insane?" Tai snapped at the Reik and Dray, Kieza, Fairfax and Colin were silent along with any other officers of rank. "We have a chance, a very small chance to take him out. We hope that Lothal will become the dominant power in the Militia."

"No one can kill Darth Vader, it's been tried and failed over and over." Tai argued.

"By the rebellion yes, but their methods aren't ours, we've studied Vader from a distance. We know his strengths which are many and his weaknesses which are… few." Dray said leaning on his cane as he walked around the holotable and pressed a few buttons bringing up a hologram of Darth Vader "There is, the Dark Lord himself, the Emperor's Enforcer and second only to his majesty." Dray said.

Tai limped to him, "Commander it's suicide."

"So is letting the Empire have that Jedi Temple." Dray muttered to her.

Dray faced the conference, "So, Vader is something we call a Sith Lord. Dark Jedi who are far worse, they have no mercy, no restraint in fact they enjoy causing suffering." Dray said to them.

"What's the big deal, he's only one man?" Keiza asked.

"Vader's no man, he's a monster." Tai snapped at her "And he'll kill anyone who even thinks of harming him, Commander Dray I'm begging you don't do this, Chief Bloodwolf this is madness?"

Dray sighed and patted Tai on the arm which she shoved off "Master Jedi you are still in shock from the loss of your Padawan, though it does give us grief your permission for this operation isn't needed, or your support." Dray said.

"Commander." Reik said, Tai looked at him hopeful he'd see reason "Let's continue."

"Right, Chief." Dray said as he wobbled back to the front of the table, "The problem with killing Vader is getting close enough to do so, he's got force senses, a master tactician and trained in the jedi arts of combat, but to top it off." Dray pressed a few buttons to show points of interest on Vader's armor "That's armors not for show, underneath he's got cybernetic enhancements, the helmet and the suit work as one to keep Vader moving, alive in most environments that would kill others, and if we do hurt him, it only makes him stronger." Dray finished.

Jetstream cleared his throat behind Fairfax, "And praytell how do we kill this monster?"

"We take away his strength." Dray said.

He pressed a button, showing a Lambda class shuttle and a modified TIE fighter, "Darth Vader travels in one of two ships, Imperial shuttles like the Lambda's or his own personal TIE, trust me when I saw we want the lambda because he's not piloting it."

"We shoot him down?" Vandal the Harch Dragoon asked.

Dray nodded "That's phase one, ground him before he goes back to the Temple or his Star Destroyer." the shuttle flew down as if shot and crashed in open ground, then small holograms of Militia squads on speeder bikes rolled in. "We surround him, keep him at a distance any our best shots use sniper rifles."

Tai shook her head "It won't work, he'll deflect or dodge or block, then Imperial reinforcements will be swarming over the place?" Tai stated.

A few nods of agreement on the last part "Which is why we don't let up, rockets, mortars, the Dragoons we throw everything we have at Vader, don't give him an inch, don't give him room to breathe, literally."

Tai took one look at Reik who was silent, "Chief, this is a bad idea, Vader is the reason the Jed are extinct he marched the clones into the Temple on order 66, he hunted down jedi, brought entire worlds to their knees for the Empire, you won't win, you can't win!"

REBEL FLEET

Phoenix Squadron and nowhere to run

The Tie's swarmed over the rebel fleet like locusts, and in the chaos of it all the orange Jedi Starfighter flew like a flamming comet around them, Ahkilleon had the headpiece on and was coordinating with Commander Sato, "Phoenix two through six, get away from the support cruisers their guns are far more accurate then the Destroyer, go underneath and don't get caught in the open."

"I've got one on my tail." One of the fighters said before Ahkilleon tailed the TIE chasing it and took it out, in a split second he felt the scream of the force as the Imperial pilot died, but Ahkilleon ignored it.

He banked hard left and looked at the transmitter in his hand, one click and within minutes he could have Trench here with a full armada.

"No, no we can do this." Ahkilleon muttered, shoving it in his jacket.

"All fighters, focus power on your shields the TIE's are more maneuverable at close range." Ahkilleon added as he turned his ship around and made a charge for the Star Destroyer.

Inside the Bridge of said destroyer, Admiral Konstantine was watching, "Thats an unusual Rebel ship?" he said, spying the orange interceptor zip around his tower.

"Records indicate the ship is identical to one of the jedi starfighters that appeared on Nar Shaddaa." one of the bridge officers reported to Konstantine.

The Admiral's eyes took a moment to widen, "Nar Shaddaa so the rebels were involved there, alert Lord Vader I may have what he's looking for." Suddenly the Star Destroyer took a massive hit and shifted, Konstantine nearly fell over and looked to his crew.

"Our stabilizers took a hit, shields holding."

"How in the bloody hell did they get that shot off?" Admiral Konstantine barked at his crew.

"It's the interceptor, our guns can't get a clear shot."

"Blow that relic out of the sky, Captain Fel." Konstantine said as Ahkilleon banked back around and saw a full squadron of TIE fighters following him, the TIE with the red stripe on it's wing pulled away from his original prey, "With pleasure Admiral, I've got a score to settle with this one." Fel said as he zipped back to follow Ahkilleon.

Hitting the brakes the TIE blew past the Jedi Starfighter and Ahkilleon opened fire on them taking out some of the TIE fighters but Fel dodged. Fel flew back around and opened fire "You're not getting me that easy Jedi."

LOTHAL

Capital City, Underground

"He's on the move, I repeat he's on the move!" one of the Militia regulars ran down from the above and entered into the old republic sewage office, the soldiers inside all looked to Reik and then him to Dray, "Scramble the Interceptors, have the Dragoons ready to fire on my mark as soon as he's out of Capital City Airspace." Dray said as people began to move around.

Reik stood there as if frozen and the forces began to scramble, the regulars grabbed their Militia rifles out of the racks they leaned on, put on armor, fixed grenades to their belts and so on. "Captain Fairfax, you may begin your pursuit fly low and I'll signal you."

Tai gave Reik one last look before Reik shut his eyes "STAND DOWN!" he shouted.

Everyone froze.

But none was more shocked then Dray, his mouth ajar, "Stand down… stand down when we have an opportunity to take out Vader?"

"Stand down Commander." Reik told him.

Limping toward him on his cane Dray's lip curled into a snarl "Stand down, who do you think-" "I am Reik Bloodwolf, Chief of the Okami, Warlord of Lothal and I am telling you Commander, to stand down… we let Vader leave." Reik said firmly and loudly for everyone to looked out at the large room filled with Lothal recruits, Militia they may be but they were Lothalians and he wasn't.

"As you… Command." Dray said as he sat back against the holotable.

Tai breathed a sigh of relief and Reik turned from Dray and looked back over the holotable, as everyone began to stand down, "I know you wanted this."

"This isn't about what I want, this is-" "This is about the Militia I know, which is why I can't give you Vader for my men's lives, we need them." Reik said as Dray turned to him the two of them whispering.

"Do not forget who put you in command here, Reik?" Dray said as he stood up and fixed his duster and beret, "And you shouldn't forget who-is-in-Command." Reik stood up and squared off against him, Keiza nudged Colin and he saw it along with Tai for the first time the two were standing off against one another. And Dray was the first to turn away and it was clear who was the leader.

HYPERSPACE

Ghost, enroute to the Rebel Fleet

"We have to go back to Chopper." Ezra snapped. He was aboard the Ghost inside the cockpit after a successful raid, the crew was safe and sound minus one droid, Hera groaned out from the pilot seat as she looked back at Ezra.

"I warned him not to get distracted by that leg." she chaffed as Ezra looked with pleading eyes.

"You don't even know if that's what happened." Ezra argued.

Hera spun her head backforward gripping the controls tight "Oh, I know. I know that droid. He's always thinking about himself. But we have to think about the fleet first." She said as she started to send a transmission to the Squadron via her radio.

Commander Sato's voice was going on " Phoenix Nest to Ghost, come in."

"We read you, Commander Sato. We're inbound with the fuel." Hera replied.

"You must hurry, we are under attack." Sato said as they came out of hyperspace to see the Rebel fleet under attack by the Imperial fleet, the TIE's and the A wings were locked into a bloody dogfight ripping into one another with laser fire. The Jedi Starfighter zipped through the dogfight taking out two TIEs then blasting up one of the support cruisers "Ghost, welcome back to the party." Ahkilleon said flying alongside them.

Aboard Admiral Konstantines flagship, one of his bridge officers noticed the Ghost, "Sir, a rebel ship that escaped the Horizon Base has entered the system."

"So that's why their fleet hasn't attempted to jump. They need fuel. Captain Fel order our fighters to intercept that ship. Keep it from docking at all costs." Admiral Konstantine relayed to his fleet and to Captain Fel who zipped over the Phoenix Squadrons flagship.

"Copy that Admiral." Fel said as Ahkilleons TIE chased the pilot in every direction, but Fel was one step ahead of him each time.

Back with the Ghost half of the Imperial TIE's were attacking them now "Looks like we're getting special attention!" Hera stated as everyone had jumped to battle stations in their turrets.

"My guns are offline. My guns are offline!" Sabine said as suddenly Ketu's patrol craft the Shadowcaster blew past them taking out a TIE that was about to end them. "Ketsu."

"Shadowcaster to Ghost. I'm on your wing." Ketsu's voice came over the comlink to the relieved rebels.

Even wearing her helmet Sabine was relieved "Copy that, Ketsu. Thanks." Sabine said.

Up front Hera missed two TIE's narrowly before they outflanked her "Zeb, two incoming at point seven." Hera called back to him over the ship's intercom.

"They can get in line. There's more fighters than I can shoot!" Zeb snapped.

"Then there's no excuse for missing." Hera said as the TIE's came back around and got blown to smithereens and Ahsoka's starfighter flew past piloted by Ahkilleon, "Got your back Ghost."

"Ghost to Shadowcaster, we need to land and refuel the carrier." Hera related to the bounty hunter.

Getting into position in front of them Ketsu let fly her salvo "I'll clear a path."

The TIE's in front of them blocking the path to the Phoenix Nest flew out of hte way giving a clear run for the Ghost "Thanks for the assist, Ketsu."

"You owe me one." Ketsu said breaking off.

"Everyone, get ready! We're coming in hot!" The Ghost flew into the hangar coming to a screeching halt above the floor before staggering to a stop, Hera got out of her seat and ran to the back shouting orders. "Zeb, Ezra, the fuel."

"We're on it." Hera said as the two of them ran out of the Ghost pushing out crates of fresh fuel towards the refueling stations in the hangar. Just then a new comlink came on over the Ghosts comlink, it was Chopper beeping and honking in binary to Hera.

Kanan saw Hera's face turn into a deeper shade of green as she yelled "C1-10P, where are you?"

"Really? So you didn't leave the Ghost to go after that leg?" Hera asked him not believing his answer "I don't have time for this. We're still trying to refuel the carrier so we can jump to the Yawst system."

"The Yawst system? No. No, no, no. I'm afraid the Yawst system will not be safe for your friends at all." A new voice came on the link "The Empire's data network reports an Imperial fleet has recently been dispatched to that system." the voice said, it was another droid and spoke with a droll tone like metal being dragged across gravel. "It appears to be a trap of some kind. Uh-oh."

Hera looked at Kanan and gasped in shock "The Empire's waiting for us in the Yawst system? How do you know that?" Kanana asked Chopper and the droid replied candidly.

"You stole an Imperial freighter?" Hera screamed.

"Hera, refueling finished." Ezra echoed over the comlink "Let's get out of here."

"Hold that thought. Chopper, are you sure it's a trap?" Hera asked and then Chopper confirmed it with his chattering beeps "Then we need new coordinates to a safe system, now." Hera said as this could spell the end of the rebel fleet.

Out in the dogfight, Ahkilleon took out another TIE before his own interceptor took a hit, he looked behind to see Captain Fel chasing him in his own TIE, "I have you now Jedi."

"You again." Ahkilleon said accelerating his starfighter so Fel had to do the same, Hera noticed the two zipping and zagging all over the place, "Be careful Specter Seven that TIE was at Nar Shaddaa."

Ahkilleon flew around the Star Destroyer sticking closer to it as Fel flew over him, Ahkilleon looked up and saw Fel inside the cockpit, and could sense Fel was locking onto him with his torpedoes "Come on, come on, come on commit to it." Ahkilleon said before Fel loosed the torpedo. Ahkilleon sped up as soon as he was away from the Destroyer and flew back around right at Fel and broke off at the last second before they could colid and Fels torpedo nicked his left wing causing it to catch fire "Dammit"! Fel shouted before Ahkilleon broke away back to the Ghost.

Ahkilleon spun his interceptor to evade Fel's attack "He doesn't give up I'll give him that." Ahkilleon went under the Phoenix "Be advised we're not going to the Yawst system, Chopper is getting us new coordinates."

The boys face scrunched up and he took another hit from Fel, "Oh great, the fate of the fleet in the hands of that psychotic droid." Ahkilleon said.

"That coming from the boy with an assassin droid as his nanny." Hera replied as she switched over the coms to Chopper, "Where are those coordinates?"

Hera heard fighting on the other end as Chopper's new 'friend' was speaking "Cross referencing planets and moons-" "Just send the coordinates!"

"Transmitting coordinates now-zzt" the line went to static and then silence, everyone held their breath and Sabine saw the incoming transmission "Transmission coming through."

Hera quickly contacted the Phoenix Nest "Sato, I have the new coordinates. Jump!...The entire rebel fleet is betting on Chopper." Hera said out loud.

"Yeah. Try not to think about it." Kanan commented. Hera started to make a break for the carrier "Specter 7, Shadowcaster we need to cover the A-wings."

"Copy that." Ketsu said.

Ahkilleon copied it too with "Shadowcaster, Ghost I got an idea, follow me around the carrier."

The Rebel fleet started to jump and the A-wings returned back to the Phoenix Nest, followed by the TIE's then out from behind the carriers top the Ghost, Shadowcaster and Ahkilleons interceptor came around "Fire everything!" Ahkilleon ordered and the three ships let loose their full salvo of rockets and cannons shredding half the TIE fighters before they too got into the carrier and it got ready to make the jump. Ahkilleon landed looking out and saw Fel's flaming TIE fly by "Next time." Ahkilleon said.

Later after the rebel fleet was safe and sound away from the Empire everyone was catching their breaths, outside the Ghost, Ahkilleon was laying down on top of the jedi starfighter one leg dangling as he rested his hands behind his head. He let out a sigh of relief and felt someone coming. He looked up to see Kanan standing there, arms folded on his chest smirking. "That was quite some flying you did out there Ahkilleon."

The boy sat up and patted the ship, "Naw, it was all this old girl, she's a beauty just hope my mom lets me keep her when she gets back." Ahkilleon said as he rubbed it like he would a pet.

"Pretty relaxed for your mom up and leaving?" Kanan asked.

Ahkilleon sat up crossing his legs shrugging "You get use to it…"

Seeing he was a bit down, Kanan walked around admiring the interceptor "After how you stepped up today, I wouldn't put it past her." Kanan said walking around it "I used to have one of these, never cared much for flying, why I met Hera." He joked.

"Speaking of Hera, did I hear it right, we didn't run into a trap because of Chopper?" Ahkilleon asked him.

Kanan snickered, "I'm trying not to think about it."

"Yesh even that trash can has its own adventure." Ahkilleon said getting off the interceptor, he leaned on now and rubbed his hands together before he dropped them at his sides, stuffing him into his vest pockets. "... Thank you."

Kanan lifted his head from examining the ship "For what?"

"If I had gone with the rest of the Specters to the heist, I wouldn't have been here to help protect the fleet, I thought I wanted a distraction to get the vision of the future out of mind, but I realized I should be looking at the present that's where I need to be." Ahkilleon said, looking around the hangar at the rebel fleet recuperating after the fight.

Kanan walked over to him "Sounds like a very Jedi way of looking at things." he said calmly with a proud smile. The two of them looked out to see Commander Sato speaking to the pilots and crew congratulating them on a hard fought victory even if it was a retreat, they had survived and that was enough. Chopper came rolling out of the Ghost with Hera and he had a new protocol droid with him.

"Even so, Chopper gets all the credit for saving the day, how does the jedi react to that?" Ahkilleon asked Kanan.

Kanan scratched his goatee and said "No idea."

"Come on, let's see what we can do with this thing." Kanan said picking up a splicer.

LOTHAL

Capital City, Underground

Dray sat in his quarters face in his hands when the door opened, he looked up to see Reik standing their holding a bottle and two cups, "May I come in?" Reik asked him. The quarters were simple a bed with a desk in the corner and a chair, a simple light hung from the ceiling attached to cable drilled through the wall. "You're in charge, you tell me." Dray asked.

Reik walked in and pulled out the desk chair then poured the two cups of dark red wine, "I am sorry we had to do that in front of everyone, but you wanted me to lead, so I had to." Reik said.

"Killing Vader would have made your leadership without question." Dray said as Reik held the two cups.

"It was your plan, not mine, not my victory… or failure." Reik replied.

Dray scoffed, arms folded "No risk, no reward, you can't succeed without the chance of failure, Tai was being irate."

"The empire retaliates ten times more every time we attack, you and her convinced me we can't win this war with clever plans or guerilla tactics anymore if they have someone like Vader on their side, or the Inquisitors. It's time for a new strategy." Reik said to him.

Dray looked up with a curious look in his eye, Reik offered him the cup and Dray took it but didn't drink "What kind of strategy, stop digging, go back to the moon?"

"No, we keep digging, keep preparing the Capital… but we don't have enough men to take the planet let alone hold it from an Imperial counter attack, you were right." Reik said as he held up his cup "We need more than blood, we need iron, we need to use the droid army."

Dray held up his and they toasted "Blood and Iron."

"Blood and Iron." Reik said before they drank the wine and prepared for the next step.