Tales from the Rebellion

by Will X

Continuation of the Star Wars special. Candace, Isabella, and Phineas join the Rebel Alliance and become entangled in the war, while Ferb is forced into his own journey by Darthenshmirtz's manipulations. Behind it are petty intrigues, war politics, people being people, and a truly dark plot unfolding deep in the shadows. Rated T for coarse language and violence.

28. The Siege of Ivort Four (I)

The Imperial-class Star Destroyer War Hammer dropped out of hyperspace above Ivort Four. The destroyer Shogun and the surviving light cruiser were holding position some distance away from the moon. Debris from the opening stages of the space battle now orbit'd above the fourth moon of Ivort: twisted and burned metal scraps; broke TIE wings; the wreckage of the ruined Imperial light cruiser.

On the ISD War Hammer's bridge, there stood dutiful and brave Captain Lara Tybur, ready for battle. Next to her was Vice Admiral Etrim Autren, lean and mean and determined to avenge the pride that had been wounded by his failure in the Daral belt. The rebel spaceships hath escap'd his evil clutches and his ego did linger in a wretched state o'er this humiliation. You might ask why Autren was even trusted with command after failing to prevent a rebel escape in the Daral belt.

In Moff Irion's increasingly erratic behaviour, the answer does lie. / Kept back, Vice Admiral Smith was, to oversee the naval efforts 'cross the Zoraster sector entire.

"Com-scan indicates their shield is still up, Vice Admiral." Captain Tybur said.

"As I expected," Vice Admiral Autren said. "Surveys will no doubt confirm the existence of the ion cannon used to disable that light cruiser. Tricky little buggers, them Rebellion types. Set all that tech up real nice…" He sighed in frustration. "Liaison with the destroyer Shogun, Captain Tybur. I want their latest data and surveys of the moon. And get me a line to the Prefect. If there's no logistics issues back on Zoraster, General Forgus and his troops will arrive in less than an hour. We need t' be ready and have the space around this moon secure for their landing operation."

"Aye, sir." Captain Tybur said. The Imperial officer went to her communications officer's console.

"Vice Admiral!" the comm officer said. "Our comms are being jammed!"

"What?" Autren snapped. "This cannot be! There-"

"Rebel ships approaching from the far side of the moon!" a crewman shouted.

"From within the ion cannon's targeting zone," Vice Admiral Autren realised. "They knew they were out of our scanners' range! Damn it!"

"What are we reading?" Captain Tybur demanded.

"That Pelta-class frigate, the Dornean gunship, a…" the crewman looked up, shock plastered all over his young face. "Captain, it's their entire fleet!"

---

The Leaveykurarupid, the Fist of Pammant, the Warchild, and the Sullust were emerging from behind Ivort Four. All the bombers of Boom Squadron and all the snubfighters of Maroon Squadron flew with them.

On the Leaveykurarupid's bridge stood the Koorivar officer Captain Slagtimiq.

"What are we looking at Deetwo?" he asked.

"Scanners confirm it's just that light cruiser, and those two destroyers, Captain." said the protocol droid D-2PS9. "The Gladiator-class and an Imperial-class."

"Officer Lama, tell Harkson to go ahead and move in." Captain Slagtimiq said. "Prep our torpedo tubes, have the Warchild and the Dornean gunship ready, tell the Sullust to hold position. Signal Brucosl to confirm that we've engaged. We just need to distract the enemy."

---

Down below, on Ivort Four's surface, Colonel Brucosl watched the space battle begin through his pair of MB450 macrobinoculars.

"Sir!" Lieutenant Ran'o reported. "Captain Slagtimiq's frigate reports our fleet has engaged the enemy!"

"I can see that, Lieutenant." Brucosl muttered. He was anxiously rubbing his existing fingers over the stumpy remains of his missing ones. "Is the ion cannon recalibrated?"

"Yes." Ran'o said.

"Good," Brucosl said. "Good of good."

As a rebel operative on Batonn some years ago, Brucosl witnessed how seized surface-to-orbit ion cannons from the Empire's military outpost on Scrim Island had prevented Imperial warships under Admiral Durril from controlling the space around the planet. The ion cannon set up at Fort Salliche (Brucosl had named the rebel operations base after his homeworld) was a v-90 Protector, a model of Kuati manufacture. It was a testament to the skill of the engineers that they had managed to get it ready and working in such a short amount of time. It had disabled one of the light cruisers above the moon, forcing the other cruiser and the Gladiator-class Star Destroyer away from the immediate zone above their position. Brucosl did not anticipate using it during this next stage of the battle, but it was good to have it ready in case an Imperial ship was foolish enough to stray into their line of fire.

---

The War Hammer had launched thirty TIEs, including four TIE bombers. Maroon Squadron and Boom Squadron engaged them. Captain Slagtimiq kept the blockade runner Sullust behind his Leaveykurarupid while the Warchild and Fist of Pammant moved to support Commander Harkson's starfighters.

The TIE bombers attempted to attack the Leaveykurarupid itself. The lead TIE bomber launched a few missiles at the Rebel frigate's bow that succeeded in stressing its shields, but Commander Harkson himself shot all four of them down easily.

The attack on Yom Outpost had left Commander Harkson quite the changed man. Marcus Antilles' death had shaken him greatly. His heart was hardened and his mood one of cold fury. After dealing with the TIE bombers he swung Maroon One around and shot down a TIE fighter with one hit.

Vice Admiral Autren ordered the ISD War Hammer and the destroyer Shogun forward to hammer down the Rebel cruisers' shields with turbolaser fire. The Imperial light cruiser hung back to protect the flank. Jsall destroyed a TIE fighter that had been disabled by one of the Leaveykurarupid's point-defence ion cannons. The Leaveykurarupid and the Fist of Pammant focused their cannons on a spot on the War Hammer's starboard side while Captain Eisenhower led Boom Squadron to bombard its port hull. Captain Tybur ordered TIEs after Boom Squadron, but the turrets on the Y-Wings fired and destroyed most of them. In fact, one of the Y-Wings did get shot down but its crash into the surface of the Star Destroyer breached the shields and caused a great explosion which rocked the whole ship. On the bridge Vice Admiral Autren swore furiously.

Jsall shot down a TIE interceptor when the Shogun moved so the Fist of Pammant was within range of its medium laser cannons. The Imperial Gladiator-class Star Destroyer and the Rebel Dornean gunship began exchanging broadsides. Jsall led his flight of X-Wings on an attack run against the Shogun; one of his men got shot down by its turbolasers but they succeeded in distracting it long enough that the Fist of Pammant was able to sneak beneath the Shogun and fire its concussion missiles at the destroyer's keel. Six TIE fighters raced to the Shogun's rescue, but you see, Dornean gunships like the Fist of Pammant were designed with anti-starfighter operations in mind and four of the damned eyeballs got vaped. The surviving two banked hard to port to come around again but got destroyed, one after the other, by Commander Harkson in Maroon One.

The Shogun moved and fired its cannons at the Fist of Pammant again. Part of the gunship's hull exploded.

"Shit!" Harkson swore. "I need four men, on that Gladiator-class now!"

Without even waiting for backup, Commander Harkson increased power to his X-wing's thrusters. Over his astromech's increasingly frantic objections, Harkson zoomed towards the destroyer in an effort to draw its fire. He launched proton torpedoes at the Shogun. The destroyer's shields were weak and several of the torpedoes caused big explosions on impact. The Imperial warship's commanding officer saw wisdom and ordered a retreat back to the protection of the ISD War Hammer. The Fist of Pammant also withdrew, limping back to where the Sullust was positioned.

On the bridge of the War Hammer Vice Admiral Autren scowled. This was not going well for him. He would've liked to move in closer to destroy their entire fleet, but yonder ion cannon down on the moon's surface meant he couldn't, lest he risk his ships being disabled.

"Sir!" the same crewman as before yelled. "We're scanning more ships coming out of hyperspace!"

"What?" Etrim Autren snarled. "Be they Rebel craft?"

"Appears so!" the crewman said. "Two X4 gunships and an MC-18 light freighter! They're engaging our starfighter units!"

These were extra ships General Fenwhudn had wisely kept hidden in reserve, sent in now that the Siege of Ivort Four was underway. Their timely arrival in the skies above Ivort Four ensured that Captain Slagtimiq's small fleet would win this round; they disrupted the Imperial attacks long enough for the Fist of Pammant to slip behind the Leaveykurarupid. With the opening caused by the enemy starfighters' disarray, the Warchild was able to approach the War Hammer unmolested. It opened fire on the large Imperial-class Star Destroyer's prow, which was already damaged by rebel bombing runs (and asteroids in the Daral belt from the earlier battle). Explosions erupted across the entire bow of the ISD War Hammer.

"Shit!" Captain Tybur shouted. "SHIT!"

"How badly?" Autren screamed, his face that of a madman's. "How badly? Damage? Badly? The damage-how badly was it being?"

"Shields to the forward sections are all but down!" Lieutenant Greene shouted. "Captain Tybur-we need to withdraw!"

"Launch more fighters!" Autren screamed. "Blow these rebel scum out of orbit!"

At that moment Autren didn't care that relying on fighters might prove his hated rival Vice Admiral Smith correct. His priority was to defeat the Rebels.

Before any further decisions could be made, more ships suddenly exited hyperspace. This time they were Imperial ships.

General Forgus' troops had arrived.

On the bridge of the Leaveykurarpuid-

"Captain!" said D-2PS9.

"I see it!" Captain Slagtimiq said. "Lama-tell Brucosl their transports have arrived, just as the General predicted!"

The transports that had just exited hyperspace were expecting to have the immediate area around Ivort Four secured by the War Hammer and their command crews were alarmed to instead find a space battle raging. Captain Tybur made sure to have Lieutenant Greene contact General Forgus to explain the situation. Forgus decided to risk heading to ground, and ordered the War Hammer to position itself between his ships and the Rebel fleet.

Unfortunately for Vice Admiral Autren this was exactly what Captain Slagtimiq wanted. The Imperial fleet would remain focused on his ships, convinced they were the only threat, and leave the surface-bound transports less protected.

Among the supplies General Fenwhudn had acquired from the Zann Consortium were twenty vulture droids, old drone starfighters left over from the days of the Clone Wars. These had been carried to Ivort Four aboard one of the large, winged transports and prepped for flight by Colonel Brucosl's engineers. When Vortho Lama signaled him that the Imperial transports had arrived in orbit, over a dozen of these raced into orbit to attack the helpless transports.

General Forgus had brought his forces to the Mubon system in ten Delta-class DX-9 transports, a few Imperial shuttles, a Gozanti Cruiser carrying two AT-ATs, and a pair of old CR-25 troop carriers. The Razor-class frigate Modarrin, some escort gunboats, and a Gozanti Cruiser carrying four TIE fighters had provided security during the troop convoy's journey from the Bigthe system to the Mubon system; however the Modarrin and two of the new TIEs immediately moved to engage the X-Wings of Maroon Squadron. The transports were virtually unprotected.

Three minutes after Forgus' arrival in-system the vulture droids reached low orbit and opened fire on the transports. One Sentinel-class shuttle burst into flames after taking six direct hits. The other two TIE fighters moved to attack the oncoming wave of vulture droids but one was quickly vaped by the droid fighters. Two of the Delta-class DX-9s collided as a result of pilot error during evasive maneuvers. The remaining TIE fighter managed to shoot down a vulture droid but it was in turn vaped by cannonfire from the Leaveykurarupid.

General Forgus' Lambda-class shuttle was targeted by two vulture droids at once. Now the shuttle pilot, a human (cisgender) woman named Anna T'Aohbt from the upper levels of Coruscant, was very skilled. Though it caused her passengers discomfort, she rolled the Imperial shuttle to port to doge laser blasts from the tailing vulture droids. She cut the thrusters so the shuttle fell behind the droids and then oriented it so they were in the shuttle's targeting zone. Opening fire, she managed to clip the wing of one vulture droid enough that it spun out of control and hurtled down towards Ivort Four's surface in flames. The other vulture droid evaded her cannonfire and darted away. Warrant Officer T'Aohbt had only a second with which to weigh her options-should she attempt to maneuver the shuttle as best she could to take down the droid threatening her craft? Or should she break for their landing zone on the surface and escape the battle in orbit? What option she would've chosen, dear reader, remains unknown to us, for another vulture droid targeted the Imperial shuttle and opened fire. Despite her desperate-and, frankly, quite skillful-maneuvers, a shuttle can only do so much. The droid's cannons hit the engines, disabling the Imperial shuttle. General Forgus' ship was now a functionless piece of metal unable to evade enemy fire. The vulture droid that had escaped T'Aohbt came back around. It opened fire, and in just four or five blasts it destroyed General Forgus' shuttle.

Another DX-9 transport exploded under fire from rebel vulture droids. One of the CR-25 transports was beginning to vent atmosphere from hull damage sustained under rebel fire. A TIE fighter racing to defend the transports got blown to pieces by a vulture droid. Vice Admiral Autren wept bitterly as he watched this from the bridge of the ISD War Hammer.

Commander Harkson pursued a TIE fighter past the tip of the Shogun's prow, and destroyed it easily. Calling up his wingman Maroon Thirteen (the Weequay pilot Jecix Tir), Harkson turned towards the Imperial transports.

"Thirteen, we're gonna make a run on those!" Harkson said. "Copy?"

"I copy, Maroon Leader." Jecix Tir said.

They each brought their X-Wing fighters forward, cannons blazing. Harkson and Tir both pressed down on the launch switches, and proton torpedoes launched at one of the five remaining DX-9 transports. The explosion ruptured it in two; the bodies of Imperial personnel could be seen getting sucked out into the unforgiving vacuum of space.

Commander Harkson brought Maroon One around, and fired his laser cannons at one of the CR-25 transports. Its shields were holding, but he was sure that would change with time.

Suddenly Harkson's astromech droid whooped in fright.

"Leader, you've got three eyeballs and a squint on your tail!" Jecix Tir said.

"Dank farrik!" Harkson swore. "I'm gonna shake 'em!"

"Sir, I can vape them!" Jecix Tir shouted over the comm. "Hold on!"

Jecix Tir pursued the TIEs chasing Commander Harkson. He fired his cannons, missing one of the eyeballs barely. A pair of vulture droids passed them, zooming in the opposite direction. Tir fired his cannons and finally destroyed one TIE starfighter. The others were firing and Harkson was dodging even as he brought Maroon One around to do a risky strafing run on that CR-25. He fired his cannons at it while the TIEs fired their cannons at him while Jecix Tir fired on them. One of the TIE fighters managed to clip a wing on Maroon One, but Harkson's astromech compensated for it enough that Harkson didn't spin out of control.

"Leader, we need to get out of here!" Jecix Tir shouted. "Sir!"

"Hold on, Thirteen!" the Commander said. He fired his cannons at the CR-25. Its shields were all but depleted. Jecix Tir managed to shoot down the TIE interceptor, which spun out of control and crashed into one of the other TIE fighters. Now only a single TIE fighter remained on Commander Harkson's tail.

As Commander Harkson pulled back around, he saw three vulture droids speedily chase down and destroy a lone TIE fighter before moving to attack a Sentinel-class landing craft that was attempting to escape to the surface of Ivort Four. The three vulture droids fired on the shuttle, causing an explosion on its stern. It lost control and careened towards the surface; going in for a crash landing.

(In case you're curious as to its fate, dear reader, this shuttle would crash in the Hatko lowlands, about seventeen kilometres from Mann City. Two stormtroopers and a weapons engineer would survive. All of the other passengers and the entire flight crew were killed in the crash.)

Commander Harkson cut his ignition to fall behind the pursuing TIE; he and Tir then fired at the exact same time and destroyed it.

"Maroon Leader, thissss is Leaveykurarupid," the Khil comms officer said over the radio. "Captain is recalling all fighter units. That Sssstar Destroyer isss bearing down on us!"

Commander Harkson watched a TIE interceptor shoot down a vulture droid.

"Sir!" Tir said. "We have to regroup with th' rest!"

"Maroon Leader!" the Khil said, more loudly this time. "Return to fleet; do you acknowledge? Maroon Leader, do you copy?"

"I copy control," Harkson growled. "Thirteen, you lead and I'll take second-station behind you."

"Copy that, Leader." Jecix Tir said. They flew their X-Wings away from the remnants of the transport fleet. Passing by the frigate Modarrin, they joined up with an H-60 Tempest Bomber from Boom Squadron and one of their own squadron's Z-95 Headhunters (Maroon Eleven; Henry Y-Obran). A lone TIE Interceptor attempted to shoot them down, but Commander Harkson fell back and blew it up. They encountered little trouble otherwise, for most of the Imperial fighters in the area were moving to defend the transports from Colonel Brucosl's vulture droids.

The Star Destroyer War Hammer had risked moving even closer to the ion cannon's target zone in order to block the rebel ships from moving to fire on (what was left of) the transports. Captain Tybur had attempted to use her warship's Q7 tractor beam projectors to pull the Leaveykurarupid and some other rebel ships out of the ion cannon's range. The War Hammer's tractor beam officers had succeeded in towing the Leaveykurarupid and one of the X4 gunships into a spot where the gunners could fire at them from point-blank range. However, this of course had the effect of placing the rebel ships in a spot where they could fire back at point-blank range. And of course, the difference in size was an advantage to the rebels despite Imperial Navy doctrine teaching otherwise; the Star Destroyer was too large for all its cannons and turbolasers to point at the smaller gunship and cruiser, while the rebel ships could fire every single cannon they had at the Star Destroyer.

Jsall led two other X-Wings and a Z-95 Headhunter to take out the tractor beam projectors. Most of the TIEs had been dispatched to protect the transports, so it was not hard to maneuver and destroy the forward-most projectors. Eventually Vice Admiral Autren, frustrated but well aware of their situation, ordered that they fall back for the time being.

The War Hammer, the Shogun, and the light cruiser began retreating away from the Leaveykurarupid and the other rebel warships. Commander Harkson led Maroon Squadron to continue harassing them, with assistance from the freighter Warchild.

By this point only four vulture droids remained. The Gozanti Cruiser carrying the AT-ATs had turned and fled into hyperspace. The four remaining DX-9 transports and the two CR-25s both were making it down to the landing zone near Mann City. The CR-25s had both miraculously held up long enough to escape, though the constant attacks had left some casualties among the passengers and crew of both transports. The escort gunboats were moving to assist Vice Admiral Autren's ships while the frigate Modarrin was engaging the vulture droids with its three dual laser cannons. The remaining four droid starfighters managed to shoot down one more TIE interceptor and another TIE starfighter before they were destroyed.

Despite Commander Harkson's desire to pursue the enemy further, Captain Slagtimiq knew his forces were exhausted and weakened and so therefore it was unwise to continue moving against the Imperial fleet. Vice Admiral Autren brought the War Hammer, the Shogun, the Modarrin, the escort gunboats, and the remaining Gozanti-class cruiser to the far side of the moon. Autren dared not retreat fully and give the rebel fleet uncontested control of the space above the fourth moon of Ivort, but at the same time staying and fighting the rebel fleet at that time was risky.

Down below on the surface the determined and resourceful Prefect of Ivort Four, young Stacy Hirano, was downing the fourth cup of caf she'd had in the past hour. It was the middle of the night on that part of the moon. Lieutenant Elaxiabeter had woken her when the ISD War Hammer arrived in orbit, and together they had proceeded to the command centre to wait for General Forgus' troops to arrive.

Her horror as the space battle in orbit unfolded is indescribable. No words I have found in all the dictionaries for all the languages there are could do justice to what she felt that night. The stormtroopers the War Hammer had given her a few days ago were barely enough to secure Mann City; General Forgus' reinforcements were supposed to be a vanguard force to begin acting against the rebel camp now on Ivort's fourth moon. Now most of them were dead.

Stacy was a woman only just entering her twenties but she swore that she could feel her hair beginning to turn gray.

---

A nightmare.

Gutted corpses dangle from trees by the wayside, hanging in nooses fashioned from their own intestines. The eyes are missing.

Where are the eyes?

Where are the eyes

Another nightmare.

People stand around. Laughing.

oh.

…yippee another nightmare…

This time it's drowning? No…movement is impossible and it's black, nothing to see. Can't move. Can't breathe. Lungs screaming.

Oh godbear…concrete. This isn't drowning, it's death by being encased in concrete. Can't move. Can't breathe. Lungs screaming

Unworthy.

BLEEDING

Cannot communicate. No of the such empathy, to.

Failures just keeping the piling up.

A trigger.

The Nightmares Are Hard.

---

On Keilosren, General Fenwhudn and Colonel w'Acon, with Quayle quietly standing nearby, looked at a tactical display showing the current situation above Ivort Four.

"As you can see," said a Drall analysis officer who served under Colonel w'Acon, "The Imperial fleet has retreated to the far side of the moon, away from Captain Slagtimiq's force. The last report from the Leaveykurarupid's scout-drones places the Imperial-class Star Destroyer War Hammer in the, uh, in the protected centre of their small fleet. That Gladiator-class destroyer, which seems to have taken the most damage during the first stage of the battle, is in a safe position just below it. They have a Razor-class frigate and a light cruiser securing their flank, while a Gozanti Cruiser and some escort gunships are enforcing their perimeter."

"What about our forces?" Colonel w'Acon asked.

"Five starfighters shot down." the Drall said. "And the Dornean gunship Fist of Pammant suffered heavy damage."

"Hmmph," said Colonel w'Acon. "And what of the raid at the Bigthe system?"

"Lieutenant Jyph's attack on their outlying patrols was successful." said the Drall. "Five TIE fighters were destroyed and a Tartan-class patrol cruiser heavily damaged before he escaped into hyperspace. He's heading to the Mubon system to join up with Captain Slagtimiq's fleet as we speak."

"The Fatherspear worked as well as we'd hoped," Colonel w'Acon observed. "Them Vanguard-class heavy assault gunships are quite th' little gem, ain't they?"

"Aye." said General Fenwhudn. "That they are. Thou art dismissed, Corporal."

The Drall analyst saluted and left the briefing room.

"Good one, she is." General Fenwhudn said.

"I suppose," Colonel w'Acon said.

"Contact our friends…" Fenwhudn said, "...in the Zann Consortium!"

"Yes, General." Colonel w'Acon said.

Quayle snickered weakly. He was still recovering from his ordeal. Colonel w'Acon glanced uncomfortably at the crazy redhead dude. He had never really felt at ease when in Quayle's presence, but now, after the skirmish in Mann City?

w'Acon shivered, for he was unsettled greatly. First and foremost, Quayle's tongue was gone. He had indicated-by writing it out on a piece of common paper-that he'd removed it with his knife to avoid giving up information to his Imperial captors. w'Acon was disturbed by this.

And then, well….

Quayle was fucking scary. An underworld slicer one of w'Acon's investigation officers employed had acquired recovered security footage from a Mann City Police Department chest-recorder. The way Quayle moved….Colonel w'Acon had seen much in his fifty-eight years of life, and Quayle certainly made the high end of the list when it came to things that scared him.

"Signalling the Consortium fleet now, ma'am." w'Acon told General Fenwhudn.

"Aye, good." said the General. She turned. "Quayle, not that I think you're untrustworthy and must not know what we discuss, but I need someone on the door. If you wouldn't mind, please step outside to be a watchman."

Quayle nodded and slunk off to do as he was asked.

Colonel w'Acon was always confused by how the General was always familiar, almost to the point of tenderness, with Quayle. He had been in her service a long time; longer than even w'Acon and Brucosl. The General trusted him deeply, for reasons Colonel w'Acon had never quite grasped.

The console beeped. "General, the Consortium is responding!"

"Good, good." said General Fenwhudn. She walked to the holoterminal and stood there. Colonel w'Acon activated it and holograms of two people appeared. One was a Twi'lek woman, Tyber Zann's enigmatic operator Charlene, and the other was a human man, Admiral Jerid Sykes.

"Greetings to you, General Fenwhudn," said Charlene. She glanced at Colonel w'Acon. "And to you as well, Kadrillian."

"Greetings, Emissary and Admiral Sykes," said General Fenwhudn.

"Now, to business," said Admiral Jerid Sykes. "Per our agreement, we now bring ships in the number of two dozen down to marshal in the Kellis system."

"Good Admiral Sykes, 'twas it not meant to be upwards of thirty-five?" said General Fenwhudn. "Wherefore these ships hide themselves from me, Admiral?"

"Your damn friends in the fuckin' Rebel Alliance attacked our fortress on planet Dandelo," said Admiral Sykes. "And Imperial forces move against us too…word that we were planning an operation of some kind leaked, it would seem. A whole-ass fleet led by Lord Vader's Super Star Destroyer has spent the past couple of weeks chasing our ships from one side of the galaxy to the other!"

"That is unfortunate," said General Fenwhudn. "I imagine your master is greatly displeased."

"Yes, our most great leader Tyber Zann is in the most furious of moods right now," said Admiral Sykes. "His loyal servant Urai Fen leads efforts to seek out the traitor who leaked our plans."

"Mmm," General Fenwhudn grunted. "Regardless, are you still prepared to hold up your side of the agreement?"

"We've already given you much," grumbled Admiral Sykes. "Lady Charlene here shipped ya a buncha weapons and crap!"

"Admiral, please." Charlene said. "Please excuse him, General Fenwhudn. He's in quite the mood. His favorite captain died at Dandelo."

"You have my condolences, Admiral." General Fenwhudn said insincerely. Admiral Sykes harrumphed but said nothing.

"Now, General Fenwhudn," said Charlene. "You have sequestered my daughter Vanessa away from your forces, right?"

"Yes, Lady Charlene," said General Fenwhudn calmly but firmly. With Charlene, even the mighty Philoswa T. Fenwhudn had to show respect! It hurt General Fenwhudn's pride to show such deference, but it was necessary so she did what must be done.

"I intend to personally travel to your hidden base to collect my daughter," said Charlene. "Please be prepared to have her handed over to me."

"When can we expect you?" replied General Fenwhudn. "I depart shortly to Ivort Four myself. Now that Colonel Brucosl has secured the landing zone and Captain Slagtimiq has established a firm interdiction zone in orbit, I intend to make my way there to personally oversee the siege."

"Immediately." Charlene said. "I-"

"Absolutely not," Admiral Sykes cut in. "I can't have you travelling around this sector of the Outer Rim until I can verify it is secure. Wait until after we launch our attacks."

Even through the flickering transparent hologram General Fenwhudn could see that Charlene scowled at this.

"Fine," said Charlene. "By that point, will you still be there?"

"If I am not, then Colonel w'Acon shall greet ye." said General Fenwhudn.

"Hmm." Charlene said. "Fine. Very well."

"Good day, General Fenwhudn." said Admiral Sykes. "We must go prepare for battle now."

"Farewell, then." said General Fenwhudn.

The hologram flickered and died.

"So they're preparing to attack Imperial positions across this sector, then." Colonel w'Acon said.

"Things are moving fast now," General Fenwhudn said. "I must head to Ivort Four to lead our soldiers personally."

"But must you?" asked Colonel w'Acon. "The plan doesn't require-"

"I must." General Fenwhudn said firmly. "It is a matter of honour! I will not hide here while my soldiers fight and die on Ivortian soil!"

"General, consider that we must be pragmatic." said Colonel w'Acon. "You put yourself at risk just by traveling to the Mubon system, let alone actually landing on Ivort Four and leading our troops!"

"Colonel, it is a matter of honour!" the General shouted. "If you want to be pragmatic about it, look at it this way: fighting alongside them shows our troops that I am a worthy leader, far more so than Admiral Ackbar and the rest of the cowards running the Rebel Alliance! We need many of our troops to see that so when the time comes, they follow us."

Colonel w'Acon had to concede that the General had a point. He knew that she was only rationalizing it-deep down, she just couldn't bear the idea of feeling that she was a coward. But the soldiers greatly respected her for her courageous leadership, and that loyalty was an asset.

"Yes ma'am, I understand." Colonel w'Acon said. "Now as for your means of transport-"

"I've settled on it." General Fenwhudn said. "I have my reasons and wish for no further protests on the matter."

"Very well," Colonel w'Acon said. "I'll send for Captain Zhal then."

General Fenwhudn had sent Quayle out of the room for security reasons-not even he, whom she trusted wholeheartedly, could be present for communication with the leaders of the Zann Consortium.

However, the meeting had not gone unheard! Monty had a listening device hidden in the walls, with which he spied on the General. When he learned that Vanessa was being held prisoner, he knew he had to act fast.

---

A Rebel Alliance U-Wing zoomed through hyperspace. Captain Cassian Andor of Rebel Intelligence and his droid partner K-2SO sat at the controls.

In the cabin sat Candace and the other soldiers. Apart from Buford and Baljeet, Andor had also brought Sergeant Ruescott Melshi, a man from the Special Forces whom he'd known for a long time.

"Who is General Fenwhudn, anyway?" Buford asked. "I keeps hearings that name."

"Fool!" Baljeet snapped. "Did you not pay attention to the briefing? She's who-"

"No, I know who she is, like, as in, for the mission!" Buford said. "But like, I mean apart from that! That Princess lady and General Dodonna have said her name before a couple times. Who is she?"

"A ranking member of the Alliance." Cassian said loudly from the cockpit. He sighed. "At least, before this month that's what she was." He turned to his copilot. "Kay, take control."

Cassian got out of his seat and walked down into the passenger cabin.

"There have always been…divisions among the rebellion against the Empire," he explained. "There are radicals and extremists-"

"Saw Gerrera." Candace said darkly.

"-or people whose personalities don't lend themselves well to cooperation-"

"Colonel Aureliano Buendía," Candace interrupted again.

"-or those who have political opposition to Senator Mon Mothma-"

"Garm Bel Iblis of Corellia." Candace said.

"-but the thing is," Cassian continued. "Fenwhudn was not one of them. She never hid her contempt for Admiral Ackbar and the Alliance leadership, but still, she never opposed them outright and remained a member of the Rebel Alliance. As I understand it, she even volunteered to train up recruits and maintain a reserve force on the edge of the Outer Rim. Some were all too happy to let her take care of something away from most of the fighting. Now, however, it seems she was plotting something else."

"Then can we not reach her forces?" Baljeet asked. "Inform them that she is acting without sanction from High Command and the Council? Relieve her of her command?"

Cassian looked down.

"Captain Andor?" Baljeet asked.

"There are…" Cassian began. "...concerns." He frowned. "If we make this an open thing…" Cassian's voice trailed off. He bit his lower lip. "If it becomes…public knowledge that General Fenwhudn has successfully opposed the Alliance Council, then there could be further…difficulties."

"Your meaning is open disturbance, discontent." Baljeet realised. "The Alliance might split into squabbling factions, I see. If dissenters see that General Fenwhudn can just up and leave to do what she wants, other factions might do the same…"

"The rest of the Corellian resistance could follow Garm Bel Iblis in leaving because of opposition to Mon Mothma." Cassian said. "The Bothans could do what Cham Syndulla's Twi'leks are doing and focus on defending their own worlds with no care for the rest of the galaxy. Pro-Separatist groups could leave because Mothma intends to restore the Old Republic while pro-Republic groups could leave because they consider Mothma as a weak leader who gives too much in the way of concessions to the Separatist factions. The Alliance is fragile. Very fragile."

"The Rebel Alliance is a lot of different groups united in opposition to the Emperor and the Empire." Candace said. "Look at us, Corporal. You, me, the idiot over there-" She jerked her head in the direction of a sleeping Buford. "-are ex-Imperial. We don't have pre-existing political inclinations beyond knowing just what the Empire is capable of and a desire to take it down. And, of course, many others are like this too. The Empire hurt them and they need cathartic personal justice or feel they must prevent others from suffering what they had to. But still, there are others whose opposition to the Empire is more than just opposition to its evil. Those whose sympathies lie with the Separatist movement from the last war, for example. Other groups-like those on Ryloth, in the Corellian system, or around Bothan Space, could split to focus solely on their own territories."

"I didn't know things were that fragile," Baljeet said quietly.

"It's hard." Cassian said. "We have to play this delicate game or…" He held up his hands. "It all falls apart."

The group was quiet for a few minutes. Then the comm beeped.

"Receiving a message," K2 said. Cassian went and put on the headset.

"You can't just-" he burst out angrily after about fifteen seconds, but was interrupted by whoever was on the other end of the line. Finally he sighed. "Understood, I will meet you there."

"What's going on?" Candace asked once Cassian had hung the headset back on the console.

"Our contact-Monty-embedded in Fenwhudn's soldiers. He's changing the rendezvous to Boh Jorka." Cassian said, scowling. "He should know better than to change a plan like this."

---

Colonel Rilvert wasn't sure if Moff Irion was fully processing the report he was given. On his desk sat a half-empty bottle of Polanis red; the bottle stopper and wrapper-seal were next to it, meaning the Moff had opened the bottle recently.

"I…I see." Moff Irion said slowly once Vice Admiral Smith's aide, Lieutenant Commander Antillies, had finished his report. "Hmm…yeah. The situation in the…in the, uh, the sys-the Mubon system…yeah it's bad, aye." Irion blinked slowly. "Mm. I see. Mmmm."

Moff Irion was very drunk. The stress had taken its toll on him. He had initially been dealing with the sudden rebel offensive very well, but it seemed even he had finally cracked under the pressure.

"That…" Lieutenant Commander Antillies paused, uncomfortable. He looked at Colonel Rilvert then looked back at the Moff. "That is all of the military updates, Governor."

"Mm." Moff Irion said lazily. "Is that all?"

"Erm, yes. That is all of the military updates, Governor." Lieutenant Commander Antillies repeated.

"Mmm." said Moff Irion. "Very good then."

Lieutenant Commander Antillies and Colonel Rilvert left the office.

"He's getting worse," Rilvert said. "It's all falling apart-Commander Friedgren is distracted with his quest to unnecessarily brutalise Gosruuk, General Forgus is dead, General Baker is overworked…"

"We have our jobs t' do, that's all I care to say. Don't worry about it." Lieutenant Commander Antilles said. Colonel Rilvert frowned, but left it at that.

---

I have given some reference to The Author before. 'Tis him who goes from our world to that one and does yonder research, then collates and organises all o' th' informazione into The Narrative which I deliver unto yourself. I have given little description as to his life outside our work together-this was a deliberate choice, dear reader.

The Author fired another round at me. I dove behind the cabinet. The bullet must've hit one of them drinking-glasses because I heard the sound of glass shattering. I sucked in a breath-I had to be careful in my movements now that yonder floor was cover'd in glass shards. Yeesh.

Moving carefully, I crawled to the edge of the cabinet. That damn'd fool called The Author was waiting there for me! At the same instant we did pounce upon one another! He punched my in my damn nose! I swung at 'im with my good ol' pocket knife!

Stupid, obnoxious fuck.

We wrestl'd for a good bit, doing our very very best to hurt one another. I kicked 'im back. He fired his family revolver wildly a' me, missing by a wide mark indeed. I kneed him in the groin. He punched me in the stomach. I punched him in the face, giving him a black eye. At the same time we reached out and grabbed each others' necks. He tried to choke me and I, him. After a minute his face started turning purple. My lungs were screaming and my eyes were watering. Each of us was about to kill the other and each of us was about to die at the other's hands. We stared into each others' eyes, each of us unwilling to release his grip on the other's throat.

Do you know what it is like, dear reader, to have power over someone's life? To be there, in that moment, and stare them down while you (in this particular case, quite literally) hold their life in your hands?

You are God. You are literally God. In that moment, as far as the other person is concerned, you are God to them. You hold the Power of Life and Death over them.

It's…horrifying.

---

Colonel Brucosl worked to ensure Fort Salliche would be a strong defensive position. The 'Point Atlas' landing zone was situated at an abandoned mining site which Captain Zhal's commando team had surveyed and mapped less than a month before the Death Star was destroyed at the Battle of Yavin. A couple of later expeditions, including one led personally by General Fenwhudn herself, confirmed that it would serve as the landing zone for the planned attack on Ivort Four. Captain Daoi's advance team had used Quarren mining droids provided by General Fenwhudn to expand the old mining tunnels and add supports to prevent collapse. Medical wards, a brig for personnel who were caught shirking duties or were excessively disorderly in their conduct, and a makeshift command centre were all set up inside the caves of the abandoned mine. Some engineers, led by a Green Nikto named Jinos Klatae, were working on shoring up the deeper tunnels so they could serve as a bunker.

The three large C-9979 landing craft were kept underneath the shield. One was hooked up to the powerful ion cannon-its engine provided the weapon with power. Around them were the cooks' tents, communications stations, supply caches, and makeshift repair bays. The entrance to the mining tunnels was nearby. The proton cannons which had served so well at the Battle of New Syvris were stationed around all this in a defensive perimeter. On Colonel Brucosl's orders, Major Reaches the Rice Slowly had most of the soldiers bivouac around this area. The edges of the zone covered by the shield was where Lieutenant Mosk and others were supervising the digging of defensive trenches.

Sergeant Matthew Devoria and his squad had just gotten off a two hour shift of trench-digging when they were sent out on patrol beyond the rebel lines. After the raid on Altor 14, Gaius Algo had been promoted to a full Corporal. Blaine Leftor and Chaco Moliv both remained at the rank of Private. They had not received any new troopers to fill the empty spots left by the deaths of Corporal Horgrave and Private Lagostoib.

They had been marching only thirty minutes when Algo and Moliv found themselves out of breath. After radioing back to Fort Salliche to inform them the squad would be halting patrol, they stopped to rest under the shade of a tree, unknowingly resting in the spot where the notorious Devaronian pirate Dia Avbap had been slain decades ago.

"No longer than five minutes," Sergeant Devoria said firmly.

"Understood," Private Moliv said, panting as she sat down. Corporal Algo had already taken off his pack and stretched out. The Koorivar, Private Blaine Leftor, sat down as well and began cleaning his blaster rifle. Sergeant Devoria merely continued standing and watched the horizon.

"It's like that training mission out in the lowlands on Sritaq," huffed Chaco Moliv. "We were running up and down the valleys."

"We beat out Toam's squad, too." laughed Gauis Algo. "Ah, that was nice. So nice."

"Very nice." agreed Chaco Moliv.

Sergeant Matthew Devoria agreed. In his mind his leadership role prevented him from indulging in such behaviour and so he kept stoic, but privately he too found the jealousy on Sergeant Toam's face that day satisfying.

"Aye, I remember Horgrave was laughing about that for three days." Algo said sadly. He frowned and sighed. "Fucking hell I do miss him."

"Yeah…" Moliv said sadly. She sighed. "Him and Gradfor…."

They were quiet for a moment.

"Do any o' y'all believe in an afterlife?" Algo asked suddenly.

"I, uh, well…no, not really." said Moliv. She sighed.

"No." Private Leftor said. He didn't look up from cleaning his blaster rifle.

"What 'bout yourself, then?" Moliv asked Algo. He shook his head.

"No," he sighed. "Telerath ain't really much o' a spiritual planet. I was…I was just wondering. That's all." He frowned. "It would make it..easier, I guess? That someone thinks they could be still themselves on the other side…"

"Yeah," said Moliv.

"Yeah," said Algo. They were both quiet for a few seconds.

"My…" Algo paused and swallowed before continuing. "My mother, she was, uh, she was…" He swallowed again. "Killed. A couple of those navy troopers-you know, the guys in the black fatigues with those stupid big helmets?-shot her. There had been a bank robbery and our region's local spaceport was on lockdown, so I think-I guess, they, uh, I guess that they decided she must've had something to do with it and accosted her. She tried t' shake them off of her-ma never took no shit-and one whacked her with his blaster rifle so hard it ruptured a blood vessel in the brain or something. They didn't bother to give her treatment, they just-they just assumed she was bruised or something and hauled her in for questioning….she…she fucking died in an Imperial cell."

The others were solemn. Gaius Algo had never spoken much of his life before joining the Rebel Alliance. The late Lieutenant Obitn'Pa had probably known, as he knew all the troops under his command very well, but of course the late Lieutenant Obitn'Pa had always made a point not to betray his soldiers' trust.

"You alright there, Corporal?" Sergeant Devoria asked kindly. Gaius Algo nodded.

"Yeah," he said. "Apologies, Sarge."

"No apologies necessary, trooper." Sergeant Devoria said. "We're your squad. We understand. Honour and logic and basic decency all dictate we support each other. It's okay, we're here for you."

Corporal Algo didn't say anything, but the gratitude on his face was plain as day.

"Aight then!" Sergeant Devoria said. "With that-'tis time for y'all to stand on up! Get moving soldiers!"

"Sir!" Algo and Moliv said in unison. They both leapt up. Private Leftor quietly got up as well.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, having to hop across a small stream at one point. Eventually, Private Moliv broke the silence again.

"So if there is an afterlife, how do y'all suppose it works?"

"I don't think about it," muttered Private Leftor. "I shoot Imperial troops so they can't shoot us; ain't my job to know or care where their minds or souls or whatever end up once they're out of my way."

"All sorts of cultures have different ideas about it," said Corporal Algo. "At least that's what I've read. Like, the Trandoshans for example? Many or maybe like even most of them apparently believe that the bigger the 'score' they earn from hunting while alive, the prouder their 'Scorekeeper' deity will be an' the greater their glory in yonder afterlife."

"I, uh, once heard a funny story from a Zabrak hyperspace scout about some desert planet over in, uh, Wild Space called Kamar." said Sergeant Devoria. "Apparently some dumbass Corellian spacer tried t' open a holotheater out in the badlands there. The locals kept showing up and offering trinkets payment-er, offering him trinkets as payment, and so like, you know, he thought he'd just stumbled into some kind of brilliant profitable gig."

"Sir?" Corporal Algo asked.

"Hold on, you'll see why I'm bringing this up." Sergeant Devoria said. "So anyway, this stupid Corellian keeps it up for like a week or whatever, but eventually gets a new holovid shipped in, right? He figures that eventually the Kamarians are gonna wanna, you know, see something different, right? You know? So he gets some new holovid shipped in. Dunno what it was, but like, you know, that doesn't matter much. What matters, right, is that he's replacing the old holovid without telling the Kamarians. And, you know, like I don't think I mentioned this before, but like, Kamar is your standard desert planet, alright? All hot and dry and sandy and whatnot. So, you see what the damn fool of a Corellian did was get these desert-dwellers hooked on a holovid feature, then he up and changed it."

"What was the holovid?" asked Private Moliv, following the lead her Sergeant had intended for someone to take. Sergeant Devoria grinned.

"Remember the rec room on Degul outpost? And all the holovids we had there?"

"Aye, I do." said Private Leftor.

"Yeah," said Private Moliv. Corporal Algo nodded.

"Y'all remember that documentary Varn, World of Water?"

"Yeah, I remember it all right," Private Moliv snorted. "I fell asleep, damn thing was so fricking dull."

"Yeah, so the holovid he was showing the Kamarians was Varn, World of Water." Sergeant Devoria said. "This stupid fucking Corellian was showing a documentary about a water planet to a buncha primitive aliens from some backwards-ass desert planet!"

Private Moliv's eyes widened as she began to understand. Private Leftor began laughing as he realised.

"Wait…" Private Algo said.

"The stupid Corellian spacer…started a fucking religion!" Sergeant Devoria said. "He'd been showing a bunch of primitive desert aliens this recording about a place with more water than they could ever hope to see on their home planet in a thousand-no, in a million lifetimes! All the payments he'd been getting weren't ticket fare for his makeshift holotheatre, no they were actually meant as tribute to a fucking priest!"

Corporal Algo and Private Moliv were laughing now.

"What happened?" Private Moliv asked.

"Apparently this new Kamarian religious sect didn't take kindly to their priest turning blasphemous on 'em. They, you know, rioted and the Corellian took off in his spaceship, running faster than a nodaur during mating season, haha." Sergeant Devoria said. "Some friend o' his, at least this is what that Zabrak fellow told me, you know, but like, apparently some friend of his restarted the holo-theatre to collect the tribute from the growing cult. This odd little religion-Cult o' Varn, or some such shit, still exists, said the Zabrak."

Private Moliv nodded to express her interest.

"Anyway," Sergeant Devoria said, "The reason I bring this up is that according to that Zabrak from whom I the-I heard the story, so according to him, the Cult of Varn's teachings dictate that if ya act good in life and whatnot, you, you know, you go to Varn when ya die. These desert dwellers believe they go to a world of seemingly endless water upon death, you know?"

"Ah, I believe I intake what your meaning is." said Corporal Algo. "The conditions a culture develops in shape their concept of the afterlife, I get it. The Kamarians live on a desert planet, so this Corellian showing them a holovid of a water planet prompts the creation of a religion which believes the good go to a realm of water. Trandoshans tend to be hunters, so many of them subscribe to a faith that dictates who goes where after death depends upon one's skill as a hunter in life."

"It's a basic line of anthropological theorising, nothing too deep, but yeah, that's it." Sergeant Devoria said. "I dunno, I was just thinking, like, since, you know, we were discussing what might've happened to Horgrave and Lagostoib."

"Yeah, I see," said Corporal Algo.

"Yeah." said Sergeant Devoria.

The four Rebel troopers walked across the plains in silence for the next few minutes.

"Hey!" Corporal Algo said suddenly. "There-on the horizon! What's that?"

"Huh?" Sergeant Devoria said.

"There!" Corporal Algo said, pointing. "Over in the direction of, uh, da city!"

Sergeant Devoria looked where Algo was pointing.

"Frick, what?" said Sergeant Devoria. "Moliv-gimme the quadnocs! Now!"

"Right!" Private Moliv said, fumbling to get the quadnoculars out of her pack. She handed them to Sergeant Devoria. He brought them up to his eyes and looked through them.

"Star's End!" he swore. "Those are Imperial siege balloons!"

Imperial siege balloons were armed platforms held aloft via large balloons pushed upwards by gas jets heating air. Imagine the hot air balloons of our own world, but much larger and carrying six powerful laser cannons.

Hot air balloons in our own world, dear reader, do have a history of being used for military purposes. Tradition holds that Chinese sky lanterns were invented by the ancient statesman Zhuge Liang-as the story goes, he used them to signal his allies to come aid him when his forces were surrounded by enemy troops. Larger balloons-what we today think of as hot air balloons-were invented in late 1700s France and were used for observation during battles at Fleurus and Mainz during the French Revolutionary Wars. In the mid-1800s balloons were again used by French soldiers during wars against the Austrians and Prussians, and though no record of its deployment exists the French forces sent to participate in crushing the Boxer Rebellion did have an observation balloon on hand it would seem. The British Empire also used observation balloons as spotters for their artillery during the Boer Wars.

During the American Civil War, the wise and powerful President Lincoln established the Union Army Balloon Corps under the leadership of 'Chief Aeronaut' Thaddeus S. C. Lowe. The Civil War saw the use of what could fairly be described as the first aircraft carrier: a converted coal barge, christened the USS George Washington Parke Custis, would tow balloons downriver on the Potomac, from which they would ascend to make observations on the battlefront.

The First World War also saw usage of observation hot air balloons in both the armies of the heroic Allies and the nefarious Central Powers. These balloons were well defended by anti-aircraft emplacements on the ground and fierce machine guns, but some brave military pilots risked their lives to shoot down enemy balloons. These heroes were known as balloon busters, and their ranks included Willy Coppen of Belgium and Frank Luke of our own beloved America.

"Frick," Private Leftor said. "They've fortified their position 'round Mann City, then?"

"Mmm, 'twould seem so." grumbled Sergeant Devoria. "Aight, Algo-get on th' comms. Talk t' base, make sure the Major and Colonel Brucosl hear about this."

"Do you think they've seen it already, Sarge?" asked Private Moliv.

"Possibly," shrugged Sergeant Devoria. "Either way 'tis our duty to report it in to the base."

"The enemy is digging in," Private Leftor observed. "Those balloons give them an edge in the airspace above the city. They require a bit o' work to defend from starfighters but the benefits they reap in harassing enemy infantry below them make it worth it."

"Yeah, that's what is pissin' me off." grumbled Sergeant Devoria. "Stupid balloons are a nightmare t' deal with, damn."

"Sarge," Corporal Algo said. "I've radioed in. We're thanked for the intel. Major Reaches the Rice Slowly says to begin heading back."

"Copy that," said Sergeant Devoria. "Right-squad! Move!"

They turned back in the direction of Fort Salliche. Sergeant Devoria ordered Private Leftor to take up the rearguard, to keep an eye pointed in the direction of the enemy.

They walked in silence for about four, or maybe five, minutes. The only sound was the cawing of Ivortian red-beaked crows as they flew overhead.

"What about God?" Corporal Algo suddenly asked.

"What?" Private Moliv said sharply. "What the kriff are you talking about?"

"Like, you mean what gods a person believes in?" Sergeant Devoria asked.

"The only thing I believe in is shooting the enemy," Private Leftor muttered.

"No, no, not polytheistic deities," Corporal Algo said. "That's not what I mean. I mean, like, the monotheistic concept of a capital-G 'God'."

"What?" Sergeant Devoria said, deciding to indulge the Corporal and let him ramble.

"Well, I-" Corporal Algo began, but he was cut short as Private Leftor interrupted him.

"Dank farrik!" the Korrivar swore. "Probe droids! I'm markin' two probe droids inbound!"

"Shit!" Sergeant Devoria swore.

Two Imperial probe droids, ugly things resembling some hybrid between arachnids and jellyfish, were moving towards them. It looked as if they'd just come up from a ravine nearby-that was how the rebel troopers had not noticed them until this point. The viper probe droids were picking up speed, probably having confirmed that the four beings in their sights were rebels.

"Permission to open fire?" Private Moliv asked. "Sarge, do I have permission to smoke them?"

"Go, go!" Sergeant Devoria shouted. There was no point in trying to avoid being spotted-the probe droids had clearly already seen them.

All four Rebel Troopers opened fire on the viper probe droids. Private Moliv managed to blast away one of the appendages that trailed beneath the chassis of a probe droid-in this case the one closest to them. Private Leftor fired a shot that just clipped the main body of one of the viper probe droids. He fired again but it dodged. Corporal Algo aimed at the same probe droid, firing in its direction. The Imperial probot could not dodge both and after thirty seconds Private Leftor landed a direct hit that triggered its self-destruct.

The second viper probe droid was firing its blaster at Private Moliv, seemingly insulted that she had blasted off one of its 'arms'. She and Sergeant Devoria were both firing at it, but the Imperial probot kept dodging their blaster shots. Private Moliv managed to just barely clip another of its appendages, not enough to blast it off completely but enough so that the metal warped and it had the appearance of something limply hanging from a thread. Finally, Private Moliv managed to destroy it.

"Right," Sergeant Devoria said, breathing heavily. "Move it back to base, double time! Now! There could be more out here."

---

Captain Beilert Slagtimiq walked onto the Leaveykurarupid's bridge. To his chagrin he had been forced to allow himself rest; he did not enjoy being away from his post while they were on alert but sleeping well was necessary for him to be at his best.

"Any change, Deetwo?" he asked.

"Negative, Captain Slagtimiq." replied the green protocol droid. As a droid D-2PS9 did not require regular sleep, and so was the only member of the regular bridge crew who was not resting when Captain Slagtimiq rose. "Occasionally TIE fighters will come to spy on our side of the moon but for now turbolasers have proven effective in dissuading them from staying too long."

"Good, good," said Captain Slagtimiq.

"Captain," said the second-shift communications officer, a Quarren named Eupry Sa who was native to the estuary moon Trask in the Kol Iben system. "We did receive word, aye. Lieutenant Jyph arrives with the gunship Fatherspear, very soon he arrives."

"Mmm." Captain Slagtimiq said. "And what of the status of our Dornean gunship?"

"Senior Lieutenant Ev Fvd H'jlv reports they've got the Fist of Pammant's shields back online completely, sir." said Eupry Sa. "Repair droids have assessed the battle damage completely. They're already working on patching the Fist's hull damage up."

The Fist of Pammant had taken heavy damage during the first stages of the battle. When further attacks came it had to be ready.

"Any news of note from Colonel Brucosl's forces down the well?" Captain Slagtimiq asked.

"Nay to that, my Captain." said Eupry Sa. "Major Reaches the Rice Slowly reports that they do continue to strengthen their defensive position, but yonder Imperial forces have thus far made little move, if any, against them."

"Aye, good then." said Captain Slagtimiq. The Koorivar naval officer sighed and walked forwards with his hands clasp'd behind his back. "Good of good."

---

On the far side of Ivort Four, things were not going good for Vice Admiral Auatren.

"What do you mean no reinforcements for at least the next two rotations?" he growled.

"The supply lines to Gosruuk need to be protected, sir." Captain Lara Tybur said patiently. "And Minister Onf has ordered patrol ships to be redeployed to bolster New Syvris' defences, since the factories there supply half the garrisons this side of Hutt Space. With the ion cannon gone New Syvris is very vulnerable."

"We're stuck." he growled. "We can't afford to retreat-no, that is not an option. We leave and that Rebel fleet o'er there has control of the space above this moon. They'll bomb the crap outta our forces stationed on the surface, most likely." Vice Admiral Auatren sighed. "Our-our TIEs? Their, uh, scouting turned up nothing, I presume?"

"Lieutenant Prasime spoke as much, yes my good Vice Admiral."

"Mmm." Vice Admiral Autren said. "Continue to hold position, Captain. Ensure all ships' repairs proceed smoothly. I'll be in my office if you need me."

"Yes sir."

(It was, in fact, Captain Tybur's office, since the ISD War Hammer was of course her ship. Protocol dictated that the senior fleet officer would take over a captain's office or ready room in fleet operations like this one, but protocol also quietly encouraged senior fleet officers to politely avoid referring to their accommodations as 'their' office.)

Once inside, Vice Admiral Autren sighed and sat down. This was not going well. Support from the rest of the Sector Group was unlikely for several more rotations-their forces were stretched very thin now. Autren wished that Moff Irion's forces had a few Cantwell-class Arrestor Cruisers they could use. Using the War Hammer's tractor beams had been a solid strategy, but the single ship made it vulnerable. Multiple Arrestor Cruisers pulling the Rebel fleet away from the protection of its ion cannon would work-more than three cruisers and the Rebels would be unable to destroy all of them in time! Unfortunately for Vice Admiral Autren, there were practically no Arrestor Cruisers this far Rimward. Most were tied up patrolling heavily-populated Imperial systems in the Core Worlds and the Colonies.

Cooperation and assistance from the local garrison over on Mubon was unlikely, as Governor Tiberian's suicide had left them flailing. Autren looked at his officers' sidearm in its holster. For the briefest moment, he began to feel that perhaps Governor Tiberian had the right idea. The thought left his mind as soon as it arrived and he shook his head.

---

On Keilosren, Ferb was sitting at his desk in the Sunspring's workshop. He had searched the base for Vanessa in the past two days and not found her. He'd concluded that she must've gone to Ivort Four with most of the General's other troops and accepted that.

"Fer-errr, Coryn!" AZI-3 said suddenly. Ferb had asked AZI to try to refer to him as 'Coryn Polo' and not 'Ferb' for the time being, and the droid was having trouble with it. "Someone is at the ramp!"

"Hmm?" Ferb said, only half-listening.

"Someone is at the ramp!" AZI repeated.

"What?" Ferb sat up. "Who?"

"The gunner from a few weeks ago," AZI said. "From the raid on Altor 14."

Ferb scowled. "Ugh, what does he want from us, huh?"

"I do not know," the droid answered. "He is saying he needs to speak with you."

"Ugh, right." Ferb grumbled. He got up. He made his way to the airlock and opened it. On the other side the gunner was standing at the top of the lowered boarding ramp.

"Coryn Polo," he said. "We haven't had the chance to properly get acquainted. My name is Monty. May I come in?"

"Why?" Ferb asked. He was suspicious.

Monty looked around furtively. "I think you should allow me to come in, Polo."

"Why?" Ferb repeated. Monty looked annoyed, but managed to keep his irritation from creeping into his voice.

"It's about..about a, uh, mutual friend of ours." he explained. "Vanessa."

Ferb's eyes widened a little. "She…she went to Ivort Four with the rest of the troopers, right? Right?"

Monty looked behind him, to make sure no one was near the bottom of the Sunspring's boarding ramp.

"We need to talk." Monty said firmly. "I think you should allow me to come in, Polo."

Ferb was suspicious, but if this was about Vanessa he felt he could not afford to let his suspicion get in his way.

"Fine." Ferb said evenly. His hand drifted to the blaster pistol in its holster on his utility belt. He moved out of the airlock entryway and motioned for Monty to follow. "C'mon in, dude."

Monty entered into the Sunspring and Ferb sealed the airlock shut behind him.

"What's going on?" Ferb asked.

"Well, Coryn Polo…" Monty began. He sighed. "I'm sorry, I am not exactly sure where I ought t' begin."

"Begin with what?"

Monty looked down for a second.

"Look," he said. "You care about Vanessa too, right?"

Ferb blushed. "Well, I…"

"Good." Monty said. "I'll need you to trust me. All I can say right now, at this moment, is that Vanessa is not a member of the Rebel Alliance. She is being held-against her will it seems-by the General. I intend to spring her, and you will provide our way out of this system."

Ferb was confused. "If you and Vanessa aren't with the Rebellion then-"

"Oh, no, no." Monty said. "I most definitely am with the Rebel Alliance. It's the General who's going rogue here."

"Huh?"

"It's hard to explain right now, but I will once everything's in the clear." Monty said. "I have a friend incoming-we're gonna rendezvous with him somewhere out of the way." He sighed again. "But first we need to get offworld."

"My ship isn't cleared to leave." Ferb said. "I'd need permission."

"Yes, I am aware." Monty said. "But you have it-I was already supposed to be telling you anyway. Your ship is supposed to be sent out on a patrol mission-me and Corporal Parker are to serve as crew while you scout the Ea'br system for enemy forces. We'll use that as cover to sneak Vanessa out."

"What about Corporal Parker?" Ferb asked.

"He's loyal to the Alliance," Monty said. "He's worked with me for a while, watching the General with me. I recruited him like I'm recruiting you now."

"So we hide Vanessa aboard my ship right before we depart for the patrol?" Ferb asked. Monty nodded.

"It's all taken care of," Monty assured him. "Don't worry about it."

---

Now at that time, dear reader, the wicked Commander Rolph Friedgren was triumphing over the rebels on the planet Gosruuk in the Zoraster sector's Foe-Gosruuk system. Commander Freidgren had driven the rebels out of Daor and out of Raiel and pursued them as far as Das D'fing. There the volunteer army the Gosruuk resistance had raised dug in to make their final stand against the Empire.

Among the rebels was Ahad, son of Ahab. As a young man Ahad had dreamed of rescuing all life but having grown old he was now exceedingly afraid of death. Through a protocol droid, Ahad communicated to Commander Friedgren his desire to betray the other rebels in exchange for a pardon. Ahad snuck Commander Friedgren's minions into the rebel fortress built at Das D'fing, but Commander Friedgren had ordered them to betray Ahad, son of Ahab. They each stabbed him with a vibroknife and in this method they instantly put an end to his existence.

After they killed Ahad, son of Ahab and sent him into whatever awaits one who experienced death, Commander Friedgren's spies went and performed mischief in the rebel fort at Das D'fing. After sabotaging many of the landspeeders, these minions hurried back to Commander Friedgren's forward position. After receiving these spies' report on the Gosruuk resistance's capabilities, Commander Friedgren prepared to attack. He sent Sergeant Major Astarot to lead a group of twelve scout troopers behind the rebel camp to wait for his signal.

At dawn Commander Friedgren attacked. He sent two AT-AT walkers and several hovertanks with a large complement of Stormtroopers and Imperial Army Troopers forward. Now you see, the Gosruuk resistance knew they possessed little in the way of artillery so they had cleverly employed loyal carpenters and engineers to construct great catapults. With these, they launched large stones at the approaching Imperial forces and destroyed one of the AT-ATs.

But Commander Friedgren had been told of the catapults' existence by his minions, and so he was prepared for this. Among the reinforcements he'd summoned to Gosruuk were Colonel Blanchet's unit of All Terrain Anti Aircraft walkers from L-sei IV, meant to defend his forces from aerial attacks by local rebel airspeeders or the A-Wings of Banner Squadron. Colonel Blanchet's AT-AA walkers shot at the stones launched by the rebel catapults, blasting them into pebbles.

There were three E-Webs mounted on the walls of the Gosruuk Rebel Fort. These had been among the weapons Lieutenant Mosk had smuggled to Gosruuk weeks earlier, and now they were tearing into the advancing Imperial troops. The remaining AT-AT targeted and destroyed a section of the wall where an E-Web that had just killed over a dozen Stormtroopers was. The catapults launched more stones. Colonel Blanchet's AT-AAs blasted them to pieces. The AT-AT fired its cannons and made the hole in the wall wider, then began to step through. Again the catapults launched stones, but against Commander Friedgren's orders the AT-AT's command crew had foolishly taken their walker beyond where Colonel Blanchet's AT-AAs could cover them. The stones hit the walker hard. The rebels, under the direction of a clever Whipid Rebel leader named Jason Sayrl, had tried to aim at the AT-AT's legs; many of the stones hit the walker's legs and knocked them out of alignment. The AT-AT's crew were unable to maintain balance and the massive All Terrain Armoured Transport tripped over itself and collapsed.

Then the evil Commander Friedgren sent Captain Taylor's Imperial Shock Troopers in with the rest of the advancing force. The Shock Troopers charged into the gap in the wall to establish a beachhead for the Stormtroopers and Imperial Army Troopers to follow. One of the other E-Webs on the wall was destroyed. The gunner operating the final E-Web fired on the advancing Imperial soldiers, killing four more Imperial Army Troopers and a Stormtrooper before one of the 2-M Hovertanks blasted his position. All of the Stormtroopers and Imperial Army Troopers began moving to follow Captain Taylor's Shock Troopers.

Jason Sayrl ordered that the Gosruuk resistance abandon their catapults and retreat to the defensive position further back in their fort. Captain Taylor led the Imperial forces to pursue them deeper into the fort. Once they had dug in, the rebels fired mortars, which tore into the advancing Imperials.

By this time most of the rebels had accepted that they would not leave the fort alive, but they sought to hold out as long as possible to take as many Imperials as they could with them. They had the numbers and the superior defensive position to inflict heavy casualties on Commander Friedgren's troops. The rebels of the Gosruuk Resistance would've held out for another day, in fact, had they properly guarded their rear flank. But in the chaos they hadn't, so when Commander Friedgren gave his signal Sergeant Major Astarot and his biker scouts raced forth on their 74-Z speeder bikes. Sergeant Major Astarot's calvary cut through Jason Sayrl's Rebel forces. Sayrl himself was killed when Sergeant Major Astarot sliced through him with a sword.

The battle was over ten minutes later. Imperial Commander Friedgren had intended to capture prisoners to interrogate them about the Gosruuk resistance's connection with the larger rebel forces rising up across the Zoraster sector. However, there were no survivors-any rebels who escaped death in the Battle of Das D'fing chose to commit suicide rather than see the inside of an Imperial prison. For some it was a belief in 'death before dishonour' or simple pride in dying on their own terms, for others it was terror at what horrible tortures the Empire was capable of.

However the Battle of Das D'Fing was merely the climax of the Gosruuk Uprising, not its conclusion. Once the battle was over and Sergeant Major Astarot was supervising the counting of the dead, Commander Friedgren summoned Captain Taylor to meet with him in the PX-4 Mobile Command Base he was using as his field headquarters.

"A few kilometres 'way from here, 'tis a village called Foone." said Commander Friedgren. "My spies tell me that many rebels hid their children there. This village must be punished for aiding these rebels. Wipe it off the map. Kill them all."

"Understood, Superior." Captain Taylor said. "We shall show no mercy to these scum, not even to them dang kids!"

"Good, I'm glad you understand." said Commander Friedgren. "The idea of rebellion against the New Order must be wiped clean from the face of this planet, and all others. Go now. I, Friedgren, have already arranged for transports for your troopers."

Captain Taylor saluted, put his helmet back on, and walked off.

Commander Friedgren was satisfied with how the Gosruuk Uprising had been brutally crushed. But the work was not done-he had to prepare to move his forces to the Mubon system. Vice Admiral Autren and the local Imperial forces had failed to swiftly destroy the Rebel attack force, so now it was up to him to see that the job would be done.

---

The door to Chief Bansoro's office chimed.

"Come in," Bansoro said. The door opened and the Duros policeman Sergeant Banu Jonium stepped in.

"Chief!" he said, saluting.

"Sergeant Jonium, is this something important?" Chief Bansoro asked. "I'm very busy. Enforcing the Prefect's new curfews, managing the bread lines, scheduling security for the trial of that ex-Stormtrooper…." He sighed. "It's hell."

"The fathers of Officer Jack Lidt'sio-Thwacken are here to pick up their son's belongings," Sergeant Jonium said.

"Didn't they do that two weeks ago?" Chief Bansoro asked.

"Then they were, uh, well, they, um…" Banu Jonium swallowed. "They were just here to pick up his, erm, his cor-his corpse from the morgue. For the, erm, funeral." He swallowed again. "They couldn't bear to pick up his belongings until today. The only reason they were able to come that time was because they had to get their son's body because of the funeral."

"I see." Chief Bansoro said. Jack Lidt'sio-Thwacken's funeral had the unhappy distinction of managing to be the saddest out of all of the funerals held for the policemen killed during the skirmish in Memorial Plaza. He was so very young and had seemed to be the model of the perfect police officer-friendly and charismatic, possessed of a firm sense of justice but still knowing where the line between dutifullness and abuse of authority was, and very resourceful.

(To be frank, dear reader, many of the bastard cops here in the country America in our own world could learn a good many things from the late Officer Lidt'sio-Thwacken.)

And most of all, Jack was young. Very young, in fact. Jack was fresh out of the Mubonian Law Enforcement Academy and he had only been a fully-fledged policeman for less than a fortnight!

For one so young and with so much potential to be struck down…very tragic, it was.

Chief Bansoro sighed. "Please show them in, Sergeant."

Sergeant Jonium led John Foa Thwacken and his husband Isot Firmus Lidt'sio into Chief Bansoro's office. John Foa Thwacken was an older human from Gosruuk. He was a local merchant of much renown who was responsible for most of the imported goods that came to Ivort Four (in fact, it was his company which had hired Ferb to carry dental equipment to Mann City). His husband Isot Lidt'sio was a human man from Tatooine who had initially come to Ivort Four to work in the mines. They had been married for near to forty years. The couple had adopted Jack when he was four, at an orphanage on the planet Boh Jorka.

"Chief Bansoro." John Thwacken said. He was taking off his large top hat.

"Boss Thwacken," Chief Bansoro said. He stood up as a gesture of respect-the Boss of Thwacken Transport Systems was a very important person in the Mubon system's social scene, and offending him in any way, especially while he was grieving the death of his son, could cause trouble for Bansoro's mission to keep the peace in Mann City.

"Our son impressed upon us his respect for you many times," Boss Thwacken said. "While studying at the Police Academy over on Mubon he followed your career and how you cleaned up the department here, purged the corrupt officers and worked to earn the community's trust."

"I am honoured that he considered a mere policeman like myself worthy of his respect." Bansoro said humbly. "On the few occasions I interacted with him, I was struck by his eagerness and I feel he would've gone far. He would've served the people of Mann City well. If…if there is anything I can do fo-"

"That's quite alright, Chief." said John Thwacken's husband, Isot Lidt'sio. "There's very little that can be done. Death is a permanent state, after all, so Jack can't be brought back."

"No...no, of course not sir." said Chief Bansoro. "I've said this already, but again I'm so very sorry for y'all's loss."

"It's very sad." Boss Thwacken said quietly. "I…" He swallowed. "I miss my son."

Boss Thwacken was shaking and his husband turned to comfort him. Chief Bansoro looked down, partially out of respect for their privacy and partially due to his own discomfort with emotions. After about thirty or so seconds he looked up again.

"Boss Thawcken, sir, for what it is worth…your son died a hero protecting our community." Chief Bansoro said. "I said this before at the funeral, but I really mean it when I say his death wasn't meaningless. Those were dangerous rebel terrorists who were a threat to the Empire and galactic security. He died a hero."

"Thank you." said Boss Thwacken. His husband was silent.

"If it would help, I may accompany thee to collect Jack's belongings?" Bansoro offered.

"Not, not." said Boss Thwacken. "Not, but I express gratitude for that offer."

"Of course," Bansoro said. He bowed his head in a deferential gesture of respect.

After they left his office, Chief Bansoro sighed and sat back down in his chair. He had told Boss Thwacken and his husband that their son had died for a good cause-protecting the Empire.

That was what he wanted to be able to believe. It had to be a good cause. Deep down, he needed it to be true-not for the sake of Jack's grieving fathers, but for himself.

Bansoro had given most of his life-and one of his legs!-in service to the Empire. His family had been from Humbarine, a Core Worlds planet which had been razed by Count Dooku's henchmen during the Clone Wars. Bansoro had grown up in the shadow of this destruction and it had affected him profoundly as a child. When he became eighteen he enlisted in the Imperial Navy, determined to do his part to secure galactic peace so none would have to live the life of horrors that his family had lived through.

In the course of one's life anybody would see the line between "good" and "evil" become considerably blurred. If one chose the life of a career military man, this was to be expected. And in the military of the Galactic Empire…

There were nights on which Bansoro couldn't sleep. The worst was the week or so after the news about Alderaan's destruction went public.

The possibility that all that…that all he had fought for had been a lie…it was too much to bear. He would have to kill himself if that was the reality of the situation. So he couldn't let that be the case.

His comlink beeped.

"Yo?" Chief Bansoro said.

"It's me," Prefect Hirano said. "Come over to the complex."

"I copy," Chief Bansoro said. He sighed and stood up.

The walk to the Central Forum did not take long. The entrance into the square was blocked by a checkpoint manned by five Imperial Army Troopers and a pair of Stormtroopers. A small Mark IV sentry droid was hovering nearby. Beyond the checkpoint was the ruined Governor Apporo Clock Tower.

"Halt!" said one Imperial Army Trooper, a dark-skinned human woman. "Present your scandocs, please!"

"I'm the Chief of the city's police force!" Bansoro angrily protested. "I have clearance!"

"Where's them scandocs, cop?" another Army Trooper demanded. Judging by the markings on his breastplate he was the Corporal in charge of the checkpoint.

Chief Bansoro sighed, and handed his scandocs over to the Corporal. He in turn handed the scandocs to one of the stormtroopers, who was standing at a console. The stormtrooper examined them.

"Yeah, 'e is who 'e says 'e is." the stormtrooper said. "He does not have clearance into the square though."

"Eh?" Chief Bansoro said indignantly. "The heck do you mean?"

"Hey!" the Corporal shouted. "Watch it, pal!"

Chief Bansoro gritted his teeth. It would not be a good idea to irritate military personnel.

"Look." Chief Bansoro said. "I am the Chief of the Mann City Police Department. I am a confidant of this moon's Prefect, and she has requested my presence in her office!"

"Captain Orsho was clear." the Corporal said. "The Central Forum is t' be locked down."

"Captain Orsho," Chief Bansoro spat out. "Is a fool and-"

"HEY!" the Corporal yelled, raising a stun baton. "Alright, calm down buster!"

Both of the stormtroopers were now reaching for their blaster pistols and the other four Imperial Army troopers were all raising their E-11 blaster rifles. One of the Army Troopers was speaking into her comlink. Bansoro noticed an Imperial officer and two more stormtroopers approaching.

"Halt!" the officer shouted. Chief Bansoro recognised her-it was Captain Orsho's far more reasonable subordinate Lieutenant Elaxiabeter.

"Lieutenant!" the Corporal said. "This local policeman was givin' us some trouble, aye. We was apprehending him!"

"Corporal!" she shouted. "That man is the Chief of Police! Prefect Hirano herself requested his presence in the Imperial complex!"

"Ma'am, er, uh-" the Corporal stuttered.

"Lieutenant, Captain Orsho was quite clear." one of the stormtroopers cut in. "Imperial forces are to keep the Central Forum locked down. Civilian law enforcement agencies do not possess clearance."

"Prefect Hirano's orders override those of the Captain's," Lieutenant Elaxiabeter said coolly.

"Yes, Lieutenant." the Corporal and stormtrooper said in unison.

"Come with me, Chief Bansoro." Lieutenant Elaxiabeter said. Bansoro was only too happy to oblige and followed her into the Central Forum.

"You shouldn't cause trouble," Lieutenant Elaxiabeter warned.

"I wasn't causing trouble," Chief Bansoro grumbled. "I'm not the type to go around spouting off anti-government hate speech. I support public order."

"The soldiers are all on edge and Captain Orsho's been encouraging them to show less restraint in dealing with the citizenry."

"That is to be expected." Chief Bansoro said. "Can't say I like it, but it's to be expected."

---

In keeping with the Zann Consortium's agreement with the rogue Rebel Alliance commander Philoswa T. Fenwhudn, Admiral Sykes sent his warships to attack the planets of Zoraster, Boh Jorka, and Dodz.

At the sector capital of Zoraster, Sykes personally led a fleet consisting of two Keldabe-class battleships, an old Diamond-class cruiser, a heavily modified Centax-class heavy frigate, a CR90 corvette, and two Gozanti-class cruisers. The Imperial fleet above Zoraster had been reduced to merely two Imperial-class Star Destroyers, a single Carrack-class light cruiser, and fourteen IPV-1 system patrol craft. Admiral Sykes had two squadrons of starfighters with him when he attacked Zoraster. One, Red Squadron, consisted of four Y-Wings, a TIE Interceptor, four Tikiars, and four HH-87 Starhoppers. The other was designated Dagger Squadron, which consisted of seven StarViper-class attack platforms and five Z-95 Headhunters.

Red Squadron went to attack the Imperial Carrack-class light cruiser. Vice Admiral Smith scrambled all available fighter squadrons to defend his ships. Dagger Squadron met two squadrons of TIE Interceptors from the ISD Vall Kumauri off the helm of Admiral Sykes' Keldabe-class battleship. With Dagger Squadron defending his flagship, Sykes sent his Diamond-class cruiser and his Corellian corvette to break through the defensive line of IPV-1s positioned on Vice Admiral Smith's orders. The Vice Admiral would have liked to send the Carrack-class light cruiser in to support his patrol craft but the Y-Wings of Red Squadron were hammering it. This forced Vice Admiral Smith to send starfighters away from supporting the line of IPV-1s to defend his Carrack-class light cruiser.

Admiral Sykes' other Keldabe-class battleship bore down on the ISD Vall Kumauri, firing all torpedoes. With the Vall Kumauri distracted and Vice Admiral Smith's other Star Destroyer too far away to respond in time, the Diamond-class cruiser and Corellian corvette went unmolested by Imperial capital ships as they attacked the line of IPV-1 corvettes. By this time, the Carrack-class light cruiser was moving towards the Star Destroyers as Red Squadron's four bombers harassed it.

Vice Admiral Smith deployed, in addition to TIE Fighters and TIE Interceptors, older V-Wing and V-19 Torrent starfighters usually kept back for local patrols within the Zoraster system. One of Red Squadron's Y-Wing bombers got shot down by a TIE Interceptor. The Imperial V-Wings worked to harass the HH-87 fighters away from the light cruiser. Two of the IPV-1 patrol ships had already been destroyed at this point and the CR90 corvette was well on its way to destroying a third. The Diamond-class cruiser was squaring away with two more IPV-1s.

Red Squadron's TIE Interceptor destroyed four of the seventeen V-19 Torrents defending the Carrack-class light cruiser, but was shot down in turn by one of the cruiser's cannons. The three Tikiars of Red Squadron each shot down one more V-19 Torrent as Admiral Sykes brought his own cruiser in to attack the Imperial cruiser directly. The fighters of Dagger Squadron joined with Red Squadron to fight off the Imperial starfighter forces. Admiral Sykes positioned his Keldabe-class battleship so it was in between the Carrack-class light cruiser and the row of IPV-1 system patrol craft. The light cruiser's shields were failing it. Its crew ran to the escape pods as it began to explode. The Imperial starfighters scattered as the light cruiser blew up. On the Vall Kumauri's command bridge, Vice Admiral Smith wept bitterly and then swore in anger.

Vice Admiral Smith then furiously ordered the line of IPV-1s to begin to curl in on itself, starting from the furthest away from the Zann Consortium ships. In this way he intended to box most of Admiral Sykes' ships in with the IPV-1s and then attack with his Star Destroyers. The IPV-1s came around so Admiral Sykes' ships were partially surrounded. The Diamond-class cruiser's shields failed and it exploded from damage inflicted upon it by the IPV-1s. One of Dagger Squadron's Z-95 Headhunters was shot down by a TIE fighter. Admiral Sykes ordered his ships to step up the intensity of their attack, even as both of Vice Admiral Smith's Imperial Star Destroyers bore down on them. The other Zann Consortium Keldabe-class battleship fell back as the Vall Kumauri and the other destroyer pushed forward. Cannonfire from Admiral Sykes' flagship and attack runs from Red Squadron managed to destroy another IPV-1. Admiral Sykes ordered his rear guard, the two Gozanti Cruisers and the modified Centax-class heavy frigate, up to support him. Dagger Squadron managed to shoot down all of the V-Wings as well as many TIE fighters and many TIE interceptors. The remaining three V-19 Torrent fighters shot down another of Red Squadron's Y-Wings before retreating behind the IPV-1s to regroup with the other Imperial fighter units. The two Imperial-class Star Destroyers came around so they were on the far side of Admiral Sykes' fleet.

Despite the beating his cherished starfighters were taking, Vice Admiral Smith was seeing success. The CR90 corvette's shields were starting to fail and Admiral Sykes' flagship had suffered hull damage. Desperate, Admiral Sykes ordered all of his ships to concentrate their attack on the two IPV-1s towards the curled edge of the line. The ISD Vall Kumauri turned and delivered a broadside from its turbolasers unto the Keldabe-class battleships and the CR90 Corvette. Admiral Syke's forces succeeded in destroying both of the IPV-1s and began to escape. However, the CR90 corvette suffered extreme damage and its engines were failing. Rather than wait for the Zann Consortium crewmen to abandon ship, the cunning and wicked Admiral Sykes used a secret remote-control to detonate an explosive hidden aboard the ship so as to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. The rest of his fleet slipped away as the CR90 corvette was vaporised. The Attack on Zoraster was an inconclusive engagement, but it clearly left Vice Admiral Smith hurting-he'd lost many starfighters, several patrol craft, and an entire light cruiser.

At Boh Jorka, a squadron of Z-95 Headhunters and a Gozanti-class cruiser skirmished with forces of the planetary government's local picket fleet before retreating almost immediately. The Consortium forces had only damaged a single Hammerhead corvette and destroyed a few A-6 interceptors, but it was alright-the plan which General Fenwhudn, Captain Slagtimiq, and Admiral Sykes had concocted together called for Boh Jorka to be the subject of repeated harassment designed to make the Empire and the planetary government unwilling to deploy the planetary defense forces elsewhere, lest Boh Jorka and the other planets of the Jorka system be lost to the rebel forces.

The Consortium's attack on Dodz was the most successful by far out of the three of these. A single Keldabe-class battleship and two Marauder-class corvettes escorted several troop transports to the system. Zann Consortium ground troops, backed by Canderous-class assault tanks and a few stolen AT-ST walkers, breached the Imperial defenses around Fort Tof and seized much of the recent haul from the nearby gem mines. In the process, the Consortium forces captured many miners and Imperial personnel to sell into slavery on Zygerria (this last terrible act was done without the knowledge or permission of General Fenwhudn).

Though the loss of some Zann Consortium ships during the attack on Zoraster was an irritation, overall Admiral Sykes was pleased with the outcome of the three-pronged assault. Once all ships had returned to the Kellis system, he slipped off to his private quarters and laughed madly at the success. Then he personally sent a communique to Tyber Zann, informing his master of their successful operation. Once that was done, he gave Charlene the all-clear to travel to Keilosren.

---

On Keilosren, Vanessa was on her second full day of being confined to the room General Fenwhudn's people had left her in. She'd been let out under supervision once every few hours to use the restroom but otherwise hadn't been allowed leave.

She sighed. It was boring. Very, very boring.

She'd tried taking a nap but she could not get comfortable in the chair and she knew lying down on the floor or the table would be even less comfortable. Her blaster, communicator, and datapad had all been confiscated when she was taken to the room. She was getting hungry too-they fed her only twice a day.

This was all her mother's fault. No one else in the Zann Consortium-not Admiral Sykes or Urai Fenn or even Lord Tyber Zann himself-would care how much she interacted with the rebel forces which General Fenwhudn commanded. This was merely her mother lashing out at her for doing what she wanted and not allowing herself to be controlled. Vanessa's mother lacked any conceptualization of boundaries between herself and her daughter. This really pissed Vanessa the hell off.

Right when Charlene's transport jumped to hyperspace in the Kellis system, the door to the room suddenly slid open. And Monty was standing there!

"Vanessa!" he said. "Come, now!"

"Monty?"

"C'mon!" he urged her.

"Monty?" she repeated, more incredulous this time.

"I'm springing you! A resc-this is a rescue!" he said. "I-I know!"

"What?"

"I know about the Zann Consortium!" Monty said. "I-I know! The General is working with the Zann Consortium!"

Vanessa sat up.

"You-!" she exclaimed.

"I'm tryna spring you!" he said. "I'm gonna get you outta here!"

Vanessa was struggling to process this unexpected turn of events.

"I don't understand!" she exclaimed. "I-I-oh, fuck it!"

She got up quickly.

"Where to?"

"C'mon," Monty said. "We need to move quickly."

The two of them snuck out, Vanessa stopping to grab her confiscated possessions when she saw them lying on a table in the hallway outside. That section of the base on Keilosren was fairly empty, and they managed to sneak through it unmolested by General Fenwhudn's security guards.

"How are we getting offworld?" Vanessa asked.

"The Sunspring-that kid pilot Coryn Polo." Monty explained. "He's been cleared to go on a patrol mission of some kind already, so we're gonna sneak you aboard and then jump to rendezvous with the main Rebel Alliance."

"That's very lucky for us," Vanessa observed. "Feels a bit too convenient, honestly."

"It's all taken care of," Monty assured her. "Don't worry about it."

"What about if they find out I'm missing before we take off?" she asked.

"They shouldn't." Monty assured her. "I've made sure that they won't be checking on your makeshift holding cell until after we're gone. They're running with lighter staff at this base than usual because of that big offensive in the Mubon system the General is doing. It's all taken care of. Don't worry about it."

Vanessa couldn't help but feel suspicious, but her desperation to get out and away overrode her caution.

The two of them made it to the hangar adjacent to the landing field where the Sunspring was parked without being spotted.

"How are we getting across to that ship?" Vanessa asked. "Fenwhudn's people probably have security cameras, I guess?"

Monty nodded. "They do, but those should be…" He glanced down at the chronometer on his wrist. "Right about….now!"

"What?"

Monty pointed. In the corner of the hangar's ceiling was a security cam that regularly turned to survey the entirety of the hangar. However, it had suddenly stopped right when it was pointed at the wall on the far side of the hangar. It was jerking slightly, as if someone was trying to move it but couldn't get it to unstick.

"We have about a minute before it resumes its rotation," Monty said urgently. "We have to move quickly."

They darted across the hangar and the landing platform. The Sunspring's boarding ramp was lowered to allow them entry, and they darted up it. Coryn Polo and Corporal Parker were both waiting for them inside.

"Right," Monty said. "We're at the launch time. Let's do this."

They went to the cockpit. Coryn Polo took the pilot's seat and Monty sat in the co-pilot's. Vanessa and Corporal Parker sat behind them.

"So you're a spy too?" Vanessa asked him. Corporal shook his head.

"Not exactly," he replied. "Monty could tell I had some doubts about the General and recruited me to help him keep tabs on her. With things getting worse, he's taking me with him and you to escape back to the main Alliance."

"Oh, I see." Vanessa said.

"Control, this is Sunspring, requesting clearance for takeoff." Coryn Polo said into the comm. "Repeat, Sunspring requesting takeoff clearance."

"Negative, Sunspring." a voice of an operator on the other end of the comm said.

"Eh?" said Coryn Polo.

"I'm sorry?" Monty said. "We-we have, uh, the clearance. We're going out scouting for enemy activity in the further systems of this sector."

"Uh, negative, nope, sorry." the operator replied. "You, uh, well…hmmm. Okay, uh, just wait a few minutes. There's someone on their way to explain things."

Vanessa frowned. Coryn Polo and Monty looked at each other in confusion.

"Um, what?" Coryn Polo said into the comm. "Someone's on their way? Like, to here? My ship?"

"Your, uh, passengers." the operator said.

Monty and Coryn Polo looked at each other in horror. Vanessa felt her heart begin to beat faster.

"Uhm, copy tha-understood, understood." Monty said. He switched off the comm and swore.

"You said this was a scouting mission!" Coryn Polo hissed. "What passengers? What did you do?"

"I don't know!" Monty spat. "Don't blame me!"

"Well, it's not my fault!" Coryn Polo snapped.

"What are we gonna do about her?" Corporal Parker asked. "She's not supposed to be here."

"Yeah, I'm supposed to still be fucking locked up," Vanessa agreed.

"Could we hide you?" Monty asked. He turned to Coryn Polo. "Hey, kid. Does this little ship of yours have anywhere we could hide her?"

"What, are we just going to bring those passengers along to your secret rendezvous?" Coryn Polo asked.

Monty ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation. "I-I don't know! I really don't know, okay?"

"Is there?" Vanessa asked. "Is there somewhere I could hide?"

"The, uh, refresher?" Corporal Parker suggested lamely.

Coryn Polo snorted. "I think it'll get pretty odd for whoever the heck these passengers are if they come aboard and can't take a shit 'cause the toilet's locked."

"Well, surely…" Corporal Parker trailed off.

"Is there anywhere else I could hide?" Vanessa asked.

"Maybe the-oh shit." Coryn Polo said.

"What?" Monty said. "What is it?"

Coryn Polo pointed out the cockpit. "I think our passengers are here."

Walking across the landing strip were six people. The one in front was a strong and big Quarren-General Fenwhudn.

"Oh, shit, it's the General." Monty said. "Shit shit shit!"

"What the fuck are we supposed to do?" Polo hissed. "Why the fuck is Fenwhudn coming aboard my ship?"

"This was supposed to be a scouting mission!" Monty said, his voice getting progressively higher and higher in pitch the more he failed to remain calm. "They told me it was a fucking scouting mission! A-a scouting mission! Scouting!"

"The General!" Corporal Parker yelped. "The General? The General!"

"Where do we hide Vanessa?" Monty said to Coryn Polo.

"Well…" the kid was at a loss for words.

"Ahem!" Vanessa said. The others looked at her. "Coryn Polo, this is a Corellian smuggling ship, is it not?"

"Well, aye, it is…" Coryn Polo muttered. "But I don't really use it for that…"

"Does it have any hidden compartments?" she asked. "Cupboards below the floor, etcetera etcetera?"

Polo's eyes lit up. "Hey, yeah!"

"Quickly!" Monty said.

As Coryn Polo secured Vanessa, the spy Monty ventured down the boarding ramp to meet with General Fenwhudn's party. With the General were Quayle, Captain Zhal, Lieutenant Fox, Sergeant Braus, and Corporal Wo.

"Peace ho, fellow rebel." the General greeted.

"Aye, General," said Monty. "We was just about t' depart, we was. The traffic controller said we were to take on passengers?"

"Yes, Lieutenant." the General said firmly. "You were given false instructions for security purposes. I did not wish it to leak that I am to journey to the Mubon system. Therefore, until just prior to liftoff the crew of the Sunspring was not to be aware of their true mission."

"So," Monty gulped. "So…we will, er, be taking you then?"

"That is correct." the General said.

"Shall we go aboard then, General?" said Captain Zhal.

"Yes." the General said. "We shall."

---

"When…when did it happen?" Minister Onf asked quietly.

"The medical staff have not finished their autopsy yet, but apparently it looks like he's only been dead for about three hours, maybe as long as four." Colonel Rilvert said. His voice was cold. "It seems to be a suicide."

Earlier, after driving off Admiral Sykes' attack force, Vice Admiral Smith had attempted to contact Moff Irion to update him about the attack on their capital planet. Smith was concerned when he received no reply, and Colonel Rilvert had personally gone to investigate. The sector governor had been discovered slumped in his office, a glass of wine spilled all over his desk. An open bottle of pills, nearly empty, lay in his cold hands-it seemed he had swallowed them all with the intention of deliberately overdosing.

"Why…" Onf said. "Why would…"

"The…the stress was…i-it was finally getting to him." Colonel Rilvert said firmly, trying to keep calm. "It's been a hard few weeks. With the estimated time of death, it seems he took those pills right when we were attacked. I'm only guessing here, but 'tis possible that seeing an enemy fleet in orbit was the final straw and the Governor just gave up."

"What happens now?" Lieutenant Commander Antilles asked. "Who…" He swallowed. "Who is in charge, Colonel Rilvert?"

Colonel Rilvert sighed.

"Well, the civilian duties fall to Minister Onf for the time being," he said.

"What little civilian duties are left…" Minister Onf said quietly.

The majority of inhabited systems in the sector had been declared military zones.

"The military hierarchy is…less clear." Colonel Rilvert swallowed.

"Is really to bother," agreed Lieutenant Commander Antilles.

"Aye," nodded Colonel Rilvert. "General Forgus would take control, but he is, uh, he's…"

"Dead." Lieutenant Commander Antilles said bluntly. "He's dead too. Shuttle was blasted into space bits."

Colonel Rilvert sucked in a breath. "Yeah…"

"So then…" Minister Onf said. "Who?"

"I'll be commanding what logistical management needs to be done from this end." Colonel Rilvert said confidently. "General Baker has oversight at our marshalling base in the Bigthe system."

"Admiral Smith-" Lieutenant Commander Antilles began.

"Vice Admiral Smith." corrected Colonel Rilvert. Antilles scowled.

"Yes, Vice Admiral Smith will take complete control of our naval deployments." Lieutenant Commander Antilles said curtly. "With Vice Admiral Autren mired in the ongoing Siege at Ivort Four, the gap he has left will be filled by my superior."

This worried Colonel Rilvert. Neither Vice Admiral Smith nor Vice Admiral Autren were the ideal naval strategist, but the two of them working together under the direction of Moff Irion had usually been able to come up with good results in the past. Now, the Moff had killed himself and the two were left to do as they pleased with no direction and no one who could make them grudgingly cooperate.

"Once Commander Friedgren finishes with Gosruuk, I expect he will personally head to Ivort Four to clean up the mess there." Colonel Rilvert said. This worried him even more-Friedgren was sadistic in conducting war.

"Good." sniffed Lieutenant Commander Antilles. "Commander Friedgren will take over from the local officers and Vice Admiral Autren. Let him bring a conclusion to this wretched and foul mess."

---

"Yes sir," said Admiral Mordur. "The Druulgotha system appears to be devoid of Rebellion forces."

"Hmph,'' Grand Admiral Josef Grunger said. "With the Thesme sector confirmed as clear, we should have this end of the Hydian secure, then. The Rebel worlds in the Lothal and Calamari sectors are cut off from the Rebel war fleets in the Mid Rim, and any Outer Rim systems Coreward of those sectors whose loyalties lie not with the Empire…well, I've seen t' them, I have."

"I would hope so," said Admiral Garrick Versio of the Imperial Security Bureau. He was meeting with Grand Admiral Grunger aboard the latter's flagship to discuss the security of the Outer Rim Territories. "And you can assure the Emperor that the more independent-minded worlds in this part of the Outer Rim like Drackmar, Mandalore, and Ord Radama are all kept in check?"

"I can," said Grand Admiral Grunger. "Organising it all is a bit tricky, but I've got it-even the Drackmarians are kept in check. I assure you of that, Commander."

When the Emperor elevated him to the rank of Grand Admiral, Josef Grunger was told he would be groomed to take command of nearly all of the Imperial Navy forces in the Outer Rim Territories as Grand Moff Tarkin focused more and more on the completion of the first Death Star. Shortly before the Death Star's completion, Grand Admiral Grunger had been assigned the Super Star Destroyer Aggressor as his flagship, and was sent to begin securing the region around Botajef, an Outer Rim planet that possessed important civilian shipyards and was located at the intersection of key hyperspace routes.

Josef Grunger had been leading the Aggressor on a tour of the Sprizen sector when the Death Star was blown up at the Battle of Yavin and his immediate superior Grand Moff Tarkin killed. In the chaotic days immediately following Tarkin's death, with Emperor Palpatine furious and the Lord Darth Vader missing in action, Grand Admiral Grunger had moved swiftly to attack the pro-rebellion planet of Beruscani, destroying the fierce armies of King Atticus Josien XII and leaving behind an occupying garrison of Stormtroopers, as a show of strength. Then he moved to meet with General Tagge of the Joint Chiefs, who had survived the Death Star's destruction thanks to the late Tarkin sending him to investigate an alleged rebel base on Dantooine.

Like most of the Imperial elite, Grand Admiral Josef Grunger had greedily eyed the seats left vacant by the members of Imperial High Command who had died at the Battle of Yavin. Junger sought to be promoted to Tarkin's old job-the Grand Moff who governed the majority of the Outer Rim Territories. To his consternation, an old political and corporate ally of Emperor Palpatine's, Moff Ardus Kaine, had been promoted up to the Grand Moff of Oversector Outer.

Grand Moff Ardus Kaine was the son of a merchant from the Braxant sector. A tall, light-skinned human cisgender man with a wavy, receding hairline, Grand Moff Kaine had firmly backed the then-Chancellor Palpatine during the Clone Wars and was rewarded for his loyalty with positions of increasing power in the New Order.

Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik was known by many to consider Grand Moff Kaine an improvement over the late Grand Moff Tarkin's brutal rule of the Outer Rim Territories. Director Orson Krennic, too, preferred Kaine over Tarkin, though it was fairly obvious to most that this was simply because Kaine holding the position of Governor of the Outer Rim served as a living reminder to Director Krennic that his one-time rival was truly and firmly dead. Baron Ulric Tagge, the public head of TaggeCo, and his sister Domina Tagge, the true leader of the Tagge family, both found Grand Moff Kaine to be an amicable business partner. Grand Admiral Octavian Grant had in the past worked closely with Kaine to bring the Emperor's order to the Thanium Worlds, and maintained what seemed to be a genuinely warm friendship with him as their respective careers propelled them to the furthest echelons of power in the Empire's hierarchy. The Lord Darth Vader was indifferent to Grand Moff Ardus Kaine-something all Imperial officers longed for, as Lord Vader having no opinion on you meant you were far less likely to infuriate him and wind up dead. Even the Deputy Vizier Sate Pestage, when asked, would simply remark that Kaine did his job well enough.

Grand Admiral Josef Grunger despised Ardus Kaine. At first, he simply hated Kaine for taking the job he himself had had his eyes on-Grand Moff of the Outer Rim Territories. Of course, possessing a large bias against someone inevitably makes you notice things that otherwise would not have bothered you. Grand Admiral Grunger was annoyed by little things like Kaine's indecisiveness when it came to deciding how many Stormtrooper legions to allot each sector under his control, Kaine deciding to move his headquarters to Entralla, Kaine's friendship with the reclusive and borderline introverted Grand Admiral Grant…yes, all minor things but they began to pile up and annoy Jose Grunger.

Grand Admiral Grunger wasn't alone in disliking Grand Moff Kaine. Secretary Osrund and Advisor Kren Blista-Vanee loathed his lack of appreciation for fine opera, for example. Fleet Admiral Zsinj and Kaine despised each other over some old feud that dated back, according to Director Krennic, almost fifteen years.

But it mattered little-the Emperor was satisfied with Grand Moff Kaine, and the Emperor's opinion was the only one that held any significant weight at all in the Galactic Empire.

All Grand Admiral Grunger had to do was do his job well, and he was making sure Admiral Versio recognised that.

"I would like to lodge a formal complaint, however, with the authorities on Imperial Center." Grand Admiral Grunger said, opting to use the New Order name for the galactic capital world. In his mind it would always be Coruscant-no sense in changing something's name, political reasoning be damned-but knowing that Admiral Versio was an officer of the ISB, it was only logical to err on the side of showing he followed what COMPNOR considered the correct line of thought.

"Oh?" said Admiral Versio.

"The majority of Lord Vader's personal fleet, Death Squadron, suddenly departed the Mustafar system a couple weeks ago." Grunger said. "I understood that, until they were called up into the Mid Rim, those were my reserve ships."

"Lord Vader does as he pleases." Admiral Versio said. "Admiral Ozzel takes Death Squadron where Lord Vader commands him to take it-not where you order it."

That was another thing about Ardus Kaine that irked Josef Grunger. Where Grand Moff Tarkin had managed to keep Darth Vader on a tight leash, his replacement did not.

"That's all you can say?" Grand Admiral Grunger said.

"Yes." said Admiral Versio. "The reins to that monster are held in the Emperor's hands alone. Admiral Ozzel's fleet is under Lord Vader's command. It is his to do with as he pleases."

Josef Grunger scowled and glanced over at Admiral Mordur, who was keeping quiet.

"I don't like that, Admiral Versio." Grand Admiral Grunger said.

"I understand, Grand Admiral Grunger." Admiral Versio said. "However, no man but the Emperor himself hold authority o'er Lord Vader."

"And what precedent doth this set?" Grand Admiral Grunger demanded. "That the entire Navy is at the whims of some rogue dark warrior who lives in a haunted castle on Mustafar?"

Josef Grunger already knew what the answer was. He was just venting his frustration.

"Until such time as the Emperor subordinates Lord Vader to the military instead of the other way around, this is what we must deal with." said Admiral Versio. "And, for what it is worth, Lord Vader has sent his fleet to deal with the Zann Consortium. We have let Tyber Zann's ambitions go unchecked for far too long in my opinion. Sending Admiral Ozzel to move against Zann's forces is a good move on Lord Vader's part."

"Perhaps," grumbled Josef Grunger.

"Sirs," Admiral Mordur interrupted. He looked worried. "Vice Admiral Roek is requesting permission to enter-worrisome news has come through."

"Hmm?" Admiral Versio said. "Very well, let him in."

Grand Admiral Grunger scowled. A problem in the regions of space which he was responsible for that was so large he needed to be informed personally was not something a member of ISB needed to be aware of.

Vice Admiral Roek entered the meeting room. Roek was a tall, thin transgender man with dark skin. A native of the Core Worlds planet Esseles, it was Roek who was the immediate commander of the Super Star Destroyer Aggressor.

"Grand Admiral!" Roek said. He was clearly alarmed. "The insurgency in the Zoraster sector grows worse! The Moff is dead and warships of the Zann Consortium have launched attacks in coordination with the Rebel forces there!"

"What?" Grunger said. "Impossible!"

"Moff Irion is dead?" Admiral Versio said in horrified astonishment. "Who is in charge of that sector now?"

"The command structure there is in chaos, but an Imperial officer named Friedgren appears to be asserting control." Roek said.

"How did things get this bad?" demanded Grand Admiral Grunger. "The reports General Forgus submitted indicated they had contained the harassment skirmishes!"

"General Forgus' reports were falsified, apparently." Vice Admiral Roek said. "He too has died. Apparently, a large detachment of Rebellion forces has sequestered itself on a moon in the Mubon system and is causing trouble."

"They can't move in with the brunt of their forces to defeat them?" Grand Admiral Grunger said incredulously.

Vice Admiral Roek shook his head. "No sir. The past few weeks of the insurgency were much worse than General Forgus let on. The rebel attacks wore down their patrol ships, and they've been forced to conserve their forces in their key systems and keep the essential supply lines open. They have a small fleet in the Mubon system fighting the Rebels there, but they are at a breaking point just with that."

"This is very grave news." Admiral Versio said coldly. "Grunger, mobilise as many ships as you can spare."

"I'd go take care of this myself, were the Zoraster sector not on the far side of Hutt Space from here." Grand Admiral Grunger said. "Admiral Mordur!"

"Sir!" Mordrur said.

"Admiral Jasten's task force is currently deployed in the Bheriz sector, is it not? That is not far from the Zoraster sector!"

"Yes sir," nodded Admiral Mordur. "The ninety-seventh task force is currently deployed to supplement the Sector Group in the Bheriz sector on orders from the Admiralty."

"We're overriding those orders!" Grand Admiral Grunger said. "Contact Admiral Jasten- he is to take all of his ships and head to the Zoraster sector immediately!"

"Yes, sir!" Admiral Mordur saluted and hurried to carry out this command.

"The local Moffs in the sectors near the Zoraster sector have all grumbled about not having enough backup." Grand Admiral Grunger said. "A lot of the Navy's forces are tied up fighting the Rebellion in the Mid Rim or securing the Core Worlds and Colonies. I myself barely have enough ships in the fleets I command to contain pirates and other criminals."

"The Outer Rim has always been much more lawless than the rest of the galaxy; even if we had nothing else drawing our attention the Empire would still find it hard to bring the outlier systems fully under our control." said Admiral Versio. "This era especially is one of chaos and war. But we will triumph."

"You're very sure of this," snorted Grand Admiral Grunger. "I imagine that's a byproduct of being in the know about all those special weapons the Ubiqtorate has been commissioning for the Emperor."

"You are as aware as I am of the fierce machine that Director Krennic is building." Admiral Versio replied.

Josef Grunger laughed cruelly. "I don't speak of Krennic's quest to rebuild the superweapon Governor Tarkin lost at Yavin."

Admiral Versio raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"The secret things Commander Ikari builds on Belsavis." Grunger said. "The things his agency researches. I've already heard rumours about the DWARTII, the powerful organic supercomputers which will allow for instant coordination of Imperial Navy assets. But there are other, deeper things being laboured over."

"I suggest you keep quiet, Grand Admiral." Admiral Versio said quickly. "For your own good."

Grand Admiral Grunger chuckled and grinned nastily, but said nothing more. Admiral Verio's reaction suggested something interesting-he was as in the dark about whatever was going on at Belsavis as most other high-ranking Imperial leaders were. The only reason Grunger knew about the existence of the DWARTII computers was because of his colleague Grand Admiral Zaarin, whose oversight of the Imperial Navy's starfighter development programs put him in proximity to both Director Krennic's weapons developers and the research agencies affiliated with the secret laboratories on Belsavis. Zaarin owed Grunger a favour, and he'd repaid it by revealing what little information regarding Belsavis' secrets that he was aware of.

Grunger had intended to keep this particular card quite close to his chest, but he had been annoyed by Admiral Versio and so used it to one-up him.

"Your…your immediate focus," Admiral Versio ground out. "Your immediate focus is the dire situation in the Zoraster sector. Tyber Zann's involvement in that mess makes it a top priority."

"Heh, Tyber Zann." Grunger laughed. "You know what they say about him? That he's a contender to take the title of 'The Most Notorious Criminal in all of Galactic History' with his conquests."

"I doubt that." Admiral Versio said. "The one to whom that title applies is so far removed from the concepts of law and civil order that even a person like Tyber Zann would not begin to surpass him. The destruction he could have wrought upon the galaxy would dwarf even the crimes of General Grievous during the Clone Wars."

"Even so, Tyber Zann's conquests make him a thorn in the side of the Empire." the Grand Admiral replied.

"Hence, your mandate to put a stop to his machinations." Admiral Versio said. He smiled thinly. "Ironic, isn't it? Earlier, you were livid about Lord Vader moving his own ships around to fight the Zann Consortium, and now you'll be doing the same."

Grand Admiral Josef Grunger scowled. "Yes. Ironic."

---

"Yup," Major Reaches the Rice Slowly said gravely. "Orbital com-scan by the Leaveykurarupid confirms it, aye. An Imperial attack force hath departed Mann City an hour ago."

"It's barely been a day since the reinforcements-what's left of them-landed on this moon." said Lieutenant Ran'o. The Sullustan man was making a facial expression that was his species' equivalent of a scowl.

Colonel Brucosl was staring at his shako-he'd taken the large hat off and was holding it in front of his face while he pondered the enemy troop movements.

"Are they going by way of Lake Wiseau?" he asked.

"No, they're taking a bit o' a longer route 'twould seem." replied Lieutenant Ran'o.

"Reminds me of the old holos about lawmen fighting gangsters on Denon," Major Reaches the Rice Slowly muttered.

"Hmmm," Colonel Brucosl said. "Are the tanks prepared? The troop transports?"

"Aye and aye," said Major Reaches the Rice Slowly.

"And my remaining vulture droids?"

"Yes, sir." said Lieutenant Lorn Anusivr. "They've been checked and are one hundred percent prepped for combat."

"Have them sent out first." ordered Colonel Brucosl.

"Yes sir." said Lieutenant Anusivr.

"Colonel," Major Reaches the Rice Slowly said. "Sergeant Devoria reported that the Imperials set up many siege balloons in the airspace above the city. With just a few old droid starfighters we won't be able to take those all down!"

"No, we ignore those balloons for now. I want the vulture droids t' secure the skies above the fields between this fort and the city," explained Colonel Brucosl.

"Aye, understood." said Major Reaches the Rice Slowly.

"The defensive trench system is nearly complete…" Colonel Brucosl muttered. "And our anti-air placements are all ready. We've turned Fort Salliche into a proper defensive position, aight. Major?"

"Sir?"

"You will take command. You know what to do."

"Yes, sir."

---

"Captain, Colonel Brucosssl hasss contacted usss," said Vortho Lama. "They are moving to engage Imperial troopseses on the planet'ssss sssurface. We are to attack the Imperial fleet in a diversssion."

"Right then!" Captain Slagtimiq said. "Launch all fighters! Send Lieutenant Jyph's Fatherspear and those X4 gunships forward! Move the Sullust and Warchild into position!"

"Aye, Captain!"

---

In the command center in Mann City's Imperial complex, Stacy, Orsho, Bansoro, and Lieutenant Elaxiabeter watched the holographic display.

"Major Gaos is taking a large contingent of soldiers and tanks to advance to the position here," said Stacy. "He intends to use what forces he has to prevent a Rebel advance on this city."

"Do we have enough forces here for that?" asked someone else, a woman from Imperial Intelligence. "And keep the city secure at the same time?"

"Barely, but yeah." Captain Orsho said. He scowled and glanced at Chief Bansoro. "We're having local police assist the forces garrisoned here."

"Madam Prefect!" a staffer said suddenly. "Receiving communication from our forces!"

"Put them through," Stacy said. The holographic display switched from a battle map to show a regular stormtrooper.

"Trooper," Stacy said in a way of greeting.

"Ma'am!" the stormtrooper said. "This is TK-9336. Major Gaos has ordered me to report that we are preparing to engage the enemy!"

"Understood trooper, thank you." Stacy said. The stormtrooper saluted and the call ended, the holoprojector reverting to displaying a map.

"Commander Friedgren is preparing to move his forces to here from the Foe-Gosruuk system." Captain Orsho said. "He will smash the Rebels into space bits! We just need t' hold on until then is all."

---

"So it would seem the Zann Consortium forces in the Zoraster sector are fully committed to backing General Fenwhudn's campaign." Colonel Haxen Delto said.

"Mmm." General Draven said. "We still don't know why though. What's her hold over them?"

"Monty might have some leads on that when we extract him," said Major Hologram. "But yes, it is concerning. Very concerning."

They were in General Draven's office aboard the Star Destroyer Freedom. Rebel Intelligence had just intercepted Imperial transmissions from the Zoraster sector. General Draven's people now knew that Tyber Zann had sent a war fleet to back up General Fenwhudn's insurgency. Their 'secret' alliance was becoming much more open.

"I have heard from Admiral Ackbar that Borsk Fey'lya and other prominent Bothan leaders have grown aware of General Fenwhudn's treachery." General Draven announced darkly.

"The Bothan SpyNet is independent from the hierarchy of Alliance Intelligence, so 'tis to be expected that Fey'lya would learn of it." grumbled Major Hologram. "Not that I'm happy about this."

"Of course not," muttered Draven. "This is just what we feared though…the Bothans are already hinting that they'll publicly question Mon Mothma's leadership, that perhaps Bel Iblis was right in leaving to manage his own affairs, that Cham Syndulla's revolutionaries were right to put their own homeworld above the rest of the galaxy." He scowled. "And then others will follow their example, emboldened by General Fenwhudn's apparent success and the Bothans publicly denouncing the Cabinet." His scowl deepend. "We might see large scale defections to Saw Gerrera's Partisan movement, or to the few remaining independent Separatist holdouts or the scattered cells of stubborn communists…"

"I don't fancy seeing the Rebellion spending more time rebelling against itself than it rebels against the Empire," snarked Major Hologram.

"Indeed," said Colonel Delto.

General Draven did trust Mon Mothma to lead the Rebel Alliance (as did Princess Leia, Admiral Ackbar, General Dodonna, General Cracken, and many other key Rebel leaders), but others disagreed with her. General Hera Syndulla, far more loyal to the wider Rebellion than her father Cham Syndulla, and Admiral Raddus, always ready to go on the attack, often criticised the wariness with which Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar approached the war. On the other hand there were those such as Vasp Vaspar, ex-Senator and a Cabinet Minister in the Alliance, who considered Mon Mothma to be too reckless and disagreed with what they saw as her authorizing action that placed the Rebel Alliance's limited resources at risk. But all of them still supported the Rebel Alliance and never sought to do anything to threaten its unity.

That was the beast General Fenwhudn was unleashing. The collapse of the Alliance they had all worked so hard to build.

"We will deal with that issue when we come to it." General Draven said firmly. "Right now, our mandate from General Cracken is to continue investigating the activities of the Zann Consortium and monitor the situation in the Zoraster sector."

The fourth person in the room chuckled.

"Do you have something to say, Agent Kaji?" General Draven said. Major Hologram scowled.

"Fenwhudn is moving faster than we can keep up with," Kaji said, smiling. "We sit around talking and she strikes at the Empire again and again."

"Captain Andor will deal with this." General Draven said. "I have faith in him."

"She wooed Tyber Zann right under our noses, she built up her forces, and while we sit mired in this Mid Rim quagmire she goes and proves that you don't need to be fighting under the Alliance flag to successfully fight the Empire." Kaji said.

"She hasn't publicly split from the Alliance." Major Hologram retorted.

"Not yet," replied Kaji. "But we all know she is operating independently of Senator Mothma and High Command. As we're all aware, all it takes is her making that known and others go to follow her example. If that happens, the Alliance crumbles…"

"...and the Empire wins the war." General Draven finished darkly. "Divided we fall."

"Indeed," said Kaji.

---

So in accordance with orders given to him by Colonel Brucosl, Major Reaches the Rice Slowly led many rebels forth to meet the advancing Imperial forces.

One soldier was called Flavia and she approached him. She was only ranked Private but had keen eyes and rivalled Private Leftor, Sergeant Devoria's man, in marksmanship.

"My sir, we approach the enemy position," said Flavia.

"Then very well." said Major Reaches the Rice Slowly. "We now open fire!"

They had brought many tanks forward with them and now these opened fire on the positions the Imperial forces were nearing. Colonel Brucosl's cherished vulture droids launched and flew over the heads of Major Reaches the Rice Slowly's soldiers, opening fire on a squadron of TIE fighters sent to provide air support for Major Gaos' troops.

Major Gaos of the Imperial Army did not intend to march directly on the rebels encamped at Fort Salliche. This was a strike meant to draw out the rebel forces, as reconnaissance had shown that Fort Salliche was almost fully able to defend itself. The second purpose of his mission was to set the Imperial lines so that Mann City was far behind them and the rebels would find much trouble breaking through to attack the city itself. Major Gaos knew that his offensive was merely a prelude to a larger attack; all he needed to do was engage the rebels in a place which was closer to their encampment then it was to Mann City, and then wait for Commander Friedgren's reinforcements to arrive on Ivort Four.

Now, Major Gaos had divided his forces. He had two AT-STs and many light speeder craft with him, but nothing else in the way of heavy vehicles-these he had kept back to hold the line around Mann City. Major Gaos was supposed to also have a single hovertank in his forces, but the driver had committed suicide and therefore the tank was unable to accompany the rest of Major Gaos' troops. So, having only two scout walkers and many light speeder craft as his vehicles, Major Gaos divided his forces. The two AT-STs were positioned on the right wing, closest to Mann City. Mining droids commandeered from local mining companies quickly dug trenches from which the infantry and stormtroopers would fight off approaching rebel forces, aided by Imperial soldiers manning E-Webs and mortar stormtroopers firing bombs. The goal was to force the rebels to turn to their right, or the Imperials' left, which would put them towards the center and the left wing of Major Gaos' forces. The center and the left wing would appear to be comparatively easier to punch a hole through, as they had no walkers and the defensive lines were not dug in as well. However, turning to attack them would place Major Reaches the Rice Slowly's forces at a further distance from Mann City. Major Gaos' plan was to force the lines of the battle to settle a farther distance from the city. Furthermore, the light speeder craft were very mobile and very swift-they could dart around and harass the rebel tanks and infantry with great ease. The center and the left wing of the Imperial lines were further defended by countless stormtroopers and Imperial Army Troopers.

"Sir, they do fast approach now." said TK-9336.

"Aye, have the right wing open fire!" Major Gaos ordered. "Drive them over here!"

The AT-STs fired rockets at Major Reaches the Rice Slowly's position. Most impacted in the dirt just before the hills where his troops were dug in. Lieutenant Ran'o took the WLO-5 tanks around-right towards the left wing of Major Gaos' forces. This was how the battle began.

---

In the skies above Ivort Four, there too the battle raged. Captain Slagtimiq's fleet sparred with Vice Admiral Autren's Imperial warships. The bombers of Boom Squadron had destroyed the Razor-class frigate Modarrin, and Commander Harkson's Maroon Squadron held off the Imperial TIE squadrons. The Gladiator-class Star Destroyer Shogun had engaged the Warchild and the X4 gunships while the corvette Sullust traded fire with the Gozanti Cruiser.

Given enough time, Vice Admiral Autren's warships would have overwhelmed Captain Slagtimiq's fleet. This was evident given the power disparity between the rebel ships and just the single Imperial-class Star Destroyer War Hammer. However, General Fenwhudn had planned for this. As part of her coordinated offensive with the Zann Consortium, she had arranged for Admiral Sykes to send several ships to Ivort Four.

Admiral Sykes sent the modified Centax-class heavy frigate, one of his Keldabe-class battlecruisers, and three PB-950 patrol boats to the Mubon system, along with a squadron of Z-95 Headhunters. This small detachment was under the command of Rear Admiral Stanley Publicus Rokajun. Rear Admiral Rokajun was a trusted officer of the Zann Consortium. He had been a low-level officer in the Imperial Navy for many years. He had commanded a squadron of IPV-1 system patrol craft in the Byblos system and later served aboard the Victory-class Star Destroyer Harrow before he eventually grew dissatisfied with the lack of glory and the tendency for lesser officers to be promoted instead of him. He defected to the Zann Consortium shortly before the Battle of Yavin and managed to quickly become a trusted officer. Admiral Sykes found him a capable subordinate and even their master, the ruthless crime lord Tyber Zann, appreciated his tactical acumen.

VIce Admiral Rokajun's ships opened fire on Vice Admiral Autren's ships almost as soon as they exited hyperspace. The light cruiser, already damaged from the battle, succumbed to the barrage of lasers and concussion missiles within ten minutes of the Zann Consortium's arrival. As the Shogun began to take damage, Captain Tybur ordered the War Hammer to ignore the rebel fleet and focus on returning fire to the Zann Consortium warships. The War Hammer began taking heavy damage.

Vice Admiral Smith watched as his fleet shrunk and in despair ordered for his ships to prepare to jump to hyperspace. All TIE fighters returned to the docking bays and the remaining Imperial warships-the destroyer War Hammer, the destroyer Shogun, the Gozanti Cruiser, and a single escort gunship-initiated an insystem microjump to Mubon.

Upon reaching their destination a minute later, Vice Admiral Autren apologised to Captain Tybur for failing to win the battle and then, to the horror of all personnel present on the bridge of the ISD War Hammer, committed suicide.

---

"Captain Slagtimiq says the Imperial fleet's left orbit," said Colonel Brucosl.

"'Aye, 'tis good news indeed, sir." said Lieutenant Mosk.

"Yes," agreed Colonel Brucosl.

Mosk had

"Sir…" Mosk said slowly. "Those other cruisers on the scanner…"

"Eh?" grunted Brucosl.

"Those are pirate ships, sir." Mosk said. "Criminal elements. To me, they don't look like privateers allied with the Rebel Alliance." He paused. "These look like professional criminals and mercenaries."

Colonel Brucosl was quiet for a moment. "Yes. They are."

"Sir?!" Mosk was shocked that his suspicions were correct.

"The General will be explaining things further upon her arrival, but we have…certain allies." Brucosl said.

Mosk scowled but only said: "I see, sir."

---

In the main room of the Sunspring General Philoswa T. Fenwhudn sat. She was working out with some large weights she had brought aboard. Captain Zhal had forced Ferb out of the pilot's seat, so he was sulking nearby (to be fair, it was his ship, after all). Lieutenant Fox was cleaning their rifle. Quayle was staring intently at a bulkhead, focused on something that only he could see. Lieutenant Fox had sent Monty and Corporal Parker each to man a turret.

Vanessa was crammed into a compartment below the floor. It was barely large enough to fit her, and Ferb was greatly distressed by that.

Ferb had begun thinking a lot. It was a surprise to learn that Vanessa was not actually a true Rebel, but rather a henchman of the infamous Tyber Zann. Tyber Zann was a notorious crime lord who conquered whole planets and wielded enough power to challenge even the Hutts and the Empire! But Vanessa had wanted to leave all that behind, hadn't she?

If she had been deceiving him, would she not mind that he in turn was deceiving her? His name was Ferb Fletcher, but that was not the name which she knew him by. To her-and to everyone else, save the medical droid AZI-3, aboard the Sunspring at that moment-he was one called Coryn Polo.

Names are an interesting thing aren't they, like is my name me? The name is me where others are concerned, aye. That is how I am represented to the world. But do I feel connected to my name? Hmmm. Like, for most of my life, I would say I've had no problem with my name. But I never really had reason to, like, think about it or whatever. To me it was just something I responded to, because it was what I'd always responded to.

And most people are fine with that, which is good for them.

Names have meanings too. Many people are named after the great heroes of history, people like George Washington or Julius Caesar or Rosa Parks or Abraham Lincoln or Thomas More. In other cases-like me-the name is of a more personal meaning, with a family connection. Like, my first name comes from my old man's father, and my middle is Mother's grandfather's

That makes it tricky, because even if I'm not sure my name and I have the connection we used to, I do have familial obligation-something that is not farcical, despite what some would say. So my selfish honour prevents me from easily discarding my name should I feel the need to.

And this brings me back to the starting point-is my name "me" or is it just an arbitrary label for the entity that I am?

But that's not what I mean to discuss. We're talking about how Vanessa saw Ferb-or rather, how she saw the one she knew as Coryn Polo.

I suppose Ferb can be forgiven for his mopey fixation on how Vanessa possibly saw him-he is essentially still young and lacking in maturity. But the real issue was of course what had to be done once they made it to Ivort Four. Monty had scheduled a rendezvous on Boh Jorka with Cassian. Cassian had altered his U-Wing's course to meet them there instead of discreetly landing on Keilosren like General Draven had planned. General Fenwhudn had altered this greatly by appropriating the Sunspring to bear her to the Mubon system.

And Monty was completely lost as to how to solve this.

---

In his large office on Sperin, the Director watched a holofeed relay data.

"The Zann Consortium's involvement in that ongoing chaos in the Zoraster sector certainly was a surprise." said Boss Emilio.

"Ben is already returning from passing that information along to our friends in the Rebel Alliance," said the Director. "I admit though, Zann was not someone I expected to move so aggressively and sneakily at the same time. He's carved up some territory in what were once vassal systems of the Hutts, and even sparred against both the Rebellion and the Empire. His ambitions outstrip perhaps even those of Atha Prime. My money, though? It was on Howell and his boys at 4CG. I thought they'd be the ones pulling this kind of stunt."

"Like I said, a surprise to be sure." agreed Emilio. "Though there is one thing that confuses me though-he's invested so much into his operation in the Zoraster sector but he himself is nowhere to be found. He's letting his lieutenants handle it."

"Yes, about that. The Parliament has received a concerning report they passed along to me," the Director began. "You know of how Tyber Zann has recruited many big names to his banner?"

"Aye," said Emilio. "Lalung_Hacktoolz, Popbob, Papa Toren, Etaoin shrdlu, Gnome Ann, Bill Grogan's Goat, Crimson Jack, the Shame Boy Tough Gang…he's making a lot of friends ."

"The Parliament's spies have ascertained that Zann and his chief henchman, the Talortai bodyguard Urai Fen, have journeyed to recruit a certain big name familiar to most anybody."

"Sir?" Emilio said.

"It's him," the Director scowled. "Tyber Zann is seeking to ally with the one they call 'The Most Notorious Criminal in all of Galactic History'."

"That's…that's not good news." Emilio said. "Things are coming to a head, then."

"Yes," agreed the Director. "I spoke about that with Ben a few weeks ago. The order of the galaxy is crumbling…the machinations of the so-called Emperor and his minions gradually weakened and then eventually removed the Republic. Without it or the Jedi, the other constants of our galaxy collapse…the world is coming undone. This era is marked by strife and confrontation." He sighed. "I've been waiting all my life for the arrival of Certain People…for the Gathering that was foretold ages past…"

"Sir?" Emilio asked.

"It's all coming to a head now." the Director said. "We all are caught up in the rush towards the future."

---

"I think, uh, that's an optimal spot to end it on." I said. I put down my pen.

"Hmmm?" said the Author.

"I said," I said. "I think that's an optimal spot to end it on. The chapter. To end-an optimal spot to end the chapter on."

"Yes, I think so too." replied the Author. He was holding an ice pack to the black eye I had given him earlier. His free hand was busy sifting through his pages of handwritten research notes. Visible on top of the pile was a transcript of the conversation between Admiral Versio and Grand Admiral Grunger I covered earlier in this very chapter, a starchart of the Kellis system, schematics for some weapon type called an A-405 Wraith Projector, a small portrait of Luke Skywalker, and copies of the writings of the space gypsy Melquiades.

The Author's butler, Farnsworth, was standing in the shadows. Farnsworth had dutifully cleaned both of us up. A scrape on my forehead still stung slightly from where he'd dabbed it with a paper towel soaked in antibiotics.

"It's interesting, you know." I said. "Returning to this part of young Ferb's life. Knowing where he ends up, it's a little funny I suppose."

"Funny?" the Author said. He scoffed. "I suppose so." He sighed. "It is the work of archivists such as myself to document it all."

"I think you do a fine job of it," said I.

"I'm certainly no Brewster Khale, that's for sure," said he.

"Few are." I conceded.

---

Apologies for the late chapter. It's closing in on a full year since the last update.

A few notes:

-The ISD Vall Kumauri is named after a ancient warlord who sparred with the Republic some ten millennia before the movies.

-The "DWARTII" are intended a Star Wars equivalent to the MAGI computers from Evangelion. There's more to this, but the explanation for the name change is that the Biblical Magi obviously do not exist within the universe of Star Wars-hence, a change to the ancient philosophers who do.

-The story about a Corellian smuggler accidentally starting a religion on Kamar is an actual incident that happened to Han Solo in Legends. In the classic Brian Daley novel Han Solo's Revenge, Han and Chewie operate a holotheater in the badlands of Kamar, and are horrified when they switch Varn, World of Water for a different feature only to learn their customers are actually a "Cult of Varn" they inadvertently founded.

---

Originally Published August 1st 2023