The Jedi King II: War for the Rim Chapter 22: The Last Battle, a star wars rebels fanfic

Chapter 22

The Last Battle

ATOLLON

"I swear I'm fine." Ezra said as he peeled off the bandages around his arm, Hera, Kanan and Rex were gathered around him next to the medical tent at Atollon. Corto was looking him over hands hovering over his back "Not that I question jedi healing abilities, but…" Hera trailed off looking at Kanan, who looked at Corto. Ezra had suffered torture at the hands of Boc and Jerec and only through the talents of Corto Vos Ventress did Ezra emerge unscared at least on the surface.

Corto cleared his throat, "As a healer, he's physically fit, however… you were tortured by two inquisitors, begs the question of your mental state."

"What, you think I can't take it?" Ezra asked Corto.

The half night brother half kiffar rolled his eyes "Oh brother another one, look I just patch you guys up."

"If Ezra says he's fine, I say so too." Kanan said confident in his apprentice.

Ezra nodded, walking over to get dressed in his orange jacket, brown pants and boots, "Good kid, cause we got a new mission, we'll be heading out to Agamar, recover some artillery from an old Separatist base."

"About that." Hera said, clearing her throat.

All eyes were on her, "I told Turok about our next destination, he relayed to us that this is going to be a joint operation with the Militia's One Eyed Devil Fleet, since Agamar was an Separatist base they've 'offered' to assist in disarming any old security measures the droids left behind."

"A whole fleet, for this?" Kanan asked.

"No, just one ship from their fleet but the commanding General will be in attendance… a General Kleeve." Hera said, Kanan tensed up and Ezra sensed the name struck a nerve in Kanan, Rex scratched his beard "Kleeve, now thats a name I haven't heard in a while."

Ezra slid his jacket over his head "Who is he?" Ezra asked as Corto walked out.

"General Kleeve was a Separatist leader, he commanded droid forces but he relied more on mercenaries and bounty hunters to do his dirty work, he even sent saboteurs to attack the Jedi Temple." Kanan told him.

Rex nodded "Kleeve was a slippery one, not surprised he'd lead a Separatist fleet." Rex said as he scratched his beard "What about our resident Militia, how was Ahkilleon on Ryloth?"

"A coward." Ezra said, clipping his lightsaber to his belt, and holstering his blaster "At least until he wanted to kill some Inquisitors." Ezra grumbled.

"If he'd joined us on the mission, he would have exposed the Militia, he risked the secrecy of the Militia and Phoenix Squadrons alliance to save Ezra, and you Hera." Kanan said to them explaining it wasn't that simple.

Ezra rolled his eyes "Yeah well doesn't make it like it didn't happen, let me know when we leave." he stormed out of the medical tent.

"That being said, why are you defending him Kanan?" Hera asked.

Kanan folded his arms to his chest, "Maybe it's because I've been where he was at one point."

"Then talk to him, or at the very least knock some sense into Ahkilleon like you did with Ezra." Hera suggested.

Ahkilleon faced her, even though he was blind the look on the lower half of his face showed the pilot he was serious, "Hera, we both know Ahkilleon will fight to the end, not just on the battlefield but in an argument. If I try to get him to think like us by force, he'll dig in and take it as a test of his resolve."

"Why do Jedi make things so complicated?" Hera moaned.

"Because being a jedi is complicated, I'm not Ahkilleon Master-" "No the psychopath Asimov is, and we all know thats what Ahsoka really wanted for her son?" Hera interrupted.

Kanan waited till or if she'd go on, "Sorry, continue."

"You make a point, we don't know what Ahsoka wanted for her son indefinitely, but I like to think she'd want him to follow his beliefs and know when to make the right choice, whatever that is." Kanan said opening the tent flap.

"Will you at least keep an eye on him?" She asked, he snickered "If I wasn't blind that wouldn't be funny, but I'll add it to the mission objective."

Elsewhere on the base inside the confines of the Revenant, Ahkilleon was sitting in his private quarters looking at the floor, a hologram of Lord Asimov stood on the table having listened to Ahkilleons report, "I sense you are distracted padawan, I sense… you feel regret?"

"You didn't see them Master, the way they looked at me, I came to help them, I came to save them and when Boc was dead at my feet they looked at me like I was no better than Boc." Ahkilleon gritted his teeth and Asimov listened "I told them it was a stupid idea, had I known the Kalikori was in the office I would have gone myself but-" "Padawan, breath." Lord Asimov saw his apprentice was getting flustered.

Shutting up Ahkilleon took a deep breath, "The empire doesn't know the Kalikori holds the key to the Valley's location, that give us time, I have spoken to Caliban and he is already at work locating the Seventh Fleet, put the valley out of your mind and focus on the present. You have nothing to be ashamed of."

"Don't I, they think I'm a coward." Ahkilleon grumbled.

"Only fools concern themselves with the opinions of lesser beings, look at what you accomplished. You faced down two inquisitors, you bested an Imperial ambush and killed one of the Inquisitor in hand to hand combat no less." Lord Asimov said listing off the accolades "Yes it would have benefited the Militia to open a front on Ryloth, but there are places we can go."

Ahkilleon shook his head "But Master, you didn't see the way they looked at me they-" "Would be dead if you hadn't stopped this Boc the Crude, was he going to stop?"

There was a pause "... No, he wanted to kill us all even when I told him to stop."

"He was a mad dog, you put him down like the animal he was, to kill to save live is noble." Lord Asimov told him.

"But is it the Jedi way?" Ahkilleon asked him, Lord Asimov paced a few steps where he stood "The Jedi Way your mother and I was taught by those who didn't understand it's true teachings, if you are referring to that it isn't the Jedi way to kill unless absolutely necessary I'd say this instance is completely justified." and Asimov continued with another point "And if that is not so, who are the rebels, to judge you, how many men and women have they killed for their cause, the pilot shoots down ships carrying Imperials? The Lasat has killed his fare share of stormtroopers wouldn't you say? Then of course you have the mandalorian girl, she's a saboteur. Is she not? I wonder how many of her explosives have taken lives?"

Ahkilleon didn't answer "Lest we forget Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger, their hands are not so bloodless as you think, they are no better then you Ahkilleon, so do not think on their opinions you saved their lives, you did what was necessary."

Shutting his eyes Ahkilleon nodded his head "What was necessary, thank you Master."

"Good, now you have some time before your mission to Agamar with General Kleeve, prepare how you see fit but use this opportunity to gain Kleeve's trust, though he and I are opposite sides of the Union he is a Warlord, and speaks for many veterans."

Ahkilleon nodded "I will not fail you Master"

"I know, Militia Invictus." Lord Asimov said before he cut the transmission.

Back outside the ship, Sabine and Zeb were at target practice, Chopper would throw a series of empty ration cans into the air and the two would test themselves shooting at the cans, Zeb hit three of four, and when Chopper flung up four more Sabine didn't miss any of them and she was using two pistols. "I win." Sabine said confidently.

Zeb grumbled "Sun was in my eyes."

"We putting credits down?" Jay asked coming up with Rulf, Jay was fumbling with a stone in his hand and Rulf was shouldering a Militia E-7 blaster.

Sabine and Zeb locked eyes on the Militia Cadets, their warm smiles faded when they saw the sneer from the rebels, "Think you can beat my record boy?" She teased.

Jay snickered before his face went like stone "Rulf?" Jay flung the rock into the air, Rulf unshouldered the rifle and aimed it shooting three times the rock bouncing on and off between the lasers before it fell down burned black from the lasers

"Fifty credits, my boy Rulf can outshoot you Mando?" Jay said as he held up the purse fat with credits.

Sabine looked over at Zeb who nodded "Get'em."

"You're on." Sabine said as they got ready, Chopper reached into the trash bin of his empty cans and honked at them to get ready, Rulf primed his blaster and Sabine squeezed her carbines pistol before chopper flung a dozen cans into the air, the lasers let fly and all the cans fell to the floor in a heep of hole littered cans.

The rebels all came up to see who had got the best score when Rex suddenly whistled behind them, "Alright, enough fun and games, time to get going." he said.

"Hera we need to know who won-" "Now Sabine, go tell the Militia's fearless leader it's time to go." Rex said gesturing to the Revenant.

Sabine rolled her eyes and walked to the ship, she removed her helmet where she noticed Breacher was working on his sniper rifle, adjusting the sights with a small wrench. "Where's your fearless leader?" She taunted.

He glanced at her, "Upstairs, to the left."

Sabine walked into the ship noticing its interior was similar to the Ghost, but bigger with a dark iron interior, she climbed the ladder to the top and followed Breacher's directions to the left. She spied his armor and helmet leaned up against a hallway, to the sound of something metallic and heavy clanging against itself. Curious, she walked in first greeted by something, a stench.

Sweat?

She walked in to see Ahkilleon was was laid out on the Revenants rec room workout bench, hoisting a metal bar with three plates on each side, up and down, up and down.

She watched his biceps flex and chest tighten over his muscles, sweat glistening off his torso and when he noticed her he dropped the weights on the rack with a heavy

KLANK

Sitting up he hunched forward, showing off broad shoulders with muscular arms, panting softly "Yeah?" he asked out of breath.

Sabine looked at him and then averted her eyes "Will you please put a shirt on?" She asked. Ahkilleon looked down at his sweaty chest and abs before he got up, his lip curling up into a smirk. Ahkilleon showed his back to her and she saw the lash scars on his back but they did little to hide the muscular back that he had. She also noticed his white togrutan markings on his shoulders and forearms had grown more, accenting his features even more. "What is it Sabine, or did you just come here to watch?" He asked.

Huffing in annoyance, Sabine chewed her lip "The mission, ot Agamar remember, we're ready to go?" she said as he wrapped his sleeveless robe around his chest and tied it together with his belt. "Then by all means, lead on." he said as he walked toward her standing over her by at least a full head almost as tall as Kanan, definitely taller than Ezra and built like a warship. Her eyes glanced from his eyes to his face and down before back up "Fine then, hope we aren't to weak for the rest of your Militia."

AGAMAR

Agamar was a planet, located in the system of the same name in the Outer Rim Territories. The planet was located in grid square M-5 on the Standard Galactic Grid. Agamar had a surface covered in rocky terrain, with a cold climate. However, farmers were able to work on Agamar. From orbit it had a hue of blue atmosphere with a pale rocky white surface, the Ghost descended to the planet, they flew down to the surface next to a fallen Separatist supply ship that was perched in disrepair at the edge of a great canyon. The surface had a fresh blanket of snow, the ship landed and Rex walked out in front of Zeb, Ezra and Kanan with Hera and Sabine still on the ship.

They were followed down by the Revenant and a Militia Corvette that landed beside them, "About time, they showed up." Ezra muttered.

"Well considering we made it a part of our agreement only Ahkilleon knows where we are, them having to take a detour to pick up their Militia friends is a fair trade." Kanan said.

Ezra rolled his eyes as the Revenant landed "You're sure you don't need help?" Hera asked.

"I'm sure everything will go horribly wrong." Kanan joked and then Ezra promptly added "We'll be fine. We got a Clone Wars veteran with us." Ezra said before the Ghost didn't stick around and flew off.

The Revenant lowered its ramp followed by the Militia Corvette, similar to the Corvette's used by the rebellion it had multiple engines on the rear end of it, but instead of the capsule shaped bridge it was more of a long dagger lined with multiple batteries with two barrels each, it was a dark metal with blue highlights like the Separatist ship they'd come to scavenge. In addition it had two decal marks on it, on each side the Militia hex with a reaf and crossed blaster & sword under it, then on its bow a decal of a one eyed devil with an eyepatch.

The ships ramps lowered and Ahkilleon walked out with Turok and Breacher, the corvette lowered and marching out were a squadron of Militia regulars who parted for their commanding officer. Out of the corvette came the one eyed devaronian General Kleeve, his long brown duster covered his uniform with a breastplate over his chest and a blaster at his hip, he rubbed the metal eye patch on his left eye and growled to himself before he noticed the rebels. The Corvette's loading dock opened up and Militia forces began to march out regulars and B1 droids carrying supplies to establish a forward camp.

"Ready, Captain?" Kanan asked Rex as Kleeve and Ahkilleon approached them, "Yes, sir, General- Kanan." Rex corrected himself.

General Kleeve and Ahkilleon met the rebels, "So these are the fearsome rebels you've told me so much about Skell." Kleeve said as he looked them over "A lasat, a clone, and two jedi quite the entourage, you come from Captain Tano." Kleeve said.

Kanan tensed up "Look, we're just here to get our artillery and go, your here for support if I remember correctly?" Kanan asked.

Scanning him, Kleeve scratched his chin "Have we met before Master Jedi, something about you is… familiar?"

Kanan shook his head "I think I'd remember?"

Shrugging it of Kleeve looked to Rex, "And you trooper, your armor is phase one, modified but I'd recognize that paint you're 501st?"

"Captain Rex to you." Rex replied as the Militia regulars noted he didn't say sir, some of them gripped their blasters righter, Kleeve held his hand up "At ease men, forgive my Devil Dogs, they're loayl." Kleeve said looking back at them, Ezra noticed that General Kleeve's men had different style helmets then he Vanguard or Bloodwolves, instead of antennas they had welded on horns to mimic or at least honor their devarnonain General. "Our old installations can be tricky, the Militia had to learn this the hard way. My men will assist in disarming any left over security measures, any outdated artillery is of course yours. But any intact computers or drives are ours, agreed rebels?"

Kanan and Rex glanced at one another, "Lets just try not to get in each other's way."

"Of course, shall we?" Kleeve asked gesturing for them to go first.

The rebels and Militia walked as one group, Rex in front with Kanan, Ezra, Zeb following and beside them General Kleeve followed by Ahkilleon, Turok and Breacher with a squad of Kleeve's devils dogs.

"There was a battle here during the Clone war." Rex told the rebels, and Kleeve smickered "Yes, as I recall your side lost that one."

Rx grumbled and ignored it "This old transport's the perfect place to find weapon, ammo, maybe even some proton bombs." Rex said as Ezra knelt down to pick up something he found, the head of a severed B1 battle droid.

"Hey, was this a Separatist battle droid?" Ezra asked, Rex barely noticed "Yeah. Little piece of one anyway. This place used to be crawling with 'em. We called 'em clankers."

"Clankers. I like that." Zeb chuckled.

Ezra followed up his question with another "How many of these things do you think you blasted?

"I don't know, thousands, Probably tens of thousands. Never kept count like some of the boys."

Ezra tossed the droid head away saying "They don't look very dangerous." Rex spun around and pointed at him "Listen, those droids wiped out a lot of Republic troopers, many of them were my friends." Rex said before he stormed off toward the ship, the Militia watching idle.

"Rex has been through a lot, battles leave scars, some you can't see." Kanan told him wisely, "At least we agree on that Master Jedi." Kleeve said as they followed them into the supply ships hangar that was open, the floor was filled with cargo tanks and derelict ships that sat gathering dust.

"This is where we part the rebels, we will head for the ship's bridge and try not to blow anything up." Kleeve said splitting from the main group.

Ahkilleon took one last look at the rebels before he followed Kleeve into another part of the ship, the Militia regulars or as Kleeve put his personal guard the Devil Dogs, turned on their helmets headlamps the X visors lighting up to shine their way into the deactivated ship. "How long did you know these rebels, Captain Tano?" Kleeve asked Ahkilleon.

"Almost a year before I joined the Militia sir." Ahkilleon said, walking beside him.

"Yes, I read reports that they are fighting the memory of the Republic and the Jedi, your mother was a Jedi, yes?" Kleeve asked.

Ahkilleon paused but did answer "Yes, and you'd see in the report so was my father."

"Yes, the rebel jedi Leo Rock, and your mother one Ahsoka Tano, she was part of the rebellion after your father fell?" Kleeve asked as they headed into a hallway and walked to an elevator, the Militia regulars started to access it to get its power back on. "Yes, she raised me alone."

Kleeve nodded "In my culture, the women run everything there smarter then us males or so I'm told." He smirked. "These rebel friends of yours, I take it they didn't like it when you chose to enlist?"

"... no." Ahkilleon said softly.

"I know the feeling."

"You do?" Ahkilleon asked.

Nodding Kleeve turned to him, "I had many old colleagues and comrades who served in the Republic, I was a mercenary before I joined the Separatists, the connections I made came in handy when I needed them. But to fight for a cause like freedom for the Separatists, I was ready to build a legacy, a shame I chose the wrong side, we all did."

Kleeve glanced over his shoulder seeing the rebels nowhere to be scene, "Now we can discuss our true objective."

"Sir?" Ahkilleon asked.

The devaronian gestured to his men toe spread out and make sure they had privacy, "Publicly the Neo Iron League is against using the rebellion as a proxy to fighting the Empire, privately I've worked with them in the past and know how effective their intel is, which is why we need to get our own." Kleeve explained.

Ahkilleon looked at Turok and Breacher who were focused in, "These old Separatist bases are good for finding munitions, yes, but the data hidden in the ships files and tactical droids is the real prize."

"Such as?" Turok asked.

Kleeve paused, "Within the Separatist alliance rumors circulated about a secret project, something between Poggle the Lesser of Geonosis and Count Dooku, Trench and I joined the Separatists prior to the rumors, we never asked those who did… they didn't last long on front lines. Dooku never trusted anyone, not even his own apprentice The Lady Ventress."

"This project, it got a name General?" Breacher asked as he lit a cigar and stuck it between his lips.

"I hear something." Turok said drawing his blaster pistols, everyone else armed and Ahkilleon took out his lightsabers "Hold." Kleeve said as they started to hear the heavy

CLANK

Clank

Battle droids?

A squad of B1 battle droids marched out of the darkness their chassis dirty and some of their armor rusted, "Greeting General Kleeve I am B1-639, we were unaware of your visit. Please identify your companions, this is a Separatist warship."

"They recognize you?" Ahkilleon asked Kleeve.

The General walked forward "At east soldier, these companions of mine are allies."

The droid nodded "Roger, Roger, then you will be pleased to know we have captured Republic Invaders, in the name of the Separatist Alliance."

Ahkilleon clipped his sabers to his chest "Oh brother." he sighed knowing who the so called Republic Invaders were.

Meanwhile up in the bridge, said Republic Invaders had come to on their knees hands cuffed behind heir backs, Rex was the last to hear the droids talking about them "Where are we?" he muttered.

A heavy robotic voice spoke with masculine programing, Rex could see shapes coming into view a B1 droid speaking to a larger bulkier droid, "How intriguing. Well done, B1-268." the bulkier droid said it had faded green paint with golden highlights running through it's design, it wasn't as big as a B2 battle droid or as slender as a commando droid.

"Roger, roger." the droid said which sent Rex back into his memories "No. The war, it's not over!" he said frantically before he heard a voice cut through the panic.

"Rex. Rex!" Cody said to him.

"Cody!" Rex turned to face his brother but saw Kanan instead "Talk to me." Kanan said trying to get Rex to snap back to the present "Kanan- I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else." Rex said.

"I need you here now, buddy. We're in the usual mess, I think the commander's a super tactical droid." Kanan said as as Rex looked to see their captor and the droids commander, "You're right. He is." Super tactical droids were created for the Separatist Alliance in the Clone Wars to address shortcomings in the T-series tactical droid and to serve Count Dooku implicitly, much like most other droids in the Separatist Alliance They stood 1.94 meters tall and were programmed to resist interrogation.

"Is that bad?" Ezra asked "It's really bad, that droid's extremely intelligent." Rex said as said droid stood up holding Rex's helmet like it was a trophy claimed in battle.

It spoke to them examining Rex's battle scared helm "Near the end of the war, Separatist droids significantly outnumbered Republic units. By my calculations, our probability of being defeated was only 23.6%."

"After Clone Order 66, the whole droid army was given a shutdown command. How are you even operating?" Rex asked the droid.

To which it replied "The Jedi betrayal ended the w*r for most of the galaxy. But here on Agamar, I assumed it was a Republic trick and prevented the shutdown command." The droid replied to them.

"Well, it doesn't matter how it ended. The war is over, Let us go." Rex commanded but the droid already disobeying one shut down order wasn't about to do it again "Negative, Captain; I calculate that this will be my only opportunity to end the Clone Wars as I planned, with a victory for the Separatist Alliance."

""What do you want us to do, surrender?" Ezra scoffed at the droid, his cocky attitude undimmed by their situation as usual.

The droid scanned him "On the contrary, I want you to fight, to prove, once and for all, whose tactical strategy was superior."

Zeb snarled "Well, you can count me out. I'm not playing some stupid war game."

The droid noticed the lasat and replied "That is correct, Lasat. Your species were not in the Clone Wars, so you will be the hostage your allies must save. The "Jedi Rescue" is a recurring scenario based on 132 battles I have reviewed."

Ezra smirked "Yeah, we've done it a few times."

"Jedi, is this your Padawan?" the droid asked Kanan.

Kanan let out a heavy sigh "Most of the time." To which the droid replied almost chipper "Good, a complete set of Republic opponents will make this authentic."

"No, it won't, because we're not fighting." Rex growled.

The droid paused and knelt down in front of rex it's three orange optics looking at him intently "If you will not fight, you will be terminated."

Suddenly they heard someone clear their throat and saw General Kleeve walking in with Ahkilleon and the other Militia "As much as both outcomes would be entertaining General Kalani, they wouldn't serve our present situation."

The droid general dropped the helmet at Rex's feet and stood, "... General Kleeve, this is an unexpected outcome, you are accompanied by jedi and organic soldiers, explain?"

Kleeve walked in and Ezra noticed Kleeve almost looked saddened, the devarnonian reached for the droid named 'Kalani' and put his hands on the droids shoulder "Kalani my old comrade, things have changed, there is so much to tell you but for now these so called Republic invaders are not your enemy, nor mine, there is no more Republic, no more Separatist alliance."

"Thats what I was trying to tell this clanker." Rex snapped.

Turok leaned in "You may want to keep it quiet Captain." the trandoshan said as Kleeve continued, "The war is over, we fought, we lost all of us, clone, droid, jedi, separatist there were no victors just the Empire."

Kalani's optics squinted "Empire?"

"The Galactic Empire, General." Breacher said leaning his sniper rifle on his shoulder, his beret showing his lt mark glinted when he moved his head. "Built from the ruins of the Republic by the former Supreme Chancellor, now his imperial highness, Emperor Palpatine the first." Kleeve explained

Kleeve processed the information "Count Dooku, General Grievous… where are they?" Kalani asked.

"Dead, killed by Jedi in the last days of the war." Ahkilleon answered, Kalani noticed his sabers "You are jedi?" Kalani aksed.

Ezra scoffed at that and Ahkilleon answered "More or less, the New Jedi and Kleeve fight together now, as the Militia for a free Outer Rim." Ahkilleon said ignoring Ezra.

"This is new information, I must process it." General Kalani said looking at the rebels, "I know this is a lot to take in Kalani, it was a lot for me when Turok here found me drinking away my troubles in a cantina for a lost cause." Kleeve said.

"Yet you stand here, in command of organic soldiers?" Kalani asked gesturing to the Militia regulars behind him, "And droids." Kleeve said gesturing to the entrance to the bridge where a squad of B5 battle droids marched in standing next to the B1 droids who examined them "Whoa… that's an upgrade." B1-639 said looking at the droids.

One of the B5 droids spoke, it's voice deeper then the B1 "Greetings I am B5-353." it said.

"I am B1-639."

"Well met brother."

B1-639 hummed "Brother huh, I like that, but since I'm an older model you'll call me… Big Brother."

"Roger, Roger."

"This is ridiculous." Rex grumbled, as Ahkilleon was getting something on his helmet.

General Kleeve continued "A new droid army has risen, for a new war, a new enemy, the Empire."

"I am not at war with the Galactic Empire." Kalani said before Ahkilleon took his helmet off "Want to bet, our comms channel intercepted Chopper making a distress signal to the Ghost, it's on loop and our long range scanners just picked up a Star Destroyer entering the system, they'll be here in an hour." Breacher said after he checked his ear piece.

The rebels looked at one another "Leave it to Chopper to invite the Empire." Zeb grumbled.

"At least he was trying to get us out of this mess." Ezra said, "We should get the proton bombs and get going." Ezra said.

Kleeve pressed his hand to his chin "I'm afraid thats not possible, we have yet to complete our information withdrawing intel from the ships mainframe." Kleeve said.

"Not possible General, to conserve the ships power cells, I erased all date from the central computer, but not before downloading all into my own systems." Kalani said to him.

Zeb shrugged added "Then why are we waiting, we should get going and call Hera." the lasat insisted.

"If we do the Empire will intercept it, we'd be putting Sabine and Hera's own mission in jeopardy and the fleet needs that fuel." Kanan pointed out.

"Do we have any ships that we can escape on?" Ezra asked.

The droid general replied "Three, but none with weapons and you are still my prisoner." the droid said before Ezra got to his feet, the droids raised their blasters but Ezra cleared his throat "Whoa, whoa hear me out- I never really thought about it. I never asked, I know the Jedi were wiped out, the clones were decommissioned, and the droid army was just shut down." Ezra said to the droids trying to speak on the rebels behalf. "The Clone war ended, but why; The Empire."

Kleeve nodded "Your padawan makes a good argument, Master Jedi." Kleeve said in agreement looking to Kanan.

"I've got a new calculation for you, what are the chances your droid army can defeat the Empire alone?"

"My resources are depleted. However, as I stated, the droid army is not currently at war with the Galactic Empire." General Kalani said to them.

"I think we face a common enemy now." Ezra said, Rex spoke up to object "Wait a minute!" "Let him finish, Captain." Kanan said, stopping Rex's objection.

"Clones? Battle droids? You destroyed each other." Ezra explained "And when you were both weak enough, the Empire took over. General, what were the Separatists fighting for?" He asked Kleeve.

Kleeve smirked seeing what Ezra was doing "Freedom from the tyranny of the Republic. Fighting tyranny." Kleeve said "My programming was the same." Kalani said.

"Sounds like the Empire has always been your enemy?" Ezra asked Kalani.

"You are against the Empire. I am against the Republic: now the Republic has become the Empire. I accept your logic. We are on the same side." Kalani said he gestured for his droids who released Zeb, Rex, Ezra and Kanan giving them back their weapons.

Rex sighed, taking his pistols "I guess we are." he said, picking up his helmet.

"However, as I stated, my forces are too depleted for me to plan a successful counterattack." Kalani said.

"Fighting insurmountable odds? We can help you with that." Kanan said, "And we can reinforce you, my men will position the corvette and Tano's ship in the hangar, we have more than enough ammunition to mount a defense before our reinforcements arrive."

Kleeve walked to the holotable and turned it on, "The Empire thinks they've got us trapped, time to trap them for once."

SPACE

The Ghost

The Ghost fled through hyperspace as an Imperial squadron of TIE's and at least one Destroyer was chasing them, "So how much fuel did we get?" Sabine asked to shoot at the Imperials.

"Enough for the whole fleet." Hera said as she evaded the TIE's.

"I hope Kanan and the others are alright." Sabine said.

"Trust me if they were in trouble they'd let us know." Hera said as she swooped away from the TIE's, "I wish Chopper was here so I didn't have to evade the Empire and get a hyperspace jump ready."

Back aboard the Destroyer, the usual suspects of the Empire's anti rebel task force, Agent Kallus, Governor Pryce and Admrial Konstantine were in hot pursuit of the Ghost, "Congratulations." Agent Kallus said to Governor Pryce said as the Ghost shot back at the TIE fighters chasing after them with deadly intent, "Your plan to ambush them at the fuel depot worked like a charm." he said as Hera evaded the TIE's an imperial star destroyer following them.

Pryce was unamused by the flattery "Only if we catch them."

"Excuse me, Governor." Admiral Konstantine said "We've intercepted a rebel transmission from the Agamar system before it was received by the rebel message is encrypted, but it repeats like a distress signal."

Pryce smiled her pale blue eyes narrowing "Interesting. The rebels there must be desperate for help that will never come. Locate the nearest Imperial outpost to Agamar and deploy them, immediately." she ordered.

Aboard the Ghost the other rebels were unaware of the transmission, "Hera- can I ask you something?"

"Is it a life or death situation?" Hera asked as she continued to fly them away from the Empire, "Well sort of-?"

Hera did a loopty-loop and replied "Okay? Shoot?"

Sabine did both at the TIE's and with her question "Okay, say Kanan did something, something that really pissed you off, and I'm not talking about taking Ezra or me to somewhere dangerous or something like it, I mean like he made a promise- a promise to you specifically and he broke it. You're mad right?"

Hera scrunched her face up "Um yeah I'd be mad, but hopefully I'd forgive him?"

"Right, you would want to, but he still broke your trust, that special bond only the two of you had, that grew out of- well a lot of stuff, he makes you smile, he never doubts you, he sees you as you, but he still broke his promise but you really like him, and can't help but-" "Sabine what does this have to do with… oh… OOOOOOHH Sabine really?" Hera said her womanly intuition kicked in.

"I'm talking about Kanan in a hypothetical scenario, Hera, Kanan!" Sabine snapped as Hera rolled the ship into a barrel roll her lekku flopping around as she replied "I wasn't born yesterday Sabine, I know you're not talking about Kanan, but… really him, out of everyone we've met- him?"

Sabine groaned "You see, you see this is why I don't open up about stuff like this, everyone jumps to the worst conclusion."

"I'm not trying to jump to any conclusion but I worry okay, he's just… just what about Ezra?" Hera asked.

Sabine stiffened "What- he's like a brother to me that would just be, I don't know, weird?" Sabine argued.

"And this isn't, we're having THIS conversation in the middle of a dogfight?" Hera asked.

Sabine shrugged "Well it's not the wildest thing we've done."

AGAMAR
Separatist Transport

The Separatist transport which had remained dormant for near sixteen years was bustling with Militia troopers and droids working in tandem with Kalani's droids, at the mouth of the ships hangar B1 droids were laying out mines and covering them dirt as quickly as they were laid. Three meters inward the Militia were setting up metal barricades with the empty crates and mounting E-web turrets of their own design hooked up to batteries. High up in the catwalks Militia were setting up sniper nests, B5 droids that had been dormant were being awakened and moved into position, from the belly of the Militia corvette two of the droids took out a large metal case and carried it through the doorway up to the bridge where the rebels and militia were planning their strategy.

"With the supply ship so damaged we'll be unable to mount any aerial defense from TIE fighters or bombers, so our best bet is to draw the Empire into a ground war." General Kleeve said as his hologram showed Imperial markers moving into the hangar entrance. "I've already ordered my men to set up a choke point, we'll draw the Empire in and thin their numbers." Kleeve added.

"We'll be sitting ducks in here, we don't have enough supplies for a siege, not to mention food?" Rex objected.

Kleeve glanced at him "We've already sent an encoded message to my fleet, we haven't got a response yet, there is a chance it was intercepted. But my ship is stocked. If we ration it, can we last a month?"

"A month, with you guys being here they're likely to send an entire invasion force." Ezra said sarcastically.

"Unlike you rebels we aren't afraid to stand and fight." Lt. Breacher growled.

Ezra glared at him "Lt. go assist with the defenses." General Kleeve told him before a fight could break out. Lt. Breacher looked at Ahkilleon who gave the nod as if the order came from him. As Breacher walked out of the bridge, Chopper rolled in flanked by two B1's "We found this trespasser trying to rig one of our shuttles."

"Shuttle? What shuttle?" Kanan asked as Chopper honked at them, "The one he sent the distress signal from I'm guessing?" Zeb snarled.

Kalani elaborated "We have three Sheathipede-class shuttles, but they have no weapons."

"No, but they can get us outta here." Kanan said.

"A successful retreat is improbable." Kalani explained "If this Empire is truly based from the Republic I expect heavy armor and additional air superiority to our own."

Rex scratched his bread "We don't have the firepower to take on walkers."

"We do." Kleeve said as he brought up the holotable that was now linked with his ships own computer, "At least a dozen rocket launchers with ammo, our mines can take out the walkers as they draw near assuming they bring heavy armor." Kleeve explained to them "With my crew plus our droids that make over a hundred men, with Kalani's droids reinforcing us I'm confident we can hold out before the fleet arrives."

Rex folded his arms "Yeah well I'm not very confident, as painful as it is to admit stormtroopers were trained by clones, and-" "Captain Rex, while I do value your input in matters of strategy my men have been fighting the Empire for over six months we know what we're doing." Kleeve said intent the message was clear "I have no time or patience for rebel attitude, now will you stand with us or stand aside?" Kleeve asked him and the rest of the Specters.

Kanan looked at Rex and leaned in "We just need time to get out of this, then we go our separate ways."

Rex gritted his teeth "Fine."

"Good, General Kalani, your droids will help enforce our front line using our shield walls, my men will support you in this. Captain Tano?"

Ahkilleon stepped forward "Here General."

"You and your jedi are here, at the vanguard." Kleeve pointed to the area in front of the shield wall at the very mouth of the hangar.

Ezra stepped forward "Whoa, whoa, whoa, we aren't 'his' jedi and who put you in charge?" Ezra asked Kleeve.

The devaronian scratched his chin, "Hmm lets see oh yes I took charge, now unless you have something to add like an objection to fight on grounds of pacifism I suggest you get in line Padawan."

Ezra gritted his teeth but Rex put his arm out "I'm sure what the boy means is he needs more elaboration on your plan, 'General." Rex said it like he was gargling bile.

"You jedi and your laser swords are blaster magnets, it will take fire off of my men and allow them to concentrate on the enemy." Kleeve explaine as he gestured to the many large cargo containers in the holographic hanagar, "We've moved the four largest containers to form choke points, the shield walls will be set up here, in the three points, for three jedi, is that understood?" Kleeve asked.

"So we're cannon fodder." Kanan grumbled.

Ahkilleon looked at them but held his tongue, "And I take it you'll be up here nice and safe while we do all the real fighting?" Zeb asked Kleeve.

"General Kleeve's place is here in the command center, along with Kalani… and you Captain Rex." Ahkilleon finally spoke up.

Rex looked like he was insulted. "Oh no, I'm not staying here where the real fight is down there."

"I'm sure Captain Tano only meant that it be left to young men to win the day, Captain." Kleeve said lightly with a smug smirk on his face.

Rex gritted his teeth "I'm thirty one!" the clone snapped.

"Could have fooled me." Zeb muttered.

"The Captain makes an accurate estimate, you are obsolete for this warfare clone." Kalani told Rex coldly.

But that only made Rex even more upset, "Unlike you droids I'm flesh and blood, I decide when I'm too old to fight and that's the day I die, got it!" Rex grabbed his helmet and stormed out of the bridge down to the hangar to prepare for the battle.

Ahkilleon exhaled out of his nose and Ezra sneered at him "You know you may not have faith in him, but Rex never lost faith in you." Ezra hissed following with Zeb and Chopper, Kanan stayed but only for a moment waiting to see what Ahkilleon would do "What else do we need General Kleeve?" Ahkilleon asked, focusing on the present danger.

The rebels walked down into the hangar, they found rex carrying proton bombs to one of the Sheathipede-class shuttles, a product of Haor Chall Engineering Corporation, the Sheathipede-class was a transport shuttle with a curved hull and pincer-like landing gears, which lowered from the ship's rounded belly, and the shuttle's shape roughly resembled the Neimoidian soldier beetle. At a length of 14.4 meters, the shuttle was powered by two engines and featured an egress hatchway at the rear. Some models replaced the cockpit with an expanded passenger cabin, and were flown by automatic pilots. Armed Sheathipede variant A Sheathipede model armed with laser weaponry. Stock Sheathipede shuttles were unarmed and only possessed a basic shield generator, meaning that, rather than relying on strength, the ships relied on speed and a small sensor cross-section to get to a destination. Many of the shuttles used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems were upgraded with improved shielding, better armor, and larger engines.

"Obsolete, I'll show'em." Rex grumbled as he carried the heavy bombs to the ship. Ezra nudged Zeb "Come on, if we do make it out of this we should at least have something to show for it, a shuttle and a few proton bombs will be a big help."

They joined Rex in carrying the bombs into the ship, fitting them inside one of the shuttles; a few of the Militia regulars noticed them. Rex was carrying one on his own when he almost dropped the bomb it was so heavy "Oh no-" Rex said before he felt someone catch the other end.

"Easy, der grandpa, yousa need not do this alone eh?" A voice asked,

Rex set the bomb down and looked up to see a Militia regular with a B5 droid arm who set the bomb down, he removed his horned helmet to reveal he was a human with heavy scaring on his face and hutt writing on his cheek, his hair was a messy blue shorn to the scalp "Who you calling Grandpa!" Rex growled his age already the reason why he was upset.

The regular backed up "Whoa peace, peace Wesa mean no offense elda, wesa want to help." he said his accent was a thick huttese variation showing that galactic basic was not his first language. "On de same side ya?" Ezra and Zeb set down their bomb and saw Rex speaking to the blue haired man, he was human but his eyes were an amber orange.

"Yousa clone, I know, I know dat armor." he said pointing to the white scared armor on Rex's chest.

Rex snorted "Whats it to you stranger?"

"Yousa solja, like Bug." the blue haired man said pointing to his chest with his metal arm, it came all the way out of his shoulder with a heavy pauldron on it "Wait, hehe your name is Bug?" Ezra asked laughing at the silly name but the blue haired man just nodded with a big smile "Das right, Bug's de name mesa solja like you." Bug said as he pointed at Rex and then at him.

Rex sneered, "Not exactly, and its trooper not solja."

But shook his head "No, no solja better, before Malisha, Bug slave in spice mines on Kessel, Militia take over mines free de slaves make the mechs do de work, we free. So Bug become solja, Malisha give bug new arm, make Bug strong, Mesa Bug Solja repotting fa duty." he said as he bent down to pick up the proton bomb with Rex.

Rex sighed and hunched down to get it on the rack, they were able to fit three more bombs into the shuttle before Kanan came up "Easy, if we fit anymore we won't be able to fit ourselves."

"Why yousa load big-bada-booms in tiny ship, Malisha sure to help carry in big ship?" Bug asked.

"Yeah well, we don't exactly plan to be going anywhere with you 'Malisha'." Zeb said mimicking the way Bug spoke to tease him

Bug scratched his hair with his metal hand not even phased by Zeb or Ezra's taunting "But wesa on de same side, wesa fight de Empire, wesa win."

Rex forced a small smirk when Bug noticed Ahkilleon approaching them, Rex turned back and Bug saluted seeing the rank on Ahkilleons shoulder armor "I need to speak with Captain Rex alone soldier." Ahkilleon told Bug.

"Yessa." the grunt said before he headed back to his duties.

Rex looked at Ahkilleon, arms folded, "So now you come talk to me?" Rex asked.

Ahkilleon sighed "I would have sooner, but Hera told me you were on important missions most of the time."

"True, but you could have sent a holo or am I told old to know how to work them?" Rex asked him with a growl.

Ahkilleon looked him in the eye "I only meant it-" "That you know better, like how you knew the Militia was 'better'?" Rex asked him.

"That's not fair." Ahkilleon replied.

Rex scoffed "Fair, who ever said life was fair, your mother never did?"

"Don't bring my mom into this." Ahkilleon told Rex with a stern tone in his voice.

"You're right, she isn't the one who deserted." Rex said back looking at Ahkilleon face to face, they were almost even height with Ahkilleon just a bit taller, "Guess we're doing this." Zeb said seeing Rex was getting into it with Ahkilleon.

Ahkilleon kept his calm demeanor but the glare in his eyes showed he was holding back the storm, "I'm not here to discuss the past, and I don't need to justify my actions to you, or any of you for that matter if you wish fight I won't stop you, you want to run go ahead." Ahkilleon said, looking at Ezra, Zeb and Kanan as he turned to leave.

"Oh really?" Ezra asked, Ahkilleon spun around "Yes really!" Ahkilleon snapped at Ezra, who had his hand on his lightsaber when alarms began to go off, the rebels and Ahkilleon looked to the hangar exit to see a Star Destroyer descending front he upper atmosphere a small fleet of support ships heading there was three gonzati-class cruiser with a dozen Imperial landing shuttles.

Ahkilleon slipped his helmet on as the rest of the militia took up their positions, "Run or fight, I don't care just stay out of my way."

"Let's get this over with." Kanan said heading to his position, the four large cargo containers had been set up with the Militia regulars piling into them alongside the B1 battle droids and the B5 droids which were the bulk of their forces. Breacher had set up in a crow's nest at the height of the catwalk, six droidikas rolled out and hid behind some crates. The Gonzati cruisers drew closer and dropped their first wave, two AT-AT walkers marching towards them on four titanic legs that crushed the ground beneath them and flanked on each side two AT-ST walkers with two legs. The Gonzati cruisers circled back landing in the rear with the Lambda shuttles carrying ground troops.

Ahkilleon took out his lightsabers red and blue "MIlitia!"

"INVICTUS!" the soldiers behind Ahkilleon shouted, Bug chief among them, he was in the shield wall but had neglected to grab his helmet.

"Militia!" Ahkilleon shouted again "INVICTUS!"

Up in the Star Destroyer hovering over the surface, Admiral Konstantine was in command, "Admiral, we've located the rebels they've dug into the hangar of an old Separatist supply ship." One of the bridge officers said, showing him the holomap of the enemy forces and their own Imperial armor advancing.

"Hmm so these rebels are Militia, begin the attack, I want no survivors." Konstantine said.

The walkers drew near and got ready to open fire, "Come on, come one." Kleeve said in the bridge as the first walker stepped on one of the buried mines the walker opened fire but missed from the sudden rupture beneath its four legs, its front leg blew off and it staggered but was still up right. "Still not down, fire rockets!" Turok shouted getting on one of the E-webs.

B5 battle droids rushed out with the rocket launchers and the Militia shield wall opened fire on the to AT-ST walkers to give it cover fire, "Droidka's attack." Kalani ordered the droidka's out they rolled out from behind the shield wall and sprang up with their blue shields up shooting at the scout walkers, the AT-AT saw the rocket launcher droids and opened fire on them, they took out all but one who came up under the first walker firing under it's neck. The rocket loosed, soaring directly up and blasted the tanks head clean off.

"One walker down, but my scans indicate ground forces are moving in along with the other three walkers." Kalani told Kleeve, and just as he said it the Militia could see a two full companies of stormtroopers moving along with the walkers, "Incoming!" Turok turned his turret on the stormtroopers and the laser bolts flew between both sides.

Ezra, Ahkilleon and Kanan were easy targets for the stormtroopers deflecting their shots as the Militia shield wall opened fire on them, their E-7 blasters poking out of the rectangular laser shields. The droidika's were the first to get over run three of them were blown up then another the last two focused fire on the left most scout walkers taking it out before they were destroyed by the remaining AT-AT walker.

As they came into range, Breacher loosed sniper fire on the Stormtroopers who were moving in one great mass of white.

Up in Konstantine's Destroyer he was watching the battle, "Admiral the enemy has us in a bottle neck, our men-" "Will overrun their position, continue the assault." Konstantine commanded.

"Grenades!" Ahkilleon shouted to the men behind him, the B1 droids started to lob over thermal detonators into the stormtroopers lines but their numbers looked like they were without end. That and the walker was on them, Turok took out the second scout walker but it got a last shot off and he leapt from the E-Web turret drawing his pistols to shoot from the barricade. It didn't last long because the last AT-AT started to blast apart the defenses. Kanan was showered with dust and debris before another blast sent him flying "Kanan!" Rex called out breaking rank to grab him and pull him back behind cover.

The Imperials pushed their advance on the flank where Kanan had fallen, "General Kleeve, our flank is getting overrun." Ahkilleon relayed through his helmet.

"Get your men out of their Captain, fall back to the hallways." Kleeve ordered.

"Roger, Roger." Ahkilleon said "Fall back, fall back!" Ahkilleon ordered the Militia troops,those in the shield wall started to withdraw, stepping back but holding the remains of the shield wall. Ahkilleon leapt over it and Ezra pushed through to see Kanan being dragged back into the hallway by Rex and Zeb.

Ahkilleon regrouped with them as Kanan sat up "I'll be alright."

"The rest of us won't be for long, we're about to be overrun." Zeb said as Militia shields were starting to break and regulars were going down along with droids. The Militia fell back into the hallway in groups of three as the stormtroopers marched over the dead shooting and pushing them back, with their superior numbers till they slammed the blast doors shut.

"Some plan you guys had." Ezra said as he tended to his master.

"Not the time." Ahkilleon said as he paced back and forth, "General, the hangars lost, what's the word on our reinforcements?" Ahkilleon is masked in his helmet. Kleeve looked out the window of the transport bridge, the Star Destroyer miles away but clearly showing where it stood, above them.

Kleeve looked at Kalani "No update, our transmissions are being jammed by the Empire Captain, we need to dig in."

"Respectfully sir, I disagree . If we let the Empire get a foothold in the hangar there'll be no way out for us, I ask permission to lead a counter attack." Ahkilleon argued.

Kleeve thought about it, "How many of our forces remain?"

Ahkilleon looked around at the hallway that showed heavy casualties to the Militia "... less than half our original force sir."

"You'd be running into a massacre." Kleeve said, as Ahkilleon looked around at their numbers before his eyes fell on Kanan, this wasn't the first time he'd faced down the AT-AT's with Militia and Rebel forces.

"Not if we out flank them." Ahkilleon said, looking at Ezra.

Kleeve looked at Kalani, "General Kalani, your ship has to have hatches, or holes in the haul we can slip out of?"

"There are multiple hatches and breaches in the ships outer haul, but I fail to see how that is relevant?" Kalani asked.

Ahkilleon never took his gaze of Ezra or Kanan, "We can send the rebels out the breach, they'll sweep around and hit the walker from the rear, it won't be able to turn." Ahkilleon told them. "Ezra, Kanan our lightsabers can cut the legs remember, just like on Lothal."

"I calculate only a forty percent chance of success." Kalani said, and just as he did the sound of a laser saw cutting through the blast door started to wire its way through the hallway.

General Kleeve took a moment to consider it, "I'll take those odds, do it."

"Roger, Roger." Ahkilleon said before he looked at the rebels, then to the nearest droid "You, B1."

"Who me?" the droid asked him.

Ahkilleon nodded "Show them to the nearest way to the outside, the rest of you B1's get the wounded up to the bridge."

"Uh roger, roger." The droid replied, Kanan forced himself to his feet and leaned on Zeb "Whoa, Kanan you don't look so good." Zeb said.

Kanan winced, "I'm fine… let's go."

"Rex, go with them." Ahkilleon took out one of the rocket launchers from the other B5's and handed it to him, Rex hesitated "What about you junior" Rex asked.

"I'll lead the counter attack, now go." Ahkilleon told them.

Ezra looked at Kanan "No time to argue, come on." Kanan said as they followed the B1 droid, it led Ezra, Rex, Kanan and Zeb down the hallways past wounded Militia regulars who were still alive. They headed to the left side sphere to see a small hole in the wall with metal debris over it. "General Kalani ordered us to cover the breach, but we didn't have any tools, so we just piled old metal here?"

"Alright, let's get this moved." Zeb said starting to move the metal, then Rex came and joined him, then Ezra started to move it too, Kanan leaned on the wall wincing from a wound on his leg from the tank blast.

Back in the hallway, Ahkilleon clipped his blue lightsaber to his chest and picked up one of the dropped shield, "Specter's are you in position?"

"Little busy, droids piled a bunch of junk up near the hole." Ezra said.

"Hurry it up they're almost through." Ahkilleon said before he held up his red saber, he smashed his red laser sword against it with a loud heavy burst of energy to get everyone's attention. "Listen up lads!" He shouted over the empire's drill cutting its way through the blast door. "I won't lie, the empire is going to break through soon we can call back and slog it out till we're overrun, but we've fought these colonizers before and they bleed just like us." The drill was half way through the door, Ahkilleon looked over at it, he turned his whole body to face the door "I could talk about honor, I could talk about courage but you all have that already, I'm going to tell you what to fight for home, family, just as long as you fight!" He barked, the militia regulars howled and stood up getting into position with him, Breached lined up next to him and nodded, he started to beat his shield with his vibro sword other with their hatchets or blasters. They kept yelling as stormtroopers prepared to breach the blast door, when the outline of the door was almost cut full circle before it came down. "Come with me, and write your name in history with their blood!" The metal of the blast door came down with a heavy crash the first stormtrooper rushed in only to be met with a laser shield smashing into their helmet followed by Ahkilleon's red saber impaling them through the chest. The rest of the militia followed after him the stormtroopers opened fire but the shields did their part deflecting the blasters at such close range when hell let loose.

Down across the hallway, the rebels could hear the fighting break out, "Come on, come on." Rex told them.

Kanan grunted "Get out of the way- now!" he barked, the three men did it and Kanan held his hand up unleashing a powerful force push that blasted the rest of the debris away and they moved out.

In the hangar the Militia regulars were locked in combat with the Stormtroopers who met them with ferocious resistance, Breacher hacked and slashed with his vibrowsword and rammed his shield with his full bodyweight behind him into two stormtroopers, Bug ran a stormtrooper through before a blaster shot hit him in the shoulder and he fell to the ground. The stormtrooper who shot was about to end him when Ahkilleon through his shield at the shooter, he loosed his second saber and started to cut down stormtroopers in droves.

The Walker started to turn its head, not seeing Ezra and Kanan coming up behind their lightsabers drawn, "NOW!" Kanan and Ezra jumped into the air and swung their lightsabers at the left two legs of the AT-AT, it fired but fell to its side blasting the top of the hangar before the tank came crashing down. The stormtroopers saw it go down and the Militia forces rallied to the felled giant.

Without their tank supporting them and their breach having been countered, the stormtroopers had lost their momentum. The stormtroopers broke rank and started to flee, Breacher let out a furious cheer raising his shield high, the rest of the Militia raised their weapons and saw their enemy running before them. Ezra and Kanan climbed up to the top of the AT-AT to see the stormtroopers running back to their ships and approaching them from the skies was the Star Destroyer but ahead of them a full squadron of TIE Bombers.

"Take cover!" Rex shouted to the regulars and Ahkilleon.

The bombers drew nearer and General's Kalani and Kleeve saw them coming, Kleeve shut his good eye and prepared for the end when he felt shadows over his face. The shadows flew wings spread like falcons to the screech of their cannons a squadron of Militia Interceptors obliterated the bombers "Dragoons, the Dragoons are here!' Breacher shouted.

The Interceptors launched their dragoon pilots, one of them Sawyer Gerrera she was dressed in her black flight leathers her rocket boots propelled her toward the first imperial bombers she landed on it running attaching a thermal detonator jumping off at the last minute back into her black interceptor to fly forward. Another cheer rose up from the Militia who ran out into the open to see the fleet had arrived at Agamar, their reinforcements had made it.

Aboard his Star Destroyer Admiral Konstantien saw the One Eyed Devil fleet approaching fast, shooting at his ship their shields already making the ship shake. Konstantine grunted "Full retreat, the rebels win this round." Konstantine said. The sight of the Star Destroyer wheeling about and the imperial shuttles lifting off to try and catch up was a sight that made even Ezra smile.

"Cutting it close now aren't we?" Zeb asked from beneath the walker, Ezra slid off it with Kanan, "When do we not?" Ezra asked.

"We made it! General, do you read us?" Ezra asked on his comlink up on the bridge.

"Affirmative. We have survived the battle." Kalani said as Kleeve looked down to see his men were surrounding one soldier in particular, Ahkilleon was getting a series of pats on the back and salutes from the Devil Dogs. "It was not a victory, but a successful strategy nonetheless."

Down on the ground, Rex looked over at the Militia celebrating then to Ezra "No, it was a victory. We all just won the Clone war, and you ended it, Ezra. A galaxy of senators couldn't do that. An army of Jedi, clones and droids couldn't find the middle ground, but you did."

"Rex, all I did was point out that none of you were meant to win, you couldn't and we needed to hear it." Ezra said to his friend.

"Agreed." Kanan said, patting Ezra on the shoulder.

"I am satisfied if you are, Captain." Kalani asked "I am." Rex said as Turok walked over to them, he lit his pipe limping a bit "What happened to you?" Zeb asked.

Turok grunted "I'm old Lasat, I get tired easily." he grumbled as he breathed out the smoke "You all did good, so Kanan, Rex what was it like to fight in a real battle again?"

Kanan and Rex's smiles turned sour at that, "Have to say I don't miss it." Kanan said begrudgingly.

"Let me ask you something, you really think we won something here today?" Rex asked folding his arms over his chest "We could have high tailed it out of here if you and Kleeve weren't so stubborn about outdated intel."

Turok huffed on his pipe as they heard the cheers of the Militia get even louder, "Maybe?" Turok said looking over to see the Militia had hoisted Ahkilleon up on their shoulders and were throwing him up in the air, Ahkilleons helmet was off his white and blue hair slick with sweat, an undeniable smile on his face as he hoisted his hemet high in victory.

"But I'd say that's worth something?" Turok told them, Rex looked on a mix of pride and sadness on his face, "It's not what Ahsoka wanted for her son, I know that much." Rex said.

"Probably not what Leo wanted either Rex, if he'd ever known he was father. You and I both got roped into looking out for those star crossed lovers when they were his age, didn't plan on it, just happened. But you and I can see he's got the best and the worst of both, so how about you and the Specter's start cutting him some slack." Turok asked the rebels.

Ezra tensed up "Slack he-" "Chose to fight for what believed in same as us." Kanan said cutting him off "You're taking his side, after everything you warned me about the dark side and how Ahkilleon just does it, I can't believe you? Chopper ready one of those shuttles we're leaving" Ezra snapped at Kanan before he spoke to Chopper.

Zeb was about to follow but Rex stopped him "Let him go, if it was one of my brothers I'd be angry to." Rex said.

"Guess that begs the question, all of us have been pretty upset about junior leaving, cept you two, Kanan I get he's a Jedi and all but you?" Zeb asked.

Rex looked back over at Ahkilleon, "Ahsoka once told me that for the longest time, all she'd ever been was a soldier, same as I. We didn't have a choice, in a way I think we never let Ahkilleon make his. He chose the Militia." Rex said as he noticed Bug who was bleeding but alive, the former slave gave Rex a salute and Rex gave one back.

"Come on, Hera will be picking us up soon. Tell Ahkilleon we'll meet him back at the base." Kanan told Turok and the trandoshan nodded, huffing his pipe as he watched the Militia still cheering for Ahkilleon, still celebrating. Up on the shoulders of the devil dogs, Ahkilleon saw Ezra storm past them a scowl on his face and for a brief moment Ahkilleon felt lonely in all that glory.

Up in the command center of the transport ship, General Kleeve was speaking to a hologram of Sawyer in her interceptor, "Just in the nick of time General?" She asked.

"Indeed Sawyer, we will be with you momentarily, if you see a shuttle flying from the transport and a modified freighter, ignore them, they're our rebel friends a gift from General Kalani." Kleeve smiled at the droid who had no emotions on his face, as he was a robot.

"Not my friends, but good to know, Gererra out." she said before cutting the transmission.

Soon the rebels were flying out in their new Sheathipede-class "I can't imagine fighting that many droids all the time." Ezra grumbled as the shuttle flew into space with Rex, Ezra, Kanan, Zeb and Chopper along with a few proton bombs.

"Well, if you think that was bad, let me tell you about the Battle of Geonosis." Rex said arm around the boys shoulder, up ahead of them in orbit was the Ghost.

"This is Ghost to away team. Spectre-1, are you there?" Hera asked.

Kanan with a smile replied "Hera, I was just about to call you. How was your day?

"We're tracking a shuttles leaving the system, that and an entire Militia fleet, is everything all right?" Hera asked as the shuttle flew by. "Did you have trouble securing the bombs?"

Kanan scratched the back of his news "Well, for once we got everything and more, the good news is, we don't need a pickup because we found a new Phantom." Kanan said as Sabine's face lit up seeing the blank canvas "Tell Sabine she's gonna need a paint job."

Down on the surface, the Militia were packing up all their gear and wounded, General Kalani and Kleeve approached one of the remaining shuttles, an honor guard of Militia regulars and B1 droids for the two old soldiers, "My calculations of your chance of defeating the Empire are still inconclusive General, but I accept your offer to join this Militia."

"Wonderful my old friend." Kleeve said as Ahkilleon, Breacher and Turok approached them, "Now that we are united once again in common cause, tell me, what do you know of Project Stardust?"