Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Star Wars or any other fandom included in this story.
Here we are at last, the final few chapters of this story that honestly is the biggest that I have ever written. It was a project I have loved since the start and thank you all for reading it so far.
This is the first part and it will go on for two more after. I can only say sorry for the lateness of this chapter as I had some health issues that I had to overcome first.
Thank you to Vic the Man for the suggestion about Darth Glovoc, it was really helpful so I appreciate it.
Review Responses from Last Chapter...
61394 – Understood, it is a debated bunch of topics and you made many great points. I will check out the things you mentioned. Looks very interesting. I used the Luxans because they are one of the few warrior species that I think could give the Mandalorians a run for their money, others were considered before I chose them. Palpatine is given a lot of credit but he did make many mistakes in canon which came back to hurt the Empire, one of which was letting Tarkin dictate how the Imperial Military was made which left them vulnerable to a force like the Rebellion which is fast and agile. His reckoning is coming though I promise but one decision he made will have pretty dangerous consequences for the galaxy long after he is gone. Oh in this chapter you will see Anakin and Haron find a good way to strike at Palpatine. I hadn't thought about giving the Jedi in the Separatist Alliance a different name but that is a very good idea. Agreed, not sure why they made him so human looking when he has a Twi'lek mother. Shipping is a thing I always struggle with as relationships are tricky. Glad to see you liked it, the asteroid itself isn't important but there is something on it that is.
letr1994 – Since Iego is in Mandalorian Space now the Rebellion will need his permission to search there, but since they are in-laws I don't think Haron would have a problem with Anakin's request.
Cam . Katarn – I won't take it passed the Emperor's fall, I know that isn't probably what you wanted to hear but I do intend to do an epilogue to explain some of what happens after.
Morkail - Pretty much, the Jedi are too rigid in their thinking and it is what leads ultimately to their downfall, there will be a new government but it won't be the New Republic.
HowInMadHowie – Thanks for the Omake! After being ill for a week it was a great relief to read it. Han getting into debt with Jabba? With Han who knows what trouble he might get into. The base being Rakatan, its possible but I will neither confirm nor deny. Luke, good points. Yoda dying, it was a decision that I went back and forth on but as the story is coming to a close. But he will not go just yet.
The Cowardly Christian – Thank you! With the Death Star gone, Palpatine has nothing left, no secret weapons...nothing. Nothing that can stop what is about to happen. The pirate base wasn't directly inspired by it but thinking about it there are some similarities.
pattyboy227 – Good point, sorry for the mistake.
Rebell 01 – I know, whoever came up with it at Star Wars was daring.
Callum Runchman – Indeed, this is the final arc. The fall of the Empire and the aftermath will be explored as I will do an epilogue on it. The Mandalorians aren't into cloning so I don't think they will clone creatures but mythosaurs might come back, I will look into it. There is a huge battle coming, probably the biggest in this story yet.
red demon161 – Glad to hear from you! Palpatine I think after winning became a victim of his own success and lost a lot of the cunning that had gotten him there. The Empire is a brittle unity and the legends version of events I think is more likely than the new canon.
frankieu – Thanks, happy you enjoyed it!
Joespiel – Appreciate you saying that. People like yourself have been a great source of support to me so thank you! I am grateful.
J.E.P 1996 – I did consider the characters you mentioned especially Bria but with her being associated with the Rebellion not sure if it would go the same in this timeline.
Blaze1992 – The plan was good enough, but he rushed and made as you say a number of big mistakes like not securing the engine room faster or having more disciplined people in charge of capturing the scientists. But then again people who are after revenge rarely think rationally.
starboy454 – Thank you!
TYPE-RWBYFanatic64 – Sorry but the Rebellion found the Foundry years ago and the asteroid Anakin saw is not the Eye of Palpatine.
mspears3175 – The Suffragettes were only referred to as that by their critics, as they were working towards Women's suffrage namely getting the vote. They took that insult and made it their own, the Separatists in this story are no different, they want to be 'separate' so they made the name given to them by others their own. Them having a Jedi Order of their own wasn't even new, Dooku had acolytes like Ventress and a few others in the war, San Hill would want to have something like that on his side. A new name makes sense though so I am working on one.
Jebest4781 – Glad to hear you liked it!
Guest – Thanks!
tf330129 – Cheers! I know about the problems on the site, have no idea what is going on.
On with the story...
1002 ARR - 2 ABY...
Chapter 45 – Head of a Snake Part 1
Kaitain, Padisahah Imperium...1002 ARR...
It was a momentous day for both the Imperium and the Mandalorians as two enormous ships were going to be launched.
Given the use of their shipyards had been vital in the building of their new special dreadnought, the Infinity, the Mandalorians had shared the design with the Imperium and fund the construction of not one but two new ships of the same class. One would be given over to the Mandalorians and had been called Eternity. The other would be controlled by the Imperium and had been named Atreides Revenge.
Today in the presence of both Imperium Nobility, people in high positions of power and the Mandalorian houses both new giants would be launched. They watched as the ships left the docks under their own power and began to depart for their shake-down cruises, Haron and Ara both stood there with Paul, Irulan and Alia watching with smiles on their faces.
"The Imperium will be targeting some systems along the Imperial border." Paul admitted to Haron and Ara who nodded, it was his decision to expand the Imperium and press against the Empire. But he might find himself distracted from conquest soon both Haron and Ara thought as they sensed the growing life inside Irulan. Happy for Paul and Irulan they did not say anything and would let them discover it on their own.
"Then I wish you and your people success. I only wish we could strike at the Emperor." Haron said with frustration as despite their best efforts the old bastard was so entrenched on Coruscant that they just could not take a shot at him, he was too protected there for a covert mission and any large scale action would need to fight its way through the intense Imperial Fleet presence around the Core Worlds.
It was impossible at the moment.
Ara knowing him well enough to see his frustration put a comforting hand on his and her squeezing it did help relieve his annoyance at not being able to destroy the old bastard and perhaps end his empire and this war for good. He just hoped that an opportunity would present itself or they would be faced with a long and hard campaign to push into the Core Worlds and how many would die was a question that he didn't even want to think about. If they could destroy the command structure of the Empire then it would definitely make such a thing much easier but that was as entrenched as the Emperor was on Coruscant.
He managed to distract himself from these thoughts though as they had to leave very quickly after the launch to make it to Trak'el Sigma, they had never missed one of their children getting married and he and Ara were not going to start now.
Trak'el Sigma, Outer Rim...A Few Days Later...
The formally feudal world of Trak'el Sigma was now enjoying many benefits of higher technology but was doing its best to maintain its own old fashioned aesthetic, trying to hold on to some of their own past while they are embraced the modern. As such it looked like something almost medieval on the surface but beneath was a highly advanced culture technologically and surprisingly they showed a great talent at all things technical. They didn't just built efficient gadgets and equipment, it was done with an elegance and style that was impressive even by Mandalorian standards.
A perfect world for Corridan to rule as his own.
The weddings of Trak'el Sigma especially royal ones were extremely grand affairs, with all the pomp and ceremony you could imagine crammed into a seven day period. Feats and parties, the hen night and the stag do along with a blessing ceremony which involved both bride and groom immersing themselves in pure water to show their purity and devotion to each other, staying under almost until they drowned.
That had seemed stupid to the Mandalorians but seeing Corridan stepping out of the pool with Nyssa in his arms seemed to win over the locals.
Now it was finally the seven day, the wedding itself. Held in the gothic and enormous cathedral of the capital where people gave thanks to the universe for their good fortune. Gods were not believed of on Trak'el Sigma and instead it was the universe to which they gave thanks instead.
The cathedral was extremely large but was packed with as many people as it could manage, not just Mandalorians and locals but also some foreign guests here to maintain diplomatic ties with the Mandalorians given Corridan's father was the Mandalore and one of the most powerful men in the galaxy.
Corridan's armour was polished till it gleamed, he stood with his brothers at the altar ready for him and Nyssa to make their pledge to each other. Haron, Ara and the rest of their family sat in the front row on the groom's side of the cathedral while nobles sat on the bride's side. The sound of the wedding theme on the ridiculously gothic and elaborate organ started playing so they all rose to their feet and looked as the bride made her way down the aisle. She had no one with her beyond attendants that followed her and helped carry the long and awkward train, it was not the culture for the bride to be on the arm of her father or some other male relative it was seen as something a bride must do alone.
Corridan's breath was stolen by Nyssa the moment that he saw her, she wore a long white gown with dark crimson and plum coloured bodice and patterns woven into it. It was hooded and framed her delicate face as she made her way up to the altar, the look on their son's face made both Haron and Ara smile as it was so clear that their son was in love with Nyssa. They had worried about her marrying into their family at first but having gotten to know her over the years they had soon realised that she was a very peaceful and responsible young woman. She was as smart as a whip and ready to govern her world with Corridan as the sword at her side.
Nyssa eventually reached the altar and knelt before it with Corridan, the Lord Minister who was the administrator of the capital city was the one who officiated.
"It is a glorious day when two young people come together to swear themselves to each other for the rest of their lives. Princess Nyssa and Count Corridan Ordo have discovered that their hearts are united by love, the greatest of the universe's gift. They had have come to this place to swear to the universe to honour that gift which they have been given and to love each other forever." The Lord Minister said and a long monologue carried on for what seemed like hours and given the heat of the cathedral was started to put many of them nearly to sleep, it went on for hours and hours before finally it was over and the bride and groom were allowed to rise to their feet and embrace, kissing each other deeply as a cheer went up through the hall.
For Ara it was hard to watch in some ways as another of her children married and would now find his own path as her eldest two already had married, Astoria already had a child of her own and had communicated that another might well be on the way. Ara was feeling like a bird who's entire brood was flying away from her, three already had lives of their own, the other three and Nila would soon follow suit. It made her sad in a way but sensing her feelings Haron took her hand and squeezed it tightly, his reassuring presence a balm to her worries. Regardless of whatever their children did they would have each other and their family wasn't disappearing, it was just growing and spreading its outwards as it should do.
She had ensured that all of her children would have impressive inheritances, worlds of their own even the adopted ones. Their family was going to be the most powerful in all of the galaxy with links to just about everywhere. That was a legacy that she and her husband and their friends and family had spent years building, and they were not done yet she thought with determination. There was still much to do she thought to herself and they still have a few good moves in them yet she decided with determination.
Imperial Palace, Coruscant...
The Throne Room was a dark and grim place as news of more territorial losses seemed to come in by the day. The pressure on the Empire was now worse than ever now and defeat seemed more likely every single day.
Palpatine was in so much pain from his spice deformities as apparently some issues had turned up in recent clone batches and they couldn't provide him with any replacement organs or limbs until the cause was found. He had been met with silence at the reason for this apparent problem and he was wondering if he needed to go to Byss and interrogate the cloners to find new ways to motivate them.
But he was at last perhaps getting somewhere with recovering his precognitive abilities he thought with satisfaction.
It has taken months and months of going through the Sith Holocrons but he had finally discovered a possible answer, a Sith Lord named Darth Glovoc who had been a lesser lord under Darth Revan. He had disappeared while investigating one of his visions and then nothing was heard of him for thousands of years, but in the hope that Palpatine might learn something useful he had the planet Nyriaan where he had been last seen scoured before the Rebellion had managed to force them from the Mid Rim completely.
They had found the remains of his ship the Dying Sun and after clearing out the degradations that were living there they had discovered something more crucial...Darth Glovoc himself!
The man had survived the crash and put himself into stasis and remained that way all of these centuries while the survivors of his crew degenerated and worshipped him as a god. Having recovered his stasis unit he had been brought back to Coruscant Palpatine thought with satisfaction, he would eventually provide answers to his problem or serve as a substitute in the meantime.
He walked down into the prison of the Imperial Palace where he saw the man, now revived from stasis and strapped firmly into a frame that was fitted with several rather significant pain causing devices to 'encourage' his co-operation.
"Glovoc, what is next?" Palpatine demanded and the man glared at him before answering him.
"If you would use the sith rituals to purge yourself of the contaminant then your own foresight would be restored. Neither then would you need me in this ridiculous contraption." Glovoc said and Palpatine sneered as despite not having had a dose of the spice in quite some time his long consumption of it had increased the scope of his powers and Palpatine refused to give that up, not to mention he was sure in his great paranoia that Glovoc was deceiving him to get him killed so that he could take over the Empire himself.
In punishment for that, Palpatine activated the mechanisms.
Live electricity coursed through the device and into Glovoc's body who screamed out in pain, Palpatine smirked as he held it on for as long as he dared before turning it off and asking the question again.
"What is next?"
Glovoc breathed deeply as he struggled to get his breath back before telling him.
"An attack will come in three months with the intention of attacking the Fondor Shipyards, it will be a Separatist Alliance and Mandalorian combined strike force." Glovoc told him wit ha rasping voice and Palpatine sneered before leaving Glovoc to his meditations.
Glovoc managed to send a bitter smile at his back as he left, he had knew what was to come, his ability to see the future the greatest among Sith and he could see that Palpatine's destruction and his potential freedom was just over the horizon.
He had never imagined that his visions would have led him here, to be nearly four thousand years out of time. Once he had been a trusted and great commander, one of the most trusted of Darth Revan himself and in command of a state of the art warship that could devastate any ship in known space. He had even managed to convince the rest of the Sith that he was mad to distract them and made them underestimate him, allowing him victories that no one else could have pulled off.
He in some ways wished that the vision which had brought him to Nyriaan had never happened, he wished he had managed to discover just what had been hidden there before the ship had crashed and he had put himself into stasis.
Now here he was, a prisoner in a new century that was so different than his own, he might have been excited about the destruction of the Jedi and the corruption of the Republic but he could see through his visions that the Jedi were far from extinct and if anything were stronger than they ever were before, much stronger than his own time. Not to mention he could sense the forces of democracy were striking out at the Empire and growing stronger every day. It would only be a matter of time before they managed to destroy the Empire but what really concerned him was the destruction of the Sith.
Learning that the Sith had assumed the Rule of Two were there could be only one master and one apprentice made Glovoc fearful, Palpatine was failing and he had not yet trained a true apprentice to take over his reign when he died, meaning it was a very real possibility that the Sith might truly become extinct.
That was not acceptable to Glovoc, he thought with disgust at the short sightedness of Palpatine to allow this situation to happen. Vader was no true Sith, he was just an enforcer of Palpatine's will and had no idea of the true complexities of being a Dark Lord of the Sith Glovoc thought with a dismissive sneer at the thought of Vader trying to be a Sith Lord.
He was nothing but a cybernetic thug that should be put down the moment he was able.
Still his visions had revealed to him a potential chance of escape was coming soon, the possible end of Palpatine and then he hoped that he would take over and continue to the Sith into a new century. Perhaps that was why he had been brought to this millennium by the Force itself. To preserve the Dark Side and keep the way of Sith going.
Botor Enclave, Core Worlds...
The Titan and the Coming Thunder, the two new Subjugator-class vessels that had been built by the Separatist Alliance led their fleet in a massive attack against the Botor Enclave, a smaller interstellar empire that had attacked several of their member worlds in hopes of taking their resources.
Prime Minister San Hill, the leader of their new nation since its reunification had been waiting for this for awhile now since allowing those worlds into his alliance. It was exactly what he had wanted as the Botor Enclave had many particular attractions of its own which interested him. They had a few well positioned worlds and due to the fact they had fought many wars with the planets that had had now joined his alliance they had a well-built up military infrastructure and industrial base. Not to mention considerable fuel reserves. While this did mean that he had to deploy the two enormous ion cannon armed leviathans that he had just had built to overwhelm them but it was a worthwhile investment as once properly absorbed into the Separatist orbit they would be an extremely useful asset. He knew it would not be easy but it was an incredible asset for the Separatists to have the two dozen star systems and would also provide extremely useful transport routes into the Core Worlds when the war was over.
The Botori who were the local species who formerly ruled the area were fairly good at space travel but the wars dragged on due to rigidity in their ways of thought and practices so despite the wars going on for 'centuries' San thought with dismay at the situation with the Botori, little if anything would happen beyond a few brushfires until it was just forgotten about. They would have their uses if their skills were put to the proper use, such as being privateers against the Empire or other states that might be dangerous to the Separatists and as Navigators which they were actually rather talented at so once he ensured they were loyal he would find uses for them. The new Jedi he had created were starting to be a considerable boon to his cause as they were often taking leading roles in his military or other positions in the Separatist Alliance or travelling around their space to resolve issues, all of which aided him and his cause, making his leadership secure.
He had no doubt that the Empire was going to fall, either through internal troubles or external actions from him and those who had their own organisations. The Core Worlds and Inner Rim where highly garrisoned by the Empire but that unity which held it all together was breaking down day by day now and it would only take one single hit in the right place to shatter that illusion of unity and strength that the Empire depended on, the Empire itself would not fall over night but it would break apart if anything happened to the upper leadership with ease.
The other Rift Alliance powers had already requested that they look into the possibility to using the Botor Enclave to launch raids into the Core Worlds but the Empire had fortified their border too much and had even added interdictor cruisers along the hyperspace routes so there was little chance of a fleet sneaking through that way so he had been forced to inform them of that even if he was disappointed that he couldn't use it to extort something from his 'allies'.
He was fully aware that the state of affairs in the galaxy would be incredibly unstable after the Empire fell, many new nation states such as his had risen up in the war and while he was sure the Rebel Alliance would build a New Republic or some other such state he and his people would not be joining it. He knew the Mandalorians, the Than and some other factions in the Rift Alliance felt the same and this would create a very delicate state of affairs in the galaxy.
It would certainly be less dominated by one as it had been under the Republic and would provide opportunities for them all he thought with satisfaction.
Reijar, Ordo System...
The Open Sky, the Skywalkers' YT-1300 Light Freighter came into orbit of Reijar. It had been a long time since they had last been here and this time it was only Anakin and Padme this time along with one of the Noghri Ghazhak and C-3PO who had shut down to recharge. HK-47 was with Mace on the front lines of the war, Luke & R2 were both on a mission with Rogue Squadron and Wila, Tash and Zak were all currently training with Master Shan and Meetra Surik who had quite a few unusual but important lessons to teach.
Anakin and Padme though were here to visit their daughter, Leia had written to them all the time while she was first living with her new husband and had recently returned from a long tour of the Mandalorian worlds to learn all of their different cultures and customs. It had astonished Anakin and Padme that for a culture that on the surface was so unified and uniform that they could be so different from each other. So many clans and houses had their own practices and customs that Leia had been learning to prepare her for her role as the Duchess of House Ordo.
They had known how scared she was by all of this despite how she tried to hide it behind her strong person persona but they had known her all of her life and knew when she was scared and vulnerable. She didn't show it, she just got frustrated and angry.
But recently she had started to mature a little, grow up now that she was moving on with her life and earning the respect of her new people. All of the plans that she had, while the fact she wasn't their little girl any more hurt them a little they were definitely extremely proud of her.
As Anakin brought the ship into land they saw that Leia was already standing there to greet them and they quickly disembarked followed by Ghazhak and Leia walked over to them and gave both of them a big warm hug the moment she was able.
"Sweetheart, you look amazing." Anakin told Leia who smiled brightly at her father's praise as at heart she had always been a daddy's girl. Growing up Anakin had been her idol and hero not that she didn't love her mother any less than she loved him but they had a special bond of their own.
"Thank you father. Father...Mother." Leia said as she gave them both a warm hug. "Markus would be here but he is handling some other business today. Come on, we'll talk on the walk to the compound." Leia said with a smile and they all fell into step with each other as they went into the large compound. It hadn't changed much since Anakin and Padme had last been here and walking through the main yard they found their way into a social room where a bar had been set up with some comfortable seats.
Leia poured them some tea and they all sat at the sofa and began to gently chat to catch up on any news and Leia blinked in surprise at the fact that Luke seemed to have acquired a girlfriend, a woman that was working for the Underworld Alliance and that they hadn't even managed to get her name out of him yet which given how honest her brother was made Leia wonder just what was going on there. She and him did not meet very often any more for obvious reasons but they did still have a deep understanding of each other and so the only reasons that she could think that Luke would be so secretive about whoever he was dating was either he hadn't told her who he was but Leia doubted that given how high profile their family was, or possibly that there was something about this girl that he didn't want them to know. She pondered on that as she was sure that Luke knew that better than to think them judgemental or something like that, as long as he was happy they were happy so maybe there was something in her past that he wanted to hide.
She was fairly certain after mulling it over that it must be the last one but put that aside for a moment until she could speak to Luke herself to see if she was right before saying anything to anyone else and especially their parents, their mother would come down especially hard if she was right.
The door mercifully opened and offered a distraction as Markus walked in followed by his father. Leia got her feet and walked over to her husband who gladly took her in his arms and kissed her.
"Sorry it went on so long, there was a lot to deal with." Markus said with a genuine tone of guilt that he was not there with her to greet his in-laws. He turned to Padme and greeted her and Anakin. "I hope you had a pleasant journey." He offered and Padme looked at him sternly before saying.
"It was smooth enough, I just hope your treatment of my daughter has been as gentle." Padme said sharply and Leia gasped out in surprise.
"Mother!" She was appalled at her mother's words to her husband while Markus took a subconscious step back. Anakin glared at Markus briefly to show his own concerns but since his son in law had been apparently been a good husband to Leia he put his hand on Padme's shoulder to calm her, taking the hint from her husband she stopped there without pressing any further.
Seeing his son being afraid of his mother in law almost made Haron smile but then he caught Padme's eyes and gave her a warning glare. He knew his son would stand his ground but he wanted to let her know that he was backing his son all of the way whatever it took.
"I have never thought of Leia as anything more than my partner in all things." Markus said calmly and Padme frowned before backing down, accepting things as they were for now.
Leia breathed a sigh of relief as she took Markus's hand and squeezed it, trying to comfort him but he squeezed back letting her know he was okay. After a year or so of travelling around all of the Mandalorian clans and houses they had learned a lot but also it had acted as something of a honeymoon for them both.
They had a year to themselves as they travelled, to really get to know each other and learn how they worked as a couple.
It had been the just the thing that they needed and while she appreciated her mother's protectiveness she did not need it.
Seeing the tension had not entirely left the room Haron decided to interrupt in the hopes of changing the subject.
"Anakin, good to see again." Haron told his old friend and shook his hand and Anakin grateful for that as it was a much needed distraction. "I believe you had a proposal the Rebellion wanted to put to me?"
"Yes." Anakin said and told him. "I have some...information that there might be something of importance in the Iego system on one of the asteroids there."
Haron's eyebrow rose up at the vagueness of what was Anakin was asking. It wasn't unreasonable but the fact that he wasn't actually telling just what it was was highly suspicious.
"Any more information?" Haron asked and Anakin admitted to him.
"No, it was just a vision but...I think that something might be there that could help us find a way to hurt Palpatine." Anakin said.
Haron did not doubt Anakin's honesty even if he always maintained a healthy level of doubt in 'visions', they were even if real and not anything like a hallucination and were highly difficult to interpret at the best of times but he knew better than to just dismiss them out of hand.
Iego was inside of their space now so the Rebellion would need their permission to check if there was anything to this so he gave it but with one condition.
"Very well, I will allow a rebel salvage team to go to Iego and see what is there but my people must also be involved. Any discoveries will be shared. That is the price." Haron said, the offer on the table and Anakin nodded in agreement, glad that he would allow it as he was sure there was something important in this.
- x -
Iego System, Mandalorian Space...A Few Days Later...
The Rebel salvage team was impressed at the efficiency and sturdiness of Mandalorian design, everything would rarely fail it was so resilient and yet worked perfectly when needed.
The Spirit of Fire had been pulled from its regular duties to act as a support vessel for the joint rebel/mandalorian team, fighters and shuttles carefully checked each of the so-called 'Thousand Moons' of Iego to see just what might be there with a fine tooth comb but apart from some old ship wreckage there had been nothing of note so far. The ship was slowly expanding the search into the outer most system where there were some large pieces of rock yet to check.
But the mission had allowed Haron and Anakin the chance to do something that they had not been able to do in a very long time...hang out together.
They both made themselves a drink at the bar and settled down on the comfortable seats to share stories from the last twenty years.
"And my little sister, who me and Deera raised since she was a baby flew up on top of the walker, cut open the cockpit, threw the crew outside and then took over the walker, turning it on the Imperials themselves. My little sister." Haron said with a smile as he remembered that day.
"Its been a long road." Anakin said with a tired voice, Haron hummed in agreement. So much had happened over the years that it didn't seem possible that it had been so long since the end of the Clone Wars.
"And its not over yet." Haron said with a similar tired voice, both he and Anakin had been fighting for most of their lives so far. "But while some might say we're past this sort of thing I have a few fights left in me."
"Same here." Anakin said with a smirk, they might be getting on in years now but he and Haron were not done yet. They still had plenty left to do.
That was when their pleasant discussion was interrupted.
"Mandalore, the fighters have made a sighting on one of the asteroids on the outer edge of the system." One of his people told him and Haron answered with some interest.
"What have they found?" Haron asked and the report was somewhat disappointing.
"Its an old Separatist ship sir. Recusant-class light destroyer, Patriot's Fist."
Both Haron and Anakin sighed as this was hardly unexpected, there were a good number of Separatist ships wrecked in this system so this was wasn't exactly the ground breaking discover that they had been hoping for. Nevertheless they were hoping this hadn't been a complete waste of time and so Haron ordered.
"Check the ship out, see what its carrying and check the computer system. Probably a dead end but best be through." Haron ordered and they acknowledged his command.
"Understood Mandalore."
They both sighed before getting another drink and kept talking and sharing stories with each other before finally a report came in.
"The ship was wrecked in the last month of the war, nothing in the cargo holds. Regular droids all destroyed in the crash." The salvage party leader reported and both Anakin and Haron who had hoped for so much more felt that this had been a waste of time.
"What battles has it been involved in?" Anakin asked more out of curiosity than anything else and after a long pause Haron told the leader.
"Answer him."
"It fought in the Battle of Coruscant and crashed here on the way to the rally point after the battle." The salvage leader answered calmly without much thought.
That suddenly made both men start, they shared a look as suddenly this discovery changed the entire situation but it depended entirely on one specific thing not being done.
"Has the navi-computer been wiped?" Haron asked intently, it had been standard procedure for the Separatists to wipe the computer after some operations when they didn't want to risk the enemy finding out where it had been so he was dearly hoping that they hadn't this time and there were a few tense minutes as the team made the necessary checks. Haron and Anakin both waited with great impatience before finally the answer came.
"No. It must have crashed before the droids could do it."
Both Haron and Anakin suddenly realised that this ship might be the most important asset in the war now! Haron immediately gave his instructions.
"Get all of the data we can from the ship's computers but especially the navigational routes the ship has travelled, we need to know those hyperspace routes. Top priority get any help you need but recover that data." Haron ordered with insistence. They needed that data as soon as possible as Haron and Anakin both spoke on the importance of it.
"If that ship fought at Coruscant..."Anakin said and Haron nodded in agreement as they both understood the ramifications.
"Then it will have the hyperspace route that the Separatist ships used to bypass all of the Core Worlds defences and head straight to Coruscant." Haron stated and the excitement in both men was rising as they realised that at last they had found what they were looking for.
A way to strike straight at Palpatine himself...ironically given to them by the man himself in a very long drawn out kind of way.
They moved the ship's war room and waited eagerly for the data to arrive and soon it began to be transmitted to them. They both studied it intently as all of their hopes hinged on finding that exact piece of data, it came with agonising slowness and they were both pacing the room in silence, both men looking like caged rancors they were so tense.
When at last the data had finished coming in, they both stopped to study it and saw exactly what they had hoped, more in fact.
"It cuts straight through the Deep Core, no wonder we never saw them coming during the war." Anakin said with amazement as there had been little charting of any potential worlds that might be accessible there.
"No interdictors along the route, this perfect. Absolutely perfect." Haron said as at last they had a way to get at Palpatine directly and then remembered something. "My intelligence agents just discovered that there is a major Imperial summit planned to discuss defences and counter-plans for any potential attack on the Inner Rim and Core Worlds. All the remaining Grand Moffs and Moffs, the senior Admirals and Generals...they will all be there."
"So if we time the attack to happen while the summit is on, we can take out most of the Empire's upper leadership in one stroke." Anakin said and the excitement of both men was growing with the possibility that they could shatter the Empire in one move.
"The meeting is in a month's time. Can we assemble a taskforce in that time frame?" Haron said worried that they wouldn't have the time to create a usable plan and a large enough force to make this attack feasible. Even if they cut communications to make sure that the Empire couldn't bring in reinforcements there was a very large fleet and defence network around Coruscant.
They would need a large fleet of their own and to disable that defence network for any potential attack to work, Haron considered.
"We can try." Anakin said eagerly and Haron nodded, game for it and willing to do what it took to make this happen.
War Room, Spirit of Fire...
"The route head straight through the core and approaches Coruscant at an angle, Mandalorian Intelligence confirms there is little security along the route." Haron said as he studied the information that they had managed to uncovered.
"He knows about, why would he leave it like that?" Anakin asked as it was strange that Palpatine would not make sure such a potential hole in the defences of Coruscant. Haron agreed it was strange but there were explanations for it.
"He might be using it as a secret escape route if he needs one, there is probably some bolthole in the Deep Core or something like that. So if we do this then we need to make sure he doesn't make it off Coruscant alive. If he can retreat into the Deep Core it could take years to find him or never." Haron said so they got on with the planning.
"We can join the route on the other side of the Core Worlds, here in the Daio Plaz System. But to do that we will need to get the support of the Separatist Alliance since they hold that system. But there is a space station there now and it would make a good rallying point for an attack force. The trick is going to be masking what we're doing from the Empire before launching the attack. So the surveillance outpost on the border will need to be neutralised." Haron said with a considering look on his face. That was easy enough but they would have to do it literally just before the attack to not give the enemy any idea just what they were doing. The good thing was that the Empire had a big fuel refinery in the area so if they launched another raid on that location just after as a diversion that would hopefully keep the Emperor from realising their true intentions.
"But we need to gather a large strike force enough for this attack. A few hundred at least." Anakin said and Haron nodded.
"We will need to reach out to every single faction that will consider the attack. Convincing them might to risk this might not be so easy." Haron warned him as while he and his people would be up for it and so would the Rebellion most likely it would they would need more, a lot more and the only way to get that was to get the other powers on board. This meant maintaining secrecy would be absolutely paramount for it to succeed, apart from the upper most leadership hardly anyone should know just what they were attacking until just before the attack.
If the Empire had even the smallest idea of what they were planning, it would fall apart.
Rift Alliance Conference, Spirit of Fire...Uncharted Space...
Calling an emergency session of the Rift Alliance Council was as good as telling the Empire something was up as they were bound to learn about it but it was a necessary risk given the situation.
The fact that they had guests too was enough of a change to the norm, the Underworld Alliance had been asked to attend and so Talon Karrde was present. He was like all of the other members were curious as to what the situation was as it was unusual for meetings to be made at such short notice.
Haron walked in and faced the other members, they all gave him their full attention.
"What I am about to reveal must not go beyond this room. That is something we must all agree too before continuing." Haron told them and the fact he seemed to issuing an order rubbed some people the wrong way but eventually they all nodded in agreement, so he could continue.
"Recently a joint Rebellion/Mandalorian expedition discovered a ship that belonged to the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars. Hardly an interesting discovery on its own but this particular vessel fought in the Battle of Coruscant, crashing as it left the battle." Haron said and then he got to the point. "But due to that accident, the droids did not manage to wipe the navigational computer before the crash, so it contained the information on the hyperspace routes it had travelled...including the one that allowed General Grievous to bypass the Core Worlds and strike directly at Coruscant. We now know how to access the same route and can use it to get past all of the Imperial defences and attack at the Emperor directly. Even taking out the upper leadership of the Empire in one stroke if we time this right." Haron said calmly.
He didn't say much as the news sank in, it didn't take long for them to see the incredible opportunity that had fallen in their laps. San Hill in particular who had long wished Dooku had actually bothered to share that information with the council back then because they could have attacked Palpatine a long time ago.
"So you want to mount some kind of attack during the upcoming command and strategy conference?" San Hill asked and Haron nodded.
"Which is why no one outside of this room must know that we know. Or that we are going to attack Coruscant, if the Emperor and his people know they they will vanish before we can even try. But do this right and we cut the head off the snake, even make sure that no-one can take the throne. We keep the true target secret until the very day of the attack. If we all agree." Haron said as he waited to see if they agreed.
The silence that followed his announcement lasted longer than he had expected, the idea was insane but would they admit that it was possible. They all sat there wondering about it but the first voice that spoke out was not a good sign.
"You're mad! It will never work!" Namzor's representative said but Alia Atreides of the Padisahah Imperium felt differently.
"It can, I see it clearly. The one chance we will ever get to strike a blow that will break the Empire into pieces. Otherwise we will pay a heavy price in blood for every system we take from them." Alia insisted, her impressive foresight letting her see this was as some Jedi referred to it a 'shatterpoint'. The Bene Gesserit had made a great study of them and found them wanting but some of their principles were intriguing.
"Force visions aside." Garm Bel-Iblis said with some distaste at the idea of basing so much of their strategy on something so obscure but the idea behind the attack was sound. "This could be exactly what we need to break the Empire and make things a lot easier for ourselves."
"There is no chance of taking the planet even with this hyperspace route." Than General Sky Falls in Thunder said and the Quarran representative of Mon Calamari General Nossor Ri chose that moment to speak up.
"Only if we wanted to conquer the planet, but this attack is more about ending the line of succession within the Empire and showing the galaxy that they are beaten. This attack could work on many levels...if we do it right." The Quarran male said and Haron was glad some of them were in favour of this admittedly risky plan.
"But an attack of this magnitude would require a very large attack force." Gol Potel, the ambassador from the Hapes Consortium said, seeing that. "To overwhelm the Imperial Defence Units and the planetary defence network."
"Not if we sabotage it first." Talon Karrde said with a look of intrigue on his face. Getting some of his people to do this would take a lot of convincing but he thought with a growing sense of interest. "It can be done."
"Indeed, but we will keep the actual target secret for now for the reasons we already mentioned. If each member state gives a portion then we can assemble a large strike force, one capable enough to punch through the lines at Coruscant and end Palpatine forever. Now, you all can see that it can be done. This a gamble, its hell of a risky gamble but it is one worth taking...to end this war and see the Empire collapse. So...make your decision." He told them with a stern voice.
It took over an hour of constant arguing before they finally got all of them to agree, each of them would provide a part of the attack force which would if Anakin and Deera succeeded in their own missions would swell to a extremely large size.
But getting the strike force together was only the first part of this insane plan he thought, there was still a lot of work to do and they hadn't even finished this part yet.
Theed, Naboo...
"The opportunity is once in a lifetime. We need to take advantage of this." Anakin pressed, the Rebel Leaders around the table looked deeply uncertain, especially those that had been senators in the Republic like Bail Organa or even his own wife but General Dodonna and Admiral Ackbar were already on his side.
"If we want to end this war sooner rather than after years of bloody warfare then this is the best opportunity we have had the entire war." Dodonna said and Ackbar nodded in agreement.
"It can be done, this could end the war or at least bring that end sooner." Ackbar said but Bail was concerned.
"The attack on Coruscant scared the population during the Clone Wars, that's what helped Palpatine gain power. I don't want to risk setting up another dictator." Bail said but Anakin who was frustrated with the slow pace of discussion made his points while countering Bail's.
"That is always a risk but that is the future, a maybe, a what if. We cannot control what will happen in the future all we can do is act with information we have. Deal with the now and face the future as it happens. This could be the only chance we will ever have to get Palpatine and maybe the rest of the Imperial Leadership along with him, to wipe them out in one swoop. Now, a decision has to be made. Do we do it or not?" Anakin asked looking to all of them.
There was a tense few moments as they all thought about before slowly one by one, they told him.
"Agreed."
Anakin smiled with relief, keeping the secret was still a big challenge but he knew that with the combined forces of the Rebellion and the Rift Alliance then they would be able to put a strong enough force to at least try and attack Coruscant. But it would need to be more than a fleet, he realised, they would need a ground force to attack the Imperial Palace as that thing had shields strong enough to deflect any bombardment, the moment that the Empire detected their presence those shields would go up in a blink of an eye.
So whoever went would need to be the best of the best he thought and started comprising a list of just who to take.
The Continental, Phripalmur...
The elaborate and luxurious hotel complex was also the most secure and private place on the entire planet, that made it the best place for Talon Karrde and Vysa to meet with the best placed man to ensure a major part of the plan was carried out.
"The Imperial defence net around Coruscant is probably the most extensive in the galaxy and you want it sabotaged." Winston said with a air of disbelief that they would even try something like this.
"The Underworld on Coruscant could do it." Vysa said knowing that the major players on Coruscant would have the reach and the means to achieve that end. Winston nodded in acceptance.
"They could but why would they want too? It would bring a lot of attention to them." Winston said and Talon had an answer for that.
"Like they haven't got it already. The Empire is stifling their trade and transport off world, the taxes they demand of their citizens is enough to plunge the galactic economy into recession, one of the deepest in galactic history to pay for its enormous war machine. They'll be out of business or more likely end up dead unless something changes, this would make that change possible." Talon stated quite clearly.
Winston nodded, he knew from his various contacts on Coruscant and some other worlds in the Core that all of the various crime families were struggling even the Pykes with all of the pressure being put on them by the Empire. The intense security was making it virtually impossible for them to operate trade and even the Pykes were finding it hard to smuggle anything right now. The Empire was so paranoid that they were collaborating with their enemies that even bribes were not being taken as the punishment for accepting them and being caught was way too high for most to risk, the few that did well they wished they were dead within the first hour of being caught.
Breaking the Empire would allow the elements of the Underworld Alliance on Coruscant to flourish again and aid in the break up of the Empire, the government that replaced it might be worse but as a collective they had the power to change that Winston thought and nodded in agreement.
"I will set the wheels into motion. It will happen when you need it." He reassured them, knowing it would take some convincing but they would get it done when they needed it. Keeping it secret would be tough but it could be done.
It would certainly be a sight to see he thought with amusement as he went back to his drink.
Luxan Territories, Wild Space...
Deera was in the middle of a long meeting with the Luxans, they were incredible warriors and their assistance in the attack on Coruscant would be extremely helpful especially in the ground assault which would be perhaps the hardest part of the battle.
Fortunately outlining what they intended did not put off the Luxans, far from it.
It only encouraged them...they were on board. She shouldn't be surprised really Deera thought to herself, they love a challenge and this was going to be an exceptionally big one.
Rebel Base, Naboo...
Anakin was co-ordinating a lot of different forces for the coming battle but with an intentional misdirection of the actual target so if Imperial Intelligence did pick up on it then not only would it make the Imperials waste resources on a defending a false location while keeping the enemy unaware of their true agenda.
Taking a break after a long day of work he retreated to his quarters and sighed as he was wondering if they were going to get this mission going.
But then he felt a presence in the force, one that he had not felt in over twenty years. The world around him darkened and a dark space field appeared, he was standing in a runic like circle but before he could be really confused about where he was a familiar voice spoke to him.
"Strange place this is, do you think Skywalker hmm?"
Anakin smiled and turned to see a somewhat older Master Yoda sitting on a rock not to far away.
"I haven't heard word for you in years and then you just drop in? A bit rude." Anakin said with a warm smile to the old master who just smiled back and told him.
"Business I cannot have been up too? Watched though I have all of these years and impressed I am by all that you have done. Jedi Business though we need to discuss. Come to me you must to talk, hard it is to maintain this for long." Yoda said and a planet and its location in the galaxy appeared in Anakin's mind. Just how the old Jedi Master had done this deeply confused Anakin but before he could ask just what Yoda meant and what he had been doing all of these years the vision ended and he found himself back in his room.
It was really not the best time for him to be leaving but he could delegate things to Luke and the others for now, he wondered if maybe he could convince Master Yoda to help in rallying people for the attack or finding some more Jedi to help. He had some of them like Satele and Meetra had agreed to join the attack and he was waiting for some of the other Jedi sects in the galaxy to give him an answer.
Yoda's support might sway some of them he considered and so he told Luke and Padme where he was going and why and hopefully bringing some more Jedi help before taking R2 and his personal fighter and flying off into the unknown.
- x -
Ossus, Outer Rim...
When Anakin on his long flight realised just where he was his heart almost stopped, he had heard legends of this place as he had grown up in the temple but never had he imagined that he would actually see it with his own eyes.
Ossus, the Jedi's greatest home. While Tython might be where the order had been born it was on Ossus that they had truly found their home and its loss he knew had been deeply hurtful to the Jedi. Seeing that the planet had healed somewhat since the supernova made he realise just what Master Yoda had been doing all of these years, Anakin smiled as realised just what having Ossus back would mean for the Jedi.
He guided his fighter in and landed outside a large city and exited his customised X-Wing, R2 ejecting himself from the slot in the back and trembling slightly as he looked ahead but Anakin smiled and told him.
"Don't worry about R2, we're safe here." He told the droid to reassure him and then another familiar voice came, one that struck a deep cord in Anakin.
"All of these years and still the same droid is following you around, he must be the most loyal droid in the entire galaxy."
Anakin smiled as he saw the tall figure of Master Tuwan appear, his Jedi robes white and gold like those Master Yoda had originally crafted all of those years ago. He didn't hesitate and neither did Tuwan, walking towards each other and giving a warm and tight hug.
"It is good to see Anakin, much has changed in all of these years but let me be the first to say that I am so proud of you and all you have accomplished. The galaxy is much better off for having you." Tuwan said with a smile, the words had a deep impact on Anakin who held the great master in high esteem. "Shall we, there isn't much time." He said becoming suddenly urgent as they accompanied by R2 walked into the city and saw many people some of whom he recognised from the Temple looked at them as they passed.
"What is this place?" Anakin asked, putting aside his own worries about what Tuwan had said about their being little time for the moment. Tuwan who was walking towards a towering pyramid like temple in the centre of the city answered.
"Knossa, the city of Ossus that grew around the Jedi Temple here. There are several such places like this for the Jedi to hide in. A number of smaller enclaves and two other big colonies like this one. One of which is run by your old master." Tuwan told him and the mention of Obi-Wan who Anakin hadn't heard from for years instantly caught his notice.
"Obi-Wan, is he okay?" Anakin asked and Tuwan nodded.
"He is well, he has a family now from what I understand and is watching over a colony of Jedi not unlike this one." Tuwan said which amazed Anakin and made him glad that his old master had finally made something of a life for himself before unfortunately Tuwan let him know what he had meant earlier by there being little time. "Yoda is anxious to meet with you soon, he hasn't much time left."
That made Anakin stop still in shock, Master Yoda...dying?! He thought with disbelief. No that couldn't be right he thought with rejection of the idea, the ancient master had outlived so many people and led the Jedi for longer than most had been alive. He couldn't be dying now! Anakin thought before rushing forward with Tuwan towards the large temple.
They entered without issued and rushed through the corridors before getting to the main hall. Anakin entered the room and saw many Jedi that were at least familiar to him from the Clone Wars like Master Sabla-Mandibu and Celeste Morne but he only truly looked at one. In a bed in the centre of a large chamber was the aged Master Yoda, the little green alien looked to have aged a lot more than Anakin would have thought possible in the last two decades, looking so frail and weak.
But his eyes lit up slightly when he noticed Anakin was here.
"Skywalker." Yoda said, his voice old and creaky but Anakin walked forward and knelt at the side of his bed. "It is good to see you, thank you I do for coming and for keeping the light of hope alive across the galaxy." He said and seemed to be having a trouble his breathing, his breaths were short and laboured.
"Many others have done a lot of that work." Anakin said humbly as he was still trying to wrap his head around that the wise and seemingly immortal Grandmaster of the Jedi was dying.
"Indeed they do, but recognise your contribution we should. Many things have changed and speak with you I must, need to know you do what I must ask of you now." Yoda said with a pained expression.
"Anything master." Anakin said as the other Jedi watched. Yoda smirked before telling him.
"Never say that should you. Know what I am asking of you, you do not." Yoda teased him with some of that mischievous spark coming back briefly before he continued. "When gone am I, lead the Jedi...you will." Yoda then told him becoming completely serious.
Anakin was momentarily stunned, unable to completely take that in. Yoda wanted him to be the next Grandmaster of the fractured Jedi Order!
"Why me? I am not cut out for that." Anakin said but Yoda reassured him.
"Need someone the Jedi do, that understands the mistakes of our past and how to correct them. Not to go backwards but to move forwards, the Jedi must. Done a great deal of that already you have. Know to let the different sects develop in their own way you do. To be the leader of the Jedi, think of no one better can I." Yoda told him with a smile.
Anakin swallowed, feeling very much like an inexperienced Padawan again as he considered just what a responsibility this would be and how much had to be done. He almost turned him down for that but knew that Yoda was right, the Jedi must move on if they were going to survive and grow stronger so maybe a maverick like him was the best person to do that, he did not want the responsibility which came with such a role and knew reconnecting the Jedi even if individual sects were to stay independent would take a lot of work.
But it was worth it, especially if he wanted the Jedi to be more than just footsoldiers of whatever government arose after the fall of the Empire, to be truly active and doing the sort of work they should be doing.
Anakin nodded and Yoda nodded and told him many of the secrets that he had been keeping, including locations of other hidden temples and colonies along with some other things that Yoda had learned. It was a great deal but Anakin nodded and listened to every word he said before at last...the time came.
Yoda smiled gently and then closed his eyes, Anakin and the other Jedi looked on mournfully but then in amazement as Yoda's body disappeared right before their eyes. Anakin who had seen Master Windu's disappear before was confused as to how this could be...but Master Tuwan who had likewise seen this before in his own time spoke.
"He has truly become one with the force, he shall always be with us. At our side, in our memories and in the force...Yoda will always be there when we need him most." Tuwan said with a calmness that Anakin had always admired. The feeling of desolation at Yoda's absence lessened somewhat especially as they felt a warm feeling in the force that let them know he was right.
After all, there was no death, there was the force.
Anakin who had hoped to find an ally here was now hit with the full weight of events as he realised the enormous thing that was hanging from his shoulders, the Jedi would look to him now for leadership and he wasn't sure he was up to that task.
But before he could even consider what to do with this challenge that he wasn't sure he wanted, there was something else he needed to do.
End the Sith, they would return, history showed that time after time but for this moment at least...he would end them, Anakin swore to himself.
Imperial Monitoring Station, Unnamed Planetoid...Two Days Before the Assault...
The large complex with enormous receiver dishes was set among the orange rocks and was constantly monitoring the border for any signs of a potential attack. While the sector had become something of a backwater in the war at present it was still a potential area of invasion and they could monitor a good part of the border from here so it was an important duty to make sure that the Empire was safe from any further invasion.
The Separatists were not known to use stealth ships, it wasn't their usual tactics beyond a few rare examples but the Mandalorians did. They had been using cloaking technology for years and had been steadily improving it all of the time. A brand new larger drop ship with an advanced cloaking system and special stealth plating dropped out of hyperspace in the system, it did not even register on Imperial scanners and moved quickly towards the surface, dropping the cloak just long enough to fire four proton torpedoes, striking down the main shield generators and three defence emplacements before activating its laser cannons, firing at the Imperial buildings and people that it could see, a Special Operations Team led by Trilla Suduri leapt from the side hatch and began to drop bombs onto each of the large scanning dishes at the highly vulnerable point where they joined each tower. Detonating them as they returned to the ship, the charges were small but powerful and blew the connections with ease which sent the dishes falling towards the ground, crushing both people and buildings before coming to rest.
Trilla smirked and told the pilot to get them out of here, the job was done and the first stage of the plan completed. Now it was time for stage two.
- x -
Imperial Fuel Refinery and Depot, Later Day...
The lost of the monitoring station had immediately put the local Imperial forces on alert and they were expecting a invasion, the refinery was no different but there was nothing they could have done to protect against what the Mandalorians were going to throw at them.
Everything seemed quiet, they expected a fleet of ships to arrive but instead the base began to explode seemingly on its own! Their sensors had recorded a number of small and brief distortions just short of the atmosphere but it could have been just brief glitch in the system or meteors like they had from time to time.
But they were not meteors, they were the hyperspace capable stealth missiles launched by the Mandalorians as a distraction, laying the facility to waste without ever even seeing the enemy. But they did the bombardment slowly enough intentionally so the Imperials could get a distress call out and the Empire began to move ships into the area to repel what they thought was an invasion.
Rally Point, Unified Fleet...Same Moment...
The combined force assembled from the Rift Alliance and Rebellion was now getting ready to jump, the Infinity was surrounded by a number of Aden, Keldabe and Orar class battleships with a pair of Aggressor-class special weapon ships, accompanying each of them were smaller Gladius, Halberd and Crusader class ships while flights of Vipers, X-Wings and U-Wing bombers flew around them.
The Mon Calamari had provided a number of MC80, MC55 and MC30a cruisers along with B-Wing heavy starfighters for escort. They flew along side the Thranta-class Light Cruisers, CR90 and Foray class corvettes and a motley collection of other ships with T-70 X-wings, A-Wings, ARC-170 heavy starfighters and a number of other models provided by the Rebellion and Corellia.
The Separatist Alliance had provided Lucrehulks, Providence class battleships and other small vessels with a large number of Vulture and Hyena Droid fighters, all upgraded with modern technology. The Than had sent a squadron of a hundred ships as well.
The Padisahah Imperium had sent some of their new battleships and heavy cruisers along with many of the Jackal fighters.
The Underworld Alliance had even arranged for a squadron of their M-Class heavy gunships used by the Ravagers.
The fleet was enormous, totalling over six hundred ships in all without counting starfighters and bombers. Possibly the largest task force that the enemies of the Empire had ever assembled at one time.
But as the fleet prepared for the jump, many still not knowing just where they were going there were some things that had to be said.
On the landing deck of the Infinity, those that were going were bidding their loved ones fair well. This battle was dangerous, more so than any other that they had fought in and there was a real danger that they might not be coming back.
The warriors were all going because they had an heir at home or others to carry on their legacy, Haron had ordered this as he knew that many would die regardless of what they did and so he did not want houses or clans to be wiped out.
That was the reason why he was leaving Marcus at home, along with all his siblings. Ara too as he knew she would be needed more than him if this attack failed or if he died and it succeeded then she would need to be there to help Marcus and Leia rule. It was the same reason why Neville and Hannah would be staying with their boys while Luna stayed as her order needed her too. Deera and Zara were coming while leaving their daughters at home and so was Vysa leaving Eliza with their daughter. His nieces were strong women but he worried what losing all of them would do but he would not order them back, he did not have that right.
Bo Katan was joining them too, saying her goodbyes along with many others, Haron watched the goodbyes and was just really hoping this worked...if it didn't the cost would be way too high.
Turning to his family no words were said as they exchanged hugs, his children and friends all wishing him luck before he turned Ara who just kissed him deeply. He returned it and whispered in her ear.
"I will do everything I can to get back to you." He said to her and she whispered back.
"You'd better." He smiled though and kissed her again. Deera and Zara kissed and hugged their daughters as did Vysa.
Anakin was being no less emotional as he bid farewell to his own family, much to his fear Luke was going with them. He wanted to leave his eldest son behind but Luke would not hear of it. Mace was staying and Allara had promised if he did not return to finish Mace, Tash, Zak and Wila's training. He hoped it would not come to that but it was a precaution he had to take. He was going to face one of the most dangerous Sith Lords that had ever been and even if the rumours that they had heard which said he was losing his power and sanity were true that did not mean that Palpatine wasn't dangerous.
Anakin had underestimated him once and nearly lost everything...he wasn't going to take that risk a second time.
He hugged Padme and kissed her, she was terrified for him but knew it had to be this way, she had little experience in fighting in battles so all she would be in this battle would be a distraction and the younger ones were being kept back as only those who knew what they were doing or where otherwise essential were going in. Inexperience would kill you in the fight they were about to enter.
She didn't want Anakin to go, didn't want to lose him but he would go regardless she knew. This was too important for him not too. What made matters worse was that Luke was going after him, her husband leaving to fight in a battle was bad enough but her eldest son going too was horrible feeling, she knew she might be looking at them for the last time and as she hugged Luke with Leia she never wanted to let him go.
But reluctantly she was made too by Luke himself as he saw the mystery woman that her son had been dating, she walked up to them and with an extremely nervous smile introduced herself.
"I'm Mara Jade." She told them and held her hand out, both Leia and Padme hesitated with distrust before shaking it but Anakin seeing the smile on his son's face made himself remember how he had been when he and Padme had gotten together.
His son was in love he thought and pondered on the woman, she was beautiful he objectively admitted with her incredible red hair and green eyes and he had to admit a very impressive figure in a black formfitting jumpsuit. He was loyal to Padme with all of his soul but he could immediately see just what had drawn his son to her. Not to mention he could sense the strong will that radiated off of her and she had a strong presence in the force of her own.
He just hoped she was ready for this fight.
Anakin, Haron and everyone else that was going waved those that weren't off and went to their various stations, for Haron and Anakin that was on the bridge, seeing the impressive command centre for himself Anakin was impressed by the advanced technology and displays, Haron then went the communications station and handed the data disk to the comms officer.
"Navigation data and final co-ordinates. Spread to the fleet and jump on my command." Haron ordered and the comms officer to his credit did exactly as he was told. When he saw where they were going he blinked in shock as did many across the fleet but Haron allowed only a moment before giving the order with one last look to Anakin, knowing this was the last chance to pull out but both men nodded and so Haron gave the order.
"All ships, jump."
The fleet began jumping to hyperspace, the small ships in the vanguard first along with the starfighters flying independently of carriers before the heavier ships followed, all of the hopes of the Rift Alliance and Rebellion going with them.
Executor, Deep Space...At the Same Moment...
On his flagship Darth Vader was choking the last few officers that he could not trust, the command conference had presented him with the best opportunity that he could ever hope to destroy the Emperor and take the Imperial Throne for himself. There would be no more mistakes like the countless ones made by Palpatine so far, he would make sure of that he thought with anger at the worthless lump of flesh that currently sat on the throne.
It had taken some time but he had finally managed to acquire an ally on Coruscant, Sly Moore was as enraged as he was by Palpatine's constant failures and had arranged additional forces to join with Death Squadron in wiping Palpatine and his loyalists out.
The time was at last here, Vader thought to himself and then had his fleet join to hyperspace, Coruscant and his new throne awaited him he thought with a great sense of anticipation.
There we are, Part 1 of the finale. This is why it is shorter than normal but there are two more parts to come which includes epilogue of sorts. Please leave a review to let me know what you thought.
Perseus Gunship from Star Citizen is the basis of the new Mandalorian Dropship.
Omake written by HowInMadHowie, used with his kind permission...
Pillio vault room
Shaak Ti discovers a long lost Jedi Star Compass "Oh my! I thought these were lost or destoryed"
Jack Sparrow takes compass "You found me compass! Thank you so much I can now find my way home!"
Shaak Ti takes compass back "You do not look like a Jedi, and only a Jedi can use this! Who are you anyway?"
Jack Sparrow clutches heart in mock pain "Why I'm Captain Jack Sparrow! Surely you've heard of me?"
Shaak Ti frowns and shakes her head "No, never heard of you, eve if you are affilated with Disney." Shaak Ti looks Jack up and down. "You are not a Rebel, are you?"
Jack Sparrow "Oh no, I'm a pirate! A pirate's life for me so...can I have me compass?"
Shaak Ti ignites lightsaber "Would you like to have your head removed instead?"
Jack Sparrow "No, I like it attached to me body, thank you, bye!" Jack runs away in fear
On board Milennium Falcon
Han pulls on yoke to avoid a blaster fire. "Damnit that was close!
Deadpool "I Know! it missed us by" holds up thumb and pinky "THAT much!"
Han blinks and looks over his shoulder "Who in the kriffing hell are you and how did you get on my ship?"
Deadpool clutches hus heart in mock hurt "Oh! C'mon! Everyone knows my name! It's like when Norm goes into Cheers and everybody's like...
Audience: "DIE!" Audience pulls out blaster pistols and rifles and shoots Deadpool full of blaster bolts.
Deadpool ignores the blaster burns looks at screen. "Hey that is NOT my name, okay? It's Deadpool, not DIE! Honestly why do people calling me that?
Han stars at Deadpool "How are you not dead? Better questioon, where did all those blasters come from?"
Deadpool points thumb at screen. "Oh that would be the audience, or the readers, or the critics or-"
Han cuts Deadpool off "What do you want? What will it take to make you go away?"
Deadpool ignores Han's question "I gotta ask, Han man, do you regret not having a Wookie for co-pilot? I mean a droid? Really? You'll never heard the end of it, granted he's no C-3PO but it's all jus Bullux!"
Palpatine's throne room
Palpatine massages temple to ward off withdrawal headache "Nothing has been going as I have foreseen...NOTHING! Why is my great Empire falling apart?"
Deadpool nods sagely "Well that's what drugs do, man! I did warn you they would rot your brain"
Palpatine ignores Deadpool's comment and glares at Deadpool "You only bother me when you have something to report, so...get on with it!"
Deadpool shrugs "Oh it's bit of good news and bad news, or bad news and good news I suppose...or bad news and worse news? I'm not sure which is which anymore. So which do you want first?"
Palpatine glares at deadpool "Fine, what is the bad news"
Deadpool winces "Ah, yeah...about your second Death Star? It was stolen too..by Xizor this time, but don't worry I dispatched a fleet to catch him! Well, two fleets really."
Palpatine growls in frustration but calms down when he hears about the fleets "Good, good! And what is the worst or good news, or whatever."
Deadpool backs up to get ready to jump out the window "Oh that? Well, when I said two fleets it was one of yours and a Rebel fleet led by the Chosen One himself! Then uh...Xizor fired the superlaster and Death Star go...BOOM! Bye!" Deadpool runs to get out of throne room by jumping out the window
Palpatine screams out in rage "WHAT! GET BACK HERE SO I CAN KILL YOU!"
Omake Ends...
Next Chapter – The Final Battle Begins with the fate of the galaxy hanging the balance, a three way confrontation that will shape the future forever.