Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter. Let's get to it.

MR11: I don't think I'd feel right doing that if I havent included Dash himself in this series, which I haven't so far.

MatbeK01: In order of your questions: 1)No, she won't go back to Ahch-To. 2)Maybe, lol. 3) Well, I've kinda already solved that, as I've stated already in author's note and in text that the First Order was able to steal primitive blueprints of the Repulse class. 4) A presidential address will definitely be in the last few chapters. 5)That is one thing I definitely don't plan on doing. 6) He won't make more than a cameo or two.

Chapter 74- Back to Teth

(April 28, 2052)

All around them, Ben and Rey watch and listen as alarms blare throughout the ship and crewmen race all around them to get to their battlestations. Admiral Gensoul had announced only a few moments ago that the task force was nearing their target: Teth.

"We better get to the hangar. We can wait for the call there," Ben says.

However, right as he says this, Rey's commlink begins to buzz. Rey pulls it out and activates it, and a moment later, an image of Finn comes up, crouched and clearly hiding wherever he is.

"Finn. It's so good to see you," she says. She hasn't seen her friend in a long time, given she was occupied on Earth with her pregnancy and raising Vestara, and Finn was busy with the war.

"Good to see you, Rey. I've missed seeing you," Finn says with a grin.

"Finn, what's the word?" Ben asks.

Finn looks over at Ben, a more serious look on his face. He and Poe had volunteered to make a reconnaissance run to Teth to provide the Alliance with up to date information on the First Order's forces on the planet and where they were located. The pair were still on Teth, ensuring they could provide the most up to date information.

"From what we can tell, there's about 80,000 troops here on Teth. About 30,000 are at the main facility the Terrans built here, and the rest are scattered around the planet, primarily on plateaus in the northern hemisphere. We've been able to establish that there are at least 300 TIE fighters permanently based on the surface. Due to the nature of the planet, there aren't many walkers planetside," Finn explains the current situation.

"Perfect. We're coming in with more troops than that, so we should be fine," Ben responds to Finn.

"Finn, you and Poe keep yourself out of sight, and rendezvous with our forces once you can. We'll see you after the battle is over," Rey urges him.

"Stay safe you two, and watch each other's backs. We'll see you soon," Finn responds before ending the call.

Ben looks at Rey and says, "Let Admiral Gensoul know what he told us, and let's get to the hangar."

Within just a few minutes, Admiral Gensoul, up on the bridge, has received the update from Rey. Already, his mind is running through the situation and how to deploy his forces. The situation is not as bad as he thought, and hopefully this battle should go a bit better than he expected.

"Admiral, coming out of hyperspace in ten seconds!" one of the bridge staff calls out.

"Copy. All ships, prepare to engage," Gensoul orders.

Seconds later, the fleet of 20 warships and 10 transports drop out of hyperspace, and out of their viewports, Teth comes into view. To the relief of everyone, there are only 8 warships in orbit over Teth.

"All ship advance and engage. And prepare the landing force to begin landing operations as soon as a path can be cleared," Gensoul ordered. After some of his prior defeats, especially his defeat at Coruscant, Gensoul feels a great sense of satisfaction knowing that this will be a relatively easy victory.

(A few hours later)

A massive energy bolt from a piece of First Order artillery land right in front of her, and Rey leaps back to avoid being struck by any shrapnel. Rey immediately reignites the blades of her saber and charges forward. Two stormtroopers rush her, firing their blasters, but Rey cuts them down in seconds.

Glancing to the side, Rey sees Ben leaping past her. He has both of his sabers drawn, blades of blue and purple flashing around him, cutting down dozens of troopers. He then uses a Force wave to make dozens more stumbling, allowing a battalion of troops advancing behind him to advance again.

Once the fleet had been able to clear a path for the landing vessels, the landing vessels had been able to move in and deposit four divisions and one brigade of the Indian Army on the planet's surface. The Indian troops had quickly overwhelmed most of the weaker positions of the First Order, and now 25,000 Indian troops had surrounded the main Terran facility on Teth. The First Order's garrison at the facility had taken heavy casualties, and the Indian troops, led by Ben and Rey, were on the verge of breaking through into the facility.

Rey ducks to avoid a flying piece of rock, sent flying by a Terran artillery shell. Another volley of artillery shells lands seconds later, killing a number of stormtroopers and scattering more.

Rey is about to charge forward, but almost immediately spots a company of stormtroopers coming in on their flank, almost completely unnoticed by the Indian troops they're charging at. Rey immediately changes direction and sprints to intercept the charging troopers to protect the Indian troops.

The troopers start firing, and manage to kill two of the Indians before Rey gets between them and the troopers. Rey plants her feet as she spins her saber in front of her at incredible speed, the blades deflecting bolts in all directions, including back at the troopers who fired them. This quickly attracts the attention of the Indian soldiers, who quickly divert their attention and the fire of their rifles and blasters towards the troopers.

Rey quickly realizes that the Indian troops are now supporting her as she watches more and more troopers fall. Realizing the opportunity, she charges the troopers, deflecting every shot fired at her before she reaches the diminished company.

The sound of saber blades cutting through armor and flesh can be heard again and again as Rey attacks the stormtroopers, her lightsaber becoming almost a ring of energy around her that carves through everything in her path. Some of the troopers cry out in fear and try to escape, but are unable to move quickly enough before they are cut down by Rey.

It takes Rey only moments before she has eliminated the rest of the stormtroopers. Glancing around her to make sure there aren't any immediate threats, she turns back to the troops she just saved. "Come on!" she urges them before she starts running towards the wall of the facility. The troops cheer and follow after her.

Meanwhile, Ben is leading another battalion of troops, accompanied by a tank, towards one of the gates into the facility. As Ben springs over a piece of rubble and cuts down two stormtroopers with simultaneous strokes from his sabers, the tank accompanying the battalion fires its cannon. The shell takes out the leg of an AT-ST walker defending the gate. The walker collapses against the gate, smashing its way through it and breaking open the gates.

"The gates are breached! Charge!" Ben bellows, and he charges towards the gate, one saber raised over his head to rally the troops. The troops charge after him, bellowing war cries.

In only a few minutes, Ben leads his troops through the broken gate and into the facility. A smile crosses Ben's face as they enter the facility. This is the last real obstacle to securing the Alliance's hold on Teth. And with Teth secured, it will make traveling between the two regions of Terran controlled territory easier, and give the Alliance a good foothold to start incursions into the territory controlled by the First Order's criminal allies.

The war is really heating up, and the Alliance is finally edging out their enemies.

And, I'll end the chapter there. I know, shorter, but it got done what I was looking for.

Next chapter will be up soon. Until it is, please leave a review, and stay tuned!