Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

Also, a note I forgot to add at the end of last chapter. A good visualization of the shape that the Hood is in would be to compare it the shape we saw the Star Destroyer Chimaera in during the Ahsoka show.

Let's get to it.

Chapter 84- The Best News

(March 17, 2053)

In orbit over Naboo, the personnel of the Starfleet are all very tense and anxious. The news they had received only hour ago had stunned them all to the core down to the last man. And none more so than the man in charge.

At the moment, Jonathan is currently sitting in the back of the cockpit of a VIP shuttle, which is currently hanging in orbit, awaiting the arrival of Vice Admiral Bianchi's task force. Calvin is also with him in the cockpit. Both of them can't remember the last time they felt this much anticipation.

When Vice Admiral Bianchi had contacted fleet HQ on Naboo to inform them that he had found the Hood, Jonathan pretty much had to pick his jaw up off the ground. He hadn't believed him at first, but Bianchi insisted it was true. Eventually, Jonathan chose to believe Bianchi. Now, he's waiting for the task force to arrive.

Soon enough, Jonathan hears a soft alarm in the cockpit. His sense of anticipation gets even stronger, and he's almost jumping in his seat. Seconds later, ships begin dropping out of hyperspace in front of him, all in the shape of a big ring facing the planet. Then, after all the others have appeared, one final ship drops out of hyperspace in the center of the ring.

Jonathan gasps in awe as he lays eyes on the Hood for the first time in over 30 years. He had operated from the Hood several times during the Galactic Civil War, and had multiple friends who were aboard the ship when it disappeared. His mind is flooded with memories as he watches the somewhat battered ship. Just to be sure, he pulls out his binocks and takes a closer look at the ship. Just under the main bridge, he can see the name painted on the hull: Hood.

"I can't believe it," Jonathan mutters in awe.

"After all these years…" Calvin adds, trailing off in his words.

There is a few moments of silence before Jonathan says, "Commander, take us in." The pilot nods before he throttles up the engines and starts flying towards the old battlecruiser.

It doesn't take long before the shuttle flies under the bulk of the battlecruiser's hull. The pilot pauses for a second to confirm that he's clear to land before he slowly flies in to land in the hangar bay.

As the shuttle flies up into the hangar bay, Jonathan takes a look around. Despite how long the Hood has been gone, the hangar bay is in pretty good shape. As he looks around, he can see the fighters and bombers of the Hood's air wing all in their parking spots, but with a handful missing. Jonathan also notices that the walls have some party decorations up, as if there had been a party the day before and they hadn't been able to take all the decorations down yet.

The pilot carefully sets the shuttle down and begins shutting down the engines. As he does, Jonathan and Calvin get up from their seats and head for the boarding ramp.

As they come down the ramp, they pause for a moment to take in the sight before them. Several hundred sailors from the Hood's crew have assembled in formation ahead of them. Their uniforms all show signs of wear and tear, and none of the individuals in front of them look to be under 50 years old. And standing in the front of the formation are 4 individuals, waiting for them.

Jonathan and Calvin approach the formation, who all snap to attention as the pair approach. As the pair gets close, they recognize the four individuals waiting for them, all much older than they remember, but still recognizable: Captain Moorhouse, David Ronen, Iden Versio, and Admiral Pellaeon. Pellaeon has now gotten so old that he is using a cane.

Calvin is the first to break the silence. "David, you old dog. I should've known you wouldn't die so easily," he says with a chuckle as he speeds up a bit. Ronen grins in response, and the two old teammates embrace for the first time since 2019.

As Calvin and Ronen embrace, Jonathan faces Pellaeon. Straightening up, Jonathan gives Pellaeon a crisp salute, even though he outranks the older admiral. Pellaeon smiles a bit before he returns the salute. As both men lower their salute, "Admiral Pellaeon, it is our honor to welcome you home after all these decades. I'm Grand Admiral Jonathan Page, Supreme Allied Commander, Andromeda Galaxy."

Pellaeon chuckles a bit. "Well, well. Jonathan Page. I certainly remember your reputation, even if we never met in person. You have definitely come far in your career," he says.

"Well, I have your old commander Thrawn to thank for that. He helped build me into the commander I am today," Jonathan says.

"I'm not surprised," Pellaeon says with a chuckle before he asks, "How is the old man?"

Jonathan's face falls a bit before he answers, "Unfortunately, Grand Admiral Thrawn passed away two and a half years ago."

Pellaeon's face falls as he hears this news. "That is disheartening to hear. He will be missed," Pellaeon says.

"He will indeed. But, he died peacefully and not in pain, though I certainly feel he would've rather died in battle," Jonathan says.

Pellaeon chuckles before he says, "That he would."

Jonathan looks at the others standing beside Pellaeon. "Captain Moorhouse, Major Versio, Major Ronen, welcome back. It is good to see you all again," Jonathan greets them. They all give greetings in return, as well as a salute.

Jonathan looks over the assembled crew before he says, "Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Terran Alliance, I welcome you all home. You have persevered through a trial that I am sure was not easy for you to endure. I will inform the Joint Command and the General Assembly of your return, and I know your families and friends will be happy to see that you have returned." He wants to say so much more, but his shock at the situation prevents him from finding those words.

Jonathan focuses on the four individuals directly in front of him, specifically Pellaeon. "Admiral Pellaeon, you have more than fulfilled your duty. As SAC-A, I am releasing you and your crew from your assignment. I will detach crew members from other ships of the Naboo Defense Fleet to augment your crew, and you will be clear to return back to Terra. You have kept yourselves alive all this time, and now it's time for you to rest."

"We cannot rest yet, Grand Admiral. I need to give you and the Admiralty a report on our mission and what we discovered," Pellaeon says.

"Admiral, I'm sure that can wait," Jonathan says with a chuckle, not realizing exactly what Pellaeon is talking about.

"But Grand Admiral, we found a way to the planet Exegol. I am certain that even with the current war that the a Chiss warship we encountered told us about, the Alliance will want to send a strike fleet there, especially after we discovered a large part of the former Imperial fleet there," Pellaeon says.

Jonathan and Calvin both jolt a little bit out of shock, eyes bugging out of their heads. They had spent weeks looking for any clue to the path to Exegol, and now, out of nowhere, the Hood returns with the clues they need?

"Admiral Pellaeon, you have no idea how badly we need what you just told me," Jonathan says. He pauses for a second, then says, "You're coming down to fleet HQ right now. We need to speak with the Joint Command immediately."

(Andromeda Fleet HQ, Theed, an hour later)

In the main conference room of the Andromeda Fleet HQ, one of the most important meetings of the entire Second Galactic Civil War is underway. Present at the meeting, either in person or by holo-call, are some of the most important figures of the war from the allies: the entire Terran Joint Command along with President Nantz, the Admiralty, members of the Terran Jedi Council including Ahsoka and Jared Hansen, Director of Intelligence Carl Bishop, Jonathan, Admiral Jacobsen, Calvin, Luke and Kelly, Ben and Rey, Jaina, Leia, Admiral Ackbar, Din Djarin, and even Boba Fett. All of them had been called due to how critical the information that was due to be presented is.

Needless to say, everyone in the meeting was stunned beyond words when Admiral Pellaeon stepped into the meeting and informed the assembly that he and the Hood had finally returned from their exile. All of them considered the Hood long gone, and to see it returned was a great shock.

After they finally recovered from their shock, members of the assembly began to question Pellaeon on what exactly had happened to him and his crew, why they had disappeared, and where they'd been all these years. Of course, Pellaeon kept certain things from them that he had promised to keep secret, especially the existence of the Sith colony they had found, but he shared the rest, including their 12 year stay on New Callistan and the families that the crew had raised. At last, he came to the information most of use to the Alliance.

"You found Exegol?" about half a dozen people blurt out all at once.

"Yes, we did. The maps we were able to download from the Star Destroyer we engaged at New Callistan led us straight there. And when we got there, we discovered a fleet of at least two thousands warships moored over the planet, possibly more. All were old Imperial models. I suspect that they are the warships that mysteriously vanished during the period between the Battle of Endor and the fall of Coruscant," Pellaeon explains.

A few people feel a chill when they hear this. Grand General Lawrence then speaks up and says, "Admiral…you found Exegol from this New Callistan. Were you also able to find a way to Exegol from here?"

Pellaeon smiles confidently. "Yes, Grand General. In fact, we could've been home much sooner if we wanted, but my advisors and I decided that the Alliance needed a way to get to Exegol. So, we spent the last 12 years mapping two different routes through the Unknown Regions to reach Exegol. And we succeeded, mapping two routes to Exegol large enough for fleets several thousands of ships in size to pass through. Large enough for our battle fleets to take to reach the planet."

Pellaeon's words send an electric shock through the meeting. Everyone is silent for a moment before Lawrence speaks up again and says, "You are absolutely positive about this, Admiral Pellaeon?"

"One hundred percent, Grand General," Pellaeon responds.

There is a moment of silence before Jonathan leans forward. "Grand General Lawrence, President Nantz, now is the time. If we strike now, we can secure our victory in this war. I don't care what you have to do to make it happen, but I need every single warships you can possibly muster sent to Naboo if we're going to have any chance of winning this."

"You'll have them, Jonathan," Nantz responds.

Everyone feels a great sense of anticipation running through them. At last, they have the way to Exegol, and soon, they'll have the firepower needed to challenge the fleet there.

However, amidst all the excitement, Ben and Rey are silently contemplating this news for another reason. With the way to Exegol open, they know that they have the opening they need. And now, their personal confrontation with the Emperor is inevitable.

This is it. This is the threat the Jedi of old trained them to face. This is the fight of their lives, and a fight for the freedom of the galaxy.

And, I'll end the chapter there.

So, there will be one more chapter before the Battle of Exegol actually begins. Once it begins, I'll alternate chapters between the confrontation with the Emperor on the surface and the space battle. And boy, I don't think you guys are ready for what I have planned.

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