Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
Let's get to it.
Endor: He may still be alive, but no, we will never see him again. And yeah, Vestara definitely has more Force potential, but she's also a toddler. Wait until she grows up.
Rico: It's called fanfiction and changing stuff I don't like. I never liked that she's a Palpatine in canon, so I changed it here.
Sectrooper: I might find room for that in a future chapter.
Chapter 85- Hear the Call
(March 19, 2053)
In the Gliese 581 star system, above one of the system's planets, dozens of ships hang in a high orbit over the planet. All of them are members of the Terran Starfleet's Reserve Fleet.
The Starfleet kept a reserve fleet of older ships that could be quickly reactivated in the event of an emergency. The fleet was kept in space to keep them in better shape, with power provided to their preservation systems by their reactors. A portion of the fleet was kept in a ready-alert state, where they could be returned to duty within a few days, while the rest required more extensive work to return to active duty.
When the Emperor's broadcast was sent out, the ready-alert part of the fleet was ordered to be made ready to return to action at a moment's notice. And as of two days ago, when the order was sent out for all available ships to be sent to reinforce Jonathan's command, all available Reserve Fleet ships were placed back in commission and ordered to sail as soon as possible. And so, 50 of the ships of the Reserve Fleet are being made ready to sail.
One of them is the old battleship Bismarck. Most of the old Dreadnought class battleships had been retired after their replacement, the America-class, was brought into service. Originally, the last three ships of the class were kept in service, but the last one built, the Musashi, was scrapped after suffering from a massive, accidental explosion in 2035, leaving just the Tirpitz and Barham as the only Dreadnought-class battleships still in service. The Bismarck had been retired in 2031, and been kept in the Reserve Fleet since then. A new Bismarck, a Repulse-class battlecruiser, was currently in service with the Starfleet. For that, she had been recommissioned under the name TAS Old Bismarck.
Due to the crew requirements to bring the 42 selected ships from the Reserve Fleet back to life, a number of recently retired veterans had been asked to come back to service, and some sailors of other ships from the Starfleet were reassigned. The Bismarck would still have an undersized crew compared to what was standard during her service, but it would be enough to operate her.
On the bridge of the Old Bismarck, her new captain, a recently retired captain who had returned to duty is on the bridge. The man, Captain Johann Priller, is in fact from Germany, and before his retirement, had in fact commanded the Repulse class battlecruiser Fuso. His experience commanding a large capital ship was the reason he had been selected for this position.
"Are we ready?" Priler calls out.
"Yes, captain. Engine room reports full readiness!" an officer calls out.
"Good. Engines ahead full!" Priller orders.
In the stern of the ship, there is a low booming sound as the Old Bismarck's engines come to life for the first time in over 2 decades. The crew releases the ship from the mooring docks that have kept the ships of the Reserve Fleet in orbit and away from each other. Slowly, the ship begins to move away from the mooring docks, underway at last. And soon enough, along with the rest of reactivated ships of the Reserve Fleet, the Old Bismarck will begin its journey to Naboo.
(Ajan Kloss)
On Ajan Kloss, a moon in the Outer Rim of the Andromeda Galaxy, the Resistance is beginning to bed down for the night. Ajan Kloss is the home of the Resistance's main base, and where Leia remains based out of.
At the moment, Leia is having a meeting with several important people. Finn, Poe, and Kyle Katarn are gathered in one of the base's meeting rooms. And in front of them is a holo-projector, projecting an image of Lando Calrissian.
"It's so good to see you again, Leia," Lando says with a bright smile.
"You too, Lando. We've missed you, for sure. But now, we really need you," Leia says.
"What can I do?" Lando asks.
"I need you to rally the people of this galaxy. Your reputation is known by people all across the galaxy, and you know how to sway opinion. Grand Admiral Page is launching his attack in a week's time, and we need all the help from the people of the galaxy that we can get," Leia says. She pauses, then turns to Kyle and says, "Master Katarn, I'm asking you to rendezvous with Lando and work with him to rally the galaxy under our banner. Your past as a smuggler will give you some pull in that world, and your identity as a Jedi and the news of your return will inspire the people of the galaxy to rally to our cause."
"Yes, General Organa," Kyle responds.
"May the Force be with you both," Leia says encouragingly.
(March 25, 2053)
As the sun is setting over Mandalore, it is setting on a planet that is alive with activity.
After a week of preparing, the Terran Alliance and its allies are preparing for the massive attack on Exegol. Jonathan had decided to assemble the fleet at Mandalore due to it being much closer to Exegol's location than Naboo, and massing at Mandalore would cut over a day off the travel time.
As the fleets are massing over the planet, in Sundari, a handful of Terran personnel are bedding down for the night, but some are having a secret gathering in one of the rooms of the palace. Namely, Ben, Rey, Jaina, and Anakin Hall. Jaina and Anakin had just arrived at Ben and Rey's apartment, and the meeting between the four is just beginning.
"I think you guys know why we called you here," Ben says bluntly.
"Yeah, we know you too well," Anakin says, arms folded and his usual cocky smile on his face.
"Even if Grand Admiral Page were to object to our intentions, we have to do this. No matter how much success we have against the fleet, it will ultimately be useless if we can't deal with the Emperor. And there's no telling how he could affect the battle in space. The fleet's best chance is if we can keep him distracted and kill him," Ben says.
"We hate to ask this of you, but we can't do this alone. Kylo Ren is almost certainly going to be there, and there's no telling what kind of guards the Emperor might have. We need someone to keep Ren and any other dangers at bay while we deal with the Emperor," Rey adds.
"You hardly have to ask. You know you can count me in," Anakin says with his usual cocky attitude. Ben smiles and shakes his head a bit, privately worried that Anakin's attitude is soon going to get him in real trouble and hoping today is not that day.
Jaina then speaks up. "You know that I'll go with you, cousins. You don't even have to ask. And no offense, but I've got the best chance of putting Kylo Ren down," she says.
"We know," Ben says solemnly.
Suddenly, there's a knock on the door. Everyone looks towards the door for a moment before looking back at each other. "Did you ask somebody else to come here?" Anakin asks.
"No," Ben mutters. He stands up and walks over to the door. As he opens it, he is surprised to find David Ronen standing on the other side of the door.
"Major Ronen," Ben says in surprise.
"Hello, Skywalker. Mind if I come in?" Ronen asks.
"Uh, sure," Ben says before he stands aside and allows the old ASAT member into the room.
The others are surprised to see Ronen enter the room. "Major Ronen. What brings you here?" Anakin asks respectfully. He had always admired Ronen and the stories about him since his teen years.
Ronen smiles at Anakin before he turns back to Ben. "I know what your plan is, Skywalker. I know you intend to go to Exegol to face the Emperor. And I figure you could use all the backup you could get," Ronen says.
"You-you want to come with us to Exegol?" Ben asks.
"Well, I was one of the crew who found Exegol. I figure I should have the right to come with you. Plus, I've gotten much better and much stronger than I was when we disappeared," Ronen says.
Ben is quiet for a few moments before he says, a small smile crossing his face, "We'd be very grateful to have you join us, Major Ronen."
Ronen smiles in return, and Ben is feeling an extra boost of morale. This may just work out.
And, I'll end there.
Next chapter will be up soon. Until it is up, please leave a review and stay tuned!