Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter. I decided to combine the planned plot of two chapters into one for this chapter.

Let's get to it.

Chapter 88- First Arrivals

In the cockpit of his SF-39 Mustang, Daniel quietly monitors his systems and navicomputer. According to the navicomputer, there's only 30 seconds left on their hyperspace run.

According to the plan, Leia is leading an advance Resistance fleet to Exegol to pave the way for the Grand Fleet. The Resistance fleet includes almost its entire fighter fleet, the Home One, the Raddus, another MC80 cruiser they had acquired, Leia's old ship Tantive IV, two small frigates, and their flagship, the Rebel Dream. However, Jonathan knew they would need as much help as they could get, and so he had sent the Hammer Squadron to accompany them.

Despite knowing the Grand Fleet was coming, Daniel and the rest of the Squadron were under no illusion about what was at stake, and that their odds were not good. There was no telling what exactly they might face, and with how outnumbered they would certainly be, there was a very good chance that some of the Squadron would not be coming home. But they knew that the chaos they could spread before the arrival of the Grand Fleet could be critical to the success of the rest of the operation.

"Come out of hyperspace in ten seconds! Get ready!" Captain Parker calls out to the squadron. Daniel places his hands on the hyperspace throttles, listening to Captain Parker count down the seconds.

"Five, four, three, two, one, mark!" Parker calls out. And in the space of two seconds, the advance Resistance fleet and the Hammer Squadron drop out of hyperspace.

Immediately, they catch sight of the massive First Order/Dark Empire fleet massed over Exegol. Many mouths drop open at the sight of the fleet before them. The fleet is much, much bigger than they expected. Poe Dameron speaks for them all as his voice is broadcast over the frequency, "Look at that fleet."

Only seconds later, hundreds of the closest cruisers and Star Destroyers turn their turbolaser batteries towards the Resistance fleet and open fire.

Turbolaser bolts quickly streak around the fleet, downing one of the Resistance's B-wing fighters in seconds, and Poe calls out over the frequency, "Welcome to Exegol!"

"All fighters, get in amongst the ships! They can't fire on us so easily without hitting each other, and we'll draw their fire away from the cruisers!" Captain Parker calls out over the radio.

Daniel, already weaving and rolling to avoid getting shot down, shoves his throttles to full afterburner and speeds towards the mass of ships up ahead. "Kenzo, stay with me!" Daniel shouts over their frequency.

"You got it, Daniel," Kenzo responds.

Daniel and Kenzo streak past several Star Destroyers, trying their best to avoid the flying turbolaser bolts. They quickly focus on taking out the heavier turbolasers, knowing that they have to preserve the cruisers and Rebel Dream.

Daniel shifts the armament switch to his Mavericks as he barrel rolls up to avoid a volley of turbolaser fire. Focusing on the turbolaser mounts of the Imperial-II class Star Destroyer ahead of him, Daniel ripple-fires four Mavericks. The missiles pummel the heavy turbolaser turrets, penetrating their armor and destroying them instantly. Daniel then immediately does a Split S, diving down under the hull of the Star Destroyer.

"We just gotta stay alive and cause chaos! Keep on your toes, and give 'em hell!" Captain Parker shouts over the radio as he blasts one of the sensor bulbs on an Imperial class.

Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Rebel Dream, Leia is paying close attention as Finn as relaying the numbers on the composition of the fleets at Exegol. Finn, being incredibly familiar with the ships of both the First Order and the former Empire, had very quickly identified all the ships at Exegol, save for the new ones created by the Dark Empire, and had been able to quickly get an accurate estimate on the ship numbers. Now, they just need to hold out until the Grand Fleet and whatever reinforcements Lando has gathered arrive at Exegol.

(The Citadel)

In the underground of the Citadel, Ben, Rey, and Jaina are slowly making their way through the corridors. The sounds of Anakin and Ronen's duel have faded into the distance, and they are entirely focused on their search.

"That feeling is getting stronger. We're closing in," Ben whispers.

Suddenly, Jaina thrusts an arm out and grabs Ben by the shoulder. Both Ben and Rey turn to her, and instantly see the look on her face. "What is it?" Ben asks.

"He's here," Jaina mutters.

Right then, they hear that familiar snap and crackle. Slowly, all three of them turn to the corner up ahead, where they can just see the corridor opening up into some kind of lab. And a moment later, Kylo Ren, wearing his mask, comes around the corner, holding his lightsaber at his side.

Ben and Rey are both about to say something, but before they can, Jaina brushes right past them, almost shoving them aside as she moves between them. She then reaches up and removes her helmet, holding it in one hand as she reveals her face.

Kylo stops right in his tracks, gaze fixed on his sister. "Jaina," he mutters, his shock immediately evident in the tone of his voice.

"Jacen," she responds, venom in her voice.

"After all this time, you show yourself," Kylo says in an almost confused tone.

"I couldn't stay away forever. Especially not after hearing what you've done," Jaina growls. Her face grows into one of anger and she begins to scream at her brother, "Destroying the Jedi? Slaughtering how many thousands of people? Trying to kill Uncle Luke and Ben? KILLING OUR FATHER?"

Kylo is unable to respond. Because it's his sister, he can't manage to find the words, as he's still too shocked at seeing her.

Jaina gives him another glare before she slides her helmet back onto her head. "Go. Find Palpatine and put an end to this. I've handle my brother," she says to her cousins.

Neither Ben nor Rey want to abandon her, but they realize they have no choice. "Stay safe," Rey says before she and Ben turn to leave.

Kylo and Jaina continue to stare each other down for several seconds before Jaina removes her lightsaber from her belt. A second later, the purple blade springs to life, the blade humming over the background noise.

"I don't want to fight you, Jaina," Kylo honestly admits. Despite his anger for much of the rest of his family, the one he could never feel anger for was his twin sister.

"You may not, and at heart, I may not, but that's not going to stop me. You've done enough crimes, and I can't let you stop us. Plus, you're going to pay for killing for our father," Jaina says. As she finishes, she activates her jetpack, boosting herself up into the air before coming down at her brother. Kylo brings his saber up to block hers, and their sabers clash with a loud crackle as the battle between the siblings begins.

As their duel begins, Ben and Rey press on, determined to find Palpatine. They can only feel the presence of the dark side growing, and they know that they're close. So close.

And, I'll end there. I hope this was a good one.

So, next chapter is gonna be huge. It will feature the arrival of the fleet, feature one of the duels currently ongoing in the Citadel, and a confrontation with the Emperor that is going to shock you all.

Alright. Next chapter should hopefully be up tomorrow. Until it is, please leave a review, and stay tuned!