Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Star Wars.

Firstly, I am sorry this chapter was delayed. I hit a major case of writer's block and I had some personal issues to deal with so it really slowed me down. Thank you to everyone that read and reviewed the last chapter.

I had to use some characters from The Old Republic game as information on members of the Corellian Resistance is surprisingly sparse. It also pads out the Corellian Jedi too.

I decided to follow a suggestion put to me by some of you, Zyvrexx in particular who suggested to me that looking into goblin steel and enchanting metal might be something worth exploring. So, thank you to those that suggested it and especially to Zyvrexx.

This chapter will also feature another appearance by the Bad Batch. It will change their canon as I planned this out before season 2 concluded so there will be differences.

No review response this week sorry!

984 ARR - 16 BBY

Chapter 29 - Corellia Uprising

984 ARR…

The state of the galaxy was a growing sense of unease as the Empire grew more and more harsh in its occupation of planets that it felt might be rebellious, coming down hard on any potential sign of trouble and establishing more and more restrictive rules to keep order and quell more uprisings and the vast increase in military spending to expand the Imperial Military so it could 'ensure stability for all territories and protect Imperial Citizens' was straining the galactic economy, a lot of funding was being pulled to fund the building of new warships, ground vehicles, train and equipping Stormtroopers and building up general infrastructure for the military.

Lothal, a planet that had been a political and geological backwater for centuries since it had been colonised, given it was far from regular space lanes suffered greatly as Imperial Survey Units discovered the vast resources it had beneath the surface for both building starships and extremely rare and valuable Kyber Crystals. Overnight or rather over a month, the planet's local government had gone from nearly begging for help to struggling to retain any sense of power as the Imperial machine moved it. Setting up mining facilities, factories and clearing out sections of the city for new buildings, evicting people who lived there ruthlessly and deploying a garrison which handed out harsh order on the people.

The recession in the galactic economy was having a dramatic effect on a lot of worlds further out, this only enflamed opinions against the Empire more as people found themselves struggling to put food on the table while Imperial factories demanded long and hard days for little pay and any complaining could easily see you arrested or fired with little chance of another job anywhere.

This of course did create opportunities for some people, the black market was thriving under the harsh conditions and many people would turn to crime as a means of supporting themselves and their families if they had them. Pirate gangs across the galaxy along with crime syndicates that could actually help feed people, swelled with fresh recruits, as did grass roots rebel units.

The Ravagers, already a large force by pirate standards were the most affected. Before they had only numbered about twenty clans across the galaxy but now their numbers swelled enough for the number of clans to rise to sixty, each a different faction which while usually operating alone could co-ordinate for larger scale raids. They had even started setting up their own shadowports for places to hide, to sell their wares, swap supplies and information and also where they could build their own ships. They belonged to the Ravagers alone and would be shared with no-one.

The Empire in response to the rise of piracy added a new ship to their fleet to escort their convoys to save having to detail the expensive Imperial-class Star Destroyer to protection duty, they chose the Kuat Drive Yards latest design, the EF76 Nebulon-B Frigate. With a much smaller crew complement and the limited ability to carry Tie Fighters not to mention a fairly good number of weapons for its smaller size it was the perfect ship to assign to convoy escort jobs and to support larger vessels in campaigns.

They were effective and the Empire was soon building as many as they could, but their small crew complements made them vulnerable to boarding actions. The Rebels and Pirates began to learn the vulnerabilities in the design and exploit them, not to mention realised their potential as smaller capital ships and captured as many as they could.

500 Republica, Coruscant…

A despondent Mon Mothma and Bail Organa sat sipping on some tea as they considered yet another failure to get the senate to try and curb military spending, they might have more luck moving the moons of Yavin then actually getting the senate to try and fight the Emperor.

There were so many people desperate for power they would follow where he went while those like them who were willing and able to fight grew smaller in number every day.

It was now more than apparent to both of them that what they were doing simply wasn't enough, it just wasn't working. They needed to do more and find other ways to fight the emperor.

Potentially, even military options. Bail had been gathering resources and contacts for some time now for this very purpose with Ahsoka Tano acting as his agent but hadn't actually used them yet.

Both decided to start founding rebel cells wherever they could find people willing to fight and maybe…at least they hoped the sign that opposition was growing even inside the Empire's borders might get enough people to start working with them rather than simply bowing down to Palpatine.

Mandalore, the Mandalore System…

After years of construction, it was finally finished.

The enormous ring structure around Mandalore which would serve at the main shipyard for their considerable fleet, was at last finished!

It was a huge achievement for the Mandalorian people, every house and clan had sent representatives to witness the opening of the shipyard which was a proud achievement for their people. Korkie was standing there with his wife Lagos and Aunt Bo-Katan looking very proud of the accomplishment as it gave the Mandalorians a shipyard even better than the ones at Fondor or Kuat itself. The Iokath technology they had reverse engineered or directly incorporated into the design meant it could assemble high quality ships at an impressive rate.

Haron stood with the guests, proud of the achievement and in the ceremony to launch their new facility, Haron gave a speech to them all.

"Today we welcome a new and important advantage, a shipyard with facilities and scale to upgrade and maintain our growing fleet. One that will allow us to compete with other galactic powers and give us a new jewel to our crown. To the future!" He toasted and everyone echoed the statement.

"TO THE FUTURE!"

Haron inwardly while glad of the shipyard as at last they had somewhere to do some much needed repairs and upgrades to their larger ships was worried as the Lucrehulks were now going to have to be taken out of action for a much-needed refit. It was essential since they had recently started showing signs of wear and needed repairs and some upgrades to keep them in service and this was the only time that they had a shipyard capable of doing that.

He just hoped they didn't have a need for them anytime soon and that the Aden class warships could take over.

Haron watched as the leaders assembled all mingled with each other, he was distracted though as he felt something through the force, he looked down at the surface of Mandalore, scarred and barren but he could feel something down there. He wasn't sure just what it was, but he knew the first moment he was able he was going to check it out. Mandalore had little force presence so if something was down there creating one it would be a good idea to see just what it was.

- x -

The next day Haron descended to Mandalore's surface alone.

He shouldn't really be doing this by himself but he was unsure just what was waiting down and his force tracking led him to the abandoned beskar mines near the capital Sundari.

Entering the mines, it was spooky and he felt the force strongly here, it confused him somewhat as to what might draw him here and create such a strong aura in the force but it was neutral, Haron noted, not light or dark. That was unusually but not unlike the aura that was forming on Reijar after Luna had begun training force sensitives there.

Arriving at a large pool he was surprised as these were the living waters that were almost mythical to his people, no-one followed the extremist old way anymore other than the Armourer's Tribe so hardly anyone came here but as he was wondering just what might be making such a presence in the force, something in the water caught his attention.

Looking at the simmering waters he saw a disturbance just below the surface and reached for his weapons when out of the waters came the most incredible creature he had seen in a long time.

It rose up and looked straight at him, an enormous head with sharp fangs and huge horns on the sides of its head, scales covered what he could see of its large body and its yellow- and orange-coloured eyes looked right at him for a moment, like they were staring right into him.

A Mythosaur, Haron thought with astonishment. They had supposedly died out a long time ago, thousands of years in the ancient days when warriors had ridden them into battle. The idea that at least one of them still existed, that shocked him and he was almost hypnotised by the creature.

For a moment Haron thought it was going to attack him but after taking a look at him for a moment, it dived back under the Living Waters and disappeared. He was almost tempted to dive in after it but respected that this was its domain and left it alone.

The Mythosaurs, Haron thought as he left the mines, unbelievable. They still existed after so many thousands of years when his people had long considered them extinct. If he mentioned this to his people, they were sure to be as in awe as he was and come to see for themselves.

But that thought made him stop as he considered just what all his people coming here might mean, they would hunt for the creatures leaving them with no peace and quiet as they either wanted to see them, ride them as their ancestors had done or outright kill them for the challenge.

He couldn't let that happen, so for now he decided to keep what he had seen to himself for now…maybe it was better that way till he could be sure they were safe rather than simply leave them to be exploited by his people.

- x -

Reijar, the Ordo System…A Week Later…

For the fifth time in her life, Ara Ordo or as she had been named on Earth Daphne Greengrass was in labour. Luna had assured her this would be the last time and she bloody well hoped it was!

Because Luna had been right about this one being different, this time she was having twins!

Haron to his credit took the abuse she was sending at him, not batting an eye as he did anything he could to get her through it. He took a punch to the jaw and crushing his hand and all the verbal insults she could muster but never moved from her side throughout the entire ordeal.

Finally, after hours of hardship, Siri and Tyus Ordo came into the world. As they held their last two children, Haron told her what he had encountered on Mandalore. Ara listened patiently and was surprised that the mythosaurs could still exist but understood his reasons for keeping it quiet. They should be protected, not hunted for sport.

It was bad enough that Vysa had eloped with Eliza Kane! Those two together were easily the most unpredictable pair that either of them had ever come across.

- x -

Ruins of Gringotts, Earth, Wild Space…

Luna had left the Mareks and other Akaans to teach the younger students, young Galen was in particular doing well in his training she thought remembering with a smile. He had an extremely powerful connection to the force and would with time become an extremely strong Akaan.

Their numbers were slowly growing, Trilla and Cal were both quickly reaching the point where they would be awarded Akaan rank, Luna however remained as the sole leader of the group. The only official master.

She knew eventually she would need to promote someone but for now none of them had the experience.

Meanwhile personally, she was investigating the ruins of Gringotts in hopes that something else might be salvageable there. The others all thought it was a lost cause but she hadn't given up.

Luna pressed deeper, finding several chambers that had been built from natural caverns and managed to survive. Nothing alive in them of course but some protected vaults with magic preserving the contents had managed to survive. But these she realised were in the very depths of the bank and unlikely to be customer vaults, no she thought with her interest heightened, these likely belonged to the Goblins themselves.

So, she carefully made her way through the old chamber in hopes of finding something useful, the complex magic that guarded the place was still strong after all these years and it had to be broken carefully so she didn't bring down the whole chamber.

It took quite some time but she was able to open some of the vaults, inside were various bits and pieces, Goblin steel weapons and such but what she found in the most heavily fortified vault was what was truly priceless.

A pair of books, ancient and written in the goblin language but with some effort she was able to translate them, the script was detailed as a textbook. The Goblins had always been masters of making metal, Luna had always known that but never quite how advanced they were. The first book detailed the process for making goblin steel, an extremely strong and light metal but what had surprised her when she read it was just how it was made. She like many others had always presumed that magic was involved and it was but only in the slightest of ways.

The steel came out of a special recipe of different materials, some she would never have even thought of. But it wasn't just the ingredients, but the way in which they were combined at different stages and subjected to specific temperatures. Magic was only used to simulate certain conditions that helped remove impurities and aid the mixing process because it was the only way back then to reach those kinds of temperatures or the speed they needed to mix at.

She now had a chemical formula when she returned to her ship and checked it with the computer, seeing it might work exceptionally well with Beskar and they could strengthen each other. For warriors who didn't have pure beskar armour this was an absolute blessing and make all their warriors far better protected in battle. Mass producing it for starship hulls probably wasn't practical given how intensive and delicate the process of making it was but maybe in the future they could.

The second book on the other hand was a guide to enchanting metal, what runes worked best and the process of weaving magic into it. It was usually added to special weapons like Gryffindor's sword or other weapons like it, or to vault doors to increase their effectiveness if the client could afford it.

With this, they could enhance the beskar armour of the Akaan's armour and make it even more effective she realised, it might even heighten the connection to the force of the one wearing it.

Worth it, she thought with pride, smiling broadly as she made her way back to Reijar.

Rebel Camp, Ryloth…

The cave systems of Ryloth were extensive and allowed a large number of hiding places for the local resistance to go to and plan the eventual liberation of their planet.

It was also a place they could train their fighters and hide equipment; they had managed to gain some of the spice trade to fund their rebellion and gain supplies although some mysterious backers had provided them with some weapons and equipment.

Bly and the other clones were busy teaching the Twi'leks in the art of war, shooting, explosives, piloting and many other things to give them the best chance of survival and of striking a major blow against the Imperial Occupation.

But elsewhere in the caves a different type of training was going on, Aayla Secura was sitting with some young Twi'leks including her padawan Leli. She was guiding them in meditation exercises so they could deepen their connection the force.

Originally there had only been Aayla and Leli here but as some Twi'leks began showing force sensitivity they had taken them in as the Empire was openly hunting anyone with the force now. Not only did they have fresh native recruits but a few former padawans who had survived Order 66 had found their way here. On top of that two other surviving Masters who were Twi'leks had begun travelling the galaxy to look for other members of their people with the force before sending members of their people here to learn from Aayla, thinking it was the best way to see to their education and hide from the Empire, blending with the crowd.

Garm Bel Iblis's Safe House, Coronet, Corellia…

Garm was a very patriotic man, he loved Corellia…he loved his people and would bend over backwards to see them treated with the respect they deserved, he had represented his planet in the Senate for years and been called a maverick by many. Garm had seen long before anyone else that Palpatine was too hungry for power to be trusted.

So, seeing his people exploited and oppressed by the Empire he had campaigned against, it was a hard burden to bear. He had tried peaceful resistance and gotten nowhere. With things getting worse and many of their civilians were being forcefully drafted into Imperial service, building equipment for the growing Imperial war machine which would likely be used to oppress the same people who had built them ironically.

Garm had simply had enough of this, and knew it was time for action. He had gathered many people who thought the same as he did, in a meeting secretly to see if they were prepared like him to take a huge and dangerous step.

"We all know why we have gathered here tonight." Garm said as he stood at the head of the table, roughly thirty or so people around the table with him. "The Empire is only getting more confident in the oppression of our people, exploiting us to the full and leaving us with nothing to show for our efforts. This cannot stand any longer." He said firmly to those he had gathered, many of whom had smaller groups of their own or controlled some vital areas.

"What is it you are proposing?" An older bearded man named Harlon Fane asked, one of the most intelligent and powerful business tycoons on the planet. He had a reason to be angry at the Empire as his shipyards had been seized by the Empire along with most of his factories for their own purposes and so he wasn't making any money, not to mention he was as much of a patriot as Garm himself.

"I think we all know what he is proposing, or are we too afraid to admit it?" Shrona Bel-ll, a fur covered Selonian warrior for their nearby sister planet who led a large number of their best fighters. A murmur went round the room as they all knew full well what Garm was planning and it scared many of them given the incredible risk to not only them but to Corellia, its sister planets and all the peoples who lived here.

"Does this even have any chance of success?" Jonah Carter said, chief of Corellian Security Forces who had been largely made subservient to the Imperial Garrison but still commanded the respect of his own people. "We would be risking potentially millions of lives if we do this and if we fail it will be all the worse for our people."

"Planets have resisted the Empire before." Lanah Malo, a human female with dark blonde hair that was one of the various guerrilla group leaders around the system said, trying to get people on board.

"They have resisted Imperial Invasion, not overthrown an already established garrison." Aerowynn, a small male member of the furry Drall race which also were native to the Corellia System. He had quite a few misgivings about this as it was directly spitting the eye of the Empire.

"But if it works, not only do we restore freedom to the system, it might encourage other planets to rise up against the Empire." Nejaa Halcyon, the master of the Corellian Jedi was probably taking the greatest risk by attending this meeting.

"The major centre of Imperial power in this system is based in Coronet." Garm said with a small feeling of relief that at least some of his potential allies were considering this. "If we can retake and hold the city, rally the people to fight. We can free this world and all the others, there are others who would aid us in this endeavour. Two old friends of mine have been supplying weapons, supplies and a brand new starfighter which will be very useful in this fight."

"And the factories are packed with Imperial equipment and ordinance, vehicles and there are a number of ships in the yards which are nearly complete. All of which could be turned to our own use if we can capture them." Harlon said with a thoughtful look in his eyes.

"Besides, Corellia needs to be free. Its spirit is unbreakable and we need to let it show itself again. We have everything we need to be truly independent, all we need to do is show the people there is hope and they will rise with us." Garm said, knowing his people and their strong spirit, they only needed a spark to light it.

The others around the table all absorbed his words and knew in their hearts that he was right, they had to do something and passive resistance was getting them nowhere nor was the small more aggressive measures they'd made so far. They needed something, anything that would rally the people and give them hope that they could have a better future than this.

So, they began to plot their uprising, taking great care and considering every single angle they possibly could to make sure it was a success.

Dathomir, the Outer Rim…

Dathomir had so far been forgotten by the Empire, far from the normal trade lanes no-one bothered much with the place. It remained a mysterious and foreboding planet that few dared to visit.

Asajj Ventress, older and perhaps wiser had been glad of that as it allowed the planet's remaining inhabitants to stay safe and free from outside interference and also let her train her apprentice in peace.

Apprentice, she thought with surprise, never having thought that she would end up with one of those.

Asajj was standing at the side of the battle circle as Merrin fought against the Nightbrothers, using training sabers she had constructed for their use. She had honoured her vow and not left Merrin since finding her years ago, teaching her as they wandered Dathomir and explored their home world. Meeting the various other force witches and even the Nightsister clans that existed here, Asajj had been shocked to learn of their existence at first. To hear Mother Talzin talk about it, you would have thought that she led the only ones on Dathomir but as it turned out she was just one of many leaders, many clans all of which had their own techniques, lands and in some cases culture and species. Some even had Rancor war mounts! She thought with astonishment.

Asajj honestly had no idea just what the woman had been thinking, leaving Merrin alone like that and lying to her that no-one was left. She could at least have sent Merrin to one of the other clans so the poor girl wouldn't have been alone, she wouldn't have struggled to survive as the other clans could have taken her in.

Her personal feelings about Mother Talzin had taken a great shift, no longer seeing the woman as wise or indeed someone to take advice from. But at least she and Merrin had each other now, she thought with some relief.

Merrin was perhaps the only real light in her life, Asajj thought with a smile as she saw the girl skilfully move her training sabers around in a graceful dance. Not a daughter but a younger sister who made her get up out of bed out of morning and made her worry if she was okay. After being so bitter for so long it was a big leap to finding something else to move her forward other than her own anger.

Their travels across Dathomir had revealed many secrets of their own world that hardly anyone was aware of, apart from the various ruins and clans they had discovered evidence that both Jedi and Sith had been involved in the planet in the past.

The first had been the easiest to find, a crashed Jedi Training Ship named Chu'unthor that seemed to have come down on the planet about two hundred or more years ago. It was a large vessel and had for years served as a mobile academy for the Jedi Order, teaching apprentices about the galaxy and the force as it travelled. It was a good idea and she had wondered just why the Jedi had abandoned it?

But either way this ship had crashed here and the Jedi had agreed not to salvage the ship as part of a peace treaty with the Force Witches back then although survivors had been allowed to leave. But all the training tapes and several holocrons had been left behind, not to mention a large amount of lightsaber parts in surprisingly good condition.

She had managed to fill in many of the gaps that Ky Nerec had never had the chance to fill in her training, helping her refine her techniques and even help Merrin learn to master the force and to construct her own lightsabers around some Dathomiri blood stones, a special form of Kyber Crystal that were native to their planet and again something they had found on their travels. The crystals worked well with their magic and produced a strange blade with a crimson core and a lighter red outline that seemed to wave like their magic.

But more to her surprise, the Sith too had a presence on this planet as they had discovered a somewhat ruined Sith Academy here from the age of the Brotherhood of Darkness, a thousand years ago. Some Sith scrolls, tomes and even a holocron still existed within it and it had aided Asajj in completing her training in dark side techniques that Dooku had left unfinished, not to mention refine her fighting style.

All of which, she was teaching to Merrin.

Not only that but Merrin had been learning different techniques from the various clans they met on their journey, she had even tamed a fully grown bull rancor and rode the creature around like it was the harmless mount. Asajj herself had tried but never managed that nor did she anywhere near the skill Merrin did when using the magic of their people.

Merrin was surpassing her in just about every area she could think of, Asajj thought impressed. The girl had incredible focus and picked things up easily, she even fought with a grace that Asajj herself just couldn't manage, effortlessly moving around her opponents with her twin lightsabers.

Asajj in the past would surely have been jealous of Merrin who it seemed had a rocket strapped to her back, but now she was proud of her Asajj thought with pride. Merrin had done so well and soon she would no longer have anything to teach her, and she didn't mind at all.

Just as Merrin finished her training fight there was a sound in the air, none of the Nightbrothers knew what it was but Merrin had heard something familiar before and Asajj knew exactly what it was and her already pale skin, lost what little colour it had.

"Bombers! Take cover!" Asajj yelled out and they all scattered as Tie Bombers came in and dropped their payload on the village. Some Nightbrothers were caught in the explosions that ripped the settlement apart, Merrin and Asajj both made it clear of the blast zone with most of the Nightbrothers but both were stunned at the suddenness of the strike, Asajj had struggled given the little technology that existed on this planet to keep aware of what was going on in the wider galaxy. She knew the Republic had become the Empire but little more than that and had assumed Dathomir would be spared the Empire's gaze as there was nothing here that would warrant their attention.

But clearly, she had been wrong.

Landing craft that descended, strange shuttles had replaced the highly effective gunships of the Republic but before Asajj could remark on the fact they had chosen a lesser design, landing ramps descended and she felt the distinct cold aura of the dark side as two figures disembarked from the shuttle, followed by a group of soldiers in white armour.

Asajj already was feeling incredibly uneasy about this and turned to Merrin, looking her square in the eye.

"Merrin, I want you to go to the ruined settlement while I meet with whoever they are. I don't know exactly what is going on here and I won't risk both of us." Asajj ordered and Merrin immediately rejected it with a slight look of panic in her eyes.

"No! It's happening again! We have to stay together." Merrin said, almost desperately as it felt like a nightmarish memory that had been haunting her for years was happening again. Asajj was touched and understood her fear so she gently took her by the shoulders and told her.

"Merrin, I don't know what is about to happen and if this goes badly you will be the only hope for our people. Trust me, I will do what I can to come through this but I must know that you are safe." Asajj told her and her eyes intently stared into Merrin's until her will finally overcame Merrin's determination to stay.

Merrin with tears now in her eyes nodded and with one final look back, turned and ran into the jungle.

With her apprentice safe, Asajj stiffened her resolve and with the remaining Nightbrothers at her back, she walked forward to confront the two mystery force users and their soldiers.

The closer she got though, the more unsettled she was by at least one of them. He was tall, covered in black armour and had a disturbing breathing sound but his aura in the force was completely dominated by rage! She had known Grievous who was a miserable angry person all the time but this creature whatever he was took it to a much higher level than she would have thought possible.

However, as they came closer, she felt a shiver, something similar to what she had sensed in the force during the Clone Wars, specifically around a particular Jedi who had been a thorn in her side. But while it was similar, it was…off was the best way she could describe it. Asajj didn't know what to make of it, never having felt anything like it before.

She finally saw dark warrior look at her before suddenly, without warning it screamed out in rage! Asajj and her Nightbrothers were thrown back by a sudden force wave, so was the other force user accompanying him and the Stormtroopers, some thrown hard enough to bang hard into the shuttles which themselves moved, just a fraction from the force of the wave.

Asajj struggled to her feet, sure now that whatever that thing was, it couldn't be Skywalker! Skywalker was arrogant but not a raging beast like this thing was and so she reached for her lightsaber ignited her yellow blade, besides her the Nightbrothers reached for their weapons and the warrior or beast as she was beginning to think of it ignited a red blade of its own.

The Stormtroopers were the closest to it and as Vader flew into a berserker rage, they felt his wrath first now in a state that he didn't care what he hurt as long he killed someone.

The red lightsaber cleaved men in half or took heads off, they begged and screamed but Vader was completely out of control. The Dark Disciple that accompanied him leapt away, running as far from Vader as he could, filled with fear.

But the Nightbrothers then felt his rage too, throwing the bodies of the Stormtroopers he had killed straight at them before advancing, he grabbed them by the throat with the force and crushed their necks or cut straight through their weapons to kill them with his lightsaber and soon they too were devastated in number.

Leaving only Asajj.

She had honestly never felt so scared in her entire life as when she faced this creature, he was rage incarnate and she almost shook as she stared into what looked like an erupting volcano but held her ground and raised her lightsaber to meet him.

Vader sensing her challenge charged at her and began like a beast possessed to batter away at her defences, Asajj had to employ all of her fast moves to avoid being pinned down by him and managed to get a swipe to his leg but this only angered him. He started throwing objects at her including body parts that were scattered all over the place.

The objects hit her from all angles, far too many for her to avoid them all and while she was busy trying to dodge them, she saw Vader had managed to get close to her and grabbed her by the throat. Asajj managed to get one last slash in, wounding his side which made him let go but it was only a brief reprieve as she felt the burning sensation of a lightsaber to the gut.

As she fell backwards, knowing she was about to die…she took comfort in the fact Merrin would survive this, she would live, oh by the force don't let her turn into me! Asajj thought with sudden worry but could do no more.

- x -

Emperor's Palace, Coruscant…

The Emperor read the report from Taron Mallicos about Vader's conduct with considerable worry, he had been completely uncontrollable and, in the end, they had been forced to use a bombing run to end him because he simply wouldn't stand down. The scientists had claimed the new stimulants they were using had damaged his mental faculties and would correct this issue in the next Vader, Palpatine had electrocuted one of them to death for this as what possible use could he have for a weapon that he couldn't control? He was having to use Sith Alchemy to purge any potential memories of Skywalker to make sure the clone didn't turn against him and yet the sight of Asajj Ventress, an old enemy and Vader had flown into a rage. He would need to delve deeper to ensure such a thing did not happen again. He had at one time hoped to try and track Anakin using Vader, the clone would hopefully have a strong enough connection to him but the connection seemed too unstable and to prevent Anakin finding his clone operations, he had been forced to sever it.

His concerns over the force slipping away from his control had grown considerably, everyday things seemed to be getting harder to see, like the Jedi before him he had been losing the ability to see the future although he could sense some things it had become much harder of late and he could tell some event was coming that might be a shatterpoint, something that would affect the future considerably but he had no idea just what that was.

The rage inside him was boiling over and every object in the room shook before being crushed with his rage, he had become Emperor of the Galaxy and yet now everything he had built was threatened. Worse his lack of a capable apprentice and the Dark Disciples being so consumed with their own power did nothing to help him.

He could take some comfort in the fact that the Inquisitors had managed to kill quite a few Jedi who had been hiding this month and force sensitives that had the potential to be Jedi with leads on several more. Not to mention the treatments and the use of clone organs seemed to be helping him fight off his affliction.

Also, he had the new prison they were building on Dathomir. The prison would be a good place to put people that were too valuable to kill but too dangerous to let free till he had a use for them or just to hold many people where it was unlikely anyone would find them.

His own concerns about the force, that was something he needed to rectify…he knew he needed to find more sources of knowledge and had dispatched a large-scale team to Korriban in hopes that they might find something in the tombs that hadn't already been discovered. He had sent other teams to other worlds of the Old Sith Empire but it might be some time before those operations had anything to show him.

But in the meantime, he had found a new opportunity to learn more about other dark side cults in the hopes it gave him something that would be useful, a member of the Wyrd from the planet Cularin who had survived the Jedi's attempts to wipe them out and had been careless enough to be caught. She had little to teach him he thought with disgust but there were some useful skills that he could add to his own, namely that he could now fly unassisted with the force alone.

He still thought that she might be keeping some back so he blasted her again with force lightning, her screams filling the air as he grinned with great malice, enjoying her pain and suffering before he finally gave her the reprieve of death but they had a long time to go before that he thought with a sinister chuckle as he kept up the stream of lightning on the Wyrd.

- x -

Hours later, when he was confident that he had drained every last morsal of knowledge from his prisoner, Palpatine was sitting on his throne wating for his most capable Imperial Officer, not that he always seemed to be.

Moff Tarkin walked in, looking impeccable as usual but a clean uniform said nothing beyond him being a narcissist who was obsessed with his appearance Palpatine thought with disgust. The man's ambition was plain to see and it centred on the monstrosity that was currently being built over Geonosis. He knew to watch him and several agents in his service were watching every move Tarkin made. If he gave even the slightest sign of trying to betray him…he would endure agony unlike any other Palpatine thought with malice but for now he was useful to the Empire and had after his earlier failures been making himself useful.

"It seems the facilities you have been building up along the Outer Rim and in the Mid Rim have become useful to the expansion of the Empire, despite your failures so far you have been putting down a sturdy base for the enforcing of Imperial Law and expansion of our forces. The Outer Rim is far too lawless and this is something that needs to be remedied especially if we are going to enforce law and order onto this chaotic galaxy, so I am making you the first of my Grand Moffs, Governor of the Outer Rim Territories. You will have charge over all other Moffs there and indirect control of all Imperial Forces in the area…but remember, no one can rise so high that they can't fall. And the higher you rise, the greater the fall." Palpatine warned Tarkin who blinked, understanding the threat and not caring in the slightest. He was that sure of himself that he honestly believed nothing could touch him.

Both men stared at each other for a moment before Tarkin bowed and left the room, leaving Palpatine alone and plotting on how to destroy both his enemies and dangerous servants alike.

Liber 8 Base, Location Unknown…

Anakin was sparring with Kagame as the man had given them leave to stay with his organisation while his wife was pregnant so they could ensure her safety. Anakin had to admit that despite moving between bases as the organisation expanded, it had been much better for them. Liber 8 was growing larger; cells were being formed on several new worlds across the galaxy as more and more likeminded people heard their ideas and realised it wasn't pointless or hopeless to fight. Kagame was giving a lot of speeches both personally and by holonet to inspire people and Anakin had to admit that Kagame was a talented speaker. He never failed to rally his people or to find the right words to inspire someone.

He also knew how to fight; he thought with a grimace as Kagame again stonewalled him before receiving a knock on his head for not listening.

"Control your energy, expend too much and you will tire long before your opponent will. For those that fight, controlling your energy is a skill that will let you stay ready and able." Kagame said with calm detachment as he with completely controlled and precise movements checked Anakin's every move. It was he thought, extremely frustrating but also very humbling Anakin thought, despite all he had learned and his power…there was still much more to know.

"Your opponent has energy, so you must find ways to turn it against him." Kagame said, using leverage to make Anakin overextend himself and despite being many years younger, got him into a hold Anakin couldn't break.

"Understood." Anakin said and Kagame released him and frowned.

"I hope so, because next time the opponent you face will not be so forgiving. You must not rely on greater power or a belief in a fight, but your own wits and skills. Know your weaknesses, so you can overcome them." Kagame told him with the air of a very stern teacher.

Anakin honestly was reminded of Master Windu in Kagame; he was very stern and hard edged but you knew that he was only doing it because he thought it was right and to make you sharper. He was never cruel or unreasonable but would push you if he knew you could achieve it.

"You must learn, for the future of the galaxy depends on those that can see the true pillars of the Empire so they can be torn down." Kagame told him with some urgency and to demonstrate his point he picked up a Kyber Crystal, it was its natural colour, clearly never having been imprinted on. "See this and watch." Kagame said as he closed his eyes and held the crystal in the palm of his hand, before Anakin's very eyes the crystal began to change, changing to a blue, then a green, to a red, to an orange and to a yellow before turning into a simmering silver. Anakin could hardly believe his eyes as the crystal's aura in the force changed so rapidly.

Kagame passed him the now silver crystal and explained.

"A skill forgotten by the Jedi Order, I learned of it by digging deep into the archives. Kyber Manipulation, taking the natural process we undertake when choosing a crystal and being able to consciously control it. Master Lodaka, a master that has been overlooked by later generations who was as skilled at Soresu as your former master, who was fascinated by Kyber Crystals and spent her life studying them till she learned how to manipulate the crystals with the force alone. She could make them whatever colour she wanted and make the crystals take on traits they normally wouldn't have. Her lightsabers could do whatever she made them to do and even resist contact with cortosis." Kagame explained and Anakin was immediately fascinated by the idea that it was possible to actually control the way Kyber Crystals were structured and to alter them to suit your needs.

"A crystal lattice is a complicated structure, but if you can understand it, then you can find the part that needs to change or that the whole structure depends on." Kagame said, continuing his explanation of Kyber Manipulation and how to successful bring down power structures at the same time. "Learn its geometry, what part rests of which other part and all structures can be understood, learn to know people as well because like crystals they have a structure that you can learn to know." Kagame told him.

Anakin honestly wasn't sure just how you learned to 'know people' like that but Allara then appeared to tell him.

"Master. Its time." Allara told him with some urgency.

Anakin knew exactly what that meant and without a word, rushed off to the medical bay, leaving Allara and Kagame alone. The old man turned to Allara and told her.

"Now it is your turn." He said, reigniting his lightsaber and nervously, Allara ignited hers.

- x -

Under the care of a young Rodian doctor named Averu, Padme for the second time in her life was enduring the trials of childbirth.

Anakin had missed the birth of Luke and Leia and was determined not to miss the birth of his third child.

So, he was with her and hold her hand all the way through the labour, mopping her brow and trying to reassure her.

"Okay mamma, nearly there." The young woman said. Anakin to be honest doubted that she could be a fully trained doctor given her age but Kagame had assured him she was fully qualified and very good. "Ready, here we go." She said with an enthusiastic voice which was grating somewhat after hours of labour.

But instead of yelling at the doctor which didn't seem to bother her in the slightest Padme concentrated on pushing and soon enough a baby's cry was heard.

"A boy." Averu said with a pride as she carefully cut the cord and wrapped him in a blanket before passing the baby to his parents who both smiled as they looked at their little son. He cuddled into Padme the moment he was handed to her and fell asleep almost immediately, Anakin kissed Padme on her forehead as they both stared down at their little boy.

"He's perfect, just like Luke and Leia." Padme said with a warm and loving smile on her face. Anakin too was smiling and rubbed his thumb over his son's tiny forehead, not able to believe for a moment that people would be this small for a moment and yet knew one day he would be a man like him. If he could though, Anakin would have frozen time in this moment so his children could stay children but knew that was one power no one had.

"Mace." Anakin said with a smile. "After the Jedi who saved my life."

Padme nodded, knowing that without the sacrifice of Mace Windu Anakin wouldn't have made it out of the Jedi Temple alive, it seemed right to name their son after him. The serious look he had in his eyes already made them think of him.

It was a while before Allara came in with the Noghri and the twins, Luke and Leia were so young and only just starting force exercises with Kagame and him. Allara too sometimes if they were both busy.

But the moment they saw their parents with their little brother in their mother's arms, they were themselves curious. They were feeling subconsciously through the force their own connection to him, how on some level they were the same and yet different. They walked up without fear and Anakin lifted the two little children onto the bed so they could cuddle into their mother. The presence his three children created in the force was incredible Anakin thought with astonishment as he looked at the three as they cuddled into their mother, each of them was just as powerful as he was and all three together were so at ease with each other, he and Padme had been afraid that the twins might resent their younger brother but instead they seemed completely at ease with him.

It brought a tear to his eyes and wondering just what he had done to be blessed with such a family.

The Bastion, Coronet, Corellia…Two Weeks Later…

The fortress which served as an administration centre for Corellia and its fellow planets was an impressive and fortified structure. Built on the site of the previous one from the Great Galactic War thousands of years ago. It had been the headquarters of the Corellian Security Forces but they had been forced out by the Empire who now ran their local garrison from here and where the regional governor ran the system and other areas under his purview.

But the garrison had been lured into a false sense of security, sure of their own safety and security given the power of the Empire and the two Imperial Class Star Destroyers they had in orbit.

The first and greatest mistake they had made was keeping most of the domestic staff that cleaned and cooked. People who not only knew the security forces that had been kicked out well, but also were highly patriotic themselves.

So, they had no problem with sneaking sedatives and poisons into the food and drink served in the building but also with opening the checkpoints so others could get in.

Garm himself led an armed group into the Bastion made up of his own people and also the Green Jedi entered the Bastion from the loading dock as planned. Across the city, members of the resistance stood in position to ambush Imperial officers and stormtroopers in the city.

In the shipyards and the factories workers with tools in hands waited for the signal, keeping a close eye on their Imperial taskmasters.

The signal was high pitched whistle on the same comm channel, broadcast across the city.

When they heard it, the same moment that Garm broke into the Bastion all the resistance forces made their move, at the same time the factory and shipyard workers stopped whatever they were doing and with their tools now becoming weapons and they all charged the Imperial taskmasters, across the city resistance ambushed the Imperials they had been shadowing.

A vicious fight though erupted near the Den of the White Worms; Imperials regularly patrolled this area to keep an eye on them. The Corellian Resistance Unit there had been caught out of position at the time of the signal and were now bogged down against the Stormtroopers.

The White Worms were keeping out of sight while this firefight was going on but then two of the scrumrats decided they couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

They only had a blaster pistol each and old ones at that but they still worked and before even they knew what they were doing, they raised their pistols and fired.

Two Stormtroopers went down straight away as they were good shots despite being young and relatively untrained, this created enough of an opening for the resistance unit to throw a grenade in and catch the remaining troopers off guard.

The resistance members came up and made sure they had got them all and turned to the scrumrats who were looking shocked at what they had done, the leader of the small unit spoke to them.

"Thank you, what are your names?" He asked them. The pair who couldn't be more than 16 or 15 at most answered.

"Han." The sixteen-year-old boy with shaggy brown hair said.

"Qi'ra." The girl, fifteen years old with dark brown hair to her shoulders.

"Good on you kids. Now stay out of sight, things are likely to get crazy around here." The leader warned them but the girl looked at them with conflicted feelings before asking.

"Can we come with you?"

The question stunned the resistance fighters along with the boy next to her, the resistance unit leader looked at her with worry.

"This is not something anyone your age should get themselves involved in, it's dangerous." He warned her and her 'boyfriend' it seemed had similar opinions.

"We should go back in." He told her, eager to get away from the resistance but Qi'ra stood her ground and told him.

"It could be a way to something better Han. Something more than this." She said, waving her hand in the direction of the White Worms base. Han however urgently took her wrist and told her.

"It's also a way to end up dead. Qi'ra…come on." He told her but the girl was stubborn like a lot of other Corellians and pulled her wrist free and turned the resistance fighters saying.

"I want to join up."

The resistance unit leader was torn as he didn't want anyone who wasn't a legal adult fighting but given what was coming, they might need all the hands they could raise. So, he sighed and gestured for her to get on the speeder that was waiting nearby with the rest of his unit, she went eagerly and Han with a growl of frustration followed as she was likely to get herself killed if he was there to watch her back.

- x -

In the Bastion was the heaviest fighting took place as the remaining Imperials tried to resist the uprising but Garm was a military genius and had planned this to the last detail and knew the entire layout of the building like the back of his hand.

Underneath the Imperials feet the floor plates were broken by a green lightsaber blade as a circle was cut out from underneath them, leaving them to fall through the floor as Jedi leapt up and joined the fight from underneath.

It didn't take long before they had the command centre under control and as any Imperial prisoners they'd taken were rounded up, Garm turned to his slicer and ordered.

"Get on it, quickly."

The Selonian nodded and sat at the desk, working her magic on the controls to neutral the two biggest assets that the local Imperials had.

- x -

Orbit of Corellia, above Coronet…

The Imperials had stationed two of the largest star destroyers over the planet given its importance to both defend it and to scare the local population, but aside from the ships there was another line of defence they had deployed just in case some of the enemies of the Empire came to try and take Corellia. They had installed two brand new w-165 planetary turbolaser cannons to provide fire support to the larger ships, both of which were controlled by the Bastion.

Garm, now in control of the Bastion had control of the cannons too, and he had no regret in turning them on the star destroyers in orbit.

The cannons warmed up and took aim at the star destroyers, both of whom were stood down with their shields lowered to aid any shuttles traveling between the ships and the surface. When they had positive target locks, they fired.

Enormous blasts of green energy erupted from the cannons, speeding into the atmosphere and towards the star destroyers who had little to no warning of the threat till it was too late. The bolts struck the ships hard, both sagging with huge gashes in the hull, knocking systems off line and leaving the ships in a confused panic but the cannons did not let up and they fired a second volley.

The ships were already damaged by the first attack and unable to raise the shields due to the damage that they had taken, nor could they move quickly so when the second volley struck, they and those aboard where doomed. The ships broke in two from the powerful hits, falling down towards the surface as they were caught within the planet's gravity, hitting the ocean not far from Coronet City.

- x -

The Bastion, Coronet, Corellia…

Garm Bel-Iblis smiled, trying to project confidence even if he knew that the first part, taking over Coronet had been the easy part. Now came the real challenge…defending it. There was no going back now, they had committed to this and would have to see it through, no matter what the Empire threw at them. They would need to resist.

He set up the holonet transmission and broadcast his message to the rest of Corellia and the other worlds in the system.

"People of the Corellia System, for those of you that do not know me, I am Garm Bel-Iblis, I am a proud Corellian and always have been. I saw the corruption in the Republic that led to the Empire, I have seen the exploitation of our people by the Imperials. I will stand for it no longer, so today I have led rebel forces in seizing the city of Coronet to liberate it from Imperial forces. This will be the first step in a free Corellia that will decide its own destiny, free from the whims of Coruscant and its Emperor. So, I encourage you all to fight, fight today, fight tomorrow. Keep on fighting until the Empire is gone from our system and we have the right to make our own decisions again. This battle has only just begun."

Emperor's Palace, Coruscant…Two Days Later…

Senior military officials gathered around the table as the Emperor took the main chair at its head, all of them were sweating about the situation that they were being presented with and more importantly the anger the Emperor had towards them for allowing it.

"What is the situation in the Corellia System?" The Empire said with a harsh, cold voice that sent shivers down their spines.

"All planets in the system had overthrown their Imperial Garrisons and they have begun to dig in." One general said timidly and Palpatine scowled at him.

"We have managed to effect a complete communications blackout from the system, no transmissions will escape the system." One admiral said but another interjected.

"But word is spreading, through secret transmissions or messengers sent from the system itself word of the uprising is spreading across the galaxy." The male human said with a considerable concern in his voice.

"If Corellia and its sister planets can successfully break away from the Empire, then other worlds are sure to follow." A Moff said and they all stopped when the Emperor used the force to snap the neck of the one admiral that had lied about the situation and downplayed its seriousness.

"This is what you are going to do." The Emperor told them with a cold, biting voice that scared all of them. "Gather a fleet to send to the Corellia system and they will as brutally as possible put this pathetic and pointless attempt at rebellion down to show the galaxy that such actions only bring death and destruction. Spare what serves the Empire best but destroy anything else. Lord Vader, Regera Girawn and a group of Inquisitors will join this force to deal with the Jedi that have come out of hiding to support the rebels. They must die for their treason against the Empire." Palpatine said while making other plans of his own.

The Battle of Corellia was about to begin, and it would be a victory for the Empire, he thought, sure of his vision.

Marauder II, Unknown Location…

Hunter was sitting in around the main holotable with his squad, Tech was briefing them on the situation in the Corellia System.

"The Empire has enforced a complete communication blackout regarding the situation but the news has spread by word of mouth and other sources. The Imperial presence in the Corellia system has been expelled." Tech told them all.

"That won't last long." Crosshair said with bitterness, his recent return to them was still awkward for all of them. While he had at first joined the Empire and been loyal to it, his opinion had changed when he had seen their complete disregard for not only the clones but for any that served it. He had killed a commanding officer who had refused medical aid to a dying clone, Commander Mayday. Crosshair had burned his bridge that day and with a heavy heart, run from the Empire now seeing it as his brothers did. He had found them in time to help them escape from the trap Cid had put them in and they had escaped with Omega but it was hard to find jobs when the Empire was nipping at their heels and no one they could trust would help them now. Not to mention it was taking some time to rebuild the bonds of trust they once had.

"Sounds like a big fight." Wrecker said with a loud chuckle as he ate his lunch.

"This is more important than just a fight Wrecker." Echo said as he sat next to him. "If Corellia successfully manages to break away from the Empire then a lot of other worlds might be tempted to do the same, it also acts as a rallying call to other rebel factions. That rebellion can work."

"So, are we going?" Omega asked as she perched herself on the holotable. "I mean, we need a new place to live and Corellia sounds perfect."

The entire squad turned to Hunter, who was deeply worried as they might be heading into a battle worse than any they had seen so far. Crosshair was right, the Empire would surely throw everything they had at Corellia but it was a developed world so it might have a chance.

Omega too was right; they could sure use a place to base themselves and look for jobs. With Cid betraying them they had few people to contact that they could trust, so this might give them a good chance of finding somewhere safe.

"We go." Hunter said with some trepidation, shared by Crosshair as they both knew the dangers of what they were facing.

Organa Castle, Alderaan...

Bail Organa was like many others watching the situation, not able to believe Garm would take such a risk with his people but aware that if he succeeded then it would be a great blow against the Empire and make the rest of the galaxy aware that it was possible to fight and win. He and the rest of the galaxy would be watching what happened next with baited breath to see if they could win.

But he wasn't just going to wait and watch, he had been helping Garm equip himself with the new X-Wing Fighters but they would not be enough so he turned to the holograms in front of him. Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex both stood before him, now understanding the situation completely and he told them.

"There is great danger in this, I cannot ask you to go there but this could well decide the future of the galaxy." Bail told them both and they nevertheless smiled and told him.

"Of course, we'll go. This rebellion needs to succeed if we are to have a hope against the Empire." Ahsoka told him and Rex nodded.

"It's our pleasure Senator, take care." Rex warned him, knowing he was the one who was really risking his life by going to Coruscant so much under the emperor's very nose.

Bail nodded and the holograms of the two disappeared while he worried that had had sent them and their people into certain death.

Liber8 Base, Unknown Location…

Kagame was meditating when he learned of the uprising and thought deeply on his course of action, not sure whether or not it had a chance to succeed this early but it was a strong opportunity to spread rebellion across the galaxy.

Even if it did fail, the future being in such flux he couldn't be sure exactly what would happen, he could feel though it was too important to stay out of it.

He turned to Anakin and Padme who had come to see him, opening his eyes as they came in through the door. Kagame could feel Anakin needed to go through the force but not more than that, Padme looked determined he felt and Anakin anxious.

"Are Liber8 going to help the people of Corellia?" Padme asked before Anakin could stop her. Kagame raised an eyebrow at her outspokenness before telling her.

"Indeed, I am gathering forces to go and wondering who should take charge of them." Kagame said before looking at her and sensing what she was hoping for. To go, to help the people of Corellia.

He was honestly surprised but feeling how strong her will was he actually smiled as he saw Anakin trying to convince Padme that she should stay back as she had not too long ago had a baby and they had two other children to care for. He was for once not that keen to go while she who had been forced to stay back was pushing to go. How the tables had turned Kagame thought with amusement.

"The answer to your question Padme Skywalker, is that you will lead them. Perhaps it best to take your husband with you while I and your Noghri friends will stay with your children to keep them safe." Kagame offered, knowing that she had to do this for her own sake.

"Master!" Anakin exclaimed in shock, not sure what had gotten into the pair of them. Padme smiled as she asked Kagame.

"What have you managed to acquire?"

"A couple of hundred volunteers, old clone wars era tanks and gunships but also a number of starfighters. Not much but it is all we can spare. Be prepared for a harsh fight." Kagame warned her.

Padme meanwhile was inwardly terrified as she was going to be leading a mission for the first time in three years, more than that it was the first time she would be away from her children. She loved them but at the same time she wanted to do this, to go and make a difference in the galaxy again. Gods she thought with dismay, she was so nervous Padme realised, before she had thrown herself into dangerous situations without any worries…but now she was already worried about her children and whether they would be safe.

Padme put her feelings aside and concentrated on what she had to do, Anakin wasn't keen for her to go but if he was going to put his life in danger and worry her endlessly, it was time for him to get a taste of it himself she thought, keen to let him know what she had been put through again and again.

Titan, Mon Calamari Cruiser, Deep Space…

Aboard the enormous Mon Calamari cruiser that was currently hosting the meeting, having been refitted for non-aquatic lifeforms, an emergency meeting of the Rift Alliance was being called.

"The odds of success aren't good, but they do exist." San Hill said from his seat as they discussed the situation, both San and the Mandalorians had sources in the Empire and the massive activity was not going to go unnoticed regardless of what the Empire did, not to mention Haron had been supplying weapons to the Corellians for a while now although he hadn't expected Garm to do anything so bold.

"The question is, do we help them?" Admiral Ackbar said before making his own opinion known. "If Corellia manages to free itself, it could inspire other worlds to do the same."

"Not to mention business with a planet as developed as Corellia would be very helpful economically for all of us." General Pykkl, the Salient representative said with a hopeful look. Economically they were all doing okay for now but if Corellia joined them it would be a major boost to them all.

"But it means a large deployment of forces, at least until Corellia can defend itself." General Sky Falls in Thunder, the Than representative said with disapproval. Corellia was unlike other worlds not an undeveloped backwater that a small fleet could deal with. It was a large and highly sophisticated planet with several other planets around it, that was far too much of a prize for the Empire to simply wave away. A large force would therefore be needed to protect it.

None of them could send a force that large alone, not without compromising their own security and leaving themselves open to invasion. It would need to be drawn from all of them and that would reveal their hidden alliance.

Haron honestly was worried about that, they could defend themselves now but it was a big step to reveal it to the galaxy. Ackbar was right in the effect this could have on the wider galaxy but it was a huge risk for them to get involved. He himself was divided on it, not sure which option to take while the others debated among themselves.

"The massive facilities of Corellia would be an enormous advantage to us." Minister Kyburn from Namzor said and Admiral Etahn A'baht of Dornea countered.

"But can we hold them? And if the planet is liberated, will they side with us?"

Both valid points.

"My people are not afraid of a fight." Tarfful, the Wookiee representative said.

"And we will not be either." Haron said, his voice loud and clear bringing an end to other conversation. "The fact is that we will need as many worlds fighting the Empire as possible if we are to have any chance of survival let alone victory. Corellia is a planet that has been important for many centuries and will continue I suspect to be important for centuries to come. It is a risk, but without risk, can there ever truly be gain. We should act, aid Corellia for if we don't, why should anyone fight in the future?" Haron asked them pressingly.

The table was silent as they all considered his words, before finally putting the decision whether to assist Corellia or not to the vote.

Coronet Spaceport, Corellia…

Large transports under escort of fighters landed at the spaceport, transports that unloaded the Liber8 volunteers and the fighters they'd brought with them. Nearby a corvette landed with a team of free clones disembarking. Elsewhere the transports under Allara's direction were unloading their cargo of vehicles and troops.

Garm stood with his guards as they arrived, first was an old friend of his that he hadn't seen in years.

"Padme, you look as beautiful as ever." Garm said with a friendly hug which she returned, Anakin felt a spike of jealousy but he trusted his wife and so he forced it down.

"Garm, well you never did anything small." Padme said with a worried smile. "I've got some more people and fighters but not much else. Anakin, this is Garm Bel-Iblis, former senator for Corellia. Garm, this is Anakin Skywalker, my husband." Padme introduced, Garm extended his hand to Anakin who took it quickly enough and felt the strong will of the man, admiring him for that.

"A Jedi no less." Garm said with a smile before they were interrupted by the arrival of Ahsoka and Rex. Behind them clones in different states of armour all disembarked from their corvette, Anakin immediately went over to them and Ahsoka gave him a hug which he returned warmly and then knocked fists with Rex while Ahsoka hugged Padme.

"How are the twins?" Ahsoka asked and Padme whispered in her ear.

"They're fine, safe alongside their new little brother." Padme whispered to Ahsoka who blinked in surprise before smiling broadly at the great news.

Then for Rex another reunion was dawning, he saw the Bad Batch coming over and Wrecker grabbed him in a tight hug.

"Good to see you too Wrecker." Rex told him as he was held above the ground in a hold tight enough to choke someone.

"Captain." Hunter said with a smile before the presence of Crosshair was noticed, Rex was immediately suspicious but Omega jumped in.

"Crosshair helped us! He's on our side." She protested, Rex looked at him for a moment, not trusting him before extending his hand. Crosshair was unsure himself but took it. Things eased a little after that before finally Garm made an announcement.

"Well, intelligence has revealed the Imperial Fleet will be arriving tomorrow. So, we have one day to prepare. Get some rest, we'll all need it." He told them with a considerable sense of dread in his voice.

They all were silent as they knew that they were facing a full Imperial Invasion tomorrow and with no real chance of reinforcements or support, they were on their own.

None of them noticed a figure that was cloaked not far away, he was hiding himself in the crowd as he blended in, determined not to be seen.

The Next Morning…

Corellia was strangely quiet that morning as the people prepared themselves for what was coming, they had all slept badly as nervousness set in. Barricades had been set up along most of the city streets. The Corellian Security Forces alongside the Liber8 volunteers and clones and other men sent by Bail Organa stood with civilian volunteers, ordinary men and women, human and alien alike who were motivated to abandon their daily lives to pick up a blaster and try to defend their world. They had only been given the tiniest bit of training by those who were trained and would now be thrown into action against a trained and ruthless enemy with only their wits and determination to save them. The Corellian Jedi stood with their people, wearing their distinctive green robes in hopes of inspiring the people with their presence.

Vehicles hummed quickly in readiness while heavier weapon emplacements and snipers prepared themselves for the onslaught to come.

In the streets those that weren't fighting were being moved to safe areas in hope of keeping them safe. The atmosphere was tense as they all waited, Intel told them the Imperial Task Force was on the way and had Corellia dead in its sights and would arrive any time now.

The tension that caused was enough to drive some mad, not able to sit still many paced in anticipation of the struggle ahead. The city's protective force field was already deployed, heavily guarded to ensure it was protected. The city would be protected from orbital bombardment

In the Bastion Garm stood, acting as his headquarters for this battle, Padme not far away from him was directing civilian movements and the Turbolaser cannons were primed and ready for a fight.

But a cloaked figure approached them and more importantly the power junction where their reactors fed power to the large cannons, He shed his cloak, revealing a slim but muscular human male with almost black eyes and teeth that had been sharpened to point. He seemed to snarl like a beast before igniting two red bladed lightsabers and slashing into the junction.

In the Bastion alarms started blaring as the cannons went off line, Garm looked on in alarm and grabbed the communicator, knowing without those cannons they had no hope of fighting off the huge star destroyers.

"Anyone near the planetary turbolasers, investigate a failure in the junction!"

"I'm on it, senator." Ahsoka Tano's voice said as she happened to be close to the site and rushed there at top speed.

- x -

The unknown human male sneered, enjoying the fact he was setting up the Corellians for the slaughter, the fear and death would be a true feast through the force for him.

He then turned his attention to the deflector shield; without it the city would be reduced to a ruin by his master's fleet. That brought a smirk to his face but it was wiped away moments later when he was confronted by a Jedi.

Ahsoka Tano, he recognised her from his master's list of high priority targets. She was a beauty he thought, perfect almost in her body and in the force, she was very strong. She would be a useful trophy for his master, one who would gain him a great reward.

"Who are you?" Tano asked, her voice cold and focused which only increased his lust for her exotic beauty.

"I am the very Hand of my master, the Will of the Emperor himself and you will be a great prize indeed." He said with lust in his eyes, sure he could enjoy her before handing her to his master. Her beauty, the exotic kind had always been a draw for him.

Ahsoka was taken aback by this, both by the way he was looking at her although she had noticed men, boys and even women looking at her like that before, ever since she had started puberty which she found annoying to be honest but he looked predatory in the way he did it and it was sending some nasty thoughts through her mind.

But beyond that, she couldn't sense him in the force! He was completely hidden from her and if she had not seen him with the lightsabers and clearly sense her presence she wouldn't have guessed he was a force user.

But she had little time to think more as she ignited her two white lightsabers and leapt at him.

His own red blades met hers as they clashed, sparks flying but she fell into her rhythm quickly and started her own mic of forms 4 and 5, throwing in blasts of the force for good measure as she tried her best to fight the assassin but he was as fast as she was. With both of them using two blades the strikes from two of them were blazingly fast, spinning in a rapid and agile motion as they each tried to outmanoeuvre the other.

But were struggling as Ashoka while well trained and skilled had to admit so was he, she grimaced as it was proving so hard to get a blow in.

She cartwheeled away to regroup but he continued to attack chasing after her, she barely avoided a stab to the gut by leaping before she realised with gritted teeth that she would need to use a tactic he would never see coming to defeat him. Something she had learned from studying the Eternal Alliance Holocron, specifically from Lana Beniko.

She channelled her rage and frustration and grabbed his throat with the force, the Hand was so surprised by this that he had no defence and couldn't react fast enough to escape it. Ahsoka, already feeling him trying to break it threw one of her sabers in an arc, again with the force guiding it before calling it back to her hand. But on the way, the white blade sliced clean through the Hand, cutting him in two.

The man stilled and struggled for a moment as half of his body was split from the other before succumbing to his fate and dying while Ahsoka forced herself to be calm and try to throw off the cold sensation using the dark side had left her. She really did not like using it but the abilities she gained from studying the dark side sometimes proved very useful, like just then when it had left her enemy blindsided so she could deal a killing strike.

But now calm she looked at the junction and was deeply concerned by the damage, Anakin had drilled a lot of engineering knowledge into her head and she knew it was wrecked, maybe fixable but within the time they had left? She thought with concern. She reached for her communicator and made her report.

"Senator, the Empire sent a saboteur! He's damaged the junction with a lightsaber. I need engineers to fix it." She told him and he said in shock.

"A lightsaber! Right, I'll send a team, Ahsoka I need you in the Santhe Shipyards. That's close enough to one of the possible landing zones, your friend Captain Rex is already there." Garm told her over the comm link and she said quickly.

"Understood, on my way." She told him before taking off at a run, leaving the body of the Hand behind.

Garm meanwhile was treated to the sight of the Imperial Fleet finally arriving, grimacing as he had counted on the turbolasers to keep the larger ships away or at least cut down the forces they were facing. At least the shield was holding, he thought with some relief as it would force the Empire to resort to a surface attack and fight on their terms.

Star Destroyer Steel Hornet, Orbit of Corellia…

Moff Tarandon, a middle-aged human male with short brown hair was governor of the Corellian Sector and he was sweating quietly to himself as he stood on the bridge of the Steel Hornet. His entire career and his life for that matter depended on this invasion going well. He had been given charge of this sector that had now erupted into anarchy on his watch and now if he didn't manage to recapture the planet and bring it to heel, then the Emperor would likely kill him himself. He had only been spared in the uprising by being at a formal function on Coruscant at the time, something that had not impressed any of his superiors.

"Admiral, the city's deflector shield is still up." One of the bridge officers reported to Admiral Heston, an old friend of his and commander of the fleet. He stood next to him with his short beard and bald head looking annoyed but still confident.

"It seems the Emperor's agent has failed in their mission. General, deploy your troops for a surface attack." Heston said with determination to make his own mark here and enforce Imperial will, not to mention avenge all the good and devoted Imperial Personnel that had been killed in this uprising so far.

Behind him General Adele Konya was preparing herself for the battle ahead, a native of Corellia she was invading her own home world but her loyalty was to the Empire. She was chosen specifically for that reason, so the Imperial Propaganda could paint her as a hero of the Empire and the fact she was good at her job was only a bonus in this situation.

"Send down the fighters and bombers, establish air superiority while I and my forces make our landing." She said, utterly professional despite it being her own people she was attacking.

The Admiral and the Moff nodded and turned to the flight control officer who gave the order to their fighters.

- x -

From their racks in the docking bay on the underside of the ship, Tie Fighters and Bombers dropped. Their engines creating the distinctive almost screaming noise as they headed towards the planet's surface.

Entering the atmosphere, they saw the city ahead and then their scopes picked up enemy ships approaching from surface.

They looked like Z-95 Headhunters at first glance, their profiles similar, but then their wings split into two on each side, the s-foils deploying to battle conditions.

"All wings report in." Nej'a Berto'Lo, a Jedi survivor who had taken refuge on Corellia called out to his pilots. Anakin Skywalker would have been leading the air battle but would be needed for ground portion of the battle, Nej'a therefore had taken command. He listened as the fighters all called in before squadron leaders spoke to him.

"Five Worlds Squadron ready." Five Worlds Leader said to command as his pilots checked in.

"Sand Panther Squadron ready." Sand Panther Leader said too as his pilots confirmed they were standing by.

This was the first time anyone had seen these ships fly into battle, the Imperial Pilots had no idea just what ships they were but had better numbers so they weren't too concerned.

The X-wings were a gift from Bail Organa who had been working with a friendly shipwright to make more of the ships in secret before shipping them to Corellia, this was going to be their first real test in action though and many were nervous about whether the fighter would perform.

The distance closed and both sides fired at each other, the two forces breaking their formation as pilots began their dogfights. The X-wings were not as manoeuvrable as the Ties but had the advantage of shields which meant they could shrug off glancing blows and because it was so easy to fly, pilots had no trouble forcing it into extreme acrobatic movements to throw off the Imperials.

But from another direction, other fighters came, older ones from the Clone Wars that had been salvaged for this fight. Light Freighters weaved among them, countering the numbers advantage the Imperials had at the beginning. Corellians were among the best pilots in the galaxy, and they had earned their reputation often by their actions and not intimidation like the Empire's own pilots.

As the battle for the skies continued, landing ships carrying the Imperial ground forces descended. The fighters were too busy to intercept it and the Imperials had the sense to land outside the deflector shield so ground emplacements couldn't hit them.

There were several landing zones around the city, areas that the defenders had done their best to prepare, but as the people waited, the heavier Imperial landers brought down the large AT-AT walkers and their smaller counterparts the AT-ST walkers, accompanied by squads of Stormtroopers who ran alongside them.

The Imperial forces now on the ground moved forward, needing to cross the field to be able to fight. The Corellian defenders all knew this and had set up as many surprises as possible.

Anti-Infantry mines were waiting just on the inside of the field, exploding the moment the controllers could trigger them. Sending troopers flying high into the air while the defenders opened fire with whatever weapons they had. Some had rifles or larger rapid firing blasters mounted to walls or the ground while some manned heavier laser emplacements. A few carried missile launchers that they fired at the smaller walkers where they would be more effective. Snipers in the buildings above used their vantage points to pick off more

The slow lumbering AT-AT walkers though were much harder to stop, their heavy armour was too strong to be easily broken through but the Corellians had managed to fix some quick solutions to these, one of which ironically had been provided by the Empire itself.

Large Turbolaser Batteries slated for placement on the Star Destroyers they had been building had been set up in positions near the landing zones, they had even managed to set up a forcefield from the generators that would have been fitted to the Gozanti-class ships they build here too. Opening just for a second so they could blast the cabs of the walkers as they moved, having the power to blast them open.

In places where they couldn't use the large batteries though, they had resorted to the Corellian Jedi, donning their traditional green robes to honour their world in this crucial hour they would use speeder bikes to ride close by and slash at the legs with their lightsabers to try and cut them down.

The intense fighting was harsh, the sounds of it echoed throughout the area and were too much for some to handle, but for now, they were holding them off.

- x -

Not far away, Padme was directing civilians to safety.

She honestly had never felt so overwhelmed, it shocked her how fast that feeling could come when she had been in the heart of battles, fighting for her very life, been in intense political debates in the senate and yet managing the scale of the situation was honestly one of the hardest situations she had ever dealt with.

Coronet City had a population of roughly three hundred million people who lived in the city, most of which were not fighting and had to be moved away to safety. Half the city's population had fled the city but many were still inside it. The Imperial landings had cut off many routes to escape with and so she was funnelling them along those that remained.

She wiped her brow and the sweat coming off it was a reminder that she had not been doing this sort of thing for a good while, being a mother and being on the run with Anakin had been her life for years now and while she would never trade it for anything. She loved being a mother to her children and being with Anakin full time had done nothing but strengthen the love they had for each other; but she had missed this.

Being at the centre of things.

Padme had been a career politician, from a junior legislator to being queen, to the Galactic Senate. She had always had a high stake and rewarding job, dealing with important matters that effected potentially millions of people. Until now, she hadn't realised how much she missed that.

Maybe she thought with some anticipation, she should take a bigger role in the growing rebellion and make her mark on it. She liked the sound of that, what that mark would mean she had no idea but either way…she was done being on the side-lines she thought with determination.

- x -

Unfortunately, at one of the landing points, things were not going so well.

It had none of the heavier batteries present and the two Corellian Jedi who should have been trying to fight the walkers had become distracted by the appearance of a newly arrived shuttle.

Arfan Ramos and Bedoch, both Corellian Jedi and proud ones at that brandished their lightsabers as the shuttle doors opened and revealed not only staff of Purge Troopers who swarmed out of the ship but also two other figures. One was a female human, older but still tall with a scarred face.

The other was taller still, clad in dark armour and with a cold familiar breathing sound.

The two Jedi faced Vader, a saberstaff with green blades and a single yellow blade in their hands. Arfan, his own arrogance being his undoing rushed forward and started attacking Vader who ignited his own lightsaber and moved to block the attack. Arfan was shocked by the Sith Warrior's strength, Bedoch rushed over to help his friend only for both of them to be sent flying back by a force wave, the troopers and the Dark Disciple smirking as they witnessed Vader at work.

Vader roared out, channelling the hatred he had for the Jedi, drawing deeper on the dark side, strengthening his body and launching himself at them with surprising speed.

The ferocity he attacked with was only matched by his surprising speed, Vader should have been slow and lumbering but he moved so fast it has hard for the two trained Jedi to keep up with him. His presence in the force was overwhelming, sapping the Jedi of their own connection to the light side and disorientating them.

Weakened and unable to focus properly, it didn't take long for Vader to cut the pair down.

Worse though was the fact that the Jedi abandoning their post had left the defenders facing a pair of AT-AT walkers without any weapons capable of hurting them. The walkers easily picked off the defenders in their positions and forced them into a retreat, leaving the path into the city open.

Outer Foundries, Coronet City…One Hour Later…

"I am holding back the urge to say 'I told you so'" Crosshair said with his usual cynical calm as he stayed on gantry picking off whole squads by shooting at the canisters of explosives they had set around the place. Hunter grimaced as he ducked behind the ore processor and shot back at the Stormtroopers that were moving through the area.

"Yes, I am sure." Hunter said with gritted teeth before Tech and Echo met up with him.

"No vehicles at least. But more troopers are converging on our location." Tech told them as he checked the various devices he carried.

"The Drall are folding, they didn't figure on this heavy an attack before they were finished setting up the traps." Echo told them which wasn't good as the Drall were the main troops here.

"So, we smash them on our own." Wrecker said as he did just that, smashing his way through the enemy before Omega told them from the Bastion where she was safe.

"Reinforcements are coming! Senator Garm said they will be there soon." Omega said, worried deeply for her brothers but she had been forced to stay back and away from the fighting.

"What reinforcements?" Echo asked with confusion knowing they were shorthanded as it was, just who could they be sending? They all asked themselves.

The answer surprised all of them, as the stormtroopers massed on them, a nearby collapsed AT-ST lifted into the air and then was thrown into their massing troopers. While some were flattened by it, many got out of the way before five figures leapt down from the gantries above, green lightsabers in hand wearing distinctive robes.

"Them I guess." Hunter said with surprise while Tech filled him in.

"Corellian Jedi, known to serve exclusively in the Corellian System and sector. Wearing distinctive green robes, they have aligned themselves with Senator Garm Bel-Iblis due to their patriotism." Tech told them in his usual fast speech. The Jedi whoever they were began to fight the divided soldiers, moving with great speed and precision cutting them down. The Bad Batch were surprised but knew this was the opportunity to turn the tide of their part of the battle.

So, they returned to shooting the stormtroopers, using the opening created by the arrival of the Jedi to clear them out.

The five Jedi and them soon had the situation under control, the last of the troopers fell, leaving the Jedi and them standing there awkwardly. Even Crosshair descended from his lofty perch to join them.

"Thank you, Master Jedi. We were about to be overwhelmed." Hunter said diplomatically to the five, which left Crosshair to scoff while Wrecker was annoyed that he hadn't gotten more fighting in. The leader of the Jedi, a man of middle age with a groomed dark beard spoke calmly and with a nod of respect which did surprise them all.

"I am sure you would have managed on your end, but today, no-one is fighting alone. I am Nejaa Halcyon and these are my friends; Jun Seros, Kellian Jarro, Thendys Noori and Matarmeno Krahnn." He said turning to a bunch of human males of middle age or greater not to mention a Mirilian female in her late teens. "Shall we prepare for the next wave should it come? We may not have much time." He added and Hunter was surprised given what the clones had done to the Jedi that Master Halcyon was being so open with them. He could see that there were some guarded looks coming their way but he knew not to dwell on it, not when there was a job to do.

- x -

Santhe Shipyards, Coronet City…

Ahsoka having left the damaged Turbolasers in the hands of the engineers ran to the nearby shipyards where another fierce battle was raging. Clones, the shipyard workers who had stayed to fight and Selonian commandoes were fighting hard against approaching Imperial forces, Ahsoka was dealing with the smaller walkers, slicing at their legs where they were most vulnerable and sending them toppling over with a force push. The others led by Rex were using whatever cover they had to stand their ground against the approaching Imperials.

Rex laughed as he saw Ahsoka down another of the enemy walkers and called out as she jumped back behind the barricade to aid them by deflecting blaster fire.

"Just like old times!" He told her with a big grin on his face, he loved a battle even if it was only his own terms. Not to mention he was with people he knew and trusted to have his back.

"Oh yeah! Real trip down memory lane." Ahsoka said, smiling despite herself as she was glad to be back with Rex again. And Anakin she thought with genuine joy, she was so busy with missions for Bail Organa these days that she barely had any time for relationships with anyone.

So weirdly, she had never been happier than she was right now, in the middle of a harsh battle. She didn't want her whole life to revolve around war but she was so glad to be with the people that she loved again that she honestly didn't mind at all.

- x -

Coronet Medical Centre, Coronet City…

The cost of the battle was much clearer to everyone that was posted by the city's main medical centre. Speeders arrived with frightening speed, stretchers and medical capsules were in short supply as the wounded were put everywhere there was space while doctors, nurses and medics, in fact anyone with even the smallest amount of medical skill that they could draw on worked to save their lives.

This made the centre one of the most important strongpoints in the city and one that the defenders could not afford to lose.

It was here were many of the professional CORSEC personnel had been posted, along with significant fortifications under the command of Major Wolroff, one of the most combat hardened men they had.

As the Imperials advanced, which he saw keenly through his cybernetic eye he co-ordinated the defence of the medical centre.

"Left Flank, concentrate fire on troopers approaching from Kyber Street! Right Flank, concentrate fire on the troopers coming up Cynse Row." He commanded as Stormtroopers came up the two roads towards the centre.

Qi'ra and Han were among them, holding rifles they had been given they stood behind their section and fired them at the approaching enemy. Both of them had known they were heading into a battle but never had they expected it to be like this.

Neither of them despite their inexperience was panicking though, they were actually focused on shooting back unlike some others who were sitting there paralyzed in fear or had run away.

Han was feeling very much like he should do the same though, the Imperials were gaining ground on them and it wouldn't be long before they were fighting inside the medical centre. He however didn't like to run from a fight and Qi'ra wouldn't be running with him in any case.

He had honestly never seen her more energetic at anything, Han thought with astonishment at the effort she was putting into this. She was completely focused on it, shooting with great accuracy and not a bit of fear on her face, proven moments later when the CORSEC man operating the mounted heavy repeating blaster was shot and went down. Qi'ra didn't hesitate and dropped her rifle to take his place. She grabbed the handles and started shooting straight into the approaching enemy. She was actually doing a very good job of it too Han admitted reluctantly, cutting down enemies with good accuracy.

The sight of larger walkers approaching them though was enough to make all of them look up in anger and fear, the large walker lumbered into view but then from an adjacent building two figures in green robes leapt out and onto the cab of the walker, green blades could be seen as they landed on top of it. Neither Han or Qi'ra had ever seen Jedi before and so seeing them in action was really something, they used their lightsabers to cut into the cab and then threw the pilots out of it before turning the walker on the Imperial troopers below.

The Corellians cheered as they saw the Imperials fall back, not able to press the attack without their greatest asset and no one was yelling louder than Qi'ra who honestly felt so proud of herself and of her fellow Corellians. She had never really had a sense of nationalism before and yet now she was about ready to start singing the national anthem!

Was this what she honestly had been looking for her whole life? Qi'ra thought to herself with wonder, fighting for a cause? She honestly felt more accomplished than she had at any other point in her life.

City Streets, Coronet City…

Allara meanwhile had been separated from her master as she led a team of CORSEC personnel and civilian volunteers in protecting streets that led to the Bastion. She had never led before and it was unsettling for her to be responsible for them, or at least feel that way.

As they came to one of the intersections, they came across a party that was trying to sneak through the battle to the Bastion, probably to capture the senator and deny the rebellion its leader. Allara was disgusted at their cowardly tactic and ignited her saber while the others readied their weapons. She then had an idea as they hadn't been seen yet and turned to the others, and whispered to them.

"Get out your grenades, lob them all at once. Shatter them and then attack." She told them quietly and they all smirked as they liked the idea.

Each of them took one grenade each and on her signal, flung them at the enemy. One of them though, a woman in a cloak seemed to sense the attack coming and leapt out of the way, saving herself while leaving her soldiers to take the hit. The explosions send the Purge Troopers flying, injured and vulnerable.

Allara's soldiers began to attack them while she found herself face to face with the woman that had leapt away, now much closer she could feel the cold and oppressive aura of the dark side around her. She wasn't dressed like an Inquisitor Allara noticed, not wearing the standard body armour and was wearing black and red robes. She was older too, much older than herself with significant scars on one side of her face and her eyes were a horrible shade of yellow and orange that she knew was typical for dark side users. She brandished an ornate looking lightsaber made of what looked like electrum and other rare metals and had gemstones for buttons. It was a ridiculous statement of wealth Allara thought with disgust as she faced the woman.

"What in the force possessed you to build a lightsaber like that?" Allara said with considerable scorn in her voice. A lightsaber was meant to reflect who you were and this one looked like a pointless display of wealth and greed.

"Insolent child!" The woman said, almost foaming at the mouth at her disrespect. "A pathetic weak creature like you has no concept of what has true value. And while the Emperor has given orders that you be brought to him alive as he had a use for you, but I think your death will stay a secret between us." The woman said with a snarl on her lips, igniting her lightsaber and a red blade appeared.

Allara smirked, despite her own nervousness as she had never managed to defeat a dark sider on her own before and Anakin was far from here fighting on his own front. She readied herself, rallying her own courage and told her.

"Bring it on, witch!"

The dark sider scowled at her brazenness which actually gave Allara confidence and so she stood her ground and the two soon crossed sabers.

Allara was surprised at how fast the older woman was, moving at an incredible speed for a woman her age but Allara was easily able to keep up with her. After her last rather unimpressive duel, she had doubled down on her training and Anakin had begun refining her skills with her. Something she was very grateful for now as he honestly felt much more able to face her.

Allara had learned much of Form 5 in its different forms as it was a very useful form, as good at defence as it was at offense. Her master was a real expert at it and had drilled her relentlessly which was useful when the woman started using Form 2 against her.

In lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat, it was perhaps a really good form to use but it had a tragic flaw as Count Dooku who arguably had been the foremost master of the style had learned…it had little kinetic energy which was something Form 5 had in spades.

Something Allara was all too keen to take advantage of, she started using her own slightly altered variant to make the most of her speed and precision, her body augmented by the force meaning that she could hit almost as hard as someone twice her size and build, again something she had to thank her master for Allara thought with a grateful smirk.

The woman, though had more than a few trips up her sleeve. When she realised Allara was starting to batter her way through her defences she switched to using the force to counter attack, she began to blast at her with surges of purple lightning. Allara managed to block it with her lightsaber but the sheer force the woman was creating actually was forcing Allara back. Standing her ground was hard as she sweated with effort, whoever this woman was she was very powerful with the dark side Allara realised, such corruption unlike anything she had ever seen and it stoked her own determination and so she gritted her teeth as she slowly managed to take one step forward.

Then another.

Then another one after that, followed closely by yet another closing the distance between them. The effort was taxing, every muscle in her body was burning with the effort it took but Allara refused to give up and kept on going.

The woman noticed this and redoubled her efforts, pushing more and more lightning towards her but Allara refused to give up. She pushed herself even harder until she managed to angle her blade so the lightning was sent back at her.

The woman screamed as she was hit by her own lightning and the momentary distraction allowed Allara to close the distance and with a single effortless stroke of her lightsaber, end the woman where she stood.

Allara was winded, that had taken a lot of effort and she looked around to see her men had taken care of the rest of the Imperials which made her sigh in relief, but then she felt the force surge, warning her of danger and she turned to see one of the Purge Troopers pointing their blaster at her. But before she could do anything, one of her people a tall Kajain'sa'Nikto male who was a couple of years older than Anakin move and thrust out his hands, throwing the purge trooper back and into a wall.

It shocked everyone especially Allara who hadn't even thought to check him for the force. The rest of her people shot the last Purge Trooper before she asked the male.

"What was your name again?" She asked, not having managed to learn them all yet. The male laughed loudly before telling her.

"Kahr'hark Tix, at your service. Medic for a ship that got stuck here during the uprising. Thought I might be able to be of some use." Kahr said to her with a big smile, Allara knew that the Order did miss some with a connection to the force as Palpatine himself was proof of but never had she encountered one herself.

She wondered just what she could do here, but was distracted by the fact a battle was going on and they still had a job to do. This was something she would need to discuss with her master later.

- x -

Axial Park, Coronet City…

The pride of Coronet City, a space designed so the Corellians could feel at least somewhere in their huge and highly developed city that they could connect with nature or even be assured it existed.

It had been a part of the city for thousands of years and cost a great deal of credits to create but it was a triumph and pride of the city. The city's zoo was here and some of the most important museums in the city stood alongside it.

Unfortunately, due its position near the landing zone that had been breached, it was now also the sight of a pitched battle between the invaders and the defenders…the harshest fighting in the entire city.

Anakin of course was right there in the middle of it.

He had his lightsaber in hand, the grass beneath their feet being trampled into mud by all the people there not to mention the many vehicles in the area and artillery being shot by both sides. He was constantly moving around the battle field which was quickly resembling the kind of hells that he had seen only in the harshest and brutal battles of the Clone Wars.

He saw bodies of the dead laying all around the place along with broken vehicles, he blasted some Stormtroopers with the force while deflecting away blaster fire. He had been doing this for what seemed like hours now but there was no sign of it letting up he thought with anger. HK-47 was at his side, moving around a heavy blaster rifle like it weighed nothing with a grenade launcher attachment.

"Excited Statement: Master! I am having so much fun slaughtering these meat bags! I cannot express how glad I am that you are my master for taking me to such good places." HK-47 said with an unhealthy level of excitement and joy for an organic let alone a droid but the droid was doing his bit to keep them from being pushed out of the park Anakin thought with worry that unless something changed soon, they might be forced to retreat. HK-47 would likely want to stay as he used a flash bang grenade to force a group of stormtroopers out from behind the crashed tank they had been using for cover before shooting them all in rapid succession.

Anakin was hardly troubled by this, given the fate of the planet was at stake. He wasn't the only one here though, Corin Tok another Jedi who emerged from hiding to join the uprising was fighting separately to him. Corin had been a real legend in his own right during the Clone Wars, winning many battles and defeated plenty of dangerous opponents. The Separatists had been scared of him he had been so successful.

So at least he wasn't alone in this.

- x -

The Bastion, Coronet City…

Garm was looking at the holomap and worried as while things were going as well as he could have hoped, he had just been informed the turbolasers would take days to fix. That meant he had no real way of dealing with the ships in orbit which meant that he and the rest of the defenders were trapped on the planet and the Imperials could just send more and more troops and vehicles.

Or just starve them out, he thought with an angry look on his face as he considered the situation.

"Sir, new contacts have just dropped out of hyperspace and are approaching the planet at high speed." One of his people told them as he monitored the situation out there.

"Imperial Reinforcements." Another one said with a grim look on her face but then the man on the sensors took a closer look.

"What is it?" Padme asked as she came up to him, looking as worried as the rest of them.

"By the force." Garm said in complete astonishment. "They…came."

Orbit of Corellia, Same Time…

A Rift Alliance Taskforce sped towards the planet, from the bridge of the Judgement, the Aden-class ship that served as his flagship for this battle Haron called out his orders.

"All ships, launch fighters. Order Gondwana to target Imperial Flagship Steel Hornet. Time to see if she lives up to her potential." Haron said although the last part he said quietly to himself.

- x -

The large and strange looking ship at the centre of the formation was making it first appearance today, under the command of House Kane it had only limited defensive weapons but a rather special offensive one.

Small dagger like drone ships poured from racks under the hull, they dropped free of their mothership before engaging a powerful sublight engine on the back and sped at high speed, faster than most missiles could manage and in vast numbers towards the Steel Hornet. Each was controlled by a droid brain that allowed it to predict use quick and violent evasive manoeuvres as they had no reason to worry about G-forces or survival. The Steel Hornet along with nearby support ships opened fire and managed to pick off a few of them but the swarm carried on to its target, guided by the computers on the Gondwana.

On the bridge of the Steel Hornet Moff Tarandon, Admiral Heston and General Adele Konya looked out to see the swarm heading right for them and had no time to do anything but put their arms up against their faces in a vain attempt to protect themselves as the swarm slammed into the bridge and exploded.

This decapitated the ship in effect and left it helpless while explosions ripped across its hull, wrecking the ship, a small group began ramming hard into the main reaction which was exposed on the underside of the vessel, punching through its heavy armour with repeated hits until finally one managed to get in and explode inside.

The ship erupted into an explosion so powerful it tore the ship in two, leaving the remain six Star Destroyers and support ships to face the approaching enemy.

MC75 and MC80 cruisers alongside the Aden class battleships moved forward, Viper Mark 2, ARC-170s, X-Wings and Vulture Fighters flying ahead of them, behind them Hyena Bombers and V-Wings all of which were moving into attack position on the remaining ships. The Gondwana though, still with plenty of their drones switched target to the smaller support ships. Tie Fighters that tried to intervene found themselves facing the automated laser turrets of the Crusader class corvettes that flew alongside the fighters.

The Separatist frigates and destroyers turned their attention to the Imperial Support Ships, the fighters either started fighting the enemy Tie Fighters or strafing the larger warships. The Bombers too although some broke off and headed down towards the surface.

Imperials at the landing zones on the planet below had little warning as the bombers at extremely high speed, firing concussion missiles at them, shattering them and cutting off any more reinforcements for the ground assault.

Back in orbit the larger ships moved to confront each other, the Adens Haron had brought began to pincer two ships between them, their large turbolasers tearing into the shields and hull while the Mon Calamari ships did the same.

With the drones of Gondwana the support ships were soon dealt with and the six Star Destroyers found themselves surrounded and being attacked from every side. This cleared the way for the two Lucrehulks at the back of the Rift Alliance formation to deploy landing ships and gunships that would be able to help on the surface. Haron felt a familiar disturbance in the force, one he'd only felt once on Mon Calamari years ago. He frowned with deep concern before giving command to Neville and headed down to the surface so he could join the ground battle.

- x -

The Drop Ships carrying reinforcements for the beleaguered rebels descended at high speed, Mandalorians dropped from their transports with Skytroopers and Basilisk wardroids while Wookiees screamed out their battle cries as they emerged from transports alongside Canderous Assault tanks, moving into the city and cutting off all routes of escape for the now trapped Imperial landing forces.

Axial Park, Coronet City…

News of the sudden reinforcements and the decimation of the Imperial Fleet in orbit rallied the rebels, now knowing the tide had turned in their favour. The Imperials were being pushed towards the park where they were fast being surrounded. Anakin was dealing with an Imperial Walker, cutting at its legs before blasting it over with the force while HK-47 blasted Stormtroopers that were surging into the area.

But then Anakin felt a strange feeling creeping up the back of his neck and the air turned icy, a feeling he hadn't felt quite like this since he and Master Windu had been in Palpatine's office. He looked over and saw Corin Tok was being held in a force choke, he grasped at his throat but before Anakin could do anything to help him a tall black armoured figure stabbed a red bladed lightsaber that had a distinct resemblance to his own through the Zabrak's gut.

Seeing his fellow Jedi cut down made Anakin furious and so he turned to armoured figure, who threw Corin's body aside and snarled at him with his electronic voice and his breathing sound was just disturbing.

"What are you?" Anakin asked, sure he was a Sith of some kind but something about him felt…familiar. Not in a way he could put into words but honestly it was unnerving Anakin thought.

"Far more than a failure, more than you can ever be." The warrior said and charged at him with his red lightsaber, Anakin raised his own and met him in the middle.

Each blow was like a hammer striking, Anakin thought with surprise, his arms already starting to ache since he had already been fighting for most of the day, nevertheless Anakin was never one to give up and drew deeper on the force to strengthen his body so he could match the strange warrior.

One thing that did surprise him though was that the two of them were using the exact same style of fighting, the exact same Anakin thought with astonishment. He had worked hard on mastering Form 5 fighting but he had altered some moves to suit him and added some for other styles to augment it and despite teaching some of it to Ahsoka and Allara, he had never shared all of them as they preferred their own form of fighting. Yet this creature was able to match him move for move.

And yet the reverse was true as well, Anakin thought with confusion as he was able sense what the warrior was going to do as well. He couldn't explain it but he honestly felt just what the warrior was going to do next and his connection to the force felt weird around him.

That meant this was going to be a battle of attrition, Anakin realised with gritted teeth as he clashed with the warrior.

Heavy cleaves were met with other heavy cleaves and parries as the fight continued, each hammering away at the other with relentless efforts in an attempt to force their way through the other's defences. Anakin though was starting to tire as he had been fighting for most of the day, the warrior had not though Anakin realised with worry, he was drawing deeper on his rage but otherwise seemed stronger than Anakin physically.

Anakin realised as he staggered back that he couldn't rely on his strength in the force or even his own skills to win this fight, no matter what he did the warrior seemed able to match it and so he gritted his teeth and tried one last trick, what Kagame had been trying to do.

Turn his opponent's own energy against him, it was an ability that was both in the force and not. He had not managed to do it yet but if he didn't do something quickly then he would lose this fight. He changed his movements, adjusting his hold and the angle at which he held his lightsaber, the warrior when he resumed attacking found instead Anakin was no longer using the same style, instead he was using techniques much like his own former master. He instead of meeting the attacks head on would absorb and redirect them away or back towards the warrior, he had struggled to do this before and was not comfortable with it now.

But it was working he realised to his own amazement, he felt the warrior's energy being absorbed by him tainted though it was and it strengthened him. He felt the aches of his own muscles ease as did his own exhaustion as he began to recover.

The warrior was completely infuriated, screaming out in rage as he renewed his attacks. Anakin honestly had never seen such fury before and it was now taking more effort to keep up his defence and he had to let himself go more into the force.

Then the warrior was caught off guard by a sudden blast of the force that sent him flying into a nearby rock with enough momentum to break it and send him hurtling into the ground.

Anakin was surprised too but not just by the attack as he then saw the source land right next to him, a familiar suit of emerald green, gold and black coloured armour with a helmet that had a T-shaped visor and an ancient mask on it. A man he hadn't seen in years but had counted as friend.

He honestly was so surprised he didn't know what to think but any chance to speak was ended abruptly by the sight of the warrior getting to his feet and snarling at them in renewed rage. Both Anakin and Haron shared a brief look before Haron drew the Darksaber and ignited it, standing side by side with Anakin who held his own saber aloft.

"Bring it on…Vader." Haron said to the warrior who was enraged even more at the perceived insult.

"You dare speak my name with such flippancy!?" 'Vader' said to them before charging, both Anakin and Haron readied themselves before meeting him head on.

The pair had different styles of fighting and now there were two of them, the pair moved together flanking Vader on both sides as they attacked rapidly from different angles and Vader to their surprise managed to keep them both at bay but now, they had the momentum.

They traded blows, swapping between who was attacking and who was defending and Vader was growing more and more frustrated by the inability to kill one of them.

Finally, he threw a hard cleave at Anakin but Haron managed to still his arm with the force and hold it there, allowing Anakin to weave round and slash deep into Vader's chest.

The Sith yelled in pain but could do nothing as Anakin had all but cut him in half.

The body fell with the heavy thud to the ground leaving both Anakin and Haron slightly winded but as they looked at each other uncertainly there was one thing they could both agree on.

The battle was over, they had won.

The casualties were horrible, many brave and determined Corellians had given their lives for the liberation of their planet not to mention volunteers that had come to help.

While the Garm and Padme were co-ordinating the treatment of the wounded and clean up after the battle, Anakin and Haron stood in front of a large window in one of the city's towers as they had a long overdue conversation. Haron stood waiting for Anakin to start, both leaned against the wall on opposite sides.

"How?" Anakin finally asked, not sure exactly where to start but decided as he knew now Haron had the ability to use the force and in all the years they'd known each other he had never seen any sign of it, just like Palpatine and it worried him. Haron knew he had to be honest here if he wanted any kind of friendship with Anakin in the future so he told him the truth.

"Ever since I was born, myself and my sister experimented when we were younger and gained some control of our abilities and while out in the galaxy, I found other sources of knowledge to draw on. Then I met others who had the force like I did but came from other cultures and so we combined what we learned to create a new order of own in the heart of Mandalorian Space." Haron told him simply, not going into specifics but giving him enough.

"Others?" Anakin asked suspiciously and Haron answered.

"I found the odd Jedi holocron or tome while a Matukai, a Warden of the Sky and a Fallanassi came to live with us. We all shared what we knew and one of those skills was how to hide yourself in the force. An ability that has proven essential in keeping both the Sith and Jedi ignorant of our existence."

"With the Sith…I can understand." Anakin conceded, put in his position he would have done the same. "But the Jedi, they aren't your enemy…I'm not your enemy." Anakin said, making the personal betrayal he felt quite clear to Haron who sighed under his helmet before answering.

"If it were just you, I wouldn't have hesitated." Haron admitted, knowing he could have told Anakin. "But the Jedi is another matter altogether. My people and the Order have been blood enemies for thousands of years going back into the early days of both groups. I don't trust them and I have had the pleasure of knowing you and several others like Ahsoka that are probably some of the most decent people I have ever known on either side. The Council, what would they have done if they knew that we had the force? We could be a threat to them with just gadgets and tactics Anakin, if we had the force too and the knowledge to use it? How much of a threat would they have considered us then? Not to mention Palpatine would know too if they had. Could I really take that risk? Especially with my children who have that same power I do? To have the Jedi breathing down our necks, trying to take our children and being distracted from the Sith who all the while would have used it to his advantage. What else could I have done?" Haron asked, not doubting his decisions and hoped Anakin might understand his reasoning.

Anakin, before the reveal of Palpatine and the opening of his eyes would have been reluctant to accept that but now he was older and somewhat wiser he could see Haron's position, especially as he had children of his own now. Nightmares of Luke, Leia and Mace being taken by Palpatine had troubled him many nights and if as Haron said his own children had the powers he did, well it was understandable. Not done from malice, merely practicality.

"What sort of abilities do you have?" Anakin asked and Haron revealed some, although he did keep some quiet.

"Many of the same abilities of the Jedi, telekinesis and such. A few interesting abilities of our own though, like this." Haron said, calling on the force to lift himself into the air and glide gently around the room.

Anakin was astonished as Force Flight was a very rare ability, one of the most advanced subsets of telekinesis, only a few had ever managed to sustain it for a prolonged period of time, and yet this new order had apparently mastered it.

"Would you like to learn it? To fly unassisted." Haron offered as an olive branch to Anakin, knowing it would mean a lot to someone who liked flying as much as Anakin did.

Anakin didn't have to be told twice and immediately accepted the offer.

- x -

The Bastion, Coronet City…A Few Hours Later…

"If we're going to manage our own defences then a fleet of our own is going to be critical." Garm said to his people, the new Corellian Council such as it was. The leaders of Corellia in its still unstable state. "We have some ships that we were building for the Empire that we can finish and press into service." He concluded; the Empire had been forcing them to build not only the big star destroyers but some of the new Nebulon-B frigates and other ships like it. He had the CR90 corvettes and the X-wings so that would be a start.

They were disturbed when they saw Haron Ordo and Anakin Skywalker floating through the air and land right beside them, Haron landed more gracefully while Anakin stumbled a bit. They all looked at the pair with confusion as to how they had managed that especially when Haron's jetpack had been shut down and Anakin didn't have one at all but Nejaa who felt the force and understood blinked in surprise but warmly welcoming Anakin even if he didn't like the fact a Mandalorian could use the force.

"Anakin." He said with a warm smile and nod of the head which Anakin returned quickly. He then made a reveal that he had something to contribute to the new Corellian Fleet. "I was recently contacted by an agent working with Master Tholme who has gone into hiding. But he is providing information that might be of use to the new fleet. Two designs retrieved from the Jedi Archives, ships from the Old Republic that were essential in the battle against the Sith and will likely be again. The Thranta-class corvette/light cruiser and the Foray-class blockade runner. Master Tholme has updated the design and added some new systems to give the ships some extra teeth. Both of which I am sure will be very useful."

Nejaa wasn't wrong, Anakin knew as those designs had been highly successful and effective in their day and if modernised then they would be again. Like back in the days of the Great Galactic War and the Cold War and the other wars that followed the Sith had large capital ships they simply couldn't really match so instead they made effective smaller vessels that could manage many roles well. A tactic that would serve them well now as it had then.

"What about the warrior you fought in Axial Park. What was he?" Padme asked as she came up to her husband, Haron gave her a courteous nod which she returned.

"A clone." Haron said calmly.

They all looked at him with surprise and Admiral Ackbar who had been the one leading much of their fleet in the battle stepped in as he had been briefed on the Vader situation.

"The Empire has managed to clone a force sensitive, not to mention enhance it with stimulants and cybernetics. They place it inside a suit of armour and call it Vader, we encountered one during the Invasion of Mon Cala years ago." Ackbar revealed to them and they were stunned, no one had ever to their knowledge ever cloned a force sensitive successfully before.

"It also means that Vader cannot truly die. They will just replace him with a new one every time one is lost. And Anakin…I wish I didn't have to say this but…it's your DNA they used." Haron added which worried many of them as those that reviewed footage of Vader in action saw how dangerous he was.

Anakin meanwhile was shocked at what he had been told, not wanting to believe it and Padme had to take his arm quite firmly before he even acknowledged her, she had to squeeze his hand tightly before he came back to the moment, unsure of just what to say or think.

Haron however then changed the subject as there was something else that needed to be said.

"But if Corellia is willing, we have a way to improve your own security and stability. While we haven't publicly announced it, the Mandalorian Territories, Mon Calamari, Kashyyyk, the Separatist Holdouts, Namzor, the Than Hegemony, the Saliant Federation and Dornea have all agreed to a mutual alliance of support. We trade with each other, share intelligence and agree to stand together in case of invasion. We now offer a place in this alliance to you, Corellia would be most welcome and it would make your position more secure." Haron offered.

The idea that that many worlds had joined together without the Empire knowing was incredible and more importantly the importance of worlds allying together against the Empire was not lost on those presence.

Padme and Garm in particular saw the advantages, the only way the Empire would truly be defeated was by many people across the galaxy which gave them both an idea too. Some worlds weren't ready to throw off the shackles of Imperial occupation or had no means to do so. Others needed training before they could even attempt it.

An organisation needed to be created to fill that role, to spread the fight of rebellion across the galaxy.

Corellia would join the Rift Alliance, but that would only be the beginning.

- x -

While Anakin was talking to Nejaa and the other Jedi present, Haron found himself confronted with a vicious looking droid.

"Intrigued Question: I have seen that mask before meatbag, how do you have it?" The droid said with its electronic voice. Haron knew the shape from holoimages his family had preserved since the days of the Old Republic, so the droid while surprising was familiar to him.

"It belonged to my ancestor and was lost for a long time before I recovered it, now it belongs to me. You therefore must be HK-47." Haron said, knowing the droid by reputation and it was for that reason that his hand stayed close to his blasters.

"Understanding Statement: Ahh, I see. So, the meatbag known as Canderous Ordo finally met his end but not being copulating enough to spawn. He was an efficient killer, not as effective as myself of course but for an organic he was skilled." HK-47 said.

Haron a bit surprised as from what he had heard about the sociopathic droid, it didn't respect anyone but it seemed to respect his ancestor for his ability to fight. That was something Haron supposed and eagerly made his way to see to other things as he would rather do that then trade insults with this droid.

- x -

Coronet Spaceport, Coronet City…

Han was glad to get out of the battle alive, more than that…he had come out of it with an offer.

One of the spacers who'd been stuck here and fighting with the locals had seen him shooting and offered him a spot on his ship. For him and Qi'ra.

A way off Corellia…something he had always dreamed of, the open space lanes for him and Qi'ra.

But when he had told her, she had different idea.

"Han…I'm staying." She told him with a look of awkwardness on her face. "They're expanding the Corellian Military and asking for recruits. I want to do it…we could do it together." She said, hoping he might stay but Han was fuming. He had always dreamt of this, of getting out into space. He wanted to take her with him but now she was backing out.

Qi'ra with her mind made up, sure that this was a path to something better kissed him gently on the cheek before walking away, trying to hide the tears in her eyes.

Han meanwhile was angry and left on the ship the first chance he got, his surname seeming particularly appropriate in the situation…Solo.

Well, he thought with angry determination he would get his own ship one day and he would fly the space lanes. And nothing was going to stop him, he thought doing his best to put Qi'ra out of his mind.

Corellian Jedi Enclave, Coronet City…

The Jedi Enclave in Coronet City had been abandoned since the rise of the Empire as the Jedi everywhere had needed to go into hiding and had been vacant since then, the Empire had intentionally left it alone just on the off chance that some of the Jedi might return.

With the liberation of Corellia though, it was finally possible of the Green Jedi as they were known to return to their enclave.

The interior Anakin thought wasn't that different to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, much smaller perhaps with more golden and bronze colours alongside green and gold drapes that now hung from the walls once again.

But try as he might, he couldn't get what Haron had told him out of his head.

That Vader was cloned from him.

He honestly didn't know what to think, how he and Vader had managed to be so in tune with each other and how he had been so strong in the force now made perfect sense. He honestly had no idea how he hadn't sensed any of this but it was troubling him a great deal, he thought looking around at the golden coloured statues of Ancient Corellian Jedi. Did any of them face a situation like this he thought, thinking it very unlikely.

Then there was the matter of the Mandalorians, that was something else that confused him. He trusted Haron regardless of the fact he had hidden this from him, given he had a family to protect and was the leader of his people it was understandable but he honestly was really worried as to how he nor any of the Jedi had sensed this. He wondered if Ahsoka had known but she was speaking to Nejaa.

Eventually Kagame appeared, having arrived with Luke, Leia and Mace not to mention their two Noghri bodyguards. The sight of him made the two energetic toddlers scream out "Daddy!" and charge straight towards him, Anakin smiled and bent down catching them both in his arms, swinging them around and hugging them close as they laughed. Some of them in the room smiled at the sight while other Jedi frowned, still holding on to the rule about attachment.

Ahsoka and Nejaa came over and smiled at the two young children. Nejaa who hadn't met them before spoke.

"So, these are your children." He said with a welcoming smile and the two toddlers both smiled broadly at him in return, sensing that he was a nice man.

"This is Luke and Leia, and that is Mace." Anakin said as their third child was carried over and put in Padme's arms. Ahsoka had met Luke and Leia before and was shocked when they waved and smiled at her, seeming to remember her. But she smiled and eagerly hugged each of the children who hugged her back while Kagame, sensing the troubles in his mind no doubt took Anakin aside while Ahsoka and Nejaa fussed over the children.

"I take it events have unsettled you." Kagame said knowingly, a questioning look in his eyes that made Anakin admit not only the revelation about Vader but the Mandalorians too. Kagame listened carefully and then to Anakin's great surprise laughed.

"Anakin in regards to the Mandalorians, the force is not nor has it ever been the sole province of the Jedi and the Sith. There are the Zeison Sha, the Jal Shey, the Matukai, the Fallanassi, the Sorcerers of Tund, the Luka Sene, the Baran Do Sages, the Ascendants, the Ancient Order of the Whills, the Boughtine, the Cruthauses, the Witches of Dathomir, the Wardens of the Sky, the Voss Mystics, the Jensaari and the Dagoyan Masters to name but a few. I have travelled the galaxy Anakin and met many other groups that feel the force in their own way and take it in their own directions. The Mandalorians are no different, what they might become is something we can only guess at but certainly they have every right to explore the force and their own unique connection to it. Maybe in time the Jedi and the Mandalorians might find a connection through the force who is to say. I think your friend was quite prudent to hide it though, neither the Jedi or the Sith are very tolerant of other branches of Force study." Kagame said and Anakin couldn't help but nod, knowing first-hand how the Jedi viewed anything different as a potential threat and so did the Sith.

By the Force Anakin thought with worry, how were they any better? So rigid in their interpretations of the force that anything other could be a threat? More proof in his mind that the Jedi needed to change.

"In regards to this 'Vader' as he is called. Anakin you have every right to feel troubled by this but let me ask you this, did you create him?" Kagame asked and Anakin, confused slightly by the question answered quickly.

"No."

"Then why are you in any way responsible for what he does? Vader is a beast, more creature than man which I suspect was what Palpatine wanted. A replaceable enforcer for his Empire. He might be made from your DNA but it doesn't mean you are responsible for him. He is a creature made to destroy whereas you can create, three children out there exist because of you. I can sense many Jedi survived because of what you taught them. So don't worry, this will be dealt with…it might take us awhile but we will find a way to stop him for good." Kagame reassured him, they would find the answer to this.

Anakin felt a good deal better at that, Kagame had made him realise that there were things out of his control and worrying about what might happen was foolish. All you can do is live in the now and make your own judgements based on what you know and if you didn't know enough, you should learn more to fill those blanks so you can make an informed opinion.

It was then Allara approached him accompanied by a tall Kajain'sa'Nikto male behind her, Anakin smiled at her and told her in front of everyone.

"I heard what you achieved today, to defeat a trained dark side user of such experience is a true demonstration of your skill and determination. You have come so far, know that I am proud of you." Anakin told her and Allara had a smile on her face, feeling very proud that she had proved herself to him.

Kagame meanwhile was looking at the tall Kajain'sa'Nikto male, who was smiling glad for the girl. He felt the force inside him. He was older and untrained but had some connection already even if it was largely subconscious. Strong Kagame thought and saw in the force that his meeting Allara and through her Anakin was no accident. He had a brief vision of Anakin standing in the centre of a circle made up of people around him, Allara and Ahsoka were two of them, this tall Kajain'sa'Nikto was another and there were other figures too, hidden in shadow.

Returning to the present Kagame realised that they had best keep him with them for now till they knew the meaning of this vision. But given two of them were students of Anakin, maybe it meant that this newcomer might learn from him too.

"I understand you have the power of the force within you." Kagame said to the stranger who looked up with a smile, his good nature clear.

"I have been told that but it's never been something I could control." The man said and Kagame nodded, seeing that he could be taught despite being older if he could call on it even subconsciously.

"Then we might be able to offer you some control, if you want it? What is your name?" Kagame said, surprising Anakin and Allara who had been speaking about the opponent she faced.

"Kahr'hark Tix, and I would be honoured." The now named man said with a slightly overwhelmed man said and Kagame smiled, feeling a tremor in the force as events turned in response to this decision. Anakin and Allara were surprised but in some ways glad as more Jedi would be needed to fight the Empire or even if Kahr didn't join the order, he would be a good man to have with them.

- x -

The Bastion Meeting Room, Coronet City…That Night…

As most other people slept and the planet was still in the grip of a feeling of triumph over their victory, Garm and Padme met with two old friends.

"Today was a great victory for liberty. I can only hope others are inspired by it." Bail Organa said, appearing as a hologram like Mon Mothma as it was too dangerous for them to travel there in person. Padme however told them what she had realised.

"I know, but if we are going to defeat the Empire…then more is going to be needed." She told them and Mon asked her with a raised eyebrow at what she might be after.

"What are you suggesting?" Mon asked and Garm who agreed fully with Padme on this stated.

"An organisation, a galaxy wide spanning rebellion. Cells joined together under a single banner, fighting for a single cause. Not just to overthrow the Empire." Garm said even though he had doubts about the second part. "But to restore democracy to the galaxy."

Silence followed this, before the rise of the Empire it had been discussed but nothing had really been decided. Mon Mothma and Bail Organa had been fighting in the senate and largely in vain but they had in some small way started up rebel groups on some worlds but it was a slow process and had to be done with the utmost care so as to not reveal them or have the organisation crushed before it could truly become widespread enough to endure. It was an enormous risk to even consider this but what other choice did they have?

Bail surprised them both by agreeing first.

"With the reveal of the Rift Alliance and Liber8 spreading, if we can organise more rebel cells and unify them…combined this force might enough to fight the Empire." He said with a considering look on his face.

"But would they work with us?" Mon broke it, looking very uncertain at the idea. "Liber8 are a terrorist organisation and the Rift Alliance is being led by the Mandalorians and have the Separatists as major players. I doubt either of them would be willing to help restore the Republic." She said with a look of unease.

"They dislike the Empire more than they hate the Republic." Garm said, knowing that the people who led the Rift Alliance who were practical, not zealots. "They helped arm this rebellion and they have things we will need. They can work with us."

"Or build an empire of their own." Mon rebuked him. "They are organised and more powerful than they have been for thousands of years. How can we trust them not to betray us?" She asked probingly, speaking particularly of the Mandalorians.

"We have to trust in what we know and who we know. The Mandalorians I have met are not warmongers and if we are going to defeat the Empire then we are going to need their help. We can only do so much, and take each day as we go." Padme concluded.

The four stayed silent for some time before finally they all nodded, agreeing to the proposal.

"Then the Rebel Alliance will be born, tonight." Bail said with a smile as despite the danger they all knew it was a step in the right direction. Whether it was to just spread the idea of the democracy around or to fight against the tyranny of the Empire…they had taken a step forward. Many things had yet to be decided including their charter but it was true they had started their own rebel faction.

There we are, I hope you all liked this chapter and please leave me a review to let me know your thoughts.

If you want to know what Kahr'hark Tix looks like then look at Jedi Master Ima-Gun Di from the Clone Wars Episode Supply Lines, who gave his life so the Twi'leks might live. They are the same species.

The Aden-class warship is the Star Wars version of the Battlestar Galactica from the 2004 series. Believe it or not but the ship is actually 1438.64 metres in length so it is only two hundred less than an Imperial-class Star Destroyer.

Gondwana is a ship from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny which was suggested to me, I have made some alterations though. It was originally suggested by nicklaren.

In regards to Qi'ra, she will return. I will admit that much, with a greatly altered path.

Next Chapter - The Empire tries to invade Mandalore, the Crime world responses to the Empire, Ahsoka returns home and Anakin and Padme both find their new roles in the rebellion