Chapter Fifteen:
Assembling Forces on The Edge of Battle
Mon Mothma stood upon the balcony alone, and quietly stared across the Chandrillan horizon even with the sounds of chattering Alliance officials filled her ears from the adjacent chamber. These past weeks since Endor had been harrowing, and very concerning for many who believed in the Rebellion.
Watching the galaxy engulfed in more chaos, with worlds like Mandalore being ravaged by Imperial bombardments, and other worlds who'd resisted or accepted the Empire facing decimation by everything the Empire had.
On top of that, she'd been contemplating the eerie rumors that the Empire's new leader was Darth Vader, the Emperor's top enforcer.
Word of victorious Alliance efforts throughout the Outer Rim and the Inner Rim was rare to receive, despite Mothma's relief that Imperial forces in the sector had been dispelled before they made it to Chandrilla. The Alliance needed time to regroup, to assemble more forces, and they'd been receiving more allies since Endor.
Rebel forces left and right had captured Imperial flagships, and many Imperial hardliners had defected to the Rebellion while providing more ships and ammunition to help in the battle against a fracturing, but still dangerous Imperial war machine.
Mothma stared up at the sky, watching as Mon Cala cruisers and a few Imperial-class ships, likely captured by Rebel forces, appeared above Chandrilla without firing a shot.
"Excuse me? Ma'am?"
The former Republic senator turned, seeing General Crix Maidine before her, pressed in his uniform with a Rebel soldier accompanying him. Her mind drifted back into where they were now, and it was time for the meeting.
It was beyond the point of no return.
It was time for the Rebellion to evolve in the face of a struggling Empire. Today would mark change for the galaxy, and it would be the beginning of the end of the war.
She nodded her head, and removed herself from the balcony, entering the war room where the Alliance's best pilots, soldiers, and officers had gathered. General Hera Syndulla, General Lando Calrissian, Captain Wedge Antilles, and everyone else was there, so were Han Solo and his newlywed wife Leia Organa Solo.
"Mon Mothma..." Admiral Ackbar grunted, "All troops at ease."
Mothma stood before the assembled members of the Rebel Alliance, with the banner of the Rebellion hanging in the background. These fleeting hours were crucial, and action would be taken to end the Empire's march, along with the reign of the Emperor's successors.
"Esteemed fighters of the Rebel Alliance to Restore the Republic..." Mothma began, "In the last twenty years, we have faced hardship like no other, with the Galactic Empire stamping out freedom everywhere. But not everyone accepted Imperial rule. From the pivotal day of the Empire's rise, we worked to oppose the Emperor undetected.
"Our efforts grew as the years passed, until the day we made ourselves known to the galaxy, and vowed to end the tyranny of the Empire, and vowed to fight until we dethroned the ruthless despot Emperor Palpatine from power.
"The struggle for victory has been long, with many lives lost or ruined. From the Battles of Scarif and Yavin to Endor, we remained strong, and persevered. The Battle of Endor, with the demise of Emperor Palpatine and the destruction of the second Death Star, was the turning point, even with the Empire's strongest of efforts in recent days.
"Even with the rumored report that the throne has been taken by Darth Vader, even with the handful of setbacks we have suffered, we will not give up. The pieces are aligning for what will be the final battle, the last stand of the Galactic Empire, and our inevitable victory.
"On this day, the Rebel Alliance shall reorganize into the New Republic. Today, democracy is reborn, and we will finish what we started all those years ago. May we move forth, and, with our combined efforts, we shall bring an end to the Imperial war machine and the Empire's efforts to bring the galaxy under its iron fist.
"Let the galaxy hear our voice, may the once-great Empire know who is the central power in the universe, and let us herald in a new era of peace and freedom. Prepare yourselves for battle, and may the Force be with you."
Every member of the newly-formed New Republic was in agreement, knowing they had the big chance to bring down a corrupt regime.
"For the New Republic!" A soldier cried.
"Death to The Empire!" A devoted Rebel agent exclaimed.
"Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!"
Everyone in the room took up the chant, until it seemed the entire galaxy was preaching the final fall of the Galactic Empire. Across the stars, on every planet where battles with the Empire were being fought, Rebel soldiers were chanting with their comrades, all confident the end of the war was in sight.
Soon, all eyes would be on the Imperial capital of Coruscant, where a dark shadow awaited within the Palace. And that shadow was Darth Vader...
