Sabine Wren and Luke Skywalker stood aboard the bridge of the Chimaera, with the familiar hum of the ship's systems surrounding them. The looming silhouette of Thrawn's flagship was ever-imposing, but beside it, two other monumental vessels stood ready in space: Vader's Executor and Admiral Sloane's Aegis. The combined might of these forces had brought a flicker of hope to Sabine, though she couldn't deny the tension in the air.

As they reached the bridge, the sight of the towering blue-skinned Grand Admiral Thrawn, as composed and calculating as ever, greeted them. The flickering hologram of Admiral Rae Sloane stood to the side, her arms crossed, eyes analyzing the scene. But it was the woman in Mandalorian armor, standing beside Thrawn, that caught Luke's attention.

Bo-Katan Kryze, leader of the Mandalorian resistance, stepped forward, her helmet under one arm. Her sharp eyes fell on Luke.

"Luke Skywalker?" she asked, her voice both skeptical and curious.

Luke nodded slightly. "Yes. What's your name?"

"Bo-Katan Kryze," she replied, straightening up. "I believe I ran into your father, Anakin, during the Clone Wars. His master, Obi-Wan, was… close with my sister, Satine. She was the former leader of our planet."

A glimmer of recognition crossed Luke's face. "Oh? I only briefly spent time with Obi-Wan, but what a small galaxy, huh?"

Bo-Katan allowed herself a brief smile, but the weight of the upcoming battle lingered over them.

Turning toward Thrawn, Sabine crossed her arms and smirked. "Never thought I'd see the day, working with you, Thrawn."

Thrawn's glowing red eyes shifted toward her, his face unchanging but his voice calm and measured as ever. "Well, as I once foresaw, compromise is necessary for our mutual well-being." He seemed to momentarily reminisce, recalling his cryptic encounter with the Bendu on Atollon, who once told him that compromise would be key to his long-term success.

The moment was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Vader's towering figure in hologram form. The ominous breathing of the Dark Lord of the Sith filled the room for a moment before Thrawn spoke again.

"Welcome, Lord Vader," Thrawn said, inclining his head respectfully. "Just on time."

Vader's cold voice responded. "Grand Admiral."

Thrawn turned back to the group, ready to explain the next phase of their plan. "Thrawn's intel had confirmed that Moff Gideon has taken up residence in a command center near the capital ruins, consolidating power after his acquisition of the Darksaber from Bo-Katan." He glanced at Bo-Katan as he said this, but her expression remained unchanged—hardened from the loss.

"Gideon's focus has two main priorities," Thrawn continued, "from control of the Imperial remnants to attempting to exert resources over Mandalore. He believed that holding the Darksaber will cement his authority. But this overconfidence is his weakness. We have reason to believe that his forces are vulnerable. And more importantly, Gideon is in the dark of our current alliance with Jedi outside of Lord Vader."

Sabine raised an eyebrow. "So… you're saying we hit him fast, hard, and unexpectedly."

Thrawn nodded. "Precisely. We will engage with overwhelming force. Lord Vader's Executor, Admiral Sloane's Aegis, and my own Chimaera will initiate a direct strike. However, we will ensure that our ground forces strategically overwhelm key remnant outposts. The conflict will come to an end once someone retrieves the Darksaber from Gideon."

Bo-Katan clenched her fists, determination burning in her eyes.

Thrawn's voice remained calm. "And with the Darksaber in proper hands, Mandalore will have the opportunity for reconstruction."

He adds, "I believe Gideon will have hidden tricks in his sleeve for this battle. We must be cautious."

As their plan was finalized, the fleet prepared to jump into hyperspace.

XX

Moff Gideon sat brooding in his command chair, the weight of the Darksaber resting heavily across his lap. The blade represented his dominion over Mandalore, but recent reports had shaken him to the core. He was becoming increasingly paranoid. He had heard the whispers from the Outer Rim and Unknown Regions. Rumors of Exegol's destruction, along with most of the secret experiments, now lay in ruins. His desperation was palpable.

The silence of the command center was abruptly interrupted by an urgent officer. "Moff Gideon, sir! We have incoming hyperspace signatures—multiple capital ships!"

Gideon's eyes snapped toward the screen, which now displayed the unmistakable shapes of the Chimaera, Executor, and Aegis as they descended from hyperspace above Mandalore.

Thrawn's calm voice appeared over the comms. "Ah, Gideon. It appears today is the day your remnants meet their end."

Gideon sneered at the Grand Admiral's collected tone. He pressed a button, and his voice rang out in response. "Thrawn, what is the meaning of this?"

Thrawn's reply was smooth as ever. "I believe I was clear, Gideon. Your rule over Mandalore is illegitimate, and it ends today."

The veins in Gideon's forehead bulged as he furiously cut off the transmission. "Defensive positions, men!" he barked. "We are surrounded, but we will make our stand. Prepare our forces for retreat if necessary."

Turning to his second-in-command, he growled, "Contact General Pryde. If I don't make it off this rock, he will take control of what remains."

"But, Moff Gideon, Exegol has been destroyed."

Gideon grimaced. "Yes, I know... I wasn't prepared for those experiments to be wiped out so quickly."

Over the transmission, Pryde's voice remained calm but tense. "Don't worry, Moff Gideon. With what remains of the Emperor's forces, we will go into hiding. Long live the Empire."

Gideon allowed himself a moment of quiet desperation. "Long live the Empire."

Pryde turned to Ochi, the former Emperor's assassin, who stood at his side. "Ochi, we must be patient. Vader and these Jedi may seem victorious for now, but we must bide our time. We shall infiltrate the New Republic. We will destroy them from within."

Ochi nodded but asked, "My lord, with Vader and the Jedi in the picture, how can we hope to win?"

Pryde smirked. "Perhaps we can make use of the Grysk. Their influence stretches far. The question is… what can we offer them that they would desire?"

Ochi narrowed his eyes, intrigued. "It would seem, my lord, that the future of the galaxy depends on what allies we can gather in the shadows."

XX

Thrawn's fleet, with Vader's and Sloane's forces at his side, began their descent toward the planet. Thrawn stood on the Chimaera's bridge as the invasion force moved into position.

Luke turned to Sabine, his voice calm but resolved. "You ready Sabine?"

Sabine nodded.

Sabine glanced at him, remembering their earlier conversation. "And maybe… maybe I can talk to Ezra afterward."

Luke gave a small smile. "One battle at a time, Sabine."

As they prepared to land, Bo-Katan took her place, ready to reclaim what was rightfully hers.

The siege of Mandalore was about to begin.

XX

The skies of Mandalore were ablaze with dogfights. Lord Vader, in his TIE Advanced, methodically eliminated Gideon's TIE fighters with chilling precision. The squadron of his personal forces, closely following in formation, cut down the remnants' fighters, one by one, without hesitation.

Above them, Sabine Wren, firing from Bo-Katan's Gauntlet, and Luke Skywalker in his X-Wing tore through the enemy lines. Their ships weaved and danced in the chaos, firing lasers that struck true against the swarming enemy. Sabine, having just landed a hit on a pursuing TIE, shouted into the comms, "We're through, Luke! Going down the planet's surface."

"Copy that, Sabine. Stay sharp." Luke's voice remained calm, focused on the mission ahead.

As they broke through the thick clouds of Mandalore's atmosphere, the burning landscape below revealed the entrenched forces of Moff Gideon. Blaster fire lit the skies, and squads of stormtroopers began deploying into the ruins of the capital city.

Inside the capital's political building, Gideon's face was pale with fear as his forces relayed updates. The reports of Vader's brutal efficiency were making him increasingly nervous. The knowledge that the Dark Lord himself had landed was a sign that his time was running out.

"Deploy the Dark Troopers," Gideon snarled into his comm, a hint of desperation in his voice. He then turned to his officers, "Prepare for our escape. The tunnels beneath the building will serve us."

XX

On the battlefield, Vader landed with the grace of a predator. His crimson lightsaber ignited, cutting through swaths of stormtroopers with brutal efficiency. Behind him, Bo-Katan's Mandalorians and Sabine's forces joined in, their blasters cutting down what remained of Gideon's soldiers.

As they made their way through the battlefield, a new, eerie sound echoed in the skies above. The sound of thrusters, high-pitched and mechanical. Sabine looked up, startled. "What in the—? Death Troopers? They can fly?"

Vader, seemingly unphased, glanced upward as the black-armored troopers descended from the skies like ominous shadows. "Wren, perhaps you are wrong. These are something else entirely—experiments of Gideon's making. Let's hope they are the least of our worries moving forward."

As the Dark Troopers touched down, their presence was imposing. A menacing, relentless force. Without a moment's hesitation, Vader reached out with the Force, crushing two of the nearest troopers, sending their massive frames hurtling to the ground.

With his lightsaber ignited, Vader cut through the enemy ranks with swift, brutal strokes. His power was overwhelming, and even the enhanced armor of the Dark Troopers could not stop him. Sabine, wielding the green blade, joined him, slashing through the remaining Dark Troopers with deadly precision.

The ground was littered with shattered remains as the last of Gideon's advanced forces fell, reduced to nothing by the Skywalkers. The few remaining troopers began retreating, desperately trying to protect Gideon as he fled toward the underground tunnels.

A wounded stormtrooper, caught between life and death, grabbed at Vader's cloak, gasping for breath. "He's... he's approaching the tunnels, my lord."

Vader did not hesitate. "Thank you, Sergeant. Get him medical attention!"

XX

In the tunnels beneath the command center, Gideon was on the run, his heart pounding in his chest. His breaths were short, panic creeping into his mind as he clutched the Darksaber. He turned sharply, hearing the unmistakable hum of a lightsaber behind him.

There was no escape.

Vader, Bo-Katan and Sabine entered the tunnel, their figures looming like a specter of death. Gideon froze, the Darksaber trembling in his hand.

"My, Lord Vader… your triumph hasn't surprised me," Gideon muttered, a smirk attempting to mask his fear. "But you'll still have to fight for Mandalore's loyalty. Whoever wields the Darksaber controls Mandalore. You'll have to—"

Vader's hand shot out, and Gideon's words were cut off as he grasped at his throat. His eyes widened in terror, and his hands trembled as the Darksaber clattered to the floor.

"Enough of your games," Vader hissed, his voice low and venomous. "Your remnants will die. Your minor insurrection is no match for the threats that loom over this galaxy."

With a swift motion of his hand, the sound of bones cracking filled the room. Gideon's body crumpled to the floor, lifeless. Vader extended his hand, and the Darksaber flew into his grasp, the blade's hilt cold and heavy in his mechanical fingers.

Bo-Katan, rushing in behind Sabine, saw what was unfolding and yelled, "Wait! Lord Vader?"

Vader turned, his gaze piercing, his voice cold. "This saber has caused enough destruction for your people, Kryze. Your people have gone blind, idolizing anyone who wields this blade—whether it was Maul, the puppet government, the remnants, or your repeated claims to power. It ends today. Mandalore will know peace, and it will stay at peace."

Bo-Katan's breath caught in her throat as Vader's words settled over her like a crushing weight. His gaze was unyielding. "Mandalore has known nothing but chaos since your sister's death all those years ago…"

Bo-Katan's eyes flickered with emotion at the mention of her sister, but then she turned her focus on Vader. "Where were you during the Clone Wars?"

Vader remained silent for a moment, then spoke, his voice softer, tinged with rare vulnerability. "I was once a Jedi, a student of Obi-Wan. He had feelings for Satine… feelings he never admitted. But he left her alone, just as he left me and my former wife alone. Certain traditions and superstitions must end. It's time to let go of the past."

Bo-Katan stood still, absorbing the weight of his words. She knew she could not defeat Vader. His presence, his power—it was too much. She had no choice. "Okay…" she whispered.

Sabine, watching the exchange, felt a weight lift off her chest. For all the darkness Vader carried, he had somehow brought the clarity that Mandalore needed.

Luke arrived moments later, stepping into the chamber to find Gideon's lifeless body and Vader holding the Darksaber. His brow furrowed slightly as he surveyed the aftermath.

"Father… is it all done?"

Vader turned, his voice calm. "Yes, my son. You arrived too late for the action."

Luke smiles, "I guess I see the conclusion."

Luke glanced at Sabine, then back at Vader. "How was Sabine out there?"

Vader's mechanical breathing filled the brief silence. "Efficient. But, as expected, I did most of the damage."

Luke smiled, and Sabine shot him a glance, rolling her eyes.

Bo-Katan, slowly stepping forward, realization dawning on her face, stared at Vader. "Anakin Skywalker?" she whispered.

Vader, his presence dominating the chamber, simply nodded. The final piece of the puzzle had fallen into place.

Bo-Katan understood now.

"I nonetheless thank you, Skywalker. For the chance to rebuild."

The reign of Gideon had ended, but the future of Mandalore had just begun.