Ch16: The Capital
Mandalore, Mandalore Sector, 2 BBY
Up and down the line, helmeted Mandalorians nodded to one another. Radio Checks had been completed; weapons tested and rearmed; plans made, remade and then remade once again.
They knew just how important this moment was from the sheer numbers of their troops present for the initial assault. The first phase alone was made up of Kryze, Ordo, Rook, Awaud and Eldar troops, with the initial force's number doubled in second line troops, should the first line be held.

A sense of foreboding settled in each warrior's stomach as they went through final checks, almost praying that the signal for the assault would come sooner, just so that the wait was over faster.

They could see the dome of their planet's capital city in the haze, off in the distance. Soon, they resolved. Soon, Sundari would be theirs.
A message rippled up and down the line, transmitting to every warrior individually.
It was time to move.

Imperial Headquarters, Sundari, Mandalore, 2 BBY
"We anticipate that the assault is due within the next rotation, Admiral," the Saxon Jet Trooper informed Alabaster, who nodded. Tritonis troops had been pummelling one of his outstations for days now, with large troop movements indicated right the way across the planet's surface.
With the division of Stormtroopers assigned to the planet either whittled away or heavily demoralised by the conflict as it had drawn on, he had diverted a battalion-strength element of loyal Mandalorians to support the station in question.

As he had reiterated time and time again, the only thing that could beat a Mandalorian was a Jedi, or another Mandalorian. The Jedi, predictably, had taken the side of the Rebels, and so he was left with few options.
As the Mandalorian Resistance, under Sabine Wren's command, approached Sundari, he could see that the people were beginning to lose faith in the Empire's mandate of governance. They were hoping that the Resistance would prevail, and while city dwellers hadn't been helping the rebels outright, Alabaster could tell that he was unpopular among common folk.

If any of the four outstations which served as Sundari's direct guard were to fall, it would mean that the other three immediately became indefensible as a rule; this much was obvious. Their strength was in the fact that each of the gargantuan forts could be reinforced from three points; the two adjacent, and the Capital itself. The loss of one was a break in the chain, and the inhabitants of all the remaining others would be recalled back to Sundari.

Even worse, the sheer quantity of Imperial arms, armour and supplies stored within each would be enough to sustain a sizeable force; nearly an entire division, should it be necessary, for months without resupply. Any incursion would need to be turned over nearly instantly.
If it wasn't, then Sundari, and by extension the Imperial presence on Mandalore was under an existential threat.

Mandalore, Mandalore Sector, 2 BBY
Platoons of Mandalorian Warriors sprinted forwards, crouching low to make themselves as small a target as possible. The first few to reach the walls braced against them, watching as their comrades-in-arms engaged their jetpacks and soared up to the ramparts at the top.
Combat Engineers laid explosive breaching charges against the base of the wall, pummelling a hole through the barrier and blowing them an entrance into the Imperial fortress.

For once, the first phase of the plan had gone off without a hitch. The first line of the assault poured in, the reserve forces and aerial support flanking around the outstation and effectively making an exclusion zone of some fifty klicks. Anything going in or out would be marked as hostile, and engaged without question.
The troops under Bo-Katan Kryze's ground command had the free run of the Imperial base, and they knew that they needed to work fast if the assault were to be completely successful.

Imperial Headquarters, Sundari, Mandalore, 2 BBY
"Station Three has fallen to the Resistance," a breathless messenger informed the Admiral.
Alabaster frowned. "Say that again."
"Three has fallen," the stormtrooper said again. "The Garrison Commander surrendered five minutes ago. The Resistance allowed the troops to go free, though they have been stripped of their arms and armour."

Alabaster swore. For weeks, they had been building up the defences of Station One, watching carefully as Perseus Tritonis and Fenn Rau coordinated fighter and bomber raids, sacrificing large numbers of their own Saxon pilots for little to no reward against the admittedly exceptional skills of the Tritonis and Protector Pilots.
For the Resistance to have taken Three without any of their fighters or bombers was almost inconceivable, and yet they had done it.
Not only was that the case, but they had done so before he had even been able to deploy a reaction force to support the stricken base.
He sighed.

"They'll be expecting a counter," he noted. "If our troops were allowed to transmit five minutes ago, then they would have been beaten at least an hour ago. I wouldn't be surprised if they've redirected their fighters to dominate that entire sector's airspace."
"The Protectors have been sighted there," the Trooper confirmed. "Still no eyes on the Tritonis forces. Scout reports suggest an exclusion zone of at least ten miles, and the casualty report doesn't look good either."

Alabaster sighed. Tarkin wouldn't be happy. "Recall the Saxon troops. Inform Tiber that his troops must be on rapid reaction rotation, capable of deploying at half an hour's notice."

"At what strength, Sir?" the Trooper questioned.
"All of them, Trooper," Alabaster replied. "Every combat-capable person among them."
"Roger that Sir." The man saluted and left the room.

Headquarters of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, Yavin 4, 2 BBY
"The Mandalorians have taken one of Sundari's outstations," the Ensign giving the General Staff briefing informed the room at large. The statement was met with approving nods and even some applause.

"Losses?" Admiral Ackbar asked.
"Minimal," the Ensign replied. "They managed to attack at the dead of night, and they drew Torrington's shock troops to the opposite side of the city with screening actions with their fighters and bombers."
"Impressive," Raddus nodded. "Have they requested our aid for their final push? It is clear that the Empire will not take this lightly."
"They did ask for something," the Ensign smirked. "Not for the Sundari offensive; I think they're planning to knock the Kryze troops out pretty quick, and take Sundari with minimal Mandalorian blood spilt."

"I can confirm that this is Lady Wren's intention," Nico di Angelo informed the room. "General consensus is that even if Castellan's fleet is diverted in their direction, it wouldn't reach until the end of next year. The 'Bloody' Fifth has a lot of fingers in a lot of pies, and it'd be difficult for Castellan to secure aerial dominance with anything other than complete control. Torrington may as well have lost the Space Battle already, with how poorly he's managed his troops."

A few people chuckled, recalling the near-constant reports of almost unbelievable Mandalorian victories over the past months since they'd last interacted with Sabine Wren's resistance in the aftermath of the Battle of Atollon.

"That being said," Nico continued, "the Division stationed on Mandalore was a fresh one; unskilled and low on morale. I wouldn't expect their successors to be as easy to see off."

Sundari Outstation 3, Mandalore, 2 BBY
It was Percy and Fenn Rau who were on duty as station commanders when the first Saxon raid began.
To call it a raid under normal circumstances would have been an understatement; indeed, under any other conditions, a whole battalion of Mandalorians would be enough to level any building, or take any fort.

They had clearly been dropped from high altitude, making use of the fact that the Resistance were yet to activate their Imperial-designed Air Intercept Radars. That brought them into combat range, missiles raining down upon the walls and shaking the foundations of the Imperial fort.

The Ordo troops manning the heavy cannons instantly returned fire. Mortar teams engaged at range, obscuring the further approaches with smoke while high-explosive teams fixed the assailing Saxon forces in place. Sharpshooters picked off enemy troops as they advanced, exploiting the chaos to eliminate Squad Commanders with unerring accuracy.
Within moments, the entire camp was alive. Percy took control.

"All active duty troops, man the walls. I want Wren forces on rapid reaction," Percy demanded. "Rau, get your protectors ready to go airborne. Do not commit unless there's a verified threat."
"Casualties on the Eastern wall!" someone yelled, and a team of medics launched off, using their jetpacks to propel themselves from the inner parts of the fort to the afflicted wall. Turning his head to see what the situation looked like, Percy swore. There were enemy jet troopers on the ramparts, engaging in furious hand-to-hand skirmishes with the Ordo troops stationed there. There were troops rushing to reinforce, but if they lost the wall, then it would take huge amounts of effort to reclaim it.
"Reinforce on sector 4, and set up a field hospital," Percy demanded. "Tritonis troops form on me. Time to counter."

Bo-Katan Kryze was already in control of the situation on the Southern wall, with her Kryze warriors lusting for blood once more, even after they'd made such an effort to take this fort. Ursa Wren, too, had rallied and begun to counterattack on the Northern side. With Par Vizsla mounting a relief effort on the deteriorating situation on the Eastern side, Percy knew that a counter was necessary. The Saxon troops hadn't committed in sufficient numbers to take this fort outright, and he was about to show them just that.
It was worrying, though, that they had been able to make their attack so suddenly, and without being intercepted along the way.

Percy threw open the gates, wading into the fight with guns blazing. The attacking Saxon troops were caught off guard, the sheer brazenness of the move catching them off guard. The single company of Tritonis Troopers burst through the Saxon lines, flamethrowers belching out gouts of flame.
Next out of the gates were Awaud warriors, their heavy rotary machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades wreaking havoc as they ignited. The Saxon ranks were tightly formed, soldiers bottlenecked as they fought to capture what few breaches had been made.

It was as though they'd been swept aside by the rising tide. Several entire companies of Saxon troops surrendered at once. Ordo troops leapt off the walls to complete what became an encirclement.
Those that didn't turn themselves over were subdued and stripped of their weapons, taken prisoner and dragged within the fort.

"Why not kill them, Sir?" a warrior asked, coming up beside Percy and Triton as they assessed the damage.
"They're Mandalorian, Felix," Percy replied. "We're not trying to exterminate Clan Saxon here, as easy as it might well be. There are more than six clans aligned with the Empire. If we can prove that our interests truly are that of Mandalore, then that number will reduce and reduce, until eventually, Torrington stands alone before us."
"Sector's clear, cyara," Reyna informed Percy, lifting her helmet and shaking her head briefly to remove the hair from her eyes. She had been caught in some of the falling rubble, Percy noted from the scratches on her recently repainted armour and brick dust that coated her helmet.

"How's the situation looking?" he asked. "Rau's ready to scramble fighters if we need them.
"I'd say send the Protectors up to conduct a forward reconnaissance," Reyna said. "Otherwise, we've won pretty convincingly. Losses have been higher than any other fight we've had on this campaign."
"So that's Torrington's new tactic, then," Triton observed with a grimace. "Hide his weak stormtroopers behind Beskar and superior arms."
"Appears so," Percy nodded, placing an arm around his wife as they walked back into the fort together. Tritonis warriors bustled around them, beginning the necessary repairs to the ramparts and ensuring that their weapons were clean and functioning. Fighters soared overhead, Rau launching sorties to see if the Empire had followed up their Beskar-clad punch with a bigger force of Stormtroopers.
"The Forge?" Reyna asked, looking up at him. Percy shook his head.

"Bed," he replied. "Ursa's on duty now, and I really can't be bothered to be responsible right now."
Reyna laughed, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Bed it is. Even the big bad Admiral needs his rest."
"Who said anything about rest?"

Lothal, Lothal Sector, 2 BBY
The Rebel base on Yavin 4 had kept near-constant contact with the Ghost's crew and their burgeoning underground network on Lothal. The messages sent were normally pointers; informing Hera and her crew which channels to look out for, and which whistleblowers within the Senate were to be listened to.
Today's sent them a dramatic message; one that Kanan's eyebrows to furrow. Hera was curious.

Only recently, Zeb and Ezra had been sent out to collect intelligence on the latest developments in the TIE defender program. All in all, the Empire's progress seemed to far outweigh any advances that the Rebellion had made, even if the newly procured tranches of X-Wings and salvaged Y-Wing bombers had aided them significantly.
That was why news of a potential mass offensive on the Mandalorian capital city of Sundari came as big news.

If a Rebel-aligned force were able to completely overthrow the Empire, then it would draw currently neutral systems to their cause. The question was, though, whether or not they would be able to do it at all.

While the Resistance continued to seize ground, Torrington seemed to be stocking up on peacetime supplies. Sources from around the Rebellion seemed to suggest that he was stockpiling on Gas from Geonosis, held on Coruscanti reserves. Spare ventilation propellers and pipes. Sources had gone dark of late, though it seemed as though he was fighting a lost cause

The fact that Sabine had led this offensive was a matter of pride for her. Week after week they received reports of the fact that the Empire had been driven back. Outpost by outpost, fort by fort. The little girl she'd taken in all those years ago had grown into her own; a warrior of repute and a leader to match.

Imperial Headquarters, Sundari, Mandalore, 2 BBY
"The Mandalorians have sent us an ultimatum, Admiral," Tiber Saxon told Alabaster. "Imperial forces are to surrender to the superiority of Mandalorian arms, or they shall be defeated in battle."
"You shall lead the Imperial defence of Sundari, then," Alabaster replied. "And when you win, you shall be forever remembered as a hero of your people."
The Red and White clad Mandalorian shook his head.

"I know a lost battle when I see one, Admiral," he replied. "I will not raise arms against those who will shortly be the rulers of my planet. Not when so many of my own have been killed already. Better to die for a cause you actually believe in, than to chase power in a regime that suppresses it."
Alabaster didn't know quite what to say. He simply gazed, open mouthed, as his greatest weapon turned its back and walked away.
"Luck be with you, Alabaster Torrington," Saxon said over his shoulder. "The Manda shan't be, and neither is that ridiculous Jedi ideal of the Force."
The blast door slammed shut behind him with a hiss and a clack.
"Prepare transports to the Death Mist," Alabaster ordered into his comm. "All essential personnel are to be removed from this planet as early as possible. Begin contingency plan Theta."

Cruiser Haran, Mandalore, 2 BBY
"Three Airmobile Armoured Battalions prepared for the initial drop," Triteia told Sabine. "Aunt Ursa's taking in the first group, with the entirety of Clan Wren. Insists that it should be a Wren who's first to the throne room."
"I won't deny her that," Sabine grinned. "Percy, Bo-Katan, my mother and I designed this plan to mirror Ahsoka's assault on Sundari, seventeen years ago. I was a little kid then, but my mother was there. She fought it. Won it. I believe it's going to work."

"New message from our spies inside Sundari," Fenn Rau said, striding into the room. "Clan Saxon have turned. Tiber Saxon hopes for our clemency upon our victory. The people are rising up, and Torrington has ordered an evacuation."

"Launch our forces," Sabine said. "Tell Percy that once the drop is complete, we'll need to try and intercept anything and everything we can. Mobilise the Rook troops too. Once they're in, their job is going to be to secure the shields. Torrington's SSD is still in orbit, and I wouldn't put it past him to try and level the city as he leaves."
"Copy that Ma'am," Rau said, leaving the room as quickly as he had entered. The Haran's lights went red, alarms blaring to send troops to their battle stations.
The battle for Sundari had begun.

Kom'rk Transport Striil, Mandalore, 2 BBY
"Prepare for the drop," Percy told Reyna, flipping a series of switches that engaged the bay doors in the underbelly of the Kom'rk. For all the times that the Striil had been used, he knew that this might be its crowning moment; taking back Mandalore for the Mandalorians.
"Clear and ready to go," Reyna replied. "Weapons are hot, countermeasures ready."
"GO! GO! GO!" Percy bellowed, seeing the drop zone flash up in the pre-programmed HUD within his helmet.
Drop rails lowered, and some four hundred Wren, Kryze and Vizsla troops hurled themselves into freefall, angling themselves downwards to speed up their descent.

It was a scene right out of the end of the Clone Wars, when many of those who were jumping today had been fresh-faced young warriors, and today they were veterans. Of course, Percy hadn't been present, his own role within the Republic calling on him to take command of the defence of Coruscant from what would be remembered as the last, decisive victory of three years of conflict.
Following closely behind were armoured vehicles. Captured AT-AT Walkers, taken from Outstation Three, were all that they could carry along on the Kom'rks, and so they had been given what Sabine referred to as a Mando Makeover.
Upgraded Beskar armour made the walkers lighter, more nimble, and upgraded weapons made them far more deadly than they had ever been.
In theory, they would be able to provide the crucial advantage against the Stormtroopers, using heavier weapons than anything the Imperials had thought to stations within the main dome.

"Spike!" Reyna cried as an alarm was set off. "Missiles locked onto us!"
"Deploying countermeasures," Percy replied, grimacing as a Tritonis ship burst into flame to his right. No survivors. "All Tritonis vessels, break formation. Protectors to provide escort."
"Copy that Al'verde," Rau replied. "What of intercepting Imperial HVTs?"
"Not as important as surviving," Percy said, letting out a hollow breath as he pulled sharply back on the yoke of the Striil, the increased force of gravity drawing the blood from his head as he felt his spine physically compress. An anti-air missile from the Imperial air defence batteries streaked narrowly by, prompting both himself and Reyna to release a breath they hadn't noticed they were holding.

"We've hit the docks!" Ursa informed them victoriously. "Nothing shall stop us now."
"Manda go with you, cousin," Percy told her, jinking his ship once more as another battery fired off. "If you can disable those anti-air batteries, then all the better for it."
"Hold that thought," another voice replied to him over the net. "I've got the reserve moving up to take them out. Anti-Radiation missiles equipped and ready."
Reyna nodded beside him. It was a good move, and to have organised it so quickly spoke volumes to Sabine's battle management.

"Hold out for a few minutes more guys, they're not far out."
"Copy," Rau said back. "Doesn't mean that I'm a fan of it."

The Protector rolled smoothly to his right, firing off a quick burst from his cannons and destroying a seeker warhead mid-air. The explosion that it triggered joined the hundreds of others that had turned the sky over Sundari a smoky haze of blacks and oranges.
Percy swore as another of his clansmen was shot down, banking hard to the left and rolling inverted as he noticed the green blip of a TIE fighter hurtling upwards on his radar.

"All Tritonis and Protector ships, be advised. TIE Defenders in theatre. Escorts, protect your wingmen," he ordered. "Haran, ETA on that Anti-Radiation team?"
It wasn't Sabine who replied.
"Right with you, Striil," Triton's voice answered. A series of explosions joined the cacophony, this time on the ground. "Radar sites down. The airspace is ours for now."
Nobody chose to pick up on the words 'for now' in Triton's message.

Cruiser Haran, Mandalore, 2 BBY
Sabine, your mother has taken the docklands," Triteia told her. "Time to send in the second wave."
"We're going with them," Sabine replied. "No point in me sitting up here while our people are dying out there. Time to put an end to this kriffing nonsense."

Kom'rk Transport Striil, Mandalore, 2 BBY
"Docks secure," the Tritonis Transport pilots were told. "Land in bay 5. Firmly in friendly hands, and all the workers have taken up arms in supporting us."
Reyna held her breath as Percy dived. Suddenly the focus in her mind shifted. Being a copilot was simple - manning the guns, giving Percy the right callouts. It was just like being a Capital Ship commander.
Fighting on the ground, though?

She'd passed all her close combat classes in the academy, even repelled boarders with her Clone subordinates once or twice over the course of the Clone Wars.
In brutal, close quarters fighting like this, though?
She didn't know if she was able to do that.

"I can practically hear you thinking," Percy said as he flew. "You're going to be fine, Rey. Kriff, Triton's Intercept teams are going to be in more danger than us. We're pushing through to the first layer of the interior, setting up a command centre and staying there."
"Surely we won't win this easily?" Reyna asked as they touched down. The ramp dropped, and she accompanied Percy onto the landing pad.
The number that joined them was…

It was shocking to Reyna. Of the eighty pilots who taken off, perhaps fifty had made it to Sundari itself. They formed what became Percy's own miniature command.
Splitting off into attack teams of five, they set off at speed. The moment the first two teams were in, Percy had dragged Reyna off behind him.
"Keep your hand on my shoulder," he instructed sharply. One blaster to hand. If we hit the enemy, go all the way to the right, and keep shooting until they're down. Alright?"
Reyna nodded.

The pace at which they started seemed slow, though as they progressed, she realised that it was far from being so.
Every time they hit a corner, a fresh team covered it off. More than once, it was Percy and Reyna who were clearing a room themselves as the other three from their team covered off the main corridor.
It wasn't often that they found stormtroopers. More often were scorch marks and bullet holes littering the walls from where Ursa and her troops had passed through before. White-clad bodies littered the ground, their weapons strewn around them from where they'd been killed.

More distressing, though, were the fallen Mandalorian bodies. Scorch marks littered once-pristine beskar, and it was obvious that those lost hadn't gone down easily. Often, their weapons lay broken, their vambraces cracked, flight suits charred and their bones broken from where they'd been taken out by heavier Imperial weapons teams, or been caught in slamming blast doors.

Dockyards, Sundari, Mandalore, 2 BBY
Sabine entered Percy's newly set up Command Room to rapturous applause.
"Ursa's taken the lower levels," Percy informed her by way of greeting. "Rau's got dominance over the air. The people rallied up by Tiber Saxon's renegades, have practically secured the entirety of the plaza and its surrounding regions. All that's left are the Imperial barracks and the Throne Room."
"Who's nearby?" Sabine asked.

"Saxon's forces are currently closest," Poseidon told her with a grimace. "They cannot be allowed to seize the Throne Room. The Manda alone know what will come of that."
"My mother," Sabine replied. "Bo-Katan can stay in command of the lower levels, and we'll get the second line forces to take over from Saxon in the plaza. Percy?"
"Yeah, I'll get to the Imperial HQ. It's close to where the old Government Academy used to be," her uncle replied. "I know those offices like the back of my hand. All I'll need is a few warriors with me, and we'll get the job done."
"Good," Sabine nodded. "Let's get moving, then."

SSD Death Mist, Mandalore Sector, 2 BBY
"We've got evidence of them securing the lower and middle levels," Alabaster's Deck Officer told him. "They hold complete dominance over the air. Our people are nearly all out, and aren't being pursued, since they're moving in civilian transports. We're clear to execute the plan, Sir."
"Do it," Alabaster replied grimly. "We can't let the city fall. Not so easily. What news of the space battle?"

He had watched as the blue-painted fighters pursued his vessels higher and higher, even making strafing runs on his own Super Star Destroyer when his Arquitens escorts had been knocked out of action by their blasted Arc Pulse Generators.

"The Tritonis and Protector forces have depleted most of our light escort capacity," the aide replied, clearly uncomfortable. "We'll have the Sector Fleet reinforcing us pretty soon, but their leaders are just better than what we have to offer at the minute."
"The remaining Defenders?" Alabaster asked.
"Requisitioned by Castellan last week," came his answer. "They're coming in with the relieving force. Should be within the hour, if we're lucky."
"Then we still have a chance," Alabaster nodded. "Carry on."

Dockyards, Sundari, Mandalore, 2 BBY
"We're in, Sabine," Percy said. "I've got casualties coming back towards the field hospital, but the Imperial headquarters are ours. Torrington had left his personal guard corps back here as a rearguard. The Aruetii fought hard, but fell like all others."
"Good," she nodded. "Mother is about the seize the Throne Room. They've hit a block where the Imps have fortified, though. Go and help her?"
"I'd suggest that you come too, Sabine," Percy replied. "This is your campaign. Your army. The Darksaber ought to be present when the Throne Room is taken."
"On my way," Sabine nodded.

Sundari, Mandalore, 2 BBY
"Ursa, deploy smoke," Percy ordered sharply as the fight loomed into view. "Grenades and heavy fire for five seconds. We're coming in hot."
"You have it, cousin," the Countess of Clan Wren replied. Instantly, a plume of yellow smoke billowed out of deployed canisters. The exhausted Wren warriors fell back a few metres, allowing heavy weapons teams with their whistling birds and rocket-propelled grenades to suppress the now blinded enemy.

The Wren warriors showed their discipline in the fact that the five seconds of fire requested were exactly what were prosecuted upon the enemy. Yellow blaster bolts flashed through the air alongside the smoky trails of their guided munitions, and if it weren't for the exceptional engineering of Sundari's citadel, Percy was sure that it would have fallen to a heap of rubble, crushing the city beneath it.

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you looked at it, the Mando'ade were a warrior people. Their architecture had been built to match that.

"Take the steps!" he bellowed as he touched down. A hundred Tritonis and Saxon warriors hit the ground behind him, and as he charged up the steps to the Throne Room, he could see the shimmering blade of the Darksaber in Sabine's hand, ready to cut down her foes as she advanced.

His blasters dealt with the first Stormtrooper in his way, and he kept going through the remaining haze of the smoke. On the other side, he could see some eighty white-clad Imperial troopers, fortified in their lines of reinforced plastoid, clustered around their heavy guns and flamethrowers.

"Grenade onto the left Machine Gun Nest!" He demanded, watching as a projectile hurtled overhead, landing with unerring precision in the requested location.

The Imperials scrambled to get away, and when they did, they were mown down by waiting Mandalorian warriors.
Once more, Percy pressed on. Someone beside him went down to a blaster bolt direct to the face, and Percy put down the responsible Sergeant with a double-tap burst from his WESTAR-35 blaster pistols.

"Hit point one-eight with covering mortar fire," Percy told the mortar team via the comm that was installed within every Mandalorian helmet. Ducking down to avoid a rapid-fire burst sent in his direction as the enemy decided that he was the primary target, he rose to shoot back. He couldn't tell if anyone fell to that particular burst, but it, combined with the fresh burst of mortar shells, was enough to let him dart a few yards to his right to find Sabine.

"We're stuck here. Any elaborate explosions up your sleeve?" he asked wryly as she batted away an Imperial blaster bolt with her sabre.
"One," she replied. "Though I don't know if it'll work."
"To take out the last Imperials on Mandalore?" he asked. "Try it. What's the worst it could do?"
"Do you really want to ask that?" she asked wryly, fishing through her utility pouches to find whatever it was that she thought could be so decisive.
"A grenade?" he asked in confusion, not stopping firing to cover her.
"Oh ye of little faith," she snarked in response. She pressed a button, and lobbed it.
"Everyone down!" Percy bellowed, his own eyes widening below the visor of his helmet as he saw arcs of electricity streaking for it, forking out in the direction of the Stormtroopers.

It ignited in a flash of light, and instantly, the shooting had stopped.
"Sabine, what…"
He walked, almost without thinking, up the final few steps to the top. The sight that met him was chilling, to say the least.
Those closest to the blast had practically gotten lucky. Their deaths had been instantaneous, what appeared to be a miniature, short-fuse Arc Pulse Generator, having incinerated them on the spot, seeking for them through their plastoid armour.
On the edges of the blast, though, it was a different story.

He saw people who'd lost limbs, the root of whatever appendage that the weapon had claimed now just a ragged, charred stump, cauterised by the searing heat.
Others had died as halves of people. Legs without torsos, torsos without legs. It was a grisly state of affairs, an entire company vaporised by a grenade the size of a child's toy.

"Percy, come in," Reyna's insistent voice called over the comm.
"Go for it, Rey," Percy replied.
Massive power surge. Potential explosion in-"
She was cut off by an explosion that shook the ground.

"Everyone, report in," Bo-Katan demanded. "Get teams out to deal with casualties! Secure the Throne Room, then all hands on deck to deal with whatever the hell this is!"

It was Ursa who was first into the Throne Room. She threw open the doors, uncaring of whether there were any Imperial troops still within.
She stood there, stock still, taking it all in.
Percy couldn't help but do the same, slinging an arm around his cousin's shoulders, and she leant her head against the beskar pauldron that covered his shoulder. He'd only been here once, back when this was the peaceful centre of a neutral planet, untouched by the war that had ravaged the galaxy.

It was beautiful, even in its hazy state from the fighting that it had endured. Stained glass windows filtered light from the outside in columns, casting light upon the glorious artwork from those long since passed on.
Now, though, it had seen three hostile forces capture it in twenty years, ironically the same group each of those times.
His cousin breathed out, her breath parting the fog and casting it into little swirling patterns.

"We did it, Ursa," he grinned, looking towards her.
There was no response.
"Ursa?"

Her helmet clattered to the floor, the sound reverberating. He turned to look at her, and saw his turquoise pauldron stained red from blood that dribbled from her mouth. Ursa's eyes were open, but unseeing. Her breath went in and out of her chest in increasingly ragged bursts, the sound almost hauntingly rattling.
"GAS!" he bellowed. "Nobody remove your helmets! Wren warriors, your countess is wounded! Get her to safety!"

Suddenly, the victorious atmosphere gave way to dread. Wren troops evacuated the stricken Countess to the docks, though Percy dreaded the outcome of her treatment. The blood that had started to accumulate on his shoulder dripped down his breastplate and along his sleeve. Ursa's complexion had paled dramatically, her lips going blue as oxygen was denied to her burning lungs.

"Get all civilians into safe zones, ensure that the air is safe before doing so. Anyone confirmed to have been exposed to this gas goes into quarantine. Engage complete city-wide ventilation," Percy ordered over the net, forcing his voice to remain steady. "And someone let Delphin and Triton know that Ursa's not doing well. They will want to know."

SSD Death Mist, Mandalore Sector, 2 BBY
"The entire city is lost."
Alabaster nodded. "But their so-called 'Great Forge' is cut off, as is their Beskar store. They will not be able to attack Imperial assets, even if they do own the entire sector now. When we return, it will be decisive."
"If we return," his aide corrected.
"The Emperor will be furious," Alabaster reminded him. "It may take time, but there is no chance in the Galaxy that we do not return to Mandalore. If we can't take it, we'll destroy it."

"Arc Pulse Generator closing on our Point One-Six," the Watch Officer warned.
"Kark, how do we knock it out?" another hissed, bracing as the ship came for another pass, fracturing the viewports and causing the metal of the hull to glow orange.
"Target all firepower at it," Alabaster ordered. "If TIEs can't take it out, then an entire battery of guns should do some work on the issue."

All along the top of the hull, four-gun batteries of turbolasers swung around, presenting towards the Mandalorian fighters that swirled above them.

"One down!" the Fire Control Officer crowed. "They're breaking off - the insignia suggests -"
"Silver stripes?"
"Yes, Sir."
"The Tritonis General," he concluded. "Delphin. He was an important warrior in the Clone War and the inter-war period."

"Some consolation for our loss, then."
"Intelligence suggests that the Wren Countess is dead too, as are the Rook and Eldar Counts," the Political Officer informed him, striding through the Blast doors. The young woman flinched at the searing heat. "And Tiber Saxon is suddenly caught within a crowd of people, none of whom trust him. He will struggle, but he will assimilate, filling the gap that Ursa Wren vacated."
"That takes us up to twenty Mandalorian Nobles killed today alone," Alabaster mused. "They will seek vengeance. We cannot allow that."

"Seventy percent of shuttles have arrived, Sir," a Deck Officer told him. "Half an hour before we can leave."
"Then we still have time," Alabaster nodded firmly. He issued a series of orders. His Bridge Crew got to work.

Royal Academy of Government, Sundari, Mandalore, 2 BBY
It was inside the centre of Mandalorian Government that the Leaders of what appeared to be their new Mandalore had converged. Stood up and addressing the group at large was the redeemed traitor, Tiber Saxon.
"I have received a message from Admiral Torrington," he was explaining. "He has extended his leniency towards the Saxon Clan's upper hierarchy."
"And you want to accept? After Ursa's sacrifice? Delphin? We've lost far too many," Korkie Kryze challenged, crossing his arms.
Saxon shook his head. "I seek redemption from the Empire. It would not do to have a Mandalore without a Clan Saxon. I have a trap in mind."
"Oh?" Sabine asked, stepping forwards, "Do tell."

SSD Death Mist, Mandalore Sector, 2 BBY
"New Imperial-marked shuttle coming in," the Deck Officer informed Alabaster. "Codes match Clan Saxon's keys."
"Good," the Admiral nodded. "Allow it to dock. Give them my personal hangar."
"Roger that."

Alabaster turned to scrutinise the Mandalorian-built vessel. It was one of the Gauntlet transports, adorned with the Imperial Roundel. It couldn't hold many more than twenty-five people; enough for the Saxon higher order to come aboard the Death Mist. He spared a moment for those who remained; there were a few hundred members of Clan Saxon, and a thousand or so others who had given their service to the Empire. The remainers would likely be segregated from society, slowly reintegrated over time, though history would never forget their treason.

"They're aboard," the Deck Officer told him. "That should be the last of our transports."
"Bring them in," Alabaster instructed. "Set the Navicomputer's course for Coruscant."
"Course for Coruscant, Aye Sir."

It was a few moments before Tiber Saxon and his comrades had entered the Super Star Destroyer's bridge.
They were greeted with blasters pointed at their heads.

"I suppose you're about to shoot me," Saxon mused wryly. He removed his helmet, staring Alabaster dead in the eye.
"You've served the Empire long enough to know the hand of fate that traitors are dealt."
"Then I hope to the Manda that my people will remember me as a redeemed fool, instead of the skulking lapdog that I was. If the Saxon line is to fall here, then I take solace in knowing that I was of some use, at least."

Headquarters of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, Yavin 4, 2 BBY
It wasn't often that Kallus found himself on the rotation of Officers manning the Control Tower on Yavin 4. Far more of his time was spent in the various Intelligence centres on the base, alongside the former Clone Commander, Rex.
It was the same pair, as a matter of fact, that had been put here today.

"So what are the codes to get a landing berth around here these days?" a voice asked over the net. "We haven't been updated since the last time we dropped by."
"Scramble fighters!" Rex yelled, standing up suddenly. "Intercept vector point eight by point five!"
"Unknown vessel, identify yourself, or prepare to be engaged," Kallus threatened.

"Whoa, whoa," an oddly familiar female voice interjected. "I wouldn't do that. That'd set of, like, a whole diplomatic incident with Mandalore, and I don't think you want to be severing ties with the only successful rebellion in the Galaxy so far."
"Transmit your credentials," Rex said into the receiver, before switching channels. "Blue Squadron, your mission is intercept only, for now."
When Kallus saw the identities of those arriving, his jaw dropped. "Someone tell Syndulla."

Headquarters of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, Yavin 4, 2 BBY
They received the welcome of heroes. Ground crews rushed away from their stations to come and shake their hands, pilots cheering and troops jumping in joy. Junior Officers almost stumbled over themselves to be the one to escort them to Rebel Command, the situation only coming to a resolution when it was decided that they'd all come.

"Lady Wren, Admiral Tritonis," Senator Mon Mothma greeted. "An honour to have you. What news of the Front Lines?"
"There is no more fighting on Mandalore," Sabine smiled. "We've won."
"Truly?" Mothma asked, gasping.

"Losses were high," Percy admitted. "Casualties number in the thousands, the dead and critical well over a hundred in total. We have no record of the fate that befell Tiber Saxon and his troops. And, for the record, I no longer hold the rank of Admiral, as I have reiterated several times."
"SSD Death Mist returned to Coruscant yesterday," Mon Mothma informed him. "Its Starboard Side was a mangled wreck, and Admiral Torrington was forced into a crash landing. There was no record of Mandalorians disembarking. I can only assume that they have been killed."

"Then that only serves to increase the death toll," Percy sighed. "But, with Mandalore free, Bo-Katan Kryze has taken control of the Government. Limited resources will be made available to the Rebellion as we recover the damage dealt to Sundari. However, to prove our commitment, Sabine and I are here to give what aid we can. Reyna and Triton will follow in the next few days. There are losses to be counted, measures to be taken."

"Any and all help is appreciated. Lady Wren, I suppose you'll want to join the struggle for Lothal. We are expecting news within the next few rotations. General Syndulla is here, preparing for an assault upon Lothal's fuel depots."
Sabine nodded. "You guys need pilots, and I'm as good a pilot as any."

"As for your own issues regarding Rank, Perseus, this organisation represents the Republic," Mon Mothma explained. "As such, your rank from that time continues to apply now. If you do not acknowledge that, then I will give you that offer once more, here and now. If Niccolo di Angelo could accept his rank of General, then I should expect that you wouldn't struggle."
Percy turned to face her. "Just like that? After all I've done?"
"Take up your post, Admiral Perseus Jackson, the Rebellion needs you."

A/N
Cool, so that happened. Mandalorian Theatre goes on hold for now. I'll give you folks a little bit of the politics going on in the Senate and Imperial Command regarding that situation, of course, but for now, there's seven years canonically left of the war. If it's all the same for you folks, I'd actually like to get somewhere with this story instead of breaking down every little detail of the campaign.

In terms of what's to come, we've got the last little vestiges of Rebels, followed by Rogue One (and A New Hope, because they happen within literal days of one another.) Then we go into the joys of the mid-to-late Rebellion, finishing at Endor, Jakku and the fate of our Mando friends. Did I just sum up canon?
Yes
But hey, if you're reading this, you're clearly somewhat interested.
The usual shoutout to the old crowd. Life's still hard folks, don't go harassing them about updates because fuck knows how I'm doing this at all.
Until next time, then,
Sol
(I don't own PJO, Star Wars or any related media)