Ch19: The Resurgence
Rebel Camp, Lothal, 1 BBY
"It's almost as though you don't have guards watching this place, Bridger," Atalanta giggled, ruffling Ezra's hair with a smirk, before her smile vanished. "Nico and the others send their regards, and their condolences. We all felt Kanan's loss. Even still, his presence remains on this planet like a shroud. You may not see him, but if you reach into the cosmic force, you may yet feel his presence."
"He's helped us," Ezra told her with a little smile. "The wolves are led by a wolf called 'Dume'. It's almost like he's still helping us, even though he's gone."
The Twi'lek Jedi smiled.
"Perceptive as always, Ezra," She smiled. "Death is simply another part of life. Just as Kanan's master died to protect him, he died that you might live. Remember his teachings and his life, but understand that his death was as significant of an action as any in his lifetime may have been."
"Seriously, though," Sabine asked, leaning her shoulder against one of the wooden posts that held up the canopy. "How did you sneak past literally every defensive line the Empire set up, and then get right past our guards? Manda, if I find out his people were asleep on duty, I'm going to have words with Porter."
"Jedi trickery," Atalanta smirked. "It's a talent. General Tritonis sends his regards; there is much afoot in Sundari; he has been recalled there to help Bo-Katan deal with the issue."
"What's up? The Empire's gone for good."
"I am unsure, Lady Wren," the Twi'lek informed her regretfully. "But from what I've heard, the Empire has appointed a new Governor of Mandalore, and the New Republic are attempting to delocalise the system of governance, especially with the worlds Bo-Katan has begun to liberate outside of the Mandalorian Sector."
"Yeah, they aren't going to be happy about that," Sabine muttered.
Throne Room, Sundari, Mandalore, 1 BBY
"UNACCEPTABLE!" Par Vizsla roared. "I will not stand and watch us be governed by an outside power!"
"We've sought the Republic's help in many matters," Bo-Katan replied, not bothering to raise her voice. "They have requested that we enter their network, with the promise of free trade and aid in return for occasional military contributions. As the Mand'alor, it was within my right to commit our people to this agreement."
The doors flew open, and a new entourage strode in.
Clad in the turquoises and silvers of Clan Tritonis, they filled a void that had been left empty, at the head of the room.
"Forgive me for my impertinence, Alor," Perseus Tritonis interrupted, striding across the room to take his seat. Fenn Rau nodded to him from Bo-Katan's left, as his niece, Triteia, took her own seat behind her father in the Tritonis delegation. "But I would ask the delegate for Clan Vizsla to remove his helmet. There is no danger within these halls."
Bo-Katan smirked at him, nodding in his direction.
"Ahh, the panderer returns," Vizsla jeered, drawing a smattering of agreement from his closest partners within the Assembly. "Tell me, Tritonis, how does the boot of Mon Mothma taste?"
The Rebel Liaison Officer gasped in offence. A diplomat from the Hosnian system, he went by the name of Xiono.
"Par Vizsla, the last I checked, it was the Rebel Alliance who graciously supplied us with intelligence assets, fuel and ammunition when our own supplies were running low. Furthermore, it is within our interests for the Rebellion to succeed in its objectives. A strong New Republic with favourable views towards the Mando'ade is preferable to one which is indifferent."
"The old way would never have allowed a mere foundling to speak like this in the presence of the council."
Now that struck a nerve.
"Perseus Tritonis is of Mandalorian blood," Tristan Wren snarled, standing. "And furthermore, he is a hero of Mandalore. He was present when the Throne Room was retaken."
"Furthermore, Perseus Tritonis has full right to speak in this manner," Bo-Katan interjected, still seated casually in her throne. "He is al'verde of all Mando'ade space forces. A hero of our people, and a leader to whom we can all look in admiration. He serves the Rebellion at my order, subject to withdrawal from that role in an instant, should I wish it."
Percy merely bowed his head.
As he sat back once more, he heard a Rook representative mutter something to his fellow delegate.
"Returns from licking one boot, only to do the same to another. Pathetic."
He sent a smirk in his brother's direction. Triton was bristling with rage, a few others in the faction which had quickly been earmarked as Bo-Katan's loyalists appearing ready to draw their weapons here and now.
"The old way is behind us, Par Vizsla," Bo-Katan explained diplomatically. "We continue to honour our traditions, revering our forges and the waters beneath the mines. Perseus fought to restore our right to bear our arms freely once more, and to wear our armour as our ancestors once did. In today's galaxy, however, the creed must adapt to the times. If not, then the cycle of millennia past will repeat itself."
"My Lady Kryze," a representative of the people of Sundari interjected. "Your sister advocated abolishing the creed altogether. We are free now; do we need to bear these arms and wear this armour at all?"
"My sister…" Bo-Katan sighed. She took a breath and scanned the room. There were those who had subscribed to Satine's politics. They hadn't fought for their freedom under Imperial rule, choosing to continue to live as mere civilians. "My sister had a great many policies. Some that I respect, and others that I will politely decline to perpetuate."
"And may we know more?"
"You will hear more from Bodin Rook's report on the matter, to be published next week."
It had been a risk, appointing the more traditionally-leaning Rook clan to write her government's literature. However, it was a risk she was willing to take; giving a little slack to the Traditionalists, while risking the ire of the financially powerful, yet otherwise harmless residents of the large cities. Furthermore, she reasoned, it would gradually bring the habits of their forebears back to the domesticated people of Sundari.
After all, even if the Creed and all its idiosyncrasies was a little too far, there was some truth that everyone could find in the old way.
"Last order of the day," Fenn Rau read off his datapad, "The matter of the worlds in the Bandomeer system, liberated from the Empire by Mandalorian troops under the command of Ta-Riel Awaud. Clan Awaud has taken on administrative duties within this system."
"Who raised this as a point of order?" Bo-Katan frowned. "The consensus was that Bandomeer was too valuable a mining post and hyperspace junction for the Empire to maintain control. It was liberated with little bloodshed."
"Indeed," Vizsla agreed, still wearing his helmet in whatever protest he was attempting to make, "And with great value to the Mandalorian economy. None should have an issue with this."
"It was I who raised this issue," Hamato Xiono said, rising from his seat. "Bandomeer may have been taken peacefully, but already you take raw materials from them, to build your weapons and ships. The New Republic sees reason to suspend this cultural conversion before it takes root."
"You have no jurisdiction here, offworlder," a member of the Rook delegation snarled. Percy couldn't see his face under his helmet, but he wouldn't bet against it concealing a smirk.
"The New Republic is watching the military progression of the Mandalorian people with great interest, and while Senator Mothma is grateful for the eradication of the Imperial Presence in this sector, expansion beyond it is worrying. Especially with the recent news of the appointment of a new Imperial Governor and Sector Admiral for Mandalore."
Percy frowned.
"Who might this Governor be?"
"The Governor is a man by the name of Gideon," Xiono replied. "And the Sector Fleet Commander is one Castellan."
Immediately, the gaze of every military delegate was on Percy. Antagonise him as they might to undermine his status which they craved, they all knew that he was the expert on these matters.
"A savage and a butcher," he noted. "They will rue the day they attempt to take Mandalore from us, its rightful owners once more. The New Republic can complain about our use of captured resources, but until our future is secure, we will do with Mandalorian assets as we wish until someone more important than Mon Mothma's clerk is sent to enforce this."
Tritonis Stronghold, Krownest, New Kleyman System, 1 BBY
"Jedi Shuttle, identify yourself and state your mission here," the controller requested. Nico, at the helm, presented the relevant codes, given to him and a select few others within the Rebellion by Percy and Sabine.
"Mandalorian Ground Control, this is Jedi Master Nico di Angelo, callsign Orpheus. I am here to discuss recent discoveries of importance with Lord Perseus Tritonis."
"You are cleared to land," the controller confirmed. "Go for landing bay Four-Eight. The Al'verde will meet you there."
He placed his cloak around his shoulders as the ramp dropped, watching as his companions, Menelaus and Theseus, did the same. He hadn't forgotten the biting cold of Krownest, and had resolved never to fall foul of its blizzards and gusty winds again. He compared it mentally to his visits to Ilum and Pantora, in what seemed like a past life. Somehow, this place felt colder. He didn't know if it was the weather or the attitude of its occupants.
"Nico," Percy greeted with a smile, and Nico accepted the offered hand to shake. "I'm familiar with Theseus, but I'm afraid I haven't been introduced to your other companion."
"You know Master Pel Kin of Durin, otherwise known as Theseus," Nico agreed, "and our fellow quester is Master Menelaus of Utapau."
"Just a codename for you, then?" Percy asked the towering Pau'an, an eyebrow raised. It was clear that there was no malice behind the question, but Nico was impressed that anyone would crack a joke at the imposing figure's expense.
"I did not have the luxury of parents or guardians to name me until Master di Angelo discovered me," the man said dismissively. "I owe him much, and a small part of that is my name."
Percy nodded. "Come inside. I'm sure that living on Umbara, Atollon and Yavin has done wonders for your tolerance of the cold."
"I'll never enjoy it," Nico admitted with a smile, following his old friend into the Tritonis Stronghold proper.
"So, what's come up?" the Mandalorian asked, once the group of four had been seated and presented with glasses of Tihaar, the alcoholic drink of the Mandalorians' preference. Unbelievably, Nico noted, even this was served over ice, despite the cold.
It was the Kel Dor, Theseus, who answered him.
"You are familiar with our fellow Jedi Master, Lady Iyneda Nemuh, otherwise known as Atalanta?" he asked. At Percy's nod, he continued. "Yesterday, we received this message from her, following a mission conducted with the aid of Lady Sabine Wren and the Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger."
Menelaus placed a holodisk on the table around which they were sat, and the familiar features of the Twi'lek master were projected from it in iridescent blue.
"Masters of the Order, this is Master Iyneda Nemuh reporting from the planet of Lothal. Upon reaching this planet, it was discovered that Imperial surveyors were excavating the Lothal Temple by order of the Emperor himself. With Lady Wren's aid, Ezra Bridger and I were able to gain entry to the Temple, where we discovered a state within the force where space and time are interwoven and interlinked; a network of actions and consequences."
Percy looked up, and Nico could tell he was about to ask a question. He was cut off by a raised hand.
"Through this network, Master, we were able to rescue Lady Ahsoka Tano. We were separated, but both young Bridger and I have sensed her life through the force. I fear, Master, that she is lost, and potentially without weapons and friends."
Theseus stopped the message there. "All three of us have sensed this in the force, Admiral," he explained. "Our friend is helpless in this galaxy. It is, therefore, our duty to seek her out and bring her back into the Order, should she choose to accept. We know not how long this will take, nor do we know if we shall be successful in our endeavour.
"And you need me why?"
"We need you to take over as the point of contact for Lothal," Menelaus told him bluntly, as was his way. "Iyneda is present, more for the child, Bridger's good than ours, though evidently her contribution has been profitable for us. With Nico, Pel Kin and myself no longer as easily accessible, Djooser, Sa-Dev and Karn will be occupied with the training of the younglings. You are, therefore, the only one capable of engaging in this theatre of the conflict."
Percy took a thoughtful sip of his drink, before placing it on the table.
"They're planning to take Lothal once and for all, are they not?" he asked. "Thrawn will be returned to that theatre the moment Arihnda Pryce gathers evidence of an insurrection."
"You're the only one who can beat him," Nico pointed out.
"And yet there couldn't be a worse time for me to leave this sector," Percy told them with a grimace. "Bo-Katan is presiding over an increasingly volatile Assembly of Clans, and while we're expanding well, the fractures are only going to grow as we bring more planets into the Mandalorian banner."
"Just think over it, Percy?" Nico suggested. "Triton is a more than capable statesman, and Tristan Wren has a good head on his shoulders in Sabine's absence. Do not forget the likes of Fenn Rau who will be here to support Bo-Katan. The threat that Thrawn poses is one that we might not recover from, should he score a major victory on Lothal."
Percy nodded, taking another sip of his drink.
Rebel Camp, Lothal, 1 BBY
"Admiral Jackson, it's good to have you aboard," Hera greeted. She was seated alongside her key advisors on Lothal around a holotable. On the other end were Percy, Reyna, Triteia and Jason, all of them aboard the Venator-Class Star Destroyer now known as RSD Liberation. The refurbished behemoth was now in the combat trials phase of its re-entry into service; trials which it had passed thus far with flying colours.
"General, Commanders," he greeted back. "I've been assigned as your liaison on this side of things in General di Angelo's absence. What progress has been made thus far?"
"There is a plan in place," Hera informed him. "We'll be able to gain control of the Imperial Dome, and we're going to blow it when it's in orbit. Without Thrawn here, there's a huge weight off our shoulders. The destruction of the factories and Fuel Depot hit him hard."
"I have it on good authority from agents on Coruscant that, while Thrawn is assigned to menial duties for now, he will be the first sent in if there's any hint of an uprising," Jason explained. "What's your plan if he shows?"
"A sacrifice play," Ezra said resolutely. Sabine, Hera and Zeb turned sharply to face him.
"Ezra Bridger…" Hera muttered threateningly. The boy was unfazed.
"Mart has the frequency needed to summon Purgills," the Jedi Padawan explained. "If we aren't getting reinforcements, then there's a swarm of space whales who I can ask to get rid of Thrawn's starfleet."
"Who said anything about no reinforcements?" Sabine asked incredulously. "Iyneda's been sent out here, and I don't think even Mon Mothma would risk losing a member of Nico's order."
"She isn't wrong," Triteia snickered. "I asked the good Senator what would happen on Lothal if the Liberation had any delays in its trials. She went whiter than a sheet. I think she was about to suggest sending the actual Rebel Fleet until she realised I was joking."
"Well that's a relief," Hera sighed. "I assume you've got a contingency for the Thrawn issue?"
"I've got Shipmaster Quarrie, Shadow Squadron and a load of angry Rebel Pilots," Percy offered with a smirk.
RSD Liberation, Yavin 4, 1 BBY
The General Staff of the Rebellion's Liberty Fleet watched as the Corellian VCX freighter known as the Ghost left Yavin space, under the command of her owner, General Hera Syndulla, once more. In its wake, it left the pride of the Rebellion's fleet, a near-unique feat of Kuati Naval Engineering.
The gargantuan Venator-Class Star Destroyer sat in orbit, its escorts gradually joining it in its holding position.
"Liberation, this is Hunter Squadron, coming in to land."
The thirty-two Z-95 Headhunters touched down into the four designated bays, the hulls scrapped by the Empire in its early days having been recovered and restored to fighting shape by Corellian Engineers on Bracca.
They joined an ever-increasing complement of fighters and fighter-bombers, including the V-19 Torrent Interceptors, and the Alpha-3 Nimbus-Class V-Wing which had been the predecessor to the now infamous TIE Fighter.
The final component of the Liberation's fighter complement was a mixture of Clone Wars-era BTL-B Y-Wings and the newer BTL-A4s which had replaced the Clone War bomber on Koensayr's production lines.
Where Reyna knew that Jason would have greatly preferred the superior, Kuati-made RZ-series A-Wing as their interceptor of choice, it was clear that the hyperdrive-equipped light interceptors were far more suited to the hit-and-run style of operations that Raddus' Rebel Fleet was more likely to utilise.
"Kark, it's like we've gone back twenty years," Jason breathed as he, too watched the ships enter the dorsal hangar bays of the refurbished behemoth. "We could even board a landing force on here. Imagine, a little restructuring of the hangar bay doors and-"
"Save your maniacal plans for the next one," Percy chuckled, clapping Jason firmly on the shoulder. "The last thing we need is for you to remove one of those supports and the entire dorsal hull lose its integrity."
"Ohh, it'll be all kinds of beautiful," the Kuati Senator muttered. "Who knew that building ships was so much more fun than commanding them?"
"Save that kind of chat for after this whole fiasco's over," Reyna told him. "We all know you're going to secure about a million contracts after it's all done, so let's just get ourselves to work for now."
The fleet in its entirety made a resplendent sight for the X-Wings which flew their patrols in the Rebel Moon's orbit, painted in the maroon and off-white of the Republic instead of the dull grey of the Empire. Taking pride of place was the now ever-recognisable Rebel Roundel, painted in a bright orange over the ventral hulls of the six vessels.
"All Liberty Fleet elements are to jump to given coordinates," Percy ordered from his place in the Tactical Bridge of the Liberation.
One by one, they went. Six of the largest ships in the Rebel Alliance's command, sent to a point in deep space, close to an asteroid belt, a short light speed jump from the planet of Lothal. There, its pilots would begin operational rehearsals.
It was a scene eerily reminiscent of the Clone War, with its clouds of fighters and sweeping attacks.
Where the Venator wouldn't be able to match Thrawn's rapid response fleet of three Star Destroyers in terms of firepower, it, along with its escorts, would bring enough munitions to batter the Imperial vessels into submission.
It was now merely a case of waiting until they received the call for help.
Capital City, Lothal, 1 BBY
The team of four rebels, clothed in civilian garb, darted from street to street, lurking in the shadows.
They had been moving for several hours by now, silent as a wraith and leaving no witnesses in their wake.
"That's the entrance to the Dome," Ezra informed his comrades. "Sabine, you're up."
The Mandalorian stalked forwards, taking control of an input terminal on the blast doors' frame. She got to work, inputting a series of override commands.
A minute or so of work later, they were in.
"Ryder's intel told us that her office is on the thirteenth floor," Sabine told the others. "Zeb, you and Iyneda are going to have to cover me and Ezra. Nobody gets in or out. We're going to need a pretty good distraction. As big as you can get."
"Roger that," the hulking Lasat nodded, looking in the direction of the Twi'lek Jedi before the pair of them took off in the direction of one of the Imperial Dome's many armouries.
Sabine and Ezra went on their own way.
Their first port of call was an Armoury; the things were hardly rare, and in the absence of physical quartermasters, they were effortlessly easy to raid.
The pair of them took turns to change quickly into the light yet effective garb of Imperial Scout Troopers, utilising the customary packs to stow their civilian clothes, should they be needed at some later juncture.
Sabine thanked all her ancestors that she hadn't been wearing her Mandalorian Armour. As invaluable as her beskar plates were to her in combat, it would only have made them more noticeable on their insertion into the Dome, and weighed her pack down as they carried on from this stage in their operation.
Once Ezra was out and she was satisfied that her comrade hadn't somehow put his armour on wrong, they set off once more.
After six years in the business of opposing the Empire, and several years in the Academy before that, this might as well have been standard procedure for Sabine.
They worked their way through the Imperial facility, giving the appropriate pleasantries to the appropriate people and ensuring that their tracks were covered.
"Distraction is in place," Iyneda Nemuh's voice informed them. "Extracting to the Rendezvous point."
Sabine exchanged a look with her comrade. While it would take Atalanta and Zeb longer to get out, it still meant that they were now working against the clock. No matter what they'd managed to do, it would be noticed.
By some miracle, their job was made a great deal easier when their quarry walked right in front of them.
"Governor!" Sabine exclaimed. "Ma'am, we've been instructed to escort you to Landing Bay Kilo-Bravo-One. It's an urgent matter. They've taken Ryder Azadi prisoner!"
"They have?" the woman's eyes gleamed with a greed that made Sabine suppress a shudder.
"Y-yeah!" Ezra agreed enthusiastically. "It was scout patrol…"
Sabine watched as he fumbled over a name, praying that he picked one that actually existed, let alone one that was in service on Lothal.
"Patrol team Echo two-one," he concluded confidently. "We were sent back by the Lieutenant so that you could interrogate the prisoner."
The Governor seemed convinced, so Sabine resisted the urge to stun her friend. Granted, she wasn't sure that Pryce had processed anything beyond the news of Ryder's supposed capture.
"We have the Governor en route," Sabine informed her comrade. "Make sure that the transport is prepped and ready."
"Roger that," Zeb replied. "Engines fired up and ready to go. You guys had better get here fast, though."
He didn't need to wait much longer; the trio were aboard the Imperial gunship, a descendant of the LAAT, within moments.
Pryce didn't have time to wonder where they were going before she was restrained, Sabine's weapon pointed squarely at her face.
"Take her comm and any trackers she has on her," she instructed Ezra, who had already tossed her weapon out of the open door and into the fields below.
"Rebel scum," Pryce hissed. "They'll track you down."
"That's the hope," Ezra told her cheerfully. "Can't take a planet without access to the planetary codes, anyways."
"So this is how you plan on finishing your battle?" the Imperial Governor chuckled humourlessly. "This is your masterplan? Thrawn will return the moment that word gets out about any incursion."
"Again, that's the hope," Sabine told her. "If he isn't here, then he's a danger to the rest of the Rebellion. At least we've got the one person capable of out-thinking him on our side."
"Ah, and who might that be?" Pryce deadpanned. "Hera Syndulla, who he has defeated so many times? Or perhaps the defeated Mon Cala Admiral, Raddus?"
"Perseus Tritonis," Sabine shrugged.
"Impossible," their captive gaped. "He died at the hands of traitorous Mandalorian terrorists, the same who seized Sundari City last year!"
"Welcome to the solid half a galaxy who knows the truth, I guess," Ezra snickered. "I haven't even seen the new toys they've given him. Apparently they've designed a ship that can destroy a whole starfleet in a single shot."
"Come on now, guys," Hera's voice interrupted over the comm, now reverted to the Rebel frequency. "Project Liberator is far more exciting than that. And I think we're going to see it sooner than expected."
Imperial Naval Admiralty, Coruscant, Galactic Core, 1 BBY
Thrawn inspected the feed once more. He looked up, taking a moment to contemplate the walls of what currently served as his prison.
The velvet-quilted walls of the office he barely used seemed bare in comparison to the drab grey ones within the Chimera.
The vessel was locked away in dry dock, his own command revoked for an unknown length of time.
His enemies within the Admiralty had been rejoicing at his expense, his once-unblemished reputation having taken a hit as a result of this chain of defeats.
Not only was this the case, but he had also been stripped of his TIE Defender project. Where it was evident to him that it was the only light vessel capable of replicating the performance of the Sienaar Systems X-Wing. Paired with the soon-to-be restored Interdictor Class, it would be able to entirely negate all of the Rebellion's capabilities.
"Ensign," he spoke softly into the communicator that was built into his holotable, "find Moff Tarkin. I believe that I have something that might be of interest to him."
The duty officer currently stationed at the main lobby would have forwarded his message to the Senate building by now, or perhaps into the Emperor's Palace, which stood upon the foundations of what had once been the Jedi Temple.
"Thrawn," Tarkin's voice interrupted his musings, as his likeness was projected over the holotable. "I am told that you have information of some interest."
"The Lothal System is compromised," the Chiss man replied without preamble. "I have reason to suspect that the Rebel Alliance has taken up offensive arms."
The Grand Moff considered his words for a moment. Thrawn observed him; the tightness of his jaw, the furrow of his brow.
"And what might this evidence be?"
"A transmission," Thrawn informed him. "The daily transmissions are identical on three-daily intervals. If this is the case, then the system may have fallen as long as a week ago."
"I will review this data personally," Tarkin decided, after a moment's thought. "Be warned that you may be deployed with a reaction force should there be any truth to your deductions."
RSD Liberation, Lothal Sector, 1 BBY
"All ships and crew to jumping stations," the voice of Senator Jason Grace ordered over the fleet comm. The hallways of the six ships flared red as alarms blared, an urgent call to arms. Crew rushed from bunks and mess halls to their action stations, some still pulling on their jackets, or fumbling with the straps of their helmets.
It was a drilled action, each of them capable of reaching action stations without thought.
Exchange the khaki fleece-lined jackets and black boots for plastoid armour, and it might have sent an observer back to the days of the Clone Wars.
"Firebird is to hold position and remain on standby for combat deployment. Liberation, Redeemer, Rebirth, Restoration and Reunion to jump to the following coordinates. Weapons tight, sensors hot." Jason instructed. "One interceptor squadron is to be made ready in loadout for Combat Air Patrol, a second in High-Endurance Combat loadout. Making our jump in T minus five minutes."
The ships manoeuvred to their jump axis, the high-pitched crescendo of the hyperdrive stirring up to a climax before they found themselves punched into light speed.
Capital City, Lothal, 1 BBY
It passed around the newly liberated city like a breeze, swirling from street to street and poisoning minds like a disease poisoned the body.
To the people of Lothal, the name meant oppression. It heralded the cause of their suffering. It was a sign of the shackles that they had thrown off four days ago, in an explosion of freedom.
Thrawn was coming.
"Faster than I'd expected," Sabine noted to her fellow Rebels, though she supposed that they weren't rebels anymore. Not on this world, anyway.
The dome had been captured, launched and detonated four days ago, one day after their raid and sabotage.
As a result of Atalanta and Zeb's work when Ezra and Sabine had captured Pryce, all long-range communications from the Dome had been cut off. The moment that this has come into effect, it was replaced by a data spike of Sabine's own creation, looping the previous three days' transmissions. In theory, that should have given them a week to prepare their defence.
"Thrawn's too good to fool like that," Ketsu Onyo noted. "In any case, we'll have a defence in place soon enough."
"I've already pushed the message on to the Liberty Fleet," Hera added. "They'll be here within the hour."
To her right, Ezra gave her a feral smile. "If Percy fights Thrawn anything like how he fought us, then nothing's getting past this new weapon."
Jai Kell, appointed as the New Republic Senator for the system, nodded. "It sounds like a pretty good plan. Do we have contingencies in place for the people?"
"They will be evacuated into the tunnels by tomorrow," Ryder Azadi, the Governor once more, informed him. "They should be safe from any falling debris, and most of the effects of any possible orbital bombardment, if any would come.
Once more, the discussion faded to the background of Sabine's thoughts.
She huffed to herself in amusement as she remembered that this place had once been the Empire's base of operations. The Rebels on Lothal; the crew of the Ghost, its Lothali allies, supported by old friends from adventures and missions past.
Kallus and Rex had joined them from Yavin 4. Gregor and Wolffe had been reunited with them at Ezra's personal request. Sabine had called in a favour from an old childhood friend by the name of Ketsu Onyo, while Cikatro Vizago and Hondo Ohnaka had set aside their own enterprises to aid in their endeavour.
For now, it was simply a collection of the underground components of the Imperial Dome. However, with victory, they all knew that it would be replaced with buildings that harkened back to an age long gone, when Lothal had been a world of beauty.
That was Ezra's dream, and so together they would fight for it.
"We're scanning an incoming fleet," Porter informed them. "Five ships. One Star Destroyer, the rest Cruisers."
"We're scanning you, too, Capital City," the voice of a young girl crackled over the comm. "This is Republic Star Destroyer Liberation, and the vessels of the Liberty Fleet, based on Yavin 4. In a moment, you will see the V-19s of Gauntlet Squadron. They are of no threat to you, merely present to reassure the populace."
"Hold off on that flyover, Liberation," Hera cut across the Comms Officer. "We'll get the Ghost airborne to join you."
"Roger that," came the reply. "Sending holding pattern coordinates now."
RSD Liberation, Lothal System, 1 BBY
"Quite the show you've put on, General," Percy offered Hera by way of greeting. "I've seen plenty of flyovers, but very few as impressive as that one."
"A Corellian ship has a lot of space to put flares," Hera smirked. "The Torrents make a hell of a sound, too; I didn't think they could ever sound more impressive. All this, though? It's practically nostalgic."
"Glad you like it," Jason smirked. "It didn't half take some effort. And kark if that isn't one of those old C-1s! I had one back in the War. A bucket of bolts if ever I saw one, but it served me well."
"Chopper does his part well enough," Ezra said. "What kind of Cruiser is this? I've never seen one like it."
"This," Hera told him, "Is a Venator-Class Star Destroyer. They served as the backbone of the Republic's navy right the way through the Clone War."
"Finest class of vessel ever manufactured," Rex added, a hint of emotion present in his voice. "Almost makes me miss the old days, and I was right here when they ran trials on this thing."
"This is what you guys were commanding back in the Clone War?" Ezra asked in barely concealed wonder. "It's incredible."
"Damn kriffing right it is,"Jason chuckled. "Crew's been scaled down, but it still carries more fighters than an entire Task Force of Imperial ships could manage."
"We've got Torrents, V-Wings, Headhunters and Y-Wings on here, and some reinforcements available a matter of minutes away should it be necessary. Sixteen Blade Wings, if things get rough."
"That's not much backup," Sabine noted. "The prototype we tested was good, but the power couplings failed when Quarrie tried to mount a Hyperdrive on it. It couldn't operate as a shock component."
"We fixed that," Percy told her simply. "Pretty easy, actually. We binned the idea of the Hyperdrive altogether; they're prepared for combat aboard a Quasar Fire Class Carrier, similar to the one Phoenix Squadron operated until Jun Sato's sacrifice over Atollon."
"That works," Wolffe growled approvingly. "Where do you want us, Admiral?"
"For now," Percy told the Clone, "It'd be an honour to have you on my Bridge Crew, though I'm sure the General will be hoping to keep you with Phoenix Squadron in future campaigns."
"That's the idea," Hera agreed. "For now, though, we'll run interference. I've got thirteen X-Wing pilots available from my initial assault on the planet, plus Ezra, Sabine and Zeb. The three of them have experience on A-Wings and TIEs, should you need them. "
"I have no modern vessels," Percy informed her. "Barring my B-Wings, all my fighters are Clone-War era, or early Imperial at best."
"We'll be on the ground, then," Hera resolved. "You'll have the Ghost in support, and whatever else we can get off the ground."
"Roger that," Percy nodded. "We'll get V-Wings out there on a permanent rotation. When Thrawn shows up, he's in for a bit of a surprise."
A/N
So, I'm fully prepared to be fought on a fair few matters in this chapter. If you have a problem that I haven't addressed, I'd like to hear it. I'll take the boost to the algorithm at the expense of a hit to my ego any day.
Firstly, RSD Liberation. Not canon, not my problem. This is fanfiction, and I've fought to make it as realistic as possible. It's taken years to build just one of them, despite Jason taking the lead on their manufacture. It might as well be unique.
The Haran-Class (modified type 546) is absolutely fine, in my book. Captured at Sundari as I mentioned last chapter, gifted to the Rebellion because the Mandalorians were shifting away from a war economy, and had the resources to conduct the modification, which in itself is little more than gutting the insides.
The starfighters (Torrents, V-Wings, Y-Wings and Headhunters); We're around 18 years from the end of the clone war. It's still usable equipment, so why not use it? Nobody just bins usable kit. It's kept in storage somewhere, all Jason needs to do is find it and take it.
The B-Wing. Canonically, its big laser, blockade buster configuration is binned because the hyperdrive causes issues .Here, as in Rebels, that is a non-issue, because they have a carrier. For the record, I had planned this before Skeleton Crew was released. The B-Wing is criminally underused.
If anyone wanted the Battle of Lothal in its full form, literally just imagine the canon version, no Thrawn involved. Why? Because it's more than just Ezra doing the planning. It's effective in canon, sure, but with Percy and co thrown into the mix, we can have a hell of a lot more fun.
Mandalore is moving towards Mandalorian things, nothing particularly new here.
And, of course, Nico's off on an adventure! That's going to be fun to write, in tandem with the other storylines on at the minute.
Shoutout to the old crowd, as usual.
Until next time, then,
Sol
(I don't own PJO, Star Wars or any related media)