Chapter 39
Changing Tactics
RAXUS
Temple Asimov
"Eighteen broken bones, one collapsed lung, internal bleeding everywhere, his left arm broken, both legs are the brink of breaking and burned guts." Corto said reading over a holotablet in the Temple's medical wing. Lord Asimov was submerged into a bacta tank. Ahkilleon, Sabine, Sigma, Zygote, and General Fives Freeman were standing in the medical wing. Jay stood behind his father in his cadet uniform with his beret. It had a similar design of the Jedi Temple but had the sleek design of Raxus architecture. Ventus was laying in a bed with his legs wrapped up under a blanket. Kraggen, his quarren padawan, sat with him. All the way from Arcadia, Master Tr'a Saa had journeyed her hands over his legs, a small wave of force energy flowing into them.
Jay looked up at Asimov and said nothing. "Asimov's a tough son of a bitch." Asimov was wrapped up head to toe in bandages, a breathing mask was over his face obscuring his identity, his armor broken and bent was laid on a table next to it, his helmet had a large crack running down it, and his breastplate severed in half "His armor hadn't absorbed most of the blows, he'd be dead that's for sure." Corto said, setting down the holopad.
"I don't think he'd have wanted us to come back for him, the Vanguard fleet suffered heavy casualties." Admiral Zygote said regretfully clamping his metal claw.
Sigma glared at him "The Men will die for their Warlord, as he would die for them."
Ahkilleon who's green eyes looked sorrowful up at the bacta tank, she slipped her hand into his and was glad it wasn't the metal one. Because he squeezed it tightly. "Loosing Asimov would be the least of our worries, now that we know Darth Vader is alive, the Empire will come for us." Master Saa said as she pulled the blanket over Ventus's feet.
"And we'll be ready Master Jedi, our new droid factories on Salecuami are up and running, we've produced over 2 trillion new battle droids, and ships are already starting to arrive from our shipyards in the Arcadia System to reinforce the other Warlords while continue to train more volunteers here and abroad." Fives said, Sabine's eyes went wide.
Knowing she was a guest she still spoke anyway "But won't that just make the fighting worse?" She asked.
"Most likely, as for the Vanguard your own volunteers and conscripts from Mykapo, Salecuami are on their way. But we will need to select an acting Warlord while Lord Asimov recovers." Fives told them.
Ahkilleon turned his head "He's not dead."
"No, but he is in a healing induced coma his body took more damage than any normal person could take." Corto told his friend walking over to the group. Master Saa rose and walked over her long bark like hair cascading down her back "Asimov has always been a man who refused to yield even when his own body would, we are not sure when or if he will wake." She said meeting Ahkilleon's gaze, she had pale green eyes compared to his dark emerald ones.
"He will wake up." Ahkilleon grunted, his voice cracking slightly.
"Of that I have no doubt, but the Vanguard must be led by someone." Fives said pacing to the center of the room, he looked at Ahkilleon and for a brief moment Ahkilleon's eyes widened thinking he knew what was about to happen, "Commander Sigma, you've known Lord Asimov longer than any of us, the two of you arrived on Arcadia together when you were boys." Sigma hadn't taken his eyes off of Zygote until Fives spoke to him, "I name you acting Warlord."
Sigma didn't respond at first, "... roger, roger." He grunted.
Ahkilleon didn't say anything but he did squeeze Sabine's hand tighter, "Now, the Union is calling a meeting on how to respond to the return of Vader, and the sure counter attack coming from the Empire. I can expect you all there?"
The officers all nodded and Ahkilleon nodded too, "Good, till then."
General Fives walked out of the room, the Azure guard following him with Jay. "Father- General, I request to stay here until the Union meeting tonight."
"You want to make sure your friends are alright, it's fine, keep an eye on him. Something about this Naboo business doesn't add up." Fives said as they headed down the steps of the Temple to the landing pad where a Gunship was waiting for them. "Sir?" Jay asked. The fields surrounding the Temple's fortifications had less than a dozen Dreadnought ships grounded in it's fields. A small city of tents and barracks had sprung up around the ships that were stuck next to one another around the Temple. After returning from Naboo the Vanguard fleet landed on Raxus and surrounded the Temple.
Fives leaned in "Asimov and the Vanguard are the most powerful fleet in the Militia, without Asimov their half that, and they just had their ass kicked, right after an assassin got behind our fleet to try and kill your friend."
Jay's eyes got wide, "An assassin here?"
Fives held his hand up, to hush him "Someone is playing the game."
"Game, father?" Jay asked.
"The game, you need to know it soon, with Asimov off the board, the Jedi's faction in the Union may falter. If it comes down to the Merchant Alliance and the Neo Iron League the Militia will tear itself apart before the Empire even gets here." Fives said, stroking his mustache and walking down the steps, "What can we do?"
"Play the game of course, but we need to play it smarter." Fives walked to his ship and boarded, Jay stopped "Keep on eye on Ahkilleon, I'll have something figured out for him."
The General Boarded the gunship and left Jay on the platform, who turned to go back inside. All the way back in the Medical bay, Ahkilleon took one last look at his Master hovering in the bacta tank before he headed over to Ventus's bed, where Kraggen was sitting. Sigma and Zygote were checking in on the War Jedi as well, "How are you feeling Ventus?" Sigma asked him.
"Master Saa knows here healing skills well, she says a few more days and my legs will be fine." Ventus said he still wore his mask even without his hood and armor on. He wore simple white linen healing robes.
"Ventus about Terro, I'm sorr-" "Terro knew his duty, and in the end I know it's how he wanted to go." Ventus cut him off, ending the apology before Ahkilleon could start, "My congrats Warlord Sigma, I know you will do our Lordship proud."
Sigma nodded "You make him proud, by resting up, Admiral Zygote whats the capability of our fleet?"
"We lost half our ships and even more men and droids aboard them, I hope one Holocron was worth it." Zygote said, glancing at Ahkilleon.
The padawan gritted his teeth fixing his jaw, "The Great Holocron has more history in it then the entire Jedi Archives at the Temple, but that wasn't why we went." Ahkilleon grunted.
"Oh?" Zygote asked, the Quarren's question was more of a threat "He's right." Sigma said stopping any tense words from being shared. "The Vanguards attack on Naboo had us walk away with an Imperial Moff, we showed the Empire that they weren't invincible and razed the Emperor's own private retreat to the ground." Sigma said to them all. Sabine stood idly in the corner sitting on a bed while Corto tended to her shoulder that had been stabbed during Ahkilleon and her duel with the Royal Guard, Ahkilleon and Sabine had managed to kill both of them. Even though they weren't jedi or mandalorians the two Guardsmen had fought savagely.
Ahkillon continued "Yes, the Empire responded quickly but other Mid Rim worlds will demand more protection from the Imperial Senate, that gives us time to refortify our own positions and know where to strike."
"The Vanguard isn't nearly ready to fight after that battle, we need more men to command the droids, repair the fleet, and Lord Asimov?" Zygote looked over at the bacta tank.
"Will return, in the meantime we must prepare for the Union, Gererra and Atell will want our heads after such a fiasco, we'll need Kleeve." Sigma said over Ventus's bed.
"Our Lordship promised Kleeve, War Jedi to join his fleet with Terro dead and me like this, we'll need to convince more Jedi to join the war effort." Ventus explained to them from his bed. "Surely we have more?" Zygote asked.
"We did, until they got blown up aboard those ships." Sigma said bluntly, Ahkilleon grimaced at the idea of dead Jedi, "Without Asimov, that deal may fall apart." Sigma said.
Ahkilleon's eyes had a sudden glint to them "Not necessarily, the fleet may not be able to fight on it's own for now, but we can use the ships and men still able."
Both Zygote and Sigma looked at him curiously, "The One Eyed Devil's fleet is second to the Maverick's, there smaller and more reliant on droids than the Maverick's. But if we add our fleet to operations, raid's, even campaigns then Kleeve will have to honor his agreement."
"... That… could work?" Zygote said, stroking his tentacles with his claws. "But what about Atell and Gererra, they'll try to castrate us on the Union floor, disavow Sigma's promotion."
Sigma tapped his helmet under his arm, "No, they can't?" he said thinking "We did exactly what the Militia was founded to do, take the fight to the Empire and we did. We took the planet- you took Theed without a single loss." He pointed at Ahkilleon "Doesn't matter, we still lost the planet, and half our fleet?" Zygote masked him.
"There's no victory without sacrifice, flesh or metal, when was the last time Tuuk or Gererra entered battle like Asimov, Kleeve may not fight with his men but he does lead in his own way. We can still turn this defeat into a victory." Ahkilleon explained to them "It's what Asimov would want."
The clone trooper nodded "He's right, Admiral Zygote, halt all work on repairs for the fleet have the men go into Raxulon, any of the towns start talking to the people, spread the word of Asimov's bravery, Terro's sacrifice, that the Jedi gave everything on Naboo and how the Demon gave a Miracle." Sigma said, pointing to Ahkilleon.
"Then we have a plan." Zygote said, "It's a crazy one." Ventus replied "But that may just be the pain killers, the three of you look hairless wookies right now." Ventus turned to Kraggen whose face was scrunched up at picturing such a sight, "And your head is very long with your eyes on each side of your face Padawan…."
Sigma and Zygote left the Temple, and Ahkilleon was still in the medical wing with Kraggen who was brewing tea for his Master, Ventus. "How's Fatima?" Ahkilleon asked.
"She's stronger than she looks, should be in the yard training with the Sentinel Droids." Kraggen said as he poured a teapot into a cup, the water was smoking at the rim.
"Terro said he wished he'd been a better Master, I didn't really know him too well besides his outbursts." Ahkilleon said to Kraggen who poured another cup "I'll tell Fatima you asked about here, how about Tano, how you feeling?" Kraggen asked him.
Ahkilleon nodded "Asimov will be fine, he always is."
He patted Kraggen on the back and headed over to Sabine who was still being examined by Corto, he had both hands on Sabine's shoulder on the front and back, Sabine's eyes were closed and her face was warm as she felt the force flow out of Corto and into her shoulder. When he removed them Sabine rolled her shoulder and stretched her arm out, curling her fingers "You need to learn how to do this Ahkilleon."
"I do." he replied with a smile "Thank you brother." he said to Corto.
"It's what I'm here for, that and my charm." Corto winked at the two of them, he grabbed his holotablet and left the two of them alone.
When he was out of earshot Ahkilleon leaned in close, "You'll be headed back to Atollon soon?"
"Hera will want me back, and in one piece." She said curling her hand around his as she sat on the medical bed "You could stay, a bit longer, maybe even more?" Ahkilleon asked with his eyes locked with hers "Are you asking me to join the Militia?"
Ahkilleon moved his head side to side "Why not, look around you, we hae everything we need to fight the Empire, and you know how to fight them better than all the Specter's combined."
Sabine stood up and let go of his hand, she grabbed her helmet "I made a promise to Hera and Kanan, there my family I can't just walk away from them. I'm not asking you to, I'm asking you to… stay with me."
"I…. will think about it, Ahkilleon." She said before she headed for the door. Ahkilleon followed her about to call out to her "Padawan Tano." a soft voice called.
It was Master Saa she approached him, and was even height to Ahkilleon, "Walk with me."
They excited the medical wing and walked through the stain glass windowed hallways, "On behalf of the New Jedi, there is no amount of words I can say to thank you for returning the Great Holocron to us, Master Emsa left first light to take it to Arcadia, personally with an escort."
"I'm glad I could at least walk away from Naboo with something." he confessed to her, they passed by the training yard and they saw Fatima dueling a Sentinel Droid, one on one, she was practicing hard with her blue lightsaber her veil still covering her face, and her breastplate taking a hit from the staff but she rebounded quickly to engage again.
Taa noticed as well, "Terro's death was not in vain, a Jedi should always be willing to give his life for others."
"I thought you were one of the Council members against the war?" Ahkilleon asked.
"If there was any other solution, I would seek it, but the New Jedi have learned from our failures, the Empire can't be negotiated with as long as they have the Emperor and Vader at the helm." She said, shaking her head "The Order was blind during the Clone Wars, we were too prideful to see our own downfall was already happening."
Ahkilleon continued with her "But you- my father tried to stop it?"
"That we did, we almost succeeded, after Mandalore the schism ended and it felt like we were on the right path, before the Empire, the dark times." she told him with a soft but sad smile.
"The dark times are ending, the Jedi have returned, and we bring the light." Ahkilleon said looking up over at some Hawk fighters flying.
She frowned "That self righteousness is what led the Jedi astray, thinking we always knew better."
"I'm not saying we do, but it's better to have conviction then to always doubt our every move. Did we need to attack? I think so, the Militia is growing stagnant and Jedi need to lead the way to win this war." Ahkilleon said to her pulling away "Not just for the people, but for all the people we've lost."
Saa walked up behind him, they had come out to the outer walls of the Temple "War is a terrible thing, but I've learned a necessary evil for a greater good."
Ahkilleon cocked a brow looking at her "Your… for the war?"
"No, I am for peace, but there can be no peace without war. There were few jedi who involved themselves in conflicts in smaller systems, the last galactic war before the Clone Wars was the Stark Hyperspace war, you…" "Yes, my Grandfather, Iaco Stark started it." Ahkilleon said to her.
She nodded, "Yes, a terrible conflict."
Ahkilleon snickered, "Padawan Tano?"
"It's funny, everytime I think I know I'm heading in the right direction I get turned around, punched in the face and kicked in the gut, or lose a limb." he said, holding up the metal hand. Saa's leaf green eyes stared at him with a somber demeanor.
He frowned "One thing my mom always told me was that the Jedi Council always lacked a sense of humor."
"I find those who use humor to deflect trauma, want to make others laugh so as not to feel their pain?" she asked him as he folded his arms "I'm a padawan, I'm supposed to be either witty or a goody goody two shoes, and I'm definitely not the not the ladder."
That actually made Master Saa smile, and snicker a bit "I am glad you still have a sense of humor, you've faced more than most of the young jedi at Bastion have combined, were this the High Republic the Council would have held you at the Temple, force you to reflect and meditate."
"And…. you're not going to?" Ahkilleon asked, "No, Lord Asimov is your Master and were this the Old Republic we would assign you a new Master, but given your position in the Militia and how it benefits the Jedi's… image to the people, we deem your continued service necessary." she explained.
Ahkilleon folded his arms like Asimov would when scoffing, "I know some Jedi who would say that does more harm than good for me, that it'll break me, send me to the dark side, or whatever?" Ahkilleon said looking off into the distance, as if at someone he'd heard from over and over again.
"Do you know why we changed the code?" Taa asked.
Ahkilleon shrugged "Because the last one failed?"
"Passion without Peace, is emptiness. Strength without Knowledge, is useless. Power without Serenity, is chaos. Victory without Harmony is defeat. Life without death, is the lie." she recited the New Jedi Code, one Ahkilleon had committed to memory, along with the Sith and Jedi codes he'd learned from his mother and Master. "The Code did not fail, but we as people failed to grasp it with the changing of time."
Ahkilleon looked across the ramparts to see Sabine pacing, thinking and holding something in her hand, a holodisk, to send long range communications. Was she really thinking about joining the Militia, joining him, "One aspect the code failed to explain, was that a Jedi should have no attachments. Many on the old Council such as Windu, Mundi, and others took it literally." Saa said following his gaze, "'Attachments are forbidden' pretty straightforward to me?" Ahkilleon asked her.
"It should have said to not be afraid to let go of attachments, when my husband Tholme died I at last understood the true meaning of it." She produced a silver locket with a holocron matrix embedded in it, she pressed the holocron gem and an image of her with an elderly man, his hair turning white with a long ponytail wearing a white robe along with Saa.
Ahkilleon looked at the man and noticed he had one cybernetic eye, a black cane with a bird's head on it, "Tholme, I've heard stories of him."
"All true, I assure you. Your attachments to your Master, your men, and… others." She looked over at Sabine when she said the last part, "Do you credit, but they could be used against you, do not let that attachment blind you from what they need or want." she told him.
Ahkilleon saw the way she looked at him, he slowly shook his head "You think I'm selfish?"
"I think you are a young man, on his path that is yet to even be close to finishing. Thank you for your time Padawan, I will leave you." She said, turning to see Ahkilleon who watched her go, "We will win."
She turned her head "You are so sure?"
"Yes, because I was made for this war." Ahkilleon said firmly "And when the war is won, what will you be?" She asked him to think about that.
Down below on one of the lower walls Sabine had a holodisk out and took a breath, she turned it on and waited for the signal to reach Atollon. A long time passed as the signal booted up until Zeb appeared groggy and half asleep "S…" he yawned "Sabine, Karabast what time is it?" he said looking at the nearby clock on the monitor.
"Morning here on Raxus." She said
"Midnight on Atollon, what's up?" Zeb asked bluntly, often the muscle of the Specter's protocol wasn't really something for which he was known.
Sabine looked out at the fleet, the work to rebuild the ships had halted and the men were heading out of the camp in droves toward Raxulon, or other nearby settlements. "We're back on Raxus, partially in pieces."
"Yeah, yeah Hera told me the Empire came back hard." Zeb said yawning, but slapping himself to wake up. Sabine frowned hearing him put it so callously, "You okay?"
She nodded "Fine. How is everyone?" She asked.
"Hera won't admit it but she's worried about you, so is Ezra. Kanan is trying to keep Ezra focused on his training, and we're just waiting on the next shipment from the Militia, and you." he said.
Sabine nodded "Probably both sooner than expected."
"How's it been with the Militia?" he asked.
"It's… different, feels weird being part of an army on a scale like this. The rules, the focus on objectives over people, it's… kind of why I joined and left the Empire?" Sabine stopped before she could open up anymore "I think I'm ready to come back though."
Zeb nodded softly, "Hmm, it's not like raids or missions is it?"
"Zeb?" Sabine asked, the old soldier smiled "You can train all your life, but nothing ever prepares you for real war Sabine."
"I'm a Mandalorian I…" she sighed "Thanks Zeb, Specter 5 out."
RAXULON
Militia Union
The Militia Union was assembled, some of them in holograms like General Kleeve and Admiral Trench, along with a few others. General Freeman sat alongside Consul Kushi who stood at his side. The three factions were gathered with the Merchant Alliance on the left, the Neo Iron League in the center, and Sovereign Destiny on the right. Sigma sat where Asimov would usually sit. Many of the other factions whispered among themselves. "I call this Union to order." Kushi said, raising his voice, "We will hear the report of the Naboo Campaign from Warlord Sigma."
Sigma got to his feet, helmet under his arm "I'm no politician, so I'll keep this quick." Sigma said, making some of the soldiers in the factions snicker, "The Vanguard fleet laid siege to Naboo, through the efforts of recently promoted Commander Tano, we took the planet without a single casualty, and captured Imperial Moff Panaka in the process."
"And yet you are here." Voe Atell teased making her Merchant Alliance laugh.
Sigma ignored her "The Empire's revenge was swift, brutal, to spare more lives we evacuated the planet. There were casualties, and Lord Asimov was gravely injured after."
"And you gave up a foothold in the Mid Rim." General Gererra said arms crossed sitting next to a hologram of Kleeve, her daughter Sawyer was nowhere to be seen.
Sigma glanced at her "Had we dug in, there is a chance we could have held Naboo until reinforcements arrived."
"Then why didn't you?" Steela asked.
Sigma looked at Ahkilleon "We are War with the Emperor, not the Empire."
Loud shouts and boos were hurled at Sigma who was like stone, "Order!" Kushi shouted.
"We razed the Emperor's retreat to the ground, and recovered a sacred relic of the Jedi, the Great Holocron." Sigma continued "But at a price, War Jedi Terro gave his life for such a prize."
Steela scoffed, getting up "And is the Vanguard a Militia fleet, or a Jedi fleet?" Some of the War Jed in Sovereign Destiny, ones Ahkilleon were yet to know, got to their feet hands on their saber hilts. "Sit." Ahkilleon growled and to his surprise many listened.
"Without the Jedi, we would not be here today." Sigma said walking toward her "Without a jedi, I would not be here today, he floats in a Bacta tank fighting for his life, because he stared down death itself… Darth Vader has returned." The entire Union erupted into chaos, all of them shouting and hurling insults, others calling for objections and calls to remove Sigma, but what silenced them was Fives rising to his feet before Kushi could try and bring them to Order.
Fives leaned on the pedestal in front of him "Friends, comrades, honored members. We all knew something like this could happen."
"We launched our invasion early, under the pretense that Vader was dead?" Voe Attell barked.
"Yes, five years early, but in those years who knows how powerful the Empire or other parties could have become. Darth Vader's return will embolden the Empire; he, like the Jedi who stand here, is a symbol of might." Fives explained to the Union, "That is why we are changing tactics."
This got the Warlords attention, all of them, they looked to Fives who stood tall "The Warlords have made their presence known, their goals for resources and glory but that ends today. As of now we will coordinate the efforts of fleets to work in cohesion, no fleet will move too far where another cannot support them. The Empire is vast, their resources in the Mid Rim and Core worlds are finite compared to the Outer Rim's resources, which we will secure. The Mining Guild is hereby declared an enemy of the Militia, all their property, shipments and reserves are forfeit or to be destroyed. War Jedi will be sent to each and every fleet to assist in campaigns and operations, and current worlds in the Militia are to be forfeited for Imperial retaliation. This war is far from over, but so are we."
Fives continued to go over the new plan and Sigma returned to his seat next to Ahkilleon, "You got to the General?"
"I did, Fives is all too happy to bring the other Warlords in line. One of the reasons we were able to get them to agree to attack early was because of the promise of loot and resources, the Merchant Alliance shrewd as they have been securing worlds with ore, fuel, and fortifying them with droid armies." Sigma said looking at Steela, "Gererra has been playing the long game her troops are second only to Vanguard, Kleeve's assured me he'll keep an eye out for the other War Jedi."
Ahkilleon nodded "And, to make sure the Empire will always look over their shoulder, Commander Tano will continue his work with the growing Rebellion in the Empire." Ahkilleon sat up straighter hearing his name, "The rebels are dolts." Voe said loudly.
"They are scattered, divided, leaderless; we'd be throwing a match into puddles of starship fuel." a hologram of Lok Durd said.
Ahkilleon rose to his feet, "The rebel cells are divided for a reason, unlike them we are united and have the strength of arms to stand here and say such things, Warlord Durd. I lived among them nearly my entire life. I've seen them fight and die with nothing but sticks and stones, but still they fight.I will do as my General commands and continue to fight even while my Master recovers from his wounds because no price is too high for a free Outer Rim."
"And if Asimov shouldn't recover?" Steela asked, eyeing him, "Then pray for the Militia." Ahkilleon growled back before he headed to leave.
TEMPLE ASIMOV
Dusk
The Sun was going down on Raxus, and the Vanguard war camp had finished setting up their barracks and did all they could to continue fixing the battered fleet. Ahkilleon was outside the landing pad with a bag over his shoulder, B5 droids were loading in crates of Militia supplies to be delivered to Phoenix Squadron. Sabine came out next to him, "Ahkilleon?" She asked walking up.
"This is just the first round of supplies, Lord Hood has more experimental weapons and droids for us to try, he thinks field testing them with the rebels will make interesting results." Ahkilleon said to her.
She paused, "What you asked me, earlier, I…" Ahkilleon held his hand up "No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pressured you like that. I was being selfish."
"No, it's not that. I joined the Imperial Academy to try and make a difference, but I wanted to do it on my own terms this just, maybe isn't me?" she said looking out at the Militia, "Of course not." Ahkilleon chirped.
She glared at him "The only thing that's you, is you Sabine and I love that about you." he said smiling.
She smiled back and got closer, "So you're coming back to Atollon?" She asked.
"If Commander Sato doesn't shoot me." Ahkilleon replied, "Oh yeah, you got promoted to Commander, that won't get under Ezra's skin." she said.
"I think there's worse things, like does he even know about us?" Ahkilleon asked.
Sabine groaned "Don't remind me, I haven't even told Hera or Kanan, I think Zeb knows though hard to get anything past him."
"Well it's a long way to Atollon, and my bunk has room?" Ahkilleon asked her, she smiled biting her lip, getting closer hands behind her back "What did you have in-" "So where we going, Commander?" a gruff voice said, Sabine spun around to see Lt. Breacher, Cadet Jay and Rulf approaching with nearly two dozen other Militia soldiers, each one of their helmets had the orange and white paint markings on their helmets like Ahkilleon had, they'd spread the pattern across their armor to their chest plates,shoulder pads, forearm bracers and greaves in white stripes, flecked with orange the colorless iron armor made it look even darker next to the white and orange.
Sabine looked back, "They're coming too?"
"You betcha Mando." Brearcher said leaning his rifle on his shoulder, "Now that he's a Commander it means his own Command, say hello to Tano's Tigers."
Ahkilleon cocked a brow "Tigers?" Ahkilleon asked, Breacher nodded "We took a vote, name stuck." Breacher said passing by them to head up the ramp, the men walking past Ahkilleon saluting.
Among them with two more bags on each of their shoulders were some familiar faces, Yumi and Corto Vos-Ventress. "I thought you two were grounded?" Ahkilleon asked.
"For till Knighthood, but Master Saa convinced my mother I'm a good influence on you and I'd hate to disappoint." Corto said smiling hands on his hips, Yumi rolled her eyes, her bald head catching a glint of the setting sun.
She cleared her throat, "And the Council has given me a task of great importance-" "She's delivering a note to Master Jarrus."
"Master?" Sabine asked, Yumi went bright red "Corto, I am delivering sacred jedi texts to a survivor of Order 66, in an act of good faith." She held up her bag and produced some books and holopads before she stormed off into the ship.
Sabine glanced at him "Do you want to tell her Kanan is blind?"
"It's the thought that counts, besides mom telling Yumi to come to keep an eye on me." Corto said to them.
"On youperfect?" Ahkilleon asked, "I had a life before you met me." Corto said walking up the ramp into the ship "You're only a year older than me!" Ahkilleon called out after him.
Sabine folded her arms smiling but shaking her head "What are the chances that Phoenix Squadron and, uh Tano's Tiger's don't kill each other?"
"Well if we can keep Beetoo and Chopper away from one another, I think we'll be good." Ahkilleon said holding his arm out to let Sabine go first, she smiled and headed up.
The Revenant lifted off soon after and flew up into the clouds vanishing from sight, General Freeman was watching from the windows of Temple Asimov, and he wasn't alone. His Azure guard protected the doors but sitting in one of the lounge chairs in the corner was the purple robed and bandaged Caliban, his golden mask hiding his face. "Smart to send the boy away, if he is a target like the Mando girl, this new strategy of yours could put him in danger."
Fives didn't answer him at first, "The holodisk, with 'Mando girl' on it, what have you found out."
"It's real, a real Imperial holodisk, with the order in the same coding, but that's just it." Caliban said holding up the holodisk, he turned it on to show the Assassination Order with the ISB symbol on it and a picture of Sabine, detailing her appearance and tactics. "It's too good."
Fives turned around "Too good?"
"My shadows have been everywhere, in and out of the Empire, we've triple checked all possible ways they could have gotten onto Raxus and found no weaknesses, further autopsy on the assassin showed he's no ISB Agent but a hired mercenary." Caliban explained turning off the disk.
"Ahkilleon said the assassin said 'wait', before he tried to shoot him?" Fives asked, "But how did he get the Imperial equipment?"
Caliban sat up and stood "How indeed, we have an assassin with a perfect holodisk, ISB credentials, Imperial equipment, this was not the Empire, this was an inside job."
"Your saying, someone wants Sabine Wren dead?" Fives asked.
The spymaster shook his head "She was never the target." Fives followed up behind Caliban, "If not her, why the kill order?"
"To elicit a response, the Tano boy and her have been seen mingling on multiple occasions, the rebels presence here as small as it was did get around eventually. Given Tano's history with them, any one of the rebels could have been a target. To make Tano react, and do something reckless." Caliban explained to him, "Fives scratched his 're saying, someone in our own ranks wanted Tano to attack Naboo, that would mean they'd have to know the Empire, Vader, would respond so quickly?"
Caliban turned his golden eyes to Fives, "There is a traitor among us, General."
"Then find the traitor Caliban, and when you do bring him to me so I can watch him die." Fives said looking out the window "The only way this ends, is in blood."
The spymaster nodded with a curt bow, "How I've missed this side of you General, you've kept your distance, let the Warlords play but now you speak and the soldiers listen. I wonder, is it because you want to lead or why you sent the boy away. You are the General yes, but the Militia all know Ahkilleon Tano, the Demon, and some even whisper the Jedi King."
"I stopped believing in that prophecy years ago, whatever Leo thought, a King doesn't win a war, soldiers do." Fives responded back turned, Caliban raised slowly his eyes looking at him intently, "But soldiers, can make a king if he has enough of them. Forgive me I speak out of turn, I have a spy to hunt." Caliban rose and left hands behind his back.
"Happy hunting, Caliban." Fives said looking out the window, at an uncertain future.