Chapter 77: Chapter 35 Building Ties (Part 2)
Liber8 Training Base, Classified Location…
Liber8 trained its commando teams hard, but lacked a facility to put a proper and more regimented training program together until now as at last they had built one.
The recruits were moving through the intensive exercises of the hard program that clones who worked for them had designed but also Liber8 had received some input from an expert in many of these fields.
"It will take some time to get them up to scratch. The Alliance members are asking to send some of their own people here too." Devan said with an almost cruel smirk as he pushed the recruits through hell. The training was very harsh and many probably would fail but those that succeeded would become some of the best soldiers that the galaxy had ever seen. Certainly, more than a match for virtually the entire Imperial Military Devan thought with pride.
"The Sun Guard, have you thought about what you will do about them?" Anakin asked hating to bring up the matter but they were a real threat to all those who fought the Empire.
"I don't know, as long as they exist myself and my son will never be safe." Devan said with anger as he was faced with a life of constantly being on the run. Anakin however knew that the Mandalorians were fighting the Sun Guard and had an idea that was vicious but might do everyone a favour.
"If you could create a list of all the Sun Guard facilities you can think of and I passed that on to the Mandalorians…that might ease the situation." Anakin suggested knowing they had to remove this threat whatever it took.
Devan looked at him with suspicion for a moment but he then nodded in agreement, knowing it was the only way to get the Sun Guard off his back. He began to compose the list in his mind before Anakin told him.
"Luke and Leia like their new playmate. They haven't really had the chance to play with other younglings." Anakin told him, glad that the two of them and Mace got along with Jal. Devan nodded in agreement, glad too that his son had finally made some friends.
"In the Sun Guard we…they don't allow the younglings to play together like that. They only are allowed to interact when they are grown up and fully indoctrinated…something my wife objected too." Devan said with his grief coming through. Anakin put a hand on his shoulder and told him.
"Let's get a drink and talk some more. I would like for us to get to know each other a little better, maybe even become friends." Anakin suggested and Devan smiled broadly.
"Friends? What a thought!" Devan replied before going with Anakin to do some male bonding.
Pirate Outpost, Florrum…
"It is good to be home!" Hondo said as he sat on his throne again, leaning back casually and basking in the glory of rebuilding his small pirate empire!
The Clone Wars had been the greatest time in his life until now he thought with satisfaction. He had profited enormously from the conflict until the Empire had risen and clamped down on pirates. He had lost everything he thought with a dread of that awful time and the loss of the Jedi had hit him too. He had missed the excitement they had brought to his life and it had seemed things were so bleak they might never get better.
But then Hondo thought with honest joy, the Jedi had returned! They had begun the fight against the Empire and all the chaos had allowed him to rebuild his small pirate empire, he was rich again! Hondo thought with delight and drank his alcohol as he hosted someone who he hoped would be willing to help him in keeping it that way.
"So" He said turning to his guest who was sitting with his own people. "What do you think? Do I qualify?"
"You know how to throw a party." Stakar said as he had his feet up on the table. "Membership of the Underworld Alliance though, that means more. You help fund it, you help equip it, we share information and when we want to steal some shit…we work as a team. You feel me?" Stakar said as he tested Hondo to see if he was the right sort of disreputable for their alliance.
"I get it!" Hondo said with a broad smirk, wondering just where the line was with these people to see how he could use them in the same way they were using him. It might be fun he thought to get involved in such a large criminal enterprise and allow him to operate across the galaxy…wherever and whenever he wanted.
That might make me him even richer! He thought with excitement and so he told Stakar.
"Yes, I'm in…it should be fun!" Hondo said laughing with genuine enjoyment and dreams of the wealth that awaited him now.
Raxus Prime, Separatist Space…
The Separatist Parliament was in session, discussing matters of state before finally San Hill brought up a matter that had been worrying them all for some time.
"It has grown to concern some members of our alliance that while Liber8, the Corellians, the Mon Calamari and even the Mandalorians have a force group to protect them and aid them with their abilities, we the Separatist Alliance do not. That makes us less than our enemies and our allies and so I feel it must be addressed. To that end, I have found someone who will rectify the situation." San Hill told them before gesturing to the guards at the door who opened it on cue and let a new figure into the room.
He was a tall human male, a groomed beard that had dark hair that was now turning grey. He was nevertheless muscular and intimidating by his stature alone. But the dark robes he wore and the lightsaber at his waist not to mention the intense look in his eyes sent a shudder through some of those in the room.
"Baylan Skoll." San Hill said calmly although he too was somewhat unnerved by the man. His eyes were burning with a strong will unlike any Jedi he had ever seen. "I am glad to see you have considered our offer."
"Considered it…but no more. The Jedi lost their way by following governments, I saw them getting more corrupt and apathetic to the people of the galaxy. If you want me to train force sensitives into your personal soldiers then I will be leaving this place immediately. I have seen the cycle of the Jedi repeat again and again, it is inevitable." Baylan said and while this only made the members of the Parliament more nervous San held his nerve.
"I know your feelings, what I ask is not for that. I want you to educate the force sensitives within our space to use their powers, no more. Having an order to do as you do and help the people of our territory would be of immense help to us. Besides, I have heard you are searching for something…we can offer you resources that may aid in your search." San Hill told him, giving Baylan what he wanted the most.
Baylan stopped, not sure of what was calling to him from such a distance but he knew he would have to find it. The idea of creating a Jedi Order of his own did not appeal to him, the endless cycle of rising and falling would just go on and on forever. He wanted more than that, he could feel a path opening though, maybe this might be to his advantage he thought with consideration.
"Very well." He said, deciding to do as they requested but for his own reasons. He would teach those who came to him to find their own destinies and to see the galaxy and the struggles between the Jedi and the Sith for what they really were…an endless cycle of violence that would never ever stop. "I will teach what students can be found. I will require a facility to do so." He told San who nodded with satisfaction at getting what he wanted.
"It will be done; in the mean time we have been looking for force sensitives and discovered a number of them that will be brought here for your assessment. The first of which has already arrived." San said and pressed a button on the arm of his chair.
The door to the side opened and a pair of adults came in with a young girl between them, Baylan's eyes fell on her immediately as he felt the force inside her. She was a slight girl, not yet in her teens with white hair. He smiled as he approached her and knelt to be more on her level while still being slightly taller than she was.
"Greetings young one, I am Baylan Skoll. What is your name?" He asked her and the girl was somewhat shy as she hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Shin…Shin Hati." The girl told him and he nodded before telling her.
"Well then Shin Hati…from today forth you are my apprentice and I will teach you the ways of the force and guide you to find your own path."
Shin looked slightly scared of that especially with him being so big and imposing but she slowly nodded and answered him.
"Yes Master."
Trak'el Sigma, Outer Rim Territories...
The pushing of Mandalorian forces into Imperial held sectors now came in range of some of the other worlds conquered earlier by the Empire.
One of which was Trak'el Sigma, a primitive world that was being forced into Imperial service. A number of large factories had been constructed to supply weaponry to the ever-expanding Imperial Military. Most of the planet's uneducated population worked there as slave labour and were in turn fed and clothed by the Empire but this was not an incentive to encourage loyalty…it was a means of keeping them dependant as they had no other means of feeding themselves otherwise.
The people of Trak'el Sigma longed for the days they now hardly remembered, a simpler existence but one that had given them the freedom to make their own decisions. Rebellion was difficult as they were still a pacifistic culture at their core and more so their princess, the last surviving member of the royal family remained as a prisoner of the Imperial Governor. Princess Nyssa was still fondly remembered for her kindness to the people and much loved, they wouldn't risk an uprising if they couldn't be sure of her safety.
The Mandalorian Fleet had arrived in the early morning dawn during the time when the shifts changed, the Gondwana and a whole battlegroup of ships appeared in orbit. The drones of the Gondwana striking the station in orbit while the Aden and Fearless, Aden-class battleships and their support ships began to hammer the guard ships with their heavy turbolasers, the Spirit of Fire behind them meanwhile began to deploy dropships towards the surface.
Haron was leading his people, he could have entrusted this to others but he had to show his people that despite his position he could still lead or he would soon have challengers rising up against him.
Markus, Astoria and Corridan were all with him although as protected as possible since this would be their first real battle and he didn't want to take any chances, giving them a bodyguard each and the best quality armour possible.
The children at his side were nervous but he gave them an encouraging look before putting his helmet on, his children doing the same to each other just as they reached the surface.
The doors opened and Haron led the charge out of the ship with a powerful disarmament charm blasting the stormtroopers against them, ripping their blasters from their hands before they were gunned down while still shocked. At his side his children began firing our spells too, blasting curses to clear any obstacles that the enemy managed to put in their way.
A scout walker approached them and before it could fire Haron drew the Darksaber and activated it, the black blade appearing and with a single pair of effortless strikes he cut its knees and blasted the top half over with the force before Markus threw a grenade through the small slots in the front the drivers would see through, blowing it up although the legs stayed strangely upright.
Astoria and Corridan meanwhile not to be outdone by their father and older brother combined their powers and created a combined fire storm that washed over the Stormtroopers who were burned to death trying to hold them back.
All over the planet Mandalorian units landed, attacking the factories and Imperial outposts, Basilisk war droids of all classes being dropped by landers alongside the sky troopers and warriors all over the planet and started fighting with Imperial forces.
Haron's group pressed in on the old royal palace, now the Imperial Command Centre for operations on this planet and surrounding sector. The Imperials deployed their large AT-AT walkers at them but Haron alongside his children transconfigured the earth beneath their large feet into quick sand that they quickly sank into before it hardened back into earth, leaving the walkers stuck and helpless as the larger Rancor Basilisks and Canderous assault tanks blew them apart.
Haron charged the command centre, using the force to rip the doors open and allow his people inside, his own children igniting their own lightsabers as they charged in and began fighting against the Imperials in close quarters.
Corridan who had an innate skill with transconfiguration was changing the rifles of stormtroopers and other pieces of furniture into dangerous animals to cause panic among the enemy, smirking as he did so before he found a secured cell at the top of the highest tower. He frowned as he could sense someone inside, a girl only about his age and she was so lonely and sad that his heart broke.
Driving his saber into the door he cut it open and forced his way in to discover who this 'maiden' was, thinking himself almost like an old-fashioned hero for a moment rescuing the damsel only to stop still when he saw just who was waiting for him.
She was a young human female, her hair a deep dark brown and dressed in an elegant gown but her face was he noticed aristocratic and held an innate intelligence and kindness. All of which made her seem like a vision of perfection to him.
"Greetings. My name is Nyssa and I was once the daughter of the king of his world. May I ask your name?" She said in a smooth and warm voice that entranced him immediately and it took a few moments to recover his wits enough to speak.
"Princess, my name is Corridan Ordo of House Ordo and son of the Mandalore who is the leader of the Mandalorian people." Corridan said proudly and Nyssa merely raised an elegant eyebrow before asking him in a matter-of-fact kind of way.
"Are you here to kill me? Or liberate me? I have been told both quite a lot over the years." She asked him and he was taken aback and was quick to reassure her.
"No princess, I have no desire to hurt you. My people are here to help." He told her quickly and she tilted her head as if to question him before nodding in acceptance.
"Time will tell on that front. Perhaps we might leave this cell and see just what is happening. I have had little information while I was being held as a hostage." Nyssa said without any worry, able to stay calm and judge the situation clearly.
Corridan was only too happy to let her out of the cell and escort her around, something Haron and his siblings noticed as they observed him with her. In fact, he was reluctant to leave when they finally had the planet secure and were ready to move on. Haron pondered this and smiled as he realised his son had found his first crush. A princess no less he thought and wondered just what this might lead too.
Gorth, Outer Rim Territories…
Neville and Hannah were leading an invasion of their own nearby in another system, their two boys also accompanying them for the first time. Frank and Alexander both looked worried about the battle to come but joined their parents with the same protection the Ordo children had.
They slowly fought their way into the planet's sole settlement, another rustic town like many others without much in the way of amenities. It wasn't really worth much but they were taking it anyway since they didn't want to leave a potentially hostile force at their back as they pushed forward.
Then as they came to the centre of town where the Imperials were falling back too a surprising development occurred. Men and women in heavy Mandalorian Assault armour appeared, firing on the Stormtroopers from the other side, helping to box them in. Neville frowned as no other friendly forces were in the area and they were wearing Mandalorian heavy style armour.
They might be blasting the Imperials but he wasn't going to let his guard down and called forth the Basilisks to make sure they were on hand just in case these newcomers proved to be dangerous.
Just who they were though was answered moments later when after they had secured the town square and eliminated the remaining Imperials. A single figure emerged from among the interlopers, one with a familiar golden horned helmet that hadn't been seen since the Liberation of Mandalore during the Clone Wars. Neville frowned as he knew now that he was dealing with 'The Tribe' or 'Children of the Watch' as they liked to call themselves.
"Greetings Count Longbottom. I see the expansion of the Mandalorian people has spread to this planet." The Armourer said, never once taking off her helmet. Neville and Hannah both felt very uncertain of what to make of this, they had been in hiding for years and yet now they emerged seeming to be on their side.
"Indeed, we are expanding into other territories and liberating some in the process. They will join us and follow the way." Hannah said almost kicking herself for using their common phrase without meaning too.
The Armourer nodded and they could sense her agreement with the statement.
"Indeed, our people are as they should be once again. Despite some not wearing the armour and some not holding to the tradition of not removing their helmet…they follow the core of our way." The Armourer said having watched their progress over the years and seen the signs of their restoration, their people unified and powerful again with the ways of the sorcerers at their beck and call now. It was a blessing and the completion of the prophesy that they would be reborn again once the Mandalore held both the Darksaber and the Mask of the Mandalore. It said more though, that greater power was to come and it was time to see for herself.
"My people and I have watched and feel now is the time to return to the fold. We will swear ourselves to the Mandalore and take Gorth as our holding. We will fight alongside the rest of our people in defence of our way of life." The Armourer said, her own feelings conflicted about this as they did not follow the ancient way of the Mandalore but they were Mandalorian. All the parts of their code that mattered were there and they had achieved great things like their ancient ancestors had.
Neville frowned, not sure if accepting them was a good idea but it was better to have them where they could see them then in the shadows working against them.
- x -
Haron arrived as soon as possible and when the Armourer knelt to him, he reluctantly accepted their vow and allowed them to keep Gorth. The planet wasn't worth much so it wasn't giving up too much by letting them have it.
But it was giving them legitimacy, that worried him.
They were all good fighters and true to Mandalore, but Haron just worried as that would depend on what they thought Mandalore meant.
"This is the way." Haron said in acceptance of their vow and they all repeated it as did his own warriors present.
"This is the way."
Sera, Imperial Controlled Territory…
The planet of Sera had been devastated by not only Imperial exploitation of the planet for the Imulsion that was so useful but also the Horde, a race of mutated creatures that rose up from an underground region known as the Hollow. The Imperials had used a satellite weapon system they had created called the Hammer of Dawn to rain down fire on them, this had not only caused considerable disruptions to the ozone layer and done immense damage to the surface of the planet but had kicked up large amounts of debris into the atmosphere which made life on the surface exceptionally difficult. They had also sent forces into the Hollow and wiped out many of the species they had found down there, cities on the surface were reduced to ruins with no prospect of being rebuild while the Imperials lived on the space station in orbit or large fortified compounds on the surface.
The planet was in deep trouble and the Empire had no reason to fix these problems as keeping the population in such conditions meant they were incapable of fighting back. Loyalty was not as important as compliance.
But the Gears as they were known, units of the military of the Coalition of Ordered Governments had formed an underground resistance movement, doing whatever they could to fight the Empire and retake their world. They were hampered by lack of numbers and limited equipment but thanks to the wars that had preceded the Imperial Invasion they were well trained and experienced, knowing how to fight a guerilla war and make the most of what they had.
Now that large swaths of the Outer Rim had been liberated from the Empire the people of Sera had dearly hoped they would find allies on the outside to help them in their fight against the Empire. A call that had finally been answered by the Rebel Alliance in one of their first major operations.
Anakin being one of the most experienced and capable people had been given charge of the mission, Liber8 would have helped more but they were busy with operations elsewhere so it was purely an alliance operation. Mon Mothma had tried to talk the other Rebel leaders out of it as she felt direct military action was doomed to failure and would cost too many lives to be worth it, she was still convinced that peaceful means were the only way to force concessions from the Empire.
Garm Bel-Iblis was all for it and had actually helped plan for the mission, Bail Organa had been on the fence about it as he wasn't sure if it was a feasible idea although he was all for liberating a planet otherwise, in the end Padme had been the deciding vote and charged Anakin with leading the campaign.
Sera's surface was full of death, Anakin felt the moment he set foot on the surface. The barren and broken earth beneath his feet echoed with the pain of the lifeforms that had perished here and he was instantly unsettled by the echoes of all the death caused by the massacres but did his best to put it to the back of his mind as he went to the meeting place with HK-47 and Kahr at his side. Kahr was similarly unsettled by the echoes but like him had to put it aside.
At the meeting place he saw the drop ship waiting for them. They boarded the ship and allowed the waiting Gear soldiers to blindfold them while shutting HK-47 down, Anakin glad he had ordered the droid to remain quiet as while he found him funny, he was not the droid you took to make a good first impression.
It took some time to reach the Gear Base, he felt the dropship land and he disembarked with his apprentice and droid. It was he saw quite the operation, many of the gears were highly trained and experienced soldiers and having been around many in his life saw the tradition scenes of them in a base. Men and women working on and showing off their Lancer rifles along with other weapons, sharing a drink around a fire, training and working out, repairing their COG armour and so on. He smiled as they looked equal to many of the professional soldiers that he had seen.
Arriving at the main command area there were many screens that had been set up and showed several existing missions in progress. At the centre of it all though as a man in a wheelchair, not a hover chair as was common but while he couldn't stand his presence was undeniably strong, he radiated a strong will and barked out orders with a clear authority.
He turned his chair to face them and despite being in the chair he was very well built and would have towered over Anakin if he had been able to stand. He had white hair and a lined face showing his age but intense eyes.
"So, you are the Jedi I was promised? Don't look like much." The man said which Anakin and Kahr found a little insulting but Anakin would take it and replied.
"I have liberated planets before, what did you expect?" Anakin said with a challenging look in his eye, guessing this man was an old soldier and if he was then he would respect someone who spoke back in kind.
Fortunately, he was right and the man laughed loudly before saying.
"Thank fuck they sent me one with spirit. You would have made a good Gear with an attitude like that." The man said before offering his hand to Anakin who shook it and was impressed at his strong grip as was Kahr who then got the hand shake. "My name is Victor Hoffman, used to be a grunt in the army then got promoted way higher than I wanted and ended up as Chief of Defence Staff just as the Empire invaded. Just hope you can help, the other three have tried but they are busy trying to keep everyone alive." He said with anger at the state of the planet since the Imperials had ruined it all.
"The other three?" Anakin asked confused and Victor turned around shouted out.
"Hey! Get over here Jedi! One of your kind just showed up!" Victor called out and Anakin looked up in surprise with Kahr who had not expected to find another Jedi here, let alone three! Given all the echoes in the force here it screwed up their senses and left them unable to detect each other at a guess.
The three that finally did come over both shocked and delighted Anakin, two in particular as he had feared them dead for twelve years!
"Kerra Holt! Bao-Dur and Kazdan Paratus!" Anakin called out with a big smile on his face. He had worried that Bao-Dur and Kazdan had died in the temple when it fell. He had never seen their bodies but given the sheer size of the temple he couldn't reasonably cover it all before he had been forced to flee.
"Master Skywalker! You've survived! And the rest of the council?" Kazdan asked eagerly, hoping to know just how many of the Jedi Council had managed to escape Order 66 and the Jedi Purge that had followed.
"Some are still alive." Anakin told him knowing it hardly mattered since Obi-Wan was the only one he was able to contact…sometimes he conceded. Not to mention the Order was fractured beyond measure, there was no Jedi Council anymore…no grand master…no main temple.
It was up to each Jedi to make their own destinies now he thought to himself.
"Just glad to see you sir. We've been here a year, doing what we can to help." Bao-Dur said with his normal gentle voice. "Me and Kazdan have been helping them fix up their weapons while trying to design some atmospheric processors to help clean up the atmosphere, if we can take the space station then we might be able to build them by stripping it down." Bao-Dur said before looking at HK-47 for a moment with questioning eyes before then shaking his head. "Here I thought I was the only one for the 'good old days' still kicking around."
"Bao." Kazdan asked confused and looked at the strange droid without comprehension and Anakin nodded to his droid to let it speak.
"Surprised Commentary = I would have thought meat bag that you would had been dust a long time ago. As metal I can endure the ages whereas flesh withers and dies." HK-47 said quite boldly which momentarily made Anakin regret allowing him to speak but Bao-Dur didn't seem bothered at all and just gave him a weary smile.
"I see age hasn't humbled you has it. How the General put up with you for so long I will never know." Bao-Dur said with resignation. Anakin remembered now that these two had once travelled together as part of Meetra Surik's incredible crew and their exploits had been almost as legendary as Revan's own…in some ways Anakin supposed they were equally as impressive given that Meetra had left a legacy that was unequalled by anyone else. She had restored the stability of the Republic and key worlds, defeated some of the most dangerous Sith Lords to have ever existed and trained a new generation of Jedi that had gone on to restore the Order to its full strength.
Anakin however was forced from his musing on the ancient past as he was faced with a major issue with trying to mount an uprising on this world, one that had to be overcome to have even the smallest chance of success.
"Without disabling the Hammer of Dawn satellite network, we can't risk a large-scale uprising." Kerra said as she joined Anakin and Victor later at the planning table were a hologram of one of the satellites in question. It was simple looking thing but considering the damage that they had inflicted on the surface of Sera, highly dangerous and effective Anakin thought with a frown.
"Do you even have enough people for a large-scale uprising?" Anakin asked and Victor just laughed.
"Don't worry about that. We have enough." Victor said with a smirk knowing they had units of fully equipped Gears and civilian volunteers. "But that does mean I can only send a small group with you to the station." Victor said with a worried face given he was stretching his forces as it was. "One platoon of about fifty. That's all we can spare."
"I have a hundred Rebel Ground Forces." Anakin mentioned as it was hardly a large group but all they could reasonably muster. "Plus…our own abilities if all of us commit to this fight." Anakin said looking over to Kerra, Bao-Dur and Kazdan, Kahr too was interested as he would fight alongside Anakin regardless but was keen to see just what these three would do.
"As if you could stop me." Kerra said with a smirk and Bao-Dur nodded too before adding.
"Kazdan and I have made a few useful gadgets that should even up the situation." Bao-Dur said before putting his mechanical hand on the nervous looking Kazdan's shoulder. "Don't worry, things will be fine."
"I hope so." Kazdan said not sure if he was ready to face his own doubts but trusted his first real friend.
Victor then made an important introduction, calling over one of the Gear troopers; a well-built human male that was almost as tall as Kahr, older with a trimmed beard with dark hair that was greying and a vicious looking scar running across his face. He wore a bandana the same shade as his dark version of the COG armour. He had some of the most intense and focused eyes Anakin or indeed anyone of them had ever seen, the way he held himself just screamed 'life long military', he was so disciplined he could have given Rex a run for his money.
"This is one of my best men, Sergeant Marcus Micheal Fenix. He will be leading the assault force." Victor introduced and Anakin extended his hand but the other man didn't take it, disapproval radiating off his every square millimetre.
"I fought in wars all my life and I know the Gears can do anything. But I don't know about you." Marcus said and while Kahr was a little put off by that Anakin took it in his stride, no respect until you prove yourself and he nodded before telling him.
"Then I will have to show you what we Jedi can do. First though we need to get onto that station. Hijacking a freighter on the surface seems the fastest way." Anakin said and Victor spoke seeing Marcus was hoping to intimidate the Jedi and had failed hopelessly.
"We have a launch in two hours, security is largely automated so if your two slicers over there can get around the systems, we are ready to go." Victor said indicating Bao-Dur and Kazdan who nodded in agreement.
"Then let's get this party started." Anakin said with a smirk, eager for some action as was Kahr and HK-47. The Gears he noticed too were just as excited.
- x -
Sera Imperial Space Station, Orbit of Sera…Two Hours Later…
The automated freighters that brought up Imulsion from the surface to be dispatched across the Empire, there was no real need for living personnel to oversee the operation as it was completely computer controlled or checked by droids where it was appropriate.
A single worker droid was all that was there to greet the freighter as it arrived and it opened the hatch expecting to see nothing more than a shipment of Imulsion but instead was greeted by the sight of a heavily armed assault force. Kerra was quick to dismember the droid while Bao-Dur and Kazdan let loose their little army of special training remotes into the ducts.
They moved silently through the ducts, slicing themselves into terminals and computer junctions as they went, taking over simple systems like lifts and doors while jamming other more important ones such as communications to keep the Imperials as helpless as possible.
Now with that in place, the assault team advanced forward. It honestly felt to Anakin like he was fighting alongside the clones again he thought to himself impressed. They were as dedicated and skilled as any soldiers he had ever seen and almost made their rebel troopers look like amateurs in comparison.
HK-47 though it seemed was taking some enjoyment in killing.
His droid reflexes were astonishing given his age, taking only a second or two to move between each shot and each one hit the target with deadly precision, Stormtroopers and Imperial officers and workers alike without any hesitation.
But the Jedi were the ones leading the charge. Anakin, Kerra, Kahr, Bao-Dur and Kazdan with their sabers slicing through the air, deflecting blaster fire away from their soldiers while cutting down those that were foolish enough to get close. Automated defences and blast doors remained inactive and there was nothing to halt their progress through the station.
Eventually they reached the control room and within seconds the Jedi secured the room.
"Lock down that satellite weapon. They can't rise up with it on." Kerra ordered Bao-Dur who dutifully sat at the control station and worked his impressive technical skills on rendering the Hammer of Dawn inert and no danger to those on the surface.
As Anakin and Marcus began to dispatch units around the station to make sure they had it all completely secure Bao-Dur momentarily zoned out. With the system disabled and all the Gears on the surface able to move unhindered they could force the Empire off Sera. It had already agreed to join the Rebellion and would add its impressive military skills to the Alliance armed forces, Imulsion too was an incredibly useful source of energy to them and they could find a thousand uses for it but he still couldn't help but wonder about the dreams he had been having, dreams of his travels on the Ebon Hawk. He had experienced those memories before but these new dreams felt far more intense for some reason and he couldn't help but wonder just what that might mean.
Reijar, the Ordo System…
"Now, turn in your answers and we shall see how you scored. If you failed the test then tomorrow you will have to take it again until you pass." The teacher told the students in the room who all bowed to the teacher.
"Yes teacher." They all said before the teacher dismissed them.
Nila was glad to get out of the room as she was sweating at the thought of having to take the test again, she had been to the toughest academies the Empire had to offer but Mandalorians were relentless on a different level. If you didn't meet the required standard, they would not let you move on until you did however long it took. She had barely scraped her way through and just hoped that they wouldn't fail her she thought with fear at having to deal with that test again.
"Nila." A voice called out and she froze with nerves as she reluctantly turned to see Duchess Ara looking at her with her imperious stare that sent shivers down her spine. "Come, we have things to tell you."
"Yes Duchess." Nila said and followed her to the main office where she saw Duke Haron, Countess Ara, Duchess Vysa and Duchess Lelia all sitting together. The sight of the entire older part of House Ordo being present only added to her nervousness and Duke Haron gave her a nod before telling her.
"Hello Nila, do not worry you are not in trouble. But we have just received a response to our request to repatriate you." Haron told the girl not liking what they were going to have to tell her.
"Really?" Nila asked as she got on the seat next to Duchess Vysa and smiled at her, something she always did as the older woman had saved her life. Vysa returned the smile but it was slightly strained. "When am I going back?" She asked, not sure she wanted too but they were her parents she thought and having seen how much Mandalorians valued family she knew they would want to send her back to her own.
Despite what some might assume the Mandalorians did not hold all the Imperials they captured as prisoners unless they were of some value. Instead, they would work through a neutral party, usually the Wheel space trading station to return them to the Empire especially children to their families. Taking foundlings in was becoming much more common these days but only for those that had no one else.
"Nila." Vysa said with a sad look on her face at having to tell the young girl this. "Your parents have declared you dead and have denied that they want you returned. They know you are alive and that we will send you back…but they won't accept you."
Nila was quiet at that, the confusion and distress at having been abandoned by her parents obviously weighing on her mind. She was thinking they saw it as an opportunity to be rid of her, the one spot on their flawless existence.
Out of sight and out of mind.
She was solemn as she sat there as she realised that no one in the entire universe wanted her, tears gathered in the corner of her eyes but Vysa put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently.
"Forget those bastards. You have us now. House Ordo will take you in and you will be one of us." Vysa declared, looking to her siblings for support.
Lelia was surprised but quickly nodded in agreement, quite willing for their house to take in a new foundling and raise her up beyond those horrible people that had sired her. Ara and Deera meanwhile were looking at her thoughtfully for a moment before nodding in agreement.
That left Haron himself.
Haron was unsure if they should take the girl, train her as one of their people as it could been seen by some as brainwashing but at the same time his sympathies lay with her. Alone and abandoned by those that should care for her, they had taken in an orphan who had no-one before and it had been one of the best decisions they had ever made.
But Nila wasn't Din, she still had relatives elsewhere.
Meanwhile Deera and Ara both were quietly discussing that they had discovered about the girl.
"She comes from an extremely wealthy family on her mother's side with effectively a planet of its own. For the moment she has little…but that could change." Ara said with a thoughtful look on her face.
"She might become a real asset to us." Deera agreed knowing they might have a use for her in the long run.
But at the same time, another thought was running through all their heads which would have swayed them all anyway.
They couldn't just abandon her; she needed a home.
So, they would provide it.
"If you want it Nila, you can live with us as a member of our family. But only if you wish it." Haron told her calmly and she smiled instantly and told them with surprising eagerness.
"YES! Yes please!" She nodded energetically which made them all smile as they could sense her enjoyment at the idea.
"Then you had best go with Vysa and get some lunch. You still have lessons to attend." Haron told her with a smile and Vysa took her hand to lead her out of the room.
With her gone they turned to the next point that had come there way, thanks to Haron's friendship with Anakin Skywalker a major opportunity had arisen.
"A complete list of all the Sun Guard facilities and strongholds. Courtesy of a defector." Haron said as he called up the list they had been provided. Lelia, Ara and Deera all looked at it and while extensive it was not as long as they had feared.
"We will organise a series of strikes on these places, it might take some time…but we will deal with them all." Deera said knowing they would have to be very careful as some of these locations where deep inside Imperial held space but with things like the stealth missiles, they could do it.
"Top priority." Haron told her with a grin, eager to be free of this potential problem. Ara was somewhat more hesitant though as she was just concerned with what would replace them in the Empire's arsenal when they were done.