HP: Dance of the Veela

Liberator, Separatist Alliance Lucrehulk, Deep Space…996 ARR…

An emergency meeting of the Rift Alliance had been called in the aftermath of the Imperial Invasion of the Salient Federation; the empty seat of their representative was a grim reminder that they had been caught unaware by the Empire.

The different members were shouting at each other and Haron sat there before using a high-pitched audio signal to make all of them stop talking so he could get this meeting back in order.

"We were all caught by surprise, none of us could have anticipated that the Empire would have such a card up with their sleeve." Haron said making it quite clear that no-one was to blame for this. "We cannot plan for the unexpected but from what I can gather, Thrawn took a single ship from other fleets around the galaxy to assemble his invasion force which is why none of our intelligence services picked up on it. I have spoken to my own people and they will be more vigilant in the future and hope you will all do the same." He added and they all would do just that to make sure they would not be caught off guard like this again.

"We will fortify our less protected worlds and learn all we can of him for now until we know him well enough." Haron said knowing that several of their members like Kashyyyk were less well defended than others so it would be best to make sure they were as fortified as possible just in case. They had already been doing this in the face of the Kalderans who were still continuing their raids but now it would need to be stepped up.

"Thrawn will target the Rift Alliance again soon." Alia Atriedes, sister to Paul Atriedes and their new representative from the Padishah Imperium. "If he hopes to spread fear then the last thing that we should do is let him."

Haron agreed with her statement but they had no way of being certain just where Thrawn would go, he had been doing his best to find out everything they could about the man but he was a great mystery. He had thought about trying to get a spy on his flagship but according to the limited intelligence Thrawn had gained the service of one of the Emperor's Dark Disciples and kept him around the crew all the time.

Immediately Haron realised that this was to catch any spy that they might plant and potentially even use them to feed false information to them which would aid in his campaigns.

Haron's own frustration at their lack of knowledge about him lasted all of the trip back to Reijar, wondering just how he was supposed to beat such an opponent when he knew nothing about him.

Salient System, Outer Rim Territories...

The Rift Alliance had moved swiftly to rectify the situation and liberate their ally, a taskforce from the various member worlds had moved into the system only a month later and struck back hard against the Empire. Thrawn had set up a formidable occupying force but after a hard battle, the Rift Alliance liberated the system which with its government in pieces joined the Separatist Alliance for its own safety. Thankfully its industrial facilities were still intact and it would recover but the system's population where deeply shaken by their defeat and month under Imperial Occupation.

Reijar, the Ordo System…

Despite the growing worries about the Empire there was a reason to celebrate on Reijar today, one of their newest Akaan was taking a wife. Weddings were important in Mandalorian society as the union of families and the beginning of a new one.

The fact the bride was an Imperial defector did raise some eyebrows but Galen Marek was sure of what he was doing. He loved Juno from the first moment he had seen her and a year together had only deepened that bond.

The ceremony was brief, as they liked it with only their closest family and friends from Galen's side attending, Juno had been forced to leave all of her own behind when she had defected which made her a bit sad that they could not be here on her wedding day but accepted it as a cost of the decision that she had made. After all the things she had seen the Empire do in the name of 'security' and 'peace' she could not stand among them anymore and had defected to the Mandalorians. It would be a while yet before she was fully trusted but they had noted she was an exceptionally talented naval officer and when she had proven she was not a spy, she might even be allowed to serve in their fleet.

But as the wedding reception was being held, both Haron and Ara excused themselves and went to the main office so they could speak in private. The tension between them had been so bad since the order had been given to go for Sabine to be brought back forcefully.

Both of them stood opposite each other across the room, neither able to speak at first but finally Ara said something.

"The team will be on Lothal soon." She told him sharply and he sighed before admitting.

"I know." He said with resignation.

"Call them off!" Ara demanded but Haron shook his head.

"We can't and you know it. The moment she chose to run away rather than face the consequences of what she'd done…this was set in stone. You know that." Haron said with bitterness, he hated having to give such an order but in this he had no choice.

"What is the point of being Mandalore if you can't bend the rules?" She shouted at him as they both started letting their anger at not only each other but the situation getting the better of them.

"Because I'm Mandalore is the only reason she is being brought back alive and not in coffin!" He told her fiercely, his powers flaring as he did so which made her take a step back away from him. "I have stretched the laws as far as I can to give her just one chance…one chance to save her skin. If I start breaking the rules then what is the point of everything that we have been working so hard to achieve? If we all break the rules every time something happens that we don't like then what is the point of the law? Chaos and then the ruthless arm of the Empire as they take advantage of it to grab us all in their steely grip! I hate having to do this to my own niece but what other choice do I have when she decided to run rather than face us with her mistake?" He pressed on.

There was a hard silence as she listened to that, knowing in her heart that he was right but hated it as much as he did. Sabine would not be in this position if she had come back and admitted what she had done rather than run away. They could have fixed this mess if she had but she had taken the easy way out and had made things so much worse for herself in the process.

They both felt exhausted and sat down on the couch next to each other, Haron gathering her up in his arms and holding her close to try and comfort her but it was an impossible task. They would both need to be on Mandalore soon for Sabine's trial and neither was relishing the journey.

The Ghost, Lothal…

The Ghost, a customised VCX-100 light freighter was parked in one of the large open plateaus of Lothal, far from anywhere which was by design as the rebel unit was keen not to be observed while their ship's hyperdrive was being overhauled.

Hera and Chopper were knee deep in engine oil as they worked on the extremely delicate and temperamental motivator. Zeb was enjoying the peace and quiet by just polishing his honour guard staff while Ezra and Kanan outside were taking some time to practice lightsaber sparring.

Sabine meanwhile was just doing some more of her art but an uneasy feeling came over her, she wasn't sure exactly but she was thought that someone had been showing up at various points around Lothal whenever she was there. She hadn't been certain at first but now she was becoming more confident that someone was following her. Not an Imperial she thought with a sneer, those idiots were far too dumb for that and then not to act on it. But she was being followed and had no idea by who or why.

Outside the ship the rebels were blissfully unaware of an approaching group, a group that was highly trained in stealth and covert observation. They stayed hidden as they identified the position and activities of each member of the Ghost's crew, Trilla Suduri told the squad their orders once each member of the rebels was located.

"Gundark 2 and 3, board the ship and take down the Twi'lek and the droid. Gundark 4, disarm and take down the boy. Gundark 5 take down the Lasat, three darts should do it. Gundark 6 stun and secure the target. I will deal with the Jedi. Remember we go non-lethal…assume positions." Trilla ordered, her own heart pumping fiercely as she prepared to go, she silently waited as the other members of the team to get in position. They were experts at moving quietly and did so without alerting the rebels to their presence.

"Right." He said taking a deep breath before they moved in. "On my mark, three…two…one…mark." Trilla said and the team sprang from their hiding spots.

The Lasat Zeb saw them first, he was surprised but quick to react reaching for his honour guard staff but Gundark 5 was quicker, shooting him with three sleep darts that took effect rapidly and he slumped unconsciously to the floor.

The Twi'lek and droid went next, the droid Chopper was hit with an ion blast that fried its circuits temporarily while a stun blast took down the Twi'lek Hera before she had a chance to react.

Sabine was coming down the ramp of the ship when she was dropped by a stun shot from Gundark 6. The Special Operations Soldier caught her as she fell and secure her hands with binders.

The boy Ezra and his master due to the force had a split second's warning before the attack came, looking up startled as Gundark 1 and 4 appeared seemingly from nowhere. Ezra raised his saber to fight but Gundark 4 was prepared for him and raised a tractor rifle, using it to rip the lightsaber right from the boy's hand before he could even think of using it, then dropped him with a stun shot.

The Jedi Kanan was quicker on the mark and used the force to pull the rifle from his grip but then Trilla ignited her lightsaber and the green blade simmered into existence. Kanan looked at it in shock before demanding.

"Who are you? What do you want with us?"

Trilla didn't bare him or any member of the crew any malice and had no issue with answering his questions at least a little.

"Who we are doesn't matter and we will not harm your crew any more than we have to. We just want the girl." Trilla told him and Kanan grimaced as he took up a ready position, Trilla saw it and it was far from steady, clearly, he hadn't finished his own training she realised but didn't begrudge him that, many Jedi had been left in a similar position after Order 66 and for his sake she hoped someone would finish it someday.

"Not going to happen." Kanan said with determination and Trilla sighed before raising her own saber.

"Have it your own way Jedi." She said with resignation.

Kanan lunged forward in an awkward Form 2 jab but Trilla easily parried the attack and hit him with a force blast which sent him flying back a few feet but just as he was recovering, falling into Form 3 as they crossed blades in a rapid flurry of movements but she was able to grab his wrist and then forced his arm with the saber aside and then elbowed him in the face hard enough to knock him out.

She looked down at him with a frown, he was decently powerful but he really needed some help to improve she thought and hoped he got it before the Empire finally got close enough to him.

Ensuring he and his crew were as safe as possible she called their jump ship, the modified U-Wing which came down at high speed and hovered just above the ground as the Gundark Team, Trilla and their prisoner climbed or were brought aboard. The hatch closed and then it raced upwards into the atmosphere and then the moment it was able, it leapt to hyperspace leaving Lothal far behind.

- x -

A Couple of Hours Later…

Ezra was groggy as he came round, not sure what was happening and sure of only one thing…that he was aching all over. He looked over and saw Hera and Zeb were struggling to regain their balance as they got to their feet, those stun blasts really hit you hard Ezra thought as he massaged his neck.

Then he properly remembered just what had happened and bolted upright, ignoring how much he was hurting all over and Kanan who had been the first to come around and was rebooting Chopper told him.

"Hey kid relax, you took a big hit. Give it a moment before trying to move that fast." Kanan told him with a grim look on his face. But Ezra was too unsettled and reassured for a moment by the familiar sight of the Ghost crew area before realising that someone was missing.

"Where's Sabine?" He asked quickly with worry setting in fast. Kanan frowned before looking to Hera and Zeb just as Chopper came back online. The droid was immediately upset as it realised that they had been attacked and spun its small arms around as if ready for a fight before Hera told him quickly to stop him from damaging himself.

"Chopper, it's okay." She said slowly calming the droid down before she along with everyone else turned to Kanan who admitted bitterly.

"They took her."

"Took her where?" Zeb asked in confusion as to why this was happening. "Those weren't imperials, who were they?"

"They wore armour like Sabine!" Ezra said trying to understand but Hera who was more level headed than the other two answered with worry.

"They're Mandalorian like she is. Clearly, they aren't in league with the Empire because we'd be in an Imperial cell by now if they were." Hera said and Kanan then told them some of what he had managed to learn while they were unconscious.

"I looked for information on that symbol on their armour, the dragon breathing fire mark. According the Rebel Intelligence that is the symbol of the 'Prudi Nynir' the Mandalorian Special Operations Unit, one of their spec ops teams. Meaning whoever sent them has a lot of influence on Mandalore. Chances are that is where they are taking her." Kanan said with bitterness as he was deeply concerned for Sabine and also about how powerful that 'Akaan' was as they were known had been.

He had heard rumours that the Mandalorians had force users now but he had never really believed it, well now he did as he felt the ache from where that woman had hit him. She had been an excellent fighter, better than the Grand Inquisitor he thought with reluctant admiration. Not only her but those warriors had been more professional and efficient than any soldiers he had ever seen, even the clones would have struggled to match that he thought.

"So, let's go get her." Ezra said eagerly, ready to dive in and get Sabine back whoever had taken her. The other three all looked at him and then each other with great unease.

"Kid, you want to go into Mandalorian Space…uninvited?!" Zeb said, looking at him like he was mad for even thinking it.

"They do not like outsiders in their territory Ezra." Hera told him reluctantly, wanting much like him to go but it was so dangerous that she hesitated. "No one goes there, not even the Empire."

"Come on guys! Its Sabine…she's one of us!" He pressed and a harsh silence fell on the room as they considered the danger of going after Sabine. It was highly dangerous but she was a member of the crew and they wouldn't give up anyone without a fight.

Kanan sighed before telling them.

"If we do this, then we do it right. Let's get started." He said which shocked Hera and Zeb while exciting Chopper and Ezra who were eager to go. Kanan really wasn't sure of this himself but it was what they did, stick up for one another…he couldn't leave Sabine to whatever fate her people had in mind.

The Ghost took off from Lothal and headed off into space, jumping to lightspeed the moment they were able.

- x -

Mandalorian Border, Hours Later…

Using the usual tricks they would to outsmart the Imperials, the Ghost slipped past the border sensor nets but they were unaware that the Mandalorians were far more vigilant than the regular Imperials they were used to dealing with. The ship was pegged as a suspect vessel immediate and would likely have been intercepted and destroyed but orders from the Mandalore himself allowed it to make its way to Mandalore under heavy observation.

- x -

Mandalore Orbit, Mandalore System…A Couple of Hours Later…

"There we are…Mandalore." Hera said as she sat in the cockpit with Kanan and the others looking out at the impressive scene in front of her.

A massive artificial ring encircled the planet where countless ships were docked, being serviced, repaired or constructed. Around the system many ships and satellites filled up the system and in the centre was Mandalore itself which was a lush and verdant world capable of competing with Alderaan and Naboo.

"Impressive." Zeb said in astonishment as he looked out at it all.

"I have never seen that much activity around a planet." Ezra said with awe. "Are those rings built? How did they do that?!" He exclaimed having never seen a structure that was so big.

"The Mandalorians are probably the best warriors in the galaxy, that's the reason they've managed to keep the Empire out. But they're also great engineers, they can build and maintain just about anything." Kanan said as he could feel the force strongly here. He knew the planet's long and violent history as well as anyone but felt the need to warn Ezra. "One thing you need to remember kid is that the Jedi and the Mandalorians have fought each other a lot over the centuries so if they catch us, we won't get a warm welcome."

"Don't get caught, understood." Ezra said as Hera with a bead of sweat on her forehead as she flew her ship towards the planet.

The fact they made it to the surface unchallenged was surprising to Kanan and Hera in particular, both of them wondering just why they hadn't been detected yet. Kanan could feel they were being watched but didn't know why no one had come at them yet.

Landing near the capital he felt Sabine's presence in the force there, it was difficult given his lack of training but he was familiar enough with him to find it.

Mounting the speeder bikes that they'd brought with them, the four and Chopper left the Ghost as hidden as possible and approached Sundari, the enormous domed city was another new thing to Ezra but a cargo ramp allowed them inside.

Now both Kanan and Hera were certain they were heading into a trap, a fact that was proven moments later when a group of Mandalorian warriors appeared from thin air all around them. Kanan was sure he felt the force as they appeared and a number of them activated lightsabers with cyan and viridian blades.

"Don't move, or you end up as a statistic." The lead warrior said, her voice was familiar and Kanan realised that this was the one that he had fought on Lothal. Her lightsaber he also noticed was different to the others, more like a Jedi weapon while the other Mandalorians used hilts that looked like regular sword hilts.

"We came for Sabine. Where is she?" Ezra demanded and the Mandalorian woman looked at him and they could easily hear the amusement in her voice as she replied.

"Your apprentice is impatient. Impatience is never a good trait for anyone to have…let alone a Jedi." She said to Kanan who frowned before putting a hand on Ezra's shoulder to calm him. Ezra looked at him with confusion before letting him take over.

"We only want Sabine Wren. Why did you take her and where is she now?" He asked calmly and the Mandalorians shared looks before the female one spoke.

"She is facing her trial, if you wish to know why then it would be best if we all attended. It begins soon. Come." She told them and realising that this was not a request but an order the Rebels reluctantly did as they were told and boarded the speeder to the court along with their 'escort'. All of them were plotting ways to escape but Kanan shook his head, knowing the best way to get to Sabine was to let them be taken to her and to get answers about whatever she had done that merited such a trial.

She had always been so tight-lipped about her past and why she wasn't with her people, he had sensed it was something that she felt great guilt about. He hadn't pried as it was her past, not his. He was hardly open with his own so he figured she would tell them when she felt comfortable doing so.

The ride through the city was an impressive one though, even if they were too worried about Sabine to enjoy it. The court building like the rest of the city was beautiful and interesting but they hardly paid it any attention as they were led to the court room. The stands were nearly filled by people in Mandalorian garb and the Rebels stood out like a sore thumb, so did the heavy Akaan presence around them.

A small group of four people sat in a private box nearby, two women, a boy and a man. They all looked tense but paid them no mind as a platform rose up and chained to it was Sabine. She had been stripped of her armour and wore a simple jumpsuit, her expression was full of fear as she looked around, the crowd in the stands all calling out various cries which in the mix were hard to identify in the moment but none were favourable to Sabine. The rebels tried to catch her eye and hers widened when she saw them but not in a hopeful way, instead they could almost hear her yelling at them asking why they had come, she also saw the other group in the private box and her head fell when she saw them, like she was ashamed they were here for her fall from grace.

A single figure in full Mandalorian metallic silvery-grey armour stepped out onto a raised dais, he had a large staff of sorts in his hands and banged it hard on the floor until the crowd grew quiet and he made his opening remarks.

"It is a sad day when someone who was once one of our brightest young warriors now stands before us as a criminal, condemned by her own hubris. Sabine Wren, of Clan Wren serving House Farr…you stand before this court on the following crimes." The apparent Judge said, a holographic list appearing before him.

"That you led an unauthorised mission into Imperial Space with fourteen other young warriors disobeying the orders of your clan and house leaders, that you stole a stealth ship for that illegal mission. That your actions caused the deaths of all fourteen warriors and the destruction of the stealth ship. That you dishonoured yourself and your family by not returning the bodies and armour of those warriors to their families and instead of returning to face the consequences of your actions, that you deserted your family and your people by running away to hide, leaving them to cover up your actions. On these crimes, what is your plea?" The judge, Din Djarin asked and hating this entire situation as he had met Sabine and knew her personally growing up from when she and her brother had visited Reijar.

Hearing just what Sabine was accused of shocked the Ghost crew, Sabine herself grimaced and stayed silent for a moment before she gave her answer.

"Guilty."

That caused an uproar in the stands as Sabine's family looked down in sadness while the Rebels were confused as Sabine was one of the most careful people in the crew, her art might be a little crazy but she herself was so level headed. How could she be responsible for this? They pondered.

"SILENCE!" Din called out again and banged his staff firmly till order was restored. Then he turned back to Sabine and continued. "Sabine Wren, you have pleaded guilty…however." Din said which made the Rebels look up in hope that maybe there was something that could get her out of this. "It seems that someone in a position of high authority still cares for your wellbeing. So, you will be offered, the Rite of Atonement. Do you accept this offer, for you will not get another?"

Sabine looked shocked and fearful but as she looked to her family and then her rebel friends who all looked at her encouragingly, she took a deep breath and gave her answer.

"I will take the Rite of Atonement. I will finish what I started." Sabine said as the stands all talked among themselves furiously. Sabine's family looked deeply worried as they knew just what she would have to do to atone for her actions while the rebels looked on unsure of just what Sabine would have to do.

- x -

The guards led Sabine to a side room where the crew were reunited with her and despite the fact at any other time, she would been glad to see them, this time she was exasperated.

"What are you doing here?" She asked them angrily the moment she was able and Ezra came forward and hugged her which surprised her a little.

"We wouldn't leave you when you needed help." Ezra said as he unlocked the cuffs she was still wearing and she massaged her wrists before telling him.

"This my fight Ezra, you guys shouldn't have come."

"Indeed, but if it gives you the motivation to complete this task then it is just as well that they did." A voice sounded for the side said Sabine's family entered. The woman that had spoken was a tall dark-haired woman who was older and had grey and yellow coloured armour. At her side where another woman who was around the same age although had paler skin and blonde hair instead of being tanned and dark wearing dark green and black armour. An older man with dark blond hair and robes rather than armour entered while the younger boy wore similar armour of his mother, the older dark-haired woman.

"Mom, Dad, Tristan…Aunt Ara." Sabine said with a voice that trembled with emotion having never expected to see any of them again. They all looked deeply unsettled but her father and mother came over and hugged her, she hugged them back just as eagerly and then Tristan came over and joined them, hugging her but not as enthusiastically as his parents which pained them both. For Ezra it was hard as he had forgotten what it was to have parents long ago, so watching Sabine with her family was painful for him as it reinforced just what he had lost. Kanan saw his pain and put a comforting hand on his shoulder and Hera did the same on the other, their touch was reassuring and eased his longing and grief for what he had lost.

"Sabine why did you do it?" Ursa asked with a genuine pleading on her face, she had never managed to understand just why Sabine would do something like that. The rest of them looked at her with the same question in their eyes and she sighed before admitting why she had done it.

"I wanted to prove myself." Sabine said with guilt at her arrogance and all the damage it had caused. "I was the best; I was sure I could handle leading people into battle. I was going to prove it to all of you when you said I wasn't ready. I was going to do it by stealing back the Axe of Mandalore the Ultimate from Moff Lillas Tyro." She said remembering just how eager she had been to lead that mission and found those who were daring enough to try it. Even taking the stealth ship that had been in the repair yard to get there.

But it had gone so wrong, she had been so wrong Sabine thought with misery as the memories of what had happened came back like it had been yesterday. The young warriors and her had made a mistake of recklessly charging in and allowed the Imperials to detect their presence, leading to their ship being shot down and as they were reeling from that she and the survivors of the crash had been set on by the local garrison. They had been so unprepared for this and surrounded by Stormtroopers and walkers, she had truly been more afraid than she had than at any point of her entire life. Seeing her friends, dying all around her she thought with haunted eyes before an explosion had buried her beneath some debris and knocked her out. When she had finally come to everyone else was dead, the bodies of her friends laying all around her stripped of their armour and abandoned in the rubble and she had been so ashamed of herself, so full of grief and remorse that she had not been able to face the condemnation of her family and the families of those that died, not been brave enough to try and reclaim the armour and return home to face the music.

So, she ran away, working as a bounty hunter with Ketsu Onyo, another former Mandalorian who had left to pursue her own path before joining the Ghost, not just to fight the Empire but also to try and make up for her mistakes and hoped dearly to have learned from them…she would certainly need to if she had a chance to complete her mission Sabine thought with dread at what she was going to have to do.

"Feel free to clue me in but just what is the 'Rite of Atonement'?" Zeb asked tired of the suspense. The non-Mandalorians in the room were all completely puzzled by it and Ara Ordo looked at them with suspicion, not sure of what to make of her niece's friends before answering the question.

"She must complete the mission that she failed to finish the first time. She must kill Moff Lillas Tyro, retrieve the axe but also now bring back the armour of the warriors that died with her the first time. And she must do this…alone. No one must help her and if she runs away again, her family will be held responsible." Ara told her with a grim tone, knowing that if Sabine gave in to her fear and ran away the Wrens could lose everything.

"That's suicide." Hera said knowing that such a mission was too much for one person alone to handle. The rough looking astromech spun its top indignantly and looked ready to attack them for a moment before Sabine surprising put her foot down.

"I'm doing this!" She told her friends and her family with strong conviction. "If I had just come back years ago this wouldn't be happening now! I started this and I need to end it. I turned my back on what it means to be Mandalorian…I need to do this so I can be one again." Sabine told them with determination.

They were stunned at her decision, Kanan felt it most of all as he himself had once turned his back on what it meant to be a Jedi. In the early days when he and Master Depa had been on the run it had seemed so hopeless and that message from Master Kenobi telling them the Order had fallen had been a harsh wake up to reality. She had tried to continue teaching him but he had just seen it as a new way to get themselves killed and what was the point…the Empire had won he remembered thinking with bitterness. The galaxy had decided it didn't want the Jedi anymore and it was time to just move on and forget that life, so he had walked away from her and abandoned the Jedi way…until Hera had reminded him of why it was so important and that there was still a need for the Jedi.

He frowned inwardly, cursing himself for hurting Master Depa like that. She had done her best to keep them alive and safe in the aftermath of Order 66 and even made alliances with smugglers like Kasmir to survive. He had never imagined how hard it must have been for her, to keep it all together for both of them when before she had been a Jedi her entire life. He wondered if she was still out there as he wasn't sure if he could sense her anymore, his own skills had become so weak he thought with regret on all the years he had wasted by abandoning the force. They barely caught snippets now but as time went on and he reconnected properly with the force, sometimes he could sense her still out there and wherever she was he just hoped she was okay.

"Let her." He said which made the others look at him in disbelief. "She needs to do this. Whatever happens, it's her path to walk."

"I am glad that someone understands." Ara said and could feel the Jedi's connection to the force was not what it should be at his age so clearly, he needed to work on that before she brandished a small case she had been carrying. "Ursa and I have one week to prepare you, and this might be helpful." She said, opening the case to show them what was inside.

A pile of metal bars but they had the same look of beskar in its purest form, it amazed the Mandalorians present as Ara told her.

"Your armour is about sixty percent beskar and forty percent durasteel. This is enough to replace the durasteel with pure beskar. If you are going to do this then you should have the best protection possible."

Ursa gave her sister a thankful nod for donating the beskar and then told her daughter firmly.

"And since you ran away before completing your training you have not gained certain pieces of equipment that you would have if you had stayed. So, you will learn to use them." Ursa said and turned to her husband and son who both had cases of their own, opening them Sabine's eyes widened as she saw a jetpack, vambraces and crush guard gauntlets.

"You will learn to use all of these before you go." Ursa said with great fear for her daughter and then with a grateful nod to her sister added. "And your Aunt has managed to gather intel on your target that will be useful. You will study it." Ursa told her and Sabine nodded with a small smile. It honestly was a deep comfort to her and it really did help her confidence.

She would do this mission she thought with determination and she would complete it.

- x -

In the depths of the forge that night, Sabine stood with her family as her armour was regretfully melted down and the durasteel extracted before more beskar was added as it was recreated. It would be far stronger she thought with pride as she saw the moulds break open and see the newly forged pieces inside. She would spend the rest of the night repainting them to the patterns they'd had before and then stumbled or rather been dragged out of bed the following morning by Ursa and Ara and being made to study tactical data on the Imperial Compound she was going too. She was made to memorise every guard tower, sensor platform, security system, guard patrol routes and more over and over again until she knew it all by heart.

Then she was practicing with her new equipment, the vambraces and jetpack were amazing she thought with a smile as it enabled her to do so much more, the crush guards were a little difficult but she soon got the hang of them as well.

She sparred heavily with her mother, aunt and brother, none of them taking it easy on her and sometimes she would need a bacta patch every now and again but she always got back up and tried again.

Time flew past too quickly and soon it was time…she swallowed as she tried to suppress her own nerves but as she hugged each of her friends and family, she couldn't help but wonder if she would see any of them again. Climbing onto the drop ship she smiled at them one last time before the hatch closed and it took off, she sat back in her seat and took a deep steadying breath and ran through all she had to do in her mind, step by step so it wasn't overwhelming. She knew it was highly dangerous but…she owed it to the people that had died Sabine thought with grief hardening her resolve to see this through.

- x -

Imperial Outpost, Several Hours Later…

The jump ship came down as low as it dared go, the pilot showing how to do this without straying into Imperial anti-air defences, something she had not realised last time she thought bitterly but did her best to quiet her nervousness as the hatch opened. The great drop below her was terrifying but she steadied herself before jumping!

The air rushed past her as she fell, cutting out any other sound and as she broke through the clouds, she saw the compound below. Seeing it again stirred more fear but she suppressed it with ruthless effort, focusing herself entirely on what she had to do. She aimed herself at the far right of the compound where there was a small concealed area for her to land in, activating her jetpack in time to slow her descent so she could land safely.

Bracing herself she caught her breath before moving on to carry out her mission, finding the junction terminal for the various sensor feeds that were built into the complex guarded by two Stormtroopers. She rarely killed since she had joined the Ghost or even before that but this time, she knew this was no distraction or smash and grab like she was used to. Gritting her teeth, she crept forward and then shot one of the Stormtroopers with a sleeping dart and the grabbing the other one and used her crush guard to snap his neck. Harsh snapping sound unsettled her but she had a job to do and they wouldn't hesitate if put in her position she reminded herself. She turned to the main junction and connected up the small slicer kit she'd been given and sliced into the network, implanting a computer virus that would jam communications and blind the sensors, leaving the enemy unable to call for help or detect anything.

She then went about moving as quickly and stealthily across the compound, shooting stormtroopers and officers as she went with her quick reflexes before coming to the main entrance, jumping in she grabbed one by the neck and snapped it before shooting a second and then spin kicking the remaining guard and finishing him off with a blaster bolt to the neck, she suddenly stumbled slightly as she felt a blaster bolt hit her back but the beskar held well and she turned to see that the garrison had been called out, probably for a drill or something she thought and as they charged her she hit them with a repulsor blast which knocked several off their feet and then she started shooting with her blasters, she had no cover and she could feel occasional impacts on her armour but she kept going, grateful for her aunt letting her have pure beskar armour because otherwise she would likely be dead from all this she thought with a grimace as she felt another hit her.

She kept shooting and avoiding blaster fire as much as possible by keeping on the move but it was hard and occasionally a bolt would hit.

By the time she was done, twenty Stormtroopers were dead and her art covered suit was covered in blaster burns, the beskar held but her paint work hadn't she thought with anger as she the blaster marks had ruined it! But with a slight limb from a bruising hit between the beskar plates she made her way over to the main door and opened it with her slicing kit, once inside she saw more Stormtroopers standing in her path. Sighing she pulled her blasters from their holsters and charged in firing, cutting them down as she moved from cover to cover without wasting a single movement, her jetpack making sure she got through a blast door just before it closed.

It seemed like an eternity before she finally managed to make it to the main office, she looked inside cautious in case it was an ambush but as she looked around the room, she saw no-one. Her heart sank as if he wasn't here but activating thermo scan she saw a lump cowering under his desk. She stiffened her resolve as she walked in and saw to her anger that all the suits of armour that he had taken from her dead friends on display like trophies around the room, even the great battle axe that Mandalore the Ultimate had created from the Republic flagship Courageous hanging on the wall.

She was seething as she passed the desk and turned to see the Imperial Moff shaking beneath his desk with tears running down his face.

"Please don't kill me!" Moff Lillas Tyro pleaded as he looked up at her.

Sabine was utterly stunned, not having expected such a coward when the man had been so hard on those he ruled. But then she thought with disgust, that was when he was in charge and in a position of power with no threat to his own life.

It was easy to be brave then, wasn't it? She thought to herself.

Not giving him the dignity of an answer and instead without any hesitation shot him with her blaster.

She sagged, feeling tired and a strange sense of relief as it was done, she slid into the nearby chair and sat back. Taking a moment to regain her strength before she went to collect the armour but then she saw a sight that made her blood cold as she turned the chair to face the nearby window. A Star Destroyer was flying towards the base and she looked down in despair, however good her armour or skills, she realised with resignation at her approaching death.

But then she saw a blue blast appear from above the Star Destroyer, hitting it and all lights and power cut out before a large and powerful red blast of plasma appeared, smashing the main tower to pieces as it crashed to the ground.

Kom'rk drop ships and fighter escorts began to appear and Sabine suddenly felt reenergised and smiled before shattering the cases with her blasters and shooting out the window too. A dropship appeared right in front of the window and the crew saw once the hatch was open that Sabine had been successful and got out to help move the armour and the axe, handling the last one with great reverence given its importance.

Sabine as she boarded the ship and sat on the jump seat with a sense of relief, feeling so much better now that she had confronted her fear and returned what had been lost.

Hours later as the fleet that had come to her rescue returned to Mandalore she was still smiling as she disembarked, seeing her family standing there with her friends was enough to make her run over to them, Ezra came to meet her and she pre-empted him this time with a hug which surprised him but he quickly returned.

That man Ursa and Alrich raise their eyebrows, wondering if the Jedi boy had designs on their daughter but put that aside as Din Djarin stepped forward, Sabine broke the hug and looked at Din who nodded at her before saying.

"You have succeeded, your atonement is complete. Sabine of Clan Wren…you are free to go." Din told her and she bowed slightly in respect which he returned before leaving her with her family.

"I suppose this means you'll be going home then." Zeb said sadly as he knew with Sabine would likely be staying with her people now that she had been forgiven. The rest of Ghost crew felt the same but Sabine shocked them and her family by saying.

"I should be where I can do the most good, that's with you guys." Sabine said before turning to her parents who looked unhappy at that. "I love you but I need to be out there."

Both sadly smiled before hugging her and Alrich nodded in acceptance.

"I know sweetheart, but where ever you go and whatever you do. Know that we love you." Alich said and hugged his daughter who hugged him back and then Ursa who was angry she wasn't staying since she had only just gotten her home but she thought with resignation it was her decision.

As the Ghost Crew and Clan Wren celebrated Sabine's achievement, Ara was watching quietly and while glad of her niece's survival and liberation was still wishing she could talk about things with Haron. The two of them were still unstable and needed time to find their own balance again. He was unfortunately out in the galaxy, launching some attacks against the Empire to see if they could provoke a reaction from Thrawn. To see how he would react.

Tarkin's Pride, Allegiance class Star Destroyer…Firrerre, Outer Rim Territories…

The Imperial Taskforce led by Hethrir; the newly appointed Procurator of Justice was attempting to prove his devotion to the Emperor so he might become his new apprentice. To do this he was going to wipe out his own people by unleashing not only a virus on their world but conventional attacks to wipe out those that survived that. The fact his mate Rillao had fled with their son did not even register in the face of his own ambition, especially as the boy they had created was force blind he thought with frustration at the indignity of being forced to have a son without his power in the force.

But finding that the Mandalorians had decided to get involved enraged him, in his rage he had charged straight in against the Mandalorian lines only for them to envelope him in a trap and now his forces were being picked apart!

Seeing the Starcrash Brigade be wiped out as his own flagship was surround and under heavy attack, the Tarkin's Pride was a large Heavy Star Destroyer, larger than any in the Imperial Fleet until the Super Star Destroyers came into service in a year or so's time. It should have guaranteed his victory Hethrir thought with his fury building as reports came of boarding actions against his ship!

He reached for his lightsaber and went to join the fighting only for the enemy to find him first. Droids that were far more deadly than those of the Separatists swarmed in and shot the bridge officers but accompanying them was a woman in full Mandalorian armour and in her hand was a lightsaber, its viridian beam glowing.

Hethrir was fuming and knew that if he managed to capture the woman and bring her back to the Emperor, he would forget all of today's failures. He ignited his own blade and went to charge at her but she raised her hand and he literally felt the deck plates beneath his feet turn into sand! He had never seen anything like it before and he felt himself sinking waist deep into it, but then with another wave of her hand the sand solidified. He was completely stuck and tried to swing his saber at her but suddenly she cast some kind of blinding beam of light in his eyes, he screamed in pain but only for a moment before Ara Ordo ended his life with a swing of her lightsaber.

Ara looked down at the genocidal narcissist with disgust, willing to exterminate his own species just to prove his loyalty to the Emperor who would never honour that devotion. It sickened her right to her core to see someone prepared to wipe out and entire species just to prove a point.

She sighed as she considered she had gotten a hell of a prize today, a fully intact Allegiance class Star Destroyer, nothing they didn't already know about it really but it would be a nice trophy for her people she thought with satisfaction. Moreso that it was called Tarkin's Pride, making her laugh at how his pride was crippling a fleet with its poor concept of warfare.

She had heard the Firrereo were a prideful species and she just hoped they were flexible enough to join the Rift Alliance and at the very least buy the necessary weapons, ships and satellites to defend their world with and allow a station to be built to let their ships dock here when needed.

Ara was used to tricky negotiations as she had to do it with other clans and companies to use her spaceport and shipyard so she just hoped her skills were up to it.

- x -

Valkyrie, Mirshko-class Heavy Cruiser…Ibaar, Outer Rim Territories…

The planet of Ibaar was fighting its own battle for liberation against the Empire but the Imperials were trying to starve them to death with a blockade, as part of their efforts to provoke a reaction from Thrawn the Mandalorians had decided to aid the rebels in this fight and had dispatched not just food supplies in the cargo ships but also weapons and ammunition, enough to break the Empire's hold over the planet.

The Imperial Blockade was relatively low scale by most standards, only three Arquitens-class light cruisers and a few Gozanti class escort ships. The Mandalorians had dispatched two of their Mirshko-class Heavy Cruisers; the Valkyrie and the Thunderer to break the blockade with Crusader class corvettes as escorts.

But in the Command Centre of the Valkyrie for this mission was Markus Ordo, on his first solo mission and command without his father or other members of his family looking over his shoulder.

He was nervous but only slightly as his fleet easily had the edge here, truly the Valkyrie alone would likely be able to break this blockade, especially with the brand-new ship it was carrying in its launch tubes he thought with eagerness to check them out.

"Launch Vipers and U-Wings." He commanded and the crew went to do as he said, eager to see the new Viper model for themselves.

The Type 3 was still the standard model of Viper across the fleet but after several models that had never left the testing phase, they had a new one, the Mark 7. Incredibly agile with a slim profile and faster than any Imperial or Rebel ship around. Well-armed with concussion missiles and three laser cannons it was finally time to deploy it in the field.

"Vipers are to engage enemy fighters, U-Wings bomb larger enemy vessels." Markus commanded and the crew relayed his orders to the pilots. "Gunners, take aim at escort vessels, all batteries execute."

"All batteries target escort ships, execute." The command went out.

In space the Mirshkos used their heavier turbolasers to attack the escort vessels, the Gozantis which were not built to withstand this kind of attack. The Vipers meanwhile began to harass the few Tie Fighters the Imperials had, the pilots loving the extreme speed and agility of the new model, not to mention its triple locked laser cannons and concussion missiles. They ran rings around the Tie Fighters and Bombers that were deployed against them which opened the way for the U-Wings to move in against the command cruisers, bombing them with proton torpedoes and bombs to rip them apart.

The Gozantis were in a similarly bad position as their shields collapsed under the heavy bombardment and the ships then were blasted to pieces as the Crusaders came forward and added their own laser cannons to the attack.

The Imperial line collapsed, allowing the transports through with the supplies the locals below so desperately needed. A cheer went up around the command centre of the Valkyrie as the crew celebrated their win but Markus only allowed himself a smile, his father had taught him to be humble in each victory and not let emotion take over, the next battle might not be so easy.

Markus had learned the art of war from his father and would now begin to show the universe that House Ordo had a new warrior, he thought with determination to make his own mark.