Chapter 30 Home Matters (Part 2)

Jedi Temple, Aloxl…

The surface of Aloxl was a burning hot, arid planet even in the 'cool time'. An environmental suit was needed to survive even then and only a few very hardy plant or insect species existed here, mostly underground where it was cooler.

Anakin and Kahr both arrived in their shuttle and looked at the Jedi Temple, carved out of the solid rock itself and looked like a dozen low buildings set in a compound. The exterior walls had two large statues of lightsabers with blades crossed. Anakin and Kahr walked down to the main entrance and Kahr whistled.

"How and why did the Jedi build a Temple here?" He asked Anakin who could only shrug.

"They must have had a reason. Maybe as an extra test for those that came here. Now how do we get in?" Anakin asked him, looking at him expectantly.

"How would I know?" Kahr asked confused but Anakin just told him.

"This is your test, learning to find answers through the force. Now what do your instincts tell you?" Anakin said becoming serious.

Kahr was confused as he honestly wasn't sure just what to do, he looked at the solid stone doors and was completely lost on how to open them. He was immediately thinking of just cutting them open with his lightsaber but realised that couldn't be it.

He reached out with the force and tried to lift them but they were too heavy for him on his own, he tried again and saw the interlocked blades when he finally realised the answer.

"We must work together to open the temple." He said with a smile and Anakin nodded with satisfaction.

"Then together it will be." He said and the pair both reached out with the force and slowly the doors moved and opened the path into the temple. The stone rumbled and dust fell but soon the path was open.

Both of them shared a look before heading inside, the old and ancient buildings were spooky as they passed through them, Anakin and Kahr could feel the force strongly around them. Anakin himself could feel the planet had a strong aura in the force which he presumed must be why the Jedi had built the temple here.

As they walked deeper into the temple, they didn't notice the arrival of an Imperial Shuttle and a single figure entering the temple after them.

- x -

Entering the long hall at the beginning of the compound the pair saw it was lined with statues of Jedi when suddenly the floor gave way under their feet and both of them slid down into deeper halls below. They found themselves separated and Kahr called out.

"ANAKIN!? CAN YOU HEAR ME!?" He yelled out and Anakin answered back on the comm link.

"Yeah, I can hear you. The temple must be unstable after being abandoned for so long. We must have fallen into some deeper sublevel. But it looks like it is still connected so keep going forward until we find a way out. Be careful this place is dangerous in more ways than one. Trust in yourself, and trust in the force." Anakin warned him and Kahr couldn't help but feel nervous of that. Of what might be waiting for them down here.

So, he carefully made his way forward, pulling up his lightsaber and igniting it to illuminate the area but the darkness was so intense it barely did anything. What he could see though terrified him.

A mass of doors lay ahead and all were equally foreboding, there were no signs to say which way was which and no way over or back.

Kahr felt his stomach drop as he was forced to deal with the fact a maze had been created before him. He just didn't know which door led to the right path and then as he stepped forward in hopes of seeing more, he felt the ground sink slightly beneath his feet. Looking down he saw he had inadvertently stepped onto a pressure plate of some kind and he could hear in the distance the sound of stone moving.

A flash of inspiration hit him as he realised that this must be a test of some kind, he had to use the force to not only find the right route but get through the maze quickly enough before the door closed. A test of insight and his ability to empower his body.

Kahr felt doomed, despite what training he had received so far, he had no faith in himself to choose the right path or to get along it in time. It might be impossible to find his way back to the beginning to try again so if he made a mistake, Kahr could literally be lost in this dark maze forever.

He honestly was ready to panic for a moment before a warm gust wind came from seemingly nowhere and he felt his confidence return, his own senses beginning to return to him as if someone had just given him a shot of confidence in himself. With one last steadying breath and drawing on everything he had learned he closed his eyes and let himself go into the force.

He felt nothing immediately but then was drawn to a door on the far right and pulled the force into his body as he began to run down the passage. He felt the force more keenly than he had ever felt it before and he could just 'feel' when to turn, how fast he was running and finally to duck and roll when he at last reached the closing door.

Now through the first challenge Kahr breathed a sigh of relief, glad that was over and noticed that the cave he was currently in was lit by bright blue crystals that were placed against the walls. But the moment Kahr stepped deeper into the room he felt a sudden chill come over him, he shivered as it seemed to go straight through him.

He suddenly heard voices around him and looked around to find their source only to see that the hall he had been in had transformed before his eyes and he was in what looked like a hospital ward.

"No." he said as he remembered this ward all too well now, it was his father's hospital.

"Give Patient 43545D another shot of painkillers. We might not be able to find his injuries but there is no reason he should be in pain." He heard as a familiar voice called out, Kahr turned around and saw his father, Laarkku'HKahr standing there in his scrubs as he attended to his patients. Kahr then turned around and saw his own younger self standing at his side, nodding as he went to administer the treatment.

"But…I never served in a hospital." Kahr said largely to himself. His humiliation coming back from where he had worked so hard to bury it.

His father had been a famous doctor, a great one even as had every single member of their family attending prodigious medical schools and running hospitals in a tradition going back quite a few generations.

All until Kahr, his shame rising as he remembered that he had been the first one to fail his exams…fail to get into medical school. He had studied so hard he thought with humiliation flooding him but every time he had tried, he failed. He hadn't been able to explain it as if the answers just disappeared from his mind and his family had been appalled at his incompetence.

So much so that they had washed their hands of him, he thought with grief as all his family had cut contact with him, all of them without exception even his own mother. He had been left with nothing and had been forced to work as a medic on starships to survive and try to get enough credits together to try one last time before he had run into the Jedi who had offered to train him. His feelings so upset that he grasped his lightsaber so tightly he crushed the cylinder that encased it.

Learning to be a Jedi had only fuelled his hopes but as he was faced with his dream, he knew in his heart it wasn't real Kahr thought with sadness as he remembered the real events of his life. His resolve returning, he saw his father's disapproving face glaring at him. He went to spit out all the venom that came with his inability to follow in his footsteps but Kahr didn't let him do it this time.

"I am not you father; I am Kahr and I will become a healer. I will not do it your way but my way and while you may never be proud of me, I will find my own path in life." Kahr told the illusion of his father who scowled before smiling much to Kahr's surprise.

"Then you know your own worth and are ready for the next step." The illusion said before it disappeared and Kahr found himself back in the empty hall.

"Learned you have to find yourself and your value. Not as part of a family, but as yourself." A wise old voice said, one that Kahr didn't recognise.

"Who are you?" Kahr asked but the voice spoke with a chuckle.

"Watch over the Jedi I do. One of us, you made still be." The old voice said and he saw a glowing light ahead of him. Kahr walked over and carefully picked it up, seeing a tiny crystal and then a skeleton nearby with the remains of Jedi Robes on and a partly broken lightsaber in hand.

"Not all who come here pass. Some, fail they do." The old voice said with sadness. "But perhaps his broken weapon, help you to fit your own it will." He then suggested.

Kahr was unsettled by this and it felt like graverobbing but he had broken his saber and needed to repair it so he reached for the broken saber and discovered it was different to the ones he had seen before. Intrigued he saw it had two side emitters near the primary, he was confused at the arrangement but stripped both lightsabers down to salvage all the working parts.

Once he had that done, he laid them out and concentrated on the force, the old man's voice guiding him.

"Let the saber form in your mind, let the force guide you to what you need. What will connect with your force." The old man suggested and slowly the saber took shape.

When eventually he was finished, he saw that he had assembled a longer hilt than the old one had, one big enough for him to keep both hand on the hilt and it had a simple yet firm grip. But near the top the two old side emitters had been added so he picked it up and ignited his new weapon.

A powerful blue-white blade sprang to life and two small quillon blades of the same colour emerged from the side. Kahr was stunned as he held the saber in his hands, it felt more him than his old one ever had. It fitted his hands perfectly Kahr thought with awe and moved it around in a few experimental waves before reluctantly shutting it down.

He smiled, wondering if this was however Jedi felt when they had constructed their lightsabers, laughing a little before he carried on forward.

A passage way was just at the end of the hall and as he went through it, he felt a very familiar presence in the force and honestly felt a great deal better.

"Anakin." He called out as he emerged into the next chamber with considerable relief at the sight of the Jedi Master. Anakin had felt him before he did and smiled back.

"Kahr, hope this place isn't messing with you too much. I know it's been trying to mess with me." Anakin said, not liking the visions it had tried to trick him with. Visions of his children suffering but pushed that aside as he knew that Kahr had likely suffered the same. "Will you be alright?" He asked hoping the answer was yes. Kahr to his surprise nodded and told him.

"Yes, I hated going through them but I honestly feel a lot better for doing so. Like the pain when you pull a thorn from your foot, it might hurt while you are doing it but it gets better soon after." Kahr said more at least and then they both felt the cold and oppressive aura of the dark side nearby.

"How sweet." A voice mocked, both Anakin and Kahr looked over and saw a figure in what looked like to Anakin's eyes to be ancient Sith Armour. Much of his body was encased in and he held a long hilt with a green blade.

"And you are?" Anakin asked with suspicious eyes, his hand going to his lightsaber as he knew a Dark Jedi when he saw one. The figure's voice was distorted by the mask he was wearing but its meaning and words were clearly understood.

"Malleus, Hammer of the Dark Side. Now surrender the Holocron here and I might consider letting you live." He threatened but Kahr with a guarded and suspicious look on his face said.

"Not a chance, perhaps you should surrender. You are clearly outmatched." Kahr told him, Malleus didn't like that and growled at them under his armour.

"This armour was created by Warb Null with Sith magic, I slew two Jedi Masters with it and he killed many more." He nearly yelled out at them. Anakin was unphased as he had never heard of 'Warb Null' and had faced more dangerous dark side users before and would not be intimidated by him.

Kahr wasn't intimidated either and drew his own lightsaber, surprising Anakin with the modifications he had made to it especially when he ignited the blade and revealed the new white blue blade and two side emitters. Crossguard Lightsabers were very rare these days Anakin thought having only ever seen them in the archives himself but was impressed that Kahr had managed to make one.

Anakin soon ignited his own lightsaber and the pair leapt forward as did Malleus and met in the middle to begin their duel.

The long green blade of Malleus gave him considerable reach but his own inexperience was considerable, the armour seemed to increase his reflexes and drown opponents in a very intense dark side aura but Anakin had faced worse and as he and Kahr used both light and dark sides of the force it actually strengthened them too a little.

Anakin traded blows with Malleus who was sluggish but when Anakin managed to find a way through and strike at his chest, he discovered to his annoyance that the armour seemed to be lightsaber proof. His blade bounced harmlessly off it and Anakin gritted his teeth.

Kahr though managed to distract him by battering away with his blade, actually searing the armour unlike Anakin's blade which surprised all of them. Anakin realised there must be something a little different about the crystal but would consider that later and instead focused on the fight at hand.

While Kahr exchanged clumsy blows with Malleus Anakin realised that the armour did not entirely cover the Dark Jedi's body, there were gaps in the armour and that was where he focused his attention as did Kahr who managed to cut his saber hand off at the elbow.

Malleus yelled in pain but Anakin swiftly went for his neck, severing it cleanly from his shoulders as Ulic Qel-Droma had done to the original owner of that armour thousands of years before although he didn't know that.

Malleus feel down now short a head and his armour and lightsaber clattered as it hit the floor. Anakin and Kahr both stared down at the body and shut down their sabers.

Anakin had no idea just who the man had been but it didn't matter, he was gone now and instead turned to Kahr who handed him his lightsaber, studying it he nodded in approval.

"You've done well here; it is impressive although where did you get the parts?" Anakin asked which made Kahr worry about admitting they had come from a dead Jedi when a voice, the same old voice from earlier appeared.

"Some Jedi do not complete their trials, shame to leave their equipment to go to waste it is."

"Master Yoda!" Anakin called out in surprise, he hadn't heard that voice in so long and had worried the old master was dead after he had disappeared from the galaxy. "How can this be?"

"Concern yourself with that you must not. Know I am here, because you are here." Yoda told them and Anakin could almost feel the old master smiling at their confusion and couldn't help but smile too.

"Thank you...master." Kahr said not sure how to address the legendary Jedi Master now he knew who he was talking too. Yoda hummed before saying.

"Thank you? Nothing have I done. So, a new apprentice you have?" Yoda said, turning his attention to Anakin who sobered up a little. "Prepared is he for what awaits?"

"No one can be fully prepared for the path of a Jedi. But ready as we can be, yes…yes, he is." Anakin said proudly to Kahr and to the voice of Yoda. Kahr looked surprised and Yoda chuckled.

"Good answer Skywalker, grown you have. And now a father of three I sense. Strong they are in the force; be ready for them you must be. And your apprentice, ready she is." Yoda said, referring now to Allara.

Anakin was surprised now as he considered just what Yoda was saying, he knew what Yoda meant and given she was only just turning seventeen he didn't agree.

"She is still too young and has much more to learn. She is still impetuous and too sure of herself." Anakin argued and Yoda chuckled.

"Said that of you once, some did. Ready no one ever really is but a time comes when one must be ready to stand up on their own. That time for her, is coming." Yoda warned him.

Anakin didn't really like that; he didn't like the idea of Allara going off on her own into the hostile galaxy but he realised that was his old fear of losing those he loved coming back again. He had felt the same when Ahsoka had left and she had done well…maybe Allara would do too Anakin realised as he understood he needed to trust her to take care of herself now.

"Learning this lesson, hard it has been for you." Yoda said gently. "But ready for more you are, so that one day…lead you may." Yoda said cryptically before his voice disappeared and the door on the far end opened.

Anakin and Kahr, still a little unsettled by all this walked through the door and emerged into the centre chamber of the Temple, there on a plinth was a Jedi Holocron. Anakin and Kahr both walked over to it and gently Kahr picked it up. Anakin smiled before telling him.

"When we get back to base, I will show you how to open the holocron. Now let us leave this place." Anakin said with a smile as he was eager to get back to his children and to his apprentice, Yoda was right he realised to his own slight anxiety. There was something he had to do.

Hargeeva, Expansion Regions…

"Bored statement: This is hardly what I expected from this mission." HK-47 said which only annoyed Padme more as she wished Anakin had never repaired the blasted droid in the first place.

They had been waiting for their contact for some time but no-one had arrived yet and the sight of the enormous foundries in the distance made for a poor landscape to look at.

Finally, much to her relief three figures appeared, they were human like her and one of them spoke to her with a smile.

"Greetings Senator Amidala." One of them said, a male in his mid-thirties with dark brown hair said.

"Not a senator anymore." Padme said with a grim smile on her face, she was much more a resistance fighter now.

"I suppose not but you will always be to us Alderaanians." The man said with a smile. "I am Merak, Senator Organa sent me to help. These are Stevan Makintay, our local contact here and his wife Ketrian Altronel."

"Pleased to meet you." Padme said as she looked at the couple who were about her age. Stevan was a ruggedly handsome man with shaggy dark blond hair and green eyes not to mention an easy going smile on his face along with a scar on his cheek. Ketrian was a good-looking woman with dark red hair and green eyes.

They both shook her hands with her and Stevan told her.

"A lot of people are angry at the Empire for enslaving them to work in the mines and foundries, there is a good-sized movement already." He said with a smile but Ketrian frowned.

"But we have no weapons. No equipment. No ships. If you can't provide us these things then we might as well start throwing rocks at the Imperials." Ketrian said sternly which made Stevan sag a little with depression at the reminder of their situation and Padme bit her lip as she knew their sources were not currently sufficient to arm them right now as they were stretched with other places.

It took many things to overcome an occupation, one of them was weapons as she knew all too well. She would need to find some way to arm them without relying on outside sources. She pondered for a moment before asking.

"Do the Imperials have an armoury?" She asked, not sure exactly on how things worked here. They nodded with confusion and Padme then suggested something crazy.

"Well, if we can't get weapons the normal way, we will just have to steal theirs." Padme suggested.

They all looked stunned at the suggestion, Ketrian spoke first.

"You are crazy! That would never work."

But then Stevan seemed to have an idea.

"No, it's not, I think I can get the codes. Remember my old friend Merinda? She works in the palace and could get us the codes to enter the vault. We then just need to take out the security detail and we would have the armoury to ourselves. Its only thirty of so Stormtroopers, we could deal with it." He said but Ketrian still had concerns.

"But what about Major Pedrin? He's dangerous." She said remembering the commander of the occupying units here. The man was a sadist but a very smart one and not to be underestimated.

Padme reluctantly then turned to HK-47 and gave him an order.

"I want you to eliminate those guards and this Major. We need those weapons but no civilian casualties." She told him sternly and HK-47 told her.

"Excited Declaration: Oh, Mistress Skywalker! My servos sing with excitement. I cannot wait to get to do something more than guard duty!" He said and the others looked at the droid slightly unnerved at how excited he was to be killing people.

Padme herself was disturbed enough by the psychotic droid then turned to Merak with another job that might just help them.

"I need you to reach out to the Kingdom of Tammuz-an in the next system. Contact Mon Julpa, tell him I have a favour to call in." She told him, she had made many friends during her time as a Senator and the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Tammuz-an owed her a favour, a big one that she was cashing in on to get them something they really needed.

Merak nodded and was confused at just what they might be asking for.

Arginall City, Capital of Hargeeva…That Night…

The city had been a harsh place before the Imperial Occupation as the aristocrats of the planet had oppressed the locals and since the Empire had arrived it had only gotten worse.

The Imperial Complex was lightly protected and HK-47 easily gained access once he engaged his assassination protocols, taking some grenades he had made from some industrial toxins just dumped by the Empire. He rolled them down the ventilation shafts into the complex.

The grenades spread out as he had intended and then exploded, filling the air through the complex with toxic gas. The staff not wearing masks like the Stormtroopers began to choke immediately on the fumes and felt like their lungs were filling with liquid sealant. The fumes also blinded everyone inside the compound as it filled with thick smoke.

HK-47 then entered armed with a blaster rifle and a pistol.

Using infrared sensors to see through the smoke he moved into the complex, not needing to breathe and so was unaffected. He started ruthlessly moving through the building and shooting all the blinded and choking Imperials with no mercy.

Major Pedrin, now wearing a helmet as an officer was crawling through the smoke trying to reach the ventilation fans to use them to clear the smoke only to scream out in pain as HK-47 stepped on his back and then quickly shot him in the head.

When he was certain he had eliminated all his targets or the smoke had, HK-47 activated the vents and expelled the gas.

"Joyful Statement: Oh, that was enjoyable! I do hope that I can do it again soon." HK-47 said as the air cleared, revealing a complex full of bodies.

- x -

Secret Rebel Base, Hargeeva…Later that Night…

Padme shivered as she heard just what the maniac droid had done, it chilled her to the bone how ruthless he was and yet without him the heist wouldn't have been possible she conceded reluctantly.

They had managed to steal countless weapons from the Empire and armed the Rebellion with them, not to mention gotten rid of a nasty Imperial at the same time however much she hated using such methods.

But her heart was lifted when her old friend Mon Julpa had come through.

"Twenty R-22 Spearhead fighters. Supposedly all broken or damaged but with some maintenance they will do nicely." Stevan said with a smile as he looked at the smaller red and white coloured fighters. "We now have the vehicles and weapons; we'll have a real chance against the Empire." Stevan said but Padme cautioned him.

"Do not get carried away, victory is not a sure thing yet." She said and he nodded before reassuring her.

"Indeed, Merak has promised some experts from the Rebellion will be coming to help us learn to be resistance fighters. He even said the fighters might be useful with some modifications." Stevan told her and Padme nodded before telling him.

"And when you overthrow the rulers of this planet and the Imperials, do not forget why. Forget that you do it for the people and their benefit, not your own." She cautioned him and he nodded.

"My father is the sovereign of this planet, he opposed my marriage to Ketrian, just like I opposed the treatment of the people. That is why I am here. I will not forget." He told her and Padme blinked in surprise as she hadn't known he was actually the crown prince of the planet but was a little more reassured by his words.

Liber8 Base, Secret Location…

Anakin and Padme both returned to the base at roughly the same time, the sight of each other was a blessed relief and they hugged each other deeply and then when the children saw them, they knelt down and caught the twins as they ran to them. The Noghri brought Mace over and they all shared a family hug.

Allara and Kahr stood awkwardly together, still uncomfortable with each other but Anakin when he was finished greeting his family, he turned to Allara and gestured for her to kneel. Allara was confused as her master didn't bother with such things but did as he ordered. The others were confused as they didn't understand what Anakin was doing especially when he ignited his lightsaber which made Padme gasp and Allara stare at her master with some fear but what he did next changed everything.

"Allara, since you have come under my tutelage you have shown yourself to be an exceptional Jedi. You have surpassed any expectations I may have had and then some. You have come so far in such a short amount of time and it is time it was recognised. I bestow upon you the rank of Jedi Knight with all the privileges and responsibilities that come with the rank. You may rise." Anakin said proudly as he motioned his lightsaber around her shoulders.

Allara almost fainted as she realised just what was happening, her master had knighted her! She was a Jedi Knight now! Allara thought with shock but managed to rise to her feet and smile which Anakin returned.

"Congratulations." Kahr said with astonishment as he now since a knighting, granted he would have expected more but the Jedi Order was far from its best right now. It meant the world to Allara he realised given how happy she was.

"Indeed, you have earned it." Kagame said, knowing the girl wanted this more than anything. "But perhaps you might stay around as I think I may have a few missions for you."

"Yes…Kagame." Allara said remembering that he didn't like to be called Master.

"Indeed, I know the twins adore you so maybe you can help in their training." Anakin said to Allara who nodded, the two young children being more like family now. She had literally been there for nearly all the major milestones so far, their first words, the day they walked for the first time and others.

It would be an honour to have a hand in their training.

"Absolutely, Master." She said still thinking of him as her teacher before making a suggestion. "But with Kahr's new lightsaber it might be best for him to learn Form 2 and maybe 3. They work best with a crossguard lightsaber unless we try Form 7." She said, slightly nervous of making the suggestion but Anakin nodded to her in agreement.

"I was thinking the exact same thing." Anakin said before telling them all. "Now let's get something to eat. I don't know about you but I am starving." He said and most of them laughed before going to the mess to feed themselves and discuss their own little adventures.

Venato Prime, Mandalorian Space...

The funeral of Duke Alain Ma'Gard was held in the distant countryside of the planet right on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea, it was not the custom of House Ma'Gard to bury their dead. So instead, they would be cremated and their ashes scattered to the sea so with the old duke now gone, that was what they were doing.

Haron and the rest of the House leaders were in attendance as were many of House Ma'Gard's vassal clans. The new Duchess Katale Ma'Gard stood speaking for her grandfather as she prepared to spread his ashes to the sea, her two cousins standing nearby all grief stricken but after his long illness it had been expected, not that it helped with the pain.

"My grandfather was more than just a warrior." Katale said solemnly. "He was a mentor, a teacher, a guide. When my parents died, when my aunt and uncle died, he took responsibility for all three of us and educated us mostly by himself. He taught us what it meant to be Ma'Gard, and for that I can't thank him enough. And as I take responsibility for leading House Ma'Gard I swear to uphold those values that he taught us." She said before opening the urn and casting the ashes of her grandfather to the winds, scattering them across the ocean.

They all stayed quiet as they let the ashes disperse, letting the family grief before retiring back to Victre City where they were all staying. Katale and her two cousins both stayed for a while so they could grieve in private and no one wanted to bother them.

- x -

Leviathan, Lucrehulk in orbit of Venato Prime…A Couple of Days Later…

After a few days grace Haron called a meeting of the House Leaders.

"To help advise me and to keep track of each subject across Mandalorian Space, I am establishing a council of Experts to work with me and all of you to co-ordinate efforts across Mandalorian Space. They will have departments of their own but will work with all of us to ensure efficiency. This is not going to curtail anyone's authority, merely help us to be more efficient in the face of the enemy." Haron said and outlined for them that they would work with all houses to ensure the greatest results.

Some didn't like it but since it wouldn't apparently undermine their authority and the members had yet to be picked, they didn't object too loudly. Some of them might well be among the council of experts.

"We should retaliate for the attempt to invade our territory." Duke Ge'hark said with anger in his voice after the Imperials had dared try to violate their territory.

"We should take the sector they invaded from. We have taken no new territory in nearly four thousand years! It's time to expand." Duke Sarek agreed. The other dukes and duchesses all started talking about it, the idea of expansion had been something they had all dreamed of for years but the Republic had always stood in their way.

Haron meanwhile despite being the leader of the Mandalorians was uncomfortable with the idea of invading and conquering other worlds. They had done it before but through means other than military action like on Zakuul but this was different. These were inhabited worlds albeit ruled by the Empire and would be forcefully be brought under their wing.

But he knew it would have to be this way, he had taken many worlds for the Republic during the Clone Wars…this was no different.

So, with great personal discontent, he bowed to the will of his vassals and gave his consent before beginning to plan their first official invasion of known space the Mandalorians had launched in nearly four thousand years.

- x -

Reijar Testing Ground, Ordo System…

Hannah and Neville were both supervising the test of new models of Skytrooper to expand the force potential of their fighting forces, especially if they were going to be expanding their territory which was something they had considerable doubts about but all the same the idea of ruling a planet themselves had a certain…appeal.

They watched as six different types of Skytrooper were tested, an improved version of the mainline model with an improved heavy blaster rifle and a few small improvements elsewhere.

Then they watched as the sniper variant was tested, scanning for it the new sensor resistant materials that coated its plating prevented normal scanners from finding it and to lower the chances of it being seen by the naked eye they had put mimic coating over the top which allowed it to blend in to the local environment. It eluded all methods of tracking and managed to shoot its target with a perfect kill shot.

The Heavy Version was largely intended as an anti-personnel variant, armed with a heavy repeating blaster that normally would be too heavy for a human to carry. It had a cooling unit and power supply attached to the back.

They also had another three variants geared towards fighting soldiers or at least living creatures, a variant had a pair of Flechette launchers that fired out shrapnel over a short area while they had another version armed with a grenade launcher with different types of ordinances.

A flame trooper armed variant completed the three, a fairly powerful flame projector.

The final variant was intended for use against armoured vehicles, they were armed with a rocket/missile launcher.

That when combined with the rest of their armoured vehicles and warriors with improved armour meant the Mandalorians were a force to be reckoned with.

And it was time to strike back against the Empire.

Imperial Space Station, Vultrix Sector, Outer Rim…

The Imperial Station that had been the strategic launching point of the failed Invasion of Mandalorian Space now became the rallying point for the Empire's defence against invasion. Twelve Star Destroyers with support vessels clustered around the station, ready to deploy wherever it was needed.

However, the station's location was no secret and the Imperials who had thought having so much fire power present would deter any potential attack were sadly mistaken as the Mandalorians revealed another weapon they had discovered preserved in Revan's Vault.

A single ship appeared from hyperspace, it was giving an Imperial Signature so the sensors didn't immediately recognise it as a threat but while it was a real Imperial Star Destroyer, this particular ship had been captured by the Mandalorians during the invasion of Kashyyyk some years earlier. After the Mandalorians had examined it for bow to stern to learn all of its strengths and weaknesses, they had decided given its large structure and powerful reactor to make use of it for their new weapon.

Created by the Sith Empire over three thousand six hundred years ago the weapon was known as Silencer, a megalaser that was built as fleet killer as it could quickly lay waste to a whole fleet of ships easily and few if any had a chance of withstanding its firepower.

The internal workings of the Star Destroyer had been stripped to make way for most of the equipment and it was running only a minimum crew in radiation safe areas as the radiation in produced would kill most people very quickly.

The moment the ship was in range the process started, the captain on the Silencer as it was known gave the order to fire.

The Silencer took a moment to build up energy and everyone held their breath as this was the first real test of the weapon as the modifications and construction of the special equipment had taken considerable time to do.

Then it fired, an orange red beam lashed out at the station and the fleet that was staying so closely around it.

The glare of the explosions made all of the bridge crew on the Silencer avert their eyes as the laser hit the target.

It lasted only moments but when they managed to look again it was astonishing, the Imperial Station and its fleet had been decimated by the Silencer, completely and there were no surviving ships and nothing left of the station either beyond debris.

The crew were shocked, it was incredible to consider the weapon although they suddenly noticed it was on the verge of overheating and needed to be shut down. That was something they would need to work on before using the weapon again but with the destruction of the Imperial Sector Fleet, the entire sector was open to invasion.

- x -

War Room, Reijar, Ordo System…

Haron watched as data from the field was relayed to him, coldly watching as their forces raced out to take the sector for themselves. Fifty systems made up the sector in question and of that only ten planets were actually inhabited and only one majorly. Without the sector fleet they would fall swiftly as only local garrisons remained, Haron would no doubt be giving out a few of the new Cross of the Conqueror medals, awarded to those that acquire new territory for their people. He would need to hand out a few others as well. Some would need to be allocated and new clans established from either his own people or the locals. There would be a lot to do not to mention he needed to devise a hearts and minds campaign to bring the populations into their culture.

Haron again was uncertain if he wanted to become a conqueror but he had to look out for his people and he would make sure the locals were treated far better than the Empire ever would.

He would also need to properly develop and defend those worlds so there was a lot of work to be done he thought with tiredness. Sometimes he regreted being Mandalore.

Shili, Expansionist Region…

The forest of Shili was thick and wild while the heat of the planet was surprising for the environment, Ahsoka had been to planets which were much hotter and even walked through the deserts of Tatooine but the humidity here was taxing even to her.

Why she was here, Ahsoka honestly didn't know she thought with confusion at the dreams she'd been having recently were odd and with no real idea of just what she was looking for she had come here in hopes of finding the source.

She felt she knew these forests, the tall pine trees were as familiar to her as the pillars in the Jedi Temple and while she knew Shili had been the place she had been born, she had never been back here since Master Plo had taken her away. But maybe through the force at least, she knew this place.

She made her way through the undergrown and was disturbed by rustling of bushes nearby, she could sense someone there. She pulled out her lightsaber but then returned to her belt as she sensed it was a child in that hedge. She walked over and pulled them apart to see a boy of maybe only ten standard years old hiding in the bush. He was Togruta like her but with purple skin and his lekku were white and blue in colour. His eyes were pale green and he was shocked to see her.

"Please! We're playing hide and seek!" He said urgently, she smiled and told him.

"If so, a shaking bush isn't the best place to hide." Ahsoka told him simply. "I was looking for the nearest village. Can you help me?" She asked him with a smile, the boy looked at her annoyed that she wouldn't leave him alone but a ringing of a distant bell made him get up.

"Time for our evening meal, if you want to see the village follow me." The boy said and ran off, Ahsoka shook her head at his antics before following him. She easily kept up and before too long they got there.

It was a series of primitive looking huts and would have meant nothing to her if she had not been struck with an incredible sense of familiarity.

She knew this place she thought confused, walking slowly into it as she looked around. How she knew it she didn't understand but she knew it. Her appearance certainly was creating something of a stir she noticed as people all looked at her with a mix of confusion, curiosity and suspicion. An old woman hobbled forward, dressed in robes and holding a walking stick clearly the wisewoman of the village. She stared at her before reaching to touch her face which Ahsoka allowed since she didn't sense any threat here.

The old wisewoman smiled as she withdrew her hand and told her.

"I knew you would return. I felt in my bones, Ahsoka, Jedi. Now home." The wisewoman said with a big smile and the older members of the village all looked her with surprise and then studied her closely to see if she really was the little girl that had been born in this village.

"Home?" Ahsoka asked confused as she wondered if this was the very same village she had been born in and then it occurred to her that her parents may well be here. The wisewoman nodded with graceful acceptance.

"Yes, after so many years and a spirit laboured by hardship you have returned. Pav-ti…Nak-il. Your daughter is returned." The wisewoman said before turning to a pair of villagers nearby.

Ahsoka looked at them with baited breath and saw to her own confusion that the woman had the same eyes and face as she did. They both looked at her with the same trepidation although there was a great deal of excitement and longing on their faces. Ahsoka didn't have the faintest idea of what to say as she had never expected to find them here, her own parents and then to complete her confusion a boy with the same colouring and the same markings as she appeared from behind them and looked at her with confusion.

"Yul'xe. Your sister is home." The wisewoman said gently as she revealed their kinship. Ahsoka was now faced with not only parents that she had no idea just how to deal with but also a little brother as well.

Her parents slowly came up to stand in front of her, Ahsoka feeling powerless to move as they approached until they were both standing right in front of her. She looked at them and they at her before her father, Nak-il smiled broadly and grabbed her in a hug which shocked her and she wasn't quick to return but eventually, slowly she wrapped her arms around him and did so while her mother came up to her and put a hand against her cheek, smiling broadly with tears in her eyes.

Her little brother who couldn't be more than nine years of age stared at her before coming over to see her for himself. Ahsoka was several years older than he was and didn't know what to say given their kinship but after her father had finally released her from his hug, making her know her habit of doing that came from him, Ahsoka extended her hand to Yul'xe who looked at it before slowly shaking it.

Ahsoka was now smiling herself, she still had no idea just why the force had guided her here but she was glad, grateful to finally see her family with her own eyes.

Newly Discovered Planet, Edges of the Unknown Regions…

The Empire's hunger for resources and territory would never be satisfied and they did not just look to loot all of the known space but also looked to areas that remained mysterious. So, they were probing the areas of the Deep Core not yet charted but also were now slowly feeling their way into the Unknown Regions. Without stable and charted hyperspace routes this was exceptionally dangerous work but opened up brand new areas of the galaxy to explore and exploit.

A single planet, quite rough and harsh had now been discovered, the survey ship was doing an intense survey to see if it was worth establishing a garrison here. The captain waited for his survey team to return and was greeted by the lieutenant in charge who was smiling broadly.

"Captain." He said saluting. "While unfortunately this planet has little in mineral wealth and would need substantial terraforming to be used as an even halfway acceptable agro-world there is a useful resource here. The local species are extremely tough if lacking in intelligence and seem perfect for the Imperial Army as hired muscle, they are financially driven with little conscience."

"Intriguing." The captain replied as he read the information they had managed to gather. "I will pass this along to command. What are they called again?" He asked as he scanned the details they'd collected.

"Ogami." The lieutenant said, proud of the discovery as they now had a new source of grunts of the Imperial Army.

Alpinn, Vultrix Sector…New Mandalorian Territory…

The planet Alpinn had been a place explored for possible Kyber crystals in the past even if none had ever been found there. There were other minerals there though and a science base was being set up to see if any of them should be exploited.

But as the team began excavating one of the caverns under the surface, they detected a second hidden cave with their ground penetrating sensors. Blowing away the rock with explosives the chamber was exposed and inside it they made a remarkable discovery.

A computer terminal written in ancient language, a dialect that no protocol droid was programmed to speak and when they scanned it into the computers it triggered a major alert. Triggering a very high priority message to Reijar and the immediate dispatch of a better equipped team.

It was Rakatan, and as a testament to its incredible construction it was still working and on the screen an image of an object, a large object appeared one not found in the cave.