The Battle of Mon Cala

Ackbar's eyes scanned the words on the datapad in his hands. He read slowly and methodically, as if this was the most interesting combination of words ever written.

"Saw Gerrera," he said slowly and calmly as he raised his eyes to look at the head of the New Republic army. He still looked like a homeless man, even with his large salary. He said it had become part of him to look that way. But to Ackbar it seemed more than that, it felt like this man still considered himself a guerrilla hero instead of a proper officer.

So uncivilized. But he could still be used.

"What?" Gerrera replied with a look of disgust in his eyes.

"Is this report true?"

"Yes."

Ackbar closed his eyes and sighed as the man before him looked unconcerned.

"Ten Death Troopers are missing from Della, and you believe they escaped in a spaceship with some civilians. All this while Han Solo was on the planet... Are you incompetent?"

For the first time since Gerrera had entered the room, he showed something other than indifference. Confusion, at Ackbar's choice of words and his angry tone.

"I conquered a planet, and the lessons of that battle will be taught and applied to the army of the New Republic. It was the first real urban warfare we have ever fought, look at my results on Kashyyyk and Mandalore. We are winning. And I do not know why ten soldiers escaping is considered incompetence. Even if I killed them, the Empire has at least a million of them. Killing Death Troopers is not as important to the war effort as capturing the jewels of the Outer Rim and defeating the Empire on Kashyyyk and Mandalore.

There was a time when Gerrera was feared throughout the galaxy for his terrorist attacks, but his attacks were neither propagandistic nor relevant. They were murders, terrorist massacres.

Gerrera knew how to strike fear into the population. That was something Ackbar knew from the start. But knowing how to create fear doesn't mean you're competent in anything to do with propaganda, and as head of the army, he should at least know about propaganda.

"Gerrera, I know what you did on Della. Your most loyal army was sent there, even if you had not explicitly ordered them to do it, they would have done it themselves".

Gerrera wasn't intimidated.

"Then you will remove me from the army?" He asked with a smile.

"No, the government is happy, they think it is all imperial lies. But you know, those Death Troopers probably not only got away with information on how you carried out this destruction and murder without any justification, but probably with enough witnesses to bring the New Republic's popularity down to the times when we did not even exist as a government, but as an alliance of rebels. So, with the Empire in possession of the evidence of what happened on Della, I must ask you again. Are you incompetent?"

Gerrera did not answer, and seeing this, Ackbar laughed a little.

"Did you know that if the Empire knows how to play its cards right, it will ruin your life and the New Republic? And I know you do not care about your life and the New Republic. But with the disintegration of the New Republic and you separated from any power, you know that you will never be able to damage the Empire the same way you can with the position you have right now..."

"The Empire doesn't care enough to use propaganda properly. The Moff Council is incompetent and Imperial Intelligence plays its own game against the ISB and the Moff Council. They have neither the integrity nor the competence to present the facts of what happened on Della in a way that can harm the New Republic, let alone destroy it." Gerrera replied after thinking for a minute about how to answer. The room they were in was completely white with yellowish lights illuminating it. Computers were everywhere and in the middle of the room was a holoprojector that could display an interactive hologram of any planet or map.

"Perhaps the central government is incompetent," Ackbar replied, in a way admitting that Gerrera's arguments were true. "But there are millions of competent people in the Empire. Admirals, captains, generals, and some Moffs and grand Moffs who, given the right tools, could destroy the New Republic. And you have allowed those tools to slip away from Della. I don't know if you believe in a God, I don't, but in case you do. You better start praying that those tools do not end up in the hands of the most competent of Moffs".

"That whore is only good at managing resources, her tactics are neither impressive nor superior. How can she be the most competent of Moffs?" Gerrera asked, insulting Degurechaff as "just another".

"She assembled a fleet in weeks that took the Moff Council months, took half of our founding planets with minimal casualties, and destroyed thirty percent of our fleet. Perhaps I could win every single battle against her if I launched an offensive into her territory. But if you are so blind that you cannot see how dangerous a good resource manager is, let me explain."

"I can destroy ten Star Destroyers a day in her territory while we are on the offensive, but she will produce more than us and will outproduce us in every single battle. I may even reach Eriadu in the end and start a land invasion, but the moment my fleet has suffered from enough attrition, She will appear with a newly formed fleet, fresh and with all the resources she needs. Against a good tactician you only have to win one battle, against a good strategist and resource manager you can only afford to lose once."

"I think you overestimate the girl who declared herself the daughter of Vader, for all that you call yourself competent and intelligent, you seem to overestimate your enemies."

"Have I ever called myself competent or intelligent?" Ackbar asked as he stood and looked directly at Gerrera.

"No, but everyone repeats it."

"Then I did not call myself that, others did. Gerrera, you are not even close to my level. You are just a poor man who got his position in the New Republic forces because you were the only one to survive the Imperials' relentless attacks on the rebel land forces. I am here because others think I am the best, you are where you are because you are the only one left."

Gerrera bit his lower lip and turned to leave the room in silence, humiliated. Lately, everyone above him had attacked and insulted him, and he had often had no choice but to leave.

The humiliation was beginning to eat away at him. Is he replaceable? Then those who try to humiliate him can also be replaced.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luke Skywalker meditated in one of the hundreds of spaceships in Mon Cala. He was waiting for the coming battle against the Empire. Hours ago he was in the same room with Ackbar discussing the plan.

He smiled.

Ackbar was not just a good man but also a competent one. That was very good. But he felt that somehow Ackbar was hiding more and more every day. Leia told him that lately he had been doing things without consulting the central government. While he shared the needs of the war and how so much decentralization could cause them to lose the war. Giving the power of all the armed forces to one man acting independently. He understood Leia's concerns.

The war changed Ackbar, but it also changed Luke and everyone else.

The war was hard, he never realized that while fighting for the Rebellion, but as it became less guerrilla and more direct, he began to notice. They were no longer attacking small Imperial outposts, they were fighting the Empire in open battles in which millions of soldiers died. Where once he had killed a few men, now he was killing thousands, if not more.

He did not like killing, he did not like the fact that the Empire's soldiers almost never surrendered to him, choosing instead to fight to the death. He would always offer them the chance to surrender, but they would not.

The Imperial loyalists who cursed him and wanted him dead thought he was the greatest monster in the galaxy, while the New Republic loyalists thought he was the greatest hero in the galaxy.

The difference between a hero and a villain is really which side you are on.

His meditation was interrupted when his holo-comm started beeping, making a repetitive and annoying noise. Luke tried to ignore it, but he couldn't because whoever was calling him wouldn't stop.

Using the Force, Luke answered the call and opened his eyes to see the figure of her sister. There had been a time when he had been in love with her, but the discovery that she was his sister ruined everything.

He smiled, remembering another love interest he had during the Rebellion. She complimented him on how well black suited him when he was undercover. He had worn black robes ever since.

"What's going on sister, the battle is about to begin"

"I couldn't find you anywhere. And why are you wearing the uniform of an Imperial Intelligence officer?"

"Ackbar's plan is very interesting," Luke commented with a laugh.

"That is what I wanted to talk to you about. Ackbar has not shared his battle plan with anyone in the government. The entire political apparatus of the New Republic is risking their lives by staying, and we have no way of knowing if it is for a good reason".

"If he has not shared it with all of you, I cannot. He probably fears that there are dual loyalties in the Senate, and does not want to risk his plan being destroyed because the wrong politician heard it".

"Am I not worth a little more trust?" Leia asked, offended.

"You are definitely trustworthy, the ones you surround yourself with are the ones to worry about. I am sorry, sister, but I cannot tell you anything. But rest assured, Ackbar has been planning this battle for months and it is a chance to destroy the Empire forever."

"See, this is the problem, if the government cannot trust the military and the military cannot trust the government, how are we going to have a stable Republic? Where is Ackbar, I need to talk to him"

"I don't know, I've been on this ship for twelve hours waiting for the right moment."

Leia raised her hand as if to slap someone, but quickly made an attack with her finger.

"Well, good luck and I hope you get back safely."

"Me too, goodbye and good luck. May the Force be with you".

"Whatever," Leia replied to the last comment and ended the call.

"It seems politics has made her a bit sour," Luke commented as he saw the now empty space where her sister's hologram had once been. Politics was bad for health and morale, and Leia was beginning to feel the effects.

The last few months have been a constant struggle for the New Republic. Degurechaff's swift campaign threw the entire New Republic into crisis, forcing it to seek an alliance with the Hutts. This alliance was one of convenience, but it was a very problematic one. The idealistic sectors of the liberal party - the New Guard - constantly criticized this alliance, while the conservative party - the Old Guard - spoke of themselves as more realistic, and said the alliance with the Hutts was necessary.

There was not a day in the Senate when the Hutt discussion was not brought up.

Leia Organa, Brosk Fey'lya, Saw Guerrera, Gial Ackbar and many others debated daily.

The ship's computer began to flash. It showed that over a thousand

ships had jumped out of hyperspace.

"I hope Leia can relax a little with our victory," Luke said as he smiled.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ackbar was pretty scared, the Imperial fleet had five times as many support ships as they did and twice as many main battle ships. The view was frightening, a V formation that he could easily destroy if he were not so outnumbered.

Battle alarms sounded throughout the New Republic ships. Those who could see the enemy were frightened, those who could not were preparing for the coming battle. The battle that would decide whether the New Republic would go down in history or fail like the Confederate of Independent Systems was about to begin.

"Hold position," Ackbar ordered, "and I want Skywalker to start moving," he said, and the communications officer began to repeat his orders. None of the ships in the New Republic formation moved. The formation they had was a collection of ten formations scattered around to try and neutralize the Imperial V formation as much as possible.

Even if plan A failed, he had plan B, C, D, E and even Z.

He would not let the New Republic die here, even if the politicians sometimes seemed to want it.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Admiral Buria, a fat man with no hair on his face, looked through the windows of his Star Destroyer. He had been sent by Bertoff Hissa to win this battle, but it was his first time in battle, he had risen through the ranks while staying in Bertroff Hissa territory, kissing his superior's ass and sending his competition on suicide missions. It was the first time they had sent him into battle. But this would be easy, they had numerical superiority on their side and, most importantly, the Star Destroyer was better than every ship the New Republic had.

It would be an easy victory.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Admiral Turanov, thin, short-haired and mustachioed, sent by Moff Zsinj, looked at the threat outside the window with worried eyes. He remembered his superior's words.

-Hissa will take every opportunity to centralize power around himself-

All the captains of his fleet had been warned of the possibility of treachery by Hissa and his loyalists. No Moff trusted another Moff, but this was the first time that so many Moffs had worked together, and at best it would herald a new era of unity for the Empire.

At worst, the Empire would disintegrate in a civil war between those who wanted power for themselves.

"Prepare the shields and fighters," Admiral Turanov ordered.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thousands of TIE Fighters left the hangars of their home spaceships. If the space would be of any other color than black, the number of TIE Fighters in the sky would have turned it so.

The Rebel Alliance then revealed their hand, thousands of X-Wings and other starfighters. But that was not what caught the attention of the twenty Imperial admirals.

It was the fifty thousand Vulture Droid starfighters. Admiral Ackbar was re-equipping all of these thousands of droids that had been left on former Separatist planets that had now declared their loyalty to the New Republic - and were happy to give up their droids that were waiting for a time to be used.

The Confederate of Independent Systems still had a surprising number of supporters in the galaxy, and more importantly. Dozens of secret, hidden droid armies were discovered each year. Were it not for their lack of leadership, one would believe the Confederate of Independent Systems was preparing a secret rebellion.

The TIEs left the main fleet and attacked the New Republic formation, and one of the largest starfighter battles in history took place above Mon Cala. Hundreds of TIEs were destroyed every minute, but at the same time thousands of New Republic starfighters and dozens of small New Republic ships were destroyed.

The V formation moved slowly during this battle, but as soon as they reached the five-minute contact time, the New Republic formations began to move to the flanks of the V, where the Empire's firepower was less concentrated. At the start of the ship-to-ship battle, the Empire's V formation disintegrated as each Admiral decided to do what seemed more appropriate. Losing organization, the Imperial fleets decided to fight the New Republic formations in an attempt to bring more glory to their Moffs.

In this scenario, Pellaeon watched with a sad face as a proud, efficient and organized Empire became this in a matter of months. His star destroyer was with Admiral Buria, and so he was at the back of the formation that had been the end of the V.

"Captain?" His commander asked.

"Continue course".

The order was obeyed, but the commander was still behind him.

"Captain, are you all right?"

Pellaeon swallowed.

"This is my fault, I ordered the retreat at Endor and look what happened to the Empire... I have failed the Empire."

Since Endor, Pellaeon had fallen into a deep depression. Not only had he left a Grand Admiral to die, not only had he sent Tanya Degurechaff on a suicide mission that day, but he had withdrawn the fleet when they could probably still win if they stayed. But at that moment, the deaths of Lord Vader and the Emperor shattered everyone's morale.

"It's not your fault, Captain, anyone in your position would have done the same."

"Then they would have been responsible for the state of the Empire. But no one made that decision except me. So it is my fault." He said, and his commander nodded. Not because he agreed with that idea, but because when the Captain used that tone, it meant the conversation was over.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A blue-eyed man with blond hair entered the flagship of the Zsinj fleet. He wore the uniform of an Imperial Intelligence officer, the black color of his uniform and his insignia marked him as a man of high rank and because of his loyalty to the Imperial Intelligence, no one dared to stop him.

The man thought to himself how peaceful the inside of an ISD was in the middle of a battle, if you approached any window you would see one of the biggest battles in the galaxy. Thousands of people dying by the minute. But what if you weren't? You were just enjoying a nice walk in a spaceship.

The man approached the lift that would take him to the bridge, pressed the buttons and the lift asked for identification. He took it out of his uniform and handed it over. After a few seconds of suspense, a green color appeared, illuminated the lift for less than a second, and a second later the lift began to take him up.

In fifteen seconds he was in the previous rooms before entering the bridge. Stormtroopers and Naval Troopers were guarding the entrance against any unwelcome intruders or an attack.

"Officer on the bridge," one of the Navy Troopers said. Suddenly all the stormtroopers and Navy Troopers saluted him. The man smiled and raised his hands, moving them in a way that was strange to these troopers.

Less than a second later, the trooper was lying on the ground with his neck broken. The man was sad that he had to do this, but they would prevent him from carrying out his plan and that would mean the destruction of the New Republic.

"For the New Republic and for hope... how many things I have to do," the man muttered as he walked through the first door and onto the bridge. Dozens of officers were busy with the battle. The Zsinj and Hissa fleets were on the same side of the battle, fighting against Ackbar's formation. All according to plan.

The man took a deep breath as the officers turned and smiled when he saw the face of confusion in his enemies.

"What's an Imperial Intelligence officer doing here?" Admiral Turanov asked, confused. In all his years of battle experience, he had never seen an Imperial Intelligence enter the bridge in the middle of a battle.

In the blink of an eye, Admiral Turanov saw the entire crew around him killed, their necks broken as if they were made of paper. Only the Imperial Intelligence officer and himself remained in the room. He tried to run away and communicate with someone else, but an invisible force prevented him from moving.

"Who are you?" He asked in fear, he had never seen anything like this before.

"You know who I am," said the Imperial Intelligence officer as he approached the Admiral, who began to remember the rumors of the hidden force that once existed in the galaxy and a person who used it to destroy the Empire.

"Luke Skywalker."

There was a fear in his voice that Luke had become accustomed to hearing, and the Admiral began to hyperventilate and panic. But Luke Skywalker did not want that, he needed him in good condition for the next step of the plan.

He approached the Admiral until he was face to face, then moved his hand in front of the Admiral's eyes.

"You are calm, everything is fine," he said, and the man began to calm down as if he were in a normal situation, as if all his subordinates around him were not dead.

"Luke Skywalker has boarded your spaceship. He has killed all your troops and you know you cannot defeat him. Therefore, from Admiral to Admiral, to Buria, you will ask that your spaceship be destroyed to ensure that Luke Skywalker, the murderer of your Emperor and Lord Vader, dies and that this be marked as a great sacrifice for the cause of the Empire. Admiral Turanov. Avenge your Emperor by killing me."

The Admiral nodded, hypnotized by Luke's orders. And when Luke left, the Admiral moved himself, instead of killing Luke, running away or warning anyone. He turned around and prepared his uniform.

Then he called Admiral Buria.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Admiral Buria saw that the battle was going to be a little tougher than he thought. The Vulture Droids were making their numbers and agility count, and hunting down every New Republic formation was causing all the Imperial formations to move in different directions. Separating the twenty admirals so that there were two admirals following each New Republic formation. What was the New Republic trying to achieve by splitting their forces? thought Buria, unable to understand Ackbar's strategy.

"Admiral Buria! A call from Admiral Turanov!"

"Accept it," he ordered, seeing a hologram of the admiral in front of him. He looked terrified, as if he had seen a hyperspace monster.

"Luke Skywalker is in my spaceship! He has killed the entire Stormtrooper Legion and the Navy Troopers are dead, I cannot win against him and I have used everything in my hand to try and defeat him."

Buria felt fear. Real fear, his body tightened and his nerves screamed, his blood suddenly flowing much faster than it should and he began to feel his heart beating.

"Luke Skywalker is on your ship? Why was I not informed?"

"Because I thought I could kill him!" The other admiral shouted back in desperation.

Of course, everyone in the Empire would try to kill Luke Skywalker if he was in front of them. Some out of loyalty, the rest because killing him would make them bathe in wealth and power. So Buria believed the Admiral was keeping this a secret to give himself prestige.

And even if he did not know what Luke Skywalker was like, he had heard the stories. A ghost with unimaginable powers who had destroyed the first Death Star and the second. That could kill Lord Vader, the strongest man in the galaxy, defeating the Royal Guard and killing the Emperor.

If anyone could infiltrate a spaceship, it was Luke.

"So why are you calling me now? Do you want me to send reinforcements?" He asked, perhaps this was his chance for glory.

"No, destroy my spaceship. I am already dead, he is less than seconds away from entering the bridge, and if he kills me, I want to take the bastard down with me! If my spaceship is destroyed, he will be destroyed with it!"

Buria was surprised by the request. But some naval officers liked to go down with their ships. He had heard once that the rebels had almost captured a Star Destroyer, but the captain had decided to throw the Star Destroy into a star before accepting defeat. Admiral Turanov was like that, and Buria could only smile.

He would kill a competent admiral of his Moff's enemy and earn the glory of killing Luke Skywalker. In space, everyone was vulnerable to turbolasers. Not even damned wizards could survive a hit.

"He's broken the entrance. Shoot now!"

"You heard Admiral Turanov! I want all turbolasers to fire at his spaceship!"

The officer in charge of weapons coordination did not know how to react to this order.

"Officer, we need to inform the rest of the..."

"Didn't you hear the Admiral you bastards?" Buria shouted. "Luke is on the bridge and if he escapes we will be next. Shoot now or I will kill you and your fucking wife!"

The officer in charge of weapons gulped and gave the order to all batteries.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gilad Pellaeon Star Destroyed passed Buria's and Turanov's flagships, the flagships were behind the battle line and Pellaeon had orders to go from an escort mission to engagement mission.

"Approaching the New Republic formation," a crew official announced.

Pellaeon watched the two flagships. He was glad that at least the Moffs were not fighting each other in an open civil war. He could hardly believe it, considering how much tension there was between all the Moffs.

"What...?" Pellaeon asked as he watched the turbolaser fire travel through kilometers of space in a matter of seconds before finally hitting its target: Turanov's flagship.

"What?!" He shouted again. Turanov's flagship was being hit by dozens of turbolasers coming from Buria's flagship. The shields on the bridge falled from all the concentrated fire. Completely destroying anyone who might be on the bridge.

Turanov flagship began to drift, with no bridge to control it, and then silence. No one spoke for five seconds.

Then the hell began.

All the ships Zsinj sent to this coalition started firing at the nearest Hissa spaceship. An open three-way battle began between the New Republic, the Zsinj fleet and the Hissa fleet.

The Hissa fleet, surprised by the attack, began to return fire as best they could, but the already disorganized Imperial formation became even more disorganized as the remaining eighteen admirals began to choose sides.

Admiral Kinshara, who had one of the smallest fleets - and who was loyal to Moff Bin Essada - immediately realized that the Imperial Civil War his Moff was expecting had already begun. A veteran of the Mimban, the Admiral decided that the smartest thing to do right now was to conserve the Moffs' resources. Ordering all TIE fighters to return to his fleet while he separated from the fleets pursuing the New Republic formations, he wasted no time once all the fighters were in place and jumped into hyperspace to Gyndine.

Admiral Oel, who had the second smallest fleet - and was loyal to Moff Gideon - saw at first glance how hell was raining between the Zsinj and Hissa fleets. When he opened communications, all he heard was accusations of treason from all sides, no organization, no orders. Taking his fleet out of the fight between the two main Imperial combatants, he called Moff Gideon for instructions.

He received only two words.

"Retreat now."

The Admiral called all fighters back and jumped into hyperspace as fast as he could to return to Kalevala. Moff Gideon's headquarters and from there he led the war against the Mandalorian Empire - his most important battle was the Battle of Mandalore.

Subsequently, another four admirals returned to their respective territories with their small fleets.The remaining Admirals sided either with the Zsinj Fleet after seeing the Hissa Fleet fire first or supported the Hissa Fleet out of loyalty.

In this moment of utter chaos, Ackbar smiled. Beyond the planet Mon Cala, five more formations of the New Republic navy appeared, rapidly closing in on the Imperials, who were in the midst of a civil war.

It took ten minutes of combat for the highly maneuverable New Republic formations to encircle the first pocket of scattered Imperials and destroy them with heavy fire from the Mon Cala fleet and those of other New Republic allies, including some Mandalorian Empire ships.

It took half an hour for half of the Imperial fleet to be destroyed or captured by the New Republic navy, the other half continuing to fight or fleeing into hyperspace.

Half an hour later, in Mon Cala space, there were only New Republic forces, a hundred capital ships and seven hundred support ships.

Their losses were less than five percent. Although most of the fleet had suffered some damage, ranging from very critical to almost imperceptible. This was one of the biggest victories of the New Republic so far and all this was because of two men.

Gial Ackbar and Luke Skywalker.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leia couldn't believe it. The politics of the New Republic were far worse than politics in the time of the Empire. While in the Imperial senate she could see the sickness that was consuming the galaxy, she could clearly see who her enemies were and who her allies were. She could perfectly put the line between what was good and what was bad.

But since she started working for the New Republic as one of its most important politicians, her political ideals had changed constantly as the war advanced. Six months, it only took six months for the New Republic to destroy her ideals and create new ones.

Where the Imperial Senate only convinced her of her ideals, the New Republic Senate only made her think that her ideals were outdated.

At first she was so afraid that the New Republic may become the same as the Empire, that she completely defended the Old Guard politics. Make the Republic as it was before, no centralized army or navy as that should be the Planet's responsibility. No strong government that could force the Galaxy to follow their orders, but instead try to persuade the Galaxy to follow their directives using coercive measures like economic and political coercion.

In her ideals that Republic would be strong enough to maintain peace, but not strong enough to become the Empire again.

That's why at first she feared the centralization of the army around Ackbar, she feared that the New Republic would become the Empire.

Yet, time taught her an important lesson.

Trusting the planets to cooperate for the common good was impossible, trusting that the Galaxy will accept a Republic that does not force their laws will be impossible and most importantly.

Trusting that the senators would work for the Republic instead for their planetary interest was impossible.

Of course, at first it made sense to her as the Republic would be an alliance of planets that seeked common good and joined voluntarily to the New Republic. So if you joined this alliance you would want to work for the New Republic and you would accept what the New Republic says and of course you would defend your planet's interest in front of the New Republic.

The problem is that there was no one representing the New Republic, there was no one fighting for the New Republic's interest.

Thus, making the New Republic not a strong and democratic government that seeked for the common good but a political game where the one that gained more support would gain more than the rest.

She didn't want that, she hated that ideal. She wanted a New Republic that was democratic and free, but that could make the Galaxy feel safe. A new Republic that seeked the common good while the senators seeked for the interest of their planets.

The New Guard, the political party she created, proposed something different from most galactic governments.

A Parliament elected every five years at galactic scale elections and a Senate elected every five years at planetary scale elections. This would mean the New Republic would have to force every planet in their control to accept their ideals of democracy and freedom. No culture would be respected, no tradition maintained if they were against the ideas of freedom, liberty and democracy.

Of course the Old Guard called her neo-imperial as an insult, for they wanted every planet to have a lot of autonomy and invading a planet and destroying their culture to insert democracy was against their autonomy. But Leia didn't care.

She has killed millions if not billions. No, she practically started this civil war with her actions that led to the destruction of the First Death Star.

She has already killed trillions if the consequences of her actions were counted.

What was killing millions to ensure real democracy, that your tradition made you legalize oppression against your own people? That your laws were against the understanding of an Intelligent Species Basic Rights? That in your planetary culture is normal to rape and kill?

Then the New Republic army will have to democratize your planet until your culture is destroyed. There was no place to fail, the only way to make a Republic that is worth something, the only way to make a Republic that will make this galaxy better, the only way to make a Republic that avoids an Empire or Empires in miniature, was one strong enough that it could wipe out the Galaxy's most toxic cultures and ideals.

Freedom and Democracy had a price. A price that would be paid in blood and durasteel.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luke Skywalker and Gial Ackbar looked at each other in the hangar of Home One, behind them was the cloaking spaceship that Luke used to infiltrate Turanov flagship. There was a lot of tension in the air, as if they were about to start a fight. The crew around them ignored them as they celebrated an incredible victory that they thought would be a defeat that would doom the New Republic.

"Your plan has worked." Commented Luke Skywalker.

"I have been preparing for this battle since we destroyed the Second Death Star," Commented Ackbar. "I knew that the Moffs would try this operation sooner or later…"

The tension broke down as both laughed and hugged each other.

"You don't know how scared I was that they would find out that I'm Luke. I still don't know how they don't know my face, I've been on almost all the fronts of the Galaxy and thousands of Imperials know my face and name. Yet they seem to fail to see me."

Ackbar broke the hug and put his right hand on Luke's shoulder, forcing him to walk to where he was while they talked.

"See, I have been investigating but the Empire never actually had the chance to make a big propaganda campaign to show your face as public enemy number one. I then remembered that the Emperor tried to recruit you, it would be counterproductive that you would be seen by the galaxy as public enemy number one if you would have changed to his side. The Emperor's intention to recruit you doomed the Empire forever. We will exploit that weakness until they are smart enough to make a photo and send it to the Galaxy with your name written under. Until then sorry but you will have to be the Hero with a name but no face."

"Huh, that's a new one. I never realized that I was so unknown to the public."

Ackbar nodded.

"Know your enemy and you will win half your battles, know yourself and you will win half the rest. Know yourself and the enemy and you will win all the battles. I knew this plan would work the moment I knew Bertoff Hissa sent Admiral Buria. An incompetent cunt, I knew him since the time I was a slave of Tarkin. Bastard never did anything good with his life, only eliminating political and military rivals and licking his superior's boots. If he saw an opportunity to kill you and his political enemy he would take the chance without realizing that it would cause a civil war."

Ackbar laughed so loudly that Luke felt uncomfortable.

"Months, months planning this battle and the results are better than I expected"

"What did you expect?"

"Honestly? Losing probably a quarter of our fleet."

"So little? I expected to lose half of our fleet."

"No, not with me in command. If I expected to lose half our fleet I would retire from that battle. Even if it's my homeland I would never allow such a loss. Even if it meant victory in the end for us. We have to win but not at any cost. We have to think about every moment of the civil war. Not just the present. Earning a victory now can grant us defeat for the next ten battles, but losing now can grant us victory for the next ten battles. This is why you have to study. I can personally teach you naval tactics and make you an Admiral of the New Republic. You and I would be a good duo."

Luke felt a little bit weirded out. When the politicians he met described Ackbar they described him as a snake waiting for his opportunity to gain power. A snake that constantly harassed them with his insults and narcissism. Yet with him Ackbar acted like the classic drunk uncle that would invite you to some alcohol while you were still a minor so you had some fun time. Really a nice guy.

"I am sorry, but my responsibilities as leader of the New Jedi Order are taking all my free time, I don't think I have time for studies… In one week twenty apprentices will come. This first generation is very important for me because they will be the foundation of my New Jedi Order."

Ackbar nodded.

"Everyone has their responsibilities. That's why I respect you Luke, you know your place and capacities. Not like half of these idiot politicians that are now abusing the hard work I and others like me did."

"I prefer to not make political comments Ackbar, you know me."

"Yeah, yeah, it's alright."

As they were about to leave the hangar a door was opened. In front of them appeared Leia Skywalker Organa. She changed her surname when it was announced that Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker were siblings born of Anakin Skywalker the famous Old Republic hero.

It was good propaganda but it also granted Leia even more political prestige even if she still didn't forgive her father.

"Leia, I am sorry I was not able to be in contact with you before the battle, but you need to understand that…" Ackbar tried to say, knowing he had made Leia angry with his acts the last weeks by ignoring the political branch of the New Republic. But Leia stopped his talk before he could even finish.

"It is alright." She said, making both Ackbar and Luke surprised. They never expected her to take the fact that her authority has been ignored well. "I have seen with this battle that maybe the political apparatus of the New Republic shouldn't micromanage the army. Borsk Fey'lya convinced me that you didn't have a plan to win this battle and that the armed forces objectives did not coincide with the New Republic's objectives. But my concern has been misplaced. For that I am sorry, we politicians should really keep the line between the Armed Forces and the Civil sector untouched if we want to be a democratic and liberal state. As you said when you became Supreme Commander of the New Republic Armed Forces. Republic and Democracy. No?"

Ackbar laughed.

"That bothan rat has always been against everything I do. Do not worry Leia, my secrecy has made you worry about the situation, but now you have seen that the outcome has been to our benefit. The Empire now will enter into a civil war and we will advance."

Luke nodded.

"If you don't mind, I have to leave, I have things to do, see you later sister." Leia waved to Luke as he left, leaving alone Ackbar and Leia.

"Really that bastard of Borsk… Well anyway, I am glad I have earned your respect. If you don't mind accompanying me, I am going to the Senate now to address our victory and openly declare the next step of our operation."

"Is there a next step?" Asked Leia, "I thought we were lucky to win this battle."

"Of course there is a next step… Corellia and Kuat."

"You want to destroy their naval capacity? Why don't you just go to Coruscant?"

"We lack the army that is required to take Coruscant. Gerrera's estimates say that we will need at least ten billion soldiers in a year-long battle if we really want to take Coruscant without using turbolaser fire from space. He expects the Empire to fight for every centimeter of durasteel on that planet. And honestly so do I. I would siege it but I doubt that Coruscant would accept the New Republic's government if we starve trillions to death."

"I… I never thought that taking Coruscant would be so hard."

"Those are the estimations after analyzing the battle of Della, an urban battle. That's why the military has to take care of military matters and the politicians of civil matters, you might have cooperated in our military operations but you don't have the studies"

"And Gerrera does?"

"Sadly, yes. You can thank your father, Anakin Skywalker, for that."

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The senate was in a meeting, Ackbar together with Mon Mothma were in front of the senate. Each senator was either a member of the Old Guard or New Guard but all of them looked at Ackbar.

"First of everything," Said Ackbar. "We have won, the Republic and Democracy has won against the Tyranny of the Empire. I cannot share with precision and details the plans of the Armed Forces of the New Republic, but in cooperation with all the branches of the Armed Forces I plan to attack Coruscant."

Leia and Mon Mothma looked with concern at how Ackbar lied so blatantly after confirming to them that he planned to attack the Imperial Shipyards. Were these lies necessary? Did he believe that the Empire had spies in the Senate or was he playing politics?

"We will continue to liberate planets on our journey to Coruscant, so I expect to reach it in the following six months…"

A door was opened, the Senate and Ackbar looked at the head of the New Republic's intelligence enter the senate. This time Ackbar was actually concerned, because every time the head of the intelligence entered the senate he knew what words would come out of his mouth but at this moment he didn't know.

"Tanya Degurechaff has won against the Hutts, their fleet was completely destroyed and their armies on Tatooine have been destroyed or have surrendered!"

Every one of the senators but Leia seemed scared of this fact. The monster has been released from the offensive that was planned to force her to spend all her resources on the Hutts. They won this battle but could they win against Tanya the Merciless?

"Oh well, that's not to worry" Commented Ackbar, as if he absolutely did not care about this.

"What do you mean?!" Borks screamed at him, the bothan senator that was leader of the Old Guard. "We need to attack Degurechaff with the support of the Hutts! If not, she will destroy us!"

"It would be foolish to attack the strongest pillar of the Empire when the rest of the pillars are collapsing or weak. Also she will not attack us and will stay in her territory unless the rest of the Imperials ask for her protection or cooperation. Something I doubt they would do, Imperials are too proud for that."

"You are talking of your theory Ackbar, your theories and reality are not the same," Answered Borks.

Ackbar laughed as he stretched out his arms.

"My theories were correct in the first battle of Mon Cala, my theories were correct in the Battle to destroy the second Death Star and my theories have been correct in the second battle of Mon Cala. Borks, with all due respect, if you want to meddle in military affairs I recommend you to join our military academies. They are open for anyone. But nonetheless… Senators!" Ackbar screamed. "From now on I want the military budget of the Armed Forces to rely on the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the New Republic and for the Armed Forces to have the right to hide its expenses and projects to the civilian government."

Legally, anyone could ask the Senate to pass a law or a law modification, but everyone got surprised when the military did. Usually this show of independence of the Armed Forces would scare everyone, but could the Senate reject the proposal of the one that saved the New Republic the same day he did it?

The first green light appeared behind Ackbar, showing that someone already voted in favor, everyone looked at who it was. Leia Skywalker Organa voted in favor.

Rapidly the New Guard voted in favor and some of the Old Guard voted in favor as well, giving a majority to the proposal.

An absolute separation from the civil and military matters. Ackbar smiled.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Galid Pellaeon woke up looking around, he was in the medbay of his spaceship, and rapidly a doctor approached him.

"I am glad you have survived, Captain."

He touched the wound on his head, surprised for he could swear that the last thing that he remembered was jumping into hyperspace as the battle between the Moffs became so threaded that he feared he would die not fighting the enemies of the Empire. But fighting the Empire.

"What happened?" Asked Pellaeon.

"The hyperspace jump failed, hundreds were wounded in the hyperspace failure. I also think that we have been declared Missing in Action. Our comms are absolutely broken."

Pellaeon stood up from the medical bed but he almost fell, the doctor helped him to stay up.

"Take me to the bridge." He commanded, the doctor followed his orders and moved him through the corridors. As he passed, the crew saluted him and he could only nod as he was still wounded.

"The crew appreciate you." commented the doctor, he was new to the spaceship and joined before the spaceship departed to the battle.

"It's discipline, appreciation for me has nothing to do with their actions. I am their captain and it is my duty to keep them safe through battle, as it is their duty to follow my orders and show their discipline to me."

The doctor nodded, weirded out by the Captain's attitude, soon they reached the bridge after taking the elevator. The first view was a group of engineers trying to fix the bridge.

"Captain on the bridge!" Someone screamed, all the crew members present immediately saluted him.

"At ease, continue working," Pellaeon waved off the bridge crew before addressing the doctor and the officers. "What is the situation? Where are we? Where is the Commander?"

"The commander is still in the medbay." Commented the doctor in his ear.

"Then go watch over him. I am good here." He said, leaving behind the doctor as he walked through the bridge. The crew continued the repairs as other officers waited for him to approach to give him their reports. When the doctor left a young woman took leadership of this group of officers and approached Pellaeon.

"Captain, we are in Quermia, one day by hyperspace from Mon Cala. And the situation is heavy damage in the hangars and light damage in the logistics bay together with the bridge and the barracks"

"Can we repair everything or do we need a shipyard?"

"We can repair everything Captain."

"At least there is some good news… what about communications?"

The officers showed a shared look of sadness and desperation that worried the Captain.

"What about communications?"

"We have been unable to answer any calls but we have been able to access the official communications and the Holonet…"

"And?" Pellaeon looked desperate for the answer, he knew what he could hear but he was not ready to hear it.

"A civil war has broken out, Dozens of Moffs have declared their territory independent from the Moff Council and Bertoff Hissa and those loyal to him have yet to answer but… the Empire, if we count as the Empire the territory controlled by the Moff Council, has been reduced by…"

"seventy percent. Without counting the open rebellions in favor of the New Republic in the entire Galaxy." Finished another officer.

Pellaeon felt like he was shot and somehow survived. Falling to the floor he was caught by the officers that held him up, avoiding him falling.

"And Degurechaff?" He asked.

"There is no information from her territory, the entire supersector has entered in Radio Silence. Nothing enters, nothing comes out."

Pellaeon felt like the worst days of the Empire were happening consecutively. A never ending suffering since the battle of Yavin.

"The Empire… The Empire has fallen into anarchy and incompetence. An endless pit of suffering," said Pellaeon as he was shivering. Almost entering a panic attack.

"What about the Grand Admirals? They can restore order? Can't they?" He asked with hope, the only authority superior to a Moff was a Grand Admiral.

"Half of them are dead and the other half in unknown locations."

Pellaeon felt the need to cry, to scream to make the despair inside his body banish. But then he remembered something. A conversation he heard a long time ago.

"Thrawn! Grand Admiral Thrawn is in the Unknown Regions! I heard he was one of the most competent people in the Empire and he was sent into exile to the Unknown Regions after he fought with the Imperial Senate. We can bring him back from exile and then…"

And then nothing. There was no territory that he had, nor was there a territory that held loyalty to Grand Admiral Thrawn. What could change if he brought just one man? A man that he didn't even know exactly where he was.

The female officer seeing the desperation in the captain and the lack of initiative from the rest of officers rapidly thought of something.

"A Grand Admiral is an authority superior to any Moff, he could convince some moffs to keep loyalty and become his vassals in exchange for his leadership and from there try to reunite the Empire. You had a great plan Captain. We just have to find him!"

A spark of hope appeared in the captain's eyes.

"Yes, yes. We have enough supplies for two years… As soon as we repair the spaceship we are heading to the last known position of the Grand Admiral. I am sure that we can find his trace in the Unknown Regions!"

---------

Grand Admiral Thrawn saw how a hundred thousand stormtroopers marched through the streets of the planet he recently conquered in the Outer Rim. The Empire in the Unknown Regions, while was without communication with the Empire, the amount of resources it was given yearly allowed Thrawn to expand it through now more than half a million planets. The stormtrooper armies and the Imperial navy coordinated under his leadership made an Empire where before only existed scattered planets and aggressive species.

"Grand Admiral." Said Leguns Lartu, in charge of logistics as he approached him.

"What is it?" Asked Thrawn.

"This year resources that the Empire promised have not yet been delivered. It has been a month since they should have been here. Should we try to return and establish communication?"

Thawn, who knew that the Empire's collapse was almost impossible, didn't even show the same concern as the head of the Empire's Logistic almost dissolved in panic attacks.

"No, the Emperor probably has decided that I already have enough resources. We will continue expanding until our orders change."

Leguns Lartu wanted to say something to him, to express his concern but he couldn't. He followed Thrawn when he entered the Unknown Regions with only a small fleet and now he saw an Empire in miniature be created in a space where before no one thought it could be tamed. If Thrawn wasn't worried there was nothing to be worried about.

"Understood, I will continue to manage the logistics we have then. Though do I have your permission to ask the planets to increase their production of certain resources we now lack?"

"Yes, you have it."

Leguns nodded and left, leaving Thrawn alone as he continued to see how his troops marched through this newly conquered planet, a new addition to the Empire in the Unknown Regions.