Star Wars: Imperial Crusade

Ghosts of the Past

Ahsoka's T-6 shuttle,

As Ahsoka's shuttle was in hyperspace to Nam Chorios, it was being escorted by five Mandalorian Gauntlets and Fang fighters along with two MC-75 cruisers. Ahoska is willing to save Rex and hopefully bring the twisted Taloh back to the light if encountered.

"Have a few U-wings reinforce the Mandalorian attack force on the surface," Ahsoka said. "We must also download information on how we can destroy The Dragon's Flame as well as freeing Rex."

"Understood Lady Tano," A Mandalorian pilot said as several Mandalorian Warriors donning similar colors to the 332nd clone division began to stand near the deployment bay.

As the fleet jumped out of hyperspace the Star Destroyers protecting Nam Chorios began to open fire on the Mon Calamari Cruisers and TIE Fighters emerges from the hangars.

"Have two Fang Fighters escort my Shuttle to The Knight," Ahsoka said as three Mandalorians and ten Rebel soldiers began to gear up.

As the strike team approached The Knight, the TIE Fighters began to fire on the shuttle but the Mandalorian Fang Fighters quickly dispatched them paving a path for Ahsoka and her strike team to land.

As they stormed out of the shuttle, the stormtroopers in the hangar were quickly dispatched and Taloh was listening to radio chatter on the bridge.

"Lord Matarrin," General Visken said. "The attackers are being led by Ahsoka Tano along with several rebel soldiers and Mandalorians."

"Eliminate the enemy forces," Taloh said. "Do not harm Tano. I want her brought to me, and send in my royal guards and shadow division."

"Yes my lord," Visken replied.

As Ahsoka and her strike team neared the detention level, a squad of shadow scouts and shadow stormtroopers engaged them the strike team lost two rebel soldiers and the Mandalorians were taking cover.

"Hold off the shadow troopers while I free Rex," Ahsoka said as she deflected a few shots back at one of the shadow scout troopers killing him.

As Ahsoka sliced the cell control, the door slid open and Rex was thrilled to see his friend rescue him.

"Commander Tano," Rex said. "We don't have much time, Taloh is probably heading in this direction and Vader will arrive if we don't leave now."

"They won't kill us," Ahsoka said.

"Exactly," Rex said as Ahsoka gave him his DC-17 blaster pistols back. "He wants to turn you to the dark side and reunite us to serve The Empire."

"Like on Agamar," Ahsoka said. "Let's make for the ship."

As the team blasted through the shadow stormtroopers and additional stormtroopers, Taloh ignited his lightsaber and was escorted by four royal guards.

"Do you believe that you could liberate Rex unnoticed?" Taloh asked taunting the strike team. "Ahsoka, please lower your weapons. I do not want to harm you. In fact I want to give you a chance at redemption. Surrender now, and help end this brutal conflict we can do so much together Ahsoka."

"Taloh," Ahsoka said sadly. "Please don't do this. The Emperor is using both you and Anakin to destroy the Jedi and make the galaxy suffer."

"No," Taloh said deactivating his lightsaber. "You don't understand that it was the Jedi who wanted me dead because of an ancient prophecy. They feared me because of my potential, they didn't care, but you did. That's why I'm asking you to come with me not as an enforcer of The Empire, but as someone who I care deeply for."

As Taloh attempted to approach Ahsoka and both factions had their weapons on standby, several Mandalorian warriors began to open fire on the Royal Guards, Coven and Sereta, and Taloh himself. Enraged, Taloh activated his lightsaber and charged at the Mandalorians and Ahsoka blocked Taloh's strikes to prevent him from killing her forces.

"Ahoska," Taloh said. "You need to step aside. I do not want to fight you."

"I'm sorry Taloh," Ahsoka said as she locked blades with him. "I will not let my hard work be destroyed even if it means that I have to prevent you from killing my allies by fighting you."

Taloh tried to zigzag past Ahsoka only for her to force dash and intercept him before he can launch another killing blow on a Mandalorian and a Rebel adjacent to the pair.

"Ahsoka please come home,"Taloh said as they locked blades again. "We miss you and we do not want to harm you."

"As I said Taloh," Ashoka said with a tear running down her cheek. "I won't turn to the dark side."

"My lady," a Mandalorian exclaimed as Ahsoka and Taloh severed their blade lock. "Rex is aboard the shuttle we have to go now."

"Let's go," Ahsoka said as she turned her head back to a saddened Taloh as he deactivated his lightsaber as the shuttle left the hangar.

"My lord," Sereta said. "We will mobilize fighters to pursue."

"Very well," Taloh said. "Make sure that Ahsoka and Rex are not harmed."

Several TIE pilots ran to their fighters including the TIE predators and jumped inside and powered them up and later detached from the clamps and zipped out of the hangar.

As the shuttle and the Mandalorian escort jetted away from The Knight, a battalion of fighters swarmed around them and attempted to disable the hyperdrive. Meanwhile, on the bridge,Taloh, Sereta, Coven, and Visken watched as The Knight and The Devastator followed the shuttle.

Vader then arrived on the bridge of his destroyer and watched as both were attempting to trap the team in a tractor beam and prepare for the next phase of the Imperial Crusade alongside Ahsoka, and Rex.

"Commander," Rex said. "The Knight and The Devastator are trying to trap us by disabling the hyperdrive."

"Prepare to fire countermeasure and lock on to the Tractor beam projectors," Ahsoka said.

As the shuttle locked on to the tractor beam projectors more TIE Fighters fired on the shuttle and hit the deflector shields with a few powerful shots.

"We have taken a devastating hit," A Mandalorian said. "They are preparing to pull us back inside."

As they believed that they have failed to escape, two Mandalorian gauntlets fired and disabled the tractor beam projectors on The Devastator and it caused The Knight to also lose its lock although there was no damage to the projectors.

"We're free Commander," Rex said. "Let's get out of here."

"Make the jump," Ahsoka said.

As the fleet jumped into hyperspace with a few X-wings and A-wings destroyed, Taloh and Vader watched from the window of the bridge as they failed their next plan for the Imperial crusade and reunite with their former allies in order to restore order to the Galaxy.