Chapter 31

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It's safe to say I don't envy Bo Katan at all in leading battles. Standing in the hangar of my ship, my arms folded over my chest, I feel completely inadequate to be giving orders and making decisions. The holographic figures standing around me can probably sense that, too. But I'm their only option right now, and the Darksaber strapped behind my back only reinforces that reality.

R5 sits like a statue as he projects the holograms around me. Our first, and probably last, official strategy meeting before the battle for Mandalore begins. Boba Fett and Fennec stand in one image, Greef Karga in another, and Carson in another.

"Carson, any updates?" I ask, hoping to fill the silence and start the meeting.

He sighs, not looking overly pleased. Not a great sign. "I have less than a squad. A few pilots, really." I give him a look, a silent plead for some optimism, and he sighs again. "I've got Zeb, two of his latest recruits, a longtime friend Wedge Antilles, and Cara Dune. I've also got an A-wing pilot, Shara Bey Dameron."

A small smile reaches my lips. "Dameron?"

Carson nods. "She said you saved her son once. She'd like to repay the debt."

I nod, my smile growing. "Very well." I let my gaze sweep over each of the holograms. "Including Carson that gives us seven fighters to work with. Boba, you'll have your ship. Fennec, did you get the plans I sent you?"

She nods, straightening her stance. "I did. I'll have them with me aboard the secondary Star Destroyer. From there, I can infiltrate the ship, get to the reactor core, and destabilize it just like you said."

"Good." My eyes find Greef's. "She'll need some backup onboard. Can I count on you for that?"

Greef glances at Fennec's image and regards her. "If you trust her, so do I. And I've got a few men over here that haven't forgotten what the Mandalorians did for Nevarro. Including me, there's five of us."

"That's good," I say, mostly reassuring myself. "Any of them have fighter ships?"

Greef shrugs one shoulder, considering it. "I think I can safely say two of them."

"Okay, put those two in the air with us during the attack. The rest go with you to help Fennec. Once that reactor is destabilized, it'll be like the base on Nevarro. There won't be much time, and you'll have to get out of there. I included the location of escape pods on the Destroyers, but stay in contact with me and Boba Fett. Either one of us will be on standby to pick you up."

They all nod their agreement and I take a deep breath. This is going...not as bad as I thought it would.

"Once the secondary Star Destroyer goes up, I'm heading for the surface. If there are TIEs up there, I'll try to take them with me. You all have to try to get it to collide with the lead Star Destroyer to send them both up in flames. If that's not possible, I'm trusting you all to repeat the plan and get Fennec's team on the lead Destroyer. I'm sorry, but our firepower alone just isn't enough to disable it from the outside."

"Don't worry," Carson says. "We'll keep the Star Destroyers busy firing at us so Fennec has a chance to get inside."

"Let's say we take down both Destroyers," Greef starts, holding his hands out. "And you make it to the surface. Then what?"

"I'm going to find the surviving Mandalorians," I say, ignoring the doubtful looks they all exchange with each other. "They'll have to know where Lira is setting up base. If not, we'll start with the remains of Gideon's lab. Once your air assault is finished, whoever can make it through the storms to the surface will be needed to deal with any TIEs they may have waiting. I don't doubt that Lira has some on the ground."

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