Fandom Fight for Control [closed]

[Lucyfer]

What Leia said of Darth Nyx replacing Snoke in Kylo’s life came as no surprise. And the way Leia followed it actually had Reveille laugh, though it was hardly a truly amused sound. No, the bitterness that tinted it spoke more than any of her words could have.

But did she leave it at just the laugh of his supposed weaknesses? Oh no, stars knew she couldn’t help but address that, because what would Leia Organa know of his weaknesses?

And if she did know them – then she knew how deeply she’d failed as a parent. And she should know how lost her boy truly was.

“Which weakness would that be, Princess?” There was actual mockery in her tone now, “The fact he’s a touch-starved mama’s boy who swoons at the slightest bit of praise offered?” None of those words should have left her mouth, but she didn’t consider the implications of how she’d know those things. “His desperate need to have someone to please?"

“Maybe you still have use for me yet.”

“Or do you mean that any slight criticism sends him into a blind rage, because he has the emotional capacity of the boy you abandoned?” That definitely shouldn’t have been said, and she let out a huff, irritated both with herself and General Organa. “Because the only weakness I care about is the one that lets me put a blaster bolt through his head, that his Force won’t stop, and you’re not going to give me that weakness, if it exists, because you still hope that your boy is in there, somewhere. He’s not. I tried already, when he killed Snoke, I thought there was someone in there who would actually help the damn galaxy, but there isn’t.”

~***~

“He’s that stupid,” Armitage said, staring at the viewport with irritation. “Mobilize the troops on the ground. Schaeffer’s still there, right?” Armitage asked the Bridge, walking ahead to the catwalk. No point getting to Sienar, he was probably already dead as he flew, anyways.

Kylo was making use of their TIEs as shields, anyways. “Prep our ground-to-air weapons on Caprioril, and tell Schaeffer to prepare to engage a freighter. Send him the description, and tell him we don’t need the ship, or anyone in it, alive.”

There was one good thing about Schaeffer – he was just as murderous as Phasma.

Then, he added, considering what Althea said, “Tell him to be alert for further changes on the ground, as well.”

“Understood, Supreme Leader.”

“And patch him through immediately if he calls back,” it was unlikely.

~***~

Kylo could fly. Sienar had always heard he was skilled, but it irked him to see it and be flying after him. Of course, his own skill kept him from getting fried by a turbolaser, and kept him right on Kylo’s exhaust, but he wanted to get ahead.

A freighter was slow, and wouldn’t last in a true dogfight, so Sienar lifted up higher.

If Reveille had been there, she would have jumped in her ship and flown out immediately; Sienar was, in that moment, grateful she was gone, even if it was to speak with General Organa. Would that piss off Kylo? Probably. And that’s what Sienar wanted, as his own rage burned white at Kylo’s implications.

“Keep talking shit, Ben,” he said, blissfully unaware all of his moves were being spoken of by Zeme’lodi’csapla. “Least I have the flying skills and the girl, something you can’t say. Oh, and hey, since you’ve been using Ben so much, the Grand Marshall’s actually off speaking with your mom. Such a fuckin’ shame you don’t even have good relations with your parents, either. Man, what do you have?”

And Sienar planned to swoop down low, right in front of Kylo, and punch a missile through the front of his ship. Or crash them both. Either way.

 

[cleopat]

Leia bristled at the cruel words Reveille spoke. Her glare hardened, and even Poe wanted to leave her side to avoid what could be her wrath. He knew what she was capable of. Hell, she didn’t hesitate to stun him with a blaster after his attempted coup when Vice Admiral Holdo took over.

She survived decades of politics. That in of itself should suggest what she was capable of.

“Are you done with your little tantrum?” Her voice was cool and steady. ”By all means, please continue to waste our time.” She paused to allow for any additional comment, and Poe desperately wished he could warn Reveille to not antagonize her any more. For all of their sakes.

“I’ll ask this, how well did you know Ben when you tried to get through him?” She was unaware that that had been nearly after they met for the first time. “Or did you merely assume from what you’ve heard of him?”

~~

Lavinia remained near the back of the Bridge, watching the scene unfold before her. Armitage seemed to have considered her thoughts. At least he’s not totally stubborn.

But it seemed the attack was not going in their favor, from what she could see. The entire fleet was after one man, but the man continued to evade them while firing his own missiles back at the TIEs.

“Sir, we’re losing TIEs,” an officer stationed at one of the computers warned. Despite being outnumbered, Kylo seemed to be holding his own against them.

~~

Kylo anticipated Sienar’s moves. He was against two Force users, which gave them the advantage, which is what they needed when racing against TIEs with a freighter.

His eyes snapped to Discord when Sienar told him of how Reveille and Leia are meeting. “Did anyone know of this?” he asked, momentarily disengaging communications so Sienar wouldn’t overhear the question.

His grip tightened on the control wheel. Don’t let him get to you. That’s what he wants. You can deal with the other issue later.

“Did I strike a nerve?” Kylo swooped his ship down low, placing further distance between himself and Sienar. He weaved in between other TIEs that attempted to shoot at him, all proving ineffective except at accidentally hitting one another. “Maybe you should rethink those flying skills you claim to have.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Leia bristled. It was obvious to see that she’d gotten under her skin, enough so that Leia’s own comment didn’t hurt. She considered agreeing that she was done wasting time, and leaving. She would have done just that if Leia didn’t have her own query.

In either case, she didn’t sit back down. “How well do you know him?” Reveille shot back, not caring to answer a pointless question, “Last I knew, you hadn’t seen him in well over a decade.” She couldn’t imagine Leia would have much to offer with weaknesses, or anything, really, about Kylo as a person. She hadn’t been in his life for a while.

Brendol certainly wouldn’t have been able to speak about Reveille’s own set of issues. She couldn’t imagine Leia could do a much better job than him, even if Leia actually gave a damn about her son.

~***~

No, of course they would end up hitting their own. Kylo Ren was an adept fighter in the air, just as he was with the Force. It was frustrating, really. “Let the TIEs handle it – keep the turbolasers charged, but don’t fire unless the shot is clear.” Hux ordered, observing as one TIE remained on Kylo’s back.

Well, at least Sienar could keep up and weave through the mess of other TIEs and debris.

Hux didn’t have much faith in him being able to shoot down Kylo, though.

~***~

Discord heard the query and her vision blurred, the present returning to the focus, the view of the future lost as she tried to register what Kylo was asking, “I don’t know anything about Leia and Reveille,” she said. Nyx hadn’t told her of any such thing.

She blinked a few times rapidly and shook her head, trying to adjust back to the tranced state.

But it would be some seconds before that returned, and before Kylo had that edge again.

Seconds where Sienar followed Kylo’s swoop, “Nah, we’re cool, Ben,” and followed underneath Kylo, before shooting straight back up, intending to force Kylo to a turn from his path, before he could bombard Kylo with shots. “Or, well, I’m cool. You’re still an abusive asshat who’s gonna be stardust in a tick.”

 

[cleopat]

Reveille spoke the truth. Leia hadn’t seen her son in over a decade, something she would always resent herself for. Something she occasionally allowed herself to mourn. If she could redo things, she wouldn’t send Kylo off the way she did.

“And how long did you know him before outing him from the First Order? A few days?” The first indication she held knowledge of some events that occurred.

“Snoke affected his mind before he was sent to train with his uncle. He poisoned his mind for years, and undoing all of that won’t happen just overnight, or even be easy, but I believe it can happen.”

Though Reveille’s description of some of the weaknesses she noticed from Kylo hurt her very soul, it showed Leia potential. Potential that he could change, and maybe that even a part of him wanted to change.

~~

“Yes, sir,” the officer answered back, her focus returning to her monitor. With all the TIEs pursuing Kylo, a clear shot may be near impossible to achieve. Not unless they wanted to do a sacrificial shot.

“Turning off his comm-line and pursuing Kylo Ren? He must have a death wish,” Lavinia mused. She hoped he didn’t do anything stupid. Or, stupider.

Lavinia may actually miss the cocky bastard if he got himself killed.

~~

Kylo frowned as he realized he disturbed Discord from her vision. They would talk more on the subject later, when they weren’t being chased by a reckless flyboy.

Her disturbance from her vision didn’t affect Kylo’s flying. The Force aided him, guiding his maneuvers based on what Sienar had planned. When Sienar swooped underneath Kylo, he slowed his own ship to come out behind his TIE.

“And you’re pretty confident for someone with predictable moves. Really, are you sure you didn’t earn your position in a bed?” Once behind him, Kylo would fire his missiles at his TIE before making a sharp turn to the left.

They needed to further themselves from the fleet. The number of TIEs may have been dwindling, but he feared their luck would only last so much longer.

 

[Lucyfer]

Reveille made note that Leia appeared to know how long she’d been around Kylo. Did she know about Korriban? Did she know about the occurrence on her brother’s ship? Reveille wanted to shove those thoughts back, but they lingered and nagged at the back of her mind.

The Force crawled across her skin in memory, under Leia’s gaze. “I am aware that trauma is not something you recover from in a day. Physical trauma, mental trauma, or emotional trauma, but saying he is traumatized does not excuse him, Princess.” She wasn’t going to blame who she was on Brendol. She wasn’t going to blame her actions on what Kylo did to her, either. She was going to get better.

However long that took, whatever process it took.

“I understand you want to save him. And you want me to agree to help you with that. I can’t,” she said first, before shifting that, “I won’t.” Spite was ever her favorite companion, and in the case of Kylo, she’d rather die than help him. “He’s done enough to the galaxy and to the Order, and he’s not getting away with the pithy excuse that he was traumatized. No one ever told him what he was doing, was good.”

No one encouraged his terrible behavior. He was an adult. He could think, he could reason, he could have followed the logic of seeing what happened to Snoke, and not followed in Snoke’s example, but he didn’t.

He was a lost cause who deserved the howl of the void. “I appreciate the information you’ve given me, and you’re more than welcome to use what information I’ve shared, but I don’t think it’s to our benefit to keep helping each other. We have vastly different goals when it comes to Kylo Ren.” Leia’s information would only aid in his death. Reveille’s information would only aid in his capture.

It’d be a race. It was a race – but at least after this point they could say they weren’t helping the other.

~***~

Armitage followed the path, wondering briefly what Kylo Ren was even doing there, and how far Sienar might pursue. “No, he just didn’t want to be distracted,” Armitage understood that. He knew it wasn’t uncommon with Sienar when there was a particularly difficult target, but it was a nuisance all the same.

Sienar was a squadron leader, after all.

Right now, that was likely falling to Rani or Kos’tel’lanni. He wasn’t certain, but he knew it was unlikely that they were going to succeed at dropping Kylo Ren. And he couldn’t call Sienar back.

“Kylo has to land eventually.” Or flee. “Schaeffer will be prepared to engage when he does.”

~***~

Sienar’s ship continued straight up, and then corkscrewed down, avoiding the missiles that Kylo had sent after him, laughing a bit at Kylo trying to upset him with that old routine, “You don’t even have new material. I hear that every day, you know? It’s stale, Ben.” And back on his tail.

He shifted power to the right wing of this Defender. Shields up.

He was still faster than the freighter, and if Kylo wanted something new – well, he’d give him something new.

As the power set in, effectively shielding the right side of his ship, he charged forward and wouldn’t swerve away. He was going to wreck Kylo’s ship with the wings of his Defender and the shields around them – hopefully, he’d cut into the engine. He was pretty sure he knew where that was on the freighter, but he knew the shields of Kylo’s ship and his own might make such damage impossible.

Either way, he was ramming the asshole and inflicting some hull damage.

 

[cleopat]

The casual insult in how Reveille addressed Leia as a princess irritated a few of the Resistance fighters, but it hardly bothered the woman in question. It was something she grew used to, and besides, princesses were taught how to rule.

She held leadership roles longer than the red-head had been alive.

“And what you’re doing to the galaxy is good?” Poe fired back. Leia didn’t break her gaze from Reveille, but she did hold a hand up in front of him. A warning.

“I am curious,” she began, lowering her hand. “You knew we share different goals concerning my son.” Well, Leia did. She was confident Poe and the others didn’t quite agree with her. “Why is it you still decided you wanted to talk to me?”

Maybe the woman held hope that Leia would surprise her. Too bad she had to disappoint.

~~

Armitage’s reasons made sense, but still, the actions required some level of recklessness that only the flyboy was capable of. But would he be successful against Kylo Ren?

The man came from a line, on both sides of the family, of those gifted with piloting. Mix what the Force could do in with those genes, and she wondered if there was anyone who could out-pilot him.

Well, they will find out.

“Or he’ll anticipate a ground attack as well.” Did he? Was he aware that the army waited for him on Caprioril?

~~

“And you offer such unique material yourself.” His tone was dry, clearly unamused that the guy wouldn’t shit up. Darth Discord continued to guide him from her seat, which Kylo utilized to remain one step ahead of Sienar.

If he sent most of the ship’s power to the right side, then Kylo would move over to the left.

Kylo moved right before Sienar charged forward, ensuring him enough time to dodge the attempted attack. He didn’t risk doing such a move that Sienar did; he valued the usefulness of his ship too much to risk any damage to its hull.

Once more, he pulled up and dropped back behind Sienar. Once his ship was within his line of sight, Kylo aimed to hit the side Sienar didn’t reallocate the shields to. This little battle needed to end.

 

[Lucyfer]

‘Yes.’ Reveille’s gaze did shift to Poe as he finally spoke out. Honestly, from what she heard of him, she had expected a reaction long before now. Apparently his temper had calmed some – or Armitage and Terex blew up his reputation.

Either way, she didn’t speak to him. Leia’s gesture was enough, and she looked back to the General. “I was here only for information on him, General. Your interest in him would mean you had something about him I didn’t. Now I know a bit more,” Dathomir, Nightsisters, “And I know how to proceed with what information I have.” Droids, for one.

A stealth ship wouldn’t offer much. Stealth didn’t block the Force.

But droids were nigh undetectable because they weren’t lifeforms. The separatists had one thing right.

“As I said at the outset, I didn’t come here to mince words and speak of alliances, or ending the war.” She was there for information, and now she had it. “Did you believe you could change my own opinion?” Foolish, really, “Or did you have some other hope beyond information and your crew?”

~***~

Armitage knew he might. Kylo would be a fool not to anticipate a strike from below. As soon as Kylo hit the atmosphere, weapons would open up and shoot at him, with no concern for other targets – save Sienar, who was likely to follow.

Or, well, he would have.

Armitage watched as Sienar took a hit that his shields, at full power, should have been able to handle. His own surprise registered on his face as Sienar’s ship went spinning, and collided with another TIE.

There was a moment of silence in the Bridge, everyone recognizing what ship that was. Who was in that ship.

A beat, “Lieutnenat-Admiral Sienar’s systems are all down.” An individual on the Bridge said, who had been keeping track of their TIE numbers.

~***~

Sienar didn’t manage to scrape Kylo’s ship. A touch disappointing, “Least being consistent is good for me,” he teased back, swiping ahead of Kylo as he went up. Sienar rolled his eyes.

He started to balance the ship’s power again as he turned to face Kylo as he evened himself out behind Sienar. “You could at least grab my hair if you’re going to ride my ass.” He dared to tease, as he shot his ship forward. ‘Come on, baby.’

His wings were clipped on the side still restoring power, but he thought his shields would hold for a charge, so he could get up and above, and drop what few bombs he had. Of course, he was running on the idea it wasn’t something Kylo would know of – blissfully unaware of Discord.

The shields didn’t hold.

The wing blew to pieces, and Sienar’s ship went spinning into another.

 

[cleopat]

No, Leia did not anticipate any exchange of friendly words in the meeting. To think so would be foolish. The meeting only confirmed for Leia that they faced a race to get to Kylo first, for two drastically different results.

Poe’s thoughts drifted to their informative spy in the First Order as Reveille inquired about having hope beyond what she thought they had. Because of their little viper, the Resistance knew about the plans of the First Order, but with their manpower, it would only do so good right now.

“To believe that I could sway your mind would be foolish. But we do have hope. Hope in more than you believe we do.” Reveille could take that as she wished.

“I do foresee us meeting again, although I doubt the situation will be the same.” No, next time, it may be on a battlefield. Or with their blasters pointed at one another. Or as they both laid their sights on Ben Solo.

~~

The same shock registered on Lavinia’s face as she witnessed the collision. She took in a sudden deep breath of air, as the implications hit her.

She had to watch her own response while on the Bridge. As Armitage would say, this is war. Death is inevitable. The First Order has a chain of command.

It still didn’t help.

“We should warn General Schaeffer that it’s up to him now.” Kylo was headed for the planet. He would make it, but his actions after that remained a mystery to her.

~~

Kylo smirked as Sienar’s cockiness proved his error. He was now free to continue to the planet’s surface, as the other TIEs didn’t fly with the same skill as Sienar did.

It was easy enough to get them off their trail.

Something awaited them on the planet’s surface. Kylo didn’t need the Force to know that. The First Order took the planet, it was expected they fortified the surface, and thus he relied on himself and Discord to anticipate any attacks.

He would love to see their reactions when his reinforcements finally arrived. The First Order grossly underestimated his potential, and they will be proven the fools.

 

[Lucyfer]

Hope.

Of course, she’d hear that from Leia Organa. ‘That’s all you ever have. That’s all you ever offer.’ She was tempted to say something about Leia’s political career. About the uselessness of hope without action, but Leia had left politics. Leia knew that didn’t work – she knew action was needed.

Reveille wouldn’t insult her over a flaw she lacked. “I hope you have a good rest of your evening, Princess.” Reveille determined that was the end of it. “Valo,” she tipped her head towards him, before turning off.

Terex came out of the crowd then to catch up with her, but not without shooting a glare at Poe Dameron.

Anywhere but Takodana, and he would have taken a shot at the back of the pretty boy’s head.

~***~

Armitage nodded, “Inform General Schaeffer that the air defenses have been breached. Let him know to expect Kylo Ren’s freighter. Order all TIEs to stay back, we don’t need anyone shot down.”

The message was, indeed, sent out, and Armitage was able to see some of the lines of energy as they escaped the atmosphere of the planet.

He hoped something would hit. Hoped something would land.

“TIEs are clear, sir. Should we attempt a turbolaser?”

Armitage considered it, and nodded. “Let’s make sure he hasn’t forgotten about us.”

~***~

Discord could indeed foresee several shots coming their way from the planet’s surface – and from behind, as she was quick to tell Kylo. No TIEs were in pursuit, but the lines of fire were lancing closer and closer together, trying to box Kylo so he wouldn’t have far to run.

It was a hellish rain of fire, given there was only one target for multiple ground defenses to focus on.

For the turbolasers of all the capital ships to focus on, with no TIEs in the way.

Zeme’lodi’csapla knew it would be better if they got to the ground. At least, she hoped so. ‘How long until you’re here?’ Though she knew Nyx wouldn’t show up herself, she wondered how long until reinforcements.

Her sight didn’t go that far ahead.

 

[cleopat]

They each watched Reveille walk away. Poe exchanged his own glare to Terex, unknowingly wishing the same thing the man wanted.

“She was right in her description of that man,” he commented. “She is a bitch.”

Leia didn’t react to the observation, but there were smirks and chuckles from the group that survived their brief imprisonment on her ship.

Leia could only hope that Lavinia would make the decision to leave before it became too late for her, if it wasn’t already.

~~

Lavinia could only stand back a watch the battle. She felt like there was nothing more she could do there, now as they relied on their ground defenses to destroy Kylo.

Unless their turbolaser managed to hit him.

She said nothing else to Armitage concerning the battle. All she could do, until ordered otherwise, was to watch as Kylo’s ship evaded their fire each time.

Really, it was frustrating.

~~

Kylo weaved through the oncoming line of fire and turbolasers focused on them. His teeth clenched together as he realized evading the shots were becoming more difficult.

Instead of flying straight down to the surface of the planet, he flew on a more horizontal path while steadily decreasing the altitude. His main focus was to try and get further away from the turbolasers on the planet. Those of the capital ships would be near impossible to avoid for now, so he concentrated on avoiding their fire for now.

The ship continued to weave back and forth, not only to avoid the fire this time, but to create an unpredictable path for their fire to lock on.

Really, how weak have you become to allow one ship to slip by both your army and navy?

 

[Lucyfer]

“So what was that all about?”

“We know where Kylo Ren is hiding out. Someone needs to tell Matja. I think you’ll enjoy that.”

Terex smirked, just a bit, but nodded. He would enjoy paying him a visit under circumstances where Matja couldn’t just kill him. “I’ll be dispatching droids. I expect him to figure something out with his Force-hindering items so we can observe more.”

“I’m sure he’ll think of something,” Terex said.

“Meanwhile, I have to find out the spy that told Leia about things with Kylo, and that Kos’tel’lanni is working with.”

Terex’s eyes widened a bit at that, “Stella with a spy?” Her expression didn’t budge, “No shit…,” he couldn’t help but chuckle, even if Reveille’s expression darkened at that. He didn’t shut up. “Hey, I’ve earned this. I’m going to go get some drinks at the Spiked on Eriadu. I’ll tell ya all about the conversation with Matja later. I’m sure you’ll need some good news.”

She probably would, so she just gave a small nod.

He slapped a hand on her back, and she flinched. “What? It wasn’t that har—”

“Don’t. Touch me.”

He withdrew his hands, holding both up.

He didn’t ask.

She didn’t explain.

“All right. I’ll talk to ya later.”

She managed a nod, an apology building in her throat, but she couldn’t get it out before Terex turned away and left.

“…sorry.”

She was trying to be better than Kylo, right? Trying to get over her trauma? She shut her eyes, counted to five, and turned to her own ship.

She’d apologize for her reaction later.

~***~

Kylo was soon out of view, and so Armitage moved to other screens to observe action on the ground. There weren’t many of those set up.

Eventually, Captain Lazuli did speak, “Sir, the ship is evading our fire.”

‘No kidding?’ Armitage just sighed. Letting Kylo land wouldn’t be good.

“Captain, suggest not locking onto Kylo Ren. Ceasefire. Plot his path, and the speed of his ship, and cover it in one mass shot. The turbolasers will follow your lead and direction.”

“I’ll suggest it to Schaeffer, sir.”

And the suggestion was indeed run by Schaeffer, who found it agreeable, as Kylo flew at a horizontal angle to the ground for now. He was able to estimate the speed, and how far he could get in any one direction.

It wouldn’t be a perfect block of fire, but the idea had its merit.

And so, after several seconds of ceasefire – the weapons would fire as one, to the left, to the right, ahead, and behind, Kylo’s ship. All not locked on, but intending to hit him in any direction he turned towards, assuming he couldn’t just stop the momentum of the ship and stop where he was.

Naturally, Discord mentioned this.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo heeded the warning Discord gave him. He slowed the speed of his ship, nearly cutting his momentum in half, and in subsequent action, the turbolasers fired at him.

But they each narrowly missed his ship. So narrow that the power of the turbolasers shook the ship.

His hands tightened. As the turbolasers stopped, he continued his previous path to the planet. The trees and the ground grew closer, and soon they would be safe from the First Order’s fire temporarily.

He found himself wanting to comment to Discord on the pair they made. Each of their unique skills aiding in outsmarting the First Order and flying through their line of sight. But he didn’t. It was unnecessary, and it would only disturb her from her concentration.

They still weren’t out of the woods yet. Even once on the ground, the threat was still very high until their back-up finally arrived.

He hoped it wouldn’t be too much longer.

 

[Lucyfer]

Aksel Schaeffer knew there would be no hitting Kylo Ren at that point. Not in the air. They needed to mobilize and move quickly. Kylo couldn’t stop every blaster shot, but as he prepared to give the order, he felt a disturbance down on the ground level. It didn’t come from the ground though, and the platinum-haired General looked up to see multiple ships of multiple varieties appear in the air above.

Not Resistance.

‘So he wasn’t alone.’ Just initially. And now he was on the ground. Soon, his reinforcements would be on the ground, as well.

It should be something they could handle, but Schaeffer hesitated to give an order to go forward. Death wasn’t high on his priority list.

So, he finally called up himself, gesturing to the Stormtroopers with him to hold rank, “Supreme Leader, Kylo Ren has reached the ground. I’m seeing multiple ships in the atmosphere. How would you like to proceed?”

~***~

On the Finalizer, Schaeffer’s call came on the heels of another, this one from their ship on Corulag. “Retreat, Lind. Return to Coruscant,” he ordered them, willing to accept the loss of Corulag given the limited defenses, and the difficulty of breaking from this battle.

This battle, which became quite a bit more complicated, as multiple ships appeared in front of them. Armitage narrowed his eyes. The makes and models were a mess, with no consistency between them. That would make strategy difficult, for them, as well as for him.

Kylo was on the ground.

And these were his new allies.

Armitage wished, right then, he had Reveille to speak with, to consider their options. Instead, he knew he only had Kos’tel’lanni, and he opted to use that, “Bring the Admiral into the conversation, Mitaka,” he directed, and brought the lines together soon enough.

He did not like the thought of retreat, but it was in his mind to do just that as he watched one ship charging for an attack. “Admiral, General.”

“Supreme Leader.” Both voices echoed the title.

“The situation on the ground, General?”

“As far as I can tell, there isn’t one, except that Kylo is present.”

“Likely with Zeme’lodi’csapla,” Kos’tel’lanni noted. “With all due respect, Supreme Leader, I think we should retreat. We don’t know what we’re facing.” And a shot tore across space, slamming into the hull of one of their ships. The shields held, thankfully, “And we know Kylo is aware of what we have.” Kos’tel’lanni concluded.

 

[cleopat]

The back-up finally arrived.

A smirk crossed Kylo’s face. For now, they were victorious. The planet will be theirs once again, and now the First Order would know he was an actual threat.

He wouldn’t call them to congregate in an exact location until the First Order left the planet, which was inevitable. Once that happened, they could focus on fully establishing themselves as possessing full control of Caprioril again.

In the meantime, he would allow them to fire upon the First Order as they pleased.

The ship landed in a field, not far from the nearest town. “Send Darth Nyx an update. The First Order isn’t an impenetrable as they thought.”

~~

So Kylo really did have a plan. Lavinia took in the ships the appeared before them, noting how they didn’t match up. They were all different makes and models, which reminded her of how the various cells of the Resistance held different ships. Largely, only their squadrons were identical – all X-Wings.

The voices of Schaeffer and Kos’tel’lanni sounded over the comms. If they stayed, they faced uncertainty with Kylo’s allies. She had to agree with Kos’tel’lanni. They should retreat.

Lavinia added, “And we don’t know if there’s more coming.” What was one planet they could come back to later?

If Kylo already knew the firepower the First Order was capable of, he could warn his allies. Aid them in exploiting weaknesses.

 

[Lucyfer]

Discord slowly reeled herself back to the present as she sensed the atmosphere change, and recognized the arrival of Nyx. She took a steadying breath as the present became clear in her vision, and she heard Kylo’s statement. She took her datapad out and let Nyx know the current situation, with a word of gratitude for the ships.

“Timely,” she mused, rising from her seat, “We should try to stop any from leaving,” there was obviously someone operating the ground weaponry. It seemed prudent to make sure at least some of them, if not all of them, didn’t make it back.

Though she wasn’t sure how far they were from those individuals.

~***~

Two voices spoke for retreat. Schaeffer added his own thoughts, “We can regroup at Coruscant and figure out what they’re doing, then strike back.” They were already down a commander, from what he knew, and the Grand Marshall was also absent, to get more information on Kylo – and so perhaps, this situation.

They could only hope.

“All right,” Hux’s voice came as some retreat, “General, order the retreat. Return all units to the Finalizer, hangar 27 and 30 will be open,” Hux stated.

“Understood, Supreme Leader.” And with that command given, Schaeffer began to order them to pull out and retreat back to the transport vehicles and TIEs they had down with them. The TIEs would be their escort up.

~***~

Armitage didn’t like what he was having to say, and he pressed his knuckles into his temple after the orders were given. “Make sure we cover the retreat of Schaeffer. Kos’tel’lanni, stay here until then,” he issued a few other commands to ship, to stagger their departure so they wouldn’t all go at once, so some would get to safer space immediately.

The thought to tell Reveille of the situation momentarily slipped his mind as he waited for signs of Schaeffer’s transport coming up from the planet.

‘Can’t believe this….’

He was likely going to hear an ‘I told you so’ from Reveille.

He was also going to make sure she was aware that what she did was completely unacceptable in the future. And presently. He wasn’t sure how to address that matter right then. Or how to accept that she’d been right to be concerned with Kylo. That Kos’tel’lanni was right.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo agreed with the need to prevent any of the ground forces from leaving, but he had landed the ship far from them. He didn’t know if they would be able to make it back over to the forces in time.

“I’ll alert the others of this,” he decided. His hand reached out to establish a communication line with their allies, hoping they would all comply with his orders without complaint.

“This is Kylo Ren,” he started, his voice commanding. “The First Order have troops stationed on the ground, but we have reason to believe they’ll be leaving soon. Fire upon any of their ships you see. Our aim is to dwindle their numbers right now.”

A serious of confirmations replied back.

Kylo then rose from his seat. “We need to consider our next course of action.” Or await further instruction from Nyx.

~~

Lavinia considered Armitage in this moment. No doubt his mind was swarmed with frustration and anger, and rightly so. Kylo proved to be a foe to watch, which she didn’t believe could happened. But it did.

Things weren’t looking good. But the First Order still had more ships and fighters than Kylo, unless that truly wasn’t the existent of his own army. She didn’t know what to think.

Lavinia stepped a bit closer to Armitage, but enough to maintain comfortable space for him. “Is there anything you need me to do, sir?” She had felt useless the entire battle, merely standing to the side and watching the events unfold, and even now, she didn’t know if she had any use.

And she had the desire to place a comforting hand on his shoulder, but she wouldn’t dare to do that on the Bridge.

 

[Lucyfer]

Discord had thought their next course would be to go after the groups still on the ground themselves. She assumed, by Kylo’s statement, they were too far away to do anything, so she didn’t leave the cockpit. She offered a slight shrug, “What would be best?” She asked, instead of making another suggestion.

He knew the First Order.

He would know how to proceed from here. At least, that was the theory she was working with. She hoped several of their ships would be taken down before they reached the safety of the larger vessels.

Really, she hoped the larger vessels would be taken down, but that was likely not going to happen this time. The ships that Nyx had – well, her pirates had – weren’t exactly made for this kind of combat.

They were working with the element of surprise. Once that wore off…then things would get complicated with the Order.

~***~

When Althea inched closer, Armitage couldn’t quite help the irked look. He regretted it immediately after, but it had come to the surface readily. ‘You don’t want her closer.’ No, and the nagging thoughts from before returned to explain why. Her questions of jealousy.

Well, now there was no one to be jealous of, was there? Sienar was gone.

It could have easily been any of them, “No,” he answered her. He had dismissed her earlier as it was.

Her duties didn’t exactly fit into the Bridge environment. “You may go,” she may want to go mourn Sienar as it was, or check on others.

He didn’t know the status of Rani.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo paused to consider what would be their best course of action, after prompted by Discord. What they would do next would depend on how many First Order ships the allies managed to shoot down, and if they could figure out where they headed for next.

“First, we wait for the full retreat of the First Order from Caprioril. After that, we’ll need to meet with the ruler of this planet and reaffirm them that we take our word to protect them seriously.” He needed to soothe over their fears they may have gained after today.

After that? “Then we’ll all head for Corulag and take that planet back from the First Order.” Not only would it be a strategic victory, but also a symbolic one for him. It had been the first planet he convinced to join his side, and the first one the First Order reclaimed from him.

Kylo would continue to prove to them he wasn’t to be underestimated. “Any objections?”

~~

Lavinia noticed the irked look, and she couldn’t help the hurt she felt. They had done so well earlier, and now, in her eyes, it seemed things have regressed. She didn’t allow her face to show her emotions; it remained stoic. Passive.

The dismiss was expected, but she held onto some hope that he would have something for her to do, if only to stay on the Bridge. No such luck.

She nodded and turned to head toward the exit. What was she to do now?

She didn’t feel the pain of Sienar’s loss, as she shoved those as far from her mind as possible. If she allowed herself to linger, she may just start mourning the cocky flyboy.

She also didn’t think of how others may have reacted to his death, such as Rani.

With no other plans in mind, Lavinia made her way back to her quarters.

 

[Lucyfer]

“A few.” Discord answered, lifting a finger, “Corulag is already handled by another group,” that Kylo didn’t know that was strange, but she wouldn’t say that. There was no need of them, there. “And two, there’s no leader on Caprioril.” They had gone over that. The leadership was dead. “I’m sure someone will be instated, but I think Nyx is going to make it one of our own, now….”

A Nightsister in charge.

It would likely be the same on Corulag. They couldn’t just hand it off to the next noble in line, in case that noble was on Leia’s side. That was to be determined.

In either case, Caprioril would soon be evacuated, without too many lost ships in those returning. Nyx’s forces would secure the sky, and Corulag would soon be called in as secured, with little for either of them to do.

For, indeed, Nyx was putting Nightsisters in charge – or at least, leaving one behind to run things behind a puppet.

A noble would be replacing the Baron.

~***~

Reveille received the message from Kos’tel’lanni soon enough to avoid the mess of Caprioril. She drew out of lightspeed, and reset the coordinates for Coruscant, finding most of the fleet there. Kos’tel’lanni hadn’t said much, and that also bothered her, but not enough.

A message came through from Armitage.

A demand, really.

She was to meet him on the Finalizer.

Go to the Finalizer.​

Reveille sent that to Kos’tel’lanni, who agreed. She knew she would be a very tight leash until Reveille had a moment to address the situation, but not without sending a warning message to Lavinia about Reveille’s return, and her arrival to the Finalizer.



Armitage Hux suspected his sister didn’t know much of what had happened yet. He’d barely settled getting the numbers from Schaeffer of the losses when he heard that Reveille was back.

Schaeffer was dismissed.

He set up a conference room to speak with her, thinking of how he’d go about this, knowing the news he had to deliver, as well as the lecture she deserved.

He just wanted to put his head down and rest, but he knew he couldn’t.

So, he forced himself up to go meet Reveille in the hangar.

 

[cleopat]

Maybe Kylo had failed to remember those details. With everything his mind had experienced that day alone, he wasn’t surprised to forget some things, but it didn’t mean he didn’t feel annoyance at himself.

Annoyance that he forced himself to push aside.

“After the First Order are gone, then perhaps we should return to Darth Nyx for further instruction.” Their mission was to rid Caprioril of the First Order, and they did just that.

They would have to wait and see what the Order did next. “Should we instruct some to remain behind on Caprioril and keep on eye on the situation until a new leader is installed?” If they didn’t already have someone watching the planet.

Otherwise, he wanted to return to Dathomir and continue his training. He had much to think about concerning the memories the Force showed him.

~~

Lavinia sent an update to the Resistance regarding the situation on Caprioril, and where they were headed next. She would mention what Kylo had managed to do and describe his unlikely mix of allies they faced before they retreated.

It wasn’t long after sending that message that her datapad pinged with the notification of a new one. From Kos’tel’lanni.

Her face paled. That meant once Reveille had a moment alone with the Chiss, she was as good as dead. Or, she would be wishing for death.

Maybe I should leave while I still can.​

She sent the message back to Kos’tel’lanni, but contemplated on adding on an addition. You’re welcome to join me.

But she didn’t send that. Would the Chiss be so willing to leave to escape what may be certain death?

 

[Lucyfer]

Discord couldn’t help the slight upturn of her lips as Kylo asked if they should give orders. ‘You don’t get it yet, do you?’ These weren’t people they could really command. These were Nyx’s people. They had their orders from her. They were reporting to her. “No, I think Darth Nyx has it handled,” was how Discord answered. “She sent them here, they have their orders from her.”

Perhaps it meant their presence was frivolous at this point, but they’d done a fairly good at keeping the First Order distracted, and then scaring them off. They might not have run so easily if Kylo hadn’t been present in the ship. “I think we should be able to return to Dathomir.”

She might have been curious to stay longer on Caprioril and see what was going to occur, who was going to take over, but Kylo had his training to complete. It was better for them to head back to Dathomir and make sure that training was successful, now that this little issue was cleared up.

At least the First Order would be keeping a distance for a bit.

She hoped.

~***~

That may be in your best interest.​

Kos’tel’lanni confirmed it, before she left for the Finalizer. She was there before Reveille, and there to meet Armitage in the hangar as Reveille docked her ship, and stepped out, “Grand Marshall.”

Armitage’s tone was cold. Curt.

Reveille just met his glare with a dull stare. “Just say it.”

He gestured back, “We have much to talk about in regards to your actions and your reasons for leaving me out of the loop. It’s best not to speak in front of all.” He indicated, and motioned her along. Reveille followed, giving Kos’tel’lanni a look to know she ought to stay. She did just that, not daring to step out of line.

They entered a conference room, and Reveille just moved along to the opposite side of her brother, as he stayed near the side with the door. Kos’tel’lanni took a more central point, and Armitage didn’t question her presence. “What was so important you had to go find Princess Leia for, without clearing it with me – and giving up our prisoners?”

“We don’t tend to keep prisoners as it is,” Reveille said with a shrug, folding her arms over her chest. “General Organa knew more about Kylo’s activities. Am I mistaken in assuming we shouldn’t be watching him?”

Armitage’s jaw twitched. He didn’t answer that.

“He’s working out of Dathomir. We have his base now. He’s working with a group of Nightsisters, who work with Darth Nyx. Force-sensitives. They also operate out of Dathomir. I don’t know their numbers. Terex will be informing Matja Tarkin. No update on Count Demici, he’s probably dead.” She could see Armitage about to grind his teeth down. “I didn’t have time to argue with you about this.”

“You still kept it from me. You still acted without my knowledge.”

“I am the Grand Marshall! If you don't trust me to act in the best interest of the Order, appoint someone else!”

“Maybe I will!” Armitage snapped back, and for several moments, the two stood in silence, glaring daggers at each other – daring the other to do something stupid. Until, Armitage let out a breath. “I understand what you did. The next time, there will be consequences. As it stands…this information is useful, and needed. We have to act fast against Kylo Ren.”

Reveille relaxed. “There is unfortunate news from the battle,” Armitage continued, “Lieutenant-Admiral Sienar was killed in action.” Reveille tensed again, before the energy just left her. She hadn’t been sitting, but that caused her to reach back, make sure there was a chair, and slip down. “I’m sorry. I have not yet reached out to his family.”

“I’ll handle that,” Reveille dismissed his thought to do so. Better if she do it. But she spoke from a distance then, trying to remember the last thing she might have said to him. Had it been about therapy? She was pretty sure she’d just told him she’d seen Onna.

He’d been happy….

She swallowed back the cry. She didn’t have time to mourn him. “Anything else?”

Armitage shook his head.

“Then I need to speak with Kos’tel’lanni. We can speak tomorrow about how to handle Dathomir and Kylo Ren.”

Armitage gave a nod. He hesitated a moment, wondering if he should say anything else, or offer anything more, but Reveille’s gaze was dismissive, so he wouldn’t linger. They’d said what needed to be said about the Leia incident. About Kylo Ren. And so, with that, he left.

 

[cleopat]

Kylo huffed. He felt powerless, useless, as his ideas kept getting shot down. There was nothing more for him to do then, but return.

And Discord confirmed his thought.

He had wanted to do more on either Caprioril or Corulag, but it wasn’t needed. Nyx had things taken care of from Dathomir, and he had to put trust in that everything will continue to go according to plan, and that the First Order wouldn’t retaliate anytime soon.

Kylo nodded, sitting back in the pilot’s seat. “Then we’ll make our return. Alert Darth Nyx of our decision.” He didn’t intend to order her what to do, but he remained on edge from the battle.

The ship started up, and it ascended from the ground. They would also be able to see what was going on with the First Order, if they were still around or not. “I anticipate the First Order not spending too much time to lick their wounds. They’ll attack again. We just need to found out when and where.”

~~

Cold dread settled over Lavinia when she read the response. The potential for her secret to be revealed had just shifted from ‘if’ to ‘when.’ And she figured it wasn’t much longer.

She sat frozen on her bed as her mind raced with what will happen to me and how do I make an escape.

Her mind didn’t respond with rationality for a few minutes. It only sent panicked signals to the rest of her body, and she was only vaguely aware of how her hands shook.

Lavinia abruptly rose to her feet, placing her datapad back in a pocket and checking to ensure she had a blaster on her. Just in case. She didn’t know how much time she had left, but she had to try and leave before Reveille informed everyone of her treason. Her lies and treachery.

The corridor wasn’t very active. The occasional stormtrooper and officer walked past, not once sparing her a glance. She started towards the nearest hangar. If there in time, a ship would be easy to secure and leave without no troubles. From there, she would contact Borran and Tanis, have them meet her on some planet, then leave the ship behind while they whisked her off to safety.

Lavinia had to hope she still had time.

 

[Lucyfer]

Discord settled back into her own seat. ‘Why don’t you just tell her?’ But she didn’t ask that, as she sent the message to confirm they would be on their way to Dathomir once more. The situation was well in hand, though Kylo was frustrated.

She would warn Nyx of that.

Nyx probably knew how to handle it.

“It’ll probably be here,” Discord suggested, “This is near Chandrila…they still hold Chandrila,” for how long was in question. She didn’t know if Nyx would consider branching out to take Chandrila from the Order, or hold, and wait for the attack that was to come. “I am certain Nyx would appreciate your thoughts on it, though. This is our first time stepping onto the stage.”

Letting the Order know they existed.

And could fight.

There would be no more hiding in the shadows, now.

~***~

Silence followed Armitage’s departure. Reveille didn’t look to Kos’tel’lanni for several moments, the news of Sienar still like a new wound. The shock hadn’t settled, and she wasn’t ready to jump to the next hardship.

And yet, she had no choice, eventually lifting her gaze to the chiss who remained standing, remained silent. “Talk.”

“Reveille, I want you to—”

Reveille pulled the blaster from its holster, and stood, pointing it at Kos’tel’lanni with ease. It was an eerie ease, and one look at Reveille would have told anyone that she wasn’t truly there. Not in full. “I do not want your excuses. I really don’t. I’ll take those later, when I want to talk to you.”

If she wanted to talk to her.

“Right now, I just want to know who your friend or friends are. Then I’ll shift this to stun, and you’ll go in a cell. Or if you’re feeling like a martyr, you can hold your tongue.”

Kos’tel’lanni had told Althea to run. She had to hope that she had done so. “Lavinia Aburius…under the name Althea Storax.”

The shot rang out.

Lucky for Kos’tel’lanni, it hadn’t ever been switched off stun after dealing with Valo.

The blaster dropped from Reveille’s hand. “YOU TOLD ME SHE WASN’T—DAMN IT!” She couldn’t throw the blaster now that it had slipped her grip, and Kos’tel’lanni was unconscious, unable to hear her anyways.

She sunk back down into the chair, fingers digging into her scalp.

One breath.

Two.

Three.

~***~

Armitage had considered his words on Sienar again. His apology to Reveille wasn’t enough, but it was clear she had some business to sort out with Kos’tel’lanni. He thought he may owe Althea a check-in, given their own conversation that had touched on Sienar.

He went to her quarters, and rang for entry, but this time, no one answered.

He waited a few seconds, before giving up. ‘She must be asleep.’ That, or with Rani. He knew that Rani wasn’t holding up well, though at least she was alive. The company of Althea might have been welcomed at that point.

He opted to return to his room instead. He could speak with Althea in the morning.

The day had been too long already. Too stressful, with too many surprises.

 

[cleopat]

Chandrila. For his own personal reasons, Kylo wanted to see them take over Chandrila, but that may prove to be the ultimate test of their threat in the galaxy.

It would be near impossible to take the planet from the First Order, but if they could slip to the surface and weaken the government’s faith in the First Order, or give them hope for something else, it may be possible.

He wanted to take Chrandrila from the First Order’s clutches.

“I will be eager to give her my thoughts on this situation.” The ship flew further and further into the atmosphere above the planet’s surface. From his vantage point, he couldn’t see anymore First Order troops stationed on the ground. They had all left to either make it back to the Order, or were destroyed by their allies’ guns.

Later he would ask for the number and hoped it was high.

Some of his frustrations melted away as he forced himself to take deep breaths. Everything was going according to plan. Everything will be okay. Nyx will help him.

“Entering lightspeed.” The coordinates for Dathomir were punched in, and Kylo navigated them forward into the blurred stars.

~~

No one had stopped Lavinia yet. No one glanced at her or regarded her with suspicion, but still, she couldn’t help but to keep looking over her shoulder every few seconds.

She regarded everyone as a potential enemy. Because they are. They are your enemies.

Still, it didn’t feel like it. Lavinia grew to know some of them over the months, and a few she would’ve considered friends. Rani.

But they weren’t. They may not hesitate to kill her.

And there was Armitage. Her heart fluttered in her chest at the thought of not seeing him again. At the thought of his finding out about her betrayal.

Lavinia paused for a moment as emotions overtook her. She knew her thoughts for him grew beyond simply ‘liking’ him. But when did that happen? She didn’t wish to hurt him, and she was glad she wouldn’t be around to face him.

Her steps resumed their path to the hanger. It wasn’t much further now. Her heart leapt to her chest the moment she stepped through the doors. I will make it.

 

[Lucyfer]

There was little for Nyx to do as they entered lightspeed, but she didn’t abandon Kylo to return to her room. She wanted to get back onto Dathomir as soon as they landed, and so she stayed up in the cockpit with him and watched as the stars blurred, and then eventually, became pinpricks of light again as they exited lightspeed to return to Dathomir.

She would let Kylo set the ship down, before she’d exit it to return to her own practices.

Nyx would be there, of course. Though she had left to arrange a few things, she had known not to leave for long.

The information continued to pour in for her, her own datapad flashing with updates on Corulag and Caprioril, information she went over and added to lists and charts to go over again, later.

But she did rise as the ship landed, and she did smile to Discord as she exited the ship first. She did not step in for an embrace. The trip had been short, and as she understood it, not that difficult. Nyx had practices to return to, as it was.

~***~

Reveille knew she still had to act. Like it or not, and so, she sent out messages once she’d gathered herself again to the security team, as well as to request someone take Kos’tel’lanni’s body out of there and to a cell. The situation was explained in brief – Kos’tel’lanni was a traitor, working with Althea Storax.

Reveille wouldn’t leave the conference room herself.

Not when the guard came to remove Kos’tel’lanni. Nor when other messages began to flood her datapad.

Her brother’s message in particular was notable, but she ignored it.

She waited for the one from Garmuth, the one that would tell her Althea had been apprehended.



And not too far, in a hangar on the Finalizer, Garmuth had followed Althea’s tracks through the cameras.

The hangar doors would open to a line of Stormtroopers, that would greet Lavinia with a blast of fire. Stun, of course – there were questions to be answered, if only because Armitage had insisted on it.



Armitage, who went back to that conference room where Reveille was. “Your suspicions of Lieutenant Storax—”

“—are correct. You can go speak with Kos’tel’lanni,” Reveille finally rose from her seat then, “She told me. You can watch the video in the cell of the prisoner, Valo. She went to go speak with him. She revealed she had a friend, who told her about Dathomir.”

The color from Armitage’s face faded.

Reveille wished she had energy enough to help him. “It was Lavinia, Armitage. Lavinia told her about Dathomir. Lavinia was trying to save the rebels.”

He hesitated. He knew how close Reveille and Kos’tel’lanni were. If Reveille would throw Kos’tel’lanni in a cell…then he knew this wasn’t done lightly. “I will review them,” he said. “They’ll stay on the Finalizer.”

‘I don’t care.’ Reveille didn’t say that. She wasn’t going to fight him on where prisoners were kept. What she said, instead, was, “Wait until the morning.” Let them both soak in their fear and confusion a while longer. “It’s been a long day.” His emotions didn’t need to be so fresh.

She could already see the heat starting to chill in his gaze.

Tomorrow, they would get what was needed. Tomorrow, Reveille imagined, there would be two executions.