Dedicated to Midnight_Writer142

     Once the Ghost – which was transporting two large barrels of fuel – had been concealed between a pair of long-abandoned Separatist ships, Commander Kyra Kryze-Kenobi, Ezra Bridger, Garazeb Orrelios, and Chopper gathered in the cockpit, the rebels listening to Imperial news anchor Alton Kastle's broadcast.

     Eventually, Zeb said, "Hope we're not going to be hiding in this can forever. There's only so much HoloNet I can take."

     "Well, I'd say they're late, but we don't even know when they're supposed to show up, or who we're meeting," Ezra replied.

     "Whoever they are, Senator Organa wants them to get where they're going, and he's trusting us to get them fuel," Kyra reminded them.

     "If he trusts us, why is he keeping us in the dark?" Ezra asked grumpily. "No wonder the others volunteered for that supply run."

     Zeb chuckled as he turned up the volume on the HoloNet, "Imperial Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila has shocked the Senate with her treasonous remarks against Emperor Palpatine."

     A holographic version of the senator appeared, and she declared, "I name the Emperor himself for ordering the brutal attacks on the people of Ghorman. Their peaceful world is one of countless systems helpless against his oppressive rule. This massacre is proof that our ­self-appointed ­Emperor is little more than a lying executioner, imposing his tyranny under the pretense of security. We cannot allow this evil to stand."

     "Did she really say that against the Emperor?" Ezra marveled.

     "I'm surprised she's still breathing," Zeb admitted. "Lady's got guts."

     Suddenly, the proximity alarm went off, alerting the rebels to a tactical infiltration pod that was carrying an E-XD-series infiltrator droid, the same model that had penetrated their base earlier that year.

     When Zeb suggested shooting the pod before it spotted them, Kyra instructed, "Ezra, get in the nose gun, but hold your fire. We don't want to attract attention if we can avoid it. I'll power down so it can't scan us. That includes you, Chopper."

     The astromech protested even as Zeb shut him down, the rebels holding their breath as they held perfectly still, not making a sound as the Imperial droid passed overhead.

     "I don't think it saw us," Zeb whispered, but Kyra narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

     "I'll be convinced when it leaves," she replied quietly.

     When the infiltration pod turned and headed straight for the Ghost, Kyra assumed the droid was scanning for lifeforms.

     "Well, that's just great," Zeb said sarcastically. "We can't shoot it with the power down."

     As the droid's spotlight hit the cockpit, Kyra brought the engines to life and ordered Ezra to open fire. When the first rounds missed, Kyra gave chase, ignoring the large freighter and its Y-wing escort when the ship emerged from hyperspace. As Ezra finally managed to gun down the pod and the droid it was carrying, they were hailed by the freighter.

     "Phantom, this is Gold Leader. We catch you at a bad time?" the pilot asked from his bomber.

     "Sorry about that, Gold Leader. Close call with an Imperial probe," Kyra explained.

     When the Gold Leader asked if they had been detected, Kyra admitted, "Chances are high that it called for reinforcements."

     "Begin fueling immediately," the Gold Leader instructed. "We need to get out of here before the Empire arrives."

     After docking with the freighter, the Spectres and Kyra met with the pilot and another rebel aboard the Ghost.

     "Commander Kenobi, I presume," the man said, saluting Kyra. "I'm Erskin Semaj, Senatorial attaché. And this is Captain Vander, he leads the Gold Squadron."

     Kyra returned the salute before introducing her counterparts, "This is Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper."

     When Ezra asked what they were transporting, Erskin replied, "Please understand, due to security concerns, your crew will not be allowed to board our vessel."

     Kyra nodded, "Understood. And please know you're all welcome aboard ours."

     Kyra and Erskin oversaw Ezra, Zeb, and the pilots as they began refueling their Y-wings, and when Vander accused the Spectres of bringing unwanted attention their way, Kyra came to the aid of her men.

     "My crew did the best we could, but you didn't give us much information to go on," she said heatedly, causing Erskin to try and resolve the tension.

     "Look, that probe, it was probably looking for us, specifically. We are carrying cargo highly valuable to the Rebellion, and desperately wanted by the Empire," the attaché explained, revealing as little about their mission as possible.

     An alarm blared overhead and Kyra raced up to the cockpit as an Imperial light cruiser and a Gozanti-class freighter came out of lightspeed, instantly deploying two squadrons of TIE fighters to intercept the rebels. The Imperial starfighters landed a solid blow on the Ghost, causing one of the pilots to fall and hit her head, knocking her out.

     "Zeb, take her to the medbay, then get to the guns," Kyra instructed. "Ezra, you take the Y-wing, we'll need all the firepower we can get. Just remember what Hera taught you."

     Bridger nodded, jumping into the old bomber as Kyra ran to the cockpit and Orrelios manned the dorsal turret, returning fire with the Imperials.

     "We need to detach from the transport or we're all going down," Zeb said as Kyra told Chopper to jettison the remaining fuel pod and pull away from the freighter.

     When the astromech informed her that the hatch was jammed, Kyra ran out of the cockpit and to the control panel.

     When a member of the Gold Squadron informed Kyra that the freighter had lost its shields, she replied, "Get everyone off the transport and on the Ghost, now."

     Kyra cursed as she fought with the control panel, finally managed to open the hatch as another round of fire jolted the Ghost and knocked her to the ground. The blast door opened to reveal several Alderaanian soldiers, who were escorting none other than the fugitive Imperial senator.

     Mon Mothma helped Kyra to her feet and said, "Let us be of assistance, Commander."

     Mon featured a petite frame and quiet voice, her demeanor belying the fierce determination with which she fought the Empire's tyranny.

     "Proper introductions will have to wait, I'm afraid," Mon said as the Ghost shuddered

     Kyra nodded, "Right. If you could help Chopper detach our ship from yours, I'll get us out of here."

     The senator nodded and Kyra ran to the bridge once more, asking the Gold Squadron for a diversion when the Ghost took another direct hit. As the Y-wings shot down several TIE fighters and disabled the light cruiser's shields, Kyra asked Mon how the separation was coming.

     "We almost have it," Mothma assured her, stating that the detachment was complete a moment later.

     After one of the Y-wing pilots bombed the light cruiser, destroying the Imperial vessel, the Ghost and the five rebel starfighters made the jump to lightspeed. As they traveled through hyperspace, Kyra led Mon to the common room and introduced her to the Spectres.

     "Senator Mon Mothma, this is Garazeb Orrelios, and out there, in one of your bombers, is Ezra Bridger," Kyra said.

     "I know of young Mr. Bridger, and I thank you, Captain Orrelios," Mon replied.

     "We saw your speech on the HoloNet," Ezra stated. "You really let the Emperor have it."

     A small smile appeared on Mon's face, "I only wish words had more of an impact."

     "Senator, let's forget this mission and get you back to Chandrila to a proper hiding place," Erskin advised, but Mon shook her head.

     "No hiding. My presence at the meeting is not optional," Mothma asserted.

     "You mean the meeting?" Kyra asked as her eyes widened, and Mon nodded.

     "We're in the process of building an alliance, uniting the various rebel cells across the galaxy," the senator explained. "My challenge to the Emperor was a call to stand against the Empire. My hope is, all who answer it will see that they are not alone. I must be there to meet them."

     "Her involvement has been a secret, but the Empire will be attempting to track any ship that tries to leave this system," Erskin added.

     "I know a way to sneak you out of the sector," Kyra stated. "Senator, we'll get you to that meeting."

     Mon expressed her gratitude to the rebels and told Erskin to give Kyra the coordinates to Dantooine. Kyra excused herself and climbed into the cockpit, sitting in the pilot's seat as Mon joined her and handed her a mug of blue milk.

     As Mon settled into the co-pilot's chair, she admitted, "Sometimes I envy pilots like you, traveling through the stars. You can always leave your problems far behind you."

     "I can't imagine you running from your problems," Kyra admitted.

     Mon sighed, "I've spent my life in the Senate trying to do good, to preserve the rights of the people. Little good it's done. The Emperor has crushed freedom over the years, bit by bit. I've opposed him where I could, but I've begun to see that the fight cannot be won in the Senate."

     "The stakes are a bit higher out here on the front lines," Kyra replied. "Instead of being outvoted, you're outgunned."

     "Life or death," Mon agreed. "It's a new experience, being on the run. But if that's what it takes..."

     "Whatever it takes, this Rebellion is worth it," Kyra stated as the two women raised their glasses and swallowed.

     The rebels emerged from hyperspace and prepared to enter the Archeon Nebula, but before they could, a second Imperial light cruiser and starfighter came out of hyperspace behind them. Kyra recognized the Imperial fighter as the TIE defender, the prototype that Alexsandr Kallus had helped Ezra and Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus steal the plans for.

     "Attention, rebel ship, this is Commander Vult Skerris of the Imperial Navy," the pilot declared. "You are harboring a traitor to the Empire. Surrender immediately."

     Two of the Y-wings moved to intercept the TIE defender – which featured heavy ion cannons and shields – but they were outmatched, and the two bombers were quickly shot down. Kyra looked to the senator – who nodded – and instructed the three remaining Y-wings to close formation, hoping to lose the Imperials in the nebula.

     "Disable your proton torpedoes," Kyra added. "They've been known to ignite the gas in clouds like these."

     The TIE defender was joined by two TIE interceptors and the three Imperial starfighters gave chase, quickly shooting down a third Y-wing when the rebel pilot sacrificed herself to save the Ghost from being gunned down.

     When Vander began to lose hope, Kyra said, "This isn't over yet, Gold Leader, stay tight. We're going in close to that forming star. Redirect all power to your deflector screens."

     As the protostar began overheating both the rebel and Imperial ships, one of the TIE interceptors imploded and the other was quickly shot down by Zeb, leaving only the TIE defender. As Vander and Ezra pulled away from the forming star, Kyra continued to fly towards it until Commander Skerris finally retreated.

     "He'll be back," Kyra said. "And that star took its toll. We're losing power."

     "We'll hold off the defender while you get the Senator out of here," Ezra replied.

     "He's right," Vander agreed. "Go now. We've got this."

     Kyra piloted the smoldering Ghost out of the Archeon Nebula, hoping Captain Hera Syndulla would forgive her for the damage she had inflicted upon her ship. Before the rebels could breathe a sigh of relief, they were intercepted by a pair of Imperial Star Destroyers that had just emerged from hyperspace.

     "Chopper, get me emergency power," Kyra said, and when the astromech had done so, she swung the Ghost around and fled from the Star Destroyers.

     A moment later, they were hailed by one of the Imperial vessels, "This is Governor Pryce. You have been charged with treason against the Empire. Now, submit or be destroyed."

     When Mon claimed that they would surrender, Kyra ended the transmission and argued, "She'll never keep her word."

     "I know. I'm stalling her while you figure out a plan," Mon explained.

     When Chopper told Kyra that there was not much he could do for the Ghost, Kryze replied, "I'll take what I can get. Keep working."

     As Kyra and the astromech repaired what they could, she tuned out the senator and governor, only catching pieces of their conversation.

     Eventually, she heard Pryce say, "That's an impressive list of demands, Senator."

     "You must understand, I cannot allow others to pay the price for my actions," Mon reasoned.

     As Pryce fell silent, Kyra turned to Mon and whispered, "Charging the hyperdrive. Just another few moments."

     After several moments, Pryce declared, "Your requests are denied, Senator. Prepare to be boarded."

     As Governor Arihnda Pryce's Star Destroyer activated its tractor beam, Kyra instructed Chopper to divert all power to the engines. The Ghost surged forward for a brief moment, then shuddered and slipped into the tractor beam's gravity well, the engines unable to pull free.

     Kyra cursed and sighed as she turned to face Mon, "I'm sorry, Senator. I'm going to have to shut her down."

     Suddenly, the two remaining Y-wings emerged from the nebula and Kyra hailed Ezra, "We're caught in a tractor beam. Can you break us free?"

     "Affirmative, Commander," Vander answered. "Bridger, charge your ion cannon and arm your proton torpedoes."

     "Proton torpedoes?" Kyra said to herself before quickly forming a plan. "Negative, Gold Leader, do not attack the Star Destroyers. Fire at the nebula."

     After a moment, Vander said, "I understand, Commander. We're going in."

     When Mon asked Kyra if she thought her plan would work, Kenobi shrugged, "We'll know in a minute. Chopper, be ready on the hyperdrive."

     Ezra and Vander opened fire on the nebula, forcing the gas to vent as it ignited, the flames causing extensive damage to both of the Star Destroyers. As the tractor beam released the Ghost, Kyra made the jump to lightspeed, the Y-wings following close behind. They emerged from hyperspace shortly after, the Y-wings docking with the Ghost as they flew above Dantooine and the rebels convening in the common room.

     "Commander, that was some of the best fighting I've ever seen," Vander claimed as he climbed down the ladder.

     "I could say the same, Gold Leader," Kyra replied.

     Turning to Ezra, Jon Vander stated, "Kid, you can fly in my squadron any day."

     Ezra smiled as Erskin Semaj told the senator that they were approaching the rendezvous point, letting her know that she could begin transmitting her message at any time.

     Mon turned to Kyra and sighed, "Let's just hope someone's listening."

     The rebels headed to the cockpit, where Chopper broadcasted her message, "This is Senator Mon Mothma. I've been called a traitor for speaking out against a corrupt Galactic Senate, a Senate manipulated by the sinister tactics of the Emperor. For too long, I've watched the heavy hand of the Empire strangle our liberties, stifling our freedoms in the name of ensuring our safety. No longer. Despite Imperial threats, despite the Emperor himself, I have no fear as I take new action. For I am not alone. Beginning today, we stand together as allies. I hereby resign from the Senate to fight for you. Not from the distant halls of politics, but from the front lines."

     Mon glanced at Kyra Kryze-Kenobi before finishing, "We will not rest until we bring an end to the Empire, until we restore our Republic. Are you with me?"

     After a moment, the rebel fleet arrived: CR90 corvettes, Hammerhead corvettes, GR-75 transports, Nebulon-B frigates, the Phoenix Nest, and Home One.

     "They came. Look how many there are," Ezra Bridger whispered in awe.

     Senator Mon Mothma smiled, "This, my friends, this is our rebellion."