=== Anakin ===
Anakin's boots clanged against the metallic slick polished floor of the SunEater's hanger, the sound echoing off the cavernous walls as he followed the officer assigned to escort him. The immense scale of the moon-sized ship was almost overwhelming; even now, as a Sith and former Jedi, he felt a strange mixture of awe and satisfaction at being in co-command of such a destructive force. The officer, a neatly uniformed Republic man with a stiff posture and nervous energy, fell into step beside him, speaking quickly as they walked.
"General Skywalker, it is an honor to have you aboard the SunEater. I can give you a brief rundown of the facilities as we move toward the bridge," the officer said, gesturing to the datapad he held in his hand. "This section here houses the primary crew quarters, designed to sustain our personnel for extended deployments. Beyond that, we have multiple hangars for starfighter and shuttle maintenance, and the lower levels contain both storage and engineering sections capable of sustaining the ship's energy core for decades without resupply." he explained as he brought up different sections on the datapad.
The officer continued, glancing occasionally at Anakin as if gauging whether the General even cared to hear the details. "The SunEater also contains specialized combat stations, including reinforced turbolaser arrays and planetary bombardment systems. There are secure detention and interrogation facilities as well."
Anakin aid nothing, though, allowing the officer to continue, his expression calm, almost neutral, while inside a violent storm of fury and anticipation raged.
"Additionally," the officer went on, "we have full-scale medical facilities, hydroponic systems for food, and recreational areas designed to maintain crew morale. All essential for maintaining combat readiness during prolonged engagements. The bridge itself is located on the upper levels, providing a clear strategic view of the ship's offensive and defensive capabilities."
Finally, they reached the bridge entrance. The officer halted and turned to Anakin. "General, this is the command center. I'll leave you to it. It is the honor of a lifetime to escort you through the SunEater."
Anakin inclined his head slightly, his tone even. "Thank you. Your service is appreciated." The officer stiffened at the words, and gave a small bow before retreating, leaving Anakin alone before the sliding doors of the bridge.
The doors parted, and Anakin stepped into the nerve center of the SunEater. The bridge was a hive of activity, though the officers and crew immediately fell silent, sensing the presence of someone far beyond ordinary rank. Tarkin, seated at the center among a cadre of officers, rose as Anakin entered and waved the others aside, dismissing them with a subtle gesture. Within moments, the bridge was empty save for Tarkin and Anakin.
Tarkin's eyes swept over the young man before him, taking in the blackened left glove, the scars and burns across his face. "How are you faring after… the massacre at the Jedi Temple?" he asked, his voice carefully measured, but carrying a hint of curiosity.
Anakin's gaze was cold and unflinching. "I am fine. The Jedi are no more," he said flatly. "They betrayed the Republic. They chose their own agendas over the galaxy's survival."
Tarkin paused, considering the words, and for a moment, the silence stretched across the bridge. He finally spoke, his tone almost conversational. "I imagine Senator Amidala must be heartbroken over that… over all of it."
Anakin's jaw tightened, and his eyes, molten yellow now, flared with an intensity that made even the seasoned Grand Moff uneasy. "She indeed was upset. But the Imperium will pay for what they have done," he said. "That is why we are here."
Tarkin's expression softened slightly, the corners of his mouth pulling into the faintest shadow of a smile. "Everything is ready, General. The SunEater's systems are fully operational, and all assault groups are on standby. We are merely waiting for the Chancellor's command before moving toward Tatooine."
Anakin's lips pressed into a thin line as he surveyed the bridge, his eyes passing over the tactical displays, the operators, and the massive viewport that revealed the endless expanse of space ahead. Each detail, each instrument of war, each weapon, everything was under his command now, and he would wield it as the instrument of his master's will. He did not speak, only turned slowly to look at Tarkin, the enormity of what he was about to unleash pressing against his mind, and said in a voice that was both resolute and final:
"You have it. Prepare the fleets. We move on Tatooine immediately."
Tarkin inclined his head sharply. "As you command, General Skywalker."
Anakin stood on the bridge, the molten fury in his eyes reflecting against the glass of the SunEater viewport.
=== Qui-Gon ===
The Imperium vessel tore free of Alderaan's burning sky like a wounded beast fleeing a battlefield, its engines howling as it punched through the upper atmosphere and hurled itself into open space.
Inside the cramped medical bay, the air was thick with the sharp scent of burned flesh and antiseptic, the hum of failing systems blending with the labored rasp of Count Dooku's breathing as he lay stretched out upon a narrow med-table, his pale features slick with sweat and his once-impeccable composure shattered by pain.
Qui-Gon knelt beside him, sleeves rolled up, his hands steady despite the tremor in the Force around them, while one of the Imperium crew, an older medicae with cybernetic fingers, worked feverishly to stabilize the wound in Dooku's abdomen, pressing synth-flesh against burnt tissue while a field emitter flickered weakly over the gaping injury where Anakin's blade had passed through him.
"Hold him still," the medicae muttered, his mechanical digits moving as he removed burnt flesh and injected coagulants directly into Dooku's bloodstream, the Count's breath hitching as pain wracked his body despite the numbing agents flooding his system. "We're losing him. Many of his organs were almost boiled by the Lightsaber. He won't last much longer—"
"He will live," Qui-Gon said quietly, though the words sounded more like a plea than a certainty, his voice was steady even as his eyes betrayed the grief and disbelief within him, the image of Anakin's molten gaze and the betrayal that followed burning in his mind. "He has to. Do what you can. I will keep him with us."
Dooku stirred weakly, his eyes fluttering open for a brief moment as he tried to speak, only to choke. Qui-Gon leaned closer, gripping his former Master's hand, feeling the faint pulse beneath his fingers. "Save your strength, old friend," he murmured. "We're getting you out of this."
Across the bay, the lone surviving Ultramarine, his ceramite armor scorched and pitted, one pauldron cracked nearly through, had set the small child down gently on a bench, the girl clutching the Meiloorun fruit with white-knuckled hands, her wide eyes darting between the dying Count and the towering warrior who had carried her from hell itself. Atlas, the Ultramarine, began the painstaking process of removing his armor, the seals hissing as he disengaged mag-locks and power couplings, his massive gauntlets clanking to the deck as he set them aside. Qui-Gon glanced up at him, confusion briefly cutting through the haze of exhaustion and horror that weighed on his mind.
"What are you doing?" Qui-Gon asked, his voice edged with urgency. "You're wounded. You should remain armored."
Atlas let out a low breath as he released the clamps at his gorget, the helmet seals breaking with a sharp hiss as he lifted it free, revealing the scarred, grim set of his face beneath. "The only place close enough to save Count Dooku's life is Coruscant," he said, his voice rough. "And Coruscant is locked down. Any Imperium personnel spotted in full war-plate will be executed on sight. I won't doom him by walking into a firing line in my colors."
Qui-Gon stared at him for a long moment, the implications sinking in. "You would walk into the heart of the Republic unarmored?" he asked quietly.
Atlas gave a grim, humorless half-smile as he shrugged free of one massive shoulder guard, exposing burned flesh and torn muscle beneath. "I've walked into worse for less," he said. "If there's a chance he lives, I'll take it."
He turned toward the cockpit, his voice carrying the weight of command as he called out, "Pilot, set course for Coruscant. Maximum burn. We don't have time to waste."
"Aye," the pilot replied instantly, fingers dancing over the controls as the ship shuddered and changed course, its engines roaring as it leapt into hyperspace, the stars stretching into blinding lines of light.
=== Nira ===
Mandalore lay beneath them, Nira standing at the viewport of the command spire for a long moment, watching the planet that would become the heart of their new dominion. The decision had not been made lightly, but the involvement of Vulkan had changed things drastically. They had unanimously decided to make Mandalore their new capital and stronghold.
She turned from the view and activated a holoprojector, the pale-blue shimmer of Tatooine's command center flickering into existence before her as an officer snapped to attention on the other end, his posture stiff as he spoke directly to the Grand Regent herself.
"Prepare Tatooine for immediate transition of command assets and personnel," Nira said, her voice calm. "Critical resources, foundries, intelligence archives, and civilian infrastructure tied to Imperial governance are to be readied for relocation to Mandalore. I want staging zones established, evacuation corridors marked, and contingencies in place in case the Republic moves against us while the transfer is underway."
The officer swallowed, then nodded sharply. "By your will, Grand Regent. The preparations will begin at once. We'll have the first convoys ready within the standard cycle."
"Good," Nira replied, and with a brief gesture, the hologram winked out, leaving the room quiet save for the distant thrum of engines and the low murmur of voices from beyond the doors. Raxor had been standing nearby, his massive silhouette framed by the light of the viewport.
"You don't have to come with me back to Tatooine. I know your heart is torn right now."
Raxor shook his head. "Sienn is still there," he said. "She deserves to be here, to see Vulkan when he wakes, to know that the stories I've told her about him were real. I won't leave her behind, not after everything. I'll go with you, help oversee the preparations, and bring her back myself."
"Then let's not keep her waiting." Nira said, turning and walking from the room towards the hanger bays.
Raxor found Maximus and Sebastian near the embarkation platform. He pulled Maximus into a brief, crushing embrace, the Ultramarine's armor groaning faintly under the pressure as he returned it in kind, their helms knocking together in a gesture that needed no words, then turned to Sebastian.
"Don't let anything happen to him," Raxor said, his voice low as he nodded toward the depths of the fortress where Vulkan slept. "Not a scratch. I'll come back, and when I do, I want to find him exactly as I left him."
Sebastian snorted, clapping a gauntleted hand against Raxor's shoulder with a force that would have sent a lesser man stumbling. "You act like we'd let anyone so much as breathe in his direction," he said, then, more quietly, "Just… don't take too long."
Maximus inclined his head in solemn agreement. "Go," he said simply. "Bring Sienn back with you. We'll hold here."
Raxor stepped away, and as he boarded the waiting ship beside Nira, the ramp rising behind them with a hydraulic hiss, Mandalore's vast, war-scarred horizon stretched out beyond the viewport behind him. The engines began to roar, and as the vessel lifted into the cold glow of orbit, Nira closed her eyes as she leaned her head against the head rest, letting herself feel the enormity of what they were about to set in motion, while Raxor stared out at the stars, already thinking of Tatooine, of Sienn, and of the day he would return to this world with his father awake at last.
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