Star Wars: Rebels: The Promised Day

Disclaimer: Star Wars Rebels and all Star Wars characters and Lore are not my property, as they are all owned by Lucasfilm and the Walt Disney Company.

A/N: Well, this is where it begins, the final story in my trilogy for Star Wars Rebels. I could go on and on about how much I appreciate all the support I've gotten from my readers with the previous two stories thus far, but I have a feeling most of you are eager to get right into it, so now by all means, enjoy! Happy New Year by the way, and absolutely nothing but best wishes to you all!

"Light cannot exist without Dark, and Dark cannot exist without Light. The Force, for all its ever-reaching infinity, is bound by this reality as much as those who are gifted with a strong connection to it are. Those who devote themselves to merely one aspect deny this reality, but they can never defy it. They chase dreams and ambitions they will never reach because they lack the clarity of mind and the foresight to understand and learn how and why, all that which is knowledge of this reality. Those who are willing to learn with open eyes and ears, however, discover the reality of the Force, and so the reality that binds us all. Knowledge and broken chains can never be reached by accepting only some of the truth as the Jedi and Sith do. Their codes are lies in this regard. Full potential is only reached by embracing the Force as a whole, as it truly is. Accept it as it is meant to be, and become who you are meant to be." – Excerpt from the Founder's Doctrine, written circa 3,635 B.B.Y. at Citadel Plaza on Dromund Kaas.

Chapter 1: Collision Course

It had been several months since the top secret excavations on Lehon had completed. A transmission from outside the Galaxy, encoded in high-level Imperial encryption, was received by the Imperial Security Bureau headquarters back on Coruscant. Only those privy to enough information behind Operation: Infinite Horizon would understand what this entailed. And so, with absolute discretion, both the Imperial Fourth and Seventh Fleets were dispatched to the edge of the Far Rim, to a set of coordinates provided in the transmission. It was unknown to all but a select few as the rendezvous point chosen by Grand Inquisitor Dunkel Nachtgeist before his departure into the Unknown Regions shortly after his venture on Lehon.

The respective commanding officers left in charge of both fleets, the Chiss military genius known, feared, and respected as Grand Admiral Thrawn, and another rising star in the Imperial Navy, Vice Admiral Gillad Paelleon, stood in front on the bridge of the Seventh Fleet flagship and the Star Destroyer personally given to Thrawn, the Chimaera. Said Chiss veteran officer spoke up as both his gaze and that of the Human standing at his side remained fixated out into space beyond the windshield.

"I am glad that the Grand Inquisitor personally chose my fleet to help receive the Emperor's prize back from the regions beyond this galaxy, alongside of his own. If I may inquire, Vice Admiral, how do you like serving under him?" Thrawn asked Paelleon out of genuine curiosity, typical of his insightful nature.

"I've never served under someone with the power of the Force before him, and it has certainly been an enlightening experience. You weren't wrong when you said he is a man who respects his subordinates and pays attention to every detail," the middle-aged Human stated honestly, his tone respectful and certain.

"I believe it may be a trait of his species to value comradery. It is likely that the Evocii would have been driven to extinction by this point with their homeworld in the hands of the Hutts had they not learned to rely on one another for support," Thrawn elaborated. He was definitely, if absolutely nothing else, a man of learning.

It was but a single moment later that the attention of both Imperial officers was instantly recalled to the front of the Star Destroyer, for out the windshield and from the depths of the unknown beyond the assembled fleets, a massive starship dropped out of hyperspace. The eyes of all personnel who bore witness to its sudden arrival observed with rapt attention. This interstellar vessel was easily ten times the size of the largest capital ships in the Imperial fleet, and her design was unlike anything the Imperials had ever laid eyes on before.

The hull was sleek and aerodynamic, all painted in bronze that shimmered in the light of the cosmos. It was built around a lone, gigantic cannon that was the most recognizable feature on the ship. The front of the barrel formed the entire bow of the ship, the overall length exceeding the hull entirely. In contrast to the hull, the cannon was gunmetal grey in color. More than one Star Destroyer could easily fit inside the barrel. Both the top and bottom of the barrel were visible, the hull of the starship built around the sides and the back. The superstructure of the vessel, shaped like a citadel pyramid similar to the Temple of the Ancients, was built atop the back section of the cannon, and the hull was at its greatest width and height beneath and around it. At the top of the superstructure, a large dome formed the primary command station, the bridge revealed by a long windshield facing forward. The largest section of the hull below was the most reinforced section of the massive starship, and to the aft of this were the tremendous engines, three rings layered in a triangle bordered by three more atop and below layered in half-circles respectively. All nine rings hummed in a deep yellow glow as the engines carefully propelled the starship forward, her sublight speed slowing as she came to a halt a short distance away from the fleets. As Paelleon continued to study the awe-inspiring and imposing sight before them, Thrawn merely smiled lightly, his own expression a mix of admiration and knowing. The Chiss spoke up again in his usual soft-spoken tone that still commanded attention and respect.

"It seems we have our confirmation this endeavor was a success. Most intriguing, wouldn't you agree, Vice Admiral?" Thrawn patiently waited as the Human officer at his side took a moment to clear his throat and collect his thoughts before replying, shifting his gaze to meet the red eyes of the Chiss officer at his side.

"Considering the fact that whoever is in command of that ship apparently knew where to meet us and is not hostile, I believe your assessment is an accurate one, sir," Paelleon nodded as he spoke, and Thrawn returned the gesture before both men were pulled from their musings by the voice of another officer calling out to them from his station on the bridge behind them.

"Grand Admiral and Vice Admiral, sirs, the unknown vessel in front is hailing us on a holofrequency utilized by High Command! Permission to patch them through?"

"Permission granted, Lieutenant," Thrawn gave an immediate reply.

Both the Chiss and Human admirals made their way over to the holotable inside the comm room behind the bridge. The doors flew open to reveal the shimmering image of the Grand Inquisitor waiting for them. His crimson eyes were impassive, but the words carried over as his hard voice left him were those of welcoming, a rare display from the menacing master of the Dark Side. After all, he'd studied at the feet of Lord Vader and Emperor Palpatine. Perhaps the tall and imposing Evocii, distant and hardened while scarred and tormented by his past, placed greater value in comradery than he sometimes let on.

"Thrawn, Paelleon, it has been some time. I am pleased to see that both the fleets made it ahead of my arrival. I'm sure you two agree that the Emperor's prize requires a proper and sufficiently-numbered escort. I trust I haven't kept you waiting too long?" with his reintroduction complete, his eyes remained on the two Imperial officers as Paelleon replied first.

"Not at all, sir. It is good to see you again. Shall I return to the Furious Vengeance in preparation for the escort to Coruscant?"

"Actually, once this transmission is complete, I'll be sending orders to Commander Eclipse that she is to dispatch my shuttle to ferry the two of you over here. We won't be returning to the capital just yet. Operation: Infinite Horizon is not yet complete, and the details for the final phase must be discussed in greater… privacy," once Nachtgeist finished elaborating further, Thrawn felt his lips curl into a delighted smirk. His superior didn't miss it, either.

"Excellent. I always enjoy our discussions, and if I may, I wouldn't mind a tour of the Emperor's prize. This is a rare opportunity, after all," hearing the words of his longtime associate, Nachtgeist nodded in agreement. Paelleon listened silently in respect.

"I believe we have time in the schedule. I've already had refreshments prepared. I look forward to hosting you gentlemen. See you shortly."

It was but a couple of minutes later when, over in an identical comm room behind the bridge on the Furious Vengeance, the Grand Inquisitor finished relaying instructions to Fleet Commander Juno Eclipse, who nodded in complete affirmation.

"It will be done, sir!" she spoke clearly, her own level of discipline and respect readily visible as she gave a salute. Her Force-sensitive superior returned the gesture.

"At ease, Commander, and see to it at once. Much is about to be set into motion," and with a final nod in his direction, the Grand Inquisitor ceased the second transmission.

Less than a minute later, once Juno finished carrying out her new orders in the room, the doors to the hallway outside flew open, and a familiar Human Inquisitor stepped inside before the doors closed behind him. He stopped short, instantly recognizing her as well. Really, things still shouldn't be so awkward around her; they'd been working more closely together in the absence of their mutual superior for months now. He cleared his throat before raising his head to meet her eyes through his helmet visor.

"Commander Eclipse, when you are finished I require use of the holotable for a private meeting with the other Inquisitors on behalf of our leader. I must inform them he has returned," he watched as she nodded before replying.

"Of course, Inquisitor Starkiller. I should've figured you were already aware; even if you had somehow actually missed the giant alien vessel holding position outside, you'd still be able to sense him through the Force, right?" now she watched as he nodded as well. She didn't need a strong connection to the Force to sense that his hidden eyes were relaxed as they looked upon her face. Gentle, admiring, a remnant of previous times they shared. Truly, the more things changed, the more things stayed the same. "I know you're looking at me like that, again."

"Like what, again?" he asked softly before he could stop himself. The mechanized voice that came through his helmet couldn't mask his tone. Juno knew he wasn't always the impassive, unfeeling champion of the Inquisition he was best known as.

"Like you did when we…" she trailed off as her thoughts registered in her mind, and lowered her head cautiously as she fell silent. A mere moment later, she heard him step in closer. She didn't jerk back when she felt one of his gloved hands reach out and cup her chin delicately, lifting her head again so that he could see her eyes.

"I know we agreed we had to stop seeing each other, but I never promised my feelings for you would diminish. I've just gotten well at hiding them, when you're not around that is."

"Galen… we both know it never would've been accepted. It never would've worked out…" she whispered sadly.

"Do you truly believe that? Because if you do, I'll walk away and leave you be," he told her sincerely and seriously. After a few more moments of silence that seemed far longer than they were, she finally spoke up again as she looked him straight in the eyes through his helmet visor.

"I… I-"

The two long-time acquaintances instantly and reluctantly drew back as the doors to the hallway outside flew open once more. Another officer stepped inside and immediately walked over to Juno, carrying a datapad with him. He stood at attention and saluted as she returned the gesture, having collected and reconstituted herself quickly.

"Commander Eclipse! I have the updated manifest for the forward cargo hold ready for your review!" the officer handed her the datapad as he finished. Starkiller observed in silence, eyeing Juno's completely dutiful yet solemn expression. He knew that she understood this was a mere postponing of the inevitable. Neither of them could go on like this for much longer.

Meanwhile, across the Galaxy in the Outer Rim, the Rebels had successfully laid an ambush for an Imperial convoy transporting a shipment of tibana gas, the key chemical for powering blasters. Phoenix Squadron, led by the Ghost had been hammering away at the shields of the transport ships while making quick work of their TIE fighter escorts. The Phantom 2 was currently absent from the docking clamp. As she expertly piloted her craft amid the storm of laserfire going back and forth, Hera reiterated an important reminder to her crew and wingmates over the comm.

"Remember to stop shooting the second the enemy shields are down and their engines are disabled! If we ignite the cargo on those ships, this mission will be over literally in a flash! A very big, violent flash!"

"We copy that, Hera!" Sabine, manning the turret up top, affirmed. One of the Rebel pilots in particular took note that his own shields were almost disabled. His R-22 Spearhead was taking heavy fire from the forward turret on the lead transport.

"I can't shake that gunner's aim! Gonna need an immediate assist!" his panicked voice relayed through the comm channel over to the Ghost. The aft guns were in range of the turret in question.

"I got ya!" the voice of Kavir Oslan immediately replied. From his station in the back of the modified light stock freighter, the freedom fighter from Ord Mantell unleashed a fresh barrage of laserfire on the enemy forward turret, forcing its own operator to shift focus away from the Rebel Starfighter in jeopardy, "You're good, for the moment at least!"

"Copy that, thanks for the assist!" the pilot from before answered back, the relief audible in his voice. From his own station on the forward guns of the Ghost, Ezra smiled to himself. It had been nearly a year since Kavir sought enlistment with the Rebellion, and he was practically part of their little family at this point in all honesty. The Padawan respected the young man's commitment to the cause, and his willingness to help anyone whenever needed.

Another pass from Phoenix Squadron and the three transports in the convoy were finally disabled. When three Hammerhead corvettes dropped out of hyperspace once Hera gave the all clear, the Imperial crewmen surrendered. Fortunately for the Rebels, ships transporting tibana gas more often than not have minimal organic crews due to the hazardous nature of the cargo. The Hammerhead corvettes pulled alongside the transports and clamped on at the docking rings. They would be carrying the Imperial ships back to the Rebel base. Lacking enough resources and space to take and house prisoners for an extended period, the Rebels on the Hammerheads offloaded the Imperials into the escape pods on their transports and allowed them to evacuate. Imperial patrols would more than likely pick up the distress beacons in the pods soon enough.

In the main hold back over on the Ghost, the crew, minus Zeb and Kanan, met back up to await further instructions. The Lasat warrior and the Jedi Knight were currently on a separate assignment with Captain Rex and another Rebel detachment, and that was the reason the Phantom 2 was currently absent.

"Good shooting today," Sabine told Ezra as she placed a hand on his shoulder from behind. He turned around and returned the gesture, matching her smile with his own.

"You too," his tone was admiring and appreciative.

"What, no love for the new guy?" Kavir chuckled from where he sat behind the dejarik table. Sabine rolled her eyes with a smirk while Ezra turned to face him with a similar expression

"Come on! No way we could forget you," the Padawan's words made Kavir's grin widen as the latter nodded. At that moment, Hera entered, having made her way over from the cockpit.

"Our orders are to hold here until the crews on the Hammerheads finish inspecting the transports. I also just received a transmission from Kanan; he, Zeb, and Rex just completed their mission and will be meeting us back at the base," her tone was dutiful, but had a hint of relief in it as well. Ezra smiled and nodded. Sabine spoke up again, next.

"Another day, another victory for the Rebellion."

At the same time, within the vestibule to the inner sanctum of the Dark Citadel on Kohlma, four holograms shimmered into place over their respective projectors as the thunder rumbled and lightning flashed in the continuous torrential rains outside. The other three of the top Inquisitors, along with the ancient assassin droid HK-47, communed via a top secret holofrequency from across the stars. The blind, older Human amongst their ranks spoke first.

"I assume we all received the transmission from Starkiller?" Jerec inquired with his cohorts, a knowing smirk on his face.

"Acknowledgement: Indeed. The master has returned. I am most eager to return to slaughtering lowly meatbags at his side!" HK quickly replied with enthusiasm.

"Not that I need anyone else to join me on rampages, but I concur with the droid," Garnac added with his razor-like teeth barred in his trademark grin.

"We all know what to do next, so I suggest we not waste any time," Barris said as she gave her own input, straight to the point.

"Agreed, so we shall begin immediately," Jerec finished and the others nodded in agreement. Operation: Infinite Horizon was entering its final stage, and they all had roles to play in the grand scheme of their superior, on behalf of the Emperor himself.

All the while in the ebb and flow of an ever-moving and changing Galaxy, within the top dome on board the massive starship of alien make and design that stood at the ready on the edge of the Galaxy, both Thrawn and Paelleon arrived in what was most definitely a meeting room a short distance down the corridors away from the bridge of the imposing vessel. The twin doors sealed behind them, and the far end of a rectangular table lined with chairs in front of them, the Grand Inquisitor silently gestured for the two Imperial officers to take their seats. A holoprojector was built into the center of the table, and a detailed 3D display of the massive starship was already up, complete with a technical readout. In addition, a tray of fresh drinks and odurves had been set out for the three men to enjoy at their leisure. The Chiss and Human admirals nodded respectfully to their host before moving to pull out their chairs.

"Welcome, gentlemen. Now, let us discuss the beginning of the end, together."

A/N: For those who may be unaware or do not remember, the R-22 Spearhead was the name given to the final prototype of the A-Wing starfighter which has become a common sight in Rebels as you all no doubt know at this point. As part of my ongoing commitment to weave in parts of the EU into this series, I decided to officially designate the craft used by the Rebels here as R-22's, as originally the A-Wings weren't finalized for combat use until after the Battle of Hoth.

As another quick clarification for you all, the massive starship the Grand Inquisitor brought back from the Unknown Regions is a fictitious creation of the Rakata and their Infinite Empire in the EU by yours truly, but it directly ties into to an important part of their lore which will be revealed later in the story. This ancient capital ship is about the size of a Super Star Destroyer, and its role to the main plot is pivotal. As always, I would greatly appreciate your feedback, so please do review! Also, thank you all for reading! :)