Chapter Seventy-Seven

Mira

The tension on the Coronet was thick enough to cut with a knife. I stood just outside the command center of this top-of-the-line Mandalorian ship, listening to Obi-Wan Kenobi brief a group of clone troopers. The constant drone of the engines made everything feel even more ominous than it already was.

"Listen up," Obi-Wan started, dead serious. "Our job is protecting Duchess Satine. We've got intel suggesting Death Watch might try to infiltrate the ship. We can't let our guard down. Not even for a second."

Anakin was next to me, focused and intense. I could practically feel how committed he was to protecting Satine, and his presence helped steady my nerves. I took a deep breath, one hand unconsciously moving to my stomach where our baby was growing. Stay calm, I told myself. That's what matters right now.

The clones were hanging on every word, their faces a mix of determination and worry. Captain Rex, who'd seen more action than most, gave Obi-Wan a sharp nod. "We'll sweep every deck, sir. Monitor all comms for anything suspicious."

Obi-Wan gestured to R2-D2, who beeped enthusiastically. "R2 will help us out," he explained. "His scanners can pick up anyone who shouldn't be here and any system anomalies."

R2 took off immediately, beeping away, while the clones split up to begin their search. Anakin and I shared a worried look. "What are they really after?" I whispered, unable to shake the bad feeling in my gut.

"Satine's been loud about opposing the Separatists," Anakin said, his jaw tight. "Makes her a target. We need to be ready for anything."

The tension was rolling off Obi-Wan in waves as he gathered his thoughts. "Remember," he called after the troopers, "anything feels off, report it immediately. These people are smart – don't underestimate them."

Right on cue, R2 let out a series of urgent beeps. Obi-Wan rushed over as the hologram showed what we'd been dreading – someone had broken into the cargo bay. My stomach dropped. "What's going on down there?" I muttered to Anakin.

"Let's find out," he said grimly.

"Troopers, with me!" Obi-Wan shouted. "We need to check this out now!"

We sprinted through the ship's corridors, our footsteps echoing off the metal walls. Anakin and I stayed close behind Obi-Wan and Rex, my heart pounding harder with each step. We reached the sealed door to the cargo bay, and everything seemed to slow down.

Obi-Wan looked at each of us. "Eyes open," he ordered. "Rex, open it on my mark."

The weight of what we were doing hit me hard. This wasn't just about Satine anymore – all of Mandalore was riding on this. I caught Anakin's eye, seeing my own determination reflected there.

The cargo bay was dimly lit when we entered, packed with huge crates that cast long shadows. Every breath felt electric, like something could jump out at any second.

I was scanning the area when I felt Anakin's familiar presence through the Force. He tried to sneak up on me, trying to lighten the mood. "Not gonna work, Ani," I said under my breath, fighting a smile despite everything. "I can sense you."

He laughed quietly, his eyes soft. "Worth a shot, Mira," he whispered, using my real name like a secret between us. He gave me a quick hug before getting serious again.

Then we heard it – metal scraping on metal, followed by something heavy hitting the floor. My hand went to my lightsaber instantly, and the baby kicked, like a reminder of what we were fighting for.

"Ani," I hissed.

He nodded once before moving away, his lightsaber humming to life. "Stay put," he ordered, heading toward the noise.

The sounds of fighting got closer, and I heard the clones running. Rex and Cody rushed toward the action while I stayed ready, just in case. Then suddenly – silence. My heart was in my throat as I waited for news.

The clones came back looking grim. "Assassin," Rex reported. "General Skywalker handled it."

But what I saw next made my blood run cold. Some kind of egg-shaped thing was scuttling away from the scene. "Look at that," I said, pointing with growing horror.

Anakin came over, frowning. "What is it?"

"It's carrying eggs," I said, feeling sick. "This wasn't just one assassin. This is the start of something bigger."

The clones exchanged nervous looks. Anakin's face darkened as he took charge. "Lock this place down," he ordered. "We can't risk any surprises."

As we worked to contain whatever this thing was, my mind was racing. The stakes just got higher, and with each heartbeat, I could feel time running out. Everything – Mandalore, our baby, all of it – was hanging by a thread. But we couldn't let fear win. Not now.

We pushed deeper into the ship, every shadow looking like a potential threat, every noise making us jump. This was far from over.

-

My heart was still pounding as security rushed me back to the command center. The adrenaline from our encounter below deck hadn't worn off yet. When I got there, I found Obi-Wan standing by a sleek table, looking as composed as ever. The senators and Duchess Satine were huddled around their dinner, talking in low voices.

You could cut the tension in the room with a knife after what we'd just discovered. When I walked in, everyone stopped whispering and turned to look at me. Obi-Wan caught my eye, and something in his steady gaze helped calm my nerves. He gave me a small nod – a quiet "you good?" after everything that had gone down.

I walked over to the group, my chest still tight from stress. This wasn't going to be an easy conversation. The senators looked up at me like they were waiting for the other shoe to drop, desperate to know if their ship was safe.

"Everything okay?" Satine asked, her eyes bouncing between me and Obi-Wan with obvious worry.

Obi-Wan shifted slightly, somehow managing to look completely zen despite everything. "We took out an assassin," he said, keeping his voice level. "But there's more – we found eggs on the ship. Looks like this might be part of something bigger. Something the Separatists cooked up."

The room went dead silent. You could've heard a pin drop. The senators shared looks that said everything their mouths didn't, and suddenly no one was interested in their food anymore. The whole situation just got real in a way none of them were ready for.

"What exactly does that mean for us?" one of the senators asked, looking like he really didn't want to hear the answer.

I stepped up, forcing myself to sound more confident than I felt. "It means we can't relax. Not for a second. This isn't just about us anymore – Mandalore's safety depends on us staying sharp and getting ahead of whatever they're planning next."

Satine leaned forward, her face set with determination. "We're not going to let fear run the show," she said firmly. "But we need to be ready for anything. When we move, it has to be smart and it has to be fast."

Obi-Wan put his hand on my shoulder, and I got what he wasn't saying: we're in this together. That simple gesture meant more than a whole speech could have.

Looking around at everyone – these people who'd put everything on the line for peace and justice – I felt stronger somehow. Yeah, we were in deep trouble. Yeah, the stakes were higher than ever. But standing there with them, I knew we had a shot. Whatever was coming for us, we'd face it together. Sometimes the scariest shadows lose their power when you've got the right people by your side.