The sleek silhouette of a New Republic transport shuttle pierced through the clouds, cutting a path toward Hanna City. The golden sun of Chandrila reflected off its hull, casting long shadows over the pristine architecture below. From a distance, the ship looked like an avian predator swooping in for a landing, its wings slightly tilted to adjust to the atmospheric currents. The people below hardly paid attention—vessels came and went from the capital every day. Yet this ship, today, carried a very particular passenger.
Inside the cockpit, Senator Kaydel Ko Connix sat in the co-pilot's chair, staring out at the rapidly approaching skyline. Hanna City had always struck her as idyllic—a shining example of what the New Republic could achieve when left to grow in peace. The capital's tall, pristine towers, gleaming in the sunlight, contrasted with the lush green parks spread throughout the city, a balance of modern technology and nature. But today, the beauty of the city felt distant, almost tainted, overshadowed by the worries that had followed her across the galaxy.
Kaydel heard a muffled voice in the pilot's headset. "Senator Connix, we're cleared for landing." He made eye contact with her briefly before returning his attention to the ship's controls, expertly guiding the shuttle to the large landing platform that loomed ahead.
She nodded, adjusting the lapels of her formal New Republic senator's garb. She exhaled softly, trying to ease the tension that had been gnawing at her since she left Dulathia. As the ship settled down onto the platform with a gentle hiss, she stood and made her way to the exit.
Waiting near the airlock, her security team was already prepared. The team's leader, Captain Daro Sarthus, gave her a nod. His stern face was marked by a scar that ran from his jawline up to his temple, the remnants of a past battle.
"Everything looks clear, Senator," he said as the ship's ramp descended with a soft hum. "We'll keep a tight formation, just to be safe."
Kaydel forced a smile. "I appreciate the caution, Captain. But it's Hanna City. What could happen?"
The captain didn't respond, but his eyes continued to sweep the perimeter as they began their descent.
As her boots touched the surface of the platform, a warm breeze swept across her face, carrying with it the scent of the nearby ocean. The skyline of the city stretched out before her, vast and shining, though today the sun seemed more muted, as if something darker loomed overhead. Hanna City had always been a place of peace for her. It was where she had spent much of her time as a child, alongside her mother during the turbulent years following the fall of the Empire. But today, even this familiar place couldn't soothe the unease growing in her chest.
Captain Sarthus kept close to her right, scanning the rooftops, his hand resting on the blaster at his hip. The rest of the security team spread out around them in a well-practiced formation, their eyes sharp, their expressions hard. As they neared the edge of the landing platform, Captain Sarthus froze mid-step. His body tensed, and Kaydel noticed his gaze had fixed on something distant—a figure standing atop one of the nearby towers, barely a speck against the bright sky.
"Get down!" he shouted, lunging toward her. The world seemed to slow in an instant.
Kaydel didn't think, she reacted—dropping to the ground as the sound of a blaster shot cracked through the air, the bolt sizzling past her. Her heart raced in her chest as she hit the surface of the platform.
Chaos erupted around her. The security team moved in quickly, forming a protective barrier as the Captain barked orders into his commlink. "Sniper! North tower! Cover the senator—get her inside the Capital Building!"
Kaydel's head spun as they lifted her to her feet, guiding her at a breakneck pace toward the nearby entrance to the capital. The grandeur of the building loomed ahead, its tall columns and gleaming white walls offering a stark contrast to the danger that had just come from above. Another shot rang out, this one ricocheting off a nearby pillar with a spark. The sniper had missed again, but not by much.
"Inside! Go!" Sarthus bellowed as the team rushed her through the doorway. The blast shields activated moments after they passed through, sealing them inside the safety of the Capital Building.
The noise of the city outside instantly disappeared. Inside, the polished halls of the government complex were calm, almost eerily so in contrast to the chaos outside. Kaydel took a deep breath, steadying herself. She had been in dangerous situations before, but this was different.
"Are you alright, Senator?" The Captain asked, still scanning the area for threats.
"I'm fine," she replied, though her pulse was still racing. She straightened her coat and tried to calm herself. "They missed."
He gave a curt nod. "We'll find out who they were. For now, we need to make sure you're safe."
—
The heavy silence of the hallways pressed in around them as the security team led Kaydel through the building. They passed by a group of people heading in the opposite direction, she heard them whispering. At the far end of the corridor, the entrance to a large meeting room stood open. Waiting for her inside was Senator Lieda Mothma, daughter of the legendary Mon Mothma, and now a senator in her own right.
Lieda stood with her back to them, staring out one of the tall windows that overlooked the city. The light framed her in a way that highlighted the sharpness of her features—she had her mother's elegance.
"Senator Connix," she said, turning to face Kaydel. "I heard about the incident. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. They missed."
"What if they don't miss next time."
"Next time?"
Lieda stepped toward her, folding her arms across her chest. "You know who's behind this."
She was referring to the group, the cult, that they were here to discuss, The Path of the Open Hand. They had grown bolder in recent months, their rhetoric against Force users turning more violent.
"I don't want to place blame before we know for sure," she said, forcing herself to remain diplomatic.
Lieda scoffed softly. "Don't be naive, Kaydel. You're too close to Rey Skywalker—too close to the Jedi. They see you as an enemy."
Her friendship with Rey was well-known throughout the Senate. The two had grown close after the fall of the First Order.
"I know they're a threat, but publicly accusing them without evidence will only escalate things."
Lieda raised an eyebrow. "Escalate things? They just tried to kill you. How much more escalated do you think this can get?"
Kaydel didn't answer. Instead, she turned toward the window, looking out at the city below.
"They've become too dangerous to ignore."
Kaydel turned back to face her. "What do we do?"
"We expose them," Lieda said, her voice firm. "We gather the evidence we need, and we make sure everyone in the Senate knows exactly what kind of threat they pose."
"And if they come after us again?"
"We'll be ready."