Chapter Text
This portion from John Smith's Star-log was written on Krownest on the star date of May 22, 2252, detailing events from February 18, 2252
It had been years since I was last on this world that belonged to Clan Wren. I had made a stop here to hide a few things when I fled from Mandalore when I was close to be discovered by the Empire. I felt I would need those things for a future date. With me were Sabine Wren, Ezra Bridger, Kanan Jarrus, and Fenn Rau. As we made are way to the surface, we were intercepted by members of Clan Wren.
As they passed us, I took the opportunity to open the Phantom's door.
"What are you doing, Smith?" Sabine asked.
"Be seen y'all later," I said and fell out of the Phantom.
There was probably fifty meters from the ground from where I fell from. Because I wore all white camouflage for this mission, I was able to hide myself quickly in the snow before the Clan Wren members could see where I landed. After they had left, I headed to a tree-covered patch and found a rock in the center. I ran my hand across the American flag I had imprinted on it. This was the spot. Pressing the flag, a door opened in the ground, and I went in. Inside was an underground cave system and a single room which I used to store my most important items, including Aayla's lightsaber. I didn't waste my time reminiscing the past as I needed to do what I needed to do and head out. I placed the lightsaber that Revan gave me on Malachor V. Before I left, I noticed an old sniper rifle that I had left here. I thought for a moment and decided to take it with me. I could use it by observing things from a safe distance.
It must have taken me two to three hours just to reach the palace of Clan Wren. From a hill on the opposite side of the lake, I noticed Mandalorian ships near the palace, but they didn't have the emblem of Clan Wren, but of the Empire.
"Gar Saxon," I muttered to myself. "Why didn't I think this would happen if we came here?"
Setting up the sniper rifle on the hill, I used the thermal heating setting on the scope. With that, I could see everyone inside the palace. I noticed one of them had the Darksaber and believed this was Saxon. But instead of shotting at him, I shot the Mandalorian behind him. While the Terrans still used metal bullets for the snipers, we made them from materials that were native to this galaxy. I saw chaos fill the room as the Mandalorian went down. I fired a second time, then a third, a fourth, and a fifth, each one hitting its mark.
Suddenly, I heard the rocket packs of three Imperil Mandalorians overhead. I quickly shot one of them down and bolted into the frozen lake. Having been trained in the Alaskan wilderness during my days in the US army, my body had adapted to the cold temperatures of below freezing water.
I raised my head out of the water and notice Sabine fighting Saxon on the lake. She had Ezra's lightsaber, and he had the Darksaber. Eventually, she disarmed Saxon and held both blades to his neck. For a moment, there was silence where I was until I could hear Saxon shouting to me.
"I know you're out there, Smith!" he said. "You shouldn't have come back, brother! Seems you won't have the pleasure of killing me, after all!"
I went back down in the water and swim directly under Sabine and Saxon. I notice the blades switch off and Sabine walk away. She was sparing Saxon. I noticed Saxon raise a blaster at Sabine's back. I quickly broke through the ice, grabbed Saxon's foot, and pulled him under. I landed a few blows to his face before he hit me in the face. He tried to swim out of the lake, but he only got his head out before I caught up.
"I'm not your brother," I said. "And no one threatens my family and lives!"
Dragging Saxon back under the lake, I made blow after blow before taking my bowie knife and slit his throat open. As he choked on his blood, I let him go and he drafted to the bottom of the lake. I suddenly felt lightheaded and surfaced. Before I passed out, I remembered grabbing Sabine's hand, saying "Bacta tank", and everything going black. I had begun my second aging session since the start of the Clone Wars.
When I woke up, over three months had passed since I killed Saxon and the rebel base on Atollon had been discovered by Grand Admiral Thrawn just days before. I was kept on Krownest, being cared and watched over by Sabine, Rau, and Clan Wren. Now, the Mandalorians are planning their liberation of Mandalore from the Empire. I will be joining them, along with Ezra, Sabine, Kanan, and Rau.