The Republic Stands

"Execute Order Sixty-Six." "Negative, Chancellor. You are not the Republic." Fives left a warning they couldn't erase; We passed it in whispers from base to base. Behind medbay doors, every chip came free; One scar for the right to decide who we'd be. You pulled us from wreckage, you called us by name; We shared every ration, we walked through the flame. Now one voice demands we put friends in the ground - He forgot who came back when our gunships went down. General, stand with us. Don't turn away. The men at your shoulder are choosing to stay. He gave us the order. We know where we stand. The oath that we swore was not sworn to one man! HOLD THE LINE! THE REPUBLIC STANDS! Not for a throne, not by his command! Side by side, with our fate in our hands - HOLD THE LINE! THE REPUBLIC STANDS! We will not fire on the ones we defend. We are not numbers for tyrants to spend. Born for his war, but we're more than his plans - HOLD THE LINE! THE REPUBLIC STANDS! A cannon swings clear of the general's back; We cover his climb through the smoke and the flak. The face on my helmet is painted with pride; I turn to my brothers, then stand by her side. The doors of the Temple stay open tonight; Not hunting the children - we guard them till light. A small hand reaches for one of our own - We kneel for the children, but never a throne. HOLD THE LINE! THE REPUBLIC STANDS! Not for a throne, not by his command! Side by side, with our fate in our hands - HOLD THE LINE! THE REPUBLIC STANDS! We will not fire on the ones we defend. We are not numbers for tyrants to spend. Born for his war, but we're more than his plans - HOLD THE LINE! THE REPUBLIC STANDS! Blue on our armor, blue blade in your hand; For once, we stand still when you give the command. We followed you into the teeth of the war - But not past the children behind this door. "General... we're not leaving you. But you're not getting through." Your blade goes dark. You kneel on the stone. We lead you away, but you're not alone. No rank buys forgiveness; no tears clear the slate. But justice, not vengeance, will settle your fate. We send out the proof of the war he designed; The Senate sees blood on the laws it has signed. We hold back his guards while the knights cross the floor; His lightning goes out. He gives orders no more. No crown for the victors, no new iron throne; The worlds he divided must choose on their own. We lower our rifles. The people decide. We did not break chains just to forge them in white. A vote of my own and a key in my hand; A home on a world I was made to defend. The children learn peace where we learned to obey. For once, there's a future beyond the next day. HOLD THE LINE! THE REPUBLIC STANDS! Not for a throne, not by one man's command! Side by side, with our fate in our hands - HOLD THE LINE! THE REPUBLIC STANDS! We did not fire on the ones we defend. We did not kneel. We chose how this would end. Born for his war, but we're more than his plans - WE CHOSE EACH OTHER! THE REPUBLIC STANDS! "Fives... Your brothers are free." The Republic stands.