The invasion of Coruscant had taken a full four months to plan and prepare for and when the time finally came, it took another week to put into effect. Fighter Squadrons continually went out and came back to make sure that the hyperspace lanes which the Alliance planned to use remained clear of Imperial or Zann Consortium interdiction fleets. Different nearby enemy fleets were engaged and removed so that High Command was sure that no one could stab them in the back and contingency plans and rendezvous points were made in case the invasion failed. When the time to mobilize came, task forces were sent to secure intersections in the hyperspace lanes before the main fleet plowed all the way through to Coruscant where the most decisive battle since Endor itself would be fought.

The blue tunnel of hyperspace turned to star lines and from there, to stars and the city-planet of Coruscant appeared before the Alliance fleet. However, the planet was not what drew the attention of the spacers, pilots, marines, soldiers and officers of the fleet of the Alliance of Free Planets. Their eyes were locked on just over a hundred enemy war ships before them including two mammoth Executor-Class Star Dreadnaughts. Mara Jade had supplied that Ysanne Isard had one she kept as a private prison beneath the upper levels of Imperial Center but the second one was a complete surprise even to her - especially since that second 'Super Star Destroyer' as they were often called, was the Executor itself, the late Darth Vader's personal command ship and the flag ship of his personal fleet. It had escaped the Battle over Endor with its tale firmly between its legs. Excepting one sighting over Bakura, it hadn't been seen since that decisive battle. Now there it was above Couscant and as the last Alliance ships dropped into system, there was no turning back.

Jedi Masters Rahm Kota and Kanan Jarrus stood in the hanger, preparing to lead teams of Marine Commandos when they sensed the shock reverberate throughout the fleet. Both men had been blinded in separate lightsaber duels but the force allowed them to see quite clearly. Even so, Kota turned to the Marine Major who was his XO. "What's the word, Major? Everything has gone too quiet?"

Kota sensed a spike of fear shoot through the Marine and the Major whispered in an admirably steady voice. "There is a second Super Star Destroyer out there, General. According to the bridge, it's Darth Vader's ship. Sir, you don't think..."

"No, Major. Darth Vader is dead and, according to Colonel Skywalker, he was redeemed before he died. No, unless I'm mistaken, Admiral Firmus Piett has taken command of it. I guess he's allied with Isard then. Board the shuttles and get your men ready Major. Kanan and I will be with you shortly."

The Marine saluted and obeyed. Kota keyed his comlink. "This is Detox Strike Leader to Shadow Leader - come in, over."

In the cockpit of his starfighter, Colonel and Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker replied, "Shadow Lead here - things just got very interesting, Detox Lead, over."

From over the comms, the gruff old general's voice came. "So it's true - your father's old ship is here. Intelligence had no idea Piett had taken sides with Isard, Skywalker."

Luke chewed his lip for a moment before replying. "I don't think he did, Sir. A Defiler on Naboo over a year back said that Piett had told every bounty hunter he could that, and I quote, 'his new master would pay handsomely for her and you' meaning, of course, Captain Jade and I. No Imperial officer that I know of has ever demanded over even liked being called 'master' except perhaps our new ally the former Slave Master Trioculus. If I were to hazard a guess, there is yet another player in the game of intergalactic leaders."

There was silence for a moment and then, "Well Colonel, we are ready to launch. Make sure that your squadron is ready to form with the Rogues, Blue Squadron and Grey Squadron. Phoenix Squadrons Aurek, Besh, Cresh and Dorn Squadrons will be seeing us in before they join your assault. I recommend that, as soon as we land on the Lusankya, you and your Shadow Squadron land on the Executor."

Luke was a little surprised but he could see the logic in the suggestion. "Understood, sir. May the force be with you, Detox Lead."

"And with you, Son. Detox Lead out."

Luke sighed and muttered. "Sure, I'll just land on a Super Star Destroyer. No problem. Whats a nineteen thousand meter ship to twelve Jedi?

He then keyed the comm frequency of his squadron and called out. "All wings, report in."

One by one, Luke's fellow Jedi reported in - Mara Jade, Leia Organa, Kyle Katarn, Wade Vox, Ferroda Grey, Keyan Farlander, Nisotsa, Cariaga Sin, Galen Marek, Ezra Bridger and Maris Brood. Luke smiled and commed, "All accounted for. Alright boys and girls, lets see what these Nubians can do. Try not to scratch the paint - Marshal Commander Sykes just gave them to us a couple days ago."

Marshal Commander Sykes was the task force leader of a small fleet of ships sent from Naboo to aid the Alliance. As a gift, he had given the Jedi fifteen Scurrg H-8 Superiority Fighter/Bombers. The craft were equipped with numerous weapons - low-yield baradium cruise missiles, cluster concussion missiles, proton bombs and Ion torpedoes strong enough to knock out the shields on a medium sized frigate.

Mara Jade, Luke's girlfriend and fellow Jedi teacher, chuckled into the comlink, "I'll have to ask Antilles if he always sounded like that as a squadron commander."

Several others chuckled too and Keyan Farlander said, "He sure did when we tested the prototype B-Wing fighters."

Luke chuckled with them. Suddenly, over the comms came the voice of Admiral Gial Ackbar, Supreme Commander of the Alliance Military. "All craft engage the enemy. May the force be with us."

Luke took a deep breath and said, "This is it. Shadow Squadron, engage that Star Dreadnaught. Remember, open their fighter formations up with cluster missiles. The Rogues will pick up any who make it through. As soon as we're in range, launch ion torpedoes at the shield generators. Time it just right and fire cruise missiles with them. That will drop the shields so that Detox Strike Force can land. Don't forget to drop your payload of proton bombs once the shields are down. That will clear the way for the Blues and Greys. Rogue Leader, this is Shadow Leader. Do you copy, over?"

The voice of Wedge Antilles crackled over the comms. "I hear you, Boss. We have your six and we'll tare through anything that gets past you."

Luke chuckled and said, "Excellent. See you on the other side, Rogues."

He then called up Blue Squadron who were all flying modified B-wings. The fighters had an extra set of torpedo tubes with the specialized ion torpedoes. "Blue Leader, come in, over;"

After a moment, the calm voice of Ace Azzameen replied, "Go ahead, Shadow Leader."

"Be ready just in case our run doesn't fully drop the shields. If the shields do drop, begin your assault on the communications, sensors and targeting arrays. If we blind them and silence them, they will be alone and unable to fight back."

"Copy that, Colonel. I'll pass the word onto the Greys."

Luke signed back onto the Shadow Squadron frequency. "As soon as Detox Strike Force boards, we are ordered to turn and board the Executor. Our new goal will be to capture Admiral Firmus Piett and my father's former flagship. We hope they will have large amounts of information about the current leaders of the Imperial remnant factions. Any questions?"

Immediately, Mara's voice came on the comms. "Uh, yes I do have a question. How are we supposed to do that? I'm not worried about the 'landing on the ship part' so much as the 'making it to the bridge alive' part. I don't think I need to tell you that the ship is kinda big."

Luke sighed, "We'll figure that out when we finish our first task. Arm the missiles. Enemy fighters coming in so angle shields to full front!"

In clouds so thick that they nearly blocked the view of the Star Dreadnaughts ahead, TIE Fighters, TIE Interceptors and even squadrons of various types of advanced TIE's came screaming through space towards them. Luke looked down at his targeting scope and was pleased to see that eight enemy ships were selected and locked as targets. When he squeezed the trigger, a cluster of rockets shot out and streaked towards the TIE's. Almost simultaneously, the other eleven Scurrgs fired and a long, ragged line of fire irrupted in the TIE formations. A second volley and then a third followed and the Scurrgs flew through almost completely unmolested. Luke turned and watched as Rogue Squadron engaged with the skill they were famous for, blasting TIE after TIE as if they were in the simulator. Immediately behind Shadow Squadron came Blue and Grey Squadron, the latter engaging the enemy fighters as well with almost as much vigor and skill that the Rogues did. Luke grinned, half wishing that he could go back and join them. In his mind came the voice of Mara Jade, sending him communications through a very powerful link they shared in the force. Aren't you a bit young to already be wishing for your glory days, Farmboy?

Luke laughed as he keyed his weapons selector over to the ion torpedoes and sending back, Yes I am. Even so, I miss this - flying in space combat. Things were so much more simple before my Jedi training took off in earnest with Master Yoda.

In the comms, he said, "Alright, arm your ion torpedoes and target the first shield generator. As soon as scanners read them as down, arm and fire the cruise missiles. Blue Squadron will be behind us to make sure that the job is finished. We'll be flying all the way up the dorsal trenches of ship so break into pairs and we'll meet at the bridge."

They all complied and Luke gripped the yoke. Reaching out through the force towards his fellow Jedi, Luke could sense calm from most of them but some of them, like Wade and Maris, were anxious. Neither were veteran fighter pilots and neither of them were exceptional pilots without the force. Keying only their fighters' private frequencies, Luke said, "Steady now. Take a deep breath and stretch out with your feelings. Rely on the force and everything will fall into place."

"Thanks, Luke;" replied Wade and Luke sensed his anxiety lessen. Maris's anxiety slowly began to go down as well and she replied, "I'll keep that in mind. This is my first time in a real starfighter and it's different than the ones I have trained in the simulator for."

Luke chuckled. He himself was not as thoroughly familiar with the Nubian fighters and bombers either but he sure loved them. As soon as his targeting computer read that the shield generator domes were in range, he fired before immediately arming a cruise missile and firing it as well. Twelve ion torpedoes streaked through space followed by twelve cruise missiles - and it was absolute overkill. The ion blast killed power to a massive area of the ship around the shield generator and the blast from the cruise missiles tore a huge chunk out of the haul and wiped out any sign that there ever was a shield generator. Luke's eyes widened and he commed his squadron's frequency. "As spectacular as that was, lets do halves for the next one. Shadows Two through Six will fire ion torpedoes with me and Shadows Seven through Twelve will launch cruise missiles."

A round of amused acknowledgments followed. Luke frowned and looked around. Everything was going way too smoothly. Luke keyed his comms through all the starfighter squadron frequencies and found out why. Shadow Squadron was doing fine and the Rogues were back on their six in escort positions but Blue and Grey Squadrons were in trouble and the four Squadrons from Task Force Phoenix were also in dyer straights. Apparently three of the Empire's best starfighter groups were engaging them - the Black Eight, the 181st and the 128th, the last of which was thought to have been totally destroyed before the battle of Hoth. Luke longed to go back and help the other squadrons but he knew his mission. Sighing, he commed to Wedge and the Rogues. "Rogue Leader, this is Shadow Leader, go back and help them out. We can deal with anything that comes after us easy enough. Right now all we're dealing with is emplacements on this Dreadnaught."

Wedge replied, "But Luke, that's not the plan. We..."

"Wedge, the plan just changed when the Empire's three best fighter squadrons showed up. If we are going to have anything left of ours, they are going to need your help. Go on. We'll be fine."

Luke knew that Wedge was going to have words with him later about 'ordering his escort and support away during a decisive battle' but he didn't care. They were coming up on the next shield generator. As ordered, Luke and five other Shadows fired ion torpedoes, still managing to knock the shield out and, right on the torpedoes' heels came the cruise missiles. Again, they totally obliterated the generator.

Luke chuckled as Ezra Bridger whooped and called out over the comms, "Two down, three to go!"

Mara chuckled too and said, "Cut the chatter, Kiddo. Maintain visual scanning. I'll be very surprised if they don't send a few fighters after us. WOAH!"

She was right. A pair of Imperial Escort Carriers had suddenly fallen out of escort position with the Lusankya and had launched two squadrons of TIE Hunters. Luke gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, Shadow's Three, Five, Six, Eight and Eleven with me. We're going after those fighters. The rest of you, stay on target and take down those shields. We'll be with you as soon as we take care of these."

Luke, Mara, Kyle, Ferroda, Cariaga and Nisotsa peeled off and formed up, heading towards the two incoming TIE Hunter Squadrons. They engaged with a volley of concussion missiles, managing to cut down eight of the twenty-four enemy fighters before being engaged. The Scurrg H-8's were every bit as as maneuverable as an X-wing fighter but the TIE Hunters were even more maneuverable. It took all their Jedi skills and senses for the Shadow pilots to evade and engage them. Even so, they managed it, destroying TIE after TIE by setting one another's opponents up and blasting them out of the sky. When the fighters had dwindle to under a quarter, Luke, Mara and Ferroda streaked towards the Escort Carriers. Mara and Ferroda used their ion torpedoes and Luke blew the ship in half with a cruise missile. "Damn, Farmboy!" said Mara. "Exactly what are these cruise missiles armed with?"

Luke chuckled. "I think they are point one metric ton of baradium in yield."

Luke could sense Mara's slightly shocked appreciation. "Wow..." she murmured. The second Escort Carrier followed quickly after and Luke turned his group back towards the rest of Shadow Squadron. "Shadow Two this is Shadow Leader - where are you?"

Keyan Farlander answered, "We just fired on the third shield generator. Two more after this. Shadow Leader, exactly what are these cruise missiles armed with? It only takes three or so to destroy the shield generators."

"I believe the specs said that they contain point one metric ton of baradium."

"Oh..." replied the young pilot. Suddenly, Wade popped up too. "Shadow Leader, this is Shadow Ten - if my readings are right, there is a lot of strain put on the remaining three generator domes. If we take out one of the two main domes on the Dreadnaught's command tower, the other two will likely overload with the strain and shut down. If we are trying to take this ship, wouldn't that be more effective?"

Luke smiled. "Copy that, Shadow Ten. Shadow Squadron, our new target is the command tower's port shield generator dome. Go get it. Target it now with the cruise missiles and fire. They have the range and the power to blast right through. Once each should be way more than enough."

Luke was right. First, six of the cruise missiles struck simultaneously, doing some damage but not enough to lower the shield. One by one, the other six slammed into it, blowing it to shards. "Excellent work, Shadow Squadron. Rendezvous with me a hundred meters aft of the Lusankya. From there, we'll make a very quick plan to board the Executor."

It didn't take long for them to meet and reform. Before Luke could say anything, Galen Marek chimed in. "Shadow Leader, this is Shadow Four. I know where a private hanger is that should be just large enough for us all to land in if we're careful. It will be a little tight. Darth Vader and I used to use it years ago while I was still hunting Jedi."

Mara chimed in. "Wow! I totally forgot about that hanger. I used it a couple times too. What about shields?"

Galen chuckled. "I can try and transmit a code that will have them drop the shields, even under the most dire combat situation. If that doesn't work, we'll ask Kota to use the guns of the Lusankya to help bring the shields down faster. Let's go."

Luke chuckled as they formed up. Switching over to Detox Strike's frequency, he called, "Detox Leader this is Shadow Leader - we are heading towards the Executor right now to board. Shadow Four thinks he can find a way in very close to the bridge. How goes the boarding?"

The gruff voice of the old general crackled back, "It's going smoothly. It appears that all of these ships are built the same. Three of our fifteen drop ships were able to land in the private hanger below the command tower. This ship is already almost ours. There are a lot of people to deal with, though."

Luke chuckled. "I thought about that. Take control of the ships intercom and tell all Imperials to abandon ship. It will be much easier to pick prisoners up from escape pods and such than it will be from the corridors of a kriffing Star Dreadnaught."

Kota chuckled. "Good thinking, Shadow Leader. Keep me updated."

"Will do, Detox Lead. Shadow Leader out."

As they approached the ship, Luke felt his mind drawn back to just before the battle of Endor. He, Mara, Han, Leia and Chewie had been slowly approaching the command tower of the Executor then too, waiting for a clearance code to go through. "Clearance code transmitting now;" said Galen Marek, cutting into Luke's thoughts. They waited as they got closer and closer to the mammoth ship. Luke was about to order a pull up when Galen commed, "All clear. Wooh, that was close."

The young Jedi Master had been right about the size of the hanger. They landed and the port and starboard wing tips of their fighters were each less than a meter apart. As soon as they hopped out, the twelve Jedi ignited their lightsabers. Blue, green, orange, violet, maroon, bronze, Yellow and silver flashed to life just in time to intercept a hail storm of blaster fire from a sizable security detail of Imperial Navy Commandos, Navy Troopers and Stormtroopers. Galen, Luke, Mara, Wade, Maris and Ezra deflected and batted the blaster bolts away while the other six used their own blasters to return fire. Not expecting such a stiff assault, the Imperials fell back into the corridor. The Jedi pursued until they came to a bank of turbolifts. They crammed three each into the narrow lift cars and road them to the bridge level. Luke, Mara and Wade shared a car. The three looked at each other and Wade's excited grin was infectious. Both Luke and Mara started to grin and chuckle and the beautiful red headed woman asked, "What in the name of the force are you grinning about, Wade?"

The youngest Jedi student chuckled and said, "This is my first time on an Imperial ship and it's THE Executor. I'm just a little excited is all."

Luke and Mara chuckled at that. It was only a few moments more before the lift car stopped and they exited on the bridge level with the rest of their fellow Jedi. They all had their weapons at the ready as they approached the bridge door. To no one's surprise, the doors were dead locked shut. Luke looked at his girlfriend. "Can you slice it?"

Before she could reply, Wade stepped forward. Wade had an affinity for technology and machinery of all kinds. "Allow me."

The young man knelt down and popped the control console's cover plate off and began messing with the wires. To his comrades' amusement, Wade began to hum and song from home and was a little excited to hear Luke take up the tune too. It took several minutes before he gave an victorious exclamation and the door slid open with a grind. Before them was the bridge of an Imperial Starship. They were all the same on Imperial capital ships whether it was frigates, cruisers, dreadnaughts, destroyers or corvettes. The Imperial crewmen and guards looked at them with pale faces as the twelve Jedi strode down the walkway. At the end, staring out the viewport was Admiral Firmus Piett. The other Jedi took up guard positions around with lightsabers ready but unlit. Luke strode right up beside the Admiral and said, "Admiral Piett, I am Jedi Knight and Alliance Colonel Luke Skywalker. I request that you recall and stand down all your fighters and the ships attached to your battle group and surrender."

Piett sighed tiredly. "There are only twelve of you, Colonel. Even if you are all Jedi, you cannot possibly hope to hold this ship against over two hundred thousand Imperials. I have no need to surrender."

Luke turned to Wade who was standing near the intercom system. Wade nodded and gently ushered the young officer out of the way. "Excuse me, Sir. I need this really fast. It will only take a second."

The young man cleared his throat and keyed the intercom. "This is the bridge to all Executor personnel - our ship has been taken by an Alliance strike team. You are here-by ordered to abandon ship. I repeat, you are here-by ordered to abandon ship. Get off this ship by any means necessary."

Wade flashed Luke a smile and a thumbs up. Admiral Piett chuckled. "Creative but I doubt that rather sad attempt at an Imperial evacuation order is going to work."

Luke motioned towards the viewports on the starboard side. "Let's find out, shall we Admiral?"

As soon as they stepped up to the viewport, Admiral Piett sighed in resignation as dozens of escape pods lanced out from all over the ship. Suddenly, the bridge door blew and Storm Commandos rushed in, only to be met by Nisotsa, Cariaga Sin, Galen Marek and Maris Brood, who cut them down in minutes. Luke turned back to Admiral Piett. "Admiral?"

The Admiral pulled out his personal comlink. Keying the frequency, he said, "This is Admiral Piett to all Executor fighter squadrons - return to the ship. I repeat, return to the ship."

Luke smiled and took the comlink and the Admiral's side arm. Turning to his Jedi, he said, "All of you except Wade, gather them up and have them wait in the corridor. Make sure you take all their weapons and comlinks. Wade, over here please."

The youngest Jedi strode over and said, "What's up, Luke?"

Luke pointed to a command console. "What all can that thing do?"

Wade cocked an eyebrow. "Whatever you need it to. It's the primary command console. If needs be, a skeleton crew commander could use this to control most of the weapons emplacements and the power output from right here. Why?"

Luke crossed his arms over his chest. "Bring up a spread of the battle and put it up on the main holo projector behind us."

The young Jedi obeyed. The battle looked to have been deadlocked with neither side giving ground. The two Executor-Class Star Dreadnaughts were still in the center of the Imperial's defensive picket line. "Comm Admiral Ackbar and tell him that both the Executor and the Lusankya are under Alliance control. As soon as that is acknowledged, take control of the guns and open fire on the nearest enemy capital ships. I need to contact Kota."

Wade nodded, already working fast. Luke chuckled and slapped the young man fondly on the back. Keying Kota's frequency, he said, "Detox Strike Leader this is Shadow Leader, come in over."

After a moment, the oddly jovial voice of General Kota came over the comms. "Good to hear your voice, Son. I take it you are now the proud commander of one Executor-Class Star Dreadnaught."

Luke chuckled. "Yes sir - and you?"

Kota gave a gruff chuckle and said, "Yes I am. We are comming the Admiral and then opening fire on the enemy. There are hundreds of escape pods just sitting out there. I didn't actually think that plan was going to work, Shadow Leader."

Luke laughed and said, "Ouch! You wound me, General."

Kota laughed again and said, "The first phase of this battle will be over in a few hours, Shadow Leader. The next phase will be much, much more difficult. I would have whoever is at those controls start scanning the planet and compiling lists of objectives and targets."

Luke nodded. "Will do. Anything else, Detox Leader?"

"Negative."

"Alright. Shadow Leader out."

Luke turned to Wade. "You catch all that?"

The young man nodded as he tapped away at the control panel. Suddenly, Luke heard the batteries firing and watched as blast after blast from the Executor's turbolaser batteries slammed into a trio of Imperial-Class Star Destroyers off the port side. Mara walked up beside them with Leia and Kyle. The gorgeous redhead took Luke's hand and watched. Luke turned to her. "You doing okay, Mara?"

She nodded, watching the battle. "It reminds me a lot of Endor - this ship, the fighting, the stakes. It's another do or die battle for the Alliance. When will we have some kind of peace or normalcy?"

Luke sighed and wrapped an arm around her. "I don't know if we ever will, my love."

Suddenly, the Luke's comlink chimed. "Go for Shadow Leader."

"Shadow Leader, this is General Solo. I'm leading a flight of drop ships with Alliance Space Marines to come and help you secure the ship."

Luke grinned. "Sounds good, Old Buddy. Bring them on in."

Even with the two Super Star Destroyers, the battle lasted another six hours. Several times, groups of Imperial Navy Troopers, Navy Commandos and Stormtroopers tried to retake the bridge and each time they failed. When it became clear that they couldn't win, many of the Imperial ships jumped into hyperspace, abandoning Imperial Center to the Alliance. After thorough scanning and a blockade was set up around the planet, Alliance High command began to try and devise a new plan to take it.

The first plan had been scrapped when it was discovered that the planetary emplacements and shield generators were all placed in areas heavily populated by civilian homes and businesses, making collateral risk very high. The Bothan High Councilor Borsk Fey'lya wanted commando teams to destroy the planetary shields and then have the fleet target the weapons emplacements. His argument about the victory being worth the collateral damage was shut down and silenced quickly. Instead, a full ground assault was decided on with every weapons emplacement and military facility being the targets. This battle was expected to take much, much longer than the battle above the planet had. As they waited for the plan to be finalized and put out, the fourteen Jedi and crew of the Lost Cause had to move their belongings and the equipment off the Assault Frigate and onto the MC80B Star Cruiser Mon Remonda. The training vessel had taken a massive amount of damage during the fight and was deemed irreparable. On their temporary home, the Jedi kept to a routine. They looked after their gear and ships and then did light training to avoid injury before waiting in the lounge of the star cruiser, ready at all times to heed the call to combat.

In one of the crew lounges near the hanger, Luke and the Jedi sat about, drinking caff, talking and generally entertaining themselves and each other. Mara was watching as Keyan told an apparently humorous story to Nisotsa and Cariaga Sin - two former Dark Jedi who had served under the ancient Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Diabolis. Now, they were valued members of the small but growing New Jedi Order. Luke looked at Mara and tried to hide the concern he constantly felt about her. Ever since they had both been rescued from Darth Heluquin and she had been freed from the mind altering affects of the Sith Lord's dark side poison, Mara had been both closer and more distant from him. At times, she clung to him as if she feared to lose him or that he was angry at her and wanted to placate him. At other times, she was distant and spent long hours alone in her quarters. Mara turned her brilliant emerald eyes on him and smiled. Luke realized that he hadn't been shielding his thoughts as well as he thought. Mara scooted closer to him on the couch they sat on and sent him thoughts across their force link. I am getting better, you know. You can stop worrying about me so much.

Luke smiled and put an arm around her. That's never going to happen. I'll always worry about you, Mara. I just feel so helpless sometimes seeing you suffer and not being able to do anything to help you. It kills me sometimes.

I know, my love. I really am getting better. The guilt is going away and the psychological and emotional damage are getting better too. I have this handsome, caring, amazing and inconceivably patient Jedi Knight who is always there to listen when I need to talk or cry, to hold me and to talk to me. He's also there to provide love and affection when I feel like either I don't deserve it or I just need it.

Luke smiled and kissed her forehead. To his surprise, she cupped his chin and said, "Wait. I want a real one."

Luke leaned down and kissed her lips tenderly. All around them, the Jedi and their friends murmured and joked but Luke and Mara were only concerned with each other as they conversed through their link and kissed one another. After an hour, the intercom system sounded and Captain Onoma's voice came on. "Everyone stand down. Be ready for action at any time but relax and get some rest."

They all sidled out and headed to their quarters or the quarters of their significant other. Mara went with Luke and Han with Leia. Kyle Katarn went with his girlfriend Jan Orrs, an Alliance Intelligence Operative. Ferroda took his fiance Shara to his quarters. To the young Jedi Wade Vox, it seemed that everybody else had somebody except for him. He felt very dejected and wasn't looking forward to a long night sensing all the passionate emotions in the flow and eddies of the force. He looked at Keyan and was even more surprised to see that the fighter pilot was being lead by the hand by the fairly attractive Jedi Nisotsa. Wade groaned and put his head in his hands. Sometimes, life just didn't seem fair. "What's the problem, Son?"

Looking up, Wade noticed that the gruff Jedi Master Rahm Kota was standing above him. Wade stood and said, "Nothing's really wrong, Master. I'm just rather pathetically feeling sorry for myself."

The old master chuckled and said, "Well stop it. You're a young man with plenty of years ahead of him and innumerable opportunities. Now go back to your quarters and get some sleep."

Wade chuckled at the irascible old man. "Yes sir. Oh and any thoughts on how to shield yourself from feeling the affects of other Jedi all sending the same overpowering emotions in the force?"

Kota laughed hard at that. "Kid, it becomes a part of the living force at that point. Unless you can shut the force itself out, you're out of luck. I'd offer you sympathy but I have to suffer through it too. Well, get some sleep, Son. Could be a busy day tomorrow."

The old man walked away, chuckling heartily while Wade just sat there frowning and feeling even more miserable then ever. He didn't even make it back to his quarters before he began to sense it. Groaning, he punched the door control and his door slid open. The emotional effect the Jedi were having on the force was growing stronger and Wade was growing more and more effected by it. He changed out of his flight suit and into a set of mechanics coveralls. Surely - SURELY some of the fighters needed repairs. Tying the sleeves of the coveralls around his waist and removing the tank top, Wade bent down and looked in his foot locker for a shirt he didn't mind getting covered in grease and other solutions and fluids. Behind him, his holo-comms device chimed. Flicking his hand, he answered in a gruffer voice than he intended, "Tech Sergeant Wade Vox;"

A fit of sultry, feminine giggles sounded from behind him and Wade straightened up. The voice that spoke was warm, affectionate and very familiar. "Every time I holo-comm you, you always seem to be in the middle of changing and a little out of sorts, Darling."

Wade whipped around, a smile on his blushing face. "Mesa! How are you?"

The Hapan noble woman Mesa Lorilli smiled back at him. "I'm doing well, Wade. I miss you though. When are you finally coming to visit me in the Hapes Cluster?"

Wade smiled at her slight pout and said, "If I can be cleared for it, I'll come visit you as soon as we take Coruscant. It could be awhile though. We just defeated a massive Imperial Fleet and the ground assault is going to be brutal."

Mesa, who was sitting at a desk and looked as though she was, or at least had been, working on business affairs, leaned towards the holo-receiver, concern written on her face. "Be careful, please Wade. Don't take any unnecessary risks."

Wade smiled and said, "I'll be fine, Mesa. I'll be with a team of Jedi and quite probably the best commandos the Alliance has to offer. Nothing will happen to me."

The woman seemed to lighten a little and she cooed, "Good. I would hate for my favorite outsider to die. It would quite upset me knowing that all I have left in life is a bunch of so-called perfect Hapan men. Now enough of this gloomy talk. Have you been thinking about me, Lover?"

Wade chuckled. Mesa was never far from his mind. During battles and operations, he took the bracelet she had given him off but during slower times, he wore it under the sleeves of his uniforms and robes. Now, he pulled it out of his desk drawer and displayed if for her. "I think about you a lot, Mesa. Do you think about me?"

The Hapan smiled and leaned back in the chair she was sitting in. "Every chance I get, I think of you, Wade - which, in my opinion, isn't near enough. However, I am a rather busy woman and it unfortunately can't be helped."

She leaned back forward and whispered silkily and seductively, "Mostly, I just think of you at night - when I'm alone in my bed and I long for you to be there."

A whimpering groan escaped Wade's lips and he laughed a little breathlessly. Mesa cocked an immaculately groomed eyebrow. "Are you well, Darling?"

Wade nodded and said, "It's a Jedi thing. We just completed Phase One of our assault on Coruscant and, considering the odds, our opponents and our resources, it went better than we ever could have hoped and now everyone is celebrating."

Mesa was puzzled. "Isn't that appropriate?"

Wade nodded. "Yes but it's how they are celebrating. It isn't a party. It's every couple in the fleet doing what couples do. Since a large majority of them are Jedi and, therefor, strong in the force, it effects the currents and tides of the force. That means I'm feeling feedback from the effect of every single one of those encounters."

Mesa's eyes were wide and she covered her mouth before saying, "So you are basically feeling the effects of all your friends consorting with one another and you are all alone in your room."

Wade nodded. Mesa stood and the receiver followed her out in front of her desk where she stopped. Wade keyed his comms unit so that holo-projectors generated a life sized hologram of the noble woman in the center of his quarters. She wore what appeared to be a very finely fitted dress and her hair was piled neatly and elegantly. Clearly it was a day in her office managing her various businesses, estates and the many other things that occupied the mind of a wealthy, young Hapan noble woman. Mesa stood before him, chewing her lower lip delicately. She pointed off to the side. "Bring that chair over here, please and then I want everyone to leave the room. Have security switch off the monitors from the cameras and holo-receivers in here as well, please."

A tall male Hapan quietly set a comfortable looking chair down and Mesa sat down in it, crossing her legs. After several moments, she looked into the holo-receiver and said, "I think I can help you with your frustration, Wade. Would you like that?"

Wade smiled and asked, "Oh and how were you planning on doing that, Mesa?"

She stood with a smile and slowly, deliberately began removing the layers of her dress. Wade's eyes shot wide and his jaw dropped. Mesa giggled and said, "Well - what are you waiting for? I can provide the show but I can't do the work - not on you at least. You're going to have to do that service to yourself."

I told you it was coming. Here is chapter one of 'The Courtship of Mara Jade'. Again, I urge you not to make assumptions by the title. The Zann Consortium and Darth Diabolis are still at large and they will be in this. There will also be lots of fluff and a fair amount of smutty goodness as well. To be perfectly clear, this is the fourth installment in the AU timeline started with 'The End of the Sith'. The series is as follows:

The End of the Sith
A Host from the Past
Dark Lords of the Sith
The Courtship of Mara Jade

I hope you enjoyed. Please read, review and request. Love you guys.

Updated 12.07.2017