CHAPTER 1

THE PURSUIT

Lak Neonshock steals a Republic transport from the former Military base of the Alliance during the Galactic Civil War.

"He's stolen a Republic transport, Master." Padawan Jaina Solo reported. "We're currently tracking him."

"Good job, Jaina." Master Jade beamed at her padawan. "Now get into a star fighter, we have a criminal to catch." She turned to the soldiers. "Captain, we need soldiers on pursuit. Rally troops to the hangar."

"Yes, General Jade." The captain said, he ran off and gave orders.

Everyone had put on fur coats, got into a Star fighter and took off.

"This is General Jade onboard Star fighter HT- 037, taking off." Mara said through the radio.

"Commander Solo, HT- 044. Copy that." Jaina said in another Star fighter. "Neonshock is heading north towards the mountains." She instructed.

The Jedi had special ranks when they join the soldiers in battle. The Jedi Master is called the High General, the Jedi Knight is the General, and the Jedi Padawan is the Commander.

"Soldiers, do you copy? Go in pursuit." Mara ordered. "Follow my lead."

"Yes, sir." The captain obliged. "Copy that."

For some reason, the soldiers call the high officers "Sir" whether the officer is male or female. It had been like this since the time of the Clone war.

A few minutes later, they could see Neonshock's stolen transport in the distance. "Fire at my command, Captain." Mara told the captain.

"Fire!" Mara commanded. And the captain fired at the transport, destroying its left rocket booster. Thus, crippling the engine.

However, Neonshock released bomballs and it exploded on the lead Star fighter. Mara's Star fighter.

The Star fighter in the lead exploded in the snow. The other Star fighters nearly avoided the wreckage. Mara Jade stumbled on the snow.

"Master Jade," Jaina called through her comlink. "Come in, Master Jade."

At first, there was no response.

"Mara!" Jaina shouted her master's name in panic.

Mara stood in the snow. "I'm fine, Jaina." She said through her comlink, reassuring her padawan. "Continue in pursuit of Neonshock. Don't let him escape!" She ordered.

Jaina sighed in relief. "Yes Master." She said. "Captain, do you copy?" She asked through the radio.

"Yes, commander." The captain replied. "What are your orders?"

"Aim at the right rocket booster." Jaina ordered. "Fire at will."

"Yes, sir." The captain said. He locked his target and fired, destroying the right rocket booster.

The Republic transport crashed on to the snowy ground. Jaina and the soldiers in pursuit hurriedly got out of their Star fighters and approached the fallen transport. The criminal was having difficulty in going out of his stolen ship. He stumbled in the snow and stood dumbfounded.

The soldiers raised their riffles, but Jaina raised her hand and approached the criminal slowly.

"Lak Neonshock," Jaina called. She had her hand on her lightsaber hanging by her belt. She got within a few feet near him, when he pulled a blaster pistol from his utility belt and fired at her.

But Jaina was fast. She easily blocked Neonshock's shots with her lightsaber and approached closer. She sliced his pistol in half, causing him to drop it, and kicked him in the chest, sending him father into the snow.

As Neonshock was about to stand, Jaina raised her lightsaber to his neck. "You're under arrest for treason against the Republic."

Neonshock stiffened. Not just because of the cold, but also because of the heat of the purple energy of her lightsaber at his neck.

"Take him to the cruiser." Jaina ordered the soldiers as she secured her lightsaber back to her belt.

They all went back to the cruiser, Andromeda. Lak Neonshock was placed in a prison cell guarded by soldiers.

Jaina contacted Mara through the comlink. "Master, Neonshock is in our hands. And the Andromeda is currently locking into your position"

"Good work, Jaina." Mara told her padawan. "And thank you."