Star Wars AU: Star Wars Episode 3.6. The Unsung War
A disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. This story will loosely follow the canon and EU.
Timeline: Six month before Episode VI.
Point of Reference: 16:5:22 is the day of the Great Jedi Purge
3.6ABY is six standard months before Return of the Jedi
Chapter 2: Converging Realities
If a few years ago someone tells him that he becomes the ever mystical Jedi Knight, he would politely excuse himself before telling the authority to pick up the poor sod to the asylum nearby. Then again, he surely never thought to return to his home world, Tatooine after what happen. In the end, that's exactly he does right now, a Jedi-to-be to Master Yoda and right at home in Old Ben hut. Did he forget to mention that Old Ben's hut located on Tatooine just a few kilometres from his childhood home? Funny how's life treating you.
Tatooine's never ending sand dune may be unforgiving for outworlders, but for a native like himself, it is a home. Growing up, Luke desires nothing more than to get away off this sand planet. Dreaming life of wonder and adventure 'Jedi craves no adventure' said Yoda's. He forgets to mention Adventure seek the Jedi, not the other way around, like an occupation hazard, never fail to find you.
Returning back to the Old Ben Hut serve another purpose to Luke Skywalker; it gives him the opportunity to make his own Lightsaber. He never actually ever made his own Lightsaber; his first Lightsaber was given to him by the Old Ben was once built and owned by his father himself, Anakin Skywalker. He refuses to associate his father to what he was now. Or even believe Darth Vader's claimed.
With Obi-Wan Kenobi self impose exile, the once great Jedi Master and General of Republic Grand Army collect and preserve as much as he can of Jedi archive and Lightsaber materials. One of them is a green crystal perfectly compatible with his Force signature. Jedi's signature weapon are the most expensive handheld weapon in the black market, the crystal alone could cost a fortune.
Green hues of a solid laser from his Lightsaber illuminate the room; he lowers the intensity until the beam of light become near transparent. If he swung its beam to a person, it can never slice through. Feeling satisfied, Luke's twitching the handle to its most intense level. He felt sorry for the poor sod that fall victim to his Lightsaber.
He would like to make some tuning before a feeling come over him. As a Jedi-to-be, he put a lot of trust and faith in the Force. Something bad happens to Leia and he didn't know what. The Rebel Alliance's only Jedi was worried.
Han's rescue operation can wait.
Party of thugs and scoundrels banded together only by credits and plunders. Right now, their goal was to get the infamous Jedi dead or alive as they ride through the sand.
Dash Rendar was a former Imperial Navy who now a freelancer hired by the Princess to protect a Jedi. Well, alleged Jedi since he didn't really believe Skywalker to be a Jedi. So what if he can destroy a Death Star with one short, it just meant he was excellence shooter. If Skywalker is truly a Jedi, why would Princess Leia even bother to hire him? To a Jedi, six or sixteen assailants were nothing.
Rendar discreetly tries to warn the Skywalker, he didn't have to think long to formulate a plan. He reaches a detonator and aim it slightly off the targeted hut, away from the weapons blast radius; gambling that the Skywalker skills to save his own lives. As he about to throw his detonator, an engine sound startles them. An X-Wing flies towards Beggar's Canyon.
"KRIFF, WE TOO LATE!" Big Gizz yelled in anger. It looks like somehow, Skywalker knew they were coming, good for him; but he can't help to feel a bit disappointed though, all of his hard work was for nothing. "What a waste of time", he said out loud; not that anybody can hear him. Rendar, a humble mercenary who force to believe Skywalker is a Jedi and his lonesome is the Jedi's bodyguard? "Hah, what a joke" It must be a joke; He heard a story about how the Jedi have some kind of precognition ability. That is the only way he could think of right now to explain this. He only responds was a punch to his jaw. It seems Big Gizz was offended with his remark earlier. 'That's done it; I never want to deal with a Jedi ever again'. Apparently, his bruised jaw and pride agree with him.
Amidst all of this, the Jedi in question not even aware he had foiled his own murder attempt-not that it matter.
At the edge of a remote system, a trio of x-wings are seen effortlessly soaring through the space in a tight formation. What are they doing here? Why not just using the x-wing hyperdrive to the next system, if that's what they want? No, these pilots are on patrol. No, the Imperial obviously, a mere Starfighter pilot is not flying high-end Incom X-65 X-wing, they are using the TIE Starfighter, a carrier base interceptor Starfighter was a joke compared to the x-wing. They have no energy shielding, nor a hyperdrive. The TIE's only defence is in its speed. The TIE is faster than even to A-wing, but the lack of common sense defence and any weapon other than twin laser cannon shows how much the Emperor valued his pilots. The lack of a hyperdrive and photon torpedoes also makes the pilot dependent of its starship. No, these pilots are definitely not the Imps. Furthermore, a Rebel Alliance insignias are proudly painted on its wings, including the Rogue Squadron's symbol.
"Report" came through the radio channel.
"All status nominal, fuel at 63 percent, nothing on sensor"
"Rogue 3" the first voice barked, "Please state your mission Codename before giving the report"
"I'm sorry Rouge Leader, it won't happen again." Rogue 3's sincere apology manages to placate his flight leader.
"Oh, come on Wedge, give the noob some slack. Besides, he the best noob we babysit so far. Considering how much we got after the Hoth, which have to count for something"
"It's best to curb any bad habit early on, I don't want another you come my way" The now named Wedge chastise Rogue 2 breaks of protocol.
"Hey, I resent that! My jokes and jovial attitude are good for character built, you know." He hears Wedge snort "Do you know how boring and mundane this mission is, I have to find a way to stay sane. You would too, aren't you Horn, back me up a little?" Rouge 2 asked the now named Horn. If he expects the newbie to support him, he was greatly disappointed.
"I respectively request to be out of the argument, sir" Horn 'request' respectively, it has been a long day, three hours of border patrol are beginning to wear him a little bit. Why is it, every time they said 'request', they really mean it as an order?
"See what you have done, we do not want another you, now do we?"
"Hobbie" Wedge sigh, "All my subordinate act like that when on mission" he said tiredly. "Would it kill you to act professionally?"
"Sir" Horn interrupts; however, both his superior officers were very absorbed in their banter. 'You must be kidding me'
"Hah, you call me Hobbie!" Hobbie gleefully gloat "Now who breaking the protocol now mister I-am-now-a-Rogue-Leader?"
"Sir!" Horn try again, try to use every trick in the book he learns as an Investigator at Corellian Security Force.
"What, you got a problem with that?"
"You only get the promotion because Boss doesn't want it!"
"What, I earn that commission fair and square!"
"SIR!" the newbie urged.
"WHAT?" an irritated synchronous reply his yelling.
"Whistler detects a gravity distortion and unknown reading at grid J10" Horn finally relaying the order.
"Who?" Hobbie confuses.
"His Astromesh droid" Wedge supplied patiently.
"What kind of name is that? It-"
"Hobbie, not right now!" to the newbie he asks, "How big the gravity field?"
"Very big"
"Why an Astromesh even has a gravimeter?" Hobbie was ignored.
"Freighter, Corvette, Destroyer?" asked Wedge.
"What about its Hyperdrive trail?" this time it Hobbie.
"Uh, it was unknown, sir"
"WHAT" another synchronous reply.
"How long ago was this?" "Why my Astromesh can't read anything?" both of them asking the same time.
"Whistler was a CorSec issued droid, I got this reading two-maybe three minutes, sir"
"Why was I aren't told earlier?" Wedge was livid.
"Huh" 'Oh, I don't know why' he let his sarcasm untold.
"Never mind, what is the coordinate again?"
"J10, Rogue Leader"
"Let move. Thanks to you, we waste too much time"
'Why it is my fault?' new recruit Corran Horn was very glad he was not in Rouge Squadron. He can't last a day otherwise.
...
...
...
[System Rebooting] ...
[Rebooting Complete]
[Pilots Status Check]
[Pilots Condition Diagnose] ...
[Warning] [Unconscious But Stable]
[Enact Safety Protocol]
[Autonomous Reroute to Nearest Republic Institution] ... [ERROR]
[All System Diagnose] ...
[Star Chart] [ERROR]
[Hyperdrive Engine] [ERROR]
[Activate General Distress Beacon]
[Initiate Power Saving Protocol]
[System Hibernating]
...
...
...
XXX
"Slowly, slowly" a dock technician ordering the one controlling the tractor beam to move the contraption slowly to the landing pad. In all his career as this ship dock master, he never has seen anything like it. The job was easy and common enough. It's not an odd assignment to haul a heavy crate or meteor for processing the raw materials. You can't expect those pilots to haul that kind of thing with harpoon torpedoes. That was even not standard weapon load. The contraption- the Starfighter was a beauty, the sleek and aerodynamic design was uncommon for any Incom product. They tend to go for the bulk design. "STOP" as he sees the Starfighter in midair, his notice the armoured canopy has three mounted cameras, four- if you count the laser turret.
'Wait, the landing gear was not activated'
"Get me the hover board; we need as many as we can!"
After a while, the ship was nicely hovering on the landing pad.
"Welcome aboard Home One!" he said dramatically to his unresponsive metallic audient. It might be pathetic, but once in the while, he needs a pat in the back, even by his own hand.
[Schedule Reactivation]
[Life sign detected]...
[Determine Friend or Foe]
A light comes from the starfighter camera lenses, scanning, one by one, every weapon, assessing threats.
[Weapon Pointed]
[Deployed Shield]
The situation is tense for the Rebels on the hanger, weapons drawn, riffle, blaster, or even the defensive turret. It eyes zoomed to sole individual approach slowing. He hands up, he ignored his colleague warning as he moves forward. Ordering his colleague put down the weapon.
[Weapon not pointed]
[Threat Level Low]
[Deploy Landing Gear]
[Landed]
[Attempting to call the Authorities]
What is genius? What is crazy?
What is bravery? What is stupidity?
Often times the lines between the two is if it bought the desirable outcome.
People will call you a genius if your plan works.
The same people also call you brave it you come out of your plan alive.
Only history will tell all of this, because Corran definitely will not.
What posses him to act this irrationally? He doesn't know. All he knows is, his gut tells him to trust this thing to not hurt him. His dad always encourages of trust his gut like a good detective does. That's exactly what he is doing right now. It never leads him astray before... just don't start now.
The machine deploying its landing gear and hover slowly to the left. Touching down smoothly to the ground, the camera light turns off.
"CADET HORN, WHAT THE KRIFF ARE YOU THINKING!"
"Huh" that only manages to make Commander Antilies more livid.
"Don't give that poodoo! What the Kriff give you bright idea approaching an armed droid like that! You do get a dead wish or something! If I-"
"Wedge calm down, we got problem" save by the bell.
"What it is?" he then looks at the cadet "this not over"
Lieutenant Derek "Hobbie" Klivan brazenly ignore Wedge angry eyed, "The high brass want to see you now"
"About what?"
"They didn't say. Go now, don't let them wait"
Save by the bell indeed.
"What now?" he hears someone said.
"How should I know, you're the boss" the second technician said.
This peaked his interest, even though Rebellion Alliance usually not as well funded as the Empire, the prowess of Rebels engineering can't be scoffed either. These are man and woman, for whatever reason abandon the comfort of the lives to restoration of the Republic.
"What's the problem guys?" both of the technician look at him giving him a hasty salute. "We seem can't open the cockpit sir" a younger one answer, the young man in his twenties.
"You don't know how to open the cockpit?"
"Let me rephrase the subordinate answer" the older technician sending a glare to the younger technician. "What colleague saying is, the opening button is locked to the restricted personnels"
"Can't any of you slice the button?"
"It's some kind of interactive touch-vid, not a switch like I've seen"
"touch-vid?"
"Of some kind" the technician confirmed. "It's like holo-vid, but a two dimensional video display"
"It's that unusual?"
"Very, although it can minimize the switch buttons in the machine. People loose interest because holo-vid and droid technologies are more mature than touch-vid technology"
"Why they're not interested, I love it if my cockpit has a little button as possible"
"Because people can achieve the same thing easier by letting the astromesh do the job"
"I see, have any of you tried to open it?"
"That's the first thing we do, but this stupid thing won't accept my command"
He looks at the other tech, "I got the same answer 'Access denied, Temple personnel only'"
'Temple?' he confusion must be on his face "Yeah, 'Temple', the only temple I know are Jedi Temple on Corrusant"
'Jedi Temple on Corrusant?' "There was a temple on Corellia, but it was destroyed long ago"
"Jedi Temple on Corellia, really?"
"I know is a temple, not sure a Jedi's temple though"
"Anyway" the older technician changing the direction of the conversation. "Why not you try it, sir" 'Why not' "Where is the terminal?"
"Touch anywhere on the surface of the cockpit" the absolute confidence that his theory is correct put him at ease. He touches the cockpit. The circular of the blue light enveloping the area of his pressed thumb. The surface area of the cockpit lit up with command prompt.
[A Jedi detected]
[Do you wish to open the cockpit?] [Y/N]
"What?" he looks around, everyone is as shocked as he is.
The after mission debriefing of the supportively run-in-the-mill mission was mind boggling. It's weird, it's creepy, and it leaves so many questions.
'I not one of them, aren't I?'
'Who am I exactly'
He buried the nagging questions whose distracting himself so heavily.
"Cadet Horn," he eyed the caller, the Alliance's Chief of Intelligent General Cracken seems intimidating, a larger than live persons. Accompanied him, is Admiral Ackbar. Both have a very impressive history dating back from the Clone War era. In front of these war heroes, these legends, he couldn't help to feel inadequate and the sense of awe.
"Cadet Horn," this time, the Admiral calls him. "We would like you to know... that this is no in every way an interrogation of your history and intent." What a relief was that. Truth to be told, he himself was not sure right now. "This is just an inquiry" the General continued, "Your background has been thoroughly checked. We've already got the report from your supervising officers. They give the glowing report of your assignment"
"Now," Admiral Ackbar continued, "Please tell your side of the story pertaining to the discovery of Princess Leia and the child who was with her"
"I don't know where to start sir," he really doesn't know. He really was puzzled why that machine can mistake him for someone else. 'What does my dad long dead partner do with anything?'
"What about when you receive the distress beacon" said the General.
"When we on the way to grid J10, we receive the distress signal" he begin.
{Flashback}
The trip to grid J10 took longer for safety reason. They could arrive halve the time it took to get here, but they have to make a covert approach, else the unknown spaceship of an unknown size adrift helplessly, possibly after her exit from the hyperspace. They have to travel slowly to the source of beacon to prevent any foul play. A lone star fighter in the middle of nowhere sounds very suspicious.
After seeing the starfighter Hobbie can't believe his eyes. "This is it? All that fuss all about is for this thing. Hey noob, are you sure you're droid aren't broken"
"I'm sure Rouge 2; Whistler software is CorSec top of the line." Corran can't really blame him. The starfighter although could cost a fortune, should not produce so much hyperspace trail larger than a light freighter. The readings he receives are those of the Destroyer.
"Shut it Rouge 2, she could have the much larger Hyperdrive capability. Any idea how she gets here Rouge 3?"
"Negative, her hyperdrive do seem broken and can't recognise it model though. I have to go much closer to see her marking" now that he comes a bit closer to the craft. The paint is somehow similar to his X-wing paint, a green CorSec stripe.
"Do so Rouge 3, but not too close. There was no canopy; it could explode any moment now or not at all"
"Roger that Rogue Leader, matching velocity now" He steers his starfighter smoothly to the unknown spaceship. The X-wing various manoeuvrable thrusters work superbly in his hand, rolling to the starboard of the green starfighter. He matches and angle perfectly, moving farther away slightly to avoid harm if the unmanned vehicle explode.
"It's definitely from CorSec, or at least from Corellia. I even saw Incom logo. A new experimental model, perhaps," he reiterated.
"A new model? Sweet! Now we one for free! Do you know what we can do with it Wedge? "
"Not so fast Rouge 2!" a subtle reminder to Hobbie to not break protocol. Sometimes he wonders why even try. "It's obviously a droid starfighter, even with few improvements; we know how that's ended" After the clone War, a battle droid base weaponry of any kind is unable to adapt to the changing tide of battle become an easy target practise to any clever commander. They the lack reflex and ingenuity of a train soldiers or pilots to truly make a difference. A droid weapon system no matter how powerful will never become anything more that cannon fodder in any battle.
"Uh, sir?"
"Out with it Rouge 3"
"I'm not so sure this is a droid or a drone, sir"
"What, there is no cockpit, do you see any transparent canopy of some kind somewhere?"
"No Rouge 2, but a drone or a droid starfighter ever needs more than one camera on the nose. Yet, I see three cameras strategically place at the suppose canopy. Only a manned fighter put more empathize on pilots visual range"
"You mean like an armoured canopy?"
"Exactly Rouge 2. Though a saw a pilot and co-pilot names, it's a tradition on Corellia to put a pilot and a co-pilot name on the fighter starboard canopy"
"Pilots names, what are they?" Wedge asked after Hobbie.
"L. A. S. Solo and co-pilot K. Durron"
Q & A
Q: touch-vid?
A: touchscreen, I've to explain why they still using technology akin to our 70s bulky switch
Q: Why do the starfighter can detect a Jedi
A: Not a Jedi per se, more like Force-user. They do have the technology to detect midiclorian affect(though it's a lost technology). So I extrapolate that someone who can use Force emits a certain frequency that can be the detected by certain means.
Q: What are the midiclorian?
A: If you don't know it by now, this story is not for you... WAIT just kidding. ;)