I don't own Star Wars or any of the characters.

One of the Aquilaean ships had been destroyed. The impact of the exploding starship could be felt throughout the giant fortress. C-3PO ran through the halls, yelling at R2, who struggled to keep pace with his stubby mechanical feet.

"I've leaving! Those explosions are coming from the reactor! My first order is preservation. I'm going to eject before this whole thing goes up." exclaimed C-3PO.

C-3PO broke open the seal on the emergency lifepod. A red warning light began to flash, a low hum heard throughout the room. The lanky golden chrome droid worked his way into the cramped four-man craft.

"Our work…we can't leave—it's desertion! These lifepods aren't for us! It's not right!" stated R2.

Another explosion, this one far closer than the last, sent dust and debris throughout the entire hallway. Flames flickered at the two droids, dancing across the floor and climbing over the walls. R2 quickly jumped into the lifepod after C-3PO.

"It's the end! Eject! Eject!" panicked R2.

"Wait for me." called C-3PO.

The safety door to the lifepod snapped shut. C-3PO searched through his memory banks and learned how to eject the lifepod. Typing in a security code, the lifepod was ejected from the Imperial space fortress, sending the two droids to safety.

XXX

Vader glared at the rows of monitors lining the governor's quarters. Hoedaack had his back to the general, his eyes focused on another set of monitors lining the opposite wall.

"Only two enemy craft remain operative. I calculate victory by zero three hundred." spoke Vader.

Hoedaack turned to a nearby officer.

"Alert the invasion forces." ordered Hoedaack.

"Yes, sir." said the officer.

With a solute, the trooper left the governor's quarters. Hoedaack turned to face Vader, the general's gaze still glued to the monitors.

"The planet is ours. A three-hour war. You expected longer. Jedi or not, we have beaten Skywalker." declared Vader.

Hoedaack was not amused by Vader's smugness. It would take more than one battle to defeat General Skywalker. Until Skywalker was executed and the Aquilaean royal family captured, Aquilae would not fall.

"Remember, you must capture the heir to the royal family alive. The Aquilae family has ruled this system for over ten thousand years. The people will follow no other." reminded Hoedaack.

Hoedaack gazed at a monitor showing an image of the planet. The governor smiled to himself, thinking of what the Empire would gain once it had full control of the Aquilaean system.

"We have won a truly great prize for the Empire. They have a genetics treasure—cloning!" spoke Hoedaack.

XXX

Things were not going well for General Skywalker. The general had just been informed that King Kayos' convoy had been attacked at Caldin. Skywalker sighed, rubbing a hand over his beard.

"It's as I feared. I'll audience with the queen. Confine Senator Sandage to his quarters. Use any pretext. Where is the senator now?" asked Skywalker.

Sandage and several other senators entered the computer station.

"Right here, General! We've already relayed peace terms to the Empire, and they've been accepted. Your war has ended." informed Sandage.

The general was furious. Frowning, Skywalker stepped down from the computer terminal. Several of the senators stepped back as the general approached them, their eyes all staring at the general's hand that fell close to his blaster.

"Senator, this war isn't over. I take my commands from the royal family only." stated Skywalker.

"But the queen concurs. I have her written decree, which is to be implemented immediately. I order you in her name to cease the attack." commanded Sandage.

"Not likely…" responded Skywalker.

"Treason? Revolution? The people won't follow you, general, nor will your troops. I suggest you obey. Well, general…do you surrender?!" said Sandage.

Skywalker knew what Sandage would do no matter what his answer was. There really wasn't much of a choice. Reluctantly, General Skywalker called all the remaining ships back to base. He ignored the questions that came in from some of the younger pilots, just telling them to follow orders and do as he said.

As soon as the order to stop the attack was given, the screens in the war room all went blank. There could only be one explanation for all the monitor screens going blank at once. The Imperials had to have attack the Aquilaean ships even though they had called a cease fire.

Skywalker felt his anger boil to the surface. The Jedi turned to Sandage, face red with anger.

"Is this the 'peace' the Emperor promised?! Get out of my sight! Make no mistake. Even if it's treason—this war is just beginning." yelleded Skywalker.

The other senators began to pull Sandage back to the door. Before he left the war room, Sandage heard Skywalker yell so loud everyone in the Palace of Lite and beyond its walls could hear it.

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