Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling or George Lucas

Hoth - 3 ABY

Ron flew his T-16 airspeeder through the snowy wastes of Hoth, calling for Leia, Skywalker, and Solo.

"Leia," he called. "Do you copy? This Rogue Six. Commander Skywalker, Captain Solo - do you copy? This Rogue Six." He tapped into his comlink, and asked, "Rogue Five, have you got anything?"

"Negative, Six," came Harry's reply.

"I think I've got something, Five," Zev Senesca said. "It's not much, but it could be a life-form."

"Thank the Force," Ron breathed.

"Told you they'd be fine," Janson said. Ron could hear the grin in the pilot's voice - Wes Janson was the first person Ron had met since entering this galaxy twenty-five years ago that reminded him of his brothers, Fred and George Weasley. Though Solo and Jedi Master Quinlan Vos had been close seconds.

"Do us all a favor, Four," Tycho said, "and shut up."

Finally, they heard Zev's voice say, "Echo Base, this is Rogue Two. I've found them. Repeat: I've found them."

Then Ron heard Solo's familiar grin. "I was wonderin' how long it'd take you to get here, Rogues."

Ron shook his head. He knew some like Gial Ackbar were uncomfortable with Han Solo's checkered past. But Ron thought Solo could one day make a great soldier for the Alliance - the Corellian reminded Ron of himself in his youth . . . before the Clone Wars and Palpatine's subsequent rise to power. Perhaps, even before the Battle of Hogwarts . . .

Echo Base - Hoth - 3 ABY

Albus was pleased by the sudden turn of events. Leia Organa and Han Solo had recovered quickly from their time out on Hoth. But Luke Skywalker had taken a lot more time. He'd apparently been attacked by a wampa, and he was suffering from frostbite. But bacta could work wonders. He was alive.

However, Albus was not pleased by all the events. His father had learned that Albus's brother James may be alive, but he had no idea where he was - and Albus feared his older brother may have succumbed to the dark side of the Force. Not only that, but General Rieekan would not have called all Alliance personel to the command center for no reason.

Currently, all of the Rogues but Luke, who was still recovering, stood in the room, with Leia, Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, Roan, Zett, Rieekan, Bail Organa, and Wyron Serper were among the men and women present.

Leia, Solo, Chewbacca, and C-3PO were the last to arrive. As soon as they entered, Organa stood to greet his adopted daughter.

"Leia," the Viceroy greeted.

"Father," Leia nodded. "What's the problem?"

Rieekan frowned. "Princess, it appears that we have a visitor."

Leia stood up straighter. "A visitor?" she asked carefully.

Organa nodded. "We picked up something outside the base of zone twelve, moving east."

"It's metal," Serper added.

"Then it's not a wampa," Roan commented.

"Could be one of our speeders, though," Solo suggested.

"No," Serper said. "Something very weak is coming through."

Albus listened as he heard a strange garbled noise, like droid communication.

C-3PO turned to the most senior person present - Viceroy Bail Organa. "Sir," he said. "As you know, I am fluent in over six million forms of communication. This signal is not used by the Alliance. It could be an Imperial code."

Albus agreed one hundred percent. "That's a little obvious, Threepio," he said.

"Well, it ain't friendly - whatever it is," Solo agreed. "C'mon, Chewie - let's go check it out."

"It's not flesh," Ron told him.

"How would you know?" Solo asked.

"I don't sense any presence of life out there, Captain," Ron said.

"Neither do I," Harry added.

Albus shook his head. "Could be a droid."

"There are many dangerous droids, General Potter," Solo commented. "Probots, IG-88s, ASN-121s . . . "

And with that, the Corellian and the Wookiee left the Alliance headquarters. Albus waited with apprehension for them to return.

"Send Rogues Ten and Eleven to station three-eight," Rieekan ordered.

Arhul Narra and Tycho Celchu immediately got to their feet, and left to follow the General's orders.

Then Solo's voice came over the transmitter. "'Fraid there's not much left."

"What was it?" Organa asked.

"Droid of some kind," Solo replied. "I didn't hit it that hard. It must have had a self-destruct."

Albus gave a sharp intake of breath - that could only mean one thing. . . .

"A shabla Imperial probot," Ron said, voicing everyone's concerns. "It's a damn jate bet the Imps know we're here. Haar'chak!"

Ron started to swear in Mando'a some curses that didn't even have good Basic translation.

"We'd better start the evacuation," Organa said.

"And get the Rogues prepared to shabla defend our yaim."

Albus realized now that the Rebels' time on Hoth was over. It was time to, as the Mandalorians said, tok'kad.