[Disclaimer: Star Wars fanfiction is based upon the Star Wars movies of the same name. All characters and situations other than my own are the property of George Lucas, 20th Century Fox and whoever else makes a ton of cash with that outstanding evolutionary franchise.]

Chapter 14: Rescuers

A proximity alarm blared inside the bridge. Captain Surlibo took one look out the view port and shook his multiple arms at the helmsman.

"All ahead full! Hard to starboard! Make an emergency jump into hyperspace!"

The helmsman frantically fed coordinates into the hyperdrive computer, ready to take the Comet Box to safety. He didn't need to be told twice. Hovering in front of the freighter were six heavy cruisers of the Republic fleet.

Bard and Kuritas rushed onto the bridge. "What the hell is going on?" demanded the pilot.

"Maddaus gave us the wrong coordinates for the rendezvous!" snapped the Vikosian. "This place is swarming with Republic ships! Have they come for you, woman?"

"Of course not!" said Kuritas. "Republic Intelligence would only retrieve me if I called for them. They wouldn't send a whole squadron!"

"The lead warship has signaled us," announced the communications operator.

"Ignore it," ordered Surlibo. "Where are my jump coordinates?"

"A few seconds, Cap'n," said the helmsman. "Coming about. Engines answering ahead full. Wait, another cruiser has moved into my flight path!"

"Do you have any friends in the fleet?" Bard asked Kuritas.

The agent shook her head. "It'll be hard to explain this to the authorities."

"Skipper!" cried one of Surlibo's technicians. "The lead cruiser is calling on your private channel. They know our encryption sequence!"

Surlibo grabbed an overhead railing with four hands and swung out of his seat. He dropped before the comm-panel and stared at the monitor. A message was being beamed to his ship over and over again.

This is Archangel. Friends of Ivos Maddaus. Welcome to rendezvous.

"I don't believe this," grumbled the Vikosian. "Come and have a look, Bard."

The courier pilot leaned over the captain's shoulder and read the message. He blew a low whistle.

"I think we're in the clear, Surlibo."

The alien wasn't so convinced. He pointed angrily at his two passengers. "Can either of you pesky humans explain how the Republic fleet got a hold of the Comet Box's secret channel?"

"It has to be the old man. Maddaus makes sure we all know something secret about the people we meet. It's like a passcode between strangers. You knew about my crate full of blaster rifles. I knew Mona's codename from Rithoth. Isn't that right, Kuritas?"

"He does like to play cloak and dagger," the agent replied. "These are the coordinates where the Jedi told us to meet."

"Six cruisers, one spy, a pilot and a Vikosian skipper?" Bard shook his head in amazement. "For an old goat, Maddaus sure has a lot of friends."

The Vikosian folded his multiple arms together and turned to the helmsman. "Stop engines and abort the jump. Go ahead and call the Archangel."

They all left the Comet Box to visit the Archangel, but Ivos Maddaus wasn't there. Circumstances prevented him from appearing in person. The Jedi master made a holographic recording, downloaded it onto a hyperspace drone and sent it to catch up with Towson's squadron of wayward warships. But to his confederates, he was no less real. He hovered at the Archangel wardroom table like a blue ghost, patient and still. His long white beard cascaded over long robes. His eyes were as sharp in the hologram as they were in real life. Jedi Masters were incredibly perceptive. They observed everything like attentive owls. There was immense value in the imparted wisdom of an accomplished Jedi. This was why the old man drew the attention of everyone in the room.

Commodore Towson and Captain Neiss sat at the opposite end of the table. The squadron commandergave honors to Surlibo, a fellow captain, who joined him on his left. Bard and Kuritas settled into opposite chairs. An Archangel technician stood nearby to run the hologram viewer.

The final member of the conference was also a hologram, a human female included in the recording. She was very composed, well dressed and observant. The woman "sat" beside Maddaus and looked ahead at an unseen camera. She seemed anxious to leave, a person of purpose and concern. The members of the Archangel conference were curious about her.

"I am very grateful for the efforts you have all made to be here," began Jedi Master Maddaus. "The neutral planet of Albernon is in peril. For some time, I have been conscious of a rift in the Force. The dark lords of the Sith are moving against this world. There will be unspeakable consequences if we cannot intervene on Albernon's behalf. You, my friends, are the only ones that can rescue the people from conquest."

None of the participants expected to hear this, even from a trusted old friend. They watched in confusion as the woman continued the recording.

"My name is Mira Bannon," said the woman. "I am the Prime Minister of Planet Albernon. I wish we could have met under more peaceful circumstances. My friendship with Ivos Maddaus began many years ago when I was a provincial governor. I learned to trust him in some delicate affairs of state. When he came to warn me about the Sith, I found it hard to fathom. It was a threat that I couldn't see or touch. But it is certainly confirmed. If these dark monsters invade my planet in a military action, I fear the worst. Our militia will not withstand their forces."

Maddaus continued. "Some of you may remember the tale of the Battle of Ruusan, which took place nearly five centuries ago. It was the penultimate confrontation between Sith and Jedi. The council still speaks of its ramifications. The conflict was not just a feud between wielders of the Force. Ruusan demonstrated that vengeance and hate could be shared and channeled by thousands in order to ravage a galaxy. Today, the council will not publicly admit that Sith still exist in small numbers. Our adversaries survive somewhere in the pockets of deep space. Could the galaxy suffer another Ruusan? Perhaps in a different form. The Sith can still take a world through deception and treachery. The Jedi must be wary of their habits and respond in similar ways to protect the innocent."

"We have already found some spies," Bannon explained. "They cannot be imprisoned, tried or sentenced. If the Sith learn that their spies were snared, they will move faster against Albernon. Nevertheless, we must try to anticipate their actions and identify their assets."

"Additionally, the Jedi Knights will not come to Albernon," added Maddaus. "If they were spotted, the public reaction on a non-Republic world would stir more confusion and provoke the Sith. I am acting independently of my council. Madam Bannon has loyal officials willing to do their best, but she needs more. That, my friends, is why I have summoned you. You have qualities that Albernon will require, skills that can deter the Sith invasion. We have much to accomplish in a very short time."

"Here come our marching orders," Bard whispered to Kuritas. Mona hushed him.

"For strategic reasons I have given Commodore Towson and his squadron more information in advance. The Sith will land troops on Albernon in order to seize its capital and industrial centers. Towson and his captains have volunteered to guard planetary space against an assault force. His ships are carrying relief supplies for the Albernon militia. Surlibo's Comet Box is carrying a vast amount of ore, which will be dumped in the approach corridors that lead to Albernon. That will present a navigation hazard to the Sith fleet. Meanwhile, Agent Kuritas will tap into the planetary networks to hunt for data infiltrators. Prime Minister Bannon will give her full access to the global grid. Garollian Bard and the Lotus will be tasked for a number of important flights. You will receive more instructions before the invasion. I have learned much about the Sith in my visions, but cannot predict the exact moment of attack. It could be a week from now, or it could be tomorrow. It is paramount that you prepare yourselves and work quickly. I have asked much. I have put you in danger. But for once, the Jedi cannot do this on their own. You are now the rescuers of Albernon, my friends. Good luck."

Bannon and Maddaus bowed to their audience as the holograms disappeared. The technician ejected a recording chip from his computer and handed it to Towson. The wardroom was very quiet until Garollian Bard spoke his mind.

"This is one hell of a nightmare!" he exclaimed. "It would have been nice for the old goat to give us fair warning. What good can a ragtag bunch do against an invasion force? Are you fleet types taking this seriously? The Sith could send an armada to Albernon and waste the planet. Can your ships hold them off?"

"We're going to try," Neiss answered. "It sure beats retirement."

"Retirement?" Bard scoffed at the officers. "What is this, a game for interstellar geriatrics?"

"Just what is your occupation, Mister Bard?"

"I'm a professional skeptic, Captain. And right now I'm having doubts about everything, including you."

Towson raised a hand before Bard and Neiss could jump into a heated argument. "We're all apprehensive about the situation, but let's keep cooler heads. We don't know each other. We don't know what's coming to Albernon. But Maddaus would never send for us if he wasn't confident in our abilities. It's true that we have weak intelligence about the Sith invasion, but we know the threat is real."

"Albernon isn't part of the Republic," Surlibo remarked. "Why would a commodore and a special agent want to get involved?"

Towson glanced at Kuritas. "I can't speak for this operative, and I can't speak for the Republic. I gathered my ships to go to Albernon to help an old friend. My captains are loyal to me and willing to fight for a good cause. This was something we had to do. The squadron has seen plenty of action, but our ships were scheduled for decommissioning. I guess we weren't ready to give up."

Bard was surprised to hear this. "You've gone renegade? All six ships? Won't the fleet go looking for you?"

"I sure hope so," chuckled Neiss. "We could use the extra firepower."

"It was a collective decision," Towson explained. "We knew it would be difficult for our government to help Albernon. The Galactic Senate would never turn its back on a besieged planet, but it can't commit to a military action without a vote. The senators on Coruscant have been known to run some lengthy political debates. A positive response from the Republic could take months."

"Albernon doesn't have that kind of time," said Kuritas.

"It's still one hell of a mission!" Bard declared. "The Sith will play for keeps."

Towson smiled at the pilot. "It looks like you've thrown your lot in with us, Mister Bard. Before leaving base, I was asked by Maddaus to modify your courier ship with defensive systems. Engineers from Dragon are waiting to do the work. You're going to get tossed into the fray."

Bard murmured something inaudible and slid away from the table. The commodore turned to address the rest of the group.

"It's time to get underway. Captain Surlibo, I'd be grateful if you could take the Comet Box ahead to Albernon space. Squadron 39 will follow in a few hours. If you answer any hails from

Albernon patrols, reply that you're just passing through."

Bard caught up with Kuritas as they left the wardroom. "You know, we could be back on Rithoth right now running after evil droids. Is it too late to turn around?"

The agent shook her head. "You're a strange man, Bard. But you work for a living, just like me. A job is a job, right?"

"Right," muttered the pilot. "Something like that."