Entry 41

I reported back to my commander and he agreed with my decision to not help Skywalker identify the Inquisitors. He didn't care if they were picked up and questioned about the cargo going into the Unknown Regions, but Inquisitors might be privy to other classified Imperial information that we don't want to share with the New Republic. Commander Darten decided to send agents to the five cargo loading sites mentioned by Skywalker. They would recon and send back holovids of the cargo bay personnel in the hopes that I might recognize somebody.

Entry 42

Two months have past and the Empire is no closer to discovering the destination of those mysterious cargo shipments. We have put trackers on the ships, but they take multiple short jumps and eventually disappear into the unknown regions.

I did identify two Inquisitors from our agents' reconnaissance of the cargo distribution areas, but it was decided to not bring them in for questioning yet. Instead we have them under surveillance. Unfortunately, they never leave the planet and a tap on their communications came up with nothing useful. These men must be communicating with their headquarters somehow. I know they are Force-users but I doubt they are exchanging information the same way Palpatine and I kept in contact. To project thoughts over the vastness of space requires an extremely powerful Force-user. Most Inquisitors had an average grasp of the Force, therefore, the person contacting them would have to be a as strong in the Force as Palpatine. I highly doubt there is anybody in the galaxy with that much power…with the exception of Skywalker, of course.

In the meantime, I have been assigned various missions to weed out corruption within the Empire. It is a job very similar to the one I once held as Emperor's Hand except I leave the punishment part to the Imperial justice system.

[Two Years After the Battle of Endor]

Entry 43

I have become concerned about reports of child abductions. I contacted Skywalker and he confirmed that slaving operations are active in the New Republic. They are cracking down on the activity, but it still persists.

The Jedi asked to meet. I told him without a legitimate reason to rendezvous I cannot justify a mission.

Entry 44

Damn that Skywalker. The Empire and New Republic are conducting an economic summit next month and for some reason I've been invited. If Skywalker got somebody in the New Republic to request my presence by name I can kiss my new career as an intelligence officer goodbye. There would be too many questions as to why a lowly Lieutenant was invited.

Entry 45

I contacted Skywalker and he denies making an official request for my presence. Later I discovered New Republic issued an open invitation to General Officers and their staff. General Iwanuk, the commander of the Imperial Intelligence and Security Command, requested a top intelligence field agent to accompany him. I was chosen because of my previous joint mission with Skywalker. My superiors believe the Jedi will be in attendance and I am expected to cozy up to Skywalker and spy on the man and his comrades. I am positive Commander Darten highly recommended me for the mission.

Entry 46

One nice thing about traveling with a General is the first-class transportation. We voyaged to Naboo in a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle provided by the Empire's Diplomatic service. I honestly don't know why the summit is held on Palpatine's homeworld of Naboo. Maybe it is something symbolic.

I accompanied the General to Theed, the planet's capital city, and to the Royal Palace of the House of Naboo, which is an amazingly beautiful and lavishly ornate stone building surrounded by waterfalls. Today the general and I would attend a social meet-and-greet prior to the commencement of official negotiations tomorrow morning. We were dressed in our finest Imperial evening white mess uniforms used only for formal, and usually diplomatic, functions. Of course, a lowly lieutenant doesn't have half the regalia worn by a general officer. General Iwanuk had gold tasseled epaulets, a blue and grey shoulder sash (representing the Intelligence corps colors), a highly shined black leather belt and two code cylinders in a pocket next to his blue and red rank insignia. I was wearing the women's Imperial Evening Mess uniform, which consisted of a waist length white coat over a frilled white shirt and an ankle length black skirt. Of course all weapons were forbidden and all guests were scanned at the door. I felt naked without a blaster, but all in attendance were assured the Royal Palace Guards were more than capable of providing security.

Once inside we went through an official receiving line populated by high-ranking New Republic and Imperial leaders. Princess Leia was there along with her overly sarcastic husband. I introduced myself to the princess and immediately got a reaction out of her. Her eyes went wide and then narrowed as she scrutinized me like a Teke bug under a microscope. I could sense her mistrust. I don't blame her. I kidnapped her brother and turned him over to the Empire. Her husband had a very different reaction. He grabbed my hand and shook it enthusiastically. He then cocked his head to his right and said, "He's at the end of the line."

I inwardly groaned knowing 'he' could only mean Skywalker. When I got to his position the Jedi smiled so widely I thought his cheek muscles might cramp. He was wearing a tan New Republic dress uniform with the rank of …general. "You're a general?"

He looked down at his uniform sheepishly. "It was an somewhat honorary promotion given to me after the Battle of Endor. I never truly served as a general officer. Soon after my promotion, I officially retired and resigned my commission to pursue Jedi training. I'm still authorized to wear the uniform for official state functions, though." He raked his gaze across my outfit. "That uniform is very flattering, Lieutenant." He smiled warmly. "It's so good to see you again Litassa. I'll be done here in a half hour…then perhaps we can talk."

I looked over to General Iwanuk on my left. "I don't think so. I'm acting as an aide-de-camp."

The general obviously was eavesdropping because he turned to me and said, "Lieutenant Coley, I think I can make due without you. You and the Jedi should have some fun."

"Yes, sir." I said tersely.

Skywalker was now beaming. "Good. Meet me at the main balcony in a half hour."

A half hour later we were standing on the balcony overlooking a deep gorge surrounded by waterfalls. Skywalker turned to me while leaning on the balcony's stone balustrade. "I'm so glad you came."

I had to chuckled at that comment. "I am here to spy on you, Skywalker."

He laughed along with me. "I know. I'm supposed to keep a watch on the Imperials." He grinned boyishly. "My superiors didn't specify 'which' Imperial so I decided to concentrate all my efforts on you."

"Lucky me," I responded caustically.

He looked back to the large ballroom that the balcony jutted off from. "Do you want to dance?"

"I guess I have to. I wouldn't look like I am doing my job if I didn't stay close to you tonight."

He smiled widely as he grabbed my hand in his and led me out to the dance floor. The orchestra was playing a classic melody intended for slow dancing, so I leaned into the Jedi, putting my arms up and around his neck. I felt him tense upon contact, but eventually he relaxed and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"I hope the treaty lasts forever," he whispered. "I can get to like this."

"I guess it beats waking up stuncuffed and lying on the floor of a seedy hotel room," I remarked, referring to the day I captured him.

He laughed softly. "I don't know. Admittedly, I didn't like the stunbolt hangover, but it was the first day we officially met, so it wasn't all that bad."

I had to roll my eyes at Skywalker's not so subtle attempt at flirtation. "You are terrible at seduction. If I were you I would stick to the charming naïve farm boy angle."

He leaned back and looked deep into my eyes. "So you admit I'm charming?"

I audibly groaned. "I guess I walked into that one, didn't I?"

He leaned into my embrace and whispered. "Yes you did, but I will take your advice and remain charming."

I was about to make a smart mouth comment when I sensed a spike of danger through the Force. Skywalker must have sensed it also because he stepped back and looked around anxiously. "Where's it coming from?"

I looked up as a shadow passed over the palace's large stained glass domed ceiling. "We need to evacuate everybody."

Skywalker grabbed a comlink out of his jacket pocket and shouted some orders. Meanwhile I looked for a fire alarm along the surrounding walls. When I spotted one I used the Force to activate the warning claxons. When the alarm sounded the dignitaries in the room hesitated and looked about for somebody to tell them what to do.

"Everybody evacuate," I bellowed in my best official voice as Skywalker did the same.

An explosion interrupted the slow progression of people exiting the building as glass and rubble rained down from the ceiling above. At that point everybody went into full blown panic mode as guests trampled each other in their effort to escape. The situation worsened when a group of aliens rappelled into the room from a jumpship hovering above. I searched for the palace security but saw none. I turned to Skywalker, "Do you have a weapon".

He shook his head, "No, but I can get us some fighting staffs." He reached out a hand and called two flagpoles from the far wall. He stripped off the flag and handed me the two-meter hardwood pole. "We just need to hold them off until the guests escape and security gets here."

By now the intruders were firing their blasters into the crowd. Skywalker could openly use the Force, but I had to be a little subtler in its use. I ran toward an angry looking Barabel who was unloading a stream of blasterfire at the exits. I brought up the staff and with a Force-enhance swing, made contact with the alien's head. There was a sickening crack as my weapon connected with his cranium and for a moment I thought I broke my staff, but it remained intact. The creature stumbled around in a daze, but surprisingly didn't fall. I spun around and swung the weapon into the creatures face. There was a splatter of blood and this time the assailant went down. I turned to the Jedi who was using the Force to propel his opponents into the far walls. This left me with one motley looking Rodian to contend with. He aimed his blaster in my direction and fired. I cursed the fact that I could wield the staff like a lightsaber, but there is no way the hardwood could deflect blasterbolts. I had no choice but to use a skill taught to me long ago by the Emperor. I slowed the blasterbolts slightly giving me enough time to roll out of the way. I probably could have halted them in midair, but that would be hard to explain. Eventually we disabled the attackers and moved to the exit before Skywalker skidded to a stop and looked around frantically. "Leia, I can't sense Leia!"

I reached out with the Force and could feel Han Solo's absolute panic, but I didn't sense the Jedi's sister.

"Oh no," Skywalker moaned as he rushed out of the building. I stood in the room for a moment wondering if I should look for my commanding General, but decided to follow Skywalker.

We found a bloody and injured Solo outside screaming into a comlink for somebody to fire up the Falcon. When he noticed Skywalker he screamed over the commotion of the crowd. "Luke! They got her! They got Leia!"