Author's Responses at the end:
Chapter Twenty-Six: Fractured
The Alderaanian Orbital Authority boasted one of the best safety records in the sector. They had not had a fatal accident since the Clone Wars.
That ended when a badly listing New Republic gunship emerged from hyperspace far too close to the planet. Almost from the moment it reverted to real-space, explosions rocked its flanks and it quickly lost all hint of control. Com chatter roared to a chaotic chorus of screams and shouted commands as the dying vessel clipped a bulky agricultural transport and began spinning out of control toward the atmosphere of the planet.
"Pull up!" the Authority controllers called.
They would never know that the pilot and command staff of the gunship died as the ship emerged from hyperspace when the motivator exploded and the whole computer core went with it. The gunship, already torn and rent from its battle at Coruscant, hit the atmosphere at a quarter sublight at a vertical angle and exploded. Fragments of the ship spread out like fireworks skidding along the outermost envelope of the atmosphere before falling down the well toward the surface.
On the heels of the doomed ship emerged hundreds, even thousands of others. Many were Jedi transports, but most were military or civilian. "Incoming vessels, this is Control. What is the meaning of this?"
Among the first of the ships to emerge from hyperspace was a famous old Corellian freighter. "Alderaan Control, this is Chancellor Leia Organa-Solo," Leia said, using her title only where applicable. "Coruscant has fallen to the Vong. Repeat: Coruscant has fallen to the Vong. The New Republic Defense Fleet is regrouping here for now, along with the Jedi Order. We have civilian refugees as well. Please contact Governor Celchu and advise her that we will need to make immediate arrangements."
"Alderaan Control acknowledges, Your Majesty."
In the cockpit of the Falcon, Han smiled over at his wife. "It's good to be the boss."
Leia nodded pensively. "Han, how bad is it?"
The General lost his smile. "For Traest to cave as quickly as he did—it's bad." Just then Jaina popped her head into the cockpit. "Karia's awake. For a girl with super powers she seems to get beaten to a pulp a lot."
"Super powers don't mean you can't lose," Han muttered. He brought the Falcon down the well directly toward the glowing white and silver towers of the Organa palace. Leia's official residence outside the Jedi Temple looked as beautiful and immaculate as the last time they visited.
Han noted two distinctive figures waiting for them on the edge of the pad. He and Leia walked out of the cockpit and saw Karia sitting in the common area with Anakin by her side, one arm draped around her shoulders. A group of younglings sat around her, silently reaching out to touch her hand and provide what comfort they could.
Han and Anakin's eyes met briefly, and Han nodded before he followed his wife and daughter down the ramp.
Outside, Governor Winter Celchu and her husband Tycho stood waiting patiently. Winter's hair was just as white as always. Han noted that time had merely made the distinguished-looking woman appear even more beautiful and ageless. She did not have the age-lines of concern and responsibility that Leia did. Tycho also appeared younger than his years, for which Han envied him. He began wondering if he and Leia should have retired to Alderaan years ago.
"Leia!" Winter said as soon as they emerged. She rushed forward and wrapped her adopted sister in a hug. "By the Force, I wept for you," she said. "Little Jacen."
Han watched as Leia's carefully stoic Jedi Master exterior crumbled away in the arms of her long-time friend and confident. He merely nodded to Tycho, who knew both women needed the release. When at last the tears subsided, Leia took a deep, steadying breath. "Thank you," she said. "Winter, so much is happening. I'm bringing the whole Jedi Order with me. We need to house them in the palace for now."
"I'll make the arrangements," she said without hesitation.
"The fleet is regrouping in orbit," Han said. "The government is gone. I've been reactivated. Celchu, I wouldn't mind having you back in a uniform either. These kids running things don't know what they're doing."
"Of course," the former star pilot said. Like Han, Tycho was a former Imperial defector who went on to become one of the best pilots in the Rebel Alliance. "We'll alert the local militia control."
Just then Jaina and Anakin started down the ramp with a battered and bruised Karia Naberrie between them. The young woman already looked better than when she arrived, but still walked gingerly. The moment she was outside, though, she took a deep breath of the cold, mountain air and looked toward the yellow sun that was barely visible behind a thin layer of clouds.
She turned and said something to Anakin before leaning over and kissing him on the cheek, and then rose silently into the air until she disappeared into the cloud cover.
Han watched as Winter's jaw dropped. "Was that…."
"Karia Naberrie," Leia explained. "Kale's daughter."
For a brief instant, Han saw an echo of pain flash through Winter's icy blue eyes before she viciously stamped the emotion down. "She is very beautiful. But I've never seen a Kryptonian bruised like that. What happened?"
"You know what's happening with Jor-El?" Han asked.
Winter nodded.
"She tried to hold her brother off long enough for us to escape," Han explained.
"Got her butt kicked," Jaina added helpfully as she reached them.
"Her parents arrived and got her out," Leia said. "They stayed."
"So what's she doing?" Winter asked.
By then Anakin had joined them. "She's recharging. The yellow sun helps her heal. The lamps in the Falcon helped, but the real thing is better."
Winter said nothing as she led Leia, Han and the many Jedi younglings toward the palace. Moments before they reached the ten-meter-high doors into the palace atrium, a flash of red streaked by them all before resolving into the now completely unblemished features of Karia Naberrie. Though her clothes were torn and dirty from her fight on Coruscant, otherwise there was no sign of her previous injuries.
Han watched with a wry grin as Winter turned to study the daughter of the man she wanted so much as a youth. Karia stared right back, before taking a step forward and without hesitation running a finger through Winter's long white tresses. "Wow, you're beautiful," she said. Proving beyond a doubt that she knew exactly who Winter was, she added, "Mom doesn't realize how lucky she was."
Han winced. It was the wrong thing to say. But somehow Karia said it in the only way she could have. Winter smiled briefly, then leaned over and hugged the girl. "I agree," she said. "Your mom doesn't know how lucky she has it, and not just because she got Kale. You, my dear, are stunning."
"I'll say," Anakin muttered.
Karia blushed and grinned at the same time. "Come," Winter said. "You must be hungry and tired. We'll have plenty to do soon enough. Eat first."
Karia's stomach rumbled so loud even the younglings in the back of the procession heard and started giggling.
"She's definitely Kale's girl," Han announced.
* * *
"Grand Admiral Thrawn," Pellaeon said as he stepped into the office aboard the Chimera. "Intelligence reports that the New Republic has lost Coruscant. Details are scarce, but evidently there was a successful assassination attempt on the elected government right before the attack."
Thrawn nodded. "They've retreated to Alderaan." It was not a question.
Gilead Pellaeon blinked, then chuckled. "Indeed. You knew they would follow Organa-Solo and her husband."
"In the absence of actual authority, authoritative figures will do," Thrawn said. "Organa-Solo led the New Republic for the two most successful terms in its history, and Solo was the only officer who actually mounted a credible defense against the Yuuzhan Vong prior to his resignation. If they had been in power, I have to believe that things might have gone differently for the New Republic."
Thrawn sighed with the only outward sign of exhaustion he had demonstrated since he emerged from his hidden empire to rejoin and even lead the military of the Empire. Pellaeon and Daala still remained in charge of the civilian government, which Thrawn agreed was best. However, Grand Admiral Pellaeon, when presented with some of Thrawn's strategies and tactics, gladly handed over nominal control of the Imperial Fleet.
Months later, the Empire was back to its previous borders and had ship yards replenishing those ships lost. The Vong had made no effort to encroach on Imperial space again. However, both men were very well aware that it was only a matter of time before the Vong did just that. Once the New Republic was conquered, that left only the Hapans and the Empire as credible threats. The Hapans had yet to fight, and the Empire had already bloodied the enemy's nose.
"I expect the Vong to consolidate their hold over Coruscant for at least two weeks. However, within two weeks to a month, they will move to destroy the remainder of the New Republic fleet."
"We're going to be there, I take it?" Pellaeon said.
"We are indeed, my friend," Thrawn said. "We are indeed. You see, I believe we had a deal with Mr. Naberrie."
* * *
Admiral Traest Kre'fey growled as the medical droid finished up the dermal glue. The lacerations over his eye burned away fur to expose the black skin below, and the vicious cut he suffered during their harrowing escape. They were the last New Republic ship to escape, as far as the Admiral knew.
Before him stood a figure that he should have been happy to see, and would have been happy to see, six months ago.
Kale Naberrie stood several centimeters taller than the Bothan, and even his wife stood tall for a human. The two stood near the admiral's table, waiting. There was no question that they saved a large number of civilians during the battle, but that large number of saved civilians was dwarfed by the number not saved. In the weighing of percentages, they made little to no difference in the war.
"I was under the impression you had agreed to help against the Vong," Traest finally said. He still spoke in a growl. His anger was not easily assuaged. "If you had honored your word, this last battle would never have happened."
Mara opened her mouth to argue, but Kale put a hand on her arm. Traest did not know Mara well, but he knew she had a reputation of being very strong-willed. Only one person was able, as far as he knew, to still her anger.
Her husband.
"I had another promise to keep," Kale said. "I won't apologize for saving my wife."
"As a sentient being, I understand loving one's mate," Traest said. "But as an officer of the New Republic, I have a greater duty to the people I serve."
"I am not an officer of the New Republic," Kale said. He lifted his chin. "And nothing will ever come before my duties as a husband."
"Then you are a selfish son of a narful," Traest said. "Billions died! Billions, you arrogant fool! Are the lives of all those husbands and wives and mates worth any less than yours? You let them all die!"
"Admiral," the droid admonished. "You are about to rupture your lacerations again. Please calm yourself."
Speakers overhead chimed. "Ten minutes from Alderaan."
Kre'fey growled to himself in his native Bothan. "I wash my hands of it," the admiral said. "In a burst of stupidity I reactivated General Solo. He was supposedly your friend once, before your son murdered his. I'll let him handle you."
Mara's cheeks flared. "We aren't going to be handled."
"And that's why you're standing there mad at me while billions of innocent people are dead or dying under the Vong," Traest said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I understand there is a somewhat large piece of shrapnel the droids wish to remove from my executive officer."
Kale took Mara's hand, and led her from the heavily crowded sick bay. Hundreds of eyes followed them, belonging to Bothans and New Republic human officers who heard the entire exchange.
They emerged into the hall beyond, and Mara took a deep breath. "They're mad at me because I'm alive," she said in disbelief.
"They're mad because so many others aren't," Kale corrected. He looked at her and smiled sadly. "Everything has a consequence, Mara. I knew that there would be a consequence to abandoning the New Republic during the civil war, and I knew there would be a consequence to abandoning it this time to save you. But I also knew, even if no one else did, that I could never fight without you. That I couldn't even live without you." He pulled her hand to his lips and stared into her eyes. They were different since the procedure; brighter. Like his. "I love you."
She blinked back a tear, not just at his dedication, but also at the sheer hostility in the ship directed at her. At the two of them. "They hate us so much. And we're going to fight for them."
"We're going to fight for them," Kale agreed. "And for our children. For Karia. And for Jor."
"He hated us," she said. "I could feel his hatred."
"That's not really him," Kale assured her. "Brainiac and the Vong did something. Remember what the Emperor did to Leia? This is the same thing. He's buried under that hatred somewhere, we just have to find him again. And we will."
Minutes later, they reverted to real space over Alderaan. Through port windows the couple could see the bloodied remnants of the New Republic Fleet. Unconsciously, Mara's hand sought Kale's. "Is it already too late?" she whispered.
"I hope not."
"What's Leia going to say?"
Kale closed his eyes and reached out with the Force. He could feel his cousin on the planet below. Her fear and exhaustion were clear, as was her pain. "I don't want to wait for a transport," he said. "We need to speak to her now."
Mara nodded mutely and the two of them moved through the ship until they reached the dock. Already wounded were being transferred onto transports. "We don't have room for any passengers," one of the Bothan officers said when he saw Kale and Mara emerge.
The two shrugged in response, lifted off the deck of the ship, and soared through the containment field into the open space of orbit. They zoomed through space and literally punched their way through the atmosphere, homing in on where Kale felt Leia and Karia to be in the Force.
They landed on the edge of the platform that still held the Falcon. Through the Force both could feel the crowd of Jedi within the Palace. "It was smart of Leia to bring them here," Kale said.
"For now," Mara said. "The Vong are not that far behind."
Kale nodded absently and they started to walk toward the large doors of the Organa Palace. "This isn't going to be fun," Kale said softly.
His wife could only nod her agreement.
* * *
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Jedi Knight Ganner Rhysode whispered.
"Yeah, you're not all that bright, are you?" Kyle Katarn said with a straight face.
"You stayed too!"
"Yeah, but I'm not all that bright either, and you knew that."
The younger Jedi chuckled. "Of course, Master."
"Haven't been your master in years, you whelp," Kyle said.
The two Jedi walked with perhaps two dozen straggling NRDF soldiers in one of the many dark tunnels that criss-crossed the planet. "Master, why are we here again?"
"Officially, we're staying to aid the civilians as much as possible to survive the Vong occupation while trying to sabotage the enemy. Unofficially, I'm looking for Jan."
"You think she's still alive?"
"I know she is. And I think she's here."
Ganner merely nodded. "You've done this before, right? During the Civil War?"
Kyle nodded at the memory. "Yeah, Jan and I led the infiltration force that set up Operation Freedom's Hammer. We had a good time. Murder, assassinations, mutated giant rancors. Good memories."
Rhysode shuddered. Softly, he added, "We'll find her, Kyle. Jan is one of the smartest, most frighteningly competent women I've ever met. If anyone could survive, it'll be her."
"We're coming up on our rendezvous point," the captain and ranking officer of the NRDF squad said.
Around the corner came a familiar face to Katarn. "Talon Karrde! The Vong'll let anybody in nowadays, won't they?"
Surrounded by fifty of the meanest-looking mercenaries, including at least ten Mandalorians, stood the smuggler extraordinaire and shipping magnet. "Obviously," Karrde responded with a tight grin. "They let you stay, after all."
The two men shared a friendly grip. "Do you have transport?" Kyle asked.
"It'll be tight, but we could get off planet if we needed to," Karrde said. "You've met Boba Fett, haven't you?"
Kyle turned to the armored Mandalorian and nodded. "I've not met him personally, but his reputation precedes him. Are you a friend today, Boba Fett?"
"Let's leave it at business acquaintance," the bounty hunter snarled.
"It's usually cleaner that way," Katarn admitted. "We're here to try and pick up the pieces, save as many civilians as we can, mount as credible a defense as possible, and in general be a pain in the Vong's collective arses. All involved will be compensated by either the Jedi Order or the New Republic, whichever has assets available. Is this arrangement satisfactory?"
Fett looked over his shoulder at the bounty hunters, and then nodded. "It'll work."
"Okay then," Kyle said. "Ganner here has already been scouting out possible targets. We are going to be very busy."
sp
Author's Responses
Roosterman71: Thanks, I appreciate you reading and dropping a note.
Exodus5--He had to make a difficult decision to stop his son, or save thousands of innocent lives. In his defense--Jor was not in immediate danger of dying. Against him--Jor remains as a potent threat.
The-Knight2000--Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
dajohu--Buddy! Thrawn is definitely important. Brainiac is definitely not going anywhere.