"General, Rogues are reporting that they don't have a clean shot," a tech at the Denon Planetary Defense Command center yelled out as Luke and Mara ran full bore into the room. "Rogue One is also requesting confirmation of the target's identification."

"General Toole," Luke nodded politely to the Denon native, knowing him both personally and by reputation.

The general had started out as an infantry lieutenant in the Rebel Alliance after defecting from the Empire shortly after the Battle at Yavin IV. Since then, he had participated in or helped strategize every major ground battle with an eye towards quick surgical strikes that reduced casualties for his side while maximizing damage to the enemy. At the end of the war, his stellar service record earned him one of the most important posts in the GFFA. While not in Wedge's league when it came to tactics, the ground forces that served under him held him in the same high regards as the pilots held Wedge. And like General Antilles, the number of requests to serve under Toole vastly outweighed the requests to ship out.

General Char Toole shot Luke a hard glare before answering the tech, "Confirming ID on target: Major Tahiri Veila, A.K.A. Peacekeeper, considered armed and dangerous." Then in a lower voice, Char asked Luke directly, "Why is it when one of your Jedi goes around the bend it is never one that's easy to catch?"

"General, target has left grid 56-00875 and entered 57-0076. If she continues on her path," a screen lit up showing Tahiri's projected flight, "we think she will head for space port 019 in sector 90-00010."

"Why that space port," Char asked himself quietly. The designation sounded familiar to Luke but he couldn't remember why. Speaking louder into his headset, Char let loose a string of commands. "Have our troops seal off sector 75, try to reroute all civilian traffic in the area. Issue a general warning of enemy action in the area and tell all civilians to remain behind cover until further notice. Comm, contact that spaceport. They are not to permit any ships to leave or enter until after we've got her." Even before the various 'yes sirs' were shouted back, Char turned to Luke looking as confused as Luke felt. "Why is she heading all the way over there? She has passed at least two closer ports and one military compound."

"Maybe she figures the military compound is too heavily guarded for her to get in," Mara offered as Luke studied the map, which was showing her entering a new sector. Mara must have noticed as well since she asked how Tahiri could be moving so fast on foot.

"A couple speeder troopers ran into her and tried to be heroes," Char said in disgust as he accepted as pad from an aid, rapidly reading it before finishing his story, "Lucky for them, she didn't kill them…just knocked them for a loop. However, now she has transportation and managed to make it out of the containment area before we knew she was gone."

"And she can rest," Mara sounded disgusted as well.

Luke had to agree with his wife but for different reasons. If Tahiri had stayed on foot, she eventually would have run out of steam. That would have made it easier for him to go out and talk to her…to find out why she had tried to kill Danni, Jacen and the other Jedi as well as the older Wraiths. At least that was Danni and Han's story, Kell claimed that she was defending herself from Jacen's attack. One thing everyone agree on was that something bad had happened to Tahiri while she was connected to the qahsa, something that changed her eyes again.

"Maybe the Wraiths left her a transport at 019?" Mara suggested.

Luke tapped the icon representing 019 and brought up all available data on it.

"We don't think so," Char said tapping more commands into his console. "They landed on the far side only a couple hours ago. However, I'm having the Wraiths that survived the attack brought here under guard. If they know anything, we will get it out of them."

Luke stared at the familiar name of 019, Malefic Spaceport. That name was ringing a bell but …

"General, 019 is reporting a YT-1300 is refusing orders to hold fast! The transponder is off so they are running the ID of the gentleman that rented the bay. So far, they are having no luck in getting a positive ID on him. The ship left 4 minutes ago!"

"The Falcon," Luke said suddenly. "That is one of Han's favorite hideaways when he is here for an extended leave!"

"Frak!" Char exclaimed as he ran to the railing and shouted down to crew pit. "How many Wraiths are unaccounted for, I want to know now mister! Tactical: get me a fix on any YT-1300 in the containment area…knowing Solo, it's operating under a fake ID transponder! Control: inform all units that a YT-1300 is in pursuit of target, consider it hostile if encountered!" He turned back to Luke, "Where is Solo right now?"

"At the Temple with his wife and daughter," Mara answered narrowing her eyes. "You don't think he has anything to do with this!"

"Right now, Master Skywalker," Char said just as angrily, "I have about twenty troops and two Jedi seriously injured by five, count them five, loyal Wraiths…who, by the way, only lost one of their own and had another wounded. I got a Jedi Vong running circles around my best troops and the Rogues keep claiming they have no shot! So until I know what is what, everyone is going to be a suspect!"

"He is right Mara," Luke added quietly.

"Sir," a female captain called from the pit, "the only Wraith at large is a Private Sandwalker; she is supposed to be an aide to Major Tahiri."

"Tahiri told us that she has some kind of medical condition that prevents her from going into space." Luke told Char as a new contact opened up on the tactical screen.

"We're in the process of pulling up her bio, General," the captain said as Char shook his head.

"Don't bother; the Wraiths have probably changed everything in it anyways."

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Cindy wanted a lot of things out of life: to make Corporal, to have a successful career in the military, to make her family proud, to meet that special boy and have couple dozen children with him. But more then anything at this moment, she just wanted to stop throwing up!

"He said no," 3PO told the diminutive gray alien that arrived in the cockpit moments after R2-D2 lifted off. The alien named Meewahl had a blaster pointed at R2-D2 while half seated in the pilot's chair. Cindy was sitting behind 3PO on the other side, trying very hard to control her stomach.

Meewahl snarled something before bringing the comm link up. "He is refusing Lady Vader."

"Artoo, listen to me, I am ordering you to release the Falcon to Meewahl right this instant." The voice was one that Cindy heard many times on the holo net while growing up…one that always sounded calm and caring no matter how bleak things appeared. Now the former Chief of State Leia Organ-Solo sounded tired, beaten and afraid.

"He said no." 3PO said after R2-D2 let out two beeps, "I am sorry Mistress Leia, but Artoo-Detoo has the idea that he must save Major Tahiri, and he is being very stubborn about this."

"Meewahl, listen to me, I am commanding you to retake the Falcon by any means necessary up to and including the termination of the Artoo unit."

"Mistresses Leia, no!" C-3PO threw up his arms and yelled at R2 to release control of the ship.

"Shut up, 3PO! Meewahl, do you hear?"

"I hear and obey Lady Vader."

"After you regain control, you are to help hunt down Tahiri and kill her!"

"What!?" Cindy and 3PO screamed at the same time.

"My lady…" Cindy couldn't read the alien's facial features but its voice sounded unsure and confused.

"She has fallen to the Dark Side, Meewahl and she is a danger not only to the galaxy but to Sekot as well. She must never be allowed to leave Denon."

"Artoo-Detoo claims that Mistress Tahiri is not a Dark Jedi or a danger …" 3PO started translating what Artoo had said but Mrs. Organa-Solo angrily cut him off.

"Shut up 3PO! Meewahl, do you hear?"

"My lady Vader, Tahiri is member of your clan!" The alien hissed out in a voice barely above a whisper.

"I know what she was Meewahl, now do as I command!"

"M'lady, I shall attempt to capture your wayward adopted daughter. Once she is captured you can reason with her, allow your wisdom to guild her back to the clan."

"I am sorry, Meewahl, but it's too late to try and reason with her."

"Lady Vader, perhaps we could contact the Son of Vader …" Even though Cindy couldn't read her face or body, her tone sounded as if she was desperate to find another course of action.

"Meewahl, who am I?" Mrs. Organa-Solo's voice cracked like a whip.

"You are Lady Vader, daughter of our Lord Vader, who came at our greatest time of need."

"Your clan and all the clans of your people have sworn to protect myself and my family, even at the cost of your own. Is this not true?"

"I am sworn to obey. But M'lady …"

"No," Mrs. Organa-Solo's angry voice hissed from the comm link. "Perhaps, I should contact your clan, Meewahl, and inform them that it seems you have forgotten your honor."

"No M'lady, I still know honor," Meewalh ground out the words while standing taller.

"Then do as I command!"

"I will obey my honor, Lady Vader." Meewahl closed down the connection and walked over to R2-D2.

Cindy tried to stand up to protest, but a wave of vertigo hit her suddenly and she fell back in her chair. 3PO pleaded desperately with Meewahl, but the Noghri ignored them both and tapped Artoo-Detoo on the dome with her muzzle.

"Do you wish to save Tahiri or die needlessly?" Meewahl asked with a heavy voice. Before anyone could reply, she put her pistol away. "A direct assault will never work with the firepower between us and Tahiri. In order to attack, we must come up from behind and scatter them." Meewalh spun and reclaimed the pilot's seat. "Return control to me, and together we will uphold our honor and save young Tahiri."

"You're going to help us," Cindy asked as the ship turned suddenly. All she could do was close her eyes and hope she didn't puke again.

"Tahiri is a member of their clan. Honor demands that one should attempt to save the wayward child before the hunt. Without the clan, an individual means nothing. Likewise, without honor, there can be no clan," Meewalh answered softly. "Now please use the airsick bags. This will be messy enough as it is."

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"My bodyguard has regained control of the Falcon," Leia's voice came through the speakers. "She is ready to help if you need her."

"Thank you Princess, however I don't think that will be necessary. Please contact the Falcon and have them return to a secure landing field," General Toole said, watching the scan coming from one of the chase vehicles. "Central, have traffic control direct the Falcon to land at the base, with full security support until we get this mess straightened out."

Luke barely heard his sister or the solider acknowledge as he studied the tactical screen and reached out with the Force. Although the Falcon was reporting to withdraw, there was a bright, fiery core of determination coming from Meewahl. She felt honor bound to do what she must do regardless of the consequences.

"General Toole, she is about to enter sector grid 75." One of the techs announced.

"All troops are authorized to fire. I say again all units are authorized to use deadly force, lock and load. Inform the Jedi and rear troops to back down, I don't want them caught in the crossfire."

Luke watched the icon representing the Falcon as it dipped down between the buildings, getting lost in the traffic patterns of Denon, and nodded to himself. Although security forces would have trouble-tracking the Falcon, the Force allowed Luke to understand exactly what was happening.

"What is she doing?" Mara hissed out. She must have been sensing the same thing he was but, for some reason, not as clearly.

"Sir, we lost track of the Falcon. She is down below the building level," a harried aide screamed out as Toole let out a curse.

"Princess, I request that the Falcon return to a secured base," Char said in a controlled voice as one screen showed the firefight beginning between the Denon forces and Tahiri.

"I'm sorry general, I'm trying to raise her," Leia replied, getting flustered. "She doesn't seem to be responding."

Luke saw Tahiri blast thought the first line, juking for all she was worth as if she was flying an X-wing and not a speeder bike. One of the troop transports got a lucky shot, shredding the bike under her. Luke watched as Tahiri leapt clear a second before it exploded, and use Bangor to deflect shots as she spun in the air. Even though he was unable to feel Tahiri in the Force, he could clearly see that she still had access to it as she hit some troopers with a Force push, knocking them out of the way. Luke got a split second look at her eyes, glowing red as the others had reported, as she spun around looking for an escape route. He also could see the many burns and wounds that she had suffered so far.

"We got her," Char said as Mara nodded and rubbed Luke's arm in triumph. There was a cheer and a sense of accomplishment in the control room,

Well, Luke knew better. As he watched, Tahiri dodged and deflected the numerous shots coming at her. She was also leaping and running, trying to find a way free without harming any of the troops. The way she kept precise control and the economical movements that she was performing to avoid any hits and avoid hitting troops with ricochets told Luke that this round was going to be viewed as a loss for them.

"General, you may want to tell Gavin to break off," Luke said softly as the Force showed him what was going to happen.

"What?" The General's facial expression went from triumph to suspicion to horror as the techs reported that the Falcon was coming up from below and behind the celebrated squadron.

Meewahl brought the Falcon up from street level right through the center of the Rogues position. The cries of surprise and frustration filled the speakers as the Rogues scattered trying to avoid the Falcon, each other and the buildings. As Meewalh passed them, she drove the ship downwards, laying down suppression fire while she flew towards Tahiri. The troops were not equipped to deal with the firepower the Falcon's quad guns offered them. Tahiri ran full speed back towards the Falcon, while the ship slowed down, the ramp lowered and the lower hidden blast cannon covered her retreat. Meewahl never even landed, only slowing down enough for Tahiri to jump on before rocketing away, still on course for Spaceport 019.

Luke nodded to himself again. The only way she could have performed that maneuver was to use the Force. Anything less would have ripped her apart and left her dead on the ground. He was going to have to check with Jacen, who was leading the force from the rear trying to catch up with her, to see if he could sense her in the Vongsense.

"General, perhaps you should allow me to talk to her now," Luke said knowing that he had only seconds before she flew away.

"No," Char shook his head as he turned to one section of the command center. "Raise the planetary shields, we'll trap them inside. Fighter Comm, tell the Rogues that I want the Falcon down and I don't care how." Char then turned to face Luke and Mara. "Sorry Luke, but you can talk to her after we have her in custody."

"Shields up sir," The major in charge of shields announced with a smug tone while icons appeared on the tactical screen noting their positions and statuses.

"As you wish, General," Luke replied while pulling his wife back, forestalling the argument that he knew she was ready to let explode out of her. Clasping his hands across his stomach, Luke adopted a serene demeanor and watched as Meewahl and Tahiri set up for an attack run on their true target. "Char, I know why you don't want contact between Tahiri and myself but could you please evacuate shield station 12? And then you might as well call off the hunt, we'll never catch the Falcon once she makes orbit."

Luke felt everyone in earshot, including Mara, giving him a look of confusion as Char turned back to the tactical screen.

"She won't make it to orbit …" Char started to say but stopped as he began to see what Luke already knew. A kilometer beyond Spaceport 019 was shield station 12, one of the main modules, which covered that area of the planet. "Oh, Sith spawn!"

Two concussion missiles shot out of the Falcon on a direct path towards station 12. Without waiting to assess the damage, Meewahl turned the ship on her rear and shot straight up. Without civilian traffic nearby, they could hit top speed as soon as they were clear of the buildings. The Rogues, trailing behind them already, were in a position that would make it impossible to correct course in time to get any shots off. The other units in the air were just atmospheric fliers and had no chance of catching them.

Even though the teams were quickly responding to station 12 being put out of action, the Falcon was able to slip through the hole in the shielding and on to freedom.