System of Gultana - Gateway to Colonies
"The Rebels have broken through the blockade! I repeat the Rebels have -" the communication was severed as the last Imperial Star Destroyer was blown to bits by three Mon Calamari Liberty Type starships. The three winged warships and their escorts of X-wings finished off the Imperial blockade over the jungle planet.
Gunray was aboard one of the Liberty Type starships, along with President Dorna Vakara and Ahsoka Tano. They were making their way through Imperial territory trying to get Gunray to Cato Neimoidia. They were taking a huge risk by going so far into Imperial territory, where they could easily be cut off and completely surrounded.
"Madam President, I still think you should stay on Yavin. This isn't a safe location," said a female former Mon Calamari senator; now a Fleet Commander for the Rebel Alliance, "if the Empire traps us-"
"We've already sprung the trap, Commander Tiils." said Vakara, walking over to the viewport of the warship, staring out into space. There was a nearby nebula that surrounded half of Gultana, and the ship turned away from the planet by a few degrees.
"Then is it necessary to bring our entire fleet to Cato Neimoidia? Why not just send Gunray off on a shuttle?" asked Ahsoka, butting in the conversation. The President turned to look at the Togruta, then glanced at Tiils who was in agreement. Tiils and Tano were wise and strong women, and they had the best care and adoration for the President. Vakara grasped the white railing on the bridge, and noticed below the vast array of computing and comms stations where other Calamarian technicians worked quietly.
"You're right. I don't know what I was thinking by sending this entire fleet…" the President turned to see Ahsoka and Tiils relieved, "I will go with Gunray on a small shuttle to Cato Neimoidia."
"What?" blurted out Ahsoka with shock.
"Ma'am, you must be joking." stuttered Tiils.
"Does it look like I'm joking?" questioned Vakara, "I am the best bet at getting Gunray safely on Cato Neimoidia. Besides, the Trade Federation won't do what we want unless I'm there. They'll lie and take advantage of us." Ahsoka could tell that there was more to Vakara's reasoning. There was something else that she wasn't telling. Ahsoka was tempted to ask, nearly spitting out the question. But she bit her tongue. She could then feel the sense of familiarity of whatever Vakara was hiding. She wanted to go alone, for she had to work things out on her own. Ahsoka definitely remembered that feeling. And she knew it was something everyone needed to go through, she understood.
"The President needs to do what she needs to do." said Ahsoka, and Tiils looked at her, confused. "She's the supreme commander of the Alliance, she does what she wants." continued the Togruta, walking up to the front of the bridge, near Vakara. Tiils put her hands on her hips, staring at the two with her bulbous eyes,
"Are all Force-users this stubborn?"
"Only the good ones." smiled Vakara, and she walked towards the turbolift on the other end of the bridge, "I'll be taking a few special ops troopers for extra watch on Gunray." she stopped and looked at Ahsoka and the Fleet Commander, "I will be back. Meanwhile, tell central command on Yavin to boost their defenses. Who knows what the Empire might be plotting against us."
President Vakara, Nute Gunray, and five special ops Rebel troops got on board a modified old Republic gunship, fitted with a hyperdrive, and deployed from the Mon Calamari flagship. The ship flew out and away from the Rebel fleet, away from the Gultana Nebula, and faced Galactic Northeast.
Two Rebel soldiers sat in as pilots, and the President sat in the back, facing Nute Gunray. Three other soldiers sat silently with them, two human men and one Quarren soldier. Vakara felt the jolt of the ship as it jumped into hyperspace, into the bright blue tunnel. It became quiet, and silent.
Gunray looked up from his wrinkled, green, hands and noticed the President staring at him. He gasped from shock, and closed his eyes, trying to relax.
"How do you think your old friends will respond when we get there?" asked Vakara. Gunray glanced up,
"I have no friends in the Federation. When I was imprisoned by Zaoku, they all abandoned me and flocked to Darkan Gollak. The new face of Neimoidia, the new face of an Imperial Trade Federation. I seriously doubt anyone will support me upon my return. They will likely turn me in, like the greedy scumbags they are."
"Rumor has it that Gollak will lose the Federation, and the Emperor's Grand Moffs will replace the Imperial Council. I know for a fact that your people will not like a non-Neimoidian running things."
"And you expect them to run to my aid?" asked Gunray, looking at Vakara with his yellowish and red eyes. "They have become pawns of Gollak, and pawns of the Emperor. As long as the Empire stuffs their mouths with money, they will not change."
"That isn't the reason why they follow the Emperor… not entirely." said Vakara, "They're afraid of him. Just like everyone in the Alliance, we've united and stood together to refute the Emperor's power, we are not intimidated by him or anyone in the Empire. The Trade Federation needs that same courage, and I know it will be hard to do."
"I assume that is why you came along…" smiled Gunray.
"Of course. What better way to join the Rebel Alliance than having its leader giving you the best options?" smiled the Rebel President.
"Ditto, President Vakara." said Gunray, leaning back in his chair, but still was hunched over, "Now what will you do if the Empire invades Cato Neimoidia, once again?"
"We will figure it out when the time comes."
"You're ready for an Imperial invasion?"
"I am 100% sure that the Emperor already knows that I am accompanying you to your home. I am 100% sure that he will already have a fleet ready to catch us." explained Vakara.
"We'll put up a good fight." said a Rebel soldier, next to Gunray, holding his laser rifle in his lap, "We always have." the soldier was a Quarren, with a nasally voice, and moist tentacles. The President smiled. The other soldiers were ready as well,
"There isn't anything that can stop us." said a younger man, in his twenties. He had a smooth face and black hair, mostly covered by his brown helmet.
"I hope you're right…" muttered Gunray.
The modified gunship exited hyperspace, with a boom, arriving over the colorful world of Cato Neimoidia. The President got up from her seat, walked over to the front of the ship, where up above were the two pilots. There was a small window where she could see out into space, and there was nothing over the green and gold planet. She scanned her eyes from one side of the planet to the other, still waiting for any Imperial star destroyer to ambush them.
"Get going to the capital, pilot. No time to waste." ordered Vakara.
"Roger that, ma'am." replied the pilot up above through the intercom. The ship accelerated forward to the planet, heading for the twilight zone of light, where it was almost nighttime. And half of the planet would slip into darkness.
The gunship landed before a massive, golden and silver palace with an enormous staircase before it. The plaza was wide and expansive, with many Neimoidian security guards holding their staffs and long rifles. They watched as the gunship hissed and its doors slid open on one side.
The five Rebel soldiers exited first, immediately getting shouts from the Neimoidians since they had their weapons drawn. Just over a dozen Neimoidian guards surrounded the opened door of the gunship, watching as Vakara walked out of the darkness, then, Gunray. There were gasps and shocked faces, and some of the guards lowered their weapons.
"We'd like to speak with Darkan Gollak." spoke Vakara. Her silver hair blew in the warm wind, and her gray dress billowed at her feet. The capital city was a bridge city, connected and rooted on two mountains far from each other, hanging thousands upon thousands of feet high.
One of the guards stepped forward,
"This way. But your soldiers must stay here." Vakara looked at the Rebels and nodded, and they understood. The soldiers stayed back with the ship, and many Neimoidian guards stayed to keep an eye on them as well.
Vakara and Gunray walked up the large staircase up to the main entrance of the palace with the sole guard. They stepped through the main entrance, walking into a tall corridor. The grandiose hall was lined with golden columns, busts of Neimoidians, and paintings of fancy Neimoidians as well.
Vakara and Gunray stood behind the Neimoidian guard at a tall door, where on the other side was the Neimoidian council, and Vakara could feel their presence. She continued to search hard through the Force, making sure of something. She kept on searching for one specific person, hoping he'd be here. She wanted to face him, she wanted to end him once and for all.
The door creaked open, and inside was a very tall chamber, with two circular platforms on the floor. Gunray and Vakara got on the same platform, holding the railing, and the platform hovered upwards. They then could see the faces of the Neimoidian council, with Darkan Gollak in the center of the five. The Councillor to the Colonies in the Imperial Council.
"What do we have here?" smiled Gollak, the old Neimoidian, leaning forward. "My fellow colleagues, we have been blessed… our enemies have been delivered to us!" Gunray gulped nervously, but Vakara held her chin high.