TWENTY-SIX

The conference room aboard the Liberty was full, but seldom had it ever been so still. Once again, those within had discovered startling news. Once again, all were struggling to absorb it. Each of them reacted differently.

Mon Mothma, who had given the announcement, stood at the head of the table. Her small blue eyes were worried, but resolute.

General Reeikan looked very unsettled as he sat deeply in his chair. His expression was mirrored by General Madine, whose elbows were on the table, fingers steepled before him.

Owing to his squidlike features, Admiral Ackbar was, as always, almost impossible to read. If one hazarded a guess at what he was thinking, they might say the Mon Calamarian was concerned.

As for Leia, who sat at the far end of the table, she looked and felt sick to her stomach. No...please...not again...not another Death Star…

Two full weeks had passed since Luke's return to the Rebel fleet with Darth Vader. Between his claims to defect, his assumption of the name Anakin Skywalker, his relationship to Luke, and then the fact that he was also Leia's biological father, much had been said by the ominous Sith that was beyond belief. In those two weeks he had remained true to his word and not made a single ounce of trouble for anyone. On the contrary he had been the most cooperative Imperial prisoner yet.

Now his information about a second Death Star had been proven correct. It brought no happiness to Leia that Vader had been truthful. This news was terrible. Presently she moistened her lips and looked directly at Mon Mothma. "You're certain of this?" she asked with a slight waver to her voice.

The senator from Chandrilla nodded gravely. "There is no doubt. General Syndulla's team is highly confident in their evaluations. This new armored battle station not only exists, but it is even larger and more powerful than the Death Star. It's currently under construction in orbit of the forest moon of Endor."

Leia could say no more and closed her eyes, sighing heavily and falling backward into her chair. Images of her homeworld being blown to kingdom come -her parents...her friends...millions upon millions of innocents, snuffed out in an instant- returned to haunt her.

Madine grimaced and slowly shook his head. "As if one wasn't bad enough…"

Ackbar tilted his head to one side. "Do we yet know how near completion this space station is?"

Mon Mothma nodded. "Yes. It is somewhere past the halfway point in its construction and, as yet, has no operational weapons."

The two Generals and the Admiral exchanged hopeful glances.

Madine's eyebrows shot up. "So...that's twice now that Anakin Skywalker has told the truth," he remarked thoughtfully.

Reeikan gave a reluctant nod. "The second most powerful man in the galaxy has turned out to be our most cooperative Imperial prisoner. Ironic, isn't it?"

Leia turned to him and firmly shook her head. "Don't give Vader too much credit, General." As yet, despite everyone else on the Alliance Council doing so, she couldn't bring herself to call the masked monolith by his given name. "What about defenses? If the Empire learned anything from the first Death Star, destroying this one is going to be much more difficult."

Mon Mothma slowly shook her head. "Perhaps not. It is still more than eight months from completion at the current rate of construction. As such, dealing the station a crippling blow would simply be a matter of finding the most direct path to the main reactor."

Reeikan raised an eyebrow. "That easy, huh?"

The aging yet graceful woman cringed. "Unfortunately, there is a strong defense for this station; an energy shield originating from the forest moon. As yet, our operatives have been unable to pinpoint its location."

Ackbar nodded. "I see your point. Until we can locate the shield generator, any attack would be fruitless."

"Even so, the information alone gives us a clear advantage," pointed out General Madine. "This could be our chance to deal a crippling blow to the Empire."

"Agreed. Mon Mothma," said Ackbar, turning to her with his flippers behind his back, "when we do receive word back from your operatives, an attack plan can be formulated. Until then, I'll inform our best strategists of this matter and see what we can come up with."

The two Generals, Mon Mothma, and Leia all nodded in agreement. Presently Mon Mothma turned back to Leia. "It appears as though your foresight in keeping this prisoner has paid off."

Leia cringed at the compliment. She wanted no credit for her part in keeping Vader alive, family or not.

"Speaking of our prisoner..." Madine straightened in his chair and turned to Leia. "Don't you think it's time we started following through on that promise of yours?"

All eyes turned to Leia, much to her dismay. Luke had not stopped speaking of his father, who was still in constant pain, and continually petitioned for better treatment...specifically, that they could find some way of removing that breath mask and helmet. It had been torturing the man for twenty years, and Anakin knew it was the reason everyone continued to shudder in his presence. The rest of the Alliance leaders had been consulted and the vote in favor was unanimous. They also agreed to the proposition that if the information about the second Death Star proved accurate, there was all the more reason to provide some sort of reward for his cooperation.

Leia grimaced. Before even mentioning this to the others, she asked Too-One-Be to find out if it was possible...or practical. The droid stood against the wall, deactivated until his name was called. "Too-One-Be?"

The long-limbed droid immediately switched on and turned to Leia. "Yes, Princess Leia? How might I be of assistance?"

"What were your findings regarding the removal of Vade-" Leia frowned as she imagined the disapproval of her comrades. "Of prisoner 1138's breathing device? Can he survive without it?"

"Damage to the patient's lungs is extensive and irreparable, but there are alternatives to allow him semi-independent respiration. However, in order to facilitate ingestion of nutrients, speaking, and free locomotion, it would be necessary to administer a concentrated oxygen mix directly into the patient's trachea," explained the medical droid.

"How exactly would that work?" asked Madine, curious. He and all the others had wondered to no end what was under that mask. He had no sympathy for Anakin personally, but felt that cooperation deserved a reward. It was standard operating procedure for Imperial prisoners.

"A tracheotomy would be performed and a permanent oxygen port installed in the throat. A tube or hose could then be connected to the port to administer the needed gasses," said Too-One-Be.

Half the room grimaced despite themselves. The normally unflappable Admiral Ackbar looked a little paler. Even Leia had to suppress a shudder before continuing. "What would the danger level be for such an operation?"

Too-One-Be continued. "The danger level is great. Given the patient's constant need for a high level of oxygen, the procedure would have to be done quickly. The highest risk is asphyxiation." The droid paused, as if allowing the sobering thought to sink in. "However, I have personally performed many such operations with a 99.9 percent success rate. I see little chance of failure."

Mon Mothma lifted her eyebrows. "Is your...patient aware of the risks?"

Too-One-Be shook his head. "Not at this time. As the patient was not told of this procedure, there was no need to inform him of the risks."

Mon Mothma took a deep breath. "Well...if there are no disagreements, and if Anakin is willing, I suggest we follow through on our promise."

Madine, Rieekan, Ackbar, and Mon Mothma all voiced their agreement, while Leia's heart sank.
The brief wish that Vader would not agree or that the operation would go badly came and went quickly, but not without a sharp reprimand. You spent two hours arguing with Han about this. You don't have to like it, but it's the right thing to do. His death won't bring back your loved ones or anyone else. She took a deep, shaky breath and nodded. "A promise is a promise. As long as it doesn't prove a drain of our resources."

"On the contrary," said Too-One-Be, "the breathing apparatus and other devices have proven to be a far greater hindrance to care than their removal would be."

"Then it's settled," rasped Admiral Ackbar. "Too-One-Be, provided your patient agrees, you may begin the needed preparation." He regarded the others. "Should we succeed in destroying the new Death Star, we shall owe Anakin Skywalker our lives. Without his intelligence, it is quite possible we never would have discovered what the Emperor is planning."

The idea gave everyone pause. It wouldn't be the first time an Imperial turncoat had saved them, but...Vader?

"Thank you, Admiral. I will do so. If you all will excuse me, I shall return to the Redemption." With that, the long-limbed droid rolled out of the room, the door shutting behind him.

Leia's head was spinning. As the room emptied, she found herself sitting with her chin in her hand. She couldn't imagine Darth Vader without his mask. Would his voice change? Would he seem less threatening, even friendly? She knew he'd received horrible injuries, but with such advanced medical care, she didn't expect them to be disfiguring. Would he look like Luke?

Leia bit her lip. Luke...how will he feel about this? While now fully recovered from his injuries and back on the duty roster for Rogue Squadron, Luke was growing more agitated by the day. He had been asking ever since his release to see his father...and asking if she wanted to come with him.

No….never. Leia had requested that the news of she and Luke being twins be kept a secret. Only Han knew of their family ties. As for telling Vader...well, that was out of the question. Luke had protested that the man had the right to know he had a daughter. Besides, he wanted to see her and apologize for everything he had done. Leia found that hard to believe. He had been the one to torture her aboard the Death Star. Apologies couldn't begin to cover that, let alone all his other atrocities.

So lost in thought was Leia that she didn't see Mon Mothma come up next to her. The Princess jumped when a hand was placed on her shoulder. "Oh!"

"I'm sorry, Leia. I didn't mean to startle you," said the older woman, taking a seat next to her friend. "I meant to ask how you're faring."

"I'm all right," sighed Leia. "I don't think I'll ever get used to this. Luke, on the other hand..." She shook her head, amazed at her brother's resilience. "I can't figure out how he's adapted so well, and not just to the loss of his hand."

"The Force, perhaps?"

"Probably," agreed Leia, though she frowned. Luke was fairly sure she had inherited that same Force. He wanted her to learn what she could about it, even come with him when he returned to Dagobah. Leia wanted nothing to do with the Force. The risk of falling to the Dark Side was one she refused to take, and so let whatever power there was continue to sleep. A glance at her chronometer made her cringe. She had agreed to meet Han for dinner in a while...but would take whatever excuse she could get to avoid the subject of Darth Vader. "Listen, Mon, I don't meant to run out like this…" Liar. "But I agreed to meet Captain Solo and discuss a few things."

"Over dinner?" Mon Mothma gave a knowing smile when Leia blushed. "Not to worry, Leia. I know how you feel about Captain Solo, and you've nothing to feel guilty for. We don't forbid romance between the ranks of the Rebellion. You know that."

"I..." Leia's blush deepened. "Of course. It's just that..."

"As I said, Leia, you've nothing to feel guilty for," smiled Mon Mothma, rising and taking Leia's hands. "No matter your rank, there's nothing wrong in taking a little time out for yourself. Go on."

Leia gave a sheepish smile and rose to leave. "Thank you." And she hurried out the door. It wouldn't take that long to get back to the hangar, but she would like a freshen up a bit first...not that Han would mind.