CHAPTER ONE
IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER CHIMAERA, KUAT SYSTEM
In his hyperbaric chamber, Darth Vader sat hunched over his new artificial arm, which had been replaced by a team of medical personnel (since his 'resurrection' twenty-two years ago, Vader had an irrational phobia of medical droids - he'd done well to hide it from Sidious) during the Empire's retreat from the debacle at Endor. After escaping the destruction of the second Death Star three weeks earlier, Vader had taken command of the Chimaera, which was now the Imperial flagship due to the loss of the Executor. The Empire had lost several major campaigns in the last two years - Endor, Nocto, Dega, Korriban - that the fleet's strength was far too low in Vader's mind. Then there were reports of a Ssi-ruuvi attack at Bakura. Fortunately, the Emperor had been wise enough to bring Vader in on his plans for the Imperium, and so Vader had sent a large flotilla to out-flank the Ssi-ruuvi invasion fleet, and Bakura remained safely in Imperial control.
Vader had ordered the Chimaera - and her escort of a dozen Victory II-class Star Destroyers - to Kuat, to oversee the construction of the Star Destroyer Eclipse. At seventeen and a half thousand metres in length, the Eclipse would easily dwarf the old Imperial-class vessels that made up the bulk of the remaining Imperial fleet. When the Rebels see this dreadnought coming, thought Vader, they'll beg for death. They'll either die from attacking the Eclipse, die running from it, or just die by my hand. Darth Vader was now the Dark Lord of the Sith. No one would dare oppose him now.
Except they had.
The Chimaera and her fleet had only just come out of hyperspace, and the Rebels were in the process of assaulting the Kuati shipyards, making multiple attack runs at the Eclipse in particular. Vader, in concert with several traitors within the Zann Consortium, had easily annihilated the Rebel fleet, allowing only one Corellian Corvette to escape to inform the Rebellion of their losses. In the end, the Eclipse had taken minimal damage, and construction had continued. Fortunately, the man presiding over the Kuati shipywards, Admiral Aleks Gaarn, was able to capture a certain troublesome Rebel general.
Vader had ordered Han Solo's execution forthwith. The Millennium Falcon, Solo's venerable freighter, had been impounded and due to be scrapped. His co-pilot, the hulking Wookiee Chewbacca, was to be sold to the highest bidder in Hutt Space. Though the Force had unfortunately not seen fit to allow Vader to capture Skywalker and Organa, he was still pleased that the Solo situation was finally been dealt with.
"Lord Vader."
Captain Gilad Pellaeon's voice spooked Vader out of his reverie. "Yes, Captain?"
"My lord, Lady Lumiya will be boarding the Chimaera in approximately ten minutes," reported Pellaeon. "Shall I have her report to your quarters?"
"Yes," said Vader. "Bring her to me. See to it personally, Captain. Anything else to report?"
Vader could almost hear Pellaeon's hesitation, but he let it pass. Not every officer in the Imperial Navy had Admiral Yularen's courage. "Lieutenant Kalrron noticed a spike in EM readings emanating from the Kuati star. I don't agree with him, Lord Vader, but Kalrron believes the spike to be caused by sensor shadows."
"I will be there momentarily, Captain. Continue with your duties."
"Yes, Lord Vader; as you wish."
After Pellaeon signed off the transmission, Vader took one last gaze at his arm, stood, and made his way toward the command bridge. If the Chimaera's sensor officer was reporting sensor shadows, Vader knew, then the Rebels wouldn't be far away. And they would soon be crushed under the Imperial might.
RM-09 ALLIANCE SHUTTLE CARRIE, KUAT SYSTEM
Leia had always found the old RM shuttles crampt, but today (and most of this past week) she was more thankful than ever. Her plan to rescue Han and Chewie - yet again - from Vader had been given the go-ahead by Ackbar, Rieekan, and Madine a full three days after the failed assault on the Kuati shipyards, and Rieekan had assigned Leia the Carrie, a top-of-the-line shuttle that was similar in design to the old troop transports used by the Republic in the Clone Wars. Lightly armed, and possessing limited shield capabilities, the Carrie required a full escort of X-Wings.
Leia was in the cockpit, standing behind the pilot, Tycho Celchu, and his co-pilot, Gemmer Sojan, was immersed in the sensor displays above the navi-computer. There were sixteen Imperial II-class Star Destroyers in the system, with two Super-class Destroyers currently being repaired in the shipyards, alongside the Star Destroyer Eclipse. And then there was Vader's flagship, the Chimaera, orbiting Kuat itself. The sheer number of enemy ships meant that Celchu had been forced to enter the system's 'blindspot' - orbiting the star below its' ionosphere so as to give the illusion of being cloaked.
After a few protracted moments of studying the sensors, Leia made an excuse and left the cockpit for the troop assembly area. On the starboard side sat Luke, who was still somewhat depressed after his defeat of the Emperor. Next to her brother stood the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, followed by Lando, Jake Farrell, an A-Wing pilot who'd survived the Battle of Endor; and Winter, one of Leia's oldest and closest friends. Sitting on the Carrie's port side were General Madine himself, an ancient T3 astromech, and Wedge. Since barely surviving the attack on the Death Star, Wedge had been confined to a hoverchair. Sadly, Leia had heard reports that he'd be spending a lot more time in the chair - possibly the rest of his life. Madine had implored, even ordered, Wedge not to join them on this mission, but Wedge had remained adamant.
Leia heard a rush of an opening door behind her, and turned to see Sojan standing there. He spoke to the entire crew, "We'll be making to drop in three minutes. Please, strap yourselves in and wait for orders. When we breach the Chimaera's hull, you're likely to come up against fairly heavy resistance." Sojar turned to face Leia. "We can still call this off, Princess. It's now or never."
Leia wanted to reach out and slap his face for even implying that there was any other option but getting to Han. Instead she locked her eyes with his, and put on her iciest gaze. "We're doing this, Major. Now get back in that cockpit before I have General Madine demote you for no other reason than my being kriffing angry."
When Sojan returned to the cockpit, Tycho flashed a grin.
"You kriffed her off, didn't you? he asked. When Sojan simply stared through the viewport, Tycho chuckled. "I told you so."
IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER CHIMAERA, KUAT SYSTEM
Vader strolled onto the bridge, his apprentice Lumiya one step behind him. Both clad in black, the two Sith settled into place a metre before the central forward viewports, silently awaiting Lieutenant Kalrron's report. Vader could sense the apprehension of the bridge crews working below, and he felt a slight satisfaction. If your crew didn't fear you, he thought, then they wouldn't follow orders. Lumiya, a full head shorter than Vader, could no doubt sense it also; her Force potential was strong, due in part to her training regimen. Obviously, Vader had other apprentices, but none had yet surpassed Lumiya's strength in the Force - not even the Emperor's Hand, who'd mysteriously disappeared after the Battle of Endor, was powerful enough to fight against the combined might of Vader and Lumiya. Even Luke Skywalker himself came no where near.
Your thoughts betray you, my master.
Only when I allow it, my young apprentice, replied Vader telepathically. You would do well to remember that.
Lumiya's face betrayed none of their conversation. Skywalker is nothing, Master. When he chooses to face us, we will crush him like a Mustafarian amoeba.
Keep your thoughts in the here and now, where they belong. Vader turned to her. "There is nothing wrong with goals, my apprentice, but set your sights lower. Only after you have completed your training will you take on a full-fledged Jedi. But know this," Lumiya turned as she appeared to sense Kalrron's approach. "Skywalker is mine to kill."
Because he's your son? One of Lumiya's eyebrows swept up high onto her forehead.
"Partly. But he is also a Jedi. Untested, though a Jedi nonetheless. At the present time, Skywalker is too much for you."
Lumiya stared daggers at Vader. She knew the risk of arguing with the Dark Lord, and she would be punished for it, as always. This time, though, Vader would be creative. Maybe he'd send her to Lehon for her trials.
Vader was taken from his thoughts by Kalrron, whom Lumiya had immediately begun to question.
"My Lady, the sensor shadows from the Kuati star match the known stealth techniques of the Rebel Alliance. I am beyond doubt."
Lumiya flashed him her most sensual smile. "You are a credit to your training, Lieutenant. It is unfortunate I am not able to say the same about every member of the Imperial Navy, but..."
Vader drifted out of his apprentice's speech. Someone, strong in the Force, was in the system and coming closer. Was it...?
"Captain Pellaeon," Vader said, obviously interrupting Lumiya. Pellaeon crossed from the aft of the bridge, and nodded curtly. "Put the fleet into a defensive posture. The Rebels are going to attempt a rescue of General Solo. Leave a route from the secondary hangar bay through the prison block empty of all troops."
"My lord?" asked Pellaeon, obviously confused.
"We will catch them in a pincer movement - a legion will move in from behind as they return to their escape craft, while another will move in from the hangar. They will have nowhere to run this time."
Pellaeon saluted. "Very good, Lord Vader."
RM-09 ALLIANCE SHUTTLE CARRIE, KUAT SYSTEM
"It's a sure bet the Empire knows we're here, Commander Skywalker."
Luke continued to watch the Imperial II-class Destroyers as they orbited above Kuat Drive Shipyards. Clearly, the Imperials were keen on protecting their territory. Leia's rescue of Han and Chewbacca wasn't going to be easy, Luke knew, not by a long shot. Not with my father aboard the Chimaera, the Jedi Knight thought to himself. Luke knew this day would come; the day when he'd have to meet his father in battle yet again.
"With Vader here, we were probably known hours ago."
Tycho's face blanched. "Vader? Here, sir?"
Luke simply nodded.
"No offense, sir," began Tycho. "But do you know what you're doing? I mean, taking on Vader?"
"Well, if not me, who else? Would you?" Luke asked, nodding at Tycho. You're not his son, he added mentally. I'm the only one of us who has to face him.
"I'm not a Jedi, sir. I would'nt stand a chance."
Sojan cleared his throat. "Commander Skywalker, sir, we're coming into the Imperials' weapons range. I recommend you and others strap yourselves in."
Nodding, Luke headed back into the troop assembly area as a blast from one of the Imp-Deuces caught the Carrie on her port shields.
"Evasive," said Tycho. "I'll handle the laser cannons." He activated the comm. "Carrie to Rogue Leader. Do your thing."
"Acknowledged, Carrie."
IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER CHIMAERA
Lumiya simply stood and watched as the crew of the Chimaera carried out orders barked from Captain Pellaeon. Lord Vader had left the bridge moments earlier, as the attack began, and was headed into the bowels of the Star Destroyer, leaving Lumiya to oversee operations from the command deck. She watched as Ensign Colclazure made feint after feint with the tracor beams - giving the rebel pilots a run for their credits.
In fact, the entire Imperial defence was a feint. Lord Vader wanted the rebels alive, and alive they would be captured. Only then would they be tortured, and executed for treason.
A stray proton torpedo from one of the X-Wings smashed against the shields beyond the bridge viewports, temporarily blinding Lumiya's vision as the warhead exploded; the particle shields not allowing the permeate and damage the Destroyer's hull. Lumiya wasn't worried in the least. The rebels - Skywalker in particular - wouldn't seriously damage the Chimaera; to do so was to risk killing Solo.
An X-Wing - Rogue Three, as Commander Quenton identified - passed overhead from fore to aft. "Captain," said Quenton. "The rebel shuttle is preparing to make a run for the secondary hanger."
"Good," replied the captain. "Bring our shields down on my command."
Five X-Wings reprouped to the Chimaera's starboard. A couple of seconds later, they sent out a wave of proton tordeoes in sync.
"Wait for it."
The torpedoes were about to meet the shields - "Now!" oredered Pellaeon.
As the torpedoes began to hit the shields, Lieutenant Tschel, Chimaera's operations officer, lowered the destroyer's shields, allowing the remaining torpedoes to collide with the hull. A low rumble resonated through the deck plating as they exploded.
Moments later, the rebel shuttle Carrie boarded the Star Destroyer.
"Jam all communications and capture those fighters," said Pellaeon. He looked at Lumiya somewhat nervously. "If they evade the tractors, destroy them. We can't afford to waste time here."
The bridge crew acknowledged the captain's orders as Lumiya nodded her approval to Pellaeon.