NORULAC, 40 YEARS ABE:

Lando led the way through the luxurious hallways of his resort at a hurried pace that had his glittering cloak flapping behind him like the bright after-image of a flare, dazzling the eyes. None of the Solos seemed dazzled, though; rather grim and fixated as they followed the former general. He was talking as he walked, easily balancing the smooth patter of his voice with the haste of his steps:

"-take you there myself. I'll send word to the Fleet with someone I trust, you don't need to worry about that, princess. They'll be warned."

"Thank you," Leia said. She still looked torn between her competing duties as senator and mother, but she voiced no opposition to Lando's plan.

"Who you gonna send?" Han asked. "They'd better be a hotshot flyer, there's no time for dawdling."

"Don't worry." Lando flashed his teeth in a short, sharp grin over his shoulder at his oldest friend. "I have just the pilot in mind, and she's fast enough to give even your tall-tales a run for your money."

"Hey," Han protested, "I've never claimed so much as a klick more than I flew. You're the one who inflates the numbers when you brag about-"

Chewbacca's roar shut them both up, Lando smirking and Han scowling. Beside his father, Bail sighed and shook his head with an expression of long-suffering patience at odds with his youthful features. The doors ahead wooshed- open at Lando's quick prodding of the lock sensor, revealing exterior air and another landing platform. A sleek silver ship roughly half the length of the Millennium Falcon sat docked at the far end, its crystal-clean carapace glinting like diamonds in the sinking afternoon light.

"Well regardless," Lando said smoothly, leading the way to the elegant ship, "she'll get the message there. And meantime, we'll be on our way to-"

"Coruscant!"

A stunning young woman with short, tight curls and wide eyes clattered down the spaceship's boarding ramp. She was dressed even more elegantly than Lando in azure shimmersilk with silver chromasheath boots that reached nearly to her knees and a cerlin half-cape that concealed the slim blaster belted at her waist. She came up to them at a run, catching Lando's arm to stop herself, but it was Leia on whom her eyes were fixed.

"There's a battle. At Coruscant. It's all over the Holonet."

Leia nodded grimly. "We know, Stella. The Imperials ambushed the peace talks."

"I'm sending you to get word to the New Republic fleet so they can stage a counter-assault," Lando said, wrapping his arm around the younger woman's shoulders and dropping a kiss to her forehead; Stella Calrissian was half his age, a handspan shorter, and her silky-smooth skin was several shades darker than his, but there was no mistaking the resemblance between father and daughter-and not just because of the cape. Both Calrissians possessed the same easy grace and confidence that had once conned an entire floating city into accepting Lando as their baron administrator and that currently assured wealthy vacationers that the Tendrando Mountain Resorts and Casino was the best place in the galaxy at which to be parted from their credits.

Stella ignored her father, shaking her head at Leia. "The fleet's already there-that's what I'm saying. There's a full-fledged battle over Coruscant right now."

Han and Leia shared a look as Bail gasped and Chewbacca barked an exclamation of surprise that all but drowned-out Threepio's cry of, "Thank the Maker!"

"One of the Rogues must have got through," Leia said. Some of the tension in her shoulders eased.

Han's bleak expression perked-up hopefully. "Rey?" he asked.

Leia and Bail shook their heads in unison. "She's definitely captured," Bail confirmed.

Han sagged. Stella's anxious frown furrowed further with confusion and dismay. "What?" she said. "Breha, captured? By the Empire?"

Bail shrugged. "Details are hazy."

"We have to rescue her then," said Stella.

"That's the plan, sweetie," said Lando, squeezing her shoulder. "The Solos, Chewbacca, and I are going to take the Lady Luck and go get the information we need to find her. Since the fleet's already on station, I want you to stay here and make sure that our guests don't panic and start cancelling their plans when they hear about-"

"Don't be ridiculous," Stella interrupted, pushing his arm away and turning to walk back up the boarding ramp. "I'm coming with you."

Lando looked stricken. "But...but someone has to manage things here…"

"That's what we pay the staff for, dad," Stella retorted, not bothering to turn around. "Rey's more important."

"It'll be dangerous, though!"

Stella was already out of sight; her answering shout emerged from the hatchway: "Good thing the Lady Luck is armed, then! Now stop wasting time and get onboard!"

Han raised an eyebrow at Lando. "You heard her," he said, motioning toward the ship.

Chebacca barked agreement as Leia and Bail led the way inside, Threepio tottering behind. Lando, the look on his face one of resigned torment, shook his head and followed.