Luke stood at the large transparisteel window of his
Coruscant suite. Hundreds of miles
above the Imperial Palace the New Republic's Victory class Star Destroyers and
the Yuuzhan Vong's corral warships faced each other in a tense standoff.
The
fighting had not yet begun and Luke could feel the fear and determination
radiating of the New Republic's forces like the light from the twin suns of
Tatooine. He knew it would not be long. He stretched out further into deep space,
focusing his senses on the Yuuzhan Vong fleet and felt…nothing.
When
the Yuuzhan Vong had first arrived, Luke and the other Jedi had been shocked
and puzzled by the species apparent absence from the force, but in the three
years of struggle that had followed they had become used to the disadvantage
this put them in and had adapted accordingly.
Even without the force, a Jedi was a formidable opponent.
The Yuuzhan Vong were merciless,
invading the galaxy from beyond the galactic rim cutting a wide swath through
the galaxy which left a broad red band on the New Republic's tactical
holos. A band, which wound it's way
inevitably towards the core planets and Coruscant. In their wake they left planets devastated, sacrificing thousands
if not millions to their mysterious gods and dooming the rest to a miserable
life of enslavement.
It
seemed a lifetime ago when Luke's major priority had been re-establishing the
legendary Jedi council. But, the
Yuuzhan Vong had given him more serious things to think about.
Falling
deeper into the Force he felt a familiar presence. His Wife - Mara Jade -
was in the turbolift, even from there he could sense her concern for him.
The
door slid silently open.
"Luke?"
queried Mara, the concern in her mind echoing in her voice. she came to
the window and rested her hand on his shoulder.
"There's
nothing more you can do you know Luke. Anakin is already on his way to
infiltrated the Yuuzhan Vong base."
He
sighed, realising that she was right.
"You
always were the practical one weren't you?" he smirked. Mara smiled,
"And you were always the idealistic one" she replied accordingly.
She
was right, he knew, Luke had been on Dantooine with Han barely a week ago when
they had discovered a flaw in the seemingly unbreakable Vong attack.
They
had discovered some sort of semi-sentient creature, similar in appearance to
the Yammosk on Helska, but this one co-coordinated the Yuuzhan Vong fleet, also
there was evidence which connected this creature to the 'win or die' attitude
the Vong had.
With
vital information about Yuuzhan Vong society provided by Anakin Solo and Tahiri
it had been speculated that the destruction of the Yammosk would trigger a
mental switch in all Vong - compelling them to leave the galaxy or commit
suicide or just go berserk and kill each other. They weren't 100% sure,
but something was better than nothing.
The
Vong were also seen worshipping this Yammosk, Luke and Han had come to the
conclusion that this creature was, quite literally Yun Yammka - the war god.
Luke
knew that in less than an hour Corran, Ganner and his nephews and niece would
come out of Hyperspace in a lose orbit around Dantooine; form there their
mission: to destroy Yun Yammka.
The
battle above Coruscant was merely a distraction, drawing the Yuuzhan Vong
forces away from Dantooine. A distraction in which Luke and Mara were to
take part.
Beneath
the hopefulness Mara was projecting Luke felt concern for another, their new
born son with whom they had spent less than a day before Leia's trusted aide,
Winter, had taken him to Anoth, a planet of which the Vong had no
knowledge. If they won this war..no..when they win this war Luke
corrected himself. Winter would return and their lives together as a
family would truly begin.
"He'll
be fine Mara.."
"Get
out of my mind Skywalker." she shot back, but the retort had about as much
force behind it as a thrown Bantha. In his mind he felt confidence in him
and in the rest of the Jedi exuding from her. She turned and wrapped her
arms around him. They hugged tightly, he sent love and warmth through
their Force Bond and felt it reciprocated.
"We'd
best get to the Jade's Shadow"
-------------
The
hanger bay was an ordered chaos of people rushing around, seemingly aimless but
all with a purpose. The Jade's Shadow their personal ship stood in
all it's glory next to the battered looking Millennium Falcon, Han
Solo's ship, which at the moment looked as though it was going nowhere.
"Han!"
called Luke, "You need a hand?"
"Yeah
kid! Pass me the hydrospanner." Came Han's voice from beneath a jumbled pile
of wires and components - Luke grabbed the tool.
"She
gonna start?" Mara asked, looking dubiously at Threepio who was tinkering
with the hyperdrive.
Han
pulled his head out looking rather comical with multicolored wires sticking out
of his ears. He glared at Mara. "She'll start."
The
Falcon answered with a small explosion and a burst of steam from the
Hyperdrive which knocked Threepio across the ship's corridor.
"Goldenrod!"
shrieked Han. He ran to the droid and peered expertly into the Hyperdrive.
"Sithspawn...What
did you do to my ship!"
"Well
Captain Solo, it really wasn't my fault, though I am merely a droid and not a
sentient being, I am conversant in over 6 000 000 forms of communication and
the Millennium Falcon's main computer seems to think..."
"We'll
see you up there Han."
Han
waved a hand absently in their direction whilst dividing his attention between
glaring at Threepio and trying to assess the damage.
Mara
chuckled as they descended the ramp,
"It's
the most unreliable bucket of bolts the Galaxy has to offer.."
"But
it sure is fast...once it starts." finished Luke.
"Yep...that's
the Falcon's one redeeming quality" came a voice from behind them.
"Wedge!
It's good to see you!" Luke greeted his old wing mate from his Rogue
Squadron days.
"You
too Luke, Mara...actually Luke, I've been looking for you, I want to ask a
favour..."
They
looked at him expectantly.
"What
would you say to an honourary place in Rogue Squadron Luke?"
"Wedge,
I'm not military, I resigned my commission over 20 years ago." Luke
pointed out.
Wedge
sighed. "Fact of the matter is that we need as many fighters
as possible. We also have two spaces to fill Jaina's and her late
wingmate's. You're one of the best X-Wing pilots there is Luke, and the
other Rogues would like to have a Jedi Master in the ranks. If all that's
not incentive enough I'm filling in the other place...it'd be like old
times Luke!"
Luke
smiled wistfully, "Sounds great Wedge...but I'm already co-piloting
the Shadow with Mara."
"I've
got a replacement! General Calrissian..."
"Lando?"
Mara said incredulously.
"...He
turned up this morning offering his services, we won't turn down extra help but
he's not qualified to fly an X-Wing; Luke is."
"What
do you think Mara?"
"Go
Luke. Wedge is right, you should be in your X-Wing, you're more use to us
there."
"Alright
Wedge, I'll go prep me X-Wing."
Wedge
suddenly looked uncomfortable.
"I,
er, I got Artoo to do it already."
-------------
Anakin
entered the bridge as Jaina announced their imminent arrival at Dantooine.
As the star lines collapsed back into singular points of light Jaina maneuvered
the ship behind the nearby moon.
"Beginning
the landing cycle." she announced. The ship sat down gently on a
plateau of the moon's surface. Ganner and Corran joined them.
"Jacen's
prepping the X-Wings." Said Corran "We should leave in 15
minutes for the planet."
Ganner
glanced at the distant planet,
"And
then we'll show the Yuuzhan Vong not to mess with the Jedi."
-------------
"You
alright Artoo?" queried Luke.
Artoo
whistled confidently.
A
klaxon sounded.
*Rogue
Squadron will deploy in 1 minute...Repeat...Rogue Squadron will deploy in 1
minute.*
"You
ready Rogue 11?" came Wedge's voice from the comm unit
"All
set Rogue 12"
*Rogue
Squadron will deploy in 10...9...8.*
"Here
we go Luke, watch my back."
*..7...6...*
"Just
like the old days Wedge, nothing can stop us."
*4...3...2...1...NOW!*
In
unison the legendary Rogue Squadron lifted off from the Hangar Bay floor and
headed out to orbit in perfect formation.
Into
black space where the massive Yuuzhan Vong fleet lay...waiting.
More
coming Soon.....that is...if you want it.
