Chapter Seven

A week later, they popped out of hyperspace in the middle of a battle. Luke got on the comm., "All squad leaders report in." He listened as all the leaders reported in, "you will take off on my mark." He turned to Lt Shern, "Lt set your frequency to hailing."

Lt Shern replied, " hailing now."

Luke got on the comm., "This is the Commander of the Alliance Task Force, you look like you could use some help."

The Commander of the Imperial Fleet came back. "This Commander Thanas. We do not need your help, just head on back from where you came."

Luke rolled his eyes, typical Imperial thinking. "We intercepted a message at Endor, the Fleet at Endor is in dry dock at the moment. We came because it might be weeks before another task force can be assembled."

Thanas thought that one over before answering, that explains a few things, and "So that is why no body answered, ok, we accept your help Alliance; I will upload encoded coordinates to where we need you the most. The transmission is 20 cycles below this channel. And thanks."

Luke looked down as coordinates rolled in. He turned to the navigator, "Set the coordinates to make the jump." They made the jump to where they were indicated. Luke switched back to the fighters frequency, "All fighters go." He looked down at Dodonna's new device, BAC, he watched as their fighters turned from green to red as they joined the fight.

Leia's voice came threw, "Luke I need to get down to the planet so I can get the Imperial Governor to make a truce so our forces can work together."

Luke looked over at his father; he shook his head no. "Leia, I don't think that is a good idea, there is a planet blockade up."

Han came on, "I think our ambassador can sit this one out."

Luke had approval in his voice. "Yes I think your right." Leia was mad, "What?"

Luke could just see Han turning to the stubborn Skywalker as he explained some things.

Han continued ignoring more of Leias enquiries, "Planet six looks good, we'll head over there."

Luke replied, "Good, Planet six it is." After the Falcon made the jump two minutes later, Luke glanced at his father and grinned. //Stubborn isn't she? // Luke asked.

//Yes, most likely she gets it more from your mother than she does from me. // Anakin told Luke.

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Padme Naberrie sat at her designated spot. She had become an Imperial Senator. She did not know how that happened. But here she was. She became friends with the Caption's and the Beldons shortly after she was posted here. She looked over to see Gaeriel Captison, the youngest Senator present; Governor Nereus had called an emergency meeting. He walked in with an Imperial swagger and he used his height to be intimidating. He motioned for everyone to have a seat.

He began his report; "I have just received that a Rebel Task Force showed up and has moved to intercept the enemy. I request to have our forces fall back to protect the planet. All in favor?" Most had their fists closed, but a couple had their hands wide open, as usual Belden was one for going against the governor.

Nereus counted hands, "Notion passes, I will call up Commander Thanas and have our forces fall back to protect the planet."

Padme was surprised to hear about the Rebel Force, but she also had hope in her heart that her twins were with the group and she would be able to meet them for the first time. She heard that Luke and Leia were important figures in the Alliance. She was proud of them for standing up to the Empire and help bring them down. These next thoughts took her to where her husband held a special place in her heart. She grieved when she learned that he died at the hands of a sith lord by the name of Darth Vader. She sighed as she stood up, and walked back to her office. Later that day she was to head out to Belden's place; it was her turn to take care of Eppie. Her caregiver Cliss was gone, due to a family crisis.

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Han gave the controls one final check. He stood up and asked Leia to join him in the cargo area. Leia walked in after him as she asked, "So what needs field testing?"

Han walked over to a refrigeration unit, and pulled out two stone glasses and a bottle of wine.

Leia made a face, "Han this is not the time to be drinking wine. We are near a battle zone."

Han asked," When are you going to live for once? Instead of worrying over every detail?" He popped the cork and poured wine into each glass, he handed one to Leia.

Leia thought this over; she could not do Luke any good by hanging near the comm., as she took the glass from Han.

She took a sip and winced, "Its too sweet."

Han told her, " I got it from the chief Ewok. I don't think they make anything else."

They walked to the back; there was a nest of pillows on the ground. Han groaned, "never trust a wookie to set up pillows for humans."

Leia laughed, "Chewie set this up?" She set her wine glass down and deliberately fell as she pulled Han down with her.

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Fifteen minutes later, Leia was leaning against Han's chest as his comlink went off and Leia began to squirm. Han groaned, "I knew it!" Just when I was on the verge of getting her to relax, he switched it on. "Yes?" Han asked with a hint of contempt in his voice. Threepio sounded excited, "General Solo, I have detected something strange not too far from here."

"Ok, we will be there in a few minutes." Han made sure it sounded more like a threat then a promise.

Leia poured the wine back in and recapped the bottle. Before she sprinted back to the cockpit she turned around and spread her hands and mournfully quoted Hans words back to him. "Its not my fault!"

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When they got to the cockpit Chewie was already powering up the falcon. There was a strange squeal over the comm., "Not good, Chewie take over."

"What is it?" Leia asked. Han replied, "We just got probed sweetheart, scanner shows that we have fighters from the enemy incoming." Han knew that they could not out run them; they sprinted for the guns.

Han locked in his target, he traced one of the fighters, it took two tries before it blew up. The next one was not so easy to get. The fighter anticipated Hans move, Han muttered, "You learn fast." He blew it up. "Chewie, how many more are out there?"

The wookie barked back, "6" He heard Leia as she nailed another. Han had another fighter locked in his sights, on the third try he nailed it.

Chewie huffed something over the comlink.

"What was that?" Han asked. Chewie repeated.

Han answered, "That's impossible how can their shields be that strong for a fighter of that size?"

In ten minutes they had the rest of the fighters cleared. Han got out of the cannon, and ran back to the cockpit with Leia not too far behind. Han jumped into the pilots seat, he set course to rejoin the fleet. Han turned back to Leia, "Suddenly I don't trust planet six anymore."

Leia nodded in agreement, "I will feel better if we rejoin the group."

Han put his hand on the hyperspace lever, "Strap in Sweetheart because we are going to hustle."

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"Red One through six, head out and take care of those fighters, red seven through twelve get those fighters off Rogue's backs." Luke commanded over the comm. He heard clicks as they acknowledged him.

"Umm Commander?" Manchisco started to question at these tactics. "That leaves us wide open for attack."

Luke glanced at his advisory who in turn nodded in agreement, resulting a smile from Manchisco. "What do you suggest?"

"I suggest we see how well our shields and haul holds out, before calling for backup, by that time it probably won't matter anymore." Anakin answered with seriousness.

Luke frowned at that thought. "Manchisco, she's all yours."

"Thank you Commander." Manchisco replied, she started barking out orders as Luke stretched out with the force, something was bugging him about the droids. He deliberately attached himself to an enemy droid, he felt two presences just as his father described three weeks ago. He offered the tortured soul freedom if he blew himself up. The soul blinked and suddenly rammed itself into another droid. Luke pulled himself in as he felt death after death. He began to curl up in a ball, feeling grief as they lost another member of their fleet. Luke knew that a family will mourn and friends would grieve but now was not the time. He wondered how he was able to block this feeling while on the second death star.

Manchisco looked over with a worried expression. "Commander, are you all right?"

Luke nodded as he swallowed hard, after this he would resign him commission. He wondered how his father was able to stand this. Luke's thoughts were interrupted as he felt someone place a hand on his shoulder; he causally glanced up to see his father towering over him. He could feel his father's concern for him over the force bond.

"Are you sure?" Anakin asked.

Luke nodded as he felt the grief and death ease. He glanced at his father and knew that he was the reason he didn't feel the deaths on Endor. "How?"

"I will show you later." Anakin replied as he turned his attention to the crew. Anakin felt a blast hit the ship, and the ship shook. "We do need fighters protecting this ship."

Luke nodded as he got on the comlink. "This is Flurry, we're under attack and need reinforcements."

"Flurry this is Red Lead, we're busy at the moment."

"Sorry Luke, Rogue Squadron is busy at this end. We'll be there as soon as we can get free." Wedge answered.

"There goes our shields, we'll see how well the haul can hold out." Captain Heron said from over where he was hunched over the shields boards.

A droid that was about to ram the Flurry but suddenly exploded under fire. "Hey kid, mind if we join the party?" A familiar voice asked as a couple more fighters blew up under the falcon's turrets.

"Nice to see you again Falcon and thanks." Luke answered as he felt relief wash over him. Did Leia guess they were in trouble? Did he owe her?

"No problem kid. Glad to help out." Han answered.

Luke looked over as the Ssi Ruuk fleet pulled out, he sighed in relief as he laid back in the chair and took up a drinking bulb, and looked over to radar. "Lt, scan the outer system, I have a feeling they did not go far."

"Yes sir."

"Lt Storm, set your frequency to the planet."

"Frequency open sir." Lt. Storm replied as he nodded for Luke to go ahead.

"This is Commander Skywalker of the Alliance Task Force, I am looking to land the ambassador. We would like to form a truce so our forces can work together."

"Commander Skywalker, Governor Nerues has been alerted and is to expect the ambassadors. I am uploading landing coordinates now."

Luke glanced over at Navigations who nodded as he watched the data load.

"I copy control." He glanced at the communications Lt again. "Leia, did you want to land in the Falcon or in a decent looking transport?"

"I only land the Falcon, encase we need to make a fast get away." Han retorted over the comm..

Luke glanced down at the amount of fighters in the bay, "the falcon then, our bays are full. I'll make a tube transfer to the falcon."

"Sounds good to me kid." Han answered sounding pleased.

"Sir the Ssi-Ruuk just came out of hyperspace."

Luke nodded in acknowledgement, he wished they would've just gone home; on the other hand this was marked as a difficult mission from the beginning. He glanced at his father, who nodded in acknowledgement to the unspoken thoughts. "I know, as agreed I will stay on the ship."

"Good, Captain I will be heading to the Falcon. Lord Vader, the bridge is all yours, if anything changes, you are to contact me as soon as possible." Luke commanded, Vader nodded as he glanced at Manchisco. "Captain, I will be seeing the commander off, the bridge is yours until I return."

"Yes sir." Manchisco answered as she watched the two men leave, she watched as Wedge entered the Bridge a few minutes later.

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Han glanced over at Leia who looked slightly nervous. "Everything will turn out fine sweet heart, but in my honest opinion I say we get our troops and bug out."

Leia nodded as she felt her brother and father make contact with to her over the force. "Luke's coming. And I feel nervous about this whole thing, I fear it might be hard to get the Imperials to work with us."

Han nodded as Chewie woofed his opinion, Han nodded in agreement, and she was finally feeling self-preservation. It seemed Skywalkers were born with out it. He brought Leia in close and kissed her softly on the lips.

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"Be careful son, and good luck." Vader told Luke, he had a really bad feeling about this.

"I will father, and I will be making contact in a few hours to check on the fleet." Luke replied with a smile.

"Good, I will be expecting your call then. Until then May the force be with you."

"And with you father." Luke replied as he walked into the bubble, ready to make the transfer over to the Falcon.

Anakin watched his son leave and turned around to see some gaping mouths hanging open. He cursed inwardly and Luke probably didn't realize how many crew were listening to the conversation. He stretched out with the force and made everyone forget about what they heard for at least two years. "Isn't there something you all should be doing right now?" It was amazing how fast they were able to get back to their tasks, especially with the reputation he had it didn't take much. He headed back to the bridge were Wedge was making sure everyone did not pry into the Lt about what he was told.