There was a loudspeaker announcement sounding through the corridors and gathering-rooms 
of Home One. 

"The members of High Command are to report in at conference-room 1A immediately." 

The announcement quickly received the attention of all the Rebels. They knew that it 
was highly uncommon for the High Command to call a session in such a manner. 

"I repeat; all members of High Command are to report in at conference-room 1A immediately." 

One could almost have touched the nervous tension that was created by this summoning. 
There must have something drastic happening to call the high-ranking officers in such a 
rude way. 

Some minutes later said room was filling with the members, who came into it in a rush. 
Princess Leia Organa stopped at the door with some parting words for Captain Han Solo. 
They were discussing an upcoming mission when the speakers went off. 

"Han, we will continue this as soon as I am able to do so," said Leia. 

"Yeah okay. I'll leave you with the council now," Han answered and turned around to walk 
back the way he came. 

"Wait Captain Solo! Please come in as well. We tried to hail you, but couldn't reach you," 
Mon Mothma interrupted from inside the conference room. 

"Why was he hailed when the members were called over the speakers," Leia wanted to know. 

Mon Mothma sighed and faced the Princess "We need this meeting to begin as soon as possible, 
but I didn't want everyone to know, who else takes part besides the regular members," 
she explained. 

In that moment Wedge Antilles and Chewbacca reached the door. 

"Now everyone is here. Come on in and close the door, please," Mon ordered. 
"Please do all take a seat, gentle-beings. I would like to begin." 

While everyone seated themselves around the large table in the center of the room, 
their murmurs slowly died. Besides the regular council members Han, Chewie and Wedge 
were the only ones invited. 



"Gentle-beings," Mon Mothma started. "What will be spoken here today is not to leave 
this room. You may speak to one another afterwards, but not to anyone else. This is 
matter of high security." 

She paused, watching their reactions, then continued. "One of our Coruscant's agents 
just informed us that the Empire, in the form of Lord Vader, has claimed to know the 
identity of the pilot who destroyed the Death Star." 

"Oh no, Luke," groaned Leia. 

"It took his Lordship quite a while to find out, didn't it," stated Han. 

"This will become common knowledge soon, so why all the security," Wedge wanted to know. 

"As I said; the Empire claimed to know. But Mr. Skywalker was not named as the one," 
Mon pointed out. 

Leia let out a sigh of relief. "But how could he come up with a false result? He knows 
when someone lies to him." 

"He must know the claim is a wrong one, so why did he announce it? And out of curiosity, 
who is it he claims to be the one? That poor guy will soon find himself at the top of 
the most wanted list," Wedge asked. 

"That is why this meeting is top secret. We are the only ones who know the truth," 
Mon Mothma explained. "And Commander Antilles, it seems that you are 'that poor guy on 
the most wanted list.'" 

"Oh, why did I have to ask," Wedge shook his head. 

"At least we can presume, though Lord Vader did investigate this, that he knows that 
there were two snub-fighter pilots who came out of that battle alive. Why he didn't 
mention Mr. Skywalker at all, is beyond me," Admiral Ackbar pointed out. 

"Luke said that he thought he felt Vader reaching out for him through the Force, while 
he was pursued by his Tie. Perhaps Vader knows Luke has been trained in the Force and 
wants to hunt him down on his own," Leia suggested, her face full of worry for her friend. 
"That might be right, Leia," said Mon Mothma,with a matching expression on her face. 
" Did Mr. Skywalker tell you where he was going?" 

"No, he didn't, he only said that he wanted to seek out a Jedi Master," Leia was at 
a loss here. 

"Good. That should keep him as safe for a while. What no one knows can't get to the 
wrong ears," General Jon Dodonna calmly concluded. 

"But what to do about Commander Antilles," Admiral Ackbar wanted to know, unsettling again 
the nervousness in the room. 



"What do you mean by that," the slightly shocked looking Commander inquired. 

"In our obligation as Counselors we are at a dilemma here," Mon Mothma took over again, 
beginning to expose their problem to Wedge. 

"On one hand, we should help you to get of that most wanted list by objecting to the 
claim, as no one can tell where Mr. Skywalker is. But on the other hand, if we do so, we 
have to give away who the real pilot is. What would undoubtedly lead to everyone looking 
for him." 

"So he would be eventually be found, all on his own and without his training finished," 
Wedge continued the train of thought, clearly worried. 

"Yes Commander, that is the point," Dodonna confirmed while Chewbacca let out a long wail. 

"Chewie is right, what do you plan to do about it," interjected Han. "You can't abandon 
a farmer kid to his fate." 

Han was about to jump out his seat, but Princess Organa signaled him to stay seated, 
also she looked not any calmer than him and very pale. 

Mon Mothma answered looking intently at Commander Antilles, "As Mr. Skywalker is not 
here to voice his option, we leave the decision to you. It is your life at stake here, 
Commander." 

She let this sink in for a moment glaring at Han to stop his protest before he could do 
anything but gape at her. 
"Do you need time to think this through Commander," Mon wanted to know, as there was no 
sound forthcoming from the young squad-commander. 



"No Madame, I owe Luke my life. If he didn't order me to leave, I would not have made it 
out of the explosion range with my damaged fighter," Wedge stated with a heavy sigh. 
" I will take the responsibility of Luke's shut." 

"Very well. We assumed so, but we have to ask you to be sure," Dodonna said, relief plain 
in his voice and on his face. 

All around the table tensed muscles slackened and set jaws went loose again. Han relaxed 
back into his chair and reopened his fists and Leia closed her eyes for a moment speaking 
a silent prayer. Chewie huffed low and pat Wedge shoulder. 

Mon Mothma ended that thankful silence. 

"The decision is made, Gentle-beings. The Alliance will not object to the claim 
Lord Vader has made. No one outside this room is allowed to know the truth," she reminded 
everyone again, then turned to Wedge. 
"We will keep you as safe as we can, Commander, and we thank you for your willingness 
to make yourself the scapegoat." 

"What about Vader's reasons and his true aim," Han wanted to know, still feeling uneasy 
about Luke's safety. 

"We will think about that, but I'm not very optimistic about us finding out what kind of 
game he is playing," Ackbar answered. 

"And if we know or even guess, we can't do anything about it," General Dodonna concluded sadly. 

"Anymore questions," Mon wanted to know, facing each participant one by one. "No? Very well. 
Then this meeting is over. Thank you for your time, Gentle-beings." 

Everyone started to rise with some murmurs. And all of them felt a bit helpless and 
confused about the events.