CHAPTER FIVE
The quintet of Special Forces Army officers walked slowly and deliberately along the edges of the main docking bay on the Republic Navy destroyer Invictus. The vast room was several hundred yards across, so it took almost half an hour for each circuit they made. The naval ensigns and maintenance crews attending to the various warships and starfighters in the bay gave the five menacing men in black fatigues plenty of leeway.
Lieutenant Bryon Skywalker was in the middle, hands clasped at the small of his back. To his left were Sergeant Krannar, originally from Fondor, and Sergeant Pryzill, a Zabrak from Commenor. To his right were Sergeant Allitisi, a comparatively short but quite fierce soldier from Eriadu, and First Sergeant Graff of Alderaan.
As their lengthy strides brought them around a corner of the room and began the long march down another side of the immense hangar, Bryon turned to the Alderaanian. They had been assigned together by chance when Bryon first was promoted. Immediately their teamwork had been remarkable, and he and Will Graff had served together ever since. "For the moment, let's work from the premise that this is a standard Vyhrragian frigate we're dealing with. No strange customizations. We have four squads. Go."
This was how they always considered their options for upcoming missions. The five commanders would walk together and talk out the possibilities until they reached a consensus on the best alternative. Although his rank of course allowed Bryon simply to give orders, he quickly had learned that this method not only earned considerable respect from his subordinates but also usually resulted in superior decisions to those he would have made alone. So he pushed aside his preconceptions about the potential rescue operation and listened.
"By seizing a Galactic Senator, I think the Vyhrragians have signaled a very aggressive posture," Will began. "That makes me think a simple extraction would be inadvisable. We would be better off executing a command capture." He paused and glanced at the others; they nodded in agreement. "The most likely insertion point is their main hangar bay; presumably we can get the Navy to sneak or blast our way in. First squad secures the hangar for further insertions and for extraction of the Senator. Second squad takes the bridge. Third squad to the engineering facilities to disable the hyperdrives. That way we have a backup against a long battle for the bridge and we create another front on which they have to defend. Fourth squad retrieves the prisoner."
"Sounds reasonable," Bryon concurred. "Thoughts?"
"I wonder if it wouldn't be better to take a harder offensive," Allitisi proposed. "Two squads for the bridge and two squads for the prisoner. We'd give up the backup options in hangar and engineering, I know, but I think we'd grab control faster. And more importantly get to the Senator more quickly. There's a possibility they'd try to kill her as soon as they realize we've attacked."
"I agree with that last point," Krannar said. "I think it's critical to get to the prisoner as rapidly as we possibly can. Otherwise everything else we do might be moot."
"Me too," Pryzill nodded.
"Well, you all know Senator Organa is my sister, and I'm pretty sure we're here only because my father demanded it," Bryon sighed. "Of course I want to be sure she's safe. Purely personally, that's the only thing that matters to me. But listen: don't let that fact have any consideration in your opinion. Don't treat this any differently than if we had any other Senator involved. I insist."
"Understood, Lieutenant," Allitisi confirmed. "But that's not why I suggested what I did. It doesn't matter who the prisoner is in this scenario. The only reason we're going in is to rescue. The command capture itself is derivative of that mission; it increases the likelihood of success."
"He's right," Will interjected. "I've changed my mind. My initial idea was more like an incapacitation strike than a rescue. But it's more important to get access to the prisoner immediately than it is to cover all the contingencies. Two and two is better."
Krannar and Pryzill signaled their approval too.
"Two and two it is," Bryon concluded. "What battle strategy?"
"I think we must anticipate total resistance from the brownshirts," Will suggested. "We should respond in kind. Free fire."
A mission carried out under free fire orders instructed their soldiers to shoot to kill any and all opposition. If enemies surrendered, they would be shot with stun bolts and incapacitated until the operation objectives were completed. That never actually had happened on any of their missions, however. Free fire meant lots of brownshirts were going to die.
"Free fire," Krannar agreed.
"Free fire," said Pryzill.
"Free fire," Allitisi finished for the quartet of sergeants.
"Two and two. Free fire." Bryon unclasped his hands and ran them through his short brown hair a few times. Then he interlaced his fingers and stretched his arms, palms out. His knuckles cracked loudly as he blew out a deep breath. "I agree." He drew back his arms and hooked his thumbs into his belt. "Your turn, Krannar. We get aboard and find out that the frigate has a customized floor plan. Four squads. Go."
---
The three women sat at points of a triangle around a small circular table. In front of them the holoprojector buzzed and a foot-tall image rose into the air.
Sabé's head and shoulders were facing Padmé. "Is the transmission clear?"
"Yes, you're fine," Padmé smiled at her old friend. "I really appreciate you filling in for Leia. Vivonia's young. I wasn't sure she'd make a decision Leia would respect. You made it so much easier because I know she trusts you completely."
"I would do anything I could to help Leia, you know that," Sabé said as she returned the smile. "And I got to give Trellem the gundark treatment this afternoon. It was the most fun I've had in months."
"I bet Nalé had no idea her mother had that in her, did she?"
"She sure didn't."
Padmé laughed. "You'll have to send me the videorecord."
"On its way," Sabé winked. "And my other daughter?"
The youngest of the three reached out and spun the holoprojector at its rotating base. "Hi, Mom."
"Hi, Sarré. How are you holding up?"
"Okay, I guess," Sarré answered sadly. She decided to be honest. "I'm really worried about Leia."
Sabé gave her daughter a sympathetic smile. "We all are, sweetie. It's okay to be upset." The grin took on a playful cast. "Did you get to see Bryon?"
Sarré's cheeks turned a light shade of pink despite the fact she was concentrating very hard on fighting it. "Uh huh. He's well."
Her mother spared her any more torment. For now. "That's good. Can I say hello to Jenny?"
"Hello, Sabé," Jenny smiled as she spun the projector again. "It's good to see you."
"Yes, it is," Sabé replied. "So, shall we get started? The others are on their way."
"Very well," Padmé said, completing the image's rotation to face her again. "How did the debate go today?"
"About what I expected. Nobody swayed anyone's viewpoint. Until the Senate has a fuller picture of exactly what has taken place, it will be impossible to change anything." Sabé then summarized the main points made by both sides and her assessment of the relative strengths of the two factions. "That's my impression. Of course, I've only been here half a day."
"I'm sure you're right on the mark," Padmé told her. "It's all perfectly consistent with everything I've heard."
"At the end of the session, Senator Breena of Rodia gave the report of the negotiation task force. Apparently Argis has become a bit conciliatory," Sabé explained skeptically. "On behalf of the group, Breena introduced a resolution proposing that a summit be held between delegates from the Republic and representatives of the New Justice movement. The summit would seek to resolve the crisis with face-to-face negotiation."
"Interesting," Padmé replied, furrowing her brow as she pondered this unexpected development. "I've always believed in exhausting all peaceful options before resorting to war. But given Argis' record, I don't see how Breena and Rylla and Trellem can think he can be handled this way. And I felt that even before he took Leia."
"I know," Sabé agreed. "It seems so futile. I suppose it can't hurt to make the attempt, though. I just hope they don't have a lot riding on this."
"Me too," Padmé sighed.
Sabé's face turned away for a moment. "Thank you, Representative Tickis," she said over her shoulder. "Hold on," she indicated to Padmé. After a few seconds the image shifted in width and a second head appeared over the table.
"Hello, Padmé, Miss Antilles, Miss Bellion," Obi-Wan greeted the trio. "I apologize for my tardiness. It can be quite difficult to conclude a conversation with Master Mundi. He doesn't take a hint."
Padmé chuckled. "I've heard that from Anakin. What can you tell us, Obi-Wan?" From the look on his face, she knew he was expecting her to dispense with idle pleasantries.
"I have nothing new to add to what Anakin already knows. And Sabé is a far greater expert on the Senate than I am. I'll assist you any way I can in evaluating the situation, of course."
"Thank you. You know how highly I value your judgment." Padmé proceeded to share her analysis of the way the votes in the Senate would line up on several different possible courses of action, including the summit proposal.
A few minutes later Sabé and Obi-Wan stepped away for a short time, then returned with a third figure in their holographic image.
"Lady Skywalker, my dear, how are you?" Senator Bail Millius of Alderaan considered Leia to be one of his closest and most trusted advisors in the defense faction. He sought counsel from her on almost every important issue facing the Senate during the current crisis. And because she consulted her mother on many matters, he had become friends with Padmé as well. Even though he was almost twenty years younger than Padmé, he treated her the same way he treated Leia. "I don't suppose you've left that dry old Jedi Master of yours yet? I'll wait for you as long as it takes, you know."
Padmé smiled broadly. This silly flirtatious game they always played helped lighten her mood. "I'm well, thanks. And no, I haven't, Mill," she laughed. That was a nickname no one else in the galaxy dared call him – even Leia. Out of respect for Padmé and former Senator Organa of Alderaan and how close those two were, soon after his election Millius had agreed that she could call him something besides Bail. Against his will this one had stuck. "But if it ever goes sour, you're first on my list."
"That's all I need to hear," he winked. "So, on to business?" After seeing the nods all around, he first provided a number of additional details and nuances from that day's politicking and logrolling. Then his tone became filled with outrage. "Sabé informs me she's already told you about the resolution introduced this evening. By my count we're down about two hundred votes to the weaklings." Millius considered the positions asserted by the peace faction to be so foolish he had taken to using various disrespectful or derogatory epithets for them – when he held back from defamatory curses. "Looking at what I know about the way the votes are breaking down, it doesn't appear that we even can gain any real leverage from Leia's capture. That's a signal about how entrenched they truly have become at this point. Even the kidnapping of a Galactic Senator means nothing to them. It's pathetic."
Padmé believed the peace faction delegates were acting in good faith and perceived their views as misguided rather than ridiculous. "I agree they should see the provocation in it, Mill. Give them the benefit of the doubt for now. We'll know more facts out here soon, I'm sure. Once we do, if they support our side I'm confident many Senators will join us."
"I hope you're right, Professor," he responded calmly. "I would prefer to believe my colleagues are rational. I guess we'll see soon enough whether my cynicism or your idealism is right."
Padmé nodded. "I think you should do what you can to postpone the vote on the summit resolution as long as possible. That might buy us the time to get the information to swing it in our favor. Anakin will get us what we need. I am certain of it."
"I will do my best," Sabé promised.
"I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I've been saving for a situation like this," Millius grinned mischievously. "I'll do my very best as well. You have my word."
The six of them discussed the political aspects of the crisis for another hour. Padmé, Sabé, and Millius had the most to say. Jenny recently had completed an exhaustive analysis of the last three years of voting blocs in the Senate and briefly mentioned a few relevant results. Obi-Wan had observed the Senate closely since becoming chairman of the Jedi Council and gave his perspective on the most effective arguments to emphasize. And although Sarré did not say a word, as a learning experience about Galactic politics this was time very well spent.
Just before their long-distance meeting ended, Millius raised one final question with Padmé. "You have a transmission later with the Chancellor in your capacity as Special Advisor, is that right?"
"Yes." Padmé tilted her head and met his gaze. She knew he was up to something. "What would you like me to convey to him?"
"Oh, nothing in particular. Just remind him who you are." Millius smirked. "Sabé embarrassed him today. And I want him to remember that the woman who brought down Valorum is on my side too. Keep him honest. Nothing more than that."
Padmé giggled. "Mill, are you suggesting you want me to intimidate the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic?"
"Yes. Yes, I am."
"It would be my pleasure."
---
With Padmé occupied on her conference call, Anakin decided he should spend a few hours with Danaé. He took very seriously his pledge to the Jedi Order two decades ago, as a condition of the acceptance of his marriage to Padmé, that he never would take one of his own children as a Padawan learner. Brief training sessions now and then, however, were well within the permissible bounds.
Nevertheless, in the months since Danaé's return to the Temple after her Master's disappearance on Xixus Anakin had gone out of his way to avoid playing too great a role in her training. For the most part he let Obi-Wan, in his capacity as chairman of the Council, assume the role of her daily contact. Every few weeks he met with her to ensure she was satisfied with the arrangements the Council had made for her. The rest of the time she needed him not as a Jedi mentor, but as her father.
One of Danaé's comparative disadvantages as a Jedi was her skill with a lightsaber. She always had been competent, to be sure, and Anakin never had considered interfering with Master Trill's tutelage. But now Anakin was certain the Sith had returned. Against a dark-side trained opponent in a lightsaber duel to the death competent would not be good enough. So Anakin resolved he could wait no longer to diagnose the weaknesses in her technique and help her overcome them.
He stretched out with his feelings and located Danaé meditating deeply in an empty side docking bay on a lower level of the Invictus. He chuckled to himself. Sometimes the Force operated in unexpected ways – sometimes it was several steps ahead even of him. She could not have picked a more perfect space for him to find her. He paused for a moment and dropped his mind into the Force. After a few seconds he had suppressed completely his aura in the life-energy field.
Approaching the door to the starship hangar in the plain gray-walled hallway, he unclipped his lightsaber handle from his belt and clutched it firmly in his right hand. With a tiny wisp of his feelings he probed Danaé's presence again and determined his shielding had prevented her from detecting him. A wave of his hand projected a field in the Force that silenced the door opening, the ignition of his lightsaber, and the footfalls of his charge toward the cross-legged figure sitting on the floor with her back to him.
The turquoise blade swung downward in a two-handed overhead killing strike. For a split-second Anakin actually wondered if he would have to deactivate the weapon to avoid slaying Danaé. At the very last possible instant, however, an emerald blade flashed out and clashed violently against his to block the blow. She had spun around on her left knee, braced her right elbow on her upright right knee, and ducked her head beneath the screeching lightsabers.
He pressed his weight down and forced her to roll out, disengaging her blade from his and springing to her feet after tumbling smoothly away. He gave her no opportunity to think about what had happened or to question him or to do anything at all but react.
Anakin rushed Danaé, raining down two-handed blows as rapidly and forcefully as he ever did with Mara, who was a stupendous fencer. He made sure he didn't injure her, but he tested her limits and then pushed her far past them. He watched her blocking and parrying fiercely, her wrists snapping and rolling to keep her lightsaber in position to meet his. He drove her backward across the wide, high-ceilinged room, increasing the speed of his strikes more and more with each stride. When he could sense his relentless assault was becoming dangerously overwhelming for her, he pivoted on his right heel and spun away in an elegant whirl, bringing the blue blade up over his head in his right hand and letting his left hand loft in the air for balance.
Danaé spun away too and found her position, setting her feet, extending her left hand over her head, and preparing her green blade in her right hand. She watched her father circling her and realized he was waiting for her to take the offensive. So she did.
An hour later Anakin finally called a halt and deactivated his lightsaber. With three deep breaths he calmed his mind from its combat intensity and considered his physical condition. His heartbeat was a bit elevated, his muscles a tad sore, and few beads of perspiration had formed on his forehead. Just about what he had expected.
"That was excellent, Danaé. You have improved considerably since we sparred last. When was it? Do you remember?"
Danaé looked at him in disbelief. Her heart was pounding in her chest, shaking her ribs. Her entire body ached or stung with sharp pains. She was drenched to the bone in sweat and gasping for air.
"About… three… months ago," she managed to rasp while focusing on not fainting.
"That's right," he chuckled. "Of course." He sent her a burst of energy in the Force to refresh her spirit a bit, then gave her a few moments to collect herself. "You should be very proud. I'll admit I was surprised at how well you fought me. You've made excellent progress."
She bowed her head to accept his praise. "You should let Master Windu know that," she smiled. "He's such a great teacher. I learned a lot from him when he worked with me."
"Good. Very good," he nodded. "So tell me," he asked, testing to see how much her perceptions had increased, "how many times could I have killed you if I had wanted to?"
She hunched over and leaned her palms against her knees. Pondering the duel in her mind, she made an educated guess. "About thirty-five?"
"Close. Forty-one." He tilted his head a little and looked intensely into her eyes. "Very few were mistakes of technique."
She managed a little smile. At some point soon she might ask her father for more assistance in driving away the troubles in her feelings. But not now. "I know."
That was all he needed to hear. He sent another wave of refreshing Force energy. "And how many openings did I leave you?"
"None," she giggled hopelessly. "I never had a chance."
"Seriously, Danaé. How many openings?"
She thought some more. "Ten, I think."
"Wonderful. Ten is exactly right." Anakin walked over and wrapped his left arm around her shoulders. "As important as it is for you to learn your weaknesses, it's imperative that you be able to perceive each and every mistake by your opponent. It doesn't matter how many times I didn't capitalize if you kill me at my first error."
"The best defense is a good offense?"
"Sometimes, my girl. Sometimes." He squeezed her tighter and pulled her forward. "Let's get you some shuura juice to drink before you pass out."
---
Han checked the instruments again. The scanners were not detecting a Vyhrragian naval frigate or even anything that could be a disguised warship. In fact, this area of space was so deserted that no vessels of the appropriate size were anywhere to be found.
He shifted his gaze to the grid map of this sector of the Mid Rim, just off the Corellian Trade Spine near the indefinite frontier to the Outer Rim. The Falcon and the two Jedi apprentices in their X-Wings had covered vast expanses of space from Sullust to here and still had not located the enemy ship with the captured Galactic Senator. "We're running low on options now, Lando. Do you think they slipped past us?"
"It's possible, I suppose," Lando replied calmly. "But I don't think so. We have been very precise in our methods and scans. We would have found them."
Han pointed in frustration at the map. "We don't have many squares left. And nobody's out here."
Chewie wroofed in amusement.
"Thanks, big guy," Han glared. "I realize we're close to the border of Vyhrragian space. I don't really expect any civilian ships to be in this vicinity."
The quadrupled-encrypted communications line crackled open. "What have you got for me, Captain Solo?" asked the sultry female voice.
"What you've always wanted, sister," he answered seductively without missing a beat.
Laughter rolled out of the speaker.
Even Skywalker appreciated the humor at this point. "What would you have said to me, I wonder?"
"Oh, in that case I would have assumed you meant the scanning," Han cracked. "And we have nothing."
"Neither do we," Jade reported. Skywalker was far to port; Jade far to starboard. Within another few hours the entire grid search would be completed. And it seemed increasingly likely it would be a failure.
"If it makes you feel any better," Skywalker chuckled, "our missions aren't usually this boring. Not always filled with combat and excitement, of course, but very rarely do we end up doing something like this."
Han chuckled too. "Well, to be honest it doesn't. But thanks for trying."
"Any time, Captain."
Over the almost three standard days of their search, the two Jedi had continued to surprise Han with their attitudes and pleasant demeanors. This Jade woman was a shameless flirt. Han gave as good as he got with her, mostly because he was convinced it was all in good fun. And Skywalker was an interesting combination of supremely confident warrior and seemingly vulnerable young man. Several times he vaguely had expressed a level of concern for the Senator that seemed deeply personal, but Han did not feel it was his place to inquire.
"Hey, Han, come look at this," Lando requested from the starboard-side rear cockpit seat. "You think this could be them?"
"Heads up, Jedi, we've got a nibble here. Stand by." Han unstrapped from the pilot's chair and stood over the console Lando was using. "Show me."
"See this? It's transponder-silent, and it's the correct size and mass." Lando pointed to a slowly moving blip at the far edge of the current grid square. "It's making its way toward… Let's see." He ran the numbers quickly in the computer. "Toward Xixus."
"Argis just captured that planet recently. It's on the outer edge of his territory." Han rubbed his stubbled chin. "That wouldn't make sense for anyone else, would it?"
"No, it sure wouldn't. Not under transponder silence."
"Chewie?"
The Wookiee rawled an affirmative reply.
Han jumped directly back into his chair and strapped in tightly. He tapped the communications line again. "Break off, Jedi. Come to us. This is our best lead yet. And we're all very confident here. Data on its way."
After only a few seconds Skywalker responded. "I agree. Great work, Captain."
"I concur," Jade said after another short pause. "What would you like us to do?"
"We have a little bit of leeway before we get to Vyhrragian space outside Xixus. Skywalker, can you cut them off? And Jade flank them? I'll run up behind and try to grab as much confirmation data as we can."
The roar of Skywalker's drives thundered along with his answer. "On my way."
"Roger, Captain," Jade acknowledged.
Han slammed levers forward and tore the Falcon toward the receding blip. "Cancel everything else, Lando. Get us every last detail about this frigate."
"One step ahead of you, buddy," Lando grinned.
Soon the Falcon had the frigate within range of all its scanners. Information streamed in so quickly they couldn't analyze it. Nevertheless, it looked more and more promising with each passing minute.
"Skywalker, how are we doing on real estate here? If I call this in, can we make an intercept before they reach their own territory?" Han figured Skywalker's answer would be honest. He was a Jedi, after all.
In the cockpit of his X-Wing Luke fought a painful internal struggle. He wanted to save Leia.
Now.
Right now.
Himself.
A frigate full of brownshirts didn't worry him. He could work around that, especially if Mara assisted.
He also knew his orders from Master Kenobi were strict. He was to locate the frigate only. Not engage. And especially not enter Vyhrragian space, which he nearly was doing already at this point. So close to Xixus, there easily could be a fatal trap waiting for him.
"I'm sorry, Captain," he finally said grimly. "We're running out of room too quickly. The best we can do is report back our results."
"Yeah, I thought you'd say that," Han's voice answered over Luke's headset. "Hmm? Oh. Lando says that the Special Operations Division has a solid network of spies on Xixus. If they land there, we'll still be able to spring the Senator out."
"That's good to know," Mara's voice replied before Luke could say anything.
"Well, if we're heading back," Luke decided as he spoke, "then I'm getting us a definitive answer. Be ready to run."
"What do you have in mind, kid?" Han's voice seemed uncharacteristically tinged with reluctance.
Luke swerved his X-Wing into an arc that brought him around to charge directly at the targeted vessel. "A visual I.D. There will be no mistakes about this."
Mara's voice intruded sharply into his mind. Luke, Master Kenobi gave us clear orders not to engage.
I'm fully aware of that, Mara, Luke shot back. I'm not going to engage. This is a single pass. Nothing more.
That's a pretty fine point of interpretation. Master Kenobi would not approve.
Master Obi-Wan's not here. And Master Obi-Wan trusts my judgment. You should too. He knew he hadn't persuaded her but only frustrated her into silence.
After a few more seconds the unidentified starship appeared as a small gray spot out Luke's cockpit canopy. Slowly it grew larger and larger until Luke blazed past its pointed front and skimmed along its port side.
Quite plain on the frigate were the crests of Vyhrrag.
As soon as he cleared the enemy warship Luke increased to maximum sub-light speed and turned the nose of his X-Wing toward where the Falcon and Mara were waiting. "Go! Go! Go!"
While his Arfour unit calculated the pre-arranged hyperspace jump, Luke switched frequencies. "Bravo Base, this is Bravo Three. Waterfall. Repeat, waterfall."
Watching the pinpoints of light become long streaks, Luke silently vowed to return here and rescue his twin sister. No matter what.