Yes, yes I know this galaxy far, far away does not belong to me. But it just looked so pretty up on that shelf I had to get it down and play with it a bit. I promise to put it back just a little worse for wear. I'm not making any money on this and I don't have any money anyway so suing me just wouldn't make sense.

******

Admiral James Saarken gazed meditatively out of the viewport of his flagship, the star destroyer Emperor's Cloak. Watching the long lines of hyperspace stream past he contemplated the coming battle. Battle was not the word for it really, the strike would be lightning quick and devastating. The fleet's target was Orliss, a small planet known throughout the galaxy as a paradise, a playground for the rich and famous to come and flaunt themselves. Orliss' economy had recently fallen on hard times as tourism had been sparse during the war between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance, but now in a bid to regain its appeal Orliss had recently petitioned the New Republic for membership in the fledgling government. Saarken smiled membership was to be bought at a steep price. Soon governments all over the galaxy would hear of the awful price that came of allying with the New Republic.

******

With a deep sigh that reached from his numb feet to his aching head Captain Verul Nebarri of the Orliss defense force opened his fighter's canopy and climbed slowly out, the seat in his small Starfury XT100 seemed to get harder and harder with every patrol. He grinned wryly of course it didn't help that he wasn't getting any younger. Still age had been kind to him and he enjoyed giving the younger men in his command a run for their money despite the fact that in all probability they would never be in a real dogfight. Orliss just wasn't important enough for that. Verul leaped down from his fighter's cockpit eager to get home to his family after a long patrol, when suddenly the alarm klaxon sounded, an ear splitting wail that could only mean one thing: enemy ships closing fast.

"Warning," sounded a voice over the loudspeaker, "Imperial ships have been deployed, all fighter squadrons launch immediately." The notice continued to sound as Verul performed a quick turn and pulled himself back into his cockpit. "Gold Squadron report!" He barked, performing a quick start for his engine. "Gold 2 good to go."

"Gold 3 green and mean."

He let the rest of his squadron's acknowledgements wash over him as he prepared himself for the coming battle. "All right launch on my mark, keep your heads out there, and remember what I told you!" He winced knowing that it was likely that most of his men wouldn't survive. They just didn't have enough experience. Pushing all such thoughts aside he said, "mark." And he and the rest of his squadron lifted into the sky to meet their fate.

* * *

Saarken couldn't help but sneer as he gazed out of the viewport. Orliss' defenses were pitiful, his TIE fighter squadrons were tearing through the three pitiful squadrons of the hopelessly outdated Starfury XT100s. Saarken watched the silent space battle with grim satisfaction, the last small enemy fighter clung doggedly to life as it corkscrewed away from the TIE fighter that was chasing it, only to be lost in a brilliant blaze of light as it collided with a second TIE's lasers. Saarken shook his head ~Pitiful.~

"Sir," said a crisp voice behind him. "The enemy's defense fleet is destroyed."

Saarken nodded and allowed himself a small smile. "Begin planetary bombardment." Admission to the New Republic was costly indeed. Beyond the parasteel of the viewport a red rain began to fall on the green planet, which once could have been called paradise.

* * *

Madame Director Ysanne Isard stormed onto the bridge of the Super Star Destroyer Rebel's Blood, fury written on her every feature, ~how dare he?~ Isard fumed inwardly. Nothing in her extensive files on Rogue Squadron or their illustrious commander had even hinted at the possibility of an allergic reaction to her interrogation drugs! Seconds after administering the drug Antilles had gone into anaphylactic shock and had to be rushed to the medcenter! The man and all that he represented was infuriating! Firmly taking a hold of her temper she took a deep calming breath. He would recover. Isard smiled thinly. So what if the vaunted Commander Antilles was allergic to her own special form of persuasion? There were always more... primitive methods available to her,

A young ensign ran up behind her "Madame Director!" She didn't acknowledge him. He tried again "Madame?" Finally Isard appeared to hear him "Yes, report!" He nodded, "Yes Ma'am, General Rillen has just completed his attack against Orliss. He reports minimal resistance and few casualities. He reports that he expects to rejoin the fleet here in a day or two." Isard nodded "Excellent ensign. You're dismissed." The young man turned and all but ran away from the sadistic gleam he saw in his superior's eyes. Isard didn't notice, she smiled and turned back toward the medcenter. Her plan was coming together all but flawlessly.

* * *

Luke and Corran huddled over the small Comm set in the backroom Sasie's Cantina one of the more disreputable bars on Orliss waiting impatiently for their codes to be recognized. Corran glanced behind them at the closed door to the bar room, the bartender had not been eager to let them use the console, in fact he hadn't even admitted he owned it until Luke "persuaded" the greasy man to help. Corran shivered slightly inwardly wondering at the same power he himself had at his fingertips. Desperate times call for desperate measures, but Corran was still uneasy with the idea of affecting the man's free will.

Inwardly shrugging Corran dismissed the philosophical problem from his thoughts, and returned his gaze to the comm. as it crackled to life.

"Cracken here, go ahead."

"General this is Jedi Master Skywalker and Lieutenant Horn reporting in sir." Corran replied grimacing not looking forward to telling the General of his son's capture.

"Good to hear from you! Command was getting worried. What's the situation?"

"Not good sir," continued Corran. "It appears as though we were expected. I believe that we were under surveillance from the moment we arrived in- system. Lieutenants Snoe and Trasken boarded the Super Star Destroyer as we had planned, however we have reason to believe that they have been captured as-" Corran paused, "as Pash was captured by stormtroopers earlier tonight and we were pursued."

"They have Pash!" Cracken exploded "When was he taken?"

"Earlier tonight" Replied Luke "Isard is using Ysalimari and we had no warning. We'll get him back General, we would like to continue the mission ourselves." Cracken grimaced, his heart frozen at the thought of his son in Imperial hands.

"Officially I should tell you to sit tight. Has news of Orliss reached you yet?" Luke and Corran exchanged confused looks.

"No, sir we haven't heard anything."

"Three days ago two star destroyers attacked the Planet Orliss without provocation. There was major damage across the planet and the meager defenses they put up were completely wiped away."

"Did they say what they wanted?" Asked Luke concern creasing his face.

"No, there were no demands simply a message saying that: the false republic would pay for the wrongs against the Empire."

Corran snorted and rolled his eyes "Yes, the poor victimized Empire. When will they learn how absolutely ridiculous they sound?"

"Not soon enough for me," sighed Cracken. "The Senate is calling for action. We must decisively counter this threat, Isard is our prime suspect we are sending the fleet to your position to get rid of her once and for all. I leave you to your own discretion on your actions until the fleet arrives. If any one of our people cracks it could be devastating to the New Republic." Cracken attempted a smile "And I don't like the idea of my son in the hands of that psychopath. Do what you can. Cracken out."

Luke and Corran exchanged glances, "I'm not leaving them up there for one minute longer than need be." Luke nodded his head agreeing with Corran's statement.

"Well then that makes two of us." A wolfish grin spread over Luke's face "Let's hope that accomplishing the impossible is still the Rogue's stock in trade because we're gonna need all the edge we can get."

* * *

Wedge woke his breath rasping in and out of his lungs with difficulty. Shaking his head he rolled over onto his back, and stared into the darkness of his cell, grimacing at the bruises the over eager stormtroopers had decorated his body with. It could have been worse he reflected abstractly. In some ways he was glad that his body had nearly shut down from the drugs Isard had injected into his system it gave him some small measure of protection in terms of his will although his body would probably now take the brunt of whatever Isard could think up. Corran hadn't been broken completely, but Isard had been able to extract all the information about the New Republic that he had known, which thankfully hadn't been much.

Wedge grinned sardonically such was not the case with himself. If Isard managed to crack him the damage to the New Republic would be extensive between his work with the secretive Wraiths and the New Republic's poster squadron the Rogues he was a veritable corusca gem mine of information. Without drugs it would take longer, but Isard was patient and determined. Wedge realized that without his escape, capture or death she would eventually get what she wanted.

Rescue at this point seemed unlikely as both Luke and Corran, had seemed completely oblivious to the surveillance bearing down on them. Isard had been calling the shots so far, however Wedge didn't underestimate Luke and Corran's abilities and he hoped that between the two of them they would be able to come up with some way to avoid the trap into which Isard had been leading them.

* * *

Long time, no see I know and I am terribly sorry for that. Unfortunately real life has just been altogether too real recently what with family health problems and so much work I barely have time to draw breath. However life has eased up a bit lately and so I am going to try to post a lot in the coming couple of weeks. This entry is a bit short but more is on the way I swear. As always please do review, they are very encouraging to read, and prompt a flurry of chattering plot bunnies every time I read one.