"Ok lets look sharp everyone," Kell said as he casually flew the Sweet Sunrises closer to the edge of the gathering fleet around the asteroid field. The very asteroid field that Peacekeeper and Prankster had to fly into 7 hours ago so they could hide and repair their stolen shuttle's navigation and hyperspace controls. So far the little fleet has not taken notice of one beat up freighter but that could change at any time since they were hanging around longer then most of the other freighters in the area. Command must have decided to play the wait game; the fighters were patrolling the outer regions of the belt but not actually entering to find them. Not a bad choice actually, eventually the shuttle will run out of fuel, food, water, air, and even the Vong need to breathe and eat. Even if they don't try to make a run for it, one of the probe droids that were being rushed in from Denon would eventually find their remains.

Thanks to Little Brother, they were able to break the code that was being used between the squadron and the frigate as well as the local defense and security forces that were on station. The 'official' line was that the frigate and her squadrons were here to assist the planet forces, but the truth was something different. Jedi Knight Alema Rar was making sure no one made the mistake about who was really in charge here. She was brow beating each planetary official, an official from the liner company that owns the Hollow Nebula and military personal that had an objection to what she was trying to accomplish. The planetary people want to handle the search and capture of the shuttle since it was within their territory space and the action of the buccaneer violated their laws. Kell knew that legally the planetary government was correct all act of piracy within a star system that was the jurisdiction of the original system government. The government could ask, of course, for the GA military assistance and they would never be turned down. Rar counter that this was not a pirate action and since it was suspected to be a Yuuzhan Vong that had taken the shuttle and taken a GA Intelligent officer as a hostage it falls directly in the jurisdiction of the GA Military. This was going to make the next senator session very interesting for all the Jedi after Peacekeeper and Prankster gets lose.

The Captain of the liner and the home office wanted the Hollow Nebula released so that it may continue on its trip. The passengers, many who were already disappointed that the planet side trip was cancelled, were starting to pressure the liner with lawsuits if they were denied the rest of the cruise. Rar refused to allow them to leave the system until the intelligent agents had a chance to inspect the ship for any more Yuuzhan Vong or their technology. The planet security forces had suggested that they be allowed to do the investigation, which of course Rar denied stating that their agents were better equipped to handle such a job. So far, three frigates and two corvettes had arrived in system to assist in the capture but the intelligent ship was still in route. That did nothing to placate anyone nor did it help much when the captain of the liner made a snide remark about how Rar had already lost one agent to the Vong.

The fact that they had a GA Intelligent officer on board the shuttle was not something he wanted to hear about either. So far, they haven't mentioned how or why the unnamed agent was taken hostage, Rar and most of the others had already assumed that the agent was dead. Kell couldn't imagine why Tahiri would allow or even take a hostage in the first place so there had to be more to the story then Rar and the others were giving out.

"Five minutes sir," Road Kill said from the co-pilot seat.

"Roger, take your stations."

"Right," Sparks said getting up from the communication station and headed after to the upper gun turret. Unlike the Millennium Falcon, the Sweet Sunrise had only one quad gun on the top deck, which wasn't so bad here since they really didn't want to kill anyone. "Little Brother patch comm to the turret, I want to keep monitoring the traffic."

"And don't forget, don't hit anyone just make it look good." Kell called back to him after Little Brother beeps an affirmative from the navigation computer. "Ok, remember the plan."

"Right, they jump out for 4 seconds on the course we sent them, we jump out with them and then tight beam a new course and vector and jump until we get in the clear then send them a direct course back to the base."

"Right, we also stay out of the way unless they need help," Kell said watching the X-Wings flying in and out of the field.

"Little Brother record comm channel 0-02," Sparks said suddenly, "and keep recording till it is done or we jump clear!"

"What is it Sparks?"

"I heard that weird code again sir," Sparks said sounding as if he was distracted.

"Time: 4:12," Road Kill said then addressed Sparks, "you mean around Denon?"

"What are you two talking about?"

"Yes ma'am, it sounds very similar to that code."

"Time: 3:47, when we were at Denon a few months back we heard a coded transmission that no one could identify being broadcasted to the planet. We recorded the transmission but it was lost when we crashed that party on Borleais."

"Interesting, is it directed at one particular ship?"

"No sir, it is more like a blanket transmission for the entire system."

"Time: 3:00 mark."

"Is anyone else picking up on it Sparks?"

"Negative, as far as I can tell no one else is even aware of it."

"Time: 2:29, is anyone answering it?"

"Negative," Sparks said, "permission to warm up weapons?"

"Time: 2:10."

"Yes, powering up shields also." Kell said putting the strange transmission out of his mind.

"Time 2:00 mark."

"Roger, ok everyone look sharp."

"Time: 1:38, sir I got a pair of X-Wings turning our way."

"Sir, someone noticed us two fighters dispatched to look us over and …"

"Roger, what else?"

"Sir, a probe robot just located the shuttle, they are at full power, all X-wings but the two to check us out are order to that location."

"Time: 0:53, Confirm, also the frigates and corvettes are assuming containment positions."

"Roger, we are still go; most of the fighters and ships are out of range. Little Brother keeps running course corrections for the jump and be ready to transmit on my command."

"Sir, they lost transmission from the probe, cause unknown Rar is assuming hostile action. All X-Wings are clear to fire upon weapons lock."

"Time: 0:32, they should be lifting off now."

"Roger," Kell watched the scanners waiting to see the shuttle break lose for the asteroid field. At time: 0:12 he spotted the shuttle emerge just were they planned it and a new surprise dropped out of hyperspace, a Star Destroyer right in the flight path of the shuttle. "Well that was a surprise."

"That is the Mon Mothma, she turning on an intercept course, launching fighters and powering up her gravity wells."

"Little Brother, are they clear to jump yet?" Little Brother beeps a negative they were still too close to the asteroid field, "Plot them a new course away from the Mon Mothma and her fighters and send it to them. Road Kill as soon as the new course is up jump, understand?"

"Roger, new course laid in and the shuttle is turning …" Road Kill stopped in mid sentence and her jaw dropped. As the shuttle turned to race to the new exit vector, three more ships popped out of hyperspace, directly in their path and they were not GA ships. "Oh …"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" … FAS!"

Lt. Shalla Jillian didn't know what Fas meant but she had a good idea of the spirit behind the word as she watched the three large Vong ships close in on the gathering GA fleet and on them.

"Was this your big surprise," Ratnena Bora asked from the co-pilot seat as she bented over her controls to find a course out of this mess. "Come left to 89-67-130, negative 200."

"You are just never satisfied with anything I do for you," the now unmasked Tahiri Veila, Jedi Knight, said from the pilot's seat as she turned towards the new course.

Ever since they stop stunning her and let her stay awake for the great escape, as they called it, she has been observing a non-stop snip fest between the two former Wraiths. For two hours now, they had been picking at each other over anything they could find or discovered about each other. How they were able to act like a married couple while on the Hollow Nebula was beyond her. They sounded like they had been close to blows several times.

Finding out that Ratnena was alive and a traitor had been a shock but not really a big surprise, she had been a big question mark for months now. However to find out that Tahiri was also still among the living and working with Ratnena was a huge shock. Although she didn't know much about Tahiri Veila, Shalla couldn't imagine what anyone could pay her to make her switch sides. Jedi were the shinning light of justice and peace not of the evil that the Yuuzhan Vong represented to the galaxy. Then again, if they were working for the Yuuzhan Vong then why were they flying away from them and not opening communication? She was the first to admit that there was more going on then met the eye.

"I thought you said that this was going to be a nice easy standard Jedi rescue?"

"I never said it was going to be easy and so far it has been pretty standard."

"What are you talking about Vong? So far every plan we have come up with has been interrupted by fighters from our side, asteroids fields, Yuuzhan Vong dropping in uninvited and now we are about to be destroyed six different ways!"

"Well," Tahiri said with a sheepish grin and a small laugh, "in the Solo and Skywalker clans that is pretty standard."

"That is it I want a divorce," Ratnena said after a long pause.

"Listen you two; this may be your last chance to surrender. Just open a channel to the Mon Mothma and I will be glad to speak on your behalf."

"Sorry but that isn't any fun," Ratnena said studying the scanner, "Vong come to 45-34-145."

"Roger," Tahiri said as she banked the shuttle and some how avoided all the activity directed towards them. "Besides surrendering to the GA at this point could be worst then the death the Yuuzhan Vong has planned to do to me if they ever caught me."

"If you think I will let you join up with the Vong …"

"Yuuzhan Vong," Ratnena said frowning into the scanner, "and you're a little tied up to do much right now so hush. Hey Vong …"

"Yuuzhan Vong, Rat, I know you know how to say it properly."

"That is what I said Vong," Shalla heard a long deep sigh from the Jedi but she waved her hand as if to signal that Ratnena should continued, "can you tell me was it so weird about this battle?"

"Sure I'll play along it's not like I am doing any thing important right now, Rat."

Shalla leaned forward to look over Ratnena's left shoulder to see if she could figure out what the nut case was talking about, nothing jumped out at her as being strange. The X-Wings and E-Wings were mostly concentrating on the three Yuuzhan Vong ships with a couple chasing them, the freighter that must be their back up was traveling close to them but not to close as to draw any fire. The larger ships were also returning fire with the Vong ships, who were giving as good as they got.

"Where are the skips?" Shalla asked, frowning now also, as impressive as those larger ships were they still needed a fighter screen to keep the X-Wings and E-Wings away, yet there were none on the scanner.

Tahiri took her eyes off the forward screen long enough to glance at the scanner and did a double take, her face twisted into expression of disbelieve.

"Not only are the skips missing but listen to the combat channels," Ratnena said raising the volume up so they could hear … nothing.

"Is that thing working?" Shalla asked glancing between the screens and the two traitors.

"I can hear the liner, the planet and other freighters but all combat units are silent."

"But how can they coordinate if they aren't speaking?"

"I don't know," Ratnena said glancing back at her, her face echoing the confusion Shalla was feeling. "I'm scanning everything up and down the dial and I get nothing. Moreover, why would they send three frigate size ships, each capable of carrying thirty skips, without any protection? We seen the figures of the best guess at their resources and they can't afford to waste ships like that."

"Maybe they feel you two are worth the three ships?" Shalla said watching closely for any reaction. Tahiri never took her eyes off the displays and Ratnena shook her head.

"They have no idea who we are, not only that if they knew Tahiri was still alive they would be trying to kill us not rescue us." Ratnena looked over at the Jedi and snapped her fingers at her, "Hey Vong are you alright?"

"What do you mean if they knew you were alive? That is why you were on the Hollow Nebula, to meet with that other traitor! You're working for the damn Vong!"

"What? No, like hell we are!" Ratnena said angrily, "we trying to bring down the Peace Brigade you nimrod!"

"How by killing the Wraiths, Traitor! By running around in vong skin?"

"SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!" Tahiri screamed out and then send the shuttle on a tight corkscrew turning back towards the engagement zone. "Flight Officer Bora send a message to Dagger; have him send us jump coordinates of the present vector and to update as needed. Then run a full scan of those ships both Yuuzhan Vong and GA." Ratnena started to protest but it died unspoken when Tahiri flashed a look. She just meekly nodded her head and bent down to her assigned task. The Tahiri turned and looked at Shalla, she cringed back in her seat without noticing it, Tahiri's eyes blazed so brightly they almost glowed. "Lt. Jillian, remind quiet about any opinions you may have until you are briefed by the commander, understand?" Like Ratnena, she found herself meekly nodding her head, satisfied Tahiri turned back to the controls. "Listen both of you there is something very wrong here and I need to find out before we jet out."

"Like what?" Jillian asked, hoping it was ok to do so.

"We been flying now for 3 minutes and those two jokers behind us have deliberately over shot or missed us several times. Three Yuuzhan Vong ship jump in without supporter skips. On the other hand, the fact that no one on either side has bothered to contact us. That those three popped in and just started blazing away at the Mon Mothma, looking like a rescue effort but we know that they have specialized villip to contact us on normal communication channels and they haven't even bothered. Why is that? They don't know me and the chance of another team being here at the same time are remote. In fact I never felt any other Yuuzhan Vong on the liner."

"Maybe they were just passing by and got pulled in?" Ratnena said feeding some numbers into the flight panel. "By the way, Dagger is reporting that Three thinks we are insane but is following us."

"So that is news?" Tahiri said no longer going evasive, and she was right either these were the worst pilots in the galaxy or they weren't even trying to hit them, "Besides look that the vector they came in on, they were planning on dropping in. This close to the Core without back up, I don't think so."

"How do you know that they aren't waiting for someone to contact them," Shalla asked as the shuttle blazed by a group of E-Wings, causing them to scattered as if hey were taken by surprise by the appearance of the shuttle. She could see the battle going on around the Star Destroyer more clearly, as they rapidly advanced on it position.

"Scanning in progress, I hate to admit this but the extra baggage might be right."

"Nope there even a better reason," Tahiri said suddenly changing vectors and pouring on the speed to get pass the Mon Mothma. As the approached the great ship the fire actually became worst, not in intensity but in accuracy. In addition, the fighters broke off pursuit as they turned their attention to the three Vong ships. "The reason is that there is no one on board those ships."

Shalla stared at Tahiri, in disbelieve; Ratnena and Shalla exchange slacked jaw looks and asked Tahiri at the same time, "Have you gone space happy?"

"Look at how they are fighting, there has to be some one onboard!" Shalla added as Ratnena brought up the results of the scan.

"There are no Yuuzhan Vong on those ships," Tahiri said in a tone that clearly showed that she was not willing to debate her findings. Ratnena just stared at the reading on the scans, shaking her head in disbelieve as the control panel pinged and Tahiri launched them into hyperspace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Sir, they are on their way down the tunnel," Squeaky said to Face from his doorway. Face normally didn't like to be woken up after only a couple hours sleep but made a exception this time. After the mission had gone so badly he wanted to be there when they all got home.

"Thanks Squeaky, any word on their prisoner?" Face asked as he headed out the door towards the hanger, at a pace slow enough for the old droid to keep up with him.

"No sir, Flight Officer Tahiri said it was a surprise."

"I hate surprises," Face growled out. The Sweet Sunrise landed first and Kell was already rushing out of the old freighter with his side arm drawn watching the stolen shuttle land in the far corner of the hanger. "Kell, any hints?"

"No," Kell answered as Face caught up with him, "all we know is that a intelligent officer was on board the liner and was the reason they got tagged."

The ramp of the shuttle opened slowly and a dark skin figure, a young woman actually, was coming down the ramp as it opened.

"I don't believe it …" Kell said lowering his gun as the young girl came running up to them.

"Uncle Garik, Uncle Kell, you're alive!" Screamed the young woman as she wrapped her arms around the two men. Face returned the embrace, the young woman who he has known almost all her life; the niece of his long time friend and fellow Wraith Shalla Nelprin.