Leia stood by the forward landing gear and watched the Wraiths work at a fever pitch to prepare for their departure. They weren't evacuating the base per say but they were loading some supplies on board as well as the extra X-wings. They normally only carried four at a time, Face had explained earlier, so that there would be five droids for the engine room. Today however, they were loading six fighters aboard, leaving two dismantled X-wings behind. They usually left the droids in the fighters since it prove to be very awkward to load and unload them in the ship its self. It could be done but it was a slower process. For some reason today, only Little Brother was in his copula, the rest of the droids were roaming in and out of the ship preparing for launch. Tahiri's friend Ratnena was going over the fighter with a fine toothcomb while Kell secured the torpedo launchers.

Everyone was moving quickly and professionally, what she had come to like about the Wraiths over the years but they seemed … somber. As if, they weren't expecting to return or make it to Ossus. They were probably worried about the repercussions when they arrived at Ossus, Leia thought but they didn't seemed to be worry just … somber.

"Hey Leia," Han called out as he walked into the hanger, nearly getting run over by the droid they called 'Flush' for some reason, as it went flying out of the hanger on some kind of duty. When he reached her he said, "They're bring out our happy passenger in few minutes."

Leia just nodded and continued to watch the others. Doran and Shalla had just finished loading the spare files on the Falcon and now were loading the crates of information on his mother's ship. Tyria walked around her ship, doing a visual check on the craft, with a somber but determined look on her face. Kell walked over and they embraced and talked quietly as he helped her get ready for launch.

"Han, Leia," Face's voice said behind them. As they turned, they saw Meewalh and Runt escorting the prisoner up the ramp to the main hold. Face and Squeaky were walking towards them as the droid Flush nearly ran them over getting back in the hanger.

"Thanks again for the help," Face said holding out his hand.

"No problem," Han said shaking his hand. "Let's hope we can get some one at Command to listen when we get there."

"We convinced you, that was haft the battle," Face with a grin that made him look years younger. "With you there to help us, we have no worries now. We'll be leaving in five minutes."

Tahiri, dressed in her flight suit and flight helmet on walked rapidly into the hanger as Face and Squeaky walked over to their ship. She jogged over to them, embraced each one separately, and with a grin said, "Thanks for caring, thanks for believing and I'll see you when we get to Denon." Then she ran over to her X-wing, already trading insults Ratnena and Little Brother, before either Solo could respond.

"Is it just me or are they acting stranger then normal," Leia asked her husband.

"No, its not you, this kind of reminds me of Yavin before the Death Star got there." Han said as they started up the ramp.

All through the pre-launch checklist, Leia kept watch over the others. However, they seemed on the surface to be just preparing for another mission, it was beneath the surface that worried her. After Tahiri loaded, her X-wing in the Sunset, all three ships, leaving the Sunrise and shuttle behind, headed out to the deeps of space.

The first jump was short six hours, Han and Leia spent the time in the cockpit instead of roaming the ship. Leia started to develop a sinking feeling in her gut as the time passed. As if some bad was about to happen.

"Do you get the feeling that we have been set up," Han asked just before they were to end this leg of the trip.

"Now that you mentioned it, yes."

"Ah good so I'm not imaging things," Han said with no humor as he pulled back on the hyperdrive controls, "what do you think their real plan is?"

"I don't know but I have a bad feeling we are about to find out," Leia said as the stars snapped back to normal. On her scanners, she saw Tyria's shuttle pop out right behind them but no Sunset. "I don't suppose they're just flying slow today."

"We are ready to return to hyperspace, Captain Solo," Shalla's voice said over the comm system.

"Negative we need to wait for the rest to get here," Han said in the comm with a look that suggested it would be a long wait.

"We need to get the information back to the Chief of State sir."

"And we will as soon as the Sunset joins us."

"Sir, our mission is to make sure the information they have collected gets to those who can use it."

"Sure as soon as we find of the rest, where did they go?"

"Sir, you know the time table that we are on, we need to get that information back as soon as possible."

"Then you take your copy …"

"There are no copies," Tyria's voice came across this time, sounding weary, worried but determined, "We never made any copies, what you carry are originals of everything they have collected over the past year."

"Tyria, what do you mean no copies were made? I saw Shalla and your son load crates on your shuttle." Leia said in to the comm, the sinking feeling was sinking faster.

"Those were empty crates Leia, they figured once you figured out what was really going on you would try and back out of the deal. They need you to explain what is really going on and get Command to listen. Command will listen to you both a lot faster then any of them or me. They couldn't have convince command of what they found until it was too late where as you and Master Skywalker will get them to listen. Lives depend on this Han, a lot of lives."

"Where did they go, Tyria," Han asked but she didn't answer. "They went after that Vong fleet didn't they, didn't they." Han said angrily when she still wouldn't answer.

"They have their mission and we have ours," Tyria voice whispered across the comm.

"Is their job to throw away their lives," Han snapped back.

"Yes," Tyria answered, her voice filled with all the anger, fear, agony and dismay that she must have been feeling since they told her of their plans. Han must have heard it too from his reaction to the sound of her voice. "That is their mission, to protect the GFFA from all attacks from within and without. They don't want to die but if that is the only way to save millions they would do it without a second thought. That is their job that has always been their job. Your job General," Leia has never heard anyone before lace the Han's old title with such contempt and scorn as she heard from Tyria, "is too make sure that information they have collect get to where it needs to go so their sacrifice is not wasted! Do you think I'm happy about this? Do you think I haven't tried to talk them out of this? Do you!"

"Course laid in," Han said in a very subdued voice after a lengthy pause, "estimated jump time 12 hours 34 minutes." After getting a conformation back from Shalla, he ordered them back into hyperspace. As soon as the jump was made Han leaned back in his chair, looking older and more tired but had a small knowing smile. "I should've known they pull this, as soon as he suggested that we carry that spy, I should have known. He was giving in too easy."

Leia didn't say anything; she just reached over and held his hand.

"He was trained by Wedge, and Wedge hates to lose. If Face would have gone straight to Ossus, he would felt like he lost."

"Maybe they went after a different target." Leia tried to sound hopeful but she had no hope. Like Han, she was sure she knew where they were headed.

"Not a chance," Han snorted out, "the only advantage they have is the fact only a crazy person would take on that fleet single handedly." He looked over at her and gave her a smile, "and I think the Vong are about to find out what a group of crazy people can do."

Captain Jorge looked out the view port with a tight smile of satisfaction and anticipation. The first four jumps had gone extremely well. All 5000 ships, from Star Destroyers, frigates, corvettes, cruisers and even two Indictors had performed well from the computer interfaces installed in each ship. Each ship had a central computer brain that controlled every aspect of the ships internal controls, such as speed, gravity, shields and damage control. The other aspects such as course speed and jump capabilities were control by 30 men spread out over the bridge. Through those controls, he could dictate the course of action the fleet would take in battle, he could have whole wings or individual ships to move in for the kill or lay down support fire, he could launch fighters to harass the enemy, in short destroy the enemy without losing a single person.

It was a concept developed based on old Clone War technology with modern computers. Admiral Kre'fey and Colonel Solo had found similar plans in the archives at Ossus while Colonel Solo had helped the Jedi move there. The major drawback was, of course, that all the controls were remote. If the enemy could jam the signal or if anything happened to the control ship, the fleet of the old would simply shut down. The new and improved system had failsafe back ups build in; it had the ability to receive orders on a multi-frequency. If one signal were lost the droid brain would search until it found another frequency. They also had the ability to update the battle plan through out the engagement or run the preprogrammed battle plans that were installed when they were first built. If it lost its controller, by either jamming or the control ship's destruction, it would follow the last set of orders. While it wouldn't fight as efficiently as before, it also won't shut down and be a sitting target.

Now, after almost two years of waiting we finally get to show the scar heads what real technology can do, he thought as his smile grew bigger.

"Two minutes to we drop out of hyperspace, sir." His second in command said walking up to him.

"Very well," the captain said then added, "Too bad we have to make so many jumps."

"Better to make a bunch of smaller jumps then one big jump and find out we lost half the fleet." His XO said with a small shrug.

"True, even if those ships were manned it would be a hassle making sure the fleet jumped properly. I would hate to call the Supreme Commander and tell him his fleet was lost."

"Yes sir! He would be most annoyed," then the man lowered his voice, "especially with his right hand man is the granddaughter of Vader."

"My father served under Vader till he left the service and defected," Jorge said, also softly, "she is nothing like her grandfather but she is a Jedi and I rather have a Jedi mad at the Vong then me." The XO nodded to that. Together they watch the stars snap back to normal as the frigate dropped back into normal space. And they stared and stared neither one moving and his XO making a small gulping noise. "REPORT!"

"Sir, we seemed to have lost contact with the fleet," a young Lt. Commander said from his station, looking pale and worried.

"How many jumped with us?"

"None sir," he said, looking sick. "We are attempting to located them by …"

"I don't care how you do it," Jorge said, feeling sweet braking out on his forehead, "just find them and quickly!"

He turned, barely hearing the acknowledgement of his orders, and stared out the view port that was empty that should have been filled with ships. He rubbed his throat subconsciously as the stories of Vader that his father had told him when he was a boy, raced through his head.

Luke Skywalker again found himself in a war council and wishing again that he could be anywhere else but here. However, the Force again has decided that he help defend and lead instead of teach and guild as he wish he could. In the main briefing, room on board the SSD Guardian as Tyria Sarkin finished her briefing on what the Wraiths had been up to for the past year and what they were planning to do now.

Luke looked over at Han and Leia, who was sitting quietly next to her, two days ago they arrived in system just as Luke and Cal arrived in the Guardian to help usher in new Jedi Knights into the Order. They brought back some good news, that Tahiri was alive and terrible news, that the Yuuzhan Vong were planning another strike. They had brought too much information with them, more then Cal could skim through, but with the their files and the information Corran and the droids had found backing up some of their claims Cal decided to hold off and get some back up to Ossus. Three battle fleets were racing their way here but it was unknown if they would arrive in time to help. Already here was Star Destroyer, assign here, Supreme Commander Kre'fey battle group, Booster's Errant Venture, Grand Admiral Pellaeon's Star Destroyer Right to Rule as well as the escort ships for the Guardian as well as 25 battle proven Jedi and enough X-wings for them to fly. However, would it be enough and that was the question they were here to answer if they can.

"How can they be sure they can get the Yuuzhan Vong to dance to their tune?" Senator Fyor Rodan, whom Luke asked and invited to attend the ceremony along with Cal, asked Tyria. He had invited Fyor here for him to see the Jedi could be a force not to fear but to help.

"They planned to use their Yuuzhan Vong expert to entice the Yuuzhan Vong into a course of action that would great the greatest advantage to them."

"And that means what exactly?"

"She is going to … taunt them, sir."

"Oh, she is going to tell them their mothers wear combat boots." Admiral Kre'fey snapped sarcastically and turned to Cal, "again sir, I request that you allow my fleet and I to travel to find these pirates and regain control of these fleet."

"A fleet that you denied existed until this afternoon." Admiral Jerrold, the Rodian Admiral in command of the Guardian asked.

"Until I could confirm that the fleet was indeed missing I was maintaining security Admiral." Kre'fey snapped. Jaina Solo, his niece, handed Kre'fey a data pad, "unfortunately we do not know the location of the fleet since they disabled its homing transponders."

"I'm going to skip over how a group of nine people was able to not only capture 5000 ships but can use them effectively for now; since I am sure I won't get a straight answer anyways," came the cultured voice of Grand Admiral Pellaeon.

"I would like to know how too," Booster grumbled from his seat.

"I am sure you would have as much interest in that as I do, Mr. Terrik, but we can't afford to waste too much time here. However, back to the point, how does this expert plan to taunt the Yuuzhan Vong Warmaster into 'dancing to her tune', as you might say."

"She is confident that once she identifies herself to the Yuuzhan Vong that they will be eager to destroy her at all cost. That and her knowledge of Yuuzhan Vong culture, she can keep the Warmaster and any Yammka they might have off balance."

"May I know the name of this expert?"

Tyria looked towards Luke. Luke would tell Pellaeon, if for no other reason to foster good will and for agreeing to stay and help defend Ossus, but it was not his call. Luke sent a glance to Cal who nodded back to him.

"Their expert is Jedi Knight Tahiri Veila." Cal said in a flat tone.

"Indeed, I remember Miss. Veila, very capable warrior," he said as a civilian aid that Leia had told him about lean forward and whispered into his ear. Pellaeon nodded once and then said, "So Face and the Wraiths have come out of hiding again."

"Who," Cal said in a hard voice.

Pellaeon gave him a smile that held no warmth and neither did his voice as he replied. "Of course, I never heard of the Wraiths before either." Then Pellaeon's face and voice lost some of it tension. "But this group that doesn't exist has tied some of my best people in knots over the years as they tried, unsuccessfully, to keep them out of our secrets. If they are working with Miss. Veila, they may be able to slow them down enough for us to prepare for them."

Jaina gave out a snort to that comment, everyone turned to her. Even Pellaeon seemed surprise by her actions.

"Do you have something germane to add Colonel," Cal asked shooting a glare at her.

"No sir," she responded, coloring slightly at the attention she attracted.

"Bridge to Admiral Jerrold."

"Admiral here goes ahead."

"Sir, we are receiving a priority signal from patrol Alpha."

"Pipe it down here."

"Patrol Alpha here sir, we found remains of a large shipyards and it appears a large battle too place about three day ago."

"How large Alpha," Admiral Kre'fey asked.

"Based on the number of ships floating around I would say at least the size of Kuat sir. Maybe larger, we have located at least 100 GA ships, could be more, most of them were pounded very hard, no life signs. We are estimating at least three times as many Yuuzhan Vong ships."

"Any sign of which direction they head in."

"Possibly sir, all the wreckage is heading toward 245-37-009." Jaina got up and started entering the coordinates into a tabletop interface. "The planet is showing to be a terra class but heavily Vong infested. All our charts list this as a dead system."

"They are heading towards the Perlemian Trade Route." Jaina reported and brought up the section of the galactic map for all to see.

"Could they be heading to the Roche Asteroids?" A captain Luke didn't know asked.

"Not if they were expecting any help," Admiral Jerrold said, "all our elements are heading here."

"Correct sir," Tyria said, "the plan was to slow down the invasion. By taking them that way they are buying us time."

"How many ships are in Alpha, Admiral?" Cal asked looking at the chart.

"24 X-wings sir."

"Have them follow that course till they reach the Perlemian Trade Route. Once there …"

"Admiral, The Wheel is reporting a large battle group just entered their system. A larger fleet is in pursuit."

"Get them on now!"

"This is Commander Hugh of the frigate Salvation, we have about 200 GA ships with approximately 3000 Yuuzhan Vong ships in pursuit. Heavy fighting is going on. We are moving in to assist."

"Negative, stay on station," Kre'fey ordered. The room erupted but Kre'fey shouted it down. "No, one frigate and two squadrons won't make a difference in that battle. We need them to protect the Wheel not throw them away."

"He is right," Cal said looking very weary, "Salvation, this is Chief of State Omas you are order to stay on station. Do not engage unless your primary is under attack, do you understand."

"Sir, they are getting slaughtered …"

"Do you understand your orders!"?

"Yes sir, protect primary, do not assist … I understand sir." The voice came back stiff, formal and resentful. Luke could easily see how the men there felt, a fleet being destroyed and they could do nothing to help. It had to burn their sense of duty badly.

"Son," Admiral Jerrold said softly, "we need battle information, we believe the fleet is heading here."

"Yes sir, when the GA fleet popped in they turned 50 of their most damaged ships and fired torpedoes toward the Vong fleet's entry point. Just as the fleet entered the system, they detonated the torpedoes and unfortunately, the damaged ships collided with the Vong fleet before they had time to react. They were able to destroy several hundred ships and cause the fleet to be disorganized. Most of the damage came from ships colliding with each other. We are picking up a large amounts of droid level communications between the ships as well as one very strange message directed at the Vong fleet."

"Lets hear it," Cal said quickly. A soft, young sounding voice talking in the harsh Yuuzhan Vong language was heard.

"Oh my, that is Mistress Tahiri, thank the maker she is still functioning." C-3PO said in an excited voice.

"We can't translate it …"

"We can," Han said turning to 3PO, "what is she saying?"

"You are the waste of the bugs, the gods no longer favor you but are with me. There is nothing you can do to make the gods love you again, they look down upon you and feel pity and shame; surrender to me for there is no other course left."

"I think it is safe to say that she has their attention," Pellaeon said with a small chuckle.

"Nothing like a Jedi to get under your skin," Booster said with a gruff laugh.

"Have you received any contact from the Fleet?" Admiral Kre'fey asked.

"Negative sir, we tried several times but they haven't answered yet. Sir, there are also about seven or eight skips id as 'Slayers' that are chasing a single X-wing around. So far no other skips or fighter, except those I already told you about, are engaging each other. It appears to be a slug match between the larger ships."

"Do you have a break down of the ships?" Admiral Jerrold asked. When the commander said yes, he was ordered to send it to them.

"I think it is safe to assume that Tahiri is in that X-wing," Luke said as they all studied the list. Even after all the fighting, the Yuuzhan Vong fleet was still impressive.

"Looks like they have about a quarter of their Star Destroyers left, and half of their frigates. Most of the corvettes are still operation." Jaina said as she looked over the list.

"As well their Indictors," Kre'fey said in mussing tones.

"Why are they not using their fighters?" Han asked.

"Control and command problems most likely," Admiral Kre'fey answered, not going into details. "Jaina, can you tell which ship is theirs?"

"No, Admiral," Jaina said scanning the battle reports. "It looks like they are bouncing each signal though each ship. In effect making each ship a command ship."

"I'm impressed, I have to congratulate them at their court-marshal." Kre'fey said and then looked over at the others. "I think if they don't suffer too much more loses by the time they get them here we will about even." And then with a nod to Grand Admiral and Booster, "especially with your gentlemen assistance."

"Just remember, what ever they break you fix," Booster said.

"Don't worry Mr. Terrik, we will be glad to help with any repairs," Cal said with a smile at Booster. "Salvation what is your status?"

"They are ignoring us and primary, they are focusing on the fleet sir. We are still trying to contact anyone and that strange transmission between the girl and the Vong fleet is continuing."

"Do you have any scans of the action when the fleet showed up?"

"Yes sir, sending them now."

"Colonel Solo, would you be so kind as to let us all see them when you get them."

"Yes Chief of State," and above the table the sense was projected so everyone could see it.

"Are they firing blindly?" Booster asked as the stream of torpedoes and damaged ships ran headlong into the Yuuzhan Vong fleet.

"No," Grand Admiral Pellaeon said manipulating the controls in front of him. He played back the scene back slower and enlarged. "Look, so of them explode on impact but others pass them and explode in the second line. Also those ships don't ram anything they self destruct were they do the most damage."

"No battle computer could be that accurate," Admiral Jerrold said.

"It's not," Luke said, "it is Tahiri. She is somehow seeing far enough ahead to give the others warning when they are about to pop back in."

"Jedi can't see the Vong, I thought." One of the Grand Admiral's aids asked.

"It was captured by the Vong when she was 14 and they experimented on her," Jaina said, Luke was surprised by the way she said 'it'. "Since then she has been known to she them somehow."

"Tahiri," Tyria answered giving Jaina a hard look, "has proven over and over again to the … group she is working with that she can see the Yuuzhan Vong as well as she can see the citizens of this galaxy."

"If you can believe it, don't forget it is not exactly sane," Jaina said.

"Tahiri is as sane as the next person," Tyria snapped back, "and a whole lot more trustworthy then some I can name."

"The question is, "Cal snapped ending that discussion, "can we use this trick to help us defend Ossus!"

"If we know from what direction they are coming from and can talk to," Pellaeon stopped and gave an ironic smile, "this group I think we can."

"Given how badly the Vong reacted I think this was the first time they saw it," Admiral Jerrold said.

"That makes sense," Kre'fey answered, "plus this is the first time anyone has seen them in action. Maybe they were sending a message to us about their intentions when they get here."

"Not as clear as if they would just contact us," one of the captains said.

"Yes, but message can be intercepted," the Grand Admiral answered back, "All communication from them will be intercepted. By the looks of the battle, they are ignoring everything else but them, so if a observer reports it."

"Even if they intercept it they won't know how important it will be," Admiral Kre'fey interrupted, "they also wouldn't know who was here to interpreter what they sent."

"So they won't know it is a Jedi trick but they may think like Booster and assume it was just firing blindly," Luke said in admiring tones. He knew Face was good but not this good.

"It still could be," another Admiral said.

"Maybe but I betting they drop in and out of hyperspace several times more before getting here and not repeat that maneuver," Admiral Jerrold said.

"So when they get here they are complacent again," Admiral Kre'fey said. "That maybe another reason they aren't using fighters, they don't want to waste time loading and unloading them. Instead they want to do hit and fades."

"Sirs, Salvation here it looks like both fleets are preparing to jump."

"This is Admiral Kre'fey, observe their direction of travel then send everything you have to us."

"Yes sir!"

"Chief or State, with your permission I would like to start on a defense plan with this maneuver as the center piece."

"Please do Admiral," Cal said getting up, "while you are doing that I would like to have a small conference with Senator Rodan and Master Skywalker. Colonel Solo, would you be so kind as to join us."

"I could really use her help in planning …" Admiral Kre'fey said looking slightly unsettled but was cut off by a look Cal sent him.

"If you wouldn't mind sir, Han and I …" Leia started to say but she was also cut off by his look.

"I will be happy to join you sir," Jaina said in the uncomfortable silence that pervades the briefing room.

Luke got up looking over at a very unhappy Han and Leia as he left the room wondering what was going on.