Luke followed Cal, Fyor and Jaina into Cal's stateroom on the Guardian. It was a huge space with a meeting room and a separate sleeping quarter, a very spacious space for a ship even for one as large as this one. As was Cal's usual custom it was decorated with simple but elegant momentous from his home world, his days in the Rebellion and his career in politics. One thing Luke always enjoyed about Cal was the fact he wasn't overbearing and flashy but simple and direct.
"Now Colonel, you want to explain to me why I shouldn't have you court marshaled on the spot!" Cal said as soon as they were seated. Yep, simple and direct, Luke thought with a trace of humor.
"I do not understand Chief of State why you would think that about me for any reason. I have fulfilled my role in the GA military very satisfactory." Jaina sat there poised and calmly not at all rattled.
"I'm thinking about it for your action in this whole sorry affair but especially for this," Cal said picking up a data pad and tossing it at her. He leaned back, casually watching her.
Luke, clueless as to what Cal was driving at, watched Jaina carefully. Her face didn't displayed anything emotion but Luke felt a flash of shock in the Force. She gently put the pad down and looked at the Chief of State.
"I never have seen that before sir, it is obviously a fake of some kind."
Luke was amazed that his jaw didn't drop open; because he felt something, he didn't think he would ever get coming from Jaina. He could feel it as clearly as if she admitted to it, Jaina Solo was lying. He reached over, picked up the pad, and started to read it.
"Of course, this something that the Wraiths cooked up to frame you," Cal said casually. Luke looked over at him as he was reading the orders printed on the pad, wondering again, what Cal was getting at.
"I don't know who would make up this sir," Jaina said not looking at Luke, "but if that is where you got it from I would say that was a good guess. Although sir, I am at a lost as to why the Wraiths would go through the trouble to make up a fake document like this one. Perhaps, they wish to deflect some attention from their own crimes."
"Of course," Cal said studying her closely.
"Where did you get this from?" Luke asked not sure if he believed it or not either. He could not believe Jaina would, for any reason, ever order a bomb to be armed and Tahiri to be killed. That was just unthinkable for him.
"It was one of the pieces of information that Jedi Knight Sarkin brought back with her," Fyor said. "The Wraiths found this a few months back on their last mission before they were driven into hiding."
"Jaina, is any of this true?" Luke asked quietly.
"It is a nice fake, Uncle Luke." Jaina said, closing herself off to Luke and refusing to look at him, "I should get a copy and hang it in my office. I need new artwork anyways."
"Jaina, did you or did you not order Tahiri to be killed," Luke asked watching her carefully.
"I don't like it but that doesn't mean I would have it killed," Jaina said evenly. "Of course, as I said before this could be nothing more then an elaborate hoax on their part to deflect criticism from their own activities. I am sure when it come to trail they will be unable to back up this in court."
"Lt. Markus," Fyor said evenly and Luke saw her flinch.
"I know Lt. Markus, sir. A shame he left the service he was a good soldier."
"Markus's father was a good friend of mine," Fyor said casually, "James Markus was suffering from some kind of guilt when he got home after leaving Borleias. Evidently, James began to have trouble sleeping, his was always fatigued, and started drinking in excess. His father was able to get to talk about finally and he talked about Corporal Ferg Bod," Luke looked down at the pad in his hand, that name was whom the orders went too. "Bod was to report to Markus about any unusual activities by Tahiri to him. Because of the way Commander Loran had set up Wraith training, it was almost three months before they could talk to each other. When they finally did, he was told to pass on the message, 'Tell Colonel Solo, the problem will be taken care of.' In addition, Markus confessed to killing a Peace Brigade agent after the agent assisted in allowing a company of Vong to land on Borleais undetected. Of course, if needed, Markus is willing to testify to this effect. Personally, I don't think he really cared how Tahiri died but the rest of the Wraiths deaths were what was eating at him. I think he feels that if he would have reported the landing, which he was forbidden to do per Colonel Solo's orders. The Wraiths may have survived the attack on their base." Fyor said. "Of course, also, we haven't had time to look through everything the Wraiths found. So what other crimes will we find when we do look, Colonel?"
"I don't know what he is talking about …"
"The orders on that pad your uncle is holding …"
"Sir, your position against the Jedi is well known, I believe you are using a obvious fake document and my family heritage to make a purely political stand that is intended to weaken the Jedi in the public eye and gain you more influence in the Senate."
"You're right I don't like the Jedi, personally, I don't think you should have special status in our government," Fyor said hotly leaning forward in his seat. "You all are a bunch of self-righteous tin plate little gods with delusions of grandeur and Colonel if I wanted to hurt the Jedi, I wouldn't be sitting here. I would be in front of the Senate with all this information that the Wraiths had collected and telling the galaxy about it. As much as I don't like the Jedi, I hate another group more! I despise Senators and high-ranking military leaders making back room deals that violate the very constitution, the very spirit of the law, which they swore to protect! It is this kind of politics that cost us Coruscant! And I will do everything that I can legally do to stop it, now!"
"You left us a hell of a mess Jaina," Cal said drilling his eyes in to hers. "You're a Jedi, by the Force, and one of the most well known member of the military. You have inspired thousands to join in the fight! Now I have you neck deep in a scandal that will take years to sort through, that will destroy the reputation of the military and careers of many in both the senate and in the military! Not to forget the damage you have done to the Jedi Knights! How are we supposed to inspire people to do the right thing and move this galaxy in a direction of peace when one of the best known members is ordering a fellow Jedi to be executed!" Cal paused and lean back against the couch again, "I'll take you resignation now."
"Sir!" Jaina looked grief stricken. "Sir, but I …"
"You don't get it do you Solo," Cal said sternly. "If you fight me on this I will have to have you arrested and you will go to trail. Moreover, how would that help anyone? Do you know the kind of damage all this is going to cause? I don't care much about the Senate, they are politicians and it is up to their individual systems to take care of them if they want. But the military and the Jedi? They have to stand for something; they have to be better then everyone else. People of the G.F.F.A must believe their military will stand up and defend the ideas of this republic. As for the Jedi," Cal threw up his hands and shook his head, "you know better then I on that score. I don't want to drag the Jedi through courts with you."
"And if you help us against Kre'fey and the others, we will protect you." Fyor said gently. "By getting out now, you'll come out looking like hero and you will go a long way to help repair the damage that will occur."
"Because it will get out, I am not going to sit back and try to work out deals with anyone about covering up any part of this, the information is going to be made public. Those who fight me will go to trail and they will serve time if convicted. And family names will not help them, at all."
"How would she help you," Luke asked, having a very good idea what they would say.
"She will tell us everything that she knows, provide any documents she has access to and testify about all of this in court," Cal said, "any disciplinary actions as a result of this will be handled by you, Luke."
"Sir, I believe once I have a court date the Wraiths will be unable to produce anything but faked …"
"I'm not talking about just the stuff the Wraiths brought Jaina," Cal leaned forward and fire the crippling shot. "We also have the evidence your uncle has uncovered as well as the information my own staff dug up!"
"How long have you known?" Luke asked surprised by this admission.
"We only knew a few months and only bits and pieces of information here and there, Luke. After Markus's father told me what he had learned from his son, I went to Cal to get help."
"We found some evidence but not as much as the Wraiths. We knew something was up but we didn't know how far the rot got." Cal turned back to Jaina, "see this is how it happens. Your uncle knew some things that we didn't know, we knew some things that he didn't know and the Wraiths knew the rest. The problem was none of us trusted the others with the information. All that distrust and suspicion did nothing but bring is to this point, were we have to defend a planet with inadequate forces."
"Distrust has destroyed us before Jaina, at Coruscant." Fyor said softly, "When one hand can't trust the other hand nothing works. Nevertheless, be assured we all know the truth now. We know whom we can trust and whom we can't. The only question is, can we trust you now to do the right thing?"
"Will I have to sit … out the up coming battle, sir?" Jaina asked in a halting voice. Cal and Fyor looked at each other then looked at Luke.
"I think we should have answer before you leave but I am sure Master Skywalker could use a ace pilot in the Jedi Defense Force."
"I think that can be easily arranged," Luke said looking over at his niece.
"Thank you Master Skywalker." Jaina looked close to tears as she bowed to Cal, "sir, I will gladly help you in any investigation and I wish … to … tender my res … my … resignation from my duties as a Colonel of the GA Military."
"Master Skywalker, could you take Jaina Solo down to Ossus, she will need to get ready to help with the defense," Cal said without a hint of gloating, just a sad resignation in his voice.
"Just tell us why, Jaina," Leia said to her daughter as they sat down at dinner. Since they were on alert, Han, Jaina, Luke, Mara and her were all eating in the Falcon. Artoo was loaded on a fighter waiting for Luke and Ben was with the other Jedi children ready to be evacuated if needed. And they all were worried and tense waiting for the Yuuzhan Vong fleet to arrive and half hoping it never escaped hyperspace.
Luke and Mara had been trying ever since Luke and Jaina left the Guardian to find out why she turned against Tahiri but she refused to answer any questions. In fact, she hadn't said a word since she resigned from the military.
"She is a member of this family you know," Han said, to which Jaina just glared at him but not answering.
"Is that it Miss Solo," Mara said pointing her fork at Jaina and pitching her voice to make it sound like when she was talking to Ben, "are you afraid that your parents are going to stop loving you and like Tahiri more?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Jaina finally said glaring at Mara.
"Well, what else could it be?" Mara said glaring right back. "Did you order her death because you couldn't stand the competition?"
"No, Mara," Jaina snapped out, "I did it to protect Ben. Not that any of you would care."
"What is that supposed to mean," Mara said eyes narrowing.
"It means Mara if you don't care enough about your son to protect him, I will."
"From who? Tahiri?" Mara snapped back.
"Jaina, how could you think Tahiri …"
"That thing is not Tahiri! It looks like her, it sounds like her but it is not her, Tahiri is dead and that thing has invaded her body!" Jaina screamed out and glowers at the four older adults. Leia was taken back by her out burst, she never knew Jaina to act like this about anyone. "You all were with me that night we chased her down on Denon! You felt it in the Force, did it feel human or Vong? Uh, did it? That thing is a Vong and the only way anyone in this galaxy will ever be safe if the Vong are gone!"
"Jaina, the Yuuzhan Vong are not a threat …" Luke started but was cut off from the bitterest laugh Leia had ever heard from anyone as young as she was.
"Yea, that is why we are all huddled here waiting for that fleet! Are you going to tell me that is not a threat?"
"A threat that we could have taken care of earlier had you or Admiral Kre'fey bother to tell anyone about," Han responded angrily.
"What about the bigger threat out there, father, uh? What about all those Vong on Zonama Sekot? When they get tired of living the easy soft life and go on a rampage again?" Jaina said with a mocking smile on her face.
"Jaina, the Yuuzhan Vong have had a rough tine since they lost the war …"
"That is right Uncle Luke, they lost the war! In addition, what do they get? A brand new planet to live on, a planet that embodies what the Force can be! Moreover, what do we get, trillions trying to survive on their own planets that have been attacked and over ran but Vong life! There are people out there that don't even know their own homes anymore and they are being forced to fight the war against this invasion even today! A war against the environmental damage that the Vong did to their home words! Do the Vong have to clean up any of this? Do the Vong have to learn anything?"
"The Yuuzhan Vong are learning from Sekot …"
"Sure, if Sekot could see them, but like us they are dark to her. How do you know they aren't planning to kill Sekot like they did with the original Yuuzhan'tar?"
"Sekot believes it has everything under control, Jaina," Luke said quietly, "and until I learn differently I will assume it knows what it is talking about."
"Yea, wait until it is too late to stop it just like that thing, wait until it becomes what Anakin had a vision of it comes to past." Jaina stood up and walked to the hatch, "I need to check my fighter."
All four older adults watch her walk out unable to think of anything to say.
"Let me see that arm," Elassar said as Ratnena had her head and body jammed into a section of the shield control relay.
"Flush, connect AA-94 to AA-25 and for Force sakes, don't run any power thought it yet!" Ratnena said using her teeth to strip some wiring so she could connect it to the coupling she was working on. Just before their last jump, they took some damage to the shields, again, and to one of the sub-light engines, again, and it was her job to get the shields working before they got Ossus. She was using Flush because all the other R-2 units had been destroyed during the other battles. She had spent many hours trying to fix whatever problem he had but she was still not quite sure he was reliable. So far, Flush hasn't screw up any thing important in the repair work; maybe she really did fix him this time.
"Ratnena, let me look at your arm," Elassar said again and louder to make sure she could hear over the noise around them.
"Its fine, Flush power it up!" She watched as power flowed through the coupling and then it sparked and smoked. "Shut it down, shut it down." Once she was able to see what was wrong she had Flush go get another coupling and started ripping out the one she just installed.
"It is not ok, it starting to bleed through the bandage," Elassar said in a snappish tone.
"If I don't get these shields fixed it won't matter how badly I am hurt now will it?" Ratnena could barely feel the bones in her left arm scrape against each other as she worked. They were all injured to one degree or another; hers was only a compound fracture of the upper left arm. Tom and Fred had died earlier when a plasma ball ripped through the hull of the section they were in trying to contain a fire. Stacy, broken and burned, was in one of the escape pods waiting to be ejected. They hoped that they could get the chance to eject her towards a ship or a planet; there she could get help since the Wraiths couldn't do a thing to save her. Even that may not help, Elassar didn't look very happy when he told them her odds of surviving.
"You won't be able to fix anything if you pass out," when she dropped her tool for the second time, he pushed her out of the way and muttered, "crazy human." With precision that showed off his true calling in the medical field, he removed the damaged coupling faster then she could. "Now, let me see that arm."
"You ever think of changing profession," she said as she meekly held out her arm for him to work on. She had to turn away; she couldn't stand to watch him work on her.
"Only when my patients are stubborn and talk back," he said, she could hear the smile in his voice, "and considering you are as stubborn and crazy as the others here …"
"Thanks, guess this means I really am a Wraith."
"There all better," he said as he gave her something to help with the pain. "Ordinarily, I would retire to the lounge after a long day like this but since the Vong blew it up earlier I guess I'll stay here and help you."
"That is Yuuzhan Vong," she said grinning.
"What she doesn't hear can't hurt me," Elassar said with a answering grin, "now what do you need me to do?"
"When Flush gets here, install that new coupling while I check that relay," she pointed off to the right, further aft. "Sir, do you know if she …"
Ratnena was very worried about the kid and Little Brother; she didn't like the idea of her being in a X-wing out there by herself. When Tahiri broached the subject before they left the 'Hawk-base', no one was happy about the idea. Nevertheless, she pointed out that when they discovered who she was the Yuuzhan Vong would concentrate on her. And since the plan was to insult them enough to get them mad enough to be lead around by the nose, she could stand a better chance of surviving and completing her mission in a X-wing then the Sunset. Ratnena also though that Tahiri secretly had hoped that since the Sunset was so under manned if she was broadcasting from outside the ship that they would not be target number one. It annoyed Ratnena some to see how right the kid was, but it still didn't make her feel any better about the plan. The last rearm and refuel was three hours ago but Ratnena had missed it; she was armpit deep in the fire control relays.
"Tahiri made jump, I know that much. Don't worry she will be all right; after all you three make a great team. I'm sure that was not what Face's had in mind when he told you guys to work together as a team but the results are worthwhile. We need someone to drive Face insane after we all leave."
"I don't know sir, you guys are a tough act to follow," Ratnena gave him a hint of a smile. She then went over to the next relay control station and got to work on that, after all she only had an hour before they dropped in on Ossus.
Luke sat in his X-wing, with Artoo in his copula, and some of the best pilots in the galaxy behind him. Mara, Kyp, Corran, Jaina, Tyria, the Wild Knights, Han and Leia in the Falcon and the rest of the combat veterans of many battles were poised to do their part in saving Ossus from the invasion fleet. Ben, his 3 year old son, Valin and Doran were down on the surface with the others in the academy in a ship that was poised to evacuate if necessary. Valin and Doran were not happy, to say the least, that they could not help their family up in space. But neither had the training to fight this kind of battle and Luke has gotten very tired of taking inexperience pilots in to battle and letting them get killed during the war. Now was not the time for them to try to get that experience; this skill, Luke desperately hoped, would some day not be needed by the Jedi. In addition, he figured today was great day to start.
Because of the actions of the Wraiths and quick response from the battle groups, they had over a hundreds of ships, from a SSD to fighters, to ward off the unknown size Yuuzhan Vong fleet. If the Wraiths hadn't pulled off their wild scheme, the GA would have never been able to get the reinforcements here in time. If the Yuuzhan Vong had showed up and attacked without warning, and if Kre'fey had followed, what the Wraiths claim had been his original idea, Ossus would have been lost even before the battle had begun. Moreover, Tahiri's idea of this being their 'last stand' would have worked spectacularly.
Given how well Wedge's last stand help turn the war, well it would have been a long and bloody battle to fix the damage from Ossus.
"Command to all units, large hyperspace waves detected about where we though they would arrive. Stand by for attack sequence W-1."
"Jedi One copy, Jedi wing lock S-foils into attack position and stand by," Luke said following his own orders. Artoo let out a whistle to let Luke know he was ready.
W-1 was the plan Admirals Kre'fey, Jerrold and Pellaeon devised from the information that they received the Salvation, when they had observed them entering The Wheel space. The only known recorded encounter between the two fleets. Somehow Tahiri, they believe, was able to direct Face and the other to launch torpedoes and damaged ships into the front lines of the Yuuzhan Vong just as they left hyperspace. The Yuuzhan Vong was caught off guard and was unable to get their voids in place to weather the attack. It was their hope that the Yuuzhan Vong would not change tactics when entering Ossus space.
The fleet was spread out in a semi-circle, with their majority of their guns pointed at the assumed entry point. The Jedi was in the center of this line; their main job was to escort the Wraiths out of the battle zone and into safety of Ossus defensive shield. No one knew if the Wraith were still alive or unharmed but everyone was assuming they would be exhausted beyond the point of being effective in battle. Besides, as Admiral Pellaeon had pointed out, they did their duty and now it was their turn. Luke felt a smile on his face as he remembered what he said right after that. If a group of soldiers who don't exist can do this much alone, just imagine what we, who do exist, can pull off.
There had been some grumbling about the placement of the fleets. If the Yuuzhan Vong showed up spread out, the fleets could be caught in a cross fire and their opening shots wasted. The best argument for this placement was the very real possibility that the Yuuzhan Vong fleet still out numbered the defenders. In addition, there was one other problem that arose from this plan, which was Admiral Kre'fey was still in command.
The only thing that travels faster then a hyper-wave was scuttlebutt, the story of Kre'fey dealings and Jaina's resignation from the Fleet had spread like wild fire. Many commanders were wearily about letting him command the fleet in light of his other activities. Cal shot that down as soon as he heard about it, Kre'fey main objective during this incident, which he had yet to be formal charged with, was the destruction of the Yuuzhan Vong. He was a patriot and did truly wish to defend against Yuuzhan Vong aggression; he would not lead them into a trap and let millions die just to protect himself. Luke had told the Jedi the same thing about Jaina, she was wrong in her actions but she would not allow the Yuuzhan Vong to wipe out the Jedi. She would defend against them with all her heart. Like the commanders, they grudgingly accepted this, although Kyp was worried about Jaina's well being, Han and Leia were afraid she rather die a hero then live in disgrace, Mara and Corran was worried about her blowing Tahiri out of the sky. Luke acknowledges those fears but still had enough faith in Jaina that she would do the right thing.
Artoo whistled as ten ships popped out of hyperspace exactly were they predicted. One X-wing and one heavily damaged corvette, along with eight Slayers' skips hot on their tails and already firing at them.
"45 seconds!" The voice of Tahiri said as she desperately tried to get the six skips of her rear.
"Jedi go all commands prepare to fire …"
"Lets go people," Luke said gunning his engine for all it was worth. "Mother, Top Cop and Falcon on me, we got to clean of some mynoks. Jedi Girl, Dozen, and Sticks; you got that corvette. Wild Knights pick up any stragglers." He then switch over to the Wraiths frequency and used the call signs Tyria told him. "Poster Boy, Peacekeeper; keep heading straight in, we got your back doors."
"Roger, 36 seconds."
Before Face could answer, Luke saw one of the two skips attacking the corvette, fire a shot right into their engine room, causing the corvette to lose power and tumble out of control.