Author's Note: Ok, so from here we detach from the movie plot just a little bit to focus on what our hero is doing. The action in the coming chapters takes place between "Empire Strikes Back" and leading up to and into "Return of the Jedi". There have also been some questions as to where Evelyn is during this time. We won't see the good professor for a couple of more chapters but don't worry, it all ties in. Just be patient with moi and thou shalt see!

I had to do some research to find out what happened between the movies. You know, the stories they don't tell you. I had to rewrite the beginning of this chapter four times because I kept changing my mind! Credit wise...the secret code is a twisted version of the one used by the Delta Knights in a B Film called "Quest of the Delta Knights" (Mystery Science Theater 3000 did a great job with it several years ago). See if you can guess where I lifted the story of The Red Windmill and twisted it to my own evil purposes...

Chapter Fourteen: The Death Star and the Dance Hall

Dear Diary,

I know it's been a long while since I've written in you, several months at least. I have been busy trying to gather some information for the Rebellion and nothing has come up. It's very difficult to bide my time and wait. Waiting is something that I've never been good at. My time hasn't been wasted, though. I spent a couple of weeks messing around with my Stormtrooper helmet and modified it so that the pickup range is boosted three times over. I can pick up conversations through just about anything but blast doors. It's really cool, but for a long time I didn't hear anything special except that Major Quentin's girlfriend was cheating on him again.

But at last, my persistence has paid off. I've found something big. REALLY BIG. Last night I was on duty and I accompanied Lord Vader to one of the conference rooms. My cohort and I took up our usual positions on guard outside the door. Pretty soon a small assembly of admirals and high ranking officials came in. The only one missing was Moff Jerjerrod and Emperor Palpatine himself, but then he usually didn't attend these things anyway. This whole gathering was weird enough in itself because all the Moffs and Super Cool Moffs and High Muckamuck Grand Pooba Moffs of the Empire don't usually come together in one place unless whatever's being said is too delicate to be transmitted by the usual communications. The chances of the information getting intercepted by the wrong people, like the Rebels, are too great a risk. Whatever was going to be said was meant to stay in that room. I made sure to listen in very closely.

I heard a lot of side conversations, the squeaking of chairs, and the rustle of uniforms until it suddenly died down. Someone was obviously about to speak.

"Construction of the new Death Star at Endor is not proceeding according to plan," I heard Lord Vader's distinctive voice say. Another Death Star! Surely not...

"Moff Jerjerrod is plagued with problems." So that's where Jerjerrod was.

There was a slight murmur among the group. "Perhaps he needs more men. I would gladly assist..." someone said but Vader cut him off.

"No, Admiral Wrighten. Moff Jerjerrod has plenty of men to complete his task." There was a pause and he must have keyed up a holovid because there was a small gasp.

"It's only half done?" someone said incredulously.

"Slightly more than half, but still not on schedule. You can see why the Emperor is not pleased. And your offer is duly noted, Admiral, but I need all of you to continue your runs and searches for the Alliance. Our troops are stretched thin enough without having to contribute more men to this project. I will be traveling to the Death Star personally ahead of the Emperor to...lend some motivation to Moff Jerjerrod."

Even I shuddered at that one and briefly felt sorry for the Moff. Briefly.

"The Emperor is going to the Death Star?"

"Yes," confirmed Vader. "He will personally oversee the final stages of construction. The shield generator on the moon is working efficiently to guard the Death Star against any sabotage the Rebellion has planned." There was a pause. "We have kept this information successfully secure. The only people with copies of these plans are the Emperor, myself, and Captain Sivar, commander of the Suprosa. Let us keep it that way."

There was a murmured agreement. "You are dismissed. I will contact you when I reach the Death Star." After a round of, "Yes, Lord Vader" I heard chairs scraping as they all arose. I stiffened to attention as the doors opened and they all proceeded out. A moment later, Vader came out and we immediately fell into escort position behind him.

We marched on silently for a few moments. My mind was whirling with what I'd just heard. Somehow I had to let the Rebellion know...

"Your mind is not on your work, Sergeant," Lord Vader said suddenly. He had turned his head slightly and was looking back at me. "I sense that something is troubling you." Great. Usually I'm very guarded around Vader because he can easily read your emotions and even your thoughts if you're not careful. I didn't want to give him any reasons to suspect me.

I reigned in my emotions. "I apologize, my lord. There are many things that I've been thinking about lately," I said neutrally

"Your job is not to think, Sergeant, but merely to follow my orders. Is that clear?" Well, of course. I was a good little Stormtrooper wasn't I? I'm not supposed to think for myself.

"Yes, my lord," I answered. He turned back and we continued on.

I got off duty shortly after that and came back here, to my quarters, to think. How am I supposed to contact the Rebellion? Supposedly we've got some R&R coming up tomorrow on Embree. Making contacts wasn't my job but I did know a few places where there was a good chunk of people sympathetic to the Alliance. Embree is one of them. The only problem is that I'm not sure how to contact them.

Dear Diary,

I'm on a three day pass down on Embree. This being an Imperial world I don't have to wear my uniform. It actually feels odd not having to walk around planet side with my armor on. Yikes. I've been in the Empire too long!

I didn't find anything today. I have to be extremely cautious about who I talk to, because should someone from the Empire overhear I'm as good as dead. I've been hanging out at some of the dingier local cantinas and dance halls. They're public places but also easy to get lost in and that's usually where contacts choose to do their business. I gave up late in the day and right now I'm feeling pretty tipsy after having ordered drinks from at least ten establishments. Urrrrrgh....I'm going to bed.

Dear Diary,

Day Two and still nothing, though I almost get conned into a performance of Uhl Eharl Khoehng (The Trickster King). That's one of the greatest Corellian tragedies ever written! The tickets were dirt cheap, but getting these plans to the Rebellion is far more important than a play about magical forests and barricaded castles and setting trees on fire. Still...wish I could have seen it.

I'm sure it's much better than that awful play I saw last year, Les Miseralderaan. I mean, how freakin' tragic can you get? No one wants to remember how Alderaan got destroyed and the plot is totally messed up. All of Act Three concentrates on the "barricades" behind Alderaan (there WEREN'T any barricades on Alderaan) and how the Imperials are trying to overrun it and how the main character betrays the antagonist who's working for the Imperials, who gets shot. And how the main character's "daughter" is in love with a young Rebel but her friend who was raised as a thief in the underground of Corellia is also in love with him and SHE gets shot. And then the main character gets shot and well, EVERYBODY dies among a lot of tragic singing and blaster fire. In the end, the Death Star destroys everyone. It's a big hit with the Empire and I heard Emperor Palpatine himself sat through twelve consecutive performances.

Personally, I think whoever wrote that piece of bantha dung needs to be shot.

Oh yeah...plans. Must get plans to Rebels. First...must sleep.

Dear Diary,

Success! And in the nick of time, too, since this is our last day of leave. I tried one last ditch effort in a remote cantina on the outskirts of Embree City. I walked in, sat down, and grudgingly ordered a drink (I've spent most of this month's wages in three days on drinks alone). In the corner sat a small group of Bothans which immediately caught my attention. Bothans are sympathetic to the Alliance, but they don't really fight the battles. What they're well known for is spying and conveying information. The only problem is that there are over six hundred Bothan clans and not all of them run information. Well...one way to find out.

I waited for one of the Bothans to come up to the bar to order another drink. I slid over to make room and waited for him to order. Picking my drink up, I pretended to take a sip and muttered in Basic, "Have you seen the purple grasses blowing on the plains?"

He looked over at me, surprise registering on his furry little face. There was a pause, then he replied quietly, "Yes, and I've heard of the great temples, too."

It was my turn. "Have you heard about the great trees with their fruits?"

He nodded and turned back to the bar. "Indeed, human stranger, I have. I've also heard about the ice demons that hide in the snow."

One more to go. I took a deep breath and hoped my information was still current. "Then you definitely should see the Eyrie."

This is a secret code used to identify other Rebels. I've never used it but Evelyn taught it to me. You list the locations of some of the old Rebel bases in order by features of the planets they're hidden on. Purple grasses refer to Dantooine, the temples are Yavin, great trees is Thila, ice demons are the wampas on Hoth, and the Eyrie is Haven Base on Abra, where the Rebels should still be hiding (that's where the fleet was headed when they evacuated Hoth).

"Very well...you have information?" he said, keeping his voice low. It was my turn to nod. "Meet me in ten standard minutes at the Red Windmill." A bordello that was disguised as a dance hall? But of course...there were lots of private rooms there where no one could hear you talking...or doing other things, of course.

I nodded and he went back to his table, said something to his companions and left. I finished my drink and followed a few moments later. The Red Windmill is an infamous establishment in this part of the galaxy. It's well known for the tragic story of one of its most famous entertainers and courtesans, Nadine, a.k.a. The Glittering Diamond, and her love affair with Chris Hunn (a famous Jedi writer). But, that happened a long time ago. Now it's just a run down sort of place where business (of all sorts) is done.

I slipped in the front entrance and passed the large, hollow Bantha that was supposedly Nadine's personal room. It was awfully tacky, if you ask me. I went inside the dance hall proper where the courtesans made up of various alien races were doing their dancing and chatting up their clients. My Bothan friend was sitting in one of the many booths that line the walls of the establishment. As I made my way through the crowd I saw Major Quentin surrounded by at least four courtesans. Well, no wonder his girlfriend is cheating on him! He's cheating on her!

I slid into the booth and leveled my gaze at the Bothan, who was staring back. "Might I ask who you are?" he began.

"I'm a Rebel spy working from inside the Empire," I replied. "And you are?"

"Reekin. Is that all you're going to tell me?" he challenged. "I cannot know your name?"

"I prefer to remain anonymous," I answered, narrowing my eyes. "I assure you that this information is legitimate. If you need verification as to my person, you can check with Leia Organa herself and tell her that you received the information from Rogue Twelve."

His eyes widened slightly at the mention of my squadron code. From his expression I guessed that the Rogues have been busy lately. A small bubble of pride for my squadron welled up inside me. "I will verify your clearance before I pass this information," he agreed.

I nodded. "This information is of the utmost secrecy. The Empire is over halfway through the construction of a new Death Star at the moon of Endor. There is an energy shield located on the surface of the moon that is protecting the station during its construction. They've run into some snags and Darth Vader is heading there tomorrow to get everything back on track. The Emperor himself is going to the Death Star to oversee its final stages of construction. The plans for this station are located on the ship Suprosa commanded by a Captain Sivar."

The Bothan listened intently and I could see he was carefully filing away my message. "The Alliance will benefit greatly from this information. Well done, Rogue Twelve," he said simply. "I will pass this to the Rebellion."

Well, that's that. I just hope that I can trust Reekin to get the information to the Rebellion. Tomorrow we leave for the Death Star and then we'll just have to wait and see what happens.