"Are you sure you want to be here," Face asked his co-pilot as they sat in a public hanger at the main spaceport on Bastion. They had arrived yesterday with Team One; a day after Team Three and their back up had arrived to set up the groundwork on their mission. They had the easy part, and the worst part, in this crazy scheme. They were to sit there until Team One showed up with the Grand Admiral or, if things went badly, swoop in and do a fighting extraction.

"Sure, if we get away with it, everything will be fine," Wedge said in the co-pilot's seat on the freighter Sweet Sunrise, scratching at his heave make-up. That was something that both Wedge and he had to wear to make sure the Imperial didn't recognized either one of them. "If we do get caught, I'd rather face the Empire then go home and face Iella."

"Sure, let me face her alone and explain what happened to you," Face said glancing at his timepiece. If they were on schedule, Team One should be nearing the prison. When he said it aloud, Wedge just nodded in a knowing way.

"The calm right before the storm, nothing ever goes wrong at the beginning."

"That is true, it usually happens right before we are done," Face looked over at his old commander with a sympatric look, "you know when we think we are free and clear and then suddenly … BOOM. We are all running around, shooting, yelling and screaming, very stressful."

"Yea," Wedge said softly as if reliving some bad missions.

"That is why I asked if you are sure you want to be here," Face said concealing a grin, "is all that stress good for a man of your years?"

"My what!" Wedge asked with a confused look on his face.

"My gods Wedge you are what 80? 90? …"

"I am 52, Face!"

"No!" Face said looking at him in what could be described as utter shock, "you are that old! Iella is going to kill me for bring you along!"

"I am in great shape Commander."

"Well, sure for a man of your … wisdom," Face said, projecting the image of a person trying to calm down a child. "And it only took three of us to pull you out of bed this morning and get you into your chair. That is an excellent sign of your improving stamina."

"May I remind you that you are only 9 years younger then me?"

"Wedge you flatter me," Face said with a wistful look on his face, "I will never get as old as you." Face paused dramatically and looked over the control panel, "God isn't as old as you are. Say didn't you used to baby-sit God?"

"I don't know sir, I for one am glad a man of General Antilles … wisdom … is with us," Flight Officer High said in the seat directly behind him, Aden's job was to monitor all channels for any alerts that may come down the pike.

"Thank you Flight Officer High," Wedge said turning around to address him.

"No problem sir," High said straight face and never taking his eyes off the monitors. "After all sir, your chair and you are the reason we got such a great parking space. Without you, we would've ended up out on the other end of the port; with you, we are practically next to the main terminal."

Face couldn't help but laugh at the look of betray Wedge sent Snoop. Wedge just buried in face and his hands and mumbled something about the need to get back at Wes and better psychological tests.

"Great, now you've corrupted him!"

"Yub Yub," Face said through a belly laugh.

"Blasters!" Snoop snarled out suddenly and pounded on the board.

"What," Face asked getting up from his seat. All humor had left his demeanor as his commander side kicked into hyper drive.

"This recording system is junk," High said pointing to one screen. "This hyper signal is using a code that I have never seen before; I wanted to record it so I can look at it later. But the stupid equipment isn't recording any thing on that band."

"Is it coming from deep space or local," Face said leaning next to High to look at the screen.

"I've never seen a code like that either," Wedge said coming over and standing on the other side of High. "It's definitely not Imperial."

"It's coming from deep space, um its non directional …"

"Never mind I've seen it before," Face snarled out, he just knew something was going to go wrong. After looking at his timepiece he decided it was too late to warn Tahiri, but Team Three could be warned, "send 'Q' to Team Three only. Team One is already beyond the 'Go No Go' point and then get up to the guns. Do a warm up but don't do anything to attract attention just yet."

"Yes sir," High said smartly and bent down to complete his orders.

"What is it Face?" Wedge asked as he watched the signal.

"I don't know we have run across it 5 times so far. It is non-directional and we could never determine where the originating source is, we can't record it or study it but we know one thing about it." Face sat back down and begun his own pre-flight.

"And that is," Wedge asked as he joined Face at the controls.

"We hear it just before the poo-doo hit's the turbines."

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"Of course major," Imperial Major Run said verifying the orders from the Intelligence officer with the daily updates in the prisons computer system. "I'm a pleased that you're being so understanding about the delay." A stander lie in the prison system, Run never gets to do much and he really wanted to get transferred out of this hole. So he would triple check everything in the hopes of finding something irregular and hopefully, earn a promotion if he caught enough or stopped enough prison breaks.

"There is no problem Major," the cultured voice of the male intelligent major said, "after all the best part of doing a," he paused dramatically and looked back at the interrogation droid hovering between the two stormtroppers he had brought along. "Interrogation is the anticipation of the process."

"Of course major," Run said, not really understanding but just being polite. Although he had no problem of torture to get the information that one need, he didn't get the sadistic enjoyment out of it like many in the intelligent field did. The checks had returned back clean, but Run decided to do one more; after all, he was not just going to let anyone in with the former Grand Admiral.

"You don't approve?" The major said not hostile but more curious. When Run just shrugged the major nodded knowingly. "It is alright major, after all we all have our place in the Empire. I am just lucky that I am able to exercise my passion with my job." The major leaned against the counsel and had a wistful look, "the enticement, the pleasure that one receives from doing a job well can be quite … intoxicating."

"You are very fortune, sir," Run said hoping to hid his discomfort. The look in his eyes and the tone of his voice was sending chills down his back. Cutting the search off quickly he handed back the order chip to the major, "you are all check out. He is in cell 67."

"Thank you, major," the major said retrieving the chip with a smile, "I do hope you watch the show. I am in quite a … mood today."

"I must warn you sir," Run said quickly, "the Emperor does not wish him dead."

"Oh I understand," the other major said with a sadistic smile, "neither do I." With a salute, as one equal to another, he sauntered down the hallway to cell 67 with the two stormtroopers and droid following close behind him.

Even thought Run knew he should be actively monitoring the cell holding Pellaeon, he shut off that monitor and set it to record. He would review it later but just knew he couldn't watch it live. The other guards around him sent him a grateful look as well, that major just seemed to creep out everyone.

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Grand Admiral Pellaeon sat up right in his cell, doing nothing more then awaiting for his finial … disposition. As the door of his cell hissed opened, he believed to his core that the day has arrived. He struggled to watch, with an assuming an air of disinterest, as a major, two stormtroopers and an interrogation droid entered his cell.

"Well, we meet again Grand Admiral," the major said with a salute as the two guards spread out around the cell. One stayed near the door while the other one moved to a spot directly under the surveillance camera.

Pellaeon looked the major over; he was about average look and size, which was all he could really say. The major was not someone that would really stick out in a crowd; Pellaeon assumed then that the major was in intelligences. He was most certainly not someone that Pellaeon would easily remember meeting before and told the major that in no uncertain terms. One of the most enlighten discoveries he had made since his imprisonment, it couldn't get any worst then it was right now. The worst they could do was kill him.

"I am hurt Grand Admiral, very few people have told me that over the years," the major said with a grin. One of the troopers was fiddling with something on his belt and glancing up at the camera. "There just something about me that make me stick out in their minds."

"I am sure that most of the people that met you and your 'friend' have trouble forgetting anything," Pellaeon said pointing to the droid, "If they survive the experience, that is."

"Why yes sir," the major said leaning down to bring his face closer to Pellaeon's face. The major had a very merry smile on his face as he continued to speak. "Many have said in the past that I am very good at my … profession."

"I do not doubt that in the … least," Pellaeon trailed off as he watched with undisguised horror as the major's face began to split open and roll off to reveal, "I don't believe it!"

"Yub Yub sir," the smiling face of Tahiri Veila said to him as the skin finished rolling away.

"I don't believe it!" Pellaeon started standing but was stop by Tahiri's gentle push on his shoulders.

"Hold on sir, I need to check you out," a second woman, one of the stormtroopers, said as she removed her helmet. The other trooper removed his helmet to revel … a Noghri of all things. "Have they been mistreating you sir?"

"Uh no," he watched as Tahiri helped the Noghri out of the armor. "They have questioned me a few time but mostly left me alone to rot."

"Have they been feeding you? Have you had any major medical problems since your last visit to G.F.F.A?"

"No," Pellaeon said as Tahiri popped the top of the droid to reveal an empty shell. She took out a set of leg armor and placed the pair that the Noghri had been wearing back in. He caught a quick glimpse at the legs and saw some wires. Obviously, they were heavily modified to give the Noghri the appearance of being standard height.

"Doc?" The young Jedi asked as she finished securing the items in the droid.

"He is fit ma'am as far as I can tell."

"Pathfinder?"

"The patches are in place, they are seeing what we want them to see as well as hearing what we wished." The young looking Noghri said, now completely out of his armor.

"Good phase II," Tahiri said as she came back over to stand in front of Pellaeon. "Sir, the Chief of State's compliments, my team and I have been dispatch to secure you and to return to you to G.F.F.A space. This request was made by your ambassador to G.F.F.A."

"I didn't assume that you came all this way of a spot of tea, Miss Veila."

"Perhaps later sir," she said with a grin, " however, I just want to assure you that they wouldn't send me out here to just get you killed. We have a plan to get you off planet, but it is unorthodox. All I ask you sir is to please trust me and follow my suggestions at all time."

"That is possible the politest way anyone has ever given me orders, Miss Veila," Pellaeon said standing up and favoring her with a smile, "what suggestions do you have for me now?"

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Major Run looked up as one of his assistants nudged him; coming out of cell 67 was the agent and his two escorts, with the droid in tow. Run quickly brought up the surveillance cam in Pellaeon's cell. The limp form of the former Grand Admiral was laying on the single bed however, the vital signs showed him to alive and breathing. Although visually and through the body scans he could tell that short hour that the major had spent with him took its toll on Pellaeon but not enough to kill him.

"Finished so soon," Run asked him as he walked by the station.

"Unfortunately," the agent said looking like a child denied some sweets, "I was just getting started when he dropped on me. Since the orders said to pump him for information but leave him alive, I was forced to stop."

"How terrible," Run replied trying hard to sound sympatric and not sarcastic.

"Quite," the agent said, looking at him like one would look at a bug, "could you please notify my office when the old fool wakes up."

"Certainly major," Run said, not wanting to give him or anyone else any reason to pay him a visit any time soon. Too many people have 'disappeared' lately and he didn't want to join that rank any time soon.

"Here is a list of what I injected," the major said handing him chip, "none of it is life threatening but better be safe then sorry."

"Very well, thank you major. One can never be too careful now a days."

"Quite," the agent said looking very distressed. "Very well major, have a good day."

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"Blaster! I can't believe we got away with that," Tahiri heard Cathy say from the drivers controls of the transport that they 'borrowed' earlier.

"We aren't out of the woods yet Doc," Tahiri said as she fought with the latches holding the droid together, it didn't help that she had to reach behind her seat and try to squeeze her small frame in the cargo area of the car.

"I know Peacekeeper but …" although she was wearing her helmet and Tahiri wasn't looking on her, she knew that Doc was wearing a relieved grin the size of Yuuzhan'tar.

"I don't know whether to be relieved that you were able to break me out or be outraged that you were able to beat the best security prison in the galaxy," Grand Admiral Pellaeon said from the co-pilot's seat. He was also wearing the armor of a stormtrooper. "I will have to take a long hard look at security procedures once I regain control of the Empire."

"Could you sir," Tahiri said still struggling with the latches, "I would love a challenge next time. Pathfinder, quit struggling in there, you're making it harder then it has too be."

"I must admit," the amused voice of Pellaeon floated back to her, "to smuggle a Noghri out of a prison in an interrogator droid shell never occurred to me before today."

"We like to think out of the box, Grand Admiral," Cathy said, her tone still very light.

"I think I …" Tahiri was able to finally get the last latch as Ruskin pushed the droid shell up. Tahiri could see that he was covered in sweat and panting, he was saying something in his primary language that she didn't understand. Giving him a bright smile, or as bright of a smile as she could wearing a skin, she said, "Good work Pathfinder."

"Next time I wear the skin and you can ride in there," he said panting and then added in an after thought, "ma'am!"

"Just be glad Prankster isn't here right now," Tahiri said moving over so he had a place to sit next to her.

"So Miss. Veila, what is your next suggestion," Grand Admiral said in an amused tone.

"We are going to a warehouse to pick up another member of my team, switch vehicles, and then to the spaceport to board a ship and head for home." Tahiri said then giving him a smile, "Simple!"

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"Sir!" one of the guards screamed out as the outer doors to this wing of the prison opened to reveal a cloaked figure charging through like a rancor at dinnertime.

"Who a …" was all he got out as the hooded figure reached out with a gloved hand and he felt his throat contract.

One of his guards raised his pistol at the mysterious figure and ordered it to stop doing whatever it was doing. The figure raised its left hand at the trooper; blue lighting shot out from its fingertips and struck the trooper. Run could smell the strong order of ozone and burning flesh as the troopers all screamed out in agony.

The hidden invader started down the hallway towards the cells and somehow dragging Run with him all without physically touching him. Run got a brief look at his fallen troopers, as they lay dead on the ground. The being stopped in front of cell 67, and Run no long wonder who this was and why he was here, now he was sure it was the Emperor and somehow Run had screwed up. The door to Pellaeon's cell forced its self-open and to Run's amazement … it was empty. Without much effort, the Emperor tossed him into the empty cell.

"Please," Run begged through his damaged vocal cords as he tried in vain to crawl into a corner for protection. The last thing he saw was both hands outstretched and sheets of lighting shooting out of the Emperor's hands.

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"I'm going to kill him," Cathy heard coming from the room that Tahiri had ducked into to change into a more suitable disguise to get past security at the spaceport. Cathy had already changed into an outfit that one would expect an administrative assistant to a powerful business executive to wear. While Grand Admiral was wearing a 'mask', made of the same skin that Tahiri usually wore, and special patches on his finger tips to alter his fingerprints. Along with the changes Team Three had made to the prison computers to allow them access to the Grand Admiral, they alter official records to show that they were who they said they were. An aging executive who would be traveling on a private charted ship with his assistant, a R-5 droid, and teenage granddaughter accompany him.

Ruskin had already left the warehouse where the droid and next vehicle had been waiting for them. There was no practical way to get him past security but he was sure, as was Commander Loran that he would be able to sneak into the base without much trouble alone. Searcher, the R-5 that General Antilles brought to the Hawk-Base, had been station here to guard the air car and to monitor Imperial Communications for any alerts.

Tahiri size and youthful appearance was once again playing an important role in their escape. She has played the young girl roles several times, during the Wraiths so-called death, and passed with excellence. They had all agreed that she should play the spoiled rotten, mean, teenager role to throw off any suspicions if security found that Grand Admiral was in fact not passed out in his cell. Even the most suspicious guards would not question some one as young as Tahiri appeared to be a part of some conspiracies to free a prisoner.

"Is there a problem Miss. Veila," the Grand Admiral asked through the door.

"Oh no problem," she responded back in basic and all said something in Yuuzhan Vong.

"Ma'am we have to hurry," Cathy said nervously looking at her timepiece.

"Go on head without me," came back the very irrational response.

"What? Is there a problem with your costume?"

"Oh no problem what so ever," she responded, "If I wish to dishonor my Domain and family and sell my self on a street corner!"

"Ma'am," Cathy said tiredly and thinking she is playing this role too well, "we have a time frame to follow …"

"No problem, you go I'll stay in here!"

"No can do ma'am," Cathy said through the door, "remember what you been teaching us, we leave no," she stopped and looked at the very amused Grand Admiral, "err well you know."

"You're not leaving me behind; I am ordering you to get our package to safety," she said, "I'll catch the next flight out!"

"Ma'am," Cathy said feeling as if she was talking Aden again.

"If I may," Grand Admiral Pellaeon asked, Cathy just gave him a wave to go ahead, "Jedi Veila, I am sure that your commander would not equip you with attire that would attract too much attention. I would suggest that you are over reacting …"

"HA!"

"To the situation," Grand Admiral said ignoring her outburst. "Now then, we have a mission to complete that takes all of us to do our parts. I have been following your 'suggestions' without complain or question all day. Now I wish for you to show the same curtsy to me and listen to my 'suggestion'," Cathy could hear all the authority that he has acquired being in the Imperial Navy longer then any of them have been alive, "for you to act in a manner that represents the kind of leader and Jedi that you have become."

Tahiri grumbled out some more Yuuzhan Vong and opened the door. She was wearing ankle high boots, fishnet stockings, a short skirt and a half shirt that exposed her mid section and left shoulder and arm. Cathy though that she looked ok, Cathy had wore similar outfits in the past. Tahiri's face said she would have rather face the entire Empire alone then to open that door.

"You look great ma'am," Cathy said trying to make her feel better.

"Yes, I do believe that is acceptable disguised," Grand Admiral said in approval.

Searcher beeped out something, which caused him to receive a glare from her.

"I know it is the height of fashion right now, that doesn't mean I have to like it Searcher." She said walking over to the droid. Cathy was still amazed that she could understand droids without help of a computer. "And I tell you something else young droid, if Little Brother or Rat hears about this or sees any pictures, I will personally do your next service." She then turned to Doc, "and you will do kitchen duty for the next 3 years."

"Yes ma'am," Cathy said saluting and trying hard not to crack a smile.

"Lest get going, the sooner we met up with the others the sooner I can get back in to some real clothes!" She stalked over to the waiting air car, "and commander or no commander, I am so going to kill him!"