" The Imperial fleet is just up ahead", said Vader from the bow of his Imperial Cruiser. Luke and Leia stood with him, transfixed on the collection of Star Destroyers up ahead.
Luke looked up to his father." Which one is the flagship?" Vader pointed to a Super Star Destroyer towards the center of the fleet. Leia left the deck to go find her mother. When they were sure she was gone, Darth Vader turned to his son, the new Darth Rage, and asked" What's bothering you, Luke?"
The young man was surprised. How did his father always know? Whenever something bothered him, Vader would know. Luke was surprised he wasn't used to it. He decided it was as good a time as any to ask his question." Something about the force, about the other side of the force. The light side."
Vader was intrigued by the question topic, though he couldn't say he didn't ever expect the topic to come up. " What of it?"
" What dangers does it reveal to the darkside? Would there not be a danger.in letting such a force co-exist with the dark side?"
Darth Vader thought back to his ancient Jedi teachings. For a mere moment, he remembered the lesson that the dark side and lightside needed one another. The next second, he utilized his darkside knowledge to answer his son's inquiry." You speak wisely, my son. What you say is true. That is why the Jedi order was extinguished long ago. Such a group was a danger of the prominence of the dark side. I, myself was present during the purge." Luke seemed satisfied with the answer. He dismissed his son to his quarters. The cruiser would touch down on the flagship shortly.
The officerswere quick to welcome back the Sith as they exited the cruiser. Luke felt odd as they shrank back when he and his sister approached. They were to follow Vader and Kedaress to a briefing room. Apparently, the rebels were planning an attack, and he and Leia would be needed. Once they arrived, they were introduced to Grand Moff Tarkin, who apparently was high in command. Officers appeared to serve as security. They seemed to be transfixed on Leia, as if her "beauty" was attracting them. Luke wondered if she was using a dark mind trick to produce such an effect. She liked toying with the crew on the cruiser, so he wouldn't put it beneath her.
" Please dispense with the pleasantries, Tarkin. We came to defeat the Rebellion, not to catch up on lost time." Kedaress' voice was stern. Her hatred for the Rebellion went back almost two decades. Luke knew not to cross her with the topic.
Tarkin continued with a briefing." Very well. The Rebel fleet has been discovered near the largest moon in the Naboo system. The planet was recently retaken during your absence." Luke saw him glance at Kedaress and reluctantly continued." There is a base set up on the dark side of the moon. The base contains a large mass of troops, as well as a shield system for the planet's new capital, Gunga Theed. The generator is guarded by troops and some primitives. We need to send a battalion of troops to take the planet headed by two of you. The others will head to the moon to destroy the shield. You may take as many troops as you see fit."
Vader considered the mission. He opened his mouth to give his opinion when Leia spoke." Is the moon base guarded by all men?"
Tarkin nodded. Leia was satisfied." I volunter for the base mission. I've got to go get ready."
Luke wasn't surprised. However, he did think the idea would work. None of the crew members on the cruiser or the security force ever said no to her wants. This would probably work just as well." I'll go with her." He got up to leave. His skills may be of as much use as Leia's talents. He also wanted to see how well her strategy would work."