Chapter 17

It was daybreak over Hapes as the Jade Shadow arrived on the landing platform. Leia and Han were already waiting outside as the hatch opened and Luke and Mara walked out. Leia approached Luke and hugged her brother.

"I'm so relieved you're both safe." Leia said.

"And you as well." Luke said. "We felt your call in the Force. We have much to discuss."

"Yes we do, but who are those with you?" Leia asked as she saw the people in the hatch entry way on the Shadow.

"Some pirates we encountered on the way over here." Mara said.

"They didn't give you any trouble did they?" Han said.

"No Han, you got it all wrong," Luke said. "We found them stranded in space, but that is something we should talk about later. I need to hear everything that's happened so far."

"Very well," Leia said. "Let's head to the palace. Everyone's already there and waiting for us." Luke signaled for the pirates to follow them and then they followed Leia and Han to the meeting.

-

"So it has happened," Luke said, still not wanting to truly believe. "What we have feared the worst has happened and what we have felt is true. Ben has fallen to the Dark Side."

"When we fainted, we felt Ben causing the disturbance," Mara said. "And Leia said she felt Darth Vader's presence behind it as well. It was one and the same."

"And the Alliance has fallen under the rule of Darth Nexus," Leia said. "He used a law that is flawed and obsolete, yet he used to assume control of the Alliance. But it was really just through a show of force. The law had no real backing."

"However, Nexus is now Chief of State, or Emperor, or whatever he is, and there is nothing we can do to stop him." Corran Horn said.

"Master Horn, that is not true," Jacen said. "There must be something that we can do. There always has been in the past."

"True, but our enemy has mobilized and struck fast, and we never even saw it coming," Jaina said. "So many Jedi have already fallen and we are all that are left."

Around the meeting room in the Queen Mother's palace sat the new council of the Jedi. The Masters Skywalker sat, as well as the four Solos. Corran Horn and Kyle Katarn were present as well, including Tahiri, Zekk, Cilghal. The call Leia had sent out was felt by Reya, who still could not believe the evil Ben had done, and the ancient Jedi Vima-Da-Boda was there to offer her advice. She sat hunched over in her chair, her body ancient and withered. Other Jedi sat around as well, though Luke and Mara were both dismayed as how few Jedi had come. The pirates Luke and Mara had rescued were there as well, grouped in a corner away from the discussion directly but still listening to everything said.

"There is only one thing we can do then," Kyle Katarn said. "We must launch a direct attack against Nexus and Ben."

"That's crazy, we'll be destroyed." Corran said. "There must be something else we can do."

"Agreed, but we must plan everything very carefully," Luke said. "And we will need all the allies we can get."

"I have already notified our fleet to ready for battle,' Tenel Ka said. "We will do all we can to stop Darth Nexus, and Ben as well."

"That's good but we will need more allies if we are to succeed," Mara said. "I suggest that we send a encoded message to Admiral Pellaeon. I am sure he and the Empire Remnant will help us. If Darth Nexus succeeds in completely taking over this part of the galaxy it will only be a matter of time before he tries to conquer it all."

"And if that is the case we should contact the Chiss as well," Han said. "They might have codes against engaging an enemy first but it would only be a matter of time before Nexus sets his sights on them."

"But then there is another problem we must discuss," Corran said. "Nexus may have amassed this clone army of his but there are still many remaining military personnel in the former Alliance. Wedge and Tycho, for example, don't know what we are planning but somehow we must contact them. If Nexus is anything like Palpatine, or Isard, they will never follow them."

"So we have to contact the Imperial Remnant, Chiss, and former rebels, right?" Han said. "We might as well contact Lando, I'm sure he'll come help."

"We must do all this as soon as possible," Leia said. "The longer we wait the more our enemies will strengthen their hold over the galaxy. They must be stopped," Leia looked at Luke. "Even if it costs the lives of those that we love."

"I have a suggestion," Jacen said.

"Yes, Jacen?" Luke said.

"What if we organize a covert strike against Nexus?" Jacen said. "We send in a strike team to stop Nexus. His control over Coruscant is still loose and we should be able to get in undetected. A team of Jedi will go in and stop Nexus."

"What you are suggesting Jacen, might work," Luke said. "Or it could cost us dearly."
"But it is possible," Jacen said. "It was done at Endor, and it was done at Mrykr. I think it is a risk we should take."

"And will you go with them Jacen?" Leia said. "Because I will not let you. I will not lose you, like we lost Anakin."

"I do not care Mom," Jacen said. "You cannot stop me from doing this. There is much more at stake this time. I will fight, even if I die. Because if I die, it will be to protect the ones that I love." Jacen looked at his parents, and then at his aunt and uncle, and finally at his wife and daughter.

The silence in the room seemed to last an eternity.

"Very well, Jacen, if that is what you wish." Leia said, her eyes shimmering as she held back tears.

"Leia, I will make sure nothing happens to Jacen," Mara said. "I will go with the strike team. But I need to know who else will come."

"I will," Zekk said. "I'm going to make sure we succeed."

"I will come also," T'rssk, a brown scaled Trandoshan Jedi, and a former friend of Ben's, said.

"Who else will come?" Mara said.

"This one will come," Saba Sebatyne said. "This hunt should prove worthwhile."

"Okay then that should-"

"Excuse me," Koln said suddenly from the back. "But my men and I wish to come as well. We know we are not Jedi but we feel we should do all we can to help."

"Very well," Mara said. "Then the strike team will consist of Jacen, Zekk, T'rssk, Koln and his pirates, and me. We shall infiltrate Coruscant and stop Darth Nexus. But there still the threat of Nexus's apprentice."

"I shall deal with Ben myself." Luke said.

"Luke, are you sure?" Leia said. "Maybe someone else should-"

"No, Leia," Luke said. "Ben is my son, and since Mara is going to stop Nexus I must deal with Ben."

"Master Skywalker, I want to come with you as well," Reya said. "I want to help you. There must be something I can do for him. Despite all he has done, I can't forget him and how much I loved him."

"You can come Reya," Luke said. "But if the situation takes a turn for the worse you can't let your personal feelings get in the way."

"They will not, I promise." Reya said.

"We now have our plan of attack," Luke said. "We can use our allies fleets to create a distraction as we commence our strike against Nexus and Ben. But the hour is late and we must ready ourselves for tomorrow. We have much ahead of us that we must prepare for. The galaxy is depending on us all." Luke stood and gazed at all those present. "Many of us may not return from this task, but we must do all we can. May the Force be with us all."