Chapter 8

Mara Jade found herself uncomfortable with a command of her own. When Luke told her to take care of the Rogues, she never imagined it would be a promotion. She ran her hands along her new X-Wing and muttered, "Commander Jade." The technicians preparing her X-Wing ignored her. They were stationed in Home One, the vessel that normally would have commanded the Rebel fleet.

It seemed surprises came in twos. Grand Admiral Thrawn had agreed to take command of the Rebel fleet and direct the battle from the Executor. Something about the Chiss officer did not sit right with her. It was not as if he would not have been privy to the second Death Star's location, but it seemed as if Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar bought his story.

"Mara," she heard Wedge say.

Mara turned to face the Corellian pilot and asked, "What is it?"

"May the Force be with you," Wedge said to her.

"You too," she told him.

Mara heard her new astromech droid R2-T0 beep from his position on Mara's X-Wing. Despite being around astromech droids longer than Luke had, she still had trouble understanding the whistles and beeps produced by the machines. But she got the message that she was being rushed.

"Okay, Zero," Mara said as she looked up to her droid. "Just make sure the X-Wing's ready."

"See you there," Wedge told his squadron leader before walking towards his fighter.

"Yeah," Mara said as she climbed up the access ladder, trying to dispel preflight jitters with Jedi calming exercises.

Grand Admiral Thrawn knelt before the secure hologram of Emperor Palpatine. He gazed up at the ruler of the galaxy for the last time before ordering the Rebel fleet to deploy. He was playing his part well by leading the Rebellion into a trap. Such trickery was not his style, but he was no amateur.

"Lead the fleet into the crossfire," Palpatine ordered from his throne on the Death Star. "They will be no match for the superior firepower of our fleet. Once I have Skywalker, you will surrender to us."

"As you wish," Thrawn said.

The Emperor looked as if he were about to say something else, but a horrified expression crept onto his face. He was speechless, a display Thrawn never witnessed on his leader's visage. The Grand Admiral almost believed the Emperor was genuinely afraid.

"Your Majesty?" Thrawn asked.

Recovering, Palpatine said, "There has been a change of plans. You must tread carefully. Act at your discretion, Admiral. I will deal with the situation personally."

The holographic image disappeared, leaving Thrawn in silence. His red gaze narrowed as he slowly stood. "I will act," he said. "I'm not dying for you."

Kyle Katarn signaled for Han's group to approach. He was overlooking the shield generator, concealing himself in the forest. Kyp Durron remained by his side, hiding behind a tree. Han, Winter, C-3PO, R2-D2, Wickett and Paploo reached Kyle quickly just as a Lambda-class shuttle lifted from a landing platform on the shield generator complex.

"Leia was on that shuttle," Kyle said. "We don't have much time." The Jedi watched as Han's face contorted in grief and Winter appeared as if the wind had been knocked from her with that news.

"What about Anakin?" Winter asked him.

Kyle raised an eyebrow. "I sensed three Force signatures on the shuttle," he replied. "I'm sure Luke and Anakin were on there."

"Like Kyle said, we're running out of time," Han said as he donned his sabacc face.

"Well, the entrance to the control bunker's on the far side of that landing platform," Kyle said before he turned to point towards the area.

Han eyed the region critically before shrugging. "Chewie and me have got into a lot of places more heavily guarded than this," he said. "Should be a piece of cake."

Suddenly, Wickett and Paploo began speaking to each other before conversing with Threepio.

Annoyed, Winter asked Threepio, "What is he saying?"

Threepio looked to Winter and answered, "He says there's a secret entrance on the other side of the ridge."

Lando Calrissian and the Sullustan Nien Nunb sat in the Millennium Falcon's cockpit as they awaited orders to deploy with the rest of the Rebel Fleet. Speaking into the comlink, he issued his report. "Admiral, we're in position. All fighters accounted for."

"Proceed with the countdown," came Admiral Ackbar's voice. "All groups assume attack coordinates."

Lando relaxed in his seat before speaking to his copilot. "Don't worry," he said. "My friends are down there. They'll have that shield down in no time." The former administrator sighed. "Or this will be the shortest offensive of all time," he said to himself.

Nien Nunb mumbled before he flipped some switches on the console.

"All craft, this is Grand Admiral Thrawn," came the Chiss officer's voice. "Prepare to jump to hyperspace on my mark."

"All right," Lando acknowledged. "Stand by." He pulled the lever in front of him, propelling the Millennium Falcon into hyperspace. Soon, the remainder of the massive Rebel Fleet followed, leaving the base behind for Endor.

Han Solo joined the rest of the Rebel strike squad, remaining concealed in the thick undergrowth so as not to alert the Empire to his presence. His group overlooked the back door that led into the control bunker. Guarding the door were four scout troops, their speeder bikes not far from them.

Chewbacca looked to Han and grunted, They could alert everyone on the forest moon.

Han was about to say something when Paploo grabbed his arm and began chattering to him in the Ewok language. Not understanding a word the alien said, Han could only grin and say, "Back door, huh? Good idea."

Then, Han told Chewbacca, "It's only a few guards. It shouldn't be too much trouble."

"Well, it only takes one to sound the alarm," Winter said.

Han looked to Kyle and asked, "Can you use a Jedi mind trick on them?"

Kyle nodded before he began to call on the Force. The Jedi closed his eyes to slits as he focus on the minds of the guards.

Threepio was explaining the situation to Wickett and Paploo before Paploo chattered and ran towards the bunker. Shocked, Threepio exclaimed, "Oh! Oh my. General Solo."

"Hush, Threepio," Han growled under his breath.

"I'm afraid our furry companion has gone and done something rather rash," Threepio told the group.

Winter looked to where Paploo was going and said, "Oh no."

"There goes our surprise attack," Han said. "Be ready, Kyle."

Paploo climbed onto one of the speeder bikes and began randomly flipping switches. He managed to get lucky when the engine roared to life, alerting the guards.

"Look!" one of the guards pointed towards the Ewok. "Over there! Stop him!"

The Imperial scouts attempted to prevent Paploo from stealing the bike, but they did not arrive in time. Holding on by his paws, the bike blasted away from the station. Three of the scouts jumped onto their speeder bikes to pursue, leaving only one scout to guard the door.

Han nodded approvingly at the display. "Not bad for a little furball," he remarked. "There's only one left. You stay here. We'll will take care of this."

Threepio moved beside Artoo and Wickett before saying, "I have decided we shall stay here."

Han, Chewbacca, and Kyle slipped down the hill towards the bunker. Kyle signaled the strike team into position as Han approached the lone guard near the door. Han tapped the guard on the shoulder, instantly getting the Imperial's attention.

"Hey!" the scout shouted as Han rushed past him. The scout pursued, only to be halted by the snap-hiss of an activating lightsaber and the rifles of the Rebel strike team pointed at him.

Moments later, Han, Chewbacca, Kyle, Winter and Kyp entered the bunker, leaving one Rebel behind in the scout's uniform as a lookout.

Inside the Death Star throne room, the elevator opened. Darth Apostas stood in front of Luke and Anakin, pushing them past the red-robed Imperial Guards. Luke was still reeling from the Force lightning, but he walked forward confidently. Anakin was immediately repulsed by the presence of his former master. The young version of Darth Sidious sat high in his throne, exuding his malignant dark side presence.

Anakin felt the ice creep up his spine as the Emperor's presence assaulted him, but he could sense a small tendril of fear working within Sidious. His presence had the desired effect on the Sith Lord.

"Welcome, young Skywalker," Sidious said, "and Lord Vader. It is brave of you to grace my presence so soon after your betrayal."

"And what of your betrayal of the Republic?" Anakin inquired. "What about when you betrayed me?"

The Emperor only said, "You no longer need those." With a casual wave of his hand, the stun cuffs fell from the Jedi's wrists. Then, to his guards he said, "Guards, leave us."

When the Imperial Guards entered the elevator, Darth Sidious said, "You joined me of your free will, Lord Vader, just as your son will today. In time, he will call me, Master."

"You're gravely mistaken," Luke spoke defiantly. "You won't convert me as you did my sister."

Darth Apostas silently approached the throne and revealed lightsabers in her black gloved hand. Anakin watched as the Emperor eyed the offering curiously.

"Their lightsabers," Apostas said.

Lord Sidious took each weapon in one hand before setting one on each arm of his throne. "Ah yes," he said. "A Jedi's weapon, much like your sister's." To Luke, he taunted, "By now, you must know your sister can never be turned from the dark side. So it shall be with you."

"You're wrong," Luke retorted. "Soon, I'll be dead and you with me."

"Luke," Anakin said as the Emperor laughed. He could sense something was amiss, a flicker his son could not detect with his showing of bravado.

"Perhaps you refer to the imminent attack of your Rebel fleet?" Sidious asked.

"You set all this up, didn't you?" Anakin accused as Luke was taken aback by the Emperor's question.

Sidious laughed. It was not the familiar cackle of an old man, but the booming force of youth. "You were always wise, Lord Vader," he said, "but always so shortsighted. I assure you we are quite safe from your friends here."

"Your overconfidence is your weakness," Luke countered.

Sidious stood and glared angrily at Luke. His yellow eyes burned brighter than a thousand suns. "Your faith in your friends is yours."

Apostas sighed. "It is pointless to resist, brother," she told him.

"As Lord Vader said, everything that has transpired has done so according to my design," the Emperor said before waving his arm in Endor's direction. "Your friends up there on the sanctuary moon are walking into a trap."

Anakin could sense Luke's reaction, feel his son's anger rise. "Stay focused," he told his son.

"It was I who allowed the Alliance to know the location of the shield generator," Sidious continued, ignoring Anakin. "It is quite safe from your pitiful band. An entire legion of my best troops awaits them."

The Emperor sat in his throne as Luke's eyes darted towards his lightsaber. "Oh...I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive," the Dark Lord said as he attempted to taunt Luke into action.