I WASN'T THE woman they all thought I was.

How did I know? Because that woman would know how to get the crew of the Tantive IV out of the net the events of Scarif and my leadership therein had flown them straight into. She would've known how to set this all right, and see the mission through to completion. But all had gone wrong. So, so wrong. And now… I had but one hope to see this mission through.

And it wouldn't even be me seeing it through.

I dashed through the whitewashed corridors and hallways of the ship, skirts fluttering, not caring who saw me so undignified. But, of course, no one did. They were all upstairs. Readying themselves. Even Captain Antilles, who had done all he could, now planned to go down fighting. Our goodbye had been simple.

"Your Highness. You must get to an escape pod. It's your only hope."

"There will be no escape for me, Captain. But there is a way to see this mission through."

"How?"

I smiled. Best never to tell more than must be told. "I have an idea. Captain… know you have the thanks of the Alliance, and that of your princess." Neither of us needed to state this would be the last time we saw each other alive; we already knew.

Antilles saluted in the same fashion as he would my mother. "Ma'am."

"Captain."

Would Antilles die? But no. I couldn't think about that. I couldn't think about anything except putting one foot in front of the other, my heart thundering in time with my boots as I ran.

I'd never been inside the access corridors of the ship before. This was a place for droids and technicians to work without being trampled underfoot by crew. Only a few crimson lights illuminated the dull metal corridors and paths, and parts of it were so tight even I barely squeezed through. After a particularly hard maneuver through one tunnel, I gave an involuntary shiver.

Was it so much colder in here, or was my mind just playing tricks on me?

Boom! A deafening blast roared through the stillness of the silence, rattling the ship down to its durasteel bones. A gasp left me as I was suddenly thrown against a wall of circuits and pipes. The screams of laser rifles and sonorous lock-steps thundered in my ears, muffling the screams and shouts of the officers attempting to hold off the Empire's invasion. We had been boarded.

The thought alone could turn my stomach. I'd lived scenarios like this in my nightmares. But hearing the sounds of death and war right above my head… knowing the responsibility lay on my shoulders… was much harder.

I ran harder, lungs burning. This is my fault, I thought, angrily wiping away the tears that had begun to blur my vision. Dad gave me this mission. He trusted me with it. And look what's happening. Now, the entire crew would have to lose their lives to save others'.

Her father had trusted me entirely; I'd seen it on his face as he told me, "Taking on all these responsibilities… they've shaped you into a glittering star. There is nothing you can't handle, Leia."

Now was my last chance to prove his faith hasn't been misplaced.

Because I knew the identity of the boarding party, and of the ship who had sucked us into its belly like a Sarlac long starved for prey. The Devestator. Flagship of Darth Vader himself. Everyone knew Vader's repute… and what it meant if he had you. Nothing I could say or do would prevent from the fate to follow.

Except, by the Force, this fate might be prevented for others'. I ran harder still, ducking through shadows and bursts of warm steam. Then, he caught my eye. A glint of silver.

Thank the Force.

"R2!" I called, tucking myself into a dark alcove. "R2-D2, come over here!"

The droid gave an inquisitive feroo-wheep, then rolled over toward me. After working together before on several missions, and being continually impressed by the droid's initiative and discretion, I knew I could trust R2 with this job. But having actually found him… Well. I believed in the Force, but this was a much clearer answer to my prayers than I typically got.

I knelt before the droid. "You have recording capabilities, right, R2?" He beeped in acknowledgement. "Good. I need you to record a message for me. Don't start until I tell you to. Okay?"

R2 beeped again, as if saying, I got it.

I drew a few deep, steadying breaths, stood upright, and stepped back. "Message begins… now."

Taking my most regal tones, I began, "General Kenobi: Years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed."

Admitting to my failure made the words taste like acid in my mouth. Though we had managed to get away with the plans from Scarif, I would be unable to complete the second part of the mission: seeking out the great Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi and General of the Clone Wars. A man I'd never met, but heard countless dashingly heroic tales of. "A war needs warriors to fight," Dad had said when explaining why I must now seek Obi-Wan in his exile on the desert world of Tatooine.

I pressed on. "I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion in the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely to Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."

And, after all, hope was what rebellions were built upon.

…~oOo~…

A/N: Please review and let me know what you thought! Just a short chapter to get this all started…

While this story is beginning during A New Hope, there will be a few flashbacks to Rogue-One-era time, so that is also covered. Probably, updates will either be weekly or bi-weekly, as Daughter of Alderaan is still my main focus and I also have the Time. I am open to suggestions about what kind of flashbacks should be included, and also how much detail everyone wants for the period of Leia's captivity. Just let me know what you'd like.

Thank you for reading and supporting my work.

~ Rivkah