Tantive IV, Hyperspace:

Captain Antilles walk through the corridors of his ship and enters one of its rooms. Here, two protocol-droids, one gold and one silver ( C-3PO and U-3PO ), put down food and drink for his three secret passengers.

"That will be all" Antilles says and the the two droids leave. When the droids have left the room and the door is closed, Antilles faces his passengers. "I have confirmed the identity of the Imperial corvette at the mining colony. It was the Veiled Viper. The Empire use it to track down pirates and rebels. Its crew is quite efficient at their work."

"I've heard of it" Ahsoka says. "That ship has raided several of our convoys and hideouts."

"Bloodthirsty thugs" Amidala says with frown.

"We were lucky to escape" Ahsoka is forced to admit. "The Veiled Viper is a potent weapon in the Emperors service."

"Luck had nothing to do with it, young padawan" Obi-Wan reminds Ahsoka. "The Force guided us and allowed us to escape. What should be a concern, is that this ship was seen leaving the outpost while the agents of the Empire were chasing a well known rebel. And, they will undoubtedly find the bodies that young Ahsoka left behind."

Ahsoka does not like the comment. "I am sorry, master Kenobi. I tried to avoid using my lightsaber for as long as possible. In the end, I had no choice."

"You always have a choice, padawan" Obi-Wan says. "You chose to strike them down. That will now draw the attention of the Empire."

"Would you have prefered if they took a shot at me or at Amidala?"

"Of course not, Ahsoka" Obi-Wan says, sitting next to the drinks and the food. "But the wounds you caused will inform the Empire that a lightsaber was used against those guards. The Empire will now throw all their resources into finding the person who wielded that lightsaber. You know this. Had you done it to distract our enemy to allow us a clear path to reach our goal, then it would have served a purpose. Now, all you did was draw attention to us without any measurable gain. The application of violence, young padawan, should not be a rash decision, but a calculated one."

Amidala frowns. "Will you ever climb down from your high horse? Even after all that has happened. After all your failures. Even now, after the Republic has fallen, after the Jedi being hunted down and killed. Because of you failing everyone, the galaxy is being crushed by a cruel empire whos only goal is to enforce its tyrannical rule on us all. And you still think you can lecture any of us? You just dont get it do you? The Republic fell because of your pride, Obi-Wan! Because of your arrogance! Because the Jedi were arrogant and dogmatic and because you all were damned fools!"

Amidala gets up and storms out, leaving the others. Ahsoka turns to Obi-Wan, looking anything but pleased.

"I know you havent left Tattooine in all these years" Ahsoka says. "But you must understand one thing, master Kenobi. The galaxy has changed. Everything has changed. The Empire is in control now. The galaxy is cruel and uncivilized. These are dark times, master Kenobi. This is not the age of the Republic. It is the age of the Empire."

Ahsoka turns and leaves as well. There is a moment of uncomfortable silence before Antilles speaks.

"General Kenobi" Antilles says. "If you fear the Empires agents might suspect my ship, I could arrange another transport for you to reach Coruscant."

Obi-Wan sighs and thinks for a moment. "No. There's no need, captain. I trust you to get us safely to the capitol. Whenever I have flown with you before, our enemies have never suspected a thing, afterall."

Antilles manages a smile. "At your service, general. Should I inform our allies on Coruscant that we are arriving?"

"No" Obi-Wan says. "The fewer that know, the better. Once we are off your ship, we shall be on our own."

"As you wish, general."

The Veiled Viper:

Shackled to torture rigs are Amidalas two remaining crew-members, Ander Kellon and Mek Var. Guarded by four Stormtroopers. Commander Roork is studying them both.

Roork eyes them seriously. "You really should tell me all that you know. In just a few short minutes, all hope will be lost. This is your last chance. Your last hope."

Ander chuckles, despite the pain. "You mean you will let us go and give us our ship back."

Roork smiles. "We both know it's not your ship. Your captain is Padmé Amidala. One of the most notorious pirates in the Mid Rim. And a known collaborator of the Alliance. And that, gentlemen, makes you something far more dangerous than simple pirates. That makes you rebels." Roork turns serious. "Rebels who are conspiring with someone in the possession of a lightsaber. And that, my friends, has attracted the attention of some very important people. Very important."

At that point, the door to the chamber opens and in steps Darth Vader. Ander and Mek Var turn pale. Roork instantly step aside and lowers his head in submission.

"Lord Vader" Roork says. "The prisoners I informed you about. They served on Captain Amidala's marauder."

Darth Vader only breathes, otherwise silent as he studies the prisoners with the cold eyes of his helm and mask.

Coruscant:

The Tantive IV exits hyperspace and heads for the planet. It flies through the atmosphere and through the massive city landscape. It circles a large landing-platform before it finally settles down. Crew and passengers exit via a ramp, Antilles among them together with two of his droids; C-3PO and U-3PO.

"U-3PO" Antilles says. "Stay with the ambassador and see to all his needs."

"Of course, sir" the silver protocol-droid says and walks over to the passengers.

Antilles turns to look at the open airlock to his ship where R2D2 is waiting. Antilles gives the astromech-droid a nod and R2D2 hooks up to the ship via a socket. One of the Tantive IV's engines ignites and then pumps out a thick, black cloud of smoke together with a loud bang. All crew and personnel rush to deal with the problem. R2 moves on and follows Antilles and C-3PO.

On the far side of the platform, as crew and personnel see to the corvettes needs, Ahsoka, Amidala and Obi-Wan sneak past them all undetected with the distraction going on in the background.

The three of them step out on a walkway following the exterior of a large building. From this position they have an amazing view of the city. And the former Jedi Temple especially, the ancient building now serving as the Imperial Palace.

Ahsoka sighs. "Once a bastion of hope and justice. Now a fortress to subdue everyone with tyranny and cruelty."

"Alright" Amidala says. "How do we do this?"

Obi-Wan glances at his companions, as well as the palace. "I will take you into the lower parts of the city. There are secret entrances to the temple on the lower levels. I am sure the Empire has found some of them, but hardly all of them. We find one that is not guarded and sneak inside. I will guide you to the data-vaults. Once there, you retrieve the information you need, afterwhich I set charges and destroy everything. We go out the same we got in."

"That's it?" Amidala says.

Obi-Wan nods. "Yes."

Amidala shakes her head. "No wonder we lost the war."

Night. Amidala sneaks over to a park air-speeder and gets inside and hotwires the vehicle. Ahsoka and Obi-Wan hurry over and get in aswell. With Amidala piloting, they fly off. The speeder make it lower and lower into Coruscant, going deeper and deeper. Quality of life drastically take a turn for the worse, the only light come from illuminators and holograms. Soon, even those light-sources become scarce.

"We need to hide the speeder real good" Amidala says. "Down here it will get chopped into pieces as soon as we turn our backs on it."

Obi-Wan shakes his head. "We need not hide it" he says. "Chances are it will be found anyway. We are most likely being followed as we speak. We will leave it once we have reached our destination."

Amidala glances back at Obi-Wan. "So how do we get back to the surface, once we're done down here?"

"We will not get back up the same way we came down" Obi-Wan explains.

Ahsoka is not pleased. "Master Kenobi, you dont think we would be better off if we knew your plan?"

"Absolutely not" Obi-Wan says. "I came here to destroy the old data-vaults. And to make it back to Tatooine. That means I intend to succeed, even if you are captured."

Amidala shakes her head. "You dont trust us, is that it?"

"Trust has nothing to do with it, your highness" Obi-Wan says. "It's a simple fact that my mission is more important than yours. This is an opportunity I can not ignore."

Amidala frowns. "Swell."

Their speeder lands and they climb out and Ahsoka and Amidala follow Obi-Wan into the dark and dirty walkways of the lower levels of Coruscant. Seconds later, two rusty old speeders land next to the one our heroes had made use of, and scavengers jump out and immediately begin to cut the speeder into spare parts.

The trio walk through the dark, dirty, filthy lower levels of Coruscant. Walls are oily, catwalks are rusty, lights are few and flickers. People are sick, homeless, poor and starving. It is a tragic experience. The trio reach eventually a massive wall.

Obi-Wan looks up as the wall continues onward upwards. "This is part of the old temple." He then holds out his hand and with the Force opens a secret passage. "Come."

They all enter and the passage closes behind them. They make their way through a narrow compartment where they almost does not fit. Climb a ladder in a tight tunnel going straight up. Crawl through a tight fit airduct. Eventually, a hatch is removed in the ceiling of a hallway and Ahsoka jumps down. She waves at the others and they climb down from the hole in the ceiling. They sneak out onto a balcony that overlooks a large, spaceous hall. Hundreds of administrators are hard at work, droids moving between them.

Ahsoka sighs. "They used to teach younglings to meditate in this chamber. Taught us to find peace of mind. Now, the Empire conducts a dozen wars from within these walls, expanding its borders, spreading their tyranny."

"Remember what you were taught here, young padawan" Obi-Wan says. "Focus on our mission. Seek clarity and inner peace. Do not be distracted by thoughts or emotions."

Amidala studies the room before them. "If we place one of your demolition charges in this room, we could seriously disrupt the Empires efforts across the galaxy."

Ahsoka nods. "Amidala's right. We should not waste such an opportunity."

Obi-Wan is not as certain. "A distraction. We should focus on our primary objectives."

"This is my primary objective" Amidala growls. "You might be here to blow up some ancient databanks and steal valuable information. But I am here to fight the Empire. Just look down there. This room coordinates Imperial troops within the Empire, fighting uprisings on a dozen worlds. Over there they are overseeing the supply-chains to Admiral Thrawns forces fighting the last separatist factions. And down there, they just ordered two Star Destroyers to bomb a city full of civilians. I am here to fight the Empire, and destroying this command-center is now my main objective."

Obi-Wan studies the scene and then looks at Amidala. "It is a distraction best avoided. Focus on what we came here to do, your highness."

"You do what you have to do" Amidala says with a frown, determination in her words. "And let me do what I have to do."

Ahsoka offers glances to both her companions. "Let her do it, master Kenobi. We will continue with our mission." She then turns to Amidala. "But captain, please wait before you make your move. Let us get what we need before you set off your charges."

Amidala nods. "You got yourselves a deal. When Kenobi's bombs go off, I'll detonate mine."

Ahsoka nods. "Good. How will you get out of here?"

Amidala isnt entirely sure. "I'll figure something out."

Obi-Wan has an idea. "Go back down the corridor. There should be an access-hatch close to the statue of Master Sifo-Dyas. Use it to climb three levels up. Hide in the astromech storage. We'll link up with you there, and then we will make our escape, together."

The Imperial Throne Room:

A doorway opens and through it walks The Emperor himself, relying on his cane. He is followed by a small entourage of people. The room he enters has several Red Guard positioned along the walls. The Emperor sits down in a throne-like chair and puts his cane away.

"Leave us" the Emperor says and his entourage, even the Red Guard, all leave the room.

The Emperors throne turn to face a different direction and the lights dim. Before the Emperor, a hologram of Darth Vader appears, Vader kneeling and bowing his head.

"Lord Vader" the Emperor says. "You bring me news."

"Yes, my master" Vader replies. "I have picked up a trail that might lead me to finding Padmé Amidala."

"The rebel captain" the Emperor says, intrigued.

"We believe she has allied herself with a Jedi" Vader explains.

"Interesting" the Emperor says, contemplating. "You are correct, Lord Vader. I sense that Captain Amidala has reached out to a dangerous ally. I fear they will strike soon."

"We are too late?" Vader wonders.

"Yes" the Emperor says, accepting the situation. "In fact, they might even be here, on Coruscant. Lord Vader, you will travel to the planet of Vergamon and wait. In time, Captain Amidala will come to you. I have forseen it."

"As you wish, my master" Vader says and bows his head as the hologram fades.

The Emperor presses a button on his throne as it turns to face the door. The doorway opens and in walks his entourage.

"Evacuate all essential staff" the Emperor says as he gets out of his seat with the aid of his staff. "Increase security. Put all garrisons on every planet on high alert" the Emperor adds as he walks. "We are about to be attacked. There will be riots and they will be crushed immediately. Any attempt to stir unrest after this attach must be met with severe force."

The Emperors retinue all bow as he walks past them.

To be continued…