Wayland - The Throne Room of Mount Tantiss
Darth Diabolis stood at the massive window of the throne room, looking out over the planet. Vast forests stretched as far as the eye could see. The local natives had completely left them be and Diabolis had ordered his people to do the same, as had Grand Admiral Thrawn. It was a beautiful temperate world and the mountain was an impenetrable fortress - at least, of course, impenetrable from the ground. In his mind, Diabolis imagined formations and fortifications and artillery emplacements trying to attack the mountain. With the number of weapons emplacements and the shield generator protecting it, a ground assault would be pointless. Thanks to the shield generators, trying to bombard the place with a- what did Thrawn call it? Ah yes, a Base-Delta-Zero. The complete shelling of a section of a planet would do nothing but end innocent lives, something that the New Republic, and more importantly the Jedi, would never order that.
Behind him, the doors to the throne room hissed open. Without even turning, Diabolis sensed his apprentice and lover. "Lady Silri, how goes the operations?"
Lean, wiry arms wrapped around his shoulders and chest and a low, hissing purr of the Nightsister Sith Witch was heard. "My Lord, the operations have not much changed. They have set up a temporary override to avoid losing more tech teams but, for the most part, the assassin droids refuse to recognize you as Darth Revan's heir. It would seem, my love, that one of them seems to be the leader and that they have a strange hive-mind type programming. If we can break that programming, we can get some progress."
Diabolis reveled in the heat of her body against his. "I take it that our tech specialists are working on it right now?"
"Of course, my Lord. They expect to make progress within the week."
Diabolis turned in her arms and kissed her before asking, "Anything else to report, my love?"
Rolling her eyes just slightly, Silri replied quickly and impatiently. "The cloning facilities are working very well, producing Imperial stormtroopers, techs, pilots, crew men and so on at rates exceeding the Grand Admiral's expectations. Is there any other business we need to get into?"
"Just one;" chuckled the Dark Lord. "The acolytes?"
"Their training is progressing and they are proving themselves quite powerful and skilled. Your Master, Darth Revan, would be pleased, I think."
Darth Diabolis smiled, allowing the flattery to effect him. "I like to believe that. And now, my beautiful and fierce Silri, that concludes business - for the moment."
"Finally;" she murmured before kissing him. After a long and passionate series of kisses, Silri looked at the empty throne, the throne once used by Emperor Palpatine, the most powerful Sith Lord in recent history. With a very wicked smile, she leaned in and whispered, "That throne."
Diabolis looked at her, slightly confused, "Excuse me?"
"Go sit on that throne, Diabolis. I want to take you on that throne."
Now that idea excited the Dark Lord and he growled, "No, my love, I will be taking you"
"Whatever sustains your male pride, my love;" she simply purred.
Coruscant - The Imperial Palace
On landing pads eight and nine of the Imperial Palace, the Millennium Falcon and the Jade Star set down with small bumps. In the corridor between the two pads, Han Solo met his wife, Leia Organa Solo with a big hug. "Thank the force you're back;" she whispered to him.
Luke and Mara stood side by side and hand in hand with small smiles on their faces. It warmed them when their in-laws were happily back together. Han was hugging her gingerly, not wanting to press her midsection too hard. "Hi, Sweetheart. I'm glad to see you too."
After ending the hug, Leia quickly hugged Luke and Mara as well before saying, "Come on; we have to go."
As they made their way into the palace, Chewbacca stood there with his bowcaster slung over his shoulder. Han smiled at his oldest friend. "Hey, Chewie; thanks for looking after her."
Chewie growled his greeting - which was strangely non-committal. Normally, he would hug Han, Luke and Mara but this time, for whatever reason, he seemed slightly distant. This caused Han to eye him almost suspiciously. "What did I miss?" he asked Leia.
"Not much;" she said as she lead them down the corridors and into the palace proper. After that first big flurry of accusations, Fey'lya's apparently decided to cool things down. He's talked the Council into letting him take come of Ackbar's internal security duties, but he's been behaving more like a caretaker than a new administrator. He's hinted strongly that he'd be willing to take charge of the Supreme Command, but he hasn't done any real pushing in that direction."
"Of course;" snorted Mara. "That would easily be too obvious, not to mention make people suspicious of him."
"Not to mention that such a drastic change, on top of the accusations of treason against Ackbar, would probably cause panic, something that wouldn't help that smarmy Bothan. The accusations are already a huge bite to chew."
Leia and Luke both agreed. The former said, "The good news is that we should have at least a little breathing room and figure out the whole bank think."
Mara frowned. "I've been thinking about that. If you think the Council will approve it, I could look into the bank thing and try to figure out how it happened. In truth, do to my advancing pregnancy, I've been thinking of doing a sweep of the current government and, looking for corruption and such. Darth Diabolis is still out there and he has taken over what was left of the Zann Consortium. I wouldn't be surprised that he has inserted some Defilers into our government. Not only that, considering the current situation with leaks in the government, I'm hoping they'll give me a green light."
The others nodded. Han looked at his wife. "What are the details on that, by the way? All you told us is that some routine bank check had found a big chunk of money in one of Ackbar's accounts.:
"It turns out that it wasn't just a routine check;" murmured Leia. "There was a sophisticated electronic break-in at the central clearing bank on Coruscant the morning of the Sluis Van attack, with several big accounts being hit. The investigators ran a check on all the accounts the bank served and discovered that there'd been a large transfer into Ackbar's account that same morning from the central bank on Palanhi. You familiar with Palanhi?"
"Everyone's familiar with Palanhi;" snorted Han. "Little crossroads planet with an overblown idea of their own importance."
Mara chuckled. "They've tended to think themselves neutral and able to play all sides of any current galactic game."
"True, but the point is that the central bank there claims that the money didn't come from Palanhi itself and must have just been transferred through them. So far, our people haven't been able to backtrack it any further."
Mara smiled and cracked her knuckled. "I'll take a crack at it - providing that I gain Council approval of course."
That last part she added after catching Leia's warning glare.
They were quiet for awhile before Han said, "I'll bet Fey'lya's got some ideas where it came from."
"The ideas aren't unique to him," Leia sighed. "He was just the first one to voice them, that's all."
"And to make himself a few points at Ackbar's expense;" growled Han. "Where've thy put Ackbar, anyway? The old prison section?"
Leia shook her head. "He's under a sort of loose house arrest in his quarters while the investigation is under way. More evidence that Fey'lya's trying not to ruffle anymore feather than he has to."
"Or else that he knows full well there isn't enough here to hang a stunted Jawa from;" Han countered. "Has he got anything on Ackbar besides the bank thing?"
Leia smiled wanly, "Just the near-fiasco at Sluis Van. And the fact that it was Ackbar who went all those war ships out there in the first place."
"Oh come on!" snapped Mara. "Those war ships were sent to help with relief effort from another Imperial attack! How was Ackbar to know that it was a ploy developed by a Grand Admiral?"
Leia froze. "What?"
"It get's worse;" sighed Luke. "We'll tell you all about it later. Where are we going anyway?"
Leia grimaced as they left the Grand Corridor and headed towards the auditorium off the main council chamber. "Wait a minute;" said Han, while Luke and Mara just sighed in resignation. "Now?"
"I'm sorry but Mon Mothma insisted. You're the first people back who were actually present during the Sluis Van attack and there are millions of questions they want to ask you about it."
To their surprise, Mara gave a tight smile. "Good; I have some news they need to learn as it is."
Han was muttering something about sending See-Threepio out of the Falcon first.
The room had been rearranged completely. Long rows of seats were set similar to a university lecture hall with Mon Mothma sitting at a lectern at the front of the room. Han growled again. "Who idea was this?" asked Han as he, Luke, Mara and Leia began heading towards what looked suspiciously like a witness stand next to the lectern.
"Mon Mothma set it up;" she murmured. "I'd be willing to bet it was Fey'lya's idea, though."
"Right;" growled Han moodily. "So who goes first?"
"Get ready, because the slippery, smarmy fuzzball is going to milk this for everything it's worth;" whispered Mara.
"And be careful;" added Leia, giving especially meaningful glances at Han and Mara.
Both of them gave her innocent glances that were as transparent as clear water. "So;" Han asked again, "who goes first?"
"Captain Solo," said Mon Mothma, "please step up to the stand."
Han nodded and the others sat in the first row of seats. Han, feeling decidedly uncomfortable, stepped up to the seat. "Do you want me sworn in or anything?" he asked awkwardly.
"That won't be necessary, Captain Solo;" she said, her voice formal and a little strained. "Please sit down. There are some questions the Council would like to ask you about the recent events at the Sluis Van shipyards."
Han sat and took note of Fey'lya and his Bothan aides. They were next to Leia and the others in the front row. Mon Mothma cleared her throat. "First of all, Captain Solo, we would like you to describe your role in the Sluis Van attack. When you arrived, what happened subsequently-that sort of thing."
Han nodded. "We got there pretty much as the battle was started, came in just ahead of the Star Destroyers. We picked up a call from Wedge - that's Wing Commander Wedge Antilles of Rogue Squadron - staying that there were TIE fighters loose in the shipyards-"
"Excuse me;" interrupted Fey'lya smoothly. "Just who is the 'we' here?"
Han suppressed his glare at the Bothan who sat there blandly as always, "My crew consisted of Lando Calrission and two droids - you want their serial numbers?"
A low rustle of barely existent amusement went through the gathered beings. Fey'lya fur flattened. "Thank you, no;" he replied levelly.
Han continued, "Rogue Squadron was engaged with approximately forty TIE fighters and fifty stolen mole miners that had somehow been smuggle into the shipyards. We gave them some assistance with the fighters, figured out that the Imperials were using the mole miners to try and steal some of the capital ships that had been pressed into cargo duty, and were able to stop them. That's about it."
Fey'lya's fur rippled. "You are too modest, Captain Solo. According to the reports we've received here, it was you and Calrissian who managed to single-handedly thwart the Empire's scheme."
Han braced himself. Here it came. It was true that they had stopped the Imperials absconding with the ships but they had been forced to render the ships practically useless to do so, frying the nerve centers of forty capital war ships. Defensively, he said, "I'm sorry about wrecking the ships but would you rather the Imperials have taken them intact?"
"Really, Captain Solo;" Fey'lya replied smoothly, "I have no particular quarrel with your method of stopping the Empire's attempt at grand larceny, costly though it might have been. Within your constraints, you and the others succeeded brilliantly."
Han frowned, not believing a word of it but unable to understand where the Bothan's game was. "Thank you, counciler," he elected to say for lack of any better response.
"None of this to say that the Empire's near-victory are not important;" said Fey'lya, looking around the audience chamber. "On the contrary. At best, they speak of serious misjudgments on the part of our military commanders. At worst, they speak of treason."
Han glanced at his family. Mara was rolling her eyes so hard it would surely cause a migraine. Luke and Leia just looked grim. Speaking quickly, Han said, "With all due respect Councilor, what happened at Sluis Van was not Ackbar's fault. The whole operation-"
"Excuse me, Captain Solo;" interrupted Fey'lya, "and with all due respect to you, let me point out that the reason that those capital ships were sitting at Sluis Van in the first place, undermanned and vulnerable, was that Admiral Ackbar had ordered them there."
"There isn't anything like treason involved," Han continued doggedly. "We already know that Empires got a tap into our communications-"
"And who's responsible for such failures in security?" Fey'lya shot back. "Once again, the blame falls firmly on Admiral Ackbar's shoulders."
Han was losing his temper and losing it fast. "Well then you-"
"Mon Mothma," said Mara, standing and cutting Han off, earning herself a pair of glares in the process. "There are others who need to make there reports so, before the devolves into another Bothan power grab-" that earned her a nasty glare from both Leia and Fey'lya, "are there any more questions for Captain Solo?"
"I strenuously object to such accusations;" Fey'lya all but spat. "My only concern is the safety of the New Republic."
Mara's brilliant emerald eyes widened. "Well my apologies, Councilor Fey'lya. Consider that statement withdrawn."
Mon Mothma gave a severe look. "This is not a trial, Jedi Jade Skywalker. Such remarks cannot be withdrawn as it if were criminal court case."
"My mistake;" said Mara. "The last exchange must have confused me. I was under the assumption that the Admiral was on trial - which would be highly irregular since he isn't even here with a litigator to defend himself, though Captain Solo is doing an admirable job. So, are there any more questions for Captain Solo?"
Mon Mothma looked exasperated and perturbed as she looked around. None were forth coming so she looked at Han. "You may step down, Captain. Jedi Jade Skywalker, you may have a seat."
"With pleasure, Mon Mothma;" replied Mara smoothly.
As she stepped up to the chair, she radiated confidence and sat down, gazing at Fey'lya as if expecting the questions to come from him first. To her surprise, they wound up coming from Leia first. "Jedi Jade Skywalker, with your Imperial background, could you identify the Imperial ships that attacked the Sluis Van shipyards?"
Mara furrowed her brow. That certainly wasn't a question she had expected to be asked. "I recognized three of the five Star Destroyers, yes: the Chimaera under Captain Gilad Pellaeon, the Death's Head under Captain Harbid and the Stormhawk, though who it's commander is, I'm not sure. There were also numerous Carrack Cruisers and Strike Cruisers but I didn't get a good count of them."
"What does this have to do with anything?" asked Fey'lya, just a trace of impatience in his voice.
Leia looked at him with strained patience. "We want to know about the attack on Sluis Van. I think the commander of the enemy task force is an important piece of information." She turned back to Mara and asked, "Which of those captains do you think was directing the assault?"
Mara shook her head. "None of them, Councilor Organa Solo;" she replied, "judging by the boldness of the attack, its creativity and other tidbits of information gathered over the passed several weeks, I believe that one Grand Admiral Thrawn was leading the Imperial attack."
The air grew chilled and a low murmur was heard throughout the chamber. Mon Mothma looked at her very seriously. "Are you sure of that, Jedi Jade Skywalker?"
"According to former General Lando Calrissian, Captain Solo, they saw a blue-skinned being in a white Grand Admiral's uniform and with a Grand Admiral's insignia bar. That can only be one being and that being is going to be the most dangerous we have faced since the Emperor himself lived. There is more, too, but I think that it should be saved for a council session."
Mon Mothma shook her head. "It would be best that we lay everything out right now, if you please, Jedi."
"As you wish. Evidence indicates that Grand Admiral Thrawn has allied himself to Darth Diabolis, the Dark Lord of the Sith."
Another low murmur came from the gathered beings. Mon Mothma leaned back, looking weary and haggard. "Perhaps you should start from the beginning, Jedi Jade Skywalker."
"Yes but if Jedi Skywalker could also be free to interject, we will more likely get a complete story."
Mon Mothma nodded her assent and Mara began. She told of their near-capture by an Imperial Star Destroyer, their hasty and costly hyperspace jump, and their rescue from deep space by the Talon Karrde. When that name was mentioned, Borsk Fey'lya hissed, "Oh, do you mean the same Talon Karrde you failed to capture back during the Warlord X1's clone crisis?"
"Yes that one," said Mara. "And we didn't fail, we simply didn't try. May I continue, Councilor Fey'lya?"
With a curt motion from the Bothan, she continued, explaining their subsequent capture, at which point the Bothan burst out again. "Do we need any more proof that this smuggler chief is not our ally? Not only does he refuse to give the New Republic quite possibly vital information, but he captured and held two Jedi Knights captive."
Mara massaged her temples. "Well, considering that you and Admiral Ackbar wanted to run him through an interrogation, it really shouldn't surprise. Shut up, Councilor! Save your melodrama for when I'm done, please."
Without even giving him the chance to retort, she continued, explaining her and Luke's capture and escape from Myrkr and their trek through the forest before finally being allowed to go and heading to Sluis Van where the previous mentioned attack happened. A long silence followed her recitation.
Borsk Fey'lya gave a strange noise in his throat and said, "We accounted for all the Grand Admirals already."
"I saw him myself;" said Han from his seat. "Besides, Mara can positively identify him."
"Did she see him?" asked the Bothan.
"I did not but I know exactly who Captain Solo described as I already said;" replied Mara.
Suddenly, something dawned on her - neither Kanan Jarrus nor Galen Marek were present. Turning a stern glare on Mon Mothma, she asked calmly, "May I ask where Masters Jarrus and Marek are, Mon Mothma?"
There was a brief silence before Mon Mothma replied, "They were not summoned to this meeting."
Luke's blue eyes widened. "Why not?"
"Quite frankly, Jedi Skywalker," answered Fey'lya, his voice just slightly smug, "they are no longer involved with either the government or the military. There is no true reason for them to be present."
Luke looked at Leia. She had a decidedly uncomfortable look on her face. "I see;" he murmured. "I'll be sure to let them know that."
"Let's return to the topic at hand;" said Mon Mothma, "Jedi Jade Skywalker, please describe this alleged Grand Admiral."
"How can she?" asked Fey'lya before Mara could answer. "She did not see him."
"But I have before. He was tall, with blue skin, blue-black hair and glowing red eyes. Does that fit the being you saw, Captain Solo?"
"Down to the glowing red eyes;" murmured Han.
Fey'lya snorted. "The Emperor was highly xenophobic, if you'll remember. Why would he make an exception with this supposed Grand Admiral?"
"Because even the Emperor realized that Thrawn was far too valuable to waste;" replied Mara. "He's tactically brilliant. In fact, I would guess that the assault on the Bpfassh to set up for the attack and attempted theft of Sluis Van, knowing our response would be to send massive amounts of relief to the Bpfasshi. During extended campaigns, Thrawn was famous for ploys like that. In fact, you can ask Master Jarrus, Jedi Bridger and anyone who lived through the Lothal Siege. They'll be able to tell you about being on the receiving end of Thrawn's curled fist."
There was silence. "Well then;" asked Fey'lya, "where did Thrawn go?"
"After Lothal, he was summoned to Coruscant and his failure, the only one he ever had on his record if I'm not mistaken, coupled with backing the wrong political party, earned him a sentence to the Unknown Region for a mapping expedition."
"So much for the Emperor not wasting resources;" muttered Fey'lya.
Mara glared at him. "It was during that time that the Death Star was nearing completion. Grand Moff Tarkin, Director Krennic and several others pushed for Thrawn's exile, being very xenophobic themselves and wanting their new weapon to be the centerpiece of the Emperor's focus. Palpatine thought that, with the first in his new line of battle stations, Thrawn was no longer needed."
Mon Mothma cleared her throat. "Council Research will be directed to search the records for this Grand Admiral. In the mean time, we must continue our questioning in regards to Sluis Van. Is there anything else, Jedi Jade Skywalker?"
Mara and Luke walked out of the chamber. "Let's get to the castle;" murmured Mara. "Kanan and Galen are going to want to hear this."
Luke nodded as they made for the landing pad where the Jade Star was birthed. Within minutes, they were in the air and heading towards what had once been Darth Vader's Coruscant sanctuary. Upon landing, there were quite a few people waiting for them. Many relieved expressions were seen. As soon as they reached the bottom of the ramp, many of the their fellow Jedi Knights and Jedi students crowded around them. "Where have you been all this time?"
"Is everything okay?"
"Mara, how are you?"
Luke smiled even as he called, "Jedi, please, we have plenty of time to catch up but first we need to speak to Kanan and Galen. Ezra, where are you- Ah! There you are. Go get Sabine, Hera and Zeb and meet us in the main conference chamber. This is important."
Ezra nodded and hurried off to do as Luke asked. It wasn't long before Luke and Mara sat across from Galen Marek and Kanan Jarrus. Sabine Wren, Mandalore of the warrior clans of the Mandalorians, Hera Syndulla, retired General and wife to Kanan Jarrus, and Garazeb Orrelios, a male Lasat, lounged around the room. Ezra was next to Luke as they waited for the Masters' response to the Skywalkers' report.
Kanan sighed and leaned back. "Grand Admiral Thrawn has returned to the galaxy proper - this isn't good."
"What's worse, he's allied with Diabolis. The situation may be far worse than we realize;" said Galen, rubbing his head.
Hera didn't seem too bothered by it. "We beat him once, though it was a costly victory. In fact, it nearly cost us you, my love;" she said, indicating Kanan. "but we still defeated him. Now there are many more of us and we are far better armed, not to mention your Jedi. We can beat him again."
Mara smiled at the green skinned Twi'lek woman. Hear was still strikingly beautiful and formidable. "The problem is that Thrawn is allied with the Sith. That means that he has a small army of Dark Jedi to level against us. If you combine Thrawn's brilliance and Diabolis' Dark Jedi, we have an enemy the like of which we never faced before."
Ezra snorted. "It can't be worse than when we faced Tyber Zann and Diabolis together."
"Oh yes it can;" assured Mara. "Believe me, Ezra - this crisis is going to be the most decisive since the battle of the second Death Star was destroyed."
They were all silent for some time before Kanan said, "It's good that you're back, you two. The apprentices need your teaching so hopefully you won't be called away or feel the need to run off again. I'll send a transmission to Mon Mothma offering whatever help we can to advise and assist in this conflict. If she rejects our offer, however, we will have no choice but to stand down."
"Or at least, no choice but to appear to stand down;" said Galen, running a hand over his very short, very rough hair. "If we come up with the right reasons, we can spread out and keep our senses alert for movements - by Thrawn or by Diabolis and their forces."
Mara looked skeptical. "It won't be that easy, Galen. Thrawn would never open himself up to that kind of observation."
"Do you have any better ideas?"
The unfortunate truth is that she did not. Kanan sighed. "We'll gather all of our Jedi Knights together. Kyle will be back in another day or two with his kids and we'll be able to come up with something. In the mean time, I'm sure that you two are exhausted and could use some rest."
Mara lifted a slender hand. "There is one other thing, Master. I've made the decision that I'm not going to be leaving Coruscant for awhile - at least not until I give birth unless it is utterly vital that I do so. Therefore, when you send the transmission to Mon Mothma, offer my services in looking into Ackbar's accounts or anything else she may wish. I would even be happy to assist intelligence in searching out whatever this leak in security might be."
Kanan nodded with a smile. "I think that both staying here and offering such help is a good idea. I'll be sure to mention it. Now go on and rest."
As Luke, Mara and the others departed, Galen looked at the older man. "What do you think, Kanan?"
The blind Jedi Master sighed. "I'm thinking that I wish Rahm was here but if wishes were starships, our fleet would be larger. At this point, we need to be careful. It's become clear that there are some in the New Republic government that don't trust us. We need to know who they are and try to discover why."
"Agreed;" said Galen, standing to his feet. "In the mean time, the apprentices need training. I'll go check on their progress."
Kanan stood and sensed his younger friend departing. Moments later, Hera stepped in. Wordlessly, she moved into his arms and murmured. "Grand Admiral Thrawn, back and after us again. I had fervently hoped that he had died in the Unknown Regions, especially since we never ran across him during our little foray into it."
"The Unknown Regions are vast, Hun. It's no surprise that we didn't find any evidence of him. You seemed confident enough earlier."
Hera smiled faintly. "That was for everyone else's benefit and purely out of habit. I'm terrified."
Kanan kissed her before saying, "Well no need for that yet. This conflict isn't over and most likely won't be quickly. Even Thrawn made his share of mistakes."
Even so, there was dark sense of foreboding, a disturbance in the force the like of which he hadn't felt since the dark stalkers had chased Task Force Phoenix into the Unknown Regions.