Chapter 43 - Five Minutes to Midnight

High Orbit of Takodana

MC105 Star Cruiser Intrepid

"Admiral Ackbar, this is Commodore Blackburn. You are ordered to power down and surrender your fleet immediately. If you do not comply, we will open fire and destroy you. Please stand down."

Ackbar's XO paled at that expression. "Well, boy sounds like he means it."

"Boy is putting it correctly," Ackbar grumbled, "I sincerely doubt there is a single officer from the war on those ships."

"Well, at least he's respectful about it."

"Yes, there is that, Colton. Signal the rest of the fleet. We continue our trajectory towards the planet. Do not engage."

Suddenly, the portside came alive with emerald explosions. They detonated a fair distance away, but the point was clear. Regardless, Blackburn came on again with a frantic edge to his voice: "That was a warning shot, Ackbar! Power down your ships immediately, or we will open fire!"

"Admiral, he isn't bluffing," the Colton remarked, "I don't know him, but he wouldn't have been put in command if wasn't serious about his duty. He will attack us."

"And we will not shoot back. We're here to fight the enemy, not kill our own. Continue our course, but once we reach the planet, raise him on comms."

"Why wait, sir?"

"Because if this doesn't work, we need to be in a position of strength. And Shrike fortified this world extensively after the last attack here. We wait until then and-"

"Sir!" his sensor officer reported, "We have New Republic ships approaching from the planet! They're on an intercept course!"

"That must be Commodore Antilles," Colton pointed out.

"No, Antilles doesn't have Mon Cala Cruisers. It's Raddus."

"Raddus? He's not supposed to be here!"

"Nor is all that debris ahead. There was a fight here… and we missed it."

"Admiral!" his comm officer reported, "I'm picking up a hailing signal from the Sagacity to the Endeavor. Do you wish me to-"

"Yes Lieutenant, bring it up."

He nodded, and a few seconds later the familiar voice of his nephew came on the air:

"This is Admiral Raddus of the Sagacity. Commodore, I am ordering you to disengage from your pursuit immediately."

"Admiral, I'm afraid I can't do that. I have orders to arrest Admiral Ackbar and you as well, sir. I'm going to have to ask you to stand down and surrender."

"For pity's sake, boy, don't be a fool!" Raddus snapped, "You are attempting to arrest the father of the carking Navy himself, and on what? Charges issued by a weak-willed fool who sees us as the enemy!"

"Sir, that weak-willed fool is the Commander-in-Chief and was elected by the people to carry out their will in federal matters. You and Ackbar have been charged with moving military assets without authorization and the conspiracy to conduct illegal operations. My orders are clear, and I will carry them out."

"Son, let me make this very plain to you. If you continue on your course, you will be forced into lethal action against your own comrades. We will not surrender, not while the real enemy is preparing to make its move against the New Republic."

"If you possess evidence of foul play on the First Order's part, then please surrender. Give it to the government and let them settle this."

"By the time the government does anything, it will have been too late. They would have taken the Star Forge."

"Sir, if you do not surrender, I will be forced to engage."

"And so will we."

Raddus' fleet came about in a wedge formation, intending to cut across the line between Ackbar and Blackburn. The admiral didn't need to be told that his nephew's ships were powered up. The boy was still the same reek seeing red as he'd been all those years ago when he'd illegally formed the Karakana Fleet to fight the Empire.

"Colton," he said suddenly, "signal all ships to halt and bring us about. Power down our shields."

The XO stared at him, but nodded. Ackbar turned to the comm officer, "Lieutenant, begin a general broadcast to all ships in the area."

"Ready, sir."

Ackbar nodded, staring out at the warships ready to atomize each other. At length, he began:

"Attention all New Republic ships, this is Admiral Ackbar. I understand what has been perceived of my actions. I understand that many of you believe that what you are doing is right, that you are following the orders of your superiors like you trained to.

"I also understand that many of you are ready to fight for the New Republic, whether that means apprehending me or defending me. But I must ask you this, why have we come to this? We are fellow soldiers, fighting for the same nation that your fathers and grandfathers fought to create. And yet, here we are, ready to kill each other.

"I understand why the government wants me apprehended. They are afraid. They react out of tragedy, something I know all too well. They see enemies everywhere, and in many ways they are not incorrect. We are faced with the prospect of war, and avoiding it will not prevent it.

"Our enemies have made their move. You can see the results of that behind me, with the graveyard of warships. I think you can tell that they bear the mark of the Crimson Corsairs. We know who they work for, even if we are too afraid to admit it. The First Order seeks the Forge, and I think we all know what they intend to do with it.

"However, I will not stand here and let a massacre among us happen, not over me. I will surrender myself if it means preventing blood from being spilled. But I plead with you. Take a moment and consider what you are doing. In the Academy, you were told that under the Empire, authority superseded morality.

"You were trained to consider your conscience first, to consider your orders for their moral standing. I ask you now to do this, to apply that training and consider your orders. You were ordered to kill us if we refused to surrender, all without a chance to explain our actions. Does this not sound like the Empire?"

Ackbar nodded and the comm's officer cut the broadcast. Ahead, all vessels had stopped like shocked boys staring at each other. He eyed the clock above, watching the seconds tick down as he waited to see what would happen. Finally, he got his answer.

"This is Commodore Blackburn. I request an encrypted holo-meeting with all parties present. However, I also request that you and all other ships associated with you power down their shields and weapons while we conduct… negotiations."

"I agree to this, Commodore. We'll send a signal to Raddus," he turned to XO, "Colton, I will be in the tac-room. The bridge is yours."

Someone had helped her escape. Aside from obvious springing her from her cell, Rey had noticed at least a half dozen different cameras catching sight of her as she carefully moved from hallway to hallway, avoiding passing pirates. Yet not once was an alarm raised. No one even seemed to have noticed she had escaped.

That must've meant that the cameras had been tinkered with, probably hacked with a video loop. If that were the case, then she only had a small amount of time before the loop ran out or the operators got wise. She had to find a way off the ship, but how?

"I'm tellin ya, Kara!" a voice called ahead and Rey ducked to cover, "This has been the way space combats been for thousands of years! If it was so wrong, people wouldn't be dogfightin' like this!"

Ahead, a pair of Corsair pilots appeared, a man and a woman, and Rey saw that they were kitted out for patrol duty.

The woman shook her head, "Apollo, we live in an era of missiles and torpedoes. Why do always have to close in and engage folk at close range like cropdusters? Just shoot 'em from a system away! Hell, even capital ships should be able to do that!"

Rey had to stifle a chuckle as she moved out of cover and shadowed them.

"Where's the fun in that?! Also, we don't do that because of jamming technology."

"You're tellin' me that we still haven't figured out how to get around that?"

"We did. It's called flying in and blasting them!"

"Flyboys," Rey said behind them, "crimson, black or orange, you're all the same."

"What the-?" the woman exclaimed as they whirled around with their hands going to their sidearms. Rey held up her hand, swiping it to the side.

"You don't see me here. You," she pointed to Kara, "are going to give me your jumpsuit, your boots and your gear. You," she pointed to Apollo, "are going to make out with her once she's done. Trust me, you two need to get it over with."

The two blinked at her, Apollo grimacing, "And why the bloody hell would we do that? She's my sister!"

"Oh… I really misread that. Sorry about that, and this," she plucked their with the Force and slammed them together, dropping them both to the floor. "Really, really sorry about that. Damn mindtrick failed me again!"

She then looked over at their nametags, each reading 'Thrace.'

"Stupid. Real stupid, Rey."

Quickly, she pulled their bodies into a service locker and stripped the woman down. She groaned when she got a good look at the jumpsuit. "Why couldn't I have picked someone who's actually my size?"

A minute later, she locked the door behind her and donned the flight helmet. She was glad it was fully enclosed, especially when she started running into other pilots.

"Kara, where's Apollo?"

"Oh, um," Rey stammered, quickly pulling off the woman's back drawl accent, "got real sick, he did. Doing patrol myself this time."

"Ah, should've stayed off the Sake last night. Couldn't blame him though, considerin' what happened to Ace."

"Yeah," Rey nodded, quickly moving past them and towards the hanger… or at least where she thought it was. In truth, she was more so following other pilots there, but she also started picking up on particular pieces of intelligence amidst some of their belly aching. Namely that the First Order were mobilizing a fleet, that their encrypted channels suggested they may have found something, and that the corsairs weren't coming.

Rey pondered at this as she walked, wondering how the corsairs knew the First Order were talking about this something or that they weren't being allowed to come along? Neither sounded like given orders, but more like second-hand gossip. So, how did they know?

A few minutes later, she found the hanger. Now came the problem of grabbing a ship without looking suspicious, though that decision was made for her as a squadron head waved her over. Fortunately, only minimal pleasantries were exchanged, namely explaining why Apollo wasn't there, before the squadron began conducting a briefing.

Rey only paid attention so much as it kept attention away from her, instead focusing on the squadron's heavily modified R-41 Starchaser fighters. The problem was that she didn't know which fighter was Kara's.

"Oi, Kara!" an Ugnot engineer called her over from the top of a Starchaser, "Would you stop messin' with yer bloody droid already? This is the third time I've had to tinker with it!"

"The Force provides," she whispered before she shouted back, "listen 'ere you pig-face squatter! I like my droid the way it is! You mess with it again, an' I'll throw a wrench at you!"

"Kara? Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she shrugged, "just mad over Ace is all."

"Hey, I get ya. Look, why don't you come over here and give it a smooth talkin'?"

Rey was glad her flight helmet blocked her smile. With a nod from the Squadron Leader, she trotted over and began to examine the silver plated R4 unit. It beeped cheerfully at her before complaining that 'Quiil' had been messing with its modivator again, asking if she could put it back the way it was. Rey nodded, genuinely saddened by what she had to do. She couldn't have this droid shutting down her craft when she tried to run, so she quietly turned off its personality matrix while tinkering with the motivator.

"Hey Kara!" the squadron leader asked, "Ready to go?"

She gave a thumbs up and climbed inside her Chaser, following the squadron out as they set out for their patrol duties. Rey didn't want to take the chance of ruining her cover with subpar flying, so she had the droid take over while she examined the nav-computer to figure out where she was.

Below, a hive-world in the midst of its night-cycle bustled with activity, namely with its celestial ring of construction platform. The sight of it reminded her greatly of Kuat and Coruscant, and she guessed then that she was above a First Order planet. A shadow passed overhead and she looked up. Ahead, a massive array of First Order ships amassed with supply vessels and transports milling about them.

She thought back to her earlier eavesdropping. All the corsairs would've had to do was look out a window to see the fleet, but the rest of the rumors made her wonder. She asked the droid to pull up the general comm frequency, and she was startled to learn that the corsairs had access to the First Order's channel. She wasn't a slicer, but recognized a backdoor virus when she saw one.

It wasn't perfect, considering the First Order ships were speaking in a kind of lin-code. But she noticed the same set of coordinates appearing over and over again. She asked the droid about it, and it confirmed it was in the outer fringes of the Neutral Zone.

"That must be it. The Forge," she whispered softly, "so do I go and hope that's it, or do I…" she looked out at the fleet of warships ahead, "do I follow them and make sure?"

Both options were dangerous and were equally likely to get her killed. But it she fled and it turned out they weren't going to the Forge, or they had the wrong coordinantes? Any force that got scrambled out may just walk into a trap. There was also the problem that traveling to Takadona would take three times the amount of time to jump instead to the Forge and check. Plus, the Forge was already on the route to Takadona anyway.

"Droid," she asked in her mike, "what's the hyperdrive classification?"

"'Class 2,'" it replied.

"Damn," she cursed. The First Order ships, from what Poe and Finn had described, probably had Class 1's or maybe even better. Unless she left right then and there, it was likely the First Order would get to the Forge before she did and probably stop her from escaping. But if she could confirm the Forge's existence, then jump again and get close enough to get a signal out?

"Droid, load up the coordinates and make the jump now."

Already the other pilots were starting to notice her odd flight patterns, and then she got a fleet wide alert. Prisoner escape, it read, suspected to be impersonating a pilot!

"Oi, Kara!" a harsh voice bellowed in her ear, "Or whatever your name is! Ground the fighter or we will blast you to pieces!"

Rey didn't bother responding, already noticing they'd tried relaying directly to her astromech to get it to ground her. Now the fighters closed in, firing warning shots off her prow that made her shields flare madly. Worse, energy signatures from the Providence-Class showed it was getting ready to use a tractor beam.

"Droid!" she shouted, and it chirped success. A moment later, white daggers split the universe apart as reality gave way to the immaterium of hyperspace. Rey prayed to the Force that she'd made the right choice. The fate of the galaxy depended on it.

Commodore Blackburn's face paled once explanations were made, the proof of things lying in the still processing map hanging in the holographic display. "Stars… so it's true then? All of it?"

"I'm afraid so," Ackbar nodded, "while we cannot confirm that Ambassador Hux was behind the Senate bombing, we can however confirm that this map contains the portion that was stolen from Antiles' charge and that it was sent to us from the Unknown Regions."

"Why would they send this us, though?" the Zabrak asked, "Why give up their advantage over us?"

"I don't think they did. I think there's someone on the inside helping us. Unfortunately, the Rangers don't have an operative named 'Red,' and I don't believe it's an Intelligence asset either. Otherwise the Chancellor wouldn't have sent you to chase me down."

Blackburn hung his head in shame, "I was just following orders, sir. I didn't know-"

Ackbar held up a hand, "It's not your fault, son. The blame falls on the ones who issued your orders."

"That's not good enough, sir. You were right about conscience, and I never once thought to consider if my order were just. Little better than Imperials my father died fighting against."

"And yet, here you are."

"Here I am," he nodded, straightening himself out, "what would you have of me, Admiral?"

"Hopefully your assistance in defending the New Republic, Commodore. We face threats on all sides, and we will need brave and decisive men like yourselves if we're going to see this through."

"I understand, but I want to make something clear with you. I will gladly do whatever it takes to defend our nation, but I will not partake in an overthrow of the civilian government. Installing a military junta runs against why I serve."

"I have no intention of spilling our comrade's blood, Commodore. When you're asked to fight, you will do so against our enemy. Our true enemy. You will receive your orders shortly."

Blackburn nodded, "I will need to speak to my men, sir. I can't guarantee they will all cross the line with me."

"We will jump that nebula when we come to it," Ackbar smiled, "go to your men. Speak the truth. Remind them of their duty. Let them decide for themselves."

"Thank you, sir," and the Zabrak disappeared from the call.

"Well?" Ackbar asked as new forms suddenly appeared.

"He's young, idealistic and patriotic, with an impeccable service record" Shrike replied as he drew on his pipe, "military service runs in the blood. I buy it."

"I agree," Raddus concurred, "considering he took great pains to try and get you to surrender, uncle."

"The obvious question is his crew," Han added, "what do we do with the ones that won't 'cross the line?'"

"Stick 'em down here," Shrike answered, "plenty of comfy cell beds just lookin' for some company. Hold 'em here till the chowder-heads on Chandrila get what's what."

"That's if they do," Ackbar countered, "we were fortunate that Blackburn was young, idealistic, patriotic and part of a military family. I suspect Borealis will send more that are more loyal to the administration."

"Yeah. Seems like we're in quite the bind here. Got the Forge in the wild with the wannabes two steps from a full tango, a government out to kill us, and a lot of systems that need defendin'. How we go about doin' this?"

"Assuming Blackburn's forces cooperate, I believe we have enough forces to perhaps cover the former and latter problems."

"Why not take the full force out and seize the Forge?" Raddus asked, "Combined, we have more than a hundred ships. The First Order wouldn't risk such a large scale engagement over it. Might stop the war before it starts."

"After what they've done already?" Han retorted, "They tried to kill my wife just to make things go their way. Hell, Sydow bled his company white just to get the final piece of the map. And considering we got this unprocessed mess what, thirty minutes ago? They're probably already on their way there now."

"All the more reason for us to take the entire fleet there. Overwhelm them and take the Forge."

Shrike grimaced as he relit his pipe, "Raddus, that ain't gonna stop 'em. Han's right. They've put too many eggs in the pan already not to make the omelet. Say we secure the Forge, we still have the problem of multiple hyperspace lanes and systems that should have fully stocked SDF's guardin' 'em but ain't. All because most of 'em are on siege or lockdown."

Ackbar nodded grimly as he observed the tactical display, "And even with the possibility of civil war and worse, most of the Federal forces, even the Sector ones, are not fully mobilized. At this rate, with everything spread so thin, it would take weeks to mobilize, and in that time the First Order maybe in a position where we have no choice but to hand over the Forge."

"I see your point, Uncle. But that still leaves a problem: Borealis himself. Whoever we send out to defend these lanes and systems are going to end up fighting a two front battle. Even with Viscounts at our disposal, that would still be a difficult slog."

"Well, you know my answer," Shrike nonchalantly said as he blew a ring, "I have enough boys on the capital to do what needs to be done. And as soon as Wedge is able, we could take control of system and-"

"And start a civil war in the process?" Han deadpanned, "Do you not remember what happened last time you tried that?"

"Yeah, we won, reputation notwithstanding. Look, I know it ain't gonna be pretty and it ain't the best option, so I'm open to alternatives."

"Right now, keeping the New Republic together is more important than getting the Chancellor out. And realistically, this can't be done by the Rangers or else we just confirm everything Borealis has claimed of us."

"I'm not hearin' alternatives, Ackbar."

"What if the Chancellor were to die or at least be rendered unable to command?" Raddus piped up, "It would at least force the security council to choose a successor, considering the Congress is in no state to issue a vote of no-confidence. I'd honestly take Borsk Fey'lya over him right now."

"That is pushing the bar with treason, nephew," Akbar growled, "and I'm not comfortable with the Bothan finally getting the ability to order me around."

"What about the Contingency Orders?" Han suggested, "#65 specifically?"

"Considered it," Shrike replied, "it'd take too long, require a vote by the Congress and the Security Council, neither of whom are keen to do that at the moment, and we ain't at war yet."

Ackbar sighed, "What we need is legitimacy. Even with this map and confirmation of where it came from, that won't be enough. We need definitive proof of what the First Order is doing, and we need a public face that isn't military or paramilitary for that matter."

"Shrike," Han asked, "could your spooks spring Lando and the others from Chandrila?"

"Could. No guarantees no one ain't gonna die though, and considerin' it's 'paramilitaries' doing it, we're just gonna-" someone called from offscreen and he nodded, "I think we just got us a solution to our problem. Counselor Organa-Solo is up and transmittin'."

Ackbar watched Han's face light up as a moment later she appeared at the holographic table. She was worse for wear with most of her head bandaged and her arm in a sling, but she was alive and Han had to restrain himself from immediately walking over and embracing her. Ackbar made a note to give them their moment once the meeting was concluded.

"Madam Counselor," he addressed, "I am happy to see you still alive."

"I am as well, though I wish it was under better circumstances," she then cracked a smile, "I just hope you aren't plotting something without me?"

She was quickly brought up to speed and she shook her head sadly, "There is only way this plays out that doesn't involve the New Republic being torn to pieces. I have to go to Chandrila myself and confront Borealis publically."

"Leia," Han's hand took hers, "you were almost killed the last time you went there, and considering what Borealis has done already-"

"I know. But this is the only way. The New Republic cannot survive another coup. If Borealis is to be removed from office, it must be done within the confines of the law. It must be done by the Congress."

"With respect, Counselor, Borealis is just as likely to arrest you the moment you appear in system. I will assign Commodore Antilles to accompany you to the planet."

"Gial, I don't want to give off the illusion that I am invader, and bringing warships with me will make me seem exactly that. I must go unarmed."

"Leia, Borealis wants blood and kind words won't dissuade him. And even with this map, that isn't proof enough of what the First Order is doing. Not decisive enough proof, at least. We need expediency, and moreover we need the support of the people."

"We broadcast it."

Everyone at the table turned to Han. "When we find the Forge, we broadcast everything that happens."

He brought up the estimated area the Forge was believed to be in, "From what we've gathered, the Forge is in Neutral Zone. If the First Order seize it first and we have proof, then they'll only have two cards to play. Either back down or fight. Either way, the galaxy gets to see their real hand."

Leia smiled proudly at him, "I will say it again, dear, you should've entered politics with me. You would've been quite good at it."

Han grinned, "Not good enough to withstand the scandal that'd follow. Regardless, this broadcast might just give you your audience."

"In the meantime, we will need to move quickly if we are to win this war," Ackbar interrupted, "I will take the Fifth Fleet to secure the Forge as soon as we have it's location. Antilles will accompany me. Raddus and Blackburn will move to secure our major hyperspace lanes and entry worlds in case of an invasion."

"I'm coming with you," Han replied, looking briefly at Leia, "you'll need someone to help coordinate ground efforts."

"Very well then. Shrike, in case things take a drastic turn-"

"My boys will be ready," the Commandant confirmed.

"Then I conclude this meeting. I will give Blackburn his orders, and begin preparations. I suggest you all do the same. May the Force be with us."

As soon as Ackbar and the rest of the council filtered out, Han and Leia immediately embraced. Even though she was merely a hard-light projection, Han never felt more relieved than in that moment and didn't want to let her go.

"Don't do that again," he whispered.

"Do what?" she asked with a smile.

"Go and damn near getting yourself killed. You'll give me a heart attack one of these days."

She grinned up at him, "After all these years? Not likely. Someone has to keep things from falling apart."

"Let someone else do than, then. That's what the young are supposed to do. You've more than earned a retirement."

"You first."

"Not a chance."

That earned a much needed laugh out of them. It was a stark prelude to what was on Han's mind. "Leia… I found our son. He took Rey on Takodana."

"I know," she whispered, shaking her head sorrowfully, "the only reason I'm alive is because of him. But he… he reeked of the Dark Side. I think he's become one of them, Han. Just like I feared he would."

Han scowled, "You knew?"

"I suspected," she sighed, "Han, I haven't been the best mother. I wasn't there enough for him."

"You were trying to keep the New Republic together."

"Maybe, but at times his master was more a mother to him than I was. Ahsoka was always there when he needed him, just like you were. How else was he going to react when she was killed?"

"Leia, what happened to Cale is not your fault. He loves you. Him warning you should be proof of that."

"And yet he fell. If I just been there for him…" she trailed off, scoffing, "and here I am again, more concerned with keeping the New Republic together than being with our son."

"Stop it!" Han snapped, "If it weren't for you, the New Republic would've collapsed a long time ago. We'd be in an even worse situation than before. None of this is your fault."

"He's my son, Han!" she cried, "And he's becoming just like his grandfather."

"No, he's not," Han whispered, his face grave, "he killed one of his own to protect me."

"And then he took Rey."

"He won't do anything to her, Leia. I know it. Considering everything he's done to this point," he sighed, his eyes become resolute, "our son is still in there, and I am going to bring him home. One way or another."

Leia rested her hand against Han's cheek, her eyes weary, "I know. Just come home... both of you."

"Princess Leia!" They heard 3PO called behind them, "The Captain needs you on the bridge!"

"Tell him I'll be right there, 3PO," she sighed, looking tearfully at her husband. Han took her face in her face in his hands, their foreheads resting against each other in an embrace as her holographic form disappeared. He sighed, and activated his comm.

"Chewie, meet me in the hangar. We've got a job to do."

Author's notes

Hey everybody, this is JSailer and Squasher. We apologize for the late submission, but the new semester started today. Fortunately, we got this chapter done in time for our deadline. We want to thank Terminator-57, Kamen Rider Raika, Alexeij and Guest Isa for their outstanding reviews. You guys help us greatly improve our story. Speaking of improvements, the Prologue all the way up to Chapter 7 and chapters 17, 18, and 19 as well as Intermission 3 have all been edited and improved upon. We hope to get more of our previous chapters edited up to a better standard in the next coming weeks.

And remember, dreams are only dreams until they are not.