Disclaimer: Still not mine

Chapter 13

"What is it Captain?" Luke asked as he walked onto the bridge, Cody at his side, Boomer and Spark at their backs.

"Apologies for interrupting My Lord, but we've picked up a distress call." Needa handed over the details and Luke scanned them.

"Set course to intercept, prepare a shuttle and fighter escort to look for survivors. It could be genuine or it could be a trap so be careful." He reached out into the Force but sensed nothing. "It doesn't feel like a trap."

"At once." Needa turned to give the order to change course for the origin of the signal. They remained on the bridge and Luke's hands balled into fists as they reverted from hyperspace and got a look at the derelict ship, a slaving craft. "Launch search party." Needa ordered and they watched the shuttle and its escort fly the distance between the two ships.

Luke frowned as he sensed a spike of horrified anger and worry. "Medical team to landing bay 2." He called into his commlink before leaving the bridge, wanting to meet the shuttle. It eventually landed and a rather angry looking Captain stalked off with a more subdued lieutenant following but Luke could feel he was angry too. "Captain?"

"Nothing but slaves' sir." He sneered and Luke stiffened, he was the freeborn son of an ex-slave after all.

"Children sir." The lieutenant added stiffly and Luke waved the medical team forward.

"Vermin." The Captain retorted and Luke shot him a warning look.

"Please explain Lieutenant…"

"Solo, sir. The children are Wookie's, as is the barely alive pilot. They escaped form illegal slavers but barely made it this far." He explained, standing at attention before the Prince…er…Colonel? He may be coming to dislike the Imperial Navy but he knew Lord Vader's reputation and didn't want to see if his son had his temper.

Luke glanced at Boomer. "Ensure the medics treat them all and then have them quartered in the empty barracks room near the 212th."

"Yes sir." Boomer moved to find the medics, leaving only Spark to guard their Prince.

"A notation shall be marked in your file Captain, I suggest you pack as your transfer orders will come through shortly. Come with me Solo." He left the hanger as the first child was brought out of the slaver ship and he felt a flash of anger at his or her condition. No one should be treated like that, he had no problems with non-humans, another area where he disagreed with their vaunted leader but it was hard to do anything about it. He was too new still and wasn't around the Court enough to attempt political manoeuvring and he was far too new to the rank of Colonel for other military leaders to really listen to him. He led Solo into his office, Spark remaining outside at the door. "You're not in trouble Lieutenant, sit down."

"Yes sir." Han sat down, still wary. It felt odd being in front of a Colonel that had to be at least ten years his junior.

"I take it you do not agree with the official stance on slavery?" He asked and felt the older man's fear and worry. "Neither do I." Luke felt the Force nudge him, this man would make a loyal ally. "It would be hypocritical if I did, I am the freeborn son of an ex-slave after all." He admitted softly.

Han froze, he was what? Why would he tell him this? Was he to die?

Luke looked down at his terminal, seeing the personal file displayed there. "You are an excellent pilot Lieutenant and I find myself in need of a new squadron commander." He had also noticed the first class Corellian Blood stripes, the red piping obvious against his uniform.

Han hesitated but then forged ahead. "What happened to the last one?"

"Transferred for a similar reason the Captain will be. It is taking time but I hope to have the Avenger crewed by those who truly wish to make the galaxy a safer place. Everything the Emperor promised and yet has failed to provide. So, this is your choice Lieutenant Solo, take the position and promotion or leave the Navy because other commanders will not allow this type of behaviour." He sat back and allowed the man to think.

Han didn't know what to think. He couldn't go back to Corellia, there was nothing there for him, never had been really. Shrike still wanted him dead after all. Go back to Imperial Centre with no Bria waiting for him was just as unappealing, especially after all her Father had done to get him into the Navy. He could turn his hand to racing or smuggling but neither of those tended to lead to a long life. "Sir? What will happen to the Wookie's?"

"They will be healed and then dropped off on Lothal, where the slaver ship will be sold and replaced with another for their use." Luke explained.

"It would be my honour to serve Sir."

"Then welcome to Blade Squadron, Captain Solo." Luke offered his hand and they shook.

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Vader studied the data he had finally gained access to and felt disgusted. So, this was Krennic's pet project, begun during the madness of the Clone Wars. It had stalled for several years but then nine years ago Galen Erso had reappeared and the project was back on track, though still plagues by problems. He would have to insinuate himself into this, such things were an offence to the Force and yet the Emperor encouraged such research. He'd been wary of the Tarkin Initiative since its inception, partially due to what the man had done to his one-time Commander. She had left him but he had never blamed her for that, he had blamed the Council and Tarkin. And with this project his suspicions were confirmed, Tarkin was mad. Such a weapon…it would do nothing to bring peace, planets would rebel as soon as it was used, even if it may mean death.

There was one bright point, it appeared Erso was not as enamoured with the project as Krennic. It was almost impossible to spot but he was positive the man was sabotaging his own work while making himself appear indispensable to Krennic. For now, it appeared things could be left, but the project would eventually need dealing with, along with Tarkin and Krennic.

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Luke studied the layout, Captain's Needa and Solo across the table from him and Cody at his side as they planned the attack. Solo would lead the pilots in giving them air cover and engaging the rebel pilots. While they were doing that the 212th would engage the ground troops and attempt to take the base intact. This would be his first big engagement as General and like his Father he planned to lead his men from the front. It wasn't the Rebellions main base, that remained well hidden, but it was still larger than normal. Intel said it was a staging ground for something so they needed to deal with it swiftly.

"Sir, are you sure,"

"I am going in with my men, Captain Needa," Luke cut him off calmly, "there is something…. I need to be there."

"Very well sir." The older man backed down and glanced at his fellow Captain who nodded, his squadron would ensure the enemy forces were thinned via aerial bombardment as much as possible before the Prince even landed.

"Everyone knows their role, get some rest gentlemen." Luke dismissed them. "That includes you Cody." He pointed out when he sensed his Commander had remained.

"Is what you've sensed dangerous Sir?" Cody moved up, removing his helmet, knowing his General wouldn't discipline him for it. The Prince actually preferred them to remove their helmets unlike others.

"Familiar but not dangerous, not now anyway." He shrugged. He had his suspicions but wouldn't voice them. Ahsoka and her Captain were the only two Rebels he would allow to walk away. His Father's message from Senator Organa had cooled some of his anger towards parts of the Rebellion but not all. He may not like the Emperor any more than they did but they had shown there was no option to ally. So they would have to be destroyed or brought to heel somehow.

TBC…