Disclaimer: Not mine
Chapter 29
Vader strode from his shuttle and into the Palace, ignoring the men who stared in fear. He went straight for the Throne Room where he found his one-time Master's body still lying where it had fallen. The Force here was still heavily tainted with the Dark side, echoes of Luke's agony of Palpatine's death. He knew Luke would not wish to rule from here, perhaps it could eventually return to being a training place for Force Users but not a Palace. He turned and walked towards the communications centre, he had work to do to secure the planet and his sons Empire.
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"Luke!" Leia called as she strode across the bridge, Jess at her shoulder and Luke looked up from where he'd been discussing strategy with Ahsoka, Rex, Cody, Yularen, Needa and a wary Andor.
"What's wrong?"
"I can't get through to Alderaan. Not Father's private codes, Mothers, the Palace…any codes I try won't connect," there was fear in her eyes and Luke turned to Yularen who was already calling on a communications officer. They waited in silence, a silence that spread across the bridge until all were waiting for news.
Luke looked over as Han walked onto the bridge with Tycho. "What is it?"
"Sir," Tycho saluted. "I was in contact with my family on Alderaan when the connection cut out. Before it did there was something in the sky and I caught a brief flash before it cut," he explained.
"Luke?"
But it was Cassian Ando who answered. "The Death Star…just like Jedha. I am sorry Princess."
Luke wrapped his arms around her as she swayed in shock and horror, her head resting on his shoulder as he looked at Needa. "Set course for Alderaan immediately, the others can meet us there. Contact Lord Vader as well."
"At once My Lord," Needa quickly moved to carry out the new Emperor's orders. All aboard new who ascend the Throne and it was not Lord Vader, he was feared and respected, Prince Luke was loved and respected.
Luke looked at Andor, "Contact the Alliance and warn them there's a potentially rogue planet killer out there. And you should probably let them know you're all safe as well. If they want to help take Tarkin and his allies down I am willing to work with them."
Cassian stared at the Prince, a man he had respected for his military skills but had hated for who he served. And yet…it appeared everything was not what he had believed or been told. Princess Leia obviously trusted him, and he could have killed them all, the X-Wing pilots included, or locked them up and interrogated them, instead they had been given standard quarters, medical care and freedom to wander the ship to a point. Finally, he nodded and went into the pit to speak with a communications officer.
All they could do now was wait and prepare for battle.
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They dropped out of hyperspace and the bridge fell utterly silent as they stared at sensors or out the viewport in horrified shock. Where Alderaan should be there was nothing but scattered rock, forming a small asteroid field. A single, choked sob came from Leia even as Luke held her tight, offering comfort and support. There was no sign of the Death Star still in the system.
"My Lord! Incoming holocomm from the Palace." A lieutenant called, and Luke passed Leia to Jesse who supported her. Luke stepped into the holo field as an image of his Father appeared.
"We have control of Imperial Centre for now," Vader assured his son who nodded. "We have been unable to contact Alderaan, the Embassy too cannot contact them."
"We have just arrived in system…" Luke took a deep breath. "Alderaan has been completely destroyed," he finished softly. He felt Ahsoka come closer and waved her forward, so she stepped into the field as well and Vader turned to her.
"Tarkin should have been deposed years ago," he admitted, it had been Tarkin who had led the court case against her so long ago.
"We'll stop him now," she promised.
"Death Squadron shall join you, but the Executor will remain in orbit here."
"Captain Andor is contacting the Alliance with an offer to work together in stopping the Death Star."
"The plans should be stored on Scarif, they may be of some use," Vader advised, and Luke nodded.
"And we have Erso on board, we can ask him about weaknesses. There are over a million men aboard, destroying it will all of them aboard is a last option."
"Agreed," Ahsoka couldn't imagine killing so many, many of whom would be unwilling conscripts, even slaves.
"May the Force be with you."
"And you Father." They stepped back and then went back to the others, seeing Leia was now standing tall, head up and eyes dry. Without a change of clothes, she had been given an Imperial officers uniform without rank insignia and it was an interesting change in look for her, although she had not worn the cap and her hair was in elaborate braids. They moved to a briefing room and Galen Erso was summoned, showing up with his daughter in tow. "Please, be seated."
Galen looked around the table, eyes skimming over the Imperials to the two men in what had to be Alliance uniforms and then on to the sole alien. It looked very much like a military briefing, so why call on him? "How may I serve my Prince?" he forced, himself to ask and the Prince smiled at him.
"The Death Star has destroyed Alderaan," was the answer and Galen closed his eyes, horrified by what he had helped create. "We were hoping you would know of any sort of weakness in the battle station, we don't want a drawn-out fight."
What? "Sir?"
"The Emperor is dead, my Father is currently in control on Coruscant," he used the old, better name for the planet. "Tarkin has not accepted this, despite Father being the Emperor's direct heir. He has gone rogue with the Death Star and possibly other officers and ships. The last thing the Galaxy needs is more war, we need to stop this before Tarkin can gain more support."
Galen frowned and looked to Jyn who was staring at them all with wide eyes. He glanced at the rebel she had been with, seeing his serious expression, he believed this was true then. "I placed a weakness within the station, in the form of a reactor module. Any pressurized explosion to the component will set off a chain reaction that will completely destroy the station. It's in the plans for the station, they are stored under the codename of Stardust on Scarif."
Luke nodded, "Vengeance and Death Squadrons are rendezvousing here, we will then retrieve the plans while searching for the Death Star. Will the Alliance help?" he looked at Andor.
"Thanks to the Princess speaking with Mon Mothma, they are sending a fleet." He stayed silent on Draven's reaction, he was beginning to see his commanding officer was too paranoid and willing to order death.
"Without someone to hold Tarkin's leash he could attack anywhere. He won't boy to Vader or Luke as the Emperor's heirs," Leia warned, and the others nodded.
"A general alert was received from Coruscant only an hour ago, naming Tarkin as a traitor to the Throne and for the fleet to begin tracking him and his supporters down," Yularen added. "It also warned not to engage due to the Death Star's main laser."
"Who will Tarkin target first? The Alliance? Or imperial worlds loyal to the Throne?" Leia asked, and Luke sighed.
"He could target either. If he could wipe out the Alliance he may gain more support for finally ending that threat. On the other hand, he may choose to try and gain a foothold among Imperial world's first. Any hints coming your way from the Force, Ahsoka?"
"Nothing so far," she shook her head. "We should have left him to rot in the Citadel," she grumbled, and Rex gently squeezed her hand, out of sight under the table.
Needa pulled out his commlink when it beeped, listening. "My Lord, several ships have just come out of hyperspace. An MC75 cruiser is leading them."
Luke nodded and stood, "It seems the Alliance has arrived," he offered his hand to Leia and she took it, going with him to the bridge.
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Vader stood before the Throne, the Emperor's body removed by Appo and his men, taken to be disposed of in order to be safe. They didn't want anyone stealing it to try and clone him or find some other worse use for it. He wished to be among the stars, helping Luke hunt Tarkin, but the Imperial Court could not be trusted to not try something stupid, especially those like Grand Vizier Sate Pestage who had been with Palpatine since his days as a Senator, perhaps even longer. His loyalty was to one man only, with him dead he may try to seize the Throne himself. Then there were the Grand Admirals, Advisors and Moffs, some would try to take power, others would follow the one most likely to give them power…few would be loyal to Luke. His son had no liking for politics and had never tried to woo them.
The group entered and pulled up short at seeing him, not the Emperor and he readied himself for a verbal battle, perhaps even a real one should any of the Admirals or Moffs try to actually assassinate him.
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The Eclipse and the rest of Vengeance came out of hyperspace at Scarif, leaving the Alliance fleet to work with Death in searching for the Death Star. He hadn't wanted to bring the whole Squadron, but they did not know who the base here and the ships guarding it would declare loyalty to.
"My Prince, how may we assist you?" the General in charge asked via holo.
"We need to access the vault."
"Of course, Sir, we shall open the shield for your ships." The call ended, and Luke frowned thoughtfully.
"Sir?" Cody asked, seeing the look, "we walking into a trap?"
"I'm not sure, there are…. echoes…" Luke shook it off. "Send down a company, full armour and weapons. Two tie squadrons for support."
"Yes sir." Cody went to arrange his men and Ahsoka joined Luke in looking down at the planet.
"There's something, uncertain," she admitted, and Luke nodded in agreement.
Pat of Luke wanted to go down himself, but this was the sort of job he was expected to hand off to underlings. If something went wrong he could do more up here, then possibly trapped down there behind the shield.
"How is Leia?" Ahsoka asked quietly.
"Holding up, she says she'll grieve when this is done." Luke glanced at Ahsoka. "Do you ever get the feeling she's Force sensitive?"
"Oh?"
"At least twice she has known I was in trouble or pain. And that shot…the Emperor should have sensed her and Cody long before they reached the Throne Room, even focused on killing me."
Ahsoka frowned, that was odd. "Take a midichlorian count if you really want to know."
"Another thing to do later." They watched the ships leave and head for the planet. If all went well they would soon have the plans and could begin working to stop the Death Star.
TBC….