Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 30

Luke could feel the anxiousness of the crew without even trying as they waited, and he knew Ahsoka could sense it as well. When their ships reappeared they all relaxed to a degree and then they had cleared the planetary shield and were moving to dock and while Luke wanted to go to the hanger and meet them he knew he needed to remain on the bridge. Soon Cody returned with Erso who was carrying a case.

He hesitated but then offered it to Luke. "The complete technical readouts."

"Thank you for your help. If you wish we can have a ship take you wherever you wish to go, with your daughter if that is what she wants," Luke told him, sensing his shock.

Galen was shocked by the offer, he had expected to be put to work. This young Prince was unlike any other Imperial he had known. "I will help with the technical readouts and speak with Jyn," he finally answered.

"Thank you, sir." Galen followed an officer from the bridge to where he could work with a team to find the best way to exploit the weakness he had built in.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Vader stepped into the holocam's range as his son appeared before him, Ahsoka and Leia with him. "You have the plans?"

"Yes Father, a team is going over them now. Has there been word?"

"Two of the regional fleets have defected to Tarkin, one was expected as Daala is his protégé. As of yet there has been so sign of the traitors."

"What about Director Isard?" Luke asked warily, next to Tarkin he knew she was the main threat. Pestage was a politician, not a military man and while a threat he was one that could be dealt with far easier than the Director of Imperial Intelligence.

"Missing and according to records here in the Palace she had access to a third Executor-class Star Destroyer, designated the Lusankya. It too is missing, I can find no records of where it has been stationed."

"Lusankya…there are rumours of an Imperial prison with that name," Ahsoka spoke up. "There was an incident a few months back when an Agent who escaped Imperial detention suddenly went crazy, he killed three people before he was killed. His last word was apparently Lusankya."

"Perhaps that is another job that out people can collaborate on," Leia offered, and Vader nodded.

"A sound idea Princess. For now, we have control of the Senate although the Senators themselves are proving all but useless." The call was soon disconnected, and Vader paced the office. He wanted to be out there, helping the search for Tarkin, but someone had to remain here to keep control until Luke could be confirmed as Emperor.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Admiral Raddus stepped onto the bridge of the Eclipse, something he never would have dreamed of doing, especially when not a prisoner. He spotted Fulcrum immediately, the Togruta stood out among the human crew. It took longer to recognise the Princess as she was dressed in an Imperial uniform that had obviously been altered to fit her better. And then he saw the Prince, he was not tall for a human male, there was nothing imposing about him, unlike his Father, and yet something about him drew the eye. The Prince looked up from the screen he had been studying over a seated crewman's shoulder and then stepped away, walking towards him and Raddus felt his men stiffen a little, wary. They had heard the Emperor had injured the Prince and yet he could see no si…no, there was a glove on one hand, protecting a wound perhaps?

"Welcome aboard the Eclipse, Admiral Raddus," Luke greeted, offering his hand and the Admiral slowly clasped it.

"Your Highness," he greeted in return. "Has there been any sign of Tarkin?"

"None, even with a battle station the size of a moon space is vast enough to hide," Luke admitted, leading him to the briefing room and the others followed. Soon they were discussing things as if they had never been enemies.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Needa read the report and his eyes widened even as he reached for his commlink. "My Prince," he called, trying to keep the panic from his voice, though he knew if he wished the Prince would be able to sense it.

"What is it Captain?" Luke answered immediately, able to feel the sudden spikes of emotion from the bridge even from his quarters where he was talking with Ahsoka, Rex and Cody.

"We have a confirmed sighting."

"Where?"

"On course for Naboo," Needa answered nervously.

Luke nearly dropped the commlink and Cody took it to finish getting details from Needa. Naboo… there was no reason to target the planet unless he knew of Vader and Luke's connection to it. After all, it was the Palpatine's homeworld as well. Ahsoka took his hand and he felt her concern through the Force. And then he was up and scrambling for his personal holocomm, quickly inputting the codes for his cousin Pooja before changing to her Mother, his Aunt Sola. Pooja should still be at the Senate after all.

It seemed to take an eternity but finally an image of his Aunt appeared, and she smiled at him. "Luke, what a nice surprise," she greeted before making out his expression. "Pooja? She asked in fear for her daughter.

"Fine as far as I know. Aunt Sola you need to get the family and get off planet, now. Get as many people out as you can."

"What is happening?"

"Moff Tarkin has gone rogue and he has a planet killer, it was spotted heading for Naboo. Al…Alderaan has already been destroyed. I will call the Queen next to warn her officially," he explained shakily and Sola paled, sitting down.

It was impossible and yet she had come to know her nephew even though he visited infrequently. He would not lie to her, not about something like this. "I will ensure the children are evacuated first, I cannot just leave without helping," she told him and watched him bow his head, but he nodded.

"It cannot fire immediately. As soon as it appears you must leave."

"Agreed," she cut the connection and began calling all the family. They had the funds for ships, they would get as many people as possible off planet. And for the first time she was glad that Pooja had joined the Senate, no matter what happened here she at least would be safe.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The massive, mixed fleet appeared at the edge of the system to find they had beaten the Death Star, it was not as fast as their ships were. They moved to orbit the planet, ships immediately descending to help with the evacuation even as every fighter squadron prepared for the coming fight. Only shielded fighters would be attacking the Death Star, those without would handle the fighters launched by the station or any ships with it.

In his quarters Luke finished dressing in his flight suit while Leia watched, dressed once more in a gown of white thanks to a quick message planet side. He could feel her fear for him, for the planet and moved to take her hands in his. She leant against him and then leaned in for a kiss which he happily accepted, shifting to hold her close.

"Don't you dare die out there Skywalker," she snapped, and he could feel her trembling.

"If things look to be going badly my ship is ready and crewed to get you away from here," he told her and felt her stiffen. "You are too important Leia, you are needed to help bridge our two militaries," he finished, letting her know it wasn't just for personal reasons that he had arranged for her escape. "I…" he took a deep breath and kissed her again. "I love you."

Leia smiled at his words. "I love you Luke, just come back to me." She stepped back and then they left, Luke heading for the hanger where Blade Squadrons ships were held while she went to the Bridge where she could be of most use. She watched as the Blades and then the X-Wings of Red Squadron launched. A minute later the Death Star appeared, surrounded by the ships that had defected.

Leia stood on the bridge, watching as the fleets converged on each other even as several other rebel ships and the imperial squadrons dropped out of hyperspace, trapping the traitors between them. Soon the ship was rattling with the occasional hit and when a communications officer was thrown from his seat and needed medical aide, Leia took his place without hesitation.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Luke led the Blades right for the Death Star, able to feel Ahsoka as she served as his wing mate. There weren't many options for accessing the fault Erso had built in, the easiest to access was down a narrow trench and the port was tiny, the kind of shot it was best to have a Force trained pilot take. He didn't know how good the rebel pilots were, but he knew the Blades were the best and most of them couldn't make that shot, even with the targeting computers help. He slipped deeper into the Force, feeling Ahsoka doing the same as they flew at full speed, seeing the enemy fighters being launched to stop them but then normal tie fighter squadrons flashed past to engage them. "Watch your backs, stick with your wing mate," he ordered. Blades 7 through 12, stay high to watch for enemy fighters. 1 though 6, hang back to make a second run if we don't make it."

"General," Han called, and Luke felt his concern and Biggs flat out fear for him.

"That's an order," he said before switching over to a different channel. "Ready Ahsoka?"

"Ready boss," she teased, slipping slightly behind him as they came up on the trench, their shields easily taking the shots from the turrets. They dropped into the trench, still at top speed, trusting the Force. "There it is," she called as it popped up on sensors.

Luke sank even deeper into the Force, finger hovering over the firing control for his torpedoes, feeling the deaths all around him as the battle raged, but not allowing himself to focus on them. He could grieve later for the waste of life. He pressed down, firing the torpedoes even as he pulled up and away from the trench, Ahsoka still on his tail. "Get clear! All ships get clear!" he called over the comm frequencies and their ships began moving away, disengaging from the battles. Realising why they were retreating several of the star destroyers began trying to move away but it was too late as the station vanished in a massive explosion, taking most of its fleet with it. Blade Squadron rode the blast wave away even as communications went dead, everyone in a little shock. Over a million people were now dead, if the Death Star had still been fully staffed, and that wasn't counting those on board the Star Destroyers. "Admiral Yularen," he called.

"Yes, My Lord?"

"Send out retrieval ships to look for escape pods and survivors. Contact the evacuation ships and recall them as well."

"At once," Yularen agreed.

Luke climbed down as soon as the ladder was rolled over to his ship, too tired to be bother jumping down. He had barely stepped foot on the deck when Leia was in his arms and he held her close, if she didn't care that he was hot and sweaty then neither did he. "It's over, Tarkin will never harm anyone else," he promised.

"I'm just glad you're back safe," she smiled at him and he wrapped an arm around her waist as they walked form the hanger. He needed a quick shower and then to contact his Father, trusting his men and the Alliance to handle any surviving ships that had sided with Tarkin. He grinned tiredly as Ahsoka yanked Rex into a kiss. "Everyone hit your bunks or medical, we did our jobs," he called to his pilots and for once there were no cheers at that order, all too subdued from having to fight their own.

TBC….