Luke didn't let Leia's words bother him while he was fighting and landing on a landing bay. He didn't try to let his voice sound like he was crying, but he knew Ackbar and his sister heard it while listening to Command's orders.
"Medical to Command, I've succesfully landed on Naboo with Anakin. We will enter Theed as soon as all the fighters are in."
"Copy that, Medical. Bring in the supplies when Theed is captured. The Gungans will be in the water 3,000 standard kilometers from Theed. You need to get through Theed; there is no other way," Leia responded without any indication that something had happened.
"Copy that, Command," Luke said. "We will use the residential streets. We will check in if we need directions. Medical out." Luke directed Anakin and the fleet members through the destructed architechture. Luke could sense Anakin's regret of the destruction. The Nubians had been taken hostage and forced to live somewhere else, causing the buildings to decay. The only one that seemed the most intact was the Palace and Senate Building. Anakin hardly remembered the beauty as he made the back of the formation. Luke could sense all of this, causing his breath to catch, but he didn't want the fleet to know of the secret battle he and his father were facing.
-
Han directed the fleet through the rest of the Imperial TIES, instructing the many X- and Y-Wings to finish of the remaining few before entering the atmosphere. Han flew the Falcon expertly, with the help of Chewie, onto the landing bay where Luke had settled down.
"Gold Leader to Command, we are awaiting orders to invade."
"Copy that, Gold Leader. We are waiting for Medical to reach the Hidden City of the Gungans. Once they have announced the Gungan's help, we will inform you to move into the Palace and Senate Building."
"Will await orders. Gold Leader out." Han recited automatically. He was a slightly relieved to hear Ackbar had answered.
[Han, you need to think about the mission,] Chewie warned. [I know you are thinking about other things.]
"Chewie, it's not always fun to have you right there," Han said, leaning leisurely back into his captain's chair. "It is nice when you have Rebel's listening into your conversation without being asked." Han had no idea how he knew Rebels were behind him listening, but he knew they were. He listened while hearing them leave and picked up the conversation after they had left.
[Sometimes it's annoying being a General,] Chewie whined. [You become popular without your consent.]
"Or you just get too little attention from a certain person because they can't talk openly with you because somebody will be flocking you."
Chewie could sense Han's agitation but didn't try to quell it. Chewie only let his friend sit back and sulk like he always does.
-
Luke finally found his way through the city and managed to aviod Command's consult. "Medical to Command, we successfully made it through the city without any violence. We should see wharves soon. We can ask for something to take us through the planet core. That is the fastest way if the nav readings are correct. That should take a few hours. I recommend the Gold Group move into Theed and begin taking over the city once all fighters are in. There is a little village on the south side that doesn't look to have any main connections with Theed other than a bridge, but it's not guarded."
"Copy that, Medical, will proceed with your strategy." Shavit, it's Leia. Why did she have to answer?
"Medical out." Luke put the comm unit in his belt before motioning for them to proceed.
-
"This is Command to Gold Leader. You have signified all of your fighters are in. There is a village on the south side of Theed, allowing you to siege that before moving into the city. You are to seige and wait in the the village until given orders to proceed. You will meet the Medical group with the Gungans in the west market. You will then take over the Senate Building while Medical will go back and transport the supplies to the Senate Building. Together, you will take over the Palace. Do you understand your orders?"
Shavit, it's Leia, Han thought. "Yes. Gold leader out."
[Great job. I'm sure she'll tell you what she wants now.]
"Thanks for the support, Chewie," Han grumbled.
[Just think about the mission.]
"Would you stop saying that, Chewie?" Han finally noticed how he was making complete nonsense, and he was talking in questions and simple statements.
[Now people think you're weird.]
"What about you?" Han ignored the whispering of the fleet. "After all, think of where you come from and how you speak. You don't speak Basic."
[But at least you can translate for me.]
"Not if you keep up this attitude."
[I have to stay by you; I owe you a life debt.]
"I really wish I hadn't now," Han said lowly, making Chewbacca whimper in hurt. "What is it with everyone getting hurt these days. Can't we all just get along? I'm hurt because Leia won't tell me anything. You're hurt because of that, Luke's hurt for some odd reason. I can't stand it anymore. I think we need a meeting with the entire fleet and just tell everyone what is going on."
[That defeats the purpose of secrets. C'mon, we've got to go.] Chewie left Han standing in the cockpit alone, still putting some extra blaster batteries in his belt. Once they saw the fleet standing at attention outside the ramp, Han walked on by and heard Chewie's soft growl. [Let's get this over with, and then we can sit down with the fleet and pour our hearts out.]
-
Leia's thoughts never waivered from the hurt she caused both Han and Luke. She was creating drama that didn't need to be started. It irked her how words that slipped out caused her own brother to dislike her. He would have likely meditated and given her compassion and forgiveness, granted the time. As it was, he had to leave early the next day to ready the Medical ship and leave for his mission. She wished for him to just reply nicely to her. She did notice that it was him, not Wedge or Anakin, that had kept them informed. Maybe he was trying to make peace. Then again, he could also be trying to keep suspicion away from the fleet. She thought about this while Ackbar took in the next informant and settled on a strategy for them. They were the ones that were taking more supplies to the lake countries on Naboo. They were supposed to drop them off and come back to Coruscant as soon as everything was unloaded. The commanding officer's voice came through statically that they had just landed on the planet.
"You have weapons. I want you to fly over to Gungan City and help with the negotiations. When that is settled, you will help in the fight. I'm afraid we lost several crucial fighters in the battle. We will need all the help we can get. When you have run completely out of weapons, you take your platoon back into the Medical Frigate to take care of your wounded. We will see you when you come up. You will then get much more supplies for your crew and the fleets on the surface. May the Force be with you."
Leia heard the platoon sign out before answering Han's incoming call. It was sheer luck (Luke wouldn't call it that) that she was getting Gold Leader's and Medical's incoming calls.
"This is Medical to Command. We have acquired a vehicle to take us through the core. We will lose connection while going through it. Do not try to contact us."
"Copy that, Medical. Inform us when you have completed negotiations with the Gungans. Perservere for their cooperation."
"Copy that. Gold leader out."
Hearing Luke's voice hardly lifted her moods, but it did give her courage when she was forced to take a technical call within the flagship. The impatient officer watching over it was quite rude to Leia, but Leia was patient with what he said. She was able to reason the problem and tell him how to do it calmly without any entanglements. A simple but quiet thanks came out of his mouth while she was leaving the area.
-
Luke expertly guided the large bongo while avoiding the creatures in the core. He was in constant connection with the Force as he tried to navigate through the caverns of fish and aid him with directions.
"How soon until we get there?" Wedge inquired.
"I think about two hours. We will also have to find the Hidden City It should be in a clearing after all of these caverns. Once we get through this, it should be within viewing distance."
"Good. Inform me when we get through this and we're in the clearing." Wedge left to his perch and relax. Anakin took over his spot.
"Are you alright?" Luke asked, voice barely above a whisper.
"No. But I suppose I'll just have to live with it," Anakin muttered defeatedly.
"Father, you can trust me. You don't have to keep everything to yourself." Luke let the Force take over his job, enabling him to face his father, who was facing the water in front of them.
"Not here. Besides, they are listening into our conversation."
"Fine, when we are finally alone. But I want Leia and Han there, too."