"I anticipate that attack could come as soon as the next several days." Isard leaned over the round conference table, taking a moment to stare into each of the councilor's eyes. She lingered over Sate Pestage, pressing her lips together into a thin grimace. "Though unfortunately the details remain unclear. In spite of their success in assassinating the Emperor, my sources report that the Rebels remain intent on improvisation."

Standing up, she let her words sink in. Most of the group gave her a bland stare, still unwilling after everything that had happened to admit their trepidation in front of a woman. Pestage, however, mimicked Isard's tight lipped sneer. At least one of these fools had a healthy respect for his mortality.

Of course, respect didn't translate to insight into the true threats that had their sights on his life. Such as, for example, Ysanne Isard.

"Your recommendations, Madam Director?" Pestage asked, drawing a derisive cough from somewhere around the table.

Isard allowed a small smile. "As I mentioned, the Rebels are planning to jump into close range of the system with at least four capital ships. They believe that the ion cannon mounted on one of their alien cruisers will disable the local shield array, leaving the palace vulnerable to a bombardment."

"Cowards," Ars Dangor spat. Isard ignored him.

"I recommend a two pronged approach that will simultaneous protect you from attack and draw a significant portion of the Rebel fleet into an indefensible position. Several of our own capital ships are nearly ready to leave dry dock at Kuat and would have adequate capabilities to take out Rebel ships in an ambush."

"And how do you propose to pull them into an ambush?" Pestage asked, turning critical. "If they make a sudden jump into this system, we would be unable to destroy their ships without collateral damage on our side."

"That's why it won't be in this system," Isard told him. "We will convince the Rebels that you all have become aware of their plot and relocated to a remote system. When they send some of their fleet to destroy you, we will attack."

Several of the men gave her skeptical looks. She paid them no mind. Their respect for her military planning capabilities was about to become obsolete. She just needed Pestage to buy in.

"And you believe this will work? I am uncomfortable risking our entire government to this venture."

"Of course," Isard said smoothly. "We will also add to our defenses here. No one but the members of this council or your staff will be able to access this august body."

Pestage assented with a nod. "Carry on then, Madam Director."

"As you command." She bowed deeply and stepped briskly out of the room. Two red robed guards gestured her out and then pulled the door shut behind her with a decisive thump. She ignored them.

Keeping a grim look on her face, Isard continued down the hall towards the turbolift, letting her gaze drift from side to side at the palace staff who hustled quietly down the corridors carrying datapads or serving dishes. She had hoped to spot the Rebel princess again, who had unwittingly become key to Isard's plan to become the newest ruler of the Empire. Though she didn't want to startle her into action too quickly. That could be a disaster, especially since she was in the unusually frustrating position of having no idea what the girl was plotting.

Her quick search of the Princess's dormitory gave her little knowledge of value, but for the fact that she was sharing it with a man. She'd assumed it was likely one of Organa's regular associates, but hadn't gotten a good glimpse as he disappeared down the hall. There had been no sign of either Luke Skywalker or Han Solo since the tragedy at Endor, so either was a distinct possibility. But beyond knowing that she had an accomplice, Isard hadn't found anything indicating that they were placing beacons or bombs or anything else that one might expect from undercover operatives. That left direct assassination—Isard's working hypothesis.

That was all well and good, so long as it left the council dead. Once they were dealt with, she would kill the princess and her consort, and then place blame for the murder of the council on a mysterious and yet-unidentified internal assailant. Declaring an emergency with a planet-wide blockade was the next step. Then it was simply a matter of pinning the killings on a high ranking Imperial Navy official—she hadn't decided who yet, but that would come—and accusing the military of an attempted coup. Her ascent to leader….no, Empress…would practically be demanded by the war weary populace.

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"Ha…Tocal!" Leia caught herself before accidentally shouting out Han's name in the murky, crowded night. Still keeping a tight grasp on her hand, he strode down the street, weaving past humans that were bumbling from nightclub to nightclub. In spite of her protests he showed little sign of slowing down.

Finally they turned a corner and he pulled her into a boarded up doorway. "We're getting out of here," he growled.

"Why? Because of Wa-Janar?" Leia snapped. "That's ridiculous."

"No, because the Imps are onto us."

"What makes you think that?" Leia demanded. "Why now? If they didn't recognize us when we first got here."

"I don't feel much like speculating right now," he told her firmly. "Someone was in our room tonight, and I don't think it was because they wanted to borrow a cup of sugar."

Leia's eyes narrowed. "How do you know?"

"Door was open."

"Give me a break. You really think the Imps would have snuck in and left the door open?"

"I told you," he said, poking a finger in her face, "I am not in a mood for speculating. Someone was in there and we are not going back."

"I am not giving up this opportunity that easily," Leia retorted hotly.

"You're going to get yourself killed?"

"So what if I do? As long as I take them with me…."

Holding her by the shoulders, Han sighed deeply, reminding himself that he'd known she was an idealist when he first made his moves on her. Between her and the kid, the crazy was rubbing off.

Mistaking his silence for a refusal to debate further, Leia continued her speech. "I deserve this chance. The Empire took everything from me, and this is my one chance to take everything back from them. With the ruling council gone, the Alliance can take Coruscant…"

"Okay, okay." A good soldier knew when to retreat. "But we're at least going to get our strategy mapped out before we go back tonight. I've finished mapping the crawlspaces and I'm getting sick of mucking my way through Imperial pipes every day waiting for some real action."

"Of course!" Leia's voice was chipper again. "Let's find somewhere we can talk."

"What about here?" Han asked with a shrug. The doorway was dark, and the buzz of the nearby crowds drowned out any voices.

With a particularly royal twitch of her nose, Leia shook her head. "I was thinking maybe somewhere that smelled less like bodily fluids. There must be a tea house around here somewhere. I have money…"

"Me too." Leia gave him a questioning look. "Some guys back at the palace have an inflated sense of their skills at sabaac." She chuckled. "Your girlfriends aren't going to wonder where you went?"

"They were so drunk I'll be shocked if they can find their way back to the palace," Leia scoffed. "Now, let's start planning, flyboy."

"After you, your highnessness."

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A/n Hey everybody—I haven't disappeared. It's just that between the demanding new job and my preschooler I've been way too tired to write recently. Hoping to do more shortly, but I hope this tides you over in the meantime. (Also, ladypeter—thanks for your note! I'm good….just need a few more hours in the day!) RB