Chapter 22
"How's it going up there, Sticks?" After Jacen had ensured Tenel Ka's safety with Eriana, he took Womprat to patch into the Palace communication array and make contact with the Solo Quest. "Hope you didn't scratch the paint!"
"Funny, little brother," Jaina shot back. "The Mandos are putting up a good fight, but so are the Hapans. I hate to say it, but it looks like the Sith might…" a loud noise came over the comm. "Sithspit! Er…Sorry 'bout that Jace. Yeah, the Sith might actually win this one. By the way, the Falcon's en route to you. Dad said something about a delivery for you."
"Great! The Sith are toast down here, but the Mandalorians are making short work of the Hapan defense force," Jacen relayed. "Tenel Ka's in a bacta tank, and should be up in about an hour. Luckily they keep some of the concentrated stuff straight from Tyferria around here for her. If Uncle Luke got those blowhards in the Council to approve my request, you should find things much easier up there shortly. Once Tenel Ka's out of the tank, we're going to take the fight to the Mandos."
"Tenel Ka's tanked, and you're beating the Mandos?" Jaina said, quite obviously distracted. "I didn't realize she's that good a fighter drunk. What about the Si- Watch it, Sev!"
"The Sith are polishing my boots," Jacen said, chuckling softly to himself while Jaina spewed a long list of curses, some in languages Jacen hardly recognized. "And want to take you on a date."
"Keep given' them the boot today," Jaina replied, oblivious to the joke. "Gotta go, big fight up here. Keep at it. Quest out."
"Query: Master, is your entire meatbag lineage so clueless?"
"Get me Master Luke on Ossus."
A few moments later a miniature hologram of Luke's body appeared. "Hello, Jacen, how are things going on Hapes?"
"Jaina's getting her butt kicked in orbit, and the Hapans are getting slaughtered down here by the Mandalorians. At least all the Sith on the ground are out of the fight," Jacen summarized. "Also, we got Tenel Ka into bacta about an hour ago with a lightsaber burn that grazed her heart and barely missed her spine, but she should be on her feet in another hour. Once she's out of the tank, we're going to start rallying the troops against the Mandalorians on the ground. However, this would go a lot easier with a Republic task force and a couple squadrons of Jedi in X-wings."
"Two hours in a bacta tank for that much damage?" Luke asked.
"Its concentrated bacta and I've been helping her out a bit," Jacen said. He wanted to avoid mention of his time warping abilities which were currently making those two hours seem like a day for Tenel Ka.
"Understood," Luke still looked leery. "Well, I have good news and bad news. The nearest Alliance fleet is on its way, but it is eight hours out. Also, it'll take about that long to get some Jedi there in X-wings from Ossus. Corran and Kyle are already on their way with one squad each."
"There are no Jedi stationed closer?" Jacen asked in disbelief.
"Not with X-wings, and almost none with battle ready ships," Luke said in dismay. "But the good news is that your parents should be arriving in system momentarily with the Falcon. They were transporting Saba, Tesar, and their apprentices back from a mission that went sour. I've instructed your parents to make contact with you upon arrival in the system and to drop Saba off at the Palace if they can't find you."
"Jaina informed me they just arrived, but that is good news," Two Barabels and their apprentices would go a long ways to helping the fight, and the Falcon with his parents flying it was worth a handful of Jedi. "What about the Noghri?"
"Needed for the Falcon's turrets."
"Understood. And thank you," Jacen said gratefully. "This battle is pretty messy though. Hapes will need some serious rebuilding efforts once the Sith are removed from the system."
"Jacen, there is more bad news," Luke looked upset, almost bitter. "After I had Cal send a fleet to help out, the senate received a message from the Mandalorians which is inspiring them to withdrawal support from the Jedi. In summary, the Mandos want us, not the Republic. The Republic doesn't understand why they should put their necks on the line for the hundred or so of us, especially considering they don't believe the Sith are back. They don't see our evidence as compelling, and there are groups still holding out that Leia assassinated Othrul. They're refusing to support us with any material, military or otherwise. If the Mandalorians stick to their plan to attack us alone, the Republic won't get involved. The Senate has already voted. In fact, it is the fastest vote they've had in five years."
"That's ridiculous!" Jacen exclaimed. "The number of times we got our heads chopped off for them during the Vong war, and they won't back us up? And whom will they attack next? They'll take the entire Alliance over one member at a time!"
"I already went over this with Cal Omas," Luke's weariness came through the video. "After some very bitter words on both sides, he terminated the connection on me. It looks like we're on our own. At least they haven't tried rounding us up yet to hand over to the Mandos."
"What about Hapes?"
"As members of the GA, they are entitled to military and economic support according to the Charter everyone signed."
"Didn't the Jedi sign that?"
"Yes," Luke said bitterly, "but Cal was quick to point out that there is a clause exempting assistance if a particular group, such as Hapes or the Remnant, goes to war over an internal or external dispute that does not affect the other parties. The only way around it is if the other parties are willing to get involved, and the former Republic is not interested in helping us. Recall how the Bothans aren't getting any support in their quest to hunt down the Vong."
"This doesn't make sense," Jacen said. "We're being attacked by an external force!"
"I think there is more going on than what meets the eye," Luke said. "Several planets have claimed they want to separate from the Alliance if the Jedi stay in. To them, it seems a couple hundred Jedi aren't as important as sixty-three planets and a powerful fleet. We believe they are being bribed with resources out of Mandalorian space, being offered the chance to jumpstart their economies by opposing the Jedi. It's a dirty game, but they are playing it."
"This is ridiculous. Maybe the Empire or Hapes will be interested in backing us up once this is over" Jacen mused. "Pellaeon still owes us a favour or two."
"Yes, but as you said, Hapes has a huge rebuilding effort ahead," Luke sighed. "Jacen, now isn't the time for this conversation..."
"Interruption: Excuse me Master," Womprat interrupted, "But I am receiving a communication from the Millenium Falcon."
"I'll let you go," Luke said. "Jacen, your mission is to liberate Hapes from the Sith and Mandalorians. Do not fail. May the Force be with you."
Jacen nodded as the transmission ended from Luke's end and he asked Womprat to put his parents on.
"Hey Kid, we've got a delivery for you!" Han Solo's voice boomed over Womprat's speaker system.
"I hope it involves two lizards, two humans, and four lightsabers," Jacen replied.
"That and more," Han said happily. "Got us a crate of thermal detonators."
"Finally some good news," Jacen said. "Bring the goods to the Fountain Palace, Dad. I'll meet you at the north landing pad and clear your approach. Better hurry, Jaina sounds like she could use some help up there."
"Falcon out!"
"Womprat, I need you to falsify some ID so the landing pad guards know I'm a good guy," Jacen said thoughtfully. "Nothing to do with Jedi. Something about Tenel Ka's personal guard. How long will it take?"
"Estimation: Thanks to my superior slicing abilities, as developed over the ..."
"Threepio, give me an estimation of time."
Womprat emitted a burst of annoyed static. "Re-Estimation: Approximately five minutes, Master."
"You have two," Jacen corrected. "Until then, I'm going to check on Tenel Ka."
-! #$%^&*()
"Interruption: Excuse me Master, but I am receiving a communication from the Millenium Falcon."
"I'll let you go," Luke said. "Jacen, your mission is to liberate Hapes from the Sith and Mandalorians. Do not fail. May the Force be with you."
Luke terminated the connection to Hapes as the door to the communication room opened. Mara rushed in wearing her standard combat gear. Ben, wearing in a miniature combat outfit of his own, was on her heels.
"What's going on?" Luke demanded. Combat gear was almost never worn on Ossus.
"The Mandalorians," Mara said heavily. "They just dropped out of hyperspace and demolished the Republic fleet in orbit before they knew what happened. Our planetary defences are active but they're sending drop ships outside the shield perimeter. Hapes was just a diversion to draw our best away from here. Luke, we don't stand a snowball's chance on Mustafar."
Luke left Mara behind in the communication room to try signalling for help, but he did not expect her to find anyone who would be willing to go head-to-head with a Mandalorian fleet. The Jedi who had just left were in the communication blackout of hyperspace, and the Republic had already made it clear where they stood on helping the Jedi. He made his way to his and Mara's apartment and replaced his Jedi robes with his combat gear. Fully armed and armoured, or as much as a Jedi would allow himself to be, he headed for the younglings' dorms and activated his comlink.
"Lowbacca, Kyp, Tionne, Kam, Cilghal, this is Luke."
A grunt signaled Lowie's acknowledgement, but the others were unheard of.
"Lowie, what's our status?"
[Except for several in X-wings, I have the remaining Jedi and administrative staff in the Jade Shadow,] Lowie said. [Your X-wing had to be removed to make room, and is waiting for you in hanger twelve.]
"Good work, Lowbacca," Luke acknowledged. "I'm making a final sweep of the dorm areas. Have you heard from Kyp and the other Masters?"
[Mara went to look for you, while Kyp and Kam started to organize our defences with X-wings and blasters,] Lowie replied. [The rest are with me.]
"Do you know if anyone is missing?"
[Five young Jedi.]
"I'll look for them," Luke said. "Lowbacca, once everyone is on the ship, get out. I'll have Mara and Ben join you shortly. Take every Jedi you can and head to Coruscant. I will notify you if I find anyone and can reach you. If I cannot, leave without me. Repeat: You are not to wait for me."
A moment's silence crackled over the comm.
[Understood,] Lowie barked reluctantly.
Luke called Mara and told her to report to the docking bay, then took a moment to meditate. He searched in his mind for the missing Jedi and found them near the middle of the campus, half way between Kyp's line of defense and the docking bay. He started off at a sprint.
"Kyp?" Luke called into his comlink.
"M… Skywalk…?" Kyp's voice came across the comlink. The Sith had to be jamming the ground communications. "Wh…or…atus?
"Tracking stragglers," Luke called, hoping his response would get through. He augmented the transmission with empathic messages. "You?"
"Found…niper rif…try…hold advancement bac…First wave is…down easy. Must be…lower ranks…cannon fodder…"
"How long can you hold them?" Luke asked, finally reaching the building he felt the missing Jedi in. He burst in and continued to hone in on their life signs.
"…minutes …most. …peat two min…s at…" Kyp's voice continued to break up.
"No heroics Kyp," Luke said. "We're about ready to go. Bug out when you need to."
"Ack…ged."
Luke finally found the Jedi: five younglings not even Ben's age. Startled at his approach, one of them swung a length of pipe at him that struck his wrist.
"Ow!" Luke exclaimed, more surprised than hurt.
"Master Skywalker!" The kids exclaimed. The one who struck him dropped the pipe and looked like he was about to die of shock.
"Hi kids," Luke said rubbing his wrist. "Come on, we have to go. Master Lowbacca is waiting to leave."
"Master," One of the kids grabbed his sleeve. "I'm scared."
Luke knelt down and put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "That's okay, Karvin. So am I."
"You're scared?" Karvin asked with the tone of someone who was just told water was dry. "But, you're a Master!"
"Masters get scared too," Luke explained patiently. Time was running out. "Right now, I'm scared that you might not get to safety."
"Aband…osts…Luke…can't hold…try blast…X-wings," Kyp's voice came from Luke's comlink.
"We have to go, now," Luke said gently but firmly, taking Karvin's hand and leading him towards the exit. The others followed.
"Lowie, I'm coming with the kids. Give me one minute!"
[I'm coming to you!] Lowie roared back.