Chapter 78 - New Ally

Bail was a hardworking man, his wife often said. Even his daughter would say he was always busy, usually with a dramatic role of the eyes. And it was true. From his early days in politics, to currently running the rebellion, he was most comfortable with a long list of tasks, and an office that was never quiet.

He encouraged his underlings to speak out and not to wait in procession for their chance to share an idea, unlike what many of his predecessors were apt to do. Thus when he had a meeting, like the one he had this morning, there were several activities all going on at the same time. The newest base plans were in the middle of a table, the official subject at hand. Two other discussions were going on in the room, one about a defensive wall, the other about a paint color. Three of his team were getting coffee, discussing something personal on their way back from the machine on the edge of the room.

"In agreement, I am." Yoda gave his voice to the topic Bail was currently invested in. Then the short man lifted his head, and looked around the room as if at nothing. Bail recognized the look. He had seen his daughter with the same expression when she recognized something with the Force. "Arriving, they are. Postpone this, you should."

Thirty seconds later, a young secretary appeared at their office door and when he waved her over, she gave him the same message. "The Millenium Falcon is approaching, sir."

"Alright then." Bail stood and the room became quiet. "A family matter has come up. We will return to this in our next meeting."

While his staff were gathering up their notes, and preparing to leave, Bail walked right to the door. A faint tapping could be heard from Yoda's cane against the floor as he tried to follow him.


Yoda looked up as he followed the General. Bail was clearly feeling excitement. He'd get to see his daughter again, and if her mission was a success and they had a new ally, it would bring a bunch of resources to the rebellion. In Tibanna gas alone, it would provide enough for their whole fleet, and save them from seeking the resource elsewhere.

When they walked into the room where the others were gathered, Mara's first instinct was to smile at her father. Her next move was to look at her co-patriots and then she pulled her lips back to wet them, as she looked down.

"What happened?" Bail asked. The instinct of an experienced Master, and as Yoda was learning, Father, was to spot deception and pull the truth out of an unwilling party.

"We should probably confess this to you first. There was a bounty hunter," Mara explained.

"Yeah, he took Luke, and some of us had to make a quick detour to get him back." Leia explained.

"Well, It wasn't just me. Han was taken first," Luke protested. His sister gave him a skank eye to protest his interruption.

Mara shook her head. "It isn't important. Han was taken by Lobot. And he was released by the time we learned about your capture." She turned back to her father and went on. "Anyways, just before this we did give Mr. Calrissian our speech."

Both girl's winced. "He wasn't very receptive," said Leia. They were blinking very rapidly. Luke held his head down, and his hand over his lips.

Bail sighed. "Well, that's too bad. But at least you are all here well, and healthy."

Yoda was not buying it. Something in these young people's behavior breathed deception. He was just deciding how to tackle it when the young ones' faces cracked in a smile.

"And that's why we didn't let up. In the end…" Leia started.

Mara pulled out a datapad, and turned it on. "He signed on as a full member of the Alliance," she finished.

Bail's eyes opened wide as he took in the signed treaty.

Anakin laughed as he walked past them, and took a seat at the table. "We had an exciting mission. Lando is prepared to host a recruiter, to see if any of his people want to sign up for service. In addition to this, he promises a first load of Tibanna at the end of the week.

"I'll tell my supply specialists." Bail looked for the first time at the group that was entering their briefing room. "And we have a new face. Who might this be?"

Mara smiled proudly. "He is a new recruit, father. Boba Fett has a background in bounty hunting, and I think there are several areas where he could be useful."

"Welcome to the Rebellion." Bail nodded and greeted the Mandalorian. He tapped a button by the door. When a person showed up, he turned back to Boba. "This is sergeant Vito, my personnel specialist. He will give you a few evaluations and get you settled in." When Boba was gone he turned back to the table. "I'm going to find this mission brief very interesting." Bail took the seat at the head of the table, a signal for everyone to sit down. Yoda squeezed in next to his Padawan, wondering just how she managed to recruit the bounty hunter who went after her brother.


"Wow! Now that was an adventure." Bail had to sit back and blink as he digested the story they told him.

"And how have things progressed here?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Progressing we are." Yoda spoke up. "Eighty-Five percent finished, the new base plans are. And to negotiate with the Yrashu we have begun."

"Oh, I was going to volunteer to help in the negotiations. Is there any way I could be of service?" Obi-Wan offered.

"That will not be necessary. Yoda already contacted Tatooine and he got us a Master-Padawan team to help. They have progressed very far already. The natives have actually allowed us to go out and walk on the land of our future base. We just need to devise a way to bring in our supplies that does not interfere with their hunting lands or their seasonal rainfall.

Anakin's eyebrows rose. "Wow, that was fast. Who did you get to negotiate?"

"Master Coleman and Padawan Kenobi." Yoda answered.

Obi-Wan's eyes went wide in shock. "My Ella-Reese!"

Yoda nodded. "And join the building teams, Kento Merek and Padawan Leo Skywalker will do."

"What!" Anakin blinked rapidly at the older Jedi.

"Agreed to keep the younglings back on Tatooine, the council did. But needed, their help is. And almost eighteen, your younglings are."

Anakin seemed to deflate, a reluctant bit of acceptance on his face.

Obi-Wan, however, stood up and began pacing. "Where is she? Ella-Reese is too young to be out here. Going to strange worlds."

Bail felt bad. He didn't mean for their conversation to turn to this, and he wished the old Jedi would have warned him. He had no idea this youngling was related to either of them. He didn't even know the Padawan's name before now. If he had, he would have tried to meet her at least.

Yoda, meanwhile, sighed. "Gone on many missions to different worlds, in the old days a padawan her age would have. This experience, your younglings need."

Anakin turned to face his former Master. "He's right." Then he turned to say over his shoulder, "You are right, but you should have told us first."

Bail spoke up, eager to help resolve some of this. "We are expecting to hear word from Beskarn within the hour. If you'd like to talk to her when that happens, we can arrange it."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Yes, I'd like that."

Bail pushed a button in the room and when one of his aids peeked in at the door, he ordered them to take Obi-Wan to the communications room.

Anakin leaned back, then asked, "And where is my son?"

"Arriving next week from Tatooine, the next Jedi are." Yoda answered him.

Bail put on his busy politician face and grabbed his schedule before walking out. "I'd love to stay, but I've got lots of work to do."

Mara smiled, shaking her head as he left. She'd seen him do that trick before and was envious of how well it worked, sometimes.

Bail was just glad Anakin hadn't asked where his favorite droid was.


"... And I'll write that memo for the team before the meeting tomorrow." Bail's secretary, Rita, promised as they went over the day's activities.

He interrupted her by asking, "and what did Vito say about our newest recruit? Did he have any ideas for where to assign him?"

"Um, yeah. He said the Mandalorian is a prime candidate for a lot of work. Especially Ahsoka's Fulcrum Initiative. Only he is very insistent about serving alongside the Jedi. Any suggestion that he go on undercover assignments, he has turned down. Otherwise he will not need as much training as an average recruit. He's already very experienced in most weapons and forms of combat."

"Hmm," Bail leaned back to think. "Put him on the next deployment to Beskarn. And tell General Dodonna to keep an eye on him."

Rita made a confused expression. "Sir, if we doubt his loyalty, is it really wise to send him on one of the first deployments to the new base?"

"Oh, I don't doubt his loyalty. Just his motivation. Don't worry. If he does anything funny I'll assign him to the far side of a dark nebula faster than you can type up the report. Besides, there is no better way to test him. He must go out on the lines. And if Kenobi decides to join his daughter in the field after all, the number of Jedi on this mission will go up."

"Hmm," Rita thought. "I'll draft a memo to Dodonna, asap.


Hello Again

This chapter was kind of short, but it hasn't been quite as long since the last update. I couldn't think of a good way to extend it, and it felt better this way.

I did start watching these videos about Lie Detection and body language on Youtube, and thought I'd include a few of them in the chapter. I hoped to make it more colorful by adding the details.

Way back in chapter Sixty Six, Bail asked Anakin about potential sights to move the Rebel base to. Anakin suggested Beskarn, because the natives who lived there, the Yrashu, were Force Sensitive, and it was unlikely to raise suspicion if the Empire detected an increase in activity there. In this chapter, they've basically started to plan a move to this planet.

In my next chapter I am thinking about going to Ella-Reese's Point of View. I know it will be the first time switching away from the main group, but I think I can make it interesting. To remind everyone, this is still a little before the Empire Strikes Back, and the twins are only twenty, Mara is eighteen, and Leo and Ella-Reese are about seventeen and a half. Boba Fett will also be in the chapter too, and we'll hopefully learn where his loyalties lie.