A/N: I do not own Star Wars: Jedi Quest
Chapter 7: Mission to Ilum
Echo Base, Hoth. 3 ABY.
"Never thought I would return here." Han Solo spoke as he and Leia walked past the remains of the once equipped Rebel base, which was now filled with frozen corpses of Rebel fighters and snowtroopers.
"I agree with you." the princess replied. Both of them were wearing fur coats as they were approaching the hill where Luke Skywalker was buried, carrying shovels.
"And also, I never thought I would be digging up and robbing Luke's grave." Han then added. Leia nodded in agreement. She didn't expect that too. Yet, she had to, in order to reacquire the lightsaber of her father, which was buried with her brother. Leia did not want to admit it, but the fate of the galaxy was now in her hands.
Once they reached the grave, Leia looked at it with sorrow. "Hello, Luke." she said. "Sorry for not visiting you during these last months. So many things have happened; Echo Base was sacked by the Empire shortly after your funeral. I am going to be a Jedi now. And also, a terrible secret was revealed to me. Darth Vader… is your father, our father. We're siblings, Luke. I know we met only a year ago, but I am glad. I am glad that you are my brother and that I finally met you. Since I was a child on Alderaan, despite having so many friends, I was lonely. I always wanted a sibling."
She then stood, crying. Han approached and hugged her, allowing the girl to cry onto her fur coat. It was as if something broke inside Leia. Having an idea, Han hummed a song trying to comfort Leia, while rocking her from time to time.
Once she released the hug, Han looked at her. "Better?"
Leia nodded before saying. "Let's do this quick."
"Agreed." Han answered and the two began digging up the grave. It took some time, but they finally found Luke's body. The lightsaber was held by his hands on the chest. Hesitantly, Leia took the lightsaber from Luke. Burying Luke back, the two paid their respects to the young boy before leaving the grave and returning to the Falcon, where Chewbacca and R2-D2 were waiting for them.
"Where now, Leia?" Han asked as they approached the ship.
"To Ilum, Han." Leia answered. "And from what I saw, I think we'll still be needing our Hoth gear."
Suddenly, the commlink on her belt began buzzing. Sharing a look with Han, Leia took it out and pressed the button.
"Organa speaking."
"Your highness, this is Commander Antilles. Report!" cam the response.
"I can hear you well, commander." Leia answered. "What happened?"
"Princess Leia," Wedge Antilles' voice came out. "Mistress Mothma has summoned you. An urgent council meeting has been assembled. I have the coordinates sent to the Falcon."
Putting the device away, Leia looked at Han. "I guess Ilum can wait."
MC80 Home One-type Star Cruiser Home One.
Once they parked the Millenium Falcon within the hangar of the Mon Calamari Star Cruiser, which served as the flagship of the Rebel fleet, both Leia and Han were met by Wedge Antilles.
"Your highness, Han!" he exclaimed. "Where have you been?" he then noticed the familiar lightsaber attached to Leia's belt. "Isn't that Luke's lightsaber?"
"Wedge, it is a long story," the princess answered.
"But if to make it short; Leia has become a Jedi." Han added. Wedge Antilles looked at Han with shock before turning to Leia with the same look.
"That is quite… unexpected, but you'll tell me more later" he finally answered. "Right now, we must hurry. Everyone is waiting for you."
The three raced to the briefing room. Once they entered, both Han and Leia were surprised to see that many of the Rebel fighters were wearing winter uniforms. There were a few Rebel pilots, like Wedge, wearing their original orange uniforms. Han continued to wear his navy blue jacket, while Leia wore her white jumpsuit and off-white vest. Her brown hair was falling into a single braid. As they both stood, the two young people absentmindedly took each other's hands. Just then, Mon Mothma, Generals Jan Dodonna, Vanden Willard and Crix Madine, and Admiral Gial Ackbar entered the briefing room.
"Princess Leia, welcome back." Mon Mothma greeted her.
"Mon Mothma," Leia greeted back. "I apologise for being absent so long. I…"
"No matter" the woman politely cut her off. "I understand. We were all horrified by the loss of young Skywalker. Though, may I ask, why do you have his lightsaber?"
"Long story," the princess answered. "but in a few words; I am becoming a Jedi."
Mon Mothma raised her eyebrows in shock. "A Jedi? That's unexpected." she said. "No matter, let's begin the briefing." Mothma pressed one of the buttons on the controls and a hologram of a semi-constructed Death Star appeared. Leia froze. Noticing this, Han gently took her hand to comfort her.
"Our spies have received intel that despite the destruction of the first Death Star, the Empire has began constructing another one." Mothma briefed everyone. "According to our intelligence, the new Death Star is above an ice world in the Unknown Regions - Ilum."
Hearing this, both Leia and Han shared shocked looks. By pure coincidence, the new Death Star was where Leia had to get the crystal for her lightsaber.
Hearing this, both Leia and Han shared shocked looks. By pure coincidence, the new Death Star was where Leia had to get the crystal for her lightsaber.
Mon Mothma continued. "It is relatively unprotected. Most important, our spy network has learned that the Emperor is personally overseeing the construction."
Once she mentioned the Emperor, excitement filled the briefing room. When the excitement of this information died down, Admiral Ackbar took the podium.
"This Death Star is not entirely without defences." he spoke. "It is protected by an energy shield generated from an Imperial base on Ilum. No ship can fly through. No weapon can penetrate it. The shield must be deactivated before any attack can be made. But once it's down, our fighters will fly into the station's uncompleted superstructure and attempt to hit its main reactor, somewhere inside. This is the attack Commander Antilles will lead."
Hearing this, Han Solo placed his left hand on Wedge's right shoulder. "Good luck, Antilles" he genuinely told him. "You're gonna need it."
Jan Dodonna then spoke. "For this mission, we've acquired a couple of Imperial shuttles. Under this guise, a few strike teams will land on Ilum, overcome the Imperial forces down there and deactivate the shield generator."
"Why send so many forces?" a rebel fighter asked.
Dodonna answered. "The thing is, we don't know much about Ilum. Who knows what dangers inhabit the planet. We only know that it was strictly locked down by both the Republic and, especially the Jedi. And now, it has been also locked down by the Empire since the fall of the Republic. Ilum is rich with rare crystals that can be used as power sources, and from we assume that a large Imperial garrison can be stationed there."
"It is decided that General Solo will assemble the strike teams and lead the attack." Jan then declared. Everyone then looked at Han with shock, with the former smuggler being shocked himself. After suffering several incredulous looks which melt into admiration, Han finally answered.
"Thank you, general. It is a honour to me."
"Make it two." Leia suddenly spoke up. "I'm not letting you out of my sight again, your generalship!"
Han only raised his hands in defeat. Arguing with Leia was useless and he knew why she wanted to go to Ilum with him.
In a matter of time, Han and Leia stood alongside Wedge Antilles as they overwatched the last members of the strike teams getting onboard the last Lambda-class shuttle. Bren Delin approached, still wearing the winter gear.
"General Solo," he saluted. "All strike teams have been loaded and are ready to depart for Ilum."
Han nodded before turning to Wedge. "We'll disable the shield as quickly as possible."
"I will say the same about our attack on the Death Star." Wedge Antilles answered, shaking hands with the former smuggler. Leia smiled at the sight.
"I don't know, Leia." Han told the princess. "Looking at the Millenium Falcon back there, I got a funny feeling, like… like I'll not going to see her again."
"Come on, captain, let's just fly." Leia only answered, chuckling at Han's concerns. They flew through a hyperspace lane until they arrived to the planet Ilum. Everyone gulped when they saw the Super Star Destroyer, the Executor, and the second Death Star, hovering above the planet. Just then, a voice was heard from the communications device.
"Transmit your clearance codes, prior to passage through the deflector shield."
Han whispered to Leia. "Now we find out if that code was worth the price the Alliance paid for it and the lives of the spies who died obtaining it" he then pressed the commlink and sent out the clearance code. However, the other line was silent. Leia tried to understand why until she felt a dark presence through the Force. Darth Vader was onboard the Imperial cruiser, waiting for her.
"Han, it's Vader." she told the pilot. "He's on that ship."
"Don't worry, Leia. They don't know we're here." Han assured her.
Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Executor, Darth Vader approached the technicians led by Firmus Piett. Kendal Ozzel also joined them.
"I have a strange feeling about that ship." Darth Vader muttered.
"They're using an older code, Lord Vader," the naval captain explained. "but it checks out. Should we hold them?"
"Hold them?" Ozzel incredulously asked. "Captain, these could be rebels. We must exterminate them immediately. Prepare to open fire!"
"No!" Vader boomed as he sensed the presence of Leia. "Let them pass, I will deal with this matter myself."
Ozzel looked at him incredulously. "But my lord…"
"Let them pass." Vader ordered and Piett gave the rebels clearance. Han smiled and continued the journey to the surface of Ilum.
