Chapter 20
(Millennium Falcon)
After completing the repairs with Riku and Kira's help, the Solos and Skywalkers bid the Darklighters farewell before departing for Eclipse.
Luke asked Kira to accompany them on their journey while Leia sent Riku on his first mission. He was to wait for them at the rendezvous point Luke and his allies had set up. She added that given that his ship wasn't made for a fight, it would be an easy target for the Yuuzhan Vong, who might be at Eclipse. Leia then asked Riku to take Dab and the soldiers with him, as they had to focus on the Falcon's systems. Agreeing to this, the merchant and his passengers headed off while the Falcon and Kira headed towards the Deep Core.
During their travel there, the four adults kept themselves busy as they discussed more about Kira's message.
"So, have you decided whether or not to meet K'Kruhk?" Han asked Luke.
"I've been considering it, but before I decide, I need to ask Kira some questions about herself. Like how she survived the purge and her connection with Master K'Kruhk," Luke answered thoughtfully.
"Sounds like a plan, but we are going to bring the other masters in on this," added Mara. The conversation then turned to the other person on their minds: Ahsoka.
"Any theories on who this Ahsoka Tano might be?" Leia wondered.
"A prisoner of the Yuuzhan Vong who was on the same ship as the team is my best guess," Han said first.
"Could be, or perhaps she's an undercover member of the Peace Brigade," Mara guessed.
"Hmm, I don't think so. I think her intentions are good. The kids did vouch for her," Luke said first before continuing. "Whoever she is, we will find out when we arrive soon."
The others agreed with him, and then they went about their duties. However, the four adults didn't notice that Artoo overheard them talking about Ahsoka. Hearing them talk about someone whose name he hadn't heard in decades made the astromech droid wonder what was happening. But for now, he went about his tasks.
Hours later, the Falcon and Kira's Y-Wing emerged from Hyperspace near Eclipse as they made their way to the planet. At first glance, things seemed quiet. But as they moved closer, the ship's sensors detected large groups of ships nearby.
"I'm picking up Yuuzhan Vong ships, Star Destroyers, and Mon Cala Cruisers?" Leia said, somewhat confused, until she realized a battle was going on, a fight against the Yuuzhan Vong.
"I thought Ahsoka said she had only one ship, not a whole fleet!" Han exclaimed in confusion.
"You can ask her about that later. We've got work to do," Luke said to him, then dashed to the gun-well with Mara while Leia got on the comms and contacted Kira.
"Watch yourself out there, Kira. The Vong's fighters can-" Leia began to warn Kira but was interrupted.
"I'm aware of the Dovin Basil's Your Highness. But I appreciate the warning," Kira stated.
Confirming this, Leia called Artoo and told him to use the emergency line to contact the kids. Han took the Falcon into the battle, with Kira joining them.
Luke and Mara targeted the nearest skips, then blasted them into pieces as Han and Leia flew through the first swarms of the enemy fighters.
Behind them, Kira put power into the forward shields as she flew against the living ships, then focused on the targets in front of her while her droid used the rotating turret on the cockpit to shoot at the enemy trailing their fighter.
"Good work, Clover, now let's…what the?" Kira was saying but stopped as she saw several droid fighters come to their aid, which the Vixen recognized as those from the Clone Wars.
Seeing this led to many questions forming in her mind. But for now, Kira would set those aside as she focused on the fight.
(Venator: Alpha)
"Raise power to the rear shields, concentrate fire on the nearest ships," Jaina ordered as she tried to keep her balance as the ship rocked from the attacks.
"Shields are holding, but we're taking damage in several areas," one of the officer droids told her.
"Several fires have broken out on decks," another droid said as Jaina ordered him to have the decks sealed off to put out the fires. She then went over to the communication station.
Opening a comms channel, Jaina reached out to General Kota. "General, do you have the students?"
"We have most of them, but there is a group heading towards Juno's location," he answered, then said they were heading over to provide cover for the remaining Jedi.
A B1 waved her over to his station and said, "We're getting a transmission on the line you talked on before. Only this one is from a droid called R2-D2."
Smiling at this, Jaina told the B1 to put it through as she heard the familiar noises from her uncle's astromech. "Artoo…I read you…huh, you're here in the Falcon? Send me your location," she said, then went over to the holo table and input the coordinates, which showed a map of the area. Jaina had an idea after seeing where her family's ship was and where the fleet's other ships were heading. She returned to the comms station.
"Artoo, there's a Mon Cala Crusier the students are heading for. It's near the asteroid belt. Have my parents head there," Hearing the droid acknowledge this, Jania called up the Guardian.
"General, I've got an idea," she said first, then told him confidently what it was before ending the call. Next, Jaina told Rex the hanger doors were closing and asked him to stay down there as she input the coordinates for the Venator to jump into hyperspace. The ship began to turn away from the other vessels as it vanished.
(Space)
"Where the heck is Jaina going?" Padme asked as she saw the Venator she was on jump away.
"She has an idea and wants us to keep the Vong busy," Kota answered, and the others wondered what this idea of hers was.
"Then let's do what she's asked us to," Bo interrupted as she took on one of the Vong's scorpion cruisers with a squad of Tri Droids and Tekli. The group made an attack run against the ship's portside, then made a hard turn as they prepared to attack again, only to find a group of magma missiles had been launched at them. "
Break off now!" Bo ordered but saw it was too late as the missiles got closer.
But at the last second, the incoming projectiles were destroyed by a freighter of all things.
"Where did they come from?" Bo exclaimed.
"That was the Millennium Falcon! It's the ship of Han Solo!" Tekli said excitedly.
"Good to know; let's take care of that ship," responded Bo.
(Millennium Falcon)
After receiving Jania's instructions, Artoo informed Han and Leia, and they headed for where the students were located, with Kira following them. As the Falcon got closer, Leia felt a strange presence in the Force that seemed familiar. Luke sensed it as well, and they wondered what it was.
"I've picked up the signals of the Jade Shadow and Lady Luck. They're over there," Han said.
"Looks like the Vong has taken notice as well," Mara stated as she fired on the enemy.
Han increased the power to the engines and set the Falcon on the group's quickest and most dangerous course. This brought them close to several hits; luckily, Han could avoid them. Kira did her best to keep up with the Falcon as she avoided the incoming fire and ships.
"I'm picking up a group of magma missiles," Leia said to Han as they saw them heading for a group of nearby fighters.
"Luke! Mara!" Leia cried out.
"We see them, Leia!" Luke said as they fired the cannons on the projectiles, but this act of victory changed as more skips pursued them. Kira also saw the enemy, and her droid focused fire on them using the turret. She knocked out a few, but her victory led to her ship taking severe hits.
"Clover, our shields are dropping. See what you can do," and the green astromech beeped in response as he went to work.
"By the Force, we could use some help," Kira said to herself, hoping that someone would aid her and the Falcon. Luckily for them, help came to their aid moments later as Ahsoka and Padme spotted the enemy and helped Kira shoot down the fighters. Once the last one was removed, the two flew alongside the Falcon's cockpit.
"This is Ahsoka Tano. Do I take it this is the Millennium Falcon?" she asked over the comm line.
"You are correct; it's good to hear from you, Miss Tano," Leia responded.
"We've been told about the evacuation and are heading to aid them," Han added.
"Then you should follow us," Ahsoka said to them as she led the way with the Falcon, Kira, and Padme following.
'So that's the Millennium Falcon, from what the kids told me. I wasn't expecting their father's ship to be like that,' Her inner voice thought. 'But I shouldn't judge my son-in-law's ship before I meet him,' she added while returning to the situation.
Kira took notice of the Jedi Starfighter that aided the Falcon and her ship, which surprised her as she hadn't seen one in so long. 'First the droid fighters, and now a Delta 7B Interceptor. Just what the hell is going on?' the Jedi wondered, and she wanted to find out soon.
Minutes later, the four ships saw the shuttles being protected by a mix of X-Wings, Y-Wings, droid fighters, and Jacen in his Jedi fighter alongside the Falcon.
"Mom, Dad, do you hear me?" Jacen asked as he looked at the cockpit and saw his parents wave to him.
"We do, kiddo. It's an interesting ship you got there," Han told him.
"I knew you would say that. And before Uncle Luke and Aunt Mara ask, Ben is safe onboard the Shadow with Threepio," Jacen said.
"They'll be happy to hear that. Let's make sure your cousin gets to safety along with the others," Leia added as they fired upon the enemy ships that came in from all sides.
"We're getting cooked out here," the voice of one of the Jedi said as his shields were starting to fail. "
Just hold on, we're about there," Lando stated as the Mon Cala Cruiser came in range. As they got closer
to it, the massive ship came to their aid by firing upon the Vong ships.
"Any fighters that are damaged should land in the hangers. Those still able to fly, follow our lead," Han said in a widespread message to the group as he saw the shuttle head inside, along with those unable to continue, including Kira.
"Sorry, I can't do anymore," Kira told the Falcon.
"We understand, and we need you alive to share the message later," Leia replied as the Falcon returned to the battle as the remaining Vong ships closed in on the fleet.
(Mon Cala Cruiser)
Standing in the hanger bay, Anakin and his friends watched as the remaining shuttles touched down along with several fighters that had taken damage.
Running towards them with a group of crew droids. Anakin ran towards the Lady Luck, where Cilghal first emerged and saw him.
"Anakin, we have Jedi that need medical attention," she said to him, then pointed to which ships had the injured on them.
"Bring them out and take them to the medical bay. This droid will take you there," he said to her, then had one of the officer droids come over and lead them away minutes later.
After this, Anakin went around to see who else needed help. Then he felt someone poke him from behind, and upon turning around, he found an unknown alien dressed in Jedi robes. With her was a green and white Astromech droid.
"Pardon me, but are you Anakin Solo?" The alien asked.
"Who wants to know?" he asked defensively.
"A fellow Jedi like you. My name is Kira Nara; I came with your family in my fighter. They told me to find you or your siblings when I landed."
Using the Force to verify this, Anakin sensed that Kira had a strong connection and that her intentions were genuine.
"Master Anakin, Master Anakin!" The voice of a droid called, which the young Solo knew as he turned around and saw Threepio approaching him. In the droid's arms was a small bundle, which made Anakin smile at seeing his cousin Ben Skywalker again.
"I'm glad to see you here, but I am curious as to where this ship and that fleet came from?" the golden droid asked curiously, then took notice of Kira and her droid. "And who are they?"
Before Anakin could say, the ship shook as it was hit from the outside. "That's going to have to wait, Threepio. Right now, we should get you and Ben someplace safe," Anakin replied, leading them away with Kira and her droid tagging along.