Shadow of the Force
Chapter 24
-Han Solo-
Steeling his nerves, Han flipped the various switches on the dash of the shuttle he was piloting, up ahead he could see a large star destroyer, one that would distinctly only be commanded by someone high up in the regime of 'Palpatine's Empire'. In all honesty having two factions refer to themselves as 'the Empire' and three 'rebel alliances' was starting to get confusion.
"Shuttle, identify yourself!" the barked order came through on the coms, the other ship having noticed them.
"Shuttle Xeta twelve, requesting immediate permission to board." Han did his best to sound exhausted and fearful, "We are the sole survivors from an attack by Anakin Skywalker's forces and have intel regarding their movements. Again, we request immediate permission to board to ensure the intel is secure!"
"Permission granted, head to hanger bay three at once." Han saw part of the Star Destroyer opening up, "Be warned however, this ship is currently commanded by the Grand Inquisitor himself. Should your information prove insufficient he shall deal with you personally for wasting his time."
"U-understood." Han gulped, not needing to hide his genuine trepidation at the thought.
"Good. Proceed to dock." The comm line cut off as Han continued to direct the ship to the hangar bay, pointedly not looking at what stood behind him in the shuttle. Showing the piloting skills that he'd honed thanks to practice and the aide of the Falcon, he landed the shuttle in the ship's hangar, the bay doors sealing shut.
The instant that he wasn't at risk of being spaced, Han flipped a switch on the shuttle, releasing a powerful virus developed by Skywalker to keep the Star Destroyer from sending any further messages. It wouldn't last forever but it bought time for the second part of this venture to do their job.
With a crash, HK-50 punched the shuttle door, sending it flying into a group of Stormtroopers, crushing their bodies under the weight of flying steel.
"OPEN FIRE!" an officer somewhere watching shouted as the stunned Imperial soldiers began to shoot at the gleaming droid, the blaster fire doing nothing to the mechanical menace.
"Pathetic." The sheer derision in the droid's voice was palpable as Skywalker's robotic commando turned to those firing upon it. The robot's left arm shifted, turning from a full mechanical limb to a gatling gun that began to spin, letting loose with a rainbow array of blaster bolts that flew with terrifying aim.
Skywalker had been quite proud of this droid he'd created, having made sure Han knew at least part of what it could do. Given that he was told just to reassure him of his safety given HK-50 was his only backup on this mission, or perhaps he was just the droid's chauffeur, it did change his opinion on his new boss. The man was still scary as anything, but he seemed to have a code and respected efficiency, ensuring those going on missions knew what they needed to not be as worried and risk making things worse.
And with what he now knew, Skywalker had every right to be proud of this droid. Every inch of the thing, from the outer shell to the inner components, was made of pure Baskar. Skywalker had collected the nearly indestructible Mandalorian metal in bits and pieces from the horde that Emperor Palpatine had gathered, careful to avoid notice. The droid wasn't just special because of what metal it was made from though, its offence was just as devastating as its defense.
Slipping out of the shuttle, blaster ready to provide what cover assistance he could to the droid, and planning to let it be the one to handle the Grand Inquisitor, Han followed behind. The continual barrage of multicolored blaster bolts were fired out in bursts, no target missing their mark. Skywalker had mentioned he spent a full year just developing the targeting software on the droid to ensure it was as accurate as possible given the nature of the gatling gun it was equipped with. Rather than a standard blaster each barrel was outfitted with a 'kyber crystal' that would usually power a light saber. Something he'd been told HK-50 also had. HK-50 was a blood covered one droid army and it was only the rarity of the materials used in the mechanical being's construction that prevented more from being made.
Removing the helmet from a dead Stormtrooper, Han yanked out the helmet's internal radio, listening in as a voice full of authoritative malice ordered more soldiers to ensure the 'prison ward' was secure and the 'bitches stayed under' while the speaker went to deal with the intruders.
"HK-50, they're moving prisoners and given that the one in charge ordered that area reinforced before saying he'd come our way. He also mentioned keeping prisoners 'under'." Han called out to the Droid who paused in their pursuit of the Stormtroopers who had fled.
"Affirmative." The droid nodded in acquiescence as Han wondered just what sort of prisoners would require an order like that. Either way he'd find out, and if the sound of a lightsaber activating down the hall, not to mention the red glow, was any indication it would happen soon. That droid possessed an adaptive combat AI capable of learning and trained daily against Skywalker himself. The man's cheap replacement in the Empire didn't stand a chance.
-Harry-
Letting out a steady breath, Harry sealed the special kiln he'd built shut. Baskar was one of the most useful resources he'd found in this galaxy, but he'd never managed to find enough of the stuff to really study. Now that he was on Mandalore, the only place where said material was found, he'd begun to study its properties for one reason and one reason alone.
Alchemy.
Through use of alchemic ritual, he was able to enhance other metals. He couldn't simply make more of it, not yet at least, as the metal was naturally powerful with its own energy, the same reason gold could not be transmuted without a Philosopher's Stone. What he could do though, was use a kiln of Baskar enchanted to every level he could. The metals prepared in the kiln like furnace would imbue the properties of Baskar to a degree into the metal ingots prepared. They weren't at the same level as the legendary 'Mandalorian Iron' but they were far better than regular steel.
"Harry," hearing the voice of Galen from his com, Harry looked up "you're needed in the war room now." The tone of Galen's voice was all Harry needed to know this was an emergency. Twisting with a crack, Harry apparated to the war room on the upper level, his inner circle there now aware of magic and just relieved at his arrival.
"What's the issue?" he demanded as he walked towards Galen.
"We're being hailed…by Anakin Skywalker." Galen gestured to the blinking light indicating that the other caller was waiting to be patched through.
"…Have Obi-Wan, Luke, and Leia brought in but stay out of sight for now." Harry ordered after a moment as Galen nodded and had the three rushed over, the entirety of his inner circle having a portkey to the war room, already briefed on what to do. At his silent nod, Galen flipped a switch as Anakin Skywalker appeared as a hologram, sharing a distinct resemblance to Luke but having a few features he recognized in Leia as well.
"I have to say, I didn't expect this when I woke up this morning." Harry spoke as he noted Anakin studying him as well, "Why have you contacted the Alliance?" he'd had to find a name besides 'Rebel Faction number three' and 'the Alliance' was neutral enough to work for now.
"Because of some information I recently came across after raiding one of Palpatine's Star Destroyers." Anakin's eyes burned with an all-consuming rage, an expression Harry had yet to see from either of the twins, "It would seem Palpatine has begun 'planning for the future' and has given out standing orders to capture every female force user he could find. He intends to let his most loyal have them to breed a new generation of force users raised to be completely loyal to him." Many items in the room began to crack from the outraged waves of power the assembled force users let out at that bit of information.
"He isn't trying to collect male ones too?" Harry forced his rage under control, needing more information before he let it run wild.
"Palpatine is terrified of being overthrown." Anakin scoffed derisively, "Too many force users would all but ensure an eventual coup attempt. The intel gathered states that the collected female force users would allow a population to be bred but not too many at once. Added to that he could keep them unconscious so they couldn't 'fight back'."
"Why tell us?" Oola demanded, his beloved wife clenching her fist tight.
"Because, I know you would be just as disgusted by such a plan as I am." Anakin wore a dark scowl, "Added to that…there were several such prisoners being moved on the ship. The Inquisitor found various women who were too young to know how to use their abilities or were from the original Jedi Order and too out of practice to be prepared for an ambush, even with the aide of the Force. They're still unconscious as I knew those who remembered me would likely attack the moment that they saw me. I've looked into you thoroughly, Captain of the Citadel. I wished to know what neutral location you would be willing to meet for me to turn them over into your care."
"Not going to keep them for yourself?" Kal asked with a wary fear in his eyes.
"They would not work with me willingly, I know that." Anakin answered, suddenly showing a bone shaking grief and tiredness in his eyes, even over hologram "And…I believe it's way Padme would have wanted." The man felt sincere as he said that.
"I will contact you on where to go for this meeting." Harry decided to trust his gut, and the subtle whisper of the Force, nodding to the man "Although I have to ask, you're not going to demand to speak to Luke?" from what he understood Anakin would have no idea that Leia was his child too.
"I…no." Anakin's voice showed pain and want but the man shook his head regardless, "I have no right to call him my son, to try and act like his father. Not anymore. He is Padme's son and her's alone to me. I would not further insult my wife's Memory by risking dragging him into the darkness of my life. I shall await your message on where to meet." With that the message cut off as Harry turned to the three silent figures still staring at where the Hologram had been.
"I believe we require a war council." Harry's voice was gentle as he snapped the four out of their shock, "We need to discuss how to handle this."