Chapter 4: The Reconnaissance Plan

The news that Chancellor Mothma had been protected by Luke and his Jedi allies during an assassination attempt spread across Coruscant and reached other worlds in the Republic in a few days. The delegates of the Galactic Senate were surprised about the news that Luke, Han, and Leia presented to them and many were convinced that this "First Order" was behind the planetary incursions in the Outer Rim. Even members of the Jedi Order were certain that the First Order was responsible for the trouble, but why this new disturbance in the Force had come to their attention was a mystery.

Nearly a week after the attempt on Chancellor Mothma's life, the Jedi Council met to discuss a strategy to aid the New Republic in discovering the intentions of the First Order before more disaster could strike.

"We must find out what the First Order has planned for the Republic," Luke said to the other council members. "The assassin named Lolo Sabine named them as the ones who hired her and those bounty hunters to go after Chancellor Mothma. Therefore, it is important that we know which Outer Rim planet is their next target and why they are setting up outposts in that area while targeting the heart of the Republic."

"Does the New Republic have intelligence agents in the Outer Rim?" inquired Cal Kestis.

"Very few," answered Oppo Rancisis, a former council member of the Jedi Order during the Old Republic. "Less than a hundred Outer Rim worlds have joined the New Republic, and the most open to us are Endor, Christophsis, Muunilinist, Yavin, Teth, and Bespin."

One of the newer Masters on the Jedi Council, a Duros named Shom Kanto, spoke to Luke next. He said, "May I suggest, Master Skywalker, that the Republic send a reconnaissance team to the Outer Rim to discover the position of this First Order's advance?"

Luke nodded at this suggestion. With a reconnaissance team, the Republic could determine the severity of the threat while keeping a low profile to avoid unwanted attention. Then if the Jedi Order needed to intervene, it would. Only time would tell if the defense forces being marshalled for the New Republic would be needed.

"A good idea, Master Kanto," replied Luke. "I shall speak with Chancellor Mothma on this matter. In the meantime, I will need a handful of Jedi to continue the protection of the Chancellor. Until the First Order's true intentions are discovered, she and many more New Republic leaders are not safe."

...

At the Chancellor's office that day, Luke explained the plan of surveying the First Order's threat to Chancellor Mothma. He reminded her that the Jedi couldn't fight a war for the New Republic, but they would intervene when it was clear that the Republic or its supporters were in danger. Eventually, Chancellor Mothma said to Luke, "A reconnaissance team should be sent to the Outer Rim. If our supporters in that area of the galaxy are in the way of this danger, then it would constitute a threat close to breaching the borders of the New Republic."

Luke gave a courteous bow and said, "Thank you, Madam Chancellor. Whom do you propose to send on this mission?"

"General Solo and his crew should be suitable for it," replied the Chancellor. "And while he is away, command of the defense force of the New Republic will be given to General Calrissian."

Luke had a spark of interest rise in his mind. Lando Calrissian, who was Han's oldest friend, had flown the Millennium Falcon during the attack on the second Death Star over Endor and had been the one who fired the shot that ended the destructive battle station. Luke inquired, "Forgive me, Madam Chancellor, but as the Senate has passed the motion, what is the current status of the plan to build this defense force?"

"Some 200,000 troops from the Core Worlds have been rallied with half a million more from the Inner and Mid Rim Territories," Chancellor Mothma explained. "We should soon be ready to defend the New Republic if this First Order means to war on us. Just remember, Master Skywalker, we must begin by relying on negotiations before we respond with force."

Luke nodded and then gave another bow as he went to inform the Jedi Council that Chancellor Mothma had approved the reconnaissance plan. He only hoped that the First Order would not be preparing for war as many were fearing. The galaxy had suffered enough because of it in his mind.

...

The main spaceport on Coruscant was relatively busy that day as Luke walked beside Han and Chewbacca to the Millennium Falcon. Most passengers and several service crews took time to salute Han and Chewbacca while giving Luke bows of respect. When the group reached Docking Bay Sixty-seven, Luke told Han, "Just remember to keep a low profile, Han. I know you prefer a straight fight with foes, but this mission you're on requires intellect more than strength."

Han chuckled and replied, "The old me would have agreed with you, Luke. But I'd rather avoid potential Imperial fanatics on the first go-round. However, I won't say that I wouldn't try blasting a few stormtroopers for Leia if they cause any trouble."

Luke was the one to chuckle this time. He said, "You did fine on the mission to Endor, Han. If the Empire couldn't stop us from keeping the galaxy safe, neither will this First Order."

"Thanks for that, Luke. We'll contact you as soon as we find anything," Han promised. Then as he prepared to join Chewbacca, he said to Luke, "May the Force be with you, buddy."

"Thanks, Han. And may the Force be with you."

With that, Han boarded the Millennium Falcon and joined Chewbacca in the cockpit. On board the Falcon, four human Republic troopers and three non-humans; two of them Rodians and one an Ithorian, were seated in the cockpit or around the holo-chess table. Han settled in the pilot's seat and said to Chewbacca, "Okay, Chewie. Open the fuel lifters. Set the Falcon on 'hover' while the space-traffic controllers prepare to clear us for launch."

Chewbacca pressed a few buttons on the dashboard, and the Corellian freighter began to hover fifteen feet off the deck. Han pressed the comlink activator and said, "This is the Millennium Falcon requesting permission to launch."

A voice on the other end responded, "Millennium Falcon, transmit the clearance code for launch procedure."

"Transmission commencing," Han replied as he pressed another set of buttons.

Only a few seconds passed before the group heard, "Millennium Falcon, you are clear for departure. Your space lane is open."

Han grinned at this and then activated the thrust, which sent his trusty vessel flying out from the spaceport and into the open air at incredible speed. In less than a minute, the freighter cleared the atmosphere and was soon a few hundred miles from Coruscant. Han simply told the crew to hang on as he punched in a set of coordinates on the navi-computer and pulled a yellow-marked lever. Everyone in the cockpit watched the stars elongate into streaks of light, and then a tunnel of light and dimension opened up as the Millennium Falcon shot off into space at lightspeed.