GA WARSHIP TENACITY, HUMBARINE SYSTEM

"All ships are showing green, Admiral, and Commodore Nevil has reported in as ready," Captain Jalkian reported from the front of the Tenacity's bridge.

"Tell Commodore Nevil that we are ready as well," Admiral Gavin Darklighter said, seated in his command chair in the center of the bridge. "Begin the exercise."

With a nod, Jalkian turned back to his console, where he pressed several keys. Then, after a moment of silence, Gavin heard the thrum of the shields powering up, before the ship shuddered slightly as its cannons began to fire. Moments later, and the space ahead lit up with thousands of green and red streaks of fire, as the two opposing fleets engaged each other.

But this was not a real battle.

This was the third war game that had been conducted by the Fourth Fleet in the Humbarine System over the past day, and it was just one in a large series of them that were planned for the next week. Humbarine had been chosen as the site due to its proximity to Commenor, one of the four major worlds that made up the Confederation. Humbarine itself was just a shadow of what it had once been, since the planet was still in the process of recovering from the devastation that had been inflicted upon it during the Clone Wars. Nevertheless, the Alliance had established several military facilities on the planet, and had thus seen it as a prime location to conduct war games.

Gavin Darklighter, former Rogue Squadron leader turned admiral, watched silently as his fleet slowly began to move closer to their opponents. This particular exercise was meant to showcase the new ships and technology that had been developed by the Alliance in the decade since the Second Civil War, so both fleets were outfitted strictly with vessels that had only recently begun to roll off the assembly line. Over a dozen state of the art Mon Calamari MC100s made up the backbone of Gavin's force, and they were supported by new Rendili Benevolent-class cruisers. The Tenacity, meanwhile, was one of the first in a new line of Mon Calamari battlecruisers, designed to replace the Vong War era Mediator-class. Three kilometers long and equipped with advanced shields and weapons systems, the Tenacity was second only to a Super Star Destroyer or Calamari Star Defender.

Commodore Kral Nevil led the opposing fleet in the war game. A Quarren from Mon Calamari, Nevil had served in Rogue Squadron with Darklighter before becoming captain of the Anakin Solo during the Second Civil War, directly under Colonel Jacen Solo. He had defected from Solo's command during the Second Battle of Fondor, and had been resigned to the Fourth Fleet following the conclusion of the war. Now a commodore, Nevil was Gavin's second in command, and Gavin hoped for him to be tested in the war games. Nevil had never commanded an entire fleet before, only captaining single vessels. And Gavin didn't intend to go easy.
"Sir, the Tempest has launched fighters," an officer reported. "Two squadrons of ZenithXs, bearing towards our fleet's starboard side."

Gavin made a short nod, looking off toward the distant shape of the Tempest. The vessel, an Emancipator-class carrier, was Nevil's flagship, and had only recently been commissioned for the Fourth Fleet. "Acknowledged. Get me Colonel Antilles."

"Aye, Sir."

A moment later, the voice of Colonel Syal Antilles came through the bridge speakers. "Antilles here."

"Colonel, this is Admiral Darklighter. Get Rogue Squadron in the air and set course for the fleet's starboard flank. Two squadrons are inbound to that location."

"Affirmed, Admiral. Will we have support?"

Gavin looked out at the battle, looking to see if he could spare Antilles any fighters. "Negative, Colonel. You'll have to make do with just your squadron."

"Copy. Antilles out."

Gavin showed a small smile. He probably could've spared her another squadron. The Tenacity carried two wings, after all, and each of the MC100s carried one. But this would be a good test for Antilles. After all, Rogue Squadron had always been the best of the best, so they should have no trouble dealing with two squadrons. Although in the past we'd usually be flying against TIE fighters, not state of the art X-wings.

"Sir, the Vigil is reporting heavy damage."

Gavin glanced over at the cruiser, which was currently in a broadside engagement with one of Nevil's battle carriers, the Gallant. "Tell Captain Irveck to hold his position. Tell him we are moving to support."

"Yes sir."

Gavin stood from his chair. "Helm, ahead full. Move to five hundred meters from the Vigil's portside." After getting an acknowledgement from the helm, he turned to his weapons officer. "Target the Gallant, ion weapons only."

"Yes Admiral."

Blue bolts of energy began to streak out from the dozens of ion cannons lining the Tenacity's hull, heading straight for the Gallant. Despite appearing the same as a real ion bolt, these were just the training variant, designed to only inflict damage against a simulated shield, just in the same way training turbolasers only damaged simulated hulls. The bolts slammed into the Gallant's starboard side, quickly beginning to break through its shields. The battle carrier, which had still been focused on the Vigil, quickly moved to respond, angling its bow to face the Tenacity.

"We have fighters inbound," Captain Jalkian called. "Squadron of Alephs, supported by Eta-5s."

Gavin turned to face the captain. "Get Blade Squadron on them," he ordered. When he looked back to the viewport, he saw that the Gallant was now completely focused on them, and was firing at the Tenacity's bow. The Vigil, meanwhile, had retreated back behind a trio of cruisers. Despite being nearly half the size of the Tenacity, Gavin had to admit that the Gallant was putting up a good fight. The battle carrier had managed to fend off much of the Tenacity's initial assault, and was now returning fire with remarkable efficiency. But that would not last for long.

"Target the Gallant's bridge," Gavin ordered his weapons officer, "use the ultraheavy turbolasers." The Tenacity possessed eight of the advanced turbolaser batteries, with four lining either side of its hull. Because they required so much energy Gavin liked to hold them in reserve, but he felt it was time to use them. After all, the shields were still holding above eighty percent.

The ship shuddered as the turbolasers began to fire. Massive red lasers shot towards the Gallant, slamming into its bridge. Of course, they were just training bolts, so no damage was actually done. But on the monitors that showed the simulation, it was clear they had done their job.
"The Gallant's bridge has been destroyed," came the response from the weapons officer.

Gavin smiled, "Good shooting." He glanced at the simulation monitor, where it showed the Gallant being effectively out of the fight. And just in time, as three more battle carriers were now approaching the Tenacity, along with Commodore Nevil's Tempest. "Helm, readjust course to meet those incoming ships," he ordered. He turned to Captain Jalkian, "Order the Glowrunner, Aspiration, and the Coronet to move to support us."

"Yes sir."

Just as Gavin was about to sit back down in his command chair, he heard the door to the bridge open behind him. Before he had a chance to turn to see who it was, he heard his name called out.

"Admiral Darklighter."

He turned to see his head communications officer. "Yes, Lieutenant?"

"There's a priority transmission from Coruscant, sir. Admiral Bwua'tu is requesting you speak with him immediately."

Gavin grimaced, knowing what the call would be about. "I'll take it in my office." He turned back to the bridge, looking at Jalkian. "You have the ship, Captain. Continue the exercise, and inform Commodore Nevil that I am occupied until further notice."

"Understood, sir."

His office was just a short walk from the bridge, so it only took him a few minutes to reach it. He entered to find a hologram of Admiral Bwua'tu already standing atop his holotable. "Admiral Bwua'tu," Gavin said.

The Bothan turned, smiling when he saw Gavin. "Admiral Darklighter, how go the war games?"

"They're going well, thanks for asking. I was actually in the middle of one when you called."

"My apologies for interrupting, but recent events left me no choice. I'm sure you understand."

"Of course."

Bwua'tu grimaced. "I need you to return to Coruscant, immediately. You could probably guess the reason why."

Gavin nodded soberly. "Is the senate calling for action against Corellia?"

"Not yet, but likely soon. And when that happens, I'll need you here for the strategy conferences that will follow."

"Understood. I'll leave immediately."

"Thank you, Admiral. My apologies once again."

"None needed. Should I leave my fleet to continue the exercises?"

Bwua'tu nodded. "Yes, I'm sure they could use the practice. Commodore Nevil is plenty capable in running them, after all."

"Absolutely."

"See you soon, Admiral," Bwua'tu said, before the hologram disappeared.

Gavin stepped forward to the table, pressing the key to comm the bridge, "Captain Jalkian?"
"Yes, Admiral?"

"I will be departing for Coruscant in an hour. You will be in command of the ship until further notice, and Commodore Nevil will have the fleet. I'll be alerting him to continue the excersies."
"Understood. Safe travels, Admiral."

Gavin cut the transmission, before changing the channel to contact the Tempest. Soon enough, he heard the sound of Commodore Nevil's voice over the comm.
"What is it, Admiral?"

"I've been ordered back to Coruscant, and will be leaving in an hour. You will be in command of the fleet until further notice."

"Very well. Should I continue conducting the war games as planned?"

"Yes. When you finish the exercises return the fleet Coruscant."

"Understood."

Then the transmission cut, and Gavin headed for the refresher, knowing that the days were about to get a whole lot longer.

JADE SHADOW, OUTBOUND FROM OSSUS

"Coordinates set for Sorvleen," Ben Skywalker said, sitting in the copilot's chair in the cockpit of the Jade Shadow. "Estimated to be a ten hour trip."

"Should be able to get plenty of rest in that time," his father replied, sitting in the pilot's seat. "Jumping in 3, 2, 1…." Luke pulled back the hyperdrive lever and the stars streaked, before the white and blue tunnel of hyperspace appeared. After a few moments, in which the father and son duo ensured that the ship's autopilot was sound and all of the systems were working properly, Ben stood from his chair.

"Think I'll retire for the night, then," he said. "If that's alright with you."

Luke smiled. "Of course," he glanced towards the back of the cockpit, "Artoo can keep me company," he said, smiling at the blue and white astromech.

With a nod, Ben left the cockpit heading for his quarters. By the time he entered inside and fell down atop his bed, his eyes were already heavy. It had been a long week, and he figured things were not going to get any easier any time soon. In fact, he expected the opposite. He grimaced as he turned out the light in his room with force, not like my sleep has been too great lately anyway. He shook his head, before allowing himself to drift off.

He wasn't sure how long he'd been asleep when she appeared.

As usual, it began in the realm Beyond Shadows. He found himself walking along the bank of the Lake of Apparitions, the same place he had once seen the faces of his dead mother and cousins. As he walked, he noticed the mist that clouded much of the horizon beyond the lake was growing, before it eventually appeared to be just a few paces beyond the water's edge. Then her shadowy form appeared within it.

Only this time she was clearer.

"Ben!"

He perked up. This was the first time she had said his name.

"Ben!"

He just stood there, looking across the water at her. The last time he had seen Vestara Khai in the flesh, he had wanted to kill her. She had betrayed his trust, betrayed everything he thought they'd built. And now she had the audacity to call for him?

"Vestara," he said coldly. His expression darkened as he took a step out into the water. He'd made up his mind. If she wanted to talk, real or not, he would as well. After all, if this was the real Vestara, maybe he'd be able to get a clue as to where she was, so he could finally bring her to justice for the hurt she had caused him all those years ago.

"I didn't think you'd answer," she said.

Ben was now only a few meters from where Vestara's misty form stood. Normally, when he reached this position, she would disappear. This time she didn't. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Because you hate me."

Ben snorted. "And you don't?"

"What I think of you doesn't matter right now."

"I beg to differ."

Despite being clouded by mist, Ben could make out Vestara's expression hardening. "Trust me, I wouldn't be talking to you if the circumstances were different. I'd like nothing more than to let my memories of you and our relationship fade away." She shook her head, "But unfortunately I have not been granted that luxury."

"And why's that? More to the point; why are you calling me through the force? And why are you only able to directly speak to me now. I've seen you in my visions for weeks."

"Because this is the first time I've been able to establish a true connection." She sighed, "My captor has also made it difficult for me to delve deep enough into the force to reach you. Every time I get close, I am awoken."

Ben's expression grew curious. "Your… captor?"

She nodded. "You remember Ship, yes?"

"Of course." Ben would never forget that Sith Meditation Sphere. After all, he had been the one to find it. "I remember you blasting away on it after we defeated your Qreph friends in the Chiloon Rift."

"Things have changed since then. Ship decided that I was unworthy to be its new Sith Lady, and decided to imprison me within it."

"Betrayal," Ben said, amused. "Gee, I wonder how that must feel."

She glared at him for a moment, before looking away. "I need your help."

"In what galaxy do you think I would ever help you after what you did to me," Ben said, struggling not to laugh. "Why the kriff would you even ask? Surely you knew that my answer would be no."

"Because I have no one else!" she shot back.

Ben was taken aback by the vulnerability in her voice. She sounded broken, defeated. Maybe she really does need my help. He shook his head, "And you think that will be reason enough for me to come and save you?"

"Maybe- I don't know!" She threw her hands up in exasperation, "I screwed up, yes. I've come to understand that. I understand why you hate me, hell I would hate myself if I were in your shoes. But unlike me, you're a Jedi. Last time I checked, Jedi are supposed to be compassionate. So maybe I was hoping you would use some of that compassion to look past our past and come and rescue me."

"And the last time I checked, you were a Sith. The sworn enemy of the Jedi. Why would I take the time to come and rescue a Sith?"
She shrugged. "You and I both know I'm not an ordinary Sith."

Ben looked away, wrinkling his face. Rescuing Vestara could help lead us to more Sith, he thought. And it would place her in Jedi custody, where she could atone for her crimes. He grimaced. The more he thought about it, the more he was beginning to realize that finding Vestara would be more beneficial to the Jedi than not. Ben, of course, wouldn't be happy about it. There wasn't another being in the universe he'd rather see standing with his lightsaber through their chest. The thought made him shake his head. No, Ben. You're a Jedi, you don't wish for the death of others. He sighed, but maybe seeing her rot in prison is the closest I'll get to that fantasy.

Making up his mind, he looked back to the Vestara. "Say I do decide to come and rescue you. How exactly do you propose I find you? Are you going to magically send me that location too? Just like you've been magically appearing in my head?"

"I… don't know. You had a connection with Ship once. Maybe you can use that connection to locate me."

"Oh sure, let me just reopen a link with the Sith meditation sphere I flew off Ziost ten years ago. Because that's totally something I can do," Ben said sarcastically.

"Well unfortunately I can't just magically attain my location like I can come to you through the force. I don't exactly have a Force bond with my location like the one I have with you."

"Then you'd better hope I can figure out some way to find you," he said coolly. "Because I'm not sure how hard I'll try."

"Please, Ben," she pleaded.

Ben studied her expression, searching for any malice behind her words. When he found none, he softened his appearance, "I'll try," he said sincerely.

"Thank you." Vestara said. "I'll be waiting."

She then stepped back into the mist, and Ben woke with a start.

Luke was bent down tinkering with R2 in the Jade Shadow's living room when he heard the door to Ben's quarters open. "You certainly slept well," he commented, glancing over at his son.

"I'm not sure well is the word I'd use, but yeah, I slept alright."
"That's good, your rest will serve you well on Sorvleen." When Ben didn't reply, Luke turned to face him. Despite not noticing anything odd in his son's expression, he could immediately tell he was hiding something. He didn't even need the force to tell him that. "Let me guess: Vestara?"

Ben grimaced, nodding slowly. "I spoke to her."

Luke's eyes widened. "You- spoke to her?"

Ben nodded again. "We had a conversation."

"Are you sure it was really her?"

"I'm sure."

Luke leaned back, drifting into thought. He of course knew the power of a force bond. He had one with Ben and Leia. He had had one with Mara. But what Vestara had supposedly done with Ben was… different. Sure he'd read about similar things in the temple archives, but he'd never seen it happen. And I'd thought Ben and Vestara's bond would've dimmed by now. Apparently I was wrong.

"What did you talk about? Or more to the point, what does she want?"

Ben grimaced, looking away. "She wants my help."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "What kind of help?"

"She wants me to rescue her. Apparently she was kidnapped by Ship and has been held within it for several weeks."

"Weren't she and Ship working together the last time we encountered her?"

"Yeah, they were. According to Vestara, Ship decided that she was unworthy to be a Sith Lady. Whatever that's supposed to mean."

"And you believe her?"

Ben shrugged, "I don't want to believe her, but she certainly seemed to be telling the truth. I sensed nothing sinister about her motives, nor do I have any reason to suspect she's lying. Other than, of course, that she's a Sith who betrayed us in the past."

Luke stroked his chin, eyeing his son carefully. While Ben's expression remained neutral, Luke could sense anger and conflict within the young Jedi. "Let me ask you this, Ben. Assuming that Vestara isn't lying and she is indeed being held captive by Ship, why should the Jedi waste time and resources staging a rescue operation?"
Ben frowned. "From the perspective of the Order, rescuing Vestara would both give us custody of a dangerous Sith lord who has caused harm to dozens of people, and who could potentially lead us to other Sith."

Luke nodded. "Both of those are good reasons, yes. The Order would certainly benefit from finding and capturing Vestara. Now what do you think about it? Do you want to rescue her?"

"What I want doesn't matter. I'm a Jedi, and I will always do what is best for the Order," Ben said stiffly.

"But do you want to rescue her?" Luke asked again.

Ben looked away again as anger began to flood his face. "No, I don't. The last thing I want to do is see Vestara again, especially if that meeting involves rescuing her from a situation she got herself into."

Luke showed a small smile. "Thank you for being honest, Ben."

"But like I said before, I will not protest if we decide to find her since it would be for the good of the Order."

Luke smiled again. "Let's table this discussion for now. The last thing I want is to be worrying about Vestara's plea while we are on Sorvleen. Once our dealings there are finished, we will reopen this conversation."

Ben nodded, saying nothing.

"And, I suspect that allowing some time to pass will allow you to think more clearly on this topic."

"Perhaps."

Luke stood, beginning to walk towards the cockpit. "Come on, we're only an hour or so out, and we've still got a few things to do before we land." As he walked through the door and out of the living room, Luke couldn't help but wonder about whether Ben was truly as opposed to Vestara as he claimed to be. After all, the two had been together, and Luke knew that Ben still thought about his relationship with Vestara. I just hope he can think clearly about this when I bring it back up. Because if not, making a decision could be very difficult.