Chapter 32
(Training Hall)
Kota had been engaged in a practice duel with one of the Magnaguard Droids for the last hour. He ducked his head down, rolling forward. Kota blocked the strike from the electro staff. Then he let go and attacked, hitting both ends of the droid's weapons. Electrical sparks could be seen as the green blade came into contact with the two bulbs on each end.

Before, Kota would have used the Force to see and hear his enemies. But since his senses were enhanced by the Observers. He had spent time in his quarters getting used to these new abilities. Allowing him to sense where everyone on the ship was from hearing his comrade's heartbeats. A skill that proved useful when the fleet arrived at Eclipse, where Kota could see where the Yuuzhan Vong was.

This proved to work as they held their own better at Myrkr. However, Kota knew this lucky streak of theirs couldn't last forever. Sooner or later, they would find themselves fighting more skilled and ruthless opponents in battle, not just in space but also on the ground.

This match went on for several more minutes until Kota stopped, breathing heavily for a bit. Then, he told the droid to stand down, which it did by deactivating the staff. The Jedi Master then dismissed him.

"Not too bad," Kota said to himself as he went to sit down. Then, he heard someone breathing slowly and guessed who it was.

"How long were you watching?" Kota asked as he turned to Starkiller.

"Just enough to see you still got it," The man said to him with a smirk.

"Thanks, but fighting droids is one thing. Going up against a Yuuzhan Vong warrior will be another," Starkiller heard Kota say back to him.

"Well...if you do, General, you'll be in for a fight. Handling one is tough, but going up against a large group can test any warrior," He replied to Kota as Starkiller recalled his encounters with Myrkr.

"I'm sure it will. But until then, we must focus on other matters, such as preparing ourselves for when Juno and the others return with Her Highness and her family," Kota said next. They then heard Starkiller's comlink go off as they heard Juno's voice from it.

"Starkiller, Leia, and her family have just arrived. Will you be coming soon,"Hearing this, Kota asked for the comlink in which he spoke to her.

"Tell Her Highness I would like to meet her family after they eat,"

"Are you sure, General?" Juno asked.

"I am. I'm sure they will want to eat a meal with their mother. And I need to change after working up a good sweat," He told her, which went quiet for a bit.

"Shall I bring them to your quarters later?"

"That would be fine. Also, could you ask one of the droids to send me a tray of food?" asked Kota, who then heard Starkiller say for the droid to bring two trays.

"I...I understand. I'll see you two later," Juno told the two as the line ended.

"Why did you ask her to do that?" wondered Kota.

"...Well, given that we're going to meet Skywalker, I...I want to make a first good impression. Which is a problem, as I'm not good at that sort of thing," Starkiller told his friend, who knew this to be true.

"So I take it, then, you want me to help you practice before our guests arrive?" asked Kota, who heard Starkiller say yes.

"Well, I must say, it's quite rare for you to ask me something unrelated to training!" Starkiller heard Kota say jokingly. Which made the man roll his eyes at this.

"But given the situation, I will help you with this," added Kota as he and Starkiller left the training hall and headed for his quarters.

(Mess Hall)
"You've got to be kidding me!" Tahiri asked Anakin after being told that one of the time travelers was his grandmother.

"It's true, we were surprised at first. But since then, we've gotten to know her and have learned things about our family," Anakin responded.

"And I'm guessing your family is meeting with her now?" Tenal questioned.

"Yep, and they should be done soon. Hopefully, things went well with them," Jaina told her friend, who saw the doors open nearby, and her family came inside. At first, the Solos wondered if their parents, uncle, and aunt would talk with them.

Instead, they saw only their father and Lando come over to them. Leia went with Padme to the kitchen, while Luke and Mara went to mingle with the others nearby.

"So Dad, how did/We can discuss that later, kids. Right now, help me put these tables together," Han told Jaina and the others, who jumped at this.

Over in the kitchen, Padme could see that all the food was ready as the droid cooks placed them into bowls, plates, and trays. Then, I told the server droids where to take the food, too.

After this, Padme heard a voice she hadn't heard in years.

"Alright, the special food for Master Ben is already there. And he has two fresh bottles of milk as well," the voice of C-3PO said in a Cherie way as he came out holding a tray.

"Oh, Mistress Leia, you've returned. And I see you've brought a guest," Threepio said to them, then noticed Padme, who smiled with delight at seeing the droid again.

"Threepio, it's good to see you again," Padme told him, who went quiet after hearing this.

"... I'm sorry, miss, but do I know you?" The golden droid replied, which puzzled Padme upon hearing this as she looked at him.

"Threepio? It's me, Padme, don't you remember? You used to be my droid!" She said, hoping that he would say yes. But got no response, as Threepio tilted his head in confusion.

"I'm sorry, miss, I've had many Master's and Mistresses in my lifetime. But I don't seem to recall being your droid,"

Hearing this made Padme's heart sink. How could he not remember her? Had something happened to him in the decades since she was gone?

As Padme wondered what had happened to Threepio, she heard a familiar noise, and R2-D2 came over. But before Padme could say something to him, she saw the droid telling something to his counterpart. Once he was done, Threepio looked at Padme first, then back to Artoo.

"What do you mean we did serve this woman once? " he asked the droid, who beeped yes.

Before Threepio could ask Artoo more about this, Leia approached him and quietly explained it, which stunned the droid when it was learned that Padme was her mother.

Upon looking at her again, Threepio saw a resemblance between the two women.

Once Leia was done, Padme came over to speak with her old friend.

"Threepio, even if you don't remember me. I know you. Perhaps later on, I can tell you about this in private?" She suggested this to the droid, who thought about it and agreed.

After this, Padme bent down to Artoo and asked him if he remembered her. He beeped yes, which made Padme happy, and she said she would talk to him later as well.
Once she was done, Padme noticed the tray Threepio was holding and asked about it.

"These items are for a certain member of our family. One whom you've yet to meet," Leia told her mother as she gestured behind Padme. Who turned around to see Mara approach them, holding something small in her arms wrapped in a blue blanket. And was making noise.

Hearing this made Padme's eyes go wide as she realized what it was that Mara was holding. "M-Mara is, is that!" She was asking and saw Mara confirm this by showing a baby's head.

"Your youngest grandson, Ben Skywalker," Answered Mara as she showed Padme. Who covered her mouth in joy at knowing that she had another grandchild.

"Would you like to hold him?" Mara asked, to which Padme said yes and was given Ben, who looked curiously at the woman.

"Hello, Ben, I'm your grandmother, Padme," she told him gently, then touched his cheek, making Ben smile.

"How old is he?" Padme wondered as she looked at Mara.

"Seven months, but if you want the details. We can talk about it as we eat," suggested Mara, which made Padme remember that the food would get cold. And joined the others who were starting to line up.

(Space)
Emerging from hyperspace were two single Chiss Clawcrafts heading towards what had once been the planet of Ithor. The former homeworld of the Ithorians was devastated by Yuuzhan Vong during the first year of the war.

Here, Jagged Fel had chosen to come first, which puzzled his wingmate Shawnkyr Nuruodo as she asked him about this over the communications.

"This place...is a reminder of how cruel the Yuuzhan Vong can be. How can an entire civilization and its culture be gone just like that!" Jag told her in a severe tone.

"And that's what we must fight to stop. To prevent other worlds from suffering the same fate as Ithor," He added next.

Taking in his words, Shawnkyr soon understood this as she looked at the dead planet.

"I take your point, sir. Now, I must ask where we are to go from here," Shawnkyr wondered.

"Hmm, with Coruscant gone. The New Republic would most likely fall back to someplace to regroup. A location that the Yuuzhan Vong wouldn't take notice of," Jag responded as he brought up a galaxy map on his flight screen.

"They would most likely head to ether Kashyyyk, Bothawui, or Mon Calamari as those places are key worlds within their government," Jag theorized as he looked at the map.

"Most likely, but the journey would take time to reach two worlds. Perhaps their surviving leaders sought aid from one of their allies?" He heard Shawnkyr suggest. To which Jag checked which systems they could go to?"

"The closet for them is the Hapes Consortium, which, according to official reports, did offer aid two years ago. Until their fleets were destroyed at the Fondor shipyards,"

"Yes, I recall the Baron telling us this. It was a disaster for both the Hapans and the New Republic. Which saw the Hapans withdraw support afterward. Since then, things have been quiet for them. But with Coruscant taken, do you think they might allow their former allies need?" Shawnkyr asked logically.

"Hmm...you do have a point there. They may not want any further involvement from the New Republic," Jag said, then thought for a few minutes and spoke again.

"Sir, perhaps they decided to use a location the enemy wouldn't notice. Like, say, those used during their days as the Rebel Alliance?" Shawnkyr suggested, which Jag thought about as he looked up the systems that had former Alliance bases.

"According to the computer, the two most likely locations are either the Hoth or Endor systems,"

"Hmm... The Hoth system wouldn't be an ideal location. Given that it offers no defenses, and the former Alliance base is known to many," Jag heard Shawnkyr say, to which he agreed with her.

"I agree with your logic, which means we should go to Endor to see if anyone is there," he added next, to which Shawnkyr agreed. Then, she inputs the coordinates as Jag's ships, and she turns away from Ithor and jumps into hyperspace.

(Coruscant: Worldship)
Walking beside the four guards that flanked her. Viqi Shesh had been called to meet with the Warmaster about Shesh was an attractive woman from the planet Kuat with long black hair, green eyes, and fair skin. She wore once-luxurious clothes, which showed her position as a member of the New Republic senate.

But given recent events, she would be known as a notorious collaborator and traitor for aiding the Yuuzhan Vong to kidnap Luke Skywalker's infant son. Which failed due to Skywalker's family and friends interfering. Following this, Viqi was punished by the Warmaster, in which she was whipped repeatedly on the back. And she would have suffered worse had her mind not come up with a plan to save her life. Not to mention, one of her agents learned about the Jedi base in the Deep Core.

Since then, Viqi had been sent to a prisoner cell. Where she lay on the floor on her stomach, as the wounds on her back were still sore. But given that she was still alive, Viqi considered this a small price to pay.

Once, she was told that the Warmaster wished to speak with her. A part of her was worried that this was the end. But keeping calm, Viqi followed the guards, who took her to one of the Shaper's labs.

Inside the space, Viqi saw not only the Warmaster but also two other Yuuzhan Vong members, one male and the other female.

"Sir, we have brought the prisoner as you requested!" The lead guard told Tsavong Lah, who gestured for them to bring her forward.

"Ah, Senator Shesh. I'm glad you could join us, for we have received word about the fleet sent to the Jeedai's base," Tsavong Lah told the woman.

"And where are your forces victorious Warmaster?" Viqi asked nervously.

"NO! They were not!" Lah responded in anger and then had the survivor turn around.

"Now then, tell the Senator what you told me," He stated, then watched as the survivor told Viqi about what she saw at Eclipse. From the arrival of the unknown fleet of ships, and which ones she recalled seeing. The battle with them and the sudden appearance of the two creatures that destroyed the fleet.

Once she was done, things went quiet as the former Senator looked surprised by all this information she had been given.

"So, Senator Shesh, do you know anything about this secret fleet?" Lah asked her, who wished she could say yes. But didn't as she answered.

"The first group of ships your survivor described sound like Star Destroyers. But the other ones sound like Droid Control Ships from the Clone Wars, which haven't been used in decades,"

Hearing the last part got the Warmaster's attention. "Hmm, I seem to recall hearing about this old war; it was what led to the downfall of the old Jeedai order,"

"This is correct, sir, but the fact that these ships are back in action means that the New Republic must have been looking for different types of warships to use against your people," The Senator told Lah, making up the last part.

Considering this information, the Warmaster thought that if this was true, a new strategy would need to be planned.

"It seems that you may still prove useful, Senator. For now...until I need you again, return to your cell," Lah waved to the guards, who did so, leaving the lab with Viqi.
Who grinned wickedly, knowing that her life had been extended for now. But this would not last forever, and Vigi knew she had to think of a new plan quickly.

(Author's Note)

Hello everyone, I know it's been a while since I've posted a new chapter for my stories. I've been dealing with a lot the last two months from being sick, to getting over it and other things. But I'm starting to feel better now and getting back into writing new chapters again.

The next ones will be coming soon. Until then. May the Force be with You all.