Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Star Wars movies, shows, books, comics or games. They belong to their respective copyright owners. This story is not for sale, or rent. The Mobile Armors, and later Mobile Suits mentioned in the story are inspired by the various Gundam shows. They obviously belong to their respective creators, and, or copyright owners.

Chapter 8

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Part 5

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Home One

Coruscant System

Han marched to the Admiral's ready room beside the bridge, dragging Leia and Madine with him. The brief explanation he got from them sounded like pure madness. It also sounded like everything everyone cursed about Core politics, which didn't make him feel any better.

They found Ackbar glowering at the screen of his workstation and waving a webbed hand in frustration at whatever he was watching.

"This is madness and stupidity!" The Admiral's deep voice sounded like the depths of a stirred-up abyss below an ocean.

"That's nothing new," Another bubbling voice answered. "Some things haven't changed since before the Empire. Restoring the Republic only to watch it fall again is of no use, my friend. We are one of many factions that want a better future." The other Mon Calamari sighed. "We just can't agree on a better future for each of us."

"Sire, I've got guests to deal with," Ackbar bowed his head at the screen.

"Do your best to keep things together. You have our political backing, old friend."

"General Solo," Ackbar looked away from the screen. "I believe you have questions," the Admiral leaned back after those words and looked tiredly at the three of them. With a gesture, he bid them to come closer and make themselves comfortable for the coming conversation.

"Why is our leadership acting like a pack of squabbling Hutts?!" Han demanded. "What are we going to do about it? He waved a hand, biting off a curse.

"Political entanglements," Ackbar answered tiredly. "The kind best left aside until the New Republic is properly established."

"By then, it would be too late for many of the people who backed the Rebel Alliance and are now a part of the New Republic," Madine raised his hands in a calming gesture. "That's what my contacts claim happened." He sat down and looked at the Mon Calamari. "You've been here from the start, Admiral. Even better, you've been entangled with political circles since before the Clone Wars," His gaze turned to Leia, "And you aren't as idealistic as our dear Princess here."

"Enough of this!" Han barked at Madine. "I need answers. This is not the time or place to tear at each other!"

"Sadly, for some of our allies, this is precisely the time and place for it," Ackbar's voice rumbled like crashing waves. "Even my people are not above petty politics," He sighed. "Or vital politics as the case might be."

Ackbar blinked and turned his judging huge eyes on Madine, and then he stared at Leia.

"Answers, General Solo?" The Admiral finally looked back at Han. "We are no longer the Alliance to Restore the Republic. In our military alone, those of us who joined before Endor are now a minority. Rapidly, the same becomes true where our political backers are concerned. Those are the people who supply us with vital resources, supplies of all kinds, the very ships we use. Every one of those worlds that now back the New Republic has its interests and ideas about what it is and must become. The people representing those worlds want what is best for those who put them forth in power…." Ackbar trailed off and stared Leia in the eyes. "I saw how the Republic fell, and the Empire rose, Princess. I saw how what could have been a chance for a new beginning turned into a nightmare. And now, I'm afraid, I lived long enough to see the Republic we fought for become twisted before it could be properly born!"

"Lust for power, petty squabbles, the need for vengeance, or even just the desire to do the best for your people," Madine spoke then. His voice briefly became gentler, "Idealists. We represent too many conflicting interests. That is what happened, General Solo. Princess Leia is justified in her loathing of what the Empire became. Many suffered because of mindless, pointless cruelty and stupidity, who screamed for vengeance and wanted to tear down anything even tangentially connected to the Empire. Others don't care about the Empire or the Republic. They only want the best deal they can get for their people. Then, all those see the New Republic as their best path to power. An intact Core is a direct threat to many of the people who are now the New Republic. An Imperial faction that appears sane and reasonable is a direct danger to what we represent," Madine looked grimly at Han and Leia. "Our best selling point was never that we would bring back democracy and freedom. We were the best choice for those the Empire abandoned and oppressed. We were the best alternative to those who suffered under insane warlords," Madine sighed. "And we were the best choice for any Core World that backed a warlord, and their chosen option for Emperor failed."

Han looked numbly at Leia. Despite everything she had seen and suffered, she was still an idealist. She believed in the promise of the New Republic. She was ready to fight for it to her dying breath. Leia was genuine about it, so much so that she could move the heart of a cynic like him.

At that moment, Han wondered if Leia could ever allow herself to accept what Ackbar and Madine were telling her because it went against everything she was and believed in.

Because, unless he was very much mistaken, the New Republic leadership considered the Federated Empire as perhaps its worst existential threat now. Not because they were powerful military or because they were vicious monsters like the one who poisoned Coruscant. No, it was worse. The Federated Empire might be reasonably rational and sane. It might be everything the Galactic Empire was supposed to be and failed spectacularly at.

He could understand the allure and the danger in a way Leia might not be capable of right now, perhaps ever. After all, once upon a time, he did join an Imperial Academy. For all the issues he had with authority, the promise of stability and security the Empire offered in the aftermath of the Clone Wars was precisely what people wanted.

Palpatine's Empire didn't live up to that promise. The Federated Empire had a chance to do so, and now it had a guide on what not to do, staring it in the face.

"What the Federated Empire represents is our most dangerous foe right now, isn't it?" Han dared ask aloud.

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Part 6

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Home One

Coruscant System

"Of course it is!" An angry hiss left Leia's lips. Her tired, bloodshot eyes briefly glowered like pools of molten metal. "They are butchers revering the likes of Tarkin!" She shook her head and frowned at Madine. "And you!" Her voice trembled with barely contained rage. "How can you stand here and dare imply the Empire could ever be a sane alternative to the Republic? To democracy and freedom!?"

"There are a few thousand worlds and systems that back democracy for democracy's sake," Madine responded as if discussing something trivial. "They've always been a relative minority. You must know that there are tens of thousands of species, countless cultures, and morality systems across the galaxy. Despite the propaganda the Republic used or ours for that matter, countless people across the galaxy don't see democracy as a fundamental right, much less something to strive for at any cost. The Core has always had its powerful nobility, Princess." Madine's face remained a calm mask when he made his point. "I don't have the luxury of seeing the galaxy as I might like it to be. My trade is in information and secrets."

"Do you even want the New Republic to succeed?!" Leia's face briefly twitched into an ugly grimace.

"It's a better alternative than the insanity that was the Empire under Palpatine or what many of the Warlords can offer. The madness and foolishness of too many people tainted the idea of the Galactic Empire. Despite that, some of the most powerful factions within the galaxy aren't ready to back a Republic restoration. Instead, they fight for an empty throne, hoping to put an Emperor of their choosing on it."

Han noted Madine didn't quite answer Leia's question. He glanced at Ackbar, who looked tired of all this.

"General Solo, I must ask what you will do if our esteemed leadership orders another attack on the Federated Empire assets in this system," The Admiral abruptly shifted the topic of the conversation.

"Our military position is not ideal…." Han's eyes didn't leave Leia as he spoke. "Unless the enemy collapses as they did at Endor, we would be in for a brutal fight. I'm unsure that any military success we can achieve in this system at this time is going to be worth the casualties we would suffer." He deliberately didn't comment on the possibility of defeat.

"You would just let them have Coruscant?!" Leia's angry gaze turned Han's way.

"They didn't bring even a fraction of the troop transport needed to begin securing Coruscant," Ackbar countered.

"That's beside the point, and we all know it, Admiral. We don't have the personnel to take and hold Coruscant without the consent of the locals, if not their enthusiastic support," Madine grudgingly admitted. "The aid they provide can sway public opinion towards the Federated Empire. That, in turn, can give them Coruscant or a good chance of holding it."

"General Madine, whose side are you on anyway?" Ackbar's bubbling voice was anything but pleased.

"Aren't we all on the same side?" Han asked lightly.

"I don't know. Are we?" Leia glowered again in a very uncharacteristic way. "An Admiral who wanted to go rogue earlier today!" She jabbed a finger at Ackbar. "A General who has Imperial sympathies!" She accused Madine, "and you! I don't even know where you stand!" Leia's voice cracked when she glared at Han. Her eyes didn't look right at that moment.

The accusation made Hand wince. This wasn't right! And he knew it was the wrong thing for Leia to say. Ackbar looked less and less pleased by the second, and Madine, well…

"It's curious, isn't it? How the Rebel Alliance suddenly became the Alliance to Restore the Republic? Do you even know what you want to bring back exactly, Princess? Do you ever stop to think why so many people still fight for Palpatine's throne instead of even considering bringing back the Republic?" Now it was Madine's turn to make demands.

To make things even weirder, Han could feel an unnatural chill spread through the Admiral's ready room.

"How dare you!?" Leia suddenly surged to her feet and imperiously pointed at Madine's chest. She was shaking in a fury in a way Han hadn't seen her before.

"Do you want me to lie to you?" Madine's calm response did little to defuse the situation.

"Wasn't Alderaan enough?! How many more worlds must die before everyone sees the Empire for the evil it is?!" There was a desperation and something odd in Leia's voice. "How many more innocents must die first!?" Her shacking shoulders stilled. "No." Leia declared in a distant, aloof, and cold voice. "I won't have it! This madness must end! The Empire has to go with everyone evil enough to support it!"

"We would have to burn more than half the galaxy then," Madine reasonably pointed out.

"Then we do so!" Leia snapped. "Why would anyone enjoy the benefits of evil when good people are already burned for standing by what's right!?" Every word that came out of Leia's mouth got colder and darker in the room.

Ackbar shifted in unease. His large aquatic eyes went between his three visitors. Han could see his breath come out in a mist when Leia whirled around and stared at him with eyes glowing like angry molten metal.

"Please tell me you are with me to the end, Han?!" Leia commanded.

"To whatever end, your worshipfulness?" Han managed to put his best roguish grin in place while his mind screamed at him that something was terribly wrong. He almost felt like Vader was beside him, ready to order his torture like back in Cloud City.

"The Empire must end. Those who still support it must end!" Leia smiled at those words, and her eyes shone brighter. "We will begin with those above Coruscant and won't stop until it is done!" She smiled brightly and turned to face Ackbar. "Will you do your duty this time, Admiral?"

Han exchanged a terse look with Madine. This was sheer madness, his Princess was talking now. What was wrong with her?

"My duty?" Ackbar asked carefully. "I've done nothing but my duty my whole life. I won't stop now."

"Don't worry, I won't allow it to be any other way," Leia nodded. "As for you," Her attention returned to Madine. "I can't trust you. Tell me, General, are your loyalties still with the Empire?"

Before Madine could open his mouth to answer, the room shook. Leia's hair moved as if buffered by wind.

"How long have you been an Imperial sympathizer? Tell me!" Leia demanded, and Madine choked and grasped his throat.

At this, Han didn't think. His hand went for his blaster, and his thumb switched it to stun mode before the weapon was out of the holster. Leia screeched something and turned his way just as a blue bolt slammed into her chest. For a brief moment, Han could see confusion in her eyes, which looked impossibly wrong on her face, before she collapsed.

"We need Luke here, yesterday…." Han mumbled. He looked up from Leia's body to Madine's pale face.