Nine years, five months, and thirty days after the Battle of Yavin...
Or forty-fourth year, five months, and thirty days after the Great Resynchronization.
— Damage is fully repaired, supplies and fuel are loaded, crew, contingent and air wing are replenished, Grand Admiral, — said the hologram of Captain Pellaeon, gazing at me from the projecting tile of the device embedded in my desk during the flagship's repairs on Tangrene. Several days of emergency repair work, and the star destroyer is ready to continue its service. Unlike most of the star destroyers brought to the base. — The Chimaera is ready to perform combat missions!
— Are our guests on board my flagship? — I inquired.
— Yes, sir! — Gilad reported. — Lieutenant Colonel Astarion and his three best subordinates, Chief Engineer Reyes, as well as one hundred engineers and two hundred technicians, along with the stormtroopers selected by Major Tierce, are on board, sir.
— Set a course for Wayland, — I said, without looking up from reading the reports of the "Delta Source". As always, mostly gossip and rumors, but there are also a number of extremely interesting messages. But I'll deal with them later. — Inform Major Himron that I want to see him in half an hour. That's all.
— Yes, sir! — The hologram saluted and dissolved. Several seconds passed before a slight, barely noticeable tremor of the deck became a signal that the star destroyer had broken the light barrier.
Leaning back in my chair, I looked at my new adjutant standing in front of me. Lieutenant Jade was no longer suitable for these purposes at the moment — she would soon begin her own work, and the duties of my adjutant would become part of the cover legend, nothing more.
— The new uniform suits you, Major Tierce, — I remarked, assessing the impression of Grodin's fleet attire, standing at the entrance to my cabin, holding in his hands the bright red uniform of the Imperial Guardsman, which the former stormtrooper TR-889 wore at his previous duty station.
A deaf helmet with a horizontal visor, a scarlet cloak and a black suit underneath, a cuirass made of super-strong material, and a power pike are attributes well known throughout the galaxy.
An Imperial Guardsman in combat gear.
— Thank you, sir, — in former times it was unthinkable for a guardsman to talk to his master. But, times are changing. — But the color is clearly not suitable.
— Trifles that can be resolved later, — I said. — I am curious about the fact that you, having decided to stop serving, still kept your combat gear.
— Otherwise, I would not have had the opportunity to prove who I am, — Tierce said. — The armor of the Imperial Guard cannot be faked.
— We won't need to, — I stated. — On Wayland, inside Mount Tantiss, there are workshops capable of producing both stormtrooper armor and guard armor.
— Not to mention warehouses filled with this good stuff, — the major remarked.
— You are well aware of the plans for the Mountain, — I noted.
— During your time there, I had time to study it, — my new adjutant stated. — The warehouses have enough uniforms for ten legions of stormtroopers and five hundred guardsmen.
— We won't need more than that, — I noted. — You've done a great job, Major, these last few days. Now, I want to hear the reason why you organized the transfer to your unit of several dozen stormtroopers from my entire fleet.
— They previously served in the 501st Legion, sir, — Tierce said.
— "Vader's Fist"? — I was surprised.
— Those who survived these five years and were within reach, sir, — the major replied. — After Vader killed the Emperor, the 501st Legion was disgraced in the eyes of the Empire's top leadership. The guardsmen and crew members who escaped from the second Death Star provided enough indirect and direct evidence to understand the situation — knowing Darth Vader's power and ferocity, the young Luke Skywalker could not have killed the Emperor in his presence. At least not alone. Either Vader did it himself, or helped his son. The fact of their relationship was also revealed, but the bearers of this secret are now either in the grave or prefer to remain silent. Those who led the Empire after Palpatine's death were not idiots — they understood that publishing such data would only lead to a split among the Imperials. The 501st was almost completely destroyed when the Executor rammed the hull of the battle station, but those who remained in service in other places of deployment, those who survived, were stripped of their regalia, and the legion was disbanded, and the soldiers were distributed to other units. None of those who knew the truth about the Emperor's death would ever say it — otherwise, it would have destroyed the Empire much earlier. The reason for the disbandment has become bogged down under a mountain of bureaucracy, and now no one really knows why it happened. Everything was done quickly and in compliance with strict secrecy. Most of them are already dead — especially the Jango Fett clones. But I was still able to find some of them and facilitate their transfer to my unit.
— Well, — I squinted. — The recreation of the 501st Legion will be a great ideological success for us.
— As will the appearance of an Imperial Guardsman beside you, — Grodin said, and a note of discontent flickered in his voice.
— I remember you were against this initiative, Major, — I stated. — But now your desires are of little importance. You will become a donor for cloning a new type of stormtrooper commanders, and your soldiers will serve as matrices for creating stormtroopers. While your clones will command units, you will remain my adjutant and officer for special assignments.
— So, I understand that you will use my genetic material to create your own Imperial Guard? — the adjutant inquired.
— I will use it as I see fit, Major, — the guardsman needs to be reined in. He already knows that he surpasses the rest of the stormtroopers under my command by ten percent, which makes him the best candidate for cloning. And given the discovered laboratories of Mount Tantiss, and the cloning data available there, the major does not need to know how much his clones will be changed. Like himself. Like many others who are now flying to Wayland aboard the Chimaera. — Report on the state of affairs in the fleet, Major.
— Captain Dorya of the Relentless reports that the technicians have brought eighty more Dreadnoughts of the Katana Fleet into running order, — Tierce went straight to the report without preamble. — He and the commander of the Bellicose, Captain Aban, are ready to escort these ships to Tangrene immediately, as Captain Harbide's Dead Head and Captain Brandei's Executor have already arrived with their escorted Star Galleons and have started repairing forty more ships.
— Send a denial, — I ordered. — Let them wait for the arrival of Captain Astorias's Stormhawk and Captain Mora's Inexorable and continue the repairs.
These star destroyers are the last pair of escorts that will deliver the necessary parts and personnel to the Katana Fleet's location to complete the repairs of the last five dozen starships. And immediately after that, one hundred and seventy heavy dreadnought-class cruisers, supported by six Imperial-I class star destroyers, the same number of CR90 corvettes in the main hangars of the line ships, and eighteen, traveling under their own power, three medium Strike-class cruisers and a dozen Tartans, which I temporarily requisitioned from the Morschdain sector defense fleet, not to mention three dozen Star Galleons — all the military transports I have available — will go to the shipyards for repairs and modernization. Which will take place on Tangrene, Rendili, and Bestine IV, guarded by star destroyers in the second and third cases. Even though these planets, after several days of negotiations, declared their support for me personally, their loyalty is bought with money alone, and therefore unreliable in the future. Just like the loyalty of those rulers of Imperial sectors and planets who decided to show their attention to Tangrene after rumors spread throughout Imperial Space not only about my acquisition of captured ships but also about the capture of the Katana Fleet. Fortunately, the latter are mostly speculation so far, but they will soon go beyond the Empire and become public knowledge — which is why I have to take all the ships from their berths at once.
I am not ready to trust people who only became interested in me once I waved money in front of their noses. And big money at that, which will pay for the repair and modernization work. Not to mention that I had to shell out a lot of money to buy fighters from Krennel. In fact, he received the cost of an entire star destroyer from me. In total, out of half a billion, after all these expenses, I have just under seventeen million left — and this is taking into account the sale of trophies from the base on Ord Pardron. This part of the income no longer "works" — Moff Ferrus sold absolutely everything I delivered to him after my first campaign, earning about one hundred million more than the existing half a billion. And also the goods that Talon Karrde left on Mirkr Mare Jade as "compensation" were sold. Next in line is the sale of "ugly" pirate fighters and other pirate property obtained as a result of the ambush near Rugosa. But the estimated one hundred and seventy million from the sale of trophies is not the biggest figure in modern realities. They, like the reserves of metals obtained as a result of the raid on Nkllon, will gradually go towards maintaining the fleet, technical specialists, the purchase of fuel, tibanna, uniforms, and other necessities. Currently, Tangrene is training and forming volunteers who will replenish the ranks of the regular army, the number of which under my command is not that large — just over twenty thousand. Given that there are practically a hundred stormtroopers, most of whom are now stationed on the ships of the Katana Fleet. And they will stay there until the ships are finished. Taking into account that on each star destroyer their number should be a standard legion — almost ten thousand on each, not to mention the other ships of the fleet, it is necessary to start cloning both stormtroopers, and, without mentioning, technical specialists. The supplies, at least the armor, are enough for almost another hundred thousand stormtroopers, which is already an army. And we still need small arms, thermal detonators, baradium, nergon-14, tibanna, and other things — both for stormtroopers and for the regular army. Which predetermines more and more expenses.
However, I have some ideas at the moment regarding the issue of equipping the army with everything it needs. If it works out, the need to clone stormtroopers will disappear after the recreation of the 501st Legion. If not... Well, it will be sad. But not critical.
First of all, it is necessary to resolve the issues of the fleet, they are always a priority — after all, without it, it is not worth even thinking about operations outside the sector. At the moment, my campaign boils down to a space confrontation, and ground battles are just a "necessary evil". However, in the future, it will be necessary to pay attention to these aspects as well.
First of all, we need to replenish our financial well-being right now.
Money is flowing like a river. However, this fact does not particularly upset me — for the first time since Ubiqtorate left the Morschdain sector, the base's warehouses, arsenals, and other storage facilities are full to capacity. No matter how much the Imperial Ruling Council resists, a huge amount of spare parts for Imperial star destroyers and ships of my fleet has been removed from Bilbringi on my orders. Well, this is most likely the last such "raid" — I'm not sure that it will be possible to pull off at least one more.
But spare parts of proper quality were purchased from the manufacturer. And all of them without exception will now have a second class hyperdrive, standard for the Imperial fleet.
However, the Katana Fleet has many interesting and promising things for my fleet — starting with Mark-2 model droids and experimental (at the time of creation) AT-RT walkers, ending with automation schemes for work systems. All of this, as well as almost two hundred fourth-class hyperdrives for ships six hundred meters long, which will become available to me after the modernization of the ships, is undoubtedly a blessing that can both increase the budget through sales on the black or ordinary market, and, in principle, will be useful in the future. It is a pity that the Rendili Shipyards do not want to purchase this "ancient example of technology". Well, but I know where to put them. And I'll do it as soon as I have the funds.
Baron D'Asta, who arrived a few days ago, congratulated me on the victory, presented me with several CR90 corvettes, bringing their total number under my command to thirty, provided me with three thousand pilots from his sector (for which I am immensely grateful to him), as well as an immeasurable number of spare parts and damaged TIE series fighters, secretly saying that he had scraped up absolutely everything that he had in his warehouses. But he refused additional funding, citing urgent matters in his sector. Well, but he helped in another material way.
And with his refusal to accept a Mon Calamari star cruiser as a gift, he confirmed my assumptions — he does not need trophies from the Hast shipyards. He wants direct revenge for the insults inflicted on him and the loss of political influence. And this, in turn, gives us an understanding that the Baron was not frank with me — he, like other Warlords, only needs someone who will do their dirty work for them. Well, I'll remember this.
However, money is needed now. And this is one of the reasons why the Chimaera is heading for Wayland. It's time to "shake" Palpatine's treasury properly and remove everything that can be sold from the number of jewels and cultural artifacts.
— Has the Imperious already arrived on Lainuri to relieve the Nemesis? — I asked a new question.
— Yes, Grand Admiral, — the major confirmed. Unlike Pellaeon, the new adjutant kept all the information in his memory. And in the three days of his service, he has not made a single mistake, which does credit to his professional training. And makes you wonder if it's worth visiting the planet Yinchorr, where the Imperial Guard base is located, and try to recruit a few more of Major Tierce's colleagues into your service, if they are still there? However, a thought is pounding in my mind that Grodin is probably the only one of the guardsmen who was smart enough not to continue his service to a dead man. However, there is a suggestion that the base could contain data on the training of guardsmen or something else useful. At the very least, the planet needs to be searched. Because in Palpatine's files, found by me in Mount Tantiss, this data is missing — another revealed fact of data cleanup by Palpatine's agents.
It's good that the file with the notorious "Caamas Document" was not altered. But using it now would be tantamount to destroying the New Republic. Well, this ultimate weapon will have its turn — as part of my contingency plan, which I have not even shared with Mara Jade.
— Have the shipyards prepared information on when the Nemesis will be out of repair? — I clarified.
— It needs three days to arrive from Lainuri to Tangrene, a day for repairs and replenishment of losses, after which the ship will be at your full disposal, — the major reported briskly.
In total — the ship will be operational in four days. We need two days to get to Wayland — and part of the journey will have to be made not along hyperspace routes, which will take a lot of time.
— Contact Captain Schneider, — I ordered. — After completing the repairs, he must arrive on Wayland to receive further instructions.
— It will be done, sir, — Grodin Tierce crisply said.
— I have a task for you, Major, — I looked at the man. He watched me expectantly. — Contact Brintooin and arrange a meeting.
— Of course, sir, — the major smiled reservedly. — But I consider it my duty to inform you that Colonel Johans has not been in contact with any of the Imperial Warlords for a long time. There is a high probability that he will ignore your message as well. Like Carida did.
— In that case, we will strike Colonel Johans and his Hell Hammers from the list of potential allies, — I said calmly. — Like Carida. That's all.
— As you command, sir, — Tierce did not enter into an argument. — May I proceed with the execution of your orders immediately?
— You may, — I said.
After the former Imperial Guardsman closed the door of my cabin, I glanced again at the report from the "Delta Source". According to it, just a day ago, a number of very interesting points were discussed at the Imperial Palace on Coruscant. Starting with Admiral Ackbar's report on what happened in the Rugosa system, to the question of whether the inhabitants of the planet Brintooin in the Seswenna sector, not far from Eriadu, could be behind the recent failures that have befallen the New Republic. An Imperial planet, like the entire system, which lives according to Imperial laws, and is under the control of the Imperial Colonel Johans — the commander of the 112th Separate Tank Regiment "Hell Hammers". A legend of the armored forces of the regular army of the Empire, who have entrenched themselves in their native system so well that the New Republic does not even think about taking them by storm. They just don't want to lose millions of soldiers in a war with those who, from the very first days of the Clone Wars to the present, are professionals in their field. And they have instilled a love for it on the part of the local population at such a level that there is hardly a "civilian" person who does not know how to handle weapons or equipment at the level of a regular military man. This is... undoubtedly a plus — it means that the New Republic will not meddle on this planet in any case. And even more so, Brintooin will survive the invasion of the Reborn Emperor — if it even takes part in it at all. As far as I understood from the intelligence reports, Colonel Johanson has no desire to participate in the infighting of the Imperial Warlords, preferring to wait for a leader who will put things in order in all this mess. The Imperial civil war for him is the most disgusting of all occupations. Not what these brave tankers were taught, and not what they were prepared for.
The "Hell's Hammers" only know one correct occupation, in which they can apply all their skills to the fullest — destroying the enemy on the ground. And they are simply excellent at it.
Logically, they are already necessary for me in the future.
***
— Leia, I'm sure this is going to be a bad idea, — Luke said pessimistically, but meanwhile, he continued to walk next to his sister, her husband — Han Solo, and their mutual friend — Lando Calrissian. But unlike the young Jedi, the latter were silent, frowning at each other. They knew perfectly well that it was pointless to try to dissuade the Alderaanian princess from doing what she had decided to do. — General Cracken has a meeting...
— I'm sure he'll give us a few minutes, — Organa-Solo said coldly, approaching the door she needed. But before she could touch the panel, the bulkhead slid aside and a young man in a flight suit burst out of the cabin, as if stung. Casting a furious glance at the four people present, he muttered something through his teeth, then quickly walked away, not even noticing how he pushed Han and Lando with his shoulders.
— What was that? — Solo looked after him in bewilderment.
— What did you expect? — Calrissian chuckled unhappily. — You've been stripped of your general's rank — now even a Cretowing pilot doesn't give you a decicred.
— Corran, wait! — Luke rushed after the gloomy man, but he had already disappeared into the crowd of crew members scurrying about on the deck. Shaking his head in disappointment, the Jedi returned to his friends.
— Was that Horn? — Leia clarified. Her brother pursed his lips and nodded silently.
— That same Rogue, whose wife disappeared and all that is left is an unbearable father-in-law flying on a star destroyer? — Lando flashed his awareness.
— The very same, — Skywalker sighed. — I sense that he's furious.
— That's why he greeted me so Corellian, — Han blurted out. But no one appreciated the joke. Leia, disapprovingly shook her head and stepped inside the compartment. The men, exchanging glances, followed her. — However... I only met someone who could be my father-in-law once, and he froze me in carbonite. Luke, don't look so expressive! I remember that he is your father, but that doesn't mean that I'll forget that I was transported halfway across the galaxy like a container of perishable vegetables.
As expected, it was a small room, located near the main hangar of the Mon Calamari star cruiser. It was intended for briefing pilots, and, judging by the dozen sullen and literally "radiating with happiness" sentients, moving to the exit, one such had just ended. And it was not easy to pass each other in the narrow corridor. But no one wanted to give way. And if the pilots preferred to go around Leia with her regal posture and gait, pressing themselves to the wall, they took it out on her escorts to the fullest extent.
— Luke, — after a strong Twi'lek had walked on Han's feet, not forgetting to step on them with the prosthesis that replaced one of his legs below the knee, — remind me, you were involved in the formation of Rogue Squadron, weren't you?
— It was called Red back then, and completely different sentients flew in it, — the Jedi muttered good-naturedly.
— So, it's useless to scold you for the lack of manners and respect for the heroes of the Alliance among these fliers? — Calrissian clarified, who had been unceremoniously pushed out of the way by a Shistavanen hulk.
— You can find Wedge and whisper a couple of sweet nothings in his ear, — the Jedi suggested.
— Then I might get carried away and tear off the little one's ears, — Han snapped, looking after the last of the "rogues". Yes, now that the patches on the sleeves of their flight suits were visible, there was no doubt. Only the Rogue Squadron has a chevron in the form of twelve tiny X-wings radiating out of a circle in the center of the insignia.
— I'll hold you back, don't worry, — Lando, having met the gaze of the strong Twi'lek, decided that this was not his war and preferred to pretend that he had not pinned him against the wall.
— You don't need to stop me! — Han was indignant. — Wedge has long deserved a good dressing down for the lack of discipline in his unit.
— And I won't be holding you back! — Calrissian smiled.
— In that case — everything is fine, — the Corellian returned his smile.
Finally, they reached the central part — an amphitheater, in the center of which was a working holoprojector, next to which Leia, Wedge Antilles, with the same ruffled hair, and General Cracken were already standing.
And above the projecting plate, a hologram of Admiral Ackbar flickered.
— It's like the very light of the New Republic in one place, — Lando couldn't resist joking.
The chief intelligence officer of the New Republic, looking in their direction, grimaced as if he had a toothache. Although no, that is his usual state.
After exchanging greetings with those present, Solo approached Antilles and literally pinned him to the spot with a look.
— Your Rogues are completely out of hand — they almost trampled us in the corridor, — he complained.
— They had a very bad day, — Wedge said without a hint of humor. — All of us did.
— We just arrived, — Han said. — We were finishing our joint work in the Sluis sector, while you were flying to Rugosa to check the assumptions of your admirals, — Solo quipped. — But I must say — it's not so bad on Naboo.
— Captain Solo, — Admiral Ackbar interrupted him. — Today is not the time for jokes.
— What happened? — Han spread his arms. — After all, everyone is alive and...
— Not all, — Admiral Cracken said in a low voice. — The trap on Rugosa failed.
— You said there wouldn't be any jokes, — Lando frowned. — How could an ambush using eight line ships fail?
— Especially since you both took part in planning the operation, — Han looked first at Ackbar, then at Cracken. The Republican military men looked away. — Come on!? Don't tell me that someone outsmarted us again?!
— That's exactly what happened, — Ackbar said, groaning. — The trap on the Imperials in the Rugosa system turned out to be a trap for our forces.
— We trusted Corran Horn's father-in-law and lost, — Cracken added grimly. — The enemy defeated the Invids fleet, Booster Terrik's fleet. The fate of two of our ships, which were sent ahead of the main forces, is also unclear now. On the orbit of Rugosa, in the place where the meeting was supposed to take place, there are the debris of Squall Pulsar. And at a considerable distance from them — a real massacre.
— There's so much scrap metal that the scavengers will make a fortune, — Wedge said. — If they don't stumble upon the next surprises of the Imperials.
— What happened? — Luke asked quietly.
— The fleet that was holding on Naboo was supposed to take off as soon as it received confirmation from Captain Yonka, — Ackbar explained. — They did not receive a single message for ten minutes from the start of the operation. I ordered to move to the place. We arrived fifty minutes after Yonka and the cruiser arrived.
— A little over an hour has passed since the start of the battle, — Cracken added. — During this time, the Imperials destroyed both fleets and clearly dealt with our ships.
— Apparently, they were pulled out of hyperspace with the help of an interdictor cruiser, — Antilles continued. — And they had to fight. The result — from the wreckage, we were able to identify almost all of Booster's ships and those that he indicated as being part of Leonia Tavira's fleet. But not a single large ship was found. Only the wreckage of a couple of Imperial-designed cruisers, and two more of the same, badly disfigured.
— I sent groups on board these ships to get data, — Cracken said. — The ships exploded. We lost more than two hundred people — the crews of the landing ships, boarding parties, and technicians. Of course, no data was obtained.
— What does Terrik say? — Solo inquired.
— He disappeared, — Cracken said. — Like Yonka, like Tavira, and the rest of the big starships. All the rest are wreckage.
— So, I understand that Corran's wife hasn't been found either? — Luke clarified.
— No word from her, — Cracken said. — Like from Captain Yonka or any other participants in the operation. There are no survivors at the battle site. Not even damaged small aircraft — only wreckage.
— Well then it's clear why Horn is so mad, — Calrissian nodded understandingly.
— I understand him, — Han unexpectedly admitted. — If this had happened to Leia and the children... Ouch!
Having received a sensitive push with a sharp elbow under the ribs, the former smuggler met his wife's gaze and let her know that he had lost this battle by a crushing score.
— So, we don't even know who it was? — Luke asked.
— For sure — no, — Cracken confirmed. — We can only assume that the same task force that destroyed our sector fleet in the Dafilvean sector and attacked our bases in the Sluis sector was involved in what happened.
— And robbed Nkllon, — Calrissian interjected.
— Lando, — Solo grimaced. — Can you please not bring up your Gambit right now? You've been talking about it all the way.
— I lost the most valuable thing! — the entrepreneur exclaimed.
— Technically speaking, you lost your conscience back then on Bespin when you handed us over to Vader, — Han said thoughtfully.
— I told you — they arrived before you, and I had no choice! — Calrissian said emphatically.
— With all due respect, but the loss of Gambit is the least of our problems right now, — Admiral Ackbar remarked.
— That is, when your fleet suppliers were lying at my feet and begging me to sell them metals at a big discount — you were interested in the Gambit, — Lando was offended. — And now that it's gone — you don't need to remember it.
— Mr. Calrissian, — the chief intelligence officer of the New Republic interrupted him. — The government has already told you — we have put you in line for compensation for the loss of your business from the actions of the Empire. No one can do more than that!
— Yeah, yeah, — the entrepreneur snorted. — But offering general's pips and asking to hunt for Imperials — you can do that?
— But that way you would have settled scores with them, — Antilles said noncommittally.
— Or I would have disappeared like Yonka and his combat group, — Calrissian retorted.
— Lando, don't get worked up, — Han asked his friend. — Let's go somewhere, play some sabacc, I'll win you a planet or two, and you can do whatever you want with them? Deal?
— Not the best idea, — the Alderaanian princess said. — Honey, the last time you won a planet in sabacc, we found a Zinj warlord on it who we thought was dead, his Executor-class super star destroyer Iron Fist, which we thought was destroyed, and there were Dathomiri witches on the planet who wanted to conquer the galaxy...
— And as a result, we had to give Dathomir to the witches living on it, — Calrissian reminded with a smile. — Friend, thank you for the offer, but I will refuse. I'm not that desperate.
— That's what I'm saying — maybe you won't play sabacc for planets anymore? — Organa-Solo smiled.
— As if it's a bad thing, — Han muttered.
— They are just afraid that the next time you win another planet, the Emperor with a whole fleet will be found on it. And we don't have an extra Darth Vader available, — Wedge smiled good-naturedly. Looking at the suddenly tense Skywalker, he added:
— Luke, sorry, I didn't mean to offend.
— It's okay, — the young Jedi smiled strained. — So, what do we do now?
— Mon Mothma is recalling us to Coruscant, — Ackbar said with a heavy sigh. — There is unrest in the Senate. We fear that all these attacks are the beginning of a war with the Empire.
— It's not like there's no logic in that, — Calrissian scratched his chin. — They probed our defenses, delivered a couple of serious blows...
— The loss of one or two fleets will not destroy the New Republic, — General Cracken noted. — We are not a colossus with feet of clay.
— Actually, Admiral Ackbar just said that the Senate is in hysterics, — Han remarked.
— I didn't say that, Captain Solo, — the Mon Calamari grimaced.
— As far as I know our Senate — they are already shaking with fear, — Solo noted. — Lando is right. These attacks are just the beginning. First they attacked remote outposts — probed our defenses, assessed the reaction. Then they struck harder — and drew our blood. After that, they diverted attention from Nkllon — a source of rare metals, and destroyed our bases near Sluis Van, after which they lured our ships into a trap and disappeared into space. Knowing the delicacy of the Imperials, our military, if they are still alive, are now being cut to pieces and being interrogated about everything they may know.
— We will take care of the safety of state secrets, — General Cracken waved his hand.
— As far as I know, you can't even ensure the safety of convoys, — Lando needled the intelligence officer. — How many have been robbed? Three? Five? Ten?
— Forty-one, — Wedge said grimly, despite the intelligence officer's "scary eyes". — General, this information is circulating on the HoloNet, any schoolboy can find it and make sure that we are being torn apart everywhere possible.
— Forty-one convoys, — Luke shook his head. — What did they get?
— Construction, medical equipment, — Antilles continued to ignore General Cracken. — Weapons, ammunition. Moreover, the latter is strictly of Imperial design.
— And we have it? — Han was surprised.
— And quite a lot, — Admiral Ackbar admitted. — The Coruscant sector was surrendered to us almost without a fight. There was so much in the warehouses on Anaxes that it would be enough to arm ten million soldiers. We use these weapons and equipment to supply units on the outskirts of the galaxy.
— And you're helping the Imperials arm themselves a little, — Calrissian chuckled. — General Cracken, are you sure that your guys in intelligence are really working? It just feels like your office is leaking like a dilapidated roof in the rain.
— Unlike you, Mr. Calrissian, we check them before hiring them, — the intelligence officer retorted.
— Actually, Lando is right, — Skywalker suddenly declared.
— What do you want to say? — Admiral Ackbar blinked his huge eyes.
— I'm right? — Calrissian was surprised. — I was joking.
— But there's a grain of truth in this joke, — the Jedi noted. — You said that the Imperials are hunting for caravans with specific cargo, right? But how do they find them?
— For this, it is enough to place a sweeper ship or an interdictor cruiser in the hyperspace path and pull out ships, — the Mon Calamari said.
— But in that case, shouldn't there be reports of Imperial ships on hyperspace routes, or of the disappearance of other ships besides convoys? — Han asked.
— There are none, — General Cracken stated. — Only convoys.
— If you say that these coincidences did not seem random to you, then I will definitely write a complaint about you to Mon Mothma, — Calrissian laughed. — General, the Imperials know exactly where your ships will be!
— Impossible! — Cracken objected. — The routes are developed and discussed only in the Imperial Palace. And there are no extra sentients there — all have been checked a hundred times and do not raise any doubts.
— What about listening devices? — Han suggested. — It's Palpatine's residence, albeit former. Couldn't the old crook have spied on anyone?
— We searched all the rooms in the palace — no listening devices, — the general stated. — Yes, you are right, we are working on the option of a leak of information. And we have come to the conclusion that someone is reporting the routes to the Imperials directly at the spaceports. As soon as we find out who it is, we will be able to stop these attacks.
— Maybe we should try the option with a fake convoy? — Han suggested. — According to the documents, it will be what the Imperials need, they will catch the convoy, and our X-wings will pour out of the holds...
— Captain Solo, if you want to teach us how to fight, a general's rank is always ready for you, — the chief intelligence officer stated.
— I'm afraid the New Republic doesn't have enough money to meet my salary demands, — Han remarked, and immediately received an instructive look from his wife. — But finding the "snitch" is simply necessary. You yourselves said that there are not enough ships for freight. And here are forty-one convoys! Surely no one here thinks that the Imperials just successfully cast their nets every time and get what they want?
— No, no one believes in coincidence, — Admiral Ackbar stated. — So far, all we can do is increase the number of escort ships in the caravans.
— Well, hope they won't be led away the same way as in the Rugosa system, — Lando chuckled. — They even stole my "diggers" and spare parts from the warehouses.
— You seem to have run out of money, — Wedge joked. — But, one way or another, they need to be stopped.
— To nail down those we don't even know about? — Luke clarified. — I'm afraid this is impossible even for the Force.
— The Provisional Government has another proposal, — Leia said, exchanging glances with Admiral Ackbar. — Actually, that's why I'm here.
— Mon Mothma didn't tell me anything, — the Mon Calamari noted.
— Yes, she shifted this responsibility onto me, — the princess sighed heavily. — Everyone on Coruscant is in a panic — they fear that the attacks will continue and even become more frequent. The Bothans are tearing their hair out and demanding even more ships for their protection...
— But there's an entire fleet on Bothawui — one of our four — based there! — Cracken frowned. — Where do they need even more?
— Fey'lya has an insatiable appetite, — Wedge chuckled. — I remember he demanded Rogue Squadron to escort his yacht.
— And the advisor doesn't mince words, — Lando assessed. — Leia, so what's the offer?
— There is money from trade in the treasury, — she said. — Two billion. Mon Mothma suggested that I contact Talon Karrde again and try to buy from him all the necessary information to nail the Imperials down.
— Oh, — Calrissian threw his hands up in feigned anger. — So, you have a budget to throw credits around for an information trader, but not to restore the Gambit?
— Sorry, Lando, — Organa-Solo smiled guiltily.
— We have some kind of wrong democracy, — Han grimaced.
— And wasn't Karrde one of the participants in the attack on Rugosa? — Wedge clarified. — Booster said he would bring his entire fleet.
— Let's hope he survived, — Leia said. — And he has a motive to get even. Then we can save some money.
— If what I've heard about the Claw is true, — Calrissian mumbled, — he'll rob you blind. But yes, they say he does business honestly, so if he has the information, he will sell it.
— I don't like dealing with smugglers once again, — Admiral Ackbar admitted. — You can expect anything from them.
— Once such unpredictability helped me destroy the Death Star, — the young Jedi said quietly.
— You're welcome, — Han winked at him. — In the end, I married your sister. The princess knows how to repay debts for the entire Rebellion... ugh...
This time, Leia's sharp elbow hit him in the solar plexus, and the Corellian shut up for a few seconds.
— So, what do you need from us? — General Cracken inquired.
— Escort, — Leia said. — Mon Mothma ordered me to take a Mon Calamari star cruiser, but I think it would attract too much attention. I was thinking that Commander Antilles could accompany us to the meeting. In case of trouble, he and his guys will cover us and be able to leave themselves.
— Always ready, — Wedge saluted jokingly. — Admiral? What do you say?
— I really can't give you a star cruiser, — the Mon Calamari admitted. — General Cracken and I have decided to set up several ambushes on key hyperspace routes — we'll gather combat groups, disperse them, and fish out ships from hyperspace.
— We wanted to use this tactic to capture Leonia Tavira, but she always slipped away, — the chief intelligence officer admitted.
— And where is the confidence that it will work this time? — Han inquired. No one answered him. And unexpectedly, the Corellian made a discovery for himself — the commanders standing in front of him don't know what to do next. They are confused and ready to grab at straws, just to do something.
This... was alarming. It is unlikely that the loss of a couple of ships, or even an entire fleet, could harm the New Republic so much that two of the most intelligent beings from its high command would give up. No, there's something else going on here. It seems that while he, Leia, Lando, and Luke were flying around the galaxy, acting like a fire brigade, it became hotter on Coruscant than one could imagine.
— We just hope for it, — Ackbar finally said. — I have requested several interdictor cruisers from the Core Worlds, explaining what we need them for. But... as I said, I'll have to fly to Coruscant.
Solo didn't like the tone in which the Mon Calamari said these words very much. As if he was not saying something. And Cracken was somehow strangely looking away. There, there, there, even the small Antilles started looking at the ceiling, pretending that he was fascinated by the ceiling welds. What was the Sith doing here?!
— And what about Rugosa? — Luke inquired. — Are there chances to find any leads there? If necessary, I can help... I just don't know what and how.
— My ships in the Rugosa system are now loading the last debris into their holds, — Admiral Ackbar said. — We'll deliver them to the capital and analyze them.
— Why? — Han didn't understand. Who needs scrap metal?! And in such quantities?
— Perhaps we'll find some thread that will lead us to the one who caused all this, — there was no particular confidence in Ayren Cracken's voice. Which happened extremely rarely with him. — That's all we can do right now to continue the investigation.
— But this is nonsense! — Han said. — What can you find out from the wreckage? How much tibanna did they spend to destroy this or that "ugly"? We won't even be able to calculate the vector of their departure from here — the engine trail dissipates very quickly. We need to shake up the underworld properly — they know exactly where to look. And most importantly, who!
— Corran said the same thing, — Antilles sighed. — Only... a little sharper. He stated that he would look for his wife himself.
— But he's on duty, — Skywalker noted.
— He asked for leave, — Ackbar said. — I refused. He threatened to desert...
— You must have really bothered the person, — Calrissian whistled admiringly. — Where can I take a master class? I could use new tricks in case of important negotiations.
— Horn is a Corellian, — Solo noted. — And my compatriots don't need much. I would have done the same myself... Admiral, I assume you sent him under arrest?
— I can't allow a pilot of an elite squadron to do whatever he wants at such a difficult time, — the Mon Calamari cut off.
— He'll sit in the brig for a couple of days — he'll clear his head, — Cracken stated. — We all feel sorry for his wife and father-in-law, but nothing can be achieved by hysterical seizures and frantic rushes around the galaxy.
— Actually, he said that they would help him find her, — Antilles noted.
— Who? — Lando became wary.
— I don't know, — the commander of Rogue Squadron shrugged. — Admiral Ackbar ridiculed him...
— Keep in mind, if a young guy named Rederek offers help, then it's an Imperial trap, — Calrissian shared his experience. — Tried and tested.
— No, he said about the help of some Jedi, — General Cracken dumbfounded his friends with just one phrase. The people present looked at Luke, but he only shook his head.
— I have nothing to do with this, — he stated. — We only met once, on Sluis Van. He asked me a little about Jedi ways of communication and that's all.
— What exactly did he ask about? — General Cracken immediately became alert.
— He was interested in whether one Jedi can mentally talk to another, — Luke said.
— And is that possible? — Han wondered.
— The Force gives us many abilities, — Skywalker said vaguely. — when I attacked the Death Star, Ben's voice advised me to use the Force to aim at the target. I listened — and it worked.
— That's why your targeting computer was turned off, — Leia remembered.
— That's right, — Antilles scratched the back of his head. — I remember I was amazed by such antics. I immediately remembered your stories about hunting wops-rats in the canyon. I also wondered if you saw a couple on the cooling shaft opening.
— No, it was Ben Kenobi, — Skywalker smiled shyly. — That was the first time I used the Force and succeeded.
— But not the last, right? — Han inquired. Luke nodded affirmatively.
— While on Dagobah, I saw what would happen to you in the future. I rushed headlong to save you and fell straight into a trap. And already in Cloud City, when Darth Vader's flagship almost caught us, I heard his voice in my head on the Falcon — he was calling me. And only the memories of Ben helped me overcome this call.
— You didn't tell us about this, — Leia noted.
— It just never came up, — the Jedi Knight blushed.
— Did you tell Horn about this? — Cracken continued to press.
— He comes from a Jedi family, — Luke reminded. — And he has the right to know about his abilities. After the capture of Coruscant, I offered him to become a Jedi, but he refused, said that it was not his path. And when we met on Sluis Van, it occurred to me that he had changed his mind. But he didn't talk about voices.
— So, he didn't go crazy from grief, as we thought, — the chief intelligence officer of the New Republic said grimly.
— And I told you so, — Antilles noted. — Horn is one of the most mentally stable sentients in the squadron! He didn't break in A'sard's prison aboard the Lusankya — the only one of all who had been there! And according to rumors, thousands of sentients went through her mind-breaker...
— Tens of thousands, — General Cracken corrected grimly. — If not hundreds. She took that secret with her to the grave.
— Wait a minute, — Han shook his head. — What are we even talking about? What are these voices in the Corellian's head? No, we have that sometimes, of course — the voice of reason haunts people from Corellia. But we're always faster.
— Officer Horn reported that while approaching Sluis Van, a voice in his head claimed that it would help him find "her", — General Cracken explained. — Moreover, this was even before Booster Terrik contacted us and reported his daughter's disappearance, offering a plan to catch her kidnappers.
— I didn't know that, — Luke became serious.
— Not you alone, — Han noted, looking at the intelligence officer with a squint. — But this isn't the end of the story, is it, General?
— Yes, — Cracken reluctantly admitted. — Horn claims that while flying to Rugosa, when there was a battle raging there, he was contacted again by this someone and this time clearly said that his wife was in danger, and only he, a Jedi, could help him save her.
— Some kind of mysticism, — Calrissian grimaced. — Luke... Friend, why have you turned pale?
— Vader communicated with me in the same way, — the Jedi Knight said.
— But he's dead, — Leia reminded, looking at her brother. — Luke, he's dead, right?
— The Emperor burned his life support system with lightning, — the young Jedi replied. — Father died right in my arms in the hangar of the Death Star. And I personally burned his body on the forest moon of Endor. And there I saw his ghost — like the ghost of Yoda, Ben Kenobi.
— You also kept quiet about the ghosts, — his sister said with a note of offense.
— Sorry, — Skywalker smiled guiltily. — But that's a bit personal. Moreover, after that, none of them appeared to me — until recent events. However, I think the situation is more serious than we think.
— And I thought that he would say now that he would take a lightsaber and solve all the problems, — Han Solo sighed. — Will you tell us what these "recent events" are?
— Did you establish contact with Obi-Wan Kenobi? — Leia inquired. — Just wanted to and that was it?
— I don't think I wanted that. Actually, I was asleep, so the conversation with Ben took place in a dream. But from the records that I have, I know that the Jedi can communicate with each other mentally — if at least one of them is powerful in the Force. But, it seems that it's done a little differently, — the Jedi said. — At about the same time when the Imperials were fleeing from our frigates in the Obroa-skai system, I felt a distortion in the Force. Indignation, but not so obvious, rather like echoes. Ben's ghost appeared to me. He said that he was leaving and could no longer remain in our world. But he warned me that the Dark Side was strong in the galaxy, despite the death of Vader and the Emperor. I flew to Dagobah to figure it out, but...
— Found nothing? — his sister asked.
— Nothing significant, — he replied. — Now it seems to me that everything that happened — the distortion, Ben's vision, the voice in Horn's head — these are parts of one puzzle. We just don't see the whole picture.
— He needs to be interrogated immediately, — Cracken stated. — Perhaps Horn has not said something or deliberately hidden something from us...
— Easy on the turns, General, — Antilles said unexpectedly in a serious tone. — You are now talking about my pilot! About one of the best! About the one thanks to whom we captured Coruscant, minimized the focus of infection with the Krytos virus, and then destroyed A'sard completely! Should I remind you where you and the New Republic were when I and my pilots fought against her?
— Officially, no one accepted your resignation then, — the general snapped back at the squadron commander. — So, you were in the service of the New Republic.
— Easy, General, — Han stood up for his younger friend, understanding that another statutory "swing" was beginning. — We can play this game together. If you remember, I also wore general's pips. And I can easily get them back, become Wedge's commander, and then you'll have to deal with me somewhere far from Coruscant and the princess's cooking. And I'm always unbearable when I'm hungry.
— You're often hungry, — Leia sighed. Han just gave her his favorite smile.
— Okay, if we're measuring pips, does anyone remember that I took part in the destruction of the second Death Star? — Calrissian inquired.
— I remember, — Wedge said gloomily. — I was covering you.
— I ask everyone to calm down, — the representative of the traditionally non-conflicting Mon Calamari race said conciliatory. — No one will interrogate Lieutenant Horn. Jedi Skywalker, can we ask you to talk to him? Perhaps he will open up to you more than to us.
— I will do everything in my power, — Luke said. — But, you must understand that I am not omnipotent. If he doesn't want to talk to me — I will definitely not invade his mind against his will. This is the path to the Dark Side.
— This whole story smells very bad, — Lando said unexpectedly. — Some Jedi, the activation of the Imperials, who are slapping us in the face like we are little children, hysterics in the Senate... Did we really defeat the Empire?
— I'm much more interested in something else, — Han admitted. — Luke, you said that Darth Vader and the Emperor destroyed all the Jedi. How could someone contact Horn?
— I don't know, — he spread his arms. — If he wants to tell, he will tell.
— Actually, the Emperor and Vader failed to find Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda, — Leia noted, unexpectedly smiling. — Maybe someone else was left? Hid just like them? Galen Marek, for example, may still be alive, as well as General Kota.
— Honey, — Han squinted. — And why are you smiling so mysteriously, calling out two male names unknown to me?
— I met them about a year before the Battle of Yavin, — she said. — General Kota is a Jedi who survived the Purge. Galen Marek was supposedly his student, and quite powerful. Kota said that he had a dark past, but he returned to the light, helped to save the leaders of the Alliance. But it seems that he died fighting the Emperor on an unfinished Death Star.
— The first or the second? — Wedge clarified.
— At the time of those events, we thought it was the only one, — Leia admitted. — Father said that Galen once managed to crash an Imperial star destroyer from the orbit of Raxus Prime and smash it against the planet...
— Is that even legal? — Lando whistled.
— Talent, — Han assessed. — Luke, can you do that?
— Well... — Skywalker hesitated. — I can pull an X-wing out of a swamp. Master Yoda said that size doesn't matter.
— I remember we were getting medicine on Ryloth to fight the Krytos, — Antilles said. — A dancer told me the same thing...
— She was hardly a Jedi, — Lando chuckled. Wedge, smiling, caught himself when his comlink went off. Looking around furtively, he apologized and walked aside, talking quietly to someone about something. Han watched him and thought that Antilles was a bad pretender. Maybe give him a couple of lessons? — And seriously, where are these two Jedi now? Luke could use their knowledge and skills.
— Why? — Han grimaced. — The kid is a Jedi anyway, right Luke?
— I'm only at the beginning of my path, — Skywalker noted. — And I wouldn't refuse help. But using the Force to shoot down star destroyers is... too much.
— We could have used such a guy on Endor, — the Mon Calamari grumbled.
— It seems I remember reports about this Marek, — Cracken said thoughtfully. — He was believed to be dead, then he surfaced during the battle of Kamino at one of our cells, about a year before the Battle of Yavin IV. It was rumored that he captured Darth Vader himself. And this Kota was with him. Yes, I remembered! They had their own rebel cell, a pretty serious one.
— That's right, — Leia confirmed. — But then Vader was free, and no one ever heard about Galen Marek, General Kota, and their cell again. They are considered dead.
— And since that's the case, why are we even remembering them? — Lando didn't understand.
— I just thought, maybe the Jedi who contacted Horn is Galen Marek? — Leia suggested. — If so, then maybe we can attract him to our side.
— So that he could throw around star destroyers again? — Wedge smirked, returning to his place, blowing a bang that fell into his eyes. — If so, then my Rogues and I will be out of work in a couple of months.
— It's all a lie, — Lando couldn't stand it. — If that were the case, rumors would have spread throughout the galaxy. And I haven't heard anything like that.
— As have I, — Cracken confirmed.
— It seems we've drifted away from the topic of conversation, — there was impatience in the Mon Calamari's voice. — Jedi Skywalker, I hope for your help. At the moment, this unknown Jedi, if he really exists, is our only worthwhile lead that could lead to Mirax Terrik-Horn.
— We'll find her — we'll find those who ambushed our ambush near Rugosa, — General Cracken said.
— Too many words "ambush" in one sentence, — Lando muttered.
— And I don't mind discussing ambushes more, — Wedge smiled.
— Later, — Cracken waved his hand. — We have so little time left. If the Imperials strike again, and we are not ready for this — we are in for big trouble. Commander Antilles, — Wedge raised his head. And Han didn't like the mischievous sparks in his compatriot's eyes very much. Mentally, he prayed that the kid wouldn't do anything reprehensible. After all, it's not for nothing that the boy decided to talk on the comlink. Oh not for nothing... — Lieutenant Horn should be in his cabin now. Call him here — Jedi Skywalker will talk to him in my presence.
— And how will this be different from an interrogation? — Wedge inquired. — I remind you — Corran was an operative of CorSec in the past, General. No matter how you mask your desire to turn him inside out, he will still feel the set-up. It is better to leave the guy alone and let him do what he thinks is right...
A tense silence hung in the air. Han, who had been convinced more than once in his years of the absence of higher powers (or mercy from them), looked at Wedge. He just smiled boyishly and spread his arms.
— You didn't think that I would sit on the sidelines when the people who replaced my family disappeared? — he inquired, watching Cracken's face turn red.
— Commander Antilles! — he hissed.
— I'll be celebrating my anniversary soon, as a "commander", — he sighed. — And thirty years as "Antilles".
— What did you do?! — Admiral Ackbar asked.
— Wedge, — Leia shook her head. — Don't tell me you helped him escape!
— Technically, he didn't escape, — Antilles noted. — He is carrying out my order — he is looking for Booster Terrik and Mirax Terrik-Horn. As a former operative, he is able to conduct an investigation and report the results. By the way, he has an interesting theory that everything that happened is actually the work of Leonia Tavira and her Invids...
— This is reckless, Wedge, — Luke stated. — He can be dangerous to others, since he doesn't know how to control his powers...
— He's a Corellian, — Han noted. — And that means he's been a threat since birth.
— It's still pointless, — Leia said. — The last leads flew away with him.
— I wouldn't say that, — Wedge smiled. — We have known each other for quite a few years. Three, to be exact. We talked before the general meeting of the squadron, General. And he said pretty accurately what the results of this meeting would be. But I hoped for the best. It didn't work out. Therefore, he received an order and, as a proper pilot, disciplinedly went to fulfill it. But at last, he gave us a clue.
— What? — Cracken's face turned less red.
— A name, — Wedge said. — The Jedi who spoke to him is called Joruus C'baoth. He just told me this on the comlink and received permission to take off. So, this is not a star destroyer thrower, but someone completely different.
Luke, seeing how they were looking at him, only spread his arms:
— I don't know this name.
— We can search in the Imperial Palace archive, — Leia bit her lip. — If this is someone from the old Jedi, then there must be records. The Empire kept good records related to the extermination of the Jedi.
— And if it's someone from the young Jedi, who was born during the Empire? — Admiral Ackbar asked.
— Then he can be searched in the database of citizens, — Lando stated. — It's unlikely we'll find him, but still — it's worth a try.
— I will check the Jedi archives, — Luke said. — If I find something, I'll let you know, Wedge.
— Thanks, Luke, — the Corellian smiled, — but I don't think that the mail will be delivered to me in the guardhouse.
— What other guardhouse? — Han frowned.
— Commander Antilles has been arrested, — Cracken's voice made it clear that this speech was not easy for him. — He allowed a person to take off, the only witness in a case of national importance. After a senior officer ordered him to be placed under arrest. This is a violation of subordination and just a little bit — a military crime.
— Just a tiny bit, — Antilles showed a small distance between his thumb and forefinger. — They won't send me to Kessel, of course, but they'll kick me out of the army. I'll go help Corran.
— I wouldn't be so sure, — Cracken said. — In light of recent events, disobeying the order of a superior officer can result in a life sentence and even the death penalty — if some sly Bothan comes up with some duracrete foundation to take you seriously, Commander. Honestly, you snot-noses! — he roared. — Could you at least have told me? I wouldn't have put the order to remove Horn through the database! Antilles, you just shot off your own wings!
— It was awkward, — Wedge became sad. His bang fell into his eyes. He didn't have the enthusiasm to blow it off anymore.
Han sighed heavily. Looked at Leia. The princess — at him. They understood each other without words.
— General Cracken, — Solo said. — You don't need to be so categorical. As far as I remember, you yourself gave the commander such an order. So, he did not violate the disciplinary regulations and...
— Captain Solo, — the chief intelligence officer of the New Republic sighed. — The best thing you can do now is just not to aggravate the situation. Everyone on this ship knows that you are retired....
— That means no one will pay me anything for today? — Solo exclaimed, looking at Admiral Ackbar. — Scandalous! I only needed to leave the service for a few months and the personnel department is already losing my request to restore my rank!
— I haven't seen any applications. — the Mon Calamari blinked, obviously not understanding the essence of the game.
— I can confirm under oath that I gave it today, immediately after I boarded, to one of the crew members in order to send it to you on the ship for signing, — Han insisted on his point.
Wedge looked at him with gratitude, perfectly understanding that this would not work. Well, who would believe a former smuggler without witnesses...
— I fully support my colleague, — Lando said, taking out a pip with red and blue cubes from the inner pocket of his jacket. — My application was there too. Of exactly the same content. And I also ordered Commander Antilles to send Lieutenant Horn to investigate this incident.
— Some kind of surrealism, — Cracken shook his head. — Understand, I'm with you with all my heart, but the rules... Well, no one will believe you!
— Even if their words are confirmed by the Alderaanian princess and, concurrently, the current advisor to the New Republic? — Leia inquired, snuggling up to her husband. — Moreover, it is unlikely that you, General, and you, Admiral, would allow civilians to find out what they have just heard here.
— Leia, — Cracken looked at her fatherly. — Where are you going? Fey'lya will gladly get rid of all of you...
— I don't think he'll be able to get rid of a Jedi, — Luke unexpectedly said, approaching his friends. — As you know, the Jedi never act to the detriment of sentients. So, if I hadn't been around at the moment when Lando Calrissian and Han Solo submitted their reports on recall from retirement, how could I have confirmed this fact? Admiral, — he looked at the Mon Calamari. — Haven't you received these documents?
Ackbar blinked several times, then said grumbling:
— I don't like all this, — after a pause, he added. — They sent me these reports. But I don't remember where I put them. But I certainly signed them, and for the last few hours, Generals Solo and Calrissian have been on active military service. We just instructed them on the organization of ambushes, didn't we, General Cracken? Or do I have a memory like a goldfish?
Silently laughing into his fist, the chief intelligence officer only waved his hands.
Since Ackbar himself began to play along, taking the blow for violation of bureaucracy on himself, then punishment cannot be applied to Antilles — formally, he fulfilled the order of an officer equal in rank to the chief intelligence officer.
And the difference in positions... This can be sorted out.
— I will send detailed information about the state of affairs and the data we have along with the new insignia, — he said, heading towards the exit. — General Calrissian, we haven't been using such pips for a long time. Put this relic away...
— Thank you, — Admiral Ackbar said when the door closed behind the intelligence officer. — Find these Imperials — otherwise we will all be in trouble.
After the Mon Calamari hologram dissolved, the silence was broken by a sigh of relief as Antilles blew away his bang.
— A volley just went right over the cockpit, — he said. — One more little bit and... Han?! Han, don't make that face! Luke, what are you planning? Lando! Let me go!
— Welcome to the command of General Solo, kid, — Han said promisingly. — Let's start with putting your appearance in order. Luke, can you cut his hair with a lightsaber so that his ears stay in place?
— I'm not sure, — Skywalker said, a green blade appearing in his hands. — Wedge, I'm not joking, it's better not to move, I haven't practiced for a long time, my hand may shake.
— At least leave my bang! — Antilles exclaimed, closing his eyes after the first portion of lush black hair fell to the floor.