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| - With an angry wave of her palm the door slid open for Mara, revealing a sparsely lit room furnished almost from floor to ceiling with equipment, wires, and monitors. Three people were inside, two women and a male Devaronian. They leaned over a data terminal, so deep in conversation that at first they didn't recognize the fuming Jedi and her nephews. But a few steps into the room and her brooding presence became palpable even to them. The older and lighter skinned of the two females raised her graying blond head, staring at Mara with an expression that was both welcoming and wary. The Jedi knew her well, as her husband was one of Luke's oldest and dearest friends. “Iella,” she said, once again lowering herself deeper into a relaxation technique that temporarily blunted the edge of her anger. “I'm so glad you're here.” Her emerald eyes snapped to the other two New Republic Intelligence officers. “It's Kalenda, right?” she asked the dark skinned woman. She had odd set eyes that were more than a little disconcerting, but after you had stared under the hood of the Emperor there wasn't much about anyone's appearance that could disturb you anymore. Kalenda nodded curtly, her braided hair swinging like vines from her head. “Belindi Kalenda, Deputy Director of Operations.” Mara turned her attention to the alien male. “I don't think we've met,” she stated flatly. “Elassar Targon, Wraith Squadron,” he gave her a toothy smile. She wasn't in the mood to return it. “Mara Jade Skywalker,” she said simply, then redirected her attention at Iella Antilles. “Listen, Iella, you've got to help me with something. I'm in a real mess, and if I can't fix it the whole galaxy will be in an even bigger one.” The former CorSec agent took a step forward, a line of worry forming between her blond eyebrows. “What's wrong, Mara? I don't think I've ever seen you this rattled.” Mara took a deep breath. “What do you know about the assault on Bespin?” Immediately Kalenda shook her head, looking stern. “That's classified stuff, I'll need some authorization before I can give you access to files like that.” The Jedi ignored her completely. “I need everything you have on them. They've got Leia, Iella.” The Corellian's eyes widen minutely. “No one's told us about that.” “We haven't made it public yet,” Mara explained. It was at that time she remembered her husband's apprentices. “I almost forgot. This is Jacen and Anakin Solo, if anyone didn't recognize them.” The two teens murmured greetings, and the intel officers nodded slightly in their direction. Iella shook her head slowly, grimacing. “I don't think I can give you much this time Mara. Only the non classified stuff. And most of that you probably already know.” She weighed her options quietly, her analytical mind searching through all her choices. Finally she settled for a thin smile. “Fine. Show me what you've got.” They motioned her over to the terminal, but as they turned she gave a quick look to Anakin, a gesture of her head and a nudge in the Force. She might have chosen Jacen for the task, but he had inherited his uncle's apparent lack of the espionage gene. Anakin was smoother and quieter, and his presence would not be missed as easily. The boy nodded back, understanding what she wanted him to do. All this transpired between the few short steps towards the banks of computers and data terminals and glowing holprojectors. Iella sat down in front of a terminal and made a few clicks before a large copy of the official news report jumped from a projector and scrolled by slowly. Iella began to read. “The attack happened at approximately 0700 in the morning...” Mara turned her head ever so slightly over her shoulder, and saw that Anakin was already gone. * * * The youngest Solo child drew the hood of his cloak over his head and wrapped himself in a bubble of obscurity, careful to project the right emotions. Play down the curiosity, increase the insouciant. Most people in his stage of training had not yet learned such a skill, but it was one of the advantages that came with carrying the Skywalker genes and being apprenticed to your uncle. Anakin had to try hard at times not to be smug about his advanced learning, but Mara assured him that it was not an uncommon emotion at his age. He would lose it later on as he matured and grew even more in the Force. At the moment, he was sure she was the one more pleased with his talents, because now she could utilize his skill to her own advantage. Anakin found it hard to be smug about anything the last few days. He had hid it well, but inside he was all but completely consumed with worry for his mother. In his short life the majority of danger had always been projected at his uncle and at times his father, but usually Leia stood in the background and wielded her politic power to give them support. He couldn't remember a time when it had been her life that hung in the balance. It was a terrifying feeling. Leia wasn't surrounded with that aura of invulnerability in his mind, the knowledge that she could handle herself in any situation. He didn't have the same confidence that she would return to him unscathed. Pushing the distracting thoughts from his mind, he turned to the real task at hand. Walking silently to the opposite end of the darkened room, he used a quick Force scan to make sure no one had yet noticed he wasn't listening to Iella's recitation. They hadn't. Smiling tightly, he slunk to a side door that was already half open. Squeezing between the door facing and the obstruction, he found himself in small room even more poorly lit than the first, and much more littered with faintly luminous instrumentation. He dropped into a crouch beside the first one he came to and plugged his datapad into its side. He opened the program Mara had had installed by her old friend Ghent, an data processor with his self-designed slicing system. He had boasted that it could crack any system they put it up against. All he had to do was sit back and get comfortable as he waited for the thing to hack into the NRI's classified documents. It took longer than he would have expected, but then again this was a covert government organization. It was their job to be impregnable. “But not too tough for Zakarisz,” he smirked to himself as the datapad gave a click of success. “Now let's just see what our intel friends have been hiding,” he whispered, scanning the different files. Ah, there was one. Opening it, he read the contents eagerly, absorbing every detail. It seemed, from this at least, that Borsk had not been nearly as forthcoming with Mara or the public for that matter as he could have been. They had a lot more on these people than any of them had given the New Republic credit for. They called themselves the Baci, and were a nomadic people whose numbers rose in the millions. And, even more shocking, they had recently made another assault on Clak'dor VII, wiping out the Bith population there much as they had at Cloud City. Feeling sick to his stomach, Anakin downloaded everything he could onto the datapad then unhooked from the terminal. He tucked it away again into his Jedi robes, then hurried back out the way he had came to rejoin his brother and aunt. * * * Iella had finished the report, but Anakin had not yet returned, leaving Mara with a dilemma. One, she could try to pry some more out of the NRI operatives and risk him being seen when he returned, or she could leave and hope they didn't notice he was no longer with them. Had they been an ordinary group of soldiers she might of tried it, but not with a group trained to notice the details and investigate their surroundings. “I talked to Fey'lya earlier, which is why I'm here talking to you,” Mara said instead. “He wouldn't give me anything, and wouldn't hear any of my concerns. Even just from what I know, these invaders are not a sort to be ignored and hope they go away. Did you all know they were Force-sensitive?” “No,” Elassar answered, obviously interested. “How do you know that?” “We can all sense it,” Mara replied. “And after seeing the carnage at Cloud City, it wouldn't matter. They're still a threat we need to abolish.” Iella leaned forward conspiratorially. “We've come to the same conclusion here. But no matter how many times we present the evidence to him he remains staunchly against anything but negotiation. I'm afraid he's going to get us all killed!” Mara felt the anger from her own meeting with the Chief of State return in full force. How idiotic could one Bothan be? “Do you think he could have something to do with this?” “The invasion?” Iella questioned. “No. But I think there's more political motive going on in his mind than common sense.” “My fear is that he plans to sell out whole portions of the galaxy for some extravagant price that benefits either his own wallet or the Bothawui system,” Elassar added. “By the time we knew about it they could have already decimated the entire Outer Rim and taken it under their control. Or we might never know it was his doing at all. He could just conveniently have our fleets positioned elsewhere.” Mara poked a finger at no one in particular. “I think we need to do something about it.” Kalenda sat back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. “Like what?” “The fleets,” Jacen suggested suddenly. “You all just said it yourself; the position of the fleets is everything. If we controlled the military, we control the decisions.” Mara gave her nephew a shocked look. “Jacen, you do understand that you've just suggested a power coup the size of which no one has ever successfully accomplished since Palpatine took over the Republic?” He smiled and said, “Just think about it a second. Iella, how much of the military do you think is more loyal to Wedge than to Fey'lya?” The older woman considered, then replied, “I'd say anyone who served under him before would follow his lead now.” “That's what I thought,” Jacen smirked. “If we get all the heroes of the Rebellion era together and have them advocate a breaking away from the Senate...” “I don't think you understand the complications this plan would present,” Kalenda stated. “Who would rule this mass army? What kind of democracy would we set up? I don't want another Empire, Solo, especially one with you Jedi at the head.” Mara nodded in agreement. “It's a good premise, Jacen, but I don't envision many scenarios where it would work the way we want it too.” “It would only be temporary, until we drove these people out of our galaxy. Then we would rejoin the Republic. We just separate ourselves from political rule in times of war. Politicians have no business running battles and doing strategy anyway,” he explained further. “That would be just fine and dandy, expect for the fact that I doubt the Senate or the people who remember Vader and Palpatine will want to go along with your little plan,” Elassar said. “Doesn't matter,” Jacen disagreed. “We do it anyway. Then once it's over we go back to normal.” “Hey,” Iella said suddenly, “where did the other one go? Anakin?” “Right here,” the new voice answered as the young Jedi stepped into their small circle of light. “Sorry, I had to use the 'fresher.” Mara patted him on the back, smiling at his ingenuity. “That's okay, I don't think you missed much. Just a plot to overthrow the government.” “Not overthrow. Just temporarily supersede,” Jacen grinned. “I think this idea has merit, we're just missing a few essential components,” Iella mused. “For this to work we need a leader, someone we can trust that has experience and charisma and can pull everyone together. Two, we need a fast action plan that will crush and demolish our enemies before this idea of an independent navy becomes too set in people's brains. And three, we need the support of the most influential systems and planets.” Mara nodded, licking her lips as she ticked off the planet on her fingers. “Corellia, Kuat, Ithor, Mon Cal, Contruum, Fondor. And don't forget the ship yards at Bilbringi and Sluis Van.” Kalenda inclined her head in agreement. “Now if we could draw the Remnant into the fold...” “That would be a brilliant move,” Jacen concurred. “Hang on,” Elassar interrupted. “Are we actually considering this?” “I think we are,” Iella answered, sounding surprised at herself. She looked at Mara, raising one eyebrow. “Aren't we?” The Jedi took a deep breath, searching the Force for guidance. It sounded more than a little insane, and she wasn't entirely sure that they should be following any plan developed by a sixteen-year-old anyway, but when put in perspective she could see at least a small hope of a positive outcome. And after her meeting with Fey'lya, she had no qualms about taking the upstart down a few notches, even knock him out of the position altogether. “I don't think we should put any emphasis on this right now,” she said slowly. “But I don't think it would hurt anything either to get things in place to make our move if we do decide to implement some facet of this scheme. Maybe talk to some people, like Bel Iblis and Ackbar. Get their opinions and outlooks, even let them take control of the whole thing. Wait and bide our time, see how things progress. If we do get to a point where we can't abide by Fey'lya anymore then we just make a clean break and carry out our own war with the outsiders.” * * * “What did you find?” Mara demanded of Anakin on the way home. He sat in the passenger compartment of her speeder, Jacen in the seat beside her. “Some very interesting stuff,” Anakin said. “First, their humanoids that call themselves the Baci. They number in the millions, and they travel around from place to place taking what they need and destroying what's left. And we can add Clak'dor VII to the list of their conquests. Fey'lya just hasn't released the confirmation report to the press. We know from experience how dangerous they can be in combat, but it gave some really scary details, too, things they had done I can't even imagine. I hate the thought that those kind of beings have Mom.” “Me too,” Jacen agreed softly. “Don't either of you worry about her,” Mara said encouragingly. “Luke and Han probably have her safe and with them right now. And don't you think for a second that she doesn't know how to take care of herself. You all don't give her enough credit. Proof of that is the fact she survived Bespin at all.” “I guess so,” Jacen muttered. “How do you think Jaina's doing with the Chiss?” Mara sighed, remembering the staunch edicts and demeanor of those she had met on Nirauan. If any of them had a difficult job, it was Jaina. Perhaps they should have traded jobs after all. At least then she would know the girl was reasonably safe. “I don't know. Parck is a tough one to crack. But I know Jaina will give it her all.” “Right now we need to concentrate on that plan of yours, Jace,” Anakin changed the subject, sticking his head between the front seats. “Right,” Mara agreed. “I think that it might be to our benefit to pay a certain smuggler friend of mine a visit. If anyone has the information on these Baci it would be him.” * * * “You're kidding, right?” her husband demanded, deadpan. “Things can't possibly be that serious. We've faced threats like this before. Remember the Yevetha?” Iella sipped her cup of caf in deep thought, trying to think of a reasonable explanation to give him. She and Wedge had concluded a long time ago that it would be best if they never shared with each other the private workings of their separate jobs. Neither of them expected the other to divulge government secrets, and though she trusted him explicitly Iella was intelligent enough to know some things were just better left unsaid. But this particular circumstance was a little more complicated than that. She needed his input, both as a military strategist and as her husband. How was she to tell him enough, yet not too much? “I remember the Yevetha,” she said slowly. “And take my word for it when I say this has the potential to be so much more destructive.” Wedge leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees and observing her with his head tilted every so slight to one side. His brown eyes were kind and questioning, unsure of whether he should even be letting his wife entertain this notion. “Iella, I know you're not the type of person to overreact. And yes, I've seen holovids of the damage at Bespin and simulated replays of what must have gone down. I agree that whoever these people are, they mean business. But I really can't see how creating another civil war is going to help anything.” She looked down at her mug, swirling it ever so gently to make the light brown liquid slosh in a miniature whirlpool. “I know. And you're probably right. But I can't help but feel that we need to be doing something about it now, before it's too late. Do you know how many enemy ships they estimate were at Bespin?” “Over five hundred battle cruisers and frigates,” Wedge sighed in concession. She nodded sagely. “Don't you think that's a bit like overkill?” “More than a bit,” he admitted. “They came with intent of leaving no survivors, that much is obvious.” “You're the military mind here. You tell me: could a fleet that size and of that capability take Coruscant?” He looked out the window of their high rise apartment, the transparisteel glinting slightly in reflection of the light outside, both natural and artificial. “It would be possible, with the right plan of approach and with enough skilled pilots and commanders.” Iella stood, folding her arms over her chest in worry. She had known that, of course, but hearing it from him made the reality seem so much worse. Her daughters were still too young to join the military—and for that she was thankful—but they could just as easily be civilian casualties in a war that size. And then there was Wedge himself, her heart and soul. There was no doubt in her mind that if and when the hammer dropped he would leave retirement to stand directly under the gavel. It was a miracle of fantastic proportions that he had survived in this galaxy as long as he had. “There's more,” she said, her own voice sounding high pitched and thin, the way it always did when she was upset. “Mara told me that they're Force-sensitive.” He cocked one eyebrow inquisitively. “These invaders?” Iella inclined her head once, curtly. “And not just a few of them, Wedge. All of them. Just think of it, an entire species of Luke Skywalkers, and each one of them gunning for you and the people we care about.” He paled considerably at her comparison, the worry lines on his forehead and the corners of his eyes deepening. “I don't like the sound of that at all.” “Neither do I,” she replied dryly. “And Kalenda has told Fey'lya this time and time again. We went back again today, after Mara left. We told him about the Force thing. He just doesn't care. He hasn't even boosted up the defenses, let alone our offense. Nothing is being done, and something certainly should.” “But a military coup? Is that the answer?” She shook her head, running her fingers tiredly through her thick blond hair. “I don't know. And I don't want to be the one that makes this sort of decision. We need someone who can.” “Alright,” he agreed. “Then let's go talk to Ackbar.”
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