Chapter 51
n board the Millennium Falcon Luke awoke from his Jedi trance. Although he had enough confidence in Liane's skills, and was sure that she would keep her promise to use the Jedi-pendant more often; he wasn't convinced any longer in the safety of the underground residence. He left his sister's private quarter and walked to the cockpit of the Falcon where Leia, Chewbacca and Mugin greeted him. Leia looked at her brother and rose from the pilot's seat.
"Take over, Chewie." She said and walked over to her brother.
The two Jedi walked back to the control room. Leia looked at her brother with an expectant glance.
"Bad news, Luke?"
"Mon Mothma has visited Liane. Quoith had some trouble and has shutdown the comsystem with Na'ctaMagh'Ba indefinetly. So Mon Mothma can't use the special connection with the underground residence any more. She went to Na'ctaMagh'Ba personally to warn Liane, telling her she shouldn't take unexpected calls via the comsystem. What Mon Mothma feared, happened a few days after she left the underground residence. Threepio and Artoo have prevented that Liane answered the call by accident, and Artoo has intercepted and logged the unexpected call and its technical data. Liane suggested hiding in the Jedi archive cave in case the residence was attacked."
"How would she be able to flee in time? Although the only access to the residential area is via the underwater way; intruders might reach the the underground residence using a submersible. The entrance isn't protected, and an intruder might surprise her and capture her. Shouldn't some one of us go back, Luke. Maybe it's a good challenge for Ian?"
Luke shook his head.
"What's wrong with Ian?" Leia asked.
"Liane doesn't want Ian to help her. She says that Ian still is a padawan learner, and needs one of us to help him. I have to agree with her, Leia. If Ian would be a fully trained Jedi I wouldn't have any objection, but I think it isn't wise yet to give him this more dangerous mission. Liane suggested the Grann brothers as a jest, but she wasn't really serious about that proposal. Leia, there's only one who really can protect her: me, but at the moment I can't let Toallin and Mugin down."
"What about Wedge and Yarmod, Luke?" Leia suggested, "Wedge can go to Na'ctaMagh'Ba. As a Jedi he may set foot on the prohibited continent to reach the Jedi archive without explicit permission of the Supreme Chancellor or the Dalmaranian authorities."
For a moment Luke pondered on Leia's suggestion.
"I have to tell them how they can reach the secret entrance of the cave, and I have to tell Liane to go the Jedi archive and bring Wedge and Yarmod to the residential area. She can tell Wedge about the unauthorized call, and hand him the data that's locked in Artoo's memory banks. Wedge can take this information to Mon Mothma. I'm sure our intelligence force can track down the intruder."
"Do you think, she trusts Wedge, Luke? I remember her reaction when he reprimanded her on Endor," Leia said thoughtful.
For a moment Luke recalled Wedge's reaction when Liane had ran away, after she had used the forbidden Force Choke and Force Stasis to strangle Dendicott. Would she see his friend as a friend or as an enemy?
"At least she trusts Yarmod Martan. He made her aware of the Force influence as she was healing Teebo and the other Ewoks. I'm sure Yarmod will convince her to see Wedge's behavior on Endor from a different point of view. I will contact Wedge as soon as we reached Cantamaga, and ask him to meet us there."
The twins returned to the cockpit of the Falcon and Luke asked Mugin about the terrain around Cantamaga, for he needed to know where he could land the Falcon and the Astræga at a safe spot.
"For a while it looked like the admiral had managed to have his com system reconnected. I have made regular attempts to access the system. One time I succeeded and intercepted a call from on of his Dalmaranian spies, but suddenly the message broke off. Since then all my attempts are in vain. I wonder what has happened to his system, but I doubt that the actions Quoith should have caused such a long shut down.
After I informed my contacts on Quoith and provided them with the coordinates of Trevor's system and the necessary access code, they have erased all the data inclusive the downloaded files on the Palomintar comsystem and disconnected the system for incoming and outgoing messages until they would have blocked further access of his system to the shielded partition on Quoith. As soon as his access would have been revoked, his system would restart itself and reconnect. They confirmed all their actions had been successful. Completely according to the agreement. After their confirmation I have tried to establish a secret access to his system, and it was indeed inaccessible. However his com system never restarted or reconnected."
Jerno grinned.
"Great work, Major Whain. Don't forget to thank your contacts on Quoith for their cooperation. In the meantime Dalmaran has confirmed what has happened on Quoith and which measures they have taken. They have sent us a copy of the messages he had added to those forgeries. The content was not exactly flattering, not to mention insulting and threatening.
"Quoith sent me copies of those messages too. I wanted to pass them on, but if Irithim has already informed you I will discard them."
"Better do that. I will make sure that those message will be added to our admiral's personal file. Oh, Major Whain, you really shouldn't be surprised if our admiral won't be able to restart his system."
"Quoith assured me that the restart and reconnect would established automatically.
"Major Whain, you and your friends are experts in this area, our former admiral isn't. He is known for his lack of patience.
"I only wonder what's has happened to his system. What's the real reason behind the inaccessibility of his comsystem."
Jerno started to laugh.
"You're too curious, Major Whain. Don't pay too much attention to the shutdown. Our admiral has been famous for his tantrums and uncontrolled outrage. Just stay alert and keep us informed, and force your hand. I'm sure that shortly you will be able to see for yourself what has happened on Palomintar Four."
"I'm getting more and more intrigued."
"Major Whain, I know what you're intending to do. You have my blessing, but be careful. Keep me informed about any further developments."
The holo image of Doran Whain grinned.
"Thank you for your support, Jerno."
The holo image vanished. Jerno pressed the button on his device and leaned back in his chair.
'Your plan and cooperation with Quioth worked out well, my friend. It went even better than I expected. It a great advantage that the Supreme Chancellor has decided to give her full compliance with your daring plan.
Trevor, like often happened before, it seems that you have lost your temper once again , and have given vent to your anger on your equipment. You're still the same stupid fool you've always been." He thought, "And I'm probably not far from the truth, that you're going to ask Admiral Vestor for support.'
Liane took a purple octagonal holocron in her hands and turned is over and over again. She admired the absolute regular form of the eight equilateral triangles and the reflection of the soft purple color on the surfaces. The color seemed to whirl around in the triangles.
'Which Jedi master has created such a beautiful gem,' Liane mused while she walked over to the lounge and sat down, still looking at the purple whirls which seemed to hypnotize her. She reached out to the Force and stretched out her hand with the holocron. Immediately the space in front of her was filled with swirling purple clouds. Fascinated Liane watch how the clouds condensed. An alien creature became visible wearing the familiar clothes of the Jedi order.
'Welcome, young Force learner,' A melodious voice sang, 'You're here to expand your Force knowledge, I assume. I'm master Odan-Urr.'
'Greeting, Master Odan-Urr,' Liane said hesitantly. 'Are you willing to tell me more about the history of the Jedi Order; how has it been founded and how did the Dark Side take shape. Have there been Sith lords from the beginning?'
'Why do you want to know, young Force learner?'
'Master Odan-Urr, Luke Skywalker, my friend, and I have been Jedi Knights in the past more than one time. I've seen us several times in different Force visions as Jedi Knight, even as Jedi Masters, but for how long does the Jedi Order already exists.'
'They exists for a very long time, more than ten millennia.'
'Ten thousand years, master Odan-Urr?' Liane exclaimed astounded.
'Maybe even longer, but not all records of ancient times have been archived in a proper way. As a young Jedi I studied much of the ancient Jedi lore about the Good Side and about the Dark Side. If you want to know what has happened, then I can show you. I see on your face you're eager to know, don't you?' the melodious voice sang.
In front of Liane it seemed as if the cave split open and images of a long forgotten past unfolded before her eyes. In a whirling holographic projection the old struggle between the Jedi and their fallen opponents, the Siths, who believed in the Dark Side of the Force came to live again. The images confused, devastated, and frightened her. She saw thousands of Jedi fighting together to restore peace on the planets of the Old Republic. She saw them being slaughtered by those who believed in the Dark Side. Finally she buried her face in her hands.
'Master Odan-Urr, please, this is all awful. I've seen enough for now,' She whispered.
Almost immediately the images vanished and Liane felt how the soft melodious voice of the old Jedi was soothing her grief over the images she had seen.
'This happened after the Sith raided the galaxy of the Old Republic, young Force learner. There have been eras when the Jedi and Sith lived completely separate in different parts of the galaxy. They weren't aware of each others existence. There are numerous texts here in this library that can tell you how the Sith discovered the great prosperity of the Old Republic under the guidance of the Jedi.'
'All those good lives were lost only because the lust for power corrupts,' Liane whispered again.
'It does, young Force learner, and it will always be so. There is no ways to free this galaxy of the Dark Side and establish an eternal peace. In their strife for power the Sith will always challenge the Jedi Order. Their strong emotions of lust, hate and anger will always prevail, no matter what the Good Side wants to achieve. It is in the nature of many races in this galaxy to dominate each other and to obtain absolute power.'''
'But the Jedi... and the Force?' Liane stammered.
'The Jedi will always do their duty, although it isn't an easy task. Their obligation to battle the Dark Side is an ongoing strife. The Force will help them, but it also helps their opponents. The Force itself is a neutral power. It can be used for good and evil.'
'Are you saying that a long lasting peace is an illusion, master Odan-Urr?'
The melodious voice laughed.
'Certainly not, young Force learner, there will always be periods in which the galaxy will know prosperity and progression. Some of these periods will be short, some of them will last for hundreds of years, even millennia, but somehow the balance between the Good Side and the Dark Side will be disrupted and a new war between the Jedi and the Sith is unavoidable, for the Dark Side may never win the last battle.'
'I have seen what the Dark Side can do, master. My foster-father lost the his connection with the Good Side, although he had been trained as a Jedi, and was a good man.'
'Your foster-father was emotionally a very vulnerable person. His emotional imbalance seduced him to the Dark Side, young Force learner, for he couldn't cope with the changes that happened in his life. That was his undoing as a Jedi Knight. He wasn't the first one to loose this emotional battle, and he won't be the last one, young Force learner.'
'So every Jedi Knight can fall victim to the Dark Side, even Luke?' Liane asked shivering.
'Your friend Luke has become a very powerful Jedi Knight. He has mastered to control his emotional feelings and has committed himself to the will of the Force. You're worried about him, young Force learner, for you love and care for him, but be ware of those feeling, for they are also expressions of emotions even if they find their source in compassion.'
'Are you sure, master Odan-Urr, that Luke won't be seduced, that he won't turn himself to the Dark Side,' Liane concluded relieved.
Again the melodious voice laughed.
'Luke Skywalker has become a strong Jedi Master and can cope with the task he has to fulfill, but even for the Jedi the future remains unsure. Young Force learner, it will be your task to support him, to be his companion, to be his partner and help him under all circumstances as a Jedi Knight, for the two of you have always supported each other. You have been together in many lives, you both have a long experience on the Good Side of the Force and none of you has ever faltered. You're both the luminous beings within the Force'
'You mean, master Odan-Urr, that I don't have to be fear the knowledge Luke's father Anakin has taught me?'
'Young Force learner, you possess a great insight knowledge, for you have experienced the power of the Dark Side; you have practised Sith power, but you have resisted the emotional feelings of domination and control those Dark emotions can give. There's no reason for you to be afraid of the Dark Side, young Force learner. You only have to develop your Jedi skills and become a powerful Jedi Knight next to your twin spirit, Luke Skywalker. With your help, the rise of Jedi and the New Republic will know a long period of prosperity and peace.'
'Master Odan-Urr, you know who I am, don't you?' Liane asked.
The apparition in front of her nodded and smiled approvingly.
'Yes, I know, young Force learner, but I can't call you by the name that doesn't belong to you, because you haven't yet mastered the Force skills you need. There's much more for you to learn. You have set your first steps into the larger world of the Good Side of the Force, but the Jedi path asks your full commitment. You've inherited your strong Force power from a long bloodline that goes back on thousands of generations of Jedi Knights. Don't waste your time, young Force learner, find yourself a master, and accept your apprenticeship as a padawan learner. One day you will be a powerful Jedi Knight next to Luke Skywalker.'
The apparition vanished and Liane looked stunned at the octagonal holocron.
'Master Odan-Urr can't call me by the name that doesn't belong to me. What's the meaning of his words? Shall I use his holocron again and ask him to tell me what he meant?'
Liane shook her head thoughtfully.
'I'd better not do so. Master Odan-Urr might get annoyed, because I might sound too curious. He also said I have to become someone's a padawan learner. Does he mean that I have to accept Luke as my Jedi master?' She shook her head again, 'Ian is Luke's padawan at the moment. He can't have two padawans at the same time. Maybe some else would be willing to be my Jedi master; Leia, perhaps, or Luke's friend master Antilles?'
Once again she shook her head deep in thoughts.
'I'd better go back to the residence now. Threepio is certainly worried about dinner time.'
She rose and secured the holocron of Master Odan-Urr in the cupboard.
The Astræga and the Millennium Falcon were nearing the continent of Tyr on Palomintar Four. From his co-pilot seat in the Astræga Han Solo watched the dense forest.
"There's no way to land anywhere here. I don't want to risk the Falcon in a crash landing," He commented over the infocom to the Falcon.
"General Solo," Toallin interrupted, "What you see are the clouds above the canopy of the nut trees. Underneath there are many open areas to land."
"Does Cantamaga have a space port, Toallin?" Han grumbled.
"No, general. We always have reached Tyr by sea."
"So, how can you be sure there's enough space to land a space craft?" Han commented, "Luke, kid, do you have an idea how to land here?"
"Looks like Dagobah, Han. Clouds, impenetrable mist, no visual scanning possible," Luke commented over the infocom.
"Fine, how do you suppose to know where it's safe to land?" The former space pirate asked.
"Get me Ian, Han. I'm going to instruct him to land the Astræga near Cantamaga, using the Force."
"And who is going to land the Falcon, kid?"
"I will, Han."
"Also using your Jedi skills," Han murmured skeptically.
Luke laughed.
"Don't worry, Han. I won't crash the Falcon as I did my X-wing the first time I landed on Dagobah."
"What about the Astræga?"
"Get me Ian, Han."
Han switched the infocom to Ian Tydon.
"Listen, Ian. Reach out to the Force if you fly into those dense clouds. Those clouds form a high air layer above the trees. Once you're through that layer you can pilot the Astræga on visual. There is enough space to fly above the tree tops."
"Yes, master, I understand," Ian answered, but he sounded not really convinced.
"I'll go in first with the Falcon, follow me closely, Ian; do exactly as I do, and rely on your Force skills," Luke said. "Now concentrate on the Force and use her power to guide you."
"Yes, master," The young padawan said. Before he went into a Jedi trance, he firmly grabbed the yoke with both hands. Han looked skeptically at Toallin.
"Strapped yourself in, Toallin. We might have a crash landing," He grumbled.
Through the windscreen Han saw the Millennium Falcon dive. Immediately Ian followed with the Astræga.
"Take it easy, kid. I want to land safe and sound," Han murmured.
"Han, please, don't disturb Ian's Force trance," The voice of Leia sounded over the infocom. "Ian, keep your concentration on the Force."
The two space ships neared the gas clouds.
"I'm going in," Luke's voice sounded, "Follow me, Ian."
"Yes, master," Ian murmured.
The two ships vanished one after another in the layer of greenish clouds. Han looked tensely at the visual scope. The display reflected the green mist flares which were visible whirling outside the windscreen. To Han Solo it seemed as if the dense clouds had completely swallowed the Falcon and the Astræga. There seemed to be no end to the whirling patches of green fog, when suddenly the clouds disappeared and the landscape of Tyr became brightly visible. Han sighed relieved when he saw the Falcon flying in front of them. He heard another soft sigh next to him and grinned.
"Well, kid, you're quite a pilot, nearly as good as myself. I couldn't have done better," He said cocky.
"I'm glad master Luke supported me. I really didn't know how to get through that cloud layer. All the scopes seemed to have gone berserk. It was scaring," Ian confessed.
"Never mind, you made it. Let's head for Cantamaga. Toallin, do you recognize any landmarks?"
"I do, general. Keep right, Ian. Cantamaga lays behind that mountain ridge ahead. Near those mountains you have to turn right again, keep the mountains to your left until you reach a wipe gap. There you can cross the lower mountains, " Toallin pointed to a dark ridge of snowcapped mountains in front of the Astræga. Meanwhile the Falcon had banked to the right and the Astræga followed. Han looked at looming mountains when he saw a gap between two mountain tops. Luke steered the Falcon straight to the narrow pass. Han grinned.
"Luke's found a short cut, Toallin. You'd better follow him, Ian."
The Falcon now flew on her side and passed through the narrow gorge without slowing her speed. Ian flipped the wings of the Astræga in upright position and also maneuvered the ship through the narrow gap without damage. On the other side of the mountain ridge a beautiful valley became visible.
"There's Cantamaga, general. We can land outside the village on that strip of land to the left," Toallin said.
His brother had indicated the same spot for the Falcon was already slowing down and extended her landing claws. A couple of minutes later both space ships lowered their ramps. Han immediately left the Astræga and walked over to his ship. Approvingly he patted his brother-in-law on his shoulder.
"You Jedi, are great pilots, kid. I case of emergency I would trust my life in your hands," He said with a grin, "but when we leave this place I fly the Falcon myself, if you don't mind."
Luke grinned and turned to Ian.
"Well done, Ian. I can only approve Han's words. Now let's see if the citizens of Cantamaga are willing to welcome some foreign visitors."
Before he had finished his comment a large crowd appeared on the edge of field. Toallin and Mugin were already walking over to the waiting crowd. Suddenly two women broke away from the crowd and ran to the two brothers. They waved their hands frantically.
"Toallin! Mugin!"
The two brothers increased their pace and met the women halfway. They embraced each other and all four started to cry. Luke and his friends stopped and waited until the first emotions of the brothers' reunion with their wives were over. At last Toallin and Mugin beckoned their new friends to join them.
"We want you to meet my wife Udine and my brother's wife, Udine's sister, Camona. All the citizens of Cantamaga welcome you."
They shook hands and the two women couldn't express their happiness to see their husbands again. Toallin led the group to the others who were watching in awe at the three Jedi Knights in the company. That admiration was broken when seven young children released themselves from the group.
"Dad! Father! Uncle Toallin! Uncle Mugin!"
Han looked at Leia and grinned.
"I hope, darling, that one day I will be welcomed this way, as I'm returning home."
"I won't let you travel alone, darling. So probably we will have our children with us." Leia whispered.
The exuberant greeting of the two brothers' children broke the formal greeting. The citizens surrounded the two brothers and thousands of questions sounded on both sides, until two elderly persons stepped forward.
"Welcome back, governors," They said and bowed. Toallin stretched out his hands and fondly embraced the two men.
"Kamalin, Woldin, so good to see you, but we're not your governors any more. It's been too long to claim those rights. You surely have chosen yourself some new leaders here."
"The Council has led our citizens in your names, governors. Now everything will become normal as we will go back to Ribana, we hope."
"In time, we will, but there's a lot to be done, Kamalin. Jedi master Skywalker and his friends have agreed to help us, but we need a lot of volunteers to support them and defend our claim on our home town."
Kamalin turned to Luke with an intense glance in his eyes. He bowed deeply to show his respect.
"Welcome Master Jedi, we hope you'll bring an army with you to defeat those imperial invaders and their leader?"
"Unfortunately we haven't, master Kamalin," Luke said, feeling the disappointment in the elderly Quelan, "but my friends and I will do everything to undo the injustice that has been done to the citizens of Ribana."
"We talk about it later, Kamalin," Mugin said and took the older man's arm, "It's good to be back among all of you again. I'm sure that our new friends will come up with a plan to defeat Darth Golluth, so we can go back to Ribana."
Surrounded by their fellow citizens Toallin and Mugin with their wives, and their new friends walked to the center of Cantamaga, while most of the younger kids ran around the group, looking in admiration at the three Jedi Knights, the Wookiee and Han Solo. They whispered enthusiastically at each other.
"Some of our guests are Jedi Knights! Did you see their lightsabers? The younger man looks different, but he also has a lightsaber. Maybe he's a special Jedi Knight," a young adult female Quelan, wearing a ma outfit, remarked.
She walked over to Luke Skywalker, and grabbed the sleeve of his cassock.
"Pardon me for asking, master Jedi. Is that younger man a Jedi too? He looks different with that braid at the right side of his head," She asked frankly and pointed at Ian.
"You should ask him yourself," Luke answered politely, "What's your name?"
"Chati Fonaldris, master Jedi. I'm Toallin's eldest daughter."
"Nice to meet you, Chati," Luke said and watched the young girl. He sensed a strong wave of Force connection between both of them.
"Ian, please, come over here, and join me. This is Chati, Toallin's eldest daughter, she wants to ask you something," He said.
Ian Tydon joined Luke and the young female Quelan. He laughed friendly at the young Quelan woman.
"Nice to meet you, Chati. What'd you want to know?"
The young female looked up at Ian with a curious glance.
"I want to know, if you're a special Jedi, sir, because you're wearing a braid?" She asked with a polite, but frank smile.
"I'm a padawan learner, a Jedi apprentice, Chati. One day I hope to pass some final trials, a kind of exam or proof, and become a Jedi Knight."
Chati turned to several younger children who were standing around Luke and Ian, looking curiously at the two Jedi.
"See, it's true, like I always have said. There's a school where you can learn to be a Jedi Knight," She said and turned to Ian again. "Where did you go to school; where did you learn to become a Jedi?"
"Why are you asking, Chati?" Luke asked, watching the young female Quelan with more interest.
"Master Jedi, if I could go to such a school and learn to be a Jedi Knight, I could attack the guy that has driven us from our hometown. If you are going to fight him, can I come with you? I want to help you, I want to free Ribana, so we all can return to our former way of life," Chati said with a great determination in her voice, while looking straight at Luke.
"You're not going anywhere, Mayan Fonaldris," A woman's voice sounded sternly, and Udine grab her daughter's arm. "And, stop bothering our guests with your silly believes about becoming a Jedi Knight. Jedi Knights are fighters, they are fierce men, not women, and warriors. I've told you before there isn't a way to become a Jedi for a Quelan girl, for any girls or women at all. The Jedi Knights once lived on Coruscant, they seldom visited the Outer Rim. After the empire had been proclaimed all the Jedi disappeared. They say that they have left this galaxy, and no one knows where they went. Other rumors say that the emperor ordered to kill all the Jedi, but what ever it is, it's all myths and legends."
"But our guests are Jedi Knights, mother, look at those lightsabers. So some of the Jedi did return, or managed to survive their destruction, and not all of them are men. Look at that regal lady. I'm sure she's a Jedi Knight too," Chati said stubbornly, turning to her mother.
"Mayan! I told you to stop bothering our guests with your daydreams. My apologies for her behavior, sir," Udine said, "but although she's grown up Quelan woman, she is still insisting that she want to become a Jedi Knight. I don't know where she got those funny ideas."
"I could tell her something about the Jedi Knight. It might satisfy her curiosity," Luke said friendly.
"Maybe you can explain to her that she is chasing myths and fantasies. She twenty now, and I expect her to marry one of our Quelan young men and start her own family.
I'm very grateful to you and your friends, sir. It's a great relief, that you brought back my husband and my brother-in-law. I hope Toallin can bring some rest in my household again."
She walked back to Toallin, and gestured furiously at Chati to follow her. Luke and Ian exchanged a understanding glance.
'Are my feelings right, master, is the Force influencing this girl Chati?' Ian asked.
"This young female Quelan certainly has a strong connection with the Force, Ian," Luke answered the young padawan through the Force, "This is no coincidence. Remember how you and I felt a Force flow when we entered this system, and your master also has mentioned some tremors in the Force when the Falcon did a fly-by of Palomintar Four. It must have been this Quelan woman we all sensed. Now, let's follow the others. I'll see if I can have a chat with her at a later moment."
Ian nodded. Together with Luke he caught up with the others of their group and the citizens of Cantamaga. All of them were busy talking about the situation in Ribana, the city they had left more than five years before.
Darth Golluth was walking to and fro in his communication center. His face expressed the outrage, the anger and the frustration he felt. More than once he walked over to the console panel and wanted to slam his pole on unit. With loud protesting beeps his tech droids kept him from destroying the delicate device again.
"I don't believe it. All my data has been erased. It's impossible that those rebels found out what I have been doing. Now I've lost all the information I gathered about those Skywalkers. How did those rebels find out, that I downloaded that file about the Skywalker's trial? Some of them must have infiltrated my communication center and now those rebels have also blocked my access to Quoith," He grunted.
"Tech droids, when will this set be operational again?" He snarled to one of the tech droids.
The droid beep a nervous sounding stream of binary information. Darth Golluth looked at his protocol droid and yelled, "What's he telling me?"
The protocol droid translated the binary flow, but the answer of the tech droid infuriated the dark hooded person more.
"Do you mean, it's not possible to receive incoming messages. That's incredible!"
Once again the tech droid beep a long binary stream. A translator droid displayed the answer, before the protocol droid had interpreted the binary stream.
"What do you mean with, 'they've traced the identity of the system'. See to it that you establish a new communication with the outside galaxy worlds. I need to contact my spies on Dalmaran, and Palomintar Six. Do it quickly, and encrypt that new frequency, so nobody could trace its source to this planet again."
Darth Golluth walked to the door and vanished. The tech droids hastily began to disconnect all the wires and to dismantle the console and the holographic display. In no time the floor of the communication center was littered with all kind of wires, connectors, bolts and screws. After they had dismantled the panels completely, they started to reassemble the panels, constantly beeping and frantically chattering in their binary language as if they were arguing and quarreling with each other.
Meanwhile their master had returned to his main cavern; he still was expressing his angry feelings, slamming the walls of the passageways and the furniture in the room.
"Lost everything," He shouted at the top of his voice, "Lost everything. I should have secured the information in a better way. How will I be able to recognize those Skywalkers twins now? Their little malicious sister Liane I always will recognize immediately; I still hear her mocking laughter when she rejected my marriage proposal. I never forget the arrogant glance in her eyes, as if I was one of the subordinates of her father. I, the most important admiral in the Imperial fleet, was ridiculed as a common soldier. I, the most committed user of the Dark Side; even her father knew less than I."
A scoffing laughter suddenly sounded through the room. Darth Golluth furiously looked around him.
"Who's laughing? Is that you, lord Vader? It is you, isn't it?" He yelled becoming more and more angry.
'Still trying to become a Sith Lord, Trevor? Do you feel the power of the Force? And what do you want to do with that power? You're no Sith. The more you irritated the emperor with your stupid requests and lamentations, the more you have run to your doom. Your arrogance and your boasting about your superior use of the Force always outraged the emperor, but you are simple minded fool and never noticed that your repeated requests brought him on the brink of ordering your elimination. Your fate was sealed when you failed him at your mission on Solgar.'
Darth Golluth face flushed with anger and in a fit of rage his electro pole rammed on the top of the pedestal destroying the holographic display in a shower of sparks.
"This will end your insults forever, lord Vader. I'm sick of your humiliating comments. It's your fault that the emperor never accepted me as a Sith apprentice."
He was walking back to his chair on the dais, he whirled around and looked at the destroyed device. The mocking laughter sounded even louder. Darth Golluth walked over the remnants of the device and kicked them with his feet.
'I'm still with you, Trevor, for I will prevent all th evil plans you have in mind.'
"Who are you?" Darth Golluth screamed.
'I was Darth Vader. The Dark Lord who enjoyed, humiliating you during your visits on Morantan. The Dark Lord who solved the problems with the Solgarians more effectively than you did.'
Darth Golluth slammed his fist against the wall of the cave, but the voice of Anakin Skywalker roared with laughter.
'Hearing the truth isn't easy, Trevor. You're still a pathetic fool. You will never be a Dark Lord.'
Now Darth Golluth started to laugh.
"Your daughter, Liane Vader, will teach me everything I need to know. When I left her on Morantan she was well on her way to become a Dark Lady, a powerful follower of the Sith, and a expert in the use of the Dark Side"
'My daughter will never share that knowledge with you, Trevor? My son has shown her her real Force potential and destiny. She fully understands the difference between the Good Side and the Dark Side and she has made the right choice.'
"Your daughter was only too happy to use her dark powers, just like you. She is as malicious and evil as you were, Lord Vader, and she will share all that knowledge with me and help me to fulfill my new plan with this galaxy. A galaxy ruled by the Dark Side of the Force, and with me as the new emperor."
'The emperor thought as you do and the use of Dark Side was his undoing. His power of the Dark Side surpassed yours a million times, don't forget that, Trevor. For there always will be Jedi Knights who will keep the Force in balance and prevent that Dark Side will rise again.'
The voice faded and Darth Golluth strode with unstoppable fury through his main cavern, slamming his electro-pole at every object within his reach.
'Aren't you challenging that guy too much, Anakin?' a concerning voice whispered, 'What do you want to achieve with your insulting words. Are you seeking revenge?'
'No, Obi-Wan, revenge is not my purpose.' the voice of Anakin Skywalker sounded calmly, 'I'm only defending my foster daughter against Trevor Matrik's lunatic plans.'
'He knows he lacks the knowledge he seeks, and that makes him a dangerous opponent for Liane. She hasn't mastered the Good Side fully yet. She is still no Jedi Knight. If you want to protect Liane, stop challenging this guy. The Force will lead this self-proclaimed Sith Lord to his downfall. You and I need to support and strengthen our last Jedi and Severini's daughter,' the calm voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi said.
The voice of Anakin Skywalker chuckled.
'I know, Obi-Wan, but I can't resist the temptation to bully this guy. During my life I've never met some one as stupid and conceited as admiral Trevor Matrik, but I will stop to defy him. I'm aware of the Force influence with which we can protect your...'
'Hush, Anakin. Too much has been revealed already,'the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi sighed.
'What are you afraid of, Obi-Wan? No one will blame you for what you did in the past. If someone is to blame it's me. I've caused all the trouble.'
Now the voice of Anakin Skywalker sounded shameful. The voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi replied on a soothing tone.
'Liane doesn't blame you anymore, Anakin, nor does Luke and Leia, but I brought Severini's son to safety. He grew up in ignorance, and has never been informed of his Force abilities.'''
'If that's what's bothering you, then I can reassure you, Obi-Wan. Does my children blame me for becoming Jedi Knights at an older age, or for growing up separately,' Anakin's voice sounded compassionately, 'They don't. The decision master Yoda and you took was right. Luke and Leia are all too happy to know they are brother and sister. I'm sure that your son will successfully complete his Jedi training, and he also will be very proud when he learns that you're his father. '
'I'd wish I had your confidence, Anakin. Now let's get back to our tasks, for there's a lot of work to do for both of us.'
"I want to show you the text which our opponent at the Palomintar System has added to those forgery files. The technician on Quoith separate the text, before they deleted those forgeries, Mon," Sorjon Tyloban said when he entered Mon Mothma's office.
The Supreme Chancellor looked up from her work and duties and made an inviting gesture.
"I can guess that his words aren't flattering, Sorjon?" She asked and walked over to the comfortable lounges that looked out over Irithim.
"They threatening, Mon. We need to issue an arrest warrant for that former imperial admiral," Sorjon Tyloban answered.
"And how will we be able to arrest him? He lives on Palomintar Four. A planet which is neither part of the New Republic, nor of the Provisional Council on Coruscant."
"I have already contacted the Triarchy, Mon, and informed them. They told me that he has several charges pending against him. One of the charges is his desertion shortly after the Battle of Jakku. He and another commander disappeared near Jakku with their minor star destroyer. They never returned to Coruscant. One of those star destroyers got caught in a meteor storm. The second destroyer exploded some two or three years later near the Urervik cluster. The Triarchy takes the threatening text very seriously. They see it as a threat to the peace treaty that has been signed between the New Republic and the Provisional Coruscant Council. They asked me if the New Republic would be willing to send one of our Jedi Knight to do some extra but secret investigation on Palomintar Four itself."
Mon Mothma raised her brows.
"We'd agreed that any landing on Palomintar was prohibited."
"Unless our two governments would approve such a landing. The Triarchy will approve a landing in advance, provided the New Republic sends a Jedi Knight to Palomintar Four."
"What'd they expect one single Jedi Knight could do, Sorjon?" Mon Mothma asked with a smile, "Luke Skywalker and Ian Tydon already have done some overview flights to look for the precise location our opponent is hiding. They made several scanning flights. I've read master Skywalker's reports about his investigation and he could pinpoint a location that needed further investigation on the ground."
"Mon, at least we could ask master Skywalker to continue with his former observations."
"We certainly can, Sorjon, but I want to go a step further. Let me tell you what miss Solichor told me when I visited her after our communication system on Na'ctaMagh'Ba was shutdown indefinitely. Miss Solichor, as a Force-sensitive young lady, has a very special way to keep in touch with Luke Skywalker. She has told him what had happened on Palomintar Six, where Ian Tydon, master Skywalker's temporary padawan, got severely wounded. It was miss Solichor who informed her friend where he, his sister and general Solo with his Wookiee friend Chewbacca could find Ian Tydon. Deep in a forest they found a cabin where two Quelans, the former owner of a lodging house in Ktafunda, had been nursing Ian. Surprisingly at their arrival Ian Tydon had been fully recovered, because master Skywalker had taught him how a Jedi can use the Force to start his own healing process. "
Sorjon Tyloban looked somewhat uncomprehending.
"What does this has to do with master Skywalker's renewed investigation on the Palomintar System, Mon?"
"A lot, Sorjon. The two Quelans, named Toallin and Mugin Fonaldris, are the governors of Ribana, once a flourishing community on Palomintar Four."
"Once?"
"Yes, once, for the former imperial admiral has built himself a lair under a mountain ridge some distance from Ribana. As he didn't want snoopers in his neighborhood he raided Ribana with the storm trooper he took with him when he deserted the Battle of Jakku unexpectedly. His storm troopers imprisoned the two governors of Ribana, after they had accompanied their fellow citizens through the wild lands to the west coast of the continent Myr from where they crossed the ocean between Myr and Tyr and went into exile in Cantamaga."
"Mon, sorry to interrupt. Who told you all this?"
"Miss Solichor. She had a long talk with Luke Skywalker. After master Skywalker had heard what had happened on Palomintar Four and who had inflicted the injustice done to the Quelan community of Ribana, he decided that it was his duty as a Jedi Knight to do an thorough research on Palomintar Four and especially at Ribana."
"You mean that Luke Skywalker already has landed on Palomintar Four without permission?"
"Indeed, Sorjon, and heartily agree with his decision and I hereby authorize his action."
"The Triarchy didn't mention anything about a raid on a existing community on Palomintar Four. They are still concerned about what might happen, if their former admiral would somehow find out where miss Solichor is."
"We know their obsession with miss Solichor, Sorjon, and we will never convince them that miss Solichor isn't threat to the galaxy any longer. However their former admiral is. We know about his different attempts to kidnap miss Solichor. After she told me that the former imperial admiral has much more on his conscience than we knew, I will sanction any action that our Jedi have in mind to undo the injustice to the Quelans of Ribana and restore them to their lawful property."
"Should we inform The Triarchy, Mon?"
"No, not yet. I fear that their reaction would be skeptical. They would believe miss Solichor story, because they don't trust her. We have to wait until Luke Skywalker sends us a report. I hope his words will convince the Triarchy that not only we need to coordinate our actions on Palomintar Four. Together we need to find a way to end the occupation of Ribana and hand over the admiral to a imperial court in Coruscant."
"Did master Skywalker went alone to Palomintar Four?"
"No, Leia, her husband Han Solo and Chewie went along, together with the two Quelan governors Toallin and Mugin Fonaldris.
"Senator Organa must have warned her brother that an unauthorized landing on Palomintar Four is prohibited."
"I know Leia well enough to assume she has, but Leia Organa also is a Jedi Knight and I'm convinced that she also know her obligations as a Jedi and has joined her brother. Her husband and Wookiee friend certainly won't object either. It's very inconvenient that I can't contact miss Solichor on Na'ctaMagh'Ba anylonger. She could have been a big asset as a possible link between master Skywalker and his company and you and me."
"Could the uncover agent on the Basilisæa be of any use?" Sorjon suggested.
Mon Mothma shook her head.
"Although I'm the guy in high esteem I don't think we can involve him. He's the main communications officer on the Basilisæa. He is already doing an awkward job, taking a lot of risks. For the time being we only can wait, until master Skywalker contacts us, or if I will be able to use the com system on Na'ctaMagh'Ba again which I fear isn't likely."
Sorjon look thoughtful for some moment, then he shook his head.
"I was thinking if we could communicate with master Skywalker, or princess Organa via our encrypted procon system. but the scope of our procon system is limited to the worlds which have joined the New Republic. Our intelligence force could contact Ktafunda space port on Palomintar Six, but that also seems of no use, because master Skywalker and his friends probably have already reached Palomintar Four."
Mon Mothma nodded.
"Transfer the text of those addition to my private system, Sorjon. I want to know of which I'm accused. As for master Skywalker and his mission we have to wait."
Sorjon Tyloban rose and left Mon Mothma's office
Mon Mothma walked over to large window, looking out on Irithm.
'I'm convinced that our Jedi have made the right decision. May the Force with them,' she thought, 'I will contact Haym Nefloren again to see if the connection with Na'ctaMagh'Ba can be made operational again'
She walked over to a her desk and contact the main technician on Quoith. Almost immediately the holographic image of Haym Nefloren emerge.
"Good day to you, Ma'am Chancellor. What can I do for you?"
"Master Nefloren, last time we spoke I'd asked you keep the connection with Na'ctaMagh'Ba shutdown until I would need it again. There are developments which require my need to use that system again."
"We've intercepted a illegal access attempt, Ma'am Chancellor. It's my advice, that you should wait until we have done more thorough investigation and find the source of the illegal access. We also have noticed that the Na'ctaMagh'Ba system has been disconnected. "
"I see, thanks, for updating me, master Nefloren. I have no further questions."
Mon Mothma disconnected the display. For several moments she looked at the empty device, before with a sigh she paid attention to her chores as Supreme Chancellor.