Title: Smugglers in a Dark Empire (2/2) Author: R. John Burke Author email: sburke@capecod.net Catagory: New Republic (Series) Keywords: Karrde Spoilers: Dark Empire Summary: The events of the "Dark Empire" comic series, altered and expanded to include the contributions of Mara Jade and Talon Karrde. Disclaimer: The characters included here belong to Lucasfilm. The story comes from Dark Horse Comics. I don't claim to own them. No money has been made or will be made off this just-for-fun story. Author's Note: If you haven't read "Dark Empire," you'll probably want to do so first, but it's not absolutely necessary. I've changed much of it anyway. This is part two of two. Please read part one first. Homepage: http://www.capecod.net/~sburke/Website.html *********************************************************** PART TWO: KARRDE The whole galaxy's gone insane, Karrde thought as he frowned at the image on the viewscreen. That's the only explanation. "They're doing what?" he asked, hoping he'd heard wrong. Leia Organa Solo, Minister of State for the New Republic, was as grim as Karrde had seen her. "The Empire has launched an offensive. They're retaking Coruscant." "So soon?" Karrde muttered, "I'd have thought they were still recovering from the loss of Thrawn." "Apparently their loss has brought said closer together," Leia said dryly. Talon Karrde, the most powerful smuggler in the galaxy, self-proclaimed information broker to the stars, and recently retired head of the Smuggler's Alliance, grimaced. "Well...I do thank you for the warning. I'll need clearance to lift as soon as Mara returns." Where IS Mara? a voice in his head wondered. "Actually, Karrde...I was hoping..." Karrde groaned. "What is it now?" "We need a little help." Of all the people in the galaxy for a Jedi princess to put her faith in, he wondered, why does she pick me? "You always need a little help. "It's really nothing major. We're just asking all the traders we trust to assist in evacuating our people and equipment. You'd be well-paid." "Well-paid is a term people use far too lightly." Leia sighed. "Whatever your price is, you'll get it." "I'd better." "You will." Somewhere behind Karrde, a door opened. That'll be Aves, he thought. Come to tell me we're ready to lift. He's going to hate this idea... To Leia, Karrde flashed a weak grin. "All right. Get your people over here. I want the WILD KARRDE fully loaded and ready to lift within thirty minutes, or the deal is off." Leia nodded. "Done." Something in her eyes told Karrde not to leave it at that. Like a sucker, he obeyed. "I take it you'll be leaving on the FALCON." "As soon as the first wave of Imperial ships is detected," she said. "Han and I are expected to fight a diversionary action." "What's one ancient freighter going to do against a fleet of Star Destroyers?" "We have a plan," said Leia. Then she shifted into Diplomacy Mode, tone becoming innocent. "Of course, it's really a two-ship plan..." The smuggler heard Aves' groan, and was inclined to agree. "Absolutely not," he said, "It's out of the question. I'll haul your cargo, Princess, but if you expect me to get involved in some insane plot against the Empire..." Mentally, however, Karrde was already calculating how much he could charge her without appearing too greedy. Mara showed up on the landing pad shortly afterwards, amidst a frenzy of ships and people all scurrying to their assigned posts. Karrde met her at the ramp. He called to her over the roar of starfighter repulsors in takeoff mode. "Where have you been?" Mara Jade hopped lightly over a squat power droid in her path, and made it to the WILD KARRDE's berth in three running steps. "Monitoring the NewsNet. I take it you've heard?" Karrde knew her lateness was not entirely due to the NewsNet. She'd gone to tell Luke Skywalker she was leaving the Smuggler's Alliance. Karrde decided to let the matter drop. "Leia Organa Solo just contacted me. Though I would have known something was up from all the commotion." Mara nodded, joining him at the ramp. "So, how much are we getting to help in the evacuation?" "We're not helping them evacuate," Karrde said, and gestured back at his ship. "The WILD KARRDE is ready to go. Get on board." Mara Jade frowned. She was no longer the same woman he'd met almost two years ago. She'd lost much of her anger during her associations with the New Republic. "They're asking all ships larger than fighter-class to make themselves available to Bel Iblis." "Well, then," Karrde said, watching an X-Wing lift off, "He'll have to do with one less than all available ships." "I don't believe you're not going to help them! Aren't you the one who's always talking about debts of honor?" Karrde smiled, still not ready to ascend the ramp. "I am, but hauling cargo for Bel Iblis is not my responsibility." "How can you just--" Mara started to argue, but was cut off by a voice from the edge of their berth. "Ready to go, Karrde?" asked Han Solo. His rank had been restored for the current crises, but he still looked very un-General-like in his blue jacket from Cloud City and trousers with the Corellian bloodstripes. "The payload is fully prepared, Solo. I do hope the payment had been forwarded for this little stunt." Solo's voice dripped sarcasm. "The check is in the mail." "It had better be," Karrde said, tone serious. He ascended into the airlock. "Are you getting on board or not, Mara?" Mara Jade's eyes flashed. "What payload?" "Karrde didn't tell you?" asked Solo. The smuggler chief sighed. "I was rather hoping to get a bit more fun out of it first. But since you've let the gundark out of the net..." Mara was not amused. She glared at him, hands clenched into fists. "You're helping Solo!" "Nothing spectacular. Just a small, diversionary action." Solo ruined that gambit, as well. "Listen, Karrde really surprised us. He practically volunteered for this duty." Karrde's second-in-command narrowed her green eyes. "Why, you old scoundrel..." "Thanks for ruining my image, Solo," Karrde said, "You might at least mention that I'm gouging the New Republic for twice market value." Solo laughed. "Well, any good scoundrel would..." Mara climbed to the top of the ramp, muttering, "I'm surprised they didn't make you a general..." "Actually, they offered," Karrde said, remembering Leia's half-serious offer of a 'temporary' rank, "But I told them there wasn't enough cash in the galaxy." She sighed, and joined him in the WILD KARRDE's airlock. "You do have a way with people." "Just get on board." She headed in, towards the WILD KARRDE's bridge. As the door slid shut behind her, she said just loudly enough for Karrde to hear, "General Karrde...It has a ring to it..." Karrde sighed. His mercenary reputation would never live this down. "Good hunting, Solo." "Karrde..." The other man appraised him with wary, hazel eyes. "You can't fool me, either. You're making a nice profit, but you'd have made as much hauling cargo. You didn't have to fight." "Yes, I did," Karrde said, remembering the home on Myrkr he'd lost to Thrawn's campaign. "I'll never run from the Empire again." Solo nodded and backed away. "Clear skies, Karrde." "Just keep the TIE fighters off me." "Hey..." The Corellian spread his hands in an innocent gesture. "It's ME." Karrde hit the control to bring up the ramp, and heard the distant howl of Solo's Wookiee first mate. Just before the ramp slid closed, he also caught Solo's reply. "Yeah, I'm coming! I don't know how we're gonna get out of this one..." The smuggler stood there another moment, scratching his goatee thoughtfully. Could it be true? Was he becoming like Solo? Would he wake up one morning, a respectable leader, and wonder when he'd settled down? He shook the thought off, and headed for his bridge. "Look at the SIZE of them..." That was Aves' rather unoriginal appraisal of the Super Star Destroyers leading the Imperial fleet. The Republic's own IMPERIAL-class Star Destroyers had successfully punched through the Imperial line, then turned to harass the Imperials from behind while the other Republic ships tried to hold off further advance. And now, it was the WILD KARRDE's turn. "Engines full ahead, bearing 170 mark 088." Mara nodded, and Karrde heard his ship's ion engines thrum as they revved up to full power. He imagined he could feel the ship moving forward, though of course that was impossible with modern inertial dampening. Then the TIE fighters were on them, wave after wave of TIE's, Interceptors, Bombers, TIE Defenders, even some I-7 Howlrunners, a new design just being adopted by the Imperial fleet. The WILD KARRDE shook beneath his feet, and he heard Aves mutter an unrepeatable curse. "Just hold together," Karrde said, to his ship and to his people. The comm crackled to life. "FALCON to WILD KARRDE. Talon, old buddy, you with us?" "Right here, Solo. You hit them high..." "And you'll run for cover," said the Corellian. "You wound me, Solo. I'm with you for the duration." Solo grunted. "Or until the credits run out." The smuggler chief shrugged. "That goes without saying." The ship rattled under a renewed barrage, and Karrde heard his gunners bombarding the small but impossibly quick fighters with lethal turbolaser blasts. The FALCON's quad lasers soon joined the melee, and Karrde heard multiple explosions. He nodded to Mara. "Now seems like a good time to start." Mara agreed, and hit the comm button on her display. "Solo, we've taken a hit on the rear stabilizer. We can't stay with you." Han Solo's voice displayed only a touch of satisfaction. "Uh, copy that, WILD KARRDE. Guess you'll just have to help out however you can, huh?" "Right." Karrde nodded to Aves. "Switch over." The thin man looked over his board with obvious reservations. "What if we have a burnout?" "We won't," Karrde said, then added under his breath, "You hear me, old girl? Don't." Aves flipped a switch, and the lights dimmed for a moment. A gurgling sound swallowed the noise of battle as the WILD KARRDE lost its energy source. It was followed by a renewed hum of energy as the backups kicked in. Karrde said, "Told you we wouldn't. That should protect the main systems from this little trick." Mara frowned. "I've still never seen this before. Where'd Bel Iblis learn to do this?" Karrde chuckled. "He didn't. Leia says he made it up for this battle alone." She scowled. "Nobody said anything about being his wamp rat for testing..." "Have the Republic ships switched to backups?" After a moment, Aves said, "Ninety percent of them have." The bridge shook underneath them as a pair of TIE Interceptors dogged their supposedly wounded prey. Karrde hissed. "It'll have to be enough. Do it." Mara flipped two switches, then hit a button that normally would have fired the WILD KARRDE's concussion missiles. At first, nothing happened. A moment later, a new target flashed onto their sensors. A specialized torpedo skimmed into the middle of the battle, then detonated in a flash of brilliant white light. And every energy source on every ship in the area sizzled to a crisp. "Switch back to main power," said Karrde. "Little something the techs thought up. That should disrupt the power flow on all ships that weren't ready for it." Aves checked his scanners, eyes growing wide as he noticed that the Imperial front line had begun floating aimlessly through space, totally unpowered. A few successfully switched to backups and returned to the fight. Most were simply out of it, and had to be replaced by Imperial reinforcements. Either way, the evacuation had won valuable time. "Too bad they won't fall for that trick twice," Mara said. "That worked out very well..." Solo's voice chimed in over the comm. "Beautiful, WILD KARRDE! We can hold 'em off from here. You're clear whenever you want to jump to lightspeed." "Actually, Solo, I think we'll stick around a while. Do a bit of pro bono work. Never hurts to keep your customers happy." "Y'know, Karrde," said the Corellian, "I don't care what anybody says. You ARE a human being." "Heads up!" said Mara, "Second wave, coming in!" "We're on 'em," said Solo, and he closed the connection. The WILD KARRDE remained part of the battle for at least an hour after that, mostly harassing TIE fighters and other small targets. At one point, they zeroed in on two fighters, an Interceptor and a Howlrunner, that were dogging a single, battered X-Wing fighter. "You owe us one," said Mara, glancing down at the ship's designation, "Rogue Leader." "Thanks," said the pilot. "Actually, I owe you two. Ask Aves about the Bilbringi shipyards." Aves shifted in his seat. "Wedge Antilles?" "Correct," said the voice from the comm. "So now...Oops. Wait a second." The X-Wing rolled into a complicated loop and aced a TIE fighter that had been coming in on the WILD KARRDE's sensor blind spot. "Actually, it's back to one again." "You can pay that back now," Karrde said. "Tell Solo we're pulling out, would you? Our shields are down to 15%, and I doubt the Republic will want to spring for a new ship." "Copy that," said Antilles. "may the Force be with you." The connection cut off, and Karrde turned to Aves. "You have a course for me?" "Since the moment we lifted off," Aves muttered. "Feeding it to the helm." Mara nodded as it scrolled onto her screen. "Karrde... you realize, no reward is worth this." "Oh, don't worry, Mara," he said, "I assure you, we'll find a way to be repaid. Lightspeed at your discretion." Mara got in one more shot, nailing a TIE Bomber about to make a run at an escaping transport, then pulled back on the hyperdrive levels. Stars became starlines, and the WILD KARRDE was clear. The Empire won Coruscant in the end, though they'd been given a bloody nose on the way out. The Republic regrouped (though most people now referred to them once again as the Rebel Alliance) on the fifth moon of Da Soocha. They formed an impressive structure known as Pinnacle Base, to serve as a headquarters. Karrde ran occasional supplies there, and to other bases at Ord Pardon, Sluis Van, and others. He'd become counted on as an unofficial part of the Republic's shipping lines, an arrangement that galled him no end. Unfortunately, the only way to distance himself from that perception was to join the thousand other smugglers running military ordinance through to some top-secret Imperial project in the Deep Core. Karrde was not prepared for that-- for one thing, he had a very bad feeling about the whole Imperial buildup--so he remained a Rebel sympathizer. He was beginning to worry about Mara. She didn't like to talk about it, but she developed a haunted look, especially in the mornings. When cornered and ordered to respond, she only muttered something about "nightmares." The only person she'd discuss it with was Luke Skywalker. One day on Da Soocha, after they'd dropped off a shipment, Mara came to him, saying she'd decided to remain on Da Soocha for a few extra days. She tried hard to pretend it was no big deal, but Karrde knew her too well. It was urgent, in fact, and it had something to do with her recent nightmares and Skywalker. Karrde invented some excuse about negotiating a new trade deal and stayed behind with her. He diverted the ETHERWAY to make the WILD KARRDE's scheduled run to Calamari. Two days later, Luke Skywalker was lost an a mission back to Coruscant. Mara accompanied the rescue team, and Karrde went along for the ride--and the usual fee. They found Skywalker just before he was swallowed up by some kind of energy formation--a storm-like event that Skywalker referred to as a hyperspace wormhole. He'd been spouting things about the Force and the Dark Side that Karrde didn't really follow, and suddenly the thing just appeared--and ate him. And Mara too. She said a quick goodbye to Karrde, lit her lightsaber, and challenged Luke to bring her along. he did. It all happened so quickly that Karrde was aboard the MILLENIUM FALCON and missing a second in command before he had a chance to think. It was a good thing he hadn't, since he certainly would have stopped Mara from going. Or tried to--actually, Mara did whatever she pleased, without much worrying about the opinions of others. But he would have argued with her. Still a bit stunned, Karrde went aft to check the readouts on the sensor package he'd brought. It was his hope that they contained some clue to the nature of the wormhole. Something they could use to get Mara back. What he found made things worse. He entered the FALCON's main hold, where Solo and Leia were commiserating about the loss of Skywalker. Calrissian was apparently flying the ship. Karrde cleared his throat. "Am I interrupting?" "No..." Leia Organa Solo shook the worry from her eyes and focused on him. "What is it, Karrde?" "I...wanted you to know there'll be no charge for my services until we get Mara back. There's no reason you should pay me for something I'd be doing anyway." "That's sweet," said Leia. "No, that's irrational. But there you are. I owe Mara nothing less. If it means anything...she's a survivor. And Skywalker's skills are certainly impressive. They'll be all right." "You believe that?" she asked. Karrde shrugged. "I choose to. No reason to be a pessimist. Er...there is something else..." He showed them a small, holographic projector from the sensor array. "This message cut across all comm bands used by the Empire. Watch." He flicked it on, and a holographic projection of a stout, older Imperial officer flickered to life. "Recognize him?" "Yes," said Leia. "That's Pellaeon--Admiral Thrawn's protegee." Karrde nodded. "I met the man. He was always rather serious and somber." The image spoke. "Loyal citizens of the Empire...I am Admiral Pellaeon, new commander of the Coruscant sector fleet. That fleet has been torn apart by disagreements among our own Imperial forces. As of now, that rift will be healed. The Civil War is over. I speak now for the true master of the galaxy, whose identity will be revealed at the proper time. A special envoy has been dispatched to all Imperial factions. These envoys will convince you of the truth of my words. The time of bickering is at an end. Our New Order will return, stronger than ever. All questions will be answered when you meet with your envoy. Until then, know this--those who serve the rightful Emperor will be granted more power than they can imagine. Those who stand against us will be destroyed. Pellaeon out." The image flickered out. Solo whistled softly, indicating his surprise. "What do you make of it, Karrde?" Leia asked. "I was hoping you'd know." Solo said, "Sounds like this guy Pellaeon has a fair-sized mynock on his back." "But as I said, he was not a man to make idle threats." Karrde hesitated. "And there is something more..." Solo cocked an eyebrow. "More good news?" "I checked the readings on that wormhole--the type of radiation it gave off is not consistent with any naturally occurring source. The closest match I can make is with the readings taken by my ship's sensors after we confronted Joruus C'Baoth on Wayland." He paused again. "My best guess is that these readings indicate heavy use of the Force." Leia Organa Solo didn't appear surprised. "The new head of the Empire is a Dark Jedi." Karrde nodded. "So it seems. Need I mention my bad feeling about this?" Solo scowled, but tried to look unconcerned. "I guess it could be worse." It was worse. As soon as the MILLENIUM FALCON landed, its passengers were hustled inside the Rebel command center. Karrde hadn't really been invited, but he tagged along on Leia's authority. The Rebels' tactical holoimagers were going full blast, all depicting a ferocious battle between the Rebel forces at Calamari and a new Imperial weapon called World Devastators. The huge machines sucked in everything around them, both natural and artificial, and used it to power their internal furnaces. They also recycled the proper materials into a new kind of robotic TIE fighter--without the skill of a human pilot, but so easy to mass-produce that it hardly mattered. The assorted officers took this in with a mixture of anger and awe. Then Karrde saw something that made his blood run cold. He addressed a nearby technician. "Enhance grid B-7." General Garm Bel Iblis, who was giving the briefing, frowned. "Captain Karrde, this is not--" "Enlarge B-7 NOW!" At Mon Mothma's silent nod, the tech complied. One section of the tactical screen zoomed to fill the entire area. Leia picked up on it first. "Isn't that one of your ships, Karrde?" Something inside Talon Karrde twisted. "That's the ETHERWAY." "Fynn Torve's ship?" Solo asked, "Why hasn't she gotten clear?" "Looks like she's helping in the evacuation," said Lando Calrissian. On the screen, the ETHERWAY's ion drives kicked in, jolting the bulky freighter forward, past the nose of two World Devastators. "She's almost clear," said Solo. "If he uses a Duros Spiral now, he can make it..." "Good call, Han," said Calrissian. The former smugglers were drawn to the screen almost as much as Karrde was; either they knew it could easily be them out there, or they just enjoyed critiquing Torve's technique. "There he goes..." "It's working!" said Leia. But physics are physics wherever you go in the galaxy, and the experienced star pilots in the room knew that the ETHERWAY simply didn't have enough speed. "No," said Karrde, voice quiet with certainty, "It's not." Solo pounded on a console. "Come on, buddy! If you wanna get out of there, you gotta punch it right NOW!" The Wookiee roared loud emphasis. Karrde watched the drama playing out before him with an almost clinical detachment. "She's not moving up to specs. His hold must be full of evacuees..." Leia said, "He's trying to sneak around the axis of that Devastator!" "Tractor beams!" said Calrissian. "Move it, Torve!" "Too late," said Karrde. That last comment hung in the air for a full minute as, on the screen, the ETHERWAY was inexorably drawn into a World Devastator. It collided with the other debris and exploded in the thing's maw. Talon Karrde did not move or speak, just watched the screen, even though there was nothing more to see. At length, the screen returned to its original place in the grid. Mon Mothma cleared her throat. "The Council extends its sympathies, Captain Karrde." Han Solo shifted uncomfortably. "Hey, I'm real sorry, Karrde. I always liked Fynn Torve." "He was a class act, all the way," said Calrissian. Karrde favored them with only a stiff nod. "Yes, well, thank you, Gentlemen. Mon Mothma. If you'll all excuse me..." He turned and walked out. The comm signaled for him, probably not for the first time. He hadn't really been listening. "Come in." The door slid open, and Leia Organa Solo walked in. "Do you have a moment?" He smiled thinly. "I seem to have a lifetime." "I'm sorry about your friend," Leia said. "Han's told me about Fynn Torve. He was a good man." "He was not," Karrde said. "He was a thief, smuggler, and scoundrel." Leia returned his earlier smile. "I know how easy it is to become attached to scoundrels." "It's not even that," Karrde said. "Torve was likable enough. I enjoyed his company, but he was not my friend. He worked for me over ten years...and I never knew him. He has a wife and child on Corellia whom I've never met. But I will. I will meet them and I will tell that woman myself that her husband is dead. That is what I owe my people. They're my responsibility, every one." Karrde hesitated. He felt few emotions deeply, and those he did feel he rarely discussed. Emotion was bad for business. Somehow, though, at this moment, it was important that Leia understand. On some level, he suspected she already did. He said, "Torve was one of my first operatives. Later I brought in Wadeworn, Artan, and Lasand--the ETHERWAY's crew. Those last two, they were...young. Frightfully so." Leia's eyes contained quite a bit of comprehension. this woman, above all others, understood what he was talking about. She'd seen her entire world destroyed. She said, "Blaming yourself never helps." "No, it doesn't," he agreed. "But I have to blame myself. They were my people. Their deaths are on my head, and always will be." He spoke with detachment, not even really feeling the loss yet. He would at some point, he supposed. He would grieve, or come as close to it as Talon Karrde ever did. But for now, he was simply cataloging the truth. He might have been teaching an Academy class, for all the life in his expression and tone. The former Princess Leia of Alderaan spoke with somewhat more emotion. "I know all about this, Karrde. My own father destroyed my world while I watched. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that you can't let the past eat away at you. It's done. The question is, what are you going to do about it?" Karrde caught a glimpse of something in her expression, said, "If you're thinking of recruiting me, you should know that revenge isn't really my style." "I'm not talking about revenge. I'm talking about saving those people on Calamari. Making Torve's death count for something. Maybe helping yourself to sleep a little better." Karrde leaned forward, hands steepled together. "I assume you have a plan?" Leia explained. It seemed that they were picking up readings of some kind of interdiction field generated around the Calamari system, which would have to be dealt with before proceeding. Since it was, in fact, impossible to close off an entire system with an interdiction cone, the Council had little doubt that it was a trap, designed by the Empire to give the Fleet an obvious target. Someplace they would have to focus on. Someplace where they could be hammered. Ackbar had put together a task force to deal with the situation, but since he and Lando Calrissian would be leading the battle and Han Solo--according to Leia--was needed elsewhere, the task force needed a commander. I've gone insane, Karrde thought as she finished talking. Right along with the rest of the galaxy, I've gone insane. In the end, however, he agreed to help. Whoever had taken Mara had also built those Devastators. Karrde was sure of that. Therefore, that person would be defeated. He would not lose any more of his people to the Empire. "Karrde!" Talon Karrde suppressed a groan. He'd almost made it to his task force's flagship without being noticed. Now, however, Lando Calrissian approached him, resplendent and dashing in his uniform and cape. "Hello, Calrissian. Aren't you supposed to be busy?" The other man laughed. "I just had to get a look at you. Imagine, Talon Karrde, a general!" Karrde shifted in the itchy, claustrophobic uniform. "The rank goes away immediately after the battle, Calrissian. And nobody on the fringe EVER hears about this. Understood?" "Of course," said Lando. "I'd give it up if I were you, Karrde. Take it from me: Once these do-gooders get their hooks in you, it's all over." "I'm not in this for the principle. I owe the Empire--and I don't like having a debt hanging over my head." Lando grinned. "that sounds very familiar. Shouldn't you be launching?" "I'm waiting for something." Almost on cue, Karrde heard a cackling howl that reverberated through the corridors, along with the clicking of heavy claws on durasteel. "Here they are, Captain," said Chin. Behind him, he dragged the leashes of Karrde's two pet vornskrs. Calrissian laughed. "Isn't that against regs? Pets on a Star Cruiser?" "The day I start caring about New Republic regulations," Karrde told him, completely serious, "I want you to shoot me." "You got it. Anything else?" Karrde started to say "no," then reconsidered. "The Devastator that killed Torve...I saw her hull. She was designated SILENCER-7." Lando read his thoughts, and nodded. "I'll kill her slowly." Karrde nodded, and reached down to pet his vornskrs. "Do that. Good hunting, Calrissian." "Same to you." Lando Calrissian turned and walked away, and Karrde straightened up. "Take them to the ship, Chin." His subordinate snapped him a mock-salute. "Aye, sir, General, sir." "Don't rub it in..." The interdiction field was a trick, as predicted. Merely false readings, sensor ghosts generated by Imperial techs. Fortunately, Karrde could play that game. His associate, Ghent, was the best slicer in the business. By the time they reached the outskirts of the Calamari system, Ghent had created sensor ghosts that would fool the Imperial fleet into thinking they were surrounded. the trick worked like a charm at first. Distracted by Ghent's handiwork, Admiral Pellaeon's newly-arrived ambush fleet was caught off-guard. Karrde's task force ripped through them, scoring several direct hits on the CHIMERA's superstructure before their opponents could mount any kind of an attack. A quick signal to Lando Calrissian, and the Battle of Calamari was on. And on the bridge of his adopted NEBULON-B class frigate, the BAIL ORGANA, Talon Karrde was very worried. "It can't be this easy," he muttered, stroking his goatee thoughtfully. "What was that?" asked Aves, who had surprised Karrde by volunteering to join the battle. "You call this easy?" A flash of insight hit Karrde. "Pellaeon's not this stupid. All ships, pull up!" "WHAT?" Karrde stabbed a finger at the viewscreen in front of them. "The false readings weren't the trap! The fleet is!" Even as he spoke, Karrde realized that the Imperial ships were holding their ground near Calamari IX, instead of spreading out to attack. The only reason to do that would be if... "Something's hiding behind the planet," he said. A lieutenant at the sensor station turned to him, near panic. "Sir, I have a new contact on sensors!" Karrde already saw it, just the tip poking around the planet's crust. "Does one of our other ships have a better angle?" "Yes, sir. I'll have the FREEDOM-II send us her data." The screen changed as they got the new data, and also their first good look at their opponent. It was shaped vaguely like a Star Destroyer, but was much thicker and painted black. Its design reminded Karrde of an ancient seagoing battleship. The words "I.S.S. ECLIPSE" gleamed off its hull in the light from the Calamarian star. And its size... "How big is that thing?" Karrde asked. The sensor chief gulped audibly. "This can't be right. It says...ten miles long." Karrde nodded. "Using that Super Star Destroyer for scale, I'd say that's accurate." Aves stared at the screen in shock. "Mines of Kessel... that thing is big enough to take out our whole fleet." "I'm sure it intends to. Bring us in near the planet, Aves. As big as that thing is, it'll find it hard to maneuver near a gravity well." Aves was near-frantic. "Karrde, we should get out of here!" Karrde blew out a long breath. "If we do, that thing will turn on Calrissian and slaughter his entire force." "What do we care?" Aves hissed. The smuggler chief stood, watching the behemoth advance on them. "I don't abandon people. We've got to hold that thing off." "HOW?" Karrde shrugged. "It'll be in range in two minutes. We've got that long to think of something." The Star Destroyer was on them faster than Karrde would have thought possible, and soon the deck was shaking beneath them. It was all Karrde could do to keep his task force around the rim of the planet from the monstrosity, using Calamari IX's crust to provide some cover. The sad truth was, however, that they could not play hide-and-seek with the ECLIPSE for long. The sensor chief spoke again. "General! I'm getting telemetry from the main battle! General Calrissian's command ship--she's been sucked into one of the World Devastators! The blasted thing's EATING our flagship!" Karrde narrowed his eyes. "My, that is unusual, isn't it? Is she jettisoning escape pods?" "Yes, sir." He sighed. "Then we have bigger things to worry about, don't we?" The bridge rocked beneath them after a particularly strong jolt, and Aves cursed a streak. "Karrde, we're not gonna win here! We have to..." "At least we're not being eaten," he said with a wry smile, "Count your blessings, Aves." "I'm gonna be able to count the PIECES they blow us into..." Beads of sweat popped up on Karrde's forehead, and the smuggler chief found himself wondering if it was truly over. For precisely one second. Then an odd thought struck him, and he knew what he had to do. He gestured Aves closer. "Would that Imperial cruiser fit in a Devastator's maw, do you think?" His aide frowned. "No, but a Devastator could do some serious damage." Karrde grinned. "New orders, helm. Hold here until we're within visual range of the cruiser. Let her get a good look. Then head straight for the battle." Aves exploded. "Karrde, are you CRAZY? We can't..." "I've got an idea, Aves," he assured the other. "I'm not gonna like it, am I?" "You're going to hate it." Aves hissed. "We're doing it anyway, aren't we?" Another blast shook their ship, and something shorted out in one of the crewpits. Karrde clung to his command chair for dear life. "What choice do we have?" They managed to stay just far enough away from the ECLIPSE to stay alive with all power to the aft shields. The Imperial cruiser, large enough to engage whole fleets, had no problem wading into the center of the battle. For Karrde's ship, on the other hand... "Sir, we're within firing range for that spaceborne Devastator!" said the woman at Weapons. "I'm on record as not liking this..." Aves said. "Logged and noted," said Karrde. "Keep going." The sensor chief spoke up again. "Sir, the Devastator has finished with the command ship and is turning on us! We're dead, sir!" "Head straight for its maw." Karrde's eyes watched the viewport intently as, ahead of them, space exploded with the rainbow pyrotechnics of battle. "That's the SILENCER," said Aves. "Same one that killed Torve." Karrde laughed without much humor. "Is it? One must appreciate the irony..." The nav/comm station exploded, its crewer incinerated immediately. Backups routed its functions through to helm, but that console wasn't in much better shape. Talon Karrde found himself choking on ozone and smoke. "Taking fire from both sides now!" said Aves. "They'll rip us to shreds!" "Tell me when we're in a tractor beam." Aves groaned. "I should've been a lawyer, like my mother told me..." He paused as the BAIL ORGANA's bridge shuddered again. "Tractor beam is active. It's drawing us in." "The cruiser is veering off," said the Rebel weapons officer. "She's leaving us for the Devastator. She'll go after the rest of our task force!" The smuggler chief nodded. "Jettison all escape pods." "We're abandoning ship?" Aves said, "Best idea I've heard all..." "Jettison them now!" he interrupted, "Straight forward!" "But Karrde, we'll have no way..." "JUST DO IT!" Karrde heard several small clanking sounds as all the BAIL ORGANA's escape pods fell away, jetting straight forward, towards the mouth of the Imperial World Devastator. "Tractor lock is weakening!" crowed the Weapons officer. "The multiple targets are confusing the beam guidance systems!" Karrde nodded, his complexion ruddy with sweat and adrenaline. If that hadn't worked, there was no backup plan. "Right full rudder! Ninety degrees down! Full power!" Something tore somewhere, and with an obscenely shrill moan, the BAIL ORGANA tore free of the weakened tractor beam. "We're clear!" the sensor chief announced. "Tractor beam still searching for a target." "It's locked onto the cruiser!" Aves said, "Why don't they disengage?" "The rapid targeting switches have frozen their guidance locks," Karrde explained, sighing heavily with released tension. "They can override, but it will take time..." Time the ECLIPSE did not have. On the viewport, the cruiser and World Devastator ripped into each other. The Devastator sliced whole chunks from the ECLIPSE's hull automatically, while the giant Star Destroyer fired indiscriminately, intent on destroying the tractor beam system before the Devastator could carve them up like nerf steak. Something exploded, and the BAIL ORGANA's crew cheered. "That World Devastator is showing massive damage!" said the sensor chief. "The ECLIPSE is wounded!" Then the smaller explosions turned into one large fireball, as the ECLIPSE was forced to destroy the attacking World Devastator. "I don't believe it," Aves muttered. "We took one down." "Confirm that," said Karrde. "Aye, sir." After a moment, the chief looked up. "SILENCER is destroyed. The Imperial cruiser is seriously damaged and limping away from the battle." The crew cheered again. Karrde just buried his head in hands for a moment, and tried to keep breathing. A voice crackled over the comm. "Karrde, this is Calrissian! I don't know what you did, old buddy, but when we get back, I owe you dinner!" Karrde smirked. "Just send flowers, Calrissian. There are still a lot more of them. We've not won anything yet." The crew did not seem convinced. They continued to celebrate as Karrde's wounded frigate limped towards the outskirts of the battle, where the escape pods had gathered. Aves sidled closer, and favored Karrde with a knowing smile. "For Torve?" Karrde watched the last flickers of flame be extinguished by vacuum on the burned-out hulk that had once been a World Devastator. He nodded. "For Torve, and Mara..." The battle continued for several hours. It took them all that time to make their way over to the escape pods. the Empire was pretty much having its way with the Fleet--even the Alliance's reinforcements didn't make much difference. Then, just as they finally brought Calrissian on board, something most unexpected happened. "Karrde!" Aves said, "The Devastators on the planet... they're just...shutting down!" Karrde frowned. "I wasn't aware we were doing anything different." "We're not. They just..." The door slid open, and Lando Calrissian's voice said, "What's our status?" "Oh, hello, Calrissian," he said, "You may be interested to know that we're winning now." "Huh?" Karrde gestured at the tactical readout. "See for yourself. They're dying." As he spoke, two more Devastators just conked out for no apparent reason. Karrde didn't like it one bit. Wedge Antilles, who had come in with Calrissian, said, "This is great. Those new E-Wing fighters must really be making a difference." "Not the way I saw it, Wedge." Karrde nodded. "Calrissian is right. They're self- destructing." "Whoever's in command of those Devastators is an idiot!" Lando concluded. "You'd almost think he wanted to lose!" Mara would know what to make of this, Karrde thought. She understood the Imperial mindset. If she's gone... The smuggler chief resolved not to think about that until the battle was done. As he'd told Leia, no sense being pessimistic... They later found out that the commander of that force was a converted Luke Skywalker, and he did indeed wish to lose. Furthermore, Mara was with him, though surprisingly, she proved more resistant to the offer made by the Imperial commander, the reborn Emperor. That intrigued Karrde. He'd have thought that Mara would drop Skywalker, Karrde, the group...everything for a chance to serve her Emperor again. But apparently she'd changed more than he'd anticipated. She returned with the MILLENIUM FALCON, as that ship blasted into the battle just in time to halt a renewed push from the Imperial forces. That save came just in time to prevent Admiral Pellaeon and the CHIMERA from blowing the deck out from under Karrde. The smuggler chief was used to such things by now. He'd been exposed to the Republic for so long that Han Solo's particular blend of Corellian overdrive no longer surprised him. Karrde sat in his command chair, listening to the comm chatter. Wedge Antilles had taken out a reserve X-Wing, joined up with Corran Horn and a few others, and sort of re-formed Rogue Squadron, with predictable results. "Janson, you form up with Horn and Pollar. I'll take Hobbie and Ooryl. We're going right at those Devastators, full throttle." "Ah," said Janson's voice. "Apparently we have lost our minds." Karrde smiled slightly at that. He looked to Aves. "Report." Aves grinned. "Solo's signal really did the trick. Not only are the Devastators failing, but the Impstars have lost their shielding. Including the CHIMERA." "Have they, now?" "That seems like a shame," said Lando Calrissian. "Isn't it?" he said, "We should offer assistance." "It's only fitting," said Lando. Karrde touched a button. "This is Ta...this is the Rebel commander to Admiral Pellaeon. Are you there?" No response. Karrde touched the comm again. "Are you prepared to surrender yet?" A voice snarled, "I'll see you dead first." Karrde glanced at Calrissian. "Did you hear that?" Lando rolled his eyes. "Ungrateful of him." "Well, Admiral," he continued, "Whether you like it or not, we're here to help. Aves, send over three frigates to...help him. Then pull us alongside. Target the command tower." Pellaeon, a reasonable sort even if a bit unpleasant, signaled an Imperial retreat. The World Devastators began going down a moment later. The Battle of Calamari was over. "I thought I'd find you here." Several days had passed since the battle. Despite a scare when the repaired ECLIPSE showed up at Da Soocha, the Alliance had won. Plans were being made to retake Coruscant, and Karrde's group was going to make a fortune ferrying supplies. Ackbar had offered to let him keep his commission, but Karrde had laughed in the other's face. He might be a hero now, but he wasn't crazy. The repair bay was darkened, and Mara Jade knelt by the WILD KARRDE's thruster array, wielding a hydrospanner. "We're almost ready for takeoff," Mara said. A mischievous light came into her eyes. "...General." "I've already resigned," Karrde told her. Mara laughed. "What about that Silver Comet award they gave you? I suppose they pass those out to everyone..." "It'll make a nice memento, if nothing else," Karrde said. "I..." Mara paused. "I heard about Torve. That's really lousy." "Yes," he agreed. "You'll be pleased to know that the Devastator which killed him...is no longer in service." "I hope it was painful," Mara muttered. "Why did you do it?" Karrde asked. He knelt beside Mara to inspect the thruster array. Her repair work was flawless, as always. "Why did you go with Skywalker?" "Partly because I was worried about him," she said, after a moment's pause. "Partly because I think I knew, unconsciously somehow, that we'd meet the Emperor. And I had to face him again." "And what happened?" Karrde asked. Mara shrugged. "I got a job offer. I turned it down." And THAT was the part that had been troubling Karrde for days. "Why?" Mara held his eyes for a moment, then turned away. "Let's just say I didn't like his terms." The smuggler chief had the distinct impression that there was more to her story, but he let it drop. "Fair enough. Mara, I've been thinking..." "You're going to run off and join the Rebel Alliance," she said with a grin. "Seriously. Mara, I don't think you should rejoin the organization." "What?" Mara dropped the hydrospanner, in surprise or anger, he couldn't tell. "Why not?" "You'll recall I said I said I was grooming you to be my successor one day. You need experience. I think you should replace me as head of the Smuggler's Alliance." "That bunch of traitors?" Mara grunted. "They all supported the Empire." "Yes," he said, "That's why they need you. They need someone who can re-establish their ties to the Alliance." Mara glared at him. "And what do you need?" "I need?" "The group, I mean," Mara said. "Doesn't the group need me?" Karrde picked up the hydrospanner, and began to complete the repairs. "Mara, the group will be waiting for you when you're ready. It's your home. As far as I'm concerned, it always will be. But now it's time for you to try something new. I know you can do it. There's no one more competent." Mara was silent a moment. "Well, I always did want your job. I'll do it." Karrde smiled. "And it's none of my business, but I also think you should speak to Luke Skywalker. It might be useful to complete that Jedi training." Mara hissed softly. "Maybe. Karrde, about that successor thing? You won't be needing one for a good, long while, right?" He chuckled. "Well, not if I avoid going up against any more Star Destroyers..." "How much did they pay?" Mara asked. Karrde turned away, uncomfortable. "Oh, err...you wouldn't believe how much I gouged them. I believe I set a personal best." Mara groaned. "You did it for free, didn't you?" "Nobody's perfect, Mara," he said. They finished the repairs and left the hangar. THE END (You should also see part one, Mara's side of the tale. Feedback is appreciated. May the Force be with everyone...)