Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back(My version)

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Ania Solo had seen a lot of tucked-off corners of the galaxy, but she never thought she'd go to Gree space. She'd heard spacers talk about their sealed-off Enclave, mostly swapping second- or third-hand rumors about strange technology so ancient even the cephalopod aliens had forgotten how to use it.

Ania was on the bridge when the Jagged Fel reverted from hyperspace over their gateway world of Asation. Through the viewport the planet was just a blue-green sphere sitting dead ahead, no different from countless other worlds. Right now the empress' flagship approached the planet alone, though the plan was that the fleet they'd brought with them would decant from hyperspace at the edge of the star system, not close enough to threaten the planet but visible enough to get their point across.

That assumed the Gree would read the empress' actions as intended. Even though their Enclave abutted the Empire's historic territory, the Jagged Fel's shipboard encyclopedia had only limited information on their politics and less about their culture and customs. The empress had an interesting conversation ahead of her.

For her part, Ania is just a spectator. Her past help to Marasiah Fel was the only reason she was allowed on the bridge now; Sauk, Kyra, and AG-37 were down in the landing bay with Free Agent. It was hard to keep her thoughts off Jao and her boyfriend. Cades ship the Mynock would be arriving at Te Hasa soon, and would enter a place filled with uncertain danger. He'd insisted on going anyway, and she hadn't even tried to talk him out of it.

Jao was headstrong in his own way, and never so much as when he thought the Force was telling him what to do. Ania had never understood what Jedi and Imperial Knights meant when they said the Force was moving them; deep down she'd always suspected they were just doing what they wanted and invoked the will of the Force to rationalize it to themselves. Jao didn't have that justification anymore but he was charging in anyway, and it was still all about the Force. Apparently he'd rather risk death than live without it. Ania almost envied him for having something he prized so strongly.

The Jagged Fel lurched forward, and steadily Asation swelled to fill the viewport. The empress waited patiently at the rear of the bridge, silent and regal in her white robes. Two red-armored guards stood behind her, along with one gold protocol droid. After what seemed like forever, Admiral Yage reported, "Majesty, a spacecraft has rounded the planet's ecliptic and is vectoring toward us. It's quite large. I estimate it's six times our mass."

That stirred a lot of tense looks between the crew. Marasiah let nothing show. "Send a hail on all frequencies. Tell that I've arrived on behalf of the Galactic Federation Triumvirate, and that I respectfully request an audience."

As the message was sent, Ania stepped around the edge of the bridge, closer to the viewport. She spotted something moving against Asation's blue face, tiny at this distance but steadily growing larger. It seemed to be disc-shaped and thickest in the center, with layers of superstructure piled atop one another.

"We've gotten a response, Empress," Yage said from the comm station.

Marasiah remained where she was. "Go ahead."

Yage bent close to read from the console. "They extend their greetings and request the purpose of this visit."

"Tell them we seek passage in their space to apprehend a criminal who has attacked the Galactic Federation. This fugitive has been operating from Te Hasa for the past two years. Tell them we will not hold their government responsible for harboring this criminal, so long as they comply with our request."

Yage relayed the message. Ania watched as the huge Gree ship swelled closer and closer. She couldn't make out any weapons on it. She couldn't make out any traditional propulsion either, or any command towers or communications arrays. That thing really was like nothing she'd seen before.

Eventually Yage reported, "The Gree will consider your request for extradition when given full account of the criminal's offenses."

A bureaucratic log-jam was exactly what they didn't need right now. Marasiah said, "We do not request extradition. We request permission to go to Te Hasa now and apprehend the criminal ourselves."

Yage relayed the message. A tense minute later he said, "That is unacceptable. The Gree will not permit foreigners to enter their space."

"Remind the Gree that they have permitted a foreigner to live and work on Te Hasa for at least two standard years." Anger was finally creeping to Marasiah's voice.

After another minute, Yage said, "They insist we provide details on the criminal's actions and her current whereabouts."

"Then they deny knowing about Maladi?"

"It... appears so, Empress."

This 'conversation' could go on forever. Marasiah said, "Request a face-to-face discussion with one of their delegates. That delegate must be empowered to grant us access to their space."

Two tense minutes after the message was sent, Yage reported, "The Gree accept this request. They will launch a small vessel momentarily. Your presence will be accepted there." Yage's frown deepened. "Empress, they request you come without armed guards."

Ania expected the empress to balk, but Marasiah said, "Agreed. Masters Draco and Sinde will come with me, unarmed. So will See-Threepio. Prepare my shuttle for immediate launch. We'll be down there shortly."

Yage looked like he wanted to argue more, but he said, "Yes, Majesty."

Ania glanced out the viewport again. She spotted a piece of that great disc's superstructure detach from the rest. A small solar sail unfolded behind it and the oval-shaped object pushed outward, toward the Jagged Fel. There was something organic and elegant about that ship, and Ania's attention clung to it for a few seconds. When she looked back down the bridge, she caught last glimpses of red, white, and gold as the empress' party left the bridge. Whatever happened next to decide the fate of Jao and the Force, and it had nothing to do with Ania Solo, descendant of Han and Leia.

Zadd

Joseph, now transformed back in human form with his strike team of wives pileing up the now broken and scattered robot parts of Brawl, C-3PX and Corruptor Zero after their victory over C.S.A.T. in the planet have successfully download the Mentor AI into Joseph personal datapad -- now adding all droids under the Mentor into N.A.T.O.

Josephs wrist link installed in his Ultrmatrix beeped. "This General Kirkpatrick of N.A.T.O. and the CIS. To whom am I speaking to."

"General Kirkpatrick. This is the President of the United Federation." The President said as a green hologram on Josephs Ultrmatrix.

Joseph smirked. "Ahh. Greetings Mister President. To what do I owe the pleasure. Hows it feel to be resurrected."

"Very.... Freaky, to say the least General. I need you and the N.A.T.O. High Council to come meet me in London."

Joseph: What's up?

The President has a moment of pause, and then... Takes a deep breath. "Intelligence from G.U.N. has confirmed that C.S.A.T. will attempt to assassinate the Queen of England.

Joseph[determined]: On my way!!

Joseph gave a soldiers salute and is instantly beamed back to the Sinistar and it soon made the jump to an Infinity Gate straight to Mobius.

Author's Note: Next, major story arc: 'Assault on the Queen!' and later....... 'Down the Hammer!' Ten chapters left: How's everything gonna go down? Well, Stay tuned and see👍🙏.