Luke Skywalker, the Last Jedi, faces his toughest challenge yet. To rebuild the Jedi Order, he must give up his personal hopes and dreams. Every move is critiqued by not only the New Republic Senate but also the Force-ghost Jedi Council of the past...
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Six weeks later, the Senate reconvened in the Senatorial Hall. Although maintenance crews had erased all vestiges of the terrorist attack, senators hurried to their seats while scrutinizing the immediate area. Gone were the proud looks of weeks before. Gone were the shady deals in the Senate antechambers. All that remained were trembling hands, furtive glances, and burly bodyguards. Their heavy footsteps lent a militaristic rhythm to the convening of the Senate.
Han looked around at the rattled faces, waiting with his friend Chewbacca to report on the refugee pre-fab housing project. The captain-turned-contractor gazed at his wife, wiggling his eyebrows.
Leia giggled and blushed a little, dropping her head with a tiny shake. When Mon Mothma called the senators to order and initiated the roll call, Leia covered her smile with her hand and composed herself.
Since this was the first time the Senate had convened since the attack, many dignitaries crowded the hall to present their issues. Many voiced concerns about security in the temporary facilities and when the permanent Senate Hall would be completed. But the more serious constituents beat the war drums.
The Iktochi Senator Zeshkar Ja yelled, "I'm tired of hiding and being afraid of our shadows. Let's take the war back to them and finish them once and for all. Down with the Imps!" His nose flared as his horns tossed side to side as a large number cheered their agreement.
❶ Grand Admiral Ackbar stepped forward to the holotable and thumped the controls, activating a three-dimensional map of the galaxy. "Unless we can destroy their supply line, we will never be successful in freeing the rest of the galaxy from Imperial rule."
Mon Mothma scrutinized the charts. "What are you suggesting, Admiral?"
"An all-out attack on the weapons facility on Jakku." He zoomed the focus of the map to the planet in the Western Reaches of the Inner Rim. As the device hummed and zithered, the yellow planet enlarged, crossfading with the galaxy map until all that remained was a topographical representation of Akbar's target. His lanky digits oscillated the laser pointer over the area of the hidden Imperial research base.
"If all of our forces converge on this site, we should be able to take it out, and we might just take a sizable chunk of the Imperial fleet with us."
"What are their defenses?" General Rieekan asked as he moved in for a closer look.
"General, I delivered a basic layout of the facility a few months ago," Han said from his position in the Visitors' Gallery. "Ensign, could you pull it up? It should be filed with my last report."
The ensign brought up the file, replacing the hologram with a topographical map of Jakku. Han and Chewbacca strutted to the main floor to explain their idea.
