[Chapter Seven]

A month had passed since Han's rescue. Leia and her friends rested and regained lost health aboard an Alliance frigate. Han was in greatest need of attention: he spent time in a bacta tank, underwent physical therapy, and now observed a strict diet. He was almost back to his old self, though Leia noted his personality was rougher at the edges.

"How are you getting along with that helmeted creep?" He asked her one evening in the mess hall.

"Pardon?"

"I think you know. The guy who hunted us down, helped Vader toss me in that hole."

She stopped her eyes from rolling. "We already spoke on this topic. More than once."

"Yeah. He's a big help to our cause so far, huh?"

"Actually. . ."

~ ~ ~

Delegates and pilots assembled in the Intelligence Hall. Leia saw a team of Mon Calamari standing next to Mon Mothma. Chewbacca greeted a group of four other robed wookiees near the entrance.

Han leaned over to her. "Where's Luke? He was supposed to be here by now."

Leia sighed. "Wish I knew."

"The Emperor's made a critical error," Mothma addressed them. She stood next to a holographic display of an Imperial dreadnaught; a list of data streamed next to the image. "And the time of our attack has come. The data brought to us by Boba Fett's spies pin-point the exact location of the Emperor's new battle station."

Now to see if the rumors were true. Han and Leia glanced to one another and then leaned forward to glue their attention on the white-clad woman.

"We've also learned that Darth Vader himself has defected from the Empire, and leads a small, but well-equipped splinter faction of Imperial officers and troopers."