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The day Coruscant fell was a wound that crippled the galaxy. But even with the valiant stand of the New Republic's defence forces and the daring pilots of the Jedi Order, it wasn't enough to prevent the Yuuzhan Vong from unleashing their full might and nightmarish tactics upon the Crown Jewel of the galaxy.As the Millennium Falcon climbed out of the atmosphere, it was followed closely by more than three dozen other escape craft ranging from a single twenty-meter-long private craft with little in the way of armaments to a lumbering three-hundred-meter-long supply freighter that looked older than the aged Wookiee who commanded her. This group was the largest fleeing the surface of the grand city, with scattered other groups fleeing in any direction, sometimes through the still engaged Yuuzhan Vong and New Republic capital ships. But even with all the fighters and yorik-coral enemy craft flying around, none paid attention to the fleeing ships crammed with as many Coruscanti natives as could fit aboard and so they had it easy. Whether it was down to luck or just the thought of the number of the future sacrifices to the Yuuzhan Vong gods they could pick up on the surface, no one knew for certain."Falcon to all craft," Han Solo, former smuggler and rebel general turned Jedi operative, called out to his group. "Any need for help on hyperspace co-ordinates?""Negative, Falcon," called out a female voice, likely from one of the YT-series freighters following. "I've got myself and three other ships covered. We'll see if we can make for Caamas or Corellia.""Caamas is probably safer," Leia Organa Solo replied. "With Sal-Solo controlling Corellia, it wouldn't be good for any non-humans in your hold.""{Agreed, Falcon}," a male voice speaking Huttese called out. "{We'll take those co-ordinates. Good luck}."The ships dispersed once they made it to the outer edge of the planet's influence and began jumping to hyperspace. Only the Falcon remained as it headed for a red-painted Star Destroyer lying on the edge of the battle, surrounded by a dozen other ships including three more Star Destroyers and a blister-like winged Mon Calamari Star Cruiser. A group of six coralskippers broke from engaging several E-wings over the length of one of a dying Kuati Toryaz-class battle cruiser to move on the Falcon, only to be driven off easily by the Falcon's cannons as Luke Skywalker and Khabarakh clan Kihm'bar worked in tandem in protecting the ships."Errant Venture, this is the Millennium Falcon," Leia called out across the comms. "Got any room for us on your flight deck?""Not a problem, princess," Booster Terrik's voice replied. "Get on board so we can get out of here.""Hang on, everyone," Han called out to the crew as the old YT-1300 maneuvered onto the underside of the massive old warship.The Falcon landed and the boarding ramp lowered. Han, Leia, Luke, Mara, Khabarakh and Artoo exited, followed closely by several Senate Guards and Palace Security officers, they were greeted by Nawara Ven and his wife, Rhysati Ynr."Booster's on the bridge," the Twi'lek former Rogue Squadron pilot said as he greeted them. "He's with Corran and Mirax.""Lead the way, Captain," Luke said.The pair led the group to the nearest lifts, taking note of the mixture of other ships that were surrounding them. Three of them were easily recognisable, as two of them belonged to the Calrissians while the final one was Mirax Terrik Horn's Pulsar Skate, where the former Corellian smuggler's long-time Sullustan co-pilot Liat Tsayv stood with his wife and two sons were gathered around. Entering the lift, the group was immediately transported to the bridge of the old, converted Star Destroyer. Terrik was at the viewports, but his back was turned as the old man was in conversation with Lando, his son-in-law Corran Horn and the holograms of three individuals.The first hologram was Wedge, who commanded from the Star Destroyer Mon Mothma and oversaw a third of the total battle group that had done their best to defend the galaxy's capital from the extragalactic invaders over the past two-and-a-half days. He appeared somewhat worn out from the grueling battles, but the ex-Rogue Squadron commander was still very alert as he engaged in talks with the old pirate captain and mentor from his pre-rebellion days.The second was Aril Nunb, a Sullustan female and another Rogue Squadron veteran as well as the sister to former smuggler turned administrator Nien Nunb. She commanded the Elegos A'Kla, sister ship to her former leader's Mon Mothma, and was wearing a bacta patch on her right cheek flap. Though she was from the same species as Sien Sovv, who was Supreme Commander of the Defence Force, Aril wasn't a friend to him nor attempted to pursue promotions under him, preferring instead to do the right thing and earned her command on her own merit.The third hologram was a man dressed in a gray civilian outfit, with graying hair and the symbol of the Royal House of New Alderaan on his right shoulder. Likely reporting from either the Rebel Dream or the Mon Cal Star Cruiser Allegiant, Senator Cal Omas was possibly attending this meeting to speak on behalf of the commander of either ship. A firm ally of the Jedi and a friend to Leia, he was a member of Borsk Fey'lya's Advisory Council but never was interested in the Bothan's supposed power-plays and politics.Halting their conversation, Booster and Corran looked towards the approach of Han, Leia, Luke and Mara, a side glance indicating the Noghri was off to the side. The three holograms also looked towards them, each of them breaking into smiles of relief.Lando stepped forward and embraced each of them in a hug. When he got to Mara, he hugged her and stepped back. "Tendra has Ben and Threepio in Booster's suite," he replied. "Want to go see them?"Mara nodded and turned to Luke. "I'll leave you here to it. I need to see our son."Luke returned the nod and moved to kiss her on the cheek. "I'll be down when this is over," he replied. "We'll need to know more," he then looked at Artoo, who was clearly anxious about Threepio's safety. "Go with her, Artoo," he said.Artoo beeped and turned to roll away back to the lift. Mara followed the little astromech, with Nawara as an escort. The doors closed with barely a squeak. Leia then stepped forward and nodded to her senatorial representative. The man nodded in response."Princess," Omas' hologram spoke. "I'm glad you're safe.""Thank you, Cal," Leia replied. "I'm glad to see you've made it. We need all the senators we can get.""I take it Fey'lya didn't escape when he could?" Wedge asked.Han shook his head. "The old Bothan chose to stay behind," he answered. "Looks like he'd rather die than be humiliated in public for losing Coruscant.""No," Luke said. "It's something else. Something personal.""Like what?" Aril Nunb asked. "Fey'lya doesn't strike me as someone to die for something personal.""That old Bothan's pride is about the only thing that keeps him going," Lando replied. "I'd imagine his decision to appoint Sovv as Supreme Commander and keeping him there after that debacle at Fondor is something he's regretting," he then looked at Wedge. "Any word from him?" she asked him."None," Wedge said. "Not since the Yald went down. Bel Iblis has pulled back past Centax-3 with the remnants of his battle groups after he abandoned the Bail Organa," he pointed to the edge of Coruscant's third moon when a few dozen capital ships were keeping station, even as a few flames and laser bolts struck out at the closest Yuuzhan Vong ships. "He's out of the fight and mostly keeping a lane or perhaps two clear for any survivors," the Corellian's finger then moved to where other New Republic capital ships were harassing the larger-still enemy fleet but were being taken out one by one with little casualties on the enemy's side. "Admiral Rabb usurped command from Kre'fey of their battle group and are still trying to break in. But we lost contact with the Majestic and the other task force group commanders just before you left the planet. Kre'fey took the Ralroost and a few dozen ships and are holding the edge by taking out any ship they can with their long-range batteries.""With little results," Corran grunted. "Even with the yammosks gone, the Vong are able to surround and knock us out.""And what about your fleet group?" Leia asked.Wedge sighed. "Rabb convinced more than two-thirds of my forces to join him in avenging Sovv," he said. "What I've got is what I've got.""Booster," Rhysati's voice called out from one of the control stations to the rear. "We just picked up an explosion in the Senate District.""Show me," the old pirate said.A hologram of the Senate District appeared, and the group gathered were shocked at what they saw.The Imperial Palace, Senate Building and multiple surrounding buildings and towers were gone. Completely obliterated without any trace. All that remained was a crater that consumed likely more than two hundred levels of the surrounding cityscape. Not even the old Jedi Temple, long abandoned and only partially preserved after almost five decades of neglect, was spared destruction as its remaining towers collapsed and the ziggurat shattered."Guess Borsk wasn't going to make it easy for the Vong to get an idea of where we're going next," Han said solemnly. "And make Coruscant a valueless prize for them.""It would seem so, General Solo," Omas replied. "It's fortunate that most of the district was the first to be abandoned when the evacuation began.""Fortunate is an understatement considering most of the Senate fled before the first Vong ships even made orbit," Lando said bluntly. "At least Borsk had the sense to stay behind.""Most of the senators didn't flee," Omas said. "Seems the Yuuzhan Vong had their Peace Brigade friends have a few capture ships out there to find their vessels. It's why myself, Triebakk, Dravvad, Miatamia and a few other are here with me on the Rebel Dream.""Capturing and sacrificing the Senate would be seen as a way to break the people of the galaxy," Wedge noted. "Just like the Jedi and the High Command, no doubt.""Not all of the High Command, I hope," Aril Nunb replied. She then turned her head away and suddenly frowned. "That's odd.""What?" Wedge asked.Each of them turned to the viewport and looked out. The Yuuzhan Vong capital ships in orbit had broken off from engaging the remnants of the defenders and were moving to assorted positions around Coruscant. Despite the floating debris of yorik-coral and steel hulls, the extragalactic invaders still had more ships and were intending to show the galaxy.Corran stepped away from the group and moved to one of the stations where Mirax was watching quietly. He then looked and eyes widened. "The grand cruiser and warship analogs just opened their portals up.""Portals?" Han frowned. "Which ones?""The same ones they used by Shedao Shai's flagship at Ithor!" he shouted.Mirax's gasp could be heard.Looking back at the viewport, the group gathered looked towards the planet in surprise."What are they about to do?" Omas asked.No one answered. They couldn't. And as the large ships moved in lines, the lights below them dimmed further until they started to go out one by one.Luke, Leia and Corran suddenly dropped to the floor, clutching their heads in agony. Han, Lando and Mirax raced to their sides, with Khabarakh leaving the shadows to come to the aid of the Lady Vader. But there was nothing they could do.In the captain's suite, Mara felt the prang and immediately worked to protect her four-month-old son Ben from the coming stream of pain before handing her back to Tendra. As soon as the infant was safely in the hands of Calrissian's wife, Mara's hands moved to clutch her head and allow herself to take on the agony waves passing through her.Down below, Cilghal, Kam Solusar and his wife Tionne clutched their heads as well but worked through the pain rippling through the Force to create a bubble around the twenty children in their care before it hit them and overwhelmed them. Valin Horn and Sannah quickly figured out what they were doing and aided in keeping the bubble up from the outside, grimacing as part of what was happening passed through them.On the Mon Mothma, Kenth Hamner, Kyp Durron and Saba Sebatyne did what they could to aid Tam Azur-Jamin and Ken in calming Danni Quee as the pain rippled through them. Octa Ramis, Jaden Korr, Kirana Ti and other Jedi wing survivors also did what they could to hold themselves together as the pain cried out through themselves. Gavin Darklighter, Inyri Forge and the surviving Rogue Squadron pilots raced to their aid but were unable to get answers from them.Aboard the Mon Adapyne amongst Kre'fey's task forces, Keyan Farlander fell from his command chair clutching his head, causing his Mon Calamari first officer and Quarren comm officer to race to his side, calling up his wife Lynia Delline from where she was helping in the ship's medical bay. Incoherent words were slipping from the veteran pilot and respected Jedi Knight's lips, but they couldn't do anything except keep him calm.Across the galaxy, in orbit over Myrkr aboard the escaping frigate analog, survivors of the Jedi strike team did what they could to push through the pain and focus on their escape. Tahiri Veila, however, was unable to stop the wave from hitting her too fast and she collapsed unconscious next to the comatose Anakin Solo as Tekli struggled to treat the fallen Jedi with her own skills. On the bridge, Jaina Solo, Zekk and Lowbacca did their best to retain control of the craft while Tenel Ka was clutching her head and Tesar Sebatyne hissed in agony while firing the hundred-and-meter-long's few lava cannons to keep the pursuing coralskippers from disabling them. Though they made hyperspace, the agony in their heads hurt.Meanwhile, on the edge of the nearby Ryyk Nebula, as the stolen Tachyon Flier was frantically dipping and diving to avoid the pursuing Yuuzhan Vong corvette analog, the agony hit the two Dark Jedi pilots. Lomi Plo screamed, letting go of the control yokes to clutch her head, unable to keep her thoughts in check before a lucky shot from a volcano cannon hit hard into the port side of the dilapidated freighter, slamming the female out of her seat and right into a nearby console, a sickening crack silencing her instantly. Welk, who was in the co-pilot's chair, moved through the pain as best he could as take control again, only for another shot slamming him forward into the hyperdrive activation yoke causing it to streak into the nebula, dropping out of hyperspace too close to the edge of a low-gravity moon. The Flier was caught in the gravity and with Welk distracted by the pain, was unable to prevent the ship from flipping and the cockpit's viewport glass shattered, sending massive debris into the Dark Jedi's face and chest, killing him instantly. In the cargo hold, barely strapped in and barely coherent as the mixture of the agony wave in the Force and the painkillers administrated to him from the wounds sustained on the worldship against the voxyn, the injured Raynar Thul was able to instruct the plugged-in Em-Teedee to activate the thrusters at intervals that flip the freighter right side up and dampen the coming crash. All the young Alderaanian Jedi hoped was that there wouldn't be a fire. That vision of burnt skin and lost individuality was terrifying enough without becoming a reality.Back on the surface on the worldship orbiting the forest world, as the Yuuzhan Vong warriors escorted their new captive up the ramp of a yorik-coral shuttle analog, Jacen Solo paused as the wave passed through him. The pain caused him to stumble slightly but the dulled feeling was filled with the same void and detachment he'd felt since his dual visions on Dantooine and Duro made him wonder why he was so apart from the Force now. The young Jedi glanced to Vergere, who had a taloned hand clutching the left side of her head and her eyes closed, leading to Nom Anor and Yal Phaath to look at the creature in great puzzlement. They turned to the captive Solo twin, who immediately resumed his walk up the ramp, awaiting his journey towards the answers he sought to his probable true existence…and purpose.Wedge's eyes flickered to an unseen officer's reporting to him on the bridge of the Mon Mothma before he turned to look at Booster, Aril and Omas. "The Vong have unleashed some kind of cloud into the atmosphere. It's burning the city blocks and melting them away. Eating at each building until they dissolve," his eyes dropped. "And people are falling to their deaths from the distances."Omas' eyes widened. "They're sweeping the planet clean!" he exclaimed. "They plan to make it a symbol of their conquest."Aril's hologram flickered as she turned to her former superior. "What do we do, Wedge?" she asked, her black eyes glancing towards the three Jedi withering in pain. "Can we stop this?"Wedge looked at Booster and Aril and shook his head. "It's a ripple in the Force," he replied, moving to tap his head. He then closed his eyes and creased his forehead. "And right now, there's nothing we can do."He then moved to rub his forehead.Booster growled. "The Vong will pay for this," he said in anger. "There are almost a trillion beings on Coruscant and they're just killing them like this. It's abhorrent.""They've already slaughtered millions on worlds they've taken, Captain Terrik," Omas replied solemnly. "This is no different to them. We don't matter to them."Wedge nodded to the senator. "Not even Palpatine's Death Stars were this horrifying," he said, grimacing for a moment as if words were starting to hurt.Through the viewport, the remaining defending ships still fighting, likely under severe damage and with minimal weapons left on them, moved to engage the Vong ships but were quickly overwhelmed as frigate and corvette analogs wiped them out without trouble. Now, the only New Republic ships left in the Coruscant system were the small groups gathered around Kre'fey, Bel Iblis and Wedge's commands. Two days ago, there were more than three thousand capital and support ships ready to defend their capital. Now, there were mere five hundred and most of them were too badly damaged to put up a fight. And as the last lights on Coruscant faded, replaced by a grayish sludge that consumed the once bright city world that had stood through the Old Republic, the Empire and now the New Republic.Eventually, Luke, Leia and Corran were able to stand as the pain faded in the Force. The agony lessening and eventually silenced, along with that of billions of beings. It was worse than Alderaan's destruction, over twenty-seven years prior. The Yuuzhan Vong fleet soon arrayed in several groups, egging on the remaining defenders in the system. But clearly there was nothing left for the New Republic to do. It was time to go."I'm sending coordinates for a jump point on the Core-Colonies border for the remainder of my forces," Wedge said. "I could do with an extra Star Destroyer if you're willing, Booster.""Not a problem, Wedge," Booster said, stepping away to speak with his navigator. "I'll see you there."Aril's hologram faded away as she cut communication to get the Elegos A'Kla under way. Her last response was a nod to Wedge and Corran, who returned it. The admiral knew what needed to be done without asking.The Corellian general's hologram turned to Omas'. "I can detail the Rebel Dream to deliver you to Caamas or New Alderaan if so willing, Senator."Omas shook his head. "We'll join you at the rendezvous point, General Antilles," he replied. "I think we can all agree it'll be safer with you and Master Skywalker than with-out," the gray-haired senator turned to Luke. "If the Jedi were willing to, of course."Luke nodded. "We'll see what happens, Senator Omas," he said. "So long as you can keep the New Republic alive.""That's what I hope as well, Master Skywalker," the politician agreed. "If we survive."The hologram faded and Wedge looked at Luke, Leia and Corran. "See you there," he replied, his own image ending as he moved to get the Mon Mothma under way.Corran turned to follow Mirax to the lifts, no doubt to see their son and daughter with the other Jedi below. Leia and Luke stepped forward to watch the image before them.Bel Iblis' forces moved away from Centax-3 first, leaving the gravity influence of Coruscant before jumping to hyperspace. Their destination uncertain, though knowing the aged general it could be anywhere between here and Corellia. Whether or not Garm would willingly stage a military coup against Thracken Sal-Solo or not was certainly within the realm of possibility. The loss of the Corellian system was the last thing the New Republic needed.Kre'fey's remaining task forces also maneuvered away from the capital and entered hyperspace as well. Wherever the Bothan admiral was going was also unknown, though his homeworld of Bothawui was unlikely as the region was too far away to get there safely. Caamas, New Alderaan or even Chandrila were possible destinations, assuming the Vong hadn't moved on the Bormea sector after their surprise strikes on Ralltiir and Rhinnal put the bordering Darpa sector at risk of falling, with the Arrowhead region at risk of being lost also.As the Errant Venture turned its stern to follow the remains of Wedge's fleet to their hyperspace entry point, Han stood with his wife and brother-in-law."The end of the world," he chuckled darkly. "Who'd have thought?""It's not the end, Han," Leia replied. "Not yet," she then paused and turned to Luke. "You can still feel Anakin and Jaina like I can, right?"Her brother nodded. "Jaina is bright while Anakin is dim but growing," he then sighed. "But Jacen is in darkness, and I can't sense him properly," his blue eyes passed to brown and hazel. "Almost as if he is cutting away his bonds or..." he trailed off.Leia closed her eyes and looking into the Force. "Or they never were really there," she said. "Something isn't right because Jacen was with us barely two weeks ago and yet...""It feels like longer," her brother replied. He then looked at Han, whose face was seemingly blank. "I'm not sure what it means, Han, but -""It's Jedi stuff, kid," the old Corellian ex-smuggler said. "Vagueness is kind of one of your things.""I'll sent a message in the Force to all the Jedi across the galaxy to meet at the rendezvous point," Luke said. "Hopefully, the strike team will be able to feel it as well.""And then?" Han asked. "What's next for us?""We save the galaxy, Han," Leia answered, turning to look at where Khabarakh had returned to stand in the shadows, remembering how she worked to save the Noghri people all those years ago. "Just like we do every day. Whether the Vong want it or not."