“We’re through,” she said to me.

“Yeah, Chief.  But that was just a customs checkpoint.  There was only one interdictor cruiser and a couple of token Carracks.  If they wanted us they would’ve sent more.”

"Yeah, but we finally have enough to buy something I wanted us to have for a while.”

She had my curiosity piqued.  Well she’s had that for about he last 2 years when I graduated from since I graduated from honors from the University at Obroa-Skai.  I was a member of the Imperial Reserves.  Trained as a gunboat pilot, but my something about Imperial Doctrine and my personal life never quite clicked.  Guess that’s why I defected soon after Endor.  That’s probably why I was on active duty so quickly after graduation.  I just hypered my Cygnus SG-1 Assault Gun Boat into a known Rebel held world, surrendered it.

  

They treated me well.  I was given food.  Allowed to read as up to current as they had journals.  I was allowed to record and transmit a holo to my family.  Basically, I was a good POW.  Did what I was told, answered what I could, said I didn’t know when I truly didn’t know, and ventured guesses where I could.

Being that this was just after Endor, the Rebels themselves were drafting a declaration of the New Republic.  Upon my interrogation I was debriefed and released.  They asked me where I wanted to go.  I said I would stay.  My background in patent law might be of help.  I was assigned a researcher to the writing committee.  I had never been a Mon Calamari or Ishi Tibb or Wookie till I walked into the Mon Calamari Cruiser Home One library.

“Hello.  I’m Paul,” I said in Basic.  They introduced themselves.  A golden protocol droid acted as translator.  For a droid, he seemed a bit unusual.  He almost had a dignity to himself.  His designation was C-3PO.  I found out that most of these aliens I was working with had been lawyers or legal scholars from their home worlds before the Empire declared them slaves or unintelligent.  We worked within what we knew as far as confederations, republics, federal systems and drafted some articles and clauses for the new constitution that the Rebel leadership was going to sign.  Threepio was very helpful in being able to sort out all of our work and figure out if what we were working on should be a civil right guaranteed or if we should write out a brief as far as interpretation of an implied right due to such and such clause some place else.
After about two months of work those of us writing had completed the document and papers.  I was asked if I would like to become an officer in the new court system they were setting up.  I declined politely saying helped writing the law, now I would like the chance to make sure the law comes to all who want it to come.  I was referred to the military recruiter the now Alliance had set up in a Rim world called Abagredo-Rae.  After I told him about my former reserve training on Obroa-Skai I was placed in a shuttle and headed off for some world for training on the Alliances star fighters.

As a reservist I had simmed for hours against Y-Wings and X-wings mostly.  The assault gunboat dogfights well against the Y-wing but that’s all really.  It was totally overwhelmed by any X-wing with a competent pilot or 2 or more incompetent X-wing pilots (which the Alliance didn’t seem to have).  I did apply for X-wing training.  Most people wanting to be pilots did as well.  Experience was preferred.  Tests were taken.  What surprised me was that these tests didn’t comprise of just fighter tactics, but actually ethical questions one faces in star fighter combat.  Radioing before firing on unarmed ships.  Only targeting engines.  Taking only what you need, not the whole cargo.  Radioing for pick up if you disable the ship.  This was so different from Imperial training.  There was interviewing in all the pilots for the formation of an Elite squadron.  Rogue Squadron.  I applied.  It couldn’t hurt to.  I did get to interview with Wedge Antilles.  He’s so non-descript.  It’s hard to believe he’s probably the second best starfighter pilot in the galaxy.  He did send me a letter saying my scores while good enough to enter Rogue Squadron.  I was not going to train to be a Rogue.  They were looking for political appointments as well as people who could have other skills.  Law was a skill, but to appease anti-Imperial sentiments, a non-human legal representative would be used instead of me.  I was angered.  I helped write the rules by which these pilots where going to be appointed.

Needless to say, I got into X-wing training.  The Alliance military decided to have all new recruits such as myself undergo a secondary training if you wished to be an officer.  I took the path of least resistance.  I entered the Alliance’s Martial Law Training.  At the end of my six-month training I was not only an X-Wing qualified pilot, I had my Martial Law scores and exams sent to High Command at the behest of my instructors.  I was given a JAG commission as well as flight officer status.  I was given an immediate promotion to lieutenant junior grade upon posting.  I was posted to some far out Rim world Command, Guardian Wing, under the command of Admiral Ace Azzameen.  I was our JAG officer as well as fighter pilot.

I was just pulling my X-wing into its spot on hangar deck of The Sentinel, our Mon Cal cruiser.  That’s when a Trandoshan and human female came over to help me get out.  The R2 unit bleeped something at me that the counterpart translation software in the X-wing said “We came all this way for this?”

“Well, could be worse.  At least we’re on a capital ship.  Could be a planetary defense group.  They can either have palaces or holes for facilities.”

The green and white droid continued to beep, “I need an oil bath.”

“I’ll see what I can arrange for you, Squared.”

The human female headed up the ladder to uncouple the droid.  Once my cockpit opened, she handed me a data pad.  “I’m Master Chief Gabreilla Quandisto.  Chief Mechanic of Guardian Wing.  This is, Trapps Salirk my top mechanic. We’ll look out after your X-wing Flight Officer.”

“Master Chief, I’m Lt. Paul Pbarny, actually.  Your new JAG officer as well.”  Then I caught a glimpse of her under the cap.  Those eyes that I was drawn to for the first time.  So green.  So beautiful.  “You can just call me Paul, Master Chief,” I got out in a half stutter.

“I’m sorry, sir.  Didn’t think about it.  We’ve had so many new pilots lately.”

“It’s ok Master Chief.”

“Chief will suffice Paul,” she said with almost practical enjoyment.  “I hope you won’t bust me down for earlier.”

“Earlier, what.  Oh, don’t worry about it.  Forgotten already.”  Squared said something.  I’m sure it had to be with would you get the arm on me to put me down already.  He snapped me out of it.  “Where’s the admiral or Captain Fal Azzameen?  I need to report in.”

“Bridge probably.  I’ll escort you up there if you want.”

“That’d be great, “ I smiled.  “Nice to meet you Trapps.  Take good care of my ship.”

“I take care of everyone’s ship,” Trapps growled at me.  “Yours is no different, sir.”

Chief led me down the port side access tunnel to the turbo lift that would take us to the main bridge.  While I was hurting from my flight and wanted to walk around a bit, walking over 900 meters to start probably wasn’t going to do me much good after spending the last day cramped up in my X-wing in hyperspace.  Besides, the only conversation I had was with Squared.  A conversation with any sentient being, much less one this beautiful, was going to be welcomed.

“Trapps thought you were telling him to pay particular attention to your X-wing because he’s not human,” she said when the doors to the turbo lift closed.

“I was wondering.  I was told to say that to every mechanic in training.  Mechanics after piloting skills are the second things that keep us alive.  Some say the first.”

“Well I’ll tell him what you said.”

“Actually tell him if him I’m sorry.  If he wants me too, I can spring for a for the containers Trandoshans put their moltings in for ceremonies.”

“It took me five years of working with Trapps to find out about that.  How’d you know about it?”

“My first assignment with the Alliance.  Worked on researching the New Republic’s constitution and several interputations.”

“Oh, so you’re not just a fly boy who was forced to be a JAG.  You really do know the law.”

“That’s me” I weekly shrugged.  At this point in time, I knew I was staring but I really couldn’t control it.  The Chief said nothing, so either she was used to it, or else she didn’t mind the attention.  I grabbed onto the handrail of the turbo lift.  It was all I could grab for fear that I’d grab the Chief and start something well, that’d look embarrassing for the new command staff member and senior mechanic to be in.

The lift ceased at the bridge’s rear.  “The Admiral’s ready room is there.  He and the XO should be in there.  Good luck, Lieutenant.  Hope you stay for awhile.”  I walked out the lift towards onto the bridges rear deck and towards the ready room.