The Nebulon-B Frigate The Silence dropped out of hyperspace two hours later. This put us in the middle of a dead space. It was here that we would undergo our eight hours of operational isolationism before continuing on the original course I gave. In this dead space two X-Wings and two B-Wings would fly patrols. This added to the appearance that this was just a routine patrol. Every pilot but JC and I were given relatively short patrols. JC and I were assigned to cover the last 2 hours of patrol. This was an unusual wing pairing, but then again, change and something different were always welcomed.“Defender Nine out of the barn. Bane is on the prowl,” came over my headset.
“Defender Six clearing magnetic shield. The baddest monkey of them all is out here looking to spank some one,” I radioed. The other Defenders had flown one hour and twelve minute patrols. We overlapped about five minutes in exchanging patrols. Strike Squadron flew one hour and twenty minute patrols, so they wouldn’t be trading for another forty minutes.
“Rodger that. This is Adm. Azzameen heading home. Two, follow me,” came the young fools voice. “Zoomy, follow me. Not abreast of me!!!” he screamed at one of the newer pilots that came in since my return. Squared started giving me feeds from both JC’s X-Wing and astromech and The Silence .
“Should be routine, Squared. Don’t worry. We’ve done hundred of these.” The computer screen that translated his binary whistles read, yeah, but Chief said you had a bad feeling about this one.
“About what I’m going to do. This part, I have no insight into.” He twirled his head and then another response came, “well of course. Forget the droid.” I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Squared, you’re my little buddy. I already don’t let them wipe your memory. This X-Wing is starting to mold it’s computer to you driving Trapps nuts. So, don’t give me any of that.”
He squawked some more, which translated to “Just to piss Trapps off.”
“Where’d you astromechs learn to swear like you do is beyond me. The only Basic you learn is how to swear and curse.”
“Let’s go buzz those B-Wings,” JC came in.
“Why would you want to do a thing like that?” I asked him.
“Because we can.”
“Thought you would’ve learned your lesson from the simulator when I destroyed both you and Fal in a B-Wing,” I said. That was an amusing simulator session. After the actual mission sims, Fal decided to let us reprogram them so that we could fly whatever the database had access to. Fal remained in an X-Wing. JC switched to an A-Wing. I chose a B-Wing. I linked all my cannons and just picked them off. It took them fifteen minutes and several kill regenerations into the area to figure out I had both of them outgunned and was way better protected.
“A fluke. You got lucky.”
“I destroyed you both. Do it S-Foils closed. That way, they won’t shoot at us.”
“If we must.” JC peeled off and headed back to the area the B-Wings were now covering in their circle. I pressed one rudder down and pulled gently back on my flight stick, creating a small looping action. Once I was on a heading towards the B-Wings, I eased off the flight stick put continued to press on the rudder. I then rolled to reorient myself.
“Nice flying” came across Squared’s translation box.
“Coming from you, doesn’t surprise me. You’re amazed at anything that flies straight. Quit your bitching. Figure it out, I only use the stick when I have to. Let the techs align the rest.” Then Squared started blarring a warning. The readouts from JC and the frigate started going off the scale too.
“JC, ship coming out of hyperspace!!!” I announced.
“Lock S-Foils in attack position,” he ordered. “Silence, request orders on how to proceed.”
“Inspect and identify. Attack only if fired upon. Strikes Nine and Ten, place yourself between The Silence and incoming ship. Strikes Eleven and Twelve are being scrambled if needed,” Capt. Farn’s voice came in on my head set now.
“Rodger that. Squared, feed all data all sources. Initial transponder shows friendly. Visually looks like a Corvette,” I said.
“I second that,” JC said. “ Let’s go buzz them to see who’s all home.”
“Yeah, no kidding. This operation might bet a lot messier. You want the honors or should I see who wants to play in our neighborhood?”
“I got it. Unidentified Corvette, please list your intention in this area. This area is restricted and under patrol and inspection by the New Republic,” JC said.
“This is Correllian Corvette Republic’s Heel. We’ve been ordered into the area by Alliance High Command. Request pemission to dock and show orders to Adm. Azzameen and Capt. Farn. Cmdr. Na’toth, reporting with ship as ordered.”
“That is Cmdr. Na’toth’s voice JC. Capt. Farn, you get that?”
“Yes, escort them and fly cover for docking. This has got to be important. Adm. Azzameen is on his way to the bridge. Will keep you guys advised. Strikes Nine and Ten remain on patrol till Republic’s Heel is docked,” the fat man replied.
“This is big,” Squared’s translator read.
“You’ve got it there little buddy. JC, what do you think is going on?”
“Something bigger than us,” was all he said.
It took the Corvette ten minutes to close the gap from where it came out of hyperspace to the place that the frigate was holding steady. The Republic’s Heel came along the topside of The Silence. They both extended their moorings and the corvette slowly lowered until they were met. Then the outer collars on each mooring began to spin. This would tighten the access way between each ship allowing them to repressurize and atmosphere to be pumped back in. Standard procedure on most ship docking required some sort of cover to be flown by starfighters. While the docked ships could defend themselves, one lucky shot to the connection could possibly kill many. The starfighter screen was more or less in place to take a hit then to provide any sort of offense.
“This patrol isn’t boring anymore, wouldn’t you say?”
“Ten minutes in and I’ve never had it so good on any patrol,” JC said, “Except when the Fleet was massing for Endor. An unknown gunboat type ship came in and started inspecting all of our MonCals.”
“Weird. What happened to it?”
“We drove it off away from where we were massing. Could be why they sprung the trap on us.”
“Doubt it. Most stories say the Emperor had a large fleet there right after the Bothans got that information. Speaking of, what do you think Cmdr. Na’Toth’s orders are?”
“Don’t know. But then again, at the earliest sign of trouble she either leaves the fight or asks permission to join when it’s about over. She gives Bothan’s a bad name as far as fighting goes.”
“Not worst than anything I’ve heard about them through the whole war. There are few that really go at it. The rest would rather play their prestige and political games. It’s a dangerous lot to have on our side.”
“No kidding. I bet she those orders came from very high up if she even bothered to show,” JC said.
“All birds get back to the barn,” Capt. Farn ordered. “Our timetable has just been pushed up.”
“This has gotten really messy, really messy,” JC seemed to whisper.
“Another Adm. Azzameen special,” I added. “Wonder what High Command saw fit to ensure would happen that he neglected this time.”
The Strikes closed up their S-foils and returned to their sideways mode of cruising before circling around the Corvette docked to the Frigate one more time and entering the landing bay one at a time. I slowed my speed to one third of throttle, and took up a high starboard position on the docked ships. JC did likewise taking a low port position. We kept our S-foils open still.“Squared, I have a bad feeling about this,” I told my R2 unit.
“You have a bad feeling??? What about me? It’s not like if you get killed, I won’t have a memory wipe and then get reassigned cleaning duty,” the computer translated him.
“I’m not going to get killed, and if I did, I have it in my will that Chief gets to decide your fate.”
“Wonderful,” the computer screen read. “I get to be smashed into bits.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Astromechs do pick up a personality. Squared has seemed to pick up the traits centered on pessimism, bickering, and fatalism. If Squared weren’t so good initially at piloting and repairs as the other astromechs of the squadron, I would’ve had his memory wiped long ago. It seemed to be an inherent part of his programming so I just let him be and let him develop as he has.
Once the Strikes had all entered the hangar, JC entered next. He slowly pulled up and turned to head into the landing bay. As he began, I lowered my craft and ran between The Silence’s foreward section and engines, traveling under her long spine where the Republic’s Heel was now beginning to separate. I rolled my X-Wing in anticipation of orienting my ship so that I would be able to land on the deck, not ceiling. I began to lower my thrust output and pull up and gradually level myself out.
“Silence to Defender Six. You have the ball. Set it down on the stage.”
“Copy flight control. Defender Six calls the ball. Squared, when we clear the magfiled cut in the repulsors on full.” I heard him whistle his affirmative.
“Flight Control Deck to Defender Six, turn to heading One Eight Zero and Set her down. Glad to have you home, sir.”
“Rodger that. Squared, start the landing cycle. Gear down, repulsor lift power to full. Gear is locked. Setting down.” No clang, no thud, just a light touch down. “Alright Squared, begin powering down and download the maintenance request to the Mechanics once you’re out of your socket. See me at my quarters when you’re no longer needed.” He blared something at me uncomplimentary. What it was I have no idea. But then again, Squared wasn’t exactly polite even when he wasn’t paranoid.
Two Republic Fleet Security Troopers in their bubble like hats came running out of the main hangar entrance. One ran to JC, the other was running directly at me. I took off my helmet and began to climb down the ladder that the ship techs had secured. There already where two up on a scaffold linking up various diagnostic equipment to both my X-Wing and my little green white friend. I opened the canopy and began to climb out.
“Lieutenant, Adm. Azzameen and Capt. Farn have ordered you to report to the briefing room immediately,” the Fleet Trooper said a bit agitated. This was big. Obviously it had to do with why The Republic’s Heel appeared and docked with us. I noticed the two Security Troopers escorting the Strike Pilots, who barely had their life support plug in tubes disconnected, towards the Hangar Bay briefing room. “We’ll be heading to the Hangar Bay Briefing room, sir.”
“I know the way, Corporal,” I said.
“My orders are from Adm. Azzameen, himself. I’m to escort you there and make sure you talk to no one,” he said.
“Very well then. Escort me to the briefing room.”
The man who came by the night before appeared on time. He had an arrogant smirk on his face. If I would’ve known now the trouble he would cause me, I would have killed him their on site. I had cleared my appointments for that morning. I stated that I something big had come up that required my immediate attention. Most people graciously accepted my apology and rescheduled with me for later that week. Trapps had rounded up several other Trandoshans, a couple of Gamoreans, and some short gray skinned species that stayed hidden out of sight for the most part.Initially I laughed at the little gray men, but when Trapps said these were the bodyguards that President Leia Organa Solo used, I nearly choked. There was obviously more here than met the eye. Every one of the Trandoshans came with their own blaster rifle strapped beneath one arm. The Gammoreans came with vibro-axes. The Noghri, as I learned they were called, came with knives, blasters, and a nature that was well, predatory, the more I observed them.
I had asked for the table to be removed from the room. Just two chairs sat in the room now approximately two meters apart. When the protocol droid who the hotel assigned to the conference room announced him, I withdrew my blaster, and rested it on my lap, finger on the trigger. The smirk went a way. Trapps was directly behind me. The Gamoreans were off to my immediate flanks. The Trandoshans that Trapps rounded up encircled the room. The Noghri moved from where they were hiding in the room to restrain, search and sit the man down in very casual manner.
“He is unarmed, sir,” The darker of the gray skinned aliens said.
“Thank you. As you can see, I don’t take well to being threatened. Now, whom are you working for? Karrde? Booster? Mazic? The Hutts? I want to know now.” The room turned to ice.
He started laughing at me. “You think I’m one of those bottom feeding lap dogs the Rebellion has tricked into serving them?” The word Rebellion set bells off in my head. “You and these bottom feeding alien scum. We don’t want you on his Majesty’s Planet any longer. Get rid of them. Don’t show up here or suffer your friends fate.”
“Tell your Omega Dog masters that they want to threaten me, do it openly. And learn the facts, I was there. The fact I’m the one of the few who got away is a problem for their pride. The war is over. The Republic has won. It’s time for you to realize that. The fighting is over for me. I want no part of it anymore, and will ensure that I stay out of it.” How could I have missed it. Andy, Zaron, JC, and Taugrim were all that still missing according to the few friends that Trapps, Gabi and I had left in the military.
“Fine. Just don’t come back to what is rightfully ours ever again. I will make sure that you and your lap dogs don’t last,” he snarled. His arm moved, the Noghri were on him in a second. The lighter skinned one snapped his arm at the elbow, breaking it. The darker skinned one drew his knife and stabbed it deep into his thigh, dragging it down his leg. The black blood ran onto him. I was expecting the scream, but the darker ones other hand was clasped firmly around the front of the man’s neck.
“Dispose of his body at some lower level med facility,” Trapps said. The Gamoreans and the Noghri dragged his body out. “This is not good, not good at all, Vorenl.” A snort came out of his nostrils that I swore I could see the exhaust of air come out. For a moment, just a moment, life opened up itself to me. A small voice from somewhere spoke to me. I holstered my blaster and took out my comlink. I switched it on.
“Gabi, do you have the engine manifolds and control pod yet?” I got out. The clarity and the voice left me.
“Yeah, we’ll need one of the Tugs if they are operational yet to pick them up.”
“Good. We’ll pick up the last of the people and supplies then head up to get that. I’ll see about buying us a Lambda class shuttle to help with transport. There’s a foul stench on Coruscant now. I want to get off and get the Platform ready and rigged for hyperspace as soon as possible and get out of here.” I flipped it off, not even wanting to talk to her at the moment. For the second time in my life I had just realized that I’d lied to her. “Let’s get out of here Trapps and get to the ship.” My mind relaxed. She was alright. I vowed to myself to not let her out of my sight for the rest of my life.
“Agreed. Let’s go. I believe you I haven’t introduced you to Trasck and his small gang of Dosh operatives that the Alliance has hired out from time to time,” he said to me.
“No, but thank you. You are welcome to come with us. As are those Gamorreans and gray skinned little guys,” I said.
“Noghri,” Trasck said.
“I don’t care if they are called pink fluff-fluffs. That man and his employers will kill you and your family. Please come with us. I don’t want anymore to suffer at their hands. Time to check out of here for good,” I said as I stood up to walk away.
