To keep my cover more realistic, Chief was sent now once a month to be my contact person. I was torn by it. Fal was risking her and me, but in a way, he was helping us out too. My four day liberties from the ISD Vanguard’s Echo squadron were spent in some hotel room alternating from sexual bliss and agonizing talk about the Empire’s Hammer, Omega, and developments in Republic. Some people in their pillow talk just ask if they were good, we talk about the galaxy evolving around us. Chief confirmed in her third visit that Jerrec, Boc, Sarrsis, and others who gave me the willies were killed by a top Republic operative. That’s all she said she got out of Fal and Fal had said that that was as much as he could get out of the NRI. I had a lesson in abbreviations and acronyms with every visit as the Republic beuarcracy grew and grew.
“Thrawn’s got his squadron to full capacity. It’s all his people. He even has a pilot lined up to ferry his support staff on either a Stormtrooper transport or an Assault transport,” I told her on that visit.
“Does it have to be now?”
“Yeah, don’t know for how long you can keep fifty people or so safe on plan of theft and defection. Not exactly something safe to keep on hostile ship.”
“You’re right. Solo’s task force is closet. We almost have Zsinj. The Iron Fist is damaged and he’s hiding up in some hole. Tell them not to be alarmed by any Hapan ships either. We’ve opened up talks with them. As a gesture, they’re offering to help us with Zsinj.”
“Hapans. Nasty bunch. Good thing they’re on our side though. If half the things about them are true, then that gives the Republic with allied or controlled territory about 60% of the Empire.”
“Yep. You just tell Thrawn to keep his cool and to keep you safe. If his defection costs you his life, I’ll kill him,” she glared into me.
“Gabi, I’ll be careful. Trust me. I’m still alive for one and only reason. I am careful. That’s who I am and who I’ll continue to be,” I said as I stroked her head.
‘Coming up on Coruscant in 20 minutes’ flashed across the screen of The Monkey’s Tail’s auxiliary control station in the main crew station. It acted as living room, dining room, entertainment and exercise center while we lived on the ship for the past year or so.
“I’m heading to the bridge. Chief, you heading up there?” I asked.
“Yeah, I’ve got the access code that my contact gave me. Mirax Horn hasn’t let us down yet. Let’s just hope she’s got the moving rigging installed by now.”
“I hope. Convenient if her husband or any of his buddies would happen to arrest us.”
“Will you calm down? For some big risk taker, you aren’t going to stop now. This is going to work.” Neither of us heard Trapps or Garrik climb up to the front and strap in.
“I’m with Voren on this, Chief,” he hissed. “We’ve ran food or repulosr coils. We don’t know what you’ve got lined up for us. This is dangerous. Very dangerous.”
“Wonder what a mess this place is after the Imps scorched it after Thrawn died,” Garrik added.
“That’s what worries me. Places that were just war zones have tight security,” I said under my breath. “Reversion to real space in 15 seconds.” I watched the clock click down to zero and the automated system on the Correllian Freighter brought us out of hyperspace. Building of Golan Platforms were proceeding. Salvage teams were moving smashed out hulks of anything larger than a Correllian Corvette to high orbit to prevent it from smashing into the Coruscant shields which may or may not be up.
“Light Stock Freighter Obroa-Skai Union, please transmit your cargo and passenger manifest along with landing permit codes ,” cracked over the comm system.
“Roger, Control. Transmissions commencing,” I commed. I muted the talk switch as the data went over. “Chief if they don’t buy this, we’ll have to get out of here in a hurry.”
“It’s all legit. We can trust Mirax,” she said.
“Garrik, Squared, plot us a jump just in case.”
“Got, it Monkey,” Garrik said while swiveling to operate the Navacomputer. Squared hooted and released from his clamp/recharging station just outside of the cockpit. His third leg extended and he wheeled himself back to the auxiliary control to plug himself in.
“Trapps, what’s weapon status?”
“Will you relax already.”
“Stand-by mode. You can easily engage defensive firing patterns. I can head to a quad turret if you want,” he groaned at me.
“Can’t fight them here. We’ll just run for it.”
“Obroa-Skai Union, you and all passengers are cleared for the following flight path. Follow the Y-wing escorts to your landing station. If you deviate from flight path it will be seen as hostile and action will be taken. Is that understood?” control squawked in on the comm system.
“Affirmative control. We’ll wait till the escorts radio us, Union out,” I said, muting the comm. Once again. “Trapps, keep an eye on the Y-Wings. They target us with more than ID and Scanning sensors, return their fire.”
“Got it.”
“Don’t even need to tell me. Entering for near planetary jumps right now. Squared has a course computed,” Garrik assured me.
“Will you guys relax over it, already. This isn’t the Empire. They would’ve blasted us at transmission if we were going to be shot at all,” Chief said. “Mirax came through for us, just like always.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it that we’re safe and at least three jumps out of here,” I said.
“Y-wings on approach,” Trapps said.
“Freighter Obroa-Skai Union. This is Y-Wing Dodger 3. Follow us at a distance of .25 klicks. We’ll take you through your landing vectors to your landing pad.”
“Roger that, Dodger 3,” I responded. “Will follow as close to that distance as possible, Union out,” I responded. I looked back over my shoulder at Chief.
“It’s going to be ok,” I heard her say, “I hope,” was suppose to be an inaudible whisper to me. Dodger 3 did a rather impressive, for a Y-Wing, twisting corkscrew turn around us to take the point into the debris field. At .20 klicks I set our throttle to match the Y-Wings speed. His Wing Mate Dodger 4, I presumed, held back high and at 12 O’clock position relative to us. We made a nice little triangle formation. Obviously the Dodger 3 was trying to over emphasize how dangerous the debris field was. He was twisting, rolling with way too much frequency for an escorting Y-Wing.
“Shield lowering for our five second window in ten seconds, Union. Close following distance to .15 clicks maximum.”
“Rodger that, Dodger 3. Union out,” I replied. Holding my breath. The escorted us past the busy city megalopolis that was beginning to be rebuilt in the northern hemisphere. On the planetary equator was the famed Imperial Palace and old Senate Buildings. We were led to the southern hemisphere and a non-descript civilian freighter port.
“Switching you over to Freighter Port 4 Control. Dodger 3 out.”
“Thanks Dodger 3. Freighter Port 4 Control, this is Correllian Transport YT-2000 Obroa-Skai Union requesting clearance and landing instructions,” I radioed as I switch from sublight to repulsor lift drive engines. The whine became louder as the repulsors when to full power and we hovered in place.
“Affirmative Union. Turn thirty-four degrees to port and follow the beacon to landing pit sixty-seven. Have documentation ready for planetary inspection and ID cards ready for immigration on length of your stay.”
“Got it control. Port thirty-four degrees then follow to landing pit sixty-seven,” I said rather annoyed. I hit mute as Chief laid in our course from the co-pilots seat. A short trip via repulsors led us to Pit 67. We would be docked next to a Buado Class Yacht. I rotated the Monkey’s Tail forty-five degrees further to port and eased her down. The landing cycle was incredibly smooth. “Garrik, secure the ship. I’m going with the Chief.”
Trapps keyed the ramp to lower. He double checked the power back on the blaster carbine he was carrying. I grabbed a Blastech DL-44 pistol and attached the holster to my belt. I looked down to see it still clipped there. The light sabre blade I had taken off the corpse of the Dark warrior apprentice that was left behind in Jerrec’s wake at the Emperor’s Hammer all those years ago.
I approached a now Captain Thrawn two days after I had returned to shore leave in his quarters. We talked out loud about how my attitude had improved since my new squadron commander began training me. We talked about recent patrols and investigating some pirate activity on the edge of our space and about the sudden disappearance of Jerec and group.
On data pads however, we were communicating franticly. We were planning his defection for tomorrow. I was being asked to fly with him due to an illness in his eleventh flight member. He was fit to travel, but not fly. It was a Skipry Blastboat. It would easily accommodate him as a gunner. The trick would be getting past the Dark apprentices who would be out and about in the ground-based hangar where training exercises were held. It came down to we had to take the risk. The good thing was that there were no stromtroopers in the Emperor’s Hammer. Regular army and navy enlisted would be bad enough. The Dark Jedi apprentices were what worried him the most.
From Thrawn, I learned that Jerrec had set up part of the Emperor’s Hammer training regiment to identify Force sensitive candidates. Force users were identified and taught basic techniques. Everything was covered from brining an object towards you to simple manipulation of control switches. They even instructed some members on how to build light sabers. The more your commanding officers could trust you, the more the Dark Disciples would teach you. They made it clear that we would never be a match for a Jedi unless Jerrec or another Dark Jedi would come back and complete our training. I was introduced at the very basic levels. Pulling objects just our of my reach to eventually being able to pull something from about ten meters away to me provided it was small. I was told by all my Dark teachers to trust my instincts. I had a very keen danger sense that could save my life. Sometimes, after a days worth of training, I would have dreams that would show me glimpses of the upcoming days events. The night Thrawn and I planned the defection, I had a dream that we would make it, but it would hurt a lot.
Thrawn and I laid out a plan that would march our technicians out first on his orders that would send them to the advanced training facilities for emergency repair and rearmament drills on the moon of the gas giant in the outer planets of the system. Then, once they made their micro- jump to just beyond the Empire’s Hammer, Thrawn’s squadron and I were to get in our craft and jump out.
“Lt. Cmdr. Viper reporting as order to Scorpion Squadron,” I said as we fell in line for our Wing Commander to approve us for departure.
“Capt. Thrawn, you requested him? What is going on here?” the Wing Commander asked. Flanked by two black helmeted naval troopers, he started to lay into the Chiss captain.
“I needed a pilot. Echo squadron is on leave for another day, and Lt. Cmdr. Viper here volunteered to go off leave early if I were to pay for something that his girlfriend asked for who has been visiting. I believe you’ve arranged for the chaplain to be here, sir,” Thrawn said.
“Yes, I have Captain,” the wing commander said. One of higher ranking Dark Disciples came forward. “Cmdr. Viper, step forward. Let the girl in. The forms have been filled out. Please sign this document, Cmdr. Viper.” It was Gabi. My hand went for my sidearm. That dark bastard had ferreted her out. Thrawn had betrayed me. He cost Gabi her life. Well I would make sure Thrawn wouldn’t see her die at least. The dark apostle came forward.
“Lt. Cmdr. Viper, it is according to the custom of my lord Jerrec that you and Gabriella Quandisto are to be married. If you are to object now would be the time to do it,” the Dark Disciple state.
“No, Disciple. I am just surprised. That is all. Gabi and I have talked about being together but with my service to the Hammer, I didn’t think I could commit fully to both,” I managed to get out.
“Understandable. Capt. Thrawn and Major Gelek have given you a very outstanding recommendation. Under Jerrec’s standards only those with innate Force sensitivity and high marks for improvement are considered for marriage while in service. Your offspring will be educated to become full Jedi and make the Empire’s Hammer stronger and last for generations. I do understand if you do not wish to take her as a wife today.”
“No, sir. I wish to marry her. I just want to ask her why now? Why before this training mission?”
“Viper, I want it now. There never will be another chance. We can tell our friends and families later when things settle and the dust clears. But if we don’t do it now, we won’t have a chance till the future,” I saw it in her eyes. I knew this was right. One thing that I learned about the Force that I’m sure wasn’t twisted by dark teachings was that it sometimes guides you to make actions that you wouldn’t normally make. This was one such time.
“Gabi, I love you. I’m surprised. Let’s do this. Disciple, please, start the ceremony.”
“Lt. Cmdr. Pbarny Viper, do you as an loyal servant of the Empire’s Hammer, sole heir to the galaxy, take to uphold this woman as your wife. Will you serve her faithfully as the Hammer, protect her, honor her till you die?” The Disciple asked me. I thought about it. What Thrawn, Gabi and I were about to do, could possibly get others and us killed today. The thing was that Gabi would die as my wife. The only sign of progress in the Alliance/Imperial struggle was that no matter where you were married, both sides recognized the marriages of people. She and I would die that day as husband and wife.
“I do.”
"Gabriella Quandisto, do you take this loyal office of the Empire’s Hammer TIE Corps, sole heir to the galaxy, as your husband? Do you avow to live the life that acknowledges our inherent right to rule? Do you take him as he is, to you promise to honor, serve him as you do the Hammer, and keep him the rest of you life?” The Disciple asked her.
Without hesitation. “I do.”
“Then by power invested in me by our Lord Jerrec, I pronouce you as man and wife.” I looked at her, and saw Gabi’s eyes looking at my side arm. I nodded, reached for my side arm as I leaned into kiss her. Thrawn’s men reached for theirs as they saw me reaching for mine. I brought the blaster between us, squeezed the trigger three times making a triangle. I grazed the one of the naval troopers and shot through the Dark Disciple two times. Thrawn had shot the other naval trooper. His men had taken our all the remaining security of the Disciple. I leaned down and picked up the grey-black hilt.
“This is for nine months of hell you corrupted bastard.” Gabi picked up the carbines of the fleet troopers and handed one to me. I holstered my side arm and accepted flipping the carbine to live. “There are easy ways to marry me, Chief.”
“Stow it till we’re in hyperspace. Next wedding though, we right our own vows.”
“Thrawn, we have about five minutes to get out of here. Are your people away in the transport yet?”
“No. I got a comm. Message from them saying their pilot orders got changed. I diverted your passenger and his wing to get to the transport and fly it out. We’ll have to cover them as we escape. Shouldn’t be out of the ordinary, but when those pilots don’t radio in and mine do, we’re discovered,” my Chiss friend said gravely.
“Damn. Why is she here then?” I asked.
“I didn’t go back because, I wanted to do this and because I could use this as a delaying tactic. Fal anticipated. Defender Squad minus one flight member will be hypering in in thiry minutes. You think you can hold them till then?”
“Hope so. Most of the fleet is away on patrol. Agressor Task force though is only a light year away,” Thrawn said.
“Let’s get moving. To the ships people,” I barked.
“Hey, you there? Mirax and looks like a customs crew are here to meet us,” Chief asked me.
“Not really. Just remembering something, very similar. Touching my light sabre hilt triggered the memory. Must be one of those Force things.”
“Must be, but I doubt you boys will need anything. Mirax won’t sell us out at all. She’s in this for profit.”
