The main hanger lay pretty silent. The odd technician and droid passed through every so often but the hanger lights were in "night mode." It was quite from the normal hustle and bustle that went on during alerts or other activities. The last fighter patrol from Bantha Squadron had already departed for the night and they were not due back till morning.

One area of the hanger did show a bit of activity. In a far corner reserved for support craft, sat a row of six Lambda Class shuttles. One of them had the ramp open and a lone figure stood in the light from the cargo lamps. He slowly and methodically loaded boxes and containers onto the shuttles cargo lifter. A black metallic 3PO droid with a clamshell head toddled over to the man

"Oh! Colonel Celchu, I did not know it was you over here, I noticed the activity and decided to investigate. I thought..."

The droid began to explain in apologetic tomes but was cut short by the man's reply. Col. Tycho Celchu smiled at the nosey 3PO. Tycho stopped for a moment and wiped at a bead of sweat forming on his brow. Tycho wore only civilian attire; black utility pants, a deep blue tunic, a pocketed vest, and his boots. His DL-44 was holstered on his side.

"It's OK Emtry. I actually was going to look for you before I left. I have something I need for you to give to Wedge."

Emtry stiffened suddenly, the lights emitting from his clamshell head began blinking at a fevered pace.

"Going sir? I was not aware you were scheduled for a mission. I must go update the flight deck commander at once."

Emtry began to turn but Tycho gently laid a hand on him to forestall the droid's departure. Emtry turned back around to face the blonde haired Colonel.

"It's not a mission Emtry. I'm leaving the squadron." Tycho sighed and looked away. "I'm going home"

The black droid canted his head to one side in a questioning manner. " Home Sir? But Alderaan was destroyed during the..."

Tycho bit back a terse reply but cut the droid short before it could finish it's history lesson. "I don't mean Alderaan. It's just a form of speech. I didn't mean home in the truest sense Emtry. Look..." Tycho sighed and pulled a data disk from one of his vest pockets. "Give this to Wedge in the morning, it will explain every thing."

The military protocol droid toe the disk and turned it over examining it as if he could decipher it's contents just by peering at it. Emtry finally tucked the disk away and stood silent for a moment before he spoke again.

"I am afraid I do not understand sir. I was under the impression that you enjoy your job. You seem very well suited, for a human, in...."

Tycho cut him off again. "Emtry! I love it hear. Rogue Squadron has been my life for many years. I have become close friends with every pilot that has ever graced it's roster. I have been with it through the good and the bad. Every Rogue that has died has killed a part of me. I know Wedge feels the same." Tycho turned away and began loading boxes again as he continued. " This is just something I have to do, for my sake, for the sake of the Squadron, and for Wes. "

"But Major Janson is in treatment for Post Traumatic...."

"And I put him there!" Tycho snapped as Emtry jumped back with a start.

The last of the cargo disappeared into the cargo hold on the lifter and Ugh rolled up the ramp. Tycho took a last long look around. He began to ascend the ramp but turned back towards the now silent 3PO droid.

"Emtry, if Wes is to recover. I can't be here to interfere. I'm sorry." With that, Tycho entered the shuttle and the ramp closed. Soon after the repulsors fired and the shuttle lifted effortlessly of the deck. Emtry watched as it glided silently out of the hanger and the wings drooped down. A burst of the thrusters and the shuttle disappeared into the night sky of Coruscant and out into space.

Tycho sat at the controls and Ugh was beside him as they cleared Coruscant's gravity well. Tycho punched the nav coordinates and slide the Hyper Space lever forward. The stars elongated into streaks of light then the shuttle leapt into the blue and white tunnel of light that was Hyper Space.

He sat back and yawned. It had been a long and hard decision to make. Ugh turned his dome towards Tycho to regard his master, he let out a series of low mournful tones. Suddenly, a noise from the cargo hold had both droid and pilot alike running to the back of the shuttle.

Tycho turned on the overhead lamps, a figure pushed boxes aside and crawled over containers before standing to his full, if short, height.

"Sithspit! Gavin, what do you think you're doing here?!"

The shorter brown haired pilot managed a sheepish grin as he dusted off his slacks and jacket. " Well, I was on the way back from going out and I thought I'd drop by the hanger to see if Major Naresee's Patrol had left yet. I needed to talk to him." Gavin paused and looked down. Then continued in an apologetic tone. " I overheard your conversation with Emtry. I couldn't let you go off like this. Not at least till I had a chance to talk you out of it. So, I hitched a ride while you and Emtry were talking." Gavin looked up again, a half grin on his face.

Tycho looked over the younger man with a stern look. Then he threw his hands up in the air with an exasperated sigh. "Great! You didn't pack a thing. I suppose I have to buy you a change of clothes and a hygiene kit on our first stop!" Tycho half grinned and walked off back to the cockpit. Ugh followed only to turn and beep a few notes at Gavin before disappearing into the cockpit himself. Gavin smiled then looked around. He began to walk to the cockpit as the thought hit him.

I hope I know what I'm getting myself into.

*******END*******