Star Wars: Return of the Sith

[Quiet_Cool]

Raine

We were out of range in seconds, leaving the battlefield behind us. I gripped tight to Marius as he sped off, remembering his tactics from training.
"Get us back to base," I instructed, shouting in his ear. "The others might be in trouble."
He slowed the vehicle, letting the other speed ahead a bit. Beegas noticed and slowed a moment later, then the others followed suit.
"Jump on with Beegas," Marius said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Daelon missing. Haven't seen him since the beginning of the battle. If he's back there, I might be able to find him."
I thought for a moment, debating telling him that if Daelon had been alive, we would probably have seen him by now, but I second guessed it. The young man had done well in his training, and was more than skilled, and it was also true that things can happen to separate him from us without injuring him. It seemed that two who'd gotten to know one another so well and Daelon and Marius would know better, if only through the force and not at all intuition, if one were injured or okay.
I waved Beegas over and climbed on the back of his speeder.
"Make no more than two trips around, then head back to base," I ordered.
He nodded, then started back in the direction he'd come.
"Alright, Beegas," I instructed. "Get us to the base. Kelson could be ordering the retreat by now."

 

[Orlanth]

D'rack Fran'tok

And it was a stand off. % Star Destroyers, 3 agaisnt 2...

"General Anderson, you are out numbered... I respectfuly ask you lower your sheilds, and power down your weapons. Leave, or be destroyed." D'rack noticed no sign of the 2 Star Destroyers moving... "Commander, order our fleet to attack..." "We'll show them we mean buisness."

"But m'lord; that'll be an act of war... We can't determine they'll attack us.."

"Don't be a fool, they sheilds are up, and they weapons are up!... Give the fleet it's orders now, before I kill you... We have to reach Mached V before it is to late..." D'rack yelled at the commander... "I can't give in to anger."

D'rack watched as the fleet attacked, Tie Fighters every where.

"Commander, the General is retreating... Order the fleet to b reak off their attack, and repair... Protect the shippng bay..." D'rack smilled to himself as Anderson jumped to hyperspace... "I'll deal with him later." "Set a course for Mached V."

D'rack's ship, thde Star Destroyer Renegade jumped to hyperspace , heading for Mached V...

 

[Dark Warrior]

Daelon

Daelon paused for a moment, swinging onto a branch and flattening himself against the trunk, hearing his pursuers firing up at him, feeling the wood hum as a bolt of energy struck the other side of the tree. He closed his eyes, breathed deeply instead of the quick, raspy breaths of exhaustion.
And then, there was more laser fire coming from the other direction, and Daelon looked down to see a lone speeder coming towards them at an amazing pace, the twin guns on the front firing, and, when Daelon looked to the side, he noticed they were taking down his foes.
Finally, an ally! I thought they had left me to die... he thought, quickly edging out along the branch, trying to judge the timing of the speeder, leaping down and landing softly in front of it. He had no time to signal or even see who the rider of the speeder bike was, quickly turning to block laser shots. He heard the speeder coming up behind him, its laser cannons firing, its projectiles just missing the padawan, flying past and into a group of droids. Daelon heard the speeder coming very close now, and he closed his eyes temporarily to concentrate, before he vaulted onto the speeder in one motion. He found himself sitting behind a familiar figure.
Daelon was surprised he hadn't felt Marius' presence, but quickly summed it down to his lack of concentration.
"Am I glad to see you, Marius. Now let's get out of here." he shouted, turning off his lightsaber, slipping it into his belt, and grasping a firm hold on either side of the bike. He was seated precariously on the back of the bike, which was designed for one person only.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Marius

With Daelon securely on the speeder behind me, I gripped the handle bars tightly and said, "Get a good grip, we're gettin' the hell out of here!"
With that, I jerked the speeder into a turn that threw the troopers and droids attention fof some, letting us get headed in the other direction in seconds without much resistance fire. Some fancy maneuvering and a little luck and we were out of firing range again in no time.
"We should catch up with the others if I really kick it in. Kelson'll be glad to see you," I said, then pounded the speeder forward at full speed, the green color of the scenery whipping past us.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Tholin Mod, Sith Warrior

After putting some good distance between myself and the approaching force, I finally slow down and stop. I place kerra down gently, then collapse next to her , breathing heavily. I have not ran like that in years. I needed to get her to a safe place, but I could not do that alone.
Calming my mind I reached out to the only Jedi I had been close enough to try and contact.
Master Raine, I need you to come and pick up my granddaughter. She has been hurt, and needs medical attention that I cannot give her. Please come.

I stood and looked back the way I had come. I could barely make out the sounds of blaster fire in the distance. These troops had interrupted something I had been striving to build for years. These fools had hurt my blood, and more important the blood of my beloved. These fools would feel the wrath of a true Lord of the Sith. It was time I cast away the name I was born with. I now would walk with a new name, and the title that I had earned through pain and blood. No longer would I be Tholin, now Darth Azrael would be my name. Now it was time for the hunters to become the hunted. I reloaded my lanvarak and started back the way I had come, a walking force of death and destruction coming for the approaching troops, making no attempt to hide my Force presence from any who could feel me.

 

[Orlanth]

Darth Kane

The Imperal class Star Destroyer Corrino was a impresive sight, moving through hyperspace.... Heading for Kamino, the water planet, the hom e of the Clonerrs, the Kaminoans...

"Sir, we will be at Kamino in moments, shall I bring the Corrino out of hyperspace?"

"Yes, I am going to my Shuttle, alone. I most show the Kaminoans that I trust them." Kane said as he turned and walked off the bridge, and into the turbo-lift.

***

The Sky was dark, a storm, an ancient storm was raining down on the planet. Kane's Shuttle decended from the clouds, and headed for Tipoca city, where Kane would meet with Prime Minister, Lama Su. The ancient Kaminoan. Genetic manipulation alows the Kaminoans to live longer then expected.

Kane was nervous of his meeting with Lama Su... Kane guided the Shuttle towards a landing bay, folding up the S-foils, getting ready to land.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Daelon

Daelon breathed in deeply, his first good chance to recover from the effort of real battle.
Real battle. So this was what it was like. Finally he was here... but it was not as he had imagined it. It was not the glorious thing he had expected. Seeing the people he knew dead or dying was beginning to take a toll on the young man.
"Can't you push this bucket of bolts a bit faster, Marius? I want to see the others... I want to see them safe." he said, glancing backwards for potential threats. The few that were there were quickly outpaced by the speeder, and the few shots fired whizzed harmlessly around them.

 

[Kelson]

OOC) I know I posted this before...wonder why it didn't show up. Anyhow, I have to leave at about 4am tomorrow to goto Hawk Mountain, PA for ranger school. I'll be back in under two weeks, so try to avoid killing Kelson or involving him heavily with anything. Maybe he has gone to meditate or speak with other Rebellion leaders.

IC) Kelson sighed as the second, and final, defensive cannon exploded in a shattering of steel and a concussion wave that managed to knock several flying droids to the ground. Now the battle was lost...without those cannons, the base had nothing to hold back the tanks- and even Jedi tire eventually.

Turning to look back to his men, Kelson frowned now, half were injured and perhaps a third of those may not make it. Although they could possibly survive the droid attacks for several more hours, not far out were more tanks that had destroyed the defensive cannons.

Now was the best time, if one existed, to make a real retreat. Continuing to deflect the hailf of blaster fire back, the Jedi Master yelled back to the men that it was time their officers began retreat plan delta.

 

[Paendragon]

"This is the Solo. We've entered a low orbit, and are ready to receive the evac," Dar spoke, his voice being transmitted to the base. Pass on to Colonel Riekkan and Jedi Kelson that Admiral Seerk is dead, and I am assuming command of the naval vessels. Order all support craft on the plannet airborne as soon as possible. I want four fighters per shuttle as an escort."

"Yes sir," came the reply. After a few moments, Colonel Riekan's gruff voice came over the com signal. "Commander, we are beginning our evacuation. The enemy troops are converging on the landing platforms, and our defensive weaponry is down. We'll need cover just to get airborne."

"Understood, Colonel. I'll divert Rogue squadron planetside to clear a path to the landing pad. We'll try to keep the Star Destroyers busy to allow you time to escape."

"We'll be ready Commander."

Dar switched frequencies to Rogue Squadron. "Rogue leader?"

"We heard Commander. We're on our way."

Dar smiled, briefly, before opening up a channel to the entire support fleet, and all remaining craft.

"This is Commander Dar Thandor. I'm assuming command of the fleet temporarily. Our job is to harry the Star Destroyers enough that they pull back their ships to hunt us down, and defend themselves. I want strafing attacks, but no prolonged engagment. Pinpoint areas of vulnerabilty, hit them, and get the hell out of the way while you can. We're not here to win, only to buy time."

His sat back in his chair, and crossed his feet.

"Proceed with the attack. Pattern Thandor 4."

In the viewport, the fleet seemed to break away randomly, and swerve toward the enemy. But it wasn't random. He called it controlled chaos, and it was one of his bolder attack strategems, to be used when outnumbered and outgunned. He knew the enemy would catch on to the pattern eventually, but they didn't have to win this battle. Just escape.

 

[Paendragon]

Charis smiled when the Ithorian appeared on the view screen.

"We will not submit to the Empire, Lady Charis."

Charis held up her hands, palms facing the viewscreen. "The Empire is long gone, Coucilor. My Lord wishes only peaceful coexistance. As you can see, our shileds are lowered, and our weapons are powered down. Not exactly the way to conquer a planet."

The Ithorian shook his long head. "We heard what you told the pirates, and we, of all people, understand the price of Imperial protection. We won't submit to it."

Charis frowned sadly. "I'm sorry, Councilor, you misunderstand. What we told the pirates was for strategic purposes, only. My Lord does not truly have the military power to offer any such protection." Then she smiled. "The pirates, however, don't know that. And if they believe it to be true, they won't bother you. Not for some time, at least. My Lord only hoped tp open dialog with you. An equal alliance of protection. If you are attacked, we will come to your aid, and if we are attacked, you would do the same."

The Ithorian still had a disbelieving look upon his face. "And how much time do we have before we must decide?"

"There is no time limit. The frequency we are transmitting is a coded frequency for this ship. We'll be leaving your space immediately, Councilor. Contact us, or not, at your choice. But believe me, this alliance would benefit us all." She smiled. "Good day to you, Councilor."

The Ithorian cocked his head to the side, not sure what to make of the offer. "Good day to you, Lady Du'Thar."

The signal winked out.

Charis' smile disappeared just as quickly.

"Get is out of here, Captain."

"As you wish, My Lady."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Raine

Master Raine, I need you to come and pick up my granddaughter. She has been hurt, and needs medical attention that I cannot give her. Please come.
I eased up on the speeder's pedals.
What the...?
The thoughts had a familiar feeling to it, and I wondered if my first guess was right. Was this odd Tholin Mod character, this SITH, trying to ask my help?
I slowed more, letting the others break away and head forward without me. As I did, Marius and Daelon came flying up behind me, catching up to me fairly quick. Again, Beegas had noticed the missing in his crew and had stopped to await us just ahead, wanting to know what was wrong.
"Everything alright, Raine?" Beegas asked, once we were all together again. We'd stopped completely by then.
"No," I replied. "I have to go back, at least I think so."
"Why?" Marius asked.
"I think someone needs help."
"Okay," Beegas said, not bothering to argue. He'd known Kelson and I for some time now, and knew all too well that arguing with us would get him nowhere. "I'll come with you."
He turned to his men, pointing to two of them. "You two, come with me, the rest of you, do whatever Daelon and Marius tell you. You're under their command until you're told otherwise."
THe men nodded.
"I hope you know what you're doing," he mutttered to me. "We're heading back into the face of the enemy here."
I nodded, then turned the speeder and started back toward where my intuition told me the thought had emanated from. The others started toward the base again.
A few moments later, the troops and droid swere coming into view again, far too quickly given the short time that had elapsed since we'd seen them last.
"WHere are we headed?" Beegas asked.
I thought for a moment, then gave up on that. It was the wrong method in this case. I was taking too much control. I ceased thought altogether, letting my mind drift with nothing to hold it down or occupy it.
"There," I answere, pointing with one hand and speeding toward it. Beegas and his men began firing at the advancing troopers as I moved in quickly on my target, stopping next to where the girl lay on the ground. The troops were becoming too close to waste much time, but I couldn't just toss her onto the speeder and take off, not without surveying her condition first.
I touched her face lightly, whispering, "Are you okay child?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Mogo (In Cloud City)

We touched down and readied the package for transport, leaving on board for the moment and esited the ship to await security. Hovering near the Owl's entrance ramp, I can see the doors open and three men exit in front of a familiar figure dressed in body armor. Next to the figure walked a gold droid, humaniform, walking with fairly stiff movements out to greet us.
As I waited, I began to get nervous. It seemed that security should have consisted of a few more men than it did. And the men seemed a bit edgy. Were they planning something?
I wondered if it would have been smart to bring a blaster with me. Too late now. I'd have to cross my wings for luck.
As the four humans and the droid stopped before Orin and I, the guards parted and allowed the girl who'd hired me to bring the item here step out to greet us. Before she could speak the droid interrupted.
"Hello, my name is C-3PO, human cyborg relations. I am here to greet you to Cloud City on behalf of--"
"The package is here," I announced, cutting the tin scraps off in mid-sentence.
"Oh, well, how rude!" The droid snapped.I ignored it.
"I thank you for your prompt delivery," the girl returned, her voice sounding electronic through the transmitter in her helmet. "However, we have been waiting patiently for some time now."
"Yeah," I answered. "My apologies, but things happen, more often than they should. There are Imperial troops across the Universe still, and they don't mean so well as they could."
"Yes, well," she replied. "I am certain it could not be avoided. Again, thank you for the delivery. Is the item close at hand?"
"Ready for unloading," I returned.
"Good," she replied, waving for the men to board the ship. "I'll ask that you accompany me while--"
"Wait," I cut in, raising my hands to stop the guards from boarding. "I must insist that Orin, my security officer stay with these men, but I will accompany you wherever you need me to be."
I glanced to Orin, who looked back wide-eyed, not quite the fearless security officer I needed him to pretend to be.
"Very well," she said. "Follow me."
I followed her across the platform toward the door, the wind rushing past me as soon as I was outside the protection of the Owl. The guards and Orin hurried onto the craft as the two of us headed inside, leaving the droid standing alone, looking between the two groups.
"My goodness, you're all planning to leave me here? Why, that's not necessary. The least you could do is wait up a few moments."
It rushed to catch up to myself and the bounty hunter.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Daelon

Daelon watched as Raine left, before turning his attention to Marius.
"So, we're in charge..." he said, and Marius nodded to him. "I say we just head back to base. I think we need to find Kelson. If I'm right..." Daelon looked up at the sky above. "He'll be ordering a retreat. We've got no chance." his face contorted in concern, before he turned back to Marius. "What say you, Marius?"

 

[Arc da Rat]

Jono te Aricas

Somewhere near by ...

“Jono, I need you. Grandfather is alive. Help save him.” The eyes of a figure meditating under the trees snaps open. "I am coming. Wait for me." Never in a million years did Jono think that he would hear that voice again. *What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time cousin.*

He picks up a few items & puts them into a pack. Closing up the place he has called home for the last two decades. Jono jumps on his two-seater speeder bike, then using the force, heads in the general direction of where the Jedi are. He speeds thru the trees sensing the different force signatures. *Hmm ... the Jedi are scattered. Kerra force sign is weak she maybe hurt. The Sith is here too.*

Shifting his body & steering the bike, he makes his way to his cousin. As Jono gets closer to the waves of angry, hate & cold hard rage get stronger. He pushes the speeder to go much faster. He doesn’t know the why or how but Kerra has found him. Now she was the one in deep trouble & it was his turn to come to the rescue.

The sound of blaster fire hits his ears, as he gets closer to where Kerra is. A lone man, waves of the dark side emanate from him, is walking toward whatever is firing on him. Jono looks at the figure & a revelation hits him. *He looks familiar ... By the force, it can’t be Uncle Royan. Kerra said Grandfather was alive ... He must be him.*

He sees in the distance a troop of rebels stopping to pick something up from the ground. *It’s Kerra. A Jedi is there.* Jono angles the bike & takes off to where the troop is. Slowing the speeder to a stop, he jumps off just as the Jedi is checking her out. Approaching slowly, he touches his mind with Kerra’s. “Kerra wake up. I’m here.”

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Marius

I nodded to Daelon.
"Yes," I agreed. "That's our only option."
The two of us in agreeance, I gave the order, "Back to the base!" and kicked the speeder bike into motion again.
We were nearing the base within minutes, being forced to swerve toward the back of camp as the enemy troops came into view, having moved around in front to attack. We blasted at them as we moved around the edges, taking out several from behind before our prescence was detected. THe dents we left were mere scratches to their overall numbers.
Once around their defenses, we took heavy fire, but managed to squeeze past them to the others at the base.
We slowed to a stop in the hangar, closing the doors to the hangar behind us.
"Now what?" I asked Daelon, wanting to get into the battle, but not wanting to jump the gun. Strategy wasn't my strong point...

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Raine

I can feel the man as he approaches, but I pay no attention. He feels safe.
"SHe's been hurt, but I'm not sure how badly," I state, not even looking at him. "I think we should get her back to the base."

 

[Dark Warrior]

Daelon

Daelon's brow scrunched.
"Why are you asking me?" he asked, but he could not finish his sentence, the two of them suddenly distracted by a great explosion from the hangar door. The door held strong, however.
"We need to go find Kelson!" Daelon yelled over the sound of blaster fire, and, with just a nod from Marius, he tore past the other padawan and ran for the main complex, where storm troopers and droids were beginning to get the upper hand. He blocked away two blaster shots before cutting down the droid who had sent them, before he came to a crossroads. He stopped, glancing left and right, trying to feel Kelson's presence, trying desperately to recover his concentration from the chaos of battle.
Marius came up next to Daelon, turning to look at him. Daelon knew there was no time to waste.
"This way!" he called to Marius, dashing off down the left passageway.

 

[poohlive]

Dartum

It was on everyone's minds, and now, plans were being made for action, finally.
"Retreat!"
Small ships, some barely bigger than escape pods, began rising to the air. Huge tanks and troopers were shooting at them, but the effort did little. Most of the ships made it out, and the ones that didn't, exploded in the afternoon air. Blasts of heat, fire, and twisted metal rained down on the entire base.
Dartum ran to the nearest hangar, opening it up.
There, stood nearly a dozen X wings, in various stages of disarray. One even looked like it had been turned inside out.
Without bothering to think, he jumped into one that looked completed, and turned it on.
Quickly, the ship flew out into the war zone. At once fire came to him, but the X was just a little too fast to aim at. He did a couple of swoops around the impending troops, killing dozens with lazer fire, but not making much damage, then turned his attention further away. More would need his help, if only he knew where they were.
He circled the field, looking for any sign that would show him where he could aide his fellow Jedi.

 

[poohlive]

Ganor

Ganor's orders were clear.
"The target still stands," he said through the comm, "Destroy all fleeing ships, except those containing jedi. Talon leaders, follow me. I want a dead run to clean up these pests."
"Sir, yes sir," the Talon leader said. As one Tie Fighter quickly turned, so did several others, coming up right behind him.
In no time they were on an apparent random group. They were nearly everywhere, no sense of pattern at all. To his surprise it made for harder targets. He compensated for this quickly.
"Just target one, and don't get another until it's dead."
The tie fighters each began following one, as he moved to the two in the middle.
He saw them both bank off in different directions. Quickly he pulled his mind out to them. Wielding the force, using something similiar to the jedi mind trick, he let them think that banking was the wrong thing to do. They needed to stay straight.
Both ships turned, simultaneiously back on the straight path once more, right in front of him.
"Excellent," he moved in behind. The laser fire raped their hull, as both exploded, and his fighter flew harmlessly through the wreckage.
The rest of Talon company had much the same success.
"Again," he said, as he moved over to another random group. It would just take a bit longer, that's all.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Marius

I followed Daelon, knowing he would know the fastest route to Kelson. Once inside the passageway, I realized we would be at a disadvantage, not being able to maneuver well with our sabers should it become necessary to get fancy. No choice, I thought, running behind Daelon, at times almost unable to keep up.
We reached the back exit in just under a minute, having faced little opposition inside. Once outside, we were under heavy fire again, but we were not alone. Soldiers stood around, firing back at the enemy and staying under cover as blaster rounds peeled past them.
I turned so my back was a few inches from Daelon's as we moved, leaving no room for blaster fire without one of us knowing. We deflected the fire back at the enemy as we moved toward one of the soldiers.
"You," I shouted. "We need Kelson and Dartum!"
THe man pointed a short distance off and I glanced there, seeing Kelson moving at an intense rate, deflecting round after round back at the advancing droids.
"Dartum is in the air, in one of the X-wings, I believe," the man added.
"Daelon," I shouted, wanting to point him toward Kelson, whom I was certain he was worried sick about. Before I could finish, I saw what had blasted the hangar door so hard. A machine towered above the droids and storm troopers, standing on two legs, blasters firing all around, hitting mostly equipment bunkers and the base walls, though they hadn't breached the latter yet. I'd heard of them, been taught of them when we learned history. Raine had told me they were used by the empire on the Battle for the Moon of Endor. I'd never thought I would see one in person.
Standing there, I wished I hadn't.
"Daelon," I began, "We've got to get the troops out of here. They'll be crushed."

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Darth Azrael/ Tholin Mod

It didn't take me long to find the attacking forces, and after making my way past their lead element, I watched as their command element moved past. They had fewer AT-ST than I thought they would have had, and heavily relied on droids to fill in the gaps of their attacking forces. That is something my superiors would have had a fit over. Finally I saw what I was looking for, the command AT-ST. I moved through the trees until I was on a branch it would pass under. When it did, I dropped down, imediately knocking the trooper that was halfway out of the hatch uncouncious. I then dropped into the walker, facing the ground forces commander, and his bodyguard. The stormtroopers leveled their blasters at me, and I cut them down with a bolt of Force Lightning. That made the commander stop what he was doing & look at me in astonishment
" I was told there were only jedi here, not Sith."
" You were informed wrong. I wish to speak with the commander of this attack group. Here is my identification chit, verify who I am, and my authority, then recall all troops and bring me to your commander."
I handed him my ID chit, the one with my true name and rank, Tholin Mod Carradas, Captain of the Imperial Sovergn Protectors.
Then I stood back and waited, to see if further convincing would be necessary.

 

[Paendragon]

Tynan

Tynan looked around at the small wasteland he had created. Bodies piled on top of bodies, and it still wasn't enough. The Empire kept coming, throwing men and droids at him by the score. There was too many to stop.

He heard the calls for retreat, and turned toward the Talon his injured left arm held at his side. And came face to face with a pair of AT-ST. They trained their guns on him, and he summoned the Force. He could hear master Skywalker's voice rising in his head... Size matters not.

The AT-ST lurched in mid-step, as he yanked at them. He would never know if they would have fallen however. Just then, three X-wings came screaming low over the trees, and unleashed a barrage of turbolaser bolts and proton torpedos. The barrage tore into the AT-ST tearing legs from chassis, and sending the men inside flying to their death. The X-wings circled, and fired again, this time at the scout transports assaulting the evacuation site. Tynan knew the ship were not from the base, which could only mean one thing. Help had arrived.

He skirted the wreckage and used the Force to enter his access code and deactivate the shields, lowering the Talon's landing platform in the process. He ran up the ramp and into the cockpit, settleing himself in the pilots chair, and began keying the launch sequence.

The black-anodized ship launched into the air, and turned toward the landing platform the escape craft were on. Mist of the enemy troops were down already, thanks to the X-wings, so he decided he could do more good clearing the way for the escape.

He turned the ship skyward, and headed into space.

 

[Paendragon]

Colonel Gavin Darklighter

Gavin saw the black ship roar past and head into space. He flipped his comm frequency to the Solo.

"Solo, this is Rogue Leader. There is an unidentified ship heading into orbit. Black hull, designed for stealth."

"Copy, Rogue Leader. We'll take it from here. Continued providing cover for the evac."

"Copy, and out." He flicked frequencies back to the squadron. "OK, Rogues, let's clean up this mess. I want a corridor maintained toward orbit, and the surrounding area kept clear of the Empire. Myself, and Rogues 4, 7, and 10 will take lead. Wingman pair up and cover. 7 and 10 groups take the ground, 4 you're with me, skyward. Break."

The assigned ships broke crisply to their designated formations. Rogue squadron, formed by Luke Skywalker with the remnants of the fighters who had survived the Battle of Yavin 4 against the first Death Star, was legendary. Even though the pilots had changed several times after that. The elite still wanted to be counted among the Rogues, and they had to repeatedly turn them away.

They were the best squad in the rebellion, and this was their element.

"Rogue Leader this is 10. There are several fighter being launched as escort to the transports. Should we assist?"

"Negative 10. Stay near the ground. We'll have to trust the Solo to take care of them once they're spacefaring. Our orders are to make sure they get there."

"Copy, Lead."

Three TIE fighters burst through the clouds only to be blasted apart by Gavin and his wingmen.

"Nice shooting wings. Lets keep the trash outta the sky."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Mogo

The man made me nervous. He hadn't spoken one word yet and I already disliked him. Something about him reminded me of that pompous ass Tholin.
He sat there in his black cloak, his face hidden in shadow, not moving. I was beginning to wonder if he were a statue of some sort when he finally spoke.
"The item is in this?" He asked, his voice monotone.
"Yes," a mechanical voice returned. The woman stood next to me. She was making me uncomfortable as well.
THe man stood, moving slowly toward the case the guards had carried in, Orin moving closely behind them, his face nervous. Now he stood behind me, his back pressed tightly against the wall. I could hear him breathing nervously there.
THe man opened the case and looked inside, then closed it again.
"Very good, Miss Vish," the man said, turning away. "you have done well. I have three of the items I wanted, and only four remain, unless of course..."
He trailed off.
SHe stood silently, seeming about as impressed by this praise as I would have.
"Of course, I wish for you to retain the rest of these items, as well as the last, most important one," he told her. "Perhaps we could strike a deal on this matter."
I was getting impatient.
"I hate to intrude here, but if my mech and I could..." He turned to me as I spoke, not saying a word. "I suppose we could wait a few moments longer."
"I have plans for you as well," he said. "Should Miss Vish be interested, I would like to strike a deal with you as well."
I thought for a moment, almost afraid to tell the man no. Orin, afterall, was not really a Security officer.
I remained silent.
"Well, Miss Vish," he said. "Does this strike your interest?"

 

[Paendragon]

Luke

Luke emerged from the escape pod when he felt Tynan board. He had tried, and failed, to be brave. If it wasn't for the man who had kept him company, he would have been in tears.

"Fear leads to the Dark Side," the man had said. And something about his voice made Luke know he wouldn't like the Dark Side very much. That it wasn't a very good place to be led to. So he had tried and tried to not be afraid. He thought about all the happy memories in his life, but there weren't many of those. The only thing that made him feel safe was thinking about Tynan. The man who had kept him company had liked that. he had liked that Tynan had been what kept him from being afraid. He had told Luke that Tynan needed him as much as he needed Tynan. Luke couldn't figure out how, but that's what the man had said.

He wished he knew what the man's name had been. He had asked, but the man had joked with him instead by telling him that his name was Luke, too. He had pretended he believed him, of course. He didn't want him to run off and leave because Luke called him a liar. That would stink worse than a bantha's butt in mid-summer.

Luke made his way to the cockpit and slid into the co-pilots chair next to Tynan, who nodded at him to buckle his seat harness. They were just leaving the clouds and passing into the darker sky of what Tynan called inner space, the place between the planets atmosphere and the darkness of outer space. Luke eyes shot wide open when he saw all the ships, and the fear that had been threatening him since he had first entered the escape pod came screaming back. His throat seized, and he swallowed several times. There were so many ships! And so many explosions!

People were dying in each of those explosions he knew. Only Tynan's skill kept them from being one of them. Each time the warning indicator lit up, Tynan turned the ship into some kind of dizzying spin, and then blew up one of the bad fighters. The most amazing part was the fact that he seemed to be half asleep as he flew. At least he looked it with his eyes half-closed the way they were.

Luke relaxed. After all, with Tynan flying, what could happen?