obsvsrbl

I-II-III-IV-V-VI-VII-VIII-IX-X-XI-XII-XIII

Chapter I

Capt. Pynaegan reports, The reconstruction of FMP-N-287 in the Galvestooine sector has been completed on schedule, and is ready for deployment. The mission has been accomplished. Further details on this matter are covered in my previous report to the Grand Admiral. This report will cover the past three days of our (four crew members, my droid R5-D7, and of course, myself) exploits after leaving the Galvestooine ship yards. The trip back to Ambria began as any other. I reviewed all the necessary reports and filed the additional reports of the technical engineers who were working on the fuel-mining platform. On the second day, R5-D7 and I boarded Lambda T4aP.T. Athame, my private shuttle. Destination, the ISD Death's Head in Ambria. The crew consisted of four members. Shuttle commander Sr.Lt. Breixx Yhorbion; Jr.Lt. Lo'diath Tibile, acting co-pilot; Jr.Lt. Tagryyl Praxihl, navigator; and Ens. Wandib Stolticks as ship's gunner. I took my place in the passenger seating area and awaited take off. The engines soon came online and we lifted off on schedule. It would be a few minutes before we would reach the nav buoy where we would be able to safely hyper away from the busy shipyard. I felt the engines hum and oscillate, telling me we had entered the strait away which leads to the nav buoy, and would momentarily be entering hyperspace. That's when it happened... The general alarm sounded with its eerie dual tone. As per regulation, I remained seated so that the crew could perform their duties unhindered by my presence. The high pitched whine of capacitors told me that the ship's cannons were being charged up. This could only mean that we were under some form of attack. R5-D7 whistled a suggestion that he could plug into a scomplink and relay the situation to me. I ordered the droid to remain in his restraints, that for the moment, we would have to rely on the crew. Besides, if the droid were thrown, it could be damaged and we may need it for repairs to the ship. Also, the droid was carrying very important information that I dare not follow up on while in the Galvestooine sector. It would have to wait until I got to Ambria. The shuttle was struck several times by cannon fire. X-Wings I guessed. If there's one thing I know, it's the sound of Taim & Bak Ix4 laser cannons firing into the shields of my shuttle. Our own cannons began to answer the X-Wings with matched ferocity, and for a moment, I worried we were going to enter a dogfight. Our ship swerved and seemed to level out proceeding on course. Several more bolts of enemy fire hit home as the hyper drive began to initiate. My vision began to blur as the familiar, minor nausea associated with hyperspace travel washed over me. Alarms were accompanied by the screams of R5-D7, the air was filled with a light, gray smoke, and the G-forces threatened to crush me in my restraints. A deafening boom resounded throughout the ship... After long moments, the shuttle seemed to level off and several objects floating in the air proved the artificial gravity to be off line. The door to the cockpit opened and Sr.-Lt. Yhorbion floated through. Capt. Pynaegan, are you injured? Feeling about my body, I answered, With the exception of a few bruises, no. What is the damage report Lieutenant? Sr.Lt. Yhorbion grimaces as he reaches out to a chair to steady his floating form. Shields and weapons are both offline and the hyperdrive is failing. We are currently verifying our course, as we sustained much of our damage from a collision with an A-wing fighter just as we were entering hyperspace. Our systems analysis monitor is damaged making it difficult to pinpoint the reason for the hyperdrive failing. At this point, I cut off Yhorbion, R5, scomp into the ship's computer and find out what's wrong with this ship's hyperdrive! The droid beeped in answer and went to work. Continue, Lieutenant. The Sr.Lt. frowned, Other than the obvious artificial gravity problems, there is only the casualty report. Jr.Lt. Praxihl has suffered a broken arm and Ens. Stolticks was killed at his station. I spoke as I unbuckled my restraints, The loss of Ens. Stolticks is regrettable. I understand this was his first assignment. If it were not for our current situation, I'd order a more respectful casualty detail. Understood sir, said the Sr.Lt. I proceeded to the cockpit. As I entered I saw Jr.Lt. Tibile at the flight controls and Jr.Lt. Praxihl attempting to salute and to give his report. Skip the formalities Lieutenant, I said, You've had a difficult day. What do you have to report? The Jr.Lt. spoke, Yes sir, we have been slightly thrown off course. However, we should still be able to make Ambria with only a few navigational adjustments. Don't count on it, JR.LT. Tibile said. Tibile went on, The droid reports that we are loosing coolant from the hyperdrive's secondary tank fast! I'm going to have to drop out of hyperspace to shut if off. Sr.Lt. Yhorbion asked, Why aren't we using the primary tank? R5-D7 bleeps a sentence and JR.LT. Tibile's face turns white as he reads aloud the translation. The primary tank is heavily damaged and empty. Take us out of hyperspace Lieutenant, said the Sr.Lt. Yes, sir. The hyperdrive shut down and the de-celerators slowed the ship to a halt. Sr.Lt. Yhorbion turned to me, Sir, as you are the ranking officer on board this ship, what are your orders? All eyes were on me now...Senior Lieutenant Breixx Yhorbion, you were assigned to this shuttle as Shuttle Commander. This is YOUR ship and YOUR crew to command. As per regulation, I am your passenger until such time that I deem you unfit for command. Thus far, I have seen no breech of protocol or any poor judgment in your orders. Unless of course, this is your way of pawning off your duties on myself. Lt. Yhorbion's face showed relief as he realized I was not going to take over his duties as the ship's commander. Thank you sir. I have no intentions of shirking in my duties. Very good Lieutenant, proceed. Yes, sir! Lt Tibile, said Yhorbion, What is the status of the hyperdrive? JR.LT. Tibile relayed R5's translations. The droid has closed off the lines from the secondary tank to the primary. He says he's going to have to go outside to make repairs. Right, carry on Lieutenant. Yhorbion then turned to JR.LT. Praxihl, Lt. Praxihl, what is the status on our position? Praxihl turned from his station, Navigational adjustments have been made sir. As soon as the hyperdrive can come online, we can re-enter hyperspace. Yhorbion gave a half smile, This is the first good news we've had since we found out we weren't dead! His smile died quickly. Lt, your work here is done for the moment. We will need to get your arm looked at. I'll take him into the passenger seating and see what we can do about his arm, I said. After getting Praxihl settled in a seat and buckled down, I started back to the cockpit to retrieve the body of Ensign Stolticks. As I reached the door, I was met by Yhorbion. Sir, I feel it is my duty to inform you of a potential hazard that I do not recall having been covered in my training at the Academy. The Sr.Lt. looked as though he was fighting some sort of disbelief and hysteria, trying to keep his own outward, calm demeanor. As I read his expressions, I began to think it was a mistake not to take command of the ship. But then, just moments ago, Yhorbion seemed to have matters well in hand. Calm down Lieutenant, I said, stick with the facts. What is the problem? It's the A-wing sir, the one we collided with as we left Galvestooine. It has traveled with us entangled in our dorsal stabilizer. WHAT?!?! I exclaimed. I now understood the Lt's well checked hysteria. For if what he said was true, there was very little reason as to why any of us were still alive! My own anxiety strangely enough, seemed to calm down the Sr.Lt. Perhaps because he no longer felt out of line with his won excitement. Getting my own thoughts in order, I said, Okay, okay, let's deal with this one step at a time. Let's get Ens. Stolticks' body back here so we can have more room to work up front. We strapped Ens. Stolticks into the last seat in the back of the passenger seating area. As we re-entered the cockpit, Tibile announc3ed, Our sensors indicate that the A-wing's fusion reactor is missing and that any chances of the fighter exploding are minimal. The concussion missiles seem undamaged and more importantly, unarmed. Why didn't we pick it up as an enemy craft when we dropped out of hyperspace? asked Yhorbion. If the pilot ejected, then his transponder went with him to make it easier for a rescue team to pick him up, I said. Jr.Lt. Tibile broke in, Sir, your droid is sending us images of the A-wing. What a mess! It was a horrifying sight. The A-wing was lodged between the hull of our ship and the dorsal stabilizer wing. R5-D7 recorded images from every conceivable angle and we were soon able to reconstruct the collision. It appears the A-wing struck us right as we were entering hyperspace ; at exactly the same moment the A-wing was dropping out of hyperspace. It rammed into our forward port quarter, skimming the upper hull. The stream line design of the craft causing it to wedge itself under the dorsal wing. The starboard side of the A-wing was destroyed, its engine's front end turned inward as if trying to get into the cockpit. The fusion reactor must have been literally squeezed out, much like the guts of a bug hitting the windscreen of a speeder. The right concussion missile launcher (what was left of it) was resting in the otherwise empty cockpit. The pilot had indeed ejected, as the seat and canopy were missing completely. What are the chances of separating the A-wing from our ship? asked Yhorbion. Not likely sir, said Jr.Lt. Tibile. It looks like her starboard engine's heat has fused the ship to our outer hull, effectively welding it into place. This is a job for a fully equipped hanger. If we were to try it, we would probably cause more damage. We would be signing our own death sentence, Sr.Lt. Yhorbion finished. Very well, what of the damage to the hyperdrive? The Jr.Lt. read on, The A-wing's starboard cannon was torn off and had plunged, muzzle first, through the hull of our ship along the base of the dorsal fin, right over the void containing the primary coolant tank. The cannon and other debris ruptured the tank releasing the coolant. The droid says the tank is irreparable, however the secondary tank can be made to by pass the primary. Will there be enough coolant in the secondary to get us back to Ambria? I asked. Tibile's answer was coated with the bitterness of despair, Negative sir, the hyperdrive would overheat long before we reached Ambria. Micro-jumps came Jr.Lt. Praxihl's voice. We turned from the console and faced the injured navigator. I smiled inwardly to myself, glad to have not had to make the suggestion myself. The crew of my ship was proving themselves to be very resourceful, considering the circumstances. Jr.Lt. Praxihl drifted into the cockpit, being careful not to jostle the inflatable cast holding his broken arm in place explained, we can make short hyperjumps, dropping out of hyperspace when the hyperdrive begins to overheat. Tibile turned to his console immediately calculating the figures of how long it would take to get back to Ambria. After a moment, he sat back, Damn, it will take one year, three months, and twelve days to get to Ambria. And Ambria is the closest civilized system within our range from this position, if you can consider it in range. We simply don't have enough coolant left. Perhaps we don't, said Sr.Lt. Yhorbion, but scan that A-wing again. See if you can pick up its hyperdrive. Jr.Lt. Tibile didn't sound very hopeful, Yes, sir. The co-pilot studied the readouts and the images recorded by R5-D7. According to my readouts, the A-wing's Incom GBK-785 motivator drive unit is destroyed. Tibile's eyes lit up and his face broke into a smile, The A-wing's primary tank is still there and although it's a bit beat up, the secondary tank is still intact! They are much smaller than our own tanks, but between the two we should be able to reach Ambria- Tibile was cut off by Praxihl, In about three weeks. Praxihl had already strapped himself into his seat at his station and calculated the micro jumps necessary to reach Ambria. Jr.Lt. Praxihl, I said, aren't you supposed to be recuperating in passenger seating? The Jr.Lt. faltered for a moment then answered, Yes sir, but I was feeling restless and thought I'd be more useful at my station. Very well then, I said, You may now make yourself useful by constructing a distress signal for the Imperial Emergency Frequencies, to be sent out after repairs are made and we begin the journey home. Then I turned to Sr.Lt. Yhorbion, Would that be okay with you Lieutenant Commander? The newly promoted Lt.Cmdr. gathered himself up doing well in keeping his tact in the face of his newly appointed rank. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Oh, and Lt.Cmdr. Yhorbion, I said as I began to exit the cockpit, See to it personally that Jr.Lt.'s Praxihl and Tibile receive their new Sr.Lt. rank insignia upon our return. Yes, sir! Lt.Cmdr. Yhorbion said as he saluted. I floated myself into the personnel seating area to let the crew finish their work. I found myself going all the way to the back and buckling down in a seat across the aisle from Ens. Stolticks. I wish I didn't have to give you your promotion posthumously, Jr.Lt. I'm sure you would have thought of something useful had you survived. I heard your cannons fire, and you died at your station. Your quick response to the general alarm is more than likely what saved us all. I sat quietly for sometime across from Stolticks, almost as though waiting for him to answer. He would not. I will review the ship's computer log, I thought to myself, Perhaps I will find out what you were shooting at and why your gunnery terminal shorted out. I unbuckled myself and floated up to the storage compartments where I stowed my personal belongings. After what seemed like forever, I finally found the item I was searching for. My own Acting Sub-Lieutenant rank insignia, awarded to me so many years ago at my first assignment. I hastily replaced my belongings back into storage and floated back down to Jr.Lt. Stolticks. I'm afraid I don't have your rank cylinder, 'Acting Sub-Lieutenant' Stolticks, I said, But this is a battle field promotion. I ended my remarks with an unreturned salute. It didn't make me feel any better. Finally, I eased myself down into a seat, strapped myself down, set the seat back as far as it would go, and fell asleep.

Chapter II

Rebel Leader Aslan to Rebel squadron home base come in the comm channel crackled. Admiral Crys here, this is a secured channel what is it As?? she replied in a sweet but authoritative voice. Crys had always had a fondness for the Cute Little ewok but after being promoted to Admiral she tryed to put her personal feelings aside and be more business like. Admiral after the deciphering of the message I got a hunch. Yes what is it Crys responded in an impatient yet interested demeanor. Well the area where we found this info I found out that from some of my imperial informants that there was a certain Imperial Capt. of some renown was seen in that area in his private shuttle than disappeared!! So I sent a scouting detail out in the area of Galvestooine and they spotted an Imperial shuttle with the markings Athame!! They try to disable it but they were intercepted by a squad of TI and shuttle escaped but was chased in hot pursuit by Officer Reprah in his A-wing into Hyperspace!! we also lost another of our pilots in combat with the TI but Holmes and Rancor took out 3 out of 4 TI and were able to return to base with the coordinates of the Hyperspace boey that Rep was last seen!! Since the area of Galvestooine was hot I am now in a stolen Imp Shuttle to try and find out what happen to Rep. Suddenly the transmission from Aslan went blank!! Crys tried to get a response from him but without any success . Crys Heart pounded as she new of the danger the crazy ewok was in but somehow she knew he would be ok and what about rep??? She ran quickly to Admiral Zaras office. Meanwhile Aslan approached the Galvestooine area and using his former Imperial Codes from his days in the Elite TFA when he was known as SecretKeeper. He was able to pass by Imperials that were still on the prowl since the rebel attack. He made his way carefully to the hyperspace boey that Reprah was last seen and the mysterious shuttle disappeared at. As he approached he used his Jedi abilities and plotted a course and entered hyperspace . Suddenly he felt the force urging him to drop out of hyperspace and as he did His homing sensor screeched and he saw an escape pod coming up on the HUD it had life signs!! It was Reprah !! Aslan's heart rejoiced as neared the pod . He picked up the Pod and found Rep unconscious inside. Quickly the ewok revived the pilot who woke with an angry yell and some language that's not repeatable. Soon Rep was back to himself but did have some cracked ribs but for the most part was ok, except he was furious about his beloved A-wing!! But suddenly a smile came across his face when he realized something. He told Aslan the story about how he was in hot pursuit of the shuttle and when it went in hyperspace how he collided into it but was able to eject. But the A-wing disabled the Shuttle and then he paused for effect, I have the A-wings signature sensor array on still so that means we can tract it!!! Yub Yub !!! Aslan Shouted and moved quickly to the ships sensor mechanism and punched in the awing's sensor codes. Suddenly the HUD squealed with a display of the awing but it was still attached to the Shuttle!! The Shuttle Athame! exclaimed Rep, it's near that unmapped moon. Rep took the controls and Aslan took care of the Ion Cannons as they closed in fast. The Shuttle Athame did not try to escape or couldn't they weren't sure. They seem that they were trying to repair their ship so Aslan hailed them on the Imperial frequency and ordered them to stop. But suddenly their ship turned about and awkwardly fired a missile at Aslans Craft!! It struck home and Aslan opened fired on the shuttle disabling it but causing it to get swept up by the nearby moons gravity and was sent hurling towards it!! Dam Aslan!! you always have to shoot too much!! Suddenly the ship's alarms sounded !! Rep were in trouble here that missile did damage to our hyper drive and our shields are down to 40% we need to land on that moon to repair!! So Aslan and Rep made there way to the unmapped moon as they entered the its atmosphere with a rumble!!! Landing roughly on its surface. Aslan thanked the Maker that the ship was still intact and noted that the moon although a dessert moon, had a stable atmosphere in which they could breath. Before they exited the vessel rep announced Aslan !! Come quick!! The HUD is showing that the shuttle Athame made it through the atmosphere as well, and has crashed landed about 350kilm away!!

Chapter III

The general Alarm once again sounded. Had it not been for my restraints and lack of gravity, I would have probably had to have been peeled from the over-head. R5, what's going on? The droid squealed an answer that an enemy ship had entered our sector and had targeted the Athame. But how? I asked aloud. No sooner than I said that, the shuttle was rocked by enemy fire. The lights flickered and went dead. The only light present was the dancing blue electrical charge swirling around R5. Damn, ion cannons! We're done for...for certain. Emergency back up came online bringing life support back as well. The dim emergency lights lit my way to the arms locker. As I opened the locker, Lt.Cmdr. Yhorbion emerged from the cockpit. Sir, we've been partially disabled, he said as I handed him a blaster rifle. I know, was my reply as I sorted through the weapons. We must prepare for boarding. Yes, sir.. I mean, no sir... I mean, not yet anyway. I held back for a moment on passing out the weapons. What do you mean not yet anyway? The Lt.Cmdr. was visibly showing signs of discomfort in the face of my dwindling patience. Sir, the craft that has attacked us was another Lambda-class T-4a, and it seems to have come alone. As soon as it entered our sector and targeted our shuttle, our own defense system fired an advanced concussion missile, striking the craft. The attacking craft then spun out of control , being caught in the gravity well of a nearby moon. But not before getting off a few lucky ion blasts. It was now my turn to be sick and confused. I would have sat down if there had been gravity to do so. I was trying to comprehend everything that was going on. I looked for a moment at the motionless form of my droid, still linked to the computer terminal where he was ionized. How long have I been asleep? I asked. About six hours, sir, the Lt.Cmdr. replied. Six hours, I said to myself. Angry with myself, I considered disciplinary action against the Lt.Cmdr. but that would not have helped our situation any. It wasn't his fault that I fell asleep. Let's get this operation going again and then you may debrief me on what as happened while I've been... indisposed, I said, feeling foolish for having gone to sleep in the first place. I put the weapons aside and went to check on R5-D7. The droid having been ionized had reverted to a shutdown mode. Reaching into an access panel on his front, left side, I pressed a reset button. He soon bleeped back to life, automatically running through his diagnostics tests. R5 should be fine, as soon as he's back online, we should be able to discern our damages more accurately, I said as the droid righted himself and retracted his scomplink. Were there anymore casualties? I asked. No, sir, Yhorbion replied. Good, I said, handing him a second blaster. We'll arm the crew in case we have anymore surprises. The Lt.Cmdr. and I entered the cockpit and issued the two remaining crewmembers a blaster each. We left the rifles in the locker. After a momentary meeting with the crew, Lt.Cmdr. Yhorbion returned with me to the passenger seating to render a full debriefing. I pulled myself to a seat to listen. Sir, Yhorbion began, approximately six hours and forty-five minutes ago, repairs to the ship's systems commenced. The hyperdrive was brought up to thirty-seven percent efficiency. Shields up to twelve- percent efficiency and a newly devised defense system witch seemed to operate at one hundred percent efficiency. I was wondering about the missile we fired at the enemy shuttle. We did not have a missile defense system before. When did we get a missile launcher installed on this shuttle? I asked. About two hours ago sir. Yhorbion said with a hint of pride in his voice. The Lt.Cmdr. elaborated. The droid was already working on the hyperdrive and shields. So, due to our lack of weapons we decided to occupy our time coming up with a way to repair the weapons. Since none of us are rated to work on the weapons system, we took the liberty of going through Ens. Stolticks belongings. We were in the hopes of finding a manual dealing in the repair of the weapons system. We found Stoltick's text manuals, unfortunately by what the manual says, we'll have to have the cannon systems replaced in third class repair. The text also covered missile systems, including Dymek HM-6 systems. Although the A-wing's starboard launcher was virtually destroyed, the port side was still intact. Lt. Tibile donned a spacesuit and went outside to retrieve the launcher. Using components from the A-wing's flare countermeasure system and our own shuttle's sensor array, we constructed a missile launching system that will fire at an enemy transponder as soon as we were targeted by that same enemy craft. I was impressed indeed. Well done Cmdr. your initiative may have just bought us the time we need to get out of our situation. Continue with the debriefing, I said. The artificial gravity is obviousliiiiiiEEEE!!!!!! *WHUMP* ...one hundred percent efficiency, groaned a prone and ailing Lt.Cmdr. Yhorbion. All I could do was watch in horror as he plummeted to the deck. I looked to R5-D7 just in time to see his head rotate away from the scene. The droid was wobbling slightly from side to side while chattering unintelligibly. THAT'S NOT FUNNY R5-D7!!! I said as I unbuckled myself. I stood up and nearly lost my own balance, having almost gotten used to the zero-g environment. I helped Yhorbion to his feet. Are you hurt? I asked the Lt.Cmdr. Yhorbion cast an evil eyeing R5's direction. Only my pride sir, he answered, straightening the tunic of his uniform. Please accept my apologies for my ill-mannered droid. I said as I handed the shuttle commander his lost cap. R5-D7 is long overdue for a memory wipe. From behind me I heard a low mournful moan. Twenty years of service without a single memory wipe. I added to myself, He knows a practical joke like this wouldn't be cause enough for me to have his memory erased. Even if these conditions were not practical as they should be. You may continue Lt.Cmdr. Yhorbion hid his apparent anger and continued, Well sir, navigation has been found to be unreliable. Although the computer itself is undamaged, the calibration has been lost. This was discovered when the moon appeared, about five hours ago. The moon 'appeared' from nowhere? I asked with one eyebrow raised. Yhorbion explained, The moon was hidden on the far side of a planet. Due to an atmospheric phenomena, the planet has a black reflective sheen, rendering it nearly undetectable through a visual scan. All sensor scans seem to pass through or get absorbed by the planet. The moon orbits the planet approximately every twelve hours. We were scanning the moon when we encountered the enemy ship. We discovered that the moon is marginally capable of supporting life. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Never had I heard of such a planet. This I have got to see! (I said, and I started for the cockpit. It was just as the shuttle commander had said. The planet was like a gigantic mirror, reflecting starlight, and looking as though it wasn't even there. The moon was very close. I could see its reflection on the planet's surface as though there was a second distant twin to this heavenly body. Commander, Sr.Lt. Tibile's voice shook me from my awe stricken state. The droid reports that the hyperdrive has been damaged beyond feasible repair. I could sense the despair in his voice. We're not giving up yet Lt. said Yhorbion. We've gone through too much to be stopped by a technicality. We'll think less on what we can't do and more on what we can accomplish. The shuttle commander turned to his navigator. Lt. Praxihl, how far have you tracked the enemy ship? Praxihl answered without turning away from his console. They should be well into their landing cycle. I have them within a ten-kilometer area. It would be more accurate, but weather conditions prevent predictability of exact landing coordinates. Ten Kilometers is acceptable Lt. Yhorbion said as he turned and faced me. I had a good idea of what was coming next. Captain, our ship is an easy target for a capture operation in our disabled state. I respectfully request permission to take her down to the moon's surface in an effort to capture the other ship. If nothing else, we may be able to hold off an attack on the ground easier than from the confines of our ship. If we are successful, we may have what we need to get back to Ambria. I thought to myself. We've pushed our luck this far... Permission granted, carry on I said, my own voice sending a chill up my spine. I couldn't help but wonder. Would we be able to land with an A-wing entangled in our stabilizer? At this point it did not seem to mater. We could be killed trying to land, or captured. Rescue at this point seemed unlikely. I preferred to take my chances landing. I left the cockpit and returned to my seat. R5, return to your restraints we're going for a ride. R5-D7 unplugged from the ships computer and rolled over to his place and locked in. He bleeped a report that the shields were back on line and that the engines were running at optimal performance. After what seemed like a long while, the ship began to buck and kick as we entered the atmosphere. I hung on to the armrests of my seat, my knuckles turning white. What it must be like at the controls! I found myself thinking. BOOM!!!!! BOOM!!! TWAARRRRRrrrrrrrrr ... The shuttle seemed to be sliding side ways though it was impossible to tell for sure. An icy cold blast of wind hit me full force in the face and the ship had finally ground to a halt. I opened my eyes a crack and found there was no light what so ever. Were it not for the lack of motion, I would have thought the ship was still trying to land. The roar of the wind blowing in from the outside was deafening. I held a hand to my eyes to shield them from the blast. Through my eyelids I thought I saw some light, so once again I chanced a peek and saw that R5-D7 had switched on his service beacon. I thought I could hear him whistling, but could not make out what he was trying to tell me. He was wavering his beacon up and down. The light I said to my self. He wants me to follow it I looked away from my droid and followed with what little vision I had at what ever the light fell upon. It stopped on the doors of a storage locker. SPACE SUITS!!! I realized I would freeze to death if I didn't make it into a space suit soon. Closing my eyes tight from the wind, I unbuckled my self and blindly made my way to the storage locker. I tripped once and fell twice, using the seats to pull myself back up as I made the four-meter journey to the locker. I pulled the latch and the door was blown open by the wind. My fingers were numb and I could barely manipulate the fasteners for the suit. But finally I was able to pull the helmet into place, and thankfully the seal took hold. The air in the helmet soon warmed and I found myself sitting again. A voice in the helmet informed me that I had frost bite in my hands and ears. Well I said to my self. Nothing to do now but wait. It wouldn't be so bad I suppose, but Deities above my nose itches!

Chapter IV

Commodore Obiwan stood on the bridge of the SSD Sidious. He had been on the bridge a total of fifteen minutes and was already tired of being there. The bored Commodore glanced over to the ship's chronometer for the fifth time since he came on shift. Great, he thought to himself, Only seven hours, forty-four minutes, and thirty-two seconds of shift left, but who's counting? Oops...twenty nine, twenty eight, twenty seven... Obiwan found himself thinking how nice it would be if something interesting were to happen on his shift. He quickly shook off the thought. At my rank, interesting things that happen involve massive deployment of capital starships and thousands of star fighters screaming after their intended targets. The Commodore tore his gaze from the chronometer and began walking up the isle between the massive crew pits. No, nothing interesting tonight. It's only seven and a half more hours. I'll knock out my reports, and after my shift, go to my quarters, grab a shower, head down to Aule's and have an early morning mixer with the Capt.. while watching the Kuan swoop races before he transfers to the Death's Head. Commodore Obiwan reached the end of the isle and took a moment to take in the view of the massive super star destroyer's bow, I gotta admit, Kuat knows their business. This is one hell of a battleship. Obiwan turned away from the view ports and strode back towards the main entrance of the bridge. As he walked, he took note of Lt. Commander Praedaxx stepping down into the communications pit. LC Praedaxx is the officer in charge of bridge communications, responsible for all messages sent and received by all ships in the OBS fleet. The Commodore shortened his walk by stepping over to the communications pit. The Lieutenant on duty was debriefing the LC as he read a report on his data pad. Praedaxx looked up and met Obiwan's gaze with a grim frown. Oh hell, Obiwan thought to himself, There goes tomorrow mornings swoop races. Something interesting just happened.... What is it Lieutenant Commander? asked the Commodore as Praedaxx stepped out of the crew pit. Secret message intended for the ISD Death's Head Sir, Praedaxx reported as he handed the data pad over to the Commodore. Obiwan read the message... Message Classification: SECRET To: ISD Death's Head, Ambria System, Order of the Black Saber Fleet From: Platform Yard Operations: 3622-7, Galvestooine, PLT-FM Construction Fleet To the acting commander of the ISD Death's Head, It is our regret to inform you that Lambda T4aP.T. Athame was destroyed as it was preparing to enter hyperspace. The Athame was heading towards Nav-Bouy GAL-JTP-17 when the first wave of a Rebel hit and fade dropped out of hyperspace. Two of six X-Wing fighter craft broke their formation to engage the Athame. According to our surveillance satellites, the Athame's rear cannons destroyed one X-Wing, and shot down a number of torpedoes. The Athame had nearly escaped were it not for the second wave of the hit and fade dropping out of hyperspace. The second wave of Rebel ships consisted of A-Wing star fighters. The A-Wings dropped into real space right in the jump path of the Athame. The lead A-Wing collided with the Athame, resulting in an explosion obliterating both ships. The second X-Wing was disabled as a result of the blast, and was captured with the pilot intact. The captured pilot had time to erase all navigation coordinates in his astromech droid, making it impossible to determine the origin of the attack. Rescue teams turned up only small fragments of the Athame's weapon systems and even less of the A-Wing. On the casualty list concerning the above mentioned collision: Shuttle Crew LT. Breixx Yhorbion: Shuttle Commander Acting Sub-Lt. Lo'diath Tibile: Co-Pilot Acting Sub-Lt. Tasryyl Praxihl: Ship's Navigator Ens. Wandib Stolticks: Ship's Gunner Passenger Manifest CAPT. Brahxcel Higgs Pynaegan: Passenger Cargo Manifest One astromech droid: R5-D7, modified industrial automation, Current value 4,200 credits. Personal Property of Capt.. Pynaegan For further details concerning enemy casualties, contact: L.C. Quotalis: Intelligence Liaison, PYO-3622-7, Galvestooine, PLT-FM-2780-1, Intel Div. Commodore Heillianchs Pa'thard Commanding PYD-3622-7 Galvestooine, PLT-FM C.F. **END MESSAGE** Obiwan stood looking at the data pad for a long moment... Well, at least I'm not the last one to hear about it, the Commodore said softly to himself. Sir, a voice came from down in the communications pit. We are being hailed by the ISD Death's Head.

Chapter V

After seeing the Athame had made it also to the moons surface Aslan quickly checked the scanners and noted that the outside atmosphere was near freezing and the wind darkness made it impossible to venture out at this time. Aslan turn to Rep to ask him about communications but before he could, the comlink Screeched with a loud noise crackled, than popped, and went dead! Aslan growled and Stomped his feet in frustration. Reprah replied quickly As, As settle down we can launch a COM beacon in the daylight hours which I estimate in approximately 4-5hrs judging by our rotation around that Planet. Aslan calmed and replied Lets get some rest were going to need it with this planets atmosphere being so harsh and Imps within striking distance. Striking distance Sir? Rep seemed confused. Yes, Rep our job isn't complete until we finish the job I came to do, Reprah seem really confused now, What do you mean sir I thought this was just a scouting sortie that went bad? Aslan looked intense as he turned around and grabbed sealed rebel info casing from his uniform jacket. It had the seal of Rebel consul and Rep new this was big! Aslan stiffened What I am about to show you Officer Reprah is of great importance and sensitivity to the rebellion and may tip the balance of fate of the rebellion in this sector! I share this with you because if something happens to me you must complete this mission up to death! Reprah was really alert now and even a bit apprehensive, this was a battle harden rebel warrior that fought with honor in the Clone wars and the Battle of Endor but Aslan saw Reps disquiet. Rep I have been ordered by the admirals to capture an Imperial officer of some importance, his name is Capt. Pynaegan of the order of the Black Saber an elite Imperial navy unit located in the Ambria Sector. We been tracking his where abouts with the help of a imperial informant with the code name PK. He was stationed on the fuel-mining platform in Galvestooine where he found out some interesting info about Capt. Pynaegan. Pynaegan has been selected by Empire to receive and transport invasion plans of our hidden rebel bases in the outer sector! He met with an informant at the fueling platform and had the plans placed in a encryption chip that was placed somewhere on or in his body PK notified us and it seem a easy catch, I sent the scouting units to bring him in but someone warned him ahead of time and he tried to flee! That's why I took after him like I did but I didn't expect to run into you! But if it hadn't been for your umm Aslan paused for effect your docking procedure I wouldn't have found him when he excaped into hyperspace. Reprah look embarrassed but than regained his composure. So you see young padiwan we need to capture this Imp before he can alert any help or relay the info he has! Now with the wind howling and Communications down the two soldiers realized that they would need some sleep if they were to stay sane for this mission even if it was only a couple hrs. Aslan ordered Rep to try to sleep first as he took the first watch, even though Rep resisted at first than passed out .

Chapter VI

After warming up for a few minutes, I switched on my helmet's service light and took a look about the seating area. The wind was still blowing around inside the vessel. Small bits of debris and some form of sand carried by the gale, gave the air a wind-driven hazy effect. Looking down at the deck, I found that which I had tripped over while trying to reach my space suit. It was a portion of the outer hull. Judging by the damage, it looked as though it had been ripped as easily as foil and pressed into the ship. "The edges of that thing must have missed me by inches," I thought to myself. I looked up, "Why indeed are we still alive?!" I said out loud. For the entire upper hull had been torn off much like the seal off from a rations pack, dorsal stabilizer, and all. "WE? The CREW!!" A sickening coldness crept into my heart as I turned to the cockpit door. The outer hull that had been pressed into the ship had folded down over the door of the command module, obstructing all view. Over the howl of the wind, I heard a high pitched whistle. R5's restraints were jammed and would not release the little droid. R5 would have to wait. I had to find a way to my crew first. I made my way to the arms locker. It had survived the crash and I exchanged my side arm for the more powerful blaster rifle. I first thought to try blasting away enough of the hull to pull it aside to reach the door, but then common sense over came me. "That would take much too long." I began climbing up the wreckage to the cockpit door to see if perhaps there was a way in from the outside. The wind's howling had begun dying down significantly. As I peered over the top of the wrecked craft, I reached out to try to find a handhold. Looking down outside the front of the craft caused my heart to seize in my chest. The entire command module was missing. Nothing remained save for the snapped off super structure and severed lines. Conduits dangled, blowing in the wind and emitting an occasional spark. I looked about the area, hoping to see any sign of the missing crew. The darkness and the dying storm prevented me from seeing for more than about twenty to thirty meters. I saw nothing but sand, rocks, and a series of boulders that which my ship came to rest against. I climbed back into the wreckage to wait out the storm. With R5's help, I was able to free the droid from his restraints. Using a manipulator arm, R5 reached over to the control panel on the chest of my space suit and pressed a button. "BOOooZipp-DEWOOAHH burr DAPP?!" "OWW!!" I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut, and hastily searching for the volume control. "NO! I was NOT ignoring you! I had every intention of freeing you just as soon as I had a look around and thought it was safe." The droid chirped back with a statement. "No, you couldn't have told me they were dead. The reason your sensors didn't pick up any signs of them is because they are missing. And until I see their bodie3s, they will remain just that. Missing." I knew how unlikely it would be for my crew to be alive, but then it was equally unlikely for me to be alive as well. "When the sun comes up, we will find a safe place to camp, and I'll search for the others," I told R5. The sun began to rise within the hour. Using R5's plasma torch and a blaster rifle, we were able to remove the wreckage from the one time cockpit doorway. The morning passed quickly, and although the storm was long over, the weather conditions had not improved for the better. It had become stifling hot. I was relatively safe within my suit, but I knew my crew would need medical attention if they weren't already dead. As luck would have it, I found a small cave about fifty meters from the ship. R5 scanned the dwelling for life forms. After the cave proved to be void of any inhabitants, I moved in. It was a bit small, but R5-D7 made it in with little trouble. Additionally, the cave did widen a bit when I reached the back. Large enough in fact, that if I wished, I could have a couple of guests over for a drink. I had to laugh at that thought. "Ha, Ha. Another glass of wine, Grand Admiral Thrawn? It came all the way from Alderaan. It's quite difficult to come by these days." I turned to another imaginary friend. "And Commodore Obiwan, I fear Commander Aule will drink all of his Correlian Ale and then make short work of your own!" I revoved my helmet and found that in the cave, the air was much more tolerable than it was outside. "Where are my would-be rescuers?" I found myself pondering that thought. I replaced my helmet and returned to the ship to gather the provisions that were stashed beneath each of the passenger seats. Each seat contained a rations pack that would sustain one person for two weeks. Though knowing how I felt about them, they would probably last longer. Sub-Lt. Stoltick's was still sitting where he was buckled down. The desert heat was taking its toll on the body. "I can't leave you this way," I said. "If I ever get off from this rock, I'll see to it that you do too." Having said that, I recovered a second space suit. After several aggravating moments, I had the Lt. sealed into the suit. "I should have thought of this sooner," I said to myself. I switched a manual override on the chest controls and reversed a vacuum setting within the suit, sealing him in like an over-sized rations pack. I then draped a thermal blanket over his body. When I returned to the cave with my rations and weapons, I found that I had only two hours of daylight left. I took up a pair of macro binoculars and I left the cave heading for a nearby foot hill range. Upon reaching the summit, I removed my helmet long enough to visually scan the area with the macrobinoculars. With the sun going down, the air was quickly becoming more tolerable. I did not see any sign of my crew or any wreckage that would be the command module of my ship. However, what I did find filled my with mixed emotions. It was the trapezoidal shape of a Lambda class shuttle's dorsal stabilizer, at approximately 12.7 kilometers away. "I'll not find any crewmembers tonight," I said as I lowered the device. "Well with that other shuttle out there, I'm glad I didn't set up the distress beacon yet. We'll need to neutralize the threat first." I returned to the cave right at nightfall for some troubled sleep

Chapter VII

Aslan looked at the huddled mass of a rugged human pilot passed out on the shuttle console. Somehow this creature so different from himself and yet seem a lot like himself. He had served with Rep for many years and remembered how at the battle of Endor they first met. Aslan had tripped and bit a imperial stormtropper as he was about to shoot Rep in the back causing Rep to move out of the line of fire and turn and finish off the enemy before he killed Rep. But somehow this mission the ewok sensed things would be different! Aslan had a strange feeling that he was going to be the one who would be in peril. He suddenly shook the feelings off and turned away as Rep started to snore. "Sheesh" Thought As "Snores like my grandma YUBYUB !" Aslan started to setup and calculate the Impulse probe to be sent up to the atmosphere to possibly get help from the rebels that should be looking for their craft. Time went quickly and the ewok finished the probe set up for launching at daybreak. Next started the recharge sequence for the ship's engines. Realizing he left Rep to sleep a bit longer he needed to get some too. He woke the sleeping pilot with ewokian Bark! This caused Rep to Take a Swing at Aslan almost making him fall backwards. "Dam Ewoks" Rep mused under his breath. Aslan climbed in the corner of the Shuttle storage ledge and told Rep to monitor the Athame and that the pulse probe is set to launch in 90mins and to wake him when that occurs. "Sir" Rep responded, even though he never could get used to saluting a ewok, but this one paid his dues and even saved his life....

Chapter VIII

Alarms sounded and the cursing of Officer Reprah woke the sleeping ewok from his niche! "What the yub is going on!" demanded the aggravated Ewok. "Aslan sir its day break and the outside atmosphere is not much better than the night." " I tried to let you sleep a bit longer and start the launch sequence of the pulse probe when I started to get a large amount of interference from the direction of those hills to the south of us" "It was then the pulse probe shut down and then locked up!" "When I tried to do a internal check of the probe it started to heat up and that's when the alarms sounded and I shut it down!" Aslan cautiously investigated the probe, it looked normal but what caused it to malfunction as it did? ""Dam corellian probes they were cheap but that's you get when you have Imperials blocking the trade routes," Aslan thought to himself. All looked normal except the temp of the probe was higher than ....."A tachyon phase pulse could do this!" Aslan shouted! Rep quickly went to the ship sensors and sure enough there was tachyon traces coming from the same area that Rep had spoke of when he tried to launch the probe. "Well Rep we need to find the source or that tachyon field if we are to launch the probe." "I more suited to these harsh conditions then you humans so I will take the speeder bike and try to find our problem." Rep had a look of uncertainty, but he knew it had to be done. Aslan dawned a space suit and grab a ration pack, elemental sensor device and a Blaster Pistol. He departed to the outside of the Shuttle where he found the conditions hot and windy however he learned to endure all kinds of foul weather on his home planet especially since the climate had changed with the destruction of the Death Star! Aslan opens the side storage shelf and unloaded the speeder bike and packed it. It fired it up with a Hum and Aslan mounted it checked the sensor and then tried his comlink with Rep. Rep informed him that the Tachyon trace were approximately 350 kl due south. Aslan acknowledged and headed off towards the area. The Planet was a red rocky topography cruel and desolate. The wind made it hard to see much better than 10kl ahead and kept howling and making the riding of the bike a burden! The sensors still work well and the tachyon traces were getting stronger! However the speeder was starting to overheat and slow down. Aslan was about 300kl away from his shuttle when it happened! The speeder Aslan was riding lurch sideways throwing Aslan hurtling to the ground and sending the bike crashing like a fireball in to the rocks ahead! Aslan rolled behind a mound of rocks and suddenly several blasts of red lasers passed around the place wear the ewok huddled. With his Communicator and bike smashed he still had his Blaster pistol at his side so he moved quickly and scurried above the rock where he hide at first and return fire. As he did he could make out through the wind and dust 2 figures running towards him, returning fire! Aslan duck down than reappeared in another crevice and returned fire and struck one of the silhouettes as the other took cover and return fire. Aslan started to reappear once again but this time he felt his lungs afire and smelled his fur burning and his head began to swim he let off one last burst of his blaster in the direction of the on coming intruder and went unconscious!!.......To be continued Sleep would not come. Instead, came multiple weapons checks, equipment inspections, and the making of a plan. The plan, to enter the enemy perimeter and possibly capture a New Republic Lambda class shuttle. Not much of a plan, but it was my only option. 1. Firstly, there was no way for me to leave this moon in my own craft. 2. Second, they would probably have some one coming to aid them in my capture. I had thought they were here with intent to kill me, but then why did they disable my ship when it would have been easier to destroy it? (Unless they were wanting to have confirmation of my death) Whatever the reason, I was sure more would come. 3. Third, my crew. I could not be running about searching for my crew whilst I myself was being hunted. It was up to me to neutralize the enemy, making it possible to find my crew and leave the moon. (If their shuttle were still capable of hyper travel) I had to act fast. It was past nightfall and I would only have five hours of darkness to reach the landing site. R5 would have to stay behind, as his presence would slow me down. Besides, his data banks carried evidence of a spy in Galvestooine's shipyards. I propped up a blaster rifle aimed out of the entrance of the cave. Using wire I pulled from the shuttle, I hard wired the trigger mechanism into R5 through one of his access panels. R5 bleeped a query to me. "Yes R5, I'm well aware you are not a war droid and that this 'looks' like it violates your primary programming, but don't worry. I've already thought of that years ago. It's going to be alright." After inspecting the blaster rifle's security, and being satisfied, I grabbed my equipment and exited the cave. After being sure to be clear of the entrance, I spoke into my spacesuit's microphone. "R5D7, Command override, Beta seven niner. Command shutdown and restart, stasis mode. Visual impulse reflex action only. Activate." The trap was set. It was crude, but anyone foolish enough to enter the cave without first carefully inspecting it, would catch the full effects of a blaster rifle set to full charge. The thirty kilometer trek was long and treaturous. Made of foothills and boulders mostly. I couldn't even see where I was stepping. The space suit was not designed for these conditions and had no night vision capabilities. I had to use the macrobinoculars at normal magnification for nighttime use. Viewing through them pressed against my helmet proved to be a real treat. "Where is a platoon of storm troopers when you need them?" I found myself complaining. I finally reached my destination near daybreak. Behind a small boulder, I crouched and viewed the shuttle's portside stern quarter. The boarding ramp was down! Suddenly I got a sickening suspicion. I turned, half expecting to see a platoon of New Republic troops behind me with their blasters drawn. I saw nothing. I scanned the area looking for a picket defense, hasty position, foxhole, motion sensors, or even a cannon emplacement for support fire in case of a ground assault. "Nothing," I said as I felt a smile creep across my face. "They don't appear to be prepared for ANY form of attack." My smile died quickly as I watched someone emerge from the shuttle. The form was bundled up to protect him/herself from the biting wind, making it difficult to tell what the gender was of the person I was observing. I zoomed in the macrobinoculars for a closer look. "That's not winter gear they're wearing, that's a pilot's flight suit!" I exclaimed to myself. The pilot moved over to a conical object standing just beyond the shuttle's nose. I focused in on the object. "A probe? Yes, a probe. Possibly a pulse probe. But why? And why is that fighter pilot here?" What happened next took me by complete surprise. I was trying to decide what type of probe it must have been when the pilot went nova and began beating the probe mercilessly with a hydro spanner. After his fit of rage, the pilot sank to his knees, holding his sides as though he were in great pain and trying hard to breathe. After catching his breath, (I decided he must be male after this display) he recovered his tool and half-staggered back to his ship. The situation was becoming more clear now. The pilot was injured and if he was doing outside work, then he must be one of the most able-bodied personnel on the ship. The probe was a pulse probe and would soon be deployed to send a distress signal. Meaning the ship was incapable of hyper travel. Judging by the pilot's attack on the probe, it was probably of Correlian made, and if he hit it hard enough, it was probably ready to launch. The sun had fully cleared the horizon and the wind had soon changed from a freezing blast to a heated breeze. I made my way to a boulder that was larger in size to get a better view of the front of the ship. No sooner than I had found my vantage point, a speeder bike's engine whine screamed to life. I looked from around by boulder and watched as another rebel sped off on an Imperial speeder bike. Perhaps it was the sand in the burning breeze blocking my vision, but the driver of the bake couldn't have been over much more than on meter tall! At the foot of the shuttle's ramp, stood the injured pilot, watching the speeder disappear. After the speeder bike was gone, the pilot turned to make his way back up into the ship. I swallowed hard. "Now's my chance." I said to myself. I felt my joints move and could feel my arms hefting the blaster rifle as I charged after the ship. For these long moments, nothing felt real. It was as though it were only a dream. As I reached the foot of the r4amp, I pointed my rifle up into the ship and fired. The rebel fell towards me clutching his blaster which discharged three times in my general direction before his limp form lay face down, half dangling from the top of the ramp. I didn't have time to inspect his body. I rushed into the ship and...and...and nothing. No one was here. I looked into the cockpit. No one was there either! No sign of patrols, troops, or technical support. Not even a droid! "Ha!!...HAHAHAHAHAHAaaaaa! This was too easy!" I exclaimed. I stopped myself and regained my composure at my own last remark. Time enough for revelry upon my return to the ISD Death's Head. The first thing I did was inspect the rebel pilot's body. I went outside and rolled the pilot's body up onto the gangplank, climbed back up into the shuttle, and pulled the unfortunate pilot into the ship by his ankles. I had no binders, so I used a set of restraints to tie his hands and feet together. I then searched his body for weapons and spoke to him as I worked. "When we get back to Ambria, you're going to wish I had set that rifle to kill. It's really unfortunate for you that I need a prisoner to find out exactly who sent you." Having said that, I closed the air lock and boarding ramp. The cockpit was a sty. Litter was everywhere. As I read the damages at the technical station, I had to clear a half-eaten fruit from the display. The ship on the other hand was in fair condition, with the exception being the hyperdrive's motivator being damaged. I smiled to myself. "R5 can fix that." I said. It was at this time I noticed the red trouble light on the communications terminal. "Tachyon signal? From where?!" I switched the display to show the signal's point of origin. "Three hundred and forty-eight point seven kilometers due south...Commander Yhorbion!" I didn't know how they did it, but a definite signal was coming from the command module of the Athame. Some one else had survived the crash. I quickly turned to the pilot's console and begun to initiate engine start up procedures. Looking outsid4e through the main view screen, I spied the pulse probe. "Damn, I have to recover that thing before I leave here." Hastily, I left the ship at warm up and went outside to retrieve the probe. Several long moments later, the probe lay on the deck in the passenger seating area. The shuttle soon lifted off into the wind. I reached the source of the signal within minutes and sure enough, there was the cockpit to my ship. As the wreck came into view, I saw an explosion just north of the crash site. I circled low to investigate. There looked to be an exchange of blaster fire. I flew over to a stable looking clearing and landed the ship. No sooner had the shuttle touched down, than when I heard a voice from behind me. "YOU'RE THE SORRY BASTARD WHO KILLED MY A-WING!!!!" I spun around with blaster in hand and just as I brought my weapon to bear on its target, that's when the hydro spanner met with the space between my eyes. To be continued??

Chapter X

Without warning the Shuttle alarms sounded and the on board computer announced "Internal compartment ignition detected!!" Rep spun around and to his horror the pulse probe was about to launch!!! The pulse probe computer sounded the count down 20sec 19sec 18sec. He quickly jumped into the tactical station and feverishly pounded on the computers keyboard as the clock ticked down 10-9-8.suddenly the passenger compartment was filled with ethylene gas which was used for the ships coolant system and in a emergency used as a fire retardant. The pulse probe sensing this quick drop in temp initiated a shutdown circuit programs with only 2secs till its engines fired!!! Rep barley able to breath or move grabbed his unconscious captive and stumbled out the Shuttle ramp removing the blaster in his near frozen hand. Rep postulated the pulse probe possibly still could be fired after the gas cleared the shuttle compartment in about 30-45mins, but what of his ewokian friend? This was getting to be more of a job than the tried veteran was accustoms to! Aslan regained consciousness at the whine of a shuttle engine it was his ship!! His flight suit was tattered and he had been hit in the right shoulder by a blaster, the shock from the blast caused him to go unconscious he thought. Carefully and painfully he sat up and looked around and saw the body of a Imperial pilot a few clicks away. But where was the other one, he was sure there was 2 at least. That's when his blood ran cold! Behind him he heard the steel cold voice behind him growl "Don't move rebel scum or your dead!" The ewok cautiously turned around and saw a rather large imperial solider behind him holding a blaster pistol in his direction. He was injured in the left thigh and had a crude bandage wrapped around it. "Yes ewok you got me but I got you too so I guess that makes us even!" "I am glad I didn't kill you, cause I need you to help me get that shuttle over there so lets go!" Aslan could see that the pilots was a navigator and his name on his uniform indicated he was Jr.Lt. Tagryyl Praxihl Rep tied up his captive and now the shuttle seemed to be safe for entry. As he entered in the shuttle seemed to have faired well except for the nice white frosting in the rear passenger compartment and that asinine corellian probe sitting there bleeping in the standby mode. He grudgingly pulled the probe outside his ribs now feeling like a giant crab pinching his chest, he put the probe in its launch position and reset the cycle and prepared to start it! Before the final button was pressed he exclaimed "By the maker you better work this time or I stop paying Rebel dues!!" Rep stood back at a distance and the Probe Fired up and finally launch !! "Yeah Yeah!!" Rep exclaimed. But this was cut short by 2 blast of a blaster and a shout "Drop your weapon Reb!!" It was Praxihl and the with a pistol at Aslans head ! Rep dropped his weapon and growled to himself "This day really isn't going well at all!!". I wish you hadn't launched that probe, stated Praxihl . "But its done now so we need to get you and my commander out of here and if you don't help I will start killing you one by one starting here with the Ewok!" Aslan growled and Praxihl shoved him forward. "You Reb grab the commander and lets get him on board!" shouted Praxihl at Rep and so they entered the Shuttle. On board Praxihl made sure that the 2 rebs were in the pilot seats as he sat behind them with his blaster ready for any funny business. Praxihl realized that the hyperdrive was not functioning correctly but hoped he could get out of the area of the moon and try to summon help and possibly fix the hyper-drive while in space. The Shuttle took off with a thud and a rumble and move out of the moons atmosphere. When it cleared the moons atmosphere the Shuttle Lurched and alarms sounded!! Praxihl shouted "what the hell is going on!!" At that moment Aslan hit the anti-gravity relay off. Rep turned and swatted the gun from Praxihl hand and what looked like a clumsy ballet the 2 struggled for an instance. Without warning Aslan re-initiated the gravity and the 2 fell to the deck of the shuttle and Praxihl stuck his head and was knocked unconscious! Rep Groaned and cursed and than laughed and said " Ewok next time maybe you can find an easier way to let me down" Their laughter was broken by a joyful and unexpected transmission!! "Shuttle RX5150 this is Rebel leader Azis and Shuttle RX69U2 do you need assistance??". The Shuttle commander was none other than Admiral Zarathos "Aslan where the ^*%%& you been??" "Are you ok?". Aslan and Rep both felt a great relief and went on to tell there rescuers of there plight and got a tow back to the FMP-N-287 Station which now in rebel control since the take over there by our operatives.

Chapter XI

As commodore Obiwan released the comlink button summoning Lt.Shaggy and Lt.Garrick to hanger bay 0-9 he glanced down to notice that he had crumpled the Z95's data sheets into his fist. "Damn", he thought to himself. "This is gonna be a rough one." Obiwan wasn't quit sure if he was correct in keeping this mission to rescue Capt.Pynagean out of the Grand Admirals knowledge. "Ahh balderdash". he said out loud. I'v got to say something." relaxing his clenched hand he dropped the papers on his desk. A button was pushed that commanded the attention of the Sidious' communications officer. "Lt.Zarmisk, get me the G.A., it's urgent." 'Right away sir", came the reply. Obiwan knew he had a few minutes to contemplate what he was going to say.. or not say to Thrawn. Sooner than he expected his comm buzzer rang. It was Thrawns secretary. "The grand Admiral will see you in his office now sir." Obiwan took a deep breath and began his walk precicely 337 steps to the office of the Grand Admiral. He noticed a picture next to the door as he exited his office. A worried smile came over the comodores face as he let his memory sink back to the day that picture was taken. It was Pynageans 30th birthday party. He could almost hear the bleary eyed laughter as the 2 intoxicated friends arm wrestled while Morgyn was pouring a blass of dew over both Pynageans and Obiwan's heads. ..."damn"..."I'm coming man...I'm coming" And with that Obi took the necessary steps to the the GA's office. Obiwan noticed the rare occasion that Thrawns door was open. The admiral must have heard Obiwan approaching because as he reached the bulkhead Obiwan could hear Thrawn inside. "Come in. Have a seat." As the commodore entered the expansive office his heart nearly froze in his chest. There on the admirals desk were coppies of the data sheets retrieved from the rebel Z95. Before Obiwan could say anything except "Ummm"..The Grand admiral began with a few words of his own. "Looks like we have a situation here... I'd say assuming these data specs are authentic we have a good chance of finding that rebel outpost." Obiwan sighed a breath and thought it interesting that Thrawn didn't mention anything about Pynagean. Does he think the captain is already dead? Obiwan continued, "I would definately agree Sir. But are you saying that these coordinates may be false?" The commodore was alrteady beginning to get a mental picture of what the GA was saying. Thrawn went on,.." I supose you're not going to take a seat then? "No Sir, Id rather stand at the moment" The GA looked at Obiwan with more expression in his face than the commodore could figure out all at once. "Well Obi, consider that that Z95's flight recorder was MEANT to be found. We can't put it past these rebels that that indeed is the case. I am aware of the implications that these could mean that Capt Pynagean is alive. However,. this could be a trap. If I call in our sister ship the Tigers Claw to send a fleet of fighters and rescue crew...it could be a trap. An ambush." The admirals face sunk down to glance at the implicating data. "Any suggestions Commodore?" Obiwan mentally chewed his tongue. And decided to take this one a bit slow. "You could be right,..but then given the information Capt. Pynagean was carrying, I think the rebels must have been tipped off as to its importance. And if they knew that sir, then it is unlikely that they would have simply killed him." "I recieved a transmission from the Deaths Head that Pyn's shuttle was intercepted by a group of A-wings and X-wings. The decoy shuttle was destroyed and by implication so was Capt Pynagean's. But as you know, we... I mean, I, assume differently." Obiwan held the admirals gaze as he took a breath. "There", he thought to himself, "I've sown the seed." Thrawn took up the mantle, "This is sopmewhat of an impass my friend. I do not necessarily agree with the assumption that pynnagean is still alive, however it doesn't make this situation any clearer or easier. This could still be a trap. If I send in the Tigers Claw, or the Deaths Head to these supposed coorinates for the rebel base and its an ambush even with the amount of firepower we have we would take considerable and intolerable losses." the admiral sat heavily in his chair. "and whats more, when our presence is known near the rebel base,... if even it IS in fact there, the rebels would most likely kill Pynagean then and there, and THAT is IF he is still alive!" Obiwan could see the frustration mounting on the face of his friend and commanding officer. "So many lives at steak," he thought to himself,... "and he has known Pynagean longer than I have." I see it wasn't thoughtlessness that he failed to mention Pyn earlier. It was sadness. Sadness that Pyn may be dead already, and sadness that many other lives may be lost in the attempt to rescue him. "Sir...Thrawn," Obiwan said in a low voice. The commodore had decided, in light of the obvious difficulties and atendant emotions to tell his friend and grand admiral of his plan. "Don't call in the Deaths Head. Don't call in the Tigers Claw. I have discussed these problems with a couple of our best men. And I want to go get Pynagean. I will take only 3 other men with me. I have a plan." -Obiwan held his breath. Thinking he should have something more to say,.. or at least have said what he did a bit differently. Thrawn's head shot up to catch Obiwans eyes full square. Obiwan sat down now. "A PLAN?!! You have a PLAN?!" The words of the GA were suprisingly solid considering the lkow volume at which Thrawn spike them. "You think I am going to let my 2nd in command take 3 of my best pilots into a death trap?! I may have already lost one friend and one hel of a good officer! Do you actually think I am going to allow the possibility of losing another? By the rancor's breath Obiwan...You must be insane or think that I am." The commodore was certain that there was a fist smashing against a desk somewhere in that speach. "As commanding officer of The Order of the Black Saber, you do NOT , I repeat DO NOT have my permission to take this flight of fancy of yours into what very likely is a waiting guillotine for your neck!" Obiwan's heart did that stopping thing again. He sat directly across and not 3 feet from the admirals face. Unblinking, His chest swelled. Perhaps it wasnt such a good idea after all to tell Thrawn about his plan, he thought. And that is about the extent of the thinking he could do at the moment. So he began talking instead. "Yes sir,... I understand." Obiwan's mind whirled. Suprisingly enough, Thrawn wasn't finished. "I just hope I have made my official position clear Commodore Obiwan." -the commodore nodded, his eyes now cast down slightly. "Now do us all a favour and get your ass out of my office before I throw you down a garbage shute." Thrawn gave a cursory and sharp salute."Dismissed." Obiwan hesitated. There MUST be something he could say. Something that could at least crack Thrawn's extreme objection to a small manned rescue attempt. But finally, the man had a point. An irrefutable one in fact. The commodore rose from his chair opposite the admiral and glanced at the door as he slowly headed toward it. Obiwan's fingertips grazed the surface of the desk as he stood up and began walking to the exit. "But unofficially," Obiwan heard the voice behind him. "I want that man back here." The commodore froze in his tracks. Not certain whether or not to turn around. Thrawns voice was heard once again. "I don't know what you are waiting for Commodore. I suspect Commander Aule is waiting for you in hanger bay 0-9. And if I am not mistaken, I saw Lt.Shaggy and Lt.Garrick heading down that way as well... And tell them I wish them luck in the TRAINING EXCERCISES you four are doing." Thrawn's head turned down immediately to his desk at the stack of paperwork laid atop it. With a wry smile Obiwan gave a crisp "Yes Sir" accompanied by a salute to the back of Grand Admiral Thrawn's head. And all at once stepped out of the office toward the turbo lift that would take him down to the briefing room in hanger bay 0-9. Sitting in front of his TD in hangar bay 0-9 Aule Jr is just wondering what takes this long for Obiwan to come from his office to the bay when he hears the call for LT Shaggy...Right after the call Obiwan steps in the hangar bay and smiles with his whole face. "Dont ask me what ive done...I talked to Thrawn cause my loyality forced me to do it...He didnt give me the order to go after Pyn...He didnt give me the permission for that mission...but he told me to make a practice close to the last destination Pyns shuttle has last been...U know what that means my friend?" "YAHOOOOOO" was Aule Jr´s only answer before he steped to his TD to make the last checks before the start while Obiwan wents into his office to take on his pilot suit...

After Obiwan and Shaggy got their fighters ready they got the permission to start their training flight and started... Hypered shortly out of the range of the Sidious they stopped for a little briefing of the mission... "Aule and Shaggy...i made a little plan for this mission...its less a plan its more a thinking of how things could work...the coordinates for the next hyper jump that will lead u 2 directly in the heart of the system we think Pyn should be held in r in ur puters...each of ur TDs got a new cloaking device...that r prototypes and have never been tested...the person that builted theme in told that they should burn out after 10 mins...maybe less...so u will hyper directly in the system and turn on the cloaking device right before u jump out of hyperspace...then u try to reach the station that should be at that positiuon..." "What about possible fighter resistance?" Aule Jr askes..."Our inteligence reports that there should be nearly no fighter or cap ship cover around the station and the station stands alone in the free space...no star or planet near it...This datas r about 1 week old so be carefull...it could have changed..." "What should we do when we reached the station?" Shaggy wonders..."Aule Jr tries to land and sneek in and u will stay close to the station...and when i say close i mean about 1 or half a meter away from the hull...so u wont be on their sensors and can cover Aule Jr when he got Pyn and starts..." "But how will Aule Jr find him?" "Guess he knows...he has once been arrested in this station so he should really know where the cells r..." "What? Is this the Talemoon station? Hell...I really wondered what it was...I remembered there was something with this coordinates..." "So will u find Pyn in their?" Obiwan askes Aule..."Hell, sure i will...They got me 3 long years in there...i remember every inch in the station...If Pyn is in there i will find him...I promise...I WILL find him!" "OK...Aule...I got a second pilot suit in ur TD...Let Pyn take it on right after u started...There wont be much space in ur TD and u wont have enough space to fly in fight maneuvers...but u got to try to get out there save...and thats the point when Shaggy and me get into my plan... I will stay right out of the sensor reach with my TB and wait there for 10 mins....Then I´ll hyper with my TB into the system...U got to have Pyn save in ur TD after this 10 mins, cause I´ll fire all my heavy rockets on the station and jump out of the system to the following coordinates...The main part of mybomber compartment is rigged to suport live so I wont have enough rockets to hardly damage the station with my attack, but it should bring u a couple of seconds...the seconds u need to hyper out" Obiwan transfers the coordinates to Aule and Shaggy "There I will wait for ya...Shaggy....u got to cover Aule on his way to the hyper point...Then u will bothe hyper to the coordinates I did send u...There Pyn will step out of ur TD...his pilot suit should make it possible for him to hold the vacuum for a couple of mins...and I´ll catch him with my tractor beam and bring him into my bomber compartment... Then u got enough space in ur TD to maneuver, so Shaggy wouldnt have to fly cover alone if the Rebs should follow us...Then we will take 3 more hyper jumps back to the Sidious. Thats my plan-" "OK my friends...lets go, kick some Rebel asses and get our old friend Pyn back...I really wanna kick those Rebel Asses that took me away one of my best friends!" Aule Jr shouted out and Shaggy and Obiwan get a major grin on their face while bothe say at the same time "Lets go get him back!" Then they turn for the hyper point and jump out to the station... Shaggy was deep in thought when Obiwan yelled over the intercom."Lt. Shaggy get down to 0-9 hanger on the duble and bring your flight suit with u." With out even waiting to see if he was done yelling i crabed my gear and was half way there in about the time it took Com. Obiwan to turn his commlink off. Getting into the hanger, Shaggy sees some of his good pals and wonders what is going on. Aule runs up to me all excited about something. Shaggy thinks to him self "i have never seen him acted this way before, something has got him all wired and ready to go." Com. Obiwan turns towards me and askes if i am ready for this. Not realy knowing what he was talking about, Shaggy says yes and soon after was going through pre-flight check ups. Turning around, Shaggy looks at Aule and aske what is going on. Aule just smiles and says"we are finaly going!!!!" Still lost, Shaggy gets up and walks to the Commador's office and asks to see him. Waiting just a minute for two before Shaggy was let in to see him, Shaggy started thinking about what could be realy going on. Shutting the door behind me when entering Obiwan's office, I turn to ask him what is the happs, but before i could he stopps me by saying that we are going after a friend of ours that has been lost. Not realy knowing how to respond, Shaggy shakesa his head and exclaims "but didnt the GA say that we couldnt act on this?" "That is a yes and a no answer" Obiwan responds "He said that he cant let us go after him, but we have been schedule fopr an training exercise right next to the last location Pyn has been at" Shaggy starts to realize what is going on and ask to be dismissed. Before walking out the door Shaggy turns around and salutes like he has never done before. "Thank you Sir, you might have just saved my job here with OBS. I was thinking about taking one of the new Tie defenders and go after him." Getting back to the hanger, Shaggy turns towards the rest of the crew and couldnt help but let out a big YAHOoo!!!!. "Gentlman, we are going out for an exirsize today. So be ready for any thing and be ready to lock and load if need be."

Chapter XII

Recovering from a long night of drinking, I was approached by Garrick. He wanted to know if I wanted to go do some turkey shooting. "Sure, It would be a fun time." So we both jumped into our T/F and taxied out of the hanger into the great beyond. Sitting there in the cockpit, I realized I really don't know how to fly these darn things much. "Shaggy to Garrick, think we should head back to the hang..." but before I finish, he broke in with a message of his own. "Garrick to Shaggy, We got a couple unfriendlys heading our way what should we do?" " Hold position and let me think about this a sec." Checking my sensors, I realized that the two craft heading our way had locked their protons onto us and were about to fire. " FIRE, and don't hold anything back." Locking one in my sights I pulled the trigger and watched the little Z-95 explode into nothing. Turning my craft into the next target, and realizing it was gone also. "What was that all about? I haven't seen any other craft in our space for awhile." "I don't know Shag, but think we should head back to the hanger and report this." "Roger that"

It was a morning like any other. The fighter craft were for the most part recovered and operational having been recently deployed for WoW. Sub-Lt.D'orjahl was performing a diagnostics test on a TIE Fighters cannon system as two suited up pilots strode over head on the cat-walk to their prospective craft. Glancing up out of the cockpit of the TIE the Lieutenant thought to himself, "morons, why the Empire ever invested in nothing more than two tiny ion engines strapped to a pair of cannons is beyond me. The only thing nuttier than that is the pilots (if you can call them that) who fly them." D'orjahl finished his test with satisfactory results. "If I didn't know better, I'd say that one of those pilots was almost staggering. Too long in the pilots lounge would be my guess. Pfft, morons." The hangar evacuation signal came on to clear the landing bay, and the Sub-Lt. carried his equipment pack to the safety lock so the two TIE Fighters could be launched. D'orjahl watched through the window as the two fighters were hurled into the void via tractor beam. "Good luck guys, and have fun." Soon the hangar was back to normal. The technicians buzzing about the fighters and clean up crews, policing up small spills. Sub-Lt.D'orjahl was well into removing an ION engine from a TIE Interceptor when the general quarters alarm screamed to life. "Awe, now what!" Dropping everything he ran to the safety lock and met up with his fellow technicians. "What's going on?" D'orjahl asked the Lieutenant Commander. "I don't know yet." Came the reply. "My guess is we're under attack" The LC ordered the technicians to their posts as he spoke into a comlink. "Lt.D'orjahl, you stay here and tend to the ships that come in." D'orjahl turned to the window and stared at the fighters that left not more than half an hour ago, now sporting battle scars. "HEY! THAT'S HELL DRIVER TWO! THAT SHIP WAS BRAND NEW! DAMMIT SHAGGY YOU DRUNK BASTARD!" The Sub-Lt. then looked to the other ship. "AND THAT'S THE NEW GUY GARRICK! THAT SHIP DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A DESIGNATION YET! WHAT KIND OF TRAINING ARE YOU GIVING SHAGGY! ASTEROID NEGOTIATION! I BUILT THAT SHIP OUT OF FIVE DIFFERENT CANNIBAL CASES! IT WAS PRACTICALLY NEW!" Before long the pilots were led away from there ships, by a medical team and D'orjahl ran to the wounded space craft. "Hmm. Some scorching but pretty much unharmed. Well time to do the Data logs." D'orjahl gathered his gear and set to work downloading the fighter's data from the battle computers. "Wow, this is interesting" he told himself as he scanned through the information. "I wonder if they realize just what they ran into out there..." Reaching into his equipment satchel, D'orjahl pulls out a banana and eats it while downloading the data from the second TIE Fighter.

Totally surprised about the Data he got from the 2 TF he wonders whom to report to. This Data is so hot that he normally would have to report to GA Thrawn directly, but its about the lost Cpt. Pynaegen and he knows that he was one of Cmd Aule Jr´s best friends within the fleet. Therefore he decides to first talk unofficial with Cmd Aule Jr. about the Data he found... Leading his steps to Aule Jr´s office he looks still on the Data and tries to find out what this could finally mean... Reaching the office he steps in, salutes, and takes a seat..."I got some possible good news for u about Pyn"...Aule Jr. jumps up "What? U got good News about Pyn? What is it?" "Yes Sir...What I do know is totally unofficial...I never should report this first...but I know that Pyn has been one of ur best Fri." "Don't wait this long... tell me what kind of news u got" Aule Jr. stops the long speech D'orjal wanted to start as always. "Ok...2 pilots where on a patrol with TF today. They met 2 Rebel Z95 Headhunter. The first ships within this system since months..." "And what's so special with this 2 Z95...I cant see it" Aule Jr. asks. "Let me tell u everything I found out before u ask again please." "OK, go on. I won't stop u again." "The special thing with this 2 Z95 is that they got the same ID signal as 2 Z95 of the Rebel group who attacked the shuttle bringing Pynaegen back. I guess the only thing that we can get out of this is, that some of the people missing from the crew of the shuttle must have survived and been captured by the Rebels. I guess the Rebels forced some of them to talk about our station here... Maybe the Cpt survived too..." "WHAT? U think some of our people within the shuttle could have survived?" "Yes Sir. That's the only way the Rebels could have found out about our station here..." "U got some Data where this Z95 came from?" "Nope...Sorry...But maybe the flight recorder of one of the Z95 can be found on the place where this little fight with the 2 TF took place. " "Ok...Thank for informing me...Now go and report. " D'orjal stands up, salutes and leaves the CD Ale Jr. alone knowing that Ale Jr. would do everything possible to get his friend Pynaegan back.

Alone in his office again Ale Jr. is thinking of how to use this Data and if it is really possible that Pynaegan is still alive...Then he got an Idea.... I got to talk to Obiwan about it, maybe he will fly out with me to find Pynaegan again, "Hello my friend...take a seat...Nice to see u again..." Obiwan says as Ale Jr. steps in his office. As he sees the Eyes of his friend full of problems he asks, "What's going on? U got any Probs?" "Yes Obi...I need your help...But this is absolutely unofficial!" "Ok...no problem my friend...u know that I would ever help u when I can..." Then Aule Jr. starts to tell Obiwan everything about the short fight this morning, the Data D'orjal got out of this and that D'orjal thinks that some of the Shuttle crew could have survived... "Wow...That r good News I guess...but what's the prob?" " I don't know what to do...It takes always this long after such news till the Data r studied, attack plans r made and the fleet is on its way to save the survivors. Maybe Pyn doesn't have this time. Can u help me to get him out of this on our own? I know it is a damn hard question, but u know that Pyn is the same good friend for me as u r. Will u help me?" "Sure will I help u mien Freud! U know I would really help u every time I can...but tell me please how to do it this time?" Obiwan answered on Aules Question with a smile on his face... Totally overwhelmed that he finally got his friend to help him Aule Jr. draws his plan how to find and help Pyn... "We got to get out there and find one of the Z95´s flight recorders first...we need to know where they came from. And we need to start ASAP." "Then lets go...I will be in the hangar within 5 mins...I guess it will get great fun to fly with u again..." "I hope that one flight recorder survived the fight and we can find it." "I'm sure we will."

Reaching the coordinates D'orjal gave to Aule Jr. there were multiple small parts of the former Z95 showing that the 2 OBS pilots did great work in distorting the 2 Rebel crafts...But most of this parts were nearly as small as Dust... "Aule JR....I got something that might be interesting...wait...Ill get it with the Tractor Beam of my TI" "Ok..." "I got it...It's what we've been looking for...It's the flight recorder of one of the Z95´s and its still working...YAHOO" "Ok...lets fly back and look what we can get out of this..."

Back on the SSD Sidious they try to get the Data out of the flight recorder..."This mad Rebels...They never learned to spent enough money an Techniques to cover their Data suavely...Here we got the coordinates of the station this 2 Z95 came from." Obiwan says... "What we do know? Should we try to get Thrawn to make a big attack on the Rebel station or should we try to get a plan of our own to save the possible survivors? I would prefer to do it on our own cause a small 2 man group could sneak in there much easier then a big amount of people. We 2 didn't have such an adventure together for a long long time...guess it could be like in old times..." "Ok...lets try it out on our own...But lets take Shaggy with us...he is a great pilot and could help us with this adventure..." Obiwan agrees... "OK...Lets go and find him...I guess we should start immediately after getting everything we need for this little trip" Aule JR says...for the first time with a smile on his face since he heard about Pyn being missing... " Ale, I knew there was a good reason you came back." Obiwan says with a smile as Aule prepares to exit the office. Commander Aule turns on his heals and with a bit of enthusiastic fanfare gives Obiwan a salute. "Indeed sir, indeed" -and with that Aule's footsteps are heard sprinting down the hall. Obiwan centered his thoughts. There was something strange in the force... A ripple... Somewhere. This had happened so fast, and with a bit of luck as well. ""Funny how things work," he thought to himself. After that last transmission from the Deaths Head, I wasn't sure what to think. And now this." (I still have yet to relate to Aule or even the GA about that transmission.) Shivers went up the Commodores spine. Once again turning to the immediate task at hand he clicked the button on his desk's console, raising his secretary. "Get me sub.lt D'orjahl. Make it private and make it fast." "Yes sir" came the reply. Despite his attitude there was something about D'orjahl that Obiwan liked. "Perhaps it was the fact that id the Sub.lt. Had worked on his people skills a bit more it may have been him in this chair instead of me." Obiwan thought as he went over the data sheets once again. "Nevertheless, I only tolerate his close calls with insubordination because,"... "You Rang Sire?" A voice rang out from just outside the office door. Obiwan spoke out loud. " That tone of speech could have only come from one man." Turning toward the door there was a slightly greasy and surpassingly nan-chalant D'Orjahl. Banana in hand. "Come in SubLt. have a seat" "Yes sire" - he said again. "And Stop it with the 'Sire'", Obiwan persisted as D'Orjahl sat at the desk. 'Whatever you say Me lord" -D'orjahl quipped Shaking his head Obiwan decided to let that slide and get to the point. " I don't think I have to tell you what I called here for do I?" As the Commodore took his seat with out losing eye contact with D'Orjahl. Sensing what was going on D'Orjahl slowed his chewing and tensed a bit. "No sir, not at all." "Good, then let's skip the small talk. I need 3 TA's equipped with Ions, as much blaster power as you can muster and I need them now. And I need one T/B with the bomber compartment rigged to support life" The Sublet's brow went all wrinkles, "but,... Sir?"......"and why the T/B modification?" "Oh Yes" Obiwan continued, " and I need 2 of those with cloaking devices." this last comment caused D'Orjahl to break out in a laugh, almost losing on the commodores desk what banana he hadn't already swallowed. "sir!!! they don't make cloaking devices for such small craft!" *cough *cough* choke* "Yes Lt., I know THEY don't,... Obiwan stared at the Mechanic... " But I know YOU do." D'orjahl's face went pale. His Banana dropped to the ground. I know every inch of this ship' D;orjahl thought to himself.. And every security action that takes place. there's no way He could ave known I was working on that... no way at all. And besides, I am not doing it for anyone's glory. I figure if I make these craft invisible a lot of the time, then that mean less damage and that make my job a lot easier. If this guy thinks I am working on these cloaking devices so these butterball-weak minded-glory seeking-wannabe's don't get themselves killed then he's got another thing coming "Well?" It was the Commodore's voice bringing him out of his thoughts. D'Orjahl backpedaled, " Well, I don't know how you know that Sire,... But I can see what I can do. And I do also suppose that you know these "things" I am working on are not fool proof. I mean they'd HAVE to be fool proof in order to put them in the hands of any of these space-morons,.. besides... they don't work but for ten minutes then they go out. Well, burnt out, is more like it. So I don't see how they'll be doing any body much good." "Well, for one thing, I DIDNT know what you were working on, I guessed. And as for the Morons, SubLt. ...I'll be filling one of those slots,... and God willing Capt. Pynagean will be filling that bomber compartment and on his way home in a short time. You do your Job and Ill do mine." Obiwan bent down to pick up the banana from the floor and unceremoniously stuffed it into D'Orjahl's pocket. The SubLt. was about to have something to say about that when Obiwan interrupted him. "And one last thing D'Orjahl...Keep this out of the GA's ears." It must have been "out of the GA's ears",.. that made D'Orjahl smile with a bit of twinkle in his eye. "I'm on it." And with that the mechanic bolted out of the office with almost as much enthusiasm as Aule had. the Commodore decided not ever to mention that he left without being dismissed, or even saluting. Shaking his head again Obiwan pushed yet another button on his console. "Lt.Garrick and Lt. Shaggy please report to hanger bay 0-9, immediately." ***************to be continued********** As commodore Obiwan released the comlink button summoning Lt.Shaggy and Lt.Garrick to hanger bay 0-9 he glanced down to notice that he had crumpled the Z95's data sheets into his fist. "Damn", he thought to himself. "This is gonna be a rough one." Obiwan wasn't quit sure if he was correct in keeping this mission to rescue Capt.Pynagean out of the Grand Admirals knowledge. "Ah balderdash". he said out loud. I've got to say something." relaxing his clenched hand he dropped the papers on his desk. A button was pushed that commanded the attention of the Sidious' communications officer. "Lt.Zarmisk, get me the G.A., it's urgent." 'Right away sir", came the reply. Obiwan knew he had a few minutes to contemplate what he was going to say.. or not say to Thrawn. Sooner than he expected his Comm buzzer rang. It was Thrawns secretary. "The grand Admiral will see you in his office now sir." Obiwan took a deep breath and began his walk precisely 337 steps to the office of the Grand Admiral. He noticed a picture next to the door as he exited his office. A worried smile came over the commodores face as he let his memory sink back to the day that picture was taken. It was Pynageans 30th birthday party. He could almost hear the bleary eyed laughter as the 2 intoxicated friends arm wrestled while Morgyn was pouring a glass of dew over both Pynageans and Obiwan's heads. ..."damn"..."I'm coming man...I'm coming" And with that Obi took the necessary steps to the GA's office. Obiwan noticed the rare occasion that Thrawns door was open. The admiral must have heard Obiwan approaching because as he reached the bulkhead Obiwan could hear Thrawn inside. "Come in. Have a seat." As the commodore entered the expansive office his heart nearly froze in his chest. There on the admiral's desk were copies of the data sheets retrieved from the rebel Z95. Before Obiwan could say anything except "Ummm"..The Grand admiral began with a few words of his own. "Looks like we have a situation here... I'd say assuming these data specs are authentic we have a good chance of finding that rebel outpost." Obiwan sighed a breath and thought it interesting that Thrawn didn't mention anything about Pynagean. Does he think the captain is already dead? Obiwan continued, "I would definitely agree Sir. But are you saying that these coordinates may be false?" The commodore was already beginning to get a mental picture of what the GA was saying. Thrawn went on,.." I suppose you're not going to take a seat then? "No Sir, Id rather stand at the moment" The GA looked at Obiwan with more expression in his face than the commodore could figure out all at once. "Well Obi, consider that that Z95's flight recorder was MEANT to be found. We can't put it past these rebels that that indeed is the case. I am aware of the implications that these could mean that Capt. Pynagean is alive. However, this could be a trap. If I call in our sister ship the Tigers Claw to send a fleet of fighters and rescue crew...it could be a trap. An ambush." The admiral's face sunk down to glance at the implicating data. "Any suggestions Commodore?" Obiwan mentally chewed his tongue. And decided to take this one a bit slow. "You could be right, but then given the information Capt. Pynagean was carrying, I think the rebels must have been tipped off as to its importance. And if they knew that sir, then it is unlikely that they would have simply killed him." "I received a transmission from the Deaths Head that Pyn's shuttle was intercepted by a group of A-wings and X-wings. The decoy shuttle was destroyed and by implication so was Capt. Pynagean's. But as you know, we... I mean, I, assume differently." Obiwan held the admiral's gaze as he took a breath. "There", he thought to him, "I've sown the seed." Thrawn took up the mantle, "This is somewhat of an impasse my friend. I do not necessarily agree with the assumption that Pynaegan is still alive, however it doesn't make this situation any clearer or easier. This could still be a trap. If I send in the Tigers Claw, or the Deaths Head to these supposed coordinates for the rebel base and its an ambush even with the amount of firepower we have we would take considerable and intolerable losses." the admiral sat heavily in his chair. "and what's more, when our presence is known near the rebel base,... if even it IS in fact there, the rebels would most likely kill Pynagean then and there, and THAT is IF he is still alive!" Obiwan could see the frustration mounting on the face of his friend and commanding officer. "So many lives at steak," he thought to himself,... "and he has known Pynagean longer than I have." I see it wasn't thoughtlessness that he failed to mention Pyn earlier. It was sadness. Sadness that Pyn may be dead already, and sadness that many they lives may be lost in the attempt to rescue him. "Sir...Thrawn," Obiwan said in a low voice. The commodore had decided, in light of the obvious difficulties and attendant emotions to tell his friend and grand admiral of his plan. "Don't call in the Deaths Head. Don't call in the Tigers Claw. I have discussed these problems with a couple of our best men. And I want to go get Pynagean. I will take only 3 other men with me. I have a plan." -Obiwan held his breath. Thinking he should have something more to say,.. or at least have said what he did a bit differently. Thrawn's head shot up to catch Obiwan eyes full square. Obiwan sat down now. "A PLAN?!! You have a PLAN?!" The words of the GA were surpassingly solid considering the low volume at which Thrawn spike them. "You think I am going to let my 2nd in command take 3 of my best pilots into a death trap?! I may have already lost one friend and one hell of a good officer! Do you actually think I am going to allow the possibility of losing another? By the rancor's breath Obiwan...You must be insane or think that I am." The commodore was certain that there was a fist smashing against a desk somewhere in that speech. "As commanding officer of The Order of the Black Saber, you do NOT , I repeat DO NOT have my permission to take this flight of fancy of yours into what very likely is a waiting guillotine for your neck!" Obiwan's heart did that stopping thing again. He sat directly across and not 3 feet from the admiral's face. Unblinking, His chest swelled. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea after all to tell Thrawn about his plan, he thought. And that is about the extent of the thinking he could do at the moment. So he began talking instead. "Yes sir,... I understand." Obiwan's mind whirled. Surpassingly enough, Thrawn wasn't finished. "I just hope I have made my official position clear Commodore Obiwan." -the commodore nodded, his eyes now cast down slightly. "Now do us all a favor and get your ass out of my office before I throw you down a garbage chute." Thrawn gave a cursory and sharp salute. "Dismissed." Obiwan hesitated. There MUST be something he could say. Something that could at least crack Thrawn's extreme objection to a small manned rescue attempt. But finally, the man had a point. An irrefutable one in fact. The commodore rose from his chair opposite the admiral and glanced at the door as he slowly headed toward it. Obiwan's fingertips grazed the surface of the desk as he stood up and began walking to the exit. "But unofficially," Obiwan heard the voice behind him. "I want that man back here." The commodore froze in his tracks. Not certain whether or not to turn around. Thrawns voice was heard once again. "I don't know what you are waiting for Commodore. I suspect Commander Aule is waiting for you in hanger bay 0-9. And if I am not mistaken, I saw Lt.Shaggy and Lt.Garrick heading down that way as well... And tell them I wish them luck in the TRAINING EXCERCISES you four are doing." Thrawn's head turned down immediately to his desk at the stack of paperwork laid atop it. With a wry smile Obiwan gave a crisp "Yes Sir" accompanied by a salute to the back of Grand Admiral Thrawn's head. And all at once stepped out of the office toward the turbo lift that would take him down to the briefing room in hanger bay 0-9.

Sitting in front of his TD in hangar bay 0-9 Aule JR is just wondering what takes this long for Obiwan to come from his office to the bay when he hears the call for LT Shaggy...Right after the call Obiwan steps in the hangar bay and smiles with his whole face. "Don't ask me what I've done...I talked to Thrawn cause my loyalty forced me to do it...He didn't give me the order to go after Pyn...He didn't give me the permission for that mission...but he told me to make a practice close to the last destination Pyns shuttle has last been...U know what that means my friend?" "YAHOOOOOO" was Aule Jr´s only answer before he stepped to his TD to make the last checks before the start while Obiwan went into his office to take on his pilot suit...

Shaggy was deep in thought when Obiwan yelled over the intercom. "Lt. Shaggy get down to 0-9 hanger on the double and bring your flight suit with u." With out even waiting to see if he was done yelling I grabed my gear and was half way there in about the time it took Com. Obiwan to turn his comlink off. Getting into the hanger, Shaggy sees some of his good pals and wonders what is going on. Aule runs up to me all excited about something. Shaggy thinks to him self "I have never seen him acted this way before, something has got him all wired and ready to go." Com. Obiwan turns towards me and asks if I am ready for this. Not relay knowing what he was talking about, Shaggy says yes and soon after was going through pre-flight check ups. Turning around, Shaggy looks at Aule and asked what is going on. Aule just smiles and says "We are finally going!!!!" Still lost, Shaggy gets up and walks to the Commodore's office and asks to see him. Waiting just a minute for two before Shaggy was let in to see him, Shaggy started thinking about what could be really going on. Shutting the door behind me when entering Obiwan's office, I turn to ask him what is the hap's, but before I could he stops me by saying that we are going after a friend of ours that has been lost. Not really knowing how to respond, Shaggy shakes his head and exclaims "but didn't the GA say that we couldn't act on this?" "That is a yes and a no answer" Obiwan responds "He said that he cant let us go after him, but we have been schedule for an training exercise right next to the last location Pyn has been at" Shaggy starts to realize what is going on and ask to be dismissed. Before walking out the door Shaggy turns around and salutes like he has never done before. "Thank you Sir, you might have just saved my job here with OBS. I was thinking about taking one of the new Tie defenders and go after him." Getting back to the hanger, Shaggy turns towards the rest of the crew and couldn't help but let out a big Yahoo!!!!. "Gentlemen, we are going out for an exercise today. So be ready for any thing and be ready to lock and load if need be."

Chapter XIII

The OBS pilots climbed out of their cockpits. Looking around, they see fighters packed tight in the hanger. A group of Naval Guards was armed and waiting for them to disembark. Obiwan was furious as he headed to the Lt. in charge of the troops. "What is going on here? Who are you and why have we been detained? We are officers in the Imperial Navy!" The Lt. stayed calm in the face of Obiwan's anger. "Sir, I am Lt. Cra'lyth. I have been ordered to see you safely to the Captain." "Who's your Captain?" demanded Aule. "Sorry sir, I'm not at liberty to say. My orders are to escort you. I'm sure the Captain will explain everything. If you'll follow me?" The Lt. gestured for the pilots to follow him. Obiwan, Aule, Shaggy, and Garrick looked at each other. None of them had a clue as to what was going on, but hopefully this mysterious Captain would have their answers. "This had better be good," thought Shaggy. Heading down a long corridor, Shaggy noticed that there was something odd about this ship. He noticed that the hall seemed more compact than necessary. The hanger had also seemed larger to fit in all the fighters. The layout had definately been changed. Lt. Cra'lyth led them to a conference room. The navy troopers halted at the door and turned to stand guard. The four OBS pilots walked inside and took a seat. "So when do we meet this Captain? He's got a lot of explaining to do," said Obiwan. "And so I shall, Obi." came the reply from behind a screen. "Lt. Cra'lyth, thank you, that'll be all for now." Obiwan and Aule stood up in surprise to see Morgan walk to the table and take her seat. With a half-smile, she said, "Hello once again my brothers. I do apologize for the rude interruption of your mission, but I have need of you elsewhere. As you may or may not know, Pynaegan isn't dead. Not yet anyway. If you'll please sit down, we can get down to the business of finding him." "Morgyn!!" exclaimed Aule, "How did you?!..Where have you?!..." speechless, Aule could only wonder about the answers to the many questions he had tumbling through his head. "I'll answer all of your questions old friend, please take a seat," said Morgyn. Garrick and Shaggy looked at each other questioningly. Obviously, Obiwan and Aule knew this woman. How they knew her was still unknown to them. Obiwan and Aule took their seats and waited for Morgyn to continue. "Alright, through some contacts I have, it's been discovered that there's a traitor working at the Galvestooine ship yards. In fact, it's the Commander of the yards. Pynaegan had uncovered information revealing this fact and was bringing it back to OBS when his shuttle was attacked. Before he left, we came across a transmission and traced it to it's source and destination. De-coding the transmission, we discovered the request for an attack on the Athame made by Commodore Pa'thard of the station. Unfortuneately, by the time we had this information, the attack had already taken place. The info you got from the Z-95 data recorders does in fact show us where the attack came from, but I've got other plans for you." "But if Pyn is alive, we need to get to that rebel base now! Why the change in plans Morgy?" asked Aule. "Because Pynaegan isn't at the rebel base. Not yet at least. Your orders are changing. I need you to go after the traitor. I'm going after Pynaegan myself. Your bomber is being refitted as we speak to hold four commandoes that will go in to grab the traitor." At this point, Obiwan and Aule looked at each other and smiled. "Morgy! It's great having you back!" exclaimed Obiwan. Morgyn just smiled. At that time, a commlink sounded. Pressing a button, Morgyn replied, "Yes?" A voice said, "New update on Galvestooine Ma'am." "Bring it directly to me here." replied Morgyn. "Yes, Ma'am." After getting the updates and going briefly through them, Morgyn passed the data pads down to the OBS members. "Seems as though you boys are going to see some action. The rebels have taken over the Galvestooine station. You're going to need reinforcements. Obi, get in touch with the Sidious, tell them to meet you at Galvestooine. I'm going to drop you outside of the system then continue on to get Pynaegan." "Wait a nanosec..." interuppted Garrick, "you mean Pyn's not at Galvestooine??" "No, he's not...and he's not at the Rebel base either. In fact, he's way off course," answered Morgyn. "How do you know? You seem to have a lot of answers to things we couldn't find out." "Yes, I do. And how and why I have this information isn't your concern. What you should be worried about is achieving your orders. Those orders are to go to Galvestooine and caputre the traitor. Have OBS give you cover. Obiwan, go ahead and signal the Sidious now." "Yes, Ma'am!" replied Obiwan. Garrick leaned over and whispered to Shaggy. "Why is Obi taking orders from her? He's higher ranking than she is," he stated. Shaggy shrugged and answered, "I don't know, but apparently these three know each other." Later, Garrick asked Aule about Morgyn. "She's an old friend for one. She also happens to be Pyn's wife," said Aule. "His what?!" exclaimed Garrick. "You heard me. As far as the orders go...did you not notice her uniform? She's ISB. She's not giving orders, they've come from a higher source. She's just relaying them. For now, just get ready to lock and load..it's going to be interesting." Both men grinned at the thought of being able to take care of some rebels, and headed to their ships. As the corvette dropped out of hyperspace near Galvestooine and deployed the OBS fighters, the pilots heard Morgyn's voice through the comms in their helmets, "I'll try to get back in time to help if I can. If not, I'll meet you in Ambria. Have a care...and watch your backs. Morgyn out." Commodore Obiwan heads down the cooridor as he is escorted by Lt.Cra'Lyth in oprder to contact the SSD Sidious in an emergeny call requesting the audience of Grand Admiral Thrawn. The walk is not a long one but it seems to take forever as the seconds tick by. Dialing in the sub space emergency frequency Obiwan raises the Sidious. "This is Commodore Obiwan, security number 27-24-95 EM code 5595." As per protocol there was no response from the comm officer and the request was immediately put through to Grand Admiral Thrawn. Thrawn immediately put all comm link devices in operation which make the comminique a secure one. Brief seconds passed before the GA screamed into the mouthpiece. "What the HELL is going ON Commodore? Where in God's name ARE you? We showed you beeing highjacked by a corvette and POOF you are gone! I don't think I have to remind you that this is not an authorized mission, and further more," "Stop" said Obiwan calmly. "It seems the situation has changed abruptly. That Corvette is being piloted by Morgyn." "Being piloted by WHO?! exclaimed Thrawn, not sure that he heard correctly. "Yes Grand Admiral, you head me right, and I see you are astounded as much as I was by the news, but it seems Morgyn is working with the ISB and has information that we were not privy to." There was a short silence until Thrawn had pieced together the news he had just heard. His voice slowed and he once again assumed the impasioned yet even keel he is renouned for. "So I can assume that you are calling me to reinforce your squadron in this new battle plan." -it was not a question. OBiwan broke in saying, "Yes sir, thats exactly why I am calling. We need the Sidious and every man we can spare to meet us at the nearest hyper point just outside these coordinates." A scrambled message was imediately unscrambled by the Admirals commlink computer. Thrawn at once recognized the coordinates as being in the sector of the Imperial ship yard in the Galvestooine system. Commodore Pa'thard was in charge of that operation he noted to himself. He thought to himself, "Sometimes all this paranoia pays off." No one is above suspicion in the Imperial Navy as being a possible spy or double agent. The grand Admiral spoke at once. "I see, but of course you realise as much as I do that if I mobilize our forces to these coordinates and the information here turns out to be false we are BOTH going to be spending the next two thousand years in a Saarlac Pit." The GA could almost see Obiwan nodding his head. "Indeed sir, I know, but I have every reason to believe that this infomation is true and accurate. The Rebels have taken over the Galvestooine station and capt.Pynagean is not being held at the rebel base as we suspected by the data retrieved from the Z 95's Lt.Shagy and Lt.Garrick intercepted." "I was figuring on that." the GA said. "We have discovered a virus imprinted into the transmission we intercepted from the Ship yard at Galvestooine, intended for the ISD Deaths Head. The thing is, that message was MEANT to be intercepted. The virus disabled our close nav incomming ship vector capabilities. It seems those two Z 95's were only scouts which were to be followed by a whole armada of rebel craft. We would have been cought completely off guard. If not for the Deaths Head covering that hyper point near the Rebel Base we surely would have been over run." Obiwans mind staggered at the implications. Thrawn continued,"That means that the spy the rebles have on our ship yard on Galvestooine is none other than Commodore Pa'thard." "Yes I hve just discovered that myself," Obiwan almost yeled into the commlink. "Which brings me to the purpose of this emergency message." "Morgyn and the rest are going on to rescue Capt.Pynagean while my crew here and a group of commandos are going in to retrive the traitor Pa'thard at Glavestooine. They are already over run and taken over by the rebels and we will need every available recource to back us up." Thrawn immediately took up the mantle and said,"The deaths Head is too far away to be of much use in this." Obiwan heard his commanding officer grand Admiral Thrawn click his link to the bridge of the Sidious as he sent to cordinates of the Galvestooine system to the flight officer. "All hands to battle stations, code red." Thrawn wasted no time in telling Commodore Obiwan, "We are on our way. Good Luck." Commodore Obiwan paces away from the Corvettes comm station in a rapid step. When he reached LtShaggy, lt.Garrick and Commander Aule he aslo wasted no time. "Looks like we are in for quite a mess. GA Thrawn has confirmed that our ship yard has indeed been taken over by rebel forces. As Morgyn said, our best couse of action is to head to Galvestooine and re-take the yard. We will undoubtedly be met with very numerous and very hostile forces." "Lets get this ball rolling." There were no worried looks on the faces of his pilots. All turned in unison to head back to the hanger bay where hopefully the modifications on the tie bomber were complete and the commandos were in place in its compartment. The recpetion was a kuch more appropriate one as the OBS crew entered the hanger. There were many salutes and "good luck sir's" going around as Obiwan, Shaggy, Aule and Garrick prepared to board their ships. Aule noticed a kind of tension in the air. "They seem a bit solemn." he said to Lt.Shaggy. Shaggy responded. "I think that's because they don't think we will be coming back." Morgyn was heard saying from beneath the ship elevators saying, "I know you have a few minutes until the SSD Sidious arrives. I am sending along three flight groups to accompany you and draw fire while you use your advanced decoy system to get into the ship yard's main platform. I am sure we can hold them off for the 10 minutes necessary before your cloaking devices burn out." Aule and Obiwan looked at eachother simultaneously, then at Morgyn. She volunteered the information she knew they were perplexed about. "I know sub.Lt. D'Orjahl rather well you might say." "I hope his cloaking device works. Or rather, it should be called a wide field general decoy",.."But this is no time for semantics." Obiwan steadied his eyes on Morgyn. "It is so like you to say that." "Well I do what I can." she responded, and with a wry smile each saluted the other as Obiwan disapeared into his craft. No sooner was the flight group ready and checked out when all could hear the flight officer over the commlink in their helmets. "Coordinates reached. Flight groups Alpha one, Delta seven, and Omega six, you are clear for launch." " We have reached the Galvestooine system. Good luck."

BACK TO THE TOP



bsc
RBL on BSC