STAR WARS: DEFENDER SQUADRON POINT-OF-VIEW 2: FIRE AND WATER BY COMMANDER JEK 'RAPTOR' VEROON DRAMATIS PERSONAE: the defenders: CM_RAPTOR LCM_VENOM CPT_VALKERY EN_GRINDER EN_EAGLE EN_BOBA FETT EN_ROCKY FO_TIREE FO_NAJJ zsinj's forces: WARLORD ZSINJ GENERAL METRIMAR TIRAON XIRT - HEAD OF XIRT'S PRIVATEERS CAPTAIN GREY - interdictor BLOODBATH on contruum: BENJA YENERA - CONTRUUMIAN ROYAL GOVERNOR MACE RUDIN - ADVISOR ADMIRAL HAL LIGHTMAN - on diplomatic mission for the NR on mc-90B mon remonda: GENERAL SOLO - HEAD OF ANTI-ZSINJ TASK FORCE COMMANDER WEDGE ANTILLES - ROGUE SQUADRON COMMANDER CAPTAIN TYCHO CELCHU - ROGUE XO 1LT_CORRAN HORN - ROGUE MEMBER PROLOGUE: quint5: the passing APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH BEFORE THE EVENTS DESCRIBED IN the courtship of princess leia... ON A SMALL MOON IN THE QUINT SYSTEM, THE WRECKAGE OF A SMALL REPUBLIC PROBE LAY. IT HAD BEEN LAUNCHED SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE, BY THE FRIGATE LOYAL, AND HAD CRASHED INTO THE SMALL PLANET BY SHEER ACCIDENT. THE HOLO-DISPLAY THAT WAS ON THE PROBE WAS ACTIVATED BY A BLOODY HAND, REVEALING COMMANDER JEK 'RAPTOR' VEROON. "THIS IS THE MEMORIAL TO THE GREAT CAPTAIN 'RAYEK', WHO DIED DEFENDING HIS SQUADRONMATES. HIS MORTAL REMAINS WERE NOT RECOVERED, BUT IT IS KNOWN THAT HE DIED. IF YOU HAVE RECOVERED THIS, IT IS ASKED THAT YOU RETURN IT TO THE DEPTHS OF SPACE, TO HONOR HIS MEMORY." THE HOLO-IMAGE DISAPPEARED, AND THE MAN STUMBLED TO THE GROUND. WHAT WAS HIS NAME? HE COULD ALMOST REMEMBER, BUT NOT QUITE. HE HAD A RANK. OR DID HE? A NAME POPPED INTO HIS MIND, AND HE HESITATED. WAS HIS NAME ZSINJ? NO. HE HATED THAT NAME, THAT HE KNEW. IN THE DISTANCE, THE FIRES BURNED OF A DESTROYED IMPERIAL OUTPOST. HOW DID HE KNOW KNOW THE WORD IMPERIAL? SO MANY QUESTIONS... HIS STOMACH GRUMBLED, BUT HE COULD FIND NO FOOD. PERHAPS THE WRECK WHERE HE HAD ORIGINATED? HE STUMBLED ACROSS THE VAST PLAIN ON THE MOON, WIPING SWEAT AND BLOOD AWAY. A TAG THAT WAS ON HIS SHIRT FELL ONTO THE GROUND. IT SAID: CPT_RAYEK THE MAN WALKED ON... CHAPTER ONE: mon remonda "GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, GENERAL." SAID RAPTOR, SHAKING SOLO'S HAND AS HE GOT OFF THE SHUTTLEPOD MERCURY. "YOU TOO, COMMANDER." SOLO SHRUGGED UNCOMFORTABLY IN HIS UNIFORM. "I KNEW YOU WOULDN'T DISAPPOINT ME." RAPTOR NODDED, AND THEY WALKED OFF THE GANGPLANK. "I SUPPOSE YOU CALLED ME HERE ABOUT ZSINJ." SOLO NODDED AMIABLY. "CORRECT." THEY WALKED OUT INTO THE CORRIDOR OF MON REMONDA, THE SLEEK MON CALAMARI CRUISER THAT SOLO COMMANDED. "I HEAR GENERAL CRACKEN FINALLY FORGAVE YOU FOR GILGOTH." SAID SOLO. RAPTOR LAUGHED. "NOT EVEN CLOSE. BUT I THINK I HAVE HIS TRUST." THEY ENTERED A BRIEFING ROOM, AND SOLO LOCKED THE DOOR. "SIT." SAID SOLO. RAPTOR SAT DOWN NEXT TO A YOUNG LIEUTENANT WHO LOOKED TO BE CORELLIAN. "LIEUTENANT CORRAN HORN, ROGUE SQUADRON." HE EXTENDED HIS HAND. "COMMANDER JEK VEROON. I SEE YOU'RE A FORMER CORSEC." SAID RAPTOR, SHAKING HORN'S HAND. "YES SIR." HORN REFLEXIVLY TOUCHED THE CORSEC PATCH ON HIS RIGHT ARM. SOLO WALKED TO THE HEAD OF THE TABLE, AND SAT. "COMMANDER VEROON, MEET LIEUTENANT CORRAN HORN, CAPTAIN TYCHO CELCHU, AND COMMANDER WEDGE ANTILLES." HE POINTED TO THE THREE MEN CLOSEST TO RAPTOR. "OVER HERE IS MACE RUDIN AND GENERAL TOFFT, ADVISORS TO THE CONTRUUMIAN HEAD OF STATE. TOFFT COMMANDS THE CONTRUUMIAN DEFENSE FORCE." SOLO POINTED OVER AT TWO MEN NEAR HIM. "PLEASED." SAID RAPTOR. "NOW, FOR THE REASONS FOR THIS MEETING. NUMBER ONE IS WARLORD ZSINJ. VEROON'S DEFENDER SQUADRON ENCOUNTERED HIM ON A RECENT MISSION." TYCHO WHISTLED. "I'VE HEARD OF DEFENDER. ELITE SPECIAL-OPS SQUADRON, ISN'T IT? YOU FLY TIES." RAPTOR NODDED. "JEK, REPORT?" ASKED SOLO. "WE ENCOUNTERED ONE OF ZSINJ'S CRONIES ON KHYLE. HE WAS AN ADMIRAL RUNNING A BLACK MARKET OPERATION CALLED InGen. WE PUT AN END TO THAT." SAID RAPTOR. "WE ENCOUNTERED ZSINJ HIMSELF ON QUINT 5. HE HAD A SMALL RESEARCH STATION THERE THAT HARVESTED RALLIT. ZSINJ TRIED TO CAPTURE MEMBERS OF OUR SQUADRON WITH IRON FIST AND SEVERAL INTERDICTORS. WE ESCAPED." SOLO TURNED ON A MAP. IT SHOWED A GREEN AREA MARKE ZSINJ. IT GREW FARTHER OUT, ENCOMPASSING QUINT AND KHYLE. "THIS IS HOW ZSINJ'S TERRITORY LOOKS NOW. IT'S GROWING MORE AND MORE. WE HAVE TO PUT AN END TO THIS. WEDGE, YOU START THINKING UP SOME IDEAS." WEDGE NODDED ONCE. "THE OTHER REASON VEROON'S HERE IS BECAUSE OF THESE MEN." SOLO POINTED TO RUDIN AND TOFFT. RUDIN STOOD. "COMMANDER VEROON, AS YOU KNOW, THE CONTRUUMIAN HEAD-OF-STATE IS GOVERNOR-EMPRESS BENJA YENERA, A FORMER MEMBER OF YOUR SQUADRON. YOU SAVED HER LIFE MANY TIMES, AND NOW SHE ASKS FOR YOU TI AGAIN. CONTRUUM IS AT THE EDGE OF CIVIL WAR. THE CITIZENS WANT THE EMPIRE AS MUCH AS THE REPUBLIC. SHE WANTS YOU TO HELP MEDIATE THESE DISPUTES, AND HAVE DEFENDER SQUADRON STANDING BY TO HELP." RUDIN SAT AGAIN. SOLO NODDED AT RUDIN, THEN LOOKED AT RAPTOR. "YOU WILL GO TO CONTRUUM TO MEDIATE. YOU KNOW HOW MUCH CONTRUUM MEANS TO THE REPUBLIC." RAPTOR LAUGHED. "YOU'RE STARTING TO SOUND LIKE SENATOR ORGANA." SOLO SHRUGGED. "I SPEND TOO MUCH TIME WITH HER." "I ACCEPT." SAID RAPTOR TO RUDIN. CHAPTER 2: coruscant THE FRIGATE LOYAL WAS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING REPAIRS IN DRYDOCK HIGH ABOVE CORUSCANT, SO MOST OF DEFENDER SQUADRON'S MEMBERS WERE ON LEAVE ON CORUSCANT. CAPTAIN VALKERY WAS STAYING AT THE Hotel Corusca NEAR IMPERIAL CITY WHILE HE VACATIONED. HE COULD'VE STAYED AT IMPERIAL PALACE, WHERE MANY QUARTERS WERE KEPT FOR NR ARMED FORCES MEMBERS LIKE HIM. BUT VALKERY COULDN'T STAND THE PALACE. IT SEEMED DARK AND FORBODING, AS MUCH AS THE NEW REPUBLIC TRIED TO BRIGHTEN IT UP. HE WASN;T REALLY DOING ANYTHING, BUT DEFENDER SQUADRON HAD BEEN PULLED FROM ACTIVE DUTY WHILE COMMANDER RAPTOR WAS DEBRIEFED BY GENERAL SOLO. HE HADN'T EVEN SEEN ANYONE FROM DEFENDER ALL WEEK, EXCEPT FOR WHEN GRINDER WAS SEEN HACKING INTO THE NEW REPUBLIC DATABASE IN S BAR. AND VALKERY LIKED IT THAT WAY. WHEN HE WAS IN THE NRI, MOST JOBS WERE PRETTY SOLITARY. HE HADN'T QUITE GOTTEN THE KNACK OF TEAMWORK YET. JUST AS HE WAS ALMOST ASLEEP, THE LIGHTS CAME ON. VALKERY SAT UP, REACHING FOR HIS BLASTER. FROM THE SHADOWS OF THE DARKENED CORRIDOR, COMMANDER RAPTOR EMERGED. "PACK UP. WE'RE LEAVING." ***************************************************************************** VALKERY STRUGGLED WITH HIS BAG, THEN HURRIED TO CATCH UP WITH COMMANDER RAPTOR. THEY WERE WALKING DEEP IN THE UNDERWORLD OF CORUSCANT, AND MAKING FAIRLY GOOD TIME. "BUT, SIR! WHERE ARE WE GOING?" RAPTOR SLOWED FOR VALKERY TO CATCH UP. "DEFENDER SQUADRON IS GOING TO CONTRUUM." "BUT WHY? HOW?" VALKERY SHIFTED HIS BAG. "THE LOYAL'S IN DRYDOCK, OUR A-WINGS ARE IN A DESERTED HANGAR SOMEWHERE, UNFUELED, THE EMISSARY IS GETTING A COMPLETE OVERHAUL... DEFENDER SQUADRON IS INACTIVE and FORBIDDEN TO LEAVE CORUSCANT... SHALL I GO ON?" "NO, THAT'S ENOUGH." SAID RAPTOR. "YOU'LL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH." "WHAT ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE?" "I HAD GRINDER ALERT THEM. I TOOK THE TASK OF TELLING YOU AND VENOM ABOUT IT MYSELF." RAPTOR TURNED INTO A SMALL ALLEYWAY, AND CLIMBED INTO AN ELEVATOR. VALKERY FOLLOWED. THE ELEVATOR MOVED UP QUICKLY, AND THE WIND BLEW THROUGH THE OPEN-AIR 'VATER. "NOW WHAT?" RAPTOR CHUCKLED. "VANHORN, I WOULD THINK THAT ALL YOU KNOW ABOUT ME, YOU WOULD KNOW I HAVE MANY CONNECTIONS." "COMMANDER, WHERE ARE WE GOING?" "YOU'LL SEE SOON ENOUGH." SAID RAPTOR MYSTERIOUSLY. SUDDENLY, THEY BURST ABOVE THE SKYSCRAPERS, AND THE HULL OF A SHIP HIGH ABOVE COULD BE SEEN. RAPTOR PUSHED HIS WIND-TOSSED HAIR BACK. VALKERY STARED IN ASTONISHMENT. "WHAT IS THAT?" RAPTOR SAVORED THE MOMENT, THEN STRAIGHTENED REGALLY. "THAT IS THE MODIFIED CARRACK CRUISER wraith. SPECIALLY CONFIGURED TO CARRY 16 STARFIGHTERS, AND THE SHUTTLEPOD mercury. MAXIMUM CREW OF 28." IT DREW NEARER, AND THE ELEVATOR SLOWED. "IT'S BRAND NEW!" SAID VALKERY. "THAT'S RIGHT. LIKE I SAID, I HAVE CONNECTIONS. AND WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE BEAUTIES IN THE HANGAR." SAID RAPTOR. "WHERE IS THE HANGAR?" ASKED VALKERY. "IT'S WHERE THE MAIN STORAGE BAYS AND STORMTROOPER BARRACKS WOULD BE." SAID RAPTOR. "WOULD YOU BELIEVE SHE CAN GO POINT OH-SEVEN PAST LIGHT?" WITH A CLANG, THE ELEVATOR CONNECTED TO THE wraith's DOCKING PORT. VALKERY LOOKED FAR BELOW WHERE THE LIGHTS OF IMPERIAL CITY BLINKED. THE ELEVATOR MOVED UP, REVEALING THE HANGAR BAY. THEN VALKERY WAS TRULY AMAZED. "THOSE ARE... E-WINGS!" STUDDERED VALKERY. THE SILVER AROMR STILL SHONE BRIGHT, AND THE TRI-LASER CANNONS WERE NEWLY POLISHED. "WHERE IN XARU'S NAME DID YOU GET THOSE? I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW AS MANY AS 12 EXISTED!" RAPTOR SMILED. HE WASN'T ABOUT TO SAY THAT BENJA GOT THEM FOR HIM. SHE ALSO GOT THE wraith, STRAIGHT FROM KUAT SHIPYARDS. HE JUST LET VALKERY DROOL OVER THEM LIKE A GREEDY HUTT. E-WINGS WERE SIMILAR TO X-WINGS, EXCEPT THEY HAD ONLY TWO S-FOILS, AT TIP OF EACH WAS A TRI-LASER CANNON, SIX TIMES STRONGER THAN A NORMAL CANNON. ALSO ON THE WINGS WERE THE TWO POWERFUL FrieTek ION ENGINES, WHICH GAVE THE E-WING A SPEED GREATER THAN THE X-WINGS. ABOVE THE COCKPIT WAS A THIRD TRI-LASER CANNON. ONE REASON RAPTOR LIKE THEM WAS BECAUSE OF THEIR EXCLUSIVITY TO R7 ASTROMECHS, WHICH WAS WHAT RAPTOR HAD. SPEAKING OF R7s... RAPTOR'S R7 UNIT TRUNDLED INTO THE HANGAR, BEEPING LOUDLY. "RANAT, BAD LANGUAGE!" SAID RAPTOR TO HIS ASTROMECH. THE ASTROMECH BEEPED AGAIN. "WELL TELL THE TECHNICIAN THAT YOU CAN HANDLE THAT. WITHOUT ANY FOUL LANGUAGE." "BwEep BOOP doO!" RANTED RANAT, SHAKING HIS TUBBY BODY. THE ASTROMECH ACTIVATED IT'S REPULSOR UNITS, COASTING AWAY. RAPTOR TURNED BACK TO VALKERY. "C'MON, CAPTAIN. WE'VE GOTTA CLEAR OUT THE HANGAR TO LAUNCH." VALKERY CAME UP, SHAKING HIS HEAD. "THOSE AREN'T NR-ISSUE E-WINGS." "THAT'S RIGHT." SAID RAPTOR. "THEY'RE CONTRUUMIAN." VALKERY SHOOK HIS HEAD AGAIN, AS THEY LEFT THE HANGAR. CHAPTER 3: iron fist ZSINJ LOOKED DOWN CRUELLY UPON ADMIRAL TIARON XIRT. XIRT WAS IN A HOVERCHAIR, GLOWERING SAVAGELY. "XIRT, YOU SHOULD BE DEAD." SAID ZSINJ. "BUT, THE REPORTS OF MY TOTAL UNFORGIVENESS ARE UNTRUE. I HAVE A JOB FOR YOU." "WHAT IS IT?" ASKED XIRT, UNMOVING. "CONTRUUM IS ON THE EDGE OF OVERTHROWING IT'S GOVERNMENT. ONE LITTLE SHOVE, AND WE CAN WIN IT TO OUR SIDE. YOU WILL BE MY FINGER, SO TO SPEAK, THAT DOES THE SHOVING." ZSINJ PAUSED. "I WILL DO NONE OF YOUR DIRTY WORK, ZSINJ." SNEERED XIRT. "GIVE ME A SYSTEM TO TAKE, AND I WILL. LEAVE SUBVERSION TO THE JEDI." "YOU, WHO CONTROLS MOST OF THE REMAINING IMPERIAL INTLLIGENCE CORPS, WON'T STOOP TO SUBVERSION?" "I LEAD THEM. THEY DO MY WORK." SAID XIRT. HE TOUCHED HIS HIP WITH THE BIONIC ARM THAT HAD BEEN GRAFTED ON AFTER COMMANDER VEROON HAD SHOT HIS REAL ONE INTO A MESS. "THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE." SAID ZSINJ, LEANING FORWARD ON HIS THRONE. "YOU CAN STAGE AN UPRISING, WINNING A TECHNOLOGICALLY RICH WORLD TO ME, OR DIE." "THE CATCH BEING?" ASKED XIRT. "WHY SHOULD THERE BE A CATCH?" "WHY SHOULD I DO WORK ANY OF YOUR UNDERLINGS COULD DO, ZSINJ?" ZSINJ STOOD UP, AND WALKED FORWARD. "YOU ARE MY UNDERLING, XIRT." ZSINJ RAISED HIS SWAGGER-STICK AND STRUCK XIRT. BLOOD FLOWED FREELY FROM THE CUT ON XIRT'S LIP. "NEVER FORGET THAT." "YOU CURSED SON OF A-" "THIS STICK IS A SPECIAL ONE." ZSINJ CUT XIRT OFF. "THE TIP CONTAINS TRI-XYCLONIUM, A POISON THAT WILL KILL YOU IN ABOUT, OH THREE MONTHS." ZSINJ SHRUGGED. "YOU WILL DIE FOR THIS." SAID XIRT. "I HAVE THE ONLY KNOWN ANTIDOTE." SAID ZSINJ. "IF I DON'T CONTROL CONTRUUM IN 2 MONTHS, YOU WILL DIE." ZSINJ TURNED. "VERY WELL." ZIRT STRAIGHTENED. "I WILL STAGE AN UPRISING ON CONTRUUM. YOU WILL CONTROL CONTRUUM IN 3 MONTHS." "GOOD." SAID ZSINJ. "DISMISSED." XIRT SCUTTLED OUT. HE'D BE DAMNED IF HE ACCEPTED THIS LYING DOWN. HE KNEW A DRACKMARIAN WARLORD THAT HAD CONTROLLED DATHOMIR BEFORE ZSINJ MADE IT RANCOR BASE. HE COULD HAVE THE DRACKMARIAN 'ACCIDENTLY' REVEAL THE LOCATION TO THE NEW REPUBLIC. THAT WOULD BE AN END TO ZSINJ. YES, ZSINJ WOULD BE DEAD BEFORE XIRT WAS, HE KNEW. AND SO WOULD THAT MEDDLING VEROON. XIRT MOVED FORWARD WITH SUDDEN ANTICAPATORY GLEE. CHAPTER 4: quintfive, mauurian transport farlcort CAPTAIN IRA FARLCOURT STEPPED OUT OF THE COCKPIT OF THE MAUURIAN TRANSPORT FARLCOURT AS LIEUTENANT GOGARD STEPPED IN. "CAPTAIN." SAID LT. GOGARD, TOSSING BACK HER HAIR. "TAKE US IN, LIEUTENANT AND START THE STANDARD SCANS." SAID FARLCOURT. "AYE." THE farlcourt WAS A JUNKER, DEVOTED TO FINDING AND SELLING THINGS OTHER PEOPLE FORGOT OR LOST. THE DESTRUCTION OF ZSINJ'S QUINTFIVE OUTPOST HAD SPREAD QUICKLY, AND NOW AN ENTIRE FLEET OF SALVAGERS WERE HEADED TO QUINTFIVE. AFTER ALL, STORMTROOPER PARTS WERE AT A PREMIUM, AND JUST ONE VIAL OF RALLIT SPICE COULD BUY A NEW TRANSPORT FIFTY TIMES OVER... AND ONCE AGAIN THE FARLCOURT HAD REACHED THE PRIZE FIRST. NOW ALL THAT HAD TO BE DONE WAS LIEUTENANT GOGARD AND ENSIGN RAMPART'S SCANS FOR PRECIOUS MATERIALS. THE BEST STUFF COULD BE CULLED IN LESS THAN A DAY, MOST LIKELY. FARLCOURT HAD JUST REACHED THE LOUNGE WHEN GOGARD CALLED HIM. "SIR, I'VE FOUND SOMETHING!" SAID GOGARD. FARLCOURT CAME INTO THE COCKPIT. BELOW, A FIGURE SLOWLY WALKED ON THE GROUND, BLOODIED. "WHAT IS HE DOING HERE? IS HE A SURVIVOR?" "I'M NOT SURE. I'M PICKING UP THE WRECKAGE OF A TIE FIGHTER NEAR HIM, THOUGH." "PREPARE TO LAND." SAID FARLCOURT. "AYE." ***************************************************************************** THE MAN WATCHED THE SHIP LAND, AND HE STUMBLED TOWARDS IT. IN HIS HAND HE HELD THE BEACON. WHAT IT DID HE DIDN'T KNOW. A WOMAN RAN UP TO HIM. HE MOVED TOWARDS HE, THEN COLLAPSED. "ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?" SHE ASKED. "FENDER. DE- DE-" HE FAINTED. THE WOMAN TOOK THE DISTRESS BEACON FROM HIS HAND, AND CHECKED HIS PULSE. "CAPTAIN! THIS MAN REQUIRES IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION!" ***************************************************************************** "HOW IS HE?" ASKED FARLCOURT. "HE HAS SECOND DEGREE BURNS, A FRACTURED TIBIA, AND THREE BROKEN RIBS, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, HE'S FINE." SAID ROITTE, A FORMER MEDICORPSMAN. "SOUNDS LIKE HE COULD USE A BACTA DIP." SAID GOGARD, HANDING ROITTE A SYRINE FILLED WITH THYRUMENE. "WELL, WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT." SAID FARLCOURT, TURNING TO GOGARD AND RAMPART. "GET ON THOSE SCANS. I WANT OFF OF THE MOON IN SIX HOURS." "WILL DO, SIR." SAID RAMPART. "LIEUTENANT, I THINK WE SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THAT CRASHED TIE FIRST, THEN PERFORM A SPICE SCAN." THEY WALKED OUT. "ROITTE, KEEP THAT MAN HEALTHY. THE NRI MIGHT VALUE HIM." "GOTCHA, SKIPPER." CHAPTER 5: wraith VEROON NODDED AT CAPTAIN ROGET AS HE SAT DOWN AT THE HOLO-NET PANEL. ROGET WAS A CONTRUUMIAN, AND HAD COMMANDED MANY SUCH SHIPS IN HIS DAY. HE WATCHED WITH INTEREST AS RAPTOR PUNCHED UP A NUMBER. HOLONET WAS EXPENSIVE TO SAY THE LEAST. RAPTOR WAITED A FEW MOMETS, AND THEN A FAMILIAR FACE APPEARED. "COMMANDER VEROON!" "FLIGHT OFFICER NAJJ." SAID RAPTOR. "IS ANYTHING THE MATTER, SIR?" ASKED NAJJ. "NO. ARE YOU READY FOR THE DELIVERY?" "YES SIR." ANSWERED NAJJ. NAJJ HAD ONLY RECENTLY JOINED DEFENDER SQUADRON, AND WAS CURRENTLY ON CONTRUUM. "GOOD. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ZSINJ'S RAPTORS." SAID RAPTOR. "YES SIR." NAJJ HESITATED. "SIR, YOU WILL STILL BE GETTING HERE IN THREE DAYS, CORRECT?" "YES, WHY?" "UM, GOVERNOR YENERA IS GROWING RESTLESS WAITING FOR YOU. YOUR ALL SHE TALKS ABOUT." SAID NAJJ, LEANING FORWARD. "I WISH I COULD DO THAT TO ALL MY WOMEN." RAPTOR LAUGHED. "NAJJ, SHE WAS MY UNDERLING, NOTHING MORE. SHE TALKS ABOUT ME ALL THE TIME BECAUSE I'M HER SOLE INHERITOR. MAYBE SHE HAS FEELINGS FOR ME, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY FOR HER." "WHY?" "I HAD A FIANCEE ONCE. SHE DIED... UNEXPECTEDLY. I HAVEN'T QUITE GOTTEN OVER IT." SAID RAPTOR. "OH." SAID NAJJ. "SOLE INHERITOR, HUH? GUESS THAT RULES ME OUT, HUH?" "MOST DEFINITELY." SAID RAPTOR. "ANYTHING ELSE?" "YEAH, SOME CREEP HAS BEEN HANGING AROUND LATELY. NAME'S GIRT OF ZURT, OR SOMETHING." RAPTOR GULPED. "ONE ARMED PSYCHOPATHIC CRIPPLE?" "YOU PINNED IT, CHIEF." "XIRT. WE HAD A LITTLE RUN-IN SEVERAL WEEKS AGO." SAID RAPTOR. "DAMN." "SORRY, SIR." "NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT. JUST KEEP AN EYE ON HIM. KEEP HIM AWAY FROM BENJA." "YES SIR. NAJJ OUT." SAID NAJJ. THE HOLONET CONNECTION WENT OFF. RAPTOR SIGHED AGAIN. ***************************************************************************** VALKERY WAS STILL FAWNING OVER THE E-WINGS WHEN RAPTOR WALKED IN. RAPTOR WATCHED A FEW MOMENTS AS THE VERPINE TECH SHOWED VALKERY THE STARFIGHTER. "URDYLL, KEEP HIM FROM DROOLING ON MINE, WILL YOU?" ASKED RAPTOR, WALKING TOWARDS HIS E-WING. "BGDSSSSSGOTHRHORNDLS" ANSWERED THE VERPINE. [NO PROMISES, SIR] RAPTOR SHOOK HIS HEAD,THEN CLIMBED UP INTO HIS COCKPIT. HE CLANGED ON THE STROMECH COVER, AND IT RETRACTED. "YOU GET THOSE LASERS FIXED TO SPECS, RANAT?" "WOo bOop BweeE!" "GOOD." RAPTOR LOCKED DOWN HIS E-WING. "CAPTAIN, HAVE YOU SEEN TIREE?" VALKERY LOOKED UP. "WHO, SIR?" "YOU HAVEN'T MET HIM YET?" ASKED RAPTOR. "UH, NO SIR." "HE'S ONE OF THE NEW MEMBERS TO THE SQUADRON. HE'S EIGHT." "HAVEN'T MET HIM, SIR." SAID VALKERY, WALKING AWAY FROM THE E-WING. "WHERE'D HE GO NOW?" RAPTOR WALKED OVER TO THE DECK OFFICER. "MAJOR, HAVE YOU SEEN FLIGHT OFFICER TIREE ANYWHERE?" "NOT SINCE BEFORE LAUNCH, SIR. HE WAS HEADED TO THE BARRACKS." RAPTOR NODDED, AND PULLED OUT HIS COMLINK. "VEROON TO TIREE." "YES SIR?" HE ANSWERED, BEHIND RAPTOR. RAPTOR WHIRLED AROUND. "OFFICER, THERE YOU ARE!" SAID RAPTOR. TIREE WALKED FORWARD. "PROBLEM, SIR?" "HE JUST LIKES TO KEEP HIS NOSE IN EVERYBODIE'S BUSINESS." SAID VALKERY. TIREE SMILED. "UH-HUH. WELL, I WAS CHECKING OT MY E-WING. MAKING A FEW CHANGES." "GOOD." SAID RAPTOR. "I WANTED YOU TO LOOK OVER THE A-NINES FOR ME, SINCE YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WITH FLIGHT EXPERIENCE ON THEM." "THERE'S A-9 VIGILANCES IN HERE? WHERE?" VALKERY LOOKED AROUND. "TIREE, SHOW HIM THE VIGILANCES." SAID RAPTOR. "THEY'RE IN THE ADJACENT STORAGE BAY." "AYE SIR." ***************************************************************************** ROCKY AND GRINDER SAT IN THE REC LOUNGE, DRINKING SYNTH-ALE. ROCKY TOOK A DRINK. "I MEAN, I COULD'VE SAVED RAYEK!" "NO YOU COULDN'T." SAID GRINDER. "I SHOULD'VE SHOT OFF THAT TIE AS SOON AS I SAW IT!" "THERE WAS NO WAY TO." "IT'S ALL MY FAULT." "NO IT ISN'T." "I DIDN'T EVEN RECOVER HIS BODY." "HOW WOULD YOU?" ROCKY SIGHED. "I GOTTA GET OUT OF STARFIGHTER COMMAND." "WHY?" ASKED GRINDER. "IT'S TO STRESSFULL." "UH-HUH." SAID GRINDER TO THE GRAN. "I'LL MISS YOU." "I DIDN'T SAY I WAS LEAVING." "YES YOU DID." "I WAS THINKING ABOUT LEAVING." SAID ROCKY. "OH." SAID GRINDER. "YOU WANT A BREAK, I COULD SLICE IN AND GET YOU OFF THE DUTY ROSTER." "THANKS." ROCKY STOOD, AND BLINKED HIS THREE EYES, AND LEFT. GRINDER SHOOK HIS HEAD, THEN WENT OVER TO THE TABLE WHERE EAGLE, BOBA FETT, AND VENOM PLAYED SABAAC. "DEAL ME IN." SAID GRINDER. "SURE." VENOM TOSSED HIM SOME CARDS. "I FEEL LIKE LOSING MONEY." MUTTERED GRINDER. CHAPTER 6: contruum GOVERNOR-EMPRESS BENJA YENERA STOOOD ON THE LANDING PAD, DRESSED IN LUXURIANT ROBES AND SURROUNDED BY GUARDS. SHE WAS AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF THE SHUTTLE-POD mercury, WHICH WOULD FERRY COMMANDER JEK VEROON DOWN FROM THE CARRACK CRUISER wraith. SHE HOPED HE LIKED HER PRESENTS. YENERA HAD FIRST MET RAPTOR WHEN THEY BOTH SERVED ON THE GREEN TRAINING SQUADRON. VEROON WAS GOING THROUGH TRAINING OVER AGAIN SO HE COULD FLY B-WINGS, AND YENERA WAS JOINING THE NEW REPUBLIC STARFIGHTER COMMAND TO EASE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE NR AND THE CONTRUUM PLANETARY REPUBLIC, WHICH HER FATHER, THE LATE-GOVERNOR-EMPEROR LIOK YENERA, RULED. AFTER TRAINING, RAPTOR HAD BEEN INVOLVED AT THAT GILGOTH IMCIDENT, AND HAD JOINED DEFENDER SQUADRON. YENERA SERVED WITH BRAVO SQUADRON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THEN MANAGED TO GET TRANSFERRED TO DEFENDER. RAPTOR WAS THE ONLY SQUADRON COMMANDER THAT WOULD SEND HER INTO REAL BATTLES. THEN, HER FATHER AND MOTHER WERE ASSASINATED BY ZSINJ'S RAPTOR'S, AND YENERA HAD TO GO BACK TO CONTRUUM. NOW, SHE WAS IN MORTAL DANGER, AND WANTED VEROON HERE, NOT FOR PROTECTION, BUT TO FINALIZE THE FINAL HEIR-WILL THAT EVERY RULER OF CONTRUUM HAD TO DO BEFORE DYING. THEN, SHE SAW A SPECK IN THE DISTANCE. IT GREW, BECOMING THE SHUTTLEPOD mercury. IT LANDED WITH A BUMP, AND YENERA WALKED FORWARD. RAPTOR WALKED DOWN SLOWLY, IN NRSC FULL DRESS UNIFORM, WITH GREEN CAPE FLYING BEHIND HIM. "BENJA!" HE SAID. THEY HUGGED QUICKLY, THEN KISSED EACH OTHER ON THE CHEEK. "THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE HERE, JEK." SAID BENJA. SHE TURNED TO THE DEFENDER SQUADRON MEMBERS WALKING DOWN. "EAGLE! AND GRINDER!" SHE KISSED THEM EACH ON THE CHEEK. "YOU'RE LOOKING FINE, BENJA." SAID GRINDER. "THANK YOU, GRINDER. SPEAKING OF WHICH, DID YOU LOSE WEIGHT, VENOM?" VENOM SMILED, AND SHOOK HIS HEAD. "NO, GOVERNOR. I STILL USE THE SAME EXCERSISE ROUTINE." "CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PROMOTION." SAID BENJA. SHE SHOOK CAPTAIN VALKERY'S HAND. "DELIGHTED TO MEET YOU, CAPTAIN." "THANK YOU MA'AM." SAID VALKERY. "IF YOU'RE THE FLIGHT LEADER, WHERE'S RAYEK?" ASKED BENJA. "HE DIED ON A MISSION." SAID RAPTOR. HE POINTED TO THE REMAINING SQUAD MEMBERS. "ENSIGN ROCKY, HE TOOK YOUR PLACE. ENSIGN BOBA FETT, FLIGHT OFFICER TIREE." "PLEASED." BENJA SAID. HER LONG BLACK HAIR FLEW IN THE STRONG WINDS OF CONTRUUM. "I'M BEING RUDE. LET'S GO INSIDE, WHERE THE HARSH WINDS DON'T REACH. I'M SURE OFFICER NAJJ WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE YOU." BENJA AND RAPTOR WALKED INSIDE, FOLLOWED BY EAGLE, GRINDER, VALKERY, VENOM, TIREE, BOBA FETT, AND ROCKY. VALKERY WHISPERED LEANED NEAR GRINDER. "WAS YENERA ALWAYS THIS GOOD LOOKING?" GRINDER CHUCKLED AND NODDED. "YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT." ***************************************************************************** XIRT WATCHED AS THE DEFENDERS AND YENERA'S GUARDS WALKED DOWN THE CORRIDORS OF CONTRUUMIA HOUSE, THE GOVERNORS PALACE. XIRT WAS SUPRISED NO ONE DETECTED THE SMALL CAMERA HE HAD PLANTED TO CONTINUALLY WATCH YENERA. HE HAD ALREADY ASSIGNED A ImIn TEAM TO RAISE A PROTEST MARCH TONIGHT, AND HIS SLICERS WERE READY TO CHANGE ANY DOCUMENTS YENERA POSTED ON THE MAIL-NET. SHE WOULD BE OUT OF OFFICE IN A WEEK, HE KNEW. ***************************************************************************** RAPTOR AND YENERA SLIPPED AWAY INTO HER OFFICE WHILE THE REST OF THE SQUAD WERE AT A BRIEFING BY MACE RUDIN. BENJA SAT IN A LUXURIOUS RANCOR-HIDE CHAIR, AND RAPTOR SAT IN A SIMILAR CHAIR. "SO, WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT, BENJA?" ASKED RAPTOR. "I WANT YOU TO PROTECT ME." SAID BENJA. RAPTOR LAUGHED. "THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE THINKS. BUT ONE SQUADRON ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE MUCH." "YOU'RE RIGHT, AS USUAL." SAID BENJA, TOYING WITH A PORCELAIN DARTH VADER FIGURE. "THE WILL. YOU'RE FINALIZING THE WILL!" SAID RAPTOR IN DISBELIEF. BANJA NODDED SOLEMNLY. "THAT'S CORRECT. YOUR SIGNATURE IS ALL IT TAKES." "BUT WHY?" "OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS, I HAVE BEEN STEADILY DOSED WITH FOMALUZINE. I WILL BE DEAD WITHIN THE MONTH." SAID BENJA. RAPTOR SHOOK HIS HEAD IN DISBELIEF. "BENJA, I'M SORRY. BUT I DON'T WANT TO RULE CONTRUUM." "YOU MUST." SAID BENJA. "I HAVE NO FAMILY. MY BROTHER WAS KILLED LONG AGO, MY PARENTS RECENTLY. YOU KNOW THAT." "YES." RAPTOR NODDED. "I'M SORRY, BENJA, BUT GOVERNMENT ISN'T FOR ME. I'LL ALWAYS BE THAT LONELY FIGHTER PILOT. THERE'S NO ANTIDOTE?" BENJA NODDED. "THERE IS." "WHAT?" "DEATH." SAID YENERA. RAPTOR LEANED FORWARD, AND TOOK BENJA'S CHIN IN HIS HAND. "BENJA, I'M A JEDI IN TRAINING. YOU CAN'T TRICK ME." "I DO NOT LIE." SAID BENJA. "UPON DEATH, FOMALUZINE DISSIPATES." RAPTOR STOOD, AND WALKED AROUND IN CIRCLES. "BENJA, LISTEN TO ME. I DON'T WANT YOUR FORTUNE, OR RULE, OR ANYTHING. WHY CAN'T YOU GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE?" BENJA SWIVELED HER CHAIR IN CIRCLES. "BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO HAVE IT." SHE STOOD, AND TOOK RAPTOR'S HAND. "YOU'RE THE CLOSEST I EVER CAME TO HAVING A HUSBAND." RAPTOR SAT. "YOU CALLED OFF THE ENGAGEMENT, NOT ME." "AND NOW I'M SORRY I DID." BENJA SAT NEXT TO RAPTOR. "JEK, I'M ABOUT TO DIE. LET ME AT LEAST GIVE YOU THIS." RAPTOR STOOD, AND WENT TO THE DOOR. "WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING FOR CONTRUUM FOR A CHANGE, BENNY? GIVE YOUR PEOPLE A TRUE DEMOCRACY." HE WALKED OUT. CHAPTER 7: wraith THE BLUE HYPER-CORRIDOR SLOWED, REVEALING STARS AS LIEUTENANT COMMANDER VENOM DROPPED FROM LIGHTSPEED. HE IMMEADIATLY BEGAN EVASIVE ACTION, SHUNTING POWER TO THE SHIELDS. "VALKERY, CUT TO THE LEFT. SEVEN, WATCH THAT SQUINT!" SAID VENOM, PULLING HARD ON HIS STICK AND FIRING LASERS AT A TIE FIGHTER. THE CARRACK wraith WAS CURRRENTLY MOORED AT THE CONTRUUMIAN ROYAL STAR-STATION, IN GEO-SYNCHRONOUS ORBIT OVER THE CONTRUUM CAPITAL. AT PRESENT, THE FLIGHT MEMBERS OF DEFENDER SQUADRON WERE STAYING ONBOARD. THEY COULD'VE GONE DIRT-SIDE, BUT LONG MONTHS IN DEEP SPACE ON THE LOYAL LEFT A STRANGE FEELING IN OPEN SPACES. WITH RAPTOR ON THE SURFACE IN COUNSEL WITH GOVERNOR-EMPRESS YENERA, THEY HAD LITTLE TO DO BUT BRUSH UP ON THEIR SKILLS IN SIMULATOR MISSIONS. BUT THE MISSIONS WERE GOOD, VENOM HAD TO ADMIT. THE CONTRUUMIANS SPARED NO EXPENSE ON SIMULATORS. EVEN THE ACADEMY AT CORUSCANT DIDN'T HAVE HIGH-CALIBER SIMS LIKE THESE. VENOM HAD SELECTED A PARTICULARLY HARD MISSION: THE CAPTURE OF THE FRIGATE PRIAM. THE IMPERIAL NEBULON-B FRIGATE WAS THE LAST OF IT'S KIND PRODUCED BY THE EMPIRE; ALTHOUGH IT HAD GOOD SHIELDING, IT HAD A WEAK HULL, BULKY DESIGN, AND SLOW SPEED. THE EMPIRE PREFERED THE STAR DUECE BETTER. THE NEW REPUBLIC, HOWEVER, STILL USED THEM. THE TIE ESCORTS HAD BEEN STRIPPED FROM THE PRIAM IN AN EARLIER MISSION, AND JUST A FEW REMAINED. THE PRIAM'S CAPTAIN HAD CALLED FOR SUPPORT; SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER THE ATTACK 6 GUNBOATS WOULD ARRIVE, FOLLOWED BY 4 ASSAULT TRANSPORTS. INSTEAD OF DESTROYING THE PRIAM, THE REBELS DECIDED THEY COULD CAPTURE IT FOR FURTHER USE. SIX Y-WINGS WOULD DROP IN, ESCORTED BY TWO A-WINGS. THE Y-WINGS WOULD DISABLE THE PRIAM WHILE A-WING BLUE SQUADRON TOOK OUT THE REMAINING TIES. THE PRIAM HAD BEEN RETROFITTED, HOWEVER, WITH BETTER SHIELD GENERATORS, IT TOOK MORE TORPEDOES TO BRING THEM DOWN. SEVERAL MORE GUN TURRETS WERE ADDED AS WELL. IN THE END, ONLY TWO Y-WINGS AND ONE A-WING SURVIVED THE CAPTURE. ANOTHER Y-WING WAS DESTROYED LATER. THEY HAD THE PRIAM'S SHIELDS DOWN TO 35% NOW. VENOM TURNED ON HIS COMLINK. "GRINDER, WATCH HIM!" "I KNOW." SAID GRINDER IN ANNOYMENT. SECONDS LATER, HIS Y-WING WAS DESTROYED. "FLIGHT ONE, REGROUP AT TWO-MARKS AT THREE-TEN, 3.5 KLICKS OUT." SAID VENOM. "COPY." ANSWERED VALKERY. THE REMAINING FOUR Y-WINGS FELL IN FORMATION. "WHO TOOK OUT GRINDER, YOU THINK?" "I'M GUESSING TIREE. MAYBE NAJJ." SAID VENOM. TO GIVE THEM MORE PRACTICE IN TIES, THE NEW RECRUITS WERE FLYING TIES IN THE SIMULATION AGAINST THE REST OF DEFENDER SQUADRON. "OKAY, FLIGHT ONE, SPLIT IN TWO. VALKERY AND EAGLE, YOU TWO CUT ACROSS THE 'NEBBY'S' AXIS, DRAW THEIR FIRE." BY "NEBBY", VENOM MEANT NEBULON-B FRIGATE. THE LINGO HAD TO BE LEARNED IF YOU WERE TO PILOT. "COPY." VALKERY AND EAGLE PEELED OFF, MOVING AT SUPRISING SPEED - FOR A Y-WING. "ROCKY, YOU FOLLOW ME. WE'LL GO AFTER HIS SHIELD GENERATORS." "COPY." VENOM TARGETED THE FRIGATE'S SHIELD GENERATORS. WHEN A SHIELD GENERATOR WAS OPERATIONAL, IT PRODUCED AN ENERGY BARRIER THAT BLUNTED ATTACKS. BUT THE POINT-OF-ORIGIN OF THE GENERATOR CAUSED A FEEDBACK LOOP THAT WEAKENED SOME AREAS. THEY WERE GOING AFTER THOSE AREAS. HE SHUNTED ALL POWER TO ENGINES, PIPING SOME OF THE RESERVES INTO THE LASER. AS THE PRIAM GREW CLOSER, VENOM GRIPPED THE CONTROL STICK TIGHT. THE VIRTUAL HEADS-UP-DISPLAY TURNED PURPLE, THEN YELLOW, AND VENOM FIRED A CONTINOUS STREAM OF LASERS INTO THE PRIAM. BESIDES HIM, ROCKY DID THE SAME. SUDDENLY, VENOM'S R2 HOWLED. HE LOOKED AT THE ASTRO-MECH TRANSLATION SCREEN. warning! two assault gunboats detected. missile lock established on us! "WHOOPS." VENOM PULLED UP, FIRING A BURST OF CHAFF AS HE TOOK THE BRUNT OF A TURBOLASER FROM THE PRIAM. "ROCKY, CONTINUE ATTACK. I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE JOKERS." "AYE." VENOM LOOPED AROUND, TARGETING THE FIRST GUNBOAT. IT FIRED FIRST, TOO FAR AWAY TO DO ANY REAL DAMAGE. IT WAS MESSING UP VENOM'S SENSORS, THOUGH. HE HURRIEDLY ARMED HIS TORPEDOES AND SHOT OFF A PAIR AT THE GUNBOAT. THE GUNBOAT HAD NO TIME TO REACT, AND THE MISSILES TORE THROUGH IT. THE OTHER GUNBOAT PULLED AWAY, INCREASING IT'S SPEED. VENOM SMILED, AND FOLLOWED. "THREE HERE. PRIAMS AT QUARTER-FULL SHIELDS, BUT SHE'S MAKING A RUN FOR IT." "COPY THAT." ANSWERED VENOM. HE QUICKLY TURNED TO THE PRIAM, AND FIRED OFF SEVERAL TORPEDOES AT IT. THEN HE TURNED BACK TO THE GUNBOAT. "I'LL GET YOU." MUTTERED VENOM. IT MUST BE TIREE, THOUGHT VENOM. HE PERFORMED A VEHICLE JUMP. VENOM SETTLED IN BEHIND THE GUNBOAT, AND PUT POWER INTO HIS LASERS. HE FIRED FULL LASERS, THEN ION CANNONS. THE GUNBOAT SPED AWAY, THE LASERS BARELY HITTING IT. IT CAME AROUND FOR A PASS AT VENOM, FIRING LASERS. VENOM HEARD VALKERY SAY "THE PRIAM IS DISABLED." BEFORE THE COCKPIT WENT DARK. ***************************************************************************** VENOM CLIMBED OUT OF THE SIM COCKPIT GINGERLY. HE JUMPED DOWN, AND TOOK OFF HIS HELMET. HE TURNED TO SEE EVERYONE ELSE CLIMB OUT OF THEIR SIM-PITS, TOO. "GOOD WORKOUT, HUH, COMMANDER?" ASKED VALKERY TO VENOM. "YEAH." SAID VENOM. "YOU WON?" "WE WON." SAID VALKERY. "BUT NOT BEFORE THAT GUNBOAT VAPED TWO MORE OF OUR PEOPLE." "WHO WAS THAT?" ASKED VENOM. "TIREE OR NAJJ?" "NEITHER." CAME A VOICE. COMMANDER RAPTOR WALKED FORWARD. "COMMANDER, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE ONBOARD ALREADY." SAID VENOM. "THE MEETING DIDN'T TAKE AS LONG AS EXPECTED." SAID RAPTOR, WIPING THE SWEAT FROM HIS BROW. "I ENJOY THE CHANCE TO FLY AGAINST MY OWN PEOPLE, ARMSHAW. GOOD FLYING." VENOM WATCHED HIM WALK OUT. "I REALLY HATE THAT MAN." SAID VENOM. TIREE WALKED UP BEHIND VENOM. "AT LEAST HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING." "SOMETIMES I DOUBT THAT." SAID VENOM, TURNING AND WLKING OUT OF THE ROOM. TIREE TURNED TO NAJJ. "THIS IS ONE WIERD SQUADRON." SAID NAJJ. "DEFINITELY." INTERLUDE: coruscant SEEMINGLY OLDER THAN TIME ITSELF, CORUSCANT SAT. THE YELLOWISH PLANET WAS LITERALLY ONE GIANT CITY, COLONIZED EVEN BEFORE THE OLD REPUBLIC. IT HAD BEEN THE SITE OF THE REPUBLICAN SENATE, JEDI COUNCIL, AND THE EVIL PALPATINE'S THRONE. IT'S SUN SHONE DIM OON THE HULL OF THE farlcourt AS IT FLEW INTO THE PLANET'S ATMOSPHERE. CAPTAIN FARLCOURT GLANCED AT LIEUTENANT GOGARD AS THEY PASSED SEVERAL FREIGHTERS, THEN STOPPED. "ARE YOU SURE WE SHOULD TELL THE NR NOW?" "DEFINITELY, SIR." SAID GOGARD. FARLCOURT SIGHED. "IT'S JUST... I'VE BECOME ATTATCHED TO THE MAN. HE'S A GOOD CREWMEMBER." "YES." AGREED GOGARD. "NOT AT ALL LIKE ANY IMPERIAL I'VE EVER SEEN." "TRANSOPRT farlcourt, YOU HAVE STOPPED. THIS IS A BUSY SKYWAY, PLEASE INFORM US OF FLIGHT DEVIATIONS." SAID THE AIr-TRAffic-Controller. FARLCOURT TURNED TO THE COMM STATION. "THIS IS TRANSPORT farlcourt. WE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH AN NR SECURITY CAPTAIN." "ONE MOMENT." REPLIED THE AITRAC IN CHARGE OF THE SENSOR CONTROL TOWER. A FEW MINUTES LATER, A MAN CAME ON. "CAPTAIN JOBYS HERE. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?" FARLCOURT GULPED. "WE ARE IN POSSESION OF AN IMPERIAL P.O.W. WE FOUND HIM ON QUINTFIVE, IN A TIE FIGHTER. HE WAS THE ONLY SURVIVOR." "I SEE." SAID CAPTAIN JOBYS. HE CLEARED HIS THROAT. "VERY WELL, LAND ON IPI BEACON S-H-P-5-9-8, AND AWAIT FURTHER ORDERS." "AFFIRMATIVE." ANSWERED FARLCOURT, AND THE MAUURIAN TRANSPORT farlcourt MOVED FORWARD. *****************************************************************************