STAR WARS: DEFENDER SQUADRON POINT-OF-VIEW 2: FIRE AND WATER, PART FOUR BY COMMANDER JEK 'RAPTOR' VEROON DRAMATIS PERSONAE: the defenders: CM_RAPTOR LCM_VENOM CPT_VALKERY 2LT_RAVEN EN_GRINDER EN_EAGLE EN_BOBA FETT EN_ROCKY FO_TIREE *FO_NAJJ FO_EXAR zsinj's forces: WARLORD ZSINJ GENERAL METRIMAR TIARON XIRT - COMMANDER OF XIRT'S PRIVATEERS CAPTAIN GREY - interdictor BLOODBATH CAPTAIN ROMAN FURLONG - CAPTAIN OF XIRTS PRIVATEERS on contruum: BENJA YENERA - CONTRUUMIAN ROYAL GOVERNOR MACE RUDIN - ADVISOR ADMIRAL HAL LIGHTMAN - on diplomatic mission for the NR on coruscant, newly returned from task force zsinj: GENERAL SOLO - HEAD OF ANTI-ZSINJ TASK FORCE COMMANDER WEDGE ANTILLES - ROGUE SQUADRON COMMANDER CAPTAIN TYCHO CELCHU - ROGUE XO 1LT_CORRAN HORN - ROGUE MEMBER on coruscant, imperial palace, intelligence annex: 1LT_RAYEK - DEFENDER SQUADRON MEMBER ADMIRAL DRAYSON - CHIEF OF 'ALPHA BLUE' BRIGADER COLLUMUS - NRI OPERATIONS CHIEF on contruum, under xirt: FIRST LIEUTENANT COLIN SALMAR - NRI OPERATIVE PROLOGUE: two weeks before 'the courtship of princess leia' XIRT PUSHED HIS HOVERCHAIR PAST THE PLATOON OF IMPERIAL INTELLIGENCE COMMANDOS SILENTLY. HE STOPPED, AND TURNED THE CHAIR TOWARDS THE BATTLE-READY SOLDIERS. "YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO?" "YES SIR." REPLIED THE COMMANDOS. "VERY GOOD." XIRT SPUN AROUND, TO CAPTAIN GREY. "IS THE bloodbath READY?" "YES SIR." ANSWERED GREY. "SHE HAS BEEN BURIED ON CONTRUUM'S 3RD MOON, UNDER 25 METERS OF GRANITE AND SULFIRUC COMPOUNDS. WE HAVE BOOSTED HER GRAVITY-WELL PROJECTOR'S SIZE BY 600%." "I SEE." XIRT WAS SILENT. "AT 0216 HOURS TOMMORROW, WE LAY SIEGE TO CONTRUUM. ZSINJ'S PERIMETER FLEET WILL ARRIVE SHORTLY, AND YOU COMMANDOS WILL BEGIN PROVIDING UNREST TO THE POPULACE. I WANT CONTROL OF CONTRUUM IN 6 DAYS." "YES SIR." SAID THE COMMANDOS. "DISMISSED!" THE CAPTAIN OF THE COMMANDOS, KNOWN AS 'XIRT'S PRIVATEERS', STAYED. HE WAS A LEVEL-HEADED CHAP NAMED ROMAN FURLONG, A FORMER PILOT. HE HESITATED, THEN STEPPED FORWARD. "SIR, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT... 25 MEN IS NOT ENOUGH TO TAKE CONTRUUM..." XIRT SIGHED. "ZSINJ IS SENDING 12 STAR DESTROYERS TO INTERDICT THE PLANET. WE HAVE THE bloodbath WITH IT'S ENHANCED GRAV-WELLS TO KEEP OUT EVEN MORE SHIPS, AND IN DAYS BENJA YENERA WILL BE DEAD. WITH HER DEATH, AMD THE NR'S APPARENT ABANDONMENT, THEY WILL LEAP AT THE CHANCE TO JOIN ZSINJ. YOU ARE, AFTER ALL MEMBERS OF zsinj's raptors, CORRECT?" "YES, BUT SIR..." "BUT NOTHING, CAPTAIN. YOU WILL CONDUCT YOUR MISSION TOMMORROW AT 0216. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS, I'M SURE LIEUTENANT SALMAR WILL BE GLAD TO TAKE OVER, UPON YOUR death." SAID XIRT. "DISMISSED." ***************************************************************************** GENERAL HAN SOLO WALKED DOWN THE GANGPLANK, AND GAVE LUKE SKYWALKER A PAT ON THE BACK. "GENERAL." SAID LUKE. "LUKE, COME ON. WE'VE BOTH GOT THE SAME RANK." SAID SOLO. "I KNOW." "IT'S SO GOOD TO BE HOME." SAID SOLO. "YEAH." LUKE SEEMED PREOCCUPIED ABOUT SOMETHING. "WHAT'S GOING ON?" ASKED SOLO SUSPISCOUSLY. "WHERE'S LEIA?" "WE JUST RECIEVED WORD FROM ONE OF OUR OPERATIVES. ZSINJ'S FORCES ARE ON THE MOVE AGAIN." SAID LUKE. "LEIA LEFT ON SOME SECRET DIPLOMATIC MISSION A COUPLE WEEKS AGO." SOLO SIGHED. "LUKE, I JUST GOT HOME!" "I'M SORRY. I REALLY AM. ACKBAR WANTS YOU TO TAKE THE remonda BACK OUT AGAIN. SET UP A LINE OF DEFENSE FOR CONTRUUM." SAID LUKE. "WHY DON'T YOU, LUKE? YOU'RE GOOD IN A FIGHT." SAID HAN. "I JUST GOT NEWS ABOUT A SECRET JEDI RECORD ARCHIVE ON TOOLA." SAID LUKE. "I'M LEAVING IN THE MORNING." HAN CURSED, AND TURNED ABOUT. CHAPTER 1: CORUSCANT ADMIRAL HIRAM DRAYSON, CHIEF OF ALPHA BLUE, SLIPPED HIS SECARD INTO THE READER. THE LARGE METAL DOOR BEEPED, THEN QUIETLY SLIPPED OPEN. DRAYSON WITHDREW HIS CARD AND STEPPED THROUGH THE THRESHOLD. "I THOUGHT I ORDERED YOU NOT TO COME," COMMENTED A VOICE BEHIND HIM. DRAYSON DID NOT TURN. "I DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR WISHES, COLLUMUS. MY JOB IS TO KEEP THE NR SECURE. I TAKE THAT JOB SERIOUSLY." "THE IMPERIAL OFFICER KNOWS NOTHING." SAID BRIGADIER COLLUMUS, THE NRI OpChief. "HE IS A REPUBLICAN; THAT WAS DISCOVERED DAYS AGO." SAID DRAYSON, PAUSING BEFORE ANOTHER DOOR. "DRAYSON, HIRAM." "ACCESS CONFIRMED." ANSWERED THE DOOR, OPENING. "COLLUMUS, KEIT." "ACCESS CONFIRMED." COLLUMUS CAUGHT UP WITH DRAYSON. "YOU KNOW WHO HE IS, THEN?" "YES." SAID DRAYSON. "HE IS CAPTAIN 'RAYEK', DEFENDER SQUADRON." "THAT IS CLASSIFIED." SAID COLLUMUS. "HE IS PRESUMED K-I-A." "WAS." SAID DRAYSON. "SOMEHOW HE SURVIVED THAT CRASH." "THE FORCE MUST'VE BEEN ON HIS SIDE." SAID COLLUMUS. "I BELIEVE IT WAS SOMETHING SIMPLER." ANSEWERD DRAYSON. "WHAT IS THAT?" "GRAV-CUSHIONS, I BELIEVE THEY'RE CALLED." SAID DRAYSON, ENTERING THE MAIN COMPLEX. ***************************************************************************** "TWO, STRAIGHTEN UP." COMMENTED CAPTAIN JARIC 'VALKERY' VANHORN, PULLING UP SLIGHTLY ON HIS STICK. BELOW, THE TERRAIN OF CONTRUUM'S EASTERN CONTINENT BLASTED BY, AS THE MEMBERS OF DEFENDER SQUAD FLEW THEIR E-WINGS CLOSE TO THE GROUND. "HEY, GIMME A CHANCE HERE. I'VE NEVER FLOWN AN E-WING BEFORE IN COMBAT." SAID FLIGHT OFFICER 'NAJJ'. "HARDLY COMBAT, TWO." ANSWERED VALKERY, SMILING. "I SUPPOSE IT ISN'T." SAID NAJJ. "IN FACT, I'VE NEVER FLOWN IN A COMBAT MISSION." "YOU'LL GET YOUR TURN." SAID VALKERY, DROPPING LOWER. SUDDENLY, HIS SENSORBOARD BEEPED. "LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE NEXT IN LINE, NAJJ. I'VE GOT THREE SLAYN & KORPIL V-WINGS COMING OUR WAY. SIX, CAN YOU CONFIRM?" "JUST A MINUTE..." SQUAWKED ROCKY, A GRAN. "MY PORT STABILIZER'S DOWN." "YOU WANNA HOLD BACK?" "NEGATIVE. I CAN HANDLE IT." "GOOD. THE VWINGS ARE TURNING TOWARDS US AND ARMING BLASTER CANNONS." VALKERY TRIED TO RAISE THEM ON THE COMM. "UNIDENTIFIED AIR-SPEEDERS. STATE YOUR BUSINESS." THEY ANSWERED WITH SEVERAL BLASTS OF LASER-FIRE. "TAG 'EM AS UNFRIENDLIES." SAID VALKERY. "EAGLE, WHERE ARE YOU?" "ME AN' GRINDER ARE CHECKING OUT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SMUGGLING BASE, CAP." ANSWERED ENSIGN EAGLE. "WE'RE 3 MINUTES EAST OF YOU. YOU WANT US TO JOIN UP?" "NEGATIVE, WE'VE GOT SOME UNFRIENDLIES TO TAKE CARE OF." ANSWERED VALKERY. "TWO, SIX, ON MY WING." "COPY." "ON YOUR WING, COPY." THE V-WINGS FIRED AGAIN, CHAFING VALKERY'S SHIELDS. "FIRE AT WILL!" SHOUTED VALKERY, FIRING HIS LASERS AT FULL POWER. ONE OF THE V-WINGS EXPLODED, THEN HIT THE DIRT BELOW. "COMIN' ON THE SOUTHERN POLE..." SUDDENLY, SNOW APPEARRED. IN FRONT OF VALKERY, THE LEAD V-WING TOOK EVASIVE ACTION, DIPPING LOWER TO THE GROUND. VALKERY BROUGHT UP HIS PROTON TORPEDOES. THE HEADS-UP-DISPLAY SHOWN BLUE, THEN PURPLE, THEN YELLOW, AND FINALLY RED, AND VALKERY FIRED. THE PROTON TOPREDO HIT, VAPING THE V-WING. BEHIND VALKERY, THE LAST V-WING WAS VAPED BY NAJJ. "LEAD, I GOT THREE FREIGHTERS LIFTING OFF 300 KILOS FROM HERE." SAID NAJJ. "MY R4 TAGS 'EM AS PIRATES." "THIS IS EAGLE. WE'RE HEADED FOR THE FREIGHTS. TARGETING COMPUTER IS LOCKED ON." "GETTING A SIGNAL." SAID GRINDER. "FREIGHTERS, STAND DOWN FOR BOARDING OR BE DESTROYED." SAID VALKERY. "NEGATIVE." SAID THE LEAD FREIGHTERS. "WE WILL NOT BE TAKEN!" WITH THAT, THE FREIGHTERS SELF-DESTRUCTED. PIECES OF SHRAPNEL SCATTERED ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE, AND VALKERY WINCED AT THE BURST OF LIGHT. "DAMN." SAID VALKERY. "DEF FLIGHT, HEAD HOME. REPEAT, HEAD HOME." ***************************************************************************** CHAPTER 2: CARACK CRUISER wraith "SORRY TO KEEP YOU TWO WAITING. WE HAD A BAND OF PIRATES TRY TO JUMP THREE FLIGHT." SAID COMMANDER JEK 'RAPTOR' VEROON, SITTING DOWN AT HIS DESK. THE ENTIRE OFFICE WAS PLUSH, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CONTRUUM ROOM VEROON HAD EVER SEEN. THE TWO STOOD AND SALUTED. THE FIRST WAS A YOUNGER MAN, WITH A DARK LOOK ABOUT HIM. THE SECOND WAS A FACE FAIRLY FAMILAR TO RAPTOR. "OFFICER KUN, LIEUTENANT ZARHN, WELCOME TO DEFENDER SQUADRON." RAPTOR SHOOK THEIR HANDS. "OFFICER KUN, YOU ARE DESIGNATED AS DEFENDER 12, AND WILL BE BUNKING IN ROOM 2-13. DUE TO THE EXTRA... AMENITIES PROVIDED BY THE CONTRUUM GOVERNMENT, YOU GET YOUR OWN ROOM FOR NOW. LIEUTENANT 'RAVEN', YOU'LL BE IN ROOM 3-08. ANY QUESTIONS, ASK ME OR VENOM. I REMIND YOU THAT WE ARE ON A SENSITIVE OPERATION, NO DIVULGING INFORMATION TO ANYONE. REPORT TO VENOM FOR FLIGHT ASSIGNMENTS AND ENTRY INTO THE DUTY ROSTER. OFFICER, YOU'RE DISMISSED." "AYE, COMMANDER." EXAR SALUTED, AND LEFT. RAPTOR REGARDED RAVEN. "GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, LIEUTENANT. SERVICE ON VECTOR SQUADRON GOT YOU DOWN, WANT TO SEE THE FRONT LINES?" "CONTRUUM'S HARDLY THE FRONT LINES, COMMANDER. I JUST NEEDED A CHANGE OF SCENERY, I SUPPOSE." RAVEN SHIFTED. "AND WITH THE DECOMMISSIONING OF ROUGHNECK SQUAD..." RAPTOR NODDED. "IT'S A SHAME YOU LOST ROUGHNECK. WE'VE LOST FAR TOO MANY FULL OR NEAR-FULL STRENGTH SQUADRON'S TO ZSINJ, AND IT NEEDS TO STOP." RAPTOR FROWNED CHANGED THE SUBJECT. HOW'S YOUR DAUGHTER? WHAT IS SHE NOW, 13?" "15, ACTUALLY." SAID RAVEN. "SO WE THINK. I LEFT HER ON THE LOYAL FOR NOW." "GOOD. I KNOW OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVING HER, OF COURSE... I EXPECT SHE CAN BE SQUAD MECHANIC, LIKE SHE WAS FOR VECTOR. WELL, I EXPECT YOU TO SERVE AS GOOD AS YOU DID ON VECTOR." RAPTOR PICKED UP A DATAPAD. "DISMISSED." AFTER RAVEN LEFT, RAPTOR CHECKED THE NRmailNET TO SEE WHAT HE HAD GOTTEN. THERE WAS ONE FROM ADMIRAL LIGHTMAN, ABOUT A MEETING IN THE MORNING WITH BENJA, ANOTHER FROM ADMIRAL MIRIN ABOUT THE REASSIGNMENTS. AND ONE FROM RAYEK'S MOTHER. RAPTOR LOADED THE MESSAGE INTO THE HOLO-VID, AND TURNED IT ON. "COMMANDER VEROON, I THANK YOU FOR THE MESSAGE REGARDING MY SON, AND DO NOT WANT YOU TO FEEL GUILTY FOR HIS DEATH. HE SERVED THE NEW REPUBLIC, AS HE ALWAYS DID, AND FOR THAT I'M THANKFUL." SHE PAUSED. "RAYEK'S FATHER ALSO DIED FOR THE GOOD OF THE GALAXY, DURING THE CLONE WARS. I... WISH THAT HIS FATHER COULD SEE WHAT RAYEK HAD DONE. HE WOULD BE PROUD. AND THANKFUL TO YOU. OUT." RAPTOR LEANED BACK IN HIS DESK CHAIR. RAYEK. A BOYHOOD NICKNAME THAT HAD FOLLOWED IT'S BEARER INTO ADULTHOOD, AND BECOME SOMETHING. RAPTOR SHOOK HIS HEAD, THEN HEADED FOR THE HANGAR BAY. CHAPTER 3: coruscant "NAME?" "I DON'T KNO-" THE BRIGHT LIGHT SHONE BRIGHTER IN HIS EYES, MAKING HIM WINCE. "TELL US YOUR NAME!" "RA- RAY-" HE SHUT HIS EYES, BUT THE LIGHT FOLLOWED. HE THOUGHT HIS EARDRUMS WOULD EXPLODE, FROM THE SONIC NOISES IN HIS EAR. HIS SKIN SEEMED TO HAVE RILRRARI CROACHES CRAWLING ALL OVER. THEN IT ALL VANISHED, AND HE OPENED HIS EYES. TWO FIGURES STOOD OVER HIM... OR WAS IT THREE? "HE HAS LEVEL THREE MEMORY LOSS. I DON'T KNOW. IT COULD BE PERMANENT, IT COULD BE SHORT-TERM... SITH KNOWS, IT COULD BE A BLOCK. BUT HE DOESN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME." THE OTHER FIGURE MOVED. "PUT HIM IN A CIVILIAN HOSPITAL, THEN CALL HIS RELATIVES. MAYBE THEY CAN HELP." "YES SIR. I'LL TRANFER HIM TO MENARAI MERCY IN THE MORNING." "NO, TONIGHT. THE SOONER, THE BETTER." "IF YOU INSIST. I WILL HAVE TO LODGE A FORMAL PROTEs..." THERE WAS A HISS, AND BLESSED DARKNESS ENFULGED HIM. ******************************************************** XIRT TURNED AS FURLONG ENTERED. "YOU SHOULD BE SETTING UP TO KILL YENERA. FOR SOME REASON, THE FORMULAZINE HAS BEGUN DISSAPATING IN HER VEINS." "I KNOW, ADMIRAL." SAID FURLONG. "MY TEAM IS READY TO PERFORM THE OPERATION. IN THREE HOURS, IT WILL BE DONE." "GOOD. DO NOT FAIL ME, CAPTAIN, OR YOU WILL SUFFER." FURLONG NODDED, AND LEFT. XIRT TURNED TO CAPTAIN GREY. "IN AN HOUR, ACTIVATE THE GRAV-WELL." "YES, MILORD." ******************************************************** RAVEN AWOKE WITH A START AS AN ALARM SOUNDED. HE RUBBED HIS EYES, THEN SHRUGGED ON HIS JUMPSUIT, QUICKLY ATTATCHING THE BANDOLIER. HE WISHED HE'D KNOWN THAT MOST OF DEFENDER'S JOBS TOOK PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF DELTA SHIFT BEFORE HE'D JOINED. THE DOOR TO HIS QUARTERS SLID OPEN, REVEALING CAPTAIN VALKERY. "SCRAMBLE, LIEUTENANT, WE'VE GOT A SCRAMBLE." "YESSIR." "ALL PILOTS TO YOUR STATIONS, ALL PILOTS TO YOUR STATIONS." RAVEN JOGGED OUT OF HIS QUARTERS, AND FOLLOWED CAPTAIN VALKERY AND OFFICER EXAR TOWARDS THE HANGAR BAY. COMMANDER RAPTOR JOINED UP WITH THEM, PULLING ON HIS GREEN FLIGHTSUIT'S JACKET. "WHAT'S HAPPENING?" ASKED ENSIGN 'BOBA-FETT'. "WE'VE DETECTED A GRAV-WELL IN OPERATION. SEVERAL MINUTES AGO, AT LEAST FIFTY OF WARLORD ZSINJ'S SHIPS ARRIVED ON THE PERIMETER OF THE GRAV-FIELD." SAID RAPTOR. "THEY'VE LAUNCHED TIES. A WHOLE LOT OF TIES." "WE'LL BE USING E-WINGS?" ASKED VALKERY. "RIGHT." SAID RAPTOR. "THE wraith WILL BE MOVING OUT TO ENGAGE THE IMP FLEET IN MINUTES, WE HAVE TO BE OFF BY THEN, AND READY TO FIGHT." THEY RAN INTO THE HANGAR, THROWING ON THEIR HELMETS. RAPTOR JUMPED IN HIS E-WING, AND GAVE THE FLIGHT CONTROLLER THE THUMBS UP SIGN, BEFORE BLASTING OFF. "DEFENDER THREE, LAUNCHING." "FOUR OUT OF THE BAY." SAID EAGLE. "SIX IN THE GREEN AND READY TO FLY." SAID ROCKY. SOON, ALL THE DEFENDER SHIPS HAD LAUNCHED. "FLIGHT ONE, VIC FORMATION, PLEASE." "COPY." SAID ENSIGN NAJJ. "ATTACK PATTERN DELTA." SAID RAPTOR. "VENOM, GO FOR THE DEFLECTOR SHIELDS ON THAT STAR DESTROYER." "COPY, LEADER." SAID VENOM, TWO FLIGHT MOVING OFF TOWARDS THE LARGEST STAR DESTROYER THERE. VALKERY ADJUSTED HIS SHIELDS. "WHAT ABOUT TRI FLIGHT, LEAD?" "TAKE OUT AS MANY DUPES AS YOU CAN. WE DON'T WANT THEM DESTROYING THE wraith." SAID RAPTOR. THE TIES STARTED COMING IN, AND RAPTOR FIRED WITHOUT TARGETING. "HAS THE CONTRUUM DeForce LAUNCHED YET?" "NEGATIVE, COMMANDER. WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE X-WINGS." REPLIED MACE RUDIN, HEAD OF THE C. D. F. "I'D GUESS SABOTAGE." SAID RAPTOR. HE SHOOK HIS HEAD. "RANAT, HOW MANY TIES OUT THERE?" RANAT WHISTLED BACK. "THREE WINGS?" SAID RAPTOR. "THATS 7 FISTS!" "LEAD, I DON'T SEE ANY INTERDICTORS OUT THERE." SAID RAVEN. "THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME, WHERE'D THE GRAV FIELD COME?" "NEGATIVE, LEAD. NOTHING." RAPTOR PUNCHED A FEW BUTTONS, THEN TURNED TO RANAT, WHO SWIVELED HIS HEAD. "RANAT, DO A NAV-SCAN. SEE IF YOU CAN FIND ANY EVIDENCE THAT THERE'RE CLOAKED SHIPS OUT THERE." RANAT BEEPED BACK. RAPTOR SHOOK HIS HEAD IN FRUSTRATION. "LOOK, I KNOW HOW LONG A SCAN LIKE THAT COULD TAKE! NOW DO IT!" RANAT RESPONDED MOURNFULLY, THEN SET TO HIS TASK. RAPTOR CHECKED THE SENSOR BOARDS GRIMFULLY. 6 victory ii -CLASS STAR DESTROYERS, 6 imperial CLASS STAR DUECES, PLUS SUPPORT SHIPS, AS WELL AS 6 WINGS OF TIES VERSUS ONE carrack CRUISER AND 11 E-WINGS. NOT GOOD. RAPTOR LAUNCHED HIS TORPS TOWARDS A VIC STAR DUECE, THEN HEADED TOWARDS SEVERAL TIE ADVANCED. "TWO, ON MY WING." THE ONLY ANSWER WAS NAJJ'S STIFLED YELL FOR HELP, AND RAPTOR WATCHED NAJJ'S E-WING VANISH ON HIS SENSOR BOARD. "LEAD, WE'VE LOST TWO!" RAPTOR SLUMPED FORWARD, SENDING HIS E-WING INTO A SPIN. "LEAD, DO YOU COPY?" ASKED VENOM. RAPTOR GROPED FOR HIS HELMET, UNHOOKED THE STRAPS ON IT. "YEAH, I COPY." HE HAD LOST SQUADRON MEMBERS IN THE PAST, BUT HIS OWN WINGMAN... RAPTOR WIPED THE SWEAT FROM HIS BROW. "ENSIGN FETT, ON MY WING." "COPY, LEAD." RAPTOR TARGETED THE FIRST TIE, THEN GLANCED AGAIN AT THE hud IN SHOCK. THE TIE FIGHTERS WERE FROM AVENGER SQUADRON! "SITHSPIT!" CURSED JEK. "WHAT'S THE MATTER, LEAD?" "DEFENDERS, FALL BACK TO CIRO." SAID RAPTOR REFERRING TO A MOON OF CONTRA 7. "YES SIR." ANSWERED VENOM. "WHAT'S THE PROBLEM, COMMANDER?" ASKED RUDIN. "WE GOT BIGGER PROBLEMS THAN I THOUGHT." ASNWERED RAPTOR. CHAPTER 4: ciro, orbiting the seventh planet in the contruum system THE CONTRUUM ROYAL GUARD HOUSED A SMALL REFUELING DEPOT ON CIRO, FOR COVERT MISSIONS. AS FAR AS RAPTOR KNEW, ZSINJ DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, AND DEFENDER SQUADRON COULDN'T GO BACK TO CONTRUUM BECAUSE OF THE PLANETARY SHIELD THAT HAD BEEN ERECTED TO KEEP OUT THE IMPS. SO IT HAD BECOME THE HOUSING FOR DEFENDER SQUADRON. ADMIRAL HAL LIGHTMAN ENTERED THE MAIN OFFICE, WHICH WAS SPARTAN YET STILL POSSESSING THE CONTRUUMIAN FLAIR. HE ENTERED INTO THE INNER OFFICE, WHERE COMMANDER RAPTOR SAT. RAPTOR LOOKED UP, THEN SNAPPED TO ATTENTION. "GOOD-DAY ADMIRAL, SIR!" LIGHTMAN PAUSED A BEAT. "AT EASE." "PLEASE, SIT." SAID RAPTOR. "YOU WERE CAUGHT OFF CONTRUUM WHEN IT HAPPENNED?" "YES." SAID LIGHTMAN. "I WAS ON THE wraith, WAITING FOR YOU TO RETURN." RAPTOR WAVED EXPANSIVELY. "I'M SORRY CIRCUMSTANCES DIDN'T PERMIT." LIGHTMAN SMILED BITTERLY. "YES. I'VE CALLED FOR REINFORCEMENTS, THE ANTI-ZSINJ TASK FORCE AND THE ENTIRE ALLIANCE WING ARE SCRAMBLING HERE. THEY'LL BE HERE IN SEVERAL DAYS." "THAT'S TOO MUCH TIME. IF ZSINJ GETS HERE WITH THE iron fist... EVEN CORUSCANT'S SHIELD'S COULDN'T WITHSTAND THAT KIND OF FREPOWER." "PERHAPS..." LIGHTMAN TOOK OUT A DATAPAD. "HERE ARE THE LOSSES SUSTAINED IN THE FIGHT." "YES SIR." RAPTOR SCANNED OVER THEM SOMBERLY. "I'M SORRY ABOUT YOU LOSING YOUR WINGMAN..." LIGHTMAN TRAILED OFF. "YES SIR." RAPTOR SAID. HE LOOKED BACK UP. "WHAT OF THE YENERA SITUATION?" "WE SECURED THE ANTIDOTE SEVERAL DAYS AGO. SHE'S WELL ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY." "GOOD." RAPTOR NODDED. "THE ENTIRE FORCE WILL BE ASSMEBLING OUTSIDE OF THE YUZT SYSTEM, THEN JUMPING IN STRAIGHT DOWN THOSE STAR DUECE'S THROATS. I'LL BE HEADING OUT IN THE MORNING FOR THERE. I SUGGEST YOU DO TOO." "IS THAT AN ORDER?" ASKED JEK. LIGHTMAN SLOWLY SHOOK HIS HEAD. "NO. IF YOU WANT TO STAY, I CANNOT STOP THAT. I'M AFRAID GOVERNOR YENERA OUTRANKS ME." JEK NODDED. "THEN WE STAY. WE'RE ADEQUETLY PROVISIONED TO PUT UP A FIGHT." "I KNOW. BUT THESE ARE PRETTY BAD ODDS..." "SO WAS ENDOR, AND BAKURA, AND YAVIN, AND HOTH, AND DERRA IV, AND ANDOY-B, AND CORUSCANT ITSELF... AND WE MADE IT THROUGH THOSE." LIGHTMAN NODDED SLOWLY, THEN STOOD. "GOOD LUCK, COMMANDER." "THANK YOU, SIR." * * * * FURLONG GLANCED BACK AT HIS UNIT, THEN AHEAD. DOWN IN THE RAVINE BELOW WAS THE CONRTUUM ROYAL HOUSE, BATHED IN DARKNESS, EXCEPT FOR THE FEW SPOTLIGHTS SWIRLING AROUND. YENERA HAD ALREADY MADE SEVERAL SPEECHES, ABOUT HOW THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND THEY HAD TO RAISE THE SHIELDS BECAUSE OF A LARGE METEOR SHOWER. ABOUT NOW, YENERA ALWAYS TOOK A SHORT WALK IN THE PALACE GARDENS, AND IT WAS THE PERFECT TIME TO GET HER. FURLONG ATTATCHED THE SNIPER-SCOPE TO HIS E-12 BLASTER RIFLE, AND AIMED. HE TURNED BACK TO LIEUTENANT SALMAR. "HAVE TROOPERS B-7 AND 8 DEPLOY ALONG THAT RIDGELINE." "YES SIR." FURLONG TURNED, AND SAW YENERA WALKING OUT. HE AIMED... HE STOPPED, SENSING SOMEONE BEHIND HIM. FURLONG TURNED IN TIME TO SEE A BLASTER'S BUTT HIT HIM IN THE FOREHEAD, AND HE BLACKED OUT. "SORRY, JUST DOING MY JOB." SAID SALMAR, PICKING FURLONG UP AND HOISTING ON HIS SHOULDERS. HE HID FURLONG, THEN HEADED FOR THE PALACE. * * * * RAPTOR STEPPED TO THE HEAD OF THE MAIN BRIEFING ROOM, AND IGNITED THE BRIEFING SCREEN. "WE ARE IN A PERILOUS SITUATION. ZSINJ'S FLEET HAS LAID SIEGE TO CONTRUUM, AND IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN BOMBARDMENT FAIRLY SOON. WORSE THAN THAT, THE INFAMOUS AVENGER SQUADRON IS PROTECTING THE FLEET. YES?" TIREE LOWERED HIS HAND, AND STOOD. "WHAT IS THIS AVENGER SQUADRON?" "IT'S THE MOST ELITE FIGHTER SQUADRON IN THE IMPERIAL FLEET. BARON SOONTIR FEL HIMSELF ONCE COMMMANDED IT. I KNOW OF THIS SQUADRON BECAUSE I WAS A PART OF IT FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. THESE GUY HAVE MORE KILLS THAN ROGUE SQUADRON AND DARTH VADER COMBINED. I DOUBT EVEN ONE OF YOUR RELATIVES COULD SURVIVE A HEAD-TO-HEAD DOGFIGHT." TIREE SMILED, AND SAT DOWN. RAPTOR TURNED BACK TO THE BRIEFING. "THE HEAD OF ZSINJ'S FORCE, OF COURSE, IS THE iron fist, HIS SUPER STAR DESTROYER." RAPTOR POINTED TO THE SCREEN, WHERE A SCHEMATIC OF AN SUPER STAR DUECE ROTATED. "WE CAN PROBABLY EXPECT IT TO ARRIVE VERY SOON. IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE OUTNUMBERED 1 TO 10 IN STARFIGHTERS, AND 0 TO 15 IN CAPITAL SHIPS. WE BELIEVE THE COMMAND DESTROYER IS THIS ONE-" THE SCREEN ZOOMED INTO AN IMPERIAL CLASS II STAR DUECE. "THE crusher. IT HAS YET TO LAUNCH ANY TIES YET, BECAUSE OF WHAT LOOKS LIKE A DAMAGED DORSAL LAUNCH TUBE. WE HAVE TO DESTROY THE crusher BEFORE IT CAN LAUNCH IT'S TIES. IT'S DESTRUCTION WOULD ALSO PUT SOME CHAOS INTO AN OTHERWISE DREARY EXSISTENCE." VENOM COUGHED. "UH, SIR, THAT'S A BIT OF A LARGE MISSION FOR US, SIR." RAPTOR SMILED. "THAT'S WHAT I SAID AT THE BRIEFING BEFORE WE DESTROYED THE SECOND DEATH STAR." "YEAH, BUT LAST I CHECKED WE DON'T HAVE ANY TATOONIES HERE TO HIT A TWO METER EXHAUST PORT." JOKED GRINDER, RIPPLING HIS FUR. "AH, BUT ALL WE HAVE TO HIT ARE TWO 100 METER SHIELD GENERATORS." "YOU SAID THAT WAS AN ISD MARK II, THEY DONT HAVE THAT WEAKNESS." RAPTOR PUSHED A BUTTON, AND THE SCREEN SHOWED A CARUM CLASS II HEAVY BOMB. "CONTRUUM WAS KIND ENOUGH TO GIVE US THESE. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LAUNCH ALL OF OUR BOMBS, NOT EVEN THE KATANA FLEET COULD WITHSTAND THAT KIND OF FIREPOWER." RAPTOR POINTED AT THE SCREEN. "WE'RE FLYING X-WINGS TODAY, PEOPLE. GET SUITED UP AND WE'LL GET READY TO VAPE SOME IMPERIAL SCUM." CHAPTER 5: iron fist XIRT MANUEVERD HIS HOVERCHAIR TOWARDS ZSINJ. "YOU SAID CONTRUUM WAS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE!" "I LIED." SAID ZSINJ, SHIFTING HIS ENOURMOUS WEIGHT. "I DON'T DO THAT OFTEN, YOU KNOW." "ANOTHER LIE." XIRT MOVED HIS HOVERCHAIR CLOSER. "YOU ALWAYS LIE, ZSINJ. WHY IS THAT?" ZSINJ CHUCKLED. "CONTRUUM WAS THE PERFECT FRONT TO CONFUSE THE REBELS WHILE I TOOK THE QUARTERMASTER DEPOT ON GRATTIN. THERE ARE ENOUGH SUPPLIES TO LAST US THROUGH THE DECADE." ZSINJ'S FACE SOURED. "DO YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD WANT A PLANET I'D HAVE TO PROTECT AND BEG TO TO STAY WITH ME? SUCH IS FOR THE REBELS. I AM ABOVE SUCH. I NOW HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLIES TO CONTINUE OUR OPERATION AT RANCOR BASE, AS WELL AS CONTINUE FUNDING PROJECTS SUCH AS YOURS." XIRT BALLED HIS FISTS. "YOU TREACHEROUS, BLOOD-SUCKING..." ZSINJ WAGGED A MEATY FINGER AT XIRT. "NOW, NOW, XIRT. SUCH TEMPER..." zSINJ LEANED FORWARD. "I WANT YOU TO TAKE OVER THE OPERATION AT RANCOR BASE. THERE'S A SHUTTLE READY FOR YOU NOW." XIRT SNEERED AT ZSINJ, THEN MANUEVERED HIS HOVERCHAIR OUT. GENERAL METRIMAR WATCHED HIM LEAVE, THEN TURNED TO ZSINJ. "ORDERS, SIR?" ZSINJ BIT ONE OF HIS FINGERNAILS. "XIRT IS DUE FOR AN EARLY RETIREMENT, I THINK." "YES, WARLORD." METRIAMR BOWED. "I'LL SEE TO IT." * * * * "THANK YOU, DROID." SAID BENJA YENERA, AS THE 2-4D MEDIC INJECTED HER WITH A NEEDLE. BENJA LOOKED UP AT SALMAR. "THE THREAT IS GONE?" "THE IMMEDIATE ONE, YES." SAID SALMAR, NOW IN HIS REPUBLIC UNIFORM. HE HELD A PADD IN HIS HAND, AND IT WOULD PERIODICALLY BEEP AS NEW INFORMATION CAME IN. "VERY GOOD. ALL WE MUST DO IS WAIT FOR ADMIRAL LIGHTMAN TO RETURN WITH REINFORCEMENTS." BENJA WENT BACK TO MANICURING HER FINGERS. "THANK YOU, BY THE WAY, FOR THE ANTIDOTE TO THAT DRUG." SALMAR NODDED. "YOU'RE WELCOME. IT WASN'T HARD TO REALIZE THAT ZSINJ HAD THE ANTIDOTE, AND AFTER THAT ALL IT TOOK WAS A RAID ON ONE OF HIS sTAR dESTROYERS." "THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW REPUBLIC INTELLIGENCE ARE NOT KNOWN FOR THEIR STUPIDITY, I KNOW." BENJA SMILED. "HOW ARE THE SHIELDS HOLDING UP?" "NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE YET, AND NONE FORSEEABLE... UNLESS iron fist COMES..." "LET US HOPE THAT DAY NEVER COMES." "YES, MADAM PRESIDENT." "THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT, THAT WILL BE ALL." SAID BENJA. SALMAR NODDED, AND LEFT. BENJA WATCHED HIM LEAVE, THEN TURNED BACK TO HER COMP-DECK. THE DELIVERY OF CONTRUUM WAS NEAR, IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. to be continued...