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The DarkStryder Chronicles Prologue: The Gathering Surface of Kal'shebbol: The Far Star is parked at the capital city's spaceport. The scene is organized chaos as crewmembers board the Far Star through the main hangar deck and room assignments are handed out. Various crewmembers leave to find their rooms, but two of the new crewmembers, a Human and a Twi'lik, get into a heated argument, and another is already telling everyone to keep away. Ciro shakes his head as he looks at the misfits that will be manning his ship. He thinks, This is what I have to find and defeat Moff Sarne with? A rundown corvette and a crew of misfits and scoundrels? He looks to Adrimetrum and judging by her face she is thinking similar thoughts. He straightens a bit and adjusts his New Republic Naval uniform which feels a bit odd compared to the commando clothes he is used to. He nods to Adrimetrum and leaves the hangar. * * * Scoryn stands still, looking over the assemblage and shaking her head with a frown. She quickly scans for Gorak, but doesn't see him right away. "Great, have to search for the boss amongst all this rabble. Unorganized rabble, at that". She turns on her heel, making her way towards the command quarters, watching the other crewmembers along the way. I'm not going to miss that place, she thinks back to the planet, but this one sure isn't looking much better. Gorak sure has a funny idea about good positions. Can't complain, though. Not just yet, anyway. Now where would he hiding? She continues striding purposefully down the corridors, her eyes taking the measure of the crew she passes without any nods or smiles of acknowledgment as she goes. * * * Lt. Sarin 'Mimic' Ree walks on board the ship with a military cargo duffle bag and pulling a portable wardrobe. A black and gray R2S5 unit follows the man dressed in a stylish business suit with the notable bulges under each arm showing the presence of 2 sidearms. He walks to the turbolift to go to the deck that his bunk room is located. Once in his room Sarin calls up a search on his desk computer for the Intelligence assets available on the ship. As the search go through, Sarin changes into a naval uniform and heads to the tactics meeting with shadow (his R2S5) following as usual. * * * A voice comes over the shipwide comm. "This is the Captain. Welcome all and thank you. In just a few minutes we will be lifting off. We go to face an enemy that is stronger than we are and very determined. However, this should not be a cause for despair. Those of us who have served in the Rebellion know that being an underdog does not mean defeat. We only need to be more determined and resourceful than the Moff." He pauses, "This will be a dangerous mission, but if we stick together, work as a team and never lose sight of our goal we will win. I strongly believe that. I have faith in us. All crewmembers, you have 5 minutes to get settled in before the ship lifts off. Command crew, once we are in space we will have a meeting in the tactics room. Fighter pilots, Lt. Gorjaye will meet with you once the hangar bay is cleared to give wingman and ship assignments. That is all. " he activity that had paused while the Captain spoke resumes. Crew members wander through the ship trying to find their rooms and get settled in. Most of them have when they feel the deck beneath their feet begin to vibrate as the repulsorlifts kick in. Some sit down and strap themselves in, others continue what they were doing, and many rush to the nearest viewport to look out. They watch as the spaceport seems to shrink as the ship lifts higher and higher. Their view is blocked for a few seconds by misty clouds and the viewports become covered in condensation as the ship rises higher. Suddenly the sky fades into millions of stars and looking down the crew sees the green orb of Kal'Shebbol below them. * * * Still in a state of shock from having recognized both Captain Ciro and First Officer Adrimetrum as two of the operatives she met after Janus's death, Fiolla walks to a viewport to watch their liftoff from Kal'Shebbol. Her eyes seem to cloud as she watches the planet fall farther and farther below them, a single tear dropping as she mutters "Goodbye, dear friend" under her breath. Well, it's not exactly the way I expected to get off this planet, but at least I'll be doing something useful. I hope mother gets the message I tried to send her.. and understands. I know Uncle Jan would, if he were still here. Having seen a few heated discussions already, Fiolla knows this is going to be no walk in the park. Far too many cultures and species with different ideas, and far too little space on board for much in the way of privacy. She heaves a little sigh as the planet falls away far enough to no longer be viewable, and turns, heading down the corridor towards the hanger bay. Having been assigned to fly one of the X-Wings would keep her busy, and at least made her useful as part of the crew. She wondered silently how difficult it would be to find friends on board, or if she would at all. She was well aware that many found it difficult to understand those who were Jedi, or wanted to be, and that some of them would probably scoff at what was often considered a "hokey ancient religion." Hokey and ancient, maybe, but they have to admit that it's useful. * * * Rizzal & Vizzal, two little lizard-like Turazza, take off scampering all over the ship, wandering around, and sort of playing a game of hide and seek. Rizzal starts to climb up into a vent and Vizzal follows. Nizzal, a younger Turazza, stays around Loh'khar in the background for the most part. Loh'khar watches Rizzal & Vizzal scamper off, laughs and before they are out of sight shouts, "Try not to get in anyone's way you two!" As Rizzal & Vizzal run through the corridors they brush by Fiolla, jabber to themselves, wave at Fiolla, and then continue off. Vizzal tags Rizzal and immediately ducks into a service duct and Rizzal follows chattering something that sounds like "squeep ne-neep manteen". Vizzal comes out of the duct into the machine shop and looks around at a couple of droids. She starts tapping them and poking at them. Rizzal makes a couple of notes on her datapad and then tags Vizzal and runs under Sergant Tofarain's legs making loud squeaking noises as she runs by. They both run out of the machine shop and disappear back into the corridors and the nearby access ducts. * * * Lord Torie-El stood at the hatchway of the cramped stateroom he had been assigned. At least as a member of the command staff he didn't have to share his bunk with anyone else. The only real perk that his position as the Captain's personal advisor provided him. Ciro knew that he needed private time for his meditations to remain in control of his gifts and abilities. orie-El silently walked through the Far Star during the take off, hiding the pain that stabbed through him as he passed many who shied away form his presence. They all knew he was an Imperial, his uniform marked him as such. The uniform he had made for this mission combined the look of both uniforms of the New Republic and the Empire. Hell, if this kept up he might just break out his Imperial Jedi uniform and wear it on a regular basis just for general principles. Gevies see to our things," Torie-El told his servant droid. "Make sure my art supplies are set for me when I return form the Tactics Meeting. If the meeting runs for an hour I want you to bring me my drawing tablet and pencils please." Of course your Highness," GV-7 ("Gevies") answered mechanically. "I'll see to it at once." The high pitched whistles and whines of the small, black and sliver R2 Astromech droid drew Torie-El's gaze and his gentle smile. "Yes, I have a mission for you too, my little friend," he said as he squatted down and ran his hand over the top of the little droid. "You will be by my side during the meeting, but do not make me look bad." The Little Droid answered affirmative to his master and followed faithfully to the command staff meeting with a short stop at the bridge. * * * The lizards spot Torie-El in the corridor and run up to him pointing and laughing. Vizzal lets out a "honk" and "ne-eep" and points to the lightsaber inquiringly. Rizzal punches something onto her datapad. Grining at the little lizard creatures Torie-El, he squats down and holds out several small candy bars for them. "Just don't tell any one ok.. it would ruin my chances of getting elected as the new Grand Master of the Dark Side," he said laughing and watched the two run off with the three candy bars. "Now make sure the other little one gets his too now you two." He called after them grinning. "I'm going to have to tell Loh'khar he is taking care of such beautiful children." They both let out a squeak and wave at Lord Torie-El before they disappear back into the service ducts. A short time later the lizards come out into the droid repair bay, where Vizzal lets out some "me-neps" and "honks" and points at the droids. Vizzal picks up a couple of the spare droid parts and starts poking at them and looking at them. Vizzal then darts over to SE-4-17 and starts chattering away motioning to Rizzal to come over here. Rizzal makes a few more notes on her datapad. Rizzal "me-neeps" and "deroops" to her sister and they both take off back into the ducts. A bit later they are up in the computer control deck where Rizzal looks over the technician's shoulder and watches them work on the computer. Vizzal looks at the droids and starts tapping them and prodding them. The technician's mutter something and the lizards run back into the service ducts and back to Loh'khar. He sees them return, clutching candy bars. "Where did you get those? Did you steal those?" "Cheenep honnnk eeeeeen." "So someone gave them to you, did you save one for your sister?" "Mennneeeep cleeeeem," moans Vizzal as she hands one to Nizzal. "Now, go on back to our quarters." The little Turazza wave and scamper off. * * * Lt. Thyte stalks into the bridge after having the "conversation" with the Twi'lek, and walks to his bridge station. He plops into the chair and begins to study the controls of the ship only to find it a mess of wires and buttons he can barely follow. He calls over two technicians and begins ordering immediate modifications of their so called "repairs" to give him better control. He then leans back in his chair props his feet on the top of the panel, lights up one of his rolled cigarettes and begins smoking his anger off. He uses one of the ripped up pieces of the computer as an ashtray. After a while, he mutters, "Damn Twi'leks, no good for anything but space slug bait." He continues smoking. Torie-El walks up quitely behind Lt. Tythe and sighes. "Anger, hatred and spite are the tools of what your people call the Dark Side. But of course my people don't believe in these so called Light or Dark sides of the Force. We feel that each person makes their own good or evil with what they do." "Take your philisophing some where else," Tythe snapped as he looked up at Torie-El. "I got work here to do to get this ship running right." "Killing a Twi'lik is like eating Bimm food," Torie-El said smiling. "It might taste good for a second... but then it makes you stick at your stomach." "Yeah I guess your right about that," Tythe said as he spit in his hand an offered it. To his surprise Torie-El mimicked the move and shook his hand with a smile. "Ah, nah, killing a Twi'lek is liking killing Coruscant roaches, you kill one, and a bigger one takes his place. They also stick to your boot after you're done with them." "Then for the love of the gods, don't kill him, we can't handle a larger Twi'lik infestation right now." Torie-El said grinning. "True. Guess I'll have to wait 'till after we kill off Sarne," Tythe said stubbornly. "But by then, if you allow it, I think the two of you might just be friends." Torie-El said sagely. "Yeah, right. Maybe then, maybe if he, I don't know, gets me a new arm or something, let's see him find that." Tythe said uncomfortably. "Who knows. you might get your wish..." "Yeah right, don't suppose the oh great Force could do anything about it." "My people have powers that can bring about the regrowth of limbs and other lost body parts..." Torie-El said softly. "Where were you a couple of years ago? Could have used you back then. Damn, didn't think I was going to get a lucky break." "But regrettably I have yet to learn them." He said sadly. "You should have listened to your teachers better then boy." "As for where I was a couple of years ago," Torie-El said as he leaned against the console and looks at Lt. Thythe. "I was a servant of the Emperor. And I am still learning my abilities, but some powers must come naturally with age and experience." "Oh well, damn, you would have at least seen fit to kill me off instead of slapping a rusty piece of metal to my shoulder." Tythe said as he took a drag off his cigarette. "Let me see your arm." Torie-El said frowning. Thyte laid the cyber arm on the console for Torie-El to look it over. Torie-El examined the arm, "This isn't all that bad of an artificial limb. It was meant as a temporary replacement right?" "Yeah, unfortunately Fleet Com didn't seem willing to let go of a more substantial piece. And now I'm here, where I will probably never find a replacement." "Well we will just see if we can't find a way to hook you up with something better." Torie- El said while rubbing his chin thoughtfully. " Imperial warships have extensive stocks of artificial limbs." "I think we are going to be busy worrying about something a bit bigger than my arm," Tythe said while looks around the bridge to see if any one was trying to overhear their discussion. "You know, repairs on starships aren't exactly free." "Yeah well, you can be guaranteed that I'll be leading that first boarding party on to the first ISD we come across." Tythe said full of sarcasm. "Don't worry, I'll be there to help you out." "Thanks." Tythe said stunned. "And who knows, you might not have to fight to get the new arm." "True, I could always hook up with Sarne first chance I get," Tythe said smiling slyly. "Nah, but I can't do that, still got payments to make to the Republic on this old thing," Tythe said as he tapped his cyber arm. "Can't leave until I finish up on those." "Actually, an AT-3 directive would be more than enough my friend. Now as for Sarne, I will enjoy to see him killed. In fact if your Dark Side dose exist, I would more than be willing to give my self up to it to see him brought to justice," Torie-El said. "So, what is an AT-3 directive?" "AT-3 directive? Where did you hear of that? What is it any way?" Torie-El said smiling. "You just said it just now." "Did I?" Torie-El said as he stood up and smiled. "Just relax and try to enjoy the ride. Some of us have many secrets in our lives my friend, and some of them will aid in our quest. Let's just hope that those other secrets will not limit that mission.." "Yeah, well then let's get one out into the open, why did you leave the other side?" "I never left the Empire." Torie-El said simply. "I still serve it." "Oh, then why are you going after Sarne?" "Sarne is a killer. A sadist. Every thing my people had hoped to remove form the Empire. It is why we agreed to fight for the Empire. The Empire was not evil. It's leader was evil, and he surrounded himself with those like himself." "Ah, so you joined up with the Empire, who wipes out planets, kills species, to what, make it run more efficiently?" "No. we wanted to become examples of what the Empire should have been, and could be." "Ah, so what you want is another Empire, just this one to be all nice and fuzzy like." "The 'New Republic' will one day be just like the Empire. In fact they will be worse." Torie-El said as he looked at Tythe , trying to hide his sadness and failing. "The New Republic will become all it fought to stop. Those who wish to reform and maintain their ideas will become like the Jedi of the Old Republic, hounded and killed." "Yeah, well, just hope it don't become that way during my time. I would hate to have to start another Rebellion as soon as this one is over. Hounded and killed huh, let's just hope that I get my new arm so that I stand a fightin' chance." Changing the subject, Thyte asked, "Well, what do you think of the crew? Have you ever seen a worse hive of scum and villainy, and that's just the command crew." Toire-El closed his eyes and leaned his head back. "Some one on this ship will hurt us. some one we least expect, but I have no idea who it shall be..." Thythe started to laugh but stifled it as quickly as it started. Torie-El opened his right eye and looked at Tythe and smiles. "Actually I have met a worse hive of scum and villainy." "Yeah, where?" "Ord Mantell. Bad place to visit, even worse to live there." Thyte nods, "Yeah and this is now, we're both on the same side, and we're both on this rust bucket." "Yeah this is now. Lets just hope that your New Republic plays more than just lip service to its ideals." "I know it will, at least on this ship." "You know this ship isn't that bad. it has potential." "Yeah, a potential for disaster." Tythe said.
I mean sure, Corellian Corvette, good ship, but not with the
damage and aging this thing has on it. Well, the captain wants me
to make some kind of announcement." Tythe said then said.
"Hey, try to let some memories rest. Let them stay where
they are, in the past." "Seeya." Tythe said as he turned back to his console. * * * A storm had settled over the command center: crew members raced from station to station, double- and triple-checking data, leaving behind only a trail of debris or cloud of confusion. At the center of the storm Captain Keleman Ciro is lost in thought. He looks awn at the picture he'd snapped of the majority of the command crew earlier My people. My responsibility. The fleet's moved on, it's my show now. A shrill whine from Thyte's console signaled an incoming
high priority transmission. Ciro looks at Thyte who brings up the
transmission over the bridge speakers. Ciro closes his eyes and clenches his fists in anger. "Hyperdrive Ops, set course for the Kolatill system. If what few charts we have are correct, it should take us about four days to get there. Lt. Thyte, signal governor Monjal down on Kal'Shebbol and inform her of our destination. Tell her to dispatch medical ships and that we are leaving immediately. Then inform the crew of what is happening." Thyte relays the information to the governor, then opens a shipwide comm, "This is Lt. Thyte, the N.R.S. FarStar will be leaving to space dock soon to go the home world of the Kolatil Council. We may be entering a combat situation, so everyone stay alert and keep your eyes sharp. Lt. Gorjaye, if you could make sure to have all your pilots out of bed and nicely refreshed before we arrive, it would be helpful. Everybody pray to the Creator because this sith-spawned ship is about to go to hyperspace." Ciro turns to Sarin, "Lt Ree, I guess you have your first intelligence mission. See if you can dig up anything on Kolatill in our computers and give me an estimate of what to expect when we arrive." Sarin nods and leaves to begin his research. The Captain then toggles the internal comlink, and selects the engineering section. "Lofryyhn, I know you wanted a shake down cruise but Moff Sarne has taken that luxury from us. Prepare to power up the hyperdrive engines on a mark from the bridge." He looks at Adrimetrum, "I guess this is it." She nods and looks to face the forward viewports, minutes later the stars turn to elongated streaks as the Far Star enters hyperspace. * * * "This is Lt. Thyte, the N.R.S. FarStar will be leaving to space dock soon to go the home world of the Kolatil Council. We may be entering a combat situation, so everyone stay alert and keep your eyes sharp. Lt. Gorjaye, if you could make sure to have all your pilots out of bed and nicely refreshed before we arrive, it would be helpful. Everybody pray to the Creator because this sith-spawned ship is about to go to hyperspace." * * * As the fighter pilots file back in after stowing their gear and waiting for the hangar to clear of other crew members they see the fiery headed woman who will lead them. She is waiting in the ready room. One by one they file in and sit down and look at her expectantly. Once all the pilots are in she closes the door and goes to stand by the holotable at the front of the room. "I'm Lt. Gorjaye. I've been given the task of taking you people and making a serviceable fighter squadron out of you. We have 8 X-wings available and 4 Defenders. Myself, Noell, Dasha, and Riggs have already been assigned X-wings. That leaves four X-wings. Mouse," She nods to a Sullastan pilot sitting near the back with a nervous looking girl with blond hair, "and Gambler are flying two of the Defenders. That leaves two of those ships. I'm willing to let you ask for a ship and I'll place you based on ability. I'll lead the squadron overall. Mouse is my second in command and in charge of the Defenders. There are two ways you can do things. How I tell you to. Or not how I tell you too. Though if you do the second there will be a new opening in the squadron. Any questions?" Fiolla, watching from the back of the room, stands, clearing her throat. "Ma'am, I'd prefer an X-Wing, but will go wherever I'm most useful. I'm not real used to following orders. I've never been connected with any type of military. But I'll do my best not to cause you any trouble." With that said, the girl takes her seat once more, a furious blush staining her pale features at having said so much in front of so many. Lt. Gorjaye nods, "Understood. I'll assign you to an X-wing. See that you do follow my orders." Gorjaye looks about the room waiting for other pilots to make requests. Eyeing the Corellian named Ran and the pilot named Xiroc, she mentally bets that they will also ask for X-wings. Sure enough, Ziroc stands next. "Lt., Most of my experience is with the T-65B
X-wing but I'll fly whatever you assign me to." And I
personally prefer the extra protection that the X-wings hull
provides after flying TIE's for the Empire before my desertion to
the Rebellion. He then sits down nodding toward the girl who
spoke before him. Riggs watches the others ask for the ship they want noticing only three pilots left, two of which are looking outside at the defenders with thoughtful expressions. He looks at the other man and after taking in his cocky look smiles just a bit realizing it is probably a fellow Corellian. His gaze then scans the other pilots taking them in one by one. Noting minute details about each of them. He sits forward and as he does his coat falls open to reveal the heavy blaster pistols slung low on each hip gunslinger style and the Corellian blood stripe on his trousers. He rakes his hair back out of his eyes with one hand and speaks. "Gorjaye, how are we going to determine wingmates?" Gorjaye sighs in irritation at his interruption of the sequence of events in her meeting then visibly calms herself. "Don't worry Captain. Once the fighters are assigned we shall fly some simulator missions. Each of the better pilots will be teamed with a pilot of lesser skill in order to balance out the wings. Noell will most likely be assigned to the weakest team or perhaps left on his own to act his backup to all the teams. Satisfied?" He nods and sits back in his chair. As he does so his eyes fall on the lightsaber on the young girl's hip. Ah hell, another idealist. Still, it was Skywalker who blew up the Death Star. Who know.> His gaze rises from the lightsaber to her red cheeks and he smiles a bit. Poor girl's gonna get chewed up by the arrogant people around me. His eyes finally return to Gorjaye and to his embarrassment she gives him a knowing smile. What she knows he has no idea however. Gorjaye looks to the 3 remaining pilots. "Ran, Minstrel, Vapor? Any of you have a preference between that last X-wing and the 2 Defenders that are left?" Minstrel raises his hand. "I'd like a Defender, Ma'am. They look new and I always enjoy new adventures of any kind", He waggles his eyebrows and pulls out a harmonica playing a short chord. Before he knows it Gorjaye is across the room and ripping the harmonica from his mouth. There is a sound like a bird that has been surprised by a larger predator then she walks back to the front of the room holding the harmonica. "My pilots are allowed to have as much personality as they want. Except when they are in this room, or when we are in the cockpit. In both places I expect the most serious commitment and concentration. Anything less will get you killed." She tosses the harmonica back hitting him in the shoulder with it. He nods hurriedly and puts the harmonica away looking abashed. The blond girl sitting with Mouse snickers until she is speared by Gorjaye's angry green eyes. "Congratulations Gambler, you just earned the right to clean the hangar deck for the next week. The tech's are going to love you. Now, Ran, Vapor which of you wants that last X-wing?" Ran raises his hand, "I'd like one of the X-Wings also Ma'am." He grins impishly, "It's the only snub I enjoy flyin'." Gorjaye nods. "Very good. Pilots, go to the simulators and warm them up. Myself and Mouse will fly in simulated TIEs against you. This is going to be a very special type of simulator run. You will be placed in arbitrary wings for each run. Your score for the run will be your wingmen's score and his will be yours. This is to teach you to rely on each other. This will also give me an idea of weak spots in the squad and who I need to place with who. For this first run...Ran you will fly with Dasha, Xiroc you fly with Cobb, and Riggs you get Fiolla, next run we will switch." The pilots get up from their seats and move into the simulator room. They split up and begin starting up the simulator pods, preparing for their run. The simulation soon begins and they find themselves in space, ready to show what they've got. Just as they are beginning to sort themselves out into their assigned wings, Riggs and Fiolla are interrupted by their beeping comlinks, "Will Security Chief Khzam, Lt. Dajus, Mr. Gul-rah, Miss Seedar, Miss Morcanth, and Captain Riggs meet me in Briefing Room 2 in 15 minutes. Lieutenant Ree Out." Riggs comms Gorjaye, "Gorjaye, I've got to leave the party, I've been called to some meeting or other. You already know my skill levels so it shouldn't hurt things to badly". With that he shuts down the simulator and steps out. He glances about for a second then leaves the hangar bay. Damn. Just when it was about to get interesting, too. Fiolla sighs and turns on her comlink, setting it to contact Lt. Ree and snaps out, "This is Morcanth. We're in the sims. Riggs and I will be there momentarily." She adjusts the link, contacting the Squadron leader where the woman sits in one of the pods, "Lt Gorjaye, I apologize, and I'll return and finish the run as soon as I'm released from the briefing. Hopefully it won't take too terribly long." With that, Fiolla turns off the sim, steps out and hurries after Riggs to the briefing room to see what's up and why she's been called. Back in the simulator, the others realize this won't be as easy as it seems as both Cobb and Dasha report failures in their onboard systems. Cobb flies in formation with Ziroc when suddenly he gets a red light on his control board. He looks at the diagnostics and winces. "Ummm… Ziroc, I've got a problem, my lasers are out as are my targeting computers for the protons. Um, request instructions." Dasha grins evilly thinking that means more kills for her and Ran when she hears a plaintive wail from her own control board. She swallows and gets on the comm to Ran. "Ummm, Felsner isn't it? I hate to say this but my shields are down and maneuvering is at only 50%." Unseen by anyone Gorjaye grins evilly from her sim cockpit. Ran & Ziroc prepare to reply when they get red blips
approaching from the front. Only 2 at first, then 4 as they get
nearer, then 6 as the blips seem to multiply. * * * Riggs emerges from the hangar bay and heads down the corridor taking his time. He clicks on his comlink, "This is Riggs, on my way." He hears a door open behind him and sees Fiolla on her way out of the hangar bay. He nods to her and continues through the corridor at last reaching the door to the briefing room. He enters and takes a seat at the table wondering what Ree wants. Dajus walks into the briefing room and looks about her. She sees a Correllian male dressed in the style she has come to associate with free traders, her gaze going briefly to the blasters slung low on his hips. She resists the urge to feel the empty spot on her hip which should have a sidearm and walks for another spot to sit down and wait, feeling very unsettled by the conversation she witnessed on the bridge between Thyte and Torie-El. In the sickbay Seedar pauses in the act of putting away some medicinal supplies when her comlink beeps. She hears the message from Lt. Ree and looks shyly to Dr Akanseh, "Um... doctor… I.." The Mon Calamari looks at her with an expression she interprets as kindness. "Go, I heard the summons. I can finish here." Dr. Seedar tucks a loose strand of her red hair behind her right ear and smiles a bit then turns and leaves the room. In the training room Thanis watches the man named Eclipse take practice shots. He is about to comment on the man's style when he gets a beep on his comlink. Looking surprised he listens to the message and leaves the training room without a word. His thoughts are chaotic as he heads to the briefing room, filled with images of the revenge he seeks and the death he sometimes dreams of, both his own and the deaths he needlessly inflicted upon others. I shall get revenge for all of you. I swear it. Thanis and Seedar arrive at approximately the same time and take seats within the room, waiting expectantly. Fiolla follows, walking slowly down the corridor, loosing sight of the Corellian somewhere along the way, she is so lost in thought. She snaps out of her internal reverie when she arrives, coming to the door just in time to see both a young redhead and an older man taking seats. Another woman, seemingly greatly disturbed by something, and Captain Riggs have already taken places around the table. She glances from face to face, quite unsure what she should do, and swallows, sliding into the seat between Riggs and the redheaded woman. A deeply crimson stain slips across her face as she feels the eyes of both the other man and the two women stop at her hip, locking on her lightsaber. She glances at each of them again in turn. A slight, hesitant smile on her face as she assesses each one of them, and silently awaits the start of the meeting. Gorak is taking a short nap and is interrupted by the blasting volume of Lt. Ree's voice coming over the comlink. He quickly gets up and mutters, "Blast! Can't I ever get a break without someone interrupting me?" Still muttering some unintelligible stuff to himself, Gorak throws on his uniform and arrives in the briefing room, seeing all the others, with one minute to spare. Before the meeting that Lieutenant Ree calls is about to begin, Gorak decides that he needs the people who serve under him to report in and introduce themselves. Gorak opens up a comlink channel to Cossner Edge and Joshua Eclipse's comlinks and says, "Cossner Edge, Joshua Eclipse, and Scoryn. This is Gorak Khazam, Chief Security Officer aboard the Far Star. Please meet me in the briefing room in 30 minutes to report in...if the door is still shut in 30 minutes, please wait outside. Currently I am in a meeting and it should be over soon. Thank you." * * * The meeting completed, the attendees file out and head off to their next order of business. For two pilots, this is returning to the hangar simulator room where the others are still flying their first simulation. For another, "Lt. Dajus would you care to join me in the mess hall now to dicuss other topics." Sarin locks eyes with with the good Lieutenant's. Dajus looks trapped then nods at the intel officer. "As you wish Lt." She stands without waiting for an answer and heads for the mess hall. Riggs in the midst of walking back to the hangar bay with Fiolla abruptly changes course and walks into the training room. He quickdraws both heavy blaster pistols and starts to unload on the targets. His shots slam into the targets as he fires both pistols simultaneously. Anyone looking closely can see that his eyes are wet, as if he is on the verge of tears and his face is full of rage. He continues firing walking forward as he does. He chants under his breath. "Die, die, no more, no more betrayals, no more. No MORE" On the last word his shots blow apart two of the targets. He simply aims at another. By this time his chanting is growing louder and louder and those in the nearby mess hall can hear it. He empties both pistols and drops them to the floor. He then draws a hold out blaster from his belt at the small of his back. He nails the last target with the 6 shots from this pistol and drops it as well. He draws a knife and leaps over the guard rails quickly plunging it into the chest of the target. He then leans against the wall next to the target and slides down the wall, his eyes not seeing the room which is now full of smoke from so many blaster shots fired so quickly in such a short period of time. Several crew members from the nearby mess hall crowd the doorway into the training room which now looks like a warzone, looking at one another in confusion and perhaps a bit of fear. Fiolla watches the Corellian duck into the training room, beginning to fire shots accurately if a bit wild-eyed. Her eyes go wide, a combination of surprise, unhappiness for his obvious pain, and fear. She stands there in the doorway to the training room, growing more and more concerned with each passing second. She waits quietly until the man slides down the wall, glaze eyed, the blaster pistols spent and discarded. A sigh escapes her, pain evident in her eyes as she walks slowly to the Captain's side, kneeling down next to him, and places a gentle hand on his arm. She leans down, whispering, so that none of those gathered in the doorway can hear what it is she tells him, several muttered comments passing between the two. Finally she stands slowly, steps back a pace and holds her hand out to him, as if offering to help him back to his feet. A timid smile crosses her face as she waits, her eyes hopeful. "Let's go. We're due in the sims in a few minutes." He nods and takes her hand and stands. "Alright". He retrieves his weapons and pushes through the crowd at the doorway. "Weapons test." He then begins again his walk back to the hangar. Fiolla chuckles softly, following behind the Corellian. Silence follows in their wake, the eyes of several crew member plainly filled with disbelief, others with fear, as they move aside for the two to pass. Neither has much to say as they make their way through the corridors, both content to maintain the almost companionable silence. Riggs returns to the sims looking a bit tired and notes Dasha and Cobb waiting in the ready room along with Mouse. Dasha looks at him and shrugs, "It's almost over now, might as well wait." Riggs nods and sits in one of the empty seats waiting to see who emerges from a sim cockpit next. Fiolla follows Riggs in, seeming to watch him closely
all the while. She nods to Mouse, Dasha and Cobb, taking a seat.
If it's almost over, she's probably already decided who's being
teamed with who. I'll have to see if I can't catch her and ask
her about things before she makes any final decisions or
announces anything. She glances over at Mouse, surprised to see
him there with Dasha and Cobb, since he was flying one of the
TIEs. "Who managed to take you out, Mouse?" Dasha snorts, "Lucky my blue arse. You can blame Gorjaye. She's the one who determined my maneuvering jets would be damaged. I couldn't turn well at all and at that speed it was pretty much over by the time I thought about it." * * * Back in the simulator, it was down to Ran and Ziroc against Gorjaye. Ran and Ziroc attempt a desparate plan. Ran leads, bracketing Gorjaye's TIE with laser fire, forcing her into a narrow corridor. Into this corridor Ziroc flies and fires off his last photon torpedo. The TIE has nowhere to go, and so the torpedo impacts with the TIE right between the twin engines, punches through them and out the front cockpit. Still going it explodes about 20 meters in front of Gorjaye's cockpit. The lights in the sims fade and the pilots blink as the "cockpit" opens up and they see the other pilots waiting. * * * The new pilots shift nervously in their seats as Gorjaye goes over the sim records. At one point she pauses to take a comm call from a security officer. She talks in low tones to him and after the call ends shoots Riggs a venomous look. Then she stands before the pilots. "Alright everyone, listen up. Here are your scores and probationary wing assignments. I'll start with low score. That'd be you Ziroc with 100 points. During the sim you showed a very good grasp of your surroundings and your tactics were excellent. In addition you kept watch on your wingman as much as possible and helped him out when you could. Next we have Dasha with 400 points. During the sim you seemed to keep an eye on things with one glaring exception. Your piloting style shows you are more comfortable in space. When you sideslipped out from behind Ran you neglected to take wind direction into account and were thrown out of control. In a real battle that might have gotten you killed. You also worked well with Ran with the exception of the end. True you took out two fighters, but if you had missed Mouse you would have been far out in orbit by the time you slowed and got turned around. Meanwhile, Ran would have been on his own. This brings me to Ran. You got 400 points as well. You seemed to keep remarkably in control for a Correllian and seemed to be willing to work in a team. My only criticism is the end when you attacked me. You used up all your torpedoes and drained the power of your lasers trying to destroy one Tie, if another squad had shown up this competitive streak might have cost you dearly." Ran grins, then leans over and whispers to Dasha, "I think she's mad that she got hit." then settles back waiting for Gorgaye to finish speaking. "Finally, we get to the big winner, Cobb. He scored an amazing 700 points. You win the big prizes Cobb..." Cobb grins happily and starts to look cocky. "I'm sorry you seem to think this is a good thing. You scored 700 points because of the conditions of this sim. Wingmen got their partners scores. Remember? Ziroc's lowly 100 points is YOUR score. For this you've earned 2 honors. You get to be my wingman. If you panic on me like you did with him you'll be lucky if the Imperials kill you before I do. Secondly, you earned Simulator time. You will spend 4 of the 12 hours you're off duty in the sims. Understood?" Cobb flinches then nods meekly. "Good. You can sleep when you're not here and eat in the sims or on the deck when and if you get the time. Now for the wing assignments. Ran, you are paired with Dasha. You two seemed to work well together. Ziroc, I'm pairing you with Noell. He is an excellent and trustworthy pilot and I think you two will make a good team. I'll take Cobb and Fiolla. Fiolla you are on my wing because you are an untried element." She then looks to Riggs with narrowed eyes." As for you, I heard about your little scene. You're on this squad because I've seen your record and Adrimetrum seems to think you might get your act together. Until you do though I'm not forcing one of these good pilots to be forced to fly with an unstable man such as you. And I seriously doubt any of them are suicidal enough to volunteer to be on your wing. Any questions anyone?" * * * On the way to the mess hall, Dajus stops to watch Riggs's outburst in the training room. Maybe I ought to point him in Sarne's direction she thinks to herself before continuing on her way sitting alone at a corner table to wait on Lt. Ree. Her eyes and face impassive she watches the door. As Dajus watches the door. Sarin silently sits next to he putting a coca dink in front of her. "I did not want to get off on the wrong foot with you." He sips his own cocoa "We will most probably be working together on Intel matters." He takes a long drink of his cocoa looking at Dajus "so what did you not add to the briefing." He shows no emotion as he awaits an answer. "I did not add things I did not believe people needed to know. Not yet. I'm an ex-Imperial tolerated here because of my tactical knowledge and what I know. If I give away all my knowledge then I'm no longer needed which means I have to find another ride to catch Sarne in. And believe me. I will catch him. One way or another." * * * Gorak watches the three security officers who serve underneath him walk into the conference room with a cautious eye. He immediately gives the three officers an odd look, making them feel somewhat uncomfortable. When all three of them are seated and ready, he begins. "Greetings. I am Gorak Khazam, the Chief Security Officer aboard the Far Star. I don't have much to say, I just called this meeting for you all to get to know one another and also for you all to introduce yourselves to me, since we'll be working together here aboard the Far Star. However, I just have three rules for you. First, make sure you look at everything with a cautious eye. I want you to thoroughly investigate everything. Two, if you find anything, ANYTHING that concerns me needing to know, you make sure I'm the first to know. And last, kozak lo neetska. For those of you who don't speak Rodian, that means keep to your own space. Now get to know one another." * * * The meetings done, the settling in just beginning, the crew of the Far Star contemplate the future as the ship hurtles through hyperspace.
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