*This is my first attempt with FanFiction.net, although I think I'll do just fine here. Allow me to introduce to you the main characters of the story.
The RBL Senate
Az'is: A small creature that has been attributed to look like Marvin the Martian, although he is no one to fool with. He is a Jedi Knight, and an excellent pilot. His rank in ReBeL (henceforth referred to as RBL) is Admiral.
Vader: A man from the devestated world of Kuul Frioles, and a survivor of the Dark Lord himself. Vader has sworn to avenge his world, and has taken up the same armor as the Dark Lord himself. He is powerful in the ways of the Force, and a pilot of the highest caliber. His rank in RBL is Admiral.
Aslan: A transplanted and altered Ewok. His intelligence knows no bounds, yet his capacity to pull pranks has nearly gotten him booted out of the station without a vac-suit many times. He runs the most popular resturant on the station, known as Aslan's Bar and Grill. He is also an excellent pilot, and holds the rank of Admiral.
Zarathos: A human with a past, he is the founder of RBL. His skill is legendary, and his leadership abilities are unquestioned. He holds great respect, and shows honor and respect to all. He holds the rank of Admiral.
Mac: A human, clouded in mystery. When he arrived, he only referred to himself as "Mac," and so the name stuck. He is a good pilot, and an excellent wingman. His rank is Admiral.
Crysania: Human, wed to Mac. She likes to work in the shadows, gathering intel and helping to maintain RBL to high standards. She is generous with her smiles, yet isn't above a good prank herself. Her skill as a pilot is decent, although her job is more planning than fighting. Her rank is Admiral.
Other Main characters(subject to additions or removals)
M1A2Tanker: A human from a planet that was the mirror of our Earth (and, incidentally, represents me in my stories), he joined RBL out of pure dumb luck. A former soldier, and a tank crewman, he is an excellent commando, yet his true skills are just now beginning to show. His skill in a fighter has grown tremendously, and his power in the Force has surprised his mentor, Vader. M1A2Tanker (also Tank) downplays his achievements, content in the knowledge that whatever happens, he will return to his homeworld. His rank is Captain.
Wild§lash: An unknown human, with skills in an Xwing that leave some in awe. His grace and martial ability astound even Jedi, and his skill with a Katana is even more deadly than his piloting. An excellent intrusion expert, with a sharp mind, and quick wit. His rank is Captain.
Keep in mind that I'll add characters as I go, and that all of these people are just the callsigns of people who actually fly in the games Xwing Alliance, and Xwing VS TIE Fighter. I do have their permission to use their callsigns here, just so you know, and they sometimes like to add parts to my stories, which I give them full credit for. They are my buddies in the gaming squadron which is called ReBeL Squadron. Feel free to visit them at http://www.rblsquad.com .
Now, on to the story!*
Prelude: The calm before the storm.
Tank walked through the wide halls of the ReBeL space station known as RBL Home, at a nice, slow, unhurried pace. It was late at night, so most of the station crew was in bed, minus those on night duty. The only place on the station that never slept was the main civilian hanger at the front of the station. Business had to keep running you know. After about 30 minutes into his rounds tank went by Aslan's Bar and Grill at the top of the large station. It was dark, unoccupied. Only light in the room was from the light panels at the top and bottom of the viewports leading out to space. Asteroids circled the station, some large, some small. It was all he could see before him, other than the commercial freighters that came and went.
Reaching out with the Force he sensed the other stations and ships in the area. Behind and to the right was the new military platform built to take care of the large New Republic ships that came and went, which RBL Home was ill equipped to handle. To the left of RBL Home was the large, twin ship repair bay facility, made to repair all ships that came, large and small. To the right he sensed Aslan and some New Republic engineers inside a large converted asteroid. There had been talk of a colony being built in close proximity to RBL Home, although that was still in the talking stages.
"Amazing how things have changed," Tank mused. Circling it all was the Imperial Star Destroyer assigned to RBL, the RBL Intrepid, and the new Correllian Gunship, the Swift. The Swift was a recent addition to RBL, added upon request for a more adequate defense against starfighters. The Intrepid could give and take a lot of punishment, but the Swift would be much more effective.
As he stood there, feeling with the Force, he turned it inward, towards RBL Home itself. He could sense the crew and pilots sleeping soundly. Well, not all of them slept soundly, one crewmember appearing to be having a hard time sleeping, and a pilot experiencing a nightmare. It was nothing that doesn't happen on a usual basis, as he well knew himself.
Suddenly, he sensed someone approach. Tank remained relaxed though as the figure approached.
"Evening Tanker."
"Evening Zara." Tank replied, still looking out the veiwports.
"Amazing how far this place has come along hasn't it?" Zara stood next to him, looking out as well. From the Bar and Grill, you could look down and see the center section of the station, referred to as the brains of RBL, or RBL HQ.
"Heh, yes, I was just thinking that myself." Tank couldn't stop feeling the pilot in distress. "Must be one hell of a nightmare," Tank thought.
"Any word on those deaths?" Zara asked, inturrpting Tank's thoughts.
"No, not yet, other than how gruesome it was. Even the Medic droids hadn't seen anything like that." A day or so ago, a freighter came out of hyperspace, blasting on all channels a distress call. There had been some murders on the ship, but they couldn't find what caused them. Medics had removed the bodies and placed them in the morgue, and even dunked one still barely living crewmember into the bacta tanks. It had been two days now, and the crewmember was still in bad shape, but out of danger. There had been something about the way they had died though that nagged at Tanks mind…
"Well, I hope that they get that crewmember patched up soon, at least enough so he can tell us what happened." Zarathos started to leave the Bar. Tank followed.
"MD says that it'll be at least another day before he's able to be brought out to talk. We'll have some answers hopefully then."
"Good." Zarathos took a left to the turbolifts while Tank went for the grand staircase. The Grand Staircase lead down from the Bar and Grill to the Recreation area of the station. Below that was the Medical area. Tank was going to head there and check on the crewman before heading back to RBL HQ. Vapor was probably getting antsy.
"He hates pulling these all nighters, but someone has to do it," Tank smiled, "I'll let him play with his ship when I get back…what the?" A scream pierced the halls, coming from the pilots quarters.
Without even thinking, his lightsaber was in his hand, unignited, as he ran towards the location of the scream. In record time he was in the Wrath Squad pilots section, and still heading towards the location, the scream getting louder. Other pilots had started to pile out of their rooms as security soldiers ran from the opposite end of the corridor. Tank got to the door first, a new pilot who's name hadn't even registered in his mind. The scream had ended just before he got there, and he was primed for anything. The troops arrived, as well as a couple pilots armed with blasters, but Tank held up a hand, motioning them to stand back.
He reached for the calm of the Force, held his lightsaber at the ready, and opened the door. What greeted him, was beyond describing. While he managed to keep from retching, some of the others behind him weren't as lucky.
"Trooper,"
"Yes sir."
"Notify the Senate." Tank turned to the soldier. "Tell them there's been another murder."