Obi Wan's POV

I was repairing my best flight suit in preparation for a battle. It was unlikely that the Invids would let the Zentrati go without a battle. While I had called it a recon mission it was more of a rescue mission. The Zentrati had been cornered by the Invids and were losing ships and pilots faster than they could replace.

Both squadrons were waiting in the hanger when I walked in. They all saluted and I said," At ease soldiers." I looked between them seeing the battle ready looks in their eyes. They knew in their hearts this was no recon mission. I nodded and said," Mount up."

We made our way to our Veritechs. While from far away each ship looked the same every pilot made it their own. Mine had a black wolf's head on the left wing with the main coloring dark blue. I climbed up the latter till I was standing over my cockpit glaring at the one sitting in the back. Xanatos the stubborn bastard was in my cockpit.

I said with a vicious growl," Get out of my cockpit. This isn't the kind of mission you take a... civilian on. I can't have you yelling in my ear if we have to face Invids." Xanatos said not backing down," You said this is a recon mission. I can help."

I said," If you knew anything about me you would know recon is code for get your ass in gear. This is a class five mission that is why we have the two best squadrons going. I cannot have an amateur pilot in my cockpit this time." Xanatos said calmly," We cannot work on a training bond across the galaxy." I shook my head and said," It's only a few parsects."

Xanatos expression said that he couldn't care less. He said putting on the flight harness," I'm not leaving. You will either take me or send someone else to lead the mission." This stubborn Jedi! Why couldn't he be like all the others. A small voice in the back of my mind said,: Because he can help you.: I flinched that was right. He probably could help me if I would let him. That was never going to happen though. Every person I had ever let get close to me had died. I could not lose anyone else.

I said looking away," I can't Knight. Please don't just don't." Xanatos said kindly his eyes trying and after a moment succeeding in catching mine," It's ok Obi Wan. I'm not going anywhere."

I ground my teeth before I hopped into the cockpit putting the harness on. I said," Don't you dare touch anything back there unless I say so." He smiled victoriously as he said," Yes sir."

I did a quick preflight check making sure all comms were open to the squads. All members checked in that they were ready for flight. I heard over the comm," Garren and I will be on standby Obi Wan. Good luck." I smiled and said," Good Reeft if worse comes to worse tell Fox to contact them. He will know what you mean."

Reeft didn't sound happy as he said," I will but you better come back Obi Wan or Bant will kill you herself." I said," I'll be back along with both squadrons."

There was an affirmative from everyone. No one intended to die on this mission. Xanatos took that moment to give his two cents on the situation," Don't worry about it Initiates I will be with Obi Wan." Garren said barely loud enough to be heard," I think that was supposed to make us feel better. But it doesn't Knights aren't combat pilots."

I snorted and said," He's got a point. Garren against my better judgement this crazy ass knight is going with us. Stay safe if we are not back in two days prepare the robotech defenses of Corasaunt for battle. Code Invid." He said his voice taunt with worry," I will Obi Wan. Be safe."

In that moment a green light appeared in front of my fighter. A technician was indicating we were clear to take off. I said commandingly," All fighters we have the green light. We are a go." I pushed on the booster allowing the ship to take off into open air. Once both squadrons were in formation we went out of the atmosphere.

No matter how many times I flew in space each time it was breath taking to see the stars. I set the coordinates to rendezvous with the Zentrati fleet. Once set we punched it into hyperspace. It was only about a twelve hour flight but still that was a long time for someone who had been avoiding flying. I thought back to the last time I had flown.

Flashback

I was standing next to Commander Fox in the STFW command center. I said rubbing the back of my neck," Fox I have to go. I have a year and a half left of my Jedi apprentice training." Fox smiled kindly at me before he replied," You don't have to come back Wolf. There are people that care about you there."

I shook my head and asked doubtfully," I doubt it Fox. They won't be able to understand what we went through." Fox placed a hand on my shoulder comfortingly and said," Give them a chance Wolf. They might just surprise you."

I just gave him a quiet shrug looking back over their plans. They planned on traveling the galaxy for the next year and a half to pick up new recruits. After the war we were low on pilots and engineers for our ships. We could only hope that we won't be tracked this far out. An hour later we were over Corasaunt and it was time for me to leave. I went down to the flight deck where I was surprised to see the three remaining flight squadrons and the full STFW crew. They all snapped to a quick salute before they said in unison," Good luck on this adventure Lieutenant Commander. We wish you well."

I returned the salute and said," No matter where we go we will always be family. May the force protect you all." With that I climbed the latter to my Veritech and took off.

End flashback

Without realizing I had ever closed my eyes I opened them. Xanatos asked," What's on your mind? You were restless as you were sleeping." I said coldly," The past. No one can escape it... No matter how hard one tries."

Xanatos said sagely," One cannot escape their past nor should they try. Face it head or it will come back to haunt you." I said trying to rein in my temper," Have you ever faced war? Have you ever led those you cared the most about into battle only for them to perish? You are a Jedi not a fighter."

Xanatos said his voice becoming distant as if remembering a memory," I have. On my home planet there was a civil war going on. My trials was to make a decision. Would I kill my father or let his tyrannical rule continue?" He choked on the memory for a moment. I didn't interrupt him this was the first time we had shared any personal information. He continued," I chose not to kill him. I couldn't do it even after all he had done to our world. Instead my master killed him and in a fit of rage I drew my saber against him."

That was one of the biggest in against your master that you could do. To draw your lightsaber was a symbol of battle. Before I could think anymore on it he said," I ran off before either of us could do anything else that we would regret. Eventually I was able to get back off planet and made my way back to the Jedi temple. I asked for an immediate audience with the council. I told them what had happened leaving nothing out and begged their forgiveness. They checked my force presence and memories before making their decision. I was given two years probation."

I froze that was surprising that the council had let him off so easily. Jedi had there own methods of dealing with those who broke their rules. They could even suppress the force sensitivity. I whispered," Two almost three years ago I went back to my home world. They were turning children into soldiers for the Robotech programs. This was different than their normal pilots. Many of us were experimented on before we trained to fly or to be engineers."

I said my eyes growing distant," I was one of those that were apart of the experiments. I... I really can't say more than that." Before he could reply we dropped out of hyperspace. My breath caught in my throat as I had to dodge debris that was in our way. Ships were destroys everywhere we didn't make it in time.

I looked around and set my Veritechs scanners to find life or any intact ships. The only signs of life were my own squadrons. This hadn't been a battle but a massacre.