Note: Emerald did the briefing scene. We brainstormed etc. on the L/M chat after.
GN Note: I used a New Hope to help me with the debriefing room scene, the words are generally the same but modify so I wouldn't to suit story format.
Luke sat in the debriefing room, as General Dodonna, explained what the pilots were seeing on the screen.
He narrowed his eyes at the image. The Death Star, he thought.
"We have analyzed the plans of the battle station provided to us by Princess Leia and have discovered a weakness." He switched views showing what appeared to be a trench. "Since this approach will not be easy, you will maneuver your fighter down this trench, skimming the surface up until this point." He zoomed the schematics in. The target is exactly two meters wide; it's a small thermal exhaust port right bellow the main port.
"The thermal exhaust port leads down into the shaft which is connected to the reactor system. A precise hit should be able to penetrate the system thereby starting a chain reaction which will destroy the station." He paused and reiterated. "Only a precise hit."
Luke studied the design barely able to blink. How could such a flaw exist in a weapon like that? It seemed implausible, even if it was ray-shielded.
"….ray-shielded, so you'll have to use proton torpedoes." Dodonna finished saying.
"That's impossible," Wedge objected, "Even for a computer."
Hardly. He thought. It's no different from hitting fuselage on the back of a starfighter,
Nearby a voice issued a comment, repeating nearly identical thoughts.
"If you can hit the engine on a common starfighter I don't see how impossible it is." Mara murmured, under her breath. "And the reactor won't be moving."
Luke cast a glance over his shoulder, startlingly impressed. He favored her with a smile, his gaze approving.
Mara smirked back. She liked needling the pilots, especially the good-looking, blue-eyed one. Mara thought silently. He seemed to know a bit, maybe even a lot more, than the other new recruits.
Dodonna dismissed the pilots and Luke smiled at Mara as he began to mingle briefly with the other pilots, talking about starfighters and other things, but his eyes kept straying to Mara.
*****~~~
Luke answered Wedge's question about ray shielding causing too much of a problem.
"You'll just have to target tighter and lock in a different firing sequence to make the effect more intense." Janson interjected. "How did that lovely redhead know so much?"
Klivian snorted. "Don't get your hopes up, Wes. She was trying to impress someone else in our little group."
Wedge laughed.
"You?"
Hobbie sighed. "I am not that lucky. I think it was Skywalker."
Luke felt an inner surprise. Really?
He gave an enigmatic smile to this last comment and the group parted ways.
As soon as that conversation broke up, he made his way over to Mara, as if eager to have a few words with her.
Let's talk, he seemed to mouth.
Mara gave an inner shrug. She couldn't quite decide if she wanted to talk with him or not ... to get better acquainted.
She blinked, surprised by his boldness but at the same time not surprised.
Mara was half-tempted to turn his smug, arrogant self down, but was slightly interested in what exactly he wanted. She followed him out, catching up with him quickly.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Mara asked briskly.
"Wow, you get right to the point. No small talk hmm?"
She resisted the urge to grit her teeth.
"Get to the point, Skywalker."
"I just wanted to talk to you." He paused. "That was extremely good insight… I have to admit you….intrigue me"
"I intrigue you." She deadpanned. Inside, she smiled. Boys her age had always flirted, or tried to. But they were clumsy at it. Luke Skywalker, whatever else she could say about him, was no social illiterate. He seemed to mean what he said, at least to her.
"That's right. Something about you I can't put my finger on…"
Han Solo was making his way down the corridor and looking like a thundercloud.
"If he doesn't get something more tangible than a thank you, he's out of here." Mara observed.
"How sorry would you be to see him go?" Luke asked casually.
Mara shrugged and admitted: "It makes no difference to me one way or the other, but he seems a decent sort, handy in a crunch situation."
"Ah, I see. You have a soft spot for the more roguish types." Luke probed.
Mara shot him a cool look. What's it to you, anyhow? She wondered silently.
Luke continued: "…or maybe secretly you prefer my devilish charms but don't want to admit it."
Mara scoffed. "That's only in your dreams; do you always think women are fawning over you?"
"Not always. Just the one's that keep looking my way…I can't help it if your eyes wander of their own accord in my direction." Luke grinned.
"Whatever could have happened to give you such a high opinion of yourself?" She wondered aloud.
Luke laughed.
"Nothing wrong with a bit of self-confidence, is there?"
Mara rolled her eyes. "You call that, a bit?"
He grinned. In his usual circle of acquaintance, none dared to be as forthright, for whatever reason. This was refreshing.
"You know, Jade, it wouldn't hurt to spend a little time with me, just to see if I am right to be intrigued and whether your skepticism is justified." Luke suggested.
"I may be pleasantly surprised and change my mind about you, if we spend more time together?" Mara asked, doubtfully. "You don't think it might go the other way: I decide I was right, after all?"
"You'll never know, otherwise, will you?"
Mara had to admit he had a point.
She grudgingly nodded. "Allright, Skywalker. I'll take you up on your ... challenge? Dare? But don't get ahead of yourself."
Luke grinned in secret triumph.
She wasn't part of his mission parameters, but she sure made the whole endeavor more interesting.
+++_