Aurra POV

'Well, it is certainly ambitious, I will give you that, but what makes you think I will but my men on the line for this crazy plan of yours?' Hondo was perhaps one of the more moderate pirate captains in the galaxy, minus his more eccentric tendencies. With his calmer personality, and the fact he was less likely to shoot his men for no reason, he drew in more men and other pirate scoundrels then other Captains. While this didn't give him the criminal empire of the Hutts it did give him a sizeable fleet, one large enough to harry a Republic fleet.

'Because of what you stand to gain.' Hondo leant back in his seat.

'Oh, and what is that?'

'Recognition, wealth, power.' He was more sensible than others but at the end of the day Hondo was still a pirate, and a greedy one at that. I was asking Hondo to put his fleet up against the combined might of the 501st and the 187th fleet, which would be suicide if it was a straight up fight. Instead, I knew Hondo had some special fleet basing rights on a few Separatist and Republic worlds in which he greased a few palms and was allowed to trade supplies, usually stolen from the one he was trading with or from their opposition. I wanted Hondo to use some of his connections to arrange a trap for whichever fleet followed him.

First Hondo's pirates enter the Vanqor system and fire on the Republic ships, getting their attention, then they turn and run. The Republic will be forced to respond to due recent piracy in the area.

See, Hondo had been raiding Republic trade supplies in the area and was being payed by the Separatists to not to do it to them. He had also been very elusive, forcing the Republic to seize this chance or lose more supplies. This will separate the two fleet and allow a waiting Separatist fleet to trap the pursuing Republic fleet. The only variable would be which fleet followed.

If the 501st came Hondo will be recognised as the mastermind behind the downfall of the Master Chief, paid handsomely and his name will be recognised throughout the galaxy. The people trying to join his crew will go up drastically, as will the people trying to hire him, and he could make his own pirate empire. While he does this Boba gets his revenge and I get a large paycheck, win win.

If the 187th comes Hondo gets paid and recognition for killing one of the best Jedi Generals in the war as well as one of the most prominent Jedi in the galaxy. While this is the lesser of the two Windu still dies and Hondo makes money. While Boba hadn't done it personally he will have helped to arrange the downfall of Windu and can sneak out once the week is over.

Obviously there was always the chance that the Republic might not follow at all, but again, Hondo and his crew had been making big waves in the sector and would be dealt with if he just lands in their laps like that. But at least they wouldn't both come, some one would have to take care of the children.

'And how do you suppose I convince these contacts of mine?' Easy, their Neimoidians, they'll do anything to get a bit of cash and recognition. Meaning they would be more than happy to help bring down either the Master Chief or Windu. All Hondo had to do now was pick a Separatist fleet large enough to help out and then draw in the Republic.

John POV

It had been a quiet two days. Rex had been keeping an eye on the boy and, so far, only had positive things to say about him and his integration with the others. Cortana was busy working with ONI to find out how Boba even got on the Trip in first place, but they hadn't found much. I was currently reading up on some reports Halsey sent me about Mandalore, for some reason she insisted I familiarise myself with the goings on on the planet and in the sector. It was menial work but at least it gave me something to do.

I was just starting on a report about the Royal Academy of Government, the old Mandalorian Naval Academy, when an alert sounded, this was the early warning alert that only sounded when we detected unauthorised hyperspace jumps into the system. It was all hands on deck, and just in time for the pirates to show up. We knew Vanqor was once the waypoint for the pirates in the system but they hadn't been back since we first sent a fleet to survey the area to try and locate the ones raiding our supply lines. We suspected these pirates came from Florrum but they had been making sure not to become to ambitious and warrant a look from one of the fleets. The only reason a fleet had checked Vanqor was because the 327th Star Crop were on the way to Felucia and it was on the way. That and the fact they were trying to remain at least partial valuable by trading supplies with us. Still, it was odd to see them back, I thought they would have been smarter than to come back to a known hide out, or at least smart enough to send scouts first. Although, perhaps they were.

The pirates started firing as soon as they entered the system which means they knew we were here, and a fleet of their size couldn't take on our combined might so they obviously weren't planning on taking us on and forcing us to retreat, retaking their hideout. If I had to guess, they were baiting us. It seems Boba's patience paid off.

After a brief skirmish the pirate fleet, suffering a fair bit of damage, was turning to jump back into hyperspace. I order Cortana to isolate the capital ships transmission frequency before they jumped. After they entered hyperspace General Windu commed to say he would pursue the pirates.

'No. My fleet can deal with them faster, less chance of any getting away and increasing the amount damage done to any that do.' He gave me a nod.

'Very well. Transfer the cadets to me and you can be on your way.'

'Actually I'll be taking them with me.' The shock on his face was evident.

'What?! You can't be serious. This is a great…' I cut him off there.

'This isn't a good idea, you know. There will be consequences.' I turned to Rex, who had just arrived on the bridge.

'We'll be fine. Besides, General Windu agrees with me'

'You know he had more to say.'

'You can't prove that.'

'This is a great isn't exactly good grammar.' He had raised an eyebrow at me, I took it as a challenge.

'Who knows how those crazy Jedi teach their young, it's all a mystery to us.'

'I think they at least teach good grammar.'

'Then perhaps it's just their greatest Masters that have speech impediments.' Rex just shook his head and left it at that. With the fleet now in hyperspace I order Rex to put the boys into their emergency lockdown protocols, where we lock them into the officers quarters due to it being one of the safest parts of the ship, and then Rex was to wait around half an hour before bringing Boba and his friends to the bridge, it will give the boy some time to warn his allies he was on the pursuing fleet. While Rex went to do that I moved to the viewport and watched the colours wash over the bridge. It was oddly calming.

According to Halsey, due to the speeds we travel at in hyperspace we barely age a few seconds in the hours it takes to get to different places. I didn't quite understand it myself, something about time being relative to gravity or something, but it was an interesting thought to keep me occupied until Boba's arrival.

When Rex finally arrived with the boys he took his place at my right but was facing the cadets who, from the sound of shuffling feet, were standing at attention.

'Did they abandon you? When they found out you were on this ship, following them, did they abandon you?' I hadn't turned around to face the boys but I heard a tiny scraping of feet, Boba was tensing up.

'I was hoping for an answer Boba Fett.' With that I turned to face them, angling my helmet to Boba, making sure he knew that I knew.

'Did Aurra Sing abandon you?' It took a little digging, and a break from heavy thoughts of the space time continuum, to piece it together but I did it. I remembered the last time I met with Aurra Sing, in the hostage crisis on Coruscant, and remember her file had two important pieces of information. One, she had suspected relations with Pirate Captain Hondo Ohnaka,the pirate based on Florrum. Two, she had worked with Jango Fett. It didn't take long to realise who these weequay pirates were and who sent them.

Panicking, Boba grabbed the pistol of a nearby deck officer and aimed it at me.

'I want free passage off this ship.' The rest of the bridge reached for their guns but I just held up my hand and they slowly calmed down and reholstered.

'You care about others, don't you Boba, about their lives? Your not as ruthless as those you travel with are you?'

'I said…' I cut in.

'That's why you aimed at me.' I knew the others we a bit confused but I had the boy figured out, I hope, otherwise this could turn messy. 'You stole a pistol and aimed it at the only fully armoured member on this bridge.' The look of shock on Boba's face was enough to confirm it was a subconscious act, that only made it easier to read him.

'What?'

'You could have aimed at a deck officer, for Rex's exposed head or even, the most valuable targets, the cadets. Instead you aimed at me.' His hands started shaking and his face screwed up in self-deprecation, for his own perceived weakness. So, perhaps to prove to himself that he could, he swung his blaster at the cadets, aiming directly at Jax.

'I want free passage off this ship.'

'Your threat would hold a lot more weight if you actually had your finger on the trigger.' With a scream of frustration Boba grabbed the pistol with both hands but still hadn't but his finger on that trigger.

'It's not nice to be abandoned again, is it?'

'What the hell are you talking about?'

'First your father, now Aurra Sing.' I could see the rapid blinking of Boba's eyes as he tried to make sense of what I just said.

'What are you… He didn't abandon me, he died.'

'Isn't that the same thing. He had all the money he could want, he raised the army he had been looking, he had a son. He had everything he could want and yet, he still took a job from the Jedi who murdered his father figure and the rest of the True Mandalorians. It was Dooku who lead the Jedi to destroy the True Mandalorians and while Dooku may have forgotten your father, there is no way your father forgot Dooku. So why join him?' That put him on the back foot.

'Did he name you his heir, Boba, before landing on Geonosis? You had to have been 10, 11 years old, more than old enough to go out on your own. As soon as you could live on your own he took the first opportunity he could to die. After all, why else would he join Dooku if not to try and kill him.

'Your father saw what Dooku was capable of and had to have done his research on his opponent, realising he had only gotten stronger over the years. He knew he would lose but he still went anyway. Except he didn't count on the Jedi or the arrival of the clone army, did he Boba?'

'Shut up.'

'I heard he didn't even tried to dodge when a Jedi Master, famed for their fighting capabilities, ran at him.'

'I said shut up.'

'He wanted to die, and in doing so, he abandoned you.'

'I SAID SHUT UP.' I gave him a second, watching his hands, that had grew more and more shaky as I talked.

'Look at Jax, Boba. Does he look scared?'

'What?' I admit it was a bit of a topic change, but I did have a point.

'He hasn't even flinched, not when you pulled the pistol, not when you aimed it at him and not as you grew angry. That's because he knows what I know, you won't pull that trigger.

'It was nice, wasn't it, to have a friend, someone you could trust implicitly. Someone who trusted you enough that you could point a gun at them and they still wouldn't doubt you. He's your friend, Boba, and he isn't scared of you. He hasn't abandoned you.' Boba was starting to lower the gun, tears rolling down his face, as he stared at the boy who hadn't lost faith in him despite all that Boba had done.

'You have a choice now Boba. Are you a pirate or a Mandalorian?

'If you're a pirate you will be jettisoned in an escape pod upon entry into the Felucian system. I plan on wiping out all pirates in the system so, if we win, you die too. We are, however, heading into a trap so the odds are in your favour.

'If you're a Mandalorian, drop the pistol and join your brothers in this battle and the one person who never lost faith in you.' It was a tense few seconds before Bobas shaky hands dropped the gun and Jax took the two steps between himself and Boba, engulfing his friend in a hug. The rest of the bridge crew finally took the breath they had been holding for so long.

'You're wrong about one thing Chief. It wasn't just one person who had faith in Boba, it was two.' With his piece said Rex moved to rest a hand on Bobas shoulder, who in turn rested his head on Rex's hand, while the other moved up into the boys hair and rubbing gently. While the three were having their moment the rest of the crew got back to work and the other two boys, who had responded with anger and worry when Boba had a gun on their friend, joined in the group hug. I gave Rex a nod and told him to take the boys back to lockdown while Cortana moved to to my side.

'What now?' I waited until they had left until I answered.

'Contact the pirates, tell them we have something of theirs.' Cortana looked at me, shocked.

'But you just…' I put my hand on her shoulder to stop her, after a pause she just gave me a nod and sent the message. With that I moved to the holotable, waiting for the pirates to answer.

'I must say, you surprise me, Master Chief. I did not expect a personal call, to what do I owe the honour?' The hologram on the table showed a well dressed weequay pirate with a Kowakian monkey lizards on his shoulder.

'Captain Ohnaka, I presume?'

'Oh ho ho, now you're flattering me. To become so well known that even the great Master Chief knows my name, it is quite something let me tell you.'

'It wasn't hard to figure out if you follow the trail. Boba Fett has been spotted with Aurra Sing, Aurra Sing has suspected romantic ties to you, your base is on Florrum and Florrum is near the Vanqor system, then there's the fact your fleet is made up of weequay Saucers. The only reason the Republic hasn't dealt with you yet is because we have little interest in this sector and you have been careful to stay just below the radar. But you knew we wouldn't miss a chance to deal with you if you turned up in front of us.' Ohnaka gave a brief round of applause and complimented me.

'Well done. To have figured it all out in such a short amount of time is impressive, they did say you were smart. Unfortunately you seem to have arrived at the correct conclusion under false pretences. You see, I have not been in touch with either Aurra or Boba. I was only in the system because there is an old supply base of mine I wanted to check up on, you see, I am missing something very important and want it back.'

'Yet you came out of hyperspace shooting, something that could only happen if you had your weapons already primed,which means you knew we were in the system. If you knew we were in the system you would know the fleet size and realise your's couldn't match. Then there's the fact you ran as soon as you entered the system, despite firing first, meaning your objective was to make us give chase, knowing you were a target we could ill afford to let go. The question is why come at all if your fleet can't match? My guess, because you plan in place to deal with your pursuers, Separatist most likely, you have been playing both sides of the war.

'Still, your fleet can't match ours, which means you've set an ambush for us. Most likely, the Separatist have blocked off the hyperspace route out of the system. Only problem is they know that hyperspace beacons communicate with all navcomputers within a 500km radius and so, to surprise us and attack us from behind, they will need to be out of that 500km radius so the beacon doesn't tell our navcomputers about the other ships in the system so they can calculate our jump around them. If we knew they were in the system we could have shields and weapons ready before we exit hyperspace and they lose their advantage.' Ohnaka started to stroke his chin.

'They said you were smart, just not how smart. What is it you want?'

'To negotiate. By Republic travel and safety regulations a hyperspace beacon must be, at minimum, 1000km away from any in system celestial body. I can over ride our navcomputers and come out a full 0.2 seconds after the safety features bring us out of hyperspace, which puts an additional 300-350km between us and the droids. This gives us plenty of time to turn and face. The droids won't be able to fire on us as optimal weapon range for droid cruisers is 200km, with a full range of 450km. This means you have to face us head on.

'Even with disabling the trap I realise it will be a costly victory, though be rest assured, it will still be a Republic victory, we do have two fleets. But, as I said, I am prepared to negotiate to have you and your men help us so as to save as many of my men as I can.' He seemed intrigued enough to listen, though he did look apprehensive. Still, I didn't need him to accept the deal because he had just confirmed the Separatists plan, but his help would limit casualties.

On the surface it was the perfect plan, stay out of enemies sight, attack from behind before they can protect themselves and fight back then clear up the rest. It was simple but effective and still allowed you to swap and change tactics as needed while also securing your own escape route if needed. The problem with such a simple plan is that you need the perfect bait. It can't just be enticing but also believable, unfortunately for the Separatists Ohnaka and his fleet just wasn't believable, they would need to have help to win against one Republic fleet and so I was on the lookout for said help.

'And what do you have to offer? I stand to gain much from your demise, nothing personal, just business you see, but more than enough to take a risk. And that is if I even believe you in the first place. If we were playing Sabacc you look to be the one who would bluff during such high stakes.' Well, he wasn't entirely wrong, I was bluffing about the extra ships. But then I didn't need them, I was more than confident I could achieve victory with what I had available, I just needed to stall the pirates long enough to use it. The Chancellor had been setting up the 501st to fully test all the tech in our new arsenal, so that's what I planned to do.

'Then let me sweeten pot. I currently have the most well equip Legion in the entire Republic army, some of this tech will fetch a high price on the black market.'

'That it would, if it remains a rare piece of merchandise. I have been hearing, however, that the weapons you have are becoming more and more common around the galaxy. While they would still fetch a good price it will be nothing compared to what the Separatist will pay me to be rid of you.'

'Not everything I have is becoming common place. If we were gambling I wouldn't need to bluff as I am holding a Squadron of Aces.' Ohnaka took another second to stroke his chin in thought.

'Hmm, Aces are a very valuable card indeed.'

'As valuable as my Ace pilots and their prototype fighters, the Broadswords. They are the only commissioned squadron of Broadswords in the galaxy and are more valuable than any other fighter in existence, superior in every way.'

'While that would be impressive it is, again, reliant on the fact that I would have to believe you.'

'Then perhaps a demonstration. You convince the droids to hold position and block our escape and I show of what the fighters can do. You then decide whether to join us or not. If you turn your guns on the Separatists then we will give you the fighters with full fuel and armament and no tampering, in addition to returning Boba Fett. If you decide to fire on us and I win, I promise, you will be wiped out to the last, none of you will survive.'

'Now that promise… I believe. I accept your offer, prove these Broadswords are worth more than the Separatists are paying for my services and I will help you, if you don't, I won't. Also, a little amendment. If I do join you then you and I will meet, face to face. Alone if we must, but without helmets.'

'Believe me Captain, once this is all over, that won't be a problem.' With that done I turned to Cortana who told me we had less than 10 minutes before we entered the system, Felucia if the maps are correct.

I sent a call down to Broadsword Actual, the Broadsword fighter squadron, and told them to prepare for a Delivery Run, Farewell Gifts. Due to the highly classified nature of the squadron and their deadly payload they had been given codewords and phrases to make it hard for anyone listening into our communications to know what their orders were.

Runs were a reference to their payloads, the types of missiles, they will be using for each mission. A Milk Run meant they were to load photon torpedoes instead of their Nova Missiles and a Delivery Run meant Novas instead of Photons.

Next we had what type damage they would be doing. Standard meant they were just to fire and damage targets, Farewell meant complete annihilation of the targets and Winter meant they were to instead aim to cause environmental damage, such as setting off minefields, causing avalanches, blowing up asteroids or, if equipped with Nova's, start a nuclear winter by bombarding a planet with nuclear missiles.

Then we had target acquisition. Gifts are meant to be shared, so that meant they were to spread their payload across all targets, and Cards are for an individual, meaning the payloads are for a specific target.

The Chancellor wanted to test all weapons, well now was the perfect time, no Jedi and, with the annihilation of the Separatist, no reliable witnesses.

As soon as we jumped into the system I ordered the fleet to turn about and, sure enough, there was the combined Separatist and pirate blockade. Within seconds Actual was in the air and heading straight for the enemy fleet at blistering speeds.

Potshot POV

'This is Potshot calling Broadsword Actual. Today we are going on a nice and easy Delivery Run. It will be the first time we have travelled this route so remember, post letters through letter box or into post boxs, remember people must sign for packages and don't pet the dogs, they don't like postmen.' A Broadsword was different from the 170's I'll tell you that. These beauties were the only ones of their kind in the entire army and you could tell just by watching it. Flying one only made it even more obvious. The layout was basically the same, nothing majorly different, but the ride was smoother, better inertial dampeners, better targeting computers and a much better armament. Hell they invent a new set of codewords just to hide the new stuff and they made us sound like postmen. We had nuclear missiles and they chose to make us sound like a group of the only people that dogs hate, who didn't find that funny. Then again we did have orders not to get into dogfights.

Hawk had no humour, apparently, as he ordered all wings to go silent, though I'm sure he was just telling me to shut up. Hawk was Squadron leader for Broadsword Actual and he had no humour what so ever. Even Rex, the no nonsense, second in command with a wonky eye and arm could take a joke. Hell, even he made them. Hawk, on the other hand, couldn't.

I get why you want a no nonsense person in charge of the most dangerous squadron in the galaxy that is equipped with the most dangerous weapons in the galaxy but you'd think he'd at least lighten up once in awhile. No such luck.

Soon my radar started blinking, incoming Vultures. Hawk radioed back in and we were told to move down to half speed and wait for ARC-170 support. As we cruised towards the Vultures the 170's started coming onto radar.

'Full stop in 3, 2, 1, mark.' On Hawks order all Broadswords screeched to a halt, reverse thrusters briefly firing to reduce momentum. The 170's zoomed past us and looked to have slammed into the wall of Vulture Droids. With that Hawk ordered full speed and for Broadsword Actual to take up flying v, attack formation.

'Pick your targets boys, but we aren't sticking around. Keep on pushing till we break through. If anyone picks up a bandit then your wingman takes it out. Don't stop for anything.' With our order received we started to weave through the battle. Due to the tight space we couldn't get up to full speed but we were still going significantly faster than the 170's and the Vultures. That didn't mean they didn't try to pick us off though.

Broadsword-5 was the first to pick up a bandit and, being Broadsword-6, I was the wingman who had to deal with it. It was a wily little bastard and didn't seem keen on letting me get a lock on. It got off a few shots on Broadsword-5 but most were just grazes, barely flaring the shields, but it was ducking under passing fighters, passing through ensuing dogfights and making hard climbs, banks and dives that no organic could possibly keep up with just to keep me off it's tail. It was only thanks to the inertial dampeners and the zero g environment that I didn't pass out, and it was only thanks to my superior speed that I shot the Vulture down, it was the wiliest droid I ever saw.

A quick call to Click, Broadsword-5, revealed he had been the crazy bastard doing the crazy stunts, trying his level best to lose the droid and it only followed him. Thank the Gods he hadn't made any sharp turns as we were falling behind as it was. A quick check on the squadron tracker showed minimal shield loss to Click but that we had lost Broadswords-4, 13 and 20, putting us at 21 Broadswords left, it was plenty. A few of the others had taken a bit of damage but we could make it.

Click and I put on a bit of speed, not really advisable due to the other fighters zooming about, but we needed to catch up. When we were 5km from the squad we slowed down to match them. Soon we had broken through and Hawk ordered all of us to ready the Delivery. We were keeping line, nearly there, nearly.

'Fire.' 21 nuclear missiles soared from underneath us, heading straight for the Sepy cruisers, still nearly 400 meters away. We all turned sharply to quickly get out of firing range. Their pointed defences had only just started firing at us but had quickly changed to the Novas. I kept an eye on the Nova's on the radar and counted 6 lost before the first one even hit. I couldn't see it, or even hear it, but the listing of the Providence class capital ship on the radar was more than enough to know it had worked.

Hondo POV

It seems these fighters were something else. To be so confident to send them alone against a fleet of this size was ballsy, I liked it. Aurra had complained, obviously, that I was putting our paycheck at risk. To which I argued wasn't it my paycheck. She would be getting a finders fee, but that wouldn't chance. Just because she was willing to abandon her partner and team leader, apparently, didn't have anything to do with me. So what if I let Boba live, it wasn't me he would try to kill in revenge.

It's just business Darling.

Tuning her out I asked my radar reader to tell he what these fighters were equipped with. Twin Rotary Cannons, military grade, Missile pods, military grade, Photon torpedoes, military grade, and the highest recorded speed of any fighter in the galaxy. In short, a steal. And they seemed to have made some modifications to the torpedoes, if the fact that they were using just one per Separatist ship was any indication.

Sure it could be a ruse to buy more time, but the Master Chief never specified that they were capable of taking out cruisers, just that they were the best fighters in the galaxy. If it was a ruse he would have kept it going for as long as possible rather than play his hand here. It wasn't like he was sending them to die either, if these missile don't work then I know he was trying to play me, if all the fighters are destroyed I know he played me.

'Those torpedoes, they are a bit slow, no?' My scanner quickly went to work. Ahh, I just love a pirate who just gets on with their job without complaining, or trying to stab me in the back.

'Sir. These readings, they show the torpedoes are using jet propulsion.' Missiles?! 'SIR, they seem to be…' Before the man could tell me what alarmed him so the first missile hit and I could see the Providence class capital ship break apart, in one hit. The rest of them blew up and destroyed nearly the entirety of the Separatist fleet. Ahahaha. Oh I couldn't wait to meet this Master Chief.

Just then what looked to be an electrical storm emerged from the epicentre of the explosions and washed over me and my fleet.

'I can confirm sir, without a doubt, those were nuclear was an EMP, our systems will be fried. Were dead in the water and are without aid.' Shit. A Squadron of Aces indeed.

Well played Master Chief, well played. Now you hold all the cards. As was evident by your unblemished fleet moving to finish off the rest of the Separatists and, I suspect, us too. I pegged you wrong Chief. You don't look like an experienced gambler and I thought it was because you didn't play. It seems you just couldn't find a sucker to play you, until now.

'You were a fine opponent.' With that the Republic fleet opened fire and, without shields, they tore through us in seconds.