CHAPTER 82 - ZAXYN BRIEFING
Four days later, the five Jedi strode down the shuttle ramp at New Republic military headquarters on Zaxyn Base. Lieutenant Iggis Watol, the red-skinned Nikto duty officer, checked in each Jedi by scanning their ID cylinders and taking retinal scans.
Before he had completed Jannah's scan, General Madine met the group. The general had changed very little in the last eight years since the Battle of Jakku. He had a few more wrinkles and a few more gray hairs sprinkled throughout his red thatch. "Master Skywalker, welcome. I hope your journey was as comfortable as possible."
Luke smiled at his old friend. "Definitely, General."
"Good. First, mission briefings. Then we'll let you settle into the TOQ."
Naluma jerked her head at Luke. Transient Officers' Quarters? I thought these missions were urgent. What's the delay?
Luke came to a halt and rested his hands on his hips. "We're not leaving immediately? What's the hold up?"
Madine hemmed and hawed as he led them into the Situation Room for their mission briefings. "Jedi Fau and Jedi Wei'ahtt, I'm going to have to ask you to wait outside. Top secret."
✧∙ ° : * ✧ ∙ ° : * ∙ ° ✧
Naluma swallowed, controlling her anger as she led Wei'ahtt outside into the heat of the sunny afternoon. They both leaned against the metal building, allowing the warmth to radiate into their bodies after four days of travel in cold space with a temperamental heating system.
With his hands behind his head, Wei'ahtt stared at the trees that lined the base. The sun winked through them, as he asked, "What's so hush-hush? It's not like the rest of the galaxy doesn't know our pilot got captured."
"No idea. Madine may be under orders from the Senate, though. Don't worry, I'm sure Master Luke will tell us later, if we need to know. For now, put it out of your mind and think about our mission."
"If they're gonna be awhile, how about a run? I'm a little nervous about getting killed in PT again," Wei'ahtt said as he bent over to stretch.
Naluma nodded. "You and me both. Good idea." After stretching their muscles for a few minutes, she led them on a circuit of the base perimeter.
✧∙ ° : * ✧ ∙ ° : * ∙ ° ✧
Colonel Kiner and Chancellor Mon Mothma joined General Madine and the Jedi in the strategy tank.
Mon Mothma greeted, "Welcome, Master Skywalker and ... Jedi ..."
Gesturing to each Jedi in turn, Luke said, "Tandolleau Duwamba and Jannah Witerspah."
"Witerspah ... Witerspah? You're not related to the Witerspahs of Zeltros, are you?" the Chancellor asked as her eyes bored into the girl.
"Yes, Your Excellency. I'm the baby," Jannah said with a perfunctory nod.
"I remember your parents were heartbroken when you disappeared a few years ago. This is where you've been?" Mon Mothma's brow frowned in disapproval. "I must object to her inclusion in this mission, Master Skywalker."
Jannah hung her head low as she explained, "Your Excellency, I ran away ten years ago, but not to the Jedi Order. I enlisted in the Republic Fleet under a false name. Please don't blame Master Skywalker. He didn't know."
"You barely look old enough to enlist now," Mon Mothma said with a hand on her hip. Outrage gleamed in her eyes, but her tone revealed a matronly attitude.
Master Skywalker stepped in between the Chancellor and his Jedi. "Your Excellency, I assure you Jannah is not the only soldier who entered our military under a false name and age. No one was performing background checks during the Rebellion. I assure you, she has resolved all issues with her parents since joining the Order."
Luke scrutinized the leader, recognizing worry and exhaustion behind her mask of annoyance. "Besides, if you want to get Ensign Frensu out of his legal entanglements, Jedi Witerspah is your best choice. She is the Order's best legal negotiator."
"I thought you were going to negotiate, Master Skywalker." Her eyes narrowed with agitation.
"I will advise and support, but Jedi Witerspah will lead this mission."
Madine interrupted, trying to stave off any more complications with this mission. "I'm sure that regardless of who represents Ensign Frensu, we will be resorting to—how did you put it in our last message, Master Skywalker—'aggressive negotiations.' The First Order is providing us this court proceeding to make us all look bad in front of the galaxy. The question is not whether we will have to proceed to a rescue operation, but when. Colonel Kiner, would you please explain the extraction plan?"
"Yes, General." Kiner stepped to the strategy table. After hitting a few buttons on the holographic console, a map of the fortress on Castell appeared. "They're holding Frensu here, in the lower dungeon of the fortress. He's in a maximum security detention area. Our plan is for one of you to create a diversion by bombing the fuel tanks that are on the northeast side of the fortress so the others can escape with Frensu. We believe the best time to break him free is while he is in court."
Luke asked, "How much time do we have to spend on this trial? Break him out immediately or go along with this charade for a set period of time?"
Mon Mothma crossed her arms. "You will have to decide that when you get there. We would like the New Republic to appear willing to negotiate with the First Order, but under no circumstances will we bargain for his life, nor will we admit that he committed any crime."
General Madine raised his eyes to Luke. "We believe he was injured on impact. We doubt he was given proper medical care. If you find you cannot rescue him, you must kill him."
"No." Luke glared at the trio with his hands on his hips. "The Jedi Order is not your assassin squad. We will negotiate, we will rescue, but we will not kill to hide the fact that Ensign Frensu was indeed spying."
"He wasn't," Madine said, looking to the left.
The Jedi Master stared at the General, perceiving the darkness of the Force around the man. "He was. The Force cannot lie." Luke placed his hands on the edge of the holotable and leaned forward. "General, I fought against the utmost evil to change this galaxy. The Jedi will not stoop to the same evil methods in order to conceal the New Republic's acts in this matter. We would become exactly what I sought to destroy."
Mon Mothma turned to Madine. "Satisfied?"
The general glared at the Jedi Master. After weighing his options, Madine nodded in agreement. "Very well, Master Skywalker. We'll do it your way. Now, how long has it been since any of you have been in a Y-wing? I think you're all due for some sim time over on the flight deck."
✧∙ ° : * ✧ ∙ ° : * ∙ ° ✧
When Naluma and Wei'ahtt returned, they found Madine and Kiner waiting for them. Those officers were the only two in the Situation Room.
"Welcome, Jedi Fau, Jedi Ahhzteen. This will be brief," Madine said.
Both Jedi nodded and waited for additional instructions as they puffed after their run.
"Jedi Ahhzteen, your transport is waiting to take you to the recruiting station on Pasqualis III," Madine said as Colonel Kiner handed a small bag to the burly Jedi. "You'll find a new identification card and civvies with a few personal belongings in there. Memorize everything about your new persona on the disposable datapad. Follow the destruction instructions when you arrive on Pasqualis III."
"Yes, General." Wei'ahtt saluted Madine.
Naluma said, "Guess I'd better take your saber now."
Wei'ahtt unclipped his saber from his belt and handed it to Jedi Fau. "You break it, you're making me a new one."
"Would you relax, Wei'ahtt? It's me," Naluma said with a shake of her head. "Now will you get going before you miss your transport?"
Wei'ahtt nodded and turned.
"See you in a week, and you'd better be making better times on your runs by then." She winked at him. "I hear your DI is gonna be an irascible sergeant."
"Yeah, well, she'd better watch out for herself. I hear this new class of recruits might just dump her in a lake one day," Wei'ahtt teased with a glint in his eye as he walked away.
Naluma clipped Wei'ahtt's saber to her belt. Watch out while you're on Pasqualis III. Operations could have moved there, too. I'll try not to go too hard on you ...
Can't be any worse than when I was your Padawan. See you on Ruusan.
She smiled at her former Padawan. May the Force be with you.
You, too, Naluma.
Kiner, unaware of the mental conversation that the Jedi were conducting, handed Naluma a bag and a datapad. "Here's the DI manual. There are fifty pages you must memorize before heading out. We need you on Ruusan in five days. Also, you must pass the DI physical fitness test before you can assume command."
She nodded, taking the packet. "Any chance I can get the arena tonight for saber practice?"
Madine said, "After 2000."
"Good. Block it out for us from 2000 until 2200, then. We're all in need of some practice."
As the Jedi turned to leave, Kiner said, "Your itinerary is on that datapad. PT test is at 0700. You'll qualify on the firing range after that. Rest of the day will be a crash course in leadership and troop instruction guidelines."
Naluma shook her head in unbelief, finally apprehending what Luke had gotten her into. "Yes, Colonel. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some memorizing to do." Luke, when I get my hands on you ...
✧∙ ° : * ✧ ∙ ° : * ∙ ° ✧
Did you know …
● Research strikes again. US Navy SEALS and Marine Corps drill instructor training.
● Naluma doesn't get out much. She's stuck on Khalkha as a Padawan trainer for much of her life.
● Luke spends a lot of time away from Khalkha on different missions, taking a Padawan or two with him. If a mission is too dangerous, he'll take another Jedi Knight.
✧∙ ° : * ✧ ∙ ° : * ∙ ° ✧
Tell me what you think …
● Since he's in prime condition and can use the Force, why do you think Wei'ahtt is nervous about boot camp?
● Why would Madine and Kiner exclude Naluma and Wei'ahtt from Luke's briefing?