Draco's Dilemma

After the meeting with the commander Draco was on the way back to the pirate's ship in the Tion Cluster. The streaks of hyperspace were passing by while the captain looked out of the viewport. His second in command cleared his throat and Draco turned his head, before swiveling his chair to face the Rodian.
"What is it, Rool?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
The pirate leaned casual in the door frame and stared at his captain whom he followed always without questioning his decisions. But not this time.
"Do you really want us to fight for this woman? I mean to help the kiddos on Takodana was one thing, but to stick out our necks in fighting the First Order is another. When do you want to tell the rest of our people?" He asked in fluent Basic. Then he walked over and sat down in the copilot's chair looking expectantly at Draco.
"As soon as we arrive at the Wild Draco," his captain answered and put his feet on the console. "They will buy it, my friend."
"How can you be this sure? Their war isn't our war, Draco. We are pirates and no freedom fighters as I said already. It doesn't matter to us who's flags are waving over the galaxy."
The captain smirked and put his feet down. "We will see, Rool. The commander's offer was fair and square."
"Our people might see it the other way. We'll make our hands dirty for them and earn nothing more than pittance." The pirate's second in command snorted and now it was his turn to put his feet on the console. He folded his arms in front of his chest and leaned back in the seat.
Draco ignored the Rodian's bearings and pulled out a bottle of Savareen brandy. He opened it, took a drink and handed it over.
"Our people will accept my decision. They always have. If I tell them it is to help old friends they will see reason."
Rool took the bottle and set it aside. "I can't share your optimism, Draco. And you shouldn't drink and keep sober for the meeting with our crew."
His captain laughed took the bottle and a drink of the brandy. "Why are you always such a prophet of gloom and doom, my friend?" He asked and took another drink savoring the flavor of the alcohol this time.
"Since I know people better than you, Draco people are greedy," Rool answered him and took the bottle out of his captain's hand. "We should rest until we arrive, my friend."
The Rodian made himself comfortable in the copilot's seat and closed his eyes. Eventually he fell asleep while Draco was pondering over what Rool had said.

Several hours later Rool heard the alarm indicating that they were about to drop out of hyperspace. Draco was still awake and pulled the lever. The streaks of hyperspace changed to blackness of real space and the stars were shining dots again. In front of them they saw the Wild Draco. Draco landed the small shuttle smoothly in the hangar bay shortly after. He cut the engine and smiled as he unbuckled. "Home sweet home," he said and rose. Then he left the cockpit followed by Rool opened the hatch and walked down the ramp. When he stepped on the hangar floor a man standing there caught his eye. He waved the Bothan over.
"Everything alright onboard, Ch'ord?" Draco asked the man when he stood in front of him.
"Aye, Captain," Ch'ord answered and continued. "We raided a First Order convoy coming along. I can show you the captured weapons and armors later."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "First Order you say?"
"Affirmative, Captain we took them by surprise. They didn't reckon that we are there."
The pirate's armorer showed his fangs the equivalent of a human smile. "How was the meeting with the commander? What had he to offer us?"
"The biggest surprise was that the commander is a woman. Do you remember the two kiddos on Takodana at Maz's? The commander is their mother."
The armorer looked at his captain in disbelieve. "Are you kidding me, Captain? In this vast galaxy and from all the people out there you meet the kiddos' mom?"
Draco shook his head. "This is no joke. I'll call the others and tell them about the negotiations and our agreement." He pulled out a comlink and hailed the captains of the other pirate ships which he knew were nearby, asking them to meet with him in one standard hour.

One by one landed the shuttles of the other pirate captains in the Wild Draco's hangar bay.
Draco was standing in his office when the arrivals entered the room. He looked at them waiting for the last of them to take a seat. Then he cleared his throat and begun to tell them about his meeting with the commander of the Resistance cell on Nar Shaddaa. When he had ended a hubbub started. With a wave of his hand he commanded silence.
"It's of no avail if everybody's speaking at the same time," he said and the others fell silent.
One of those gathered gave a sign that he wants to take the floor. Draco nodded in approval and the human male rose from his seat. His face was scarred a sign how many battles he had seen. He looked at the others and smirked.
"That's all well and good, but they basically want us to make our hands dirty for almost nothing. At the other hand…" The Corellian made a pause before continuing. "Do you know that the First Order is hunting down former Rebels? Not those of this pitiful Resistance but those who stood up against the Galactic Empire decades ago. I don't care why, since everything that counts to me is the bounty on their heads. You said the commander's name is Darklighter. It happens that there's a price on her head. 90,000 credits… it will be easy credits. This is much more than we would gain with one raid on First Order shipments."
He let his eyes drift over those gathered taking in their reactions to his revelation. The man sat down on his seat, folded his arms in front of his chest and waited for Draco to take the floor again.
Draco stared at the man who just spoiled his plan to team up with Nomi's cell. "You can't be serious, Jek. I gave the commander my word. She trusts me. And now you ask me to betray her and turn her in? This is not how I handle things, how I treat my allies. You should know this."
But when he looked around and heard the murmur, he realized that he was about to fight a losing battle. He sighed and cursed inwardly.
"I can't understand why you want to do this. You helped the kiddos back on Takodana and now you want to betray their mother? The First Order will kill her for sure. You will have her blood on your hands."
Jek shrugged and stood up. "We should make a voting, Draco."
The pirate captain nodded his head slowly well knowing that the outcome would mean a disaster for the upcoming Resistance cell. "Ok, let's vote." He took a heavy breath before he continued. "Who wants to hunt Commander Darklighter down and to turn her in?"
Hands were lifted and Draco counted silently. "10 out of 15…" He shook his head disappointed with those he always trusted with his life. "Who wants to pledge allegiance to her and her cause?" It was superfluous to ask the question since there were only five captains left including him who hadn't lifted their hands at the first question, but Draco asked nevertheless lifting his hand at the same moment. The captain sighed believing that the commander's fate was sealed. "10 to 5… I can't believe that you are really doing this, but so be it. We will stab the dagger in her back. And now go back to your ships." He slumped back in his seat. This wasn't going the way he had expected.