Addick and the Lt. Arrive quickly at the dock as their river craft is already running and waiting. A young scanner attendant briefs them as they board.
"The transport has not deviated from orbit. He should be directly above us in about 30 minutes, our group should intercept way before that."
"Thank you private. Keep me posted."
"Yes, Sir, General"
Lt. Orehn and Gen. Addick quickly entered their vessel. A pod-like machine, the water vessels were designed for extremely high speeds through tight tunnels that chris-cross the entire planet of Orepsorp. The vessel was designed after a fish with a glass down near the front and a long streamline body trailing behind it. In a fraction of a second, they were off, speeding down the darkness of the south tunnel. Soon after departure, they submerged completely leaving only the instruments to light the otherwise pitch-black underground river. Lt. Orehn kept contact on the comlink.
"Commander, how are your guys?"
"Everything is contact. The fighters are scrambling as we speak. I sent 3 like you asked, got 5 more waiting on the ground and all the other pilots are waiting in their hangars. Its your call, General."
Addick holds out his hand as Lt Orehn hands him the comlink.
"Commander, keep those fighters on the ground. We do not want to alert him as to the size of our forces here. We are a base and a flight school, but we are also a hidden city, lets keep it that way."
"Ok, General. We're standing by."
"Thank you, Commander." He puts the comlink back onto its dash board compartment. And sighs as he leans back in the navigator's chair. "Lieutenant, what you think?"
"I don't know what to think. I've seen the Empire in action before, this doesn't seem like their style, sending one guy. Who can tell what they're up to."
"Could be lost."
"Could be a defector."
"Could be kamikaze."
"Could be luring us right into a trap."
The two exchange worried glances as the Lieutenant hits the throttle to full as the engines roar and accelerate the submerged pod.
On the stip, the X-Wings are launched into orbit. They take off vertically then accelerate slowly as they spiral up toward the entrance to the valley. The young pilots fly in perfect formation, led by the General's son, Donovan Addick.
"Commander we have visual contact. Attempting to contact and ID the intruder. Standby." Donovan's voice was clear and confident as his father listened in over the comlink. "Attention shuttle. We have you in pursuit. Identify immediately."
The voice from the shuttle did not waste time to reply. "This is Lt. Commander Spikket. Request permission to land. I am alone and unarmed."
There is a brief moment of silence as everyone listening is slightly shocked by the candid response.
"Should we let him land?" asks Lt. Orehn to his chief.
"Yes. Let him land. We will investigate. Whats our ETA?"
"A few minutes, we will be there in time."
Addick leans forward and pushes a button on the dash. His powerful voice projects to all allied listeners. "Commander, transmit him landing coordinates. Fighters, escort with caution, begin landing cycle."
The sun was setting on the western horizon as General Addick, Lieutenant Orehn and several dozen Rebel Soldiers waited on the old platform for the small patrol to land. They looked out over the vast fields of green as the orange sun shown a brilliant display upon every leaf and every shrub. A gentle breeze blew from the east but was broken harmlessly on the sturdy backs of the Rebel Forces. A gleaming light caught their eyes form above as they titled their necks upward to see the 4 ships descending slowly onto the landing sight.
"Be ready men." The General was confused but did not show it. Surely this was no invasion fleet, that was certain, but who, or what was inside that transport shuttle was a mystery. Within a few minutes, all 4 craft were on the ground. The X-wings hummed to silence as their engines cut off and their pilots emerged, baffled and satisfied at their completed mission. Rebel Troops lined up before the main hatch prepared to handle whatever walked down that ramp. The General stood confident and tall, simply grasping his hands behind his back as he did so regularly. The ramp door popped as the pressure seal was broken, it lowered to the ground and thumped as it touched the broken old stone platform. All troops raised their rifles to their eyes. A voice shouted from within.
"I am unarmed! Please let me emerge."
Addick made no signal to his troops who stood ready.
"We accept your surrender, come out and meet us." Footsteps could be heard within. An Imperial officer slowly, and wearily emerged as the bright light of the setting sun illuminated the right side of his face. He wore the standard grey uniform of the Empire and his chest was decorated with ribbons from his years of service. He was unarmed, showing his hands in the air as a sign of neutrality. "Binders." The General waived his fingers at two men standing closest to the ramp. They proceeded to bind his hands behind his back and each held and arm as the General approached. He peered at the Imperial Officer with great scrutiny. He titled his head slightly and squinted his eyes, almost as if he noticed the man but was simply making sure. He came within arms length of the prisoner who stood still despite being detained.
"General Addick, I presume." The Officer glanced down at the General Isignia worn proudly across Addick's chest. He smiled slightly, everything on his plan had gown perfectly. He had reached General Addick. "I am Lt. Commander Spikket, I bring you a message from Admiral Benvole."
The General's eyes lit up in surprise. He reconfigured his harsh commanding face and signaled for his Lieutenant. His eyes were locked on the officer who stood before him looking up at him. No one knew what to think. Lt Orehn appeared beside Addick. The General spoke in his ear.
"Ready a transport, we are going to Snake's River Outpost 3. Bring 10 men but do not tell them anything about our visitor. They are to provide security only. And one more thing, make sure my son is among them."
The Lieutenant and the General swung their heads around at the cadet who stood clutching his helmet under his right arm, shielding his eyes with the left. He was astounded to realize that he was of some importance to this situation. Nothing in his life could prepare him for the news to follow.
The group arrived on Outpost 3 shortly after dusk. The prison there was little more than a concrete cube with a few windows and a radio station. More than adequate for housing the enemy. General Addick placed Spikket in a chair and backed away. Spikket proceded to speak.
"General, my Admiral brings you a message. It is of the utmost urgency concerning you and your family. I was not giving very much information but I was told to deliver the message in private."
Addick waived his hand as Lieutenant Orehn and the men filed out. Lagging behind was Donovan dressed in his bright orange flight suit.
"Donovan. You stay."
The cadet was shocked, he turned and cautiously crept to his father's side. He looked at the prisoner and then at his father and then back at Spikket. He was beginning to get worried but tried not to show it. His father always had a nack for sensing the weaknesses in this son. When the last tooper had left the room and the door closed behind them, Addick erupted into a smile and the Imperial Prisoner rose to his feet. Addick jumped toward him and embraced him with a mighty hug. He then backed off respectfully, understanding the urgency of this visit, however, Donovan failed to.
"Sit down my son, this message is for you."
"The transport has not deviated from orbit. He should be directly above us in about 30 minutes, our group should intercept way before that."
"Thank you private. Keep me posted."
"Yes, Sir, General"
Lt. Orehn and Gen. Addick quickly entered their vessel. A pod-like machine, the water vessels were designed for extremely high speeds through tight tunnels that chris-cross the entire planet of Orepsorp. The vessel was designed after a fish with a glass down near the front and a long streamline body trailing behind it. In a fraction of a second, they were off, speeding down the darkness of the south tunnel. Soon after departure, they submerged completely leaving only the instruments to light the otherwise pitch-black underground river. Lt. Orehn kept contact on the comlink.
"Commander, how are your guys?"
"Everything is contact. The fighters are scrambling as we speak. I sent 3 like you asked, got 5 more waiting on the ground and all the other pilots are waiting in their hangars. Its your call, General."
Addick holds out his hand as Lt Orehn hands him the comlink.
"Commander, keep those fighters on the ground. We do not want to alert him as to the size of our forces here. We are a base and a flight school, but we are also a hidden city, lets keep it that way."
"Ok, General. We're standing by."
"Thank you, Commander." He puts the comlink back onto its dash board compartment. And sighs as he leans back in the navigator's chair. "Lieutenant, what you think?"
"I don't know what to think. I've seen the Empire in action before, this doesn't seem like their style, sending one guy. Who can tell what they're up to."
"Could be lost."
"Could be a defector."
"Could be kamikaze."
"Could be luring us right into a trap."
The two exchange worried glances as the Lieutenant hits the throttle to full as the engines roar and accelerate the submerged pod.
On the stip, the X-Wings are launched into orbit. They take off vertically then accelerate slowly as they spiral up toward the entrance to the valley. The young pilots fly in perfect formation, led by the General's son, Donovan Addick.
"Commander we have visual contact. Attempting to contact and ID the intruder. Standby." Donovan's voice was clear and confident as his father listened in over the comlink. "Attention shuttle. We have you in pursuit. Identify immediately."
The voice from the shuttle did not waste time to reply. "This is Lt. Commander Spikket. Request permission to land. I am alone and unarmed."
There is a brief moment of silence as everyone listening is slightly shocked by the candid response.
"Should we let him land?" asks Lt. Orehn to his chief.
"Yes. Let him land. We will investigate. Whats our ETA?"
"A few minutes, we will be there in time."
Addick leans forward and pushes a button on the dash. His powerful voice projects to all allied listeners. "Commander, transmit him landing coordinates. Fighters, escort with caution, begin landing cycle."
The sun was setting on the western horizon as General Addick, Lieutenant Orehn and several dozen Rebel Soldiers waited on the old platform for the small patrol to land. They looked out over the vast fields of green as the orange sun shown a brilliant display upon every leaf and every shrub. A gentle breeze blew from the east but was broken harmlessly on the sturdy backs of the Rebel Forces. A gleaming light caught their eyes form above as they titled their necks upward to see the 4 ships descending slowly onto the landing sight.
"Be ready men." The General was confused but did not show it. Surely this was no invasion fleet, that was certain, but who, or what was inside that transport shuttle was a mystery. Within a few minutes, all 4 craft were on the ground. The X-wings hummed to silence as their engines cut off and their pilots emerged, baffled and satisfied at their completed mission. Rebel Troops lined up before the main hatch prepared to handle whatever walked down that ramp. The General stood confident and tall, simply grasping his hands behind his back as he did so regularly. The ramp door popped as the pressure seal was broken, it lowered to the ground and thumped as it touched the broken old stone platform. All troops raised their rifles to their eyes. A voice shouted from within.
"I am unarmed! Please let me emerge."
Addick made no signal to his troops who stood ready.
"We accept your surrender, come out and meet us." Footsteps could be heard within. An Imperial officer slowly, and wearily emerged as the bright light of the setting sun illuminated the right side of his face. He wore the standard grey uniform of the Empire and his chest was decorated with ribbons from his years of service. He was unarmed, showing his hands in the air as a sign of neutrality. "Binders." The General waived his fingers at two men standing closest to the ramp. They proceeded to bind his hands behind his back and each held and arm as the General approached. He peered at the Imperial Officer with great scrutiny. He titled his head slightly and squinted his eyes, almost as if he noticed the man but was simply making sure. He came within arms length of the prisoner who stood still despite being detained.
"General Addick, I presume." The Officer glanced down at the General Isignia worn proudly across Addick's chest. He smiled slightly, everything on his plan had gown perfectly. He had reached General Addick. "I am Lt. Commander Spikket, I bring you a message from Admiral Benvole."
The General's eyes lit up in surprise. He reconfigured his harsh commanding face and signaled for his Lieutenant. His eyes were locked on the officer who stood before him looking up at him. No one knew what to think. Lt Orehn appeared beside Addick. The General spoke in his ear.
"Ready a transport, we are going to Snake's River Outpost 3. Bring 10 men but do not tell them anything about our visitor. They are to provide security only. And one more thing, make sure my son is among them."
The Lieutenant and the General swung their heads around at the cadet who stood clutching his helmet under his right arm, shielding his eyes with the left. He was astounded to realize that he was of some importance to this situation. Nothing in his life could prepare him for the news to follow.
The group arrived on Outpost 3 shortly after dusk. The prison there was little more than a concrete cube with a few windows and a radio station. More than adequate for housing the enemy. General Addick placed Spikket in a chair and backed away. Spikket proceded to speak.
"General, my Admiral brings you a message. It is of the utmost urgency concerning you and your family. I was not giving very much information but I was told to deliver the message in private."
Addick waived his hand as Lieutenant Orehn and the men filed out. Lagging behind was Donovan dressed in his bright orange flight suit.
"Donovan. You stay."
The cadet was shocked, he turned and cautiously crept to his father's side. He looked at the prisoner and then at his father and then back at Spikket. He was beginning to get worried but tried not to show it. His father always had a nack for sensing the weaknesses in this son. When the last tooper had left the room and the door closed behind them, Addick erupted into a smile and the Imperial Prisoner rose to his feet. Addick jumped toward him and embraced him with a mighty hug. He then backed off respectfully, understanding the urgency of this visit, however, Donovan failed to.
"Sit down my son, this message is for you."