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| Finding a Path - Garic | ||||||||||||
| Disclaimer: Characters and Premise are borrowed from the movie "Star Wars." | ||||||||||||
| "Marla, tighten up your formation," I ordered. Her ship moved back into formation. Sometimes it was tough working with a five ship wing, but after I sent Starfleet back three different idiots they'd been somewhat lax in trying to get me a suitable replacement for Mark Tam who had been promoted to commander of his own wing, last year. The three pilots they had sent me were a danger to the wing. Starfleet didn't know or care how things worked on the borders. It was run by people who for the most part had come up through the ranks in the heart of the Republic. That kind of Fleet officer didn't understand that if a group was left together long enough the members got to know each other so well and worked together so smoothly that to an outsider it looked like telepathy. When they threw a new person in it could upset our balance for months: years if the pilot wasn't very good, (or at least as long as the pilot survived.) If they would send me a half-way decent pilot I might make an effort to bring them into the wing, but Jalis, Carmine, and Troc weren't what you'd call half-way decent pilots. They were what Starfleet must consider expendable pilots. I had sent Troc home about three months ago and it was high time Starfleet sent me someone to take his place. Unfortunately the type of person I wanted was rare. The position I needed filled was one Academy graduates usually took, but since this was a dangerous posting it was reserved for people who didn't have any relatives in Starfleet. Until a good pilot from a family unconnected to Starfleet showed up, Starfleet would keep right on shipping me ground crewmen and crewmen from battleships. ============================================================== "Welcome back Garic," Captain Jason Mynos remarked over the intercom as my wing landed in its mobile hanger on his Dreadnought class ship. "If you had one wish, what would it be?" he asked. "I wish that Starfleet would let me have Mark Tam back," I answered promptly. "I can't grant that wish, but would you settle for a new wingman? His records just arrived." Now I waited impatiently for the hanger deck to pressurize. Maybe this one was the one I had been waiting for, but more likely he or she was someone who ought to be behind a desk. Either way I was anxious to find out. "Um Jason, would you mind reading some of the pertinent information while I wait for the deck to pressurize?" "Garic, I know you've been impatiently waiting for this for three months, I don't think 120 seconds more will hurt you," Jason replied. "But I will meet you at the door with the records." Those two minute must have lated 90 seconds each, but eventually Jason and I were scanning the record at a nearby computer terminal. My new crewmember's name was Han Solo, and if his records were for real he was just the kid I was looking for. In fact the only thing that worried me was his age. He had graduated from the Acadamy early and was only eighteen. Sometimes the younger ensigns had trouble working under a nonhuman commander. My skin was the only obvious reminder that I wasn't human. It had a pale green tint. I thought the color complimented my golden blond hair which was just a touch different from Jason's coppery tinted mop. My eyes were steel gray an unusual but not unheard of color for humans. My body was slender and willowy, hiding the fact I was much stronger than a human. Jason had been fooled by my appearance like many other humans. He had been reluctant when I offered to be his sparing partner. At six feet, three inches he is only five inches taller than me, but probably outweighs me by a good hundred pounds. He felt that I wouldn't have a chance. I told him that I was stronger than I appeared but it had taken several matches to convince him of that. Our new ensign wouldn't have that problem at least. From the physical description in his records, Han Solo wasn't anywhere near Jason's size. It was only two or three weeks before Ensign Solo was to arrive. ============================================================== I smiled in appreciation as I watched my new wingman's flashy landing. As soon as the deck was pressurized the X-wing's cockpit popped open and a young man jumped gracefully to the deck. Over one shoulder he had slung a large carry-all. He approached us at a fast jog. Jason leaned closer to whisper, "I wonder if he's always in this much of a hurry." I whispered back, "If he is it's going to be exhausting to have him around." The Ensign slid to a stop before us. With a quick, reflexive, motion he pushed his dark hair off his forehead. "Hi, I'm Han Solo, you're Captain Mynos and Commander Hollis, right?" he exclaimed. I nodded, "I'll let you stow your luggage in your quarters, then I'd like to see how you handle your ship." "Sure, fine with me," Solo answered. "Do you really see a lot of battles out here?" As I answered we started down the corridor toward the crew's quarters, "The Ibrias Coalition makes sure of that. Several of their planets decided the Republic had more to offer them so they pulled out of the Coalition and they took a number of politically unallied planets into Republic space when they did. The Coalition wants all the planets that didn't specifically request membership in the Republic back." "That doesn't sound all too unreasonable," the kid remarked. "The problem with that is those planets weren't officially members of the Coalition. They just happened to be in the space the Coalition claimed, but when some of the Coalition planets left it in favor of the Republic they took the space around their planets with them, and some of those unallied planets were in the space they claimed. Now if the Republic were to give up those planets we would also have to give up an alley of space between the planets and the Coalition's space. In the end our border would look like a flattened `S' with a few extra turns. If either side took it into its head to get hostile the other side would undoubtedly lose the entire area." I explained. "And if they're trying to create a border like that it probably means they intend to be hostile," Han finished. ============================================================= It was a lucky thing Starfleet sent Han Solo when it did. A month after his arrival the Ibrias Coalition finally came to understand that the Republic had no intention of giving up the planets in question. At that point the Coalition gave up the petty harassment we had been dealing with for over a year and declared war. Starfleet sent several other X-wing squadrons to deal with the situation but none were good enough to take much of the pressure off my people. We flew every battle until we had become so exhausted that we were a danger to ourselves. Then I split us into two three ship wings and we worked in shifts. I lead the wing consisting of myself, Han Solo, and Rick Jaz. The second half of the wing was lead by my First Officer, Crysta Jame, her two wingmen where Marla Corish, and Carmen. I was incredibly proud of my Wing's performance. We were showing Senator Palpatine that non-humans were an important part of the Republic and that we could work efficiently with humans. In my wing humans were a minority. I was not human, neither were Crysta Jame, Rick Jaz, or Carmen. Crysta Jame looked like a spun glass figurine, giving rise to her nickname Crystal Gem. Rick Jaz was a feliniod. And Carmen, the most unusual of us all, was a form changer. She was not a true Shape Shifter in that she always retained the same color, silver, and the same mass, but her body could stretch itself into any shape she wished. As alien as we were, Han and Marla, who were completely human, worked very well with us. We were the best! Of any team sent to the Ibrias Coalition, human, non-human, or mixed, this wing, my wing was the best! That was until Senator Palpatine sent Anakin Skywalker's wing to take over. That wing had been a team since they were all cadets in the Academy. They worked together almost as if they were one person, controlled by one person's will, which could be true if several of the rumors about Skywalker were true. Skywalker brought with him the most disturbing orders I'd ever received. No longer was the Republic content with simply holding it's own borders as it had done for well over a century. It wanted to conquer the Coalition. And once it was conquered all troublesome planets were to be badly damaged as a lesson. A lesson to show the stupidity of defying the might of the Republic. Definitely strange, it was a complete reversal of the Republic's founding values. For this order to be legal the Republic must have repealed its noninterference directive and the thousands of laws based on that directive. ============================================================== Slowly the Coalition was conquered, then destroyed. The deeper we got into Coalition space, the quieter Han became. I was worried about him. Since the time Han had showed up here, he had given all the signs of being someone who likes to hear himself talk. Now Han spent as much time as he could staring at the stars. His fighting had changed as well. He seemed to be watching the enemy ships, looking for something, or someone. How he would react to finding what he looked for I couldn't even guess. In any case it was high time I discovered what was bothering my wingman. As I walked into the observatory, I heard Han talking to someone whose voice I couldn't recognize. Curiously I moved closer to see who it was. Han stood close to the huge clearsteel window, Anakin Skywalker, a menacing figure in black battle armor stood near him. "Anakin," Han began. "We'll be fighting over Corellus in a day or two, do you think they'll join the fight?" "I've seen the way you search for Trish Del among the enemy ships. Han, that shows you already know Corellus will defend its new allies in the Coalition," Skywalker replied. "I wanted you to tell me I was wrong, that Corellus wouldn't be fighting against us," Han sounded as if their weren't any stars left in his universe. Skywalker gripped his shoulder and slowly turned Han to face him. "Han, you know Trish Del is going to be out there, fighting for the Coalition someday. Pretending she isn't only hurts you because you won't be prepared when that day comes." Han turned back to the stars, Skywalker and I both knew there was something else he need to ask, and we waited. Skywalker's hand remained resting on Han's shoulder. I couldn't see how Han could stand to be touched by that creature of darkness. Skywalker seemed to want to force Han down a chosen path, but in a way he was kind to the boy. Finally Han asked, "Will we have to attack the planet?" "Yes," That was all Skywalker said, he stood still for a moment longer, then turned and walked out of the room. I tried to melt back into the shadows but he saw me anyway. "Han wants to be left alone," the dark figure commented. His voice was strangely compelling. "Leave," he commanded. A few minutes later I found myself in my quarters with no memory of how I had gotten there. I headed back to the observatory. As I approached it my feet turned down the wrong hall. Surprised I turned back, my memory blanked again. This time I came to myself on the bridge. When I was finally able to enter the observatory Han had already left. I wondered why the planet Corellus held such significance for Han, but I wasn't able to talk with him until after the next battle. ============================================================== During the battle, Han found what he was looking for. Over the com I was half listening to the usual warnings, shouts of triumph, and the ear shattering shrieks of a ship being torn apart when Han's voice suddenly cut through the noise. "Pull out Trish!" he yelled. I remembered Skywalker saying Han was looking for someone called Trish Del. Carefully I locked on to Han's transmission. "Get out of here!" Han ordered. "Traitor!" a girl's voice hissed. "Trish please!" In my mind I could see him flinch at her words. "I don't want you to get killed." "Then fight with me, against your planet's enemies!" the girl demanded, suddenly making Han's reluctance to attack Corellus perfectly understandable. I hadn't realized Han's home planet was outside of the Republic. "My planet that wants to have me killed?" Han's voice snapped angrily. "I didn't want to fight it but I certainly won't defend it!" Suddenly the girl fired on him. Han's X-wing skirted the laser beam. The girl continued to attack, she didn't appear to be very good, and for a few more shots Han just dodged her fire. Then Skywalker's voice rang over the com system. "Fight Ensign Solo, fight for the Empire you swore loyalty to." he ordered. It was disturbing to hear him refer to the Republic as an Empire, but that was what it was becoming. Han responded to Skywalker's order with a reluctant half-hearted attack. Slowly the girl improved till it was apparent that her earlier attack had been as unenthusiastic as Han's. They pushed each other to an all out battle that took them from the middle of the battle field to empty space. A short while later Han's ship returned to the battle alone. He now fought a grim battle, selecting one target after another and blowing it up without the flourishes that usually characterized Han's flying. Worriedly I contacted him, "Han, are you alright?" I asked. "Yes, I'm fine!" he snapped. "What would be wrong with me, I just left my closest friend trapped in a disabled ship!" I relaxed a little, at least Han's battle hadn't killed either him or his friend. After the battle was over I wasn't surprised to find Han waiting at the airlock, watching the survivors of the damaged ships being picked up. When a small blond girl was brought abroad, Han relaxed for the first time since the battle. His reaction identified the girl as Trish Del. She was also looking around the room. For a second she and Han stared at each other both looking relieved and slightly guilty then she turned away and Han left the room. I caught up with Han a few seconds later. We walked to the observatory in silence. "I shouldn't have fired on her," Han said finally. "She fired on you," I remarked. "Trish had a right to," Han replied. "I did betray my world." He looked out the window, not scanning the stars today, but staring fixedly at a nearby solar system. "From what you said I don't think you owe your world much." "I owe Trish a lot more than just not killing her when I could have," he commented dully. What could I say to that? "And tomorrow I'm going to attack my home planet. A lot of people will get hurt, most them won't be responsible for what the Rebel Government did to me," Han continued. Suddenly an idea occurred to me. It wasn't much but it was all I could do, "I could put you on the list of people who can't fly tomorrow." Han looked at me for the first time since we began speaking. Then he turned back to watch his solar system. "That won't stop the attack on Corellus." "No, but at least you wouldn't have to be a part of it," I acknowledged. "Thanks," Han said very quietly. ============================================================== "Look Skywalker," I yelled. "Han's sick today, he can't fly!" "I'll be the judge of that," came the calm reply. I stepped between him and the door, "You may be in charge of this war Commander, but I'm Han Solo's superior officer. If I say he's too sick to fly, you have to accept it." I fought down an incredibly strong urge to duck out of a confrontation with this dark being, but Han was a member of my wing, and I always took good care of my people. There was no way I was letting this uncaring shadow force Han to attack his home planet. No one deserved to be put under that kind of stress. For a second the air around me became solid then Skywalker turned and walked away. I relaxed and climbed into my ship, at least that was over. Now all I had to do was attack an almost helpless planet. These missions were enough to make anyone sick. ============================================================== Jason and I had called together my team and his crewmen for a very important decision. "I'm sure you've all realized that the Republic is no longer the place we swore to defend," Jason began tiredly. There were weary nods from our audience, they already understood what we were asking but it was still hard to go on. "We have all seen where it is heading. Senator Palpatine's laws are clearly biased against nonhumans. He is taking power away from the Council and keeping it for himself. Palpatine is trying to tighten his personal control over every aspect of life in the Republic." "We no longer live in a republic," I added, thinking of Skywalker's comment during the battle. "We live and fight for an emerging empire. An empire that has little respect for the freedom and rights of its citizens and less for those of it's neighbors." Jason nodded, "Well the point of this meeting is Garic and I think things are just going to get worse, and we thought it would be best if we left the Republic right now. We're already outside of its boundaries and Commander Skywalker has his hands full with the war. There will never be a better time to leave." Everyone looked at the people surrounding them, seeing they all agreed. It wasn't a pleasant realization, but they had all known what Jason and I said was true long before we gave voice to it. This crew had been together so long that they felt more loyalty to Jason and I, and their fellow crewmen than they did to the people we protected. "We're all coming with you," one young woman stated. ============================================================== Afterwards Han come to talk to me. "I can't go with you," He said softly. "Anakin wants me to be part of some program Senator Palpatine is setting up." He paused, "I'm sorry, but Anakin really wants me to do this." I wanted to scream at him, to tell him what sort of person his precious Anakin really was. But from the way he said that name I knew it wouldn't do any good. I wished we had more time, right now Han was a very hurt little kid. Skywalker was some one he knew and trusted. It wasn't hard to see why Han wanted to let him take charge for awhile. That Skywalker would take advantage of Han's trust by getting him involved with Palpatine right now sickened me. I thought about telling Han that Skywalker had wanted him to attack Corellus, but Han would probably refuse to believe it. If I did attack Skywalker, Han probably wouldn't listen to anything I said after that. "I don't think you're making a good decision Han," I stated firmly. "The Republic has already asked to much of you. By asking you to fight Trish Del. Han I don't want you to get hurt, get out of the Republic before you're asked to do anything worse." "There can't be anything worse," Han's voice shook, "There can't be anything worse than that in the entire Universe." "I wish I thought that was true," I warned him. "I can't go with you," Han repeated, returning to the beginning of our discussion. "Anakin asked me to stay." | ||||||||||||
