Jag Fel yanked hard to port on his pilot's yoke, dropping the clawcraft
down and around an asteroid, coming up with lasers flashing. The Yuuzhan
Vong coral growth exploeded brilliantly, with chips of coral smashing into
his forward viewport. Jag frowned. 'This is getting a little bit
weird…we've been here for at least ten minutes, haven't we, and yet no
resistance?' He spared a glance down at the chrono, and was shocked to
notice that he'd only been in the asteroids for just under two minutes.
'Two minutes?! This is going to be a long target practice at this rate…' He
sighed, and snap-rolled up to starboard.
* * *
Jaina felt lightheaded and excited. 'Jag is here! My Jag is here! Lords of the Sith, I've not seen him in forever! That's it- I'm going back to Borleias, with or with out Uncle Luke's consent.' She set angled around another asteroid, when her droid beeped urgently.
"What's up, Cappie?" she asked. Sparky had recently received a programming update, and a memory wipe, so in honor of Anni Capstan, her old wingmate, she'd renamed her droid Cappie. Jaina traced a finger down her secondary monitor, her finger freezing above the sensor readings. Her brandy brown eyes widened in horror. She keyed her comlink. "Geminis, this is Leader. We have incoming contacts at zero-one-seven-mark three. Form up on me and prepare to engage." She gunned her engines, and raced ahead, towards the rim of the Alderaan system. "Switch to proton torpedoes."
"Leader, this is Four. We've got incoming hails from the convoy. We want to accept?"
"Four, Lead. Yeah, we'd better hear what they have to say. Broadcast over fleetwide frequency."
"Copy, Leader."
"Incoming fighter squadron, hold your fire. Repeat, this is Captain Rethaudo of the Annihilator." We've been sent here with the compliments of General Baron Soontir Fel. Repeat, this is a peaceful convoy. Do not fire."
"Fel- the Chiss have sent a convoy?!" exclaimed Nine over the comm.
"Nine, less chatter." Jaina keyed a different frequency. "Annihilator, this is Lieutenant Jaina Solo. Please hold you position and do not fire."
"Copy Lieutenant. Holding position." Came the comm officer's response.
Jaina switched frequencies again. "General Antilles, Solo here. It appears our friend General Fel has offered a helping hand. We accepting it?"
Wedge's voice came back full and strong. Jaina could hear the smile in his voice, and the relief. "Lieutenant, I'll take it from here. You are authorized to lead them to base at Borleias. And, I'll send another squadron for escort duty."
"Copy, General." Jaina keyed his temporary squadron's frequency again. "Geminis, follow my lead." She accelerated, to skim along the edge of the Chiss convoy. "One Flight, on me. Take the flagship. Two Flight, split and take the port and starboard sides of the convoy, and Three Flight, you take the aft end of the group." A flurry of comm clicks replied, and she jerked on her pilot stick, going up to port.
* * *
"Flares, on me. We have an unknown fleet at the edge of the system. Be ready for anything."
"Copy, Leader."
"Lasers primed and ready, Lead."
"We hear you, Leader." Voices crackled through his set.
"Alright then, Flare Squadron, on me. Formation beta." Jag swung his fighter into position, and observed his squadron take their positions behind him. Jag switched frequencies again, this time to a direct link with Wedge. "Sir," he started, waiting for a response, "Sir, They are Chiss- I recognize the ships. I'm sure they are here to help. "
"Colonel, they are Chiss and they are here on loan from General Soontir Fel."
Jag was stunned. 'He wanted to wait before he committed to any military action…I guess he's waited long enough!' he thought. Then he cleared his throat. "Sir, do I have your permission to bring them to Borleias?"
There was a long moment's pause before Wedge's voice crackled through. "Bring them in. I'm sending Gemini Squadron up also, as an honor guard and escort. Switch to fleetwide frequencies. Antilles out."
Jag flipped channels again, just in time to hear Wedge announce, "New Republic Forces, this is General Antilles. Do not, and I repeat, do not attack the inbound fleet. They're friendlies. Return to base. Cancel target practice. Antilles out."
Jag smiled. He imagined Wedge was now conferring with the Chiss commander, in charge of the fleet from his father. 'If I'd have known that my report was to be that persuasive, I'd have sent it a long time ago!' Jag leaned back in his pilot's couch for a moment, and let his thoughts wander from the tasks at hand. He ran over the last month, thinking about running around the galaxy, shattering coral and Yuuzhan Vong hides. 'That was fun…' he thought, recalling the past few weeks. 'I'm glad this was successful, at least, but why wasn't there any opposition? The Alderaanians on Borleias, Colonel Tycho Celchu among them, had been absolutely outraged to learn that. The graveyard of Alderaan was an almost sacred place for them, and to learn that it was being used against them…' Jag shuddered. 'They must have been glad to have come here, and pound the Vong so easily… it's just yet another thing for which the Vong have to pay…' The comm unit crackled, starting him out of his reverie. "Incoming fighter squadron, you are welcome to dock with us for the leap to hyperspace."
"Copy, Control. What bay?" asked Jag.
"Go to bay 3345-b. Control out."
Jag lead his squadron around the flagship, noting the presence of an X-wing squadron also heading in towards the flagship. He touched the ship down gently on the hangar bay, tugging off his TIE helmet before leaping out of his cockpit. There was a small group of Chiss waiting for him. He saluted them briskly, and bowed respectfully. The tall blue-skinned humanoids returned the salute with respect. Colonel Fel. The General would like to have a word with you in his office, at your convenience." Jag fought to keep his face impassive, and from his jaw hitting the floor. 'Does he mean General Fel? Probably not…'
He turned to watch the X-wing fighters descending behind him. 'That X- wing…very familiar…' he thought. He waited while they set down on the deck gently, and then watched the lead X-wing's canopy pop open, and the young pilot tug off their flight gloves, and remove their helmet. She shook her head, long brown hair tumbling down.
'Jaina!' Jag thought, taking all his control to keep from running and catching her in his arms, and kissing her. She leapt from her cockpit, and waited for the rest of her squadron. 'All Jedi.' Jag noted. He recognized a few of them, Kyp Durron and Corran Horn, for sure, the others he wasn't so sure about. They strode towards the Chiss, and saluted them. Jag returned the salute, locking his pale green eyes with Jaina's brown ones, and letting a smile creep across his face. He felt a jolt from head to toe, as she grinned at him lopsidedly.
"At ease. Welcome aboard the Annihilator." The head Chiss said. "We will be at the Pyria system in approximately 12 hours. Make yourselves comfortable." With that, the group of blue-skinned men left the hangar bay. Jag saw his opportunity, and he ran to Jaina, scooping up into her in his arms, burying his face in her hair, swinging her around. "I missed you so much…" he whispered. She smiled up at him, and kissed him. He froze when he heard the two squadrons behind him chuckle at the two. He blushed bright red, and turned to his squadron. "Flare Squadron, meet Gemini Squadron. You have 12 hour leave. Dismissed." He waited for the smirking pilots to leave. "I said, dismissed." He repeated, smiling. "You heard me, get out." The pilots saluted him, and then filed out of the hangar bay, grinning broadly and laughing. He turned back to Jaina, who looped an arm through his. "So, Colonel. Tell me all about what you've been up to these past few weeks. I've noticed you've been to busy to send me a holo."
Jag winced as they walked. "Well, I, ah, er, well, you never bothered to send me one!" He glanced down at her.
Jaina grinned up at him. "True." Jag leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose. "We've got a lot of catching up to do, then, Lieutenant."
"I think I like the sound of that." she smiled.
***
next chapter up soon! How was this one- I noticed I didn't get a lot of reviews on my last chapter( ;) well, more soon, hope you enjoyed this one! :D
* * *
Jaina felt lightheaded and excited. 'Jag is here! My Jag is here! Lords of the Sith, I've not seen him in forever! That's it- I'm going back to Borleias, with or with out Uncle Luke's consent.' She set angled around another asteroid, when her droid beeped urgently.
"What's up, Cappie?" she asked. Sparky had recently received a programming update, and a memory wipe, so in honor of Anni Capstan, her old wingmate, she'd renamed her droid Cappie. Jaina traced a finger down her secondary monitor, her finger freezing above the sensor readings. Her brandy brown eyes widened in horror. She keyed her comlink. "Geminis, this is Leader. We have incoming contacts at zero-one-seven-mark three. Form up on me and prepare to engage." She gunned her engines, and raced ahead, towards the rim of the Alderaan system. "Switch to proton torpedoes."
"Leader, this is Four. We've got incoming hails from the convoy. We want to accept?"
"Four, Lead. Yeah, we'd better hear what they have to say. Broadcast over fleetwide frequency."
"Copy, Leader."
"Incoming fighter squadron, hold your fire. Repeat, this is Captain Rethaudo of the Annihilator." We've been sent here with the compliments of General Baron Soontir Fel. Repeat, this is a peaceful convoy. Do not fire."
"Fel- the Chiss have sent a convoy?!" exclaimed Nine over the comm.
"Nine, less chatter." Jaina keyed a different frequency. "Annihilator, this is Lieutenant Jaina Solo. Please hold you position and do not fire."
"Copy Lieutenant. Holding position." Came the comm officer's response.
Jaina switched frequencies again. "General Antilles, Solo here. It appears our friend General Fel has offered a helping hand. We accepting it?"
Wedge's voice came back full and strong. Jaina could hear the smile in his voice, and the relief. "Lieutenant, I'll take it from here. You are authorized to lead them to base at Borleias. And, I'll send another squadron for escort duty."
"Copy, General." Jaina keyed his temporary squadron's frequency again. "Geminis, follow my lead." She accelerated, to skim along the edge of the Chiss convoy. "One Flight, on me. Take the flagship. Two Flight, split and take the port and starboard sides of the convoy, and Three Flight, you take the aft end of the group." A flurry of comm clicks replied, and she jerked on her pilot stick, going up to port.
* * *
"Flares, on me. We have an unknown fleet at the edge of the system. Be ready for anything."
"Copy, Leader."
"Lasers primed and ready, Lead."
"We hear you, Leader." Voices crackled through his set.
"Alright then, Flare Squadron, on me. Formation beta." Jag swung his fighter into position, and observed his squadron take their positions behind him. Jag switched frequencies again, this time to a direct link with Wedge. "Sir," he started, waiting for a response, "Sir, They are Chiss- I recognize the ships. I'm sure they are here to help. "
"Colonel, they are Chiss and they are here on loan from General Soontir Fel."
Jag was stunned. 'He wanted to wait before he committed to any military action…I guess he's waited long enough!' he thought. Then he cleared his throat. "Sir, do I have your permission to bring them to Borleias?"
There was a long moment's pause before Wedge's voice crackled through. "Bring them in. I'm sending Gemini Squadron up also, as an honor guard and escort. Switch to fleetwide frequencies. Antilles out."
Jag flipped channels again, just in time to hear Wedge announce, "New Republic Forces, this is General Antilles. Do not, and I repeat, do not attack the inbound fleet. They're friendlies. Return to base. Cancel target practice. Antilles out."
Jag smiled. He imagined Wedge was now conferring with the Chiss commander, in charge of the fleet from his father. 'If I'd have known that my report was to be that persuasive, I'd have sent it a long time ago!' Jag leaned back in his pilot's couch for a moment, and let his thoughts wander from the tasks at hand. He ran over the last month, thinking about running around the galaxy, shattering coral and Yuuzhan Vong hides. 'That was fun…' he thought, recalling the past few weeks. 'I'm glad this was successful, at least, but why wasn't there any opposition? The Alderaanians on Borleias, Colonel Tycho Celchu among them, had been absolutely outraged to learn that. The graveyard of Alderaan was an almost sacred place for them, and to learn that it was being used against them…' Jag shuddered. 'They must have been glad to have come here, and pound the Vong so easily… it's just yet another thing for which the Vong have to pay…' The comm unit crackled, starting him out of his reverie. "Incoming fighter squadron, you are welcome to dock with us for the leap to hyperspace."
"Copy, Control. What bay?" asked Jag.
"Go to bay 3345-b. Control out."
Jag lead his squadron around the flagship, noting the presence of an X-wing squadron also heading in towards the flagship. He touched the ship down gently on the hangar bay, tugging off his TIE helmet before leaping out of his cockpit. There was a small group of Chiss waiting for him. He saluted them briskly, and bowed respectfully. The tall blue-skinned humanoids returned the salute with respect. Colonel Fel. The General would like to have a word with you in his office, at your convenience." Jag fought to keep his face impassive, and from his jaw hitting the floor. 'Does he mean General Fel? Probably not…'
He turned to watch the X-wing fighters descending behind him. 'That X- wing…very familiar…' he thought. He waited while they set down on the deck gently, and then watched the lead X-wing's canopy pop open, and the young pilot tug off their flight gloves, and remove their helmet. She shook her head, long brown hair tumbling down.
'Jaina!' Jag thought, taking all his control to keep from running and catching her in his arms, and kissing her. She leapt from her cockpit, and waited for the rest of her squadron. 'All Jedi.' Jag noted. He recognized a few of them, Kyp Durron and Corran Horn, for sure, the others he wasn't so sure about. They strode towards the Chiss, and saluted them. Jag returned the salute, locking his pale green eyes with Jaina's brown ones, and letting a smile creep across his face. He felt a jolt from head to toe, as she grinned at him lopsidedly.
"At ease. Welcome aboard the Annihilator." The head Chiss said. "We will be at the Pyria system in approximately 12 hours. Make yourselves comfortable." With that, the group of blue-skinned men left the hangar bay. Jag saw his opportunity, and he ran to Jaina, scooping up into her in his arms, burying his face in her hair, swinging her around. "I missed you so much…" he whispered. She smiled up at him, and kissed him. He froze when he heard the two squadrons behind him chuckle at the two. He blushed bright red, and turned to his squadron. "Flare Squadron, meet Gemini Squadron. You have 12 hour leave. Dismissed." He waited for the smirking pilots to leave. "I said, dismissed." He repeated, smiling. "You heard me, get out." The pilots saluted him, and then filed out of the hangar bay, grinning broadly and laughing. He turned back to Jaina, who looped an arm through his. "So, Colonel. Tell me all about what you've been up to these past few weeks. I've noticed you've been to busy to send me a holo."
Jag winced as they walked. "Well, I, ah, er, well, you never bothered to send me one!" He glanced down at her.
Jaina grinned up at him. "True." Jag leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose. "We've got a lot of catching up to do, then, Lieutenant."
"I think I like the sound of that." she smiled.
***
next chapter up soon! How was this one- I noticed I didn't get a lot of reviews on my last chapter( ;) well, more soon, hope you enjoyed this one! :D