Wedge Antilles surveyed the damage around the base, his shuttle hovering
over the wreckage. Fortunately for him, most of the occupants had scrambled
off base at his order, and there shouldn't be too many casualties, he
thought. He skimmed over one of the landing grids, and winced. That was
where the most damage had been sustained; naturally, the Yuuzhan Vong hate
for mechanicals would cause them to destroy the grid. Only a few ships
still remained intact, and Wedge grimaced at the sight of the bodies strewn
about. He shook his head. 'The Vong will pay for this. They have to.' He
gunned his thrusters slightly, before setting his ship down at the northern
landing grid, in the clearest area he could find.
* * *
Jaina Solo groaned, rolling onto her back. She ran a hand over her face, and winced when she encountered a large bump on her forehead. Her body ached and stung from multiple burns, cuts, and shrapnel embedded in her skin. She scratched thoughtfully at her chin for a moment, debating whether to wait for assistance or get up. She decided on the latter, and sat up quickly. She closed her eyes, regretting that choice. Her head pounded between her temples, and she felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Jaina pretty sure she had a concussion, and a few cracked ribs, among other injuries. She opened her brandy eyes cautiously, and peered around, looking for any sign of activity. 'Where is everyone?' she thought. 'How long have I been out? Did everyone flee?' Fear crystallized in her guts at the thought of being left behind, but she quickly dissipated the feeling. 'Jag wouldn't have left me, no matter what. Which means he is-where?' She rose slowly, and the world spun. She half closed her eyes, took a shaky breath and stretched for the Force, letting it fill her. She tweaked her pain and the world swum back into focus. Jaina allowed a small smile of triumph, and she fumbled for her comlink. She keyed it to Jag's frequency. "Jag? Do you read me?"
The only response she got was the hiss of static. She tried again. "Jag? Are you there?" Static hissed in her ears. Taking a deep breath, or trying to as best she could with her ribs, she stretched out in the Force, trying to find that strong, familiar presence. She let out a sigh of relief when she sensed him in the Force, but she was confused. Usually, his sense was like a supernova to her, bright and strong, but now it was dampened, not as bright. 'He must be unconscious,' she realized. Jaina reclipped her comlink to her belt, and walked on unsteady legs towards his sense, making a mental note of what direction he was in. She glanced around uneasily, it was eerily quiet around the grid. Jaina felt sick to her stomach, and she knew it wasn't just because of her injuries. The landing grid was in a state of disaster, everywhere Jaina looked there was a piece of a fighter, or a body, or rubble from the hangar and maintenance bays. Only a few ships were relatively undamaged, she noted. Jaina walked towards the remnants of an X- wing, and then she broke out into a run. 'Whoa, no, bad idea.' She thought, as the world swam out of focus. She regained her composure, and walked as quickly as she dared towards the slumped figure on the ground.
* * *
General Baron Soontir Fel gazed out the viewport on his ship's bridge. He narrowed his brown eye as he studied the battle before him. 'This isn't right…' he thought. He snapped his head around as an idea formed in his mind. "Sensors, give me the status report at Borleias!"
The young blue-skinned Chiss confirmed Fel's suspicion, calling "General, it appears a small cluster of Yuuzhan Vong are exiting Borleias' atmosphere!"
Fel resisted the impulse to swear under his breath. Instead, he turned to his navigation officer. "How long until we are able to calculate a jump to hyperspace to Borleias?"
The officer hesitated. "Sir, we are in the gravity well of Pyria's sun. It will take time before we can clear the shadow and make the jump."
Fel swore under his breath. "What are our other options, people?"
"Sir, permission to speak frankly?" cried Control.
Fel nodded sharply. "Granted."
"Sir, we should stay here and finish off the Yuuzhan Vong here. Antilles and his people will be fine- it is hard to sneak up on Rebels like that. He'll have taken care of everything."
Fel considered. "Communications, get me a holocomm access Antilles now!"
The Chiss female shook her head. "General, either the comm dish or satellites have been knocked out. There is no way to contact Antilles at the base."
Fel closed his eye, a feeling of dread settling over him.
"Orders, sir?" asked a bridge officer.
Fel cracked his eye open, glancing around. "We stay here. Convey those thoughts to the New Republic forces, also. I want the Yuuzhan Vong forces here reduced to star food, or we don't leave."
* * *
Tears started to cloud Jaina's vision as she knelt by the unconscious form of Jag Fel. His face was covered in blood, and that only seemed to make his white scar whiter. "Jag?" she paused for a moment, unable to speak around the lump in her throat. She blinked furiously, fighting tears, and desperation and pain from her injuries. "Jag, are you ok?"
She listened to the rattle and wheeze in his rhythmic breathing. "The explosion must have thrown him against the ship. Not good." She voiced her thought aloud. She fumbled for her comlink, thumbing it to the frequency designated for the med-center. "Is anyone there? This is Lieutenant Jaina Solo."
A moment later, a mechanical voice answered Jaina, "Lieutenant Solo, this is MD-E7."
Jaina breathed a sigh of relief. "Listen, Em Dee, I need a droid down to the southern landing grid quickly, please. And a hoverstretcher, I've got an injured pilot down here."
Em Dee replied after a moment's hesitation, "Lieutenant Solo, that is not a possibility."
Jaina's temper flared. "Why not? I need support immediately."
"I understand, Lieutenant. The assault collapsed a portion of the building. No medical droid can leave the med-center, too much rubble in the way."
Jaina fell silent, disbelieving what she'd just heard. "Oh." She paused. "Is there anyone planetside with a bacta tank?"
"Negative, Lieutenant. Almost all ships are at Pyria."
"So there's no way I can get medical assistance?" she repeated.
"Affirmative." grated the droid, "It is unfortunate I am unable to assist."
"Yes," Jaina spat, "It is. Solo out." She slapped the comlink down, furious and scared. She started to run a hand over her face, but stopped, thinking better of that. She looked concerned down at Jag, and stroked his uninjured cheek gently. She closed her eyes, and tried to pinpoint his injuries, placing her hands on either temple. "Fractured collarbone, maybe?" she murmured, "Concussion…cracked, possibly broken ribs? Maybe some internal damage? Sithspit." She reached for her comlink again, dialing the base wide frequency. "Hello," she started, "This is Lieutenant Jaina Solo. Is anyone there? I need some assistance here…"
A voice crackled back to her. "Lieutenant Solo, this is General Antilles. Where are you? Are you hurt?"
"Affirmative, General. I happened to be at the southern landing grid when the assault took place. I'm pretty sure I have a concussion, and fractured ribs, and numerous burns and shrapnel wounds."
She waited for a response. "Jaina, can you get to the med-center?"
"Negative, negative. I just finished speaking with the Em Dee. Med-center's blocked off by rubble."
She heard Wedge swear under his breath. "Listen, Lieutenant, I would assist you, but I've already got the shuttle as full as I dare with other survivors. You're kinda on your own."
"Copy that, General." Jaina said wearily.
"Do you think you can get off planet? It's probably not safe for you to remain here."
Jaina glanced around the grid. "There are a couple ships that might be in flying condition, I can check. General?"
"Yes, Jaina?"
"I have another injured pilot here, also. Is there any remote possibility you can get him on?"
"Negative. This is a 10 person shuttle, and I've crammed in almost 20. I can't."
"Oh, ok."
"Jaina?"
"Yes, General?"
"This other pilot that you are speaking of- is he able to fly?"
"Neg that General. You should get out of here, though. We don't know when the Vong will return."
"I suppose you're right. You make sure you get off planet, Lieutenant. Your parents will kill me if anything happens."
Jaina allowed herself a small smile. "Copy, General. See you around. Solo out." She thumbed off her comlink, reattaching it to her belt. She fought back her feelings of desperation. 'I have to get through this, I have to save Jag, and worrying and panicking won't do any good. ' She told herself. She glanced down at her flightsuit, and grimaced. The neon orange suit was punctured, blood stained and shredded. She kissed Jag on the forehead. "I'll be back soon." She whispered, even though she knew he couldn't hear her. Then she rose unsteadily, leaning heavily against the X-wing, and she paused for a moment, watching Wedge's shuttle rise from the north, and shoot off towards space, before starting off towards the pilots' ready room, or where it had been.
* * *
Wedge sighed heavily as he navigated the shuttle through the upper levels of Borleias' atmosphere. 'If Jaina doesn't get offplanet, Han and Leia will go look for her themselves, and get killed in the process. Not a good thing.'
"Wedge?" Tycho Celchu asked from the copilot's chair. "Where do we want to go?" Wedge spared a glance at the man sitting next to him. He'd found Tycho in a hallway, attempting to clear a pathway to the landing grid. Tycho was relatively unscathed, and spitting mad; he the one of the only aboard the small shuttle that was uninjured. Wedge understood that leaving Borleias for now was allowing the Vong a victory and right now, they didn't need anymore victories. "I'm not sure. I don't want to abandon the Pyria system altogether, and I don't want to be here when the Vong return, but I do want to be here when the Chiss and our forces return. I wonder- Tycho, does the shuttle have holocomm capabilities?"
Tycho checked. "You bet, boss."
Wedge grinned.
* * *
Jaina emerged from the remnants of the ready room, dressed in the only thing she could find, a dark green flight suit. She had a helmet tucked under her arm, and a pair of black flight gloves inside the helmet, along with a small medkit she'd found. On impulse, she snatched her comlink and set it to her astromech's frequency. "Cappie? Cappie? Are you there?"
A static filled chirp answered her.
"Is the X-wing ok?" she asked excitedly.
A low moan honked back at her.
"What's wrong with it?"
Cappie honked.
"The port s-foil's damaged? Oh, Sith. Is there any other ship nearby intact?"
Cappie tweeted.
"Ok, I'll be there in a few moments. I'm on the other end of the grid, and I've got a companion."
Another beep.
"Yes, it's Jag."
She clipped back to her belt, and hustled as best as she could back over to where Jag was, trying not to limp. She knelt down by Jag, whispering his name, and trying to tug him back to consciousness with the Force, but he remained unconscious. She set her helmet down, and pulled out the small medkit, fishing around for a bacta cleanser.
"I'm going to get us out of this mess. " Jaina whispered, though it seemed like she was just trying to reassure herself more than tell Jag. She cleaned the gash on his cheek and gently pressed a bacta patch against it, before trying to bandage the other large cut on his face. She wiped his face with a bacta wipe, trying to clean off come of the blood, and placed another patch on his forehead. Jaina looked at him sadly, and bent down to kiss him on the lips. She kissed him softly and gently before pulling away. 'Is he smiling?' she wondered as she picked up her helmet again, and chewed her lower lip thoughtfully. 'Nah. Can't be.' Nodding to herself, she cupped her right hand, and raised it, and Jag levitated into the air. She drew a shaky breath, and tried to keep Jag in the air, and numb her pain and dizziness at the same time. 'For now, I'll be fine…' she thought, as she started to walk towards the other side of the landing grid. In moments, she had arrived at her damaged X-wing. 'Cappie was right, the port s-foil's damaged pretty badly, and there's no way I can take both of us in that small thing…what to do, what to do…' Jaina looked around, and suddenly it hit her. "I've always wanted to fly one of those things!" she exclaimed, seeing the one remotely undamaged fighter. She walked towards Jag's clawcraft, closing her eyes and opening the hatch. "How do I do this?" she asked out loud.
Cappie honked a question.
"No, I wasn't asking for your opinion." Jaina half smiled, "This will be a tight squeeze." Then Jag rose up and she carefully maneuvered him through the hatch. She ambled up the side, and carefully dropped into the pilot's couch. Sliding the unconscious Fel over a little bit, she heard him moan, but he wasn't awake, or anywhere close to consciousness. She carefully rested his head in her lap, and tried to give him more space to stretch out, because she didn't know what position would cause him pain or interfere with is injuries. She tugged on his anonymous TIE fighter helmet and her flight gloves, and fastened restraints around Jag and herself, trying to be as careful as she could with the unconscious pilot. She keyed the comlink in her helmet. "Cappie, can you slave the X-wing's controls to Jag's clawcraft? I don't want to leave you or my ship behind."
Cappie warbled uncertainly.
"I know that it will be unstable, and hard to control with the port wing like that, but you can do it, I know you can." Jaina reassured. "Starting my preflights." She narrowed her brown eyes, trying to familiarize herself with the cockpit control panel. She smiled triumphantly as she recognized the form. 'Just like a TIE. Haven't flown one before, but I can do this.' She started flipping switches, and the board lit up, with the engines firing to a soft hum. "Fuel's at full, engines at one hundred percent…looks good. Got a nice weaponry set up, too." Jaina glanced at Jag. "Here goes nothing. Cappie, you got the controls slaved?"
Cappie beeped an affirmative.
"Alright then, let's see what this baby's got." She punched the repulsor lifts, and the clawcraft rose smoothly off the landing grid. She tested the pilot's yoke, and found the maneuverability better than an X-wing, and Jaina dialed down the inertial compensator. She checked her sensors, noting that her X-wing was right behind her, and mimicking her test turns, she smiled, and aimed the clawcraft to the sky. She gunned the thrusters, and couldn't resist letting out a whoop as they accelerated towards space. For a moment, she forgot all about her injuries as she rolled the craft to starboard, just reveling in the sheer joy of flying a new craft. "Where to now?" she checked her sensor board, searching for any sign of Wedge Antilles' shuttle. Cappie chirped, //Jaina, is it safe to leave the system? The others will return soon, unless General Antilles has warned them not to.//
Jaina hesitated. "I'm going to put us in orbit around a moon, so if anyone shows up, we can get some assistance, or flee if we have to. I'm going to try and make some comm contact with the rest of the fleet, so hang on." She flicked over to the designated New Republic frequency, and tried to call. "New Republic forces, this is Lieutenant Jaina Solo. Is anyone there?" On another idea, she recorded an emergency message, and let it broadcast repeatedly in system. She tugged off her gloves and TIE helmet, resting them next to her. She shot a worried look at Jag, who was still unconscious, and she gently ran her fingers through his jet black hair. She encountered a jagged piece of shrapnel embedded in his scalp and she tugged it out, her fingers wet with his blood, and she tossed it to the floor. She continued checking for more little bits of shrapnel, and traced her fingers lightly over his scar. She winced at the temperature of his skin, he was hot and sweating. 'Sithspawn! He must be going into shock. Come to think of it, I don't feel so great either. I must be wearing out, my Force connection's wavering. I can't keep blocking out the effects of my concussion and other injuries forever; I just hope Wedge and his guys get back soon.'
* * *
ok, more up soon, maybe tomorrow, if I hurry, thanks again for the r&r, keep reviewing! :D
* * *
Jaina Solo groaned, rolling onto her back. She ran a hand over her face, and winced when she encountered a large bump on her forehead. Her body ached and stung from multiple burns, cuts, and shrapnel embedded in her skin. She scratched thoughtfully at her chin for a moment, debating whether to wait for assistance or get up. She decided on the latter, and sat up quickly. She closed her eyes, regretting that choice. Her head pounded between her temples, and she felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Jaina pretty sure she had a concussion, and a few cracked ribs, among other injuries. She opened her brandy eyes cautiously, and peered around, looking for any sign of activity. 'Where is everyone?' she thought. 'How long have I been out? Did everyone flee?' Fear crystallized in her guts at the thought of being left behind, but she quickly dissipated the feeling. 'Jag wouldn't have left me, no matter what. Which means he is-where?' She rose slowly, and the world spun. She half closed her eyes, took a shaky breath and stretched for the Force, letting it fill her. She tweaked her pain and the world swum back into focus. Jaina allowed a small smile of triumph, and she fumbled for her comlink. She keyed it to Jag's frequency. "Jag? Do you read me?"
The only response she got was the hiss of static. She tried again. "Jag? Are you there?" Static hissed in her ears. Taking a deep breath, or trying to as best she could with her ribs, she stretched out in the Force, trying to find that strong, familiar presence. She let out a sigh of relief when she sensed him in the Force, but she was confused. Usually, his sense was like a supernova to her, bright and strong, but now it was dampened, not as bright. 'He must be unconscious,' she realized. Jaina reclipped her comlink to her belt, and walked on unsteady legs towards his sense, making a mental note of what direction he was in. She glanced around uneasily, it was eerily quiet around the grid. Jaina felt sick to her stomach, and she knew it wasn't just because of her injuries. The landing grid was in a state of disaster, everywhere Jaina looked there was a piece of a fighter, or a body, or rubble from the hangar and maintenance bays. Only a few ships were relatively undamaged, she noted. Jaina walked towards the remnants of an X- wing, and then she broke out into a run. 'Whoa, no, bad idea.' She thought, as the world swam out of focus. She regained her composure, and walked as quickly as she dared towards the slumped figure on the ground.
* * *
General Baron Soontir Fel gazed out the viewport on his ship's bridge. He narrowed his brown eye as he studied the battle before him. 'This isn't right…' he thought. He snapped his head around as an idea formed in his mind. "Sensors, give me the status report at Borleias!"
The young blue-skinned Chiss confirmed Fel's suspicion, calling "General, it appears a small cluster of Yuuzhan Vong are exiting Borleias' atmosphere!"
Fel resisted the impulse to swear under his breath. Instead, he turned to his navigation officer. "How long until we are able to calculate a jump to hyperspace to Borleias?"
The officer hesitated. "Sir, we are in the gravity well of Pyria's sun. It will take time before we can clear the shadow and make the jump."
Fel swore under his breath. "What are our other options, people?"
"Sir, permission to speak frankly?" cried Control.
Fel nodded sharply. "Granted."
"Sir, we should stay here and finish off the Yuuzhan Vong here. Antilles and his people will be fine- it is hard to sneak up on Rebels like that. He'll have taken care of everything."
Fel considered. "Communications, get me a holocomm access Antilles now!"
The Chiss female shook her head. "General, either the comm dish or satellites have been knocked out. There is no way to contact Antilles at the base."
Fel closed his eye, a feeling of dread settling over him.
"Orders, sir?" asked a bridge officer.
Fel cracked his eye open, glancing around. "We stay here. Convey those thoughts to the New Republic forces, also. I want the Yuuzhan Vong forces here reduced to star food, or we don't leave."
* * *
Tears started to cloud Jaina's vision as she knelt by the unconscious form of Jag Fel. His face was covered in blood, and that only seemed to make his white scar whiter. "Jag?" she paused for a moment, unable to speak around the lump in her throat. She blinked furiously, fighting tears, and desperation and pain from her injuries. "Jag, are you ok?"
She listened to the rattle and wheeze in his rhythmic breathing. "The explosion must have thrown him against the ship. Not good." She voiced her thought aloud. She fumbled for her comlink, thumbing it to the frequency designated for the med-center. "Is anyone there? This is Lieutenant Jaina Solo."
A moment later, a mechanical voice answered Jaina, "Lieutenant Solo, this is MD-E7."
Jaina breathed a sigh of relief. "Listen, Em Dee, I need a droid down to the southern landing grid quickly, please. And a hoverstretcher, I've got an injured pilot down here."
Em Dee replied after a moment's hesitation, "Lieutenant Solo, that is not a possibility."
Jaina's temper flared. "Why not? I need support immediately."
"I understand, Lieutenant. The assault collapsed a portion of the building. No medical droid can leave the med-center, too much rubble in the way."
Jaina fell silent, disbelieving what she'd just heard. "Oh." She paused. "Is there anyone planetside with a bacta tank?"
"Negative, Lieutenant. Almost all ships are at Pyria."
"So there's no way I can get medical assistance?" she repeated.
"Affirmative." grated the droid, "It is unfortunate I am unable to assist."
"Yes," Jaina spat, "It is. Solo out." She slapped the comlink down, furious and scared. She started to run a hand over her face, but stopped, thinking better of that. She looked concerned down at Jag, and stroked his uninjured cheek gently. She closed her eyes, and tried to pinpoint his injuries, placing her hands on either temple. "Fractured collarbone, maybe?" she murmured, "Concussion…cracked, possibly broken ribs? Maybe some internal damage? Sithspit." She reached for her comlink again, dialing the base wide frequency. "Hello," she started, "This is Lieutenant Jaina Solo. Is anyone there? I need some assistance here…"
A voice crackled back to her. "Lieutenant Solo, this is General Antilles. Where are you? Are you hurt?"
"Affirmative, General. I happened to be at the southern landing grid when the assault took place. I'm pretty sure I have a concussion, and fractured ribs, and numerous burns and shrapnel wounds."
She waited for a response. "Jaina, can you get to the med-center?"
"Negative, negative. I just finished speaking with the Em Dee. Med-center's blocked off by rubble."
She heard Wedge swear under his breath. "Listen, Lieutenant, I would assist you, but I've already got the shuttle as full as I dare with other survivors. You're kinda on your own."
"Copy that, General." Jaina said wearily.
"Do you think you can get off planet? It's probably not safe for you to remain here."
Jaina glanced around the grid. "There are a couple ships that might be in flying condition, I can check. General?"
"Yes, Jaina?"
"I have another injured pilot here, also. Is there any remote possibility you can get him on?"
"Negative. This is a 10 person shuttle, and I've crammed in almost 20. I can't."
"Oh, ok."
"Jaina?"
"Yes, General?"
"This other pilot that you are speaking of- is he able to fly?"
"Neg that General. You should get out of here, though. We don't know when the Vong will return."
"I suppose you're right. You make sure you get off planet, Lieutenant. Your parents will kill me if anything happens."
Jaina allowed herself a small smile. "Copy, General. See you around. Solo out." She thumbed off her comlink, reattaching it to her belt. She fought back her feelings of desperation. 'I have to get through this, I have to save Jag, and worrying and panicking won't do any good. ' She told herself. She glanced down at her flightsuit, and grimaced. The neon orange suit was punctured, blood stained and shredded. She kissed Jag on the forehead. "I'll be back soon." She whispered, even though she knew he couldn't hear her. Then she rose unsteadily, leaning heavily against the X-wing, and she paused for a moment, watching Wedge's shuttle rise from the north, and shoot off towards space, before starting off towards the pilots' ready room, or where it had been.
* * *
Wedge sighed heavily as he navigated the shuttle through the upper levels of Borleias' atmosphere. 'If Jaina doesn't get offplanet, Han and Leia will go look for her themselves, and get killed in the process. Not a good thing.'
"Wedge?" Tycho Celchu asked from the copilot's chair. "Where do we want to go?" Wedge spared a glance at the man sitting next to him. He'd found Tycho in a hallway, attempting to clear a pathway to the landing grid. Tycho was relatively unscathed, and spitting mad; he the one of the only aboard the small shuttle that was uninjured. Wedge understood that leaving Borleias for now was allowing the Vong a victory and right now, they didn't need anymore victories. "I'm not sure. I don't want to abandon the Pyria system altogether, and I don't want to be here when the Vong return, but I do want to be here when the Chiss and our forces return. I wonder- Tycho, does the shuttle have holocomm capabilities?"
Tycho checked. "You bet, boss."
Wedge grinned.
* * *
Jaina emerged from the remnants of the ready room, dressed in the only thing she could find, a dark green flight suit. She had a helmet tucked under her arm, and a pair of black flight gloves inside the helmet, along with a small medkit she'd found. On impulse, she snatched her comlink and set it to her astromech's frequency. "Cappie? Cappie? Are you there?"
A static filled chirp answered her.
"Is the X-wing ok?" she asked excitedly.
A low moan honked back at her.
"What's wrong with it?"
Cappie honked.
"The port s-foil's damaged? Oh, Sith. Is there any other ship nearby intact?"
Cappie tweeted.
"Ok, I'll be there in a few moments. I'm on the other end of the grid, and I've got a companion."
Another beep.
"Yes, it's Jag."
She clipped back to her belt, and hustled as best as she could back over to where Jag was, trying not to limp. She knelt down by Jag, whispering his name, and trying to tug him back to consciousness with the Force, but he remained unconscious. She set her helmet down, and pulled out the small medkit, fishing around for a bacta cleanser.
"I'm going to get us out of this mess. " Jaina whispered, though it seemed like she was just trying to reassure herself more than tell Jag. She cleaned the gash on his cheek and gently pressed a bacta patch against it, before trying to bandage the other large cut on his face. She wiped his face with a bacta wipe, trying to clean off come of the blood, and placed another patch on his forehead. Jaina looked at him sadly, and bent down to kiss him on the lips. She kissed him softly and gently before pulling away. 'Is he smiling?' she wondered as she picked up her helmet again, and chewed her lower lip thoughtfully. 'Nah. Can't be.' Nodding to herself, she cupped her right hand, and raised it, and Jag levitated into the air. She drew a shaky breath, and tried to keep Jag in the air, and numb her pain and dizziness at the same time. 'For now, I'll be fine…' she thought, as she started to walk towards the other side of the landing grid. In moments, she had arrived at her damaged X-wing. 'Cappie was right, the port s-foil's damaged pretty badly, and there's no way I can take both of us in that small thing…what to do, what to do…' Jaina looked around, and suddenly it hit her. "I've always wanted to fly one of those things!" she exclaimed, seeing the one remotely undamaged fighter. She walked towards Jag's clawcraft, closing her eyes and opening the hatch. "How do I do this?" she asked out loud.
Cappie honked a question.
"No, I wasn't asking for your opinion." Jaina half smiled, "This will be a tight squeeze." Then Jag rose up and she carefully maneuvered him through the hatch. She ambled up the side, and carefully dropped into the pilot's couch. Sliding the unconscious Fel over a little bit, she heard him moan, but he wasn't awake, or anywhere close to consciousness. She carefully rested his head in her lap, and tried to give him more space to stretch out, because she didn't know what position would cause him pain or interfere with is injuries. She tugged on his anonymous TIE fighter helmet and her flight gloves, and fastened restraints around Jag and herself, trying to be as careful as she could with the unconscious pilot. She keyed the comlink in her helmet. "Cappie, can you slave the X-wing's controls to Jag's clawcraft? I don't want to leave you or my ship behind."
Cappie warbled uncertainly.
"I know that it will be unstable, and hard to control with the port wing like that, but you can do it, I know you can." Jaina reassured. "Starting my preflights." She narrowed her brown eyes, trying to familiarize herself with the cockpit control panel. She smiled triumphantly as she recognized the form. 'Just like a TIE. Haven't flown one before, but I can do this.' She started flipping switches, and the board lit up, with the engines firing to a soft hum. "Fuel's at full, engines at one hundred percent…looks good. Got a nice weaponry set up, too." Jaina glanced at Jag. "Here goes nothing. Cappie, you got the controls slaved?"
Cappie beeped an affirmative.
"Alright then, let's see what this baby's got." She punched the repulsor lifts, and the clawcraft rose smoothly off the landing grid. She tested the pilot's yoke, and found the maneuverability better than an X-wing, and Jaina dialed down the inertial compensator. She checked her sensors, noting that her X-wing was right behind her, and mimicking her test turns, she smiled, and aimed the clawcraft to the sky. She gunned the thrusters, and couldn't resist letting out a whoop as they accelerated towards space. For a moment, she forgot all about her injuries as she rolled the craft to starboard, just reveling in the sheer joy of flying a new craft. "Where to now?" she checked her sensor board, searching for any sign of Wedge Antilles' shuttle. Cappie chirped, //Jaina, is it safe to leave the system? The others will return soon, unless General Antilles has warned them not to.//
Jaina hesitated. "I'm going to put us in orbit around a moon, so if anyone shows up, we can get some assistance, or flee if we have to. I'm going to try and make some comm contact with the rest of the fleet, so hang on." She flicked over to the designated New Republic frequency, and tried to call. "New Republic forces, this is Lieutenant Jaina Solo. Is anyone there?" On another idea, she recorded an emergency message, and let it broadcast repeatedly in system. She tugged off her gloves and TIE helmet, resting them next to her. She shot a worried look at Jag, who was still unconscious, and she gently ran her fingers through his jet black hair. She encountered a jagged piece of shrapnel embedded in his scalp and she tugged it out, her fingers wet with his blood, and she tossed it to the floor. She continued checking for more little bits of shrapnel, and traced her fingers lightly over his scar. She winced at the temperature of his skin, he was hot and sweating. 'Sithspawn! He must be going into shock. Come to think of it, I don't feel so great either. I must be wearing out, my Force connection's wavering. I can't keep blocking out the effects of my concussion and other injuries forever; I just hope Wedge and his guys get back soon.'
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ok, more up soon, maybe tomorrow, if I hurry, thanks again for the r&r, keep reviewing! :D