*Admiral Traest Kre'fey is supposed to go through 'traditional time of mourning. Yeah, I'm ignoring that…

Rancor Slam

Part 4

The Shameless and the Reds dropped out of hyperspace together. They had just taken the last leg of the 'distraction course' on the way to the rendezvous.

They were, finally, at the rendezvous point. Before them was a Bothan Assault Cruiser. Cas didn't catch the name but she had no doubt that it was Admiral Traest Kre'fey's flagship.

Good thing she had listened Zii as she went on and on about the dashing Bothan Commander, huh?

Cas got clearance to land the Shameless in the Admiral's docking bay on the dorsal side of the ship, well toward the bow. Close to the Admiral's briefing room and the medic bays.

Which made since, General Antilles was still on the Shameless. The medics would want to double-check him, even though Cas's med-droid had cleared him for flight and every instinct inside her said her was fine. Stressed slightly, but who wasn't?

He was taking her place behind the yoke of the Shameless for the duration of the Flight.

The Reds were landing in one of the many belly Fighter bays.

The Shameless hung above the deck as she allowed technicians to pull Wedge's X-Wing of her belly. She then settled onto the flooring without even the slightest jolt or jump.

But that would be expected from the great Wedge Antilles. When the entry ramp was all the way down Cas began exiting the ship.

She still wore her black crab armor with a black hooded cloak over it. She threw back the front wings of the cloak and around her waist was a silver chain belt with her Lightsaber hanging from it, clear down, past her knee.

She walked down the boarding ramp with her Yuuzahn Vong flanking her. Vua, then Uun, on her Right. Vo, then Slee, on her left.

She saw Zii and the Admiral standing a few meters from the foot of the ramp. A full New Republic Honor Guard on either side of them.

Cas smiled. "My friend." She held out her hands to Zii. "It is good to see you again."

"Oh, Cas." Zii took her hands and using them, pulled her into a hug. Cas stiffened. Zii pulled back and answered the questioning look she knew Cas would be giving her.

"We know about Syc." The woman bit her lower lip.

"Oh," She said, all her pretty words abandoning her. She left that subject and turned to the Admiral, her face a stony mask. "I take it you are Admiral Traest Kre'fey?"

"Yes." He said, fully confident, ignoring the façade of her face. "And you are Lady Cas Shik'rican, Jedi Knight and Master of Politics."

She raised an eyebrow and glanced at Zii. The girl gave her an 'I'll-tell-you-later' sign.

Cas turned back to the Admiral. "You may call me Lady Cas, or better yet, call me Cas, most of my friends do."

He gave her a toothy Bothan smile. "Only if you call me Traest."

She smiled, a cold, real looking politician's smile. "I will." She looked up to Dec, where he was standing at the top of the boarding ramp. He nodded, sort of. "We're expecting the Tenacity to join us in-system soon." She told the Admiral.

"It will lead us in the Next engagement and bring in Jedi Fighters. It is of utmost import that this is clearly a Jedi movement."

The Admiral nodded. They began walking sedately toward the bay's doors. See, folks, just friends out for an evening stroll.

Unless you count the Honor Guard.

"I would like to hear your full plans." He said.

She smiled. "We will need to speak about it with Wedge and Tycho, and the Captain of the Tenacity. I think you will have plenty of time to hear and ask about this plan."

"Very Well. What about these…?" He had gestured to Vua and the others.

"They will be staying with me. So they'll go over to my cabin on the Tenacity with me. But I must make it clear that they are not to be harmed in any way. Or there will be severe consequences."

The Bothan nodded.

Zii and Cas piqued up at the same time. They watched the doorway open. Kir was framed in its light.

Cas stopped herself for a second. It was almost obscene. He looked like some like of long-lost Hero, standing in the door of The den to his enemy's lair, looking for his lady.

But the image didn't stop her. She did not even pause really. Or laugh as she normally would have at such a mental image.

Instead Cas hurried the last steps into his arms. "Oh, Kir," was all she could get out before he crushed her in to him with a strength she had never felt before.

She felt tears threatening to fall and knew Kir had lost the battle. When she heard Zii explaining they had lost a Padawan-learner and that Padawans are like children to their Masters, she lost the battle and let silent tears fall.

She quickly pulled away from him. This was not the time or place for this. She brushed her tears away with her fingers and stepped out of Kir's embrace.

He dried his eyes. He knew she'd let her self break down later on the Tenacity. After their plans were laid.