Chapter 2-The Summons

Corellia Day 2

Wedge groaned as he was waken up by two giggling mounds, which had somehow wiggled under his covers. "Daddy, you're supposed to go with us to the park today", came a plaintive, heart-tugging whine from Syal. He groaned again and opened his eyes. "Da da?" came the hopeful question from Myri. That and the pitiful expression in the two-and-a-half year old's eyes made him sit up in bed.

"Ok, ok I'm up!" he groused. His wife's tinkling laughter filled his ears. "Well, I see someone's in a good mood today", Iella teased. Syal began giggling at the expression on her father's face. And Myri was giggling because...she was giggling because everyone else was giggling.

Wedge just shook his head. "I'm living in a madhouse", he muttered, their laughter following him all the way to the refresher.

He came out a few minutes later, shaking droplets out of his hair. Iella raised an eyebrow at that. "What? I took a water bath instead of a sonic shower." he exclaimed. Iella smiled knowingly, and raised both eyebrows this time.

"So it was a accident! I was still sleepy, and the kids woke me up. It's not my fault!"

Iella just snickered softly as she served him breakfast. Suddenly, her expression grew serious. "Wedge, we both received military Priority One communiqués at 0700 hundred this morning", she told him. Her husband hissed in surprise. Priority One.... but why? He was retired military now, they gave him a pension every month and Iella was an inactive NRI operative...so why?

"I thought we should access them together, after you returned from the park, but it was date-stamped...", her voice trailed off. Wedge nodded with a glance down at his food, appetite gone. They moved to their bedroom quietly, both deep in thought.

"The children?" he started. "Are outside playing with Kain and Lera", she finished. He nodded mutely and they activated their datapads. He felt a shadow of foreboding over him as he read the news.

'After the repeated incidents of aggression by the Vong against the people of the NR...ya da.... ya da ya da...', his eyes widened. 'The New Republic military has been authorized to carry out all necessary means of action in order to eliminate the threat represented by the Yuuzhan Vong'; they were giving the military free reign! He forced himself to read further, and then felt his stomach lurch. 'The military needs more officers and will do all it can to reinstate and recruit more citizens'. His blood grew cold as he scrolled down to the official document.

The NR's crest was on top. He scrolled further. It was a summons. 'Dear Officer, due to the current state of war the New Republic has declared, you are informed that as of 0800 hours, Galactic Standard Time, all reserve, inactive and retired command-track officers above the rank of Brevet-Captain have been reinstated, and their status changed to active. As you fall under one of these categories, you are to report to the New Republic Military HeadQuarters on Coruscant within the week, upon which further orders will be issued. Failure to comply will result in immediate arrest on the charge of mutiny. Please reply to this message with you ETA, as soon as possible.

The military needs every officer in these dire times.

Signed, Admiral Sien Sovv

Commanding Officer of the New Republic Military'

Wedge breathed out slowly, absorbing the news and its implications on his family. He looked over at Iella and the couple locked eyes. Wedge sat down beside her and showed her what he had received. She read them slowly, then turned to him, unshed tears in her eyes.

"Mine are the same, except, I have to report to Cracken at the NRI HQ. Oh Wedge, I don't want to go. I don't want you to go", she leaned her head on his muscled chest and closed her eyes in pain, "What'll happen to the children if they lose both parents?" she cried.

"Iella, it can't be helped", he wrapped his arms around her. "Besides, Myri and Syal won't be safe if the galaxy is destroyed by the Vong", he said, ever the consummate soldier, the voice of reason.

"But you said they'd never progress past the Outer Rim! Wedge we could run, take the kids to some world and be safe!" she begged. "And if the Vong break past the NR's defenses, how long do you think it'll be before they destroy every other world in their path. They sound too much like the Ssi-ruuk to me, Iella", he countered.

"I don't care, Myri and Syal'll be safe, and they'll have their father and mother, alive!" she flared. Wedge shook his head, his brown eyes, narrowed and hardened. "What about all the other children in danger, all the families who would be broken up if everyone thought like you!" he thundered.

"I told you Wedge, other people don't matter to me. Besides, let someone else do the fighting, let someone else make the sacrifice for once! Haven't you done enough!", she pleaded.

"Iella, have you become so selfish that you only care for Myri and Syal? I love both of them, and you. You guys are my life, but spare a thought for others, Iella. And I know you're concerned about the kids but we're not the only ones with a family", he said softly, brown eyes begging her to understand.

She heaved a sigh and sat down. "Alright, Antilles, you win. But my kids better have a father when this is over. And I'm going to give'em hell", Wedge grinned at Iella's exclamation.

"Yah, know, for a moment I began to think you were a changeling" he kidded. She just grinned and smacked him on the head with a pillow.