Disclaimer: I own none of this!
Author's note: Bad news folks. DRL has interfered once again. Unfortunately there will be no more new posts on this until either late Saturday or Sunday. Thanks for being so patient with my delays. :)
Nike's Zero- *Wince* About the can't wait another day thing.....Sorry. :( On another note, I'll try to take a look at the part that confused you and fix it, as soon as I get back.
MaraJadeJediMaster- Thanks for the response. I can't guarantee that your requests will happen soon, but I will say that I'm a definite J/J shipper!
Kyp glanced at his chorno and the busy flurry of activity in the room around him. Techs were completing last minute checks, while officers readied their duty stations. None of the people there, were aware of what was already moving forward. As far as the commanders of this fleet were concerned, the first phase of the mission would begin with them. Kyp knew better. Even as the last minute preparations were being made aboard and the battle group was going on alert, Jaina and her strike team were entering the Daenaa system.
They were traveling in a small freighter that looked beaten by age. The hall was pot marked and pitted with battled damage and the ship looked as if it were only being held together by wishful thinking. Unlike with the Millennium Falcon, however, the appearances of the freighter were not deceiving. By Kyp's estimation the freighter would last for about three minutes after it came out of hyperspace. It wasn't however, a suicide mission, or at least that aspect of the mission wasn't.
Jaina and the rest of her team were using a technique that had last been used to infiltrate Coruscant, not long after the capital world's fall. In a plan designed by the Wraith's years ago, the strike team would fall to the ground like burning debris. The explosion from the freighter would provide the perfect cover for them. The only danger would be from the very real possibility of the real debris from the freighter striking Jaina's team as they made their descent. By the time that the fleets that Kyp was leading arrived, there would be very little evidence of the freighter's existence left. The few remaining traces of debris would quickly be dismissed from the minds of the officers under Kyp's command as the threat of the Vong loomed in front of them.
It would offer Jaina an undetected entry, undetected from both the Vong and from the Insiders fleet. Exiting the planet once the mission was completed was another matter, however, and a very dangerous one at that.
"Master Durron?"
"Yes, Captain Slarne," he prompted the man. He didn't know Slarne well, but his reputation as a bold, but fair and even headed captain had preceded him.
"Colonel Fel has requested to speak with you."
"Patch him into my headset," Kyp said briskly, putting aside other extraneous thoughts and focusing his full attention on the coming fight, "Directly into my headset," he added a moment later, "I don't even want the Comm. tech listening in," he clarified. It was one of the ways that news traveled the fastest aboard a ship. Communications technicians were supposed to be discreet about what they heard, but in reality, they often weren't. Even now they couldn't afford an information leak. Anyone, even here could be a Vong sympathizer.
Kyp's headset crackled with static and he spoke quietly into his microphone. "Are the squadrons ready, Colonel Fel?"
Jag's voice was matter of fact as he launched into a thoroughly detailed report on the status of the squadrons that would be flying under his command. "Everything is ready and going according to our plan so far," he concluded a moment later.
"Good," Kyp said somewhat distractedly. He had been paying attention to Jag, but he had been unable to forget the conversation that he had overheard between Jaina and Jag in their parting conversation.
Years ago that parting would have been very different, Kyp knew, and back then it had seemed like what was between Jaina and Jag would never change. He sighed with the weariness of age and knowledge. Kyp had been putting off the need to speak with Jag since the Chiss raised Colonel had returned to Known Space, partly because he didn't think it was any of his business and also because he knew Jaina wouldn't want him to get involved in the situation. The situation, however, had changed.
It was time to have this conversation, now. Jaina could wrathfully hunt him down after and if they both survived this mission. "Jag," he said calmly, "There's something that you need to be aware of."
Static filled his hearing as Jag hesitated before he replied, "What do I need to know, Master Jedi?" His voice was grim, but decidedly resigned, "What trick or surprise has the Goddess left for us now?"
Kyp scowled. He understood, of course, at least part of the reason that both Jaina and Jag were furious with the other, but his protective side still didn't like to see Jag lay the blame for anything that went wrong or might possibly go wrong on Jaina. "Despite the fact that Jaina once hurt you, Fel," Kyp growled, "Not everything in the galaxy is her fault. In fact some of the blame falls on your shoulders as well." Kyp's words, although gaining in intensity throughout his entire speech, hadn't gotten much louder than a low growl in an attempt not to broadcast their conversation to the entire fleet. "Also, Fel, just to set the record perfectly straight as you like it, you should know something. Years ago you left Jaina, after, of course, you promised her that you would never leave her."
If Jag was surprised at all because of Kyp's outburst it wasn't apparent in his voice. Instead he replied with a heated fury that usual for the icy Colonel to display. "I left because she seemed to be more than happy with another man. It seemed quite apparent when she was trying to get better acquainted with Zekk's tonsils."
Kyp's response was derisive. "You never thought to question why Jaina had acted like that when she had been acting as if you were the only man in the galaxy worthy of her attention for weeks. She had just almost sithing died for you, Fel."
"What was I supposed to think, Durron? Clearly Jaina prefers to date someone who she sees as her equal, a Jedi Knight like Zekk."
Kyp grimaced. He had wanted to help Jaina, not become a relationship councilor. "Fel, we could continue to argue about this, but we don't have time. You do need to know one thing, however." Kyp didn't allow Jag a chance to interrupt this time. "When Jaina kissed Zekk on Shelter, she was under the influence of severe amphistaff poisoning. She had just been through a Force vision combined with poison induced hallucinations. Jaina thought that Zekk was you, when she kissed him."
Jaina Solo closed her eyes in anticipation. She could feel it coming through the Force. The first volley of molten plasma that had been directed at the freighter by the swarm of skips that were attacking them, had been enough to overwhelm the freighter's less than stellar shields. Jaina could feel the freighter's hull weakening with every bit of molten plasma that hit it. The only thing protecting she and the rest of her team from each plasma missile was that burst through the hull was a strong internal shield that had been rigged inside the freighter especially for that purpose.
Jaina could feel the frequency of the freighter's shudders grow as more and more plasma missiles tore into it. Even behind her tightly closed eyelids, Jaina could see the brilliant white light of the explosion around them. If the shield surrounding them lost power, even for one critical moment, then they were all dead. Through the Force, she felt the shield absorb the impact and....hold. Unconsciously she stopped breathing as the seconds slowed in her mind as she counted them off. She gasped as the shield simultaneously failed and the force of the explosion pushed them clear of the freighter's debris and towards the planet's surface.
If anything the adrenaline rushed through her blood quicker as their descent began. At first it seemed as if she were moving painfully slow, as if her fall would never be over and then the planet's surface was rushing up at her faster and faster with each passing second. She wasn't sure whether to be relieved or more worried when the speed of her descent was blurred from her view by the wall of flames created by the friction of her descent. Her descent was so obscured that she could only see the ground rush up to meet her 'vehicle' a second before it did As it was she barely had time to brace herself and despite the repulsorlift's efforts at compensation, the force at which it hit the ground was sufficient to knock her clear of it entirely. It only took Jaina moment to role to her feet. They only had a short window of opportunity to retrieve the prisoner while the battle raged overhead in orbit. Time as much as the Yuuzhan Vong was their enemy now.
Please leave a review. I love getting feedback!
Author's note: Bad news folks. DRL has interfered once again. Unfortunately there will be no more new posts on this until either late Saturday or Sunday. Thanks for being so patient with my delays. :)
Nike's Zero- *Wince* About the can't wait another day thing.....Sorry. :( On another note, I'll try to take a look at the part that confused you and fix it, as soon as I get back.
MaraJadeJediMaster- Thanks for the response. I can't guarantee that your requests will happen soon, but I will say that I'm a definite J/J shipper!
Kyp glanced at his chorno and the busy flurry of activity in the room around him. Techs were completing last minute checks, while officers readied their duty stations. None of the people there, were aware of what was already moving forward. As far as the commanders of this fleet were concerned, the first phase of the mission would begin with them. Kyp knew better. Even as the last minute preparations were being made aboard and the battle group was going on alert, Jaina and her strike team were entering the Daenaa system.
They were traveling in a small freighter that looked beaten by age. The hall was pot marked and pitted with battled damage and the ship looked as if it were only being held together by wishful thinking. Unlike with the Millennium Falcon, however, the appearances of the freighter were not deceiving. By Kyp's estimation the freighter would last for about three minutes after it came out of hyperspace. It wasn't however, a suicide mission, or at least that aspect of the mission wasn't.
Jaina and the rest of her team were using a technique that had last been used to infiltrate Coruscant, not long after the capital world's fall. In a plan designed by the Wraith's years ago, the strike team would fall to the ground like burning debris. The explosion from the freighter would provide the perfect cover for them. The only danger would be from the very real possibility of the real debris from the freighter striking Jaina's team as they made their descent. By the time that the fleets that Kyp was leading arrived, there would be very little evidence of the freighter's existence left. The few remaining traces of debris would quickly be dismissed from the minds of the officers under Kyp's command as the threat of the Vong loomed in front of them.
It would offer Jaina an undetected entry, undetected from both the Vong and from the Insiders fleet. Exiting the planet once the mission was completed was another matter, however, and a very dangerous one at that.
"Master Durron?"
"Yes, Captain Slarne," he prompted the man. He didn't know Slarne well, but his reputation as a bold, but fair and even headed captain had preceded him.
"Colonel Fel has requested to speak with you."
"Patch him into my headset," Kyp said briskly, putting aside other extraneous thoughts and focusing his full attention on the coming fight, "Directly into my headset," he added a moment later, "I don't even want the Comm. tech listening in," he clarified. It was one of the ways that news traveled the fastest aboard a ship. Communications technicians were supposed to be discreet about what they heard, but in reality, they often weren't. Even now they couldn't afford an information leak. Anyone, even here could be a Vong sympathizer.
Kyp's headset crackled with static and he spoke quietly into his microphone. "Are the squadrons ready, Colonel Fel?"
Jag's voice was matter of fact as he launched into a thoroughly detailed report on the status of the squadrons that would be flying under his command. "Everything is ready and going according to our plan so far," he concluded a moment later.
"Good," Kyp said somewhat distractedly. He had been paying attention to Jag, but he had been unable to forget the conversation that he had overheard between Jaina and Jag in their parting conversation.
Years ago that parting would have been very different, Kyp knew, and back then it had seemed like what was between Jaina and Jag would never change. He sighed with the weariness of age and knowledge. Kyp had been putting off the need to speak with Jag since the Chiss raised Colonel had returned to Known Space, partly because he didn't think it was any of his business and also because he knew Jaina wouldn't want him to get involved in the situation. The situation, however, had changed.
It was time to have this conversation, now. Jaina could wrathfully hunt him down after and if they both survived this mission. "Jag," he said calmly, "There's something that you need to be aware of."
Static filled his hearing as Jag hesitated before he replied, "What do I need to know, Master Jedi?" His voice was grim, but decidedly resigned, "What trick or surprise has the Goddess left for us now?"
Kyp scowled. He understood, of course, at least part of the reason that both Jaina and Jag were furious with the other, but his protective side still didn't like to see Jag lay the blame for anything that went wrong or might possibly go wrong on Jaina. "Despite the fact that Jaina once hurt you, Fel," Kyp growled, "Not everything in the galaxy is her fault. In fact some of the blame falls on your shoulders as well." Kyp's words, although gaining in intensity throughout his entire speech, hadn't gotten much louder than a low growl in an attempt not to broadcast their conversation to the entire fleet. "Also, Fel, just to set the record perfectly straight as you like it, you should know something. Years ago you left Jaina, after, of course, you promised her that you would never leave her."
If Jag was surprised at all because of Kyp's outburst it wasn't apparent in his voice. Instead he replied with a heated fury that usual for the icy Colonel to display. "I left because she seemed to be more than happy with another man. It seemed quite apparent when she was trying to get better acquainted with Zekk's tonsils."
Kyp's response was derisive. "You never thought to question why Jaina had acted like that when she had been acting as if you were the only man in the galaxy worthy of her attention for weeks. She had just almost sithing died for you, Fel."
"What was I supposed to think, Durron? Clearly Jaina prefers to date someone who she sees as her equal, a Jedi Knight like Zekk."
Kyp grimaced. He had wanted to help Jaina, not become a relationship councilor. "Fel, we could continue to argue about this, but we don't have time. You do need to know one thing, however." Kyp didn't allow Jag a chance to interrupt this time. "When Jaina kissed Zekk on Shelter, she was under the influence of severe amphistaff poisoning. She had just been through a Force vision combined with poison induced hallucinations. Jaina thought that Zekk was you, when she kissed him."
Jaina Solo closed her eyes in anticipation. She could feel it coming through the Force. The first volley of molten plasma that had been directed at the freighter by the swarm of skips that were attacking them, had been enough to overwhelm the freighter's less than stellar shields. Jaina could feel the freighter's hull weakening with every bit of molten plasma that hit it. The only thing protecting she and the rest of her team from each plasma missile was that burst through the hull was a strong internal shield that had been rigged inside the freighter especially for that purpose.
Jaina could feel the frequency of the freighter's shudders grow as more and more plasma missiles tore into it. Even behind her tightly closed eyelids, Jaina could see the brilliant white light of the explosion around them. If the shield surrounding them lost power, even for one critical moment, then they were all dead. Through the Force, she felt the shield absorb the impact and....hold. Unconsciously she stopped breathing as the seconds slowed in her mind as she counted them off. She gasped as the shield simultaneously failed and the force of the explosion pushed them clear of the freighter's debris and towards the planet's surface.
If anything the adrenaline rushed through her blood quicker as their descent began. At first it seemed as if she were moving painfully slow, as if her fall would never be over and then the planet's surface was rushing up at her faster and faster with each passing second. She wasn't sure whether to be relieved or more worried when the speed of her descent was blurred from her view by the wall of flames created by the friction of her descent. Her descent was so obscured that she could only see the ground rush up to meet her 'vehicle' a second before it did As it was she barely had time to brace herself and despite the repulsorlift's efforts at compensation, the force at which it hit the ground was sufficient to knock her clear of it entirely. It only took Jaina moment to role to her feet. They only had a short window of opportunity to retrieve the prisoner while the battle raged overhead in orbit. Time as much as the Yuuzhan Vong was their enemy now.
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