Chapter Nineteen: Tahiri has a plan
Tahiri was getting frustrated, she had been in front of the Galactic alliance for over two hours and they still seemed unwilling to help her. "But you sent Raynur and Jacen there, you can't abandon them now!"
"I am sorry Jedi Veila" the senator from Kuat started "But it is our policy not to negotiate with hostile planets especially considering they are in the mist of a civil war and we are not sure which side to negotiate with." This met with applause from the audience
Tahiri fumed "But they are going to kill them. Are you willing to let two Jedi Knights Die because you are unwilling to negotiate with the side that could lose the war?"
"They are Jedi Knights, they can get themselves out of their own messes" A senator in the back shouted
"There being held in on an inhospitable planet with Yuuzhan Vong watching them every second of the day. There are only two of them. They're going to burn them to death. I can't believe a body built on peace and protection of their citizen will do nothing to help them." She countered
"Miss Veila, this governing body cannot go sticking its nose in to every planets civil problems. The Yuuzhan Vong will have to work this out on their own. The last thing we want to do is make them angry so that they attack our planets again. I personally do not want another Ithor or serendipial." The older calamarian senator stated
"I think we should take a vote to close this matter" the senator from kuat announced "All in favor of sending help say I" silence echoed in the room.
"There you go miss Veila. Have a nice day."
Tahiri stormed out of the chambers Ganner met her outside. "How did it go?"
"They refuse to help us. They said that because the Vong are at war with each other. They couldn't decide which side to negotiate with to release Jacen and Raynur, so there staying out of it."
"Just like the government to send people in, but refuse to make decisions to help people out." Ganner sighed "Any ideas on what to do next?"
"Well I talked to Master Skywalker, but he doesn't have any free Jedi to send on a rescue mission. Most are still trying to clean up disputes on territory from after the war. I tried to get a hold of Jaina but no one has seen or heard from her in over two weeks."
"What about Jaina's number two man, maybe he knows where he is?" Ganner suggested
"I don't know who that is." She sighed, a grin spread across her face, "but I know someone who does."
A knock on the door woke Wedge Antilles up from his daily afternoon nap. Shuffling his papers so it looked like he had got some work done today he yelled to the door "Come in"
Blond haired Tahiri Veila walked in "Wedge, I need your help"
"What can I do you for?"
"Well long story short, the galactic alliance sent Jacen, Raynur Thul and Myself to yuuzhan'tar. We found out they were in the middle of a civil war went to try to negotiate the situation Raynur and Jacen got captured and now the Vong are going to roast them as part of a victory celebration and the GFFA will not help us get them out of there." Tahiri paused to breath
"So what can I do to help you?" Wedge asked suspiciously
"No one has seen or heard from Jaina in over two weeks. Since this is her brother I thought she would lend Twin suns to help us, but since no one has seen her. Can you authorize them? I mean its what Jaina would want" Tahiri tried to sound assured
"Hold on a moment, Let me call Jaina's Number two man and see if he's heard from her." Wedge grabbed his comlink typing in some numbers he waited for someone to answer
A groggy voice answered the line "Who is it? Don't you people know I need my beauty sleep?" a male voice answered half awake.
Tahiri stifled a giggle it was the middle of the afternoon.
"Ryker get your groggy ass up. It's the middle of the afternoon, you better be down here in ten minutes!" wedge snapped into the comlink
"Yes sir, wedge. Ryker out" the voice mumbled
"Ryker Tamblin is Jaina's second in command. He's a good pilot but he cocky as anything."
A tall auburn-haired blue-eyed man stumbled through the doorway. Shaking his wet hair so that water droplets hit Tahiri's face. Wearing loose black pants and pulling on a green shirt, he slicked his hair back and smiled. His pearly white teeth glimmered and for one moment Tahiri was awestruck by how handsome he was.
"Ryker, speak of the sith" Wedge chuckled "Ryker this is Tahiri Veila, Tahiri met Ryker Tamblin"
It only seemed then did the guy realize Tahiri was in the room. "Hello beautiful"
Taking her hand he kissed it. Tahiri raised an eyebrow at Wedge. Who did this guy think he was? Lando Calrissian?
Tahiri pulled her hand away "Listen I don't have time to fool around with you. Have you seen Jaina?"
Ryker didn't even wince "Not since Twin Suns went on leave. Why?"
Tahiri briefed him up on the story. "I need Twin Suns help. I can't rescue Jacen and Raynur on my own."
"Don't worry gorgeous. I'm in charge of Twin Suns until Jaina gets back. I'll have the team ready to fly in two hours" he winked at her
Tahiri's face flushed, although she didn't know if it was from anger or from this guys constant flirting. "Good meet me in the hanger in two hours. I have to see if I can find Jaina first. Then we can assemble a strike plan."
Tahiri and Ganner walked into yet another hanger. "So this Ryker guy is going to help us?" Ganner asked
"Yeah, he's overly cocky and way to bold, but Jaina has faith in him, so I do too. Plus someone has to led Twin Suns. I'm sure not fit to fly Jaina's x-wing." Tahiri answered
"So why are we checking the hangers?" Ganner asked
"No ones heard from Jaina in two weeks. Now Jaina's a grown woman and she can take care of herself, but if anyone is going to help us save Jacen, it's her. Last time I talked to her, she was having problems with Zekk. Zekk flies cargo for Mon cal, so I'm looking for his ship in hopes he knows where she is."
"Make sense to me" Ganner shrugged
"Let me just ask the hanger official where Zekk's ship is docked." Walking up the droid she typed in the ship name
"The Lightning Rod is not docked in this hanger." The droid responded, "It was last here on Thursday the 21st."
"So Zekk's been gone just as long as Jaina." Tahiri clarified
"Maybe they're together" Ganner noted
"Are you looking for Zekk?" A female voiced piped up behind them
Swirling around Tahiri looked into the blue eyes of Rynna. "Yes we are actually, Rynna right?" she asked
"Right, Tahiri we met at the Hapes party." Rynna shook Tahiri's hand "Zekk's been missing in action for the last two weeks. No one knows where he is, or why he left. But the Mon Calamari cargo manager is pretty ticked off at him. I've been running double cargo the last week to try and keep up."
"Rynna this is Ganner Ryshode, Ganner this is Rynna, she's a friend of Zekk's." Tahiri clarified
"I gathered that much" He laughed shaking the blond's hand
Rynna picked up a crate and began to haul it onto her ship "So why are you looking for Zekk anyways?" she asked
Tahiri felt complied to help and grabbed a crate "Were not actually looking for Zekk. We were hoping he knew were Jaina Solo was."
"I'm figuring that's who he's with. Last time I saw him he was dancing with her." Rynna admitted
"It could be. No one seen Jaina in the last two weeks either." Ganner added bringing more cargo onto the ship
"Out of curiosity why are you looking for Jaina?" Rynna asked
Tahiri recounted the story to Rynna. "I was hoping to have one more Jedi to save her brother."
"Well I'm no Jedi, but I'm good with a blaster and I just met Raynur Thul. He owes me a date, and If I have to save his butt. I'm going to collect on that!" Rynna stated
Tahiri laughed, she liked this girls enthusiasm "We'll we could use all the help we can get right now."
"This cargo doesn't have to get to Endor until next Friday. We should be back by then right?" Rynna asked
"Yeah, this is a rescue mission. That means we get in and out in the shortest time possible." Ganner laughed
"Thanks for your help Rynna, We have a strike team meeting in about an hour in the Twin suns Hanger. Do you know where that is?" Tahiri asked
"Who doesn't? They're like the top squadron around here. I'll be there." Rynna smiled
Tahiri walked into a crowded hanger bay, Ganner close behind her.
"And here she is the beautiful Tahiri Veila" Ryker shouted above the crowd noticing Tahiri's entrance. "I've already explained the situation to them, darling." He noted as the murmurs died down
"Cut the crap Ryker" Tahiri motioned to Ganner "Now that I have your attention. This is Jedi Knight Ganner Ryhsode; he'll be assisting me and I have one more member of this strike team as soon as she shows up."
As if on cue, Rynna came storming in hair flying behind her. "Sorry I'm late. The dock Master is slave driver, he wouldn't let me leave until i..." she stopped as she noticed 13 pairs of eyes all on her "never mind" she mumbled blushing slightly.
Tahiri giggled "Everyone this is Rynna Sunni. Now lets get down to business." Walking over to a large table she pulled out a large sheet of paper and started drawing. "This is what the Presidents Complex looks like. Its about 25 wampa's tall and its in the shape of a hexagon. It's situated at the top of a hill, which makes it very hard to storm even though it's in the middle of the woods. There are Yuuzhan Vong Guarding it at all times. This is not going to be an easy rescue mission."
"Tahiri?" Ganner noted.
Swinging her head around "What?" Tahiri asked
"Well, there going to be holding a Celebration remember? Where they're going to Burn Jacen and Raynar. That's going to have to be outside." Ganner noted
Tahiri nodded her head. "But we don't know where they're going to hold that. So we need a few of us to infiltrate the Head Compound to find out where they're going to do that at. "Tahiri looked back at her crew "I'm going in, I'll need at least 2 others with me, anyone up for the challenge?" she asked
Ganner piped up "As the other Jedi I'll go."
Tahiri shook her head. "As the other Jedi, I need you with the rest of the team. That way they will know if something went wrong."
"I couldn't let a beautiful Angel like you go into a hostile environment without male protection." Ryker chirped, "So count me in," he flashed a smile at Tahiri and a wink
Tahiri rolled her eyes. The rest of Twin Suns let out a groan. Ganner stifled a laugh.
"Give it a rest Lover boy" one of the female Twin Suns spoke up from the back
"As long as you'll take orders, you can come," Tahiri told him. Ryker simply nodded "Okay I need one more person."
"I'll come." A Female Bothan Twin Suns Member spoke up "If only to keep Ryker inline" she grinned
"I like you already." Tahiri smiled at her. "Alright, the three of us will infiltrate the compound and find out when and where they're going to do the ceremony. It should be easier to rescue Jacen and Raynar out in the open when the Vong are celebrating, then when they're in that Complex. The rest of you will stay with Ganner in an Old senate Building deep under ground until we return." Tahiri dictated
"Excuse me for asking, Sweetheart, but how are we going to Land on Yuuzhan'tar if the Vong are hostile again" Ryker asked
"Good question, and don't call me sweetheart" Tahiri snapped back. "The Vong are in the mists of a civil war. They're too busy fighting each other to be watching for any unregistered ships. So landing will be no problem. However, once the planes land and we leave them, it is likely that the Vong will find them. So Most of you can fly with us." Tahiri motioned to Ganner and Rynna "on the Solo's Pride. I really only need two or three of you to come in your ex-wings. You will stay in the air, while the ground forces are down. Your just air covers in case stuff goes wrong." She looked at Ryker "Since you're in charge of Twin Suns until Jaina gets back, you pick three members to stay airborne."
Ryker smiled, "Sure thing commander. Kelis, Zuhan, and Chemis your air patrol." A red head female, a Wookie and blond man stepped forward. The Wookie growled at Ryker
He laughed, "I'm sorry Zuhan, but I do think a Wookie on Yuuzhan'tar is going to draw some attention. Even if you do have brute strength behind you." The Wookie growled again
"Alright, since that's been decided." Tahiri started again "We leave tomorrow at 13:50. The Solo's Pride is docked in Hanger 14 section B." Tahiri sighed, "Before I dismiss you, this is a highly classified Mission, It is not sanctioned by the Government. Do not talk about this to anyone, otherwise Jaina may demote you all after she finds out her brother has been fried on a stake."
Zuhan Growled once again.
"Zuhan wants to know where Commander Solo is, shouldn't she be leading this mission?" Ryker translated
"Jaina has disappeared. She has not been heard from since the Hapes consortium party, two weeks ago. No one knows where she is. I've checked with her mother, Kyp Durron and Wedge." Worrisome murmurs began to circulate around the hanger. "But I do have reason to Believe she is with a friend and probably safe. Don't worry Jaina is a Jedi and she can take care of herself." Tahiri reassured Jaina's pilots.
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