Author's Notes: Needless to say, I don't own Star Wars or any of the names (characters, planets, and whatnot). That all came from George Lucas. The setting of this takes places shortly after the end of the Yuuzhan Vong war.
Trained from an early age not to sleep late, Jagged Fel rose before dawn and before his alarm went off. He took a few minutes to do calisthenics before taking a quick shower and leaving his quarters. The Mon Calamarrian sky was just turning pink as he made his way through corridors to the officers' mess.
There was no one else in the breakfast line when Jag got there. He counted only seven people sitting at tables around the large room. With an inward smile, he noted that five of these were his own Chiss pilots. They had received the same training he had when they were younger. The other two he also knew. They were sitting across from each other, not speaking as they picked at their trays.
Grabbing a mug of caf, he walked over to them and sat down."Good morning," he said pleasantly, getting a dirty look from the female pilot.
"How can you call a morning 'good' this early?" Jaina Solo demanded, a slight edge of annoyance to her voice.
"Why do I think the colonel had a late night yesterday?" Kyp Durron asked teasingly.
"I was filing reports until one o'clock." She glanced at her wrist chrono. "And it is now fifteen minutes to seven. I wasn't doing anything that you would call a 'late night,' seeing how your mind is in the gutter." She gingerly sniffed pale, lumpy contents of the bowl in front of her. "Why can't the military feed us something edible for once?"
"Because that would make too much sense," Jag answered lightly, not really paying much attention to the conversation. He ate the slop without complaint; it wasn't the worst thing he'd ever had.
"By the way, Jag," Jaina commented, "if you happen to see your uncle before eight, tell him that I'm going to kill him."
"Why is that?" he asked with a frown.
"It isn't nice to make people do reports until all hours and then expect them to be present at an eight o'clock briefing."
"A briefing on what?"
"How should I know? I haven't gone yet. Something stupid and meaningless, I'd be willing to bet."
"Military operations are rarely stupid and meaningless."
"You'd be surprised. I've seen some real flops in my day."
"Your day? Jaina, you are all of twenty-two years old. I have been involved in this sort of thing far longer than you. Your day, as you call it, is nothing. I have seen few 'flops'."
"The Chiss are too picky and particular to allow that." Jaina said this a little louder than she probably intended, causing a few of the nearby blue-skinned aliens to turn around and look at her. Barely looking up but still seeming to register the fact, she added so that they could here, "But in spite of that they really are a fine example of perfect military efficiency that we should all strive to achieve."
"Nice cover, Sticks," Kyp said, chuckling quietly. "And I'm older than both of you, so cut it out. Neither of you have lived long enough to call something your day."
Jaina only shrugged before gesturing at the steaming mug on Jag's tray. "Is that caf?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Yes."
"Do you mind? I'll need any jolt I can get to stay awake during that meeting with the general."
"Go ahead." Kyp raised an eyebrow slightly as Jaina reached over and took a sip. Even though a sort of kinship developed between most pilots, most didn't willingly share drinks. Jag gave Kyp a sharp look, almost daring him to say anything. The Jedi just shook his head and turned his attention back to his breakfast tray.
Jaina looked at her chrono and sighed again. "I should probably go now."
"You still have forty-five minutes," Kyp pointed out.
"True, but if my hair looks half has bad as I think it does, I need to fix it. And probably change." As she stood, Jag saw she was right. Her flightsuit had a rumpled look that hinted she had slept in it and in a chair last night, and her hair, though pulled back into a braid, was unruly.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Kyp focused a piercing gaze at Jag, causing the Chiss-trained pilot to shift uncomfortably in his seat. At last he said in a low growl, "Do you have something to say?"
"You denied it last time I said it. But I'm still right."
"Denied what?"
"You know very well what I'm talking about. Surely you must realize that the rest of the galaxy isn't blind?"
"Oh, shut up," Jag snarled, narrowing his eyes and standing. He grabbed his half-finished meal and stalked off to dispose of it. Kyp always seemed to know exactly which buttons to push to get on someone's nerves.
**************************
Jaina took a quick glance around the briefing room. There were only a handful of people here, including two other Jedi, her brother Jacen and Tahiri Veila. She sat down next to them at the long table. "Any idea as to what's going on, Jay?" Jacen asked her.
"Not a clue. Probably something about needing heightened security with all of the Imperials coming for that whatever it is."
"The Alliance meeting."
"That's the one." Glancing at Tahiri's curious face, Jaina added, "Look, I haven't slept properly in about two weeks. I'm allowed to forget important things from time to time."
"I didn't say anything," Tahiri said defensively.
"But you were thinking it."
"If I may have your attention please," Wedge interrupted from the front of the room. The Jedi fell silent. "There has been a threat made by a group of terrorists, planning to attack when the Imperial ambassadors arrive." Jaina gave Jacen an I-told-you-so kind of look. "Planetary security has already neutralized the threat. We have nothing to fear from this group anytime in the near future."
"Excuse me, sir," Jaina said, "but then why are we here? If the threat is now non-existent, why does it concern us?"
"I was getting to that. Intelligence has been doing a bit of research, and they have reached the conclusion that these terrorists are a force to be reckoned with. Instead of simply breaking up threats as they come, it has been suggested that we divert a certain amount of attention to dissolve the group permanently. Unfortunately, we cannot do that in a single stroke. We know one of their bases is on the planet of Bakura, but there are more that have not yet been found." Jaina was about to demand again to know why they were discussing it, but she was silenced when Jacen hit her lightly in the shoulder. "Intelligence has also learned of the existence of a computer file being held at that base. This file is supposed to contain locations of others as well as detailed plans of attack. We need to send someone in the retrieve that file in order to remove these terrorists from the picture. The team going in will consist of three people as well as a crew here on Mon Cal. This crew will be the only group to have knowledge of the file's existence, as secrecy is key to success. Any questions?"
Jaina raised a hand. "Who were you planning to send in?"
"Well, actually, I was hoping the three of you would be willing to go," Wedge answered, gesturing at the Jedi. Jaina looked at the other two. Jacen's face was carefully masked as he considered. Tahiri shrugged, obviously waiting for the other two to decide first. Glancing back at Wedge, Jaina nodded. "I serve the
Alliance. I will go."
Jacen's brotherly sense of protection must have gotten the best of him, for he also agreed. At last, Tahiri followed suit. "Very well," Wedge said. He slid three datacards down the table to them. "All of the details are in here."
"When should we be ready to leave?" Jacen asked.
"As soon as possible. In a perfect galaxy, tomorrow morning, but we all know that the galaxy isn't perfect."
"No harm trying to make it so," Jaina murmured. Everyone looked at her. She sighed, not wanting to make a point out of the casual comment. "Isn't that what we were all doing the whole time we were fighting the Vong?" The slight edge to her voice prompted no one to respond to her. "Good," Wedge continued, drawing attention back away from the young pilot. "Tomorrow morning it is. I'll let you three go prepare while I finish the details of what must happen here during your absence."
The three Jedi walked slowly down the corridor. "Bakura," Jaina murmured. "Last time I was there they tried to arrest me for breaking someone out of jail. It's on the edge of the known galaxy, also adjacent to the Unknown Regions."
"Far from the center of things," Jacen said with a slow nod. "Secluded, out of the way, a likely place for terrorists."
Jaina turned suddenly down a corridor to her left. "Aren't you going to the hanger?" Tahiri asked her.
"No, I'm going to get some sleep." She stopped short at the mention of the hanger, which set off a bell in her head. "Do you have an X-wing?" she asked the younger girl. Tahiri shook her head. "Get one from Equipment Control. Sign it out with my name."
"All right."
Jaina walked slowly on alone, exhausted. She decided she would try and grab at least three more hours in the sack. That ought to hold her until nightfall.
**************************************
Morning came. The three young Jedi were in the hanger well before the sun rose, having swallowed down a quick breakfast in the empty mess. They could only carry so much gear in three snub fighters, but they didn't have a lot. Wedge, along with Han and Leia Solo, had come to bid them farewell. As far as Jacen knew, his parents were the only people other than those at the meeting who were aware of the mission. Throwing a sidelong glance at his sister, he wondered for a fleeting moment if Jaina had told Jag about it. Probably not, since the other pilot wasn't down here demanding that Jaina not be allowed to go so as to keep her safe.
Han stepped in front of his two children and shook his head. "When are you two going to stop flying off to all corners of the galaxy trying to fix things? There are other people out there who can do that."
"Dad, you can't protect us forever," Jaina said, a faint etching of the lopsided Solo-grin on her face.
"Every bird must someday leave the nest and stretch his wings," Jacen added. His sister groaned and punched him lightly in the shoulder.
"You kids take care of yourselves," their father told them solemnly, hugging them tightly.
"Don't we always?" Jaina asked, the grin emerging the rest of the way. Leia also hugged them, telling them things along the same effect as their father had. "Mom?" Jaina said. "Can you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"If you see Jag, tell him I'm sorry I couldn't tell him goodbye, all right?"
"I'll tell him." Jacen sighed, feeling pity for Jaina hit his heart. Due to the secrecy surrounding the mission, she wouldn't have been able to tell her friend goodbye. At that thought Jacen frowned, wondering just how much of a friend the Chiss officer had become for his twin. He wasn't one to listen to gossip, but he couldn't help but overhear some of things being said about her.
General Antilles shook their hands and wished them luck. As they started to climb into their ships he called out, "One thing, Jaina."
"Sir?"
"Try not to take too long. We'll need you here for the Alliance meeting. People have started to gain quite a bit of respect for your accomplishments and will want to hear your opinions."
"I'll try my best, sir." She gave a sharp salute and pulled herself into her cockpit, closing the canopy above her.
Switching on his comm, Jacen half listened to Jaina as she walked Tahiri through the pre-flight checklist. The young Jedi hadn't had as much experience in starfighters as the other two had. At last, Jaina announced that all systems were green and called for take-off. The three ships rose into the air and left the hanger, Jaina in the lead.
"I'm sending you guys coordinates for the hyperspace jump," Jaina's voice crackled over the comm.
"Copy that, Jay," Jacen answered. The console before him blinked yellow, telling him the coordinates had been set into his navcomputer. "Jump point is in approximately thirty seconds. Prepare to jump on my mark," Jaina told them. Jacen and Tahiri clicked their microphones once in response. Turning to his left, he could see Tahiri clearly through the viewport. She gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up, which he returned.
"Jump in five, four, three, two, one, mark!" Jacen hit the hyperdrive a half-second after Jaina vanished from sight. As the starlines streaked past him, he settled back in his seat to meditate and wait for the arrival at Bakura.
Trained from an early age not to sleep late, Jagged Fel rose before dawn and before his alarm went off. He took a few minutes to do calisthenics before taking a quick shower and leaving his quarters. The Mon Calamarrian sky was just turning pink as he made his way through corridors to the officers' mess.
There was no one else in the breakfast line when Jag got there. He counted only seven people sitting at tables around the large room. With an inward smile, he noted that five of these were his own Chiss pilots. They had received the same training he had when they were younger. The other two he also knew. They were sitting across from each other, not speaking as they picked at their trays.
Grabbing a mug of caf, he walked over to them and sat down."Good morning," he said pleasantly, getting a dirty look from the female pilot.
"How can you call a morning 'good' this early?" Jaina Solo demanded, a slight edge of annoyance to her voice.
"Why do I think the colonel had a late night yesterday?" Kyp Durron asked teasingly.
"I was filing reports until one o'clock." She glanced at her wrist chrono. "And it is now fifteen minutes to seven. I wasn't doing anything that you would call a 'late night,' seeing how your mind is in the gutter." She gingerly sniffed pale, lumpy contents of the bowl in front of her. "Why can't the military feed us something edible for once?"
"Because that would make too much sense," Jag answered lightly, not really paying much attention to the conversation. He ate the slop without complaint; it wasn't the worst thing he'd ever had.
"By the way, Jag," Jaina commented, "if you happen to see your uncle before eight, tell him that I'm going to kill him."
"Why is that?" he asked with a frown.
"It isn't nice to make people do reports until all hours and then expect them to be present at an eight o'clock briefing."
"A briefing on what?"
"How should I know? I haven't gone yet. Something stupid and meaningless, I'd be willing to bet."
"Military operations are rarely stupid and meaningless."
"You'd be surprised. I've seen some real flops in my day."
"Your day? Jaina, you are all of twenty-two years old. I have been involved in this sort of thing far longer than you. Your day, as you call it, is nothing. I have seen few 'flops'."
"The Chiss are too picky and particular to allow that." Jaina said this a little louder than she probably intended, causing a few of the nearby blue-skinned aliens to turn around and look at her. Barely looking up but still seeming to register the fact, she added so that they could here, "But in spite of that they really are a fine example of perfect military efficiency that we should all strive to achieve."
"Nice cover, Sticks," Kyp said, chuckling quietly. "And I'm older than both of you, so cut it out. Neither of you have lived long enough to call something your day."
Jaina only shrugged before gesturing at the steaming mug on Jag's tray. "Is that caf?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Yes."
"Do you mind? I'll need any jolt I can get to stay awake during that meeting with the general."
"Go ahead." Kyp raised an eyebrow slightly as Jaina reached over and took a sip. Even though a sort of kinship developed between most pilots, most didn't willingly share drinks. Jag gave Kyp a sharp look, almost daring him to say anything. The Jedi just shook his head and turned his attention back to his breakfast tray.
Jaina looked at her chrono and sighed again. "I should probably go now."
"You still have forty-five minutes," Kyp pointed out.
"True, but if my hair looks half has bad as I think it does, I need to fix it. And probably change." As she stood, Jag saw she was right. Her flightsuit had a rumpled look that hinted she had slept in it and in a chair last night, and her hair, though pulled back into a braid, was unruly.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Kyp focused a piercing gaze at Jag, causing the Chiss-trained pilot to shift uncomfortably in his seat. At last he said in a low growl, "Do you have something to say?"
"You denied it last time I said it. But I'm still right."
"Denied what?"
"You know very well what I'm talking about. Surely you must realize that the rest of the galaxy isn't blind?"
"Oh, shut up," Jag snarled, narrowing his eyes and standing. He grabbed his half-finished meal and stalked off to dispose of it. Kyp always seemed to know exactly which buttons to push to get on someone's nerves.
**************************
Jaina took a quick glance around the briefing room. There were only a handful of people here, including two other Jedi, her brother Jacen and Tahiri Veila. She sat down next to them at the long table. "Any idea as to what's going on, Jay?" Jacen asked her.
"Not a clue. Probably something about needing heightened security with all of the Imperials coming for that whatever it is."
"The Alliance meeting."
"That's the one." Glancing at Tahiri's curious face, Jaina added, "Look, I haven't slept properly in about two weeks. I'm allowed to forget important things from time to time."
"I didn't say anything," Tahiri said defensively.
"But you were thinking it."
"If I may have your attention please," Wedge interrupted from the front of the room. The Jedi fell silent. "There has been a threat made by a group of terrorists, planning to attack when the Imperial ambassadors arrive." Jaina gave Jacen an I-told-you-so kind of look. "Planetary security has already neutralized the threat. We have nothing to fear from this group anytime in the near future."
"Excuse me, sir," Jaina said, "but then why are we here? If the threat is now non-existent, why does it concern us?"
"I was getting to that. Intelligence has been doing a bit of research, and they have reached the conclusion that these terrorists are a force to be reckoned with. Instead of simply breaking up threats as they come, it has been suggested that we divert a certain amount of attention to dissolve the group permanently. Unfortunately, we cannot do that in a single stroke. We know one of their bases is on the planet of Bakura, but there are more that have not yet been found." Jaina was about to demand again to know why they were discussing it, but she was silenced when Jacen hit her lightly in the shoulder. "Intelligence has also learned of the existence of a computer file being held at that base. This file is supposed to contain locations of others as well as detailed plans of attack. We need to send someone in the retrieve that file in order to remove these terrorists from the picture. The team going in will consist of three people as well as a crew here on Mon Cal. This crew will be the only group to have knowledge of the file's existence, as secrecy is key to success. Any questions?"
Jaina raised a hand. "Who were you planning to send in?"
"Well, actually, I was hoping the three of you would be willing to go," Wedge answered, gesturing at the Jedi. Jaina looked at the other two. Jacen's face was carefully masked as he considered. Tahiri shrugged, obviously waiting for the other two to decide first. Glancing back at Wedge, Jaina nodded. "I serve the
Alliance. I will go."
Jacen's brotherly sense of protection must have gotten the best of him, for he also agreed. At last, Tahiri followed suit. "Very well," Wedge said. He slid three datacards down the table to them. "All of the details are in here."
"When should we be ready to leave?" Jacen asked.
"As soon as possible. In a perfect galaxy, tomorrow morning, but we all know that the galaxy isn't perfect."
"No harm trying to make it so," Jaina murmured. Everyone looked at her. She sighed, not wanting to make a point out of the casual comment. "Isn't that what we were all doing the whole time we were fighting the Vong?" The slight edge to her voice prompted no one to respond to her. "Good," Wedge continued, drawing attention back away from the young pilot. "Tomorrow morning it is. I'll let you three go prepare while I finish the details of what must happen here during your absence."
The three Jedi walked slowly down the corridor. "Bakura," Jaina murmured. "Last time I was there they tried to arrest me for breaking someone out of jail. It's on the edge of the known galaxy, also adjacent to the Unknown Regions."
"Far from the center of things," Jacen said with a slow nod. "Secluded, out of the way, a likely place for terrorists."
Jaina turned suddenly down a corridor to her left. "Aren't you going to the hanger?" Tahiri asked her.
"No, I'm going to get some sleep." She stopped short at the mention of the hanger, which set off a bell in her head. "Do you have an X-wing?" she asked the younger girl. Tahiri shook her head. "Get one from Equipment Control. Sign it out with my name."
"All right."
Jaina walked slowly on alone, exhausted. She decided she would try and grab at least three more hours in the sack. That ought to hold her until nightfall.
**************************************
Morning came. The three young Jedi were in the hanger well before the sun rose, having swallowed down a quick breakfast in the empty mess. They could only carry so much gear in three snub fighters, but they didn't have a lot. Wedge, along with Han and Leia Solo, had come to bid them farewell. As far as Jacen knew, his parents were the only people other than those at the meeting who were aware of the mission. Throwing a sidelong glance at his sister, he wondered for a fleeting moment if Jaina had told Jag about it. Probably not, since the other pilot wasn't down here demanding that Jaina not be allowed to go so as to keep her safe.
Han stepped in front of his two children and shook his head. "When are you two going to stop flying off to all corners of the galaxy trying to fix things? There are other people out there who can do that."
"Dad, you can't protect us forever," Jaina said, a faint etching of the lopsided Solo-grin on her face.
"Every bird must someday leave the nest and stretch his wings," Jacen added. His sister groaned and punched him lightly in the shoulder.
"You kids take care of yourselves," their father told them solemnly, hugging them tightly.
"Don't we always?" Jaina asked, the grin emerging the rest of the way. Leia also hugged them, telling them things along the same effect as their father had. "Mom?" Jaina said. "Can you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"If you see Jag, tell him I'm sorry I couldn't tell him goodbye, all right?"
"I'll tell him." Jacen sighed, feeling pity for Jaina hit his heart. Due to the secrecy surrounding the mission, she wouldn't have been able to tell her friend goodbye. At that thought Jacen frowned, wondering just how much of a friend the Chiss officer had become for his twin. He wasn't one to listen to gossip, but he couldn't help but overhear some of things being said about her.
General Antilles shook their hands and wished them luck. As they started to climb into their ships he called out, "One thing, Jaina."
"Sir?"
"Try not to take too long. We'll need you here for the Alliance meeting. People have started to gain quite a bit of respect for your accomplishments and will want to hear your opinions."
"I'll try my best, sir." She gave a sharp salute and pulled herself into her cockpit, closing the canopy above her.
Switching on his comm, Jacen half listened to Jaina as she walked Tahiri through the pre-flight checklist. The young Jedi hadn't had as much experience in starfighters as the other two had. At last, Jaina announced that all systems were green and called for take-off. The three ships rose into the air and left the hanger, Jaina in the lead.
"I'm sending you guys coordinates for the hyperspace jump," Jaina's voice crackled over the comm.
"Copy that, Jay," Jacen answered. The console before him blinked yellow, telling him the coordinates had been set into his navcomputer. "Jump point is in approximately thirty seconds. Prepare to jump on my mark," Jaina told them. Jacen and Tahiri clicked their microphones once in response. Turning to his left, he could see Tahiri clearly through the viewport. She gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up, which he returned.
"Jump in five, four, three, two, one, mark!" Jacen hit the hyperdrive a half-second after Jaina vanished from sight. As the starlines streaked past him, he settled back in his seat to meditate and wait for the arrival at Bakura.