Chapter 4
SANDPIPER
DANTOOINE ACADEMY
"That must be a transmission from Alek." Jaelyn dropped her lanky frame into the chair opposite Revan.
"Must it?" Revan asked absently, not looking up from the datapad.
"Judging by the sappy look on your face I'd bet my salary on it."
"Your salary. That's funny." She set the datapad down on the table and grabbed the last piece of ruby fruit. "Alek is on his way to Dantooine with intel from Suurja."
"Suurja. That's one of Taris' resource worlds."
Revan nodded, swallowing the bite of ruby fruit. "Captain Karath has managed to hold off two Mandalorian attacks but the situation is becoming dire. Refugees are continuing to pour in and though the Republic Fleet has set up a cordon along that route they are stretched thin. I don't believe they have the resources for a ground battle on Suurja if it should come to that. When Alek returns we will urge the Council to take action. Defending the helpless is our duty, surely they will see that."
SANDPIPER
DANTOOINE
"Son of a Murglak!" Alek fumed, his face red. The fury that had been building during the meeting with the Council finally exploded when they reached the privacy of Revan's ship. "If Mandos were storming Dantooine or Coruscant that would get them off their-"
"Their approval matters little," Revan interrupted. "We have enough Jedi sympathetic to our cause and friends in the fleet. Besides, they aren't strictly forbidding Jedi from joining us, just discouraging it. With the proof we found on Cathar I doubt we will have trouble recruiting Jedi to our cause." She caught his arm to halt the angry pacing and pulled herself close, laying her head on his chest, listening to his racing heart. "We'll leave tonight for Suurja with whoever will follow. Disobedience to the Council is forgivable. Denying aid to those in distress is not. We are Jedi. It's about time we started acting like it."
CRYSTAL CAVE
DANTOOINE
"Do not heed the words of the Jedi Council." Alek's voice reverberated off the damp walls of the cave. "The republic will fall if we do not act now. Already the Mandalorians have taken three systems along the Rim. They will only grow more powerful with time. Come, stand with me. We will use our might to help the Republic in its time of need. Join Revan and I. Together, we will battle this menace."
The conviction in his eyes sent chills down Jaelyn's spine. She glanced around at the large group of Knights and Padawans, and was surprised to see the hesitation in the eyes of many. "I will fight with you." She stepped out from the group and joined Revan and Alek.
"As will I." Keeda joined her followed quickly by Adon.
"And I." Many more friends and academy mates joined them until finally there was only a small handful left.
"We wish you the best but our place is here." Henton stepped forward and extended a hand to Alek. "May the Force be with you."
"And also with you."
SUURJA
Lasers screamed past her cockpit as she threw the Starfighter into a barrel roll and fired off a barrage in response. "Watch your three, Seven, two fighters headed your way," Jaelyn warned.
"Thanks," Seven rolled, allowing the two enemy fighters to pass overhead and came up behind them, scoring direct hits on their shields. "All yours, Nine."
"Got 'em! Thanks for the assist."
"Anytime."
"All fighters return to the Courageous." Captain Karath's voice crackled over the comm system.
"Another stalemate? Frack this, we can take out these Mando scum!"
"Cut the chatter, Two," Lance Leader barked. "Lance Squadron, form up."
Jaelyn settled her borrowed Aurek Starfighter on the deck of the Courageous' fighter deck and powered down.
"Nice flying, kid." Lieutenant Sendak, leader of Lance Squadron, congratulated her as she descended the ladder. "You're welcome to fly with us anytime." The older woman smiled warmly.
Jaelyn pulled her flight helmet off and returned the smile. "Thank you, I'd like that." Her comlink chirped. "Please excuse me." she stepped into the corridor, away from the noise of the busy deck. "Vallore."
"Jedi Vallore, please join us in briefing room alpha," Karath requested.
"Yes sir, on my way." She started off down the corridor before realizing she had no idea where briefing room alpha was. A feeling of consternation settled into the pit of her stomach as she stood in the corridor scanning the blank grey walls for clues.
"You lost?"
She turned to meet the amused gaze of Lance Two. He had made no secret about his disapproval of her joining the squadron for the battle. She groaned inwardly. "Yes," she could feel her cheeks flaming, "if you could direct me to briefing room alpha I would be grateful."
"Sure thing, kid," he smirked. "I'm headed that direction myself." He directed her back the way she'd come. "So," he broke the awkward silence, nodding at the 'sabers clipped to her belt, "what's a Jedi Padawan doing flying with the Republic Navy?"
"Knight," she corrected him, carefully keeping the annoyance out of her voice. "I was in the area and it looked like you could use the help."
"Knight, huh? Sorry about that. Yeah we've been fighting these stinking Mandalorians over Suurja for six weeks now, 'bout time you Jedi joined the fight."
"Well the Jedi have not officially joined the fight, just a small faction but yes, it's about time."
"I have to admit I wasn't happy about the Captain sticking you in our squadron, a bit pretentious if you ask me, but you can fly that's for sure. Glad to have you."
"Thanks, I think." Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Here we are." Two brought them to a halt outside a closed hatch that looked like every other closed hatch on the immense ship. A small placard on next to the door release declared it to be briefing room alpha.
"I'd better not keep the Captain waiting. Thanks for the escort."
"Anytime. The name's Carth, by the way, Carth Onasi." He extended a hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Jaelyn Vallore." She accepted the handshake. "The pleasure is mine. Thanks again for the navigational help." She keyed open the door and slipped inside. "Sorry I'm late, this is a big ship." She took a seat next to Revan.
"No need to apologize." Karath nodded with approval at her flight suit. "The uniform suits you, Jedi Vallore."
"Thank you, sir."
Karath tapped the control panel embedded in the table in front of him. A hologram sprang forth in the center, the Jebble-Vanquo-Tarnith cordon highlighted. "The Mandalorians have withdrawn back to Flashpoint Station. Citing our most recent intel we have orders to continue patrolling the cordon." He nodded at Revan who cleared her throat.
"I'm putting together a taskforce of Jedi and commandos for the purpose of scouting Onderon and Dxun." She held up a hand to stave off Alek who was opening his mouth to protest. "It's dangerous, I'll not deny it. But it is essential reconnaissance and I am the most qualified to lead the mission."
"Well then I'm coming with you."
"I need you here. With the Republic Navy leaving Suurja establishing an intelligence network here will be critical."
Alek narrowed his eyes. "We'll discuss this later."
"That just leaves you, Jedi Vallore, what direction do you intend to take?" Karath asked.
"Me? I assumed I'd be going with Revan."
Revan smiled. "You're not an apprentice any longer, my friend, you are free to choose your own path."
Jaelyn considered a moment. "I'd like to stay on with Lance Squadron. That is, if you'll have me, Captain."
"Of course! You'll be a great asset, I'm sure. Now, let's get you provisioned and outfitted for your mission, Jedi Revan. You'll depart at 0200 hours."
COURAGEOUS HANGAR
SUURJA
"You'd better be careful," Jaelyn hugged her friend. "I don't think you could've picked a more dangerous mission."
Adon scowled. "Says the girl who volunteered to fly in a fighter squadron on the front lines."
"At least it's not behind enemy lines! Dxun will be crawling with Mandalorians and even though Onderon is still allied with the Republic it could be invaded any day. I'm serious, Adon, be careful."
"Yes, ma'am." He saluted, grinning.
"You be careful too, Greenie." Jaelyn turned to give Keeda a hug. " Suurja is a Republic held world but it's still in the line of fire. Watch your six."
"Same to you, my friend. May the Force be with us."
Across the hangar similar admonitions were being exchanged.
"I don't want to leave like this - with you angry at me." Revan absently twisted the pendant hanging from her slender neck.
"Then don't leave." Alek stood leaning against the Sandpiper.
Revan frowned, glancing around at the busy hanger. Grabbing his hand she pulled him further up the ramp of her modified freighter, out of eyeshot of any curious onlookers. "That's better," she murmured. She slipped the Mandalorian war mask she'd taken to wearing in public from her face and let it clatter to the floor. She slipped her arms around his waist, tilting her head back to look up at him, eyes inviting.
Alek sighed, relenting. "Damn stubborn woman." He leaned down to kiss her. "Happy now?"
"Very," she murmured, standing on tiptoes to kiss him again. She stifled a squeal as he levitated her to even their height difference, and returned her kiss with renewed fervor.
TEMPORARY COMMAND CENTER
SUURJA
2 WEEKS LATER
Alek glanced up from the monitor as Keeda entered the cramped prefab structure housing their command center. "Any word from Ferroh?"
"He has not returned from his meeting with the local militia and I've been unable to raise him on comms."
His brow furrowed in concern. "I don't like it. Check it out but take another Padawan with you and report in at regular intervals."
He watched Keeda duck out before turning back to the comms. Long range transmissions were down, whether from equipment failure or jamming he wasn't certain. He reached inward to clear his head and tried to ignore growing unease in his core as he turned his attention to the diagnostics.
PATROL OPS
JEBBLE-VANQUO-TARNITH LINE
The comm crackled. "Tighten it up, Nine."
Jaelyn could feel her face warming with embarrassment. "Sorry, Lance Leader, adjusting course." She nudged her flight stick and eased her Starfighter back into formation.
The past two weeks had been simultaneously busy and uneventful. They had been flying patrols along the cordon in shifts but had yet to engage the enemy. Scouts reported the Mandalorian fleet was just out of long-range scanner reach but the situation could change at any moment. The starfighters would be the first to report any Mandalorian activity in the cordon but until then it was endless drills and patrols. Though Jaelyn longed to see some action she couldn't complain, flying the new Aurek was a dream come true.
"Lance Leader this is Blue Leader, you're clear to head home."
"Copy that, Blue. Been quiet tonight, don't fall asleep." She switched to Lance Squadron's private frequency. "You heard the man. Head home, tuck your babies in, and hit the hay."
Jaelyn grinned. Lieutenant Sendak's colloquialisms were always a welcome respite from the strain of boredom and tension competing for dominance on these long patrols. She tucked her baby - if you could call the deadly Starfighter a baby - into her assigned berth on the Courageous. She downloaded the flight and sensor data to put in her report later and headed toward the bunk room she shared with three other starfighter pilots.
"Hey Vallore!" Jaelyn turned to see Carth Onasi jogging toward her. "The rest of the squadron is grabbing a bite in the mess if you want to join us."
"You sure you want to be seen with the Jedi brat?"
"I'll take my chances." He slung an arm around her shoulder.
DXUN
The jungle was alive. And steaming. Revan lifted a limp lock of hair, sighing in disgust. She pulled her hair back and twisted a leather tie around it, cursing the humidity. The cry of a cannock came from her left. Ignoring it, she continued her silent trek toward the energy signatures. Working in pairs they had mapped out the Eastern quadrant of the small moon. The data they'd been collecting would prove invaluable to the war effort. She slowed the pace as they crept up on what appeared to be a training camp. Revan took a small holorecorder from her pack and began recording. The Republic soldier beside her noted the location and size of the camp on their map. Satisfied with their documentation they stowed their gear and stole silently into the underbrush.
Revan's team was the last to check back in at camp. "That wraps up our mapping in this quadrant. Well done, people. Tomorrow we'll begin in the south quad. Same teams, same pattern. Any questions?" She glanced around the small campfire at the soldiers and Jedi sharing rations. The soldiers in jungle camouflage light armor contrasted sharply with the Padawans and Knights in their earth toned robes. Over the past couple weeks they'd overcome their initial reservations and were working as a cohesive unit. "Get some sleep. We'll head out at 0500."
SUURJA
ONE MONTH LATER
That bit of unease had grown into full blown dread. They hadn't heard of Ferroh in almost a month. His contacts could offer no insight into where he might've gone. Short range comms were down now and Alek was positive they were being jammed. The shuttle the fleet left behind for them was mysteriously disabled beyond repair. Or at least beyond their skills. Jae probably could've fixed it, Alek thought. The fleet was in a neighboring star system but without long range comms he had no way of contacting them. "Damn it!" he slammed his hands on the durasteel desktop. "How can no one have seen him in almost four weeks? He's the only fracking Cathar on the planet!"
"There's more, sir," Keeda said. "Foust, William, and the remaining soldiers are missing as well. They went to procure supplies in the village and haven't returned." Her bulbous eyes were shiny with anxiety.
"You don't think the natives have turned on us?"
"I can't imagine why!"
"Well someone took them. The same someone that disabled our shuttle and is jamming our comms. What in Force sake is going on?" He strode toward the door of the command center and ducked through the opening. Keeda had to trot to keep up with his long strides.
"Where are we going, sir?"
"To find our friends." Alek paused at the perimeter of their camp.
"What is it?" Keeda asked.
"Something's off. I sense-" at that moment twelve Mandalorian warriors shimmered into view, their stealth generators deactivating. "Frack."
REFUELING STATION
JEBBLE-VANQUO-TARNITH LINE
Jaelyn eyed the refueling station. She hated mid-flight refuels but this was a long patrol and the squadron was running on fumes. Seven was just detaching from the nozzle. Her turn. She nudged her stick to come along side the tanker orbiting Tarnith. The fuel nozzle was undulating gently. It reminded her of the headtails of an exotic Twilek dancer. Jaelyn grinned, not sure where the comparison had come from as she'd never seen an exotic dance in her admittedly sheltered life. Been hanging around those crude flyboys too much, she thought. Banishing thoughts of undulating headtails from her mind she extended her fueling arm to meet the nozzle. It sealed with a soft whooshing sound and the fuel began to flow. She watched her gauge as it slowly crept back into green. Sitting still, tethered to what was essentially a floating bomb unnerved her and she had to forcibly still her tapping fingers. Breathing a sigh of relief she crept forward to kink the line, signaling the nozzle to stop the flow and release the seal. She had just started easing her ship out of formation when she was rocked by an explosion. A piece of debris slammed into the rear of her ship. There was a heartbeat of terrifying silence before her comms burst to life.
"We lost six!"
"What happened?"
"The line's cut!"
"Frack! Hold it steady eight, I'm going to come alongside you."
"No! Stay back two, that fuel's going to ignite any second."
Sendak's voice cut through the panic. "Get yourselves a safe distance away. That's an order, Onasi." She added when two didn't break off. She opened comms to the Courageous. "Courageous this is Lance Leader. We have a situation at the refill station in orbit around Tarnith. We need a pickup and some angels." She toggled back to in squad comms. "Talk to me, eight. How bad is it?"
"I've lost steering and propulsion. My bird is dead in the water."
"Let's get you away from that tanker. Looks to blow any second. I'm gonna come along side and nudge you, okay? It may get a little rough but we're going to get out of this. Two, you're in command while I'm towing eight. Check in and make sure no one else sustained damage."
"What about six?" Carth's voice was steady but strained.
"Nothing we can do now. The angels will take care of him when they arrive."
"Got it. Be careful out there, ma'am."
"Always am." Sendak had eased up next to eight during the exchange. "Okay eight, let's get you out of here."
"Lance squadron check in and report damage." Carth ordered.
"Three, fully functional."
"Four, damage to right thruster. Reduced mobility but I can handle it."
"Five, no damage."
There was a poignant pause before Seven's voice came over the comm. "Seven, minor damage, maneuvering not affected."
"Nine, both maneuvering thrusters damaged but I have some control. Still too close to this tanker but working on it." Jaelyn gritted her teeth, practically willing her ship to respond. She felt a flash of anxiety about landing the sluggish ship in the Courageous' crowded hangar but forced herself to focus on the task at hand. Get some distance between herself and the tanker then worry about how she was going to land this dying bird.
Carth whistled when her ship came into view from the other side of the tanker. The entire rear of her fighter appeared to be demolished and she was obviously fighting for control. He marveled that she was able to coax any maneuverability out of the wounded fighter. "Doing good, kid, just keep her moving."
The Courageous dropped out of hyperspace and immediately deployed emergency vessels. "Angels here. Situation?"
"Acting squad leader Onasi here. The crew of that tanker need to be extracted before it blows. We haven't been able to raise them on comms so don't know what you're walking into. We have a dead bird but the pilot is alive. Sendak is towing him out. He'll need extraction once they've reached a safe distance. We have another dead bird but pilot is unresponsive. Remaining birds are confident they can land."
"Copy that, Onasi. Deploying crews to the tanker and your dead birds. Get the rest of your squad home. Angels out."
"You heard him," Carth said. "Get yourselves home and head to medical. I want everyone checked out, no excuses. Nine, you're still too close. I'm coming in to give you a shove."
"I'm fine, almost to the edge of the blast radius." Jaelyn said through clenched teeth. She glanced at her readouts. "Estimating 90 seconds until completely clear." She urged a burst from the damaged engines as another explosion rocked her ship.
ONDERON
"Here, put these on." Revan tossed civilian clothes at her team members. "And for Force sake don't act like soldiers. Or Jedi. Mandalore is sure to have spies here so stay with your partner and blend in. Gather intel but stay safe. Bellarke and I are meeting with the leader of the Onderon Defense Force. We'll see you all back on the Piper in six days. May the Force be with us."
A/N: Hey! Another chapter down just a million more to go. This is my first completely new chapter - not a rewrite so it took a lot longer. Good news is I have chapter 5 done. Bad news is I want to stay at least a chapter ahead so that I can go back and edit into oblivion if needed so I won't be uploading it any time soon. Reviews are appreciated of course - it's always nice to feel loved - but I'm writing this story for myself so I'm not going to beg ;)
