Chapter 12: The Commenor Job
Hera was having a difficult time concentrating on her next task. She was in the Ghost's cockpit, looking over a list of potential recruits that General Rieekan had sent. He was hopeful that she would be able to convince some of them, but Hera's recent record wasn't so good of late. She had recruited Cara Dune, Dr. Carter Rolanga, Clone Wars veteran Kat, and the Exiles. But the Exiles had left the Rebellion taking Dr. Rolanga and Miss. Dune with them. They even took Rex with them, which meant that Hera had technically lost a Rebel. All she had was the female clone Kat who was under the Emperor's mind control to kill Jedi and the former politician Sel Pamma who was still floating in a bacta tank.
The door to the Ghost's cockpit opened, and Zeb walked in. "Still going over that list."
"Yeah," said Hera. "No one is jumping out to me. I suppose we will just have to pick one and give 'em a try."
"So, we're getting ready to leave?" asked Zeb.
"No point in staying here," said Hera. The Ghost was still docked with the Redemption, the Rebellion's medical frigate. "The Rebellion will take care of Sel Pamma. Whether she wishes to join the Rebellion or find the Exiles again is up to her."
"And Kat?" asked Zeb.
"Kat is none of my concern," replied Hera bitterly. "So, you see, there is no reason to stay with the Redemption."
"There might be one reason," said Kallus, who had just entered the cockpit. "A shuttle just dropped off Princess Leia Organa. And she wishes to speak with you."
Hera wasn't pleased with the prospect. While she would enjoy working with the daughter of her old ally, Hera's mission had been a failure, and she wasn't looking forward to telling that to the Princess. "Inform the Princess that I will be on the Redemption in just a few minutes."
Princess Leia Organa was in the Redemption's Intensive Care Unit. The Chandrilan woman was still floating in the bacta tank. Her wound looked like it had been very serious. But now it was almost completely healed.
"Princess," came a voice from behind Leia.
Leia turned around "General Syndulla, I was hoping to speak with you."
"I see you've met Sel Pamma," said the Twi'lek general. "Sort of."
"I've met her once before," said Leia. "Back when she worked as an aid for then Senator Mon Mothma. We were introduced but nothing more."
"I think she regrets not following Mon Mothma into the Rebellion."
"Perhaps now she will have the chance," said Leia.
"Perhaps," replied Syndulla unconvincingly. "The crew she belongs with has decided against joining the Rebellion. She might decide to rejoin them once she is on the mend."
Leia nodded her agreement. "I still have hope that the Exiles will join the Rebellion. Some people take longer to come around than others." Leia thought about Han Solo. It hadn't been easy to convince him to join. "But this is not what I was hoping to discuss with you," said Leia. "May we go somewhere more private?"
"Of course. This way, Princess." Syndulla led her to a sitting room designed for those close to a patient. Leia realized that many somber conversations about the life and death of loved ones took place in this room. "What do you wish to speak with me about?" asked Syndulla. "Do you have more ideas for recruits?"
"No, I wanted to speak with you about another patient here. The one who attacked the fighter pilot."
"Oh," said Syndulla, and Leia could tell this was not the general's favorite topic. "She was a recruit that one of my crew members brought in, a veteran of the Clone Wars like him."
"Who was this crew member?"
"Captain Rex. He is a clone from the Grand Army of the Republic, as is the woman you're asking about. Her name is Kat. Her birth number FC-011. She is one of the rare female clones accidently produced by the clone masters."
Leia resisted a shiver. Her father had told her about the clones; about their loyalty, about their heroics, and about their final betrayal of the Jedi. Leia asked the question even though she already suspected the answer. "Why did she try to kill Luke Skywalker?"
"Because," Syndulla stopped. "I'm not sure I should tell you, Princess. I mean no insubordination, but there is sensitive information that shouldn't become common knowledge."
"I am not a commoner," said Leia. "My father entrusted several powerful secrets to me." Leia realized that both she and General Syndulla were dancing around the topic not knowing what the other already knew. But Leia remembered that two of Syndulla's former crew were Force wielders, so she decided to try. "I learned secrets about the clones and…" Leia lowered her voice. "…about the Jedi."
General Syndulla's head snapped up and her lekku twitched. Leia had said the right thing. "I know a bit about Luke Skywalker's heritage," continued Leia. "That why the clone woman attacked him, isn't it?"
Syndulla nodded. "Yes, the clones were programmed to kill the…" Syndulla stopped short, as if she was afraid of the word 'Jedi.' "Each one had a chip implanted in their heads from fetal stage. These chips forced them to do the Emperor's bidding. Rex had his chip removed, as did a few other clones I know. But Kat still has hers, and she's been activated."
Leia recalled the story her father told her about the night he witnessed clones attacking the Jedi Temple. To be betrayed by such a close ally… "Why did Lady Neeyutnee want an atomic level brain scanner?"
This time Syndulla did nothing to hide her distain. "Such equipment might be able to detect the chip in Kat's head. Then it could be surgically removed."
"That sounds good," said Leia. "As did the rest of the medical supplies we could have gained. Why did you veto the mission?"
"It wasn't well thought out," said Syndulla.
"Neither was the time you stole those cruisers from me on Lothal," said Leia.
"That was different," said Syndulla. "We were desperate. We had just lost so many ships on Garel. We needed those cruisers."
"And now we've just lost our base," said Leia. "We are trying to refit this frigate into a hospital ship to supply our medical needs until we find a new base. How is our current situation different from that day on Lothal?"
"The two situations are hardly comparable," said Syndulla. But Leia knew there was something else. Leia could almost sense it. It was a natural gift she had, the ability to read people. Her father used to say that it was a good skill for a diplomate, but at times it seemed to startle him. It certainly didn't take her long to understand Luke Skywalker and to empathically share his grief over the death of Obi-wan Kenobi. She could even detect the good nature in Han Solo, although he gave her plenty reasons to doubt it. But she had been right in the end. There was more to him than money. And now she could sense that there was something more going on with Hera Syndulla than the woman was letting on.
"The plan had flaws," said Leia. "But those flaws could have been mended. What is the real reason you vetoed the plan?"
Hera Syndulla took a deep breath. "You said you know of Luke Skywalker's heritage?"
"Yes. He told me himself."
"You also met two of my companions back on Lothal, Kanan and Ezra."
"Yes, I was deeply saddened by news of their deaths. I saw them in action. They were incredible."
Hera Syndulla took a long pause before finally saying. "My son, Jacen, Kanan is his father. He is the son of a Jedi; just like Skywalker."
Now Leia understood. The woman before Leia was not just a Rebel general, she was a mother. And that mother was scared. "You fear that your son might be in danger."
"My son is in danger," said Hera definitively. "There is no question about that. From the moment Kanan revealed himself as a Jedi, he and Ezra were hunted. The ISB, the inquisitors, Tarkin, Thrawn, even Vader himself." Leia shuddered. She had been with Vader. He had interrogated her. She wouldn't wish that man on her worse enemy, except perhaps the Emperor himself.
Syndulla continued. "I don't want what happened to Kanan to happen to Jacen or to Skywalker for that matter. You don't know the lengths the Empire will go to eliminate the Jedi and all those associated with them."
Leia nodded. That's why Obi-Wan Kenobi had stayed so hidden, and why he seemed to have shadowed Luke. "The clone trooper, Kat, she's a danger to you son."
"Yes," said Syndulla.
"But Rex and the Exiles want to free Kat from the Emperor's influence. Wouldn't you support such a plan?"
Syndulla had no words. She was in thought. Finally, she said. "It's too late now. For the plan to work we would need the Exiles' slicer, Katrina. But they are gone. Deciding to do it all themselves."
"Sounds like another Rebel cell I once heard of. A lot like the one that singlehandedly destroyed Tarkin's Star Destroyer or liberated Lothal all on their own." Leia smiled as she used Syndulla's own reputation against her. "Have some hope. The Empire is constantly underestimating us. Perhaps the Exiles will succeed."
Syndulla nodded her head. "I hope they do."
The Imperial troop transport rammed into the rear of the cargo hauler. Carter grabbed a hold of the two wounded Gungans lying in the cargo bed. "I'm trying to stabilize these two!" shouted Carter to Wolffe. "A little less bumping would be nice."
"Just be glad they're not shooting at us," said Wolffe from the pilot's chair. "They seem to want us alive."
Katrina shouted out. "Just because they're not shooting, doesn't mean I won't!" She knelt on the passenger seat facing the rear of the cargo hauler. With her right hand she grabbed the seat's headrest, and with her left hand she fired her blaster. But even Carter's limited weapons knowledge told him that her blaster pistol would do next to nothing to the three armored troop transports pursuing them. "Can't you outrun these things?"
"Nah, they're faster than us," explained Woffle. "We will have to find a way to shake them."
"I don't like the word 'shake' right now," said Carter as he tried to apply a bacta spray to one of the wounded Gungans.
"Sorry, Doc. But it's the only way we can get to our ship without the Imperials stopping us," said Wolffe.
"Speaking of our ship." Carter saw Katrina grab her commlink. "Nonnah, have you gotten rid of the Imperials?"
How was he supposed to 'get rid' of the Imperials? Rike Kleiner grabbed his commlink and replied, "No, not yet."
"Would the occupant of this starship exit immediately with hands up!" said an Imperial stormtrooper. There were four of them outside the Nonnah. Rike had tried to hide on board, hoping they would just pass him by. But that clearly wasn't working. "Come out now, or we will board."
Rike hit the button to lower the ramp. He checked his blaster pistol before changing his mind and setting it in a nook at the top of the ramp. He proceeded down the ramp unarmed and with his hands up. It was time for some fancy talk.
"Hold it right there," said one of the stormtroopers. He kept his weapon pointed at Rike while he nodded to one of his companions. The other trooper searched him for weapons but found none. The lead trooper, with blaster still pointed at Rike, asked, "Why didn't you come out immediately upon our demands?"
"I am so sorry, officer," said Rike, trying to sound nonchalant. "You caught me in the refresher. So embarrassing. Can I lower my hands?"
"No!" barked the trooper.
"This is really tiring."
"I said, 'No.'"
"Okay, okay." Rike allowed a little of his fear to enter his voice. "What seems to be the problem, officer?"
"This ship is suspected of Rebel activity."
"What? My ship? No, that can't be right."
"What is the name of this ship?"
"This is the Bulky Wagon," replied Rike in a proud voice. Then he added with a jingle, "If you need to haul, the Bulky Wagon is the one you call."
Rike was fairly certain the stormtrooper rolled his eyes under his helmet. That was good. If the stormtrooper really believed this was a Rebel ship, he would have boarded it already. This might work.
"We need to see your ship's registration and activity log for the past two standard months."
"Oh? I see. Um. Well," Rike stalled. "All that information would be on board. I'll just go get it and bring it back." Katrina kept a fake registration on board for just this kind of thing. But she had not prepared a fake activity log. The Nonnah's real log of course had been erased. But without a dummy log, the Imperials would be suspicious.
Rike turned to walk back up the ramp. If he could get back inside… "Wait, we are coming with," said the lead stormtrooper. One stormtrooper went first, while another stayed at the base of the ramp.
Rike cringed when he remembered the blaster at the top of the ramp. "Sir, a weapon!" said the trooper in front of Rike.
"It's a self-defense weapon," said Rike. "You never know who is stopping by. Once I realized you were the authorities, I left it behind. I didn't want to startle anyone."
"Keep the weapon, and move on," said ordered the commanding trooper. The stormtrooper put the blaster pistol into his hostler and continued.
They came to the common room. "The registration is in the cockpit. The activity log can be downloaded from there as well," said Rike. The leader ordered one of the troopers to the cockpit. Rike took the opportunity to sit in one of the chairs. The troopers were alarmed at this, but Rike played it off like no big deal. "Make yourselves comfortable. All the amenities of my ship are at the Empire's disposal."
Sometimes it paid to have paranoid crewmates that used to be a queen and her bodyguard. Naboo sure had its strange customs when it came to protecting their monarch, but today those would pay off. Rike pushed two hidden buttons in the chair he was sitting in. The first activated a tiny explosive charge near the ship's ramp. It wasn't big enough to damage anything, but it was a convenient distraction.
The second button opened a hidden compartment with two short-barreled versions of Chanla and Katrina's silver blasters. Rike grabbed one and shot the lead trooper first then the other in the common room. The blasters made its "who'amp" noise and the green bolts had no problem burning through the troopers' armor. Rike jumped over the back of the chair and hid behind it. Just as he hoped the stormtrooper guarding the ramp ran up into the room. Rike shot the trooper before he could locate him.
The stormtrooper in the cockpit came out firing. Rike lay flat on the deck and slid out from the side of the chair, shooting at the trooper. The trooper fell down with a burning hole in his armor.
Rike checked each trooper to make sure they were dead. Then he looked around the common room. The chair he hid behind was scorched and there was carbon scoring on the wall behind him. He looked down at the lead trooper. "Look what you did to the Bulky Wagon."
"Imperial inspection team taken care of," said Rike Kleiner's voice through the commlink. "But it's only a matter of time before the they miss their check in and the Empire finds the Nonnah."
"Every minute helps," said Katrina's voice over the commlink.
"Not if we can't shack these Imperial transporters," said Rex as he flew the cargo hauler.
Cara agreed. She leaned over the side of the cargo hauler from her place in the front. She fired her blaster pistol as the transport, but all it did was make a tiny scorch mark. "Next time, I want a bigger gun!" she shouted. "If there is a next time."
"Oh, there will be a next time, if I have to say about it," said Rex with a determination that made Cara uncomfortable. "Wolffe, we're going to take the next left. Make sure one of those transports gets between us. A little pinch and slam maneuver."
"What does that mean?" asked Cara. She couldn't understand this Clone War jargon.
"It means you sit down and hold on."
"I'm on, brother," said Wolffe. He watched as Rex made a nice tight left turn. Wolffe followed closely but allow the cargo hauler to drift too far to the right. It skipped off the right wall of the alley, and Wolffe exaggerated the bounce. Dr. Rolanga shouted at him, but Wolffe needed to focus. He slowed the cargo hauler, feigning damage. The pilot of the lead troop transport couldn't resist the opportunity to pull alongside of Wolffe. Wolffe slowed even more dramatically, sweep behind the transport, and rammed it from behind.
At the same time Rex would be slowing his cargo hauler and pinning the transport between the two of them. Wolffe felt the additional resistance as he continued to push the troop transport.
"Alright, Wolffe," came Rex's voice. "I push left, you push right."
"Copy that, Captain," said Wolffe. He directed his cargo hauler to the rear left bumper of the troop transport. "In position."
"Now!" ordered Rex, and Wolffe accelerated into enemy transports rear right bumper, while Rex was on the opposite corner slowed in front of the transporter's front left bumper. The result was the troop transport being thrown into a counterclockwise spin. Wolffe punch the throttle wide open and slipped past the spinning transport and was behind Rex again.
Katrina jumped up from her chair and looked behind them. Wolffe asked, "How'd it work?"
"Brilliantly. The transport is rolling. The other two slammed into it. It's blocking the alley."
"Mission accomplished, Rex. Let's get out of here."
Chanla's strange dreamless sleep gave way to a headache and motion sickness. The loud grinding of metal and smashing of vehicles woke her up. She tried to sit up, but whatever vehicle she was on was swaying from side to side. Did the Imperials always drive so crazy? Why did she think the Imperials were driving? Then she remembered being stunned. She must be the Empire's prisoner.
Chanla tried again to sit up. A hand pressed on her shoulder. "Easy there, Chalna. Take your time."
"Dr. Rolanga?" asked Chanla as her vision finally came into focus. The doctor was indeed there. And Chanla could see the tops of buildings flying by. She was in one of the cargo haulers. She wasn't a prisoner!
"Take it easy. It will take a minute or two for the stun effects to wear off," said the doctor.
Chanla tried a third time to sit up, this time succeeding. "What did I miss?"
"We managed to get away from the storehouse and shake the Imperial pursuers. But we have to get to the Nonnah before the Empire does."
Chanla bumped her leg against something. She looked and found one of the Gungans laying unmoving beside her. "Neku?"
"He's hurt," said Carter. "I think I can stabilize him once we get to the Nonnah. Our other casualty is not as bad."
Another Gungan on the other side of Neku spoke. "We'sa happy to be seeing you alive, Lady Neeyutnee."
"I am glad to see you as well."
Blaster fire shot over their heads. Carter jumped on top of Chanla and Neku, shielding them as best as he could. "Stay down."
"What is it?"
"Speeder bikes."
Chanla pivoted her head and saw Katrina firing her blaster. She ducked as a large red blaster bolt came near. She fired again. Chanla heard an explosion and saw a smile on Katrina's face. "One down!" she said.
The fight continued until Chanla heard an explosion much nearer. The cargo hauler shook violently, and Chanla felt her body briefly rise off the cargo bed. Wolffe swore. "We lose our port side engine!"
There were four speeder bikes, until someone from the other cargo hauler shot one. One of the Gungans on Cara's hauler got a second. Cara tried firing, but from her position in the front of Rex's hauler she couldn't hit one.
She looked behind again when she heard an explosion; "Rex! Wolffe's hauler is hit. I think they lost their left engine."
Rex looked over his shoulder. "That tears it!" Rex grabbed the throttle level. "Hold on!" Cara watched Rex throw it in reverse. Cara grabbed the handlebar in front of her as the cargo hauler slowed drastically. She saw Wolffe's hauler speed in front of them. She heard a clanking noise. "On your right!" shouted Rex. Cara looked and saw a speeder bike with its scout trooper right beside them. Cara grabbed her pistol and fired at him before he could react. She hit the scout trooper in the shoulder. He fell off his mount, and the bike crashed without its rider. "Nice shooting."
"Where's the last one?"
"I think I hit him," said Rex as he punched up the throttle.
"Rex," said Wolffe over commlink. "We're not going to make it on one engine."
"Oh yes you are, Wolffe. You just need a little push."
Cara heard a noise behind her. She looked back and couldn't believe her eyes. There in the midst of the medical equipment was a scout trooper with his white visored helmet. He must have jumped on board when Rex rammed his speeder bike. "We've got a hitchhiker," said Cara. Cara jumped into the cargo bed and began navigating the pile of medical supplies. "I'll deal with him."
"No, Cara, wait!" shouted Rex.
Cara looked back at Rex just in time to see why Rex was warning her. Rex rammed the cargo hauler in front of them. Cara was jarred by the impact and fell into a pile of medical tools. She didn't realize when Rex wanted to push Wolffe that he meant it literally. Cara had lost her grip on her blaster pistol. Cara tried to grab it, but it fell over the side of the hauler's railing and out into the street.
The scout trooper had seen the whole thing. Even with the helmet Cara could tell that he had a smug smile. He reached for his holdout blaster in his ankle holster, but he came up with an empty hand. Cara looked down at the ankle holster. There was no blaster. Her opponent was also unarmed. Now it was Cara's turn to reveal a smug smile. The troopers body language no longer seemed happy as Cara slammed her right fist into her left hand. "Time for some fun."
The scout trooper took his defensive position. But scout troopers were not chosen for their hand-to-hand combat but their skills as riders. Cara came towards him. Neither opponent had good footing as they stumbled amongst the piled medical supplies while the cargo hauler was still moving. The scout trooper got the advantage of high ground first as he climbed onto a bacta tank sitting on its side. Cara got her feet under her and launched herself into the air, her arms spread out like some arboreal feline jumping down upon her prey. Since she was jumping opposite of the forward movement of the cargo hauler her jump had an almost supernatural power to it. And she was set to crash right into the scout trooper.
To his credit, the scout trooper redirected Cara's flying tiger jump behind him, but Cara grabbed his belt and shoulder pad and pulled him with her. Both of them fell into the medical supplies. The scout trooper landed on top of Cara, but she didn't waste her time. Cara delivered a right hook to the trooper's helmet and a left jab under his chin. Both blows knocked him back, and they felt good on Cara's gloved fists.
With the scout trooper pushed off her, Cara got to feet. She tried a roundhouse kick. But without stable footing it failed. The scout trooper took advantage and moved towards her. While she was still unbalanced, he attacked with a jab from his armored left elbow, which knocked Cara on her rear, followed by a right hook to Cara's face.
The blow knocked Cara to the side. She spilt out a bit of blood. Cara laughed and turned back towards the scout trooper. If he was fazed by Cara's macabre sense of humor, he didn't show it. He came forward quickly, and Cara let him. He led with a predictable right hook, but Cara blocked it with her left arm. Grabbing his shoulder pad with her left hand, Cara pulled him towards her while at the same jabbing forward with her right. Her fist went through his helmet's visor. He shouted in surprise and fell backwards near the right edge of the cargo hauler. He caught the hauler's side railing and desperately brushed the broken transparent material away from his eyes. By the time Cara got to him he had cleared the material, and Cara could clearly see his left eye through the hole in his helmet.
Now Cara was in charge and the scout trooper desperate. She attacked his gut which was armored, but she waited for the inevitable right hook. Finally, he tried it. Cara caught it with her left forearm. She brought her right forearm behind his arm, then with both arms bend his right arm unnaturally back until she heard the pop of his bones. He screamed in pain.
Cara thrusted hard with her left hand against his chest plate, pushing him against the cargo hauler's railing. At the same time, she ducked and grabbed the back of his right knee with her right hand. She pushed his chest, lifted his knee, and flipped him right off the side of the cargo hauler. She could hear the squeaking sound his armor made as he hit the street. And the cargo hauler left him behind.
Cara heard a new sound and turned towards it. But instead of another scout trooper it was one of the Gungans from the rear of the hauler coming to help her. He stood there in amazement as she wiped the blood off her flat lip. The Gungan commented, "Yousa bombad."
"Damn right."
The Assailant exited hyperspace near Commenor. Commander Bowmen could see the heavy commercial traffic. Bowmen always took a little pleasure in watching commercial traffic react to the large warship that was an Imperial Star Destroyer. But Bowmen didn't have time to waste on such a superfluous indulgence.
Bowmen issued orders to his bridge officers. "Agent Aargant, ascertain the status on the ground. Helm, move the Assailant into the designated position. Put this ship into full combat alert. Inform the engine room to ready themselves for pursuit speeds. Agent Aargant?"
"Commander, the Imperial garrison on Commenor is at full alert. They were unable to trap the Rebels at the storehouse, and they allowed the Rebel to lead them on a chase through the city and still lost them. They have the location of the Rebel ship narrowed down. They hope to prevent the Rebels from leaving the planet. I hope they can, but I wouldn't count on that."
"I'm not counting on them either. When you're a Star Destroyer captain you don't just hope someone else will do your job for you," said Bowmen. "Launch TIE Squadrons Two and Four."
"You're launching your TIE Interceptors," noted Aargant. Squadrons Two and Three were just regular TIE Fighters, but Squadrons Four and Five were the faster, better armed, four-winged TIE Interceptors. Bowmen had lost Squadron One in the previous encounter when the Rebels surprised him with X-wings. Bowmen was not surprised that the ISB agent knew the Assailant's complement of fighters.
"I don't the same mistake twice, Agent Aagant," said Bowmen. Rather than explain further, Bowmen issued orders to the fighters. "Squadron Two, stay in high orbit and prepare to attack the designated target. Squadron Four, hang back. Your job will be to take out any Rebel fighters that may provide escort."
Aargant nodded his approval. Bowmen swallowed his annoyance with the arrogant ISB agent. If the man could give results that benefited the Empire (and Bowmen himself), then Bowmen could put up with a bit of smugness.
Bowmen looked down at the planet. This time he would not underestimate the Rebels.
Rex slowed down and let Wolffe guide his cargo hauler into the landing bay under its own power. Pushing the damaged vessel wasn't easy for Rex, but it was probably harder for Wolffe to steer it when being pushed from behind. As Rex prepared his own entry into the landing bay, he took one last look around. There were no Imperials in sight. But that wouldn't last long. They couldn't fail to notice two banged up cargo haulers enter the spaceport.
Rex brought his cargo hauler to a halt as close as he could to the Nonnah. Dr. Rolanga was already moving. He and another Gungan were helping the wounded Gungans on to the Nonnah. A dazed Chanla stood next to the cargo hauler. She was reaching for some of the medical supplies, but Rex stopped her. "Chanla, you're in no shape to help here."
"I can stand, which means I can help," replied the former Naboo queen.
"You're still faint from the stun blast," retorted Rex. "You wouldn't do us any good if you drop some valuable medical supplies. Get on the Nonnah and help Rike Kleiner get ready for takeoff." Chanla was still hesitant. "Or help organize the cargo hold. Go!"
Chanla finally listened and stumbled up the Nonnah's ramp. Rex turned and gave orders. "Quilow, you and one other Gungan guard the entrances to the landing bay. Everyone else, let's move this equipment."
They moved quickly. Rex, Wolffe, Katrina, and Cara plus the other Gungans began carrying the stolen items into the ship. But it still felt too long. Everyone second felt like a minute. The Empire would be here any second.
The first item they loaded was the atomic level scanner. It was the first to be loaded on to Wolffe's cargo hauler, thus they had to unload various other items first. It probably wasn't a good idea and a waste of time, but it was what Rex had primarily come for. His sister's life depended on it. It took four of them to move it, but they got it into the cargo hold of the Nonnah.
They had emptied Wolffe's cargo hauler and were halfway through Rex's when the stormtroopers arrived. Rex ordered all the Gungans to defend while he, Wolffe, Katrina, and Cara continued to unload. Rex kept turning back to the battle. Every instinct told him to fight, but he had to finish his job. He could tell Wolffe felt the same, and every time Cara's hands were empty, she had her fists clenched.
When they finished, Rex turned back to the Wolffe and the women. "We have to cover the Gungan's retreat. Grab your blasters and follow me."
"I don't have a blaster," said Cara. "I lost mine."
"Then head back to the Nonnah," ordered Rex. "Wolffe and Katrina, come with me."
"I'm on your six, Captain" said Wolffe.
They took cover behind Wolffe's cargo hauler. Rex spoke into his commlink. "Quilow, the Nonnah's loaded. It's time to leave. We will cover your retreat." The Gungan responded with simply a chirp of the comm. Rex took aim with both his pistols.
The Gungans in two teams of three made their retreat. After them came the stormtroopers. Rex fired both his blaster pistols. Soon the Gungans were passed Rex and running up the ramp. "Our turn," said Rex. Walking backwards and still firing, Rex, Wolffe, and Katrina made their way to the Nonnah.
As they neared, a bunch of stormtroopers charged at once. It was too many for the three of them to stopped. They would be overwhelmed in seconds. But then a pair of cannon blasts came from behind Rex and hit the group of Imperials. The Nonnah's belly gun had open fired. "Come on!" shouted Katrina, and all three of them ran up the ramp, while the Nonnah fire three more times.
Chanla closed the ramp just as they got on board, and Rex could feel the ship lift off the ground. Chanla now issued the orders. "Quilow, get your best gunners in position. Katrina, help Rike in the cockpit. Everyone else, we need to secure the cargo."
As Rex went about his orders, he saw Cara climb up a ladder from the gun turret below. "Told you I wanted a bigger gun."
"Imperial garrison reports Rebel freighter making for orbit," said one of the bridge crew. He sent Bowmen an image to confirm. "Local TIEs are being sent to pursue."
"That's not the Ghost," said Aargant in a disappointed voice. "That's the other freighter."
"I don't care which freighter it is," said Bowmen. "And I have no intention of leaving this mission to local TIEs." Bowmen spoke in his order issuing voice. "Squadron Two, I am giving you your target. Attack immediately. I want it disarmed and damaged. Comm, convey my orders to the local TIEs. I want that freighter intact. Helm, get this ship ready to move. Tractor beams, stand by."
Rike got the Nonnah in the air and pushed its throttle wide open. He was making for orbit then for deep space and hyperspace as quickly as possible.
Katrina joined him. "Nav-computer has been preset. Get on your heading."
"What do you think I am doing?"
"I see you had company," said Katrina, clearly referencing the dead stormtroopers inside the Nonnah.
"I'm a little too busy for storytelling." Rike navigated his ship illegally through Commenor's many shipping lanes.
A beeping noise issued. Katrina looked at it. "Indeed, too busy. Four TIEs incoming."
Quilow's voice came through the internal comm. "We'sa ready."
"We're going to jump them," said Rike. He looked at his sensor scopes. "In three, two, one." Rike jammed his yoke to the right and tipped the Nonnah's starboard side down. This allowed for both topside cannons to fire on the TIEs. The maneuver caught the TIEs off guard, which told Rike they were poorly trained. Two of the four blew up.
The Nonnah continued its climb out of the atmosphere. The remaining two TIEs were held at bay by the Nonnah's cannons. Just as the clouds cleared and the star-filled black of space came into view, another beeping sounded. Again, Katrina checked it while Rike focused on piloting.
"We have…Oh no."
"What is it, Katrina?" Rike looked at the scopes himself. He saw a full twelve fighter squadron of TIEs coming. "Oh, that."
"Not the TIEs," said Katrina. "The Star Destroyer." She pointed at the scope. It was a Star Destroyer alright. And it was not passively staying back. It was approaching them at pursuit speeds. "We're in trouble," said Katrina. "This isn't a coincidence. They are here for us."
"How do you know? Never mind! You can tell me all about it if we survive this."
The next way of TIEs arrived, and they were pristine Navy TIEs with well-trained pilots at the yoke. Rike tried the rock the Nonnah left and right to avoid the TIEs, but they stayed on target. They flew in pairs, close enough to each other to concentrate their fire, but far enough apart to make them more difficult targets. Rike noticed the Gungans get another kill, but with so many fighters could they really keep up.
The Nonnah took another hit. Chanla entered the cockpit along with Rex. "Status?" asked the former queen.
Rike answered, "The shields have absorbed the hits, but they won't for much longer. They are already down to 53%."
"We're up against a full squadron of TIE Fighters," added Katrina. "And there's another squadron of TIE Interceptors shadowing us." Rike looked at the scopes. He hadn't noticed the Interceptors. "But that's not the worse. The Star Destroyer, it's the Assailant."
"The Assailant?" asked Rex.
"Yes, the same Star Destroyer whose communication we intercepted that led us to Carter and to the Ghost. The same one that came late to the party at Chandrila and jumped us at Palimina. Kallus told me we were being hunted. He was right."
"Hate to break up theory time," said Rike. "But that Star Destroyer is almost on top of us." Rike pointed to the scopes. The Star Destroyer, easily the largest vessel in the area, loomed over all else. Smaller freighters and transports were scrambling to get out of its way, as it charged forward towards the Nonnah.
"Can you make it into hyperspace before they grab us in a tractor beam?" asked Chanla.
"I think so," said Rike. "As long as those TIEs…" The Nonnah shook violently as a pair of TIEs hit it. They passed in front of the Nonnah and one of them was shot by the top right turret. But that only made three destroyed fighters with nine more out there to do damage. "Shields are down to 11%, we are beginning to take damage. Just a bit further to clear the gravity well."
Rike tried to project confidence, but he knew they were in trouble. Another salvo from the fighters hit. The control yoke vibrated in Rike's hands. "Shields failing. Bad hit on the starboard side." Rike looked closer at the damage and saw the top starboard turret was hit. "The right turret is hit! Get that Gungan out of there!" shouted Rike over the comm.
Another pair of TIEs hit the turret and it exploded. "Did you get him?" shouted Chanla.
"We got him just in time," said a voice over the comm. Rike only knew that voice belonged to the clone trooper Wolffe because Rex was here in the cockpit with him.
"The TIEs are targeting our cannons," said Rike. "Quilow, get your men out of there. We are almost ready to jump to hyperspace."
"The freighter is almost clear for hyperspace!" said Aargant in a voice too loud for proper bridge etiquette. "If we don't stop them soon, they will escape!"
"I am well aware of the situation, Agent Aargant," said Bowmen with a little bark. The ISB needed to learn their place. This was a Navy operation.
"The Assailant is in firing range," said Aargant. "Why are you not firing?"
"We are in maximum range, but not optimal range," said Bowmen. "I want a surgical strike. Or would you rather I have my gunners fire wildly at a target you wish to capture?"
Aargant stayed silent, apparently too prideful to admit that Bowmen was right.
Bowmen spoke to his crew. "Forward gunners, target the freighter's port engines, and fire on my mark." Bowmen waited a while longer as the Assailant came closer. "Port side gunners, fire warning shots at the traffic lanes. I don't want anything getting in my way." Green bolts of cannon fire shot out from the Star Destroyers left side. Still Bowmen waited. He watched until the fleeing freighter was almost clear for its jump to hyperspace. "Forward gunners, ready…fire!"
Bowmen watched as the Assailant's heavy cannons fired. There was nothing like the sight of those long green bolts lancing out to pierce the enemy.
The Nonnah shook more violently than anything that Chanla had ever felt. She fell out of her seat and on the deck between Rike and Katrina. Was this how Amidala felt when she ran the Trade Federation blockade all those years ago. No, Chanla thought, this was worse. Rex pulled her back up.
"Port engines are hit!" Rike shouted in panic. "The Assailant is firing. She's knocked the Nonnah off course. I'm trying to compensate."
The Nonnah shook again. "Starboard engines hit!" shouted Rike again. "But not as bad. Hold on!" The Nonnah began to spin as Rike tried to evade the Star Destroyer. The advantage of having a ship with the engines on the sides rather than the middle is that they were harder to hit when the ship was rolling.
"Can you get us out of here?" asked Chanla.
"I'm throwing everything we got into the engines," said Rike. "I'm even firing manuvering thrusters. Just a bit further."
Chanla feel her heart pounding in her chest as the deadly green bolts of the Star Destroyer flashed by in a near miss. She fumbled her seats restraints and gripped her armrests. "Katrina on my mark," said Rike. Katrina put her left hand on the hyperspace levers in the center between her and Rike. "Almost…Now!"
Katrina pulled back the lever. The Nonnah took one more hit as the stars streaked. Whether it was reality or part of Chanla's imagination, but she swore that the stars stayed elongated for longer than normal. The Nonnah shook as the jump was in progress. But finally, the streaking stars gave way to the blue swirling of hyperspace.
Chanla sat back in her chair and breathed a sigh of relief.
"They got away!" shouted Aargant. He didn't care what the captain or others thought of his etiquette, he was furious. He practically served the Rebels on a platter for them, but the ground forces proved themselves utterly incompetent, and now even the exalted Imperial Navy had failed him. How could Aargant ever succeed if the military forces couldn't get the job done?
Commander Bowmen spoke with unexplainable calm. "Their jump to hyperspace was unfortunate. A few quick maneuvers on their pilot's part and a whole lot of luck made their jump to lightspeed possible. But we haven't lost them yet."
"What do you mean?" asked Aargant.
Bowmen looked at him as if disappointed. "Did you not notice the damage we inflicted? That ship is crippled. I can't imagine they could limp very far. We are still in the Colonies. There is not a spaceport in range where they can take refuge."
Bowmen turned to his crew. "Recall our fighters. Have analytics review the footage of the battle. See if they can determine what kind of damage the Rebel freighter has taken. And track their last known vector. Comm, alert all spaceports within seven parsecs and give them the description of the Rebel freighter." Bowmen turned to Aargant. "Agent Aargant, would you follow me please?"
"Yes, Commander," said Aargant uncertain. The two of them left the bridge and arrived at Aargant's quarters. The ship's captain stopped and waited expectantly. Aargant voiced his uncertainty. "Commander?"
"I await your invitation," said Commander Bowmen. "Since you seem so apt at predicting these Rebels, how about we use the new information I've ordered and try to predict where our prey will go next."
Aargant smiled. Bowmen didn't like Aargant, and he certainly didn't like him on the bridge of his ship. But Bowmen was a practical man and a loyal servant of the Empire. He would use Aargant to accomplish his ends just as Aargant was using him. "Please, Commander, come in."
Aargant and the Commander entered the VIP quarters. Aargant immediately opened his holodisplay. "May I see a map of the nearby sectors?" asked Bowmen.
"Of course." Aargant pulled up the map. "They won't land at a spaceport. That would eliminate Kuat and Corellia. They might try to lay low for a while."
"With the damage they've sustained, I doubt it," said Bowmen.
"You might be right," said Aargant. "Did you notice, Commander, that they did not take the time to calculate a hyperspace jump?"
"I had noticed," said Bowmen. "Either they made a blind jump, which would be desperate."
"Or they had a preprogrammed jump," finished Aargant.
"Either way the vector of their jump will help us located them. May I?" Bowmen asked permission to modify the map. Aargant didn't like working with others, but he permitted it. Bowmen drew in the vector of the Rebel's jump.
"Their plan was to get the medical supplies and run." said Aargant. "Perhaps to a rendezvous with Rebels in the Outer Rim. Assuming they didn't make the jump blind, their vector might give us a hint of which route the intended to take."
"My thoughts exactly," said Bowmen.
Both men looked at the map. Aargant began moving things around. He didn't care if Bowmen could follow. He was going to do it his way. "There are a lot of possibilities," said Aargant.
Bowmen's commlink beeped. "Commander, analytics team has preliminary results."
"Send the information to my personal database and to Agent Aargant's quarters," said the Commander. Almost immediately the information arrived, and Aargant pulled it up. A wide smile formed on the face of the Star Destroyer captain. "Does that narrow down your possibilities, Agent Aargant?"
Aargant smiled as well. "Yes, Commander, it does. It most certainly does."
"Are you telling me we can't make it to the Outer Rim?" asked Chanla.
"I'm telling you we can't make it out of the Colonies," said Rike. "We'd be lucky to make it another parsec. The hyperdrive is so damaged, I'm surprised it's even working. We were about to stop the fuel leak, but we are running on fumes. We could revert to real space any second."
"Where can we make it?" said Chanla.
"We just passed Domoria," suggested Katrina.
"No, that's no good," said Chanla. "Domoria is an Imperial allied shipyard. If we show up there with battle damage, it won't take anyone long to figure out what happened."
"The next major place is Cato Neimoidia," said Rike.
"That can't be a good idea," said Cara. "We were just there a few weeks ago, and we stole the governor's bribe."
"There's lot of traffic above Cato Neimoidia," said Rex. "We might be able to slip in and hide. From there the Rebellion might be able to give us a tow."
"Plus, the planet is probably in an uproar with the governor's removal," said Chanla. "The Neimoidians will be jockeying for top spot once a new governor arrives. They might not be looking for us. What do you think, Rike? Can the Nonnah make it to Cato Neimoidia?"
The Nonnah shook and Chanla heard a small explosion from the direction of the portside engines. Rike jumped up to the computer console in the common room. He looked at the display then back at Chanla. "I can give you the definitive answer of no. The hyperdrive has failed. We are stuck at sublight speeds."
Chanla looked at Rex. "I don't know if the Rebellion will help us after we left them, but they are our only hope. Call them. Rike, set course to the nearest system. I don't want to be caught out here in the middle of nowhere when Empire finds us."
"I will go and set course for Chorax at maximum sublight speeds," said Rike.
Rike and Rex left for the cockpit while Katrina and Wolffe went to check the hyperdrive and engines. Three of Quilow's Gungans were injured. Carter was caring for them, and Cara Dune was acting as his nurse, looking impossibly out of place while doing it.
And Chanla was sitting by herself. Stranded and helpless, her only hope that the Rebellion would come to their rescue.
