Tash rushed along the corridors of the large Mon-Calamari Cruiser with distinct purpose. Even aboard his elder brother's ship, he knew tardiness for a meeting of Rebel Command wouldn't put him in good standing with the other officers. Hell, the very fact that he was on Canth's ship meant being late could get him all the deeper into hot water. Turning a corner, he caught sight of the turbolift down to the Firaxan's bridge, just as it was beginning to close. "Hold the door, please!" he called, adding a bit of extra sprint to his step to try and make it before the car disappeared. Mercifully, the door stood open as the 35-year-old slipped inside. Doubling over, gasping for breath, he gave a wheezy laugh. "Heh, thanks… I was needed at the bridge, and the Fleet Commander would have raked me over the coals if I was late."
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure you've avoided that yet, Tash," feeling his blood run cold, the Lt. Commander froze before glancing up to see the salt-pepper bearded visage of the elder Walden, smirking knowingly from his vantage next to the lift controls. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing my young brother rushing down the halls of my ship like an ensign late for drills?"
Swallowing hard, Tash did his best to calm his breathing and straightened up, giving Canth a hasty salute. "I… cut the reminder a little close," he explained, knowing any excuses would just dig the hole deeper. His brother wasn't a slave-driver of a commanding officer, but may the Force help you if you started wasting his time with half-baked nerf dung.
The elder walden sighed before waving off the salute and hitting the button to take them down to the Firaxan's bridge. "At ease, Tash. Last thing we need right now is you looking even more sweaty when we have this meeting with Command. After all, you're a representative of this Task Force, remember that." The Lieutenant Commander let his hand fall, but still looked at his brother questioningly. Something in the way Canth had said that seemed off. Sure, he commanded a ship within the fleet, but naturally a Fleet Commander was more representative of his forces than a lower officer like himself. If nothing else, Tash expected to just be witness to these new orders; his role being to stand there, affirm or deny if asked something by the other Rebel leaders, and (as Canth so lovingly put it) look presentable so as to paint his brother's forces in a good light.
"So…" Tash finally said as he felt the lift starting to slow. "What is this meeting with high-command all about? I remember hearing that the Empire's been sending more and more patrols to the Outer Rim, but this seems like something pretty urgent."
Leaning on his durasteel cane, Canth gave his younger brother a knowing stare. "Oh trust me, all will become clear in this meeting. Just keep your head up, your eyes peeled, and your ears open Lieutenant Commander." Before Tash could press further, the lift doors opened and Canth strode out onto the bridge of the MC75 Cruiser. All around them, the various officers nearby the communications hub seemed to have vacated their posts; many extra personnel crowding the stations nearer the wide front viewport. Several of Firaxan Group's other Captains were already crowded around the circular holotable, the lights dimming as the Walden Brothers approached. Taking position between the captains of the two other Nebulon B Frigates within the fleet, Tash stood up as straight as he could and watched the table. As Canth took his place on the far side of the table, the comm officer punched in a few buttons and the holotable flickered to life. Immediately the unmistakable visage of a Mon Calamari Admiral filled the screen. The elder Walden saluted immediately, prompting all his captains to do the same. "Admiral Ackbar. It's a pleasure to see you well, sir," Canth said, his voice cordial, but making no real effort to hide the enthusiasm with which he addressed the prominent Rebel leader. It was no surprise to Tash of course, after all it was Ackbar who had supplied Canth the Firaxan after the two brothers had defected. While both of them had escaped ISB's pursuit, both had lost the ships they'd stolen from Kuat in the process; however, Canth had had the sense to back up the databank aboard his own Neb-B and was able to present it to Alliance Command, earning him his rank and command of one of the large Mon Cal cruisers.
"And you, Fleet Commander Walden," the Ackbar's gruff voice chimed back. "I trust your fleet has seen success over these trying couple of months?"
"If only thanks to the efforts of my brave commanders sir. The Empire's increased interest in the Outer Rim hasn't broken our morale yet. We make them pay for every step they try to take."
The admiral's hologram nodded in approval. It was like watching two old war buddies chatting on about prior days of glory, not the insurmountable challenge that the entire Alliance faced every moment that it still fought the Empire. "I'm glad to hear it. But to speak of the matter at hand, we have reason to believe that detachments of other Imperial fleets from the Core are being rerouted to the Outer Rim territories. Much as I hate to say it, our prior attempt to strike at the heart of Imperial power may have caused this sudden increase in ferocity." Canth leaned forward on his cane as several systems came up beside Ackbar's hologram. "In addition to the threats posed by the Seventh Fleet, Fleet 13, and Death Squadron, it seems the Empire has seen fit to send smaller task forces on probing missions of various important Rim worlds, many of them allies to our cause. Our spies have witnessed far fewer instances of probe droids scanning for potential bases and many more incursions of light cruisers and carriers arriving in systems to outright assault sympathetic worlds. Even without the presence of Star Destroyers, people are beginning to lose faith in the Alliance's resolve to protect its allies. This is why high command has decided it best to counter this strategy with one of our own." Immediately, the systems faded away and were soon replaced by images of various Alliance ships: CR90 and Hammerhead corvettes, MC30c and Nebulon B frigates, even a Pelta made its appearance on the table. "We will be sending representatives of our own fleets to sympathetic worlds, small forces that can easily counter these encroaching Imperial raiders and show the galaxy that we will not sit idly by while the Empire attempts to bully its way back into control." With that, Ackbar turned to Canth and lifted a hand. "Fleet Commander, have you chosen the captain you will be sending?"
The Elder Walden once again leaned back and gave a resolute nod. "Indeed," he said, glancing about the other officers. "I've given much thought to which of you would prove the most hindrance to this new threat. For this mission, we need not only cunning and valor, but also the skill to win support for the Alliance's efforts. This is as much a show of how dedicated the Alliance is to the cause of protecting the galaxy from tyranny as it is legitimately defeating the Empire wherever it pokes its ugly head." Even before Canth turned to him, Tash felt his body stiffen. This was much more intense than a mere intelligence briefing. "Lieutenant Commander Walden, can I count on you to take up this mission? When you leave the safety of Firaxan group, you will be largely on your own until the mission is completed. The larger Rebel fleet will be unable to lend you support, but we command will give you access to supply lines as long as you are within range of their bases. Knowing this, can I count on you and the Trident to represent us and the Alliance as a whole to the rest of the Outer Rim?"
This mission was much more harrowing than either of these commanders made it out to be. In addition to being separated from his brother's fleet, there was no guarantee the smaller detachment wouldn't run into a larger Imperial fleet… or even worse, Lord Vader's Death Squadron. If Tash took on this role, he would be relying entirely on what sympathetic worlds could give him as well as any mercenaries or smugglers he could hire; and this also included whatever necessary repairs would have to be made in the event one of these battles were to go particularly badly. All the same, however, he knew that both he and Canth had been through worse odds back in the Core worlds. Stepping forward, Tash nodded. "Myself and my crew would be honored to take on the role. Admiral, the Trident is ready to depart on your direction."
The Mon Cal seemed to smile in appreciation and nodded. "Very good, Lieutenant Commander. You can expect your orders to come within the next couple rotations," turning back to Canth, Ackbar saluted. "Fleet Commander, upon his departure, you can expect new orders from Command as well. The bulk of Firaxan Group will very much be needed in this crucial time."
"And we'll be ready sir," the elder Walden said, returning the salute. "May the Force be with you, Admiral."
"And with you all as well," a few seconds later, the hologram faded and the surrounding lights of the bridge rose in response.
Tash felt his stomach churning as his mind continued to mull over what he'd just signed up for. Yes, he and Canth had handled worse when escaping the core… but that had ended in the loss of both their ships and only a narrow rescue coordinated by Alliance command. "I know that look," the younger Walden was pulled from his thoughts as his brother plodded over to his side. "Trust me, I felt the same way when I resolved to bust you out of the core. Let me buy you a drink, Tash; help you calm those jitters."