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Other than Risè the pretty Twi'lek, Riley, Smiley, Chastine and Captain Acham, all named characters are the property of Disney and/or LucasFilm.
(Please don't hate me for the most dangerous animal on Dantooine.)
(There is what might be a non-K-rating curse phrase towards the very end. It was the same phrase that Jeff Goldblum used in Jurrasic Park when he first saw the dinosaurs.)
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"Go With Me."
"Stay With Me."
Chapter 10
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Several hours later, as the Givin navigator predicted, they arrived over Jazbina. After their rest, Ahsoka and the crew of the Ghost were also present. Lux had to chuckle that Hera and Kanan looked a little disheveled.
Everyone, however, Hera, Kanan, Ahsoka, Lux, Rex, Saw, Zeb, Sabine and some others did a double-take on seeing Ezra. "Ezra?" almost all of them said at once. They were noticing that he had gotten his hair cut short and swept it to the back, instead of falling over his face.
"Yeah, I got tired of always brushing my hair out of my face so I paid a visit to the ship's barber. Looks funny, huh?"
"No," said Kanan, "I like it. It's more, umm, mature."
"I wonder why you got it," said Hera in a smiling aside. Everyone smiled or chuckled at Ezra's new look, and, perhaps, the reason for it.
A short time later, as they exited hyperspace, they could see a ship waiting nearby. This ship then identified itself that it was a friendly.
"It's the Steady On," informed Commodore Lux Bonteri, leader of the Bonteri Fleet on the flagship, the Plo Koon. He then communicated to the ship. "Steady On, you have permission to dock on the port ring."
"Thank you," relied the captain of that ship, "We will be docking presently."
"Acknowledged, Steady On." After a time, some knocking could be heard in the old ship as the Steady On coupled with the Plo Koon.
"Docking complete, sir. Pressurizing the airlock now."
"Thank you," said Commodore Bonteri. "Riley?" the Commodore asked a certain person. Upon hearing his, this person rose and turned. "Would you like to escort our guest?" When Riley got closer to the bulkhead door, the Commodore said quietly to him, "And this time Riley, no hour-long detours. We don't have the time." Everyone around them then laughed as Riley departed, red-faced.
Then, Commodore Bonteri, while they were waiting for Lassa Rhayme to appear, needed to get the team from the surface. "Exec, do we have a corvette to get the recon team from off the surface?" It was a sore point as the mention of a corvette brought them back to the memory of the Zatt Jakkusa.
"Yes, sir. The Caleb Dume is outfitted and ready." (Kanan just couldn't get used to a ship being named after him, but he couldn't tell anyone.)
"All right," responded the Commodore, "Contact the group and have them relay to the corvette their location for pick-up."
"Yes, sir."
"Deck Sergeant, let me know when the Caleb embarks," Lux said through the communications.
"Yes, sir." Than, after a few minutes, "The Caleb Dume has just left, sir."
"Acknowledged. Bonteri out."
For a short time, Commodore Bonteri and General Gerrera were just looking around, at the bridge crew, then out of the viewport, then at the comm center.
To the crew of the Ghost, it seemed as if nothing was going on and they were starting to look bored, wondering why they were even there. There was always something going on on the Ghost, fighting the Imperials was just one part of their lives. Getting supplies, raiding bases, Hera dealing with the kids, all this was part of the daily life on the Ghost. On a warship, however, jobs were specified and usually one person was just doing one thing. That was what was most efficient on a ship-of-the-line.
But being so big also made them a target, as they were to find out very soon. Ahsoka knew this, as did Rex, from their mutual experience on the Resolute. It was also a long ago memory of Kanan's.
It wasn't long before Lassa Rhayme appeared, side-by-side with Riley.
Then everyone looked at her, and they could see why she was so successful as a smuggler/pirate. She had the attitude as if her very word meant life or death. She seemed used to being obeyed. And, she had the ethereal attitude that she could help you out one moment, and then steal you blind in the next.
"Hello Captain Rhayme," said Lux.
Lassa bowed her head a little and replied, "Commodore Bonteri." She then saw Ahsoka, but was not jealous. She always had wondered what the symbol was on the port-side of his ships. Then she realized something and remembered a story Lux told her, a story from long ago. "I see she got your message."
"What message would that be?" asked Hera.
"Captain Syndulla," Lassa acknowledged Hera. Then she opened her mouth as if to tell the story, but she then closed it and said, "I'll let the Commodore tell it. It's his story. But first, I want to see what you have and what you want for it."
"Certainly, Captain. The prize is in the cargo hold. Riley can escort you there."
Both the Pantoran woman and Riley smiled at that. This person then gestured to Lassa towards the exit and she disappeared through it. As Riley left, his commander called back to him:
"Lieutenant Riley—"
"Yes, sir. No detours," he said reluctantly.
Commodore Bonteri then nodded and ordered, "Carry on."
Riley then left with smiles following him. Just a few moments later, there was a call from the corvette.
"Sir," said the comm officer on duty in place of Riley, "We have confirmation from the Caleb Dume. They have extracted the team on the planet and are headed our way."
"Thank you. Inform the crew they should detour here for a few hours before they take the team home. Get affirmation from the team's leader."
"Yes, sir."
"Commodore," asked Kanan, "Who is this team?"
"Let's just say it's a reunion of sorts," Lux said looking to Hera, "But not my intention."
'Uh-oh,' she thought.
Then, the Commodore pushed a button to make a call to the brig, but he didn't use that word in speaking; "Sergeant, show your two, umm, 'charges' to the bridge."
"Yes, sir," was the reply.
For a while there was silence again reigning over the command center. Lux was quietly studying some information about the designs of some new types of TIE fighters. He then conversed with Sabine and Hera about these new designs and how they acted in battle. Rex and Ahsoka were reminiscing about some times during the Clone Wars; if either had heard about this or that person or memorable droid. Zeb was partaking yet again of some of Susie's delicacies. Kanan and Ezra were talking off to the side. It was pretty obvious what they were talking about.
It was a while before Lassa and Riley returned first. Although his commander ordered him to take no detours, they obviously did. The Pantoran looked pretty happy about the cargo and she would tell them later the details of the deal, but she seemed satisfied. (Maybe she would have to thank Riley for the help as well, Hera thought.)
Someone then asked Captain Rhayme about the most dangerous animals of Dantooine. Lassa then took a bag she had around her shoulder. As she opened the bag, the Ghost crew around her thought they could hear some sort of cooing coming from the bag. Those crew members that weren't busy started to gather towards the command platform on the bridge. She then started to take what looked like little fur balls out of the bag, each one softly mewing and cooing as it was placed on the planning table. The crew members from the pit in the command center started smiling and looked contented. Ahsoka and Rex and the others from the Ghost started to gather towards the little animals. Some of them were starting to squiggle here, fidget there and essentially wiggle all over the table. They were fuzzy, warm and peaceful.
"That's the most dangerous animal on Dantooine?" said Ezra, always the curious and brash one.
"Um-mm," returned Lassa. "Out of their predator filled environment, they are very dangerous in their natural condition. They have been known to decimate a freighter or two."
"How?" said the boy.
"Um, how old is he?" asked Lassa.
"Ezra, cover your ears," joked Kanan.
"He'll be OK," said Sabine. "He knows about girls and all that. We're pretty sure of that now!" Then everyone stated laughing at Ezra and how the situation has changed for him.
Lassa didn't know what they meant, so she just continued. "They reproduce at a very rapid rate and are born pregnant. Once one enters a ship, they multiply exponentially so much that in a matter of hours or days, depending on the size of your ship, they take so much of your oxygen or food, that you either suffocate or starve. You couldn't throw them out of an airlock quick enough to survive."
"But these?"
Lassa continued. "Well, they are, um, 'modified' so they can't have babies. Otherwise, they would take have taken over my ship before I could have even gotten into hyperspace."
"They're wonderful. May I?" asked Ahsoka as she gestured to pick one up.
"Of course." Then Hera and some other crew members around them picked up the little fur balls and started to stroke and pet them. The cooing from the little animals was so soothing that Ahsoka, Hera and all the others continued to pet and stroke the little animals unknowingly. Lux was looking on Ahsoka petting the little thing fondly. She seemed so at peace now, he thought.
"What are they called?" asked Kanan, petting one of the little furry spheres.
"To tell the truth, I don't know."
"Well I think we should make a name for them right now," said Sabine. "A name just like the sound they make."
Ahsoka had an idea. "It sounds like they are saying, 'tribble, tribble.' Lets make that their name."
"Sounds good to me," said Lassa.
Then Ahsoka realized something. Kanan continued to pet the little ball of fur Ahsoka was holding, even though she had stopped suddenly.
"There's something about them. Something—. Wait! Are they Force-sensitive?"
"Yes, a little," responded Lassa, "But with the Light Side of the Force." Ahsoka and Kanan looked at the Pantoran smuggler. "Oh, I know about the Force and all that. I worked with Asajj Ventress for a time. I've even used a lightsaber. We use them to ferret out spies and moles, especially Imperials. It seems if your an Imperial, they get really agitated and squeal."
"Maybe we can find that out soon enough," said Lux.
Just then, the door opened with the Sergeant from the brig, bringing in Risè and Kallus.
"Kallus," venomed Lassa. "Yes, let's find that out now." She then suddenly tossed one of the little tribbles, for that was their name now, at the former Imperial Agent at the same time slapping her hand to her blaster. To her complete and utter surprise, the little thing started cooing in his arms after he caught it and it began to travel towards his shoulder. Lux gave one to Risè and she started to pet it too.
"They, they aren't dangerous, are they?" worried the former agent.
"Only if I have a blaster," said Lassa, patting the mean blaster at her side, which got the attention of Kallus, "And they squeal."
"But, but this one's not squealing."
"Exactly. And that has saved your life."
"Wait. Are you—?" asked Kallus while the little fuzzy was crawling on his arm.
"Lassa Rhayme, at you service, as we say on Pantora."
"Pantora," sighed Ezra.
"What's with him?" asked Lassa.
Lux couldn't help but laugh. But business was business. "Later. Right now, we have business to attend to. While we were talking, I got the report that our corvette has returned. The team they picked up are on their way. If they agree, then we have a way for you, Kallus, to help with those who would fight the Empire."
"I understand, Commodore," this person replied.
"And for you, Risè, to get some experience on the ground."
This person bowed a little and said contritely, "Thank you, sir,"
Just as Risè said that, the door was opened and a tall Twi'lek man entered. Hera couldn't help but be snarky, sardonic and sarcastic, all at the same time.
The man began with squared shoulders and extended height. (There seemed to be two others waiting outside.) "Grand Field Marshal—"
"Cham Syndulla" interrupted Hera.
"Pompous Ass," contributed Lassa.
"Hera? Well, well, well, imagine seeing you here. And hello Kanan. Great! I have even more stories to tell you! Would you like to hear them?"
"Maybe later," returned that person.
"Grand Field Marshal," entered Commodore Bonteri, "I— are you alone?"
"No, no. Come in my compatriots," he gestured. Then two more of the Twi'lek race entered the bridge. "These are two of my best fighters, Numa," he said as he gestured to a teal green Twi'lek girl, "And—"
"Gobi?" asked Lux. He then proceeded to where Gobi was—and poked his protruding stomach. They both laughed.
"Nice to see you again, Commodore," said Gobi.
Then Rex, who looked as if he was deep in concentration, said, "Numa? Numa? That name sounds—. Wait! Did you know Waxer and Boil of the Five-Oh-First? They helped to liberate Ryloth during the Clone Wars."
"They saved my life," Numa answered in an accent that almost melted all the male crew (well; maybe not all) then in hearing distance—especially one. "Do you know where they are?" she asked with even more passion, melting the males around her even more. Lux was smiling at the effect on some of his crew.
"Boil, I don't know. He may have participated in destroying the Jedi. What we were bred to do." He then looked significantly at Numa, "But Waxer, ma'am, I'm sorry. He died in my arms on Umbara, betrayed by a turncoat Jedi." Numa looked very sad at what Rex had just told her. "His last words were for his brothers, but he had a picture of you with him all the time," Rex said.
On hearing this, Numa looked to the deck and it seemed as if she would cry. But when she brought her very pretty head back up, she was proud and not crying.
"Thank you, Captain. When I knew them, they mentioned your name several times. I am glad to have met you."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Then Kallus, seeing a fellow being in pain, went up to Numa. The newly monikered 'tribble' was still moving on his outstretched arm. "You may need this more than me now, miss," he said. She looked up at him. "It makes a sound soothing to the mind. Please," Kallus said as he proferred his arm to Numa. She looked at him full in the face and then looked to the little animal and picked it up off his arm and started petting it.
"Yes, yes it is soothing," stroking the little animal. Those from the Ghost, the Steady On and the Plo Koon around them were stunned at what was happening before them. Then Numa looked at him. "You have kind eyes," she said to him.
"And you, miss, are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." Then Kallus looked down, embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so bold."
"That's all right. No one's ever said that to me." Kallus smiled at hearing that.
Cham Syndulla had been talking with Hera about what she had been doing and didn't notice this little exchange. Then he saw what was happening and who it was that was talking with Numa.
"You there!" he shouted. "Stay away from her! You are Kallus," Cham said vehemently. "You have brought destruction to my people and those around the Galaxy. I should shoot you now!" Cham Syndulla shouted, "And rid the Galaxy of you." As he said this, he pulled his blaster from his holster and was about to bring it to bear on Kallus.
"Marshal Syndulla!" shouted Commodore Bonteri very loudly, "You will not bear arms on persons on this ship! Sergeant-at-Arms! Front and center!" Just then, a Zabrack Marine came up to the group, readying his arms. Cham Syndulla might be a great figure fighting the Empire, but this was not his ship.
Cham Syndulla, seeing what the situation was, relented. "All right, all right, Commodore. It is your fleet. But why is he here?" he said pointing at Kallus. Commodore Bonteri waved the Marine away, assuring Marshal Syndulla that he would talk with him leader to leader.
"He is defecting from the Empire. And from what Captain Rhayme has told me, I believe he is honest about this. My question is this, would you take him with your group to help with your cell?"
"To help me with my cell? Are you kidding? This is Agent Kallus."
"I know, Marshal Syndulla. But with the information he knows, he may make the greatest difference with your group. Ryloth has taken the brunt of too many attacks."
"But he has killed thousands—millions it could be!"
"Sir," Kallus said to Commodore Bonteri, "If I may." He was answered with a nod of the head. "Those whom I have killed I have fought in battle. They would have killed me otherwise. I have never killed an innocent to my knowledge; except—"
"Except Maketh Tua," said Ezra.
Kallus only nodded his head. "For which I regret and will most likely suffer in the afterlife for. But I hope, I sincerely hope I can make up for it in this."
The was some silence for a while.
"I know how you feel, Marshal Syndulla. I think he is honest."
"Father," said Hera, "He may help you with preventing more damage to Ryloth."
"How?"
"Sir," entered Kallus, "If I may, only for your ears." Kallus had gestured to Cham and Lux only, leaving Hera out of this.
"All right," this person responded somewhat disappointedly.
Then, Kallus, Commodore Bonteri and Marshal Syndulla went off far to the side. The others could see them whispering and even Ahsoka could not hear what they were saying. Hiding his mouth, Kallus said something to the Commodore and Marshal Syndulla. When he did, they both straightened very rigidly. Everyone wondered what Kallus had said to cause such a reaction. As he was turning away, the others noticed that if a Twi'lek could be said to have seen a ghost, Cham Syndulla just had.
"All right, all right, we'll take him. We cannot afford for him to be wrong. But let me tell you, Kallus, if you are lying to us, you will find yourself going down the gullet of a lylek very quickly."
"I think a gutkurr would be better," said Gobi.
"Kallus, Kallus," entered Numa. "At lest we know you have a last name. Do you have a first name?"
Agent Kallus was at a loss. 'A first name. A first name. What can I—' Then; "Gary, my name is Gary." Numa smiled at him. "Short for Gara," he said, unfortunately. Then Numa pulled down two fingers; "Gary?" Then another two fingers; "Gara?"
Kallus realized his mistake. 'What to do? What to do? I'll try this.' "Sorry, short for Garelios."
Zeb did a double-take, but everyone laughed. It was a good time for those just then.
Then Marshal Syndulla looked at Risè. Lux noticed him looking at her.
"Marshal Syndulla. This is Lieutenant Risè. We would like to assign her for a year's action on Ryloth as well."
"Will you fight for Ryloth?" Marshal Syndulla asked.
"Yes, I will," she responded.
"Will you die for Ryloth?"
Then there was a silent moment. Risè thought of her comrades that she had let down. She thought of one, especially—Captain Acham. Then she responded, "I will die for my homeland."
"Very good, very good."
After a while, "Well," said Commodore Bonteri, "Marshal Syndulla, we have some ceremonies over Onderon. Can you spare them until then?"
"Yes, Commodore."
"Would you like to join us?"
Cham Syndulla then looked at Gobi and Numa, who nodded to him. "Certainly, Commodore. We would be honored."
"Thank you. Captain Rhayme?"
Lassa Rhayme then looked at Riley and could see his sadness. Then she answered the Commodore, "If it will help."
"It will," Lux said with a smile, "Thank you." With that, Commodore Bonteri got the crew ready to hyperspace to Onderon.
II
The ceremonies over Onderon were quiet and solemn. There were a few tears for their lost comrades, but they were able to have closure finally with what happened to their friends. Now, they can look forward.
They would need to. For, just as the commanders got back to the bridge to say goodbye to Lassa and Cham's group with the new additions, things got very, very hectic. Just as Lux was about to say farewell, there was a shout from the pit in the command center.
"Sir! We have hyperspace flux!"
"Where?! How many?!"
"We have one bogie one hundred kilometers off the starboard now and another two thousand kilometers towards Onderon."
"Why is one so far away?" asked General Gerrera, "It's closer to Onderon than to us."
"Perhaps to keep us from escaping—if they're Imperials. Either that or the captain's an idiot."
"Umm. More likely the last."
Just then, an Imperial Star Destroyer exited hyperspace, moving in on the Plo Koon. Much further away, almost as small as a dot, another Star Destroyer exited.
Before long, a blue-skinned, red-eyed humanoid appeared on the large screen behind the command center, the same one Lassa had appeared on just recently.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't my old friend 'Grand Admiral' Thrawn. Did you miss me? It's only been three—"
Then Ahsoka quietly whispered, "Four."
"Four days."
"Still having trouble with big words, I see, 'Terry.' You'll not get away from me this time."
"Oh, yes I will. You'll get too lonely out there without me to chase around. What's the matter? No friends in that rot-gut Empire? Maybe you aren't the right color."
"I am rewarded well by the Empire and the Emperor himself appointed me. Prepare to meet your doom."
"Who's the numbskull you got working for you now?"
"Oh, don't worry about him. He'll be chasing after you soon enough. He does have much to learn—"
"If he survives."
"—and then he will be unstoppable. Prepare for death, Rebel scum. I know all about you and your culture, Bonteri. You people always put up a brave front, but then you hightail it at the first chance. Just like in the Clone Wars."
"I'll give you some hightail. Why don't you come after me if you think I'm so afraid?" Then to the comm officer, "Cut the damned screen. Boring conversation anyway." Commodore Bonteri then moved to the railing separating the bridge and the command pit. He gave an order over the loudspeaker. "All cabin attendants to the sick bay!"
"Why the sick bay?" Hera asked General Gerrera standing close by.
"It's the safest place on the ship, specially modified at the yards. Double-hulled, hermetically sealed, its own propulsion unit. It can detach from the ship and be its own escape pod if the Plo Koon—" he became silent.
"Explodes," Ahsoka finished for him.
"That's why we have the cabin boys and girls sequester themselves there during surprise battles."
Commodore Bonteri came up to the group. "Ezra, you are to report to the sick bay."
"I can fight," the boy responded.
"Ezra," said Kanan, "I don't think it's a request. Go to the sick bay."
"Viera should be there now. Look after her for me," added the Commodore. He then went back to the railing. He looked to the Ghost crew.
"We'll stay," said Hera.
"Lassa?"
"I'm staying too," she said as she looked to Riley heading towards the pit. He looked very worried to her.
"Thank you, Lassa, but I think you need to discharge the—"
"The Steady On. I'm right on it." Lassa Rhayme then called her ship. She ordered them to detach and leave for a system close by, but not too close, as soon as possible.
Commodore Bonteri then tuned back to the pit, his back to the group there, and put us hands on the railing. Then he turned his head towards Ahsoka. "Ahsoka, as a non-combatant guest you may—." He stopped as he noticed Ahsoka come to him.
She then came close to him and put her hand on his, "I'm staying."
"I see. If I ordered you to—"
"Then that would be the first order I ignored since the Clone Wars."
"All right," he smiled. Then he became very serious as Ahsoka returned to her previous place. He then saw Ezra; "You're still here." Then everyone watched as Ezra left the bridge grumpily.
The Commodore went closer to the large, all across to the sides of the bridge, viewing stage. "Kallus. Your help here. A pair of binocs, please." When he was given the binoculars, he gave them to Kallus. "What can you tell me of that ship? It's a new one to me."
"That's the Annihilator. Under the command of Rateen."
"Umm. Nothing like a fuzzy-wuzzy name to warm you all up inside." The group around him was smiling. "What do you know about Rateen?"
"He's smart, but not quick, if you know what I mean. A bit too much by-the-book."
"Thank you. Helmsman, head us to thirty-five degrees starboard. Battle stations."
The order for battle stations was repeated throughout the command center and the entire ship in a matter of moments. The helmsman turned the large wheel to the right. Commodore Bonteri liked these old-fashioned tillers, rather than the anemic digital readouts. It gave him a feel for the ship, feeling it shaking in his hands through the large, spoked wheel and with one look he could see the attitude of the ship; how far the turn was going and with a push or a pull of the large wheel, the pitch of the ship.
"You're heading right towards Thrawn," said Hera.
"That's right. I'm going to blow right across his bow. 'Put up a brave front,' as he called it. And then—"
"And then, Terry?" asked Saw.
"Then hightail it." However, Saw knew that that was the last thing his friend was going to do.
"I'll get down to the gun deck. Just in case, you know," General Gerrera said with a knowing wink.
"Engineering," Commodore Bonteri called on the intercom.
"Yesssssir," answered the Trandoshan Chief.
"Chief. Do you remember our action outside the Hapes Consortium a few months back?"
"We call it the 'Crazy Bonteri' down here sir."
Lux chuckled about at the way crewmen so quickly put funny names to whatever happened. "That's the one," he smiled, "Maybe not so much this time. Maybe a 'Half Crazy'." Then he got very serious. "On my signal."
"Yessssirrr!" Lux could almost feel the salute that came through the intercom.
Ahsoka almost couldn't believe what she was hearing, though. Had Lux turned so, so, so—cowardly? Was he just going to scurry away from the enemy? In a warship? If that was how Lux was now, it certainly was different from what she remembered. What made her more depressed and disappointed was that she remembered when the last time he met Thrawn, he ran then as well. Ahsoka was starting to feel very depressed.
The crew of the Ghost as well started to wonder about what was going on. Weren't they going to face the enemy? Especially when the odds were as they were like now? After all, it wasn't as if they were facing an entire fleet. The only threat was a single ship of Thrawn's close by and that other ship far away. The only undisappointed one was Rex. He always knew that there was much more than meets the eye when it came to battle.
After a short time, the Plo Koon came across the bow of Thrawn's ship. It lobbed a few ineffectual salvos at the Imperials.
Suddenly, Thrawn came back on the screen. The crew not from the Plo Koon started to become embarrassed.
"Just like I thought, you coward, Bonteri. Turning tail. It will only take a minute until we own the skies of Onderon."
"Yeah, Thrawn, you got me." He then cut off the transmission.
To those around her, Risè, hearing and knowing exactly what was coming, advised them, "Umm. You might want to grab something to hold on to."
"Why should we?" Zeb asked. "We're just running away."
"Up to you," she replied as she held onto a railing. Cham's crew (including Kallus and Risè) and the Ghost crew (except for Zeb), and Ahsoka and Lassa decided to do so as well.
Then, just as the Plo Koon went a little past Thrawn's ship, Commodore Bonteri yelled through the ship's intercom:
"ALL HANDS! BRACE FOR ACTION! HELMSMAN! HARD ASTARBOARD A HUNDRED TWENTY DEGREES. NOW!" The Commodore then opened the line to Engineering: "ENGINEERING! CHIEF! THAT HALF CRAZY! NOW!"
Suddenly, the Plo Koon turned violently to the starboard and anyone who was not holding on to something was rolling on the floor. Zeb was one of those.
Not only had the tiller been turned almost all the way around, the engines were also reversed. Thanks to the Trandoshan engineering chief, the port engines were going full blast ahead while the starboard engines were going full blast astern. All of this together made for a very quick reverse tack—almost on the track they had come through on, but, at least, still vertical.
"ARTLLERY! TARGET ASTARBOARD!" Commodore Bonteri continued to shout. It was not a shout of panic or desperation, but one of confidence, not only in himself, but also in the crew.
It wasn't long before the Plo Koon had come astern of Thrawn's ship. For some reason, the Imperial ship had turned to its port, showing the backside of the Star Destroyer to the Plo Koon.
"Idiot!" shouted Thrawn on his ship at the helmsman. "Who told you to turn to the left?!"
"The better to get away."
Thrawn then took the cap off the head of the idiot officer and pelted him with it many times. "Idiot! You've just ruined us!"
On the Plo Koon, Commodore Bonteri couldn't believe his luck. "General. Do you see what I see?" he said laughingly in the intercom to the gun decks. The Imperial ship had exposed its stern fully to the Plo Koon.
"Easy pickings Terry! GUNNERS! FIRE!" could be heard through the intercom. In an instant, mortal blasts from the flak guns were going through the fantail and the stern of the Imperial ship—likely all the way to the sharp-pointed bow of the Star Destroyer.
Again and again, the flak guns hit the stern of the ship. Everyone could see some severe damage going through the enemy.
"Give 'em hell, Aktay!" shouted General Gerrera. The large Togruta was so busy firing the gun he couldn't respond. All through the gun deck, the gunners were firing the big guns that could do much more damage than a turbo-laser turret. All along the gun line, General Gerrera could see the guns being hurtled back as they fired and then put back into position by the gunners. Human, Twi'lek, Togruta, Bothan, Wookie and Rodian women were running back and forth, supplying the guns with ammunition. Some would even go to the front of the guns to clean the muzzle for the next shot.
Suddenly from Lux through the intercom, "Engineering! All stop! Give them some time!" Just then, the Plo Koon stopped completely still in space.
'Thanks, Terry,' Saw thought. The only thing that didn't stop was the fire from the Plo Koon's flak guns, hitting the stern of the enemy and going through the boat. It was Commodore Bonteri's idea that a Star Destroyer had two weak areas; the stern and the bridge. Attacking in one of these two places, he believed, could dismantle a ship quickly. The problem, of course, was getting to where a ship can fire on the Star Destroyer like that.
After a few score seconds, Commodore Bonteri ordered, "Lets get out of here! They're still deadly. Helmsman. Bring us along the the port gunwale of the enemy."
"Yes, sir!" said the helmsman. Soon, the Plo Koon went along the port-side edge of the damaged ship. But soon, something more deadly than an Imperial Star Destroyer itself would fire from that damaged ship.
"Sir!" someone shouted about a hundred meters after passing the bow of the enemy, "Missiles fired!"
"All right. No need to shout. How many?"asked the Commodore.
"Five sir. Two are a newer model."
"Thank you. Bridge crew. Buckle in." Then those who were sitting in the pit of the command center buckled themselves into their seats. Then, "Helmsman. Flank speed."
"Flank speed, aye," responded the helmsman. The ship then very definitely picked up speed and everyone not sitting had to find something to hold on to. Commodore Bonteri still stood straight upright.
They had some distance between themselves and the missiles, but the distance was, moment-by-moment, becoming smaller. "Chastine. Send some music to those heaters," ordered Commodore Bonteri. To those around him, holding on to whatever they could, he seemed calm and in control. "Smiley, get the fireworks ready."
"Yes, sir," said the female human officer in the pit to the first command and, "Right away, sir," said a Rodian man with a somewhat wide mouth, for a Rodian in any case, to the second. To those around him, Commodore Bonteri seemed rather calm. However, that calmness was about to be broken.
"Sir!" said Chastine, "The jamming is having no effect on the missiles!"
Everyone was stunned. They could feel that they are all about to die.
"What do you mean?"
"Sir," a human from the pit stood up, "Our astromech was hit on Jazbina yesterday by a Stormtrooper before it could slice the Imperial system for the update. We didn't get a second chance. It's on the report."
"He's right," said Marshal Syndulla, "Your team seemed frustrated by what happened to their astromech."
"Sir, the missiles are gaining!"
"All right, calm down," was the answer from Commodore Bonteri. "The ship is much to big to swerve. Engineering," he said as he contacted the Transdoshans in the engine room.
"Aaaye-aye, sssirrr," was the response.
"Can you give me more power to the engines?"
"We'rrrre at niiinnntyy perrrcennnt nnow."
"Go to ninety-five percent." When he said that, the crew around looked towards their commander and then the person next to them. There was worry on their faces.
"Aaaye-aye, sssirrr." In a moment, they could feel the ship lurch a bit as the speed picked up.
"Navigation. Plot me a course straight to the far enemy's superstructure."
"Plotting now," replied the female Givin navigator.
"Missiles are still gaining," was the report, a little calmer than previously, "But by less."
"Commodore," Sabine suddenly broke in, as if she had remembered something, "We might have a newer version of the software."
"What's your version?" asked the man from the pit who seemed to be in charge of this.
Sabine knew exactly all the numbers; "Version 2-point-3-point-5-point-2r4-point-6-point-3-point-2release0-point-945a4-point-62f-point-39 . . ." She was still going on when the man interrupted. The people on the bridge were looking at the two back-and-forth.
"We have 2-point-3-point-5-point-2r4-point-6-point-3-point-1release-point-080—"
"Cut it!" the Commodore ordered. "We'll be dead by the time you two finish this. Hera, could you just upload the update from your astromech?"
"Yes, sir." Then Hera commed their astromech, Chopper, also known as C1-10P. "Chopper, get to a terminal quick!" Then, "Says who?! Says me! Get on it and no backtalk!" Her father was laughing into his hand.
Then Sabine ordered Chopper, "Chopper! Upload the Imperial missile codes we sliced last week. Hurry up or you won't live to tell the story!"
"Tech," the Commodore ordered, "Give their astromech full access. Tell me when you have the upload."
"Aye-aye, sir."
On another deck where Chopper had been tooling around with other droids, passing war stories, he quickly went to a terminal port, inserted the spike and was instantly uploading the new missile data.
Back on the bridge, in the command pit, the tech sergeant was looking at the screen expectantly. He then informed everyone of the progress, percentage-by-percentage, "fifty percent, sixty percent—"
"Missiles are gaining."
"Seventy percent, eighty percent—." Everyone, most especially Commodore Bonteri, were glued to the tech sergeant's words. Sweat was starting to come to the brows of some.
"Ninety percent—"
"Missiles still gaining. Jamming is having no effect."
"Ninety-five percent, ninety-six percent, ninety seven percent, ninety-eight percent, ninety-nine percent." Commodore Bonteri has raised an arm to give the order. It seemed a lifetime until the next report. Then—
"Ninety-nine and a half percent," the man said shakingly. Lux almost fell off the bridge. The worry was palpable. Lux's eyes got very big. Suddenly;
"Upload complete!"
"Send the new music now!"
"Yes sir! Sending jamming." There was a short pause. "The jamming is working! The missiles are wavering, but still following."
There was somewhat a sigh of relief for as much as the situation allowed.
"Navigation, patch the course to the superstructure of the Annihilator to the helm."
"Yes, sir."
The ship then headed towards the Imperial Star Destroyer.
"Engineering."
"Ennnginnerrrringggg, aye."
"Chief, give me full speed astern on my command."
"Aye-aye, sssirr."
Commodore Bonteri then went to the intraship loudspeaker, "All hands. brace for zero gravity. On my command." This signaled to the crew to batten down anything that could float. "Sonar, ping the missiles for me." Soon a high-pitched pinging came from the speaker on the bridge. The sound could be nerve-racking to those not used to it. If they listened, the Ghost crew could hear the space between the pings become shorter, little-by-little. "Navigation; ETA to the enemy."
"Two minutes and forty—point—zero-five seconds, sir," said the Givin.
"Thank you. Sonar. Ping the bridge of the enemy."
"Aye-aye." Soon another high pitched pinging came through the command center, slightly different in tone. After only a few pings, the crew could tell the time between them was becoming shorter and shorter, just like the pings from the missiles.
Ahsoka and Rex were impressed by the organization and the collusion of the crew. They had rarely seen this closeness between commanders and staff.
"Flight deck."
"Flight deck, aye."
"Deck Sergeant, make sure the fighters are locked down. I don't want to lose any in the zero gravity."
"Yes, sir. I'll look to it personally."
"Thank you. Bonteri out. Smiley, send the missiles some fireworks." Then the Rodian sent out flares and explosives to deter the missiles on their course.
Sonar came into the action. "Missiles have reached the decoy. Missiles have lost contact."
"Target in one minute, five seconds."
The crew of the Ghost, Cham's fighters, Kallus and Lassa were looking to Risè. She was still holding on to a railing with her hands and had her foot wrapped in the cording that was run along the bottom of the railing. They all decided to do the same thing. Ahsoka had moved to the railing a few feet from Lux and held on. They all had a bad feeling about what was going to happen.
"Missiles have reacquired. They are homing in on us."
The pings got seemingly louder and quicker. It was starting to get to some of the Ghost crew and Lux's crew as well, but not as much. Lux himself was very calm; as would expected of a commander.
"Captain Acham, time to missile impact. Give me a running count."
"Impact in forty seconds," he said using a stopchrono.
Then, they were starting to take some hits from the turrets on the Anihilator. The shields were strong on this ship, but that didn't stop the shaking.
The Givin came in, holding onto the sides of her station, "Thirty seconds to the bridge."
"Missle impact in thirty-five seconds."
"Turn on my mark. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Mark."
Nothing came from the Commodore.
"The turn, Commodore."
"Not yet," was the quiet response from him, holding on to the railing lightly.
"Mark plus two, plus three, plus four seconds, plus five seconds . . . Commodore the turn." If a Givin could look worried, everyone knew they were seeing it now.
"Missile impact fifteen seconds."
"Sound collision." The order was repeated and a loud sound went throughout the ship.
The cabin boys and girls in the sick bay were scared when they heard that warning. The Head Boy and the Head Girl were tryng to calm their younger charges. Moments and moments they waited. Some were crying. Viera had her arms around Ezra's waist and he held on to her.
"I don't want to die," she said with a slight whimper.
"Viera, trust your captain." Then Ezra thought a little. "I would."
In another room in the sick bay, on a bed, a Rodian nurse was strapping a human with an IV into the bed.
"A wunner whi Cap'n Terry's a-plannin'"
"You'll be OK. If I know the Commodore, it'll probably shake a bit. We'll all be OK."
"The pur lads and lassies, tho'. Thae be skair'd."
The pinging going back and forth through the bridge would have sent anyone to the asylum. With the shaking from the Annihilator's turrets and the nerve-racking pinging on the bridge, it was amazing to Hera that anyone stayed sane.
". . . mark plus twenty, mark plus twenty-one . . ."
"Missile impact, ten seconds."
Ahsoka could then see Lux moving his mouth silently. A long time ago, Lux told her about how he will say a prayer silently if he was pretty sure he was going to die. He even told her the prayer once. But; no one was going to die.
"Missile impact nine seconds, eight seconds, seven seconds—"
"HELM! PITCH UP FORTY DEGREES! ENGINEERING FULL REVERSE! ONE HUNDRED PERCENT ON THE REACTORS! DECOYS AWAY! ZERO GRAVITY NOW! SOUND THE ALARM!"
The orders from Commodore Bonteri reverberated through the bridge and the entire ship, seconded by officers in a shaky voice, even in the sick bay, as the big ship heaved up violently. If there had been gravity, most of the crew would have been crushed to the floors, rendered unconscious.
Hera was sure she was going die. The tension could have been cut with a lightsaber for the few seconds they were pitching up steeply. Some in the pit were starting; or were continuing, to pray like Lux had done. Their lives went by them in a flash for the tense moments. Then, the Plo Koon skimmed its keel above the top of the bridge of the Annihilator and scraping sounds could be heard. They made it—just barely. Sighs and looks of relief were potent and audible.
"Missile impact in five, four, three, two, one—"
The missiles missed by few feet, confused by the decoys. They could only go one place.
They all slammed right onto the command center of the Annihilator.
The Plo Koon, still in zero gravity, turned almost upon itself.
"Helm! Even us out!" came the command, "Right full rudder. Roll us back on to an even keel."
They were instantly heading back over the Star Destroyer. As they did so, everyone in the command center—still holding the railing and with a foot secured in the cording—could see the enemy ship's superstructure in flames and the ship was starting to list towards Onderon, caught in its gravity. Cheers went through the entire ship from the crew, even through they were in zero gravity.
"Gravity," said Lux.
"Gravity, aye," said a cheerful voice.
"Prepare to return gravity to 1G in point-one-zero increments. Be ready to pause if there is a danger to any of the crew."
"Aye-aye, sir. And congratulations."
"Understood." Soon, little-by-little, the people in the ship could feel themselves returning slowly and softly to the deck. All the little things, data pads, writing devices, etc., also floating down, were caught by waiting hands as they neared their owners.
During all the action, the little furry tribbles had floated all over the command center, cooing and purring as if they were oblivious to the life-threatening action. These too, started to float cooingly down to the deck when gravity was reapplied. They were happily caught by some of the crew in the pit, some even swimming in the air after one, and then caressed by those around it after all that tension from the action. Later, Lassa would find it difficult to get back all those little furballs.
In the sick bay, Ezra and Viera, still locked together, were floating softly to the deck. They smiled when their feet found the firmness of the deck.
Soon, a voice could be heard throughout the sick bay; "Sick bay. Bonteri here. Doc, how's it going down there?"
"Very well, Commodore Bonteri, very well." There was a silence on the speaker. They were very good friends and even had had some adventures together. Very rarely did the doctor address Lux so formally.
"Understood. Doc, get ready for some patients from the enemy ship."
"Right away, Terry." The doctor could almost hear the smile from his friend.
"Are the Head Boy and Girl there?"
"Here, sir," the oldest of the cabin boys and girls, a deep amber Twi'lek boy (actually Lux's cabin boy) and a red Togruta girl, a few years younger than when Ahsoka became a Padawan, said, almost in unison.
"Stay there until we can give the all clear. There is still an enemy presence."
"Yes, sir."
"Bonteri out."
There was a silence on the bridge. They all found a new respect for their commander, if they even needed one. General Gerrera had returned to the bridge. He looked happy for his friend and proud at the same time.
"Rescue," said Commodore Bonteri over the ship's comm.
"Rescue, aye."
"Chief, we've got quite a rescue operation. Can we get—"
Just then, an explosion so loud and vicious that it rocked the Plo Koon sideways almost as much as if it had been hit. Surprised, Lux was knocked off his feet. When he got up, he rushed to the viewing platform, seeing the destruction of the entire Star Destroyer.
"Kallus. What happened?" Commodore Bonteri asked in very distinct stress.
Kallus too had gone close to the viewing deck. "I— I don't know."
"Could we have hit their self-destruct?" Commodore Bonteri was already starting to blame himself. Suddenly, a transmission broke through. Nobody doubted who it would be.
"Bonteri," venomed Thrawn with bane in his voice.
"Admiral Thrawn, it wasn't supposed—"
"I will hunt you and kill you, Bonteri, for what you just did. I will kill your crew in front of your very eyes. And before I kill you, you will watch as I kill the one you love. She will die in pain and you will wish for—death. And I will give it you."
"Admiral. It wasn't supposed to happen. We were manning a rescue just as—"
"Enough! I will not be the one to finish you off. That honor will go to another. He has promised me your death at my hands." The transmission then suddenly shut off.
Lux couldn't take all the deaths that happened that day and that had been threatened by Thrawn. Alone, on the viewing platform, he started to slump, holding on to the railing there.
Ahsoka and Saw went up to him.
"Lux—"
"Terry—"
"So much death." He said quietly and then looked at Ahsoka. "Will it ever end?"
She was about to respond but was interrupted—
"Sir! We have hyperspace flux." Commodore Bonteri stood up straight, rigid, seemingly over the moment of weakness that only Ahsoka saw.
"Where? How many?" he asked with command in his voice.
"We estimate hyperspace exit three hundred kilometers from our starboard aft."
"How many?"
"I— I can't tell. It's seems to be more than a dozen Star Destroyers, but all bunched together."
"Helm. Bring the ship about. One hundred degrees port. Let's see what this mystery is about."
"One hundred degrees port, aye."
As the ship came around, the debris and fire from the Annihilator came to the view of all on the bridge. No one smiled.
"Hyperspace exit in five, four, three, two, one. Now!"
There was a silence of unbelievability by those who could look out the viewing window.
"What the hell is that?" General Gerrera finally said pointing to the ship.
Kallus started walking up to the viewport. "They did it. The sons of bitches actually did it."
They were all looking out to the ship. It was large. Very large. More than Very Large. Phenomenally Large.
"What's it called, Kallus?" Commodore Bonteri asked
"They call it a Super Star Destroyer."
"There must be an entire planet's population in that thing," added Saw.
"Just about," replied Kallus.
"What's it called?" asked the Commodore.
"The Decimator, I believe."
"Yet another fluffy name that gives you the feels," Commode Bonteri said while looking through some binocs.
It wasn't long before a transmission forced its way into the bridge. Then, an image more distasteful to Ahsoka than a thousand Trandoshans appeared, causing her to frown deeply. Lux know exactly who it was.
"Tarkin."
"Hmm. Prepare to meet your doom, Bonteri. And, ah, I will finally take care of you too, Ahsoka Tano. Something even Lord Vader couldn't do. It will be my honor." The transmission went off, as if any further talk with the Commodore was a waste of time.
Then, suddenly, the entire Plo Koon lurched forward forcefully.
"Tractor beam!"
—•—
Thank you for reading this. I hope you liked it.
As always, thank you so much for the reviews.
Well, here is the first of the action chapters. You can see the homage to The Hunt for the Red October. I will try to get the next chapter up in a week. It's complete in my mind—where it still doesn't do anyone any good.
In the next chapter, they will battle the Super Star Destroyer and Lux will have an ingenious plan for evening out the odds.
Sorry about the tribbles, but I couldn't resist. Just like they could know when there was a Klingon around, they are lightly Force-sensitive here. However, they did provide a good interaction between Kallus and Numa. (Wait until you see what Numa says about Kallus in the next chapter.)
Like in Chapter Six in my Oasis story, Lux bests Thrawn again. I am sorry if you are a Thrawn fan. I do see a weakness in him in his arrogance.
I am still working out what to call Lux when. As you can see, I have many appellations for him: 'Lux' in calmer moments and by Ahsoka only, 'Terry' by his friends, 'Commodore Bonteri' in commanding times and 'the Commodore' somewhere in-between.
Until next time,
johnt
PS. My biggest chapter yet for this story—and so quickly too. Wow!
PPS. Please let me know if the phrase by Kallus when he sees the Super Star Destroyer was out of place for this story's rating.
