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Words in italics = Thoughts
"For this particular rescue mission, we'll be hitting the enemy on two different fronts." Ki-Adi Mundi addressed the small group gathered around the round holo-table on the bridge the next morning. His eyes scanned the room briefly before continuing. All four members of the Epsilon commando squad were present, along with Captain Bacara of the marines, who Mundi noticed was standing a bit more rigid and tense than normal. Myra stood next to him, a creamy white sash pushed into her wavy red hair instead of covering her eyes, again. He liked to encourage independent thinking and learning by experience with his students whenever possible and had not yet spoken to Myra about this change. She would tell the new squad of troopers about her condition when she was ready. Compassion and openness with others were two of her best qualities, but her biggest weakness, anxiety, often clashed with those qualities. He was certain this mission would be of great benefit for her.
"The target is Demaia Gril, Senator of the planet, Caloria." Mundi continued, activating the console and pulling up a holomap, where a shining dot showed the planet among the expanse of digital stars and galaxies. "She was abducted by the Trade Federation two days ago and taken to a base hidden on a nearby moon, here." another light appeared, showing the moon relative to the planet.
Mundi watched Myra shift uncomfortably. Typically he would describe holomap data as he pulled it up, because Force-reading holograms was nearly impossible, but he purposefully did not this time. Learning to communicate with others to accommodate her needs was a skill she needed to improve.
"Have they made any demands?" Bacara asked, simultaneously using the holo-table controls to zoom in on the moon.
Ki-Adi Mundi sighed. "Oddly enough, they've requested a meeting with a Jedi to negotiate terms. In-person."
"Sounds like a pretty blatant trap to me." Captain Cuyan interjected, his hand holding the bottom of his camouflaged helmet in thought, as if it was his chin.
Mundi nodded. "That's why we will be dividing our forces. The meeting is to take place in the middle of an open field, and I'm certain that the Senator will not be there. Captain Bacara and the Marines will attend the meeting with me and find out what the enemy has up their sleeve. Meanwhile, Myra," he turned to face her. "You will go with Captain Cuyan and his men to rescue the Senator."
Myra's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't been Master Mundi's apprentice for very long and had never acted this independently from him on a mission. She swallowed. "but Master, you said you don't believe Senator Gril will be at the meeting… where will she be?"
"Not to worry, padawan, our reconnaissance report found a hidden base not far from the meeting area. I am confident the Senator is being held there. Detailed schematics of the base have been sent to everyone in the rescue team." He deactivated the holomap and signaled Bacara to follow him. "Captain Bacara and I are going now to brief the Marines on our part; I'll leave it to you all to go over the building schematics yourself and decide on your plan. Please brief me on it when you are finished."
Before Myra could protest, she could already hear his footsteps receding down the corridor. Well, now I have no choice but to tell them…
"Did you want to go over those schematics now, Commander?" She heard Cuyan ask from behind her.
"Ah, y-yes…" She sputtered, turning quickly. "but not here. Let's move off the bridge so we're not in anyone's way. Follow me, please."
"Looks like the whole thing is underground… sheesh, that's one way to hide it." Myra heard one of the four men murmur, as they continued to study the map in the smaller briefing room she had led them too. C'mon Myra, you were going to have to tell them before the mission anyway. Now's as good a time as any… so why am I still so nervous?
Fidgeting with the silky end of her white eye-wrap-turned-headband, Myra took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Here goes nothing... "Um, before we get started… I need to tell you all something."
She could hear her pulse quicken in her eardrums as the room went quiet and she felt all four men's gazes fix on her.
"... I am… well actually I was wondering if…" She hung her head, her voice becoming hushed and almost timid. "... could one of you describe the layout of the building to me? I can't... see it."
The silence that followed was long and almost palpable. Confusion, shock, doubt, realization, disbelief; the emotions of the four men hit Myra's force senses like a tidal wave. Finally someone spoke.
"So that's why your eyes are freaky pale-"
"Jaro!" Cuyan snapped at the orange-splattered trooper. "My apologies, Commander."
"It's ok, Captain. I understand if any of you are unsure of my abilities but please don't worry." Myra said in in a rush. "I won't bore you with details, but I can sort of 'see' through the Force. I promise I can still be useful and I won't be in anyone's way. Or accidentally, you know, chop off any of your limbs."
Another heavy silence. Wow, great job, Myra. She berated herself. Making jokes about death is a great way to relieve the tension… now they think I'm blind, useless, and dangerous! They're never going to follow my lead now! What if they don't listen to me on the mission at all and somebody dies and it's all my fault-
"Uh, so then… did you want me to talk you through the map, Commander?" one of the clones sitting at the table in the center of the room asked haltingly. Myra focused on his presence and identified him as Tor, the sniper.
Making her way gracefully to the table, she sat down with the others. "Yes, thank you. Tor, right?"
He seemed surprised at the use of his name. "Uh, yeah."
"Hold on." The rustling and scraping sounds told Myra that someone at the table had suddenly stood up. "Commander with all due respect, how many missions have you completed without General Mundi? Don't you think it would be better if you went with him? Epsilon is more than capable of-"
"Snap!" Tor barked from beside Myra.
"No it's ok." Myra reassured him, standing up. "I said I would understand if you had concerns and I do." Shifting her weight, she stood up straighter and forced her voice to become more resolute. "Even so, I am the ranking officer in this mission and I expect that all of you will respect my position. Someone's life is in danger, so earning each other's trust over time isn't a luxury we can afford. If you would like to be reassured of my combat abilities or leadership skills, I'm sure Captain Bacara can give an accurate account of my in-field performance." She paused and took a deep breath. "I am… different, and there are certain things I just cannot see but just like each of you, I have my own strengths and weaknesses. Master Mundi assigned me to this part of the mission because he believes I can help in some way, and I've never doubted his judgement."
Sitting back down, she reached up and pulled the sash in her hair down over her eyes. "Sorry, I can see general forms of bright light and sometimes they give me a headache." She cleared her throat and continued. "Master Mundi told me that Republic Commandos haven't worked much with Jedi yet, not to mention a blind one, and I know this is all really new for you. I really want this to be a successful mission, and I know you all do too. So, if you have any questions about Jedi or me during the mission, feel free to ask. But right now I think we should figure out an entry strategy."
Myra felt Snap's aura shift from his previous indignation to a somewhat calm and rebuked state. "Sorry, ma'am." he clipped out and sat back down. Meanwhile inside her mind, she was in a bit of shock at her own boldness. I've never spoken to anyone like that before… Oh goodness, I hope they don't hate me...
The awkward silence was broken by a short chuckle from the Captain. "A woman who speaks her mind. I like it. We can respect that, can't we boys? Now let's crack this place open."
SOME TIME LATER:
"Boots on the ground in five." the voice of the pilot crackled over the L.A.A.T. ship's intercom.
Myra stood with the others in the dim red lighting in silence, the hum of the ship drowning out any night noises from the outside.
Inside however, she could hear the familiar sound of one of the men disassembling, cleaning, and re-assembling a gun, although from the sounds of it and the fact that it was taking quite a bit longer to work on, it probably wasn't an average, standard-issue blaster. Must be the sniper, Tor. Myra mused to herself. Meanwhile, the commando next to her was impatiently fidgeting, alternating between pacing the deck and tapping his foot. Myra remembered his aura; it was bright and consistently hyperactive. I'm fairly certain his name was Jaro. Myra guessed. Given enough time with the men, she knew she would be able to easily identify them by their faint Force signatures or auras, but she hadn't had that sort of time with them yet.
"Three minutes thirty-four seconds til contact." One of the men said briskly. I think that one's Snap. Myra guessed again. She knew he was the one who had questioned her place in this mission earlier, but he also seemed to take her explanation relatively well and had apologized. The success of the mission seemed to be his one and only objective at all times, and Myra couldn't really fault him for that.
"Thank you, Lieutenant Chrono." The deeper voice of Captain Cuyan teased. Snap just huffed and grumbled in response. "Someone's gotta keep our collective shebs on a schedule…"
Myra giggled. "Well I think it's a good thing, Snap." Snap turned his head and looked at her in surprise that she had spoken to him, but said nothing. Quickly turning back, he stared instead at the red cross insignia on the side of his helmet in his hands, then put it on.
Oh no, that was too awkward. He probably thinks I'm rude and nosy for intruding on an inside joke like that… She silently berated herself. Let's just hope I can survive this mission with my life and my dignity intact…
After a few more minutes, the whole ship slowed to a halt and rumbled as hovered just a few feet off the ground. The P.A. system fizzled on one last time, "Objective 3 clicks southwest. Good luck boys." There was hushed mumbling heard from the co-pilot and then the pilot added, "Oh right uh… And ma'am."
The side doors slid open and the lights changed from red to green as Epsilon squad jumped to the ground and broke for the edge of the forest to find cover. Never a good idea to stay in any open clearing for long. Myra used the force to leap straight from the ship into the tree line and listened as it immediately took off into the night sky. She waited until she could sense all four men around her.
"Well gentlemen, let's go save a Senator."