Love and War

The battle had been far from won, but the fleet and most of its pilots and soldiers for the alliance had been able to make a successful retreat to the planet Bastion, and were thankful for what they had succeeded at, removing one of the Empire's strongest Admirals.

"Ald, Sara; I would like to congratulate you on ridding the galaxy of Verion. It is a much better place without him, in fact; Ald I would like to file the forms necessary for you to receive the Medal of Valor, I have already talked with newly promoted Rear Admiral Derion, your commanding officer, and he has agreed to sign for it. Sara, a Civilian's Honors Medal should suffice for you, don't you agree? Again, congratulations to both of you."

"Thank you, Senator," Ald and Sara said, unable to think of anything else to say.

"You deserve it, and Ald, I'll throw in a promotion from Lieutenant Commander to a full blown Commander."

Now, Ald was totally speechless, with only 4 years of service under his belt, this was quite an honor.

"Your term ends next month, if I recall, so I would like to place you in charge of a bomber squadron out of Naboo. Actually, I would like to assign you to form a bomber squadron out of Naboo, and then command it. Lieutenant Kenna can assist you."

"Aye Aye, Sir. As soon as I can, I will be back with my best pilots."

"And Lieutenant Kenna, I would like to give you your Lieutenant Commander's stripe for your brave combat today."

"Thank you, Senator, but, are you qualified to hand out these promotions?"

"These promotions come straight from Admiral Derion; sorry I forgot to mention that."

"We thank you, Senator, and May the force be with you until I return," Ald told Senator Organa before the crew set out back to Theed. In a few short weeks, Aldreaan Skye would no longer be king, and would be free to continue his military career with the newly formed Rebel Alliance.

The Capital Building and the Palace of Naboo were both adorned with many banners and flags to commemorate the crowning of King Aldreaan's successor, a bold and fearless young woman by the name of Ayra Aninarius, who would continue to be a part of the Rebellion, she assured Ald.

The Naboo council chairman stood to speak, "People of Naboo, It is my great honor to crown Queen Aninarius as the Third Ruler of the Sovereign Republic of Naboo; and I would like to congratulate and thank Aldreaan Dyric Skye for ruling this nation in this time of great struggle."

The crowd erupted in applause, and newly-promoted Rear Admiral Sol Derion stood to speak, "As King Aldreaan steps down from his office and returns to military life, I would like to present him with the Naval Medal of Valor for his recent activity in the Battle of Dantooine, and also give him the a Commanding Officer's Sabre to go along with the rank of Commander"

Ald, Syri, Renic, and Sara returned to Renic's small theed apartment after the ceremony.

"Congratulations, Commanders Skye and Kenna on your promotions," Renic said when they sat down for a round of drinks, "I propose a toast to our commanding officer and my future wife," he said, and the group toasted Ald and Syri.

"Ald, Sara; Renic and I have decided to have the wedding once we get to Bastion with the squadron, Renic has applied for an officership and we heard back this morning that he is authorized to fly with us. So he is now Ensign Nilean of the Rebel Alliance Navy Starfighter Corps."

"Congratulations, I take it that it will be a small wedding, then?" Sara asked

"Yes, only you two will be there, we were hoping that you would marry us, Ald," Syri said.

"You're kidding, right? I've never done a wedding before; I don't even know if I'm authorized to perform the ceremony!"

"You are the commanding officer of the squadron, you're authorized to marry any two military servicemen and women," Syri informed him.

"Well in that case, I'll read up on how to perform a wedding, and since you two are like family, I will marry you once we get to Bastion."

Aldreaan and Syri walked into the busy Theed Royal Hangar early in the morning, followed by six of the best bomber pilots on the planet of Naboo. Sara and Renic were packing and would meet them at the landing pad to depart for Bastion.

"Alright boys, here we have seven N-1 J-Type Nubian bombers with beautiful red paint, do not scratch it before we get into battle, and follow orders. As you very well know, I am Commander Aldreaan Skye, you will refer to me as bravo leader in the air and as commander on the ground, to my right here is Lieutenant Commander Syri Kenna, soon to be Syri Nilaen, she is my executive officer and you follow her orders as well as mine. Her call name will always be Alpha Leader in the air; she is piloting our fighter escort. Address her as commander on the ground. You may take off at will, but seperatly. Avoid Imperial starcraft at all costs, and lastly, May the Force be with you."

"Aye, Aye, Sir," they all said in unison.

"Syri, Renic will join you as a fighter escort, I will have Sara in my back seat, and you two can 'escort' us in to keep us company."

"Alright, Sir, I'll take my leave then."

The two fighters and the bomber were then moved to the landing pad where Sara and Renic sat waiting.

"Took you long enough," Renic said.

"You are speaking to your commanding and executive officers, Ensign," Ald informed him.

"You always have to pull that card, don't you Ald," He rebultled.

"Aye, Aye, now get in that fighter and take off. We'll meet you planetside." Ald said as the group finished preparations and took off.

The Squadron neared the planet Bastion, and Aldreaan began to give instructions.

"Bravo Leader to Squadron, stand by for entry procedures. Alpha Leader and Alpha One, Follow me in to the south eastern quadrant, Bravo One and Bravo Two go through the north eastern quad, Bravo Three follow me in, Bravo's Four through Six, orbit and follow Bravo One's route. Clear?"

"This as Alpha Leader, Aye Aye, may the force be with you," Syri said, and was parroted by the other seven members of the squadron.

Once they met up at the hangar in an abandoned clone war base, Bail Organa and his young daughter Leia, who was just learning to walk, joined the group for the wedding. Syri wore a simple, but elegant white dress and Renic was dressed in his new dress whites, all the new brass shining and every crease still crisp.

"Dearly Beloved," Ald began, "Today, we have come to witness the union between two of my closest friends in holy marriage. Renic Otto Nilean, you have come here today to join yourself to Syri Catharine Kenna, and Syri, you too have come to join yourself with Renic."

"Renic, do you swear by us, your planet, the Alliance to Restore the Republic, and your Lord to love and care for Syri Kenna, as long as you both shall live? If so, respond I do."

"I do."

"Syri, do you swear by us, your planet, the Alliance to Restore the Republic, and your Lord to love and care for Renic Nilean, as long as you both shall live? If so, respond I do."

I do."

"Renic, repeat after me," Ald asked, "Syri, I promise to you, with the strength of the force, to love and care for you until I shall become one with the Force."

Renic repeated it, while slipping a diamond ring onto her finger.

"Syri, also repeat after me. Renic, I promise to you, with the strength of the force, to love and care for you until I shall become one with the Force."

She also repeated, and slipped a gold ring onto Renic's Finger.

"By the power vested in me by the Navy of the Alliance to Restore the Republic and by The Royal Naboo Fleet, I pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Renic Otto Nilaen, you my kiss." And they did so. The group then moved to Senator Organa's chamber for a small feast of cakes and wines.

"Syri, Renic, I would like to congratulate you and wish you the best," Ald said to them, moving to a seat in between Sara and Syri, "I know you have waited a long time for this."

"Thanks, Ald, it feels good to finally be married," Syri replied, "But, according to my sister, you have an announcement for us."

"Nothing stays secret, does it," Ald said clearing his throat, "Everyone, I would like to announce that as of the end of the recent battle, Sara and I have been talking, and we are to be married in a few months, back on Naboo by Admiral Derion."

"We hope this doesn't take away from the magnitude of Syri and Renic's wedding, though," Sara chimed in, being respectful of her sister.