Chapter 3

Deslly, too had seen better days and piloting a beat-up jedi starfighter and the rest of the survivors of a mission to a planet he didn't even want to think about anymore, was definitely not one of them. Indicators on his display equipment indicated that he was about to exit from hyperspace, Deslly flipped a few switches and watched as the stars stopped streaking past him.

"Pretty smooth trip I'd say how about the rest of you", Deslly asked as four other jedi fighters and their hyperdrive units exited either side of him.

"We're all fine back here outcast leader, what are our final coordinates", Deslly heard outcast two say. He stroked his chin fur frustratingly at the mention of outcast squadron, the name came from Lebor his over enthusiastic Twi'lek padawan. The name meant just that. On mission the jedi had been captured and there had been no help from the council, the only help came from Tyr and his now late master who broke them out. Lebor saw this as being rejected by the council, hence outcast, but his Ewok master was more hopeful and disapproved the name but Mena asked Deslly to allow it, considering it was to be temporary. So it came to be that the jedi limped their way back to the core in their damaged fighters to receive further instructions. They had made it back after months of fighting weeks of imprisonment and days of micro jump travel but now the five jedi were only one micro jump away from reaching their destination. Deslly scratched his chin once more and took a glance at his indicator before saying finally, "Set a course for Courascant, we're going home", cheers went up on the frequencies of the outcasts as they prepared to follow their leader through hyperspace to the galactic center, to Courascant, home. "Outcast leader this is three", a voice over Deslly's comlink spoke suddenly.

"Receiving you three, go ahead Mena".

"Are you getting this, leader?"

"No, wait here it is. Ill run it through now"

"I already have, master. It's a coded retreat message from the jedi temple. It says the war is over and we are all to return there".

"Interesting, maybe then we can get some answers".

"Hang on before you say anything there are several other signals, closer ones"

"I'm receiving several indications of ships in the area, what is your orders outcast leader", Deslly looked down at his indicator and noticed that six friendly fighters were heading in their direction.

"Don't worry about it Mena we should be getting visual contact soon", Mena's apprentice, Tara piped in. Soon enough six Arc-170 fighters came into view. Deslly powered down his hyperdrive unit and spoke quickly to Mena before opening to all communication channels.

"Come in Arc-170 fighters, this is jedi Deslly Warrick requesting a brief on the situation here and if you're not too busy we could use an escort". There was an eerie silence that followed as the fighters approached, Deslly tried again to contact the in coming squadron to no success. The fighters broke formation and two flights of three surrounded the jedi's ships as if to escort them but Deslly wasn't so sure and contacted Mena privately. "Mena disconnect with your unit, this could be trouble". Without saying another word Mena and Deslly detached from their hyperdrives and sensing the trouble the padawans did the same as the comlink came to life.

"Engage the jedi, order sixty six is to be carried out in full", the clone fighters turned inwards toward the jedi and opened fire.

"But they're clone fighters, they're on our side!".

"Break out of formation split up outcast four go with three, two and five with me", Deslly snapped orders and spun his ship out of trouble. But the six wing fighters were too quick for Tara and a volley of laser fire pelted towards her ship. She just about screamed before Tyr and his ship darted in front of the blast.

"My shields are down, get out of there Tara", Tyr urged her before rushing to get out of danger

"Tyr, thank you", was what she started to reply but Deslly interrupted the moment.

"Tyr, that was foolish. Good job for saving her anyway, find somewhere safe and go. New plan now outcasts, Tara you form on Mena she needs help and Lebor you're with me". There was a flash of light as the fighter he was chasing exploded spectacularly. Tara saw that Deslly was serious about Mena she had two enemies on her tail and was finding it hard to shake them. It felt strange to Tara about calling them enemies these were the fighters she had flown side by side with into combat. As she chased the attacking Arc-170s on Mena she let loose her lasers and caught one in the engines while the other one flew off to escape a similar fate.

"Looked like you needed a hand here", she laughed as she took up a position on Mena's flank.

"While I applaud your efforts my dear apprentice, it would not have been necessary, I would have had those two anyway", Mena joked to her padawan as she flew past the exploding fighter she had just destroyed. Mena and Tara flew toward Deslly and Lebor who seemed to be having problems of their own, the three remaining fighters had completed a turn and were taking Deslly and Lebor head on.

"Hold your fire until I say Lebor and we might just get them all at once", before Deslly had even finished his sentence, Lebor opened fire on the lead fighter. The other two moved aside from what remained of their flight leader and curved around to either side of Lebor.

"Always acting without thinking", Deslly scolded. The enemies were about to deal the killing blow, instead they exploded one at a time and a cheering Tyr flew through the resulting explosion.

"Alright good job", Deslly allowed himself a moment of celebration that didn't last long.

"Those fighters must be scouting our energy signatures from a ship near by", Tara looked to her equipment If they did my sensors aren't showing it".

"It might be because they haven't seen us yet, we need to get back to Courascant and fast, what do you say master", Lebor asked as he flew towards the group and formed on Deslly's wing.

"You may be right this time Lebor, this was something even I did not expect. We have to warn the council as soon as possible. The war may be over but I sense something bigger and much darker coming". The jedi flew back to their hyperdrive and reattached them. "Right now, if no one else has any objections, I'd like to go home", he said as the five ships' engines glowed for a second and then in a flash disappeared through hyperspace back home at last.