Jan wasn't sure where she was at first, or how she had gotten here in the first place. She feels fatigued, which gives her some clue to the fact that she did not come here unaided. She is in what looked like a clinic. Shistavanens run along back and forth, carrying bacta shots and disinfectants to other wounded Shistavanens. From what she could see, Jan is the only human there. She lay in what looked like a white hospital bed. Slowly, it all started coming back to her. She had been captured, tortured and almost died from her injuries from the savage Dark Jedi. Her memories are hazy, but she remembers someone coming to her rescue. Someone in Stormtrooper armor.

No Shistavanen's come to attend her, as they are busy with their own. So she takes a chance and starts to pull herself up. None of them take notice. Jan tests her weight on one foot after lowering both legs to the ground. A numb pain is all there is, nothing to stop her from putting the other foot down. 'Just take it slow, Jan' she silently tells herself. The numb pain is warning enough that not everything is fully mended.

She only has one thing on her mind, though. And that is getting to Kyle. Not only for answers. She cared about him, and just wanted to see him alive and well. But she doesn't know at all what had happened. She begins to recall a battle as she sees the many injured in the beds. She did not recall whatever had happened to the Imperial garrison on Uvena, nor the mercenary captain and his crew. Only that a battle happened. And that she lived.

Down the rows hall of beds she comes to a door, where one wolfman stands guard and does not stop her in going through. So she goes on, completely ignored by any Shistavanen's passing by or standing guard. A few push past to where they are needed or want to be, or wherever their loved ones are.

It wasn't until she comes to the waiting room that someone stops her when she almost reaches the front doors.

"Leon!" she exclaims after turning in alarm. She never got surprised, but she felt so vulnerable after what happened. Even if she does not remember the whole thing, due to her trauma. It all seemed to have flashed by in a blur. Her feet still hurt, and she caught Leon staring at bruises up her uncovered arms. "Where's Kyle?" A scowl darkens the boy's face.

"Out there. On landing platform 14D." After that he trudges past me and goes back to a wall, next to a large-looking Rodian. Jan shrugs off the feeling that something happened between Kyle and Leon and goes out to find that the building she is in is a lot taller than she first thought. At least thirteen floors were below her current one, and several more above. On each floor is a long bridge that extends out to four separate platforms. Taking a guess, Jan assumes Platform 14D is the farthest right one. Her suspicions are confirmed when she notices the Raven Claw resting atop the landing platform, a ring of lights circling it. On a platform next to it, an inky black YT-1250 class freighter with yellow streaks along some parts. Something pulls at the back of her mind.

But when Jan sees a familiar figure, she completely ignores the black ship and almost starts running. As well as almost calling out before she spots someone else. By their outfit, the Shistavanen with Kyle looks very political. It was a rare thing to see a wolfman in colorful dignitary robes. By the wolfman's posture and calm gestures, Jan assumes he is the Senate representative of Uvena.

Only when she got close does she notice the changes on the Raven Claw. A rotating SW-4 Ion Cannon has been fitted into the top, and two anti-fighter cannons, one on the front of each engine. The woman couldn't help but feel...well, not too happy that someone messed with her ship. This is something she was definitely going to talk about with Kyle, perhaps even a priority.

"-can assure you that what you have done for us will strengthen our relationship with the New Republic." Kyle nods along, though by his face Jan couldn't help but smirk as she approaches the two conversing in politics.

"Yes, I am sure- Jan!" He hurries over, much to the dismay and surprise to the Shistavanen politic, and grabs her around the waist, almost throwing her in the air as he spun around with her, much to her own surprise.

"Kyle!"

"I missed you." They hug each other, close enough they were cheek to cheek. Then drew in for a long deep kiss. It lasts for so long, or that's how it feels in their minds. And she secretly wishes it could stay that way. But they had to part for air, and to keep talking.

"How are you? Nothing broken, right?" Kyle asks, tilting his head in questioning while his eyes look over her. Jan shakes her head, a small smile gracing her features. Not admitting that she still aches in places, but she didn't want anything to get in between them. So when the politician got close enough that their nose was almost in between their faces, she had to take action.

"Jan" she says, introducing herself after stretching out her hand. The representative took the hand and shook.

"Lokvum Lag. Leader of the city's council" the Shistavanen returns. His grip is firm, his claws long enough to almost scratch at Jan's gloved hands. "I am glad that the Republic sent two of it's finest to aid us. They had remained hidden somehow, and when they showed themselves I believed it was too late for our city. If it was not for your pirate friends, we would not have retaliated in time."

Jan nods along, although all she wanted was for this to just be over so she could talk more with her partner.

She glances over at Kyle. His face changes when the Shistavanen spoke of the pirates being friends. His look plainly said 'yeah right'. She elbows him in the stomach for that.

"Get Leon." She glances at the ship before whispering in his ear, "And about the ship, we're having a talk later." Kyle nods, then walks away, giving one last glance before disappearing beyond the doors. Jan turns back to the politician.

"I would like to ask something. What happened? In the battle." The politician grimaces.

"We took many losses, more than we could afford." The politician began trailing away toward the edge. Jan follows, lending her ear. "For a hidden army, it was quite large. But it was not only Stormtroopers. There were users of the dark side, and some hired guns. Some of them our own. Mercenaries, pirates. All hired by the Empire to do their bidding. I am sure you can understand that we were cautious when your friends arrived to tell us of what had happened. I should not have left the city in the hands of incompetent fools who fall to their knees at the sight of credits!" Jan distanced herself a little from the now-angered wolfman. She thinks to put a hand of reassurance on his shoulder, but she knows about their anger, and what those claws and jaws could do. As well as the common taste for others that lingers in some Shistavanen's. So she kept her hand back.

An audible sigh comes from the Shistavanen, from deep in their throat in almost a rumble. There is a long silence as they look over the city from the tall building. Just looking she couldn't believe there had ever been a battle. How long has it been since that battle everyone seemed to be speaking of? She had to know.

"Lokvum. How long has it been since the battle?" There is a long pause.

"Three days. Your wounds were great...Many were very...unpleased with sharing our medical supplies with you." Jan feels something welling up in her. Is it fear for her wounds? Confusion? She knows it is something, for she had never been injured for that long before. Something is wrong inside her. The only question is what. Images start to flash by of what had happened, instilling fear in her.

"I still can't believe one of our own has turned against us, especially to the dark side."

They both stand there, looking over the edge of the platform. Until the council member holds something out before her. A handful of small metal ingots. Credits. Jan accepts them with hesitation. After all, they were mercenaries.

"You deserve payment for this. It is all we can offer you." Jan couldn't help but smile. Even though she had been a little scared of being close to the angry wolfman before.

"Thank you" she replied in a quite joyful manner. They were mercenaries after all. Money was the thing that got them doing things. Unless it was personal. That tended to happen a lot, and it involved her being caught or injured in some way. It had become her thing, being the damsel in distress. And she was sick of it.

Jan bowed her head to the Shistavanen before turning to find Kyle, only to find said person already standing in front of her. She started, almost falling back. Leon couldn't help but snicker behind Katarn.

"Kyle! Don't do that" she scolded, glaring.

"Sorry. But we have a bit of an emergency."

Somewhat Earlier

Kyle felt overly glad to see his partner Jan up and moving. And being herself. Not knowing what she had been through, it put him on the edge. And whatever it was had put her on the edge too. He had sensed the dark feelings swirling within her. Something had happened that changed her. And he isn't sure whether to let it go, or approach her on it. Either option could end badly in the future. Or in the present.

But for now, he focuses on seeing his padawan, thanks to Luke Skywalker and Jan Ors. The two who had agreed to give Kyle a padawan. Neither master nor padawan agreed on it, but he could feel somewhat of a connection ever since their first training exercise.

The day before, he had given another to the kid. Leon had improved, but still put too much emotion into his strikes and defense. His feelings keep radiating off him, making it easy for other force-users to read him. And before that, he scolded him. he wasn't sure where the scolding had come from, but it happened. Kyle was becoming less and less of a merc, and more of a Jedi. Again, he wasn't sure if that was good or bad. The Jedi Order was lacking since the attack on the Academy.

He finds Leon sitting, a rather small frown on his face. Alongside the big-boned Rodian, Teevo.

Ever since the fight ended, Captain Connor's pirate crew had been lingering around the hospital. All except Connor himself, who had 'errands' to deal with. Kyle strolls over to the two, yet stops to listen in.

"-Just wish I could be with someone who can actually train me. Kyle, he's no Jedi. How can some merc teach me to become a Jedi?" Kyle feels like he'd been slapped by Jan after making a stupid act. Sure, he had heard it so many times. But the feelings he could feel radiation off the boy, and lingering in his tone. The sadness, the disappointment.

"Perhaps you should give him a chance. I'm no Jedi, just a gun wielding mercenary. Sure, I might be as ruthless as most, but still not as peaceful as a Jedi. And who knows, maybe learning from him might give you benefits. The galaxy has changed since the fall of the Republic years ago. Knowing your way around a gun might actually help you." Leon goes to protest, but shuts his mouth. A new expression takes his face. Hesitation. Was he really thinking on that?

Katarn suddenly hears something beeping in his pocket. He glances down to his leg pocket to see his communicator beeping at him. It is only a voice communicator, so when he activates it no hologram appears. He lifts it to his mouth, turning around to the front door.

"Kyle Katarn here" he answers into the communicator. His expression goes blank as he answers.

"Kyle Katarn? Where is General Ors?" Hearing that made him sigh. Some New Republic official or something like that.

"She is out talking. Can I take a message?" he replies in a monotone polite voice. Faked, of course.

"Katarn, we need you here at Eriadu." He straightens up, knowing that name. The very same place Luke Skywalker said he was going to investigate. That must have meant Luke is in trouble.

"Where is Luke?"

"Not here. he had something else to deal with."

"Explain your situation already, then."

"We found an Imperial presence on the surface. A team was sent down to investigate and found an abandoned Imperial base. We assumed so, that is. But things only got worse. We are-" An alarm sounds off on the other end. "Hell! We need some Gold Squadron attacking that Star Destroyer! As I was saying, several ships pulled out of hyperspace, as well as two TIE fighter groups came from the surface. We need help...Now!"

"We are on our way!" He cut the transmission and turns to finish what he had come in to do. Only to see Leon looking right at him. Kyle turns right around before the boy can question a single thing and goes right at the door.

Jan wears a worried look after Kyle finishes his retelling of the said emergency. From behind her the politician visibly tenses up. Kyle can see that. He tenses up as well. Things were about to get bad. Jan turns back around and starts talking to the politician. He didn't listen in on it at all, as Leon had turned him around.

"Kyle, I want to come." Kyle's mouth almost gapes open. That had been very surprising to him. Yet right away, he has his answer.

"No. This is dangerous. You heard what was happening over there. I can't let you take a risk, not again." He glances up at Teevo. Then hands him a handful of credits. "I have an offer. I'll pay Connor extra-"

"Say no more. I understand perfectly" Teevo cut in, putting a hand on Leon's shoulder. Kyle leaves the two behind before Leon can make any argument. Yet from behind he can still hear him shouting at Kyle, most likely struggling against the Rodians strong grip. Jan just reaches the ship as Kyle does.

"We have been given a Defender-class corvette along with eight Z-95 fighters to aid us, as thanks to the New Republic." Kyle raises his brows. "His words, not mine. Now get in." The ladder lowers, allowing the two to enter their newly-modified ship. Which Jan just happens to bring up on the spot once they are in their chairs. Especially after seeing new pieces of equipment inside. "What did you do...to my ship?!" Kyle immediately raises his hands.

"Not me. Connor insisted" he says, defending himself. She huffs, pauses. Then engages the ships takeoff sequence. The Raven Claw lifts into the air. Ahead, nine ships pull into the sky. Their escort force. The Defender corvette has yellow markings and an Insignia on each side, as well as a mounted cannon on top that is cable of swivelling around to rear targets. The fighters have the same insignia and yellow markings.

"Fang-1 here, leader of Fang squadron. We are under your orders..as much as I disagree working for humans." Jan and Kyle both ignore that remark. "All ships, form up behind the Raven Claw. Prepare to jump to hyperspace." Jan fires up the hyperdrive once out of the atmosphere, then with one push of a lever the Raven Claw shoots forward, followed by it's very own escort force.

The ten ships drop out of hyperspace just within a safe distance. Ahead, Kyle and Jan see what the emergency is. On the New Republic side, five ships reside. Two Nebulon-B frigates, both recognized as the Lucky Star and the Pursuer with three CR-90 Corvettes. Only one Kyle can recognize. The Mantooine. And by the looks of it, the Mantooine had suffered the worst damage from the ongoing battle before them. It surprises him to see so many New Republic ships, since most of the time they steer clear of open combat. That adds to the initial worry he had about the upcoming engagement.

On the Remnant's side, the closer side to their arrival point, one Victory Class I Star Destroyer is backed up by two Tartan patrol cruisers and a Broadside missile cruiser. Remains of a third Tartan drift around. From behind, what looks like another Tartan cruiser flanks the New Republic forces. This one looks different, bearing markings. As many know, the people of Eriadu supported the Empire. It is no surprise that one of their ships would be utilised against the Empire's enemies, even after the war had been finished.

Several squadrons on both sides battle it out, flying around ships and open space in dogfights and bombing runs. Laser cannons fire every direction, ripping their targets apart into bits of blasted metal.

"Fang-1, are your people ready?"

"As ready as we'll ever be" replies the almost-menacing gruff voice on the other end. Growls and grunts of confirmation fill the comms from the other pilots.

"Good. Because we have company!" Jan exclaimed over the comms. A squadron of six TIE fighters fly to greet them into the battle ahead. Kyle flips some of the new switches. Apparently, Connor had taught him some things. And that came in handy. The cannon on top fires a stream of laser fire, clipping a TIE. No real damage was done by the blast, but it certainly made the pilot more careful as they start to drift from side to side. The others follow along, ready to dodge anymore powerful blasts from the cannon.

"For an automated cannon, I expected it to be more accurate." Jan mumbles something under her breath, and when Kyle catches the name Connor, he decides not to ask. Two of the fighters fire preemptively, missing all targets.

"All fighters, break off and hit back! Fang-3, stay in formation!" All the Z-95's break formation and zoom off after fighters, all except two and the Defender-class. They follow the Raven Claw ahead to the looming battle. As they near, Two A-Wings fly by to the fight they left behind.

"We will assist them. The admiral is waiting for you." Jan shoots them a confirmation. But from what they see ahead, getting to the lead ship will be difficult.

Kyle squints at a flash from an exploding TIE the Defender hit. A dogfight goes right by in front of them. Neither spots an oncoming TIE, but their automated cannon does. Just a little too late. An explosion draws Jan's attention to the spinning fighter, but it too late to move the ship. A screeching scrape goes along the top of their ship, knocking the automated cannon on top.

"Was that-" Jan nods before Kyle can finish. Apparently the wasn't alone. Or the Star Destroyers had just been made aware of their presence so close. Another squadron heads right for them.

"You better not die" the Shistavenen pilot growls. Kyle spots the two remaining fighters and the corvette go ahead, hitting the TIE fighter's and TIE interceptor's head on. One wolfman pilot is downed right.

"You heard him, Jan."

"I know! Hang on!" She pitches to the right, avoiding laser fire and going right under the rear of the Star Destroyer. A dull roar echoes through the cockpit from its engines, rumbling and shaking the freighter. For a second, Jan's hands tense up on a joystick. Then presses down, firing from the forward cannons and hitting the large menacing ship along the bottom. Kyle just glances over at her. "What?! I'm stressed!" That reminds him to never get on her bad side.

Underbelly cannons and passing fighters threaten their lives as they barely skim across the triangular ship's bottom side. A Z-95 passes by, only to be blown into pieces of scrap and bits of a dead pilot.

Jan continues to dodge and weave cannon fire hitting from underneath and above until finally they breach past the pointed tip.

"Pursuer, we are coming into landing!" Jan shouts into the comm to herald the flagship just as they reach the rear of one of the Tartans. A crackle comes through the other end, followed by a voice.

"We can handle this, Commander. The surface needs you! Now! We will send members of Blue and Gold squadron down with you!"

"Fang squadron will stick up here!" another more gruff voice bumps in.

"Copy that!" Jan glances over at Kyle, looking him over. In one hand he holds his Bryar pistol at the ready. She checks over her E-11 quickly to have it at the ready. They are both expecting things to start badly as they come to the ground. On either side, A-Wings and a couple of Y-Wings join them on their approach. "Now or never!" And with those words, she puts the ship into a dive.

If they had looked back, they would have noticed another black freighter come out of a jump.