A month passed quickly by, quiet other than the ongoing mission updates. Miriah was grateful for the peace, and Devin and Logan both grew at a steady rate. Magdalane had started working with Devin for a half hour each day, and the child had surprised even his grandmother with his rapid acclimation to force use. Maura had discovered she was pregnant, and in the early stages of sleep and sickness with it. She'd been staying at home for the past few days, with Miriah keeping the twins for naps to let her rest. Corso wasn't too happy with this arrangement since he thought his wife needed just as much rest, but he did his part and helped as much as he could. Besides, Miriah had told him, she was much stronger than Maura.
They were at the office, Felix and Corso working on the Makeb planning, and Aric ordering more supplies, when the holo chimed. MIriah was closest, and pressed the receive button. Before her wavered General Garza, looking very tired. Miriah was touched by the overall sadness of the general, and gave her a few seconds to compose herself. "Miriah, dear. Good to see you," Garza said.
"And you, General. I trust Diedre and Paolo are safe and well?"
"They are. But the people on Makeb are not. I'm afraid I need to ask you to put that new ship of yours to use." She had just uttered those words when Aric and Corso appeared at Miriah's side. Corso looked angry, but Aric stopped him from speaking with a hand on his friend's arm.
"General, what's going on with Makeb?" Aric asked, aware that the next thing Garza spoke could cause Corso to erupt.
"We're evacuating people there. You've seen the drilling operations, so you know the conditions. We're marshalling our former privateer force and their freighters to take these people to safety." Aric felt rather than saw Corso relax beside him, and relaxed himself. Miriah stood with her hand resting on her little bump of a belly.
"We can certainly haul people, General," Miriah said. "But there will be no going down to the planet for us." She saw Corso nod vigorously, and knew he was relieved. Garza let out a breath.
"There should be no other danger than travel," Garza replied. "I would suggest, if Magdalane is up to it, that she join you to help calm the refugees. The first few freighters that took them said that there was a lot of fear and anxiety in the groups." She saw Felix enter the holo room then, and saw him nod at her.
"I'm sure Mags would be fine with that," he told her. He knew she would gladly do whatever was necessary to help those displaced. "Where are we taking the refugees?"
"There are several planets that have agreed to help. I'll send the data now, and call again when we have more specifics for your group. In the meantime, congratulations are in order, Aric." She beamed a smile at her former major, and he grinned at her.
"Indeed, General. We are blessed with another addition to our group," he told her.
"I'll be in touch soon," Garza said, and was gone.
Corso turned to his wife. "We can do this, but you are not going to overwork yourself, right?" He gazed into her eyes, seeing the love there but also the concern. "Right?"
She put her hand on his cheek and smiled. "Of course, we'll be fine, sugar." He sighed but nodded, figuring at least if he was along he could do whatever she needed. The group dispersed and Felix pulled his personal holo out of a pocket to contact Mags. When she heard the plight of the people of Makeb, she was in agreement with the group and promised to start putting things together for the trip.
Aric went home at lunch and told Maura of this mission. They'd decided, at the office, that Miriah, Corso, Magdalane and Felix would go. That would leave Aric and Maura at the office here. He told her the plan, but she could see the disappointment in his eyes.
"You want to go, don't you," she said softly, looking at her feet.
"I want to be with you, hon. You aren't up to a long trip. There's no way to know how long they'll be gone, and with the twins and now the little one, we need to be here. Besides, we still have missions to plan, and I'll need you at the office. Okay?" He put his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into him. She knew he was right, but the truth was she felt guilty that her pregnant little sister was going off into space while she sat home. Aric guessed that was her hesitation, and gently squeezed her closer. "Spitfire will be fine, she's more at home in the stars that most people are on the ground. And with the new ship, she'll be safer than ever."
"She named it, you know. Did she tell you?" Maura looked up at his vivid green eyes.
"No, she didn't mention it. What did she decide?"
"Windwalker. It suits the sleek design, don't you think?"
"Hmm it does indeed." He walked her over to the sofa. "Now, I think, we need to get comfortable while the twins are napping."
Corso made his way through his quiet house to the porch, and the swing with his wife already there. He'd put Devin down for a nap, always filled with love when he was with the little boy. He was still smiling when he joined Miriah, which got bigger when he saw what she'd put together for their lunch. "Looks great, cyare," he told her, sitting beside her. He noticed that she had already started her sandwich and dove in, neither of them speaking while they ate. When they were finished, they reclined in the swing, Corso rubbing his hands gently over their other son. He thought she was asleep, but then she spoke.
"Makeb. I know it's in Hutt space, but really that's about all. What nearby planets would be habitable?" she asked.
"We'll have to get Felix to tell us more about that. All I can tell you is the weaponry I've suggested for the missions there," he chuckled.
"I've been working it out in my head, and I think we can take forty at a time if we bring cots for the cargo hold," she said, yawning.
"That sounds about right. That would allow for everyone to have shower space and hot food, without anyone having to really be cramped." He pushed the swing gently with a booted foot. "If I remember the sequence correctly, the refugees will be taken to the orbital station and from there, sent out to one of six designated planets, all within two days' travel for a ship with a hyperdrive." He shrugged. "We may have to put Devin in our…" he realized she was asleep and grinned. He was content with her head on his chest, her warmth against him, and continued to gently push the swing, letting her rest.
Devin slept as he lived, which was hard. He was adjusting to force use, but the lessons tired him out and he woke slowly from his nap. He could tell in the force that his parents were near, that his mama was sleeping and his dad was happy. He smiled and closed his big, brown eyes again, resting a few more minutes before getting up to join them on the porch. He'd felt a ripple of excitement at the office, but wasn't sure why. He had a feeling they'd be on the ship again soon, and that was always fun. He could feel his little brother's consciousness as a small bit of light in his mom's aura, but he was looking forward to seeing him. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, and detoured to the refresher on his way to the porch. When he opened the clear door, he saw his dad grin at him and make motions to tell him to be quiet. He crossed to his father and Corso swung him up in his arms. He put his head on the broad shoulder, and waited for his mom to wake.
Magdalane was sitting with Felix and Ian, and was on board with the plans for their journey to Makeb. She was mentally packing when she realized Felix was waiting for her to answer him. "I'm sorry, dear, I was thinking about the trip. What did you say?"
Felix sighed but smiled as his wife. "I was wanting to know what you thought about the refugees. What they might need and if we need to take them supplies." He put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him.
"I can only imagine, but I think the majority of them will need reassurance and comfort most, and I'm thinking we could take some of the field kits that we have stockpiled at the office for field ops." She leaned forward to put Ian in his bassinette. "I think we should also take some of the frozen meals we have with us, because hot, home cooked food can be a comfort, too." She settled herself against him, and laced her fingers with his. "Whatever we can do to help, we'll do."
Sarai had been briefed by Aric, and was determined to go with Miriah to help with the kids. She drove her speeder to the ranch and laughed out loud when she saw her son in law on the porch with her grandson. Miriah had gone inside to cook and the "boys", as she called them, were playing in the dirt. Both were fairly covered, and Corso blushed when he saw her. Devin saw her and ran, calling "Nana!" and she hugged him close, dirt and all. Magdalane had been working with him for a month now, and his force aura had grown, Sarai noted. She had a feeling he was destined to be a very strong force user, like his grandfather had been. She smiled as he chattered with her, telling her all about his day and playing. They walked into the house and she took the little boy to wash up. As she dried his hands and face, she felt his wondering push against her own force aura, and projected calm to him. Whatever we end up doing, she thought, he needs to know he's not alone. Sarai hugged the little boy tightly to her, and felt the light increase around them. He relaxed in her arms, and she kissed his forehead.
They made their way to the kitchen where Miriah was finishing dinner preparations. "Hey, Mom. How was your day? I see you got one of them cleaned up." She knelt to hug Devin, kissing his nose before rising to hug her mother.
"I need to talk to you two," Sarai said, and when Miriah frowned, added, "Nothing's wrong, just want to wait until you are both in here."
"Corso went to the shower, so he'll be a few minutes," Miriah told her, going over to the worktable to sit. "Stay and have dinner with us, Mom." Sarai smiled and nodded her acceptance, and followed her daughter to the worktable. "You've heard about the Makeb evacuation?"
Sarai nodded again. "That's why I'm here. I've been doing some reading and apparently there is a very large ship that is being repaired to take evacuees out. Why are they asking for the privateers to help?" She fiddled with the cheerful placemat, wishing her son in law would hurry.
"Not sure, Mom, but how can I ignore a request to help people whose world is collapsing around them?" Miriah felt her mother's unease but wasn't sure why it was there. They both looked up as Corso joined them, still pulling his shirt over his damp hair.
"What's up, ladies?" he asked, sensing they had been discussing something serious by the looks on their faces.
SaraI stood. "I am going with you. To Makeb. I know, Mags and Felix are going, but I feel a strong pull to go. If nothing else, to help with the little ones." She turned pleading eyes to her daughter, who stood and hugged her mother.
"I have no objection, Mom. We should have plenty of room," Miriah told her. Sarai sighed with relief. There's something major coming in the force, she thought. I won't let her down again.