Episode 9 – Halcyon Nights
Home Alone! With Giordo and Jayna away on their anniversary cruise beyond the Mandalore Sector, Janie, Kaden, and Giana Rook have been left to their own devices at the family homestead!
In the Halls of Beskar
It had been only a few hours since the older Rooks had departed and already Kaden had set to work dismantling the salvaged hyperdrive ring recovered from Bracca. R3 was assisting with the dismantling while Jan and Gia worked to empty the old Delta-7B's spare parts canisters from behind the cockpit.
"Can we stop yet?" Gia grumbled. She was bored.
"Dad gave us this task to complete and we're going to do what we can to do it, okay? I mean come on, it's for mom and dad. It's probably some kind of anniversary gift from dad to mom." Jan replied.
"That's assuming we can pull it off. I'm having some concerns." Kaden said, turning to an imagecaster that displayed the specs for retrofitting the starfighter.
"Yeah?" Jan asked.
"I mean it'll fit, but my concerns are the power relays. To put it simply, I'm not sure we can route enough power for the hyperdrive to operate consistently. It could dead drop." Kaden said, earning a blank stare from Jan.
"Once more in basic." She deadpanned.
"Meaning it could cut out at a very inopportune moment and you could drop out inside a planet, a star, or worse. And if you drop out in one piece, you're stranded and left to call for help." Kaden said.
"So can't you boost the power?" Jan asked.
"That would mean swapping out her reactor for a newer, more powerful one. I mean finding one small enough and powerful enough wouldn't be too hard. This one's just too old and not meant for that much power output. That's why it had to use those hyperspace rings." Kaden said, motioning to the fighter. R3 beeped his agreement.
"Yeah, so where can we find one? I doubt Numbar has one in his yard. Most of what he has are speeder parts." Jan said as Kaden nodded.
"Yeah, we need something else. We need-…" he said, glancing towards the old freighter nearby.
"Salvage?" Jan asked, approaching him and looking at the freighter.
"Yeah. What do you think?" Kaden asked as Jan shifted her jaw a little in thought.
"We'd need to bring in outside help and dad wasn't keen on that." Jan said.
"Jenth Squad not up for it?" Kaden asked.
"They'd be up for it, but I have Ailyn putting in some range time with Jacki, and Jexxa's gotten pulled in to help her folks out on their freighter for a while." Jan replied.
"We~ll sounds like someone just became an invaluable part of the family business." Giana said as she swaggered up to her older siblings with a smirk. Both of them glared at her.
"Yeah, if you want dad to space the both of us when they get home in a couple days." Jan replied.
"We could dump her off with someone within the House." Kaden suggested but Gia scowled.
"Jerks." She muttered, storming off towards the exit just as Tina thundered in.
"Masters, we have an emergency!" she called, raising one of her manipulators, holding something that was flashing and beeping.
"Tina if that's a thermal detonator so help me-…!" Jan exclaimed as Kaden took the device from the SBD and looked at it.
"It's dad's long range comlink." Kaden said, a look of worry on his face. Jan quickly grabbed his helmet and tossed it to him.
"Well, answer it." She said.
"You're acting Matriarch." He argued, tossing the comlink to her. Jan grumbled under her breath and activated the visual scrambler before activating the comlink itself. Instantly the hologram of a weequay man seated on an elegant throne-like chair. The weequay had on a domed helmet, flight goggles over his eyes, and a long coat.
"Hello, hello my friends. It is I, your humble and legitimate business partner, Hondo Ohnaka. I hope you are doing well." The weequay said with a casual and friendly tone but Kaden and Jan both knew better.
"Hondo. What do you want?" Jan asked. Thanks to the scrambler, Hondo couldn't tell it was Jan, not Giordo.
"Ah, so you are still alive. This is good, which means you are still in business, no? So perhaps you can tell me why my men have not returned with the goods you promised me, hmm?" Hondo said as Jan and Kaden exchanged glances, flashing back to the events of their capture by the Empire.
"Your men sold us out to the Empire, and we were lucky to escape with our lives, Hondo. Be fortunate that it was the Empire that dealt with your men, not us." Jan said but Hondo chuckled with a smirk.
"Oh come-come my friend, do you think I am such a fool as to fall for that likely excuse? Tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk. No. You promised Hondo goods, and you fail to deliver. The men, they are disposable, yes? But the goods? Ah those you still owe Hondo." Hondo said, leaning forward and tenting his fingers.
"What's it matter? You aren't out anything but a few traitors." Jan argued.
"Yes, but I have not gained anything either. And lately I am thinking too many have been breaking deals and that others think I am soft. So, my friend, let me spell it out for you." Hondo said, rising to his feet, a kowakian monkey lizard leaping onto his shoulder.
"You bring me what I am owed and I do not put a price on your head. A good deal, yes? I thought so. You have three days. My ship will be in the usual drop point for the exchange. If you do not show or I get no goods, then I will be eagerly looking into the going rate of Mandalorian steel." Hondo said with a smirk before ending the call, Kaden and Jan exchanging panicked expressions.
"I think this warrants a call to mom and dad." Kaden said but Jan pointed at the comlink.
"Problem. Dad's comlink is in my hand and I don't know how to contact them on their cruise." Jan said, R3 beeping his worry.
"Three days though, that's before mom and dad get back! Oh, that'll be a grand welcome home gift. Welcome back from your anniversary vacation mom and dad, oh and by the way, we have a borking price on our head courtesy of the Ohnaka Syndicate!" Kaden groaned as Jan motioned to wait.
"Not so fast. This is an occasion where outside help can be used. Let's be calm and rational. We have a ship to make the drop. We just don't have the goods…yet." Jan said as Giana chimed in.
"Why can't you get them back?" Gia asked.
"We gave them away to the Rebels, Gia." Jan replied.
"Hang on, the supplies we gave them were Imperial supplies, right? Well, aren't we sitting on a whole base worth of supplies?" Kaden asked as Jan gave a hesitant nod.
"Yeah but I dunno if the Houses would be too thrilled with us using them to pay off a pirate like Hondo." Jan replied.
"It's worth a shot. What if we laid out the situation before one of the House Leaders and at the very least see what they say. Like Glebbins, he'd be more agreeable." Kaden said as Jan let out a sigh.
"Good idea, except let's go in full armor. I'm not too keen on walking around without it until this matter's settled." Jan said as the two both nodded and hurried for the exit.
…
"Are you insane?!" Krios Geht exclaimed as the three younger Rooks flinched. Geht, Veska, and Glebbins were seated at a sabacc table in the cantina, cards in hand. Glebbins' wife Zima was sat at the table as well, having already folded.
"Oh, calm down Krios." Veska groaned, putting down her cards.
"No, really this is absurd! What could you possibly need all these supplies for?!" Krios said, slamming a datapad with the supply list down onto the table.
"Let's hear them out, Geht. I'm certain these young warriors have a good reason for it." Cyril said, looking at the three Rooks with an expectant expression.
"Well…remember those supplies we nearly lost our heads over? Turns out our original buyer wants to make an example out of our House even though it was his own men that knifed us in the back." Jan said.
"Avoiding a price on your head is a valid reason in my opinion." Zima muttered.
"Same here." Veska commented. Even Krios was a bit deflated and sheepish from his prior outburst.
"Alright, fair enough. There's just one problem. We don't have the supplies to spare. Ironically those supplies were meant for the garrison here. And since it never got them…" Krios said as the three Rooks winced again.
"Fair point. We'll try and see if we can't convince the buyer to return them. If not, we'll need a plan cresh." Kaden said.
"We'll try and keep you apprised." Jan said, preparing to turn to leave.
"Rooks, before you go. My apologies for my reaction. If there's anything I or my house can do to help, it will be done." Geht said, humbly, as Glebbins nodded.
"And if you need any hands-on help, say the word and I will be there by your side." Cyril said, Zima giving a nod of agreement.
"Same here." She added.
"That means a lot, really." Jan said with a relieved smile as they turned to leave.
"Okay, plan besh is…what?" Giana asked.
"Plan besh is treason." Kaden muttered as they left the cantina.
…
Back at the Rook Homestead, a fully armored Jan sat apprehensively at the bar top in the main room, her helmet sitting off to the side. In front of her was the comlink and imagecaster. A code was punched in but the activation button hadn't been pressed. The scrambler was active but Jan just sat there, staring at it.
"Oh, come on, Jan hit the button and get it over with." Kaden said as he walked in, making the last adjustments to his armor, his helmet under one arm.
"What do I say? I mean this is gonna be the most awkward introduction ever." Jan said as Kaden sighed and rolled his eyes. He then suddenly reached forward and hit the activator.
"YOU-…di'kut!"she hissed, putting her helmet on as the comlink activated, the imagecaster starting to glow as it warmed up its emitters while they waited for the receiver to pick up. After a moment, a hologram of an older human male appeared in a set of armor.
"This is General Rahm Kota of the Rebel Alliance…I don't know who you are or how you got my personal comm code, but I hope you have good reason for it." Rahm said as Jan let out a sigh.
"General Kota, I represent a mutual associate. Your colleagues in the Mandalore Sector." Jan said, Rahm arching a curious eyebrow.
"That so? Well, what can I do for you?" Rahm asked.
"General, this may sound absolutely insane, but sometime recently, we handed over some supplies to you. We unfortunately need them back." Jan said, Rahm's eyebrow raising higher.
"You…want them back?" he asked.
"Please don't misunderstand. We're in desperate need of them here. Under normal circumstances we'd never make this kind of request. But this is a matter of some urgency." Jan said as Rahm put his hands behind his back.
"You're going to need to do better than that I'm afraid." He replied. Kaden sighed and pushed Jan aside.
"General, I'll level with you since, well our buir says you can be trusted. When we offered those supplies to you, it was only after we got knifed in the back by the original buyer, whose men in turn got shot in the back by the Empire, literally. Now the original buyer is wanting to make examples of those who cross him and gave us the ultimatum of either those supplies or our heads. We can't get those supplies on our own here. So, we're taking a gamble in hoping you can help us out." Kaden said, Rahm smiled and nodded.
"Now that's more believable. I sense you are telling the truth. Unfortunately, we're in no shape to provide you with the supplies either. We've already earmarked them for our own forces and to pull them now may cost lives and ships." Rahm replied. The Rooks' hearts sank.
"We understand, General. It was a gamble and a long shot." Kaden said as Rahm gave a grim nod.
"I admire your courage. I hope everything works out for you in the end. May the Force be with you." Rahm replied before the comlink deactivated.
"Alright, plan cresh, anyone?" Jan asked, she and Kaden removing their helmets, looking at each other worriedly.
…
Halfway across the galaxy, Rahm Kota was stood in his quarters aboard his flagship, "looking" towards the holoprojector on his desk, a hand to his bearded chin in thought. His atrophied eyes narrowed in thought. He then reached over and pressed a comlink button on his desk.
"Lieutenant, I need the latest intel on the Mandalore sector, Imperial activity, but also throw in any organized crime activity. Hutts, Black Sun, Ohnaka Syndicate, pirate groups, the works. Also send a message to General Rieekan, I might have something for him." Rahm said into the comlink before turning away towards the viewport, looking out at the stars and the Rebel Fleet outside in contemplation.
…
Two Days Remaining
Back at the Rook homestead, it was nearly midday and Kaden was sat in his room. His room, although organized and clean, still had large amounts of parts and equipment of various types, including a droid recharge station for R3-Z7. Kaden sat at his workbench, a portable computer in front of him along with a couple of holoscreens and data feeds. Jan stepped into the doorway, looking at him incredulously.
"What are you doing? Why aren't you doing anything to help find the supplies we need?!" she asked.
"I am! I'm checking with some of my contacts to see if they have anything they can spare." Kaden replied, Jan stepping into the room.
"Contacts?" she asked, looking at the display.
"Yeah. Starship enthusiasts, droid builders, speeder jockeys, slicers, blaster smiths, general tech junkies. How do you think I know so much about tech? How do you think Tina got all her upgrades? Who do you think keeps R3 maintained?" Kaden asked, not looking away from his screens.
"Sorry I asked. Any leads?" Jan asked.
"Well, my buddy over on Batuu thinks he could scrape some parts together but he's asking a lot in terms of credits and it wouldn't be ready in time. Aside from that we're no closer to getting what we need." Kaden said as Jan sighed heavily.
"Haar'chak, this had to happen while mom and dad are away." Jan muttered.
"Almost wonder if perhaps the plan to scarper might be worth invoking over this." Kaden commented, turning towards her in his seat.
"Hiding from criminal cartels is different than hiding from the Empire, according to some. Ohnaka's rich enough he can send bounty hunters after us. People still talk about that jablogian from the Lothal sector that Ohnaka had dealt with." Jan said as Kaden looked confused.
"I thought that was just a rumor." Kaden muttered.
"Well do we wanna risk it being true?" Jan asked.
"Good point."
"So, we need a plan cresh, desperately." Jan said, scratching her head. They then heard a speeder approach outside and power down, spluttering and coughing as it did.
"Sounds like Alor Glebbins." Jan said as they both headed for the front, arriving just as Tina opened the front door for the elder Mandalorian and his wife.
"Hope we're not interrupting." Cyril said as he walked in, wearing a heavy poncho over his clothes while Zima followed him in. She was wearing a brightly colored set of blue, purple, and yellow beskar armor with the House Glebbins insignia on the shoulder guards.
"Have you found anything that can help you?" Zima asked but the two Rooks exchanged hesitant glances.
"Unfortunately, not." Jan replied.
"Well, we might have something for you then." Zima said as Cyril sat down on the edge of the curved booth seat, resting his arm on the table.
"One of the things we've been doing since we clandestinely took over the Imperial City Hall, is monitoring Imperial traffic. Ship movements and the like as well as the locations of any space stations or outposts. Well…" Cyril said, tossing Kaden an Imperial Code cylinder. Kaden immediately pulled out his datapad, plugging the cylinder in and, after a moment, arching an eyebrow.
"Ah ha, that's interesting." He said as Jan glanced his way.
"What is it?" she asked.
"There's an Imperial Supply Station on the rim ward trailing end of Mandalorian space. Looks like a logistics hub of some kind. Established within the past few months." Kaden said as Jan arched an eyebrow.
"I can kinda see how that would work. So, are you suggesting we just call the Empire for a delivery?" Jan asked.
"That was the idea but the Empire's a bunch of sharal shabuir when it comes to this sort of thing. It took weeks for the prior supply shipments, the ones you lot stole, to get approved." Cyril explained.
"So, are you suggesting a raid?" Jan asked, hesitantly.
"No, I'm suggesting we go to the source and ask politely. Expedite the paperwork and take a fusion cutter to the red tape." Cyril said.
"We have access to Imperial uniforms and armor, so we have disguises. And we still have that shuttle we seized from the dar'manda a while ago and it's still in Imperial colors. Although we could use your help in altering its codes." Zima added.
"So, we use the shuttle, fly to the Empire, bluff our way to getting the supplies, and then run like hell if things go to Malachor?" Jan asked as Kaden began tapping away at his datapad.
"Might work. I could forge us a requisition form dated earlier along with a docking permit for the station." Kaden said.
"We'll need the disguises. What happened to the Journeyman armor from the di'kuts that abducted me?" Jan asked.
"Veska took those but she's sprucing them up for us." Zima replied, the Rook twins looking at her curiously.
"Us?" Jan asked.
"You really don't think your House has been acting alone all this time, have you? Did you think we were just going along with something we got dragged into?" Cyril asked as Zima chuckled.
"It was your father's idea for House Rook to front the dangers alone with the initial raids. That gave the rest of us a layer of protection should the Empire catch onto you." Zima added.
"But now that we have this borrowed peace, these 'halcyon days' as some might call it, we would be foolish to not prepare for the storm that's due to hit us eventually." Cyril said as the younger Rooks exchanged glances.
"Even House Geht?" Kaden asked.
"Krios's issues are not what you may think they are, but it would be a disservice to talk of them in his absence. Better it come from his own lips." Cyril said, Zima nodded.
"You can rest assured though that Geht is probably one of the most committed to the cause of us all." Zima added. Jan sighed and nodded, glancing to her brother.
"Kaden? What do you think?" Jan asked as Kaden looked over the datapad.
"It's still risky but given our options I don't see how we have much choice." He replied as Jan nodded.
"Alright, we'll do it." Jan said as Cyril stood up.
"Good. Janie, this is your operation. You're taking point once the mission begins." Cyril said as Jan swallowed nervously.
"You really think I should?" she asked as Cyril nodded and stepped forward.
"You are the heir apparent to your House, vod'ika. Best you start learning to lead like one." Cyril said, looking Jan in the eyes as Jan took a deep breath, her face nervous but determined.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Kaden muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
…
Early into that night, in the mountains to the south-west of Ve'vut Bral, sat another old Beskar mine, long left abandoned, or at least as a mining operation. Here, the old mining buildings sat occupied as a makeshift homestead for several Mandalorian families, all flying the banner of House Glebbins. The homestead was bustling with activity as Kaden and Jan rode up on Giordo's speeder, towing behind them the repulsor trailer with the attached crane, R3 snug in the droid socket while Tina sat with Giana in the backseat of the speeder.
The speeder was directed into a large passage at the base of the mountain, a well-lit tunnel that curved around, meant for cargo hauling vehicles to pass through.
"Been a while since we've been here." Kaden muttered as they rounded the curve, the doors ahead opening into a large underground hangar space full of at least a dozen Mandalorian fighter craft and other vehicles. Giana was surprised seeing so many craft.
"Whoa!" she remarked as they approached an Aka'jor-Class shuttle in Stormtrooper white with an Imperial insignia on the hull. Cyril, Zima, Geht, and Veska were waiting for them as they pulled up.
"You're early." Cyril said. He'd trimmed his beard and was clad in a suit of Journeyman armor. Zima was in similar armor.
"We want to get this over as soon as possible." Jan said, she and Kaden were not in their armor.
"So, what's the plan, Janie?" Zima asked. Jan nodded, swallowing her nerves.
"Right, well…uh…give me a moment this is my first time running an op like this." Jan said as Veska smiled and gave a nod.
"Breathe. Calm yourself. You're going to do fine." Veska said as R3 rolled up next to them.
"Right, R3?" Jan asked, R3 whistling an affirmative and projecting a hologram of an Imperial space station.
"This is our target. Kaden? The specs?" Jan asked, Kaden nodding and stepping forward.
"From what I was able to get from the Imperial data, we're looking at an IQ5 type space station. They're the Empire's spin on the XQ5s. Mostly used for deep space cargo and logistics handling for neighboring Imperial installations and bases. This one is IQ5-1983 and handles about a quarter of the Imperial supplies for their bases in the Mandalore Sector. Fairly moderate armament, maybe six turbolaser batteries, and six laser cannon batteries. Relies mostly on its compliment of TIEs for defense." Kaden explained.
"Nice work, Kaden. You really do know your technical specs." Geht said, impressed.
"Thank you, Alor." Kaden replied, none of them noticing as Gia wandered off towards the shuttle, noticing a passing Gonk droid.
"This is the plan we have in mind. We have forged documents, a supply requisition signed by Dameron as the Minister. Given how the Empire sometimes snafus requisitions, we may be able to bluff our way through. If not, we have a plan dorn." Jan explained.
"Dorn? What happened to Aurek, Besh, and Cresh?" Krios asked.
"We're already on Cresh as it is." Kaden replied, dryly. R3 then displayed a hologram of the Aka'jor shuttle flanked by a pair of Fang-class starfighters approaching the station.
"The plan, both cresh and dorn, has our shuttle flown in with a fighter escort. If all goes well, the Imperials will let us have the supplies, load them, and be on our way. That's Cresh. If they don't let us have the supplies though, that's dorn. We drop all pretense and go guns blazing. That's why we're bringing Tina along. Hopefully getting what we need before they can sound an alarm." Jan explained.
"What if we can't even dock?" Cyril asked.
"We make a huffy remark about the Viceroy hearing about it and then come back here for a new plan. I know this doesn't very Mandalorian like but I'd rather we attract as little attention as possible." Jan said but the senior Mandalorians seemed positive.
"No, it's a good plan. You're thinking strategically. Weighing different strategies and tactics to achieve the best results. Not every operation we launched in Gra'tua Squadron was centered around a fight." Cyril said.
"Is there a name for this operation, al'verde?" Veska asked with a smirk, Jan blinking at being called a Commander.
"Told you we needed an operation name." Kaden muttered but Jan smiled and gave a nod.
"We have one actually. Operation: Halcyon Nights." Jan replied as Veska cleared her throat.
"One minor detail in this plan though. We have enough armor for four Journeymen. And, Janie, I'm sorry but I didn't have time to alter the hal'cabur for you. Luckily, we need someone to wear this." Jil said as she stepped aside, motioning to an Imperial Officer's uniform, tailored for a woman.
"And as for the rest of us, remember the Journeyman armor we have is not beskar. So don't depend on your armor to save you." Cyril said, patting the helmet to the Journeyman suit he was wearing.
"I dunno if I can pull of an Imperial Officer impersonation." Jan muttered.
"Sure, you can. Just act like you always do when putting Ailyn through her paces. I can forge the code cylinders for you on the flight over." Kaden said as Jan shrugged.
"Alright, sure." Jan replied.
"What about Giana?" Kaden asked as they looked around for the foundling in question.
"My men will find her and look after her. Don't worry she'll be in good hands while we're away." Cyril said before putting on the helmet.
"Alright then, let's do this. Mando'ade, oya!" Jan said, grabbing the officer's uniform and falling in with Kaden, Krios, Veska, Tina, R3, and the Glebbins as they headed for the shuttle.
…
A few hours later, the Aka'jor and its escort of Fang starfighters dropped out of hyperspace near station IQ5-1983, approaching the station. Inside the shuttle, Kaden and Zima were at the controls in full armor, Jan standing over Kaden's shoulder while Cyril sat behind Zima. R3 and Tina were in the main hold with Geht and Veska.
"I feel like a sitting duck in this uniform." Jan grumbled, tugging at the collar of her uniform.
"You'll be fine." Cyril said, the communications console starting to beep.
"Here we go." Kaden said, opening the channel.
"Journeyman shuttle, you are not on our scheduled arrival list. State your intentions." An officer's voice came through on the comms.
"Copy that station control, we're here for a supply pickup. Requisition order THX-1138. Standard garrison supply pickup." Kaden said, everyone holding their breath.
"Stand by. We're running the order through our database. What was the date of posting?" the officer reported back.
"Transmitting a copy of the form now." Kaden said, entering a few commands.
"Stand by, Captain." The officer replied. Kaden hit the mute button on the comms.
"Moment of truth." He muttered.
"Keep an eye on their weapons' systems and keep the escape coordinates set in case we need to tok'kad." Cyril said as Zima gave a nod.
"What do you think they're doing?" Jan asked.
"If Dameron is correct, probably sifting through their paperwork to try and find their lost requisition form." Cyril replied.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Kaden muttered.
"Makes two of us." Jan muttered back. Finally, the comms clicked on again.
"Journeyman shuttle, you have clearance to land in hangar two, station three." The officer reported.
"Copy that station control. Coming in for landing." Kaden replied as they started to bring the shuttle in for a landing, the two fighters landing with them. The hangar was typical for an Imperial hangar but had several large rows of cargo containers stacked neatly. A few stormtroopers patrolled the area while deck and logistics crews worked around them.
"Oya." Jan said with a sigh, straightening her cap, picking up a datapad and heading into the back, followed by Kaden and Cyril while Zima stayed at the copilot's controls. As Jan, accompanied by the disguised Kaden and Cyril disembarked, a deck officer approached with a datapad.
"Lieutenant, I have been informed you are here for a supply shipment absent from our records." The officer said as Jan straightened her uniform and cleared her throat.
"Not on your records? That's impossible, we sent the requisition last week." Jan replied, trying her best to sound Imperial. The Officer checked his datapad.
"THX-1138, correct? I'm sorry we do not have it in our records. What is the cargo?" the officer asked, Jan showing him the datapad in her hand.
"Right here." She said, the officer taking the datapad and furrowing his brow.
"Troubling." He commented.
"In what way?" Jan asked, her hand lingering near her blaster pistol.
"That we don't have your requisition on record. Nevertheless, the forms check out. However, we cannot provide the provisions for you as requested at the present time. Star Destroyer Vigilant is due to arrive soon however. We will petition for the supplies on your behalf." The officer replied.
"Define soon." Jan said as the officer handed the datapad back to her.
"Within the next couple of hours. You may remain here until then." The Officer replied before saluting and turning away. Jan shifted her jaw in annoyance.
"That could've gone better." She muttered.
"Could've gone far worse actually. At least they're not blasting us." Veska whispered.
"What do we do now, al'verde?" Cyril asked as Jan glanced at the shuttle.
"Fall back to the shuttle for now. We'll regroup there." Jan replied as they turned and started to board the shuttle. As they entered the main hold, they retracted the boarding ramp.
"Zima, keep an eye out for if that Imp officer comes back!" Cyril called into the cockpit as they sat down on the passenger seats built into the sides of the hold. Tina, R3, and a gonk droid were sat in the back with them. They each took their helmets off as they sat down.
"So, we need a plan to get those supplies without the Imps noticing, now?" Veska asked as Krios sighed.
"I hate this sneaking around. I say go plan Dorn." Krios said.
"Bad idea. We need to find the supplies we need first before we can start blasting. We need a scouting run." Cyril said.
"I agree, but did you notice how the Imps out there were staring at us. They were watching us like jai'galaars. We'd draw too much attention in these Journeymen uniforms." Veska said as Jan glanced towards R3.
"Droids often go unnoticed. R3? You think you can do it?" Jan asked as R3 whistled in confirmation.
"No offence to your R3 unit, but it'll take a long while and the Imps may get suspicious if they see a lone droid roaming around the cargo racks." Veska commented.
"What about this gonk droid?" Jan asked. The power droid seemed to jolt a bit.
"Gonk-gonk-gonk!" it replied, rocking from side to side.
"What's it saying, Tina?" Kaden asked as the SBD turned to the droid.
"I can't rightly say, Master Kaden. I have not been able to decipher this unit's particular variation of gonkian." Tina replied, the gonk-droid continuing to shake and "gonk" in response.
"Possibly a bad vocabulator. Let me check." Kaden said, approaching the droid which started backing up away from him.
"Relax little buddy, just gonna pop open this panel here and-…" Kaden said, opening a panel on the side of the droid, looking in for a moment but then quickly closing it, looking up with a startled look on his face.
"Kaden?" Jan asked as Kaden blinked a few times.
"No, no it's not true. It's impossible." He muttered before looking back into the panel.
"Go~nk?" the droid replied. Kaden scowled before shoving the droid forward into the center of the hold, the upper half of the droid popping off and causing a certain black and blue haired foundling to tumble out from inside. Giana looked up and around with widened eyes, a mildly panicked expression on her face as the other Mandalorians glowered down at her. She then raised a hand.
"So, I take it that my Mando mix ban is now permanent?" she asked.
"That's if we live to get back home!" Jan hissed, pulling her younger sister to her feet.
"How the borking krif did you get inside that droid?!" Kaden asked.
"I dunno. It was already empty. Plus, I thought I could help." She said as Kaden and Jan both groaned.
"Uh, the droid's mine. That's Gonkers. I use him to carry Cyril's medications." Zima called from the cockpit.
"Haar'chak Glebbins, just how many meds are you on?!" Veska asked, her and Krios giving the elder Mandalorian a worried expression.
"It's not that bad and there's usually a refrigeration unit in there." Cyril protested.
"Wait, hang on. You were able to hide inside this droid the whole time?" Jan asked her younger sister who nodded.
"Yeah? Kinda cozy in there actually." She replied. Jan rubbed her chin thoughtfully. Kaden noticed Jan's expression as she looked towards him and a look of panic appeared on his face.
"No." he stated simply.
"Do we have a choice?"
"Yeah, we can simply not put our hibur sister into danger she's not ready for." Kaden argued.
"Got any better ideas?" Jan asked. Kaden grimaced at this, glancing at Gonkers's lower torso which was still hobbling around looking for his upper half.
"No." Kaden droned.
"Using a foundling for this mission smacks wrong to me." Veska muttered.
"Our ancestors did far-far worse, believe me." Cyril said as Krios gave a reluctant nod.
"What plan did you have in mind al'verde?" Cyril said to Jan who took a deep breath.
"It's absolutely jaro." She replied.
"Sometimes the most insane of plans are the best of all." Cyril argued with a confident smile as Jan motioned for them to gather around.
…
A few minutes later, the boarding ramp on the shuttle lowered again and Jan disembarked again, followed by the disguised Kaden, Cyril, Jil, and Krios, but this time with R3 and Gonkers behind them. Inside of Gonkers, Giana was huddled with a blaster pistol and a datapad connected to Gonkers' photoreceptors, allowing her to see what he saw. The Imperial deck officer noticed their debarkation and approached Jan again.
"Is there something else, Lieutenant?" he asked.
"Yes, actually. We discovered a malfunction with our starboard engine and need a maintenance crew to investigate." Jan replied as the officer nodded.
"Very well, although I'm not sure we have the parts needed to repair a shuttle of that class." The officer replied as Kaden cleared his throat.
"Sir, perhaps you could take a look for yourself. I believe the parts may be fairly standard." Kaden said as the officer rolled his eyes, losing patience with the Mandalorians.
"Very well, if you insist." He replied, walking towards the shuttle, Jan following him and putting a hand to her blaster as they both boarded. The ramp retracted and they could see a bright flash of red light from through the cockpit viewport, a moment before the ramp extended again and Jan disembarked again, alone, holstering her blaster and carrying the officer's datapad, handing it to Kaden.
"No wonder you're still single." Kaden muttered as he started tapping into the datapad, calling up the station's inventory and then pushing it through the panel on Gonkers, Gia taking it.
"Quiet." She muttered in a low tone.
"Alright, the highlighted parts are what we need, scout them, report back. The comlink you have is tuned to our frequency." Kaden whispered to her.
"Got it." Gia replied, R3 and Gonkers starting to move towards the cargo racks. Jan and the disguised Mandalorians moved back towards the shuttle, taking up a guard position, Jan starting to pace back and forth a little in front of the ramp while the Mandalorians kept an eye on the station personnel. Kaden however stood with his own datapad in hand, watching a copied map of the cargo racks. R3 and Gonkers both made their way through the cargo racks, passing between the tall shelves of supplies and equipment. Giana kept a sharp eye on the scanner and the inventory datapad. The scanner suddenly started beeping softly.
"Stop here, Gonkers." She said. Gonkers came to a stop, Gia checking all around through the panels for approaching troopers before quietly climbing out of the power droid. She approached a nearby crate and opened it, looking inside and checking the datapad in her hand.
"This is it." She whispered, tapping the datapad to highlight the rack where a cargo container of supplies they needed could be found. She then quickly climbed back into Gonkers, the power droid setting off again once she was back inside. At the same time, R3 was rolling between another set of stacks, his scanner dish extended. He heard the clatter of stormtrooper footsteps on the metal floor ahead and retracted his scanner. A pair of stormtroopers on patrol walked past ahead of him, not even noticing him. The troopers gone, he extended his scanner, turning his dome to look at a set of crates next to him, softly whistling his success in finding one of the supply containers they needed before moving on. Back at the shuttle, Kaden's datapad was receiving the signals from Gia and R3, highlighting the cargo containers they needed.
"So far so good. Already three quarters done." Kaden muttered.
"This is the easy part. The hard part is getting the cargo onboard." Jan said before noticing a supply truck being pushed into the area by an Imperial naval trooper. The truck was loaded down with several barrels of starship fuel. Jan glanced away in thought as the trooper walked away from the container.
"Did anyone think to pack some det packs?" she muttered.
"You thinking the station could use an unfortunate accident?" Cyril asked.
"Didn't you say earlier that this station handles a third of the Mandalore sector's Imperial garrisons and bases?" Jan muttered to Kaden.
"It sure does." He muttered back as Jan smirked a little.
"Geht, Veska, head back aboard the shuttle and get the detonators. Link them to Kaden's datapad and standby. We'll set the charges first thing when we go for the cargo." Jan said as the two Mandalorians in question both turned and boarded the shuttle, returning a moment later with a pack worn on their left hips.
At the same time, Gonkers came to a stop at the last supply rack, Gia climbing out and checking a cargo container.
"Last one." She said, tapping the datapad. Just as she did though, a pair of stormtroopers rounded the corner, spotting her.
"What the-. You there, halt!" one of the troopers ordered, both of them raising their blasters at her.
"Oops." She squeaked as the troopers approached. R3 was rounding the opposite corner and spotted the troopers and Gia.
"How did you get here? Identify yourself!" one of the troopers ordered, the other looking around.
"I take it this isn't the Star Tours spaceport?" she asked with an innocent grin as R3 casually rolled past them, only to swing back around behind the troopers, one of the panels on his chassis opening.
"You're coming with us!" one of the troopers said, reaching for her only to suddenly let out a yelp as he was hit by a stun blast. The other trooper spun around only to get hit by another stun blast, R3 whistling at Gia as he retracted a concealed stunner.
"Thanks for the save R3. Let's get out of here!" Gia said, climbing back into Gonkers, the power droid and R3 unit quickly turning and beating a hasty retreat back to the shuttle. Gia quickly grabbed the comlink.
"We got made but R3 stunned 'em!" Gia warned, R3 chiming in.
"Copy that, good work. Alright let's move fast before those troopers come around." Jan ordered as the five Mandalorians set off into the cargo racks, Jil and Krios headed straight for the fuel barrels while Kaden, Jan, and Cyril headed into the cargo racks to retrieve the cargo. Kaden found the two troopers, both still unconscious. He looked around just as one of them was starting to groan, waking up. Kaden quickly shot them both with a stun blast from the E-11D Rifle he'd been carrying, knocking them both out again. He then quickly turned to the cargo container, activating its repulsors and pulling it off the rack, starting to push it towards the shuttle.
"Nari, nari." Jan muttered, pushing a container of her own as she passed Krios and Jil, the two just finishing the explosive charges before moving off to collect their own cargo containers. The two were just returning with the last of the cargo when one of the deck crews noticed and approached them.
"Just a moment, trooper. Where are you going with this cargo?" the crewman asked, stopping Krios and Veska.
"We have authorization." He replied but the crewman wasn't convinced. Jan noticed and gave Kaden a series of quick hand gestures, signaling to be ready for trouble before heading for Krios.
"Only Imperial logistical personnel are supposed to handle cargo. Where's the deck officer? What's your operating number?" the crewman asked.
"Is there a problem here?" she asked in her officious Imperial tone. Before the crewman could reply however…
"Stop that ship! Blast them!" one of the two troopers that had been stunned earlier called, the two troopers emerging from the sacks, aiming their blasters at the shuttle. Before the confused crewman could react, he was shot in the chest by Jan.
"Now there is! Mando'ade, jurkad!" She called as a firefight broke out on the deck, the two stormtroopers getting gunned down by Kaden and Cyril. The sound of blaster fire drew the attention of the other Imperials, stormtroopers and other deck personnel drawing weapons and opening fire as Krios and Jan hurried back to the shuttle with the last of the cargo. R3 and Gia were already aboard.
"Tina! You're on!" Kaden called, the modified SBD's processor light turning red as she stormed down the boarding ramp, activating her shields as she raised both her arms.
"Target: Imperials. Orders: Eliminate with Prejudice." She droned in her combat voice, opening fire and giving the Mandalorians covering fire. At the same time, the shuttle and starfighter engines powered up, the Fang pilots saw the stormtroopers converging on the shuttle and one of them opened fire with the fighter's laser cannons, blowing away a small group of Stormtroopers. The Mandalorians scrambled aboard the shuttle, Tina backing up the boarding ramp, continuing her barrage of laser fire just as the ramp retracted with her on it.
"We're on! Go!" Jan ordered as the shuttle and fighters started to lift off, reversing out of the hangar, the blaster fire from the Imperials bouncing off of the shuttle's shields.
"Alright, hit the detonator!" Jan instructed, Kaden grinning beneath his helmet and pressing the button on his datapad. Instantly, the fuel barrels inside the hangar exploded spectacularly, the barrels that didn't explode right off were sent flying through the hangar, exploding on impact and causing secondary explosions that began to rip apart the facility.
"Whoa! How much of a charge did you give those detonators?!" Jan asked as they saw the explosions spreading to the adjoining hangar bays.
"Enough, it seems." Krios commented as the station began to heel, explosions continuing to rip through the station.
"As much as I love seeing Imperial space stations go up in smoke, we should get out of here!" Cyril said as Jan nodded
"You've got that right! Kaden!" Jan said.
"Coordinates for home punched in, long way of course just in case. Navicomputer almost-…" Kaden said before the proximity alarm started going off.
"We've got company!" Zima exclaimed as they looked out the viewport just in time for an Imperial Star Destroyer to drop out of hyperspace in front of them.
"Kaden!" Jan exclaimed, white knuckling the backs of the pilot and copilot's chairs.
"Navicomputer's still not ready!" Kaden replied, shaking his head. The comms console started beeping.
"They're hailing!" Zima remarked as the comms activated.
"This is the Star Destroyer Valiant to the Journeymen craft! Power down your engines and prepare to be boarded!" the Star Destroyer Captain ordered.
"Orders, al'verde?!" Kaden asked.
"Run for it!" Jan ordered.
"We're within tractor beam range and we still need more time from the navicomputer!" Zima replied.
"Alright, then we do what we Mandalorians do best, we fight." Jan said, as Kaden activated the shuttle's weapons.
"May as well go down fighting!" he said, opening fire on the Star Destroyer's ventral hangar.
"Kad One, Kad Two, Oya!" Zima instructed to the two Fang starfighters. The fighters immediately zoomed ahead, firing at the Destroyer's hangar as well, destroying the tractor beam emitter, allowing the shuttle and fighters to veer away. The Star Destroyer began to open fire.
"R3! Hurry with those calculations!" Jan ordered as R3 rolled into the cockpit, plugging into the navicomputer console. The Imperial station was a smoldering and burning chunk of debris now. The two fighters and shuttle started to fly away from the Star Destroyer, evading its turbolaser fire.
"Damn these shuttles are not that maneuverable! It's like steering a stubborn bantha!" Kaden grumbled as he tried to evade the laser fire.
"Augh! I knew we should've replaced that piece of osik Imperial Navicomputer with a competent one!" Cyril groaned from the back just before the shuttle shook violently.
"Shields are gone! We can't take another hit!" Kaden reported just as Zima's console started beeping.
"We've got incoming! Multiple starfighters dropping out of hyperspace! About a dozen of them!" Zima reported.
"TIE Fighters?" Jan asked but Zima paused.
"No!" she replied just as a squadron of X-Wings flew past, opening fire on the Star Destroyer.
"Those are Rebel fighters! It's the Rebellion!" Kaden remarked, Jan blinking in awe.
"That's impossible!" Jan remarked as a pair of X-Wings with red markings and one with five tick marks on the wings flew up beside the shuttle.
"Mandalorian vessels, we come courtesy of General Kota and the Rebel Alliance, mind if we lend a hand?" One of the X-Wing pilots asked over the comms.
"Absolutely!" Jan replied.
"Copy that! Form up and follow us, we're going in! Stay low against their hull, it'll confuse their targeting!" The X-Wing pilot replied
"I've always wanted to do this!" he said as Jan sat down on the seat behind Zima as they came back around with the X-Wings towards the Star Destroyer. Half the squadron had engaged the Star Destroyer already, flying in low up the center of the Star Destroyer's hull before pulling up and launching a volley of proton torpedoes at the bridge shield generator, the spherical generator on the bridge tower exploding.
"Their bridge shields are down!" Kaden reported.
"Rogue Group, I've got an idea, let's see if we can't knock out their bridge. Wedge, stay on that shuttle!" The Rebel Leader ordered.
"Copy that, Luke." One of the other Rogue pilots replied as R3 beeped excitedly.
"Navicomputer's ready!" Zima replied.
"We've gotta make sure that Destroyer goes down! We can't afford for our presence to be reported back to the Empire! At least then only the Rebels will get blamed for this, not us." Cyril said as Jan nodded.
"Couldn't agree more! Kads One and Two, follow their lead!" Jan ordered, the two Fang fighters joining the X-Wings on the attack run. The fighters and shuttle nimbly dodged and weaved past the Star Destroyer's hull cannons, flying up the center of the Destroyer, headed for its bridge tower.
"Give it everything we've got!" Jan said.
"For Mand'alor!" Kaden exclaimed as he and the X-Wings opened fire on the bridge, a volley of proton torpedoes from the X-Wings and laser fire slamming into the bridge, causing the tower to explode violently, the fighters and shuttle flying clear of the explosion, the Star Destroyer starting to list hard to its port side towards the destroyed station.
"Good shot!" Jan remarked.
"All craft get clear! That thing's gonna go nova on us!" Rogue Leader exclaimed as the Star Destroyer began to collide with the station, explosions starting to rip through the Star Destroyer until finally it and the remains of the station exploded in a big ball of fire.
"You love to see it!" Jan remarked with a grin, Kaden and the other Mandalorians removing their helmets as they watched the Star Destroyer's destruction.
"Mandalorian vessels you're all clear! Best get out of here before anyone else shows up." Rogue Leader said as the Rebel and Mandalorian fighters regrouped.
"Copy that, Rebel Leader, we owe you one." Jan said.
"Not a problem. General Kota had us monitoring the Mandalore Sector after you called him a couple days ago. He had a hunch you may try something like this." Rogue Leader replied, flying alongside the shuttle
"Be sure to give him our thanks. We'll find a way to make it up to you for this." Jan said, looking towards the X-wing, seeing the pilot in the cockpit. The pilot smiled.
"Actually, General Kota thought this was our way of thanking you for helping out Grey Squadron a while back. So according to him, we're even." Rogue Leader replied.
"Much obliged. We still can't commit to full on support for your cause, but know that you at least have sympathies among the Mandalorians. Ret'urcye mhi, friend." Jan said as Rogue Leader nodded with a smile.
"May the Force be with you." Rogue Leader replied before the Rebel fighters closed their S-foils and jumped to lightspeed.
"He seemed kinda cute." Zima said, smiling at Jan who blushed a little.
"Yeah, but can he beat me in a fight?" Jan asked, Kaden shaking his head and pulling back on the hyperspace throttle, the shuttle and Fangs jumping to lightspeed, leaving behind the burning and twisted wreckage of a destroyed Star Destroyer and Imperial Space Station.
…
That evening in the quarry near Ve'vut Bral, a fully beskar armored Jan and Kaden, with Jil and Krios in their own armor, stood guarding their stolen cache of supplies as a Flarestar- Class Shuttle in the markings of the Ohnaka Syndicate touched down, half a dozen Weequay pirates disembarking accompanied by their leader, flanked by a pair of reprogramed BX-Commando Droids. Hondo smiled with his hands behind his back as he approached the Mandalorians.
"Hello-hello my friends. I hope you have something of value for me?" Hondo asked as Jan stepped forward with a datapad.
"Everything's here as promised, Hondo. We even have a little extra. Some intel on some choice Imperial salvage." Jan said, handing him the datapad as Kaden, Jil, and Krios opened the containers for inspection. Hondo looked over the datapad as his pirates inspected the cargo.
"Hmm. I had heard that a space station near here suffered a catastrophic incident recently. I don't suppose you know anything about that." Hondo asked, glancing at Jan with a coy smirk.
"You might." She replied as Hondo chuckled.
"It's all here boss." One of them reported.
"So, it is. Well, my friend, you have kept your end of the bargain, so I will keep mine. Our business is concluded most favorably. Hopefully we will do business again sometime, yes?" Hondo asked as the pirates began to move the cargo containers towards the shuttle.
"I wouldn't bet on it." Jan muttered but Hondo didn't hear.
"Until we meet again, my friends!" Hondo called as he boarded the shuttle with his men, the shuttle starting to lift off and disappear into the mid-afternoon sky of Concord Dawn. Jan breathed a sigh of relief as the shuttle disappeared.
"So glad that's over." Jan said as Kaden nodded.
"Yeah, let's get home. Mom and dad will be home soon." Kaden said.
"Orar already signaled that they're aboard his ship and they're headed back now. Cyril and Zima are waiting for you both at home with your verd'ika and droids." Jil said as she and Krios approached.
"Overall, not a bad operation, Rook. Not bad for your first time as an al'verde." Krios said.
"We got lucky, that's all. If those Rebels hadn't shown up when they did, we'd have been space debris." Jan said.
"Now what happened to 'there's no such thing as luck?'" Krios asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"What do you mean?" Kaden asked.
"Well, isn't that what your mother says? That all things happen for a reason?" Krios asked as Jan and Kaden exchanged looks.
"You mean the Force?" Jan asked as Krios nodded.
"Sure." He replied.
"What do you know about it?" Kaden asked.
"Enough to know not to wonder why the impossible happens." Krios replied.
"And let's just say we've seen enough wild things happen out there in our lifetimes to make us at least acknowledge the existence of the Force, even if we don't fully understand it." Jil added.
"Now come on, you two better head home to greet your parents." Krios said as they started for the speeders nearby.
…
"And that's pretty much what happened while you were gone." Jan said to Jayna and Giordo as they sat in the cantina room of the Rook Homestead. Gio and Jayna were both sat in the curved booth seats facing the bar along with Cyril while the three younger Rooks stood before them, Zima behind the bar.
"We checked the Imperial reports at the Command Center. So far, no mention of any Mandalorian involvement. Seems the Star Destroyer wasn't able to send out a mayday in time, nor the station. Everything happened too fast for them to figure out what was going on." Zima added, Cyril smiling at the older Rooks.
"Your children have cloaked themselves in darasuum kote, my friends. Be proud of them." Cyril said as Giordo breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, I must say I am indeed impressed. Relieved the three of you are alright, and proud of how you handled the situation. You acted as true Mando'ade." Gio said, Jayna nodding.
"Indeed. Seems we can trust you with more responsibilities." Jayna said as Gio nodded.
"Indeed, we can. Jan, step forward." Gio said as he stood up, Jan approaching with a hint of nervousness.
"Janie Rook, for your meritorious actions, as the patriarch and leader of House Rook, in the name of the Mand'alor, I hereby name you as a Ver'alor of the House, with all the privileges and responsibilities there-in." Giordo said, Jan standing at attention and saluting.
"This is the Way." Jan replied, Gio and the other Mandalorians present saluting as well.
"This is the Way." Gio replied before pulling his eldest daughter into a hug, kissing her on the side of the head. Jayna smiled at the sight as well but suddenly shivered.
"Feeling cold, Jayna?" Cyril asked as Jayna shrugged.
"No. Just a little…disturbed." She replied, frowning worriedly. Gio turned towards her.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I'm not sure. Just an ominous feeling." She replied, looking contemplative.
…
At the same time in the Ve'vut Bral Spaceport, a commuter shuttle from Mandalore had just touched down, passengers starting to disembark. Among them was a dark haired woman with a black cloak on around her, a hood over her head. The Stormtroopers, disguised Mandalorians, at the security checkpoint were checking the IDs of the passengers disembarking. The woman approached the checkpoint, one of the troopers turning towards her.
"Your ID, ma'am?" he asked, the woman presenting her card.
"Name?" he asked as he put the card into a scanner.
"Pradeux, Arica Pradeux." The woman replied, the trooper nodding as her information appeared on the screen.
"Purpose for visiting Ve'vut Bral?" the trooper asked.
"Seeking employment." She said as the trooper gave a nod.
"Preferred occupation?" the trooper asked. The woman smiled coyly and briefly opened the top of her cloak. The trooper glanced at her and did a double-take. She was wearing a very scant and semi-transparent body-glove with a thin blue strip of cloth across her breasts and another over other extremities, leaving little to the imagination.
"Dancer." She replied. The Trooper stared for a moment before he handed her card back to her and cleared his throat.
"Move along. Move along." He said, waving her through. The woman smirked and closed her cloak, exiting the spaceport, entering Ve'vut Bral.
"Weak minded fool." Mara Jade muttered to herself in her disguise as she disappeared into the streets of Ve'vut Bral.
End Episode 9