"Now is that anyway to say thanks for saving your lives" Greg said grinning into the shocked silence.

"Karabast" said Zeb looking from Greg's face to the numerous droids to the fighters and shuttles they had just stolen and back.

Sabine the moment she realized everything was ok had run to examine the newly manufactured and stolen imperial ships. "Wow these TIEs have the newest s4 ion engines rated at 150 KTU 10 more than the current model."

Ezra was busy checking out the numerous Stormtrooper and Pilot helmets my droids had used. All the while trying to sneak a peek at Sabine.

Kanen and Hera were both looking at Greg "Well I see you have been busy sense Anaxes what are you up too these days other than swooping in for the rescue." nodding Greg gave a brief description of everything that had been salvaged selling the haul to Vizago and then hearing of the Empire day celebrations and how to steal some stuff to sell" thankful to come up with a lie beforehand "yeah the plan was loading droid pilots into a couple of fighters and shuttles and when everything was over fly them away." Greg chuckled "but when the Tie blew up and you guys went loud my passive plan kinda went out the airlock." Greg shrugged "so plans changed."

The wrist arm brace from the clone trooper armor I had kept beeped interrupting the conversation. "One minute please this should be the syndicate calling I had arranged to sell them anything I acquired." looking at the communicator seeing a blink code that indicated it was a Holo call from Cikzoo. Pulling out the hand held holo projector from the tool belt I hit the activation stud and a light blue hologram of Cikzoo wearing a formfitting yellow dress with the sides removed showing a tantalizing amount of her purple skin about four inches high appeared.
"Hi sweetheart I hear you have something good for me" she said as she leaned forward forcing the top of her dress tighter against her breast "what did you manage to get?"

Greg smiled enjoying the show "well my dear I managed to get five Tie fighters and a Lambda class shuttle all in pristine condition I'll be heading to Tarkin town In a few hours if you wanted to check them out once you and your brother get back." a moment of hesitation as she thought about it before replying "no my dear deliver them to these coordinates and associates of ours will be willing to pay you for them there."

Nodding my agreement she disconnected followed a few moments later by a beep as he received the coordinates Greg turned his attention back to the ghost crew who were now standing together finished looking at what they wanted "so you're just going to sell them to Vizago sister then?" Hera asked nodding Greg replied "I have no use for them they dont have hyperdrives and i dont have a ship at the moment big enough to carry them. And besides for what I have planned I will need more droids." Sabine got that firry look of curiosity in her eyes "why what do you have planned next?" grinning Greg held a finger over his mouth "it's a secret."

The meeting took place on an unnamed island in the northern seas nothing was said by the squat orange frog being with goblin ears. After a few minutes of scrutiny from mechanic droids over each of the fighters and the shuttles and a brown bag was handed over filled with hundred credit chits as organic and droid pilots climbed in the droid said "450,000 credits" nodding Greg took the bag and without another word everyone left.

Greg set the bag next to his bunk and looked at the pad under his pillow keeping track of his funds adding the 450k he now had a just short of a million. Thinking about it for minute before deciding to go see what he could buy from the Dornean people.

The jump passed quickly as the speedy arrived no alarms went off no shots impacted the shields. Very different from the last time he was here what wasn't different were the five flotillas of warships around the system. Each of them built around a single Venator, Lucrehulk, or Imperial star destroyer with a pair of carrier tucked in close with no less than a dozen frigates or cruisers surrounding them smaller hunter killer groups were scattered around with dreadnoughts or heavy cruisers acting as flagships fighters of all kind were everywhere.

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Drawn out of the amazing sight in front of him the communicator was going crazy with an entry challenge.

"Unknown vessels identify yourself or be fired upon." The owner of the voice appeared a moment later leading a mixed flight of fifteen ARC-170s and Z-95 headhunters

"This is Captain Gregory Sands aboard the gunship Speedy Gonzalez, Im friendly and need to speak with Lieutenant or General A'baht let them know im here to check up on them and maybe do some shopping." Greg announced to the patrol as they surrounded him on all sides.

A few tense moments passed as no one said anything and then all but a single Z95 peeled off to return to their patrol route as the squadron lead spoke again "This is Colonel S'tabte Speedy you are cleared for entry the general says welcome back and I am to escort you to the Formidable."

"Much appreciated Colonel led the way." I thanked the officer.

As they flew toward the Lucrehulk Greg looked around noticing the three Lucrehulk's over the huge moon looked noticeably emptier then last time they were all working on a single Imperial class destroyer and Nebulan class frigate but were otherwise bare before it hit him "How long until the Invicta is returned to service and where is the Aubretia?" Greg asked remembering the firing run on the frigate and the light cruiser who surrendered was left behind.

"How did…..ah of course the Invicta will be ready in a month since all of the other ships have been repaired and crewed since you were here last as for the Aubretia she and a handful of other former imperial ships are out system." the response came.

The rest of the trip was in silence as they approached the main hanger of the Formidable the colonel took his leave returning to his squadron.

Greg hadn't been on the deck for more than a minute noticing everyone was rushing around fueling fighters and bombers shuttles and gunships were being checked over and hundreds of ground fighters both organic and droids. The Dorean who met me wasn't General A'baht but his aid. "I'm Lieutenant General Kia'htat General A'baht Aid we have received Intel of a large imperial assault on its way here so we are reading every ship we have for the coming battle."

Grinning "well lucky for you that im here then because im up for hire and my rates are good."

Two hours later the Aubretia returned broadcasting a message "This is the Aubretia their right behind us I repeat their right…."

They were indeed right behind them as the large imperial fleet dropped out of hyperspace Greg whistled 10 Star destroyers, 3 Quasar fire light carriers and 5 Arquentens-class light cruisers.

This is going to be fun Greg thought as he joined a rush of other corvettes, gunships and fighters heading to intercept the huge swarm of Imperial fighters being launched.