Novgorod

[Meiers Brecklin]

22 years previous...


His office was not littered with the normal clutter one would associate with a man of his rank. In fact, it was very nearly stripped of any non-essential items save a desk, a few chairs, and a small munitions crate that'd been turned over to serve as a makeshift side-table. The only bit of any extraneous decoration was a bottle of corellian whisky and two tumblers, all of which rested on the aforementioned 'table'.

There was no clutter upon the desk, rather two datapads and a small holo-projector. Even the chairs looked to've been gutted from a speeder - which they were. It was a luxury speeder; he'd made sure of that at least. What little General Brecklin allowed himself in the way of comfort could all be seen in his office.

The small base that he oversaw was nothing more that a dugout, really. Carved into an asteroid, the rebels had had a time of installing grav and atmospheric generators, but their efforts were not carried out in vain. The base they had come to call 'home' was a staging area, the asteroid itself housing a dry-dock of sorts that had been constructed to hold one of the Alliance's newer acquisitions.

Brecklin, given the task of overseeing the project, had also been given further orders, but those he was not to act upon until the time to launch had fully approached.

It had taken many long months, but that time had finally come, and now the General only had to sit and wait. His request had been sent through the proper, secure channels, and the recipient notified by the Alliance's core group of emerging leaders to rendezvous with the contingent on asteroid 38-ku-3 for a new mission.

Brecklin knew that the news he was to deliver would be unexpected, and he took a small bit of amusement from that knowledge as he rose, striding to the upended munitions crate and taking up the whisky and tumblers. Idly he wondered if the man, Dan, would bring the Jedi woman with him. He'd heard the mess hall chatter and rumormill, but wasn't sure if he believed any of it. After the Purge, word had it that most if not all the Jedi had been wiped out, and if any had survived, they'd limped away to hide and keep out of the Empire's reach. Not that he could really blame them if that were the case.

"Sir?"

A short man with close-cropped red hair poked his head into the General's office, and Brecklin gave the man a glance from over his shoulder. "Yes?"

"Shuttle docking now."

"Good. Care for escort duty?"

The redhead gave a laugh as he turned about. "Sure thing, General."

[General Dan]

Things could still be counted on to be mum, that was certain.

Dan didn't have details on the plan, only that the right people said there was one. That's all it took. Of course, he had no experience with General Brecklin. He was a General, which in the fledgling world of the Alliance meant little. Any wise guy with enough of a following could give themselves that moniker. Hell, that's how he'd gotten it at least. The title was only part of it. You went with sage advice from close people you respected. Dan had good words given to him, so that's all it took.

He eased the shuttle down to a resting point on the crater-blasted asteroid, looking at the assorted rabble and clutter all around. It was still decidedly more amateur than anything the Empire was doing, but the Rebels were learning by doing, and were now capable of bigger and better things.

Dan glanced to his passenger.

"We left Ithor for this dirtball? I hope for a good reason."

[s'Il]

Eyes closed, s'Il was still trying to visualize the forested beauty that they'd had to leave behind. It also helped to alleviate the sinking feeling in her stomach that seemed to always accompany her during space travel. Hyperspace wasn't so bad, but otherwise she found it unnerving. Uncomfortable though it was, the Lupine knew that it was inevitable, and so she stoically endured; only a few times had she vocalized her protestations at having to fly.

Of course, she'd very nearly balked at having to accompany Dan with the knowledge that they'd be passing through an asteroid field, but it seemed the man could be persuasive at times, and s'Il grudgingly agreed.

She made a face, her eyes still closed.

"I would've been just as happy to stay behind... "

Her good eye peeked open and she ventured a slitted stare at their surroundings before closing both eyes tightly shut once more.

"... instead of following you to some molly-hocked asteroid."

She fumbled with her crash-straps, fingers blindly unbuckling the latches before she turned in the seat to face him. Both eyes opened to regard him then.

"You had your orders. I however was bribed to come along."

[General Dan]

"Well, I'm not saying I'm above bribery."

Dan rose from his seat, and paused, making a face.

"Gravity feel a little light to you?"

Figures, the gravs they installed didn't quite seem to be zeroed. Dan hopped lightly, lifting imperceptibly higher than he should have.

"Oh well. I'm sure they've got some wood alcohol and a view."

[s'Il]

The Lupine gave a small shudder at his mention of wood alcohol. She'd ventured a few tastes when offered, but never made it past the first sip. Consequently, s'Il was always sure to stock herself with enough of her own native spirits to last her between the trips Dan took her on to Schwartzweld.

Rising from her seat, she awkwardly shoved her way past him... he was right, the grav generators were a bit wonky, and it took a few seconds to steady herself.

"Sometimes I wonder if you threaten to drink that horrid gutrot just because you know I've got better options with me on hand."

The Lupine grumbled as she continued her way to the back of the shuttle and the slowly descending boarding ramp.

"One of these days I'm not going to fall for your little sideways act, then you'll have to drink that awful swill."

Who was she kidding? She knew he could always manage to beg himself a shared decantur, and he knew it too. Ever since Zem had left, s'Il had found at least a small bit of solace in allowing Dan to share a drink or two with her.

[General Dan]

"I hope you're not taking my words in anything less than jest. That stuff will make you blind."

He winked at her as they walked forward. All around was the bustle of activity. The Rebels were hard at work to make this little staging ground into a serious installation. Dan paused in front of what looked to be the welcoming committee.

"General Brecklin's liason?"

When he was given the affirmative nod, he smiled. Good. He wanted to get right to the heart of the matter.

[Meiers Brecklin]

The redhead - Kes - smiled an easy smile while nodding to Dan. His eyes went to the woman, idly wondering if this was indeed the Jedi that he'd heard a few of the transferred commandos talk about during their short stays. She was quiet enough, and the scar through her eye made him pause before once more looking to Dan.

"Not really confounded enough out here to rest on formalities and titles," he started, extending a hand to his fellow Rebel, "... so just call me Kes."

[General Dan]

For once, Dan was relieved to do without the requisite military pomp, admiring the junior officer's boldness.

"Kes, I'm Dan. This is my associate, Lok s'Ilancy. I trust our little rock in space has systems running better than the gravs at least?"

They walked together at a brisk pace, Dan not caring to waste any time, and Kes seemed to glean the senior officer's desire for expedience.

[Meiers Brecklin]

Kes gave a laugh at that.

"Yeah, the gravs aren't the best; bought them from some junk peddler out in the midrim, shipped them here, and patched them up as best we could. Still, we're getting better at what we do."

He gave a cryptic grin then to Dan, and continued to lead during the short trek to Brecklin's 'office'. Around a few winding turns, up a small lift, and down a narrow corridor they went until a single door was all that stood at the end of the hall. It was still closed, and as they neared the young rebel reached out, his hand closing around an old-style knob and giving it a turn. At least the hinges had been oiled, as they didn't make a sound when the door was opened.

Standing to the side, Kes motioned for the two to enter. He would not be joining them as his orders did not extend so far. Rather, he turned about and headed back the way he'd come, his step just a little lighter than it would've normally been planetside.



Glowpanels illuminated the interior, and General Brecklin looked up from the datapad he'd been studying as Dan and the young woman stepped inside, and without ceremony rose to his feet.

"Dan," he smiled genially.

[General Dan]

"General Brecklin."

He nodded, extending his hand.

"This is my associate, Lok s'Ilancy. Got the message for a rendezvous, and had just enough time to pack a sonic brush. I cleared six sectors to get here, so I'm keen to know exactly what we're scheming."

[Meiers Brecklin]

Brecklin gave a cursory shake of his head as he bade his guests to sit, and lowering himself into his seat he leaned back.

"Keen as you may be, there are matters which must first be addressed."

The General turned his gaze to the woman, and he blinked. She didn't much look like a Jedi; to be honest she looked about like a third-world straggler wearing fatigues and sporting damaged real-estate. Brecklin knew better than to make any such presumption however, and afforded her a polite nod.

"A comforting thing to see a Jedi among us. Most of what's left of you folk aren't moving around much anymore and I can't say's I blame them."

[s'Il]

s'Il gave a courteous nod, unsure of how to respond. She was more than aware that her attire was not entirely in keeping with how people saw the Jedi, but those were in the days before the Purge. Times had changed drastically, and the Lupine took at least some solace in the sabre nestled in its' sheath on her belt. At least the ever present companion and weapon of the Jedi was still a constant.

"A sad truth."

It was all she could think of to say.

[Meiers Brecklin]

"Mmm, indeed."

The General nodded in understanding, and he looked to Dan once more while reaching out to pull the stopper from the decantur of whisky. Filling both tumblers halfway, he pulled a third glass from one of the desk's drawers and filled it as well.

"Enough dreary thoughts however," he gestured to the tumblers, "have a drink."

Brecklin gave Dan a coy smile as he raised his own glass to his lips.

"Seems the higher-ups have enough faith in you to give you an official command."

[General Dan]

Dan accepted the whisky, swirling it gently in the tumbler before taking a drink.

"You almost make it sound like we're in an actual military."

He grinned at the sort of self deprication that came from fighting a war from the grass roots.

[Meiers Brecklin]

Brecklin shrugged. "It is what it is."

Any other time he'd have preferred to avoid the complications brought on by an organized military, but there was at least a semblance of underlying simplicity that formed the framework, and that simplicity came from the men who'd been in from the beginning and knew the core reasons of why they fought. Men like Dan, Bail Organa, Captain Antilles, even himself. There were many more who had been present since the first shot was fired, and now they were the ones that'd taken the cobbled resistance pockets and formed them into the Rebellion.

And they were growing. It was a necessary thing to organize; to shape a military from raw, uncut, and unreserved desire for justice to be served.

These were those first few steps outside of brute force tactics that so easily allowed them to overtake the outer-rim planets and wrest the Empire away. But, if they were to drive deeper into the heart of the beast they had to become more than what they were now.

"You and I both know we can't continue on in this manner. Any hope we have is dependent on rising up to meet the Empire blow for blow."

[General Dan]

"It's inevitable." Dan conceded as he nodded.

"Having a deep space rally point is something we need to force a real presence in open space combat. I imagine that's where you are thinking about venturing now."

[Meiers Brecklin]

There was a smile at that, and the General took another sip.

"Oh, a rally point is certainly useful, but that's not what this is. Here, we're just a cobbled together, glorified drydock in the absolute loosest sense of the word."

[General Dan]

Dan took another drink.

"Fair enough. What did you have in mind?"

He wanted some sort of insight into Brecklin's larger view of the war.

[Meiers Brecklin]

"It's time we pushed against the front with more than simple dropships and commandos, and whatever suppliers we have aren't in any state to be refit for combat. We have fighters it's true, but nothing to adequately carry them while holding their own."

He set his tumbler down on the desk's surface.

"We need warships, plain and simple. Large enough to stand against capital ships. We're not quite at that stage it's true, but we're getting closer with each step forward we take.

"Your new command - your new ship - is one of those steps."

[General Dan]

"A new ship?"

This caused Dan to pause.

"What sort of ship?"

It was true, what Brecklin said. Until now, they had been nothing more than guerrillas ferrying around in whatever was spaceworthy.

[Meiers Brecklin]

"The closest thing to a capital ship that we can get for now."

Brecklin looked to the Jedi, curious at her silence. She was looking sidelong at Dan, her gaze unreadable to the General. It wasn't unsettling, but it did cause him to wonder.

"A Marauder Corvette. It was sent here for complete overhaul, and now that we've finished our job, it's time to pass her on to you as per our orders."

[General Dan]

"Fast ships, those."

Dan was vaguely familiar with the sort. Speed would be vital, and he approved of the choice.

"Could overpower a picket ship or at least bloody the nose of a capital ship in a hit and run."

[Meiers Brecklin]

Brecklin gave a nod, agreeing with Dan's assessment while rising to his feet.

"She's the only one we have right now and my boys spent a long time getting her up to spec, so treat her well."

He smiled.

"Shall we?"

[General Dan]

Dan looked to s'Il, curious if she had any thoughts of this unexpected turn.

"Mighty brave of you all, I must say, turning over a ship like that to a guy with no formal naval experience."

He smiled an easygoing smile, knowing full well that he'd earned his chops in a more unconventional way.

[Meiers Brecklin]

Brecklin matched Dan's smile.

"Those above us know well enough what you're capable of."

The General strode to the closed door, and with a smooth motion turned the knob to open it. The corridor beyond was deserted; even the red-headed Kes was nowhere to be seen.

"I have to admit I find myself somewhat envious of you... an impressive record of 'service', a Jedi fighting alongside you, and now a ship of your own to captain."

[General Dan]

"I don't think we can afford envy quite yet. Somewhere out there, the Empire's waiting for us. It's time we stop nipping o their heels and square up to punch them in the face."

Dan adjusted his jacket hem as he rose.

"I'd like to see her, if she's ready for inspection."

[Meiers Brecklin]

Brecklin gestured for the two to follow him from his office.

"I wouldn't think to keep you from your new prize for much longer."

Back through the winding corridors he took them, yet upon coming to the lift, they traveled upwards rather than down.

"I'm authorized to provide you with a skeleton crew until you're able to gather your own men, though there will be some that are already assigned."

A smirk.

"They've already taken to calling her Novgorod."

[General Dan]

"I wouldn't think of changing it, though the name eludes me. It sounds familiar."

Dan thought about the notion of assigning a crew to the warship.

"Lok and I have a few people that I'm sure we can fill the roster with. The chance to take it to the Empire in a full capital ship will excite them."

[s'Il]

The Lupine found her mind reeling with the events that'd just transpired, though it hadn't escaped her thoughts that with this new ship came far more stable living arrangements; she'd have quarters to herself and there would be none to bother her... no threat to be wary of which would cause them to uproot themselves yet again. It was a relief.

The lift continued to take them upwards, and s'Il moved to stand a small bit away from the two men, detaching herself as she watched the blur of rough-hewn rock streak by through the clear transparisteel on their upward ascent.

Idly transfixed, she blinked as the solid mass was suddenly gone, replaced by a view of the cavernous insides of the asteroid that'd been mined out. Brecklin had not spoken falsely when he'd said it was nothing more than a hurriedly constructed drydock.

Pylons and support struts could be seen snaking their way all along the interior walls.

And in the center of it all, the Novgorod.

It was a sleek ship, and looked built for combat. It was also large enough to occupy a significant portion of the cavern. Roving spotlights traversed the hull to illuminate pockets of workers as they continued to work along the outer metal plating, and small pinpoint showers of sparks could be seen where they were wielding the last touches to the ship.

The whole view was magnificent, and without thinking the Lupine placed a hand on the glass as they continued upwards, affording an ever-changing view of Dan's new ship.

[General Dan]

Dan watched in wonder as they approached his new ship. Even now, workers scoured the surface, retro-fitting new systems onto the existing frame and testing others.

"Fitting missiles onto the weapons pods, and replacing the turbos?"

A smile crossed his face.

"It seems our masters have thought of everything."

[Meiers Brecklin]

The lift brought them close along the side of the ship, and Brecklin clapped a hand on Dan's shoulder.

"They're not placing their trust in you lightly. They know you'll put whatever they give you to good use."

As the lift slowed to a stop, the General once more led the way out, and the trio made their way along a covered catwalk that wound its' way across the expanse separating the inner asteroid wall and one of the Novgorod's many access portals.

[General Dan]

"Any idea as to our first mission once we're cleared of drydock? I imagine we're wanting to hit the ground running on this."

He turned to s'Il.

"I suppose this means our shuttle-hopping days are over."

[s'Il]

She watched as Brecklin keyed the access hatch, turning to look up at Dan as the General stepped inside. Normally she would have spoken her thoughts without reserve; it was a habit that had only gotten worse after Zem's abandonment, but for this trip she'd kept a rather tight hold on her tongue.

"That is... " she paused to think of an appropriate answer, "... good to hear."

[General Dan]

"General on deck!"

An ensign smartly stood at attention as the two officers and the Jedi entered the Novgorod. The ship even smelled new. Dan could see a technician down the hall, obfuscating a familiar C.S.A. logo with a paint sprayer.

Dan grinned at that, looking to Brecklin.

"Freshly liberated from the Corporate Sector, then?"

[Meiers Brecklin]

"Not all of us kids on the playground have well-to-do parents who can buy them shiny new hovertonka tanks."

It was said with a wry smirk as Brecklin gave an offhanded salute to the junior officer, and without waiting he started down the pristine corridor at a brisk walk.

"But to answer your previous question, yes. We do have a mission for you. Your orders are sealed however, and even I don't know what they are; just that they're in your new quarters."

[General Dan]

"I appreciate resourcefulness. It doesn't hurt that the Corporate Sector's all Imperial stooges anyway."

They continued to walk through the corridors, headed toward the forward hull, and the bridge.

"Sealed orders?"

He arched an eyebrow.

"It gets curiouser and curiouser."

[Meiers Brecklin]

Brecklin said nothing as they continued on to the bridge. It wasn't a long trek, but the distance was enough to give them the sense that the ship they were on was adequately considerable and able to hold its' own.

The three stepped onto the bridge, and what few crew were present stood quickly at attention.

The General returned their salutes, then turned to the side, regarding Dan and stepping back to allow the Novgorod's new captain to survey his bridge.

[General Dan]

Dan gave a look at each of his executive bridge staff. Mostly officers, a few junior enlisteds also stood at attention.

"Gentlemen, at ease."

Stances spread to shoulder-width as hands clasped behind their backs.

"This is an unprecedented moment, and one of many we hope to make into a turning point. Some of you have been with the cause since there was a cause at all. For some of you, this is your first act of defiance."

He looked to s'Il, and continued.

"This is a Rebellion. Our enemy is vast and possessing of overwhelming strength. Further, they do not recognize our very right to exist. Make no mistake, this is a battle for survival. Survival of worlds, survival of peoples, survival of justice and a way of life that some of us can remember enjoying, and others only imagine so. There is no earnest discourse, no compromise against a tyrant. Where we are pushed upon the precipice of annihilation, we too must push with ferociousness that taxes our minds and bodies. Unlike the enemy, we cannot afford to relent. What we have on our side is that very fact that we have nothing but our lives left to lose. Your enemy will be formidable, but we will fight harder than they ever will."

[s'Il]

It was strange to hear him speak in such a way, and s'Il satisfied herself with simply staying rooted to the deck she stood upon. There was a moment of panicked indecision when he'd looked back to her, but he continued to speak and her sudden worry died away.

She could feel Brecklin's eyes on her momentarily, and even a few others it seemed snuck glances here and there. But, they were as professional as any formal military, and folding her hands before her the young Lupine kept silent.

Her thoughts roamed to the notion that she'd finally have her own quarters, and would be allowed a significantly larger amount of privacy than she'd had to endure in the past. It was something that - the more she pondered - the more she wished to finish these introductions. Her possessions would finally no longer be confined to the trunks she so doggedly refused to travel without; at least Dan was understanding enough on the matter and never teased her too much on the issue.

[General Dan]

Dan looked to General Brecklin, curious if he had any further words for him before he took the helm of his ship. Seeing as even Brecklin had no inkling as to the nature of the mission, Dan was intrigued.

"General, will you be joining us out of spacedock?"

[Meiers Brecklin]

A shake of his head, and the General gave a light smile to Dan.

"I've my own duties to attend to here," he said while turning slightly on his heel.

"Though I do wish I could go with you."

Once more the door leading to and from the bridge opened, and Brecklin stepped partway out.

"I'll leave you to your ship; one of your lieutenants will show you both to your respective quarters... "

Brecklin extended his hand to Dan. "I'm sure we'll be seeing each other once more at some point in the future."

[General Dan]

Dan hoped so. This was a fragile time for the rebellion. The beginnings of an earnest starfleet could bode well, but could also set up for a quick end. He hoped that it was the former.

"Take care of yourself, General."

The General left, and the door sealed shut behind him. True to form, the senior Lieutenant on the deck approached to escort them to their quarters.

Dan deferred to s'Il, knowing exactly what this meant for her.

[s'Il]

For the first time in a very long while, the Lupine allowed herself to partially relax; or at least it appeared so. She smiled thinly at the lieutenant as he gestured for her and Dan to follow.

The small party walked in silence, passing by a few of the crew as they made their way to one of the lifts that would take them to the next deck level. Still silent, s'Il busied herself with keeping her eyes on the far wall, and when the lift slowed to a halt she followed their guide out and down the corridor.

He stopped at one of two doors, palming the entrypad, and without a sound the door opened.

"Not too much space, but it's quiet for the most part."

Stepping inside, she stopped just beyond the threshold, her gaze sweeping over the small living area and the doors leading to what she assumed were the bedroom and fresher.

"Thank you."

[General Dan]

Dan ran a hand along utlitarian contours in the room. It was obviously quarters for a senior officer, in that she wouldn't be stacked two or three high in a barracks. Still, it was spartan and a bit small.

"Every bit as comfy as the presidential suite on Bespin."

Dan smiled at the tongue-in-cheek observation, as he looked at s'Il.

"You gonna have room for everything?"

[s'Il]

An odd look was given to him, and s'Il found herself slowly nodding. Now why would he say that? Surely she didn't have that many possessions?

"I... don't have that much."

[General Dan]

"Just checking."

He gave her a lopsided smile as he headed for the threshold.

"Guess I'd better check out my own surroundings, and get to the bottom of this little mystery. I don't like being in the dark."

[s'Il]

She watched as he stepped out, followed by the lieutenant, and for a moment after the door closed the Lupine stood... it was quiet and peaceful. There were no gunshots heard in the distance, and no gravelly voiced commandos growling at each other. Nothing.

Standing in the middle of the living area, s'Il turned a circle on her heel and let her eye take everything in; from the bare few pieces of furniture to the even barer walls, and in that moment she stopped. She was alone.

The next moment she realized that despite her usually cold exterior, she had come to rely on the presence of others to keep her from feeling such a way, and that now, on her own in quarters that had been given to her, she found herself feeling rather... lonely.

Less than a second later she was out the door and back into the corridor. The lieutenant was just pulling his hand away from the entrypad that no doubt belonged to Dan's own quarters.

Without a word she moved to stand beside Dan.

[General Dan]

"Hm, this looks familiar."

It was the same floorplan, but in reverse. The bed on the opposite side, and the desk and refresher likewise reversed. There was an exception of a larger desk terminal, but that was the only exception.

"General, orders are posted in your private correspondance box. Your key..."

Dan, remembering the dataslip that had been given to him, reached forward and swiped it over the reader. With that, the Lieutenant nodded to s'Ilancy and his superior, and exited.

[s'Il]

She watched the lieutenant leave, and as the door closed s'Il allowed her attention to return once more to Dan. Underneath his desire to learn of their new orders, she had to wonder if there was at least some sense of satisfaction at this string of events which had led them from Ithor to the quarters of his first command ship.

"Congratulations... ?" she finally offered.

[General Dan]

He paused, and looked at her.

"I'm as surprised as you are, really. Figured it was our lot to hop from planet to planet and annoy the Empire to death."

He opened the safe and found a dataslip, which no doubt contained the confidential orders.

"I haven't had enough time for this to sink in, and I don't know that I want to rest on the thought until I see exactly what this maiden voyage has in store for us."

[s'Il]

The Lupine gave him a sideways look, and moving to the rather utilitarian sofa that'd been provided, she lowered herself to sit. It was not very comfortable, and she shifted about in mild agitation.

"You know, it might be wise to wait until we're on our way at least."

She frowned at the stiff cushions beneath her.

"What I mean is, let it sink in some. Get some semblance of solid mental footing before diving headfirst into this."

Resigned to the brick-like nature of the sofa, s'Il drummed her fingers on the armrest and bit her lip while looking to the side.

"It couldn't hurt at least."

[General Dan]

"We may not have the time."

Dan palmed the dataslip.

"General Brecklin was tight lipped on this, which leads me to think that it's big."

[s'Il]

A grumble from the Lupine, and she set about examining her fingernails for dirt.

"Tight-lipped and not knowing about something aren't the same you know," she grumped.

[General Dan]

"I'm aware of it."

Sitting at the computer, Dan took the orders dataslip and slowly slid it into the receptacle in front of his monitor. The screen soon came to life.

"I'm not in a position to question the motive. I've got other questions first."

[s'Il]

Frowning at his turned back, the Lupine gave a groan as she stiffly rose to her feet.

"We're not even out of spacedock yet," was her only mumbled response as she slowly made her way to stand behind him, looking over his shoulder at the monitor as it activated.

The screen flashed white, then black before simple text began scrolling. Certainly not large blocks of writing, but also not short enough as to leave out any necessary detail. Not that there was much detail to be had it seemed.

The orders were to the point; destroy a newly constructed drilling platform being used by the Empire. Apparently they'd found something they wanted, and from what could be gleaned from the report, it was something that they were planning to completely stripmine the planet to get. And once they were done, nothing would be left...

s'Il felt her ears tick back as her eye scanned the next few words, and the muscles of her jaw clenched tight as she took a half step back.

... of Duravant.

[General Dan]

"Those bastards."

Dan sighed, clenched his jaw, and punched the console off. He rose from his seat.

"Let's get to work getting out of dock. Time to make a homecoming of sorts."

Now it became apparent why he'd been selected for this task.

[s'Il]

"I... " she was at a loss as to what she could say. "Wait... "

Her hand went out then, grabbing at his sleeve and pulling him to a halt, and for the first time there was concern in her eye as she looked up at him.

What could she say? To not take this new mission personally? To treat it like any other? No, it would be an insult to him, and the young Lupine knew well enough what had already been taken from the man at the hands of the Empire.

But, even through all of that she found herself worried; Zem had left her, his fear consuming him and compelling him to abandon her. It'd been a terrible blow, and while she considered Dan nothing but a friend, she knew well enough that the man was all she had left. She could not allow him to be eaten alive with anger and revenge.

Only two words escaped her lips.

"I'm sorry."

[General Dan]

He empathized with her outstretched concerns, and held her hand. The last thing she likely wanted to see was for him to return to the terrible place where they had first met. To return to the keen heartache of loss he'd already been broken upon.

"The Empire's destroyed millions of our lives. This is just my turn to make it personal again. Maybe it's the wrong motive, but I'm not in a position to choose that."

He met her eyes and spoke firmly.

"I wish I could afford your restraint. Maybe one day you can teach me."

[s'Il]

"And maybe that day is today.

"I've watched you cry once before," her voice, though low, held the same firmness that he himself had spoken with.

"Don't make me watch you do it again."

[General Dan]

"It's too late for tears."

Dan rose to his feet, and pressed the nearby intercom.

"Bridge, this is Dan. Prepare to exit spacedock. We'll be underway soon."

He looked at s'Il as he heard the response in the affirmative. His Lieutenant, for what it was worth, sounded eager. He clicked off the comm, tugging at the bottom hem of his jacket as he straightened.

[s'Il]

She frowned at his words; why did she always feel like such a child when he spoke to her? As if she was still just a whelp tagging along behind her father with wide eyes and an open mouth, with such woefully little knowledge of life... ?

The Lupine watched him as he pulled at his jacket in an attempt to banish whatever creases might've been present.

"You look fine," was all she offered while moving towards the door.

[General Dan]

"I've got a lot of eyes that are going to be looking to me very soon. I have to look like the leader they're needing."

He punched the door control and it slid open with a hiss.

"Let's go."

There wasn't any more time left to dwell on the task at hand, and Dan needed s'Il with him. It didn't have to be said.

[s'Il]

Expressionless, she followed after him. They stepped out into the corridor, and without ceremony headed toward the lift that would take them down a level.

She'd never before been aboard a Marauder corvette, and while space-travel in general - as well as all things associated with it - had never been a particularly pleasant experience for the Lupine, she never-the-less appreciated the clean surroundings of the Novgorod. It was about the only nice thing she could think of to say about the ship.

The lift doors closed behind them, and s'Il let her eye wander to the side, staring at the wall as her thoughts invariably began to stray.

Zem would've liked this ship.

[General Dan]

"General on deck!"

Lieutenant Adjer snapped sharply, bringing the bridge crew to attention as Dan and s'Il arrived.

"At ease."

The crew once again returned to a shoulder-width stance with hands behind their backs. Inwarly, Dan had to laugh. Somewhere, there was likely somebody to blame who had at one point had an illustrious career in the Imperial navy. Discipline was hard to imitate.

"I have our orders. We will be entering space combat, and I will be putting this ship and yourselves into harm's way. Out there is a planet, perhaps in many ways similar to whatever planet you all may call home. The Empire is ready to grind it apart and ruin it to feed their war machine with the resources they need to oppress other worlds."

He looked to each of them.

"I will not allow this to happen.

We may not be in the largest ship, or the most heavily armed. We have nothing to rival the size of the Imperial ships of the line. What we have is the initiative. They will not see us coming, and I guarantee you they'll get a bloody nose out of the surprise."

[s'Il]

The whole sight, to her, was rather amusing in its' own way, and s'Il bit her lip as she stood behind Dan. It was a foreign thing to see after so long with the casual demeanor exhibited by those they'd once kept regular company with.

She could feel a few eyes on her, but chose to ignore them as her own gaze swept across the bridge's interior. She kept an ear on Dan's words, feeling once more as though she were standing in the presence of someone new. Oh, she'd heard the command and resolve in his voice in the past, but to the Lupine this was entirely different. It was something that felt of a higher plateau, of far greater responsibility than what he had previously had.

It was more than obvious the man was willing to shoulder his new obligations, and a heartbreaking realization stampeded through her mind as s'Il dipped her head so that her eye was downcast.

Where Dan had risen to the calls for leadership, Zem had run away.

[General Dan]

"Helmsman, clear our moorings. Comm, inform the master of the dock we are departing."

Finding his seat, Dan eased himself down, looking to s'Il and noting there was a seat adjacent to him and opposite of his XO.

The Novgorod's bridge hummed with quiet murmurings of the crew as they began their numerous tasks to bring the warship out of dock. The umbilicals detatched with a hiss, drawing back against the dock's superstructure, as ion thrusters began to glow a dull red in the aft section. Ahead, massive space doors began to slowly open, and for the first time, they revealed open space that lay beyond.

"Ensign, ahead at thrusters only. Bring us to half sublights once we clear the asteroid."

[s'Il]

Even through her troubled musings the Lupine could sense the silent beckon for her to take the seat beside Dan.

Lowering her frame to sit, s'Il leaned back. She could feel the ship come alive around her, and with a growing sense of awe she watched as the monstrous bay doors ahead of them opened like the widening maw of some leviathan, waiting to swallow them into the space beyond.

White-knuckled hands clutching the armrests of her chair as she watched the star-filled expanse grow, s'Il cast a furtive look to Dan for the barest of moments before returning her eyes forward just in time to see the edges of the asteroid's bay doors pass out of sight, and in the next second they were out.

[General Dan]

"System's check."

The dull rumble in the deck signalled that the engines were under way.

"Deflector screens fully operational."

"Missile tubes at the ready, banks fully loaded."

"Thrusters, sublights, and hyperdrive all green."

"Sensors calibrated at full efficiency."

The XO, Commander Aventis handed Dan a datapad with an electronic signature on it, vouching for the full combat readiness of the Novgorod.

"Ship ready for war, General."

Dan paused, turning the pad over in his hands as he looked forward at the large viewscreen, showing the widening expanse of space opening up in front of them.

"Then let's not delay. Ensign Jerys, coordinates seven four eight mark four six. Duravant star system. Light speed."

The helmsman, a woman actually, began to feed the coordinates into the navicomputer.

"Stand by for hyperspeed solution. Ready. Steady. Mark. Cutting sublights and engaging."

The rumble in the deck plating increased as the stars slowly began to slide into blurs of motion, carrying the Rebellion's first capital ship into war.

[s'Il]

What was it like, going into hyperspace aboard a ship that was larger than a freighter?




Five hours after they'd made the jump the young Lupine was still trying to find the answer to that very same question.

She sat alone in her new quarters, the lights dimmed. An exercise in tranquility, s'Il allowed herself to sit in solitude, occupying the center of the living area. She eschewed the utilitarian sofa and the small desk that occupied the room, satisfied enough with the floor.

[General Dan]

Dan didn't accompany her. He sat at his post, waiting. Watching the kaleidoscope of stars pass by as they hurtled toward combat. The bridge, apart from the required duties at hand, was quiet. They all felt the same anxious yearning. To be done with the waiting and to meet the enemy. Dan busied himself with going from station to station, and acquainting himself with his crew. Some were men and women he had served with before. Others were new faces.

"General, we're two minutes away from the hyperspace terminus."

Jerys at last brought the news he'd been waiting for. He strode back to his seat, and punched up a comm at his console.

"Tactical, we need to be fast. Get our missile tubes loaded."

A voice below deck responded.

"Aye, General. You'll have a spread on call the moment you hit realspace."

Below decks the crews worked hurriedly, depositing concussion missiles from ordnance hand trucks onto the small conveyors that fed into each respective launch tube. The motions were quick and well-choreographed, wasting as little time and movement as possible to arm the weapons.

Dan punched up another comm.

"Lok, it's time."

[s'Il]

Eyes half closed, only the barest inclination of her head could be seen as an acknowledgment to the sound of Dan's voice cutting through the silence. Another minute passed, and she slowly rose to her feet. What would they face in the immediate future? What exactly was waiting for them over Duravant? The orders had not been specific in what they'd be up against; only that the Empire had begun a mining operation on the planet.

Leaving her quarters behind, the Lupine felt a pang of sadness that what brought Dan back to his home was in no way heartwarming, and the short trip in the lift between decks only served to deepen her apprehensive mood.

She stepped onto the bridge without a word, her eye going to the starlines stretched out before them on the viewscreen.

Opting to stand rather that sit, the Lupine pulled in a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

[General Dan]

"Exiting hyperspace in three, two, one."

The slight inertial shift and change in the deck vibrations were felt as the star-streaks coalesced into singular pin-pricks of light. Ahead lay Duravant, which looked much as Dan remembered.

Ensign Tarsten was quick to give a detailed picture of what they were facing.

"Comscan running, no Imperial starships in system. I've found the mining platform."

It was in a high northern hemisphere orbit, and the screen magnified to show a vast-looking station with numerous cutting lasers engaged on the planet's surface. Heading to and from the station were bulk freighters, no doubt processing the material that the orbital lasers were cutting loose.

Dan's face was unreadable.

"What's their combat strength?"

Tarsten was quick with that.

"Four turbolaser batteries, twice as many anti starfighter weapons."

Dan steepled his fingers together.

"Full sublights, charge our forward deflectors. Bring us to missile range."

The Novgorod began to pick up speed, hurtling towards the mining station.

"Get our pilots to their ships. If the station has TIE fighters, I want to screen them as we make our run."

[s'Il]

The site of the mining platform was enough to give her pause, and as she watched the freighters move about the colossal thing, the Lupine found herself lowering herself into her seat beside Dan. So far beyond what she'd tried to imagine since first reading the orders given to them, s'Il was unable to take her eyes from the sight before them all.

She seemed to lean back imperceptibly as the platform grew in size, their speed increasing on a direct course to intercept. Something didn't feel right however; a distinct impression that there was more waiting for them than a simple mining platform. Her eyes narrowed as her brow knit in the exertions of her searching thoughts... Tarsten was indeed correct - there were no other Imperial ships about, but still. All around it felt... wrong.

Her voice was low.

"This isn't right."

[General Dan]

A few tense seconds passed.

"The platform's shields are going up, and they're powering their turbo banks."

Tarsten looked up from his controls.

"Mining platform in range."

Dan nodded to his tactical.

"Full spread, now."

Novgorod's missile tubes opened up, and a salvo of sixteen missiles streaked from the ship with a hiss. Their energy wakes traced their motion like tails on comets as they rained through the now-approaching mass of turbolaser fire from the station and found their target.

"Direct hits on the dorsal superstructure's shielding, down to 38%."

By this time, the Rebel warship's fighter bay door was opening, and a half dozen Z-95 headhunters were being scrambled for quick escort. The Novgorod shuddered as her own shields were lashed by defensive fire from the station. Be that as it were, the barrage the mining station put up was not equal to the Rebel firepower.

Dan started to think about s'Il's words.

"Jam their comm tower. If they have help out there, I want them flying blind."

[s'Il]

The words were scarcely out of his mouth before the Lupine shot to her feet, her eye wide. That elusive feeling burst open upon her senses like screeching metal and grinding gears, and inwardly she cringed at the feeling; it was as if someone was grating together rough-hewn steel.

"Too late," she gasped.

Tarsten's station beeped at him, and the young ensign rocked back in his seat. "Inbound hyperspace signature, sir! No... wait... two inbounds!"

s'Il kept her gaze on the viewscreen.

"Imperial star destroyers dropping out of hyperspace, General!"

"They've been waiting for us," she mouthed silently to herself.

[General Dan]

"We're not staying." was Dan's steely reply.

"Get those tubes up and hit them again. Put whatever you can into that station before we have to tuck and burn. Hustle up!"

Novgorod adjusted its vectors to place herself on the opposite side of the approaching star destroyers. Two Acclimator-class warships were bearing down on the position of the distress signal the station had put out.

Dan thumbed another comm switch.

"Scramble the fighters, we've got company!"

The Z-95's began to debark from the ship, holding a tight screen to protect in the event of a TIE counterattack. The station, it appeared, didn't have a complement, but it could be guaranteed that the incoming warships would.

[s'Il]

She turned to Dan, opening her mouth to speak, but Tarsten cut her off.

"One other inbound... "

Despite their situation, the knowing calm written across her features was enough to unsettle many around them.

"We're not going anywhere -"

"It's an Interdictor, Sir!"

[General Dan]

"Damn it."

By now, the second salvo was loosed, this one piercing the mining station's shields and buckling the hull. Secondary explosions were blossoming on the station, and the entire shield grid collapsed. Another salvo would finish the deed.

"One more round."

Tarsten superimposed a screen of tactical sensor readouts, and it could be seen that the Acclimators were starting to disgorge TIE fighters.

"Get ready to come about. Bring deflectors to max rear and prepare for full sublights. They want us, they've got to catch us, and we're faster than their capital ships."

[s'Il]

Still on her feet, s'Il stared at the readout Tarsten had brought up. Her features melted into a frown as she watched wave after wave of TIE fighters begin to coalesce into a swarming entity. But it was the widening net of detected gravitational energy steadily growing to encompass the readout that concerned her the most.

She slowly lowered herself back down to sit.

"We may have to think about going down to he planet."

[General Dan]

"Our speed is the best asset we have. If we lose that, the Empire will just have enough time to tighten the noose. We've got to move."

"Salvo away!"

Tarsten announced the last group of sixteen missiles inbound. Not waiting to see the status of the kill, Dan responded quickly.

"Get us out of here. Full about. Skirt Duravan'ts orbit and put as much planet between us as possible. Put as much as you can into the engines. We're going to have to deal with the TIEs, but the Headhunters should buy us some time."

He looked to Tarsten.

"Get our tubes loaded with flechette missiles, something to keep those fighters off us."

[s'Il]

She felt nearly useless; unable to do anything but sit, watch, and feel the growing danger mounting. It came in relentless waves, and the Jedi gave a pained expression as Duravant grew in the viewscreen. She gave a start, lurching forward just as Tarsten spoke up once more.

"Multiple fighters coming up from the planet - Sir! Sensors indicate- "

The Novgorod shuddered violently, and s'Il clutched the armrests of her seat as Tarsten finished.

"- batteries on the surface."

[General Dan]

"Go to evasives! Keep our course!"

The ship pitched sharply, scraping the outer atmosphere and just as suddenly turned away from the brink, keeping a general course but with random movements to cut down on their exposure to the planetary batteries.

"Showing six TIE fighters approaching from planetside."

Dan drummed his fingers on his armrest for a moment.

"Fire staggering flechette rounds, three missile bursts along their ascent path. Shred 'em."

As Novgorod sped along desperately, missiles streaked from her launch tubes, diving sharply down into the path of the speeding TIE's. Detonated by proximity, they showered a maelstrom of shrapnel into the flight path of the Imperial ships, knocking out five as they made their way into low orbit to engage the Rebel warship.

"Scramble the rest of the headhunters."

[s'Il]

s'Il ground her teeth as she sat, her mind reeling with every new obstacle that was sent out before them. To her, the awful truth was more than evident; the Empire had known they were coming, and had been waiting. It made her very nearly sick to think on, and screwed her eyes shut tightly.

The Novgorod bucked once more under the barrage coming up from the planet, and the Lupine felt her stomach turn. By the Bloodline she would not allow herself to become sick now; her upset gut would simply have to wait before emptying itself. She clenched her jaw.

"How long until we're out of the gravity well."

[General Dan]

"Assuming we keep up our rate of distance on the Interdictor, we'll be out in twelve minutes."

The ensign at the helm spoke with a grim resolve. The ship shook again.

"Shields at 75 percent." Tarsten spoke, eyes fixed on his duty screen. "We can't stay close to the planet for long."

Dan watched the dozen blips representing his Z-95's spread out from the central position that his ship inhabited. Another round of flechettes peeled away two TIE's, leaving five headed from planetside. The strength of the Acclimator TIE squadrons was at four, a total of 48 fighters. The capital ships must've known that they'd lose out in a leg race, so they were doubling down on the chance that their fighters could disable Novgorod enough for the big ships to overtake her.

As the Z-95 defensive squadron peeled off to intercept the attacking planetary TIE's, Dan looked to his XO, Aventis, for an ace up his sleeve.

"Commander, how many diamond boron missiles do we have in our magazine?"

The XO quickly tallied through his inventory for the response.

"Four, sir. We stole a cache from Fondor two months ago."

The General tapped his fingers a few more times on his arm rest.

"That'll be enough."

The ship rocked again as Dan looked to s'Il.

"We're not going to get caught in an ambush.

Get me a channel to Headhunter Leader."

"This is...Headhunter Leader...engaging enemy now."

"Headhunter Leader, play it safe, I don't need anybody to be a hero today. Gun those planet-side TIE's down and keep close on our mark."

"But...the other squadrons sir?"

Dan shook his head.

"Do not engage. Stay close on our vector."

[s'Il]

s'Il hoped desperately that his words would be true. She knew well enough that if they were caught it meant her death, and the thought of it brought forth a grim resolve in her blue eye. Dan would not allow them to be taken; in the years that they'd fought alongside one another she'd at least come to know him well enough to realize that the man's will was close to indestructible. Or at least, to her it seemed that way.

The Novgorod shuddered under the constant fire, and the Lupine turned a questioning look to Dan. She felt useless in situations like this; if they were anywhere but aboard a ship the Lupine would've known exactly the role she was to play, but now? She was like a fish out of water.

This was Dan's new playing field, and despite her feelings of awkwardness, she would follow him wherever he chose to go.

[General Dan]

Novgorod's Headhunter escorts swerved off sharply to pounce on the remaining TIE's. Another four were by now coming up from the planet, combined with the one that survived the flechette salvo. The TIE's were faster, but the Z-95's were tougher and had the numbers on them. They broke into flanks as they converged and brought fire from multiple angles onto the TIEs. Two broke off to intercept a flanking fighter, and the other two were caught in the fire and destroyed.

In the meantime, the TIEs from the Acclimators and the Interdictor were gaining.

"Lost my wingman!" a voicecomm identified on the mainscreen as Headhunter Six squawked in, as one of the Rebel blips petered out.

"Bring it in and stay close."

Dan could see the approaching TIE's, and knew the fighters would soon be on them.

"Ensign Tarsten, flechette rounds for the rear tubes."

The tactical officer scowled, questioning the effectiveness of what he felt was a desperation tactic. Then again, they had few options."

"Ready sir." he spoke when the loaded chamber indicators lit up.

"Fire."

Another spread of four flechette missiles streaked toward the approaching fighters, clipping two of them. The TIE's in the meantime smelled blood, and began to close ranks to prepare a mass assault that the ship likely could not defend against.

[s'Il]

The Lupine, watching as the TIE's grew closer, found a small bit of worry grow within her. Could they truly withstand this continued barrage... and if the headhunters were unable to adequately provide enough cover, would the Novgorod be able to fend for herself?

s'Il was woefully under-prepared for life aboard a warship and all of what it entailed, and if they survived this ambush she vowed to make Dan teach her all he knew.

"Whatever you plan to do, please do it quickly," she hissed out the side of her mouth.

[General Dan]

"Just a few more seconds..."

Dan attempted to put Lok's concerned tone out of his mind as he watched the fighters approaching.

"Tarsten, load two diamond boron missiles to the rear tubes."

Seconds passed, and the fighters continued to close ranks.

"Missiles loaded."

The tactical officer now had a good understanding of exactly what Dan was intending to do. The question was if it would work.

Another few seconds, and the TIE's continued to gain. They were nearly within weapons range.

"First missile, launch dead astern, three kilometer detonation, now!"

Novgorod banked as she loosed one of the diamond boron missiles. It streaked through the mass of advancing TIE's, detonating not at the vanguard, but in the middle of the formation. The heavy missile's massive warhead thundered into a massive concussion half a kilometer across, catching at least fifteen fighters in it's destructive wake. The rest started to peel away, and tried to put distance into their closed ranks.

"Second missile astern port, catch that flank!"

Tarsten was already on it, seeing exactly where the balance of the Imperial fighter attack was moving.

"Missile fired. Brace for close bombardment."

The ship shuddered as the second warhead blew apart another six fighters rather close to home, the shockwaves not quite danger close, but certainly near enough to be felt. Lights dimmed and a conduit sparked overhead momentarily.

"TIE fighters breaking formation, coming about for envelopment."

It was still a fight, and the Z-95's dove through the TIE's as they both tangled in a desperate bid to control Novgorod's destiny.

"Load concussion missiles and kill whatever clean shots you've got."

[s'Il]

She watched all around her with a detached look in her eye, her mind falling away from the clutter and noise of the bridge. Leaning back in her seat, the Lupine angled her head as her gaze settled on nothing in particular. She stretched herself beyond the corporeal, reached out beyond the physical, through bulkheads and steel and the emptiness of space.

She could feel the frantic consciousness of the headhunter pilots collected before her mind's eye. But her focus was not them; no, her search was for the men piloting the TIE's. It was not a difficult thing to pick them apart.

A finger twitched, and she pulled at the first mind she could grasp. Like trying to pluck a a single grain of sand out among millions, the Lupine concentrated her efforts on that singular consciousness.

Another finger twitched, and on reflex she clenched her hand into a tight, white-knuckled fist.

Without warning, s'Il swept her arm out to the side, and out in space, one of the TIE's jerked sharply to the side, colliding with another and sending the both of them spiraling out of control.

[General Dan]

Dan was not unaware of the look of faraway intent on s'Il's face, and was in fact pleased to have another hand at work in their defense.

"Whatever you do, it'll be enough."

The ship shuddered suddenly.

"They're strafing at opportunity. Shields at 65%."

Dan nodded at Tarsten's words as another Z-95 blinked off the tactical view, snuffed out in a fusilade of laser cannon fire.

"Keep the pressure on those fighters."

Below decks, teams worked furiously in choreographed shifts, opening the pressure-sealed missile tubes, loading in fresh rounds, sealing the breach, and firing on the nearest target of opportunity. The heat in the launch bays rose with each round, as the residual hot gases from each shot vented each time the chamber opened. Men sweated as they worked, crews with ordinance pallets heaved torpedoes and missiles into the works as quickly as they could be cycled.

Novgorod accelerated on, not bothering to slow down and tighten the lead she had on the capital ships. The Z-95's in turn kept up their close escort, fighting off the chasing swarm of TIE's. A TIE would destroy a Rebel fighter, only in turn to be smashed to pieces with a missile strike. The number of TIEs was thinning, but so too were the few Rebel fighters.

[s'Il]

Another four TIE'S fell to her efforts before s'Il let out a gasp. She rocked forward in her chair, her body straining to recover from her mental exertions. It had been a cautious experiment on her part - never before had the Jedi attempted such a thing, and though successful, she was quickly draining her energies.

Yet, the threat was still there, and their pilots were still fighting a desperate battle. She could not stop now.

Head dipping low, the Lupine reached out once more into the nothingness of space.

[General Dan]

"Enemy depleted to fourteen fighters. We've got five out there."

Tarsten was interrupted by another series of laser strikes on the shields, this time dimming the lights.

"Shields are at fifty one percent. They're getting a lot more shots in now."

Another TIE was smashed by a direct missile hit, and another two screamed by in its wake for a head-on strafe.

"How much longer till we clear the Interdictor well?"

The helmsman already had the number crunched.

"Three minutes to clear."

Dan tilted forward, resting his forearms on his knees as he watched the fight unfold.

"We've got to break the TIE wave to give them a shot at docking before jump. Order the squad to fly off our mark. Make them choose who to stick on. Whatever TIE's stay on point, kill them with flechettes. Can't risk that with the Headhunters up close."

Another series of hits landed home, and Dan looked up to Tarsten, who was already putting in the call for flechettes to be chambered.

[s'Il]

Her whole body had become tense, muscles tight and rigid as her concentration focused outward on the TIE's once more. s'Il allowed her breathing to deepen, and she lifted a hand out before her, fingers spread wide. a group of six TIE's had broken through to close the distance between themselves and the Novgorod; she could feel their heartbeats, hear the pilots' mechanical breathing through oxygen tubes, and even the whine inside the cockpits filled her awareness until she seemed to exist wholly with them and them alone.

As if sweeping a handful of pawns from a playing board, the Lupine swept her hand to the side in a violent wrenching motion. So forceful was her movement and unaware of her immediate surroundings, her hand was only stopped when it hit jarringly against Dan's shoulder.

But, her action had its' desired effect as all six TIE fighters veered sharply in all directions. Like some invisible wave of energy had driven them off course and into the flight paths of four of their comrades, the Lupine's last effort opened up just enough of a window for the headhunters to make their attempts at docking.

[General Dan]

"I don't know what happened, it looks like there's some sort of problem with the Imperial flight controller. Whatever's going on, TIE's are crashing into each other left and right. We're on even odds now!"

Dan knew better. Looking sideways at s'Il, he rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Bring them in tight. We'll cover their approach."

The Z-95's belleaguered and battle-scarred from diving into the mix with the TIE's, swooped about and approached from below to Novgorod. The four remaining fighters broke ranks as a trio of flechettes screamed past them, breaking loose into a shower of shrapnel that caught another TIE in its wake. The Rebel capital ship rotated on its axis, putting itself between the headhunters and TIEs. The Imperial fighters were all too happy to oblige, changing targets and scoring direct hits unimpeded by Rebel starfighters.

On the bridge, a rear console sparked and the lights flickered.

"Give me the green the moment they're tucked in. Keep putting distance on that Interdictor."

[s'Il]

She was dimly aware of his hand, but her mental exhaustion didn't allow for much else. She could hear voices around her, and the minutes dragging by were excruciating. Another hit from the TIE'S, and the lights cut out entirely, only to be replaced seconds later by the red emergencies.

Awash now in a crimson glow, s'Il looked through slitted eyes at the deck, her breathing shallow as she felt her body lean back.

Tarsten's voice cut through the sound of another exploding console.

"Headhunters docked and secure, General!"

[General Dan]

"Time to safe jump coordinates?"

The helm responded in the midst of another strike.

"Thirty seconds to gravity well's edge."

Novgorod's shields were barely hanging on. The remaining three TIE's pursued at all angles, flying circles around them amid pursuit. Another flechette tore one of the fighters apart, but not before half of the destroyed fighter splashed across the foreward shields, finally causing them to fail.

Another strike from a TIE pocked the limited hull armor at the mid-dorsal section, nearly causing an outright hull breach.

The entire mood on the bridge was tense, yoked to their immediate task. Dan's fingers wrapped around the ends of his chair's arm rest as he watched the distance to clear shave down second by second.

"Hull breach on deck two! Sealing off bulkhead!"

[s'Il]

Listless, the Lupine had enough of a mind to brace herself as the Novgorod shuddered violently under the barrage, her shields no longer able to defend the hull.

She had no more energy to even attempt anything more than a vague look to Tarsten, willing him to give the all clear. How was it possible that mere seconds could feel like an eternity?

The ship rocked once more as a shower of sparks exploded from one of the emergency light panels overhead.

"Clear!"

[General Dan]

"Go now!"

The command was barely given before starlight began to streak into a kaleidoscope of motion. Quick as a blaster shot, Novgorod blinked out of realspace into the slipstream.

Through a thin veneer of ozone-scented smoke, the mood on the bridge was one of elation and instant relief. Dan allowed a smile to cross his face.

"Good work, everyone. Unbelievably good."

[s'Il]

Fatigue and exhaustion clouded her mind, and s'Il watched the starlines before her with an expression that shifted; wide-eyed at first, her features slowly descended into worry, and she leaned on the armrest of her chair, her head close to Dan's shoulder.

"I might throw up on you," she whispered shakily.

[General Dan]

"We got all the kinks worked out, I think. It's smooth sailing enough to calm down the butterflies."

He squeezed her shoulder with a hand as the bad news started to trickle in. Their accomplished mission and successful getaway had cost them in blood.

"How many casualties?"

A duty officer, Ensign Frieth, pooled the reports from all stations after action.

"Eight killed in action - Headhunter squadron. We've confirmed another nine killed and twenty more wounded."

Dan closed his eyes. Seventeen dead. That was a heavy price nonetheless.

[s'Il]

* * *

The safety found in hyperspace was a godsend, temporary though it was. In the wake of their costly victory, it hadn't taken s'Il long to empty her stomach in the privacy of her own fresher; a combination of spacesickness and her actions of the day that'd produced rather disastrous results. A part of her felt a level of shame despite what she'd done this day. Her current isolation at least afforded her a level of solitude.

Dozing on the small, utilitarian sofa in her quarters, the Lupine found herself waking periodically, unable to rest for any prolonged period of time.

Had they truly accomplished their mission?

[General Dan]

Dan entered her quarters late in the chronographic day. He seemed tired from the day's turmoil, and his jacket hung unbuttoned as he stepped in.

"Well, we're still a spaceworthy ship. Engineering's patched the holes they can manage out here on our own. We'll be alright until we rendezvous with Alliance central."

[s'Il]

Cracking open her left eye, she let her head turn to look at him with a white, sightless gaze.

"And yourself?"

He'd not once since learning the object of their mission disclosed any sort of personal feelings on the matter to her. She knew that the man more often than not kept his cards hidden, and that it seemed he valued his privacy in subjects such as this, but s'Il had to wonder if, like his new ship, he had begun to mend the wounds that she was sure he harbored over what the Empire had begun over his homeworld.

[General Dan]

Dan paused, sure that s'Il meant more than the simple words she'd spoken.

"You mean, does it feel better to bloody the Empire in a real and substantial way, or worse to lose more people under my command in a day than I have before in any given week?"

He reached up, massaging the bridge of his nose as he sat at his desk.

"Bittersweet would be a cliche, wouldn't it?"

[s'Il]

o that she said nothing. Sitting up, s'Il reached for the glass of water she'd made sure to keep at the low table beside the sofa. It helped, and swallowing, the Lupine stared at him with a bit of an odd look.

It was a response she'd more or less expected.

"I suppose it would," she mumbled.

Even now he seemed stoic, sitting at the small utilitarian desk across the room. Of course, while it wasn't a great distance given the relatively small quarters she'd been allowed, it was distance enough. Ever since Zem had left she'd placed herself at arms length with everything and everyone; Dan included.

Of course, it didn't mean that she couldn't provide the ear to any who wished to simply speak, or the shoulder on which any wished to lean upon.

[General Dan]

"Guess that's the blessing and curse of our success."

The General sighed and closed his eyes.

"Before this whole thing gets better, it's bound to get worse. We're becoming a serious threat to the Empire now. The consequences are bigger."

[s'Il]

"And is this how you envisioned your crusade against them?"

It wasn't said to insult or provoke. Shifting about so that she could face him more fully, s'Il at least gave him a direct stare. There was no accusation in her gaze, only curiosity.

"You've come a long way since the freighter we rescued you from. Is this where... "

She paused, but decided it best to continue.

"... where Nena would want you to be... ?"

[General Dan]

"I knew in my head we'd get to this point. It's easier to think about like that, but maybe another thing when it happens. I don't regret my choices, if that's what you're asking. Knowing the medicine tastes bad is one thing, but you don't know for sure till you taste it going down."

He ran his hands through his hair.

"In the end, we single-handedly set back Imperial mining operations months for a site that large, and that's even with the Empire somehow expecting an attack. Putting the balance of four fighter squadrons away in our wake is the cherry on top. I can't ask for better effort from my crew, and from you."

[s'Il]

For a moment her eyes stayed on him, curious at his response. If her mention of his dead wife had any effect, he'd not chosen to let it show. Of course s'Il wasn't sure if she should've been very surprised. Just as she herself was often considered closed off, he too could be placed in the same category.

With a groan the Lupine rose, rolling her shoulders back. The sofa was not very comfortable at all.

Her small travel duffel that she'd brought with her at the start of all of this still rested on the desk where it'd been set, and lumbering her way toward it, she reached out to unbuckle the clasps holding it closed.

"It isn't much," she started, "... but I hope it will do."

Whatever had possessed her to pack the small, cloth-wrapped glass bottle she didn't know. Just a feeling. She'd meant to save it for herself - for a night alone spent stewing in memories, self-pity, and solitude. Now though she knew that it would be better served in Dan's care.

Perhaps not the same as any of the others she'd taken with her during their last trip to Schwartzweld, it often didn't matter. Each one that she'd tried had its' own subtle currents.

She set it down in front of him; never one for offering congratulatory words, the Lupine stood for an awkward moment before scowling at herself.

"For you."

[General Dan]

"For us."

Dan offered a small, appreciative smile, his exhaustion showing through a bit. Reaching forward, he picked the bottle up and examined it, as he always did with the curious libations s'Il would bring from her ancestral home.

"We both poured out a lot of ourselves and our efforts today. I figure that calls for replenishment in more ways than one."

[s'Il]

Staring at him for a moment, s'Il gave a bit of a confused frown. Why did he consistently insist on sharing whenever she offered him such small gifts?

"You're not required to share."

She felt stiffness in her voice, as though she'd not spoken in a long while. Annoyed with herself she turned back to make her way to the sofa, and with a tired sigh the Lupine once more lowered herself to sit before going on.

"It is thoughtful, but... not necessary."

[General Dan]

"It is."

He took a quaff, and handed it off to her nevertheless.

"You're every bit as exhausted by this as I am. I need us both to renew. Everyone on this ship needs to find that in them."

[s'Il]

Renew. Renewal. As if she'd been struck the Lupine looked up sharply at him, her features twisting into an unreadable expression. Her knuckles grew white as her hand gripped the bottle tightly. There was no way that he could know; it was simply a coincidence, his choice of words. And yet, it was a word that set her memories reeling and the loss poignant once more. It stung like it had before, sharp as ever.

s'Il carefully set the bottle on the small table, the muscles of her jaw clenching.

"If you are tired, then perhaps you should sleep," she finally got out.

[General Dan]

It was obvious that something was wrong.

"Maybe I should."

He slowly rose, picking the bottle up that she had insisted he take, and headed for the door. Pausing, he turned.

"I need to know how you feel. I need to know your mind. I've given you that much in turn."

[s'Il]

Looking up at him, s'Il gave Dan a pained grimace before breaking eye contact to look vacantly across the room. She knew he was right; he'd confided much in her during their time together.

Shoulders slumping, the Lupine let her head dip, eyes closing tight as she spoke just above a whisper.

"It would take... a very long time."

[General Dan]

"You've got whatever time you need."

Dan turned around in the doorway.

"How long have we fought together? Fates willing, we'll have even more time together, because we're in it for a long fight."

[s'Il]

Yes, they'd fought for a significant amount of time together, and he was entitled to more than what she offered on the surface. The Lupine pulled in a long breath, letting it out slowly.

And suddenly, she felt acutely the pain that Dan had born at the death of his wife, at the loss and the emptiness that followed. She remembered holding him as he wept, unsure of how to react in the face of such wounded and raw emotion.

Her voice threatened to crack.

"I miss him."

[General Dan]

He shifted his feet, leaning on the doorway.

"Zem?"

Dan empathized with her, knowing what it was to be apart from someone close.

"Have you thought about looking for him?"

[s'Il]

"Of course I have," she rose to stand, "... but, it's not what he would want."

Pursing her lips, the Lupine shook her head.

"I don't know why, I just know."

And that was what hurt the most; that he had simply left with no explanation as to why. Moving to the desk where her duffel rested, she roughly picked it up. Was there anger in her motions? resentment? An inward snarl as she realized that yes, there was.

"No other family, my people gone, and now no one to care for."

Stopping in the doorway to the small bedroom, she tossed the duffel inside without a thought before turning back to face Dan.

"One gets used to such existence. It only takes time."

[General Dan]

"I'd like to think that you have me"

Dan approached her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll be the first to admit that I don't understand this Jedi business. I make no excuses for that. But I'd like to think that I know and appreciate you as a person. I'd like for that to amount to something."

[s'Il]

All amount of her carefully guarded control slipped away, and the Lupine squeezed her eyes shut. Letting out a shaking breath she stepped forward, her arms going around him in as her body succumbed to quiet sobs.

Her hands gripped the fabric of his jacket as she held him closely, burying her face into his chest as she finally let Zem Vymes go.

[General Dan]

Dan embraced her as she clung to him, sharing in her moment of release and dependence. He rested his chin on her shoulder as she sobbed, looking ahead as she cried. His own face betrayed no emotion.

[Meiers Brecklin]

* * *

From the observation deck, Brecklin watched in unsurprised dismay at the sight of the Novgorod as she slowly entered spacedock. Limped would've been a better word he surmised, but at least Dan had been able to accomplish the mission. Frowning, Brecklin let his eyes travel over the pocked and scored hull, the blackened streaks where blasterfire had hit, and... gods, a chunk of the hull itself missing?

Grumbling to himself, the General turned away. He would be privy to the sordid details come the near future, and until then he would be patient.

Intending to meet Dan - and no doubt the Jedi woman - himself, Brecklin began the short trek to the loading decks.

[General Dan]

Dan had begun the day with a brisk sonic shower, and a change into a fresher uniform. The bridge was largely as it had been before battle, the faint stink of ozone the sole reminder of their engagement with the Empire.

The helm reported that docking procedure was complete, and the crew worked on the check-down for bringing Novgorod into berth.

"Commander, you have the conn."

He rose, tugging at the bottom hem of his jacket in one curt motion, and walked toward the airlock, s'Ilancy in tow.

[s'Il]

For the short amount of time that they were alone, s'Il watched the far door of the airlock, her ears ticking back at the sounds of the locking mechanisms of the hatchway they'd just stepped through.

She pulled at her earlobe, cast a nervous glance sidelong at Dan... his neckline didn't look quite straight.

"Do you think he'll be mad?"

[General Dan]

"About the paint job? Probably."

Dan smirked. Wrecking the General's calm was at the very least of his concerns. More to the point, he wanted to discuss the possibility of a leak in Alliance command.

[s'Il]

She made a face, bit her lip, and nodded. Folding her hands before her, the Lupine frowned. She had a good enough idea that the ambush they'd run headlong into was forefront on Dan's mind, and a part of her too wished to see the matter of this unknown traitor brought to light.

But still... his neckline. It wasn't going to straighten itself out, that much was certain.

In a quick motion s'Il shifted her stance, and reaching up she ran slender fingers along the stiff fabric, all the while grumbling in her own native tongue the virtues of a tidy wardrobe.

[General Dan]

Dan paused and allowed the woman to do her work.

"You'd think by your fuss that this was a real honest military we were in."

With a knowing smile, he continued on. The heavy blast doors parted, leading them into the interior of the hidden Rebel base.

[Meiers Brecklin]

Brecklin was waiting for them, his arms crossed over his chest and a feigned look of disapproval on his weathered features. His eyes went first to the Jedi, then to Dan.

"I seem to recall being assured that there'd be no dents, dings, or scratches."

[General Dan]

"Offer's void when the Empire knows we're coming before we do."

Dan glanced to s'Il, then looked back to Brecklin.

"Considering we snuffed the mining station, and then bloodied the Imperial ambush and got away nearly clean, I'd say we did a few notches better than expected."

[Meiers Brecklin]

His brow knit as he worked to parse what Dan had just said. The Empire knew of the mission? Hell, even he hadn't known the true target until receiving word that the Novgorod was on her way back for repairs.

For a long minute he stood rooted, staring at the General and his Jedi companion. Letting his arms fall to his sides, he gave the both of them a deepset scowl. His mood, at first mildly jovial with a touch of exasperation, had descended sharply. Thunderclouds began to gather in his suddenly stern gaze as he set off at a brisk pace.

"My office," his voice held none of its' previous tone, now instead an angry bark.

"Now."

[General Dan]

Also eager to dispense with pleasantries, Dan was quick on Brecklin's heels. There were serious issues at hand that needed to be sorted out before the next mission was at hand.

[Meiers Brecklin]

Down sparse corridors he led them, fuming the entire way. The thought of a spy in their midst was far from pleasant, and the General waved away the red-headed Kes with an impatient hand. He had no wish to deal with whatever minutia his subordinate deemed necessary to bother him with.

Once behind the safety of closed doors, Brecklin ignored his chair for the moment. His office, normally a bastion of tranquility and peace, seemed to close in around them. He turned to stand in front of his desk, facing Dan and the Jedi Loklorien.

"What happened."

It was not a request.

[General Dan]

Dan recalled the incident, keeping it short.

"We broke into realspace, found the station by its lonesome, and began our attack. Imperial counter-attack force entered the system well before any call for reinforcements could have been placed. Two Acclimator destroyers and one Interdictor."

Dan looked at s'Il, and continued.

"We finished the assault, and went to full sublight to outreach the Interdictor's mass generator. Lost most of our fighter escort in the process of shaking off their TIE squadrons.

My men did their duty above the letter. I know it's not a bloodless war, but I want to be able to deliver them from harm's way when we should've been delivering the suckerpunch, not taking it."

[Meiers Brecklin]

Brecklin took it all in with a deadly sense of calm, utterly quiet as Dan finished speaking. This sort of news could very well demoralize a lot of men under his charge, and the General was loathe to allow such information leave his office. He was sure the normal rumormill would work its' way from the Novgorod's crew to those stationed here, but to them it was nothing but speculation. Only the truth was to be known by the three of them.

He crossed his arms, one hand going up to pinch the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes in thought.

Finally, he spoke.

"This goes no further than us, understood? If at all possible, I want to keep the higher-ups out of this. If we can contain it - if its' on our level at least - then that's what has to be done."

[General Dan]

"There's two possibilities. Either the Empire snatched loose comms in deep space, or we actually have a compromised officer somewhere up the chain."

Dan crossed his arms.

"I'd just as soon hope its the former. That, we can at least fix quickly."

[Meiers Brecklin]

"Much as I share that sentiment, I can't rest on it. None of us can afford to do that. We have to assume the worst."

He skirted his desk then, slowly sitting down while gesturing for Dan and Loklorien to do the same.

"That said, I'd like to hear any ideas you may have on how to suss out our mole."

One finger went up in emphasis.

"Quietly, mind you. The last thing I want is to spook whoever is feeding information to the Empire."

[General Dan]

"We need to know where the orders came from."

That was, of course, the first step to take to find out where the chain of command led. Any link on the trail could lead to a potential mole. Dan also had to include the possibility that Brecklin was also just such a compromised link.

[Meiers Brecklin]

Brecklin gave a nod, mulling Dan's idea over in his mind. It was a sound plan, and truth be told he felt the same way. He did not discount however the terrible possibility that Dan very well could be the culprit. Or even Loklorien, sad as that realization was.

"What makes this all the more puzzling to me is why they didn't simply show up here; they could've staged an attack before the Novgorod left spacedock. They would've had a golden opportunity to wipe us all out."

[General Dan]

"That is also true. If the Empire were to compromise us, it wouldn't make sense to strike every simple excursion and not go after the center of power."

He paused, looking past Brecklin as he thought.

"It's possible they only knew of the mission itself, and not the location of our base. Still, the only reason I can think they would strike so prematurely is if they were holding something at Duravant a lot larger than just a mining op."

[Meiers Brecklin]

An eyebrow raised at that, and the General considered it. It had substance enough to be more than feasible. He leaned back, folding his hand into his lap.

"I suggest you go back then. Find out what exactly is going on out there. If the Empire is waiting for you, at least we'll know that our little problem is isolated in one of two places; Here or on the Novgorod."

[General Dan]

"We'll need time to repair, and I'd like to see what we can pull for a reconaissance retrofit. If there's something out there, I doubt the Empire's going to let us get that close again. Can we beg, borrow, or steal a better sensor suite?"

Dan looked to s'Il.

"This is as good a time as any if you have any Jedi intangibles to offer."

[s'Il]

Lost in her own thoughts, the Lupine answered after a few quiet moments.

"I'll do what I can. Keep in mind I'm no real mind-reader... "

An almost bashful look crossed her features then as she looked sidelong at Dan, giving a small, apologetic shrug.

"... never got around to learning the finer points at the Temple."

[General Dan]

"I'll take what I can get."

Dan looked at the other General.

"We'll need to tool up, but quickly and quietly. How long will it take?"

[Meiers Brecklin]

"As long as it takes to patch up your ship. I'll have a small group set you up while Novgorod goes through repairs."

He stared at the far wall in thought.

"I'd say three days if they hustle, but I'd rather nothing get overlooked in a rush so you've got five days till you leave."

[General Dan]

"I don't know if we have five days. We have to assume the Empire's going to either move shop, or dig in. We need speed."

[Meiers Brecklin]

Brecklin gave Dan a level stare, and making a face, he leaned back.

"I'll authorize you and your crew to fly after three and a half days. I'll not be held responsible if the Novgorod falls apart before you get to Duravant however."

[General Dan]

"We don't need Novgorod necessarily. What about a snub fighter? Something fast, and deep-space capable, with a good sensor package."

Dan glanced over at s'Il.

"Something that seats two."

[Meiers Brecklin]

What was this then? Taken aback somewhat, the General slowly allowed his mind to wrap itself around the fact that Dan was so intent on getting back that he'd take a fighter straightaway rather than wait for his ship to be repaired.

A look to Loklorien yielded little, as she herself was staring at Dan with wide eyes. Gaze lowering, it was easy to see the sudden white-knuckled grip she had on her chair's armrests.

"We've got an old Y-wing; it's not pretty, but I suppose it'll work well enough for what you want."

[General Dan]

Dan steepled his fingers as he thought it over. A Y-wing wasn't going to win any speed contests, but then again, even a Z-95 would be overtaken by a TIE. It had ample space for sensors and another passenger, so it would have to be compromise enough.

"How long to strip the armor, guns, and munitions off and double-down on the sensor package?"

[s'Il]

Her knuckles gripped the armrests of her chair. That they were going back to Duravant was one thing, but in a small fighter? s'Il found herself acutely concerned over that fact. Space-travel in itself was still something that she wondered if she'd ever truly become used to. Space-travel in a small two-seat craft was something that she felt a particular worry for. Even despite the fact that she would be traveling with Dan, the thought still made her stomach turn.

So broadsided by this new development was she that the Lupine wasn't even sure that she could satisfactorily scold her companion for his suggestion.

[Meiers Brecklin]

Considering Dan's request, Brecklin leaned back in his seat before rising to stand.

"We can have you ready to fly in four hours. I trust that sits well enough with your need for expediency?"

[General Dan]

Dan rose as well, a serious expression on his face.

"Whatever is fastest. The clock is ticking and not a bit in our favor."

He then looked to s'Il, who seemed slightly distraught over the notion of flying in a snub fighter.

[Meiers Brecklin]

"I'll supervise the work myself."

Brecklin skirted his desk, motioning for Dan and Loklorien to precede him out of the office.

"If you're not opposed, I'll arrange for temporary quarters for each of you so that you may rest. Unless you'd rather stay aboard the Novgorod... ?"

[General Dan]

Dan straightened his jacket's hem with a careful tug.

"If it's all the same, I'd like to stay posted with my men on my ship."

He wanted to stay busy in the interim, and helping to supervise Novgorod's repairs while they waited would help give him that edge.

[Meiers Brecklin]

Brecklin smiled. He admired Dan's dedication. They stepped out of his office without ceremony, and the General closed the door behind them.

"Then I'll send you a comm as soon as we're finished."

He turned his eyes to Loklorien. She still looked nervous, and with an inner smirk Brecklin knew that Dan would have a time assuaging her apparent fears over the trip back to Duravant in a small snubfighter.

[s'Il]

The first to leave the General's office, s'Il remained quiet. She was sure to keep a tight lid on her rather distraught feelings on the fact that she and Dan would apparently be returning to Duravant in a snubfighter; a Y-wing no less. The particular ship class mattered little to her; it was the size of the craft that worried her to no end. How would she be able to possibly deal with such small quarters? Space-sickness was one thing in a corvette, but it was an entirely different beast in a smaller fighter.

Oh yes. Dan would be given an earful once they were in private surroundings.

[General Dan]

Never once did Dan break stride as they left, heading back to the ship.

"We have no other real options and I need a Jedi's insight to see beyond what the sensors can read. If you don't like that, I understand, but I'm still going, with or without you."

[s'Il]

She was on the defensive in less than a heartbeat. She wasn't quite ready to air her personal issues quite yet. Not until they were satisfactorily secluded.

"And what makes you think I'll allow you to go without me?"

[General Dan]

Dan scowled, not slowing his gait.

"It isn't your decision to make. We stumbled onto something, and if we don't know what, the men we lost died for nothing."

[s'Il]

Her hand balled into a white-knuckled fist, and the Lupine reached out, grabbing a hold of his jacket sleeve. She pulled him to a rough stop, the force of her action surprisingly gruff.

She maneuvered herself so that their eyes met, and holding his gaze, s'Il scowled in a mixture of disapproval and anguish.

"Give me more credit than that," she finally hissed out.

She wasn't ready to lay out her fears before him; not now.

Rather, a distinctly different fear made itself plainly known.

"You're all I have now. If I lost you I'd... " She clamped her mouth shut, but it wasn't long before she made her best efforts to explain herself more fully.

Her brow knit as her entire expression descended into a masterpiece of desperate composure.

"... I don't know what I'd do.

"I'd have no one left."

[General Dan]

Dan paused, looking in her eyes and fully appreciating the seriousness of the moment.

"Then we go together. Either we both make it back or we don't. Do what you have to, but I have no intention of leaving you to the whims of the universe."

[s'Il]

And suddenly, like that, she wondered exactly how it was that her fear of space-travel in such a small craft could possible compare to the fear that she'd just so openly shared with him. She was a shade more than conflicted to say the least, and in a rather foreign display of supplication, the Lupine clamped her eyes shut, her head dipping.

"I don't know what I have to do anymore," she whispered in near-defeat.

Her hand remained like a vice-grip on his arm.

"Please, tell me what I must do... "

[General Dan]

"You're a Jedi."

He spoke calmly, trying to ground her in the reality of the moment.

"You can see things beyond sight, beyond the scope of a normal person's own cognition. Perhaps I simply overestimate, or don't understand what you do, but I think if there's anything out there we need to see, that you would be the one to see it."

[s'Il]

She shook her head as if in defiance of her status.

"I know I'm a Jedi."

s'Il let go of his arm, like she'd suddenly realized what she'd permitted herself to show - a moment of emotional weakness. She was not Nena, and he was not Zem. It was as simple as that, and she was loathe to step into that possibility of heartache once more. If she had to endure once again that which she'd shouldered with Zem's abandonment...

Yet still she found herself unable to meet his gaze. Why?! It was near infuriating.

Wheeling about on her heel, she started once more down the corridor. She knew well enough the path that would return them to the main hangar which housed the Novgorod.

"I cannot even see past my own thoughts," she growled in exasperation - at both herself and the situation.

" - I fail to see how you can need me as much as I need you."

Was that a confession?

[General Dan]

Dan was more softspoken now at her revelation.

"We're all here being asked to do things far beyond our familiarity, skill, or understanding. I used to be a teacher, now look what I'm asked to do."

He met her eyes fully.

"Can you find it within you to see beyond yourself?"

[s'Il]

She looked away, unable to hold his gaze as she grasped at what was left of her normally closed and aloof composure. The brief departure of her senses inwardly shocked the Lupine, and she desperately sought to regain her self-control.

Her shoulders squared back as s'Il doggedly strode onward.

"I'll need rest first, if I am to do as you ask," she finally answered.

[General Dan]

"I think it's a wise course of action for both of us."

Dan nodded, resting his hands on her shoulders as he looked at her.

"I have all the faith of the galaxy in you."

[s'Il]

s'Il made a momentarily thoughtful look, unsure how she should answer. She frowned.

"... thank you."

[General Dan]

"Thank you. You give me faith in the cause when I falter."

A hand eased up her neck, fingers running through her hair as he leaned in to kiss her.

[s'Il]

Slowly she took a half-step back, reaching up to gently take his hand away while shaking her head, her eyes downcast.

"I do not think that you and I are meant to be anything beyond close friends," she whispered softly.

[General Dan]

With reluctance he eased back, averting his eyes.

"I shouldn't have done that."

He finally looked at her again.

"I've got to see to the ship. Get some rest."

He turned to leave, looking back once before turning away fully to head down the corridor.

[s'Il]

She stood, watching his back for a few quiet moments before starting forward as well. She followed after him at a distance, lost in a sudden gale of thought.




Four hours later...


Having learned quite early on that the bed offered only a marginally more amount of comfort than the couch, s'Il slept lightly. What little amount of actual sleep she'd been able to get was interrupted by moments of wakefulness. And when the small comm on the nightstand chirped, the Lupine was pulled from her fitful slumber with a frown. She lay on her side, and as her eyes slowly opened her hand moved out slowly pull the chrono into sight.

There was still an hour left before Brecklin and his team would be finished.

A single finger depressed the answering button.

"Yes... ?"

[Meiers Brecklin]

Standing amidst a small group of techs who hurried about, cleaning their equipment away from the object of their task at hand, Brecklin held his small comm in a loose grip. He had chosen his closest circle of personal workmen, and for the last four hours they had worked tirelessly to strip down the Y-wing and install all of what Dan had asked for. They were a determined lot, and their steadfast perseverance had paid off. They were finished an hour before their deadline.

He'd already notified Dan, and now thought it best to inform Loklorien.

"Loklorien," he started, "Our end of this task is complete. Felt it best to let you know - I've already told Dan, so there is a good chance that you'll have him at your door soon. A little advanced warning, if you will."

[s'Il]

It took her a few moments to comprehend, and s'Il slowly sat up to swing her legs over the edge of the bed.

"Thank you, General. I'm sure we'll be along in short order."

There was no need for any farewell pleasantries, and the Lupine shut off her comm without another word.

The door chime sounded as she pulled herself to her feet; there was no guessing who it was. Making her way from the small bedroom, she padded her way noiselessly to the door, not bothering to look at who stood outside as she opened it. Rather, she turned about to return from where she'd come, allowing her expected guest room enough to step inside.

[General Dan]

Dan looked at her as she turned back.

"It's time. The fighter's ready for us."

He stepped closer to her.

"You tell me what you need before we get in there."

[s'Il]

She gave him a look from over her shoulder, unsure of his meaning. Disappearing into the bedroom, s'Il set about finding a single extra pair of clothes, and tossing her saber on the bed, she spoke in a slightly raised voice so that he could hear.

"Dramamine would be nice."

[General Dan]

It was the sort of thing that Dan didn't need to be a mind-reader to provide. A pair of medi-tabs were already in his hand.

"I figured that much in advance."

[s'Il]

An inward smirk; of course he'd know that she would need medication for the trip in such a small craft. Packing away the few chosen belongings she was bringing, s'Il zipped her small duffel closed before slinging it up over her shoulder and entering the minimal living area once more.

She gave him an odd, lopsided grin; amusement and confusion mixed together in her expression.

"Then what can I tell you that you don't already know?"

[General Dan]

"More than you realize, that's why you're riding backseat."

Dan followed her out of the quarters, heading back to leave Novgorod and return to the general docking area of the asteroid base. They boarded a utility lift, carrying them to a different level.

"You tell me of any feeling, any inkling that differs from the norm. We have an edge the Empire doesn't have, but we're racing against the clock so we need everything we can get."

The lift stopped at last, revealing an expansive hangar. On the left, a single Y-Wing sat parked, getting the last bit of fuel from a nearby utility truck.

[s'Il]

Her lingering agitation manifested itself in a slight hesitation in her step, but s'Il was determined to see this ordeal through - albeit with the help of science. As they stepped from the lift, she tapped at his hand, a silent request for the medi-tabs he held.

[General Dan]

Dan passed the capsules onto her expecting palm as they walked. A flight officer stepped across the way to meet them.

"Sir, your upkit is loaded and fighter's fueled and good to go. Without the offensive kit you'll be able to pull a faster sublight, but I wouldn't get too close to anything."

Dan looked at the officer, took his datapad summarizing the work detail that had been done. He initialed it and passed it back to the chief. They had now arrived at the Y-Wing, and the cockpit was open. A yellow ladder led down from the opening, and Dan turned to s'Il.

"Ladies first."

[s'Il]

s'Il hitched her duffel up a little higher on her shoulder, and with a hrmph she started up the ladder. She crested the edge of the cockpit, taking a moment to stow her small travel pack beneath the backseat before climbing the rest of the way in.

It took her a moment to situate herself, but once that was done she was quick to pull on her crashstraps. One of the capsules Dan had given her was promptly swallowed, the rest she tucked away into the breast pocket of her drab green overshirt.

It wouldn't do to exhaust the supply afforded to her before take-off.

[General Dan]

Dan was in second, receiving a pair of helmets from the officer on the ground. He passed one to s'Il before seating himself, fastening his harness to the crash webbing straps as well.

"I'm lighting up a heads-up display in front of you. Should give you a read on our sensors. I'll have the same feed, but if it helps to look at that rather than out of the glass, try it."

He began checking the fighter's warm-up processes. Having himself picked up piloting only in the past two years, he wasn't necessarily the best in the Alliance, but he felt comfortable enough in anything they had to fly. Slowly, the cockpit canopy trundled backwards to seal them in.

[s'Il]

The slow buildup of the Y-wing's engines could be felt in her seat, traveling into the pit of her stomach. Gritting her teeth, s'Il slid her helmet on as the HUD blinked to life. Instantly she stared at it in an effort to take her mind off the growing reverberations that traveled throughout the entire ship. Her hands were firmly attached to the sides of her seat in a death-grip, and when she spoke her voice held a faint breathlessness to it.

"Thank you, I'll try that."

[General Dan]

"Gold Actual, this is flight command. We have you clear for departure. We have no flight plan on file, are you intending to file one?"

Dan switched the comm to speak to the deck master.

"Negative, command. Flying a maverick sortie. Keep the light on for me when I come back."

Repulsors - on. Struts - retracted. Dan eased the docking thrusters into an aft rotation, easing the fighter forward as it coasted toward the atmospheric screen. They passed through, and Dan let the ship ease along another hundred meters before engaging sublights outright, steadily accelerating from the base.

[s'Il]

She closed her eyes tightly as Dan accelerated, murmuring a string of prayers and curses in her native tongue.

After a short time she braved a single eye open, venturing a gaze out the cockpit glass. The stars were beautiful, but her stomach was still determined to allow her no chance to appreciate the view. She busied herself with once more staring at the display Dan had given her. Each number and symbol was more garbled than the next, and she found it near to impossible to understand the readouts that kept refreshing themselves.

"If I have to throw up, I'm doing it in your helmet," she spoke in a tiny voice.

[General Dan]

"There's a sick bag parcelled on your left, or, should be."

Dan smiled a little.

"Relax, there's no bumps. Smooth sailing for now. Going to hyperspeed is also smooth. Unless we actually have to evade a patrol, we'll have a smooth ride."

He punched a couple of commands to the astromech droid seated in the socket on the fighter-bomber's exterior. They were locking in for a vector that would put them adjacent to Duravant, but far enough out that they wouldn't be within system, and could then take advantage of a leapfrog around mass shadows of several planetary bodies. It would be a slow and tense approach, but one that should afford them the ability to take advantage of their boosted sensor suite.

"Coordinates are laid in. Hyperspeed in three, two, one..."

[s'Il]

It felt as though her stomach bottomed out, and the visual kaleidoscope of stretching starpoints didn't help the situation at all. She felt herself imperceptibly pushed into her seat, and her eyes screwed shut.

The feeling dissipated however, and blessed stillness fell over her. No more sudden movements, just the quiet hum of hyperspace reverberating through the fighter's chassis. Oddly enough the Lupine found it rather relaxing.

Or maybe her medi-tabs were taking effect?

"How long is the trip through hyperspace?"

[General Dan]

"We've got a forty-five minute push to the system. If you'd feel better about taking the trip in a nap, may want to push your blinder plate down on the helmet. I've got everything up front so I can wake you before terminus, if you'd like."

Dan smiled as he glanced back somewhat.

"You're doing great."

[s'Il]

"I think it's the medication," she mumbled.

Forty-five minutes was not a long stretch in the least, and the Lupine situated herself a little bit more comfortably in her seat.

"And I'll be fine without a nap."

A silence descended between them, and s'Il found herself fidgeting with her crashstraps. The quiet was deafening in its' own right, and to break it she scraped a fingernail along the rough material that made up her safety harness. And she felt like a bobblehead with the helmet she wore. It was rather foreign in her experience, and she lolled her head to one side, resting it on the inner lining of the canopy. She counted the buttons on the console in front of her, then counted the buttons on the consoles to either side. Her finger still scratched at the safety harness.

Finally, she blurted out what had been on her mind since it'd happened.

"I didn't mean to make you think... "

How was the best way to say it? The right words? She stumbled over what to say next, at a bit of a loss.

[General Dan]

Dan looked up from his controls, his brow knitting.

"Think what?"

Around them, the hum of the hyperdrive seemed to envelop them like a blanket as the starscape swirled about.

[s'Il]

She gave a soft curse in her own native tongue before reverting to basic, her tone laced with impatience at herself.

"That I wished for more than friendship."

She felt awkward suddenly. Not the sort that she was used to, this was far more maddening in her mind.

[General Dan]

Dan closed his eyes at that.

"I'm sorry for being presumptuous. I won't mince words. I need you now more than ever. To what end that leads us, I can't say. You're the Jedi, you tell me."

[s'Il]

s'Il blinked, thinking on his last words.

"I... don't know where we will be led."

It was the overwhelming truth; as much as Zem had taught her and given her, the Lupine still felt very much blind. She had let him go; let him pass on into memory, but if doing so was supposed to open her eyes it had not happened yet.

She rather felt like a rancor in a crystal shop.

"It... it was a sweet gesture though," she offered weakly.

[General Dan]

"A gesture."

Dan was silent for a moment.

"Let's talk about something else. How do you feel?"

[s'Il]

She made a pained face, knowing that she'd only managed to make things worse, and with a groan the Lupine rested her cheek in one hand.

"Like a rancor in a crystal shop," she said utterly truthfully.

[General Dan]

"Just relax, we'll be at the waypoint soon."

Another few minutes passed in silence.

"You know I've never had anything less than full faith in you. No matter what comes of it, I believe in what you can do."

[s'Il]

She didn't answer for a few moments, and presently the Lupine reached out around the headrest of his seat to pinch a tuft of his hair that extended down past where his helmet ended. She twirled the thin strands around a finger.

"You should cut your hair," she mused finally, changing the subject completely. She didn't want to talk of faith; it reminded her of Zem.

"It's getting long."

[General Dan]

"Have a thing against long hair?"

Dan arched an eyebrow as he felt her feel his locks.

[s'Il]

"Well no," she paused, then continued to seemingly pick through each individual strand of hair.

"But I've never seen you with short hair."

It was awful thin, and had a distinctly silky texture.

"Then again it's rather thin-feeling. Perhaps you shouldn't cut it."

[General Dan]

Dan's features darkened.

"So you're my barber now?"

Unconciously, he reached up, loosening his chinstrap so that he could feel up on top of his head. Frowning, he tightened the strap again.

[s'Il]

The Lupine thought about that, and whether it was rhetorical or not she made a decision then and there. She even smiled lightly as she spoke - the first in more than a few days.

"Yes." She even nodded to herself to further affirm her statement. "Yes, I think so. It will do you good."

It would do her good as well, allowing her to further dote on him. It'd taken a while for her to realize, but as much as she'd spoken of needing him, she desperately desired to care for him.

[General Dan]

"Maybe you're right. After this mission, I'll get it done."

He looked back at her.

"We're coming up on the waypoint. You ready?"

[s'Il]

Settling as deep into her seat as she could, s'Il made it her new mission to stare doggedly at the back of his headrest. She was determined to see this ordeal through.

"Do what you have to do," she grumbled, though it was easy to tell her tone was lighter, more game to the events about to transpire.

[General Dan]

Dan nodded understandingly.

"Alright. Here we go. Waypoint in three...two...one...zero."

The inertial dampener whined into use, and a slight inertial shift was felt as the lines of starlight compressed into pinpricks, announcing their thunderous emergence into realspace.

Dan quickly drummed up his controls.

"I'm bringing sensors to full. So far, no Imperial presence detected. We're at the system outskirts. I'm going to cruise to the mass shadow of the outer-most planetoid."

[s'Il]

She felt the shift even through the drugs in her body, and the Lupine's eyes went wide.

"By the Bloodline," she gasped in surprise.

She shook her head to try and rid herself of the feeling. Rather, she tried to focus on what lay beyond them.

It was completely silent; there seemed to be nothing waiting.

"There's nothing," she leaned back in her seat, "... least nothing I can sense."

[General Dan]

Dan scowled.

"How can there be nothing? Nothing at all?"

The Y-Wing cruised towards the southern pole of the outer planetoid, coasting along its outer orbital trajectory.

"Hang on, we're going to slingshot to the next plantoid, another two million kilometers."

[s'Il]

She shook her head, bracing herself for whatever Dan was planning to do next.

"There's nothing waiting for us," she clarified.

[General Dan]

Dan punched up the sensor suite to full power, and even boosted it with the power plant.

"I'm not reading anything."

His hands balled up into fists.

"Damn it, we're too late. Too late!"

[s'Il]

The Lupine stared at what she could see of the back of his helmet, confusion on her features. Too late? Too late for what? She frowned, and not for the first time did she curse her inability to properly understand whatever readouts Dan was looking at.

"Too late for what?"

[General Dan]

"Too late to find out. Find what they were up to. They felt us probe them, and they pulled back."

Dan's hands gripped his flight controls tightly.

"Our fighter escorts fought and died for nothing."

[s'Il]

Now she scowled, and venturing a look out, she pulled in a long breath.

"You don't know that. They might be gone from orbit, but that doesn't mean they've left the planet yet."

She paused in thought.

"Can you do a sensor sweep of the planet?"

[General Dan]

Dan remained silent, chiding himself in his haste.

"We need to get closer. I can get vague readings from here, but we need to move further in system. I'm going to move to the next mass shadow."

The trip around the orbit was slow and excrutiating. The trick was to line it up so as to pass completely behind the mass shadow. Sometimes this took minutes, even hours.

[s'Il]

He knew what he was doing, and s'Il left him to his tasks. She had her own duties to perform, and while they might've been of a more ethereal matter, they were still just as viable. Nothing felt wrong to her, and she breathed a silent sigh of relief. She could remember that terrible, foreboding phantom that had rampaged through her senses the first time they'd dropped from hyperspace.

But now, all was quiet, and angling her head to catch a glimpse of Dan's hands, she let her eyes travel up to the back of his helmet.

"It'll be alright."

[General Dan]

It was Dan's turn to be glowering.

"No signs of a build-up, or a clean-up, or anything. You may be right, but it seems so out of place, considering what our enemy does."

Dan shook his head.

"We've got to get closer."

[s'Il]

Ever-patient, s'Il settled herself in comfortably. She knew that there was the possibility of their approach taking a considerable amount of time. And even if it didn't, she still wished to be comfortable.

It also hadn't escaped her notice that there was a very real chance that they would indeed have to go planetside, and the notion was not unwelcomed in the least.

She spoke up, her voice gentle and soothing, hoping to take his mind away from his current agitation while navigating the sensor shadows.

"Tell me about your family."

[General Dan]

"My family?"

Dan looked back, apprehensive, and relented.

"On Duravant, there was simple living. I was born to a family of two brothers and two sisters. Father was a trader and my mother stayed home and taught us. It's about as far removed from life in the Galactic Center as I can imagine."

[General Dan]

"My family?"

Dan looked back, apprehensive, and relented.

"On Duravant, there was simple living. I was born to a family of two brothers and two sisters. Father was a trader and my mother stayed home and taught us. It's about as far removed from life in the Galactic Center as I can imagine."

[s'Il]

Watching as they continued on through the endless stars, s'Il stretched out with her feelings, ever vigilant.

"Were you the oldest?"

[General Dan]

Dan smiled wistfully, dragged back into his memories.

"A middle child. Not the most enviable place in the family. My brothers were older and my sisters younger. I didn't have anything planned out for me so I had to work for where I got."

[s'Il]

She thought about that. That Dan had siblings wasn't a shock, but she supposed she'd not expected it either. She remembered how he'd taken her to shoot cans, not long after she'd healed from her battle with the Sith, and of how he had told her of the normal pastime that many on Duravant enjoyed.

"Were you the only one that left... ? Or did any of the others leave as well?"

[General Dan]

"My sisters stayed. My brothers left. One left to become an officer in the Confederacy. I think he died at Malastare. The other, last I heard he was on Imperial Center. Doing well, I think. My sisters married more honest men than we were. They raised families."

[s'Il]

She caught sight of Duravant in the distance; it seemed so small from where they were. These new revelations were a pleasant thing for her, and she hoped that her efforts to pull such memories from him helped to calm him somewhat.

"Perhaps you'll see them again soon," she mused.

[General Dan]

Dan was quiet for a while.

"I'm almost afraid to. Would it be best to see them for just a moment and be gone again, or to wait until we finally won? I don't really know. I may even be deluding myself. They might be long dead."

He shook his head.

"I don't think it's healthy to expect anything. This shouldn't be different from any other place we've helped to liberate."

[s'Il]

"But it is," she disagreed gently, "... it's your home."

She smiled at nothing in particular as an indicator for their next hop to another sensor mass beeped softly. Ever so slowly they were getting closer.

"Don't expect the best, but don't be so beaten down that all you think you'll find will be the worst. It isn't healthy."

[General Dan]

"Home has different meanings to us. You've got a lot more rooted down in yours. It's just not the same for me."

He focused again on his consoles.

"We've got the next planetary alignment coming up. I'm going to release from orbit and continue on. We should be one more pass away from getting a good swipe at Duravant itself."

[s'Il]

She gave a nod that he couldn't see, and deciding it best to move on to other topics of conversation, s'Il gave a look to the HUD display that she knew he was looking at as well. It meant nothing to her.

"We should have a look at the surface mining facility I think."

A thought occurred to her as her brow knit in sudden thought.

"They might not've been mining at all; is Duravant known for anything beyond being a fringe world? Would there be anything here that the Empire might take an interest in excavating?"

[General Dan]

"The only thing I ever knew was mining and farming. To my knowledge, there's not a thing here of any real worth."

The cruise to the next orbital was uneventful. Still, the sensor suite didn't ping anything. As they neared the orbital, Dan got a flag notifying him that Duravant itself was within range.

"Well, here we are. Time to see what we dig up."

[s'Il]

Taken with the sight of the planet, s'Il shook herself of the moment and brought her eyes to the forefront. It had always been a difficult thing to get used to dropping through atmosphere in a shuttle - she was becoming increasingly nervous over the prospect of doing the same thing in a small fighter. She felt cramped, closed away in a box with no real escape and hurtling towards... something.

But, she was determined, and with a long exhale through clenched teeth, the Lupine clamped her eyes shut.

"Get it over with. The sooner I can stand on solid ground the better."

[General Dan]

Another passive scan, and nothing to be found. What was waiting for them down there?

Dan banked hard, pitching away from the mass shadow and nearest orbit, heading towards Duravant. A course for atmospheric entry was plotted, and the ship began to hum with slight resistance as they plowed through the atmosphere. The sky around them faded from black, to deep purple, to royal blue, and then to a pristine periwinkle, as the landscape of the planet below opened up.

[s'Il]

She refused to watch. As it was, the ride itself was more than enough contend with. She was sure that the view was a gorgeous one, but her stomach was doing flips well enough without the added aid of visual stimulation.

The hum of the engines seemed to become louder as they dove deeper into the atmosphere, and without thought she began to quietly sing one of the many lullabies that her father used to sing to her before bed. Hopefully it would take her mind off her current situation until they were landed.

[General Dan]

"There's a settlement beyond the ridge ahead. I don't want to come down right on top. I'll put down about two kilometers out and we'll go the rest on foot. Going to drop our altitude to approach low so we're not seen."

The Y-Wing skimmed the surface, operating at a scant 100 meters off the deck. As they neared, Dan slowed their trajectory, and brought them down even lower, eventually kicking up a cloud of dust as they cut forward engines altogether, engaging repulsors to help them skim the ground as the retro thrusters reversed their forward momentum until they were at a standstill. The landing gear retracted, the repulsors eased, and the Y-Wing touched down with a soft thump.

[s'Il]

The moment she felt that blessed thump of landing struts on earth, s'Il was busy at work unbuckling the crash webbing and taking her helmet off at the same time, it wasn't long before she was a bit of a tangled mess. A grumped few words in protest, and the helmet finally pitched into her lap, leaving in its' wake an amazing mess of hair that might've been considered art on some worlds.

[General Dan]

Dan watched s'Il debark in the same bemused way he might watch a baby swan hatch. In short, it wasn't pretty. Already done with the flight checks, he was halfway down the ladder and looking back at her, having a time of it.

"You need a hand?"

[s'Il]

She poked her head over the side to peer down at him, a rather perturbed look on her face as she pulled her wrist free of the webbing. His question went unanswered as her gaze swept up to take in the landscape, and pulling herself up to stand on her seat, she took in the vast expanse of, well, not a whole lot.

She shielded her eyes from the sun with a hand, turning in a circle to see all around her.

"Seems a quiet enough place," she finally got out, hoping her diplomatic skills hadn't become too entirely useless.

[General Dan]

"It's about as boring as they come on the good days."

Dan drew a blaster, scanning the horizon.

"Settlement's to the north. Let's start up that way."

[s'Il]

Making quick work of the ladder, s'Il hit the ground solidly. A little too solidly to be honest. She hurfed, hopping back a few steps to regain her slightly lost balance. The young Lupine vigorously dusted herself as she started after Dan, intent on removing whatever invisible cockpit-dirt might still be clinging to her.

As she brushed at an arm, she looked ahead, eyes squinting.

"Is this area one that you're familiar with?"

[General Dan]

Dan paused, and at last nodded.

"Not my hometown, but we're maybe about an hour to the north. I used to travel here for festival."

[s'Il]

"Oh."

Her hair was pulled back and tied off. It was getting long - perhaps she needed a bit of a trim herself. Lifting her nose to the air, the Lupine inhaled deeply; it was dry and arid, but above all it smelled clean. It made her smile widely, and wish that she could change. The open land was begging to be traversed.

"I suppose a change is out of the question," she thought aloud.

[General Dan]

"Not unless you're prepared to change back equally fast if we need to get the hell outta here."

Dan held a small scanner, pointing it in their general forward direction.

"Do you feel anything at all? I'm not picking up a thing."

[s'Il]

"Nothing at the moment."

She'd left her small duffel under her seat, but had been mindful enough to keep her blaster and saber clipped to her belt. Like most of her clothes, the belt was a small bit too big, and hung lopsided around her waist. It had been annoying at first, but she'd become used to her clothing not fitting as well as she would like. At any rate, it mattered little in her current existence.

She tested the air once more, the faintest of scents reaching her nose. She frowned. It was unrecognizable and hardly detectable, but there was something in the air.

Her thoughts reached out, and the Lupine ground to a sudden halt at what she felt. It was not what she expected in the least, and the confusion on her face spoke volumes. She felt... joy? Happiness? In her mind she could almost hear the sounds of celebration.

She stood on her toes, craning her neck forward as if she could see across the endless horizon to where these emotions were coming from.

[General Dan]

Dan noted the change in mood from her.

"What is it?"

She didn't seem to be apprehensive, so he wasn't sure what to make of it. Whatever it was, she'd picked up on something.

[s'Il]

Presently she started forward once again, more than a bit flustered at this strange turn in events. She bit her lip, shaking her head and at a loss for how to explain what she was feeling.

"I don't know. Lots of people; they're... happy, like a celebration."

[General Dan]

Dan quickened his pace, heading toward the ridge's ascent with Lok in tow. As they reached the top, he slowed down, eventually easing to look over the top, toward where he knew the settlement lay below.

[s'Il]

Looking over the ridge, she was mindful to stay close to his side; he would know better about what he was looking at despite his years removed. Slowly, s'Il handed him a pair of macrobinoculars.

The feelings of elation were still there, and only served to confuse her more with each passing moment.

[General Dan]

"It's...festival. Like all the other years. Just like it."

Dan scoured with the macros, looking from side to side. No Imperial garrison. Not a stormtrooper to be found. Where was the Imperial presence? What was happening.

"We've got to head into town, but carefully."

[s'Il]

Well. If it was this 'festival' that he spoke of, that certainly explained the emotions she was feeling. But it certainly didn't help to unravel the mystery of what the Empire wanted from Duravant - or whether they'd even gotten it yet. It was a perplexing problem.

Accepting the macros from him, she took a look herself. It looked... festive. Certainly not something she'd ever seen before to be honest.

"You think anyone will recognize you?"

s'Il found herself engrossed in watching the movements of those enjoying themselves in their revelry.

[General Dan]

Dan nodded.

"It's a small planet. Even in a community this far from home, I know people."

It was now or never. Dan climbed over the ridge.

"Come on."

They approached the village, and people were milling around a central square. Food was laid out, and a few dozen chose to dance while a live band played.

"Just like old times, only not quite."

[s'Il]

Gazing on in rapt fascination, the Lupine looked this way and that - at the people, the food, the band... even the music being played was so very different than what she'd always been used to. It sounded hardy, if she could even use the term in such a way. Her eye roved about madly as she tried to take it all in, the smiling faces, the boisterous laughter, every bit of it.

And the smells! By the Bloodline there were so many! She'd only caught faint whiffs at a distance, and some of what she'd been able to decipher smelled wonderful, but this! This was very close to sensory overload, and the Lupine's sensitive nose was being assailed on all fronts.

She closed her eyes, looked up, and sneezed.