Tempting Fate

[Marshal Apraxin]

" Another mission complete. Take us home, Captain."


Accompanied by the sound of boot-heels clicking on steel deck plating, Marshal Virn Apraxin dismounted his command chair. His flagship rolled to port in a wide yaw to escape the gravity well of yet another vanquished planet. Rasping his knuckles on the catwalk-railing, Apraxin headed aft.


Captain Stark came attention as his superior passed, refusing to return to duty until the lanky figure had disappeared from the aft control corridor. When the Marshal was gone, Stark let loose a breath he was unconsciously holding. Despite five years of service, he was still not at ease in the presence of the Marshal.


How can one be when I am filling the shoes of a deadman - a man he had killed no less!


" Ensign Patrell," Stark stuttered, showing a great deal of unprofessionalism," engage hyperdrive engines when we have cleared the gravity well. Inform the Marshal when we have returned to Lannik."


The Chief Helmsman of the Apt Pupil was taken aback. He had never been given such an order before - inform the Marshal himself? " Sir?"


" Do it!" Stark snapped, anger washing over his face. The Ensign quickly clicked his heels and returned to his duty. Stark settled into the command chair and gratefully nodded towards the away-facing officer.


He's just levied taxes on a world he's never been to. His mood will be fine, and so will you. But, better safe than sorry...

[(Alex) Jacen]

(Continued from: http://www.swforums.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=655803#post655803)

Jacen pointed towards the lifesized hologram that floated in front of his R2 unit's 'eye'. He cleared his throat, and began the speach he'd been practicing in his X-Wing during the long hyperspace journey. "This is Marshal Virn Apraxin. He's a Worlord, operating in an area around Hutt space."

K4 flicked through several images of ship-classes, while Jacen continued his commentary. "This is the Apt Pupil," he said, as Kay paused on a Victory-class Star Destroyer. "This is his prize ship. The rest of his fleet is a mixture of frigates and freighters...but the Apt Pupil is all that matters, as far as he is concerned."

Kay's holographic eye went dark. "Apraxin controls two planets - Lannik, and Toydaria. They're easily within range of Xaav'n. Thats why we're here."

Jacen smiled. "Lets get everyone and everything we have formed up at this location. If we're going to take down the Imperials, we'll need to start at the bottom. Apraxin is our first target."

He turned to the two figures standing closest to him. "Jacen, Silvo...I want you two to head towards Hutt space. Find out what you can about Apraxin. Any intelligence is good intelligence."

Rotating a little further, he nodded to Minion. "We'd appreciate as many men as you can bring in for us. You're going to be forming the spine of our operation. And if you can recruit any business associates, that would also be greatly appreciated." He paused. "That goes for all of you...we're going to need all the help we can get."

Finally, he turned to Kay. "Signal the Rage Marauder...tell them to get here as soon as they can."

He straightened up, and smiled. "Remember this day, people. Its the beginning of the end for the Empire."

[Jacen]

Jacen shuddered, when he heard their assignment. Those planets were in Hutt space, the only place he hated going. Mainly because the hutts had a bounty on him for killing one of their own. Oh well. Business is business. He nodded and calculations started running through his head. He could name quite a few there who owed him favors that coudl call upon.

The teen turned to Silvo. "Well, you wanna use my ship or yours?"

[(Alex) Jacen]

Jacen jogged across the barren, snow-covered landscape of Xaav'n, his feet crunching against the whiteness beneath them. He'd sent Kay ahead to prep the fighter...he didn't want to stay here any longer than he had to.

His black and red fighter, an X-Wing that he'd named the Sharpshooter, loomed on the horizon. He began to run faster, as a new fall of snow charged at him, spiralling around his face. If it wasn't for his visor, he'd probably have lost his way in the whiteness. Fortunately, the four powerful engines sent out a heat signature that shone like a beacon to him.

"Kay!" he yelled over the wind, climbing up into the cockpit, and throwing the chest plate of his armour into a conveniant space behind his seat, "Remind me to bring more clothes next time."

The cockpit canopy hissed closed over him, and he sighed, swapping his visor for the Storm Commando helmet he wore when he was flying. Reaching above his head, he flicked the three switches that would bring his cockpit controls fully on-line. Displays lit up all around him. Four green lights caught his attention - the engines were warmed up, and ready to go. Good, he thought to himself, This would be hard enough without me being stuck on this iceball.

Kicking in the repulsorlifts, Jacen coaxed his fighter into a low hover. With a slight flick of the controls, the ship began to drift forwards, gradually accelerating into a steady cruise. Happy that he was ready for a change of scenery, he kicked in the main thrust engines, and pulled up.

The whiteness quickly faded into black, as space replaced the atmosphere around him. The white had been opressive. But this blackness...it seemed strangely friendly. He angled away from the planet, and headed for deep space. "Got my jump co-ordinates ready, Kay?"

The droid warbled. "Yes" appeared on the screen in front of him. Kay was strangely silent...maybe he was just glad to be back in space again, too. The droid fed the co-ordinates into Jacen's nav computer, and Jacen lined the fighter up. He watched the numbers scroll down towards zero and then, as the Hyperdrive kicked in, the stars swam towards him, and the fighter surged forward into Hyperspace.

* * *

When Jacen woke up, he was still in Hyperspace. His body slumped uncomfortably to one side in the safety harness on the ejector seat. He yawned and stretched, glancing at the Hyperspace countdown. 20 minutes to go.

Hyperspace was peaceful. Blue, but peaceful. He relaxed, for the first time in a while. Setting up a resistance movement wasn't as easy and romantic as the history books made out. Imperial indoctrination had made him believe, at first, that the Rebels were only opposing the Empire because they had nothing better to do. However, now he knew different. In his time, he'd killed more Rebels than he cared to count. Now he was one of them. He chuckled. Funny how life works out.

17 minutes. Jacen began running through his situation in his head. It was a pretty crazy place for a former Imperial soldier to be. He was the leader of a resistance movement intent on bringing down the last remains of the Empire. He, a few mercenaries, a crime ring, and a handful of broken down freighters were going to go after an Imperial Warlord. And, most surreal of all, they were going to win.

Just remember to start small, he reminded himself. YOu can't go after Thyferra on your first day out. He sighed, and waited to arrive home.

[Silvo]

Silvo heard his assignment and watched as Jace walked out of the room. He replied to Jacen,

"I have no ship."

He sat and waited for Jacen to reply, and then remembered to ask Jace something. He set the comlink to talk with him ans said,

"Do we have authorization to eliminate anyone?"

There was a crack and static, and the comlink went dead.

"Must be out of the atmosphere."

Slipping it back in his pocket, he glanced at Jacen and said,

"Where to first?"

[Marshal Apraxin]

Major Smolenski swallowed hard when the turbolift doors parted to reveal the bridge itself. Technicians and crewmen bustled about from here to there, each doing his part to keep a Star Destroyer operational. He would have given anything and everything he had to switch places with one of them.


Standing on either side of the door was a Fleet trooper clad in immaculate black. Their weapons hung holstered at their sides, concealing the lethality they espoused should they have need to reach down. It was said that while the Army was reputedly the best overall shots, no one could match the Fleet Corps' volume of fire.


Smolenski moved up to them and put on the most imposing look he could muster. With a briefcase manacled to his left hand, he managed to look important but failed to appear by any means menacing.


" Major Smolenski to see the Marshal."


There were no words returned by the Fleet troopers. One simply reached a hand bask to activate the door controls. It slid openwith a whoosh and in went the Marshal's Chief Operations Officer.


Smolenski had no chance to blend in or even adjust to his new surroundings - the Marshal noticed him straightaway. Worse still, he remembered the former-General Staff officer. " Major Smolenski. Sit."


The gesture and accompanying words were gentle, quite disconcerting to the Major.


" Um..sir. A report was received earlier today of a new rebel cell. Intelligence has no clear figures or even a complete members dossier, but they do know it exists."


" Threat assesment?" The Marshal clipped the end of a fine cigarra before putting it to his mouth. Major Smolenski wondered just how much of the treasury was being funneled into his private lap of luxury. The cigarra itself was at least three hundred credits.


" Two, sir - though that number could change."


" Very well. Dismissed."


Smolenski was not finished with his report, but he knew an exit when he saw one. Gathering the outlayed by now unsued documenhts into his attache, he departed with all haste.

[(Alex) Jacen]

The Sharpshooter emerged from Hyperspace somewhere in the outer rim. He'd done his usual trick of overshooting his target system, and dropping out in deep space, so he could enter in from a different vector. A paranoid precaution, but a habit that he wasn't ready to get out of quite yet. He adjusted his heading, and swooped towards a grey shape that floated in space. The station was one of Dantarno Trading's various cargo stations, where they stored things before they were taken to other locations. Right now they stored a few very important things...like his mercenaries.

As he closed in, he spotted a few familiar shapes....most notably the curious bulk of the Rage Marauder, drifting within the station's docking arms. As he drew closer, aiming for the landing platform beneath the main tower, he saw the Arden, his uncle's ship landed beside the Arquelle. Good, he thought to himself, They're all here.

Jacen flicked the S-Foils closed, and brought his fighter down to land gently beside the Arquelle. As he began to clamber out, he spotted the two-seater variant of the Z-95 that Keldon Shaddow flew hiding behind the folded wings of the Lambda shuttle.

He dropped from his fighter, and was glad to feel solid "ground" beneath his feet. He looked up at his R2, still in his socket. "Meet you inside," he called, before jogging off across the bay, pulling off his helmet as he ran.

* * *

Slipping on a black flying jacket, but still wearing the white armoured trousers of a Clone Trooper, Jacen walked into one of the many staff lounges on the base. Inside were his mercenaries. He counted them off in his head...one was missing. Ah, yes. Xel-Naga was detained. But other than that, they were here. Most of the crew of the Rage Marauder were here, too. He smiled, and slipped into a chair in the corner, waiting to see if anyone noticed him.

[Trey]

The droid appeared from behind Jacen, from his point of view. "Greetings, master Jacen," said his light-hearted, friendly aspect, the linguist inside him. "It is pleasing to see you again."

He sat opposite Jacen, and removed the helmet of the Mandalorian Battle Armour, revealing the 'naked' 3PO-style head that resided underneath. "Was your trip productive?"

[(Alex) Jacen]

Jacen sighed a little, but couldn't restrain the smile on his face. "More or less," he answered, trying to be illusive, but he did not succeed. He leaned forward. Had he spoken quietly from where he was, Trey would have heard. But Jacen had always thought of Trey as being far too like a human to be a machine.

"The game is on," he whispered. "In a few hours, we're moving our base of operations to Xaav'n. Our first target is a Warlord...Marshal Virn Apraxin. I've sent some people off to gather intelligence. We can't take him out head-on, but we can chip away at him a little bit at a time. Just like we're gonna do with every other bit of Imp scum out there. It is inevitable...it is only a matter of time."

[Orbren Tiaal]

Orbren felt a little overwhelmed. He had gone from lone warrior to crewmember faster than he thought possible. He had been inducted into an organisation created with one purpose in mind - seeking the vengence that he sought. Not all of these people fought for the same reason. Orbren fought for the revenge of his people, enslaved nearly 2 years ago by those he had learned to call Imperials.

Their leader, the one called Jacen Dantarno, intregued him. He knew little of the man, yet he was made to know so much. It was clear from the way the man handled himself that he was a soldier, and a skilled one at that. He had been told he was a sniper. He had been told that Jacen had once served the Empire, but had left once he realised how evil they were. But most of all, Orbren could tell something that the others apparently could not. He could tell, because he had seen it so many times before. Jacen was hurting. He was hurting inside. He thought himself a failure. Orbren did not know why, but he knew that Jacen had something he believed he must live up to. That was what this quest was about. He had to prove himself. But to who, Orbren could not tell.

[March Kalas]

March Kalas, the hand-to-hand combat specialist approached the mercenary leader smoothly and extended his hand out toward Jacen. "So are you going to fill us in," he asked. " What's the mission?"

[(Alex) Jacen]

Jacen turned, and chuckled. "All in good time, March. We're just waiting for Kay. He has the files we need."

Just as he spoke, R2-K4 rolled, warbling, through the doors. "Perfect timing, Kay!" he called, standing up and jogging over to the droid. "There's a holoprojector in the middle of that table over there...hook yourselves up. We've got a lot to tell these guys."

Following Kay across to the middle of the room, he called out to his men. "Listen up people," he said, "This is pretty important." And then, with almost word perfect accuracy, he repeated the briefing he'd given to the other members of the alliance, a little over 24 hours ago.

* * *

"Thats our enemy," Jacen concluded. "And this," he said, pointing to a sphere floating in the center of the room, "Is Xaav'n. Before the Clone Wars, there was a Republic outpost. However, the Separatists attacked, and wiped out most of the people there. The base became inoperable, and when the Empire rose, it never really got much attention. Thanks to that, no one really owns it. Well..." he smiled a little, "No one except us."

The holographic display zoomed in on the base, half burried in the snow. Kay-4 picked out its shape, and enlarged it. "For the most part," Jacen continued, "The base is still intact. However, most of the internal systems are down, and the walls are full of holes." He nodded to his uncle, Kieran, who'd entered the room almost totally un-noticed, a few minutes into the presentation. He'd heard the plan already, else he'd never have agreed to this. "Dantarno Engineering has agreed to help us fix up the base. We've got a considerable influx of manpower from Lochabar as well, so we should get something up and running. We need to restore main power, and the defensive systems. We all know what the Empire did to the Rebels on Hoth, so we're gonna have to be careful. We can't afford Snowspeeders, but we should be able to get something."

"I'll see if I can get WepTech to fix you up with something," Kieran added.

Jacen nodded in appreciation. "Xaav'n will be serving as our headquarters, but we're going to try and stay dispursed. We don't have many ships as it is, and I don't really want to loose them all in one go." He sighed, and thumbed through his datapad. "We won't have access to much in the way of supplies, and there are only so many ships we can scavange and cobble together. So, we're going to be working like pirates, performing hit and run strikes against Apraxin's convoys. We're going to be stealing ships whole; freighters complete with cargo, combat vessels as intact as possible. Thats going to take more fighter power than we can muster. So, I'd like to introduce someone to you." He whispered a few words into his comlink. Seconds later, a figure clad in the white body armour of a Clone Trooper pilot stepped through the doors. "This is an old friend of mine," Jacen said, pointing to the new arrival. "I'd like to introduce Inyos Hei'aan, Leader of the Krayt Dragons. They will be moving aboard the Rage Marauder, which will become our principal attack ship for these kinds of missions." He grinned at his old friend. "Care to introduce yourself, Yos?"

[Inyos Hei'aan]

Inyos stepped up to the plate, shooting Jacen a childish grin. "I don't do speaches," he began, "So I'll keep this brief. I know Jacen from a while back. When he left the Imperials, he served with the Krayts for a short time. But I guess raiding cargo ships wasn't good enough for him." He gave Jacen a sly wink.

"The Krayts fly whatever we can get our hands on. Usually we have a mixture of fighters, but thanks to the guy in the suit over there, we're getting a squadron of..." he frowned, trying to remember. "Vex-Wings, is it?" Jacen nodded.

"Yeah," Inyos continued. "We'll be launching out of the Rage Marauder, four fighters in the port, starboard and ventral pods respectively." He shrugged. "I guess thats it." He shrugged again, and took a step back.

[Minion Alghieri]

The three of them were gathered around a dejarik table onboard Alghieri's yacht; Irreantum, Olra'en, and the gangster himself. Each was sipping a drink of his choice while perusing pages of data via the table's holo-projectors.

"Let's have it," Minion finally stated emphatically. "Master Olra'en?"

"Merchall and Torentin are capable of anything you want done, boss. You know their actual combat skills far better than I; Force-wise, they've got TK limits of twenty kilos at fifty metres, and sensing limits of about twice that. It'll be enough."

"And Aztaroth?"

Olra'en hesitated. "She's not going to be with us on this one."

"Oh?" Alghieri cocked an eyebrow. "Concerned that your brother didn't do a good enough job?"

"He did a perfect job. I tested it personally, beyond doubt. Thing is...she's pregnant."

Irreantum stirred, but the accountant was an irrelevance. Alghieri and his ranking Forcer were focused on each other.

"She's what?"

"On maternity leave, as per your employee contract."

"How the-"

"The normal way, I assume. Pity. She's got some interesting talents that my brother gave her when he was busy messing with her mind. Could have come in handy."

"That's all you can say? Confound it, Olra'en, if you can't keep a tighter hold on your people-"

"I have no doubt," the Adept cut him off, "that the incident took place before she joined us." He paused, frowning briefly, then shook his head. "I don't know. All I do know is that the father isn't one of your people..."

He trailed off, and Alghieri was left to fume.

"Very well," the mongrel grated. "Irreantum, what do you have for me?"

The man started. "There are enough men available for the ships, sir, and a surplus to cover hazard pay." There was no real need to mention which ships those were; as with the rest of his organization, Alghieri knew what part of his fleet was combat-worthy inside and out.

"Plus commandos?"

"Ah...yes. Team Lochabar is ready."

"And they, Lochabar and the ships, can deploy to Xaav'n in how long?"

"Perhaps a day, not counting hyperspace transit."

"Thank you, Irreantum. Contact home port and activate the men, and then comm Dantarno with the time estimate. Forty-eight hours sound about right?"

"Yessir." Irreantum bowed and walked out, leaving his employer to peruse the Dark Adept across from him.

"Now, Olra'en, what ideas do you have for your Forcewielders?"

[Jacen]

Jacen looked up at Silvo when he finished thinking. "Well first off to my ship, Robin's Nest. Then we can hit up Narr Shadaa. I know a few people there that owe me some favors. Maybe we cane sget somethng out of them. Sound good to you?"

[Axel King]

Axel half-marched across the snow in the stead of Jacen and Silvo, towards the YT-2400 known as the Robin's Nest. His Assault Carbine hung across his back, his bandoleer of ammo packs hanging in the opposite direction to form an X across his chest. Round his waist and down his legs, blasters, grenades, explosives and yet more ammo packs were fixed. He looked like a walking army. And he was. "Hello...anyone home?" he yelled.

* * *

Flashback:

"Yo, Dantarno!" Axel yelled, his voice echoing down the corridor at Jacen's receeding back. "Did I miss the meeting already?"

Jacen turned and grinned, recognising the former member of his squad instantly. "AK!" he said with a grin, embracing Axel, easily twice his size. "Yeah, you missed it."

"Shame," Axel said with a sigh. "I always loved being able to laugh at your speeches."

The other man chuckled. "Look...I can't chat right now. Things to do. But..." he looked back down the corridor, but Jacen and Silvo had already gone. He frowned. "Out there is a YT-2400. Inside are two men...one named Jacen, and one named Silvo. Tell them I sent you. They could probably use your help, bearing in mind where they're going."

"You can always use a man with too many guns," Axel replied, nodding.

* * *

So, here he was. Standing outside the ship where Jacen and Silvo were supposed to be. "Anyone home?" he called again. Getting no reply, but finding the open ramp, he shrugged, and walked in.

[Jacen]

Jacen looked up from the navicomputer, laying in the coordinate for their jump. He thought he had heard something. He turned to Silvo with a puzzled look on his face. "You hear that?"

[Silvo]

Silvo nodded, pulling a short vibroblade fom the back sheathe.

"Start the engine..."

He slowly walked through Jacen's ship, checking his corners and keeping his sword in a safe position. Reaching the ramp, he glanced down the corner. holding the vibroblade down, he yelled to the looming figure,

"Who the frell are you?"

[Axel King]

Axel held out a hand. "Axel King. I'm guessing you're Silvo. Jacen sent me...the one with the glasses. Is the other dude around?"

Axel left Silvo standing there, and walked straight past him. "Close the door," he called over his shoulder, before setting off to find the pilot.

[Silvo]

Silvo kept the vibroblade at his side, following the man and muttering,

"Frellin sithspit... tellin me what to do..."

He caught up to the man and grasped his shoulder, turning him and saying,

"Now what the frell are you doing here?"

[Axel King]

As he was pulled round, Axel brought his arm up, pushing Silvo's away from him, and grabbed at his throat with the other hand, lifting the smaller man so his feet hung in mid air. "I'm just doing my job," he replied as a growl. "Dantarno thought you might benefit from my help."

He pried the vibroblade from Silvo's hand, and put the man down. "If I were you, I'd be a little more friendly." He gave the blade back to Silvo, turned, and walked off.

[Silvo]

Silvo shrugged the man off him as soon as he released his throat. He rubbed it slightly, the man's hands easily fit around his neck. Flipping his vibroblade a bit, he sheathed it skillfully and followed the man, not happy with Dantarno's desicion to put them together.

[Jacen]

Jacen came out of the cockpit, after hearing some commotion. He caught sight of Alex and looked to Silvo. "Who's this? And what was all the raket out here?"

[Byr Genar-Hofoen]

OOC::I have Keldon's permission to do posting as him.
OOC::Sorry for any inconvenience caused with my "caution" -snigger-

Byr got out of the cockpit of the Arden, and walked over to find Jacen.

"Happy campers, where the hell is Dantarno when you need him?"

Byr saw a figure in the background, dressed like death himself. Byr walked up to the figure.

"I suppose you're Keldon. The name's Byr Genar-Hofoen, we talked earlier."

The cloaked figure replied, "Byr it's a pleasure to meet you, maybe our friendship will prove trustworthy."

Grinning Byr went to get his droids and check them over, as he did whenever he came to one of his father's enterprises. First he checked Jay-T, his protocol droid. Then he checked up on XZ-88, who was his utility. Then he checked the droideka with personality problems, DX6 (or dex.) And finally he checked the three trouble makers, K1, K2, K3 - the pit droids. All his droids would help him on the Rage Marauder, where he was soon to be the technician.

Watching Keldon settle himself in a seat, Byr was glad he was comfortable. Keldon seemed to be nervous, then again, Byr was nervous; first time he would leave home with another crew, since he was picked up by Kieran Dantarno, as Kieran's son.

Scanning round the staff lounge he saw Jacen, "There's Dantarno." He said under his voice.

Sturrting up to Jacen, Byr sat down next to Jacen. "YO Dantarno, what you got to tell us? I wanna know, cousin. Come on spill the beans."

Byr knew this insane portrait of himself would always be around now. And with a sparking up of his cigarette, to be honest Byr didn't give a damn what people thought.

Then with a smile he saw Keldon walking over towards him. Happy that he and Keldon had made friends, Byr went to meet him smoking his cigarettes; whilst being followed by his droids.

[(Alex) Jacen]

As his cousin wandered over, shouted, then wandered away, Jacen sighed. Flanked by back-up in the form of Inyos and Orbren, Jacen walked over towards the assassin that had fashioned his appearence to look like death himself. Byr had surrounded himselves in droids. Again. He kept them like pets, and they followed him everywhere. He sighed again. "Crazy freak," he muttered.

"You know," he said, poking Byr in the shoulder with his finger, "If you spent a little less time smoking and being annoying, and a little more doing your job, you'd be a darn good mechanic." He gave Byr the look...the annoyed elder cousin look. "Don't get too comfortable. We're leaving soon." He raised his voice. "That goes for all of you," he called. "We leave in the morning."

* * *

Jacen settled himself into the pilot's seat of the Arden, and sensed his Demolitions specialist, and friend, drop into the seat behind him. It wasn't a Jedi ability or anything...but years of Imp training had ensured that he was more than aware of his surroundings. "Get us launch clearence," he called over his shoulder to Trey.

Kay trundled in, and Jacen heard the clunk as the droid clamps in the deck floor locked onto Kay's legs - Uncle Kieran had modified the Arden to take an Astro droid as a navigator...and Kay had all of the data terminals he'd need to do all of his jobs. His head spun around to look out of the cockpit window.

"We are clear to launch, Master Jacen," linguist-Trey informed him.

"OK then. Repulsorlifts on-line." He flicked on the comm unit. "OK people...you might wanna strap in."

The Corellian Engineering Corporation-designed freighter rose from the deck, and drifted slowly forward. As the 'ground' disappeared from beneath it, it rolled and dove, not rising again until it had cleared the port docking arm of the Dantarno Engineering depo. Kay beeped, and Jacen angled towards the Hyperspace vector he indicated. "Xaav'n group, this is Dantarno Two-Four-Two. You all know where you're going, and you all know how to get there. We don't have all day. Lets roll."

Jacen punched the Hyperspace control and, as his ship surged forward to lightspeed, and the stars began to swirl into blueness, a small fleet of fighters and freighters surged after him.

[Marshal Apraxin]

The corridor was cold, abnormally so. Major Smolenski reminded himself to slap the young Staff Lieutenant who had suggested he take a short-cut to get to his quarters from the Reactor Control Room. Like other warships operating on shoe-string budgets, the low temperature was one of many energy saving measures to cut down on fuel consumption.


When Smolenski finally did arrive, there was a report waiting on his desk. One of the burdens of being on the operational staff was a continual and unending access granted to messengers of every sort.


With a great reluctance, Smolenski moved to his desk and glanced at the flashing data-tag. It was written Intelligence in red letters.


Summoning his strength despite a lack of rest, he put his tunic back on and prepared to return to the Marshal's office.

[Minion Alghieri]

"All craft, this is Alghieri. Xaav'n exit in thirty seconds. Wake up, boys."

The Chaoschance emerged first, as opposed to its position in actual combat. A Battle Horn bulk cruiser of doubtful origin but impeccable maintenance, it carried a full squadron of I-7 Howlrunners on external racks. While being dubious as a warship, it was Alghieri's flag.

Next, a pair of severely beefed YT-2400's.

Then three Ghtroc 720's with a medium turbolaser apiece strapped to their hull, a jury rig if anything was.

Last, and easily the most imposing vessel present, a vintage CEC corvette, heavily automated but packing a nasty punch.

The seven craft cut drives and began to wait.

[(Alex) Jacen]

The Arden appeared above the snowy surface of Xaav'n, the rest of its mini-fleet close behind. Jacen looped around, and moved into a high orbit, the rest of the ships following suit behind him. They'd used the mass shadow of Xaav'n to pull them out of Hyperspace. Thus, they'd been dumped very close.

Jacen checked the tactical sensors, and smiled. Minion was already there. He pointed at the cluster of dots on his screen. "Hail the lead ship," he ordered.

"Channel open," Trey responded.

"Sorry we're late, Chaoschance," Jacen said with a grin, "But we had to go grocery shopping on the way." He covered the microphone with his hand, and turned to Trey. "Tell the ships to remain in orbit." Trey nodded, and complied. "Care to join me down on the surface? I managed to borrow a bottle of Corellian brandy from my uncle."

[March Kalas]

Another voice came out through the commlink. It was a plaesantly sounding voice. "Hi Jacen, this is March. When is the closest time in the future that ol' assassin (I forgot his name) and I can talk to you privately?"

[Minion Alghieri]

'M'sieur Dantarno," Alghieri replied drily, "my homeworld is considerably warmer than most planets. Xaav'n just so happens to be one of them, and I left my parka at home.

"Besides which, going into battle inebriated might not be the brightest idea ever, n'est-ce pas?"

[(Alex) Jacen]

Jacen blinked. Inevriated? N'est-ce pas? He sighed. "Take it easy...I've got an Imperial education, remember? Less of the long words." He smiled. "Besides, I don't plan on going into battle today. And the cold..." He chuckled. "That's what the brandy is for."

[Kieran Dantarno]

(OOC: Jacen used with permission)

A priority message flashed on the screen. Jacen frowned, and listened. The face of his uncle appeared. "Jacen...this is Kieran. I need your help. Something's happened to my pilot...he can't race. Someone shot him. We don't have anyone around trained on our fighter, but your Storm Commando training puts you above the rest. I need your help. Please...you know where to find me."

The image flashed out, and Jacen sighed. "That drink will have to wait, Minion," he said into the comm. "And that chat, March. Sorry guys, but I've got family stuff to deal with."

He turned to his Co-Pilot. "Don't crash her," he ordered Aiden. "Dock up with the Rage, and I'll get my fighter."

[Minion Alghieri]

"Perfectly all right," Alghieri growled, and cut the comm. The mongrel wheeled his command chair on Olra'en, who stood at loose attention by the bridge turbolift.

"We have just been told," he said in a tone not unlike rock grating on rock, "that our leader is headed outsystem to do some 'family stuff'."

"Easy, boss," the Dark Adept cautioned. Alghieri snorted. His employee didn't have the slightest clue what fuel cost these days. Typical Forcer. Cuulvaer had been the same way.

"All right," the gangster said finally. "I accept that family comes first. But that doesn't mean I have to like it."

He turned the chair and contemplated the ragtag scene before him. "I wonder what he expects to do with this little fleet," he muttered.

[Keldon Shaddow]

Keldon sent a message over the commlink to March,"Do you mean me March, Im an assassin; and I work for Jacen."

With a load of static breathing Keldon ended the small conversation.

[March Kalas]

"Right," March answered over his commlink. "Sorry, I just forgot what your name was Keldon. I had an idea I wanted to talk to Jacen and you about, but it looks like Jacen's pretty bogged down right now, but if you want, I could tell you about it on a private channel."

[Axel King]

"Sorry. You must be Jacen, right?" He gripped the kid's hand, and shook it firmly. "Axel King. I used to work with Specs. He said you might be going somewhere fun, and I thought I'd come along for the ride."

He turned to Silvo. "Sorry about that...I just don't like being threatened. It makes me edgy."

[Keldon Shaddow]

Keldon replied to March in his usual wondering voice,"yeah I'll talk to you, lets set this private channel up."

Once again the static ended his link.

Wondering what March wanted him for, Keldon sat in a deep trance, wondering.

[Orbren Tiaal]

Orbren growled...for no reason whatsoever. He just felt like making his vocal chords rumble, so he did. He felt better. Sitting up in a gun turret was what he was used to. It was what he was trained to do. But still, it was boring. He started pulling faces at a nondescript freighter, wondering if those on-board were watching him, and pulling faces back.

He watched as his "boss" leapt to Hyperspace in his X-Wing. He wondered where he was going. Then he shrugged, and squinted at the blackness outside. If there was an enemy ship out there, he'd shoot it. Unfortunately, as the sensors confirmed, there wasn't. He sighed, and returned to pulling faces.

[March Kalas]

After setting up a private channel, March began his conversion, "Well it seems obvious enough why Jacen paired me up with you. I was thinking we start this thing with a covert mission. We could work to strike a major blow or something."

[Kyle Raiden]

Thread terminated...well sorta.

Jacen Dantarno is no longer an active character, so there's very little that can come of this thread. If you wanna carry on posting, thats up to you...but I doubt you'll get anyway.

Sorry that you got messed around.