Star Wars logs

[dakota]

Lum resumed the podium, wiping his broad face with a white fresher-cloth. "Thank you, captain Therez. It needn't be said that the information we have is subject to change without notice." He swept the room with his gaze as crumpled the cloth in his hands and dropped it onto the podium. "Be prepared to improvise once we hit planetside. All of you here were chosen precisely for your ability to adapt and survive under pressure and whilst exposed to diverse and dangerous situations. If you keep that in mind, you'll be doing me and yourselves a great favour."

The big Chevin blinked and rubbed his eyes. It had been some time since he last slept; too much work to do, too many problems to deal with. "Before we proceed to the next part of the briefing, let me remind you all that we will be descending onto a high gravity planet. For those of you used to the standard one Coruscant Gravity, it will be remarkably difficult. Your bodies will adjust, but it may delay the operation initially by a few days. This is not something we can avoid, sadly."

Karena noticed that a few of the Rancors were thickly muscled, especially around their legs. Such development was, she knew, a sign of experience with high gravity fields.

As Lum began to outline the Rancor's mission in the nearby city of Huudak'chi, her Imperial training furnished her with a long and unappetizing list of the effects high gravity would have on her and her squadron-mates; extreme fatigue, stress, decreased blood flow to the brain and extremities as the high gravity put increased strain on the cardio-vascular system...long term exposure could be even worse as the skeletal system began to fray from the stress. On the bright side, however, they'd all be guaranteed to put on some noticeable muscle mass if they stayed for any length of time.

All things considered, however, there were easier ways to bulk up.

On the hologram emitter, a section of the Dug city was rotating. The city appeared to be sub-arboreal; built underneath the canpoy for shelter and convenience. Huudak'chi was built into the mountain range as well as on its surface, and had profited immensly from the rich sources of methane and metal trapped beneath the Huudak Range.

Rancor's mission, it transpired, was almost identical to that of the Krayt's; a quick smash-and-grab, with no room or time to look back. The plan was for the Rancor's to conduct their raid first, allowing the Krayt's to use the chaos in the city to stage their own assault whilst the supporting air group assisted the Rancors in getting into the air. Once airborne, the Headhunter wing would be able to provide a running distraction for the Aviary's defences, allowing the Krayt's breathing room to get their fighters off the ground.

"It is highly likely that the Imperials will disdain becoming involved with a local disturbance, even one involving the theft of starfighters, unless directly approached by the city's Gran administration. We will be counting on bureaucratic inefficiency and lingering animosity to grant us the few precious microns we need to pull this entire operation off without any losses."

Treego Lum drummed his thick fingers against the podium's smooth surface. A ripple of conversation and analysis flowed around the room. "Any final questions?"

One of the Rancor pilots stood up, " Just one, gentleman. The Z-95s are in a Dug city. Have any of you thought about that? I mean not many of us are going to fit into a cockpit redesigned for Dug pilots."

Kar sighed and looked up at the ceiling as Treego made an odd whistle sound. Tranis was the first to speak, " I'm glad you thought of this now before we made planetside. Truth is though I've already checked on this one and they haven't been. Seems the Gran are paranoid the Dugs would use them on the government or something. Probably well founded too. Only ones that should have a problem are Snit and Jaxol, and you two brutes don't fit in any cockpit." All the Rancors laughed, including Snit and Parnedd despite the insult. Kar noted it, wondering what gave the older pilot such sway over his squad, but for now she was still glad to have something to occupy her thoughts.


" Sir," Allie Tran stood up behind Kar," How are we getting planetside? The Past will surely have to remain in a deep orbit, and we can't take our snubs in."

" Two freighters are being pulled from the deep hangar by maitenance. You'll use them to make entry and dispose of them, unless they are needed for escape plans." Treego said. " Both of them are dated Ghtroc 720's so they are fairly common so Air controllers won't really take much notice of two arriving in system around the same time." He looked around. " Anything else? If not, dismissed. Pack your gear and be ready to head out in thirty minutes."

As the pilots started to filter out, Kar wasn't suprised when she was called down to Lum and Steraku. To her it was just as well, if she was busy, she'd stay away from her quarters.

Raljar turned to watch Karena, and for a moment considered heading down to the podium to join her. Reality, though, reminded him firmly that the matter between his mate and himself didn't extend into mission briefings, no matter how hard it was to see her shun him.

Deke must have seen Raljar's stricken expression. The man paused, and draped an arm companionably around the Cathar's shoulders, understanding his pain well. "Come on, furball. There's still the insertion to talk to her."

"But..." Raljar knew Deke was right; he just didn't want to admit it. Deke sighed, and gently moved the Cathar towards the door. "Come on."

Karena caught a glimpse of the two men as they left, talking quietly as they trailed the more vocal surge of pilots from the room.

" Look, we're friends now, right?" Deke said, putting an arm Raljar's shoulder as they walked the corridors. " I don't know what happened that Kar is upset like that, and frankly I don't want to know because the only time I've ever seen that woman distraught was when she found out Lesa had died. Yeah, she can get emotional, but that back there when we first walked in the conference room was different. So as a friend, I'm not gonna give you the if I were you speech. But work it out before it causes us problems on the ground, okay?" He released his hold and patted Ralj's shoulder before turning down a side corridor.

*************

Karena had her head on fairly straight when she approached the squadron leaders. Lum spoke first," I'm no jedi, but I can see something is wrong, Therez."

Kar lied blatenly," Just the combination of everything, Commander, with a lot of fatigue on top of it. don't worry, I'm fit to fly."

Tranis interrupted," The sith you are. Karena, if you were one of mine, you'd be sitting this one out."

Kar forced a smile. " Glad I'm not then, Tranis. Don't worry, the Krayts will be airbourne in plenty of time to cover your Rancor's backsides on the way out. Anything special we need to know about the Ghtroc? I'm assuming I'm taking one and you've got the other."

Steraku nodded. " standard freighter. We always keep a couple on board in case we need one for something. Have to pick a couple up when we get chance."

" Might know someone who can help us there." Kar replied. " Any special instructions, sir?"

Treego shook his head. " The Past will be waiting in deep orbit, so you'll have to make a run if we call endex. If there's trouble in orbit, I'll comm you. Otherwise the backup team will be hanging out in the moon's shadow. Do you have a plan?"

Kar shrugged," Not really, but the seat of the pants always works for me. We had better not make radio contact until we're ready to go. Imps here may not be top notch, but anyone can pick up unauthorized transmissions."

" Agreed, now," Tranis said," no offense Therez, but you look likeosik'la, go get some rest, we're a couple hours until the freighter's transponder and logs are doctored up."

" None taken," She replied," both of you need some downtime as well."

" dismissed, Captain." Lum shook his head and chuckled as Kar saluted before leaving.

Karena could feel her emotions swirling as she made her way towards her quarters. by the time she reached the door, she had made up her mind/ Her face was hardset as the door opened and she entered. " I'm just here to pick up my gear and I'm leaving. I don't want to discuss what happened." she went straight to her locker and started pulling out her gear.

Raljar bit his lip and stepped behind Kar, resting his hands on her shoulders. His warm breath stirred the hair on the back of her head; he was silent for a few moments. Then;

"I was wrong."

His hands squeezed gently. Though Kar couldn't see him, it was easy enough to read his emotional state with the two of them stood so close together; pained and plagued by guilt over how he had treated her. He continued speaking, his voice low and apologetic. "I was selfish, and I was blind. I'm sorry, Kar. I don't..." He sighed. "I don't want us to be apart now, before the mission. If something happens..."

He didn't give voice to what worried him; the vision that had haunted them both. It was something the Cathar feared more than being killed.

He removed his hands from her shoulders, wanting so very badly to embrace her like they had before, without fear or doubt between them. The freshly bandaged gash on his wrist burned faintly, and he prayed that his offering had been enough, that his pleas had been heard.

"I would never hurt you." He continued, quietly. "I never thought...never realized what I was...mewling would cut so deeply into you. That's my shame, <partner>. I'm sorry."

He was still stood right behind her, and Karena felt him silently steel himself for her rage...or worse, her dismissal.

Karena didn't turn right away. She needed a moment to compose herself. when he went quiet, she spoke in a slow choked up voice, " I commed the surgeon droid. It said that it would a quick and painless surgery for me to make sure you don't have to worry about any accidents. I seriously considered it, but as mad as I was about the what you had said," she turned around and looked at him, tears welling up in her rage filled eyes," I couldn't do it without talking to you first. If it means that much to you, I'll go as soon as we get back from Malastare. I asked, but the surgeon droid says it has to be me, something to do with Cathar physiology. Maybe short on progamming, I don't know."

She wiped her eyes, then folded her arms around herself, stepping back out of arms reach. " When I do this, I'll need to take it easy for a couple days. Maybe I can convince Treego to let you take me home for a visit. All I have to do is tell him it will get my head straight and he'll buy it. by then maybe you'll react civilized toward Siraea's child instead of the heartless nexu that turned my stomach. "

Her eyes narrowed, and she gave no indication of forgiveness. " Raljar, I saw a side of you that scared me. You're rage I can handle and deal with, but that coldness towards something you can't change drove me to get away. How you could hate a child just for being conceived is wrong." She went quiet for a moment, just staring at him, before her tone dropped even lower. " What if it wasn't her? We've both seen what the future may hold, what if it's true and I end up carrying Carney's child? Will you hate me just as much as you hated your sisari when she sent you the news?"

Kar started to tremble and couldn't speak any more. She was too terrified what his answer might be.

As her words struck Raljar like a physical blow, Karena felt something inside Raljar break. As he struggled to weather the terrible pain her words caused him, the sensation of something tearing open and spilling into him was like a physical wound she could hear and see. More horribly, though, she felt the corruptive darkness that had been stalking Raljar since his encounter with Hoskels on Taris crawling into him through the wound her words had left.

Something in Raljar's anguished expression changed, as the Dark Side found firm root inside him. For too long it had been eroding him from within; and though fought off by his love for her, it had never entirely disappeared. Strengthened by his uncertainty and his passions, it had waited and grown strong, biding its time for the right moment.

And that moment, the state of utter defenselessness her words had left him in, was one in which Raljar could fight no more.

"Hate you?" He growled, his eyes narrowing. "Is that what it's come to, <partner>? After all we've been through together, after all I've done for you...you judge me?"

He didn't rage. Every word he spoke was low and thick with seething anger, but he didn't unleash it, where it could disperse. In his mind, everything had become icy clear, and as terrible as his pain was, at least now he had perspective.

"I told you I was wrong." He turned from her then, teeth bared as he ran his hand through his mane in growing agitation, but he fought down his urge to lash out. "Everything I've ever done, I've done for you and Siraea. I was weak; I didn't think, and I hurt her...and now, you threaten to maim yourself to PUNISH me?! Ah, Karena...!"

He covered his face with his hands, muscles standing out like braided steel cords along his neck and shoulders as tension and rage flowed, now unchecked, through his system. Then, as though he had suddenly seen some sort of sick cosmic joke, he began to chuckle despairingly.

The chuckle rose to a deep, rumbling laugh. It was one of the most chilling and horrible things Karena had ever heard in her life.

"If you choose to keep Hoskel's whelp after he rapes you? I'd love it. Because..." He threw her a look of feral intensity, half grin, half snarl. "I love YOU, <partner>. I ALWAYS HAVE!" He swiped his claws in a savage gesture, underlining his words with a snarl. "If you choose to cripple your womb so I don't poison you with a half-breed whelp that would ravage your body? I'll hold that choice up before my <ancestors> as sacred that because I love you. If you do it to spite me, to wound me? I will bear those wounds and I'LL STILL LOVE YOU!"

He stared at her, a look of hatred and pain mixed with the love he had for her that once burned so brightly in his soul, now slowly polluting and made sick by the Dark Side. It was Raljar she could see in her mate's eyes; but along with him, something else, a darker and more terrible aspect.

The Cathar looked away and spat, a sound of irritation and disgust. "I am done. Wound me if you want, <partner>. I deserve it and more, after my weakness dishonoured you both." He smirked, but there was no humour in his expression; only bitter pain and contempt. "We leave in twenty; I'll be down at the hangar. Unless you want me to maybe claw myself to please you before I go."

As the door hissed closed behind him, Karena suffered a strange sensation; it was almost undefinable; all she could tell was that it was female, and carried a distinct feeling of Raljar and Siraea. With that familiar sensation, almost like a scent on the edge of perception, she felt despair.

[dakota]

Kar didn't need twenty minutes to get to the hangar. When she arrived, Raljar could see and feel that it wasn't the same woman he had left in their quarters. Instead she was replaced by someone from their past. As Kar spoke, she wasn't the messed up starfighter Command officer anymore, she was replaced by the self sure undercover agent that had the guts to walk into the original Krayts' clubhouse and bargain for a street gang's help. Deke and Cammie could see it too, and reacted with suprise.

She wore her uniform trousers with the single Bloodstripe down one leg, beneath a low slung gunfighters rig for her MerrSonn Flash 4. Under her unzippered pilot's flight jacket was a shoulder slung BlasTech E-11. Her tone was serious, and matter of factual. " All right people, we lift in five. Demo, your toys rigged?"


Allie nodded, grinning wildly," All set Captain. This baby will make the Death Star look like a fireworks display when I trigger the signal."

" Good. We'll be putting down at a small freight pad four klicks from the TIE garrison. Trin, you're flying, you sure you can do what I want?" Kar asked.

Canaar nodded," Sure, I can crash this thing without any of us being injured, provided everyone is in crash webbing."

" Good, here's the plan, tried and true out of the Rancor's playbook." Kar said. " Trin is going to put us down hard after we declare an emergency. When we hit the deck, everyone scatter. Allie will trigger the timer as we go, and you'll only have 45 seconds to clear the docking pad before the explosives blow the fuel cells, so no going back if you forget something. The blast will distract anyone worried about who was onboard or where they went. We regroup on my transmitted signal and we expidite straight at the hangars. Once we get there, we'll need to liberate some flight suits while others do a little recon. We'll wing the rest of it from there."

" Wing it?" Hespi spat out.

" Hespi, so help me," Kar stood up and had to fight her urge to go for the blaster," if you have a problem, transfer over to Lum's support team, I know Kwana would love to switch spots with someone. Otherwise, shut it. Now. " She looked at the rest of the assembled pilots," That goes for anyone else. You want out, go to Treego before he launches. Otherwise, get on the Ghtroc. Move."

Kar walked right passed Raljar and onto the freighter without acknowledging him, though he could feel her mind start to reach out to him and then stop.

The Ghtroc was a dismal little ship, dingy and ill-kept. Though underneath she was well-mainted and fully spaceworthy, inside and outside she looked like a mere step-up from a tramp freighter; whether or not that was part of its disguise was anyone's guess.

The team quickly took their assigned stations, Hespi and Trask heading for the cockpit whilst everyone else stored their gear and buckled into the flight couches. The dim interior of the ship smelled of oil, burnt wiring and general disuse. Yanni buckled in across from Raljar, who was sat on a couch that circled a burned-out holochess table, and wrinkled her nose. "Smells like the inside of a Jawa workshop."

Ralj cracked a smirk as the transport began to vibrate, a rising whine signalling the powerplant startup.

In the cockpit, Trask flipped a few switches and nodded at Hespi, before signalling the Past. "This is the Shady Lady, all systems are go and we're holding together. Request departure clearance."

"*Shady Lady this is Past control, clearance pending. Stand by.*"

As Hespi brought the power plant up to flight output, Trask looked at Karena and cracked a wry smile. "Pray this bucket of bolts holds together until we reach Malastare."

Across from the Shady Lady, the second Ghtroc 720 cleared its docking clamp and launched into space with a flare of its engines. "*Shady Lady, this is Past control. You're cleared to depart. May the Force be with you.*"

"Don't that sound nice?" Trask grumbled, and even Hespi had to smirk as he pressed a button. With a dull boom! the Ghtroc cleared its own docking clamp, and Hespi pushed the thrusters to flank speed as the Past rapidly shrunk in the Shady Lady's rear scope. "Set course for Malastare. Hold on to something; this could be a bumpy ride..."

*****

"They're away." Captain Santannis stated the obvious thoughtfully as the two freighters moved away from the Past. In the computer pit below her, Ath'nal'kando was co-ordinating the operation logistics with several technicians and other personnel.

Treego Lum nodded slowly. "I just hope this goes smoothly." He didn't voice the fact that he had awoken that morning with a nervous feeling in his gut, and it had only intensified as the transports departed. It wasn't exactly uncommon for officers and enlisted both to feel tension and anxiety before a mission; but he couldn't shake a nagging feeling that something bad was approaching. Silently, he wished the two ships' crews good fortune.

Kar felt the deckplates shudder as the battered freighter leapt to lightspeed for the microjump to Malastare. Her resolve was starting to crack already, but she had to hold it together in front of the rest of the squad, no matter what Raljar felt from her. " Okay folks, fifteem minutes to showtime. Last check on your gear. I want datapads to be uploaded with city maps and comm frequencies."

She slid a last powerpack into an inside pocket of her jacket as she stood up and moved towards the cargo bay, tapping Raljar on the shoulder as she passed. I need to talk to you invaded his thoughts, with a tone nowheres near as calm as her appearance. " Deke, give a couple minutes."

" Got it Kar. Good to have the old you back." Her old friend smirked.

she returned the smirk with a thumbs up and entered the even worse condition cargo bay. Once Ralj entered, her facade dropped to reveal what a wreck she really was. She swallowed hard, " Raljar, I'm sorry, I..... I thought I was doing the right thing the way you reacted about Siraea, I..., I don't know what I was thinking. I wasn't judging you at all, I'd never do that Ralj. I love you, just as I did long before I ever told you. but you scared me, badly."

She looked at him for a minute, forbidding herself to allow tears to start," You're still scaring me. This whole force thing you hid from me, and now you openly accept the dark side. I can see it in you, the dark side touching you soul. I fight every day to keep from falling acrossed that line, and to see you embrace it crushes me. Raljar, no matter how I upset you, you can't go down this path. It will destroy you, and everything we have. Please, I'm begging you. don't do this to us..., to yourself."

She snuffed, indicating how close her control loss was. " come back to me, Raljar. I want that crazy swoop jockey that swept me off my feet back in my life. humans and Cathar have different marraige values, but I accept yours openly. there will never be another in my life, I swear to you [partner], no matter what happens. but I need it to be the Raljar I know to be there for me, not the one I've caused to surface with my stupidity." She wrapped herself in her arms, and swallowed again, awaiting an answer.

As Karena spoke, incredulity warred with suspicion and incomprehension in Raljar's expression. As she finished, he turned away, resting his hands on his hips and shaking his head.

"I...don't understand what you're saying, Kar. There's no Dark Side in me. I can't touch the force, remember? This...thing of ours. It's always been you. You told me so yourself."

Despite his declaration, a tiny prickle of doubt invaded his mind. He pushed it aside as he turned to look at her, and Karena saw his expression was now one of irritated pain. "You accuse me of something I can't even know. All that happened was I had a moment of clarity in all the mpoek we'd been slinging at each other."

He broke off, seeing her tears, and he swallowed heavily. "Don't...don't cry, Kar. Please. You've no idea...none...how much it hurts me to see you cry." Karena could feel beneath the faint veneer of darkness shading his thoughts, Raljar's feelings for her were still genuine.

He shook his head; wanting to reach out to her, but afraid of her flinching at his touch as she had so often recently. He felt an abrupt surge of irritation at his weakness; and Karena felt it too.

"It's...just been a rough week. Okay? Don't talk about things like this." His fear dropped again, and his facade began to crumble in the face of her tears. "It'll...it'll be fine. All what's happened blindsided me, that's all. It's dust in the thrusters, now."

Despite his confident words, Karena felt doubt beginning to invade Raljar's mind.

" No Ralj, it isn't dust in the thrusters." Kar replied stepping closer, turning him around to face her, to see her now tear streaked cheeks. " I'm serious, you can touch the force, I can sense it in you now. That's why you can hear so clearly when I speak to you without talking. It's what drew us together in the first place. Why do you think you know how to fly whatever you touch without so much as sitting in the seat before? and now you're having premonitions too. It is in you Ralj, and that's how you help keep mine in check." she wanted to embrace him, so tightly it would shut out the rest of the galaxy.

" Please [partner] trust me, I know it's in you, but you're letting the dark side come to the surface. You help me temper mine, let me help you." she held her arms out for him to take her. " We've always shown we're stronger together, now we have to prove it to ourselves to get past this."

What Karena was saying was ludicrous; impossible. Yet even as he denied it, memories of the strange events that had surfaced in his life filled Raljar's mind. He had always trusted his gut; always been naturally lucky. His instincts had got him into more trouble than most, but they had always led him back out again, sometimes even unscathed. Could his luck, his talent, really stem from the Force?

"it's not possible. It can't be." Even as the words left his numb lips, Raljar's mind was tripping over itself trying to grasp the implications of Karena's words. She had never lied to him; even the mistrust and suspicion clouding his thoughts couldn't stop him believing that. They were mated; she wouldn't lie about something like that...

Even as he spoke, somehow, Karena ended up in Raljar's arms. The Cathar clasped his mate close, her face pressed into his chest, and the warmth of their embrace flooded through him. The Force; a thing of legend, open to him? He should have been ecstatic, howling for joy at the rush of it; instead, the thought brought with it a sudden, nebulous and undefined craving for respect and power as half-remembered stories and legends of the Force, along with a very well-known modern hero, filled his thoughts. Karena felt Ralj tense up in her embrace, the breath catching in his throat.

Headstrong and proud he might be, but Ralj had never dreamed of wanting the things that tantalized his mind at that moment. As enticing and heady as the thoughts were, though, from somewhere else inside him came a sudden surge of fear as Karena's words suddenly started to make far too much sense.

"What's happening to me? Kar?" His voice was husky; almost pleading, and for a moment Karena wasn't holding the tough, confident officer her mate was; instead, she was holding a lost and injured male for whom the galaxy had suddenly become a strange and dark place indeed.

" I don't know, [my love], but don't talk, just hold me." Karena replied, her body pressed tightly against Raljar, his warmth spreading through her in the cold damp cargo bay. After a moment, she said," Whatever is happening to us, we face it together, no matter what."

It seemed like only seconds passing as the ship shuddered back into real space. Hespi's voice came over Kar's comlink, " colonel, we're being our descent. Just receive a coded point to point from the Rancors that the Forgotten Past is already planetside. You had better stop making out back there and come buckle in."

Karena couldn't help but grin. " Copy, Hespi. Tell Trin that if he kills us with this stunt, I'll come back to haunt him. And with this force thing, I might be able to do that."

When the com came back to Hespi laughing and Canaar protesting he didn't ask to be the pilot, karena looked up at Ralj ," I should have let you do this, then I wouldn't be worried. Come on, we better go strap in."

The Shady Lady plunged towards the curve of Malastare, a beautiful green and pale blue planet with only a thin cloud belt. The freighter began to shudder as the atmosphere grew thicker, and the curve became the planet itself.

From the cockpit, Hespi and Trask could be heard responding to incoming communications as the ship began to shake violently. All on board felt a growing sense of oppression, slowly increasing to a heavy weight as the gravity field of the planet enveloped the ship. Raljar and Karena staggered through the shaking ship, the Cathar collapsing into the holochess G-couch and buckled in. Yanni Wesk grinned at him, the strain beginning to show on her face.

"One hundred fifty-six percent standard gravity, furball. Half again the weight, none of the extra muscle to deal with it. We're gonna love it here." The Cathar looked more than a little shaken; and though she noted it, the young medic put it down to gravity and nerves.

In the cockpit, Trask looked back at Karena as Hespi fought with the heavy controls. "We're in. Ground control's demanding to know what's going on. We've sent the distress signal. The way this thing's shaking? We look authentic, that's for sure-"

There was a loud *BANG!* from aft, and the whole ship screamed in protest. With a sudden lurch, the Ghtroc dropped through the atmosphere, trailing smoke. The interior filled with a rising howl as the engines began to overload.

"We've lost out main power regulator!" Hespi howled, her hands racing over the controls as the Shady Lady plunged toward the surface. Trask cursed. "Fake distress call, right. Hold on!"

[dakota]

" Arlon, can you hold this thing?" Karena asked nervously as the extra gravity sucked her down into the co-pilot's seat.

" I don't know. I'm trying, long as the dampeners hold, maybe." Trassk replied, hit teeth gritted. " Not by myself though."

Kar nodded, and keyed her comm," Everyone buckle in, we may not be faking this crash. Cammie, Ralj need you in the ...." she was cut off by an alarm.

" We're losing thrust. Compensators are overloading." Trassk barked, the Lady beginning to rotate slowly as it plummeted. " I'm running out of options, Cap."

Kar looked at the controls in front of her, the landing field looming up quickly as they dropped. " Fire the repulsors full burn forward."

" are you kidding? They'll overload and burnout too!" Hespi cut in.

Kar snapped," You got a better idea? It's either that or we plow the deck at sublight and hope there's enough pieces left to fill a shoe box!" She looked at Arlon. " Do it."

trassk through the controls as the freighter lurched violently, then began to slow. " It's working!" He shouted, elated.

" Not enough. Hespi, confirm with control we're gonna bounce." she shouted back to the main room," Hold on, this is gonna hurt! Remember, get clear. Allie, I still want you to blow what's left of this crate."

" thirty seconds!" Arlon shouted as the duracrete pad grew closer.

Just as the repulsors began to scream audibles, Raljar could hear a voice. It was familiar, yet unknown to him.

"Kar help me."

Karena perked up at the voice and turned as it seemed to be coming from behind her. " Lesa?" she questioned softly in confusion. It disrupted her judgement, and by the time Arlon shouted his warning, it was too late.

The Ghtroc's repulsors weren't strong enough to impede the descent and the nose of the freighter slammed the ground hard, causing it to skip sideways. It skidded sideways, snapping one of the landing strutsbefore sliding to a halt against a refueling hovertruck. smoke and steam filled the craft as multiple alarms sounded. Moans and groans joined the warnings. Despite the impact, Kar managed to bellow at the others. " Everyone out! Let's go! Help anyone who can't get out themselves."

She began to get unbuckled and felt a stabbing pain in her side. Out of position, the E-11 had jammed on the seat and drove deep into her side, so much so she could hardly use her left arm without pain. She grit her teeth and unfastened herself, looking at the other two. Arlon had a gash over his eye, but was still up and helping Hespi from her seat. He smirked, " any landing you can walk away from..."

" shut up, don't you dare finish that." Kar threatened, ushering them from the cockpit. she surveyed the others, " Let's go folks, we have to move. Emergency crews will be coming and I don't want to blow them up if we can help it." Her first instinct was to look for Ralj.

Through the smoke, Karena could see Raljar staggering for the exit with Yanni draped over one shoulder. There was blood staining the limp young woman's hair and face.

Coughing through the smoke, Benny Zeko hit the main hatch emergency release and small thermal bolts blew the portal open, the access ramp dropping free of its hydraulics and falling to the duracrete with a crash that shook the corridor. Fires raged across the smashed-up freighter's hull as the Krayt's disembarked, the wounded carrying as best they could those who couldn't make it out under their own power.

Allie Tran choked on fumes as she set the final charges. Coughing, she keyed her commlink. "It's ready, captain!" She coughed, trying to clear her lungs as she turned for the exit.

" Okay, everyone's out, set the timer." Kar said, shooing the demo expert away from the ship. She saw Yanni and sighed," Go figure. It's always the medic that gets hurt first." The others were already dispersing against the flow of rescue crews approaching.

Kar broke into an attempt at a run as the hull behind her creaked. " IT'S GONNA BLOW!" she shouted, trying to deter anyone from approaching. Ahead, she saw security in their way," Officer! Officer! You gotta get these people back. the Fuel cells ruptured when we hit. No telling how long before..."

One of the officers cut her off. " You folks get to the infirmery. We'll handle this."

As they were passed by, Kar looked to Raljar and Allie," This is too easy. " By the time they were out of sight, a blast, followed by a shudder of the port was all that remained of the Shady Lady

" I gotta stop." Karena said, leaning against a wall. she grimaced, trying to move her arm. " Too bad I didn't know haw to use force healing, there's no way I can fly a TIE with busted ribs and a seperated shoulder. Even hurts to breath." She coughed, and clutched her side. she looked at Ralj and Allie," You two look okay. How's Wesk?"

"It's hurting us all to breathe," coughed Allie, and Ralj lowered Yanni's limp form to the ground. The young woman's nose and mouth were leaking and stained with fresh blood, and one side of her face was swollen and discoloured, covered with a colossal bruise.

"Her retraint bust when we hit; she went face-first into the holochess board." Ralj coughed, his face and hair streaked with soot and coolant. Droids, ground models to deal with the higher gravity, rolled past as Dug emergency crews loped towards the crater the Shady Lady had left in the landing pad, snarling and bullying each other even as they went to work. Debris was scattered about, and the remains of the freighter were ablaze, boiling black smoke roiling into the sky. The smoke behaved sluggishly in the higher gravity, an unusual sight.

Around them, most of the Krayt's had slumped to the ground, nursing their wounds. Fortunately, it appeared that Yanni was the only serious casualty; Hespi was nursing her wrist and sputtering complaints as Trask attempted to field-dress it, and Benny Zeko was bleeding from his left thigh. As Karena watched, the Nikto clamped his hand over the wound to stem the blood flow and, catching sight of her watching him, nodded. He seemed calm enough about it, though the strain of the high gravity was showing on every Krayt she could see.

Raljar pulled back Karena's jacket, and hissed at the sight of the blood staining her shirt. "What happened?"

Allie coughed again, spitting gunk onto the duracrete. The snarls and curses of the Dug crews were momentarily drowned out as the droids activated their gas fire extinguishers. "What now, captain?"

Karena looked up, trying to bury her own pain while she looked over her battered team,” Not how I wanted to start this off. First off, who’s got corpsman experience? We need Yanni patched up first to put the rest of us back together. Hespi, I need a link to Rancor.”

“Done.” The Bothan held out a communicator as Cammie moved to tend to Yanni.

Kar took the comlink, puzzled,” what, no sarcasm?”

“ Not on the job.” Hespi replied. “ I’ll bottle it up until we get back to the Past ”

“ I’ll be waiting.” She keyed the commlink,” Rancor, you there?”

“Go Krayt. Problems?”

“Yeah,” she looked at the squad,” Plenty. We’re gonna be delayed.”

“Stang, guess we weren't the only ones with issues. Hhow bad?”

“ We’re at least a couple pilots light. I’ll advise when I have a plan.”

“ Keep me in the loop. We faired a little better, so we’ll be kicking back until we hear from you. Clear.”

“ Krayt clear.” Kar handed back the comlink, then studied the others, " there's no way we can pull this off like we planned, folks. I can't use this," she dropped the laser rifle from under her coat," let alone fly. Yanni 's definitely grounded, and I doubt Hespi can either. Looks like some of us are going to have to nab a freighter or transport of some sort to get off this rock. and we aren't telling anyone else what we're up to until we lift."

" Come again?" Arlon asked. " Lum needed to know things have changed."

Kar shook her head. " Trassk, someone just tried to kill the works of us by rigging that ship to malfunction on us. The last thing we want to do is let them know they failed by checking in. The Rancors I'm not worried about, because it sounds like someone messed with their arrival too if I was reading Steraku right. That means we have a common enemy aboard ship, so there's no worries of compromise. Now anyone managed to get into the starports manifests yet?"

Deke nodded," Looking at them right no...," he started laughing," Oh this can't be right." He handed off the datapad.

Kar looked at it and began to laugh, " You sure this is accurate?"

" As far as we can tell. Get Hespi to cross-reference it." Deke replied.

" Oh Sith, this might be our lucky day yet." She held up the pad so everyone could see. The highlighted listing was for freighter SFS-1187D, contents unlisted. Kar spoke through her laugh," SFS. Sienar Fleet Systems. In three hours, there's a delivery ship landing here loaded with TIEs and spare parts fresh from the factory. I need a plan formulated to hijack that ship. Get on it people, you've got thirty minutes. Ralj, come here for a moment."

She led him aside, and lowered her voice," [Partner], my arm's dislocated. I need you to set it for me." She knew how much pain she was in for, but it had to be done. " I.., I don't know what it was, but I swear that Lesa spoke to me just before he hit."

Raljar glanced at her, and then began feeling the wound. As Kar flinched and gasped, he realized her self-diagnosis was accurate. Gritting his teeth, he took hold of her shoulder, and looked at her.

Kar might have expected him to say "ready?", but with a sharp *click!* he snapped the bone back into its socket before she was expecting it, quietly hoping that he hadn't forgotten any major quirks of human anatomy from his basic field aid training. The pain was excruciating, but with the joint back in place it quickly faded to a merely unbearable level. Ralj grunted and clutched at his shoulder, eyes wide, as pain began to burn deep in his tissues.

Allie Tran winced visibly at the sound. "She going to be okay?"

Ralj exhaled sharply and bared his teeth at the pain, shaking his head in confusion. "Hrrng! She should be. We need Yanni for this."

"...Lieutenant? Raljar? Are you all right?" Allie reached out for him, but he waved her off almost savagely. "No! Kriff it, I'm alright!" Allie glanced away, and withdrew.

Kar heard their voices dimly, as though they were far away as endorphins surged through her system in response to the pain. She could see a pair of Dugs in ground crew garb loping towards them past Ralj's face, teeth gritted and eyes narrowed as he studied her. "Kar? Darling, can you hear me?"

***

On a computer screen, Raljar and Karena were framed in green. The glow of the monitor illuminated three figures in Imperial uniform, the computech and two officers in black. The room they were in was stark metal inlaid with glowing red lights and machinery. In the darkness, a slave droid hooked up to the compugrid by a tangled umbilical of heavy cables whirred and stared incomprehendingly, its glowing photoreceptors twin pinpricks of light in the gloom as the three men spoke.

"You're sure it's them?" The first officer's voice was male, precise of tone and pronunciation.

"Yes, sir." The technician touched a few controls, and the image froze. "One Cathar male, one Human female. We'll cross-reference the data files, but the odds of a different gender-matched pair being together on the same planet are-"

The second officer leaned forward to inspect the screen. His face in profile was Saturnian, his nose aquiline and his eyes cold. A faint, cruel smile quirked the corners of his mouth. "Irrelevant. We have our target, gentlemen. Inform our allies that they have arrived."

"Yes, sir." The technician swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing as he reached for a control panel. The first officer nodded to the second, turned and departed, his bootsteps rapping sharply on the metal floor.

* * * * * *

Raljar was right, Kar wasn't ready. the sudden click, followed by the wet "pop" of the shoulder going back into the socket sent a sudden shockwave of pain coursing through her. It stunned her as it overloaded her pain receptors, causing everything to fade for a moment. But it suddenly came rushing back to focus as the pain reached her brain's pain receptors and she cried out," Son of a motherless Akk. Sithspit, your kriffing beside manner sucks, Raljar. Stang! You couldn't say get ready, or this is gonna hurt or something? No Allie, I'm not allright, I'm in a mopekload of pain right now, but I'll manage. I won't be flying out anytime soon, not wearing kriffing Imp pilot armor."

She looked passed Ralj to see the dugs approaching. " Time to go, furball. Locals are getting curious. Need somewhere close to the port yet where Wesk can rest, somewheres I can try to copy for her what I did to you hand." She flashed a lopsided smirk, something he hadn't seen in too long, " Ralj, you really need to trim that mane of yours. You're getting scruffy look."

Raljar hauled Ellie and Karena to their feet against the unrelenting gravity. Ralj tapped his commlink as they made for the exit, signalling the rest of the team to disperse and regroup later.

"'ey! You!" The Dugs were far quicker on their arms than the offworlds were on their heavy legs, and quickly caught up to them. Both male, both seemed to be made of knotted muscle and teeth; the only difference between them were that one was brown, the other grey. "Someone's gotta deal wit' dis. You runnin' cuz ya got somethin' to 'ide, eh?" The grey one leered and jabbed a toe at the trio. The brown one snorted and made to say something, only to recieve a vicious cuff from the first. The two snarled and quarreled in Dug, and Ralj pushed Karena and Allie towards the turbolifts.

The two Dugs broke off their scuffle and the first screeched"I SAID yez-", but Raljar had reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of credit chits. The bundle of plastic wafers strucks the first Dug square in the chest and scattered over the pad. In a matter of seconds both Dugs were fighting viciously over the money strewn around them, and the three were gone.

*****

A short while later, Allie had managed to find them an old droid workshop amongst the boughs of the forest surrounding the spaceport complex. Shafts of pale, green-tined sunlight shone through holes in the rusty ceiling, and the mouldering remains of old droids were scattered about the shop, strewn over tables or dumped in oil-smeared piles. The Dug owner had been only too happy to accept a bribe, and the noise of the forest, the distant spaceport and the half-modern, half-primitive district around the shop filtered in with the heavy, moist Malastarian air. Far below, thick fog obscured any glimpse of the shadowy forest floor.

Yanni Wesk lay on an old droid bench, still unconcious. Allie Tran was fussing over her wounds, ignoring the strange multi-legged things that crawled out of the darkness and out the holes in the walls. She looked exhausted, and her face as she looked at Karena was drawn and pale.

"I've stopped the bleeding, but her skull's fractured. Stang it, what happened?" She tossed a soiled bacta pad on the table and leaned heavily on it, her breathing laboured. By the entrance, Raljar was speaking into his comlink, coordinating with the rest of the Krayts. Allie looked up at Karena again, a despairing look on her face. "I don't know what to do for her. She needs a hospital."

Kar swallowed," Allie, you go watch the street, okay?" she suggested softly.

Tran was suddenly concerned," What are you gonna do, Captain?"

" Not to worry. I'm going to try to help Yanni. Now go." Kar said nervously. " Raljar, [Be close. Need you]" she said brokenly so Allie wouldn't understand.

Allie gave a nod and went towards the door. Once out of sight, Karena took a deep breath before placing her hands on either side of Yanni's skull. she closed her eyes and tried to relax. At first nothing happened, but as Kar's breaths became fast and shallow, her hands seemed to glow. Seconds seemed to pass by like hours as Kar opened herself to the force. Her breathing became faster and faster until the drain was too much and Kar fell back away from the bench, the extra gravity causing her to hit harder than normal. The impact jolted her damaged ribs, and she let out a muffled cry and turtled to clutch her side.

On the table, Yanni's face was still bruised and cut, but the disfigurement and swelling to her cranium was gone.

Raljar felt, palpably experienced the surge of Force energy flow from Karena into Yanni at the moment Karena collapsed. He rushed to his mate's side, and Karena felt herself gathered into the grasp of strong, familiar arms.

"Karena, can you hear me? Come on, let it out...that's it..." Ralj's voice was breathless, and when Karena could finally look up at him his eyes were alight and his expression more intense than she'd seen before.

"I felt it." An astounded grin tugged at the corners of his mouth, his eyes searching hers. "I felt it. It was like..."

He broke off, staring into her eyes; then he brought her face up to his and kissed her so deeply that it was as though they were trying to devour each other, his tongue entwining with hers. He roamed her lips with the kiss, and Karena felt an exultation in him; a need, like he had tasted pure spice and was drunk on the energy of craving more.

At the doorway, Allie appeared. She paused at the threshold, staring at the unlikely scene before her, a blush slowly creeping across her nose and cheeks.

"I...uh, heard a shout. Are you okay...uh...forget it-Yanni?" As Raljar broke off their kiss, Allie crossed the room quickly to Yanni's makeshift cot, her eyes widening as she took in the medic's greatly improved complexion.

"Like that." Raljar murmured to Karena, his breath hot on her ear as Allie leaned over Yanni's prone form.

"I don't understand" she sputtered, denial in her voice as she examined Yanni's wounds with gentle fingers. "Her skull, her jaw...it's...bacta? It can't be, we didn't-" She looked down at Karena and Raljar, her eyes like saucers. "What did you do, captain?"

"Didn't what? She's fine." Allie shook her head in wonder. "Her skull's fine, as far as I can tell. The swelling's gone...she's still got a few cuts and bruises, but what's cosmetic damage compared to a fractured skull? I know which one I'd rather suffer from."

Allie smiled gently and leaned over Wesk's body, carefully examining her skull. "She still needs a check-up, in case you missed anything...can't believe I'm saying this. It's miraculous." She looked over her shoulder at Karena, unspoken words of thanks in her eyes.

Slowly, though, Allie's expression changed to one of embarrassed amusement as Raljar slipped his arms around Karena and nuzzled her neck, his sharp canines grazing her skin.

Karena felt her senses mesh with Raljar's. The raw Force energy that she had channelled - that still lingered in the room - was having a profound effect on the lieutenant's natural passions. The very stuff of life itself, it was acting as a potent aphrodesiac to the Cathar, whose emotions were already enflamed under the influence of the Dark Side. Mixed with the sheer exultation of touching the greatest power in the Galaxy for the first time...not even the heavy gravity was enough to dull Ralj's energy.

Allie was blushing furiously, and she raised her hand to her mouth and looked away, eyes twinkling as she stifled a giggle. Raljar grinned as he stroked Karena's flanks, examining her with the expression of a predator that had just found the most fascinating prey. His hot breath washed over Karena's cheek as he dipped his head to run his tongue along her jaw, just below her ear. She could feel his strong heartbeat through her whole body, steady and rapid.

"Stang it, captain...lieutenant..." Allie coughed, and Ralj shook his head; his hands had been wandering, and he closed his eyes and smiled as he inhaled the warm smell of his mate's hair and sweat.

"I'm sorry. Mind's wandering..." His breath lingered in Kar's ear as he grinned, and even through his heavy flightsuit pants, she could feel exactly to where his mind had been wandering.

"Yeah, well...wander it back here, okay? We're still hip deep in mopek." Allie seemed a little breathless, even discounting the oppressive gravity, and she seemed to be having difficulty finding a decent place to keep her eyes. She glanced at the pair again but hurriedly turned away, busying herself with Wesk's remaining wounds.

"You have no idea what I'm feeling right now." Raljar murmured into Karena's ear. "Maybe it's the gravity..."

******

(No need for poor old Nortoosa to be whacked; I thought I was going somewhere with it, but in hindsight, the way it was going it would just make the Inquisition look incompetent. Much like the villains from Ep.1, and I just can't do that to the Imperium >.<)

******

Karena was starting to be more than a little aroused by Raljar's affection when Allie scolded them. she cleared her throat, "I don't know what you're feeling, but I do know what I'm feeling. Settle down, will you," she half chuckled as she dragged her fingers along his chin, "I need your head on your shoulders, not in my pants."

As much as she didn't want to, she broke free of Raljar's loving hold and had to check Yanni herself. " I... wow. Allie, I didn't even know I could do this." she reminded herself it didn't always work as she moved and her broken ribs reminded her with a shot of pain. " Too bad it doesn't work on myself, she grimaced. " We better not stay here too long, everyone knows how far you can trust a Dug. Ralj, you're gonna have to carry Wesk. Let's get going."

Karena didn't even make it to the door when Ralj heard a familiar voice over his shoulder. "What happened? And why am I staring at someone's butt? Not that I mind the view."

*******

The ale was flowing in the Drunken Gamorrean, more than usual for a mid afternoon; but the Snivian bartender didn't mind with all the tips that the mix of freighter jocks were handing over, and no one had smashed anything yet.

Tranis leaned over the dejarik table as his Mantellean Sarvip moved back two spaces and let out an annoying little yip. " You had a good look at the fighters?"

Lanie Nicks, a tall skinny woman from Naboo nodded, draped around Jaxol's arm, "Yeah. they're sorted, Colonel. Locals keep them in top shape in case."

Steraku nodded to his best mechanic. " Good. How's everyone's status?"

"Bumps and bruises." Mo'tara Res replied, her lekku twitching as she leaned against Tranis. " We're usually in worse shape after R and R. And there's more ale going on the floor than there is being drank."

"Good. We've got a couple hours before we go. make sure it stays that way."

Snit took his turn, moving his Ng'ok forward. "Not to worry, boss. I gave them all their warnings."

Mo'tara grinned. " That's usually enough, though it's not often Tran'ika is picking up the tab. What gives?"

"Long story. Enjoy it when you can." He scowled at the Twi'lek. "Now, what's this osik I hear about you and two of the Krayts aboard a shuttle?"

Mo'tara smiled mysteriously as a few of the Rancors whooped appreciatevly, and stroked her lekku. "That is a woman's perogative, Colonel, and none of your business."

"Yeah, well, I'm telling you all now; the next time I get it in the neck from Santannis because of a "woman's perogative", I'm making it my business." The colonel smirked wryly.

As the Rancors indulged their thirst and a squadron-wide love of gambling, Tranis leaned back in his seat. The mission plan had been shot to hell with the Krayt's crash-landing; the possibility of sabotage had already occured to him, and his mind mulled over the ramifications.

Mo'tara noticed Tranis' grim-faced brooding, and she touched the Colonel's arm as he leaned forwards to get his drink. "It will go fine. Stop worrying."

She knew the colonel was worrying over the possibility of treachery; and whilst the possibility had occured to all the Rancor's, she knew that Tranis would brood over it rather than let off steam, like the rest of the squadron. It was part of what made him a leader; a good one, too, but in these moments, Tranis depended on his subordinates to help him keep things in perspective, in the "now" rather than in the "possible"...and more importantly, out of the ale glass. It was a symbiotic relationship, one that had provided the Rancors with plentiful rich takings and successful operations, and Mo'tara Res had no desire to see that run of success end any time soon.

After all, the Twi'lek rogue grinned to herself as the colonel smiled grimly at her, keeping mens thoughts focused was one of the many things she was very good at.


******

"Stang it, captain. How did you managed to kriff these up so thoroughly?" Cammie bit his lip as he carefully applied a bacta patch to Karena's busted ribs. The medication immediately took the edge off the stinging ache, and her breathing became a touch easier.

The Krayts had rendezvoused at a safehouse that had been provided by one of their contacts, located in the Huudak'chi starport's lower levels, a place crawling with illegal bazaars, rogues, undesireables and castoffs. Allie Tran and Yanni Wesk were talking animatedly to the rest of the squadron about what had happened in the droid shop, and more than a few glances were cast in Karena's direction, most especially by Hespi Rus'trk and Shelby. Raljar had been exhausted by the struggle of carrying Yanni through Malastare's gravity field back to the port, and was slumped down one one of the grimy apartment's battered couches. He appeared to be dozing.

Cammie looked around as the outside door hissed open, and Benny Zeko and Arlon Trask entered. Trask, clearly under strain moved to join the others whilst Zeko joined Karena and Ridgechaser.

"The port authority is investigating the crash, but it won't delay the arrival of the Seinar transport. Rancor's moving their schedule up to compensate, and the black market here can provide us with stims to counter the effects of gravity fatigue long enough for us to make the strike."

The Nikto looked around, and lowered his voice. "Something about this whole thing smells, captain. We barely had to bribe anyone to get away from the crash site, and our people are saying that the authorities are turning a blind eye to it. No-one's looking for us; in fact, it's almost like they're deliberately not looking. After what happened to the Shady Lady, I'm starting to suspect that we could be in deeper in the mopek than we thought."

* * * * *

Karena looked at Benny as he made his feelings known, as she slowly tested the range of her mobility being improved by the bacta patch. " Unless the ship was sabotaged by one of our people, no one knows about our change of plans, so we stick to it. Thanks Cammie," She said, pulling her shirt down and gingerly slipping her jacket back on. She grimaced, but it was more like stiffness rather than pain.

" The freighter is due to arrive in less than 35 minutes. Are we set?" she asked as she moved to rest a hand on Raljar's shoulder as she stood behind the couch. The question was as much about him as the squadron's plan.

" We're sorted, Cap." Deke replied. " Shelby and Arlon aquired some grounds crew uniforms for us. We checked, and there are at least 11 species working here besides the Dugs and Gran. Only one that might be a problem is Raljar, but we might be able to pass him off as an ugly Bothan." That got a snicker out of Hespi. He continued. " Cammie managed to scrounge us up a half dozen flight suits if need be, though I'd sooner rely on the Rancors than factory fresh fighters if things go sour. Hespi hacked in to the manifest and there are more listed aboard, but you know as well as I do those are never accurate."

" Point." Kar said," sounds like you all have things sorted. I'll take my time checking in from now on." She grinned slightly, and got a few laughs or grins. " So we're just going in as scab maitenance crew?"

" Not quite. Hespi diverted the scheduled crew to the Past's crash site." Cammie grinned proudly. " seems they have a city wide union that controls all starport maitenance. so we're the replacement crew. We even have two of their skiffs ready to go and already loaded."

Karena shook her head." what do you need me for then? We better get changed and head out."

Cammie grinned as he started tossing around uniforms for people to change," Uh, someone has to catch the mopek from Treego if this doesn't work out. And Rem and Trin aren't here, Captain."

* * * * *

" Stop brooding Colonel. We're sorted." Lanie said as she sat upright. She had been with Tranis long enough to read him, " Our arrival was ugly, but nothing that wasn't routine. Worst case, when the rebels get in mopek, we either bust out or come to the rescue."

" Yeah, that's what I'm worried about. These Z-95s look good, but...,"

Jaxol cut him off," Tranis, they'll get us back to the Past. If that rebel and her pet cathar can't.."

It was Tranis' turn to cut someone off. " You stay away from Lt. Raljar, got me?"

" what, you got something for that little swoop rat?" Parnedd chuckled.

" None of your kriffing business, chakaar" Tranis snapped. He stood up, " Bottoms up folks, we gotta catch our ride."

The Rancors moaned, but the bartender could be heard over all of them.

" I gotta get changed", Tranis looked in his duffel bag, his battle scarred T-visored helmet looking back up at him.

[dakota]

The maintenance skiffs crossed the sweep for the forest, following the skylanes towards the starport. Aboard, the pilots of Krayt Squadron were performing their last-minute checks on their gear. The open-topped little craft hummed shrilly as they flew, and the wind was cold despite the bright sunlight of Malastare's mid-afternoon.

Raljar had been quiet since waking up, but as they flew, he leaned across to where Karena sat and touched her knee.

"[Kar? You're right. Something's different; I can feel it.]"

His golden eyes locked with hers, and his voice and expression both communicated his disquiet as he spoke to her in Catharese. "[Something's...changed in me. I haven't felt like this before. The hunger-]"

Shelby Vagnarrso cut across their discussion, pointing from the prow of the skiff to the starport complex emerging from the vast forest-city. "There it is!"

Sure enough, sat on one of the tower-like landing pads, was a Seinar Fleet Systems transport, surrounded by a small flight of maintenance craft.

Hespi tapped a few kets on the skiff's grimy communications computer. "Access codes sent. Now we wait to be told when we can start work." She cracked a smile. "Let's just hope Rancor's keeping their side of the bargain."

Raljar sank back on the padded bench. He looked wary, hunted...shaken.

******

Inside the Militia hanger facility an armored door blew open with a shower of sparks, and Dug militia technicians scurried back away from the blast.

<"Alright, move! Come on! Quickly, quickly!"> Colonel Tranis stepped through the portal and levelled his blaster rifle at the technicians, who at the sight of Mandalorian battle armour quickly put their feet on their heads in surrender. Behind him came the rest of Rancor, who spread out to secure the control room and the flight deck beyond. In the rear came Jaxol, leading several captured Dug guards.

"It'ss going well." Snit grinned, toting his heavy repeating blaster. The big Barabel was enjoying himself immensly. "Once Mo'tara hass the launch codess, we'll be ready to leave."

Tranis nodded, but his tone was uncompromising. <"Don't get complacent. Lock those civilians in the closet and we'll regroup on the launch deck. Any fatalities?">

"Two, both guardss. They were offered the chance."

To surrender, Snit meant. The colonel regretted the neccessity, but he was too much of a Mandalorian to tear himself up over the loss. His own warriors were a far greater priority. <"They had their chance. Let's get this done, people.">

As the Rancor's went to work, Tranis' commlink crackled. "Colonel, it's Mo'tara."

<"Talk to me, girl."> Tranis touched his finger to his helmet commlink, watching as Jaxol herded the Dug prisoners into a maintenance closet. Though they snarled and spat, none seemed to be interested in putting up any real resistance, especially at the sight of a battle-armored Mandalorian.

At the dock control computer, Mo'tara was bent over the main terminal whilst a brute of a man named Jav Klatura covered the door. "I've managed to slice into the mainframe logs. The Seinar transporter Krayt are going after? It's listed here on today's schedule. It has priority one clearance across the entire board. Go wherever it wants, do whatever it pleases. The militia, the authorities; they can't touch her."

Tranis frowned beneath his mask. <"For a cargo ship? That can't be right.">

"That's not the only thing, Tran'ika. According to the logs, it's not carrying any cargo."

Tranis' mind began to whirl, and he felt a familiar knotting in his guts. <"Mo'tara, get me all the information you can on that transport. Snit!">

The Barabel looked around at Tranis and hissed inquisitively.

<"See if you can patch a comm through to Krayt."> The Barabel nodded and lumbered off.

Long ago, Colonel Tranis had learned to trust his gut instincts; honed by years of conflict, they rarely let him down, and right now, they told him that the transport the Krayts were hunting was bait. It was a tactic he had seen used before, in other battlefields on other worlds, and Mo'tara had spotted the signs. He blessed the day he'd taken the sharp-witted slicer into the Rancors.

Snit looked up from the console he had activated. "I...can't reach them. The ssignal'ss-"

The grizzled Mandalorian regarded Snit, and the Barabel's eyes widened as the implications of his own words began to sink in. "-being jammed?"

Tranish jerked and armored hand in the universal "move" gesture. <"Snit, with me. Jaxol, finish up here double-time."> Tranis stalked out of the control room, Barabel in tow. He roared as he joined the bulk of the Rancor's on the flight deck. <"RANCOR! LET'S MOVE! WE'VE GOT TROUBLE!">

* * * * *

Karena listened, struggling to understand Raljar. Unable to come up with the right mix of words, she let her voice touch his mind instead, I know, but we'll be okay [partner], we can figure this out and get through it

She looked over to Hespi, " Don't worry about the Rancors, they'll pull of their end. Have you heard from them yet?"

" Nothing." the bothan said," but we've been getting alot of interference since we boarded this pice of junk. I think there's a resonance feedback in the repulsor coils."

" All right, try them once we're on the ground then." Karena said. " Benny, how's it look?"

" It's clear, Captain." the Nikto said," Too clear. Not even a refueling team yet."

" that can't be right." She glanced over to Shelby," check the schedule on that crate. Unless there's major repairs necessary, the refuel should have already started." she couldn't help the twinge of concern in her voice.

Shelby frowned as she tapped the skimmer's console keys. "Network errors? What's wrong with this piece of junk?"

Hespi glanced at Karena. "Could just be linked to the coils, maybe?" At her comment, Zeko shrugged.

"Whatever it is, we don't have time for second-guessing. I don't like this either, but we're comitted and out of time. We delay, we fall off schedule and miss the rendezvous." The Nikto met Karena's eyes, and his expression was cool and collected. "Focus, captain; we don't have the luxury of second guessing now."

Suddenly the skimmer's command console beeped, and the craft began their descent cycle towards the duracrete pad. The boxy, dark grey transport loomed above them as the craft passed into its shadow.

As the skimmers touched down, Trask looked back over his shoulder to the passengers in his skiff and smirked sourly. "Okay, you know the drill. Fan out, and try to look like you know what you're doing. Remember, we're grease monkeys." He looked back up at the Seinar transport. "For the next few minutes at least. Once we're in, secure the transport."

With various nods, murmurs of acknowledgement and a rude comment from Shelby, the Krayts paired up and fanned out from the skiffs towards the hulk of the Seinar ship. Dressed in bright yellow universal coveralls and carrying various technical parts and repair tools, they actually looked fairly convincing to Karena's eyes. Several large cargo crates occupied the pad around the transport, but other than utility droids, there were no signs of other maintenance crews yet.

"I've got a bad feeling about this" muttered Hespi as she shouldered her length of heavy cabling.

Karena heard the Bothan's suspicious words, but as they approached the vessel's great rear cargo doors at the transport's rear, she was suddenly aware of a palpable malignance that suffused the air around her. The evil she felt was similar to the shadow that had been gathered around her mate's troubled thoughts. But whereas Raljar's darkness flickered and guttered like a plasma torch, this was a steady aura of malice that emanated from aboard the Seinar ship.

The presence of the Dark Side.

Raljar's eyes narrowed dangerously, and Karena knew he had felt it too. A precognitive glimpse of the future flickered through her mind, though in the presence of the Dark Side it was a chaotic slideshow of sensory impressions; white armour, a hooded figure, darkness, triumph, blaster fire-

With a metallic, echoing clang of powerful motive systems, the great cargo doors on the transport began to open, the huge cargo ramp extending. Almost at the same instant, there were crashing sounds from the cargo containers scattered around the pad, and Karena could hear Trask shouting something over the groaning of the transport doors as he dragged his blaser pistol from inside his jacket.

From all sides, storm troopers appeared, their blaster rifles levelled as they poured from the hollow shells of the cargo crates, the clattering of their armour mingling with harsh orders for the rebels to drop their weapons. Within seconds, the Krayts were surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered.

Above it all, the distant but fast-rising howl of approaching TIE fighters was unmistakable.

" Arlon, don't!" Karena shouted at Trassk as he drew his blaster. " Everyone put your weapons down. Should have known this was a set up. It was too perfect. I'm so stupid" she groaned as she unfastened her gunbelt and let it drop to the tarmac, raising her hands.

" You're giving up?" Hespi snarled as she lowered her own weapon.

" Look around Hespi. We're outgunned and boxed in. Not to mention we've been seriously set up by someone in our kriffing squadron. Nobody else knew what sort of shape we were in after the Lady was sabotaged. So somebody planetside screwed us over."

She didn't look at Raljar, but she let her voice touch his mind, I'm sorry [partner], I led us right into this mess. And I have no idea how to get us out. Just stay calm for now, we'll think of something. Her eyes shifted to the freighter, scared yet curious who was aboard that was eminating the force so strongly.

* * * * *

" Allright rancors, listen up." Tranis keyed his comm as all sixteen of the militia's Z-95s and a pair of unarmed Cloakshapes fitted with extra heavy shields for recon began to do rapid preflights. " Looks like the Krayts stepped in some poodoo, and we're gonna have to bail them out."

" should leave the Imps have them." Jaxol said.

" Shut up Parnedd, you chakaar." Jaxol snapped. " Talk like that puts you under suspicion to be the reason the Imps even knew they were here. Mo, what have you got?"

" Imp frequencies are quiet, except for a couple ISB channels that are secured. wait," Mo'tara replied, then added," Check that, I'm getting comm chatter from TIE jockeys."

" Perfect." Tranis moaned, knowing that if the Twi'lek couldn't hack it already, the Ipmerial comms were well encrypted. " Allright, let's get things ready to go in case we've been set up too, but we hold off lift until we have a plan."

" Those Imps had to have come from somewheres." Snit pointed out.

" Good point. Mo?"

" nothing yet, but doesn't mean there isn't something hiding up there waiting for the Past." The Twi'lek replied. " And we can't chance warning her either."

* * * * *

The doors finished cycling open with a dull, metallic boom!, and the stormtroopers surrounding them formed into two lines on either side of the small group of beleaguered pilots. From inside the transport came a group of Storm Troopers, escorting a pair of black-clothed individuals. As they approached, Karena could feel the Dark Side surrounding the pair like a swirling current.

On Karena's right was an athletically built man, dressed head to foot in sculpted Imperial-style black body armour. His black hair was cropped into a short crewcut, and his skin was a pale shade of tan. His eyes were obscured by a black silken blindfold, which didn't quite fully obscure the horrible scarring that clearly filled where his eye sockets would have been; yet his step was sure and confident.

At his side was a slightly younger woman, about Karena height, with the impressive build of a gymnast and a mohawk crest of ash-blonde hair. She was dressed in a manner similar to her companion, though her armour was even lighter and completely exposed her midriff and arms, as though designed for maximum mobility. She moved with a certain liquid grace even in the high gravity, and her features were not obscured; she would have been beautiful, were it not for the cruel twist to her mouth and the malice in her jade eyes.

Both wore all-temperature cloaks that flowed behind them in the breeze, and their approach was heralded by the howl of TIE fighters and interceptors that passed overhead. It was impossible to tell which one, if either, was the superior.

"Oh, mopek" was all Arlon Trask growled as they approached. The rest of the Krayts shifted restlessly or looked up at the TIE flight groups overhead.

The two figures and their escort stopped a few meters away from the surrounded rebels, and the woman stepped forwards. She cast a withering look of utter superiority over the Krayts, and then met Karena's eyes. The pair stared at each other for a moment; then the woman smiled darkly.

"Therez and the Cathar. Bring them."

Stormtroopers immediately herded Karena and Raljar away from the Krayts, who shouted and cursed as an ugly struggle broke out. Raljar snarled as he was manhandledand he grabbed one of the stormtrooper's blaster rifles; only to recieve a stun prod in the back for his efforts, dropping him to his knees on the duracrete with a grunt of agony.

The stormtroopers and the Krayts struggled briefly and violently, but the woman's eyes flashed in rage. "ENOUGH!" With a savage wave of her hand, the Krayts and several of the stormtroopers both were sent flying backwards, as though shoved by a violent force. She gestured at the Cathar and Karena both. "Bring them."

As she turned, a stormtrooper captain spoke. "<What should we do with the others?>"

The woman regarded the scattered Krayts with contempt. "Execute them. We have what we came for."

With that, she ascended the ramp, Karena and Raljar grappled up the ramp by several stormtroopers both. The blindfolded man brought up the rear, as the Krayts were dragged to their feet behind them.

"CAPTAIN!" Shouted Trask, but Karena couldn't see him. All around her was white armour, her arms held in a painful grip as she and Raljar were dragged aboard the Seinar ship, the great doors groaning closed as the ramp retracted in their wake.

A minute later, the huge transport's thrusters fired and it lifted off, as the cuffed Krayts were herded off by the stormtroopers. "<Alright, move it.>"

"Any ideas?" murmured Allie Tran.

"Pray." Responded Benny Zeko flatly. The Nikto's jaw was swollen from a savage blow he had recieved in the tussle, and his voice was slurred; but even as the roar of the Seinar ship's engines drowned out all sound, consternation suddenly seemed to grip the stormtroopers on the ground, shouted orders mingling with the howl of ion engines as the TIE Fighters in the air wheeled and sped towards the city.

In the distance, above the cityline, small shapes resolved into a fast approaching wing of Z-95 Headhunters.

"Nice timing" he murmured.

******

Aboard the Seinar transport's cavernous bridge, two Imperial navy pilots presented a picture of cool professionalism as the transport cleared the landing pad. One leaned over and activated a comm link.

"Gamma flight, assume escort positions. Set a course for jump point tau six-seven."

"<This is gamma lead. Copy, tau six-seven. Assuming escort formation.>"

The transport's engines glowed brightly as it powered for high orbit, accompanied by three TIE interceptors. Down below, a conflict between the captured forces of the New Republic and their Imperial ambushers was imminent.

* * * * *

" All right people, we know the drill. " Tranis' voice was cold and calculating. " Lanie, Firaga, get those Cloakshapes out of here. Get out there and find the rest of the Krayts. You're no good to us in a fight and those B-wings are .Everyone else, four wings. Snit, fighter escort while I go after the freighter. Jaxol, stormies and their support are yours. Mo'tara, watch our shebse and make sure no one else joins the party. We've got missles, they don't. So use them. Lead out."


* * * * *

Hespi looked at Cammie, " I hope all Therez' missions didn't go this badly."

" Quiet you." One of the stormtroopers commanded, striking the Bothan with the butt of his rifle. It was only Deke's quick reaction that kept her slumping form from hitting the ground.

Despite the broken jaw, Benny still had to be restrained by Arlon.

The stormtrooper squadleader laughed," Let him go. He'll be dead in moments anyways, rebel scum. Troopers, assume firing squad formation."

The stormtroopers formed up into a line, their Blastech E-11s all held at the ready. The squadleader was saying something , but was drowned out by a warcry acrossed the rebel commlinks. Two TIE fighters passing overhead suddenly burst into flames and rained down to the tarmac, At the same time, a Headhunter mere meters off the deck loomed into view from the city, it's wing mounted triple lasers cycling wildly as bright green bolts slammed through the line of Imperials like a warm knife through butter. As the Headhunter blasted over top the captured rebels, it barrel rolled out of fire from the few remaining stormtroopers began to fire at the headhunter. They were so engrossed, they never heard the engines of the second Z-95 bearing down behind them.

" They do know how to make an entrance." Shelby said, cowering as the second fighter opened up.


* * * * *

" Sir! Something is happening. We just lost contact with Razors 4 and 6." The freighter's comm officer reported as the ship was pulling away. " There, Razor 3 is gone as well."

" Put it on screen." The captain replied. He was concerned, but didn't want to involve his passengers.

" Contacts! We have snubfighters rising up from the city!" Reported Comm. " 3. 7 .10. 14 contacts. Wait, two just broke off for open space. Missile Lock!"

"Take evasive maneuvers. Shields Up!. Brace for impact.""

* * * * *

" Fire at will." Tranis said as his misslie lock warbled, and he thumbed the firing stud.

All around him, twelve pairs of concussion missiles streaked towards the freighter and it's crew

* * * * *

Karena's voice touched Raljar's mind as they were being led towards makeshift looking holding cages in the storage bay. I'm sorry, partner. I should have seen this coming. As they reached the cells and the doors were jerked open, Kar had to ask, " Do we get room service?

* * * * *

Arlon Trask looked up blearily from the smoking duracrete. The last few seconds were a little hazy, and the sounds of shouting and blaster fire seemed a bit muffled.

The Headhunter's strafing run had ripped the landing pad to molten chunks in a wide swathe, and the drifting smoke stank like a chemical fabricator. White-armoured bodies were scattered about, some still smoking. The survivors were running for cover or firing at the Headhunters, which were engaged overhead in a furball with the TIE's.

Trask's eyes alighted on the prone form of a dead stormtrooper nearby. Visible on the trooper's belt was a maglock key for the binders that bound the Krayt's hands.

******

The freighter pilot's scope began dual-toning as the barrage of missiles closed in, and the man's voice was edged with tightly-controlled panic. "Incoming torpedoes!"

"Evasive action!" snapped the freighter's captain, sweat beading his brow. The Seinar ship was tough, and extensively modified for its mission; but he doubted it was tough enough to withstand a concussion missile barrage.

"We're too close!" The co-pilot reached for the shield controls as the rapid tone accelerated.

As the Interceptors from Gamma flight peeled off from the transport, the concussion missiles struck the vessel astern. Its shields absorbed the first few hits, but crumpled near-instantly under the rippling explosions and the following projectiles punched into the ship's flank, tearing into its armour before exploding. The rapid sequence of bone-shattering explosions threw the ship aside and slammed its bridge crew over their consoles.

******

The impact shook the whole transport stem to stern. In the cargo bay, Raljar and Karena were hurled against the walls of their makeshift cells with tremendous force. The sound of tearing metal and exploding power conduits was loud enough to deafen a rancor, and the ship shuddered around them like a wounded beast.

******

"<Direct hit!>" Tranis grinned as the sky lit up from the impact of the concussion missiles, but the transport kept going. He cursed in Mandalorian. The ship had to be modified. there was only the slimmest chance a stock freighter would have survived that kind of damage, though he could clearly see the column of smoke and debris pouring from its port side.

His thoughts were focused as the freighter's escort raced to engage them, three TIE interceptors closing at attack speed. The Mandalorian grinned behind his faceplate; nothing else in the galaxy made his blood surge quite like a fight against the odds.

"<We've got company. Rancor, let's go say goodbye.>"

******

"Damage report!" shouted the captain over the howling alarm klaxons. The bridge was bathed in red light as criticals flooded the computer displays.

"We're venting fuel from the port flight pod! Korven!" The pilot shouted at his co-pilot as he fought with the controls. The ship was starting to list heavily, spewing crackling energy, debris and smoke from its smashed port side. The co-pilot was slumped unmoving across his controls.

"Can we make orbit?" The captain's voice was harsh. If Malastare's gravity caught them, the freighter would crash-land with enough force to crush it like an empty fuel can in a reclamation facility.

"It'll be close." The pilot's voice was grim.

"<Malicious Intent, this is gamma flight. Engaging hostiles. We'll keep them off you until you reach the jump point.>"

The captain pulled the unconcious co-pilot out of his seat and took up the position. The possible reprecussions he stood to face were stark in his mind, and for a moment, he wondered whether a crash landing and the fate it promised might be preferable to facing the wrath of the Inquisition and its servants if he failed to return his passengers alive.

******

Fighting the gravity and lingering concussion that fogged his brain, Trask crawled across to the trooper's corpse and fumbled his binders over the mag-key. His prayers were answered with a sharp *click!* from the cuffs, and they dropped loose. Though he heard the dull impacts far above as the concussion missiles struck the fleeing freighter, that engagement was out of his hands entirely for the moment.

Grabbing the key and the trooper's E-11, Trask ducked low and managed to make it across the duracrete without anyone shooting at him. Fumbling over Benny's prone form was Yanni Wesk, who looked up in terror, but exhaled sharply as she realized it was Trask.

"What kept you?" She managed, as he undid her binders. A blaster bolt winked over their heads, and Yanni yelped as Trask shoved her to the deck.

"Old friends.Take this, free the others before we get massacred-" Gravel rained on them as blaster fire exploded the duracrete nearby, and he pressed the mag-key into her hands. "- and contact Rancor, get 'em to stop firing on that freighter before they kill our own. Go!" He rose enough to return fire as the stormtroopers, having remembered their rebel captives, began to regroup across the landing pad. Yanni scuttled off into the rubble as Trask laid down a barrage of blaster fire.

Benny Zeko was unconcious, oblivious to the fight unfolding around him. As Trask ducked the trooper's return fire, he cast a sour glance at the insensate Nikto. "I hope we live long enough for you to thank me for this." He ducked again as blaster bolts flashed around him.

* * * * *

Karena wasn't ready for her sudden introduction to the cells' bars, or how badly they would ring her bell when she struck them. She found herself on the floor with her ears ringing from the explosions. She looked over at Raljar as she started to sit up.. " I hope you have an idea how to get us out of here, [partner]. Wait, maybe..." She concentrated, staring at her cell lock mechanism.

* * * * *

Headhunters were older model craft, and shunned by most, but they had two advantages over TIEs, torpedoes and shields. The latter were proving their worth as green blasts of energy splatters acrossed Tranis' viewscreen. " Boss, we're getting slammed." One of his flight said, but he was to busy to think which one.

" hold course and get that missile lock. Snit wil handle the eyeballs." Tranis ordered, then under his breath, " Where are you.."

He never got to finish as the lead TIE exploded and three Headhunters pushed through their formation from below. " Doorssss open, Bosss. Sssay helllo for me." The Barabel said

** * * *

Cammie cried out as Yanni was trying to free Deke. " I'm hit!"

He was flopping on the ground like a dead fish when she got to him. Hold still, moron. Where are you hit?"

Cammie rolled over, and Yanni could see a blackened crease acrossed Cammie's butt. "Oh Sith it hurts."

" Cammie, are you ever serious?" She slapped the blaster burn, which made him howl again, and she made her way to Benny to check on him.

* * * * *

" I copy Rancor 9. Krayt Lead out." Treego said as he watched the Cloakshape ahead of him veer off towards the rendezvous point with the Past. " All Krayts, we have a situation. Time to go."

" Oh man," Daryn Kwana whined," I was just sleeping good too."

Treego ignored his wingman and the rest of the crate began to accelerate towards the Rancor's co-ordinates.

* * * * *

Raljar was pushing himself upright, and Karena could see blood staining his face as the Cathar wiped his nose on his forearm. He regarded the stain sourly, and spat blood onto the floor of his cell. He didn't appear to be badly hurt, though his eyes were a little unfocused.

"Give me a sec here." His voice was slurred, and Kar could feel her own nose numb slightly, mirroring her mate's injury.

******

Across the landing pad, a gunfight was raging as Deke and Daryn, now free, joined Trask in holding off the approaching stormtroopers. The imperial troopers were using the rubble torn up by the strafing run as cover.

Yanni fumbled with her comlink, cycling the channels and muttering anxiously to herself as blaster bolts flashed overhead with their distinctive report. "C'mon, c'mon..."

Nearby, Cammie was propped up, E-11 at the ready. Even the slightest movement sent burning pain lancing through his buttocks. "How am I supposed to run like this?"

"Carefully." Yanni's commlink signalled it had found the channel she was looking for, and the medic nearly cried out with relief. Overhead, the battle had turned in favour of Rancor.

******

"<Keep it together, Rancor.>" Explosions dotted Tranis' vision as his Headhunter cleared the dogfight, his wingmates in formation. In the distance, the freighter was breaking for orbit.

His commlink crackled. "Rancor, this is Krayt. Rancor, come in!"

Yanni Wesk's voice. Krayt weren't dead yet. Tranis allowed himself a moment of relief. "<This is Rancor lead. Good to hear you Krayt.>"

"Colonel, you have to break off your attack. The freighter-" The signal broke up for a moment, and Tranis frowned. "<Say again Krayt.>"

The channel cleared as his targeting computer began to re-establish its lock on the wounded freighter. "-board. Repeat, captain Therez and lieutenant Raljar are on board!"

"<What?>" Tranis tapped his helmet, not sure he had heard right.

"They took the captain and the lieutenant captive. They're onboard the freighter!"

It was a brief moment before Yanni's words registered. His targeting computer's tone signalled a firing solution. For a long moment, his thumb hovered over the firing stud; his warriors instincts loathe to let his prey escape. But if Wesk was right...

Tranis swore in Mandalorian before signaling his wingmates. "<Rancor 2 through 4, disengage. I say again, disengage.>"

"What?!" Jaxol's voice was incredulous. "We've got that tub dead to rights!"

"<Negative, four.>" Tranis' tone of voice left no room for doubt. "<Friendlies on board. Abort the attack.>"

******

"They're breaking off." The freighter pilot's voice betrayed his utter relief as the Headhunter's disengaged.

"Get us out of here before anything else arrives." The captain's voice was harsh, and the pilot nodded sharply as he pushed the wounded ship's engines to escape velocity.

******

In orbit, Rancor's two newly-liberated cloakshape fighters picked up the fleeing freighter on their sensors.

"There she goes. Should we follow?" Bal Firaga watched the damaged ship clear the planet's atmosphere.

"Negative." Lanie Nicks frowned at the sensor readings scrolling up her readouts. An idea suddenly occured to her. "Wait, scrap that. She's venting a drive coil.

"And?" Firaga sounded skeptical.

"Didn't you learn anything in basic? She's leaving a trail a week-old nugget could follow. Track that signature; we might just be able to find out where she's going."

* * * * *

Distracted by the sharing of Raljar's pain, Karena had to give up her feeble attempts to pop the cage lock as her lightheadedness increased to the point of double vision. " I must have a concussion by the way I feel. Is the nose broken or just battered?" she asked as she plopped to sit on the cell floor. As she closed her eyes, the spinning sensation began to subside, but she yawned," Tired all of a sudden. Could go to sleep so easy, but I can't." She oriented herself so she was facing Raljar," If there's a bright side, Hoskels isn't with them"

* * * * *

<Rancor Lead, copy Krayt One. Coming in at bearing 31point4. Status?> Treego's voice came over Tranis' comm.

<Copy Krayt One. Your people on the ground need some cover fire but the city's TIE are airbourne and we're low on missiles> Tranis replied, watching the freighter getting smaller.

< You give us some cover against ground turrets, I'll see to the TIEs> Treego replied as the ships of Krayt Squadron turned towards the planet surface, the two A-wings leading the way for the pair of B-wings, a Y-wing and two X-wings spreading out in a V formation. Then the Y-Wing broke away towards the starport. <What about that freighter?>

Tranis ground his teeth. "<We're tracking the trail it's leaving behind. Rancors, form up and take out those turrets so the Krayts can dance>" The remaining thirteen Z-95s accelerated back into Malastare's atmosphere after the rebels. Steraku decided now wasn't the best time to tell Lum he had pilots captured.

* * * *

Things seemed to be turning in the Krayts favor as the last of them were freed, until blasterfire from another direction joined in the fray, with Shelby being the first to cry out as she went down from the new fire. Yanni was on her quickly," Lie still Shelby. You'll be okay." She looked up at Deke s she shook her head slightly. " LT, we need bacta, pronto. Where did these feirfekkers come from?"

Deke was taken aback," Such language. They have to be the local garrison. Timing couldn't be worse. Cammie, quit whining and cover Yanni. You can do that, right?"

" I can shoot," Cammie sputtered," It's breaking wind that I'm afraid of."

" Good, we don't need chemical warfare anyways." Yanni sputtered under her breath, causing both Arlon and Deke to laugh. their laughs stopped as the whine of repulsors became apparant over the firefight. Deke looked up. " That's a Y-wing."

From above came a steady audible *pop* sound. Cammie knew the sound faster than anyone. " Everyone, down! Incoming!" The first of the concussion bombs ripped into one of the Imp emplacements as the Krayts duck and covered.