<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rusty shot off in the direction of the 2400s after the last 1300 exploded. He yelled into the comm radio<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Mayner. Launch the freedom and independence squads. And get on these 2400s. I want all Rebel forces here now. Our first priority is protecting the queen. Get over here. On the double."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rusty watched as the remnants of a Rebel X-Wing floated through space. He upped his shields and lasers to full power and immediately tore into the rear 2400.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"This is Bravo leader...two, three, and four, on my target..."
"Roger, sir, we're on it."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rusty continued<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"...five, six, and seven...the one there to the left...he's your shot, go get him..."
"You're the boss. We're on him."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rusty began firing furiously at the 2400 in his sights.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"...nine, fly back up for Alpha squad, they've lost one. Ten, you're with us."

"Yes sir."
"You got it."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> As two, three and four joined on Rusty, the first 2400 went up in flames, shortly after, two shot the center with a quad blast, sending the ship into different directions as the pieces scattered.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Two 2400s down, two to go, guys. alright flight, lets get the next one..."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Liberator and The Defiant II lumbered into range, firing left and right at the 2400s. Rusty could only imagine that Da Soochan's were in fear. Who were these pirates? Where had they come from? How had they learned of the Rebel presence here? Rusty watched as 20 more X-Wings shot out of The Defiant II's hangar bays and dispersed to their obvious squads.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Alright guys...all Rebel forces, this is Rusty Metropolis. Our priority now is protecting the Dreenan Queen. Independence and Freedom..."

"Yes sir?"
"I'm all ears, sir."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rusty glared out of the viewport as another 2400 took a relentless assault from the two MC90s and was destroyed as X-Wings scattered from the debris.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"You hang back...if anything gets near the queens ship, destroy it."

"Roger sir...Independence, you heard 'im. Anything gets within 2000 knots of the queen's ship, you destroy it. If you don't, you'll regret it later."

"That goes double for us, Freedom."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rusty continued, moving to another 2400 when he took a hard hit to the left side. His X-wing spun to the right hard, but he recovered quickly<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Damn...thank the Force our shields were up...Ade-Ay, get on those last two 2400s...we don't have time for this..."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> His voice was showing his rising level of agitation as he shot up the 2400 in front of him. It was smoking heavily, and near destruction<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

The Massive hull of the I.S.D stood out among the battle, it's turbolasers blazing. The Lancer Frigates flanking the sides of the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Sovereign<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> were equally as involved in the battle.

"Prepare Warheads. I want that YT-2400's destroyed before they can threaten any more lives." the Queen said, squinting her eyes at the ship as it approached her vessel. The Rebel Alliance seemed more involved in protecting her massive warship, rather than engaging the enemy, and she smiled at the thought of Rusty giving the order to protect her.

As she stood, overlooking the battle laying before her, she watched. patiently as a stream of Warheads launched out at one of the YT's. One of them, a previously damaged ship erupted into fmales, and turned onto it's side.

"Dispatch an expeditionary force to that ship. I want those people safely off that ship, and taken into custody. Continue the assault on the other."

"Yes, your Majesty..."

As the Queen continued to watch a barrage of Warheads flying around the space outside of her ship, the also noticed two transports, transporting Divine Military personnel toward the YT - 2400 that had been damaged, and within seconds, they had boarded the vessel.

<!--EZCODE CENTER START--><!--EZCODE CENTER END-->

"Scanners report that the Pirate vessels are retreating. Shall we begin a pursuit, your Majesty?"

She shook her head. "No, let them go. Perhaps they will think twice before attaking friends of the Divine Order, in the future." The Captain smirked as the Queen shifted her gaze at him.

"What of the expeditionary force to the Pirate YT-2400?"

"We've taken a total of 24 Prisoners. The rest were killed, or escaped."

"Thank you Captain. Now, I think I will wait, and see if Mr. Rusty wants to talk to me..." She made a little grin, and stepped back to the viewports.

"Sir, the pirate forces are retreating. The queen is not pursuing."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rusty sighed<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Ok Mayner, and good work. Get me a status report on the Liberator. And inform the queen that I'm coming aboard..."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rusty looked behind him and watched as the Rebel squadrons slowly went into docking procedures, reboarding The Defiant II. "All that, and only 1 X-Wing lost...not bad...not bad at all..." he thought to himself. He looked at his X-Wing's sensors again and smiled as he saw Alpha squadron coming upon The Defiant II quickly. Rusty headed towards the hangar bay of the Queen's ship.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"This is Bravo leader...nice job guys...initiate docking procedures. Get back to The Defiant II. Ade-Ay, I'm going aboard the Queen's ship. Get onboard The Defiant II and tell them you need a report on repairs. Looks like we're gonna need another X-Wing, but more than that, likely. Get on board on the double."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rusty set his X-Wing down in the hangar bay of the Queens' ISD. He pulled his robes tightly around him as he got out. He despised Imperial ships. They reminded him of the old Empire. He stormed down the hallways of the Queens' ship, headed for the command center. As he reached the control station, guards swarmed around him. He reached out his hand, sending the guards sprawling across the deck. He took care to land them in the middle of the floor, as not to harm anyone. He stormed past them and directly in front of the Queen as he began pacing back and forth slowly.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"You've helped us a great deal, and in that respect I am grateful. However, Da Soocha here..."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> He pointed out of the viewport as he spoke, toward the watery world below.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"...is in the middle of a territory controlled by the Hutt's. The Hutt's are gangsters. They would have a field day with a Queen. While I am a Jedi, I did NOT come to Huttese territory to perform a rescue, m'lady."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> His agitation was wrongly directed. He was more worried for the Queens' safety than he was angered. He eyed the guards again as they watched, listening.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"You're move here was very unwise. Following a Jedi is not a good move for Royalty. Jedi live dangerous and hard lives. The decision to follow me was more dangerous and gutsy than I have ever experienced from a Royal. You are reckless and egotistical..."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> He turned, facing the Queen and taking a step forward as he spoke. His face showed no emotion as he extended his hand.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"...I like you."

She stood, silent and shocked at the mans uncontroled outburst, as did the rest of the crew aboard the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Sovereign's<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> command bridge. The silence continued as the Queen raised a hand to her neck, gently caressing it as the man spoke.

"...I like you..." were his last words. The Queen, though worried, was smiling by this point. She had always been a reckless woman, as that was the way of the Malyndar family.

"Mr. Rusty, though your presence on this ship is more than acceptable, I would prefer that you not use such a tone with me. You forget that I am a Queen, I think. Though I admire your words, I ask that you take caution useing them in the future."

She smiled, and gave him a wink before returning to her command chair, and sat.

"The Divine Order has always been there for it's allies. You are no acception."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rusty smiled slightly and stood, still staring out the viewport.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"You, seem to forget that I am a Jedi, and leader of the Rebels. I still do not approve of your following me here. That was not a wise move, and to be honest, it unnerves me a bit."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rusty sighed hard, remembering his imprisonment on Dreena. He had brushed it off as being standard procedure, but the Queens' royal attitude was beginning to not set easy with the Rogue Knight. "She must realize that as a leader, her attitude can be the selling point, or downfall of her rule. SHE should choose her words more carefully." He thought to himself on it a moment longer, still staring out the viewscreen at Da Soocha, as to not make eye contact with the Queen. He felt his disapproval on his face, but he forced the thought from his head, as to not alarm his student who sat on the ship in the Soochan system, or the Queen herself.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Nonetheless, m'lady, as Da Soocha is now in the hands of the Alliance, you will return to Dreena. That's not a request. Hutt territory is no place for royalty. My student and I have some business to attend to on the suface. I'm going to my X-Wing. I expect you to be entering hyperspace by the time I'm aboard <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The Defiant II<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->. May the Force be with you."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> He bowed slightly and walked off down the hallway. He did not approve of the Queens' attitude in the least, nor of her arrival in the system. However, she had assisted the Rebels. In that respect, Metropolis was grateful as he slid his helmet on and fired up his X-Wing. As he zipped out of the hangar, he spoke to himself.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Perhaps I was harsh in my wordings, but Da Soocha is no place for Royalty..."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> It hit him then.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Those pirates...Mayner!"
"Sir?"
"Can you give me a possible origin of those pirate ships?"
"Well, sir...the YT series, as you're well aware, is Correllian in origin...however...I think it has been quite sometime since those ships have seen Corellia..."
"Am I to assume you're implying they belong to the Hutts?"
"Aye, sir. You're insight is amazing. Will you be coming back aboard, sir?"

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rusty was caught up in thought<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->
"Sir?"
"Oh, yes, sorry. I'll be coming back. Open the hangar bays."
"I'm one step ahead of you, sir."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Rusty docked and walked to the command center, in search of his student.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Yes sir. This is Alpha Leader. You heard him, let's all dock back to the Defiant II. I suggest you stay on call just in case they come back for more."

Ade-Ay and his team were busy docking as the transmission of Metropolis came through quite clearly. Ade-Ay and the alpha squadron all dock with only one X-Wing damaged. The man survived with a few scratches and bruises. Ade-Ay shuts everything down. He turns off the sublight drive as well. The cockpit opens and Ade looks out, the ladder and men were heading his way. he jumped out and totally disreguarded the mesn's presence in the hanger. He walks back into the Defiant II with his team following and slowly leaving different way as he walks toward the Bridge. Ade-Ay takes a good look around o his short walk to the Bridge. When he gets there, he asumes control until Metropolis returns.

"Mayner, we're going to wait on metropolis. We are not conducting any measure until he reboards this ship. As you know, Metropolis is talking with the Queen Of Divine. If I know my master as well as I think I do, then he's probably giving attitude, while he's at it. I have been his apprentice not even a year yet, and he's already letting me control an X-Wing and everything. I like the New Rebel Alliance. Don't get me wrong, it's just he gives me so much more freedom than there was in the Massassi Temple."

"Yes, I know. I understand your position. I will wait for metropolis to return from the Queen Of Divine's ship."

Ade-Ay Visic looks at Da Soocha out of the side view. The planet was soon-to be under the control of the New Rebel Alliance. Thinking about what the guards would do to Rusty on the Queen Of Divinbe's ship scared him. He hoped for his return. He closed his eyes and let the force flow through him. His presence was growing stronger onthe ship.

"He's back. Prepare for attitude. I know he's here...I can feel him. , he'll be here in a few seconds..."

"Yes, sir."