This day like any other started with the normal Staff meeting then the inspection of the new shield projectors and the massive planetary turbolaser power cores. In the eight months since Monti had been on Hughe he had not once thought about the fact that it was named for him. It all seemed odd to him. He had never really been around military types and this indoctorinization had almost broke him. He was a man used to inorganic companionship. Now with so many people under him he had to deal with people on a day to day basis. It wasn’t all bad though, he and the representative for Stellar enterprises had formed a friendship which he thought may be more. But he wasn’t sure. He was new to this whole friend thing. They spent many evening dinning together and spent some off time together. Maybe that’s what friendship is like. Maybe it is more, he was unsure of himself and knew somehow he wanted more from his relationship with the lovely Rita Neum then he had with the other people on this forsaken military world. As Monti looked out over the landing platform he noticed a sight which he had not seen in some time. From the distance he couldn’t be sure but he was almost certain the figure crossing the pad from the transport was Admiral Reshmar.

Reshmar had been away on Yavin for months. His return to Hughe was as much a shock to him as it was to anyone looking on as he walked to meet Colonel Myyres. Reshmar looked around the landing zone and made a mental note about all which was wrong with the set-up. If an attack was to come the base on Hughe would be highly vulnerable. To the left a large T4 tank which had been modified as a fuel carrier sat in the open. An opportune target it was indeed. Next to it sat four X-wings. Odd indeed, to his left, at the edge of the pad sat the giant form of the Hawkeye itself. More like a building then a starship her Bow section opened to allow speeder lifts and cargo carriers to freely come and go from inside the massive ship. He would make sure a few things were changed before he got to his business on Hughe.

Colonel Myyres stood and watched as Reshmar walked room his shuttle to the lift. He knew the admiral was checking out the area. Many things weren’t right and he was aware of this. He had been strict with the crew on Hughe but after two months he had to take a more lax position. Managing soldiers was one thing. Managing dock hands and engineers and scientists was all together another. As the admiral neared he smiled and saluted.

“At ease Colonel, Things seem a bit relaxed here since my last visit Colonel.” Myyres relaxed then smiled at the admiral.

“Forgive our current situation Admiral. We have had to make certain conveniences to the personnel here.” Myyres waited for the Admiral to reply. Reshmar stood looking around the area then nodded for the Colonel and his party to move inside. Reshmar walked past the colonel and his aids into the door. Colonel Myyres fell in behind him fallowed by his men. As they entered the structure Reshmar turned his head for colonel Myyres to hear.

“Colonel, see to it that the situation here is fixed. We can not have fuel carriers out in the open. Also send word to the Hawkeye to prepare to leave the system.”
Colonel Myyres nodded and turned to see that his aids carried out the orders. He could not help but be surprised. The Hawkeye was supposed to be assigned to the Hughe Training facility for further mapping of the system. Now it seemed Reshmar had other use of her.

Monti sat in the chair along with the other staff and personnel of the Hughe project. Three seats to his left Rita sat looking over a data pad at the latest transmission from her bosses at Stellar Enterprises. As she scrolled over the data Monti watched out of the corner of his eye. He was found of her. His life had been all science now life seemed different. He was surprised when Rita looked up and at him. Her smile seemed to light something inside him. Something he never knew existed. She gave him a slight wink then returned to her reading. He could hardly contain himself. He had never been one for spontaneity and even now he knew this was not the place or time for it, but all he wanted to do was walk over to her and talk. Just to hear her voice seemed to move him to feelings he had before been oblivious too. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the door opened and in walked Admiral Reshmar and Colonel Myyres. Immediately everyone stood to attention. He was not used to the prompt of military life and was the last to stand. Reshmar walked in and took position at the head of the table.

“At easy ladies and gentlemen, I hope everyone is well and rested.” Reshmar sat and waited for everyone else to set down. Once all were seated and settled he opened a sealed folder and took out a set of data disks. Reshmar motioned to Colonel Myyres aids to take them and pass them to the people at the table.

“I will be brief; the situation is dire for the rebellion. We are looking at taking on a foe which rivals if not exceeds the power of the Empire under Palpatine. Only this time they have competent leaders. Also we have factions who aid The New Order and will not think twice about assisting them against us. Our allies are in no better position then us at the moment.” Reshmar paused ands waited for everyone to place the data disks in their data pads. As the mix of people gathered around the table began to read over the data Reshmar watched the expressions of his subordinates.

“What you are reading are our new orders. The time has come for the rebels to fight back. Forces have already begun to scout out and hit key targets and low priority targets. We are to assist the special operations fleet in a mission to hit the first of the major targets of the empire. Do not misunderstand what it is I ask of you. We are undertaking a dangerous mission. I can not order anyone to take part in this mission. It will be strictly voluntary. I want only the men and women who are die hard committed to the rebellion and who are ready to die for the future of the galaxy and their freedom. I have sent word to all section commanders to gather a list of who will take part in this mission. I hold no one here in contempt if they refuse to volunteer. I myself was given the choice to volunteer and I did so without thought or regret. I have been ordered to assemble a fleet and take the fight to the forces of darkness who ever and where ever we find them. All the plans and information you will need are laid out for you in the data before you. I will await any volunteers aboard the Hawkeye. Report to Colonel Myyres when, and if you decide to join me. You my be dismissed.” Reshmar stood and nodded to the crowd assembled around the table then turned and walked out of the room. Most stood and began to shuffle out the door. Some sat in disbelief at the data and the situation they now faced. Others gathered in the corner with Myyres and joined in the conversation between the colonel and his aids. Monti sat and turned to face Rita. She sat and looked over the data then turned to him with a grim look on her face.

“Monti, can you come by my room later tonight. I want to discuss this with you before you or I make a decision.” Monti nodded then answered.

“Sure Rita, Ill be there, What time? Monti could see the troubled look in her eyes. She looked at her chrono then back at him.

“Will sixteen hundred be ok?” Rita smiled and looked at Monti. She too had grown fond of the quirky scientist. She wasn’t in love with him but she knew she enjoyed his company. IN her business love was something you just didn’t fall into. She had not gotten to where she was by falling for men, let alone scientists. She was certain Monti needed to go on this mission. His expertise would prove invaluable in the weeks to come. But as certain of that as she was she was also certain she could not. She was a representative of Stellar Enterprises, not a rebel. She was there to act as liaison between the members of the expedition and her employer not to wage war against a faction which Stellar Enterprises also serviced. She could not take sides in a shooting war.

Reshmar walked to the lift and stood in silence as the lift began to move. He knew most would join. Some would not but that was to be expected. Most of the people in the room were engineers and scientists not warriors. At least not in occupation. He looked at each of them as a warrior in their own right. War is more then weapons and tactics. More then the men on the field fighting the respective opposite of himself. War was something which he knew was more alive then life itself. War knows no borders or race. No creed or occupation. War was something which sought to destroy everything. War was the end of everything. You fight to live and war itself looks to end your enemy and your lives. A true warrior looked at war in hatred. Only madmen waged war for opportunity and expansion. So many times in the past has war haunted even the righteous and force good men to do evil deeds? Thing they would have never done if not at war. Things they themselves would have chastised others for. War will never end as long as intelligent life forms existed. It was inevitable. The most anyone can hope for is in the brief second War sends death for you can look him in the eye with dignity and die like with dignity and a clear conscious knowing you fought for freedom and life not for profit.

Beacon - Two weeks later - Deep Space

<o></o> Monti looked over the data streaming over his consol screen. He had some idea of their location in the galaxy but the exact position was impossible to tell from the limited data each Scientist was receiving. The Commander had told them that they were on a need to know basis and it was best none of them knew until it was absolutely needed. The Beacon had left Hughe ten days ago and made a series of jumps for the next eight days. For two days now they had been drifting closer to a massive primary star and what seemed to be a small system of large planetoids from the data which Hughe had seem thus far. Now they sat in what seemed to be the edge of the system approximately four billion kilometers from the Primary.

The red lights seemed to give Monti a head ache. All he had seen for two days now were the dim red lights and the dimmed consol screens. The Beacon was in stealth mode and only passive systems were active. To aid the scientists and to prevent stress to their vision they had been put on four hour shifts. Monti was nearing the end of his shift now and was wishing he could just take another shift.

It had been two weeks since him and Rita’s dinner. He had not known the extent of the feelings he had felt till that day. He was new to this love thing but he knew how that was what it was. He missed her and when he wasn’t working she was all he thought about. Saying goodbye to her when he left was the hardest thing he had ever done, but it was what both of them wanted. He knew he was needed by the rebellion. He knew he could help the galaxy and maybe save some people. And as she put it if we put the safety of the galaxy aside for our happiness then we were no better then the Imperials.<o></o>


He thought about their last words as he left for the Beacon as he walked to his bunk. One day he would go look her up again. For now he had a mission and a responsibility to the rebellion. He was no solider but what he was no solider ever could be.
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