If the year of Cataclysm dislodged firmly set pieces and shook the foundations of everything that defined the galaxy at that time, it was the Cree’Ar War that followed Cataclysm that knocked those pieces off the board and would go to establish the rules by which the galaxy would operate for years to come.




Bandomeer


“Republic Shuttle Bail Organa requesting permission to dock.”

“Bail Organa, this is Bandomeer Port Control, outer pickets have confirmed your approach. You are welcome to dock at the coordinates we are sending. Welcome to Bandomeer.”

“Acknowedged, Port Control…and appreciated. We have Jedi anxious to investigate your mysterious object and we would love to have him depart.”

*laughter* “I thought the Republic was a staunch supporter of the Jedi?”

"*alien expletive*"

Tyscio frowned at the garbled transmission response that probably masked the entire Port Control’s falling out of their chairs in laughter. “Thanks, Gerty. Thanks! How am I supposed to inspire awe with these blokes of you take away my aura?”

The alien pilot pivoted in his chair and stared blankly at the Caprician.

“Your what?” he asked without much emotion.

“My aura,” answered Tyscio, his narrowed eyes demanding and answer from the pilot.

The pilot glanced back at his console to ensure the proper coordinates had been entered into the system before responding.

“Perhaps you should come bearing Reaver corpses to get that kind of respect from these people,” he started when Tyscio huffed out with dissatisfaction at the alien’s response.

He went to the back of the shuttle and sat down next to Natalya Vinda.

“He’s got no sense of diplomacy,” Tyscio grumbled.

Natalya raised an amused eyebrow, “It sounds like he has a firm grasp of it to me.”

“He obviously does not realize...”

“The pilot seems to have made quite a bit of friends with Bandomeer's Port Control at your expense.”

“First of all,” Tyscio held up a finger as they felt the shuttle’s inertia dampeners compensate for the planet’s gravity as they crossed the atmospheric threshold.

“Ahh...crap!” he forgot his train of thought as the shuttle screamed at gravity's pull.

“You wanted to come,” The padawan retorted.

“You’re no help.” Grumbled the Caprician.

“You know, I just realized something,” the Vinda heir snapped her fingers.

“What?” responded Tyscio, taken aback by the sudden change in subject.

“You like to gripe about stuff even if you have nothing to really gripe about. You're probably nervous as hell!”

Tyscio narrowed his eyes.

"Can't you tell through the Force?" he demanded.

Natalya suddenly looked uncertain. "Uh... I can't cause I am nervous as hell too."

“Ha!,” Tyscio remarked as if achieving victory.


**

"Order Colonel Vinda and the Providence 1st into the shuttles. Tell him to prepare for an extended stay against Reavers," he voiced his decision.

Cataclysm

Elom


"Colonel Vinda?" Major Mathias shouted as his armoured boot stepped on another dead body, his heavy blaster incinerating yet another head. The body was that of an Elomin.

One out of too many!

"Here, Major.." the Commander of the 1st Providence called out. Mathias turned to see Vinda moving his direction. "That last charge got the blood up didn't it?"

Mathias had long stopped wondering how the Colonel could seem so cheerful in and around battle constantly. Actually, in light of the horrors they had been fighting for the past few weeks, the Major began to become damned greatful for that cheery nature. It seemed to keep them human in the face of the monstrosities they battled day after day.

"Bloody walking dead!" Mathias grumbled.

"Actually," Lt. Veers interrupted, "these dead sprint. So, you should have said 'Bloody Sprinting Dead'!"

The Caprician Major was, like all the 1st Providence soldiers, armoured from head to toe and so Lt. Veers could escape his famed glower.

"I should shoot you right now and save the bloody Deadies the time," Mathias warned.

"Ahh, Major. Then you would have say, "Ahh, there goes that Bloody Sprinting Dashing Dead!""

It was a sort of gallows humor as Lt. Veer's prediction could very easily come true. The 1st Providence had only been saved by one fact. The walking dead of the Reavers did not transmit their 'disease' by any means other than their blood or bite. If these Reavers had any of the purple bloches on them as their vessels did, then their armour would have been attacked by the voracious assemblers multiplying in those biomass sacs.

Whether this was true of all mad, living dead Reavers Mathias did not know. He certainly hoped it was, though. They were just not set up to scan for things you couldn't see and the thought of tiny, microscopic bugs eating away at his armour ready to infect him at the first opportunity was the thing of nightmares.

They had set up defenses outside the cities hoping to draw the living dead Reavers to them instead of the cities but there was no way they had the manpower to completely surround each city, much less maintain guard parimeters.

They all knew they were losing the fight as communications from nearby cities were breaking down. Many were fleeing to the last vestiges of protection the 1st Providence could provide.

In the last attack by a Reaver group that had come upon their position had resulted in a break in the line. They ran straight for the Elom or Elomin reservists who were not well armoured and succeeded in infecting some. Several Republic soldiers lost their lives being attacked from the rear by infected natives.

"Well, it could be worse..." Lt. Veers said as the Colonel walked up to them surveying the damage.

"Colonel!" a shout burst through their comm system.

"Vinda here, go ahead."

"Sir, we are getting local reports of provision trucks coming in from fallen cities."

"What about them?" Vinda asked curiously, tuning Veers and Mathias into the conversation.

"Sir, the food... The food is infected! A dead body was found inside one truck, their blood spattered everywhere!!"

"Burn the food," Vinda immediately ordered.

"We did, Sir. But three trucks had already entered the city-zone before we caught it. There may be contamination already in the capital."

"Damn." Lt. Veers whispered.

"Very well, I will be sending some soldiers there to assess and act. You will follow their directions to the letter." Colonel Vinda replied looking at Veers and Mathias as he spoke.

"You just want us away and safe when they attack again.." Mathias murmured but Vinda waved the comment away.

"I want our efforts to count for something, Major. I'll be damned if we fought these weeks only to have the civies at our backs become infected anyway. We've already lost most of the planet, I'll be damned if I will lose this part of it!"

As Mathias and Veers moved off, the Major grumbled, "It's worse.."

"The operation on the infidel world of Kashan was terminated," the Priest's voice interrupted.

"The task was completed," Judicator Kai remarked unnecessarily.

"This 'Force'," the Priest Lohr found the basic word distasteful, "is affected by living cells in almost the same manner as our Nexus. They utilize the same basic raw materials..."

"The Nexus controls the Teka'tara whereas the force users control the force," the Judicator responded. "That is what makes the peole of Kashan so important. It will answer a great many questions..."

Cataclysm

Varro Kai moved his hand over the control as the Nexus altered the battle-map before him.

Lord Artanis's was different that the one outlined by Kal Shora and called for a boldness of action that constantly revised the numbers the Nexus was compiling regarding their success.

The numbers were increasingly encouraging for they put the Cree'Ar victory within the high percentage of the equation even before the conflagration began in earnest.

The action of the "Declaration", the Corellian Treaty and other maneuvers only changed the formula by how efficiently the Cree'Ar war machine would win.

The unknown factor of the equation and thus a very important variable that the Nexus could not yet quantify were these Force-Users that had so arrested their attention.

The report of these Jedi abilities sometimes strained credulity but if the High Judicator believed them to be true then so would he.

The seizing of birthworld of the Jedi was anticlimactic as there were no defenders and the world seemed to have fallen out of the current Jedi consciousness and Kai was eager to move on.

This new report from the Nexus was just the ammunition that would prompt an order from Artanis or any of those of higher rank than he. And prompt them it did.

It was looked upon as a flanking move but, if left unattended, could be used as a rallying point for those Force Users the Cree'Ar planned on destroying. The thinning of their ranks was key to the success of the entire Cree'Ar advance and the Judicator knew he would have his work cut out for him.


Just like the Steps.


"Prepare the Armada to leave," he ordered. "This world is secure."


"At your command, Judicator!"




It was time for the Cree'Ar to strike

Bandomeer



"Uh... I can't cause I am nervous as hell too."

“Ha!,” Tyscio remarked as if achieving victory...


As the shuttle continued its rapid descent through Bandomeer's atmosphere, the crew and its passengers, including both Tyscio and Natalya began to prepare for their disembarkation.

Gathering up and shouldering her back-pack, Natalya found her mind racing. The young Jedi was indeed nervous, and although she had been in many dangerous situations, she had never been involved in an actual war.

And make no mistake, war was exactly what this was.

There was no debate now, the entire galaxy had become engulfed, and anyone who thought different was either delusional, or just living on borrowed time.

The only real question remaining was, did they, she , have the will to fight back, to protect their homes, their loved ones, their way of life , themselves.

Privately the young woman had been reflecting upon this.

Fighting was something Nat had done her whole life, and as such Natalya had never really questioned her ability in this regard,


Until now.


It wasn't for the lack of skill , or technical ability , (although Natalya openly acknowledged she had much more to learn as far her Jedi and Force skills were concerned ) no, it was something more, something deeper.

Doubt.

A seed that had been planted, a couple of days ago.

It had burrowed its way into her brain, underneath her skin, and had become harder to ignore.

Initially her training with Leia seemed like it was going well, and Natalya did not find any cause for complaint.

However something had begun to bother her and when she found herself examining events more closely, the more it bothered her.

While Natalya was very much still learning, her natural intuitiveness began to pick-up on something under the surface. Instinctively on a subconscious level perhaps, further enhanced by her own natural empathic abilities.

It had been elusive for her to pin down at first, but if the young Jedi had to put it into words, it would be best described as a feeling that Leia was keeping her at arms length.

A feeling of wariness at best, and distrust at its worst.

Natalya had tried to shrug this feeling off, either attributing it to Leia's training 'style' (after all Jedi Masters were renown for their rather eccentric and at times mysterious training methods) or that she was simply being too sensitive; imagining things that weren't really there.

Nat had in turn not questioned anything her Master had asked her to do, and her response to all of this had been to quietly put her head down, and simply get on with it, putting her trust in Leia's tutelage.

But, Nat knew her instincts better than that, and was starting to sense her Master did not trust her.

This was not a particularly nice conclusion to realise, and when it hit home, it had left her feeling somewhat deflated, puzzled and even perhaps a little...hurt.

The young Jedi apprentice had then chided herself for being so naive.

The Vinda heir had then started to suspect her surname was perhaps hindering, instead of helping her.

Would Leia Organa Solo , Jedi Master, former New Republican leader , ever fully trust the daughter of Seth Vinda?
or was her own name far too political for that to ever be the case?

Perhaps, her Jedi Master was merely hedging her bets in an attempt to wait and see?

Or was it indicative of something deeper?...

Was there a conflict of interest between the Jedi and the newly formed Republic?

Did they trust her father? and this new fledgling Republic he had helped to create?

With this in mind, where did it leave Natalya?

As if to further underline this fact, Karah, a new apprentice Leia had also chosen to train, one who had not been quite so far along in her training as Natalya, had been taken along, instead of her to Ossus. To meet other Jedi, to be taught, and be introduced.

Natalya had not even been invited to attend, in fact there had not even been a discussion on the matter.

They had simply left, leaving Nat to train with Amalia.

This decision, was hard to be taken as anything else, but a slight.

A sign, Natalya had begun to realise, that she had a huge mountain to climb, for if her own Master did not have faith in her , how could the other Jedi?

The more Nat thought of this, the more it began to frustrate her.

Was not the sister of Luke Skywalker, political?

Was she not the daughter of Darth Vader? A man who had single-handedly done far more to ruin this galaxy, than anyone else, short of the Emperor himself...

Had she not fought for her own recognition?

If anything, (Natalya had told herself with increasing frustration) more than anyone, the daughter of Vader should understand exactly how the young Jedi would feel, and yet...

Here she was, on Bandomeer, while Karah met the other Jedi, on Ossus.


"You okay?" Tyscio's voice pierced her thoughts...

Natalya glanced up towards the Caprician and nodded back in reply, as the ship lurched forward slightly. Before turning to look out the hull window, and letting her eyes settle on the landscape below. Itself growing ever larger every passing second.

A knot had begun to twist within her gut as she began to be able to pick out little details in the patchwork of land rising rapidly from beneath them, a home here, a road there, she really had no idea what to expect.

Perhaps, this was all a test, and the very fact Nat had been sent here , instead of Karah showed that Leia, did indeed trust her?

Perhaps Natalya had gotten it all wrong?

Then it hit her.

What if Leia knew something she did not?

Sensed something Natalya was not yet able?

Being a Master and more attuned to the Force, it was entirely, if not more than, feasible.

Had the Jedi Master foreseen or seen something in Natalya that gave her cause for concern?

Natalya exhaled deeply, attempting to clear her mind of these thoughts, and reached out to the Force, letting it calm her, and focus her mind.

What mattered now, was the task at hand.

Like it or not, she was here now, and Natalya knew she had to trust in her Master, trust in the Force, and trust, herself.

With a dull thunk, the shuttle touched down.
Conscious of the Lightsaber that hung from her belt, the young apprentice inwardly composed herself for whatever lay ahead, all the while feeling the cold metal of the hilt against her hip harden her resolve.


She would earn their trust, or die trying.

Bandomeer



"Well, the Jedi are here. Huzzah. We're saved.." came a monotone voice that nearly caused Tyscio to bark out a laugh.


Before those exiting the shuttle was the most ragtag, greaseballs of varying species Tyscio had seen in quite a while. The one that had spoken was a slender Kaminoan which, in itself, was a rare sight because they preferred a much more wet environment.

He could see the Kaminoan's skin was dry and flakey... which probably did wonders for his personality! Tyscio thought.


"Forgive Ranu Ru, He's just being his cheerful self," a human voice interrupted Tyscio's thoughts. The man held out his hand, "Prentiss Blood of RBN."


"Captain Blood?" Natalya inquired, introducing herself.


"I see my fame has spread to the even the mighty Republic," the rogue grinned.


"I believe the Confederation has a warrant issued for your arrest during your..privateering years." the Vinda woman replied wryly.


"A misunderstanding to be sure," Prentiss waved the claim away. "Those with more were burdened by their...well...burden and so we aided in lightening their load."


"Yes, we are quite helpful chaps," Ranu Ru added.


"Don't mind him. He's just mad because it hasn't rained here in a while. Nothing like a good soak to take your mind off such mundane worries as disease-ridden vessels trying to devour your ships and zombies trying to eat you."


The wrinkles around the man's eyes and the exhaustion evident in his companions told Tyscio and Natalya that the defenders of Bandomeer were at the end of their rope. They had fought the fine fight for Bandomeer valiantly during the year of Cataclysm but Bandomeer was out of resources and their enemy was still more a mystery than ever.


"Well, you still managed to take a chunk out of them. It may have helped the Coalition retake Maridum," Tyscio offered but the weary Captain merely shrugged.


"I don't know if anything we did dented those Reaver-devils enough to help the Coalition. We barely managed to keep Bandomeer Reaver-free and even then, they still were able to land dirtside on a few occassions. If anything, Prime Minister Regrad's fleet that engaged the Reavers and helped map Reaver Space probably helped us more than anything we could do."


Natalya nodded at that. If not for the Coalition's efforts to circumnavigate the Reaver border, the creatures might have spilled over into the Republic and the Confederation alot more than they had. The Confederation seemed to have suffered from both the Reavers and these mysterious Cree'Ar but not as devestatingly as the Empire.


"Well, the Coalition is the most organized when it comes to fighting the Reavers. Compared to them, we are...well...padawans," Tyscio remarked.


Prentiss nodded. "The Bandomeerian Government mentioned that the Coalition world that is a part of the League of Nations petitioned to aid our world utilizing the same support program that was enacted for Glee Anselm. Our financial districts are moving Bandomeer's monetary infrastructure to the Republic to so that our world can remain solvent and the Confederation has sent us some military trainers to help those that are staying here to better combat the Reavers, or anything else for that matter, than wants to make a meal of us."


Tyscio nodded. "Well, sounds like you guys have things well in hand. So, here we are. How can we help?"


Prentiss looked at the two Jedi and turned to his Kamino partner. "What do you think, Ranu?"


The Kaminoan picked off a flaking piece of drying skin. "We have the exit trajectory that massive Reaver craft that attacked us during the last battle and we have the mysterious object it dropped into our ocean."


He rubbed his hand over his arm and a cloud of skin flakes took flight. "I would prefer to investigate the mysterious ocean object."


Prentiss grinned, "So there we have it. The mysterious object at the bottom of the ocean or the exit vector of the Reaver mothership (as some are calling it). The trail will need to be followed utilizing stealth, however. I would not recommend following it with a fleet. We would need to track it. Trail it and then call in the cavalry, preferrably in the form of overwhelming firepower."


Natalya frowned, "If we do not move quickly against this mothership, our governments may not have the required amount of firepower to bring to bear once the Cree'Ar situation escalates as most think it might."


Captain Blood looked at the Jedi with new respect. "Maybe that is the point."


Tyscio's eyes narrowed, "You believe there is a connection between the Reavers and the Cree'Ar? I know what they are saying in the media but how much is true and how much is propaganda?"


The RBN Captain shrugged again, "I just don't believe in coincidences."


The Kaminoan interrupted as more skin flakes floated about in his monotone voice, "So, tell me where we go while I am still here."

Natalya looked up at the Kaminoan as he spoke, and couldn't help but notice the flakes of dry skin drifting away from him..

"I say we deal with the most immediate problem" She replied, turning to face the others, while discreetly brushing off a flake of rogue skin that had settled upon her arm. It was the first time Natalya had ever seen or met a Kaminoan, and her natural curiousity was starting to get the better of her...

"I think we should find out just what this mysterious object is, we don't want any more nasty surprises…" The young woman added, a little self-conscious.

As the others murmured in agreement, and a general consensus was reached the others moved off to begin their preparations. Nat turned her attention back to the tall Kaminoan.

"Looks like you'll be going for that swim after all" She said upbeat, looking up at the tall alien with a half smile…

"On any other day, I'd be thrilled" Ranu answered flatly, clearly unimpressed, before moving off to follow Captain Blood…

Nat threw a somewhat sheepish glance over to Tyscio … "I think I just made a new friend" She said dryly, causing Tyscio to grin.

"Come on lets get moving" He replied, patting her sympathetically on her shoulder, "Perhaps his mood will improve after a dive" And with that began to follow the others…

Natalya, stopped as an idea manifested itself… "Wait! what were those co-ordinates for that Reaver ship again?"

Tyscio stopped and turned to face her " Why?" he asked warily…

But Natalya had already activated her Syn-band, and as a familiar voice came through it, Natalya spoke quickly "Zara, get me my father" before looking up to meet Tysico's steady gaze…

"We might just be able to do both"

Bonadan.

Private Hanger - Bonadan Southeast II




The pilots looked at each other in a mixture of excitement and puzzlement, they all knew some kind of operation was going on, hence the reason they had all been ordered to gather here but, what exactly , they were clueless about.

"I bet its the Cree'Ar" Jena Karis, ventured "We're going after them" She threw out, turning to face her compadres..

"Finally! " Came the reply from a fellow pilot, Taro Das, "Anything to get out of damned escort duty" He added, causing a ripple of agreement to ring out across the large echoing hanger. "We'll kick them right back to whatever galaxy they crawled out from!" He shouted lifting his fist as he spoke, eliciting a chorus of cheers from the group.

Jena looked at the pilot, unimpressed "I don't think its going to be that easy, Taro" but the young pilot shook his head "I'm tired of all this waiting, I just want some action!" He replied brazenly, causing another chorus of agreement to echo around the large hanger…

A voice interrupted them all.

"Don't be in such a rush, son"

The group turned to see a man, leaning against the support struts of what seemed to be the only craft in the hanger, a large, chrome and very expensive looking vessel.

Taro frowned as he looked at the stranger, wearing nothing but a simple civilian flight suit, and after failing to see any rank or insignia took him to be one of the general flight technicians who work in the down-port. The stranger met the young pilot's gaze and then turned back to tinker with something on a control panel next to him.

"Why's that?" Taro asked in spite of himself… The man turned back to face the pilot as he spoke "Because there'll be plenty of time for that, thats why, and because the tragedy of war is seeing young people like yourselves rush off to die in it" His voice was blunt and to the point, and stunned the group into silence.

Taro let slip a kind of incredulous laugh, annoyed at being effectively chided by a complete stranger, and what was worse, a damned flight technician "Yeah? and what the hell would you know about it?" He threw back defensively...

Another voice filled the hanger, but this time it was one they were all familiar with, and the effect it had on them was nothing short of miraculous. "Secure that shit, Das!" The command was sharp and instant.

The entire group stiffened in response, standing to order. It was the stern voice of their Wing commander, Vinda-Corp Fighter pilot veteran and flight academy trainer, Sahrah Grummet.

With her eyes still fixed on Taro, she addressed the man to whom Taro had just been speaking to.

"Good morning Jaxx, how's she handling?"

The man broke into a grin and slid a palm down the side of the chrome vessel he had been working on, "Like a dream, Sahrah, like a dream"

Hearing their Commanding officer being referred to by her first name, was an uncomfortable revelation to the group standing before her now, and none more so than Taro, who had begun to realise he was missing something pretty important.

The man joined Sahrah at her side and she smiled at him, they both shook hands in greeting. "Its good to see you Jaxx, he onboard?" She asked, indicating the vessel with a brief efficient nod of her head...

Jaxx nodded as he replied "Yeah, he's just making a few calls, he'll be out in a moment, and its good to see you too Sahrah, been too long"

She smiled and then turned to face her young pilots, her gaze stopping only when it met Taro, who seemed to shift uncomfortably from her glare…

"Let me introduce you all to a good friend of mine, Jaxx Vanna, personal pilot for Senator Vinda, and veteran of the Caprician war"

The silence spoke volumes, and a few of the group glanced over in surprise at Jaxx, but as usual it was Taro who broke the silence...

"Y..you were on Capricia?" He stammered, suddenly feeling sick to his stomach….

Jaxx nodded, but it was Sahrah who spoke "Thats right. Among many other notable actions, he bested three 'Vong Skippers with the ship you see docked before you"

Taro's eyes widened as he looked at Jaxx, and then back at the Narcissus, Jena, who up until now had remained just as quiet as everyone else nudged Taro discreetly with her elbow as she whispered "Way to go, idiot" next to his ear…

Just then another voice echoed around the hanger, and the group stiffened again as they too recognised its source.

"Yes, and he damn near killed me in the process" Vinda said disapprovingly, but with genuine affection, causing both Jaxx and Sahrah to turn around and laugh..

"I take it you all know who Senator Vinda is?" Sahrah said wryly, and the group saluted in unison...

"Senator, I give you Bonadan Squadron, you asked for the best, I give you the best" Sahrah said proudly, while still eyeing Taro sternly…

Vinda took a moment to take look at the fighter pilots standing to attention before him.

Bonadan squadron was the culmination of many years worth of training and investment in fighter pilot programs and academies, and this particular squadron before him were the best of the new recruits, there were other wings of course, many with more veteran pilots in their ranks, but Bonadan squadron took the best and brightest from across the Corporate Sector, and now with the advent of the Republic, even further.

"I'll get right to it, because time is of the essence" Vinda began, with all joviality immediately suspended "You are here because we have received intelligence that may help us against this Reaver infestation.
Sources on Bandomeer have given us the last known trajectory of what is believed to be the Reaver mothership"

A murmur began to ripple across the gathered pilots as he spoke…

"We do not know if this is the original source of the infestation or indeed if there may be others, but we have to make an effort to find out, which is why you are here today"

He stopped to let his words sink in, looking across the pilots standing before him.

"This is strictly a reconnaissance mission only, we need to know more about these…creatures, and so we will be sending only two of you out to track this ship down, the rest of you are needed elsewhere"

The murmur got louder, and once more it was Taro who spoke up, causing Vinda to stop and cast his scrutiny upon the pilot…

"Permission to speak sir!"

"Granted"

"Sending only two pilots, against a…mothership seems... like…" Taro trailed off as he struggled to find the appropriate words in the presence of the Senator…

"Yes" Vinda replied flatly, narrowing his eyes at the pilot "Very"

Taro fell silent, and Vinda continued…

"Which is why you will be flying something different" He added ominously...

A few of the pilots couldn't help but glance over towards the Narcissus as the Senator spoke, being the only visible ship inside the huge hanger…

Following their gaze Vinda frowned and shook his head in response, but then turned away as if to give them all a clearer view of an empty docking bay next to the Narcissus..and then nodded over to Sahrah, who stepped forward as she addressed them all…

"Meet V-Tech's newest creation, the V-1- Stealth Ship" And with that pressed a button on a small remote she had retrieved from her pocket.

Slowly, before their very eyes, two craft began to take shape, from what originally appeared to be nothing but empty space, like a translucent mirage in a desert slowly becoming real, until they became as solid as the floor they were standing on.

The two ships were sleek, jet black and seemed to have a glassy finish to their outer hull.
In short it looked like nothing any of them had ever seen before.

The hanger erupted, to a chorus of shouts and whistles.

Sahrah calmed them down with a simple gesture of her hand, and when she spoke, her voice was business-like and abrupt…

"Taro Das, you have been selected for this mission, Jena Karis, you'll be keeping him company..."

Vinda leaned closer to Sahrah, his voice lowered so the others couldn't hear "Are you sure thats wise?" he asked warily, unconvinced at her selection.

Sahrah turned to him and smiled wryly as she replied "Taro's mouthy and impulsive, but he's the best pilot out of all of them"

Vinda murmured as he nodded "And Jena?"

Sahrah flashed the Senator a grin "To make sure he doesn't frell it up"

"Right" Vinda grunted, not sure whether to feel better or not.

Sahrah turned her attention back to the squadron and issued her orders…

"Das, Karis, front and center, the rest of you I want to see in ops in one hour for further briefing, you'll be providing support, fall out!"

As the group gradually made their way out of the hanger leaving only Jena and Taro remaining, Vinda turned to Sahrah again, "Well Wing Commander, its been a pleasure as always, I'll leave things in your capable hands"

But before he could leave, Jena Karis stopped him in his tracks… "Sir, I just wanted to say, well, we all saw the broadcast you made, we just wanted you to know, we're behind you all the way"

Taken aback by this Vinda nodded slowly and smiled faintly… "Er…thank you, Ms Karis" he replied, a little unsure of what to say… "Just make sure you find that thing , and make it back home safely"

The young woman nodded sharply, and saluted "May the Force be with you Senator"

Vinda blinked and replied as he looked at each of them "May it be with all of us"



As Vinda watched the two pilots begin their final briefing with Sahrah, Jaxx approached him by his side…

"You know what they call themselves?" He asked, nodding in their direction "unofficially" he added...

Vinda looked up at his personal pilot of many years, slightly confused at the question…

"Cigarra Squadron" Jaxx answered, and laughed as he caught sight of Vinda's surprised expression…