Like Old Times

Commander Tokar Daltar Rai was looking over his datapad once more when a knock came at his office door. He inhaled on his clove, causing the cherry to crackle loudly as he turned around. If it was Khy, they had found him a lot quicker then he had planned, at least that meant the pilot was probably sober. Fish had never seen the pilot so drunk he was sloppy, but he had never seen him without alcohol on his breath either. Sometimes he was sure Fleet Command was trying to drive him crazy. Somehow he had found himself in command of a collection of madmen. The second knock on the door dragged him out of his thoughts and he let a lungful of smoke out into the air. “Enter.”

Khy moved cautiously into the office. A black flight jacket was worn over the orange flight suit and white vest made famous by the Rebel pilots. His ever-present spiked collar peeked out from the flight suit’s collar. Talbot looked up, the light reflecting a little off his baldhead. “You wanted to see me Boss?”

“Yeah Wyrmie, sit down.” Khy ran a hand over his goatee, smoothing out the blond-ish red hair and took a seat opposite Rai’s desk. “We’ve got a mission for you.”

“Just me?”

“Just you. I chose you for your skills. I want you to know Fleet Command didn’t want you on this mission. A good number of them still aren’t sure we can trust a pirate. I know we can and hope you prove them all wrong with this mission. There is a lot riding on it.”

Khy shifted in his seat. He had only been in the Rebellion for a few months, but he had thought he had reached the point where they finally trusted him. His blue-green eyes got harder as he thought about. “OK Fish. I’m in. What do I have to do?”

Tokar smiled. “A week ago a pirate group known as the Iron Legion made a raid on a small Imperial outpost. It wasn’t long before the Empire’s reinforcements showed up to the light flight. The Legion pulled out, but got hammered pretty hard. They had to leave behind a number of the supplies they had attacked for. None of this would matter if the installation they had hit wasn’t a holonet relay station. The Iron Legion has files giving the locations, schedules, and transport routes of a numerous Imperial prison ships. That includes the rosters of those on the ships. Needless to say many of these people are important to the Rebellion.” Tokar patted a matte black briefcase. “Important enough that the Rebellion is willing to pay what the Legion asked for the information. They only want to deal with one person. And your background makes you our man. You should be able to avoid the social difficulties some of the others might create. ”

A persistent beeping caused Khy to open his eyes to endless light of hyperspace. His leg had cramped a little and he tried to stretch as best he could in the cramped confines of the X-Wing’s cockpit. A glowing set of numbers still clicked off second by second on his console, showing that there was still two minutes before they dropped out of hyperspace. Readjusting himself once more and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes Khy heard Whyren beeping at him again. The droid’s speech printed out on a screen in front of him and caused Talbot to laugh. “Well I’m sorry you were bored. I’ll stay up to talk with you on the way home.” Another long whistle followed. “Yes, I promise.” Digging into one of his flight suit’s pockets he pulled out a silver flask and took a long drink. Just as he replaced it, the lights outside the cockpit shrank into pinpoints as the snub fighter exited hyperspace. In front of him was a large space station known as the Stellar Oasis. The station was of a common design; the public areas made a large ring around the station’s central stalk. The stalk held the majority of the station’s inner workings, power supplies, and housed the systems that kept the Oasis working.

Khy’s com crackled to life at the station hailed him. “Warhawk, this is Flight Control. What’s your business with the Oasis?”

Talbot grinned, his IFF Transponder had two settings, so he was currently broadcasting a different ship identity then the one he used during Rebel operations. While highly illegal, it was a basic trick that almost all smugglers and pirates used. “This is Warhawk Flight Control. We’re planning on staying a few days for some R and R. Is Scully working?”

Silence drifted over the channel for a few moments before the operator returned. “That’s a negative Warhawk. Scully is taking a short vacation on Elshanruu Pica. Give me a moment and I’ll have your hanger number for you.”

“Finally gave Scully a vacation huh? Bet the old man is living it up at the 27th Hour. * Whyren gave a short whistle in agreement. “Control, any chance I can use your maintenance hanger? Scully’s let me do it before and I don’t think you want my X-Wing sitting around in plain view.”

Silence followed again. Khy drummed his fingers on the X-Wing’s flight stick as he waited. He was beginning to worry; it had been a year or so since he’d last been to the Oasis. Finally the controller returned on the com, “Roger that Warhawk, sounds like you know the way. The magfield is up and the doors will be open for you in a minute. Enjoy your stay.” Gently nudging his thrusters Khy sent his X-Wing towards the station’s central stalk. This mission was going to be a simple one.

Khy walked around the gambling tables in his civilian clothing and sipping a glass of Lum. The tables were pretty busy but he was more interested in keeping an eye out for any potential problems. It had been two days since he landed and his contact was supposed to meet him today. He had spent the first two days casing the station, making sure nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Hearing his name shouted over the din of the gambling hall caused him to jump a little. As he spun around a well-built man a little taller then him grasped him in a quick hug. As he backed away he recognized him. Jett Mirrit. Jett had built like a stonewall and had dark brown hair that was shaved on the sides, but long enough on top to hang in his eyes. He was wearing a heavy field jacket with a large metallic looking fist patch over the chest. When he spoke it was like a bass drum. “I’ll be Kesseled Khy, it’s been forever.

“Krolp, Jett. Didn’t think I’d see you here.”

“Still talking like a slime tail Khy?”

“At least I don’t look like one.”

Jett grew serious a second. His features going grim, “I heard about Dante and the others. I’m sorry.”

The mention of his adopted father’s demise brought a frown to his face, but he quickly pushed it aside. “Thanks man. I appreciate that. I haven’t seen you since the Hawks left for the Rios Cluster.” He tapped the Iron’ Legion’s colors with two fingers. “I see you’re keeping busy.”

Jett grinned wide. “Yeah. Hooked up with them about a year ago. They’ve been pretty good to me. So what’s the Lumwyrm been doing since?”

“Funny you asked that.” Khy stroked his goatee a second and looked around. “Considering I’m your contact.”

Jett’s eye grew wide. “You?”

Khy only laughed. “Come on and lets get down to business. After that we can get back to catching up.”

An hour later the both of them were aboard the Heartless Hound and Khy had been introduced to Jakob Roy, the Legion’s leader. They were all in a large room that contained a table suitable for negotiating. Khy idly wondered what it was normally used for but didn’t worry too much. A bulky Trandoshan was constantly at Jakob’s side. Filling the rest of the room were three other Legion members obviously there for security means. The Hound was too large to land in the Oasis so they had to use docking tubes to get to the ship. Jakob sat opposite Khy. The man sported the same hairstyle, but that’s where the similarities ended. Scars covered Jakob’s face and baldhead. His skin was deeply tanned. His teeth were black and Khy tried not to watch his mouth while he was talking, but his eyes kept drifting to them. Jakob was a good six inches taller then Khy, and his bulk was at least double Talbot’s. Jakob was dressed like all the members of the Legion Khy had seen, a mixture of military fatigues and the field jacket.

Negotiations, as figured, went very quickly. Drinks were served and Jakob talked for an hour about the glorious past of the Iron Legion. Khy smiled and nodded a lot and was very glad that the spice beer was a good brand. After what felt like an eternity the Trandoshan laid a data card on the table. Jakob gave a toothy grin, causing Khy to feel his stomach churn. “I believe the amount was already specified.” Khy nodded and slid the case on the table. After unlatching it, he slid it so the pirate could see the currency. Four more stacks of larger bills were currently in his vest, incase the pirates decided to change the price at the last moment. Jakob nodded to one of the guards who closed the case and carried it over. As he was doing so, one of the two doors into the room opened up. Imperial white filled Khy’s vision as four stormtroopers and an Imperial officer rushed into the room. All five blasters were pointed at him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jett bring a heavy blaster pistol to bear on the troopers, but the Trandoshan quickly pushed it down with a scaly hand.

The officer sneered, a light hold out blaster in his hand. “I think rebel, that you’ll be coming with us.” He could here Jakob laughing as his mind raced. “Fierfek, the pirates had sold him out," he thought. Probably got full pardons out of it. He grit his teeth in anger. At least Jett didn’t seem to know anything about it. Four more troopers entered the room and the evil smile the officer wore seemed to get even worse. “Actually. Seeing has you have all been identified as enemies of the Empire, I think all of you will be coming with us.” The room erupted into an explosion of light. The Iron Legion took to arms immediately and the troopers were quick to open fire. Khy dove backwards and slid across the table. His hand connected with the case just as he rolled off and hit the ground. Jakob’s body twitched violently as three blaster bolts hit home and the energy coursed through his body. Khy glanced back to see that two of the troopers had fallen. Jett was suddenly at his side and giving him a hand up. Jett squeezed off four shots in a blink of an eye and sent another stormtrooper hurtling to the floor. Khy managed to pull his own blaster from its holster as they made for the second door. Khy sent a blaster bolt at the troopers that failed to hit anything, he caught a glimpse of the Trandoshan charging the troopers as he left the room.

Jett led him through the corridors of the ship at a break neck pace. “Come on, we’ve got to get to the docking tube before its too late.”

Khy pushed himself forward, his gun ready until Jett skidded to a halt. They had come to a hallway he had recognized; the one he had entered the ship through. Jett was carefully glancing around the corner, deeper in the ship the sound of blaster fire still echoed. Jett glanced back at him. “An E-Web and six troopers. I’ve got a ticket to tron the web, but you’ll have to pull your weight with the remaining troopers. Can you handle it?”

Khy glanced down and saw a thermal detonator in Jett’s left hand. “Just try keeping up with me.”

Jett spun around the corner and let the small silver ball fly. Seconds later the explosion rocked the hallway. Khy jumped into the hall, his blaster ready. The detonator had eaten the E-Web and spit out a twisted mass of metal. The trooper that had been manning it also had his chest opened up and his body parts relocated. The others were still recovering from shell shock when Jett and Khy were upon them. Khy’s blaster shots arced across one trooper’s stomach, blackening armor and sending him to the floor dead. Jett let loose volley after volley of laser fire. Two were dead before Khy even realized what was happening. A blaster bolt flew passed Talbot’s shoulder, burning clothing and scorching the skin. The near impact caused him to grunt in pain. Jett though was charging. Khy managed to down one more trooper before Jett had finished off the last one. The last barrier removed the two ran into the station, hoping to get to safety before running into more Imperials. A minute inside the Oasis and Khy stopped. Punching in an access code and then pulling open a small hatch.

“This way. The maintenance tunnels run all through here. We can get around unseen.” The two men moved quickly to the hanger Khy’s X-Wing was stored in. Neither man’s heart had stopped racing yet and sweat covered their bodies in thin sheets. Whyren let out a long series of delighted beeps as the two neared the ship. Leaning against the X-Wing for support Khy tried to regain his breath. “It’ll be a tight fit, but I think I can get you out of here.”

Jett looked at the snub fighter and shook his head. “Don’t worry about it Khy. I’ll wait down here for a day or two till things blow over. Shouldn’t have any problems finding passage out of here by then.”

“Then what?”

“Not the Legion, but I'm not sure yet. Why?”

“Cause you’re the best shot I know. The Alliance could use you. We need your help man.”

Jett stared at him long and hard. After a moment he dug into his jacket and threw a data card at him. "Here's what you came here for." As he started walking off his voice got harder to hear. “I’ll think about it Lumwyrm. Stay safe buddy…”

Khy climbed up into his X-Wing and saw that Whyren had already started preflight preparations. “You too Jett.” Sliding the money case back into the cargo hold he watched his friend start climbing back into the access tunnels. Khy crawled into the cockpit and threw the data card onto of his wadded up flight suit that lay at his feet. There was no time to change now, the sooner he was gone the better. Ten minutes later he had dodged salvos of laser fire from an Imperial Star Galleon and gotten safely into hyperspace. His friend still lingered in his mind. Jett could find a good home with the Rebellion, just as he had. Only time would tell. At least the Alliance was still getting the information they had needed so badly.

With the end of the mission, Khy had grudgingly won a modicum of respect from Fleet Command.

A year later, Alliance commando Jett Mirrit was killed on the forest moon of Endor.