Omega Sqadron Black Knights
Chapter 14

Xen and Lainy found Kaz in the simulators, frowning in concentration as she watched two sim runs. She glanced up at them as they walked across to her, Lainy asking, "Do you know what time it is, Revered Leader?"

Kaz grinned, guessing, "Late?" She turned back, "I just wanted to check out these guys first. Everything okay?"

"Yup," Xen told her. "Wedge and the other Rogues are tucked up in bed, snoring soundly."

"More like tucked up in bed unconscious…" Lainy added tersely, annoyed that Xen hadn’t said anything about the new pilots Kaz was testing out. And annoyed at the obvious reminder that she was no longer Squadron Second. "I didn’t know any more pilots had arrived!" she couldn’t help but accuse softly.

"Neither did I!" Xen gave Kaz a flat look, wondering why her Commander had said nothing to her, wondering when they had arrived. Quirking an eyebrow she asked, "You holding out on us, Boss?" Then she gave a low quiet whistle as she saw the scores on the nearest sim. "He’s good."

"Hmm," Kaz agreed, then pointed to the other screen, "But he’s better."

Lainy frowned, realising that Xen obviously hadn’t known about them either. Relief that she hadn’t made a fool of herself by making a more pointed statement turned to suspicion. Why had Kaz said nothing to either of them about the pilots? "You didn’t answer the question, Commander," she pressed. "Are you holding out on us?"

But before Kaz could answer, Lainy saw one possible reason for her reticence. Anger flickering, she stated, "They’re Imperial survivors from the Richlo attack!"

Kaz looked at her, "Do you have a problem with that, Lieutenant?"

Lainy squared up to her. It wasn’t that she had anything against the Imperial pilots personally. But this was too close for her be comfortable with it. These pilots had killed her friends… "How long has this been in the pipeline?" she demanded.

Xen tried to clarify, "They’re joining us?"

"Possibly," Kaz answered Xen first. Then she turned to Lainy, "And Notrahw’s only just advised me that they wanted to come across."

"And you want them for Omega!"

Kaz looked at her for a moment, "I told them that if they were as good in an X-wing as they were in a TIE, then I wanted them for Omega."

Lainy stepped forward, demanding, "You’re going to bring those slimeshrifts into the squadron they decimated?"

"Do you have a problem with that?"

Lainy took another step towards her. "You would dishonour all their memories like that?" she challenged, unable to believe that Kaz was even contemplating this.

"Lainy…" Xen, cautioned softly.

Kal’Ten ignored her, drawing herself up, confronting a commanding officer who had obviously lost the plot, "Yes! I have a problem with that!"

Worn out, emotionally and physically, Hawkspar’s temper snapped. Voice cold and hard she told Lainy simply, "Then deal with it! Or transfer out of my squadron, Lieutenant!"

Xen closed her eyes, desperately wanting to step in, to break the tension, but knowing that anything she did would only make matters worse. Lainy stepped back as if Kaz had slapped her, eyes wide in disbelief. She opened her mouth to say something but Hawkspar cut her off. "Dismissed, Lieutenant!"

"Kaz…" Lainy tried.

Hawkspar advanced on her, her tone venomous, "I said, dismissed!"

Lainy swallowed. Then she turned, walking out into the corridor. The door hissed shut behind her. For a long moment neither Kaz nor Xen moved. Then Xen asked quietly, "Did you mean that?"

Kaz snapped round, looking at her, eyes flashing anger. But against Xen’s calm, steady gaze the ire evaporated, leaving her exhausted. She sank into the chair beside the consoles, head in her hands, saying nothing.

"She’s still grieving for them," Xen told her finally. "It’s just her way of dealing with it."

"Her way of dealing with it," Kaz reminded her, looking up at her, "got her busted. Her way of dealing with it got you thrown in as Squadron Second when you’re barely fit for active duty!" She saw Edraa begin to protest and countered, "Don’t try to tell me that you’re not still in pain, Xen! You hide it well, but you’re still nursing that shoulder!"

Edraa closed her mouth, unable to say anything in her defence. As if to prove the point the ache in her collarbone flared briefly before dying back to a bearable level.

Kaz shook her head. "I can’t afford to have reservations about these pilots," she said, indicating the two TIE pilots in the simulators. "I’m the squadron commander. I have to do what I think is best for the squadron. She’s been my Second long enough to understand that. But she still doesn’t! And I don’t have the strength to carry her any more. I need a Squadron Second and a Squadron Third who’ll give me either back-up or constructive criticism. What I don’t want, what I don’t need is someone throwing a temper tantrum."

Xen said nothing for a long moment, knowing that there was nothing she could say. Kaz had a point. But she was also being unfair. Lainy had been a damned good Second. Tact, however, had never been one of Lainy’s strong points. "So," she asked finally, walking across to the consoles, "how long have they been training?"

Kaz checked the chronometer, "Twenty minutes. Plus the two minutes it took to go over the controls."

Xen looked at her incredulously, "Twenty minutes?"

"Plus the two it took to go over the controls," Kaz repeated. "I was going to pair Mas with Lainy. I’ll put Jon in as your wing. And…" She paused, asking, "Who are the other two pilots who arrived?"

"Dalhanyo Grandeen and Emaar."

"What are they like?"

"Not sure. But Lainy did mention that they had little or no experience in an X-wing."

"Then if I pair Grandeen with me, Emaar with Hobbie and Baz with Shei?" Kaz asked her. "Would that be a balanced team?"

Xen nodded, "Sounds good to me, Boss."

"Fine, I’ll get these young men out of the simulators."

~ * ~

Maggs Ronnoc was waiting at the airlock as the ship docked. She ran her hands over her face, trying to wipe the weariness from her eyes and wondering for the millionth time what was so important that Major Anders had come all the way here. The airlock indicator changed from blue to white. There was an audible click and then the door hissed up.

Major Elhen Anders smiled at her, "Hello, Maggs."

"Major," Maggs greeted, returning her smile.

"You look tired," Elhen commented as they started walking along the corridor.

"It’s been a long day," Maggs admitted. She paused, then asked, "Have you heard about the Regimen Hope?"

Elhen glanced at her, "No."

"Then there’s a lot I need to bring you up to speed on." She lowered her voice, "The Hope has been destroyed."

Elhen’s step faltered for a moment, her eyes widening in shock. Then she continued walking, digesting the information, asking simply, "Survivors?"

"We were unable to check."

Anders took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, "I see…"

"All the details are in my office."

Elhen nodded, "You can brief me later. First I have to see Admiral Notrahw and Commander Hawkspar."

"The Admiral was on the bridge. Kaz is probably sleeping."

"Then we’ll have to wake her."

Maggs nodded, pulling a small com unit from her breast pocket, "Admiral?"

"Yes, Lieutenant?" he answered immediately.

"Major Anders needs to see you straight away. And Commander Hawkspar."

Notrahw hesitated for a moment, sensing trouble - more trouble. He closed his eyes. What else could possible go wrong? "Understood," he told her. "My office, Maggs. I’m on my way."

He pushed himself to his feet, "Edin, let Commander Hawkspar know that her presence is required in my office as soon as possible."

"Yes, Sir," the young officer replied, turning to the com console as Notrahw walked slowly towards the door. This, Notrahw through wearily, does not bode well. This does not bode well at all!

~ * ~

Baz whistled tunelessly as he stepped out of the shower, grabbing the towel and drying himself. So there were two Xens – an Edraa and now an Emaar. And from the frosty way the Lieutenant Commander had greeted her sister, there was some big split in their history…

What, he pondered, would make two such lovely ladies dislike one another so intensely…?

Not a difficult question when you took his own family history into account. There were so many skeletons hanging around in that particular cupboard that he was surprised the Commander hadn’t heard the rattling all the way from Ord Neeban. Which only brought him back to his own precarious position. How long was it going to be before they found out who he was? How long was it going to be before he had to cut his losses and run?

Part of him wanted it over and done with now. Another part of him never wanted it to happen… It would be a real shame of he couldn’t get to know Xen Edraa a little better. She had the loveliest smile that lit up her eyes, setting off the tiny flecks of green. When she had walked into the hangar earlier, her face so solemn and weary, his heart had almost flipped. For one gut-wrenching moment he thought that they had lost the Commander. Although from the way Lainy Kal’Ten had rushed across, she must have been thinking along the same lines.

Although what had finally made him want to find out more about Edraa had been the compassion in her expression when she had told Hobbie about his friend…

He flipped the towel over the rail, reaching for his bed clothes. When Commander Peers had had to tell Inulke about his younger brother, his face had been expressionless, flat, devoid of any sort of emotion, just a cold "He’s dead, boy. Get on with it."

Maybe that had been the start…

He climbed into bed, stopping that train of thought. He was what he was, where he was. Nothing would change the past. He was here, now. And, whatever the consequences, he had a job to do.

~ * ~

Notrahw stood up, crossing the office to greet the small, sandy-haired woman as she walked in with Maggs. She smiled, returning his handshake, "Good to see you again."

"It’s been a while…" He turned to a humanoid droid who had appeared in the doorway, "Threetwobee, bring us some kaffin!"

"At once, Sir." The droid turned as Kaz Hawkspar walked into the outer office.

"Kaz, come in. Major Elhen Anders: Alliance Intelligence," Daav introduced as the doors closed, "Commander Kaz Hawkspar: Omega squadron."

The women shook hands, Elhen tucking an errant curl back behind her ear, only to have it fall back against her cheek again, "Nice to finally meet you, Commander. I hope we didn’t wake you."

"No, Ma’am. I was checking out some new recruits. I left my Second to complete the profiles."

"Shall we sit down, ladies?" Notrahw indicated the small group of chairs arranged around a low table in the far corner.

"I’ve heard a lot about you, Commander…" Elhen continued as they walked across and sat down. "Mon Mothma sends you her best wishes. And your father muttered something about staying out of trouble."

Kaz’s face brightened, "How are they?"

"The same. Always the same."

The door opened again, Threetwobee arriving with a tray laiden with four mugs and a large pot of kaffin. The droid placed the tray on the table, "Anything else, Sir?"

"No, thank you."

Threetwobee nodded, turning and walking back across the office, the door sliding closed behind her. Notrahw leant forward, pouring the kaffin as Anders began, How about "Commander Hawkspar..." she paused, obviously carefully considering her choice of words. "We need to talk..."

~ * ~

Xen Emaar lay on the cot, hands behind her head, sleep eluding her as she tried to work through the mix of emotions. Edraa was here. Not only that but she was second in command of the squadron. But how? She had been back on Balinaka with their Aunt Bel until…

Until when, Em? When was the last time you actually spoke to her? Sure, you spoke to Aunt Bel only two months ago, but when was the last time you actually spoke to Ed?

The possibility that Edraa could have joined the Rebel Alliance had never crossed her mind before… She was just a kid! A stupid little kid who had no idea of anything that was happening outside of Balinaka. Or at least that’s what you told yourself the last time you were there…

Not any more…

Her memories flowed back to the last time they had been together, when they had argued over the political situation. She had been trying to persuade Ed to go to the Academy, to follow her own footsteps into the Imperial Navy. And Ed had told her that there was no way she would willingly follow "that tyrant".

Stunned she had hit back, reminding her little sister that, "That tyrant is the only reason that we came through the Clone Wars in as good a shape as we did! That tyrant has held the council together when people like Mon Mothma tried to tear it apart!"

"Is that why he’s had her branded her a terrorist," Ed had shot back, "and tried to arrest her? Simply for standing up for what she believes in?"

"You have no idea what you’re talking about! You have no idea what life would be like…"

"If Palpatine didn’t have such a strangle hold on us? Wake up and smell life, Em! He’s a tyrant! He won’t stop until he has absolute control over the Senate! How long do you think it’s going to be before he dissolves the Council?"

"Perhaps he should! Dissolving the Council is certainly one way to control the treasonous poison of people like Mothma and Organa! Palpatine pulled us out of the devastation of the Clone Wars and brought prosperity back to us! Mon Mothma wants to drop us back into a life that will lead to another War! He is the only person who can lead us towards a better future!"

"Have you listened to yourself, lately? Have you? You sound like a party political broadcast on behalf of the Emperor!"

Emaar sighed, closing her eyes, coming back to the present. Little Edraa had grown up, made her own choices and had the courage to follow them through. Everyone made mistakes. It was part of living.

So here she was, Xen Emaar, exactly where she had hoped to be, part of Kaz Hawkspar’s squadron, sooner than she had ever thought would be possible. Only her little sister was her senior officer…

And that was going to make things so much more complicated.

~ * ~

Catterin Poom-Bar sat watching her husband sleep, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest, just as she’d done when they were first married. She had known that he wasn’t dead, deep down inside she had always known that. But he should have been on Alderaan when it was destroyed. And as the days had dragged into weeks and she hadn’t heard from him, she had thought the worst.

Then the rumours had started about it not being an accident, that it had been a deliberate act by the Empire because of their allegiance to the growing Rebel Alliance. So by the time he had found a way to return for her, she had already joined the Rebellion.

He had explained everything. And it transpired that she had been on her way to Yavin when he had arrived in Loth-Wei. They had missed one another by a mere three weeks. Three weeks that had turned into more than three years. She had only just found him again. And he had just told her that he was going to have to leave.

She sighed, tears falling down her cheeks. All she had ever wanted was to have his children and spend the rest of her life with him. All she had ever wanted was to be a wife and mother. But the Fates had decided otherwise. She had seen more in the last three years than she would ever have thought possible: joy, sadness, terror, three abandoned bases. And finally she had been transferred to the Knights – in time to pick up the pieces when they had been all but wiped out.

Wil made a small sound and turned onto his side. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes, smiling as he saw her. Then frowned as he realised that she was crying.

"I’m just being silly," she told him before he could say anything.

He threw back the bed covering, "Then come and be silly over here."

She stood up, walking across to the cot, wiping the tears away. He reached up, grabbing her and pulling her down. She fell on top of him with a little scream and he laughed. "You always were a silly child!"

"I had to be to marry you!"

He laughed again, kissing her, "Gods, but I’ve missed you."

She grinned, pushing the hair back off of his forehead, "Prove it!"

"Well," he frowned, "I haven’t had any practice for three years."

"That’s what you said an hour ago!"

"Really?"

"Really!"

He looked at her in mock confusion, "Well, gosh, I can’t remember." Then he grinned, "I suppose I’d better try again…"

~ * ~

Lainy sighed, dropping into bed beside Ary. It had been a long hard day and she was tired beyond belief. But Ary kissed her shoulder as she snuggled into him, running his fingers down her back. She squirmed, turning over, temper frayed, "Stop it!"

"Oh, for fates sake! What the hells is wrong with you?" he demanded. "Your face has been tripping you since I arrived! Wrong time of the month or something?"

"Wrong bloody squadron!" she snapped back. Then she turned over, "Do you know what that self important, jumped up, slimewitch from Tureinch is doing?"

Ary propped himself up on his elbow, asking flatly, "I take it you mean Commander Hawkspar…?"

"Damn it! I knew you would take her side!"

Ary looked at her in disbelief, "What? Where the hells did you get that idea? What the hells is going on, Lainy?"

Lainy glared at him, "Commander Kazlyn Hawkspar, if you please, has only signed up two of the TIE pilots from the Richlo attack!"

"What?"

"Kaz has brought in two of the TIE pilots who took out Omega at the Richlo attack! And when I protested, our Revered Leader told me that I could either deal with it or transfer off the squadron."

"Ouch!" Ary winced. "And your decision was…?"

"Damn it, Ary, this isn’t funny!"

"Neither’s having an affair behind your Commanding Officer’s back…" he reminded her gently.

"You can always go back to your own quarters!" she snapped.

The door chime rang. They both froze. Lainy swore. "Don’t answer it," Ary suggested. But the chime rang again.

Lainy swung her feet onto the floor, swallowing hard. If this was Kaz they had both had it. She grabbed her robe, slipping it on as she padded across to the door. Ary had also clambered to his feet, reaching for his clothes. She pressed the com unit, "Yes?"

"Lainy, open up. I need to speak to you."

Lainy frowned. There was something in the tone of Xen’s voice that she didn’t like. She glanced across at Ary, who shrugged, pulling on his inform trousers. Lainy pressed the door switch and knew by the look on Edraa’s face that something was seriously wrong. She stepped back, letting Xen in.

"Lainy," Edraa began walking into the room, "I’m sorry to wake you but…" She stopped short, seeing Ary. More importantly, seeing his obvious state of undress. "Oh! Damn," she flustered, "Lainy, I’m sorry…"

"It’s okay," Lainy assured her. "What is it? What’s wrong?"

"Notrahw wants to see us both in his office. Now"

Lainy glanced at the chronometer, "Why the hells does he want to see us at one in the morning?"

Xen shrugged. "I have no idea. Mon Cal’s don’t sleep the same cycles as we do?" she suggested. "Anyway, it wasn’t him, it was a droid. Get dressed. We need to go now."

~ * ~

Templ sat in the Rec Area, surrounded by the usual noise and general uproar of a great many relaxing soldiers and pilots getting down to some serious drinking. It seemed that Zeta were not the only ones celebrating the absence of their illustrious leader. He turned his attention back to his companions seated in general disarray around the table.

"I’m telling you, my father’s been made up to Admiral. Ozzel made a Gundark’s arse of the approach to Hoth, and Vader demoted him, permanently." The derisive laughter from Piet’s crewmates seemed a little less certain when Vader was mentioned. He had spent the past fifteen minutes trying to convince them that his father was Captain Piet, now Admiral Piet. He had received word from his father a few days previously, but he hadn’t had the chance to share the news as they had been out on missions ever since.

Piet took another drink and sat sullenly avoiding the amused looks of his crewmates. He glanced at Templ, a vague look of pleading on his youthful face. Templ was suddenly struck by how young the pilot looked. Piet seemed to feel a little better as Templ winked at him.

"You might as well get used to the idea of flying with the Admiral’s son boys," he said. They all turned to regard him with crestfallen looks. "Yes, that’s right, I received word this morning." Groans of anguish followed this statement, and many of the pilots feigned being sick over the backs of their chairs.

"And we all thought his head was big enough already," said Colb Maclen, Zeta three, rolling his eyes. Nylls Piet’s face flushed as the friendly banter began to embarrass him. As the youngest in the Flight, it was his Goddess-given right to be the butt of as many jokes as the rest of the pilots could manage. He would soon get his own back, he would show them.

The frivolity faded abruptly as several burly, heavily armed Imperial Security Officers barged into the bar, paused briefly to check a datapad, and then made a beeline for the table next to Zeta’s.

Immediately, everyone in the room tensed, poised for anything. They all knew that this could only mean one thing.

The security men approached the table. One looked at the datapad again, stared intently at the occupants, and spoke, "Brost Lont?" His tone left no doubt that the question was meant to be rhetorical. He had his man.

Templ recognised Lieutenant Brost Lont, a member of the fighter tech crews, who confirmed his identity by nodding only.

"You’re under arrest for suspected treason against the Empire," said the burly guard. "Come with us!"

Lont knew better than to protest, no-one ever got to protest their innocence in public. For that matter, thought Templ, no-one ever got to protest their innocence without it being taken as evidence of guilt.

One of Lont’s companions, made stupidly brave by alcohol, started to rise and protest for his friend. Three security men firmly pushed him back into his seat while the remaining four escorted Lont towards the door.

The protester looked as though he might start something, and one guard said to him in a quietly menacing voice, "Don’t even think about it, we’re authorised to shoot you if you cause any problems."

That seemed to calm the man enough until the guards were satisfied he wouldn’t do anything more stupid and they left. Shortly after, Lont’s inebriated companion stormed out of the door.

Templ watched as his men glanced at each other then, trying to head off any inappropriate talk, he ordered another round. His efforts were in vain, however, as Naal Mankir, Zeta seven, said "I heard that Lont was going to get picked up soon." His tone was hushed, voice just loud enough for those at the table to hear, as he continued, "I heard that his family back on Coruscant had been seen talking to someone who turned out to be a Rebel spy!!"

"Rebels, Rebels, Rebellion, Rebels," exploded Guinep Kroje, Zeta nine, but still keeping his voice down. "Is that all that anybody can talk about these days? We spend all our time chasing these damn terrorists, chopping them up and spitting them out, and all anybody can say is Rebels."

Templ could see that this was a hopeless situation, they were quite obviously going to start arguing about this soon, unless he could divert them somehow.

The only problem was, that through the haze of slightly too much alcohol, he could think of nothing to say to head them off. He finally concluded to try and deal with it as it arose, and let the men have their say. Besides, Templ had no idea whether the pilots of Zeta Flight had any idea about his past involvement with Imperial Interrogation.

Kroje continued his tirade, "Come on, we all know that they are just a bunch of disorganised fanatics, with nothing better to do than shoot at us and cause us grief." He glanced around, seeking tacit approval in the faces of his comrades, receiving non-committal grunts. "They just can’t accept the central rule of the Empire and the Emperor." At the mention of the Emperor’s name, the group hushed. No-one dared to voice the doubts that everyone had regarding the dark enigma that was their leader. There was certainly an aura around the man…

Everybody around the table knew that the others were thinking the same thing. No-one was going to say it though.

"I think the Emperor has done this the right way," interrupted Templ, trying to head off the brooding of his pilots. "The only way to deal with these nuisances is to obliterate them. Take the fight to them, and clear them all away." He made a sweeping gesture with his hand, and reclined further into his chair. His expression made it quite clear that he had absolutely no intention of saying any more on the matter.

The other pilots seemed to finally get the idea, and declined any further comment on this, the most potentially dangerous subject any Imperial officer could mention. When things started to get heated in discussion concerning the Emperor, arrests and interrogations always started. Everybody knew that things could get out of hand very easily these days.

~ * ~

Kaz Hawkspar looked at Anders, her face expressionless, "Arrested?"

"For passing information to an Imperial source…"

Notrahw shook his head, "Major, the Commander is the last person who would pass information to an Imperial source. Her background alone…"

"Which," Anders pointed out, "is exactly why it works. No one would suspect. No one would believe Commander Hawkspar capable of passing information to the Empire."

Kaz shook her head, pushing herself out of her seat and walking across to the window. Anders sat, watching her. For a long moment Hawkspar said nothing, then she turned back, "I take it you have a valid reason for my doing this!"

Elhen Anders sat forward. "Have you ever been alone for a few days, say three or four? In the same place," she suggested, "maybe waiting for pick-up?"

Kaz frowned, "How many years do you want me to go back?"

Maggs’ memories slipped back to the conversation she had had with Kal’Ten in the hangar, when Lainy had been adamant that she was going back out after Hawkspar. "Lainy mentioned something about you having to learn to walk again the last time you were out without back-up," she ventured.

"I missed Yavin," Kaz admitted. "But that’s because I was in a Bacta tank."

"What happened?" Elhen asked.

"I was doing recon on a base that the Imperials had supposedly tried to set up then abandoned. Only they hadn’t abandoned it. I was jumped by six TIEs. By the time I managed to get out of the atmosphere my shields had gone and the TIEs had done some serious damage - including my port engine. I got into hyperspace, but only just, and dropped out not all that much further on. Spent the next two days trying to get back to base at sublight while the X-wing fell apart around me. Eventually had to ditch but messed up the landing." She looked at Maggs, "Lainy saw the aftermath. It wasn’t pretty."

Elhen Anders smiled and rose to her feet. "We have received information about a pilot who was detained and interrogated by Imperial personnel three years ago after being shot down."

"So how did I crash land on a planet further across the sector?"

Maggs closed her eyes, "Commander. After the Richlo’s Rest attack, an Imperial Officer escaped. You reported that you arrived at the hangar in time to see both he and Lieutenant Kal’Ten with blasters trained on one another. Kal’Ten admitted herself that she hesitated because she recognised him. Were you were injured pushing Lainy out of the way when he fired on her. Or were you injured pushing Lainy out of the way to stop her shooting him?"

Hawkspar gave a short laugh. "Why would I do that?"

"What about your theory that the Richlo’s Rest attack was a trap?" Notrahw ventured suddenly. Hawkspar looked at him.

"What theory?" Elhen asked.

"I’ll explain later, Major," Maggs assured her as Kaz asked, "You mean that I am the one who gave them the location of the Home Two?"

"Not only that," he suggested, "but that you somehow managed to get data to them concerning what attack pattern you would use when Omega engaged."

Elhen glanced at him then looked back at Hawkspar. That was it then… "Commander Kazlyn Hawkspar, you are hereby relieved of duty pending an investigation of charges that you have been supplying information to Imperial Naval Intelligence. This follows new information we have received concerning your detention and interrogation by Imperial personnel after you were shot down during a recon mission three years ago."

~ * ~

Daav Elyob put his arm around Triona as she snuggled against him, fast asleep. He closed his eyes, resting his head on hers. It had been quite a day. No, actually, it had been quite a week! Things had moved a lot faster than he expected, to his delight. And now he was sitting in a Rebel Alliance ship with his wife of only a few hours, on his way to join an X-wing squadron.

He still wasn’t sure what had made him ask Triona to marry him. It had just seemed like the right thing to do. The strength of emotion in her reaction had almost taken him aback and once again he had been surprised at how much this woman loved him after so short a period of time together. He smiled, shaking his head. It had certainly made things a lot easier.

She stirred, opening her eyes, pulling away from him and stretching, "What time is it?"

"We’ve got another three hours yet."

She sighed, snuggling back into him, running her fingers over the wedding bracelet around her wrist. "I never quite imagined that my first hours of being married would be spent like this, Mr Elyob."

He laughed, hugging her close, "Me neither, wife."

"We’ll have to have a party," she suggested, "once we get to know people. I haven’t danced with you since I married you."

"Erm," he attempted, "Didn’t I mention that I couldn’t dance!"

She slapped his chest, "Idiot!" Then she asked, "Do you think we’re going to a planetary base or a ship?"

He shrugged, "Haven’t a clue." Then he grinned, "I don’t care where it is as long as it’s with you, my love!"

"Aw," she smiled, "You say the nicest things, Mr Elyob!"

"How to get around your wife training manual," he told her, "Chapter five, page four."


~ * ~

"Major," Notrahw asked as Maggs went into the outer office to arrange an armed escort for Anders to take Hawkspar to the waiting ship, "is all this really necessary?"

"I’m sorry, Admiral. It is."

He frowned, "You’re going to take her through the corridors of my ship, secured and under armed guard?"

"It’s the only way, Admiral." She turned, pulling a pair of binders from her back pocket. She walked across to Hawkspar. The Omega Squadron Commander looked at her for a moment then held out her hands. Anders secured the binders around her wrists as the Admiral harrumphed.

The door opened and Maggs walked back in, "Major, the soldiers are on their way." She turned, "Kal’Ten and Edraa are here Admiral."

"Show them in, Lieutenant."

The two pilots walked smartly into the room, then stopped dead as they saw the binders round Kaz’s wrists. Kaz closed her eyes, keeping her head down, refusing to meet their gazes. Xen looked from Notrahw to Anders to Maggs. Then she looked at Hawkspar, "What’s going on, Boss?"

"Commander Hawkspar has been relieved of duty," Notrahw supplied. "Lieutenant Commander Edraa, you are now Acting Commander Omega Squadron. Lieutenant Kal’Ten, you are Acting Second."

Lainy gaped at him, not quite sure that she had heard him correctly, "What?"

"Commander Hawkspar has been relieved of duty," Anders interrupted, "pending investigation into allegations that she was shot down during a recon mission three years ago and that she was detained and interrogated by Imperial personnel! Alliance Command is investigating charges that she’s been supplying information to Imperial Intelligence since then."

Lainy blinked. This was all a dream, this was all a bad dream. Any moment now she was going to wake up. "That’s ridiculous. She wasn’t shot down, she got away but had to crash land. I was flying cover for the rescue team! Her spine was fractured in three places, for Fates’ sake." She looked at Hawkspar, "Commander, tell them! Your leg was smashed, your ribs were broken." She looked back at Anders, "Damn it, we almost never got there in time! She spent days in a Bacta tank…"

"And weeks learning to walk again," Anders interrupted again, "Which conveniently put her out of the picture at Yavin!"

Lainy stepped towards her, anger flaring, "I wasn’t at Yavin!" Anders gave her a slow, cold smile and Lainy knew that all she’d done was complicate matters even more.

"This is ridiculous!" Kaz accused, finally lifting her head, her voice cold. "Are you going to pull the whole squadron in for questioning?"

"No…" the Major told her. "But we will now also question Lieutenant Kal’Ten!" She turned to Lainy, "Keep yourself available, Lieutenant."

Maggs glanced out of the door as the two soldiers walked into the outer office, "Sir, the escort is here."

Notrahw looked at Anders, "Is there no way Commander Hawkspar could remain on board?"

"With this level of insubordination?" Anders countered, indicating Lainy. "I don’t think so, Admiral."

Out of the corner of her eye, Xen saw Lainy start to move forward again. She put out her hand, laying it gently on Lainy’s arm. Kal’Ten stopped. Kaz saw the movement too and acted before Lainy could get herself into more trouble by stepping in to help her again. "Admiral," she began, "if I’m to be removed from the squadron then the Acting Second should be promoted to Lieutenant Commander."

Notrahw took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Copied and taken under advisement, Commander."

Anders tucked a curl behind her ear and looked across at the two soldiers, "Gentlemen, take Commander Hawkspar to my ship."

They nodded, walking into the office, stopping either side of Kaz, taking a gentle hold of each arm. "Do what you can," Kaz told Xen and Lainy as the men led her out. "I’ll be back as soon as I can get this rubbish sorted out!"

Xen nodded, saying nothing as Lainy stood beside her and seethed. Anders nodded to Notrahw then both she and Ronnoc followed Hawkspar, the door shutting behind them.

There was a long, pregnant pause. The Vice Admiral looked from Edraa to Lainy then said softly, "I’m confident that these charges will prove unfounded, but they have to be investigated."

"Sir…" Xen began, turning.

He held up a hand to silence her, continuing, "Which brings me to another matter. Commander Hawkspar was right. Lieutenant Kal’Ten, your quick thinking and prompt actions today saved lives."

"Sir," she acknowledged.

"With immediate effect, you are hereby promoted to Lieutenant Commander. Congratulations Lainy…"

Lainy looked at him, stunned beyond words. Kaz had been arrested on idiotic charges and he was congratulating her for being promoted?

"Thank you, Ladies," he went on. "You are dismissed."

"Sir…?" Lainy tried again.

"You are dismissed, Ladies!" Notrahw’s tone left no room to argue. Sick to the stomach and suddenly bone weary, the two Omega pilots turned and left, the door sliding closed behind them, leaving Notrahw alone.

Daav sighed heavily. He could tell that they weren’t going to rest until they had proven Kaz innocent. And in a few more hours Hawkspar’s arrest was going to be all over the ship. He sank into a chair and closed his eyes, already beginning to dread the next few days with the Knights.

~ * ~

They walked through the corridors with Anders towards her waiting ship in silence. When they reached the airlock Anders dismissed the guards. The two men turned promptly, heading back down the corridor.

"I’m sorry there was no other way we could do this, Commander…" Anders apologised again as the soldiers walked out of earshot. "But this mission is too important…"

Hawkspar laughed softly, "I don’t know what scares me the most – the fact that I’ve agreed to go on the mission or the thought of having to deal with Lainy when I get back."

"Kaz," Maggs assured her quietly, "I’ll do everything I can for Lainy and Xen. And you’ll only be gone four days at the most." She smiled, "By the time you get back here they’ll know the truth. The minute I hear that you’re on your way back, I’ll make sure that they know."

Kaz laughed again, "And you think that’s going to stop Lainy smacking me?"

Maggs grinned at her, "It’ll probably be the first time she’s ever thrown the first punch!"