Omega Sqadron Black Knights
Chapter 15

Excitement thrummed in the pit of Triona’s stomach as the pilot warned them to ready themselves for the transition to normal space. She took Daav’s hand, squeezing tightly. But she was looking out of the viewport beside her. The shimmering weave of the hyperspace corridor as it rushed past wisped suddenly into the starlit backdrop of deep space as they dropped into normal space.

Still holding Daav’s hand tightly she searched the stars, craning to get her first view of wherever it was they were being taken. The shuttle swung to starboard. And there, out of the viewport, hung the immense bulk of a Mon Calamari cruiser. She caught her breath, “Daav! Look!”

He put his arms round her, holding her close, watching the cruiser slide gracefully out of view as the ship turned again, the pilot setting up his approach.

“Two minutes to landing,” the pilot told them. “Two minutes to landing.”

Triona’s excitement mounted. She couldn’t quite believe that this was all real. Everything had happened so quickly. But the arms around her felt real, the slight vibration of the ship felt real…

Three months ago she had been wondering just where the hells her life was going, terrified that someone in the squad would realise that her loyalties no longer lay with the Empire, desperately trying to find a way to get out. And then there had been the chance meeting with Daav, the young man a friend at the Academy had introduced her to years before. And everything had suddenly fallen into place.

Which was why she found herself here, married to Daav, both of them on their way to join a Rebel Alliance squadron.

The Mon Cal ship appeared in the viewport again, slowly stretching out as they flew in closer to it. Then finally they were gliding into a hangar. The shuttle turned, gently settling onto the deck with a soft thud. Everyone stood up, slowly shuffling towards the hatch as it swung down.

Daav squeezed Triona’s hand and she grinned at him, walking forward towards the hatch.

Catterin watched the passengers walking down the ramp and headed towards them as she recognised the mottled, cerise skin and yellow mane of an Iridonian Zabrak. “Thierr Keei?” she asked.

He nodded, correcting her inflection, “Kee-i.”

“Sorry,” she apologised with a smile. A young couple walked down the ramp behind him, hand in hand. She turned to them, “Triona Elyob and Daav Lleb?”

They both smiled. The young man slipped his arm around the woman, “Triona and Daav Elyob.”

Triona turned, looking at him, telling the woman, “We just got married.”

“Okay,” Catterin said slowly, noting it on the pad. Kaz was going to love this! “Welcome to Omega Squadron, I’m Catterin Poom-Bar, squadron Supply and Rescue Officer. Now, if you’ll just go out that way,” she said, pointing out an exit, “and wait for me in the corridor, I’ll be with you shortly and show you to your quarters.”

The three pilots thanked her then moved off towards the exit.

“Cate?”

Catterin’s heart jumped at the sound of her husband’s voice and she turned, looking at the man who had been missing from her life for the past three years - and who was about to disappear again. But if the fates were willing this separation would be a lot less than three years. Wil dropped the kitbag onto the deck and pulled her into a tight hug. Closing his eyes, he savoured the smell of her hair… “I’m going to miss you!”

She had promised herself that she wasn’t going to cry. But the tears slipped unbidden from beneath her eyelids as she hugged him back. Wil knew Catterin was crying. He pulled away and took her face in his hands, gently wiping away her tears with his thumbs. “I’ll apply for a transfer. I’ll get into Omega, I promise!”

“Just take care of yourself,” she told him, the restriction in her throat making it difficult to talk. “And get back when you can.”

He nodded, kissing her deeply. Then he let her go, picking up the kitbag and walked onto the shuttle. Pete Rindu grinned at her, pulling her into a hug, “Nice to meet you, Lieutenant.”

“And you.” She pulled away, looking at him. And the expression in her eyes turned his grin to a sad smile.

“I’ll take care of him,” he promised, taking her hand, lifting it to his mouth and kissing it. He smiled at her again, “I always do!” Then he turned, walking up the ramp onto the ship.

Catterin watched the ramp start to retract then turned, heading out of the hangar, knowing that if she stood and watched it depart she would simply end up in a blubbering heap on the deck again. And in that state she would be no good to anyone. And, she considered, smiling at the three patiently waiting pilots, she had work to do…

~ * ~

Orise Ymra walked into the hanger, yawning the last of the sleep out of her system. Lori Enilra was sitting on the far side of the hangar, nursing what the Deck Officer suspected would turn out to be a mug of cold kaffin. Watching the Flight staring into space, Orise walked across to the Deck Officer’s niche, pulling her attention away from Lori for a moment to greet her counterpart going off-shift.

Tom Kyven grinned at her, jovial face still bright despite this being the sixth twelve hour shift he had just pulled. She was lucky. This was only her fourth. “That time already, Orise?” he asked.

“That time, Tom,” she confirmed. “In another three minutes you are officially off duty!”

He pushed himself to his feet, stretching his back, “It’s been a long, quiet night…”

Pulling a face she swatted him on the shoulder, “How come you get all the easy shifts?”

“It’s a knack… born from years of experience.” He yawned loudly, covering his mouth. “Nothing to hand over. All the birds are in their nests, the engineers finally gave up and hit the sack about oh-two-hundred…” He trailed off, nudging his head in the direction of the still silent Enilra, “Apart from the Flight that is…”

“How old?”

He quirked an eyebrow, knowing exactly to what she was referring, “The kaffin? At least an hour... I had to take the spoon off her before she stirred a hole in the bottom of the cup.”

Orise winced, “That bad?”

“Uh-huh,” he confirmed. “Something to do with the blow-out on the Commander’s bird yesterday I think. Oh, and we haven’t had any orders through for the three Rogue fighters, so I guess they must be staying until at least this evening.”

“Roger, got all that. I have control…” And the first thing I’m going to do is get that woman some warm kaffin!

“Good!” Kyven grinned, pulling his jacket from the back of the seat. Then I am going to hit the sack!”

~ * ~

Mas sat beside Jon in the rec room, forking what he figured was supposed to be scrambled egg into his mouth. It tasted not too bad… it just looked more that a little unappetising. For a brief moment he thought back to the last meal he had had on the Star Destroyer… But that only increased his discomfort.

They had both been issued Alliance uniform and Mas knew that neither of them looked out of place sitting in the rec room of the Home Two. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone in the room knew that he was an ex-Imperial and that up until only a few days before he had been flying a TIE.

Commander Hawkspar hadn’t appeared to have given a damn about their backgrounds, even hinting at the fact that she had once flown for the Empire herself. And Xen had treated them with nothing but courtesy. But here, surrounded by the very people he had been trying to kill only a few days before… No matter what his subsequent decision had been, that made him distinctly uncomfortable, his own sense of honour prodding his conscience. But he knew, now more than ever, that his decision to join the Alliance had been the right one.

He glanced across at Alpelor and the dark headed man smiled wanly at him, “Feels weird, don’t it…”

“Yup,” Mas told him.

“Once we’re with the rest of the squadron…” Jon attempted, completely out of his depth, floundering without his rank.

“Good morning, Gentlemen!” Xen greeted, dropping a tray onto the table and sliding into the chair beside Mas. “Allow me to introduce, Shei Redav.”

The two men looked round as Shei sat down beside Jon, her dark eyes changing colour to gold as she smiled at them, saying, “Hello.” It was all either men could do not to stare, neither of them having ever seen a Tridactril.

“Shei,” Xen was continuing, “This is Masrya Wolvsdaater and Jon Alpelor. They’ve just joined the squadron.”

“It is a pleasure to meet both of you,” Shei told them, lifting her hands in traditional greeting.

Mas recovered himself first, dragging his eyes away from the bright, amber gaze. “And you…”

Jon was still looking at her, almost open mouthed. She smiled at them both again, sensing their amazement and Mas’s sudden discomfort. Trying to put them both at ease, she told them, “I am from Tridactr. There are very few of us who choose to leave our planet. I must appear very strange to you.”

Her comment snapped Jon out of the fog. For the first time since Kaz Hawkspar had asked them to join the squadron, he started to feel more at ease with the whole situation. Shaking his head, glancing across at Mas, he returned Shei’s smile, “No, not strange. Just… different.”

“Nope,” Xen contradicted, unable to resist making a comment despite her tiredness and her worry. “She’s definitely strange. She usually flies an A-wing.”

~ * ~

The repulsor lift slowed to a stop and as the doors opened, Baz saw Lainy Kal’Ten walking along the corridor ahead of him. “Lieutenant Kal’Ten!” he shouted, jogging along the corridor towards her as she stopped and turned.

“Lieutenant Commander Kal’Ten,” she corrected.

He grinned, “You got promoted! Hey, that’s great!”

“Yeah,” she said flatly, turning and starting to walk down the corridor again, “isn’t it.”

He frowned, glancing at her, “So what’s up?”

“Oh… nothing.”

He lifted an eyebrow, but didn’t push the matter. “So,” he asked enthusiastically, “what’s the Commander got set up for us today?”

She threw him a look but he missed it. Nor did he see the pain that flitted behind her eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to turn her anger to better use. “The Commander is going to be out of it for a few days.” She snorted in disgust, “We’ve got three more pilots arriving at some point today and Kaz hasn’t even been introduced to the last lot to arrive. Not to mention that we had a training schedule all worked out and now we’re going to have to look at it again.”

“Oh,” he said, beginning to wish he’d never asked.

He was saved by Catterin Poom-Bar’s voice behind them, “Lieutenant?”

They both turned towards her. “Lieutenant Commander,” Baz corrected.

Catterin looked at her, “You got promoted! Hey, that’s great!”

Lainy sighed. “Thanks. What was it you wanted?”

“Have you seen the Commander? I can’t find her and another three pilots arrived earlier.”

Lainy made another sound of disgust. “Typical! Just typical!” Baz shrugged at Catterin’s questioning look as Lainy shook her head then told Poom-Bar, “The Commander isn’t going to be around for the next few days. But I’ll take the details and give them to Xen.”

“Oh. Okay.” She handed the data pad across to Lainy who took it and quickly scanned through the names.

Lainy looked up at her, “Triona Elyob?”

“Well…” Catterin began.

“About so high… long brown hair… Hasthaalian accent?”

“Not sure about the accent,” Catterin replied after a moment.

Lainy tapped the pad against her fingers, “Wonder if it’s Triona Triona?”

“Well, she and her husband were going to head for the mess hall.”

Lainy looked at her, “Her husband…?”

Catterin winced, “Yes…”

Lainy’s mouth dropped open. She spun on her heel, throwing her hands into the air, storming off down the corridor, “Oh fan-flipping-tastic! Today just gets better and better! What the hells else can go wrong? Maybe I should damn well transfer off the squadron!”

Baz looked after her in confusion then turned to Poom-Bar, “What’s so wrong with them being married?”

“The Commander has this thing about relationships within Omega…”

“How come…?”

Catterin raised an eyebrow, shaking her head, “I’m not completely sure because she’s been like that since I joined the Knights… But I’m pretty sure that it has something to do with the Commander watching two of the squadron getting themselves and others killed because they were involved… Apparently she vowed that she wouldn’t allow it to happen again. Scuttlebutt is that she’s even had pilots transferred off the squadron.”

“Wow,” Baz said, impressed and taken aback at the same time. “The Commander’s one tough lady!”

Catterin nodded, her thoughts returning to Wil… the tears rising unbidden behind her eyes. She swallowed down the constriction in her throat, but couldn’t quite stop the catch in her voice as she told him, “Yes. But that’s war for you.”

~ * ~

Ary stifled a yawn as he walked into the hangar and glanced round, checking for any signs that news about the Commander had filtered into the engineering circles. But there was nothing untoward. The Deck Officer looked up, waving a greeting and he lifted his hand in return, walking across to where the Flight had already half-disappeared into the innards of Hawkspar’s X-wing.

Frowning Ary looked up at her, demanding, “Have you been here all night?”

There was no answer. Ary swore silently. If the Flight was in one of her complete concentration moods, that meant trouble for everyone. Especially if she had done one of her up-all-night stints, trying to work through the potential causes of the flanges cracking. Which, he acknowledged with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Enilra’s continued presence in the hangar made a distinct possibility.

Andi’s crew hadn’t found anything on Xen’s fighter, but both his crew and Andi’s had disappeared before the rest of the teams had managed to examine the other T-65s. If the Flight was still here it meant that the other crews had found problems.

“Yoh!” he yelled. “Flight!”

Lori Enilra swore, extracting herself from the X-wing’s innards and looking down over the edge of the wing at whoever was disturbing her. “What?” she demanded irritably.

The dark smudges beneath her eyes and the dishevelled appearance of the normally pristine hair confirmed his suspicions. “Have you been here all night?”

“Did someone promote you over me, Chief?” Lori challenged, temper frayed to breaking point. Damn it, she wasn’t going to take that tone of voice from anyone…

Ary crossed his arms, giving her a long, hard stare. Then he changed tactic, “I take it that the other crews found the same problems?”

Tired and cranky, she snapped, “Yes! Now get up here and help me strip this coolant system…”

“Put the hydrospanner down, Flight.”

Astounded at his impertinence, Lori simply looked at him, “What?”

“Put the hydrospanner down,” Ary repeated, slowly and carefully, “and get off the wing.”

Lori’s anger exploded, “Just who in the hells do you think you are…?”

“We got a problem here?” Andi Sedalbi’s voice asked quietly from behind Ary.

“Problem?” Lori spluttered, pushing herself to her feet. “Problem? We sure as hells do!”

“The Flight has been up all night working on the flanges,” Ary informed Andi. “Not only that but she’s been working alone, thereby breaking at least three hangar regulations. And if the Flight does not get down off the T-65 right now I am going to summon the Deck Officer and have her relieve the Flight of duty.”

“Don’t you try…” Lori began.

But Andi looked up at her, “Sorry, Flight, Chief Drayke has a point.”

The Flight exploded, “Don’t stand down there and tell me how…”

“Flight, put the spanner down and get off the wing,” Andi interrupted.

Enilra took a breath to let loose a tirade. Ary saw the Deck Officer looking across in their direction and his heart sank as she turned and walked towards them. He hadn’t exactly intended to involve the Deck Officer, despite his threat. The Flight was going to well and truly blow her stack if the Deck Officer did get involved.

Enilra was already in full flow, stabbing the hydrospanner at the two Chiefs. As she drew closer, Orise heard the Flight threatening them with everything up to and including Court Martial if they didn’t stop being so bloody stupid and get some work done. She glanced up at Enilra, who was standing with her back to her, then darted beneath the X-wing and stood beneath the starboard S-foil, trying to catch the attention of at least one of the two Chiefs who were obviously responsible for upsetting the Flight.

Ary looked at her. She lifted her shoulders in question, mouthing, “What’s up?”

“The Flight’s been up all night working on her own,” Ary told her out loud. “I pointed out that she had broken regulations. She didn’t like it.”

“And just who the hells are you talking to?” Lori demanded, hands on her hips.

Orise walked out from beneath the T-65, “Sorry, Flight, I didn’t want to interrupt but I need a word…”

“Not now…”

“It’s important,” Orise tried.

“Can’t it wait?” Lori demanded.

“Actually…” Orise smiled, “no, it can’t.”

Muttering beneath her breath, Lori turned, climbing down the scaffolding to the deck. She turned, almost throwing the spanner at Ary, ordering, “Strip the coolant system out completely!” Then she turned, walking away with the Deck Officer.

Andi whistled softly, “We, my friend, are in deep doodoo…”

Ary glanced at him. “You have no idea, Andi,” he replied softly, turning towards the scaffolding. “You have no idea.”

“So what did you need to see me about?” Lori asked, anger still bubbling below the surface.

“I’ll explain everything in a moment,” Orise told her calmly, walking her across the hanger to the Deck Officer’s niche, ignoring the look that Flight threw at her. She drew Lori into the relative privacy of the niche, then told her calmly, “You are relieved of duty.”

Lori gaped at her. Anger snapping she tried to push her way past the Deck Officer but Orise stood in her way. “Don’t you dare walk away from me, Flight!” the normally quiet and amiable Deck Officer warned.

“No!” Lori retorted, her voice dripping venom, “Don’t you dare try to tell me how to do my job!”

“You think that what you’re doing out there is your job?” Ymra laughed derisively, then accused, “In the state you’re in?”

Lori shot her a look of disgust and tried to move past her again, but Orise pushed her back against the wall, “Don’t make me make this official, Flight!”

Enilra took a breath to let loose another tirade, but the Deck Officer got there first. Voice dangerously quiet, she began to count points off on her fingers, “You have been awake since before the beginning on my shift yesterday. That’s over twenty-four hours! You ate hardly anything during my shift and you’ve survived on kaffin during Kyven’s! And I don’t care how inspired your idea was, you broke your own rules by climbing all over that T-65 on your own! In addition, you have just lost your temper with two of your engineers who, quite rightly, tried to point out that you ought to get some rest! Five strikes, Flight! You are obviously unfit for duty! And unless you see sense and quietly walk out of the hangar on your own, I will have you removed!”

“Fine!” Lori fumed. “Have it your way!”

From the top of Hawkspar’s fighter, the two Chiefs saw the Flight push past the Deck Officer and storm off towards the hangar exit. Ymra turned, watching her go. Then she looked across at the Chiefs and lifted her hand. Ary saluted her in acknowledgement, throwing a glance at Andi, who pulled a face and shrugged.

Andi dropped to his knees, reaching inside the X-wing’s engine, sending a silent message to the Goddess that the Flight had cooled down by the time she got back.

~ * ~

“Can I join you?”

Xen Edraa looked up, smiling slightly at her sister, “Of course you can.” Shei had already left with Jon and Mas, saying that she would show them to the briefing room. Xen had stayed, using the few minutes alone to try to work out what she was going to tell the Squadron about Kaz.

Emaar put her tray on the table, dropping into the seat opposite Edraa. Silence stretched uneasily between them for a long moment, Edraa staring into her kaffin, Emaar pushing the food around on her plate with her fork. Finally Emaar took a deep breath and looked up at her sister, “I didn’t expect to find you here. Let alone as my senior officer…”

Edraa smiled again slightly, “You were the last person I ever thought I would see here.”

“Yeah,” Emaar said, looking back down at her plate, “things have a strange way of working out...” She picked up a slice of bread, taking a bite and chewing on it thoughtfully. Then she looked back up at her sister, “So how long have you been with the Rebellion?”

“Almost two years…”

Emaar almost choked. She took a mouthful of kaffin swallowing hard, “Two years? Aunt Bel has been covering for you for two years?”

Edraa nodded saying nothing. Emaar looked at her then asked, “And Laruna?”

Edraa hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should admit to Em that their cousin, Aunt Bel’s daughter, had been with the Alliance even longer than she had. She sighed, deciding to give Emaar that particular bit of information only if she asked, telling her simply, “Laruna’s a Bridge Ops Officer with the Home One.”

Emaar sat, stunned, wondering how she could have been so naïve as to let her Aunt fool her into this false security for so long. Two years… two whole years… And every single time she had bought the whole “Oh, Edraa’s out with friends. But I’ll let her know you called…” And “Lana’s not in, dear, but she’ll be sorry she missed you…”

Two years… How could she have missed it?

Xen watched the shocked emotion play across Emaar’s face and found herself completely at a loss as to what to do. They were sisters. But she no longer knew the woman who sat across the table from her. Laruna was closer to her than Emaar had ever been… She wanted to walk round, put her arm round Em and tell her that it was okay, that they had lied to her for her own good. But Xen had no idea if she would accept the gesture of comfort. She had no idea how to react around her.

Emaar shook her head, looking at her, “Well, don’t I feel stupid.”

“Em, what were we supposed to do?” Edraa tried. “Call you on an open line to tell you that we were disappearing to join the Alliance?”

Emaar knew that. Her head was telling her that they had been right, that they had only been trying to protect her. But her heart pushed anger and dismay through her. She shoved herself to her feet, “Fine. Whatever.”

“Em, please…?”

Emmar looked at her, “Not now, Little Sister! I just… I need some time.” She turned, striding across the rec room towards the corridor, almost knocking Baz over as he walked through the door.

Xen sank into the chair, closing her eyes… She didn’t need this, not right now, not with Kaz being arrested and things as they were with the squadron. Maybe she should talk to Laruna. Maybe she would know what to do.

“Xen?” a voice asked softly, “Are you okay?”

Edraa looked up. Baz was standing beside her, his eyes worried. She tried to smile, but didn’t quite make it. “I’ll be fine,” she assured him.

He pulled out the chair, sitting down beside her. “Okay, what’s going on?”

She looked at him, “What do you mean?”

“Kal’Ten’s just stormed off like an irate Markat muttering about leaving the squadron. Emaar’s almost knocked me over in her rush to get out of here. And you look as if the universe is about to end!”

Xen sighed, considering telling him to mind his own business. But the concern on his face was genuine, his eyes mirroring the worry. And suddenly she found herself telling him, “Emaar’s just upset that she didn’t know I had joined the Alliance.”

“And now you’re her senior officer…”

Xen nodded, “That about wraps it up.”

“I can see how she’d be a little… ticked off.” He gave her a gentle smile, “So what’s up with Lainy?”

Xen sighed again, “Lainy is upset because…” She tried to find the words to tell him, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them, finally telling him, “Because Commander Hawkspar was taken off active duty last night.”

His eyes went wide, “What…? Why? Is she ill?”

“No…” She took a deep breath, forming the words inside her head before telling him, “She’s been arrested.”

Baz started to laugh, then realised that Xen was serious. “I know,” she told him, her voice weary and strained, “Ridiculous, isn’t it…”

He leant towards her, “Goddess, why? What happened?”

She shook her head, not trusting her voice for a moment. Then she admitted softly, “If I knew that I wouldn’t be half as worried… She’s being questioned by Alliance Intelligence...”

“Questioned…? What the hells do they think she’s done?”

She looked at him, wanting to share this burden with him. But this was hers to bear alone. Hers and Lainy’s. And then she realised that she was going to have to tell the rest of the squadron anyway. If she didn’t the rumours would spread like wildfire… and the goddess only knew what atrocities the rumourmongers would come up with. She took another deep breath. “They think she may have been passing information to the Empire… But that goes no further… for the time being.”

For a long moment Baz looked at her aghast. He hadn’t been with the squadron long, but he had heard a lot about Kaz Hawkspar from the Rogue pilots and Xen and Kal’Ten. Wedge Antilles had spoken highly of her - she had been Wedge’s CO when he first joined the Alliance. And after that Xen and Kal’Ten had told him stories that had only reinforced the impression Antilles had given him. Gut instinct told him that something was very wrong with this whole situation. The same instinct that had pulled him towards…

He pushed that thought away, not wanting to acknowledge it. He had a new life here. He was an Alliance fighter pilot. And this gorgeous young woman beside him was obviously troubled and more than a little worried about their Commanding Officer.

Without thinking he reached out, taking her hands in his. She looked at him, tilting her head slightly and frowning. Suddenly realising what he had done, he started to let her hands go. Then changed his mind, squeezing them gently in reassurance. She smiled.

A tray clattered onto the table across from them, breaking the moment. Startled they both looked round. Xen pulled her hands away, glancing across at the chronometer. “We’d better get to briefing,” she told Baz, trying not to think about how grey his eyes were. “You’ve got a hard day ahead.”

Thoughts of the simulator runs they would be doing later suddenly brought all the briefly forgotten doubts about Baz crashing back in on her. Suddenly his concern seemed far from sincere. She pushed herself to her feet, anger that she had allowed herself to fall for his apparent kindness, flaring to the surface.

How could she possibly have forgotten her doubts about him? Only the other day she had been ready to walk into Kaz’s office and tell her that there was something not completely genuine about the Rookie. And here she was now, letting him charm her…

He had also risen to his feet and was smiling at her, oblivious of her sudden change of mood. She forced herself to smile back, forced herself to chat amiably as she walked with him towards the canteen door. But, she vowed, by the time Kaz got back she would have the answer! By the time Kaz got back she would know exactly what it was that was making her so suspicious Pilot Officer Baz Ahtron…

~ * ~

Shei stopped at the door of the almost empty briefing room, flanked by Mas and Jon. She frowned as she saw Lainy Kal’Ten. The Squadron Second was standing at the lectern, reading a data pad. But her body was wound tight, tension radiating from her. Shei walked across, standing in front of the lectern Mas and Jon following her. For a long moment Lainy didn’t see them. Then she looked up.

“Shei Redav reporting for duty,” Shei told her, “with Masrya Wolvsdaater and Jon Alpelor.”

Lainy nodded to them, still uncomfortable with who they were but knowing there was nothing she could do about it. Kaz had made her decision. “Take a seat anywhere you want, Gentlemen. We don’t stand on ceremony here.” They both turned, heading up the steps.

Shei smiled, “Is everything all right, Lieutenant?”

“Sure,” Lainy dismissed, looking back down at the pad, “everything is just hunkey dorey.”

Shei Redav dropped her head to the side slightly, frowning and repeating words that were alien to her, “Hunkid ori… I am sorry, Lieutenant but I am unfamiliar with this phrase…” She paused then formed the words again, “hunkid ori.”

Lainy looked back up at her, seeing the confusion in the amethyst eyes. She felt a momentary rush of disgruntled irritation…

Then a small voice at the back of her mind reminded her that this young woman was one of the squadron. And that she, Lainy Kal’Ten was Acting Second. No matter what had happened, no matter how angry she was about everything, no matter how much trouble Kaz was in, when push came to shove she was now acting Second in Command to the squadron and she had a responsibility to it… And to Kaz. And to Shei, who was fast becoming a friend…

The anger dissolved in the face of duty. She smiled. “Hunkey dorey… It means all right, fine, okay …” she explained.

“Hunki dori…” Shei repeated slowly.

“Yes.”

“I see,” Shei replied in a tone that indicated she didn’t. But Lainy was no longer wound tight. The smile was genuine. Still, Shei asked, “And everything is hunki dori?”

Lainy’s smile faltered and Shei suddenly sensed the weary apprehension that Lainy had hidden behind the tension. Then it was gone, replaced by calm determination. The smile reasserted itself. “No,” Lainy admitted. “Everything is most definitely not hunkey dorey.”

Shei looked at her, “Is it within my power to do something to help?”

“No,” Lainy told her, shaking her head slightly. “Everything will be explained when the rest of the squadron arrive…”

“I see…”

“Lieutenant Commander?”

Lainy turned. Poom-Bar was walking through the door, flanked by a tall, cerise skinned, Iridonian Zabrak and a dark-haired man and woman. Triona’s hair was shorter, but Lainy recognised her and recognition sparked in Triona’s eyes bringing a slow smile to her lips.

“Can I introduce our newest recruits…?”

Lainy smiled at them in welcome, walking off the dais to meet them as they crossed the floor. And Shei suddenly realised that the Poom-Bar had called Lainy “Lieutenant Commander.”

“Lieutenant Commander Lainy Kal’Ten,” Lainy told them, introducing herself, “Acting Second of Omega Squadron. Welcome aboard! And call me Lainy. We have no need to stand on ceremony here.”

“Lainy!” Triona greeted, grinning at her. “Where have you been?”

“Here and there!” Lainy told her, pulling herself together, taking Triona’s hand and shaking it warmly. “How are you?”

“Me? I’m fine… How long have…?” Then she shook her head, “Never mind…” She turned, “Lainy, this is my husband, Daav. Daav, this is Lainy.”

They shook hands as Triona explained, “Lainy’s family were with the Corellian delegation on Coruscant…” She trailed off then asked, “I can’t believe that you’re here! It’s been so long! And… what ever happened to Kaz? You two were inseparable!”

“They still are!” a voice said from behind her. Triona turned as a woman with long, dark curls continued, “Kaz Hawkspar is your Commanding Officer.”

Triona turned back to Lainy, “What? She’s here…?”

“Not… exactly…” Lainy began. “But that will all be explained. Just go in and grab a seat. The others should be here shortly. Oh, and this is Lieutenant Commander Xen Edraa, Acting Commander of the squadron.”

Xen grinned at them, shaking their hands, “Call me Xen.”

“Triona,” the woman introduced.

“Daav,” the dark-headed man told her. Triona grinned at her then took Daav’s hand and together they walked into the briefing room. Xen glanced at Lainy and then at the hand-holding couple. Lainy saw the look and quirked an eyebrow, already turning her attention to the third pilot.

The Iridonian Zabrak bowed deeply, “Thierr Keei.”

“Welcome, Thierr,” Xen greeted. “Find yourself a seat, make yourself at home.”

He smiled, showing a row of small, razor sharp teeth, “I do not believe the rest of my human colleagues would appreciate the odour if I were to truly accept your offer of making myself at home…”

Lainy laughed, opening her mouth to tell him that if they could put up with Pivv’s flatulence then they could put up with anything. But, suddenly, she remembered that Pivv was dead. He had died with the rest of Omega at the Richlo rescue. She managed to keep the smile, managed to make another quip that pulled a deep, throaty laugh from Thierr. But she suddenly found herself wanting to throw up, to get as far away from the briefing room as she could.

And finally she began to realise the true responsibility of being the one in charge… Goddess, was this what Kaz had to go through every time? The blow almost took her breath away. Suddenly she was beginning to realise just how much Kaz had sheltered her…

Thierr had turned, moving into the room. “Do we have a romance in our midst?” Xen asked.

Lainy looked at her, dropping the bombshell, “Worse. Apparently they got married just before they arrived.”

Xen looked at her, “What…?” Pulling a face she sighed, “Oh, hells, that’s the last thing we need! Kaz is going to blow a gasket!”

Guilt pushed at Lainy’s conscience. The responsibility of being Squadron Second was slowly taking on a whole new meaning. For a moment she considered admitting to Xen what was going on between her and Ary.

Then she changed her mind. Xen had just been thrown into the deep end as CO. She didn’t need any more poodoo dropped on her from a great height. And besides, it wasn’t Xen who had a problem with inter-squadron relationships, it was Kaz. She understood now that it was her duty to tell Kaz the truth. With a sinking heart she recognised that her conscience would no longer allow her to keep her relationship with Ary a secret.

She pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind, turning and following Xen into the briefing. Kaz could deal with the situation as she saw fit… when she got back.

~ * ~

Alissha Downhigher stirred and put her arm over her eyes. Beside her, Hobbie groaned, turning over and dragging his eyes open as another spray of cold water hit him. Wedge Antilles grinned down at him, “Don’t you have a briefing at oh-seven-hundred?”

Hobbie pushed himself up, realising that his shoulder ached and that he was lying on a hard floor. His head pounded. “Wha…?”

“Don’t you have a briefing at oh-seven-hundred?”

Hobbie blinked at him, “Whasi time…?”

Wedge’s grin widened further, “Oh-six-fifty-eight!”

Suddenly, sickeningly sober, Hobbie scrambled to his feet, “Damn it! The Commander’s gonna fry me!”

“Nah,” Wedge told him, as Gee-Em stumbled towards the door, “She’ll just put you up against a wall and give you the whole “You have sorely disappointed me” speech!” Hobbie disappeared into the corridor and Wedge followed, shouting after him, “Then she’ll ground you!”

Chuckling softly to himself, determined not to give in to the despondency that was lurking at the edges of his good humour, Wedge turned back, walking across and dropping to his knees to shake Ali’s shoulder, “Come on, Lieutenant! Rise and shine!”

~ * ~

“Is everyone here?” Xen asked, scanning the faces in front of her.

“Nope…” Lainy supplied, “Hobbie.”

Her tone of voice told Xen that Lainy was thinking exactly the same thing she was. Under the circumstances it wasn’t entirely unexpected that Hobbie would be late. Under similar circumstances it was doubtful if she would have turned up. He was probably lying in a heap somewhere, nursing a hangover… And grieving for a dead friend.

And for that she couldn’t fault him…

She checked the chronometer on the wall, caught between letting the squadron know what had happened the previous evening and giving the pilot another few minutes. She glanced across at Lainy.

Lt Cdr Lainy Kal’Ten shook her head slightly, telling her acting CO, “Leave him. If he does arrive late I’ll explain everything to him outside.”

Xen nodded, turning to the waiting pilots. And the door opened, Hobbie rushing through. They both saw the relief on his already pale face as he saw that Hawkspar wasn’t in the room yet. Xen nodded to him as he mumbled an apology then slipped into one of the seats.

Taking a deep breath, Xen began, “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Omega Squadron…”