by Sazril "Yale" Murshid

Chapter 6

"If you say so. But I have my orders, just like you. Now, let's start this again. Why did you attack the platform?"

Outside the interrogation room, Gundark Leader was overseeing the session through a window. Zoom and Kyp were with him, both anxious to know anything about their attackers.

"It's still too early to tell," the SpecForce Major answered. "But I'd love to see his face when he winds up in a room with two Horteks from Intel."

"Big, mean, armored like a Barabel, and telepathic, at least among themselves," the Major explained. "Some of them have learned to 'read' other species, like humans. Not someone you'd want to meet in a dark alley." He chuckled, then changed the subject. "How's that pilot of yours? The one who captured him?"

"He's supposed to be out later today for the funeral. But the doctor said he could have visitors."

The Major turned to the ink-black monster beside him, currently visible. "Rikhush, go and get Keisya will you? She wanted to meet him as well."

"Growor," the shadow answered. The overhead lights glinted off the smooth curve of the visor that hid its eyes as it nodded and turned away. Both Reds stared after it.

"He's okay. Not a bad team member, even though a tad too aggressive about completing objectives," the Major answered. "By the way, what can you tell me about that pilot?"

"Only what was declassified. He was on a cross-department transfer to Red Squadron for advanced starfighter training. Other than that was for my eyes only."

In the Med Bay, Yale was being teased by Leo, whose head was still bandaged, about breaking his arm and ribs.

"You sure have a weak arm, Yale. Look at me: a few knocks to the head and I'm still walking unaided."

Suddenly the door hissed open, revealing Gundark Leader, Zoom, Kyp and Gundark Eight, who had joined the party of commanding officers. With her helmet off, it was easy to see that Gundark Eight was a small woman, brunette with a fair complexion and greenish-blue eyes. Those eyes narrowed to slits when she saw Yale.

Her throwing blade slid into her right hand and with one fluid motion she threw it. The blade imbedded itself in the back of a datapad Yale had quickly snatched up. She was about to throw another when Gundark Leader chopped at her left wrist, knocking the blade to the floor.

Zoom and Kyp were pushed aside by a shadowy shimmer, which then partially enveloped Eight, wrapping strong hairy arms around her body. She squirmed.

Assessing the situation, Gundark Leader gave an order he would rather not have. "One-Bee, sedate her!"

With professional calm, the medical droid rolled up and did his duty. Keisya sagged in the restraining grasp of the invisible Defel.

"What's the meaning of this, Major?" Zoom asked, holstering his blaster. He was about to stun the SpecForce woman when the Defel moved in.

"I'm sorry, Commander. I should have seen this coming," the Major said. He turned and motioned to Yale. "Captain, if you would care to make things clearer?"

"Yes, sir. I know him," Yale said. He turned to Leo. "I'm sorry Leo, but you can't hear this. Could you excuse us for a few minutes?"

"Sure thing," Leo said, glad to leave the uncomfortable atmosphere that had just developed in the Med Bay. "But give me a declassified version or something later, okay?"

They all waited until Leo left the area and the door securely shut behind him. Then the Major asked again, "Captain?"

"Can I leave too, sir? I don't want to listen to any of his lies," Keisya said with a bit of a slur, struggling against the Defel and the drug in her system.

"Permission denied. Rikhush, let go of her but watch her close. Captain, please continue."

"Perhaps I'd better explain to the Commander and Lt. Commander how I knew you," Yale said. Taking a deep breath, he continued. "Major Carjoun, here, was my instructor. He trained me as a SpecForce Infiltrator before my posting to the intelligence based SpecForce unit."

"And Keisya...," Yale's eyes turned glassy with tears for a moment, but he blinked them away. "Keisya is my fiancé's younger sister."

"Your ex-fiancé. You killed her! You took a civilian into a fire fight! She wasn't trained for that!"

"You know how it is with Intel, Commander," Yale said sadly, recalling that Zoom had read his personnel file. "Need to know. Keisya and her family did not know."

"The secret I have been holding from your family for the last two years." Yale sighed. "Petresya wasn't a civilian; she was Intelligence, Special Ops. She was part of my team from the moment it was formed. She made me promise not to tell you or your family unless it was really necessary."

"Yes, she specialized in deep cover and electronics. I was her deep cover partner. Because of her work in Intel, no one must know about her work. It's her way to protect you and your family."

"I... I need to sit down," Keisya said. She slumped into a chair, looking up at Yale and then Major Carjoun. "You knew... and you didn't tell me?"

"I trained her, Keisya. Just like I've trained you. The difference is that she was in intelligence whereas you were in the military. You knew the protocols. I was the one who wrote the report to your family with her promise in mind, to tell you as little as possible about her work. It came as a surprise to me when I found your name on the list to be trained as an infiltrator."

The Major turned to Zoom and Kyp. "Come, gentlemen. Let's leave them for a while. I think these two have a lot to talk about."

They left Yale and Keisya in the Med Bay, watched over by the vigilant Defel and the Emdees.

Later, in one of the three mess halls onboard the Salvation, a group of somber people gathered. They were pilots from three squadrons, Red, Bishop and Rook, minus those badly injured and deceased. Surviving support personnel from Red Squadron were joined by personnel from both the Salvation and Knight's Errand as well as others involved in the battle like Gundark Unit. Among the officers present was Fleet Admiral Ackbar, who arrived by shuttle short moments ago.

Bishop Leader and the Salvation Group commanders began to read the list of casualties and those missing in action or presumed dead. The list began with the support staff and civilian crewmen before moving on to pilots. Gundark Unit declined to be included in the ceremony, preferring to mourn their dead in private. But their contributions to the battle were noted.

Zoom stepped forward to take his turn. He swept his gaze over the faces before him, Red Squadron's pilots, trainees and their support personnel. He could see Trixel Narmi, the Idiri woman, consoling a lady at the back of the room. With a heavy heart he began to read the list of casualties from Red Squadron.

"Killed in Action: Harrison, D. Captain; Jarvis, C. Ensign; Arvis, D. Chief Technician; Juxit, T. Private..." He continued to call out the names of the security personnel and staff found dead.

He paused then continued. "Missing in Action, presumed dead: Ames, H. Captain; Batt, D. Lieutenant..." He ended with Red Fourteen. "Pilot Firebrand, J. Lieutenant."

The other commanders had stepped back after reading out their list, but Zoom stayed on. He had been chosen to give the final speech to pay homage for those who went before them.

"Many of these people probably never wanted to be heroes. But if not for their courage and sacrifice, many more of us - myself included - would not be standing here today. Quite simply, we owe them our lives."

"Some of you may ask yourselves, 'Why them, and not me?' The sad truth is that war doesn't work like that. War is arbitrary and often unfair, and it rarely allows substitutions. Some of our fallen comrades did have a choice... and they chose, in the end, to save others rather than themselves. Nor should we question their decision."

Kelly found himself thinking of Deela, and Dragon, and even Yale's fiancee, who he'd never met. He took a deep breath, trying to ignore the tightness in his throat.

"The war goes on. But today, we pause to rest, to think of absent friends... and thank them."

As he finished his speech, a tech from the Salvation activated the launch system to send the caskets in single file towards a small sun on a final convoy. With most of their homeworlds still under Imperial control, the Alliance had decided that the stars themselves would be the most suitable and efficient final resting place for their personnel.

Zoom followed the convoy with his eyes until the brilliance of the sun hid them from his view. He saluted and all present followed suit.

In small briefing rooms after the official ceremony, small private ceremonies were held by each squadron. Admiral Ackbar attended each one. At Red Squadron's ceremony, he passed Red Leader a small package and addressed the pilots in his gravelly voice.

"Earlier, we honored the dead. Now it is time for us to honor the living. Commander, if you would?"

"Thank you, Admiral," Zoom said. "Please step forward as I call your name. Flight Officers Sean Healey, Mario Rodgers, Stjepan Bedic and Chelsey Maxfield."

The four pilots stood at attention, one step in front of the others. All were anxious and tense, especially Vape, the newest member of the Combat Wing.

"All of you have shown initiative, quick thinking, bravery, and piloting skill - some of which, I would like to think, is the result of your training with us. Therefore, it is my pleasure to convey upon you the rank of lieutenant in the Alliance Starfighter Command."

Zoom proceeded to place the lieutenant pips on each of the four pilots, amid applause from all those around them. Once he completed fastening the pips, all four of them saluted their squadron leader who returned the salute.

Once the applause had subsided, the Admiral spoke again. "All of you deserve these commendations and recognition of your service to the Alliance. Now, I must take my leave."

"The least I could do, Commander," the admiral said, before he left the room. The others were beginning to follow the admiral out, but Zoom signalled that the ceremony was not yet at its end.

"A few other items of business. First, to Red Base support personnel. I know most of you put in a transfer to follow the Training Wing or the Regis. Unfortunately, only a few vacancies were available on the Regis. Some of you, I regret would be transferred to other locations. But the moment there is any vacancy, I'll personally contact all of you. You were all people I'm proud to have had the pleasure to work with. And I look forward to working with all of you again if the opportunity arises. Thank you all for your support to Red Squadron."

Red Base's support personnel began filing out of the room. The pilots and Trix remained behind. Trix was detained from leaving by Kyp, who waited at the door to get hold of her privately. Once everyone left, Zoom turned to the Idiri standing nervously at the side.

"I don't know. I wish I could stay with the Training Wing, but I don't think that's possible. As far as I know, civilians aren't allowed on warships, even Rebel ones."

"First of all, the Regis has been reclassified as a Combat Ready Training Frigate," Zoom began, to the surprise of the trainees. "Secondly, only non-working civilians are not allowed on the frigates. I've talked to Capt. Daly about you. You showed how well you handle people like Miki. We need someone like you to look after the morale of the pilots and staffs on the Regis. And Capt. Daly agreed. Do you want it?"

"Officially you don't, but you can have the Mug as your office. About time we had a good bartender. You'll do quite nicely, I think."

"Okay, now the second part of the debriefing. Here in my hands are the new general orders for Red Squadron."

Zoom quickly referred to the datapad. "First of all, the reclassification of the Regis as a Combat Ready Training Frigate. So all of you still in the Training Wing, don't bother unpacking because you're coming with us. You'll also be pulling regular patrols with the Training Officer, who will still be Capt. Magill."

All the Combat Wing pilots smiled, thinking of the many hours they were going to have in the simulators 'training' the trainees.

"There will be a reshuffling of numbers. I am still Red One or Leader with Kyp and Rapier retaining their numbers too. Ranger is Red Four and Training Leader. Red Five and Nineteen are still reserved. Leo is Six and Wire is Seven."

Everyone took note of their new squadron numbers, waiting for other names to be called out. Things were going to be slightly confusing until they were familiar with the new assignments. Ranger grinned, thinking of the runs he would put the Combat Wing through to familiarize themselves with the reshuffling.

"Jaguar and Phoenix are Eight and Nine respectively. Next is Redjed, Ten, Carcajou is Eleven and Vape is still Twelve. Yale is now Thirteen and Kiki Fourteen."

"I'll lead One Flight with Rapier on my wing and Leo and Wire as Element Two. Kyp will lead Two Flight with Jaguar as his wingman and Phoenix and Redjed completing his flight as Element Four."

"That's you and Carcajou, and when you're leading the Training Flight, which is designated as Four Flight, Carcajou will take over lead. Vape and Yale are Element Six. Kiki, you'll also be attached to Element Six for now, until we can find you a wingman of your own. Any questions?"

"Okay, that's all for now. We'll transfer back to the Regis at the end of the week. Until then, we'll be filling in here with the Salvation Group until Rook and Bishop get their new pilots. Which reminds me, I'm on the flight line in an hour. Dismissed."

Epilogue

Later, in his temporary office aboard Knight's Errand, Zoom mused over the set of Captain pips he'd been given, turning the rank badge over and over in his fingers. On the terminal screen was a half-written form letter to Harrison's family.

Kelly had met Dayn Harrison shortly after he was assigned as the commander of Red Base. Arguments between the two were inevitable, but the man was dedicated and protective like hell over his pilots, especially the trainees. Kelly had come to respect and even like him.

He didn't know how to break the news to Harrison's family, especially to his fourteen year old son. The boy wanted to be like his father and had said wanted to wear his father's pips if he ever got to be a captain in the Alliance Armed Forces. The idea was for the elder Harrison to do the pinning himself. But now, only the pips were going to be there, not his father.

When is this war going to end? He had lost too many friends, too many pilots, killed too many people already. He didn't know how long he could keep this up. Zoom rubbed a hand over his face and glanced down at the desk. The pips looked up at him like unblinking eyes, daring him to quit. He closed his fingers around them and placed them back in the pouch.

One thing he did know: Harrison's son did not deserve an impersonal form letter. He picked up a stack of flimsies and a stylus and began to write his own letter of condolence to the fourteen year old.

Many light years away, in another office, an Imperial captain was looking at two datapads. One had the report on his ship's gravity well generators, the other a show-cause letter from his superior officers. He was disillusioned by the Empire. He had entered the Navy to fight for what he believed in, not for power. Now, he did not know what his beliefs were anymore. Perhaps it was time for a change.

He looked up from the datapads he was reading. Sitting in front of him were a man dressed in a TIE pilot's shipboard uniform and another, younger Navy captain. Both looked questioningly at him.