“Would you relax please!” Sabine scolded, another servicing tray bounding off the floor of the room with an obnoxious clatter.
Hera bore her eyes into the Mandalorians with severity, “If you tell me to relax one more time Sabine, I swear….” Hera began her threat but peeled out of it as the ongoing labor pains wracked her pelvis, turning her threat into a shout of torment, “Gahhhhhh!”
Sabine could only swallow hard and tune out the vocalized anguish as she snatched at Hera’s flailing hand, trying in vain to provide some form of comfort. She watched on in helplessness as the Twi’leks cheeks converged from the soft dulcet green to a rosy pink, beads of sweat lining her brow. Hera’s hand firmly in her grip she could sense the pains subsiding for the time being as the muscles began to relax in her hand and arm. She could only watch as Hera pumped her lungs, her chest rising and falling quickly to replenish the air in them. Hera finally closed her eyes as she tilted her head into the pillow, her body calming and finding a relaxing peace.
Sabine whirled at a knock at the door, “Karabast!” She swore, gently plying her own hand loose of Hera’s and firing over to silence the interloper, almost tripping in the process over the pile she had made of her armor on the floor. Stumbling to regain her balance she slammed her hand into the door actuator not caring who was on the other side of it as she burst through and kicked the opposing actuator to close it again. “Zeb!!! She’s resting!!”
“Not to put too fine a point on it, but your making more noise than I am….a lot more.” Garazeb Orellios pointed out with a hand on the back of his head massaging the thump he received from Sabine’s less than warm greeting. “Get off.” He finished, pushing her off his chest and onto the floor.
“She’s driving me crazy!” Sabine said in a shouted whisper as she picked herself up, “I’m going to pull my hair out!” She finished with a gargled exhale.
Zeb understood her completely, “It’s gotta be close, she’s worse than a rampaging Wookie.”
“ZZ said it could be anytime now.” Sabine added with a hand to her forehead, rubbing out her own thump from the Lasat’s chin, “what was it anyway?”
Zeb stared at her with a confused expression, then screwed his face into excitement, “I had an idea. Remember the gas refinery in the Baros system?”
Now it was Sabine’s turn to wear the confused expression, “No.”
“The refinery, mining guild, where we liberated the clouzon thirty-six a few years back.”
“Why wouldn’t you start with that….yes, I remember.” She answered, a puzzled look continuing to span her features.
“Look, we’ve been cooped up here for the most part, waiting for the Empire to retaliate.” Zeb continued with unabashed exhilaration as his mind was spewing out words faster than his mouth could utter.
“Zeb...what is the point?”
“The Purrgil Sabine, remember? What if we were able to shut down more of those refineries?” Zeb said a little more slowly so as not to confuse the subject.
The dawning realization slammed her right in the face as she brought up a hand to punctuate her understanding, “Zeb! That’s brilliant!” She said, forgetting about her forehead… “Why didn’t we think of that before?”
“Well...it is a long shot, but it’s something.” He responded with his palms raised and a crooked smile. “I thought maybe that might cheer her up.” He said after a few moments with a thumb arced toward the med bay doorway.
Sabine nodding in the affirmative as she closed the distance back toward the door and was about to punch the actuator when she heard a slight whimper come from the other side.
Pressing her ear to the panel she could hear Hera sobbing; Sabine drooped her own head in response and felt longingly against the door as her hand slid from its cupped position. She turned slowly to face Zeb, his own expression one of deep concern as he swallowed hard and wrapped her into a hug.
“C’mon, let’s go talk to her.” He said, the deepness of his voice reaching sentimental crackles. He gently pushed the actuator, the door hissing open quietly as they both focused on the huddled form of Hera, her arms folded over her knees.
“I wish you were here Kanan.” They both heard her say into her lap. Sabine looked to Zeb, hoping he could provide a reprieve from the threat of her tears only to find that he had one of his own tracing down his cheek. Zeb placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close as they both approached Hera together.
“We’re here for you Hera.” Sabine said as she placed her hand on Hera’s shoulder, Zeb taking the other.
“We wish he was here too Hera.” Zeb said giving the shoulder a gentle squeeze.
Hera did her best to compose herself, a bluster of arms and hands trying to wipe her tears away, “I know….” She choked through a sob, “I know, and thank you...both.” She blew out her expending breath as she stared at the foot of the bed before her, “I just miss him.”
They both gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze, “Hera.” Sabine started, figuring there was no time like the present. “Zeb has an idea.”
✦
“Go again for Audy.” Audenhoen said with a hand clapped to the side of his head. He eased his foot off the accelerator briefly to diminish the whining repulsors on his bike.
“I say again Deputy Director, I am having the remainder of the graves exhumed. Ships manifest out of Botajef placed the interim Skel crew of the ‘Tangible’ at twelve.” Sylde said with a mild static charge of electronic warble.
‘There were thirteen graves.’ Audenhoen thought to himself as he and Areti were a stone’s throw from the remains of the settlement. He swiveled to motion to Areti, tapping the side of his head. Giving him an affirmative nod, he knew she had heard as well. They both eased back on their respective accelerators as they pulled up to Silas waving his arms over his head.
“If I may Audy, although it is not a requirement by any means, I did request you activate your body cam for the benefit of all involved.” Sylde chimed in through the ear bead again.
Audenhoen mumbled a curse under his breath as he smacked the device he had attached to his chest, again turning to Areti to see her shaking her head.
“Apologies Captain, I thought I had activated.” Audenhoen lied.
“Thank you Audy.”
“Please keep me apprised of the teams’ findings at the sight. We are currently at the settlement.” Audy said as his bike pulled to a stop right before the helmetless trooper, Areti’s, a few seconds later.
“Copy, will do. Sylde out.”
Audenhoen hadn’t taken his eyes off Areti, tapping his right index finger and thumb together several times then following with a closed fist. She nodded with a subtle chin drop, ‘No, audio was not being relayed off planet.’
“Silas.” Audenhoen said to the trooper as he turned toward him, “have you found anything else of interest?”
“More of the same Sir, deliberate clues left to obfuscate.” Silas responded.
Areti turned her attention to the data pad again, silently hoping for another sign from whomever was trying to get her attention. She listened to the exchange between Audenhoen and Silas with passive interest, scanning the smoldering village with a keen eye. ‘How did they know we were coming?’ She asked herself, wondering how they were able to stage this incursion so quickly.
“Look here Sir.” She heard Silas say, her attention in the conversation renewed. “These scorch marks register a high level of glaotrium residues.” Silas said, pointing to charred marks around a door frame on the closest dwelling.
‘Why is that noteworthy?’ Areti asked herself.
“Glaotrium?” Audenhoen strode over to the doorway himself, running a fingertip over the blackened surface. “I’ve never heard of it.”
Silas straightened himself into a formal stance, “apologies Sir, I did not mean to offend.”
Audenhoen raised a dismissive hand as he continued to glare at the scorched metal and brick. “No offense whatsoever Silas, it is a testament to your own knowledge.”
Areti was a blaze of movement on her data pad finding only several entries for the alloy.
“Incredibly rare, hardening properties at the high end are twenty times the density of durasteel with a quarter of the weight. Does not appear in enough quantities to be considered harvestable however, so the Empire does not consider mining it worthy of time. These scorch marks are not Imperial.” She advised the two, knowing full well her assessment would surprise neither.
“Then who the hell did?...uh...sorry, Sir.” Silas asked.
“We have anything on suspected trajectories?” Audenhoen asked in return.
Silas tapped his wrist comm, “Seven, any contact points yet?”
“Mark thirty four point seven. Mark twenty three point nine. Mark seventy two point eight. Mark fifty seven point nine. Mark forty four point two eight one.” Silas relayed the audio feed from his own ear bead.
“That last one is really damn accurate.” Audenhoen responded, looking to Areti.
She entered the trajectory, referencing their present location, “Ambria is on a direct path, unless it’s just a stopping point.” She informed them, her eyes still glued to the data pad’s screen. “There is nothing on Ambria.” She stated looking up at the men, “it is by all rights a dead planet.”
Audenhoen couldn’t stifle his laugh, “If life has taught me anything it’s that nothing is at it seems Areti.” Neither Silas nor Areti could argue the point.
“Sir, I am going to rendezvous with team two and collab our findings.” Silas said with an attempted formal grace.
“Very good Silas, thank you for your assistance.” Audenhoen said, “I don’t believe we’re going to find anything else of note personally.”
Areti watched with Audenhoen as the trooper turned on his heel and walked up the central road, disappearing into the thick black smoke of the dying fires.
“Ambria?” She said turning to Audenhoen. “I’ve never even heard of it.”
Audenhoen mumbled his agreement, turning his head back to the scorch marks on the doorway. “Areti, why is this important?” He asked her, a finger extended toward the blackened surface.
“Well, as stated earlier, the Empire does not employ the use of glaotrium due to its rarity, and most certainly not in the fire control of a TIE fighter. To answer your question, it was deliberately done separate from the rest of what is, most certainly, a staged scene.” Areti said after a few long moments of contemplation.
“Good start. But your pointing out the obvious.” Audenhoen responded with a sly smirk, his left-hand stroking along the stubble at his cheeks. “My question then takes the form of observation. Why take the time to scorch an area, or areas,” he amended with a glance toward similar buildings, “when they intend on decimating the area anyway?”
Areti wasn’t sure the last was a question, having worked with the man long enough to pick up on his audible nuances, “hiding something.” She offered.
Audenhoen swung his gaze to her fully, “now that is precisely the answer I was looking for. Do we have our particle scanner?”
✦
Sylde watched the small display of video feed, featuring the odd angle of Audenhoen’s body cam footage. He ran his long slender fingers through his groomed hair in a sweeping motion, trying to decipher what it was on this building that drew the Deputy Directors clearly undivided attention. His interest gaining new levels when the assistant proffered a scanning device from her pack and handed it to the man. “Prit, give me this feed on two. Seven, analyze.” Sylde said walking with care toward the left most screen in the rear of his command deck. Resting his hand upon the final bank of computers before the screen he squinted his eyes as the live feed transferred from the tiny screen of the data bank rows to the giant screen. His interest lie within the readings of the scanner as it resolved to display a set of symbols.
“The Deputy Director has instructed his particle scanner to negate readings of glaotrium deposit and the heavy residue of carbon scoring.” Seven added as script became visible around the entirety of the symbol.
Sylde’s interest lie beyond the methods employed, “Seven, identify?”
“I cannot Sir, the scrawl is of no known origin and there are no graphic entries similar to the symbol itself.”
“Code Sir?” Pritcar offered beside him.
“Possibly. That would explain the need to thoroughly eradicate its presence.” Sylde commented with his hand cupping his chin, ‘to what end’ he thought to himself.
“Sir, sorry but the team three has completed excavation. Feed on three.” A junior officer, Ensign Lett, added from his position to Sylde’s extreme right. Sylde’s attention swiveled to the screen on the right as a garish scene snapped to view. The graves occupant was garbed in stained white armor, the black under suit flayed and shredded allowing all to see the words carved into the figure’s torso, “Tovic?” he heard Bev ask behind him.
“TC-two four five, assigned garrison duty to Trunion moon outpost in the Botajef sector. Sir, this trooper was not assigned with the other officers at the grave site.” Seven said for all to hear.
“What’s wrong with his head?” Pritcar asked, Sylde’s attention drawn to the odd cant of the deceased man’s chin, how it lay far too low upon his upper chest.
“Arlen, lift the chin.” Sylde commanded his trooper on scene.
Various gasps of shock and alarm sounded throughout the command deck as the mutilation of the man’s neck was displayed for all.
“How could they do this?” Sylde heard someone ask. He peeled his gaze from the screen to address his crew. “First, we deal in fact. This command deck will not operate under conjecture.” He said, without focusing on the source of the question directly. “Secondly, insurgents or not, whomever took the time to inter our dead, could not be responsible for a grievous wound such as that.” He finished with a flourish; his hand extended toward the grisly scene. “Operate within the field of sanity and common sense.”
“He did that to himself.” Pritcar voiced Sylde’s point.
“Excellent Prit, now, let’s put the pieces of this puzzle together.”
“If I may Sir.” Bev addressed the command deck, “The insurgents where reportedly on the ground, attempting to slice into the Imperial network within the garrison itself on the Trunion moon. Protocol and Directive drove Admiral Cain to dispatch the LC ‘Tangible’ to contain the breach.”
“Thirteen is not a crew, not even a skel crew Sir.” Ensign Lett added.
“More importantly, if they are all accounted for, how is the ship itself recorded as destroyed.” Prit voiced his thoughts.
“Cain’s directive is quite clear in its focus and as a result he does not have the luxury of full crew compliments. I would wager he sent what he could to answer your inquiry Lett.” Sylde offered. “That is a very good point Prit.” He swung to the man, his finger outstretched toward him, “follow that thought to its conclusion.”
“The ship is now in the hands of the Rebels.” Prit answered immediately, topping his head with the palms of his hands. “With a new signature entirely.”
Sylde’s face widened in a knowing smile as the sum of conclusion was nearing its apex, “we know someone quite talented in that particular art do we not?”
“Fardi.” Bev blew out the name louder than anticipated.
Sylde turned to her with a wink, “Fardi.”
✦
“What am I looking at?” Audenhoen asked Areti after the scanner had reported its findings.
“I have no idea, if the script is a language it’s one I’ve never seen before.” Areti responded, her head at his shoulder looking deeply into the scanner’s display. “This symbol.” She said with a finger directly atop the screen, “could be nothing more than scribbles for what it infers.”
Audenhoen noted the simplicity of the statement and appreciated the subjective removal of ‘easy’ from their collective vocabulary as he knew she didn’t believe that in any case any more than he did. “Fire up that data pad Areti, let’s see what we can find out.”
“Audy.” Sylde’s voice crackled over his ear bead.
“Go for Audy.”
“We are currently looking into the symbol and text from your image, but I also wanted you to be aware of our findings at the grave site.” Sylde said in a rapid cadence, Audenhoen doing his best to keep up. “The fourteenth grave was a stormtrooper, TC-two four five, assigned to Trunion moon garrison in Cain’s own sector command. He suffered mortal self-inflicted wounds. A spade we believe.”
Audenhoen lowered the scanner in his hands, pulling his eyes together in thought. “A spade. He was assisting with the internment?” He let the question flow.
“Assisting or merely present, we may never know.” Sylde responded, “but we’ve pieced together what we believe is of more importance.” He continued with a modulated warble. “The ‘Tangible’ crew, as you had deduced, were also felled from friendly fire. Our insurgents are then only responsible for the theft of Imperial property and nothing more.”
“Theft?” Audenhoen was confused.
“The ‘Tangible’ itself, we believe, was their intended target.” Sylde answered.
“Who could pull off slicing on that level?” Audenhoen almost berated himself for his lack of decorum as he was asking the questions before thinking them through.
“We may have that answer as well Deputy Director.”
Areti could feel the data pad in her hand noticeably vibrate, catching her attention enough to drop her gaze. Having the wherewithal to step away from Audenhoen and his cam, she swung her body to the right and out of view entirely before grasping the item with her other hand to give it her undivided attention. The display shifted slightly from the formatted search she had tasked it with before dissolving completely to a black screen. ‘What the…’ her thought trailed off as a simple line of text appeared in blue:
‘Garel’
The data entry cursor jumped to the line below the location and blinked several times:
‘Come alone’
Areti contained the gasp that would have alerted her superior, her mind already racing as her heart began to hammer in her chest. ‘How is anyone doing this?’ She asked herself, she had configured the device well beyond secure ISB protocols herself. She continued staring into the screen as its resolution snapped sharply to the left and restored its original contents just as she heard Audenhoen’s footfalls behind her.
“What is it Areti?” Audenhoen asked with a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Uh...just..interference, I think.” She stammered, catching his attention with a sidelong glance as he emerged into her peripheral view. She caught the look in his eyes, a flood of shame washing over her.
“I don’t trust those that keep things from us Audy.” She said, regaining some of her composure, “we are ISB after all, are we not?”
Audenhoen exhaled deeply, his eyes losing the accusatory look Areti had noticed and adopting one of concern, “there will be times when we specifically will not know what side we are on, either through our own endeavors or through the actions of others. The intelligence community is generally one of suspicions, half-truths, full lies, or misdirection. Sometimes all the above.” He said with passion in his voice, “but we must follow our intuition wherever it takes us to find truth.” He said slowly gazing down the main thoroughfare the settlement offered. “There will be times when that will supersede what is best for the Empire.”
Areti almost dropped the data pad onto the debris strewn ground, looking directly at the man’s profile. She could sense the honesty in his words, but beyond that, knew he was right.
“Not even our Empire is above truth.” Audenhoen said, Raada’s sun beaming off his glistening head. “That is our job Areti. Find truth.” He finalized, returning to look directly at her.
She was certain he hadn’t seen the data pad so she could only surmise that he knew something of what was turning her insides to such degree, but through his words had assured her that she would be responsible for her own initiatives and that he would allow her that freedom.
✦
N’dali was certain giving the Chalactan her location was not a clever idea, but this particular exchange needed a conclusion one way or another. She just took an enormous gamble but had enough sense to do so in a system under direct Imperial oversight. A lone Gozanti freighter wouldn’t even register across their system wide operations. She knew she had to remain cautious however as that same strategy could backfire with horrendous consequences. ‘What else does one say..’ she stewed over the question for several moments, deciding on recurrence, “Come alone.” She prompted her voice over algorithm subconsciously. ‘Well,’ She thought to herself, ‘your move Areti.’ She found the thought humorous, despite her lack of emotional base. ‘Ironic’ seemed a better fit she thought, considering she was utilizing Tagata Taia’s link to Sylde’s network, one she knew the Captain would discover sooner rather than later.
✦
“Sir, we have detected a foreign intrusion into our network.” Seven said distinctly and softly into Evan Sylde’s ear bead. He continued staring at the center screen of ‘Sidious’ command deck, watching as the teams on the ground were packing up their equipment. His expression unchanging, he brought up a hand to cup over his mouth, “location?” he whispered into his palm.
“It is minute, too subtle to be traced, nor would it even have been recognized by a crew member in our estimation. Location, unknown.” Seven replied.
“Continue tracing, find that intrusion.”
“Working Sir.”
“Bev, get me Hung.” Sylde said, dropping his hand to his side.
“Ready.” She responded.
“Hung, get your teams back while we determine next course of action. I want everyone off the ground in five minutes.”
“Copy Sir.” Hung responded in his heavy Mykapan accent.
Sylde looked at his screens briefly before spinning on his heel to walk from the command deck. He punched the actuator in his personal quarters sat down at his work desk, pulling a small holo emitter into its center he connected to his personal holo relay. He waited, tapping his fingertips against the surface of the work desk to occupy himself after pulling on his uniform jacket and buttoning it to regulation. Several long minutes passed before the device whirred with connectivity and the emitter came to life with a chirp and whirl.
“Captain.”
“My Lord.” Sylde began, “the closest lead we have is a plasma wake anomaly with a possible Ambrian terminus. Shall we meet Lord Vader’s fleet there?”
The flickering image stood motionless, reserved, and silent for another long moment. “That would ensure the success of our endeavors Captain.” Sidious responded from the depths of the hood pulled low over his deformed features, his voice reflecting the very depths of his thoughts. “My concern is the concentrated activity too near Botajef for my liking.” He said, surprising Sylde.
“I could easily dispatch contingents of Silent Fleet to reinforce the system while we operate in and around Ambria.” Sylde advised.
“While also fortifying Ilum?” Sidious asked with what sounded like curiosity.
“Yes.” Sylde was straightforward.
“If it can be done then do so Captain, but not at the cost of Ilum. That is your priority.”
“Understood My Lord.” Sylde snapped the pleasantry. Hesitation staggered his breath momentarily.
“There is more Captain. Out with it then, there are other matters that require my attention.” The tone in Sidious’ voice became sharp suddenly.
“Ambria. Who is to have command?”
“Do you have your sights set on such aspirations Captain?” Sidious oozed the words into the air.
“Aspirations, no.” Sylde said without reservation, “continuity, yes.”
Sidious seemed to understand the question given his Captain’s response, “command of the task force will be given to Lord Vader. His direction will supersede all other directives.”
“Understood My Lord.” Sylde said with a short bow before the emitter, it’s whirring display closing in on itself as the connection severed. Evan Sylde sat in his chair staring at the emitter longer than he wanted to, thoughts, fleeting at best, flaring through his mind with increasing intensity. His Emperor was displaying unusual levels of concern over what were, in Sylde’s opinion, trivial matters. ‘Aspirations for what? Control?’ Surely Sidious must know he didn’t care about control. Something has disturbed or unsettled his Emperor to unusual levels. Sylde shook the thoughts from his head as he pushed himself from the workspace and stood up, pulled the buttons loose from his jacket and tossed it onto his bunk. Tugging his shirt straight around his waist he returned to the command deck.
✦
Audenhoen knew the order had come down from Sylde to pack up operations on the ground as the bustle of activity reached a more excited crescendo, Areti nodding her understanding as well. Confirmation of such played to the chirp in his ear, “Audy, we have orders to depart for Ambria soonest. Will you be joining Tagata Taia as you suggested?” Sylde asked as Audenhoen initial Lambda class shuttle approached his position, it’s humming repulsors drowning his thoughts momentarily.
“Affirmative Evan. Do you need us to bring anything back with us?” Audenhoen asked looking toward the crates of scanning equipment, maglevs sporting investigative findings and several 74-Z’s.
“Negative, their shuttles are already inbound.” Sylde said on cue with the retinue of shuttles flying in overhead, stirring up the dust and loose dirt at Audenhoen’s feet.
“Copy.” He said in response, deactivating the audio hardware altogether. He turned partially to face Areti, “they are in one hell of a hurry.”
She looked at him with a nod and turned her own gaze toward their shuttle, the ramp hissing its way down to the ground. She could feel her stomach tense as she looked at the dark transparisteel canopy of the shuttle’s cockpit. ‘How many were in there’ she asked herself, feeling his grip on her shoulder.
“Let’s go Areti.” Audenhoen said, gently pushing her forward.
They sat exactly as before, strapping themselves in as the ramp hissed itself shut with a sharp high-pitched tone. She felt the shuttle lift from the ground, her stomach left behind for all its betrayal now. Without a forward view, she could only estimate the time and distance to the Acclamator Class Star Destroyer that hadn’t moved from its position in low orbit. ‘Minutes?’ She asked herself, feeling the palms of her hands damp with sweat. She rubbed them on the legs of her pants as Audenhoen fired a handout to grab one of them. She looked into his eyes as he brought a finger to his mouth in a silencing fashion before throwing his other arm over her and pulling her close in an embrace. Her mind reeled. She admittedly had feelings for the man but felt every one of them inappropriate given their circumstances, moreover, she was about to step way outside of her comfort zone to find her truth, his timing was horrid. With her body close he crossed his left hand over his abdomen and retrieved the small holdout blaster at his waist, placing it firmly in Areti’s lap. He pushed his head close to her ear, “It’s already set to stun.” He whispered, barely audible. “It has to be convincing.”
‘How the hell did he know?’ She almost said aloud, stopping herself before some sense of her surroundings forced the words back. She could hear the whine of the Lambda’s repulsors take over momentum from the Ion drive as she planted her hand around the blasters grip and pulled back from the embrace with a look of revulsion betraying her. He only smiled briefly and nodded before unfastening his harness and grabbing ‘their’ pack. His expression turned dour as he reached an open palm toward her.
She looked into his eyes, not understanding what it was he wanted. With a nod toward the data pad clipped to her waist, he snapped his fingers in a brief cadence of bent knuckles and a quick bend of the wrist. ‘The data pad must stay?’ she questioned through her own finger taps and thumb strikes.
“Absolutely.” Audenhoen didn’t bother with hand gestures.
She gave him a nod and wordlessly handed the device over to him as the shuttle lurched to a stop, the recoil of the landing pads pushing the ship back into place. ‘Now or never’ she told herself as the ramp lowered, a sole pilot emerging down the stairs from the cockpit. He nodded toward her as he waited for the two at the ramps access hatch. “I’ll be a second, go on ahead.” Areti said to the pilot.
“Procedure mam.” He said in return.
Areti froze in place before her brain could finally get the disagreeing muscles to cooperate. She lifted the blaster and fired a stun salvo directly into the pilot’s stomach, the man pitching over immediately. She didn’t hesitate as she leveled the blaster at Audenhoen’s chest, knowing suspicion would arise with any more hesitation. He nodded as she fired a second salvo into her superior, crumpling the man with the same affect. Hurriedly, she cast the blaster toward the seats as her momentum took her toward the two men. With an audible effort she rolled them both unceremoniously down the ramp and looked up, noting that all the ground deployments were decanting to this very hangar. Realizing she only had seconds, she made sure the two unconscious men were clear of the ramp before scurrying back up and slamming the door actuator. She was already halfway up the cockpit stairs when she both heard the ramp close with its pinging whiny and felt the shuttle rise from its position off the hangar deck. “What the hell?” Confusion threatened to relieve her of the remainder of her senses as she burst through the cockpit hatchway to find no one at the controls. A quick glance out of the canopy alerted her that the ship was retreating itself back through the magnetic shielding of the hangar bay and into the high Raadan atmosphere. The warning klaxon from the Tagata Taia rumbled through the shuttle’s framework as she thrust her body into the acceleration seat and buckled the harness around her.
“Power down your Ion drives and return to the hangar at once miss Sigurn or you will be fired upon.” The onboard comm crackled the threat.
Areti scanned the control board and slapped the transceiver. “You misunderstand, I have no control of the ship. Release me at once.” She returned her own threat, adopting a sinister voice she hadn’t known she possessed. The whir of the hyperdrive powering up thrust her senses into panic.
“You will be held in contem….” The return threat crackled into nonexistence as the shuttles hyperdrive engaged, elongating the brilliant star at the center of the system briefly before snapping the ship into the whirling blue light of hyperspace.