Toxicity and a Man Overboard

[Estelle Russard]

Estelle had instinctively moved closer to Mili with the lurching of the ship and the following plunge into darkness. Not that k'Vik needed protecting, or vice-versa, it just felt safer to be nearer a friend should things start exploding around them.


"Guess we know where th'SpecForces guys are. Wanna try t'wave 'em off?"

Estelle did not want to loose the connection Mili had marvellously just fascilitated - the power cells going boom could not have come at a more inconvenient moment. Just when they finally might get their hands on some solid intel, the blasters were gonna come out and everything turn upside down. Typical.

The Strike Force was going to run headlong into an ambush, only they'd be doing it sooner than later. She hated to do it, but she needed to keep her priorities in order. "Not yet" she returned to Kazaar crisply. She could picture him scowling beneath his helmet, anxious to run and shoot some Imperials.

To Mili she asked, "Can you get me anything about the leak of Rebel information? Who, or when. Or even where the data is originating from...?"

K'Vik gave a rueful smile, and the Lieutenant inside the Communications Room, at her silent bidding, requested the latest reports from his Receiving officer. The young man obeyed, doing his best to hide his alarm at the rocking ship and the activation of emergency lighting.
"Here is the last communique's from Sermeria..that's from Thane Ulna" the comm officer announced as the Lt took it from his hand with a snatch.

Estelle smiled, here eyes looking a little wild. There was a rustle of more papers, and to both her and k'Vik's surprise, the officer spoke again, "And this just in from Thomsdottir outlining the Rebels' route of escape once they get passed our convoy"

"There are two..?" Estelle's smile faded, sobered by the unexpected revelation.

"Thomsdottir...." Mili mused outloud. "...Is that a planet? I dont recall it"

"Maybe its relay Station, or a name" Russard whispered, not quite certain how this sound thing worked, or if she could be heard by anyone other than Mili.

"There hasn't been anything since the Rebels launched, Sir" the comms officer continued.

The Lieutenant rubbed his eyes, he was dog tired and his head felt like a bantha was running rampant inside it. "Very well" he said tiredly, "Keep me appraised"

"There are two spies" Estelle said, astounded. She could hardly comprehend one traitor, let alone more. More. What if there were lots more? And who was running them....? She suddenly felt quick sick.

Kazaar's voice rang loud and intrusive in her comm, "We gonna shoot stuff up now or what?"

[Aurelias Kazaar]

There were two teams of seven, each of them had spent two weeks preparing for this mission. They weren't sure what the package was, but only it was a high-level Rebel military member, who'd been a part of a failed mission on Kashyyyk. Scuttlebutt said it was General Forlon but the commanders would never reveal the reason. All the SpecForces soldiers knew it was an important person who needed rescuing.

Sergeant Kurt Xanadu wiped his eyes and sighed in relief. Even though he'd once spent two days motionless in a Naboo swamp, five hours of sharing the cramped transport with seven others was making him a bit stir crazy. He checked the charge on his E-11 blaster rifle, silently thanking whatever gods there were out there he had it and his black Rebel body armor. He'd worn the armor on several missions (after being chosen as one of the first Rebel soldiers to test it) and was comfortable in it. In fact, much like most soldiers, Xanadu hardly ever felt complete with out it. It provided protection and it was easy to disappear in. Just like he liked it.

"Fracking A, sir." Xanadu stared up at his commanding officer, Lieutenant Malenko. "It's about time they let us hit the Imperials."

"Had to wait until it was clear, Sergeant." Malenko was younger than Xanadu by about two years, but had seen action on Kashyyyk and Jabiim. Since then he'd been training others on several hidden Rebel bases. While he considered himself a good commander, Malenko sometimes worried about his own men a little too much. "Whatever accident happened on the Steel Gargoyle, we can use to our advantage."

"You worried it's a trap?"

It was something Malenko had considered. "I was but when engineering starts venting the power cell build up, they aren't screwing around. That Esdee Vic isn't going anywhere for a while." He gave a grim smile. "Let's do it."

It took a minute for the transports to get full power and even then, the Rebel pilots kept an eye out for any TIE Fighters which might appear. While the VSD was out of commission, they'd seen a few patrols out. They were lucky no one had spotted them.

The transports shot forward, heading for Steel Gargoyle's engines. The place they were hitting was two levels below the brig. Depending on the amount of resistance they'd face, the mission could take anywhere between 15 and 30 minutes. If everything went well. And that was the problem, Xanadu mused. Everything going well.

They docked quietly against the hull, the dampeners doing their best to mute the *clang* when they latched onto the star destroyer. If they were lucky, the Imperials would be so busy trying to figure out what the hell happened to their power, they wouldn't bother paying attention to any other sounds. If they were lucky.

"Okay." Malenko spoke into his radio. "Xanadu take point, Huggins behind him, then Cameron, myself, Pacox, and Kim on the rear. Let's move people, the lights won't be out for too long."

Seconds later, the SpecForce troopers were inside Steel Gargoyle. "Clear." Xanadu whispered. "No signs of contact."

"Move forward, Xanadu." Malenko responded. "We'll go up the maintenance shaft, then take the back stairwell up. Stay frosty troopers. So far so good."

*********************************

Kazaar'd kept climbin' up th'shafts while listenin' into th'trooper's conversations. Th'Kid and k'Vik were gettin' ready t'head towards his position as well, but right now it was easier t'move seperately. Less chance o'bein' questioned by an Imperial on why he wasn't in engineerin'. "Kid, I'm one below th'prison level. I got movement, looks like a frackin' gaggle o'Imperial chickens headin' towards th'back stairwell.

"Think they're listenin' in to th'conversation?"

"No," Th'Kid answered. She was playin' it cool, but her partner knew she was pissed 'bout th'entire thing. "They've got the plans. They know their route."

"Frack me sideways." Kazaar cursed, not botherin' t'ask how she found that out. Probably had something t'do with Birdy. "Power bein' out'll help 'em, but we may hafta make th'rescue ourselves."

[Milivikal k'Vik]

"Kazaar, make a distraction. See if you can force a route change." Estelle instructed. k'Vik was smiling at her side.

"Heh. 'Bout time, Kid."

"Are we through here?" Mili asked. Estelle did a quick mental inventory.

"We're out of time." Estelle said with a sigh. Her connection to Porbav was severed, and she sucked in air at the sudden change. Estelle started to get to her feet, but Milivikal grabbed her sleeve. Mili's eyes were unfocused, her mouth slightly open. She licked her lips in concentration. Lieutenant Porbav removed his DH-17 from it's holster. Before anyone noticed, he put two blaster bolts into the communications console, one into an operator. His final act of defiance was a bolt into the Captain's stomach. Porbav was then shot by one of the Imperial Security Bureau troops stationed on the bridge. K'Vik's eyes had dilated, but were now shrinking some. She picked an Officer who had taken pistol qualification seriously.

Mili let go of Estelle's sleeve, who took it as a signal that they could leave now. Estelle gingerly removed the access panel, and they went back into the main corridor. The lifts were all on their own emergency power system and would be accessible. Once back in the main corridor, they were forced to dodge the chaos that had erupted. A team of medics ran to the bridge lift, and Estelle and Mili flattened themselves against the wall as they rushed past. Estelle raised an eyebrow as they exchanged glances.

They secured a relatively empty lift. One of the Stormtroopers regarded the helmetless pair for a moment but straightened back up. k'Vik told the lift to go to engineering.

“Engineering's sealed off.” The other Stormy explained. Mili hissed.

“Damn.” She set the lift for deck 3. They'd need to get into engineering manually.

“Hey Kid, I found 'th party. Deck 4.” Estelle smiled awkwardly, and for the first time wished they hadn't run off without those awful helmets. k'Vik's hands were already on her multi-tool. In a blink, she had plunged the four inch blade through the trooper's throat. Estelle, meanwhile, disarmed the other trooper and shot him.

“Would ya believe it, I found some detonators.” To punctuate the point, the comm was rocked with an explosion, followed by blaster fire.

Estelle shrugged. The lift door opened, and was filled with blaster fire. Estelle tackled Mili to the ground, and Mili pushed the close button with the Force. Estelle was on her feet the moment the doors sealed. She frantically pushed the button for the fourth deck.

“Cowboy! That was not the fourth deck!” Estelle almost yelled into the comm.

“Musta lost count.” Kazaar said over the blaster fire.

[Estelle Russard]

Estelle and Mili gave each other a wilting look. Men.

Russard brushed herself off, tugging on her shirt and smoothing it with her hands in an attempt to neaten the stiff fabric and to also re-align her own nerves. Mili got to her feet unperturbed and, second's later, the lift doors pulled apart. The Rebel pair stepped over the Imperial bodies and into the bustling corridor of the 4th Deck just as a detachment of troopers ran by them, eyes front and their minds forward to the task ordered them - the securing of access from the West Stairwell leading down to the Prison level. K'Vik and Russard stood in front of the lift opening not daring to move and draw a glance from any one of the Imperials, willing the lift doors to close behind them and hide the dead men within.

They almost succeeded.

One trooper turned his head, and his partner beside him likewise did the same. There was a half-breath where rebels and troopers all made eye contact and then Russard lifted the blaster still in her hand, and fired.

"What was that?" Kazaar squawed over the comm.

Mili and Estelle turned and bolted the opposite direction of the troop detatchment, precious seconds of Imperial confusion at the unexpected laser fire into their formation gave them a head start.

"Uh...spot of trouble" Russard responded, breathless as she and Mili rushed past the ever increasing personell swarming into the corridor as the alarm was raised. Accurate directives were hampered, however, due to the SpecForc task squad having been expected from another access point, the Imperials confusion growing with the outbreak of blaster fire on deck 4 and the mayhem Aurelias was orchestrating on deck 3.

"We're coming at you hard, Cowboy" Russard warned Kazaar as they burst into the east stairwell, charging two steps down at a time with their pursuers not long behind them, "And we're bringing company..."

She then tossed to Mili, who was half a step behind her, "Be ready to stop, drop and roll...Kazaar is probably gonna make some noise at our big entrance."

[Aurelias Kazaar]

Noise wasn't th'right word. Both 'Ophelia' and 'Dark Lady' felt a strong arm grab their arm and pull 'em into a dark corridor. Estelle was 'bout t'shoot whoever was there, when she heard a small chuckle. "Relax, Kid. I ain't gonna shoot ya." It was Kazaar and in th'darkness she could see his smile was like a predators. "Just didn't want ya t'set off m'surprise."

"What sur-" Kazaar held up a finger t'silence th'two (even if he was sure Birdy could make it t'where only they could be heard) as th'Imp 'geniuses' who were followin' th'Rebels came into view. They weren't exactly running (stormtrooper armor wasn't th'most athletic o'gear) but they weren't walking. Kinda a weird mix between trottin' and loping. Th'tall Rebel chuckled again. Empire's finest.

"Get ready." Th'stormies passed by th'Rebels position and headed t'where a few bodies were strewn out in th'hall. They'd just started slowin' down, when th'lead plastic soldier stepped on an almost invisible laser beam that stretched 'cross th'corridor.

Th'deck was rattled 'gain, as the mines went off, knocking the Imperials down like they were nothin'. Kazaar smirked and stepped into th'dimly-lit corridor, his blaster rifle raised. It was over a couple minutes later. Kazaar stepped t'where one Imp was lyin' and removed his belt. "Here." He tossed it t'Estelle, then did th'same t'k'Vik. "Figure we can use their PSU's since they ain't gonna need 'em anymore."

"Any news on the SpecForces?" Estelle asked while givin' Kazaar a nod o'thanks for th'extra protection.

"Headed t'Deck Three" Th'former bounty hunter tossed his blaster rifle to k'Vik and picked up a rail detonator. Oh yah, that was gonna be a helluva lot more fun. "Seemed kinda surprised there wasn't a ton o'resistance." He smirked. "Gotta admit, I was 'pecting a helluva lot more myself."

******************************

Xanadu ducked behind a corner as blaster fire ricochetted down th'corridor. "Sir. Imps have an E-Web emplacement down the hall! We gotta find another way around!"

He could hear Malenko grind his teeth. "Huggins. Check out the service tunnel."

The Corellian Rebel manually opened the tunnel and quickly glanced in it. "Nothing sir. I think we know our way to the prison level."

"Good. Xanadu, take point. We're headed up to the prison level. Have we heard from the other team?"

It was Kim who answered this time. "They say they've run into the same situation on Deck Four. An E-Web emplacement keeping them from moving forward. No service tunnel though. Wait..." Kim pressed a hand to his ear, ignoring the fact he was wearing a helmet. "Imperial commandos being reported on Deck Four! Coming in behind them. Oh gods they're cut off!"

Malenko bit his lip again. It would be easy to send his men down to save the other team, but he had to get 'The Package' out. We're going to go help them, then get 'The Package'. Head to Deck Four now!"

******************************

Kazaar and k'Vik looked at Estelle. "They need our help. Let's see if we can't take out the E-Web. But we can't be seen."

"Stupid departmental rivalry." Kazaar smirked. "Ya think those damn commados who 'preciate us savin' their cargo holds." He took th'lead and th'three started movin' down th'hall.

[Milivikal k'Vik]

k'Vik put on the belt, but felt like something was amiss after a few steps. There was no rhythmic bounce of a saber. She found it disquieting. She wanted the defensive ability a saber granted. Unlike other Jedi, she did not harbor prejudice against blasters, and happily used them as instruments of misdirection. The counterpoint was that a lightsaber would attract a great deal of unwanted attention. They were undercover, after all.

Mili checked the safety on the E-11 blaster rifle. She pointed the barrel down, away from Kazaar and Estelle. Her finger rested on the trigger guard. They moved through the corridors, to the cutoff point where the E-Web had been set up. SpecFor didn't have the needed code clearances to override the security lockdown. The two teams were pinned down on Decks 3 and 4. Deck 5 was the prison level, and 3 and 4 were mostly facilities such as waste disposal and deep storage.

"Kazaar, Mili, any ideas?" Estelle asked. Kazaar stuck a small mirror around the corner. The glass was only receptive to certain angles, so it would not likely attract attention.

"Welp, there's th'damn E-Web." He hrmmed and hummed for a bit. Mili could hear the stormtroopers as they joked about target practice.

"Pretty standard fr'mation there. Textbook." Kazaar said. Estelle frowned. Textbook would plug up the corridor very well. Further, they couldn't be seen by either the Imperials or SpecFor. It was impossible. She stared at the floor.

"We could go through a garbage compactor." Estelle said after a minute, her voice filled with reluctance. Milivikal looked uncomfortable at the notion but said nothing. Kazaar cracked a bemused smile.

[Estelle Russard]

"Can we just forget I said that?" Russard revised, wondering what ever possessed her to suggest it.

"I dunno know Kid, its notta bad idea" Kazaar said, and Mili looked from one partner to the other.

"Dont let him fool you, Mili" Russard said, "He's just thinking we'll be in a hurry to shed our clothing after traipsing through all that garbage"

"Yeah, I am" he confessed to Mili with a crooked grin and hefted the rail detonator higher on his hip.

"What about the chute?" k"Vik offered, "The garbage gets down there somehow.." The three rebels lifted their heads in unison, swivelling them like mini reciever dishes in order to locate the receptical shaft.

"There" Kazaar gestured to their left with a nod of his head, indicating a juncture on the corridor wall that was not quite flush with the rest of it. The small outcropping ran up and down the height of the deck. Estelle moved over to it quickly, looking for an access panel or service door. "Surely these things had service doors - stuff's gotta get stuck now and then" she was thinking out loud, trying to remember from the Intel data sheets she'd poured over back when they were in the safehouse prior to the mission...She couldn't remember.

"Blow a hole innit" Aurelias said interupting her thoughts.


Deciding this was the best option, Mili helped herself to one of the small detonators Kazaar still had left on him and set it at floor level of the chute. Then backing herself and Estelle up to where Kazaar stood, she said, "Move around the corner away from the concussion zone"

They huddled as one six-legged, six-armed creature just around the corridor bend and k'Vik worked her Jedi mojo to insulate the sound of the explosion - so much so that Russard and Kazaar had not realised when the blast went off. "Should be good now" Mili said.

Estelle went into the chute first, spread-eagling her hands and feet against the walls to leverage herself up ward. The stench was apalling and the rancid odors came wafting up in a fetid mist, stinging her eyes and throat.

"For the Alliance..." she reminded herself, "I do it for the greater good..."

She heard her companions enter the chute and begin their climb behind her.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

Definitely not one o'the best ideas in th'world. Kazaar tried t'breathe through his mouth as th'trio o'Rebels crawled up th'semi-slick chute. He was takin' up th'rear (biggest one there after all) and (thankfully) hadn't taken an eyeful o'crap from one o'the dames' boots. Might not be one o'th'best ideas, but between this an' starin' down an E-Web...yeah th'chute was a helluva lot better.

"Shouldn't be that much longer." Th'Kid had a rather thankful tone in 'er voice. "I see the slot up ahead." She didn't bother addin' 'Thank th'gods' but both 'er partners knew she was thinkin' that. "Cowboy, give me one of your detonators."

********************************

Xanadu crouched low as blaster fire continued to rage around them. They'd been caught in a major firefight, the compactness of the star destroyer's corridor giving them hardly any cover at all. But somehow, they'd only had two people get shot, and none of them fatally. Small favors.

The SpecForces troopers remained as true to their training as possible: firing their blasters in short bursts, while using whatever nook and cranny they could find as cover. Funny thing was, the Imperials didn't seem to give a damn about 'cover'. They'd just charge in like it was nothing, taking all the blaster fire they could. A part of Xanadu's mind screamed how foolish of a strategy it was, but some Imperial commanders weren't big on keeping their men alive. Just furthering their careers. Whereas the Rebels needs all the men they could find.

"Lay down some covering fire. Team Two is trying to get into the maintenance tunnel!" Malenko yelled into the comm. "Keep fire on that E-Web. If we hold them off, we can get the hell out of here."

Kim's voice came in next. "Imperial commandos still advancing on their position. Team Two reports two wounded, one fatally...not sure how they were hit, but they were."

And that E-Web has us cut off from our boys. Xanadu bit his tongue as he took down another two stormtroopers. These guys were playing hell on their ammo situation and it didn't help they had another level to climb. A thought went through is mind. Should we bug out while we can?

Lieutenant Malenko was thinking the same thing. The mission was becoming completely FUBAR and he wasn't sure it was worth climbing the last level to the prison. The Imperials were sure to have more commandos up top and it wasn't going to get any easier. Even if they hadn't suffered any casualties.

"Xanadu! I want you to head up to the prison level, see if you can't find out what the sitrep is up there. If it's too messy, we head home."

********************************

Kazaar had t'smirk as 'nother muted explosion opened a hole f'them t'climb out. Birdy was provin' how good ovva asset she was. Th'three climbed outta th'chute (thankfully) and took a second t'get their bearing. Off t'their left th'E-Web was set up while th'corridor t'their right was clear.

"Stairwell down there. Oughta take us up top. 'Least t'where we can figure out what th'frack th'Imps have planned up there."

'Ophelia' nodded. "Can your rail detonator take out the E-Web?" She gotta smirk in return. "Do it, Cowboy." Th'Kid turned towards k'Vik who seemed happier than anyone else t'be outta that damn garbage chute. "Dark Lady, be prepared to-"

"You there!" A voice called as an Imperial officer raced towards them. "What are you doing here? And what in Tarkin's name is that smell?"

[Milivikal k'Vik]

Mili gasped. She'd been so distracted by the smell that her attention had lapsed. She played on her own shock and began to weep.

"Th... the Rebels, s..ssir." Her voice came in gasps. "We *sniffle* had..." She wiped the snot and tears away with the cleaner left sleeve "...had to hide. In there." Mili trembled visibly, and grabbed the Imperial by the lapels. Estelle and Kazaar looked disturbed, but stayed quiet.

"There's sss...something in there." she added, her eyes wide with horror. The officer pulled her hands away from his neatly pressed uniform. As pretty as she was, she still reeked. She had no discipline, either. A properly trained troop would not be falling apart.

"Engineer, just..." The officer was frustrated. He could not have a panicked crew member in an emergency situation. He'd never had to deal with this sort of thing before. Milivikal's hands balled into pale fists at her sides, white knuckled.

"It tried to eat us." her voice cracked again, but the air seemed to hum.

The officer sighed. "Listen, we ca..." It was the last word he'd speak. Mili's fist impacted his throat, enough to collapse the windpipe on it's own. Yet her fist continued, as the spine behind his larynx collapsed. The fifth vertebrae disintegrated. His body began to fold, but Milivikal caught him, and held him upright. His eyes looked into hers and saw only malice.

"That smell," She mimicked the officer's voice perfectly, "is you." She whispered the last words, in her own voice, but only the officer could hear. She fell to one knee and arched her back as she did so. The officer's body slid down the shaft they had so recently occupied. The trio morbidly watched him slide away. Only a distant, gloppy splash let them know what had happened.

"I was gonna shoot 'im." Kazaar said with a grunt.

Estelle was confused, but put aside any thoughts as to how aside.

"Cowboy." Estelle pointed a finger through the wall where the E-Web was, just around the corner and down the hall.

"Whenever yer ready, Birdie." Kazaar said. Mili nodded. He settled himself on the corner and hefted the rail detonator launcher. In a practiced, smooth motion, he turned, lined the E-Web up in the sights, and pulled the trigger. Normally, there would a clunk as the next detonator rotated into the place, but the entire corridor had become vacuum silent.

One of the stormtroopers in the corridor turned as Kazaar fired.

"Hey!" He exclaimed as the explosive projectile began to fly toward him. That's odd, he thought, Why didn't I say that aloud?.

The detonator impacted on the E-Web's portable power generator. It's sticky nose held the yellow explosive fast to the power cell. Kazaar had given the device a one-second fuse. The stormtroopers stared at it for the longest second of their lives. The E-Web was was thrown from it's tripod. Bodies began to twist from the blast. The protective casing around the E-Web generator began to crack and interact with the Tibanna reservoir.

Kazaar had already turned away, and ducked into the alcove as the pressure wave rushed past them.

********************************

"Cover fire!" Xanadu yelled, yet no sound came from his mouth. There was a bright flash at the end of the hall. Instinctively, every SpecFor trooper hugged the nooks and crannies as tight as possible. They held their eyes shut. The blast rushed past, more silent than any light breeze.

Malenko peeked out first. They'd seen some weird stuff, but a silent explosion in atmo topped nearly all of them. He could hear the ship hum again.

"Team check." He called out. He received a "check" from each of the men.

"Ok, let's move." Malenko instructed. The team got to their feet quickly, but with more caution than they would have at seeing that sort of explosion. Explosions were loud. This one had not been.

"Xanadu, Torrun, point." Xanadu moved up, simultaneously checking the corridor as Torrun. The panels where the generator had been were now distorted and scorched from the blast. The stormies on top of the generator had been vaporized, or very nearly. The concussion had killed the rest of them.

"Clear." They announced. To the left was the stair access. They'd be able to flank the stormies pinning down Team Two.

Malenko lifted up his comm. "Team Two, hold your position, we are moving to flank."

"Affirmative, but double time it!" Malenko could hear blaster fire and cursing.

********************************

Kazaar started to stand, but Mili shook her head, so he sat back down.

"They are clear." She announced thirty seconds later. "They move to help Team Two."

[Estelle Russard]

The trio, satisfied with the outcome of their efforts, moved stealthily off. The Specforce had a clear run now at the prison block, thanks to k'Vik's skill, and the three would bide to see the mission completed before they, themselves maked their escape.

Estelle, close on the heels of her partner, whispered to Kazaar, "I thought Jedi weren't much with the kiling?" Russard had seen the look on Mili's face when she'd killed that Imperial, pushing her fist into his throat with a violence that was frightening.
"I think she can still hear ya" Kazaar replied lowly into her shoulder.
This remark froze Russard, and she turned a 'casual' glance to look at Mili behind her. Kazaar did the same, looking over Estelle's shoulder. Mili looked back at them blank-faced.
Estelle turned back to meet Kazaar's smirk, his eyebrows wiggling, "Toldya"

Feeling awkward, Russard pressed them onward. She had not considered that the sound thing may work in reverse, and that her every word might be open to scruitiny. She tried to remember if she'd said anything else bone-headed in the last little while.

On the bridge, the acting Captain, Commander Turrick (recently promoted due to the former Captain now having a laser-hole in his belly) was getting flumoxed. "Where are the rebels now?" he demanded.

Conflicting reports were coming in at him from all sides. Reports of gun fire and explosions from Deck 4, Deck 3, Engineering..if everything were to be believed, half the frelling ship was inundated with the damned Alliance scum.

"I want those Rebels stopped" he shouted.

The men around him exchanged looks with each other. Well, Duh.

Turrick had not been at all ready for the position abruptly thrust upon him. Oh, he'd desired it long enough, but not like this, not with insurgents running rampant on board and the powercells clapping out and an important prisoner's captivity in the balance. He had to do something. It wasn't his leadership that had let the situation spiral so deplorably, but he couldn't stand idly by and let it continue, either.

"Send the TIE's after the Rebel transports..."

There was a collective pause in the room. The plan had been to pursue the rebel's, should they escape, to their awaiting convoy. A plan to catch the bigger fish. Turrick was not working the plan.

"I said, SEND THE TIE'S" he repeated, delivered a few decibles louder, which got the desired flurry of activity from his subordinates. Turrick extended his neck, cricking the joints and muscles and hoping to appear confident in his command.

Below decks in the hangar bays, squadron pilots got the green signal and TIE fighters began to manually be summoned to life. With the engineering powercells on critical function only, the cycling racks that launched the craft were incapacitated and the pilots had to initiate flight themselves, causing a significant slowing of the process.

Back on the prison level, Mili, Kazaar and Estelle waited impatiently in the wings for SpecForce to accomplish the mission.

Flanked by both females, Kazaar groused, "Im gonna be an ol'ol man by time these jokers get'it done"

Tough critique, but Estelle was beginning to feel the same. Too bad they couldn't just---BOOM!

The trio ducked as the cell door down the far end of the corridor blew off its hinges and into the hallway, too far away from them to really be of any danger, but making them scutter nonetheless. Thudding bootfalls came quickly on the explosion's heels as Xanadu led his men in to where Forlon was being held.

"That was kinda cool" Estelle observed, impressed despite Kazaar's hrmffph.

"Tick tock, boys" was all Aurelias deigned to say.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

"DRAGON BIRD to POINT. Come in POINT." Malenko's ears were filled with the calls from their extraction.

"Go ahead DRAGON BIRD." He whispered as the SpecForces troops starting securing the prison level. Their orders said Forlon should be in Cell Block-B Cell-17, but Team Two's communication specialist/resident techie, Johan Tablizen, stated Forlon had been moved to C-18, which meant they had to move through the brig with extreme caution. They hadn't run into a ton of resistence, something which gnawed at both Malenko and Xanadu, but the former was too busy answering their way out.

"Sensors just picked up one...two...three TIE launches. They're headed our way."

"How long can you hold position?"

"Five minutes maybe....POINT, they're coming right for us."

Malenko cursed. This mission was going to hell quicker than anyone had imagined. First it was the E-Webs, now the TIEs. He swore again. "DRAGON BIRD, bug out. We'll find another way off the VSD. POINT out."

"Sorry." DRAGON BIRD cut the connection as the transports undocked and headed to a safe distance where they could go into hyperspace. The transports were just starting their jumps, when the TIEs were on them. Though the Rebels on the Steel Gargoyle didn't hear it, the transports made it to hyperspace before their shields collapsed. They were safe. The Rebel commandos though...

"C-18, sir." Kim pointed towards the plate on a dark metal door (what other doors were there?) in front of them. Resistance remained relatively light, but Kim had been shot in the shoulder, which had been remedied by a quick bacta patch. Still hurt like hell.

"Okay, covering positions. Xanadu, get back by the entrance and watch for any Imperial presence. Kim, Tablizen, Torrun, Cameron wait here. Huggins, Topher, Pic with me." Malenko pressed the buttons on the cell door and stepped in. "General Forlon we're here to...oh frac--" It was the last thing he was say as seven Imperial commandos opened fire on the four Rebels. Malenko went down with the first wave of blaster fire, a gaping hole in his chest. Huggins and Cameron were able to kill two commandos before they too went down. Pic and Topher got out and shut the door.

"It's a trap! Package isn't here!" Pic yelled as another cell door opened and seven more Imperials came out blasters firing.

******************************

Th'Rebel spy trio listened t'the carnage through th'comm. Kazaar's eyes were in slits, while th'Kid did 'er best t'remain calm. Birdie was as stoic as ever though, havin' gotten 'er joneses by how she killed th'Imp captain. If Kazaar hadn't been so focused on th'Rebs dyin' he woulda appreciated how fluid it'd looked. Someone else who saw killin' as an artform. Even if Kazaar'd never admit it.

"Think we oughta go help 'em, Kid?" The'look in Kazaar's eyes stated all he wanted t'do. Someone'd fracked up th'mission, whether it was 'Intel' or this Cavalier person, th'soldiers were gonna die 'cause they'd been screwed hard.

"Move out Cowboy. Let's just make sure we're not killed by friendly fire."

Kazaar smirked and started off. "Buncha helmetless Imps? Yeah they ain't gonna shoot us. Two o'you're too frackin' pretty f'that."

[Milivikal k'Vik]

Milivikal glanced at Estelle. Indeed, she was. Now wasn't the time. She quietly licked her lips and checked the safety on her E-11.

They moved through the corridors in the dim lighting. Only the emergency fixtures were on, and with the ships crew moving back and forth to repair the ship or hunt Rebels, they were filled with soldiers and repair crews.

A Victory Class Star Destroyer can hold nearly five hundred prisoners. The cell blocks are purposely designed to be easily controlled. This means, with few unconventional exceptions, one way into each block, and one way in or out. The door for Block B was unguarded. The Imps were confident they'd herded the prey. The block administrator was dead, draped over his console. Milivikal rolled him over and grabbed his hat, rank plate, access cards, and comm. Kazaar kept an eye down the corridor while Estelle flipped all of the cell doors to Remote Access Only.

"Hey!" They could hear as any open doors slid shut. Kazaar and Estelle took one side of the C corridor, and Mili took the other. Kazaar moved up first, Estelle next, and then Mili. No one noticed the trio of Rebels over the blaster fire. Mili could hear the Stormtroopers cursing thier luck as reinforcements were now locked in the cells.

"Open the door now, ML-3055!" One of the commanders yelled.

"I can't, sir. Someone locked it down." The Stormy replied.

"So get it unlocked, trooper."

"Yessir." ML-3055 checked down-corridor where the firefight raged on. He gripped his blaster and double-timed it toward the console. The corridor was ten blocks on each side deep, and he was only four in. He ducked in front of Cell 5's entrance. He checked over his shoulder, and moved for Cell 3. He never made it.

The third to last thing he saw was the barrel of an E-11 four feet from his face. The next was a large man, with the most unnerving grin on it. Last was the red flash. Kazaar moved out of the way as the body slid past them.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

"Frackin' moron." Kazaar smirked. While he was smart 'nough t'check his six, th'dead Imp shoulda been more cautious. Then he paused a second. "Hang on...somethin' ain't right."

Kazaar slowly inched forward, ignorin' th'sounds of th'battle a cell block ahead. When his ears picked up the *swooshing* sound ovva cell door opening, Cowboy rolled t'his right and came up ready t'fire.

"Who the frack are you guys?!?" A man wearin' all black armor with th'Rebellion symbol emblazoned on th'knees, elbows, an' helmet stood in front of 'im. Kazaar smirked again. Nice t'see th'armor he'd tested while back was still bein' used.

"Relax pal, we're on th'side o'the angels." Kazaar's smirk hadn't changed, as Ophelia and Dark Lady strode forward.

"We don't have time for introductions, Sergeant Xanadu yes?" Estelle motioned for Kazaar t'follow her as they slipped towards th'blaster battle. "Your comrades are in trouble and there have too many deaths for my taste. Have you located 'the package' yet?"

Kurt Xanadu was besides himself. Sure the trio had killed an Imperial stormtrooper, but he'd heard tales on how Imperials treated some of their own men to save their skin. "Err...no...we were told he'd been transferred from his original cell to C-Block."

The raven-haired female looked at the brown-haired one. "There are no lies in his words."

"'Cept he ain't there." Kazaar answered.

Th'look on Xanadu's face was priceless. "Wh-what's going on?"

"Want me t'spell it out for 'im?" Th'former bounty hunter's trigger finger was gettin' itchy again. "We're savin' ya SpecForces pals, then goin' t'find th'package. Ya gonna help or not?"

Kazaar didn't bother t'get an answer from Xanadu as he fired off several shots at th'commandos in front of them. Th'first couple bolts were absorbed by th'Imps PSU's but the rest struck home. Imps weren't expectin' t'fight a second front...'specially from their backsides. Kazaar's rail detonator launched another charge, this one bouncing 'round Imperials like th'toys they looked like. Pretty much over after that and, if Kazaar coulda, he woulda had a cigar. But just 'cause that battle was over didn't mean there weren't more t'come.

"Just who the hell are you people?" Xanadu asked again, while the SpecForces checked their dead. Wasn't pretty...they'd lost both commanders Malenko and Augustyn in th'fight and were down t'a combined total of seven from 14 who'd originally come on th'mission. It was SpecForce policy to take their dead with them, but everyone knew it wasn't possible this time.

Estelle answered the question. "I'm Miss Blue. That's Miss Gray and Mister Blonde. We're...friends."

"Oh great." One o'the soldiers named 'Topher' rolled his eyes. "Spooks. What the hell are you guys doing here?"

"Watchin' ya backs, soldier-boy." Kazaar/Mister Blonde responded.

"And you've done a real bang-up job there." Tablizan, Team Two's communications officer shot back. "Frackin' A. We've lost how many men because of you?"

"Ya mission's been fracked from th'beginning pal." Kazaar scowled. "Ya couldn't've made it this far without our frackin' help."

Estelle put an end to it right then. "We don't have time for departmental rivalries, Sergeant Xanadu. Your mission was to find General Forlon. Ours was to protect you. So far, we've accomplished parts of it, but we don't have Forlon. Do you have any idea where he is?"

"Don't 'spooks' know everything." One o'the SpecForce troopers muttered, but a look from Xanadu cut 'im off.

"He was supposed to be in cell B-17, but computer said he was moved here..."

"Which obviously ain't th'case." Kazaar finished an' started walkin' away. "Wanna check out B-17?"

Xanadu looked at his squadmates. It made sense to check out the old cell, even if the package wasn't supposed to be there. Without a word, they followed the three spooks down towards B-17, each of them knowing if it was a trap, they'd only have a few seconds to get off a few shots before fleeing.

"Seems kinda weird th'Imps would allah o'sudden change Forlon's cell room." Kazaar whispered t'Estelle.

"You think it's a trap?"

"Nah. I think C-18 was th'trap. I bet Forlon's in th'cell he's suppsed t'be in. Might mean our SpecForces commandos may not all be angels, Kid."

He could tell th'Kid'd considered it, even if she wasn't gonna admit it. Kid was too smart f'that. "Bir-" Estelle almost blushed. "Miss Blue. Can you keep an eye out on our 'new friends'?"

k'Vik's expression was neutral, but Kazaar knew she'd gotten a kick outta Estelle almost usin' his nickname for 'er. "Certainly."

Still no guards at B-Block. Th'Rebels teamed up in pairs o'three. Estelle and k'Vik with Pic, while Kazaar strode with Xanadu and Topher. Tablizan was at th'rear with three other survivors. They moved quietly down th'block until they came to Cell 17. Birdy was th'one who got th'door open, usin' th'keycard she'd taken from th'block administrator.

Xanadu entered th'cell first, followed by Topher, and th'three Rebel spies. Inside was a man who looked like he'd been through hell and survived. His face was mottled with bruises and 'least two weeks worth o'beard growth. His balding head had a bandage on it, but his eyes were still alive. "Confirm identity and perform DNA check." Xanadu took a quick picture of th'guy's face, while Topher stabbed a small needle in his arm. "Both check out...General Forlon...can you stand?"

Forlon's eyes focused quickly. "Took you ground pounders long enough to rescue me."

There were small smiles all around. They'd found the package. Now they just had t'get th'frack outta Dodge. With a buncha Imperials breathin' down their neck. Kazaar knew one thing...he wouldn't have it any other way.

[Estelle Russard]

"Which level to access your transports, Sergeant?" Estelle asked as they congregated in the corridor.

"The transports have left" Xanadu replied perfunctly, "The Imperials had launched their TIE's against them and the Commander ordered them off." He noted Estelle's reaction and he added, unnecessarily, "We have to find another way off"

Russard didn't dare look at Kazaar, she could hear his eyes rolling heavenward without needing the accompanying visual.

"Gone?!" Forlon repeated, incredulous, as he stepped forward. What kind of rescue is this? He stopped though, a strange expression coming on his face, "What's that smell...?" He looked at Estelle, then Kazaar and back to Mili who had positioned herself protectively behind the General. His scowl deepened.

"We gonna stand around here all day, then?" Topher offered impatiently.

Mili fixed him with an icy look and the commando seemed visibly to shrink.
Russard was thinking of options..."Miss Gray, with that card can you open all cells in the entire Prison block?"
k'Vik shook her head negative. "One would need an Authorization code and an override sequence key. This card has neither."

"Th'Imps already thought that one through" Kazaar volunteered. "Not since that transport o' Wookies that one time went in th'crapper f'that very reason" It still was one of the most famous jail breaks in the history of the Empire. Aurelias was still grinning at the image of rampaging wookies the event conjured, when Tablizan suggested a new tactic. "We should split up----"

"No" Estelle took charge." That strategy is past. You have charges on you?" Estelle addressed Xanadu again, who nodded, patting his utility belt affectionately- a similar one was worn by all his men. "Good" she continued.

She turned to Kazaar and Mili, "Six levels up is the Medic Bay. They keep a few evacuation shuttles up there in case of emergency or some type of quarrantine situation"

"How d'you know that?" Kazaar looked dubious.
"It was among the data we received back at the safehouse" she explained, moving on quickly. "We need to set up some charges to draw the Imperials to this level while we all move up to the Medbay. We'll use the stairs."

The SpecForce guys got busy setting time-delayed charges, Kazaar watching each man carefully, while the three rebel spies closed ranks together, talking quietly. "We will enter the Medbay first, giving them some cocknbull story about a chemical leak in the Engergy cell whathaveyous..." she was more herself amongst her comrades and not as much with the official-speak. Kazaar grinned at her. "We smell bad enough to suggest exposure to something. That will atleast give us the element of surprise when we commandere the shuttles. Failing that charade works...we go in blaster's blazing. Any questions?" She looked to Mili and back to Aurelias. Before they answered, she lowered her voice to a soft whisper, "Watch these guys.." She left off as if she intended to say more but she couldn't find the right words. "Just watch them, ok" she repeated earnestly.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

Kazaar nodded. "Got both eyes on 'em."

"Take point, Cowboy. If there are any traps, try to plug them before it gets too crazy. And don't do anything stupid either."

A smirk. "Way I figure, they're probably 'pecting us t'hit the hangar bay. I woulda gone down th'lift shaft'n hit 'em before they knew what was comin'." Kazaar thew a look towards th'SpecForces troopers as they finished puttin' th'charges on the wall. "Your way ain't th'most direct route, but it beats gettin' Forlon offed." Kazaar's smile had a sinister quality t'it. "Who knows Kid, might make a superspy outta ya yet."

Even with th'situation, Estelle still smiled.

"'ey Xanadu." Kazaar strode t'where all th'military guys were standin' 'round. "Rest time's over. Grab ya gear'n let's move out. You'n me got point." Th'former bount hunter grabbed an extra PSU and tossed it t'Forlon. "For protection. Don't need ya gettin' whacked while we're escaping."

'Bout that time, Kazaar saw Tablizan walk towards th'Kid an' Birdy. Didn't look happy, but Kazaar noted somethin' else which 'caused 'is stomach t'get a little cold. Why th'frack was th'guy's safety on? Sure he could be bein' bit overcautious, but that didn't make a ton o'sense. Guy was a frackin' soldier inna warzone, not some rent-a-Imp. He was 'bout t'say something when Xanadu interupted.

"Coming Mister Blonde." Kazaar didn't like how that came out, but he figured it was just departmental rivalry.

"Lead th'way pal."

They made it up th'first flight o'stairs without a problem. All th'Imps were busy tryin' t'keep their damn ship together. Advantage of chaos was bein' able t'almost go where they wanted to. Anyone who asked, figured Xanadu was some kinda shadowtrooper an' Kazaar (even if he was stinkin' up th'joint) was just some grimy engineer pressed into combat. An' anyone who asked anymore weren't 'round much longer t'ask anymore questions.

"Miss Blue, this is Mister Blonde. First level clear. Get up here and we'll head up one more."

They ran into a problem on th'second level. Buncha Imps'd set up a defensive perimeter in case th'Rebels on board went for th'bridge. There were only 'bout eight of 'em (without an E-Web) but still looked like they had some repeater rifles, instead o'E-11s. 'Course Kazaar had o'rail detonator but when ya gotta buncha holes in ya chest, don't matter too much. There were a couple small alcoves where they could fire if need be, but it wasn't always 'nough.

"Ran into some company, Miss Blue. Six white ladies with my kinda accesories. Gonna hafta move quick if we wanna get past 'em." Th'rest o'the company joined 'em a moment later. "Best way is t'take 'em out. I got four rails left, 'nough t'punch o'hole, but th'rest we gotta fight."

"Any other way around?"

"No ma'am." Xanadu answered this time. "Mister Blonde's suggestion is a good one. If we hit them fast, we can probably get by them without setting off anymore alarms."

"Yeh." Kazaar put in. "Hell, we blow th'charges now we might be able t'distract 'em even more."

"Do it." Th'Kid answered quickly. "Once they go off, fire two bolts and we'll take them out. Miss Gray be ready."

Pic was th'one who controlled th'charges. He popped th'tab offa th'detonator and pressed o'button. Th'ship *shuddered* 'gain as th'charges detonated, filling th'prison level (and th'one above) with fire'n flames. Kazaar was movin' a second later, firing' two botls towards th'unsuspecting Imperial troopers.

Through th'roar he could hear Estelle's voice. "TAKE THEM OUT!"

[Milivikal k'Vik]

Kazaar's first shot missed, but the second took a trooper dead in the chest. And the Stormtroopers started to return fire. Xanadu screamed. A repeater slug had torn off a finger and a good bit of his hand. He dropped his blaster and slid down against the safety of the alcove.

Milivikal was cheating. She hid in the protection of an alcove and appeared to be blind firing. She nearly hit a Stormtrooper through the eye, but it grazed the helmet instead. But more important than Mili's contribution of unusual marksmanship was the fact that none of the Imperials could hear or say anything. She peeked out of the alcove and could see four remaining gesticulate wildly.

"What the hell is going on?" Topher yelled over the impact of repeater slugs and the blat of his own blaster.

"Communications system failure." Estelle yelled back, knowing full well what it really was. She popped off several shots of her own to keep the enemy pinned.

"Moving up." Mili called out. There was a burst, then pause of blaster fire on the Rebel side. She leapt diagonally out of the safety of the alcove, and landed knees bent. She dove right, into the alcove ahead of where she had been. She was only three alcoves from the enemy, and they were annoyed with her success. A hailstorm of blaster bolts and repeater slugs painted her position. Mili flattened herself against the bulkhead. One of the Rebels snapped of a shot that hit home.

Desperate, the remaining three charged Mili's position. One was taken down by several bolts, but the other two were mere steps away. She slid out behind the bulkhead, blaster pistol in right hand, multi-tool in left, six-centimeter blade exposed. She stepped forward and under their line of fire. She hammered the right trooper's Repeater down with her blaster, and exploded upward. Milivikal plunged the blade into the neck seal. She rode the dead body as it collapsed, and kicked the back of the remaining trooper's knee. He, too, fell, and as his head leveled with her right hand, she fired.

"Holy... holy shit." Xanadu said. Milivikal's blue eyes sparkled with adrenaline. Even Kazaar had an eyebrow raised.

"Clear." Milivikal announced crisply. She bent down, and pulled the multi-tool free of it's new, still warm sheath. Forlon and Topher both grabbed the newly liberated Repeaters. Both shook their heads.

[Estelle Russard]

Everyone had seen it, and everyone was duly impressed. The men, especially, seemed to find it hard to pull their eyes away from k'Vik. Estelle smiled. In one fabulous adrenelin burst of lethal prowess, Mili had every man-jack of their company in stupified awe. Russard brushed passed her as Mili got gracefully to her feet. "Well done" she said with a broad grin and moved forward to climb further stairs.

The remaining four levels were fraught with repeated skirmishes of varying degrees of violence. Each time the rebels repelled the Imperials with only a few casualties to their company. It was a systematic progression of kill or be killed as they went and it was a credit to the Rebel forces the speed with which they reached their objective - the Med Level.

Xanadu and Kazaar took a look-see into the corridor, then moved gingerly down its length to where the Medical Bay was in a full flurry of activity - injured troopers on gurneys and in chairs were beginning to choke up the entry, others were milling out into the hallway awaiting treatment of lesser wounds. Kazaar and Xanadu reported back to their waiting company.

"It's like a Co-Co christmas sale out there for bodies everyplace" Xanadu declared.

"It's gonna be bloody" Kazaar confirmed, blithely.

Estelle had not thought of this...but it was inevitable. They had been blasting and blowing things to bits for two hours now.

"We stick with the plan" she said, a lump in her throat. Killing soldiers shooting at you was one thing...killing injured men quite another. But the mission remained. It was the constant. That, and the safety of the team. This was war, and war was not a noble thing. Estelle was fast realising this.

"Myself, Gray and Blonde will see if we can clear a way through with the contamination angle" she instructed. "We will keep our comms open. If the signal is given by any of us, Xanadu, you bring the full force of your arms to bear, understood?" He nodded. "We get the General, and our team out. And we are getting them out on those shuttles in that Bay."

Russard moved into the corridor carefully, gesturing for Kazaar and Mili to come with her.

She turned to Mili, speaking quietly "You may need to cause some confusion once we are in - can you make a deafeningly loud noise or frequency to debilitate people, not kill, but render them incapable of action for a time..?" Estelle did nothing to hide the hope in her eyes that Mili might aid in a less deadly outcome.

[Milivikal k'Vik]

k'Vik smiled wide.

"Do you want an orchestra..." she paused. She opened her hands gracefully, and the sounds of instruments tuning filled Estelle and Kazaar's ears "...or a shriek. Eeee." It sounded more like a 5 year old running with her arms in the air than a proper shriek. If the situation hadn't been so dire, Estelle surely would have burst out laughing. As it was, she put a hand to her face, too bewildered to do anything beyond nod. Her composure did not fail for more than a moment, just long enough to be sucked into the absurd. Kazaar cracked an idiot grin.

"Should you see Stormtroopers, shoot them." Milivikal instructed when they returned.

"Blonde, if you would." She pointed at the rail detonator.

"Frack, Miss Gray." He'd grown to like the explosive-thrower. It made a good, solid ka-chunk when it cycled, and the detonators made loud noises and blew stuff up. It was man's best entertainment. He handed her the weapon, and she handed him an E-11. Now he really wanted a cigar. Mili looked over the detonator, stripped it of it's yellow ammunition, and dropped it all on the ground. She could feel the dissapointment roll off most of the men present.

"Patience till the signal." Milivikal instructed, and started toward the med-bay with Kazaar.

With Kazaar and Milivikal out of normal earshot, Xanadu leaned over to Estelle.

"What's the signal?" He asked, quietly. Estelle shrugged.

"You'll know it when it happens." She said. Whatever it was, they were going to notice. Estelle was sure of it.

***

Kazaar picked his way through the crowds of personel trying to tend to the injured and dying. They'd made a helluva mess. Engineers were being treated for burns, and the body bags were still going out to the areas considered "secure." The ship's comms were so damaged from the engineering blast that no one had any idea where the Rebels were. That was the rumor, anyway. Mili weakly grabbed at Kazaar's uniform. He was relieved that she weighed about what she looked: not that much. No one paid them any mind at all. She wasn't bleeding profusely and all her limbs were intact. Mentally, she was shoved to low priority by each medic. Not even the E-11 resting across her torso drew a glance.

Kazaar found a standing room only spot in sick bay, and set her back on her feet.

"Alright, Birdie." He said, and took the E-11 from her hands. Her head tilted back, and eyes rolled up.

The room trembled. For them, everything grew silent. Kazaar gripped the blaster tighter. People fell from their feet. They clutched at their heads in agony. Glass shattered. No one would die, but they would wish they had.

[Aurelias Kazaar]

"What...the...fu-" Xanadu's curse was drowned out as th'glass shattered an' all th'Imperials collapsed like they some kid'd dropped his toys. Kazaar smirked. Some had passed out, unable to cope with th' agony.

"You guys gonna stand 'round gawkin' or we movin'?" He put th'E-11 blaster 'gainst one of his shoulders. "Dunno 'bout you guys, but I'm all for gettin' off this frackin' place."

Th'Rebel soldiers quietly started moving forward, their eyes tryin' not t'gaze down on the mass of writhin' Imps front of 'em. They'd never seen anything like this. Even Estelle, who'd seen Kazaar shoot a dyin' Imp officer, was surprised by what she saw--this sort of pain, it might've been worse then up'n dyin'. Not that she showed it...Kid was gettin' good at keepin' her emotions in check durin' missions.

"Shuttles should be through there." Th'Kid pointed at a set o'doors near th'far end o'the Med Bay. "We may run into a few pilots, so keep your guard up. We'll take one prisoner so we can escape." Kazaar could tell she was ready f'this mission t'end. Wasn't every day ya got t'pretend t'be an engineer, let alone storm a frackin' Star Destroyer. Helluva day t'be a Rebel Special Ops member that was f'damn sure.

Turns out there was only one Imp pilot and he appeared t'be frackin' sleepin' on th'job. If Kazaar'd had his wish, he woulda ended th'stupid bastard's life right there, but th'Kid shook 'er head. They needed 'im t'get out. Kazaar kicked th'guy right in th'chest, knockin' hime off his perch and onto th'gray floor of th'small hangar. "Heya pal, how ya doin'?"

Th'Imperial pilot's voice was familiar, but muffled so neither Kazaar or Estelle could figure out who it was. An' if Birdie knew, she wasn't sayin' anything. "Wh-what..."

Th'former bounty hunter smirked. "We're takin' ya shuttle. Ya gonna give us any trouble?"

The pilot shook his head. "Just don't kill me, please. I'll...give you anything you want." He slowly got t'is feet and started walkin' towards th'shuttle, th'Rebels in tow.

"Tablizan." 'Miss Blue' ordered. "You, and Forlon go in first with the pilot. Xanadu, Pic, Topher, then us."

Th'shuttle itself was one o'the Lambda ones every single capital ship seemed t'have 'round. Made alotta sense t'use it anyway, decent shields, capacity for th'high-rankin' officials, plus it had a hyperdrive and didn't need o'large crew t'pilot it. Th'Rebels charged onboard and sealed th'door. It was time t'get goin'.

And they woulda gotten off if Tablizan hadn't th'throw a large frackin' hydrospanner. Th'communications officer suddenly grabbed Forlon, knockin' his repeater outta his hands, and pulled a small holdout blaster. He positioned Forlon as a human shield and pointed the blaster towards his 'comrades'.

"That's quite enough." His voice suddenly changed to a different kinda accent. "I'm afraid I can't let you leave with the General alive."

Xanadu's eyes widened and he wished could've grasped his blaster and killed th'traitor right then. "You..."

A small smile from the now-revealed Imperial. "Afraid so. I was ordered to keep an eye on you and make sure the mission wasn't successful. Now...let me go and maybe, just maybe, I'll let you live and escape back to the Alliance knowing you failed."

"Mister Blonde?" Th'Kid whispered.

"No shot, Kid. Not without hurtin' Forlon."

"Get ready to take it."

Tablizan smiled again. "Or you can let me kill him. Either way, you don't succeed."

The Imp pilot spun in his chair and rose as if to join Tablizan in holding off the Rebels. His blaster came up...

[The Black Man]

And proceeded to shoot Tablizan in the head. The Imperial's body fell to the shuttle floor as all the Rebel soldiers looked in shock at the events which just unfolded.

Kazaar smirked as the pilot removed his helmet. "Knew he sounded familiar."

It was The Black Man.