OS29

[drazhar]

8 ~ Jansen
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+++The rockets were forgotten+++

+++Warheads also not loaded into the rockets+++

+++Deepest Apologies offered+++

A tightness was growing in the pilot’s chest as he read the data burst. Something was coming.

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+++New Orders Received+++

+++Request Clearance Code, Level Alpha Green Seven Required+++

+++One Login Attempt Remaining+++

He hated these; he’d heard too many stories about pilots who hit a wrong key by accident. The bulky gloves weren’t exactly designed for typing. And mistyping an authorization key was dangerous indeed. Depending on the level of security the security measures in the fighter could kill the engines, kill the life support, or in the case of an Alpha level code, initiate the self-destruct.

But that was a risk you took when you accepted an encrypted data-burst from a friendly hyper-buoy. And in wartime, you didn’t have an option. As soon as you tried to get your coordinates from the buoy for the next jump it would download the orders

On the upside, LT Drazhar was happy he was flying a Gunboat, and had an atmosphere in the cockpit, enabling him to remove his glove.

“Much easier” he said out loud

--- Your say something el-tee? ---

Drazhar taped his comm., --- You here me say a call sign or squad-tag Ensign Jast? ---

Drazhar looked over his shoulder at the three patrolling gunboats of 2-Flight. Ensign First-class Lanil Jast & Ensign Delon Lenanor were flying a loose patrol around the rest of Iota Squadron. Sub-Lieutenant O’Moran was leading the formation.

Under normal circumstances they would be the ones sat to the left and right of the Iota lead. But LT Alex was on emergency leave, LT Drazhar was the senior officer and SL O’Moran was in need of some leadership responsibilities, but not those of the fleet’s premier heavy-hitters.

He regarded the flight group. A mixture of flight groups one and two, going by the official roster. He didn’t like the decision, Flight Groups can get very tight in squadrons, especially when you’ve been flying as long as some members of the squadron. LT Drazhar didn’t like to split up flights, so he had decided to keep EN Skacore and EN Semm exactly where they had been.

It also provided an opportunity to see how Jast and Lenanor could adapt to SL O’Moran’s more direct approach to attacks. So far they were doing well.

A chime from his console brought Draz’s attention back to the message.

He entered his eight-character authorization string

The screen went blank, and for a moment Draz’s stomach jumped.

Then the Imperial Sigil appeared

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+++Welcome LT Drazhar+++

Drazhar read through the orders. They were to divert to new coordinates. Geonosis. The planet rang a bell in his head, but the pilot couldn’t put his finger on it. Something about droids. It didn’t matter; they were unlikely to meet any droids in orbit of the planet

The tightness in the LT’s stomach contracted a little more as he read the enemy disposition.

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+++VSD Vigilant will conduct fly-by+++

The tightness had formed a knot now. The Vigilant held a lot of memories for Drazhar; he still had a lot of friends on the ship. It had hurt him when she was decommissioned, but the Empire couldn’t keep the beast crewed. Consolidation is sometimes the best course of action he had heard someone once say.

Drazhar breathed in deeply, releasing the knot, and continued reading the burst. Beta squadron were on point for the mission. He didn’t envy them the position. Many good men would loose their lives.

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+++Iota will divert at maximum velocity+++

+++Rendezvous at provided coordinates+++

A bleep behind Drazhar indicated the navi-computer had decoded the coordinates from the encrypted data-burst.

Flicking a switch on the comm. unit Drazhar activated the broadcast frequency for the squadron.

---All right people, listen up. Power cycle your shields and divert all available energy to your engines and life support---

---What’s up el-tee---

The voice was that of EN Semm, heavily accented, but easy to make out.

---The HC has decided to attack Geonosis. We’re the backups---

---Backup, hold on Draz, when are they….---

SL O’Moran this time

---Well if you lot let me get a word in…--- LT Drazhar held off for a second

---Thank You. The Vigilant has already left the staging area. Beta is flying point in our absence. The Chimaera will meet the Nemesis at the coordinates I will provide, and we will be meeting the whole lot there. The E.T.A. for ourselves puts us at least a half our behind the rear-guard for the fleet---

Drazhar let that information sink in. It would mean a lot of debris, but he knew that the pilots weren’t thinking that. Contrary to what the Army thought of the ”Fly-Boys” the thought of debris didn’t conjure up thoughts of opportunity to show off flying skill. Not in today’s Empire at least. Oh sure, Drazhar remembered when a cruiser going up was a chance to fly through the flame, look good, get some hot-dogging done.

These days the only debris was that of static defences and fighters. And for each fighter there was a pilot. These days debris meant a pilot had died, and unfortunately; more often than not; it wasn’t the enemy.

---We need to be fully combat ready; I suspect we’ll be hitting the heavy cruisers, but we’ll most likely have some bombers to clear first, seen as how Beta always get tangled up with A-Wings---

There were a couple of sniggers over the comm. Good, he needed them loose, if they were too wound up they could snap.

---Ok, I’m transmitting the coordinates, have your codes ready to decrypt---

LT Drazhar pushed a sequence into his comm. unit, which replied with an affirmative warble

The confirmations came in quickly. Looking around him he watched Iota squadron taking up a hex formation, LT Drazhar’s craft at its apex.

---Oh, and we have a new guy meeting us on the way. Well, by new I mean new to the squadron…---

A moment later there was a flicker of pseudo-motion and they were away.