Chapter 2: The Unthinkable

[Fel]

Outer Sectors II Chapter 2: The Unthinkable

Lieutenant Fel looked out on the Imperial Academy platform that had hosted the training exercises. From several kilometers away, in the blackness of space, it seemed so small next to the planet it orbited... And even the planet didn't seem so big. He and his officers were in their fighters, headed towards the Nav Buoy that would have them jump into hyperspace, to the Rebellion.

Normally this would mean battle, and Fel wasn't really nervous before battles anymore. But this time... this time was different. There was some chatter on the comm, but he ignored it.

When they got to the hyperspace point, he engaged the hyperdrive added in to his TIE Interceptor, and all the others did the same.

==========

After a relatively short jump into hyperspace, the TIE Interceptors emerged at a platform - very similar to the one they'd just left - though its IFF was Rebel. Fel's normal action would have been to accelerate his fighter to full speed, bear down on the platform, and await the launch of fighters... Not this time.

Alexander started to say something, continuing the chatter from earlier, but Fel cut him off: "I'll do the talking here."

"Yes, sir." Alexander was terse, and then the chatter was gone.

Fel knew that Rebels were scrambling fighters on the platform, fearing a raid. Fel knew what he had to do. He switched his comm channel to broadcast, disabled encryption, and said words that he'd never imagined he would say, under any circumstances.

"Rebel forces, I am Lieutenant Tiberius Fel of the Imperial Navy. My squadron and I would like to defect."

==========

Fel emerged from his fighter and the deck clanged resoundingly when his boots impacted. One by one, the rest of the squadron did the same, as did the Rebels, who had just escorted the Imperials into the hangar. A sizable number of Rebel security officers were distributed throughout the hangar, keeping a watchful eye on the Imperials and indicating that nobody should move.

The station's commander, a short and slightly overweight man, came into the hangar, flanked by guards. His face was strangely free of the glee that is normally evident in those useless administrators as soon as they have the tiniest hint of power. "Imperials - or, should I say, ex-Imperials - you've made the right choice."

One of the Rebel guards was searching Terix, who looked less than thrilled. But despite his propensity to anger, he kept his cool. To his credit.

Fel spoke up "Thank you. These guards are not necessary."

"I will decide what's necessary."

"Very well, then." Fel said. "Nonetheless, we are sincere in our intention to defect."

"Well, won't be staying here long. There is a Mon Calamari cruiser coming by in a few hours on standard patrol. You'll be joining them on their tour of duty. You will have to earn their trust, you know."

"We know," Fel said. His squadmates were sticking to his earlier direction of keeping quiet. None of them had said a word since they emerged from their fighters.

"In the meantime," that look of glee was starting to emerge on the administrator's face... "I will have to confiscate your weapons."

==========

Later that evening, the Mon Calamari Cruiser Pike - what was it with the Mon Cals and naming their ships after fish? - hyped into a holding position above the platform. The Imperial pilots flew - once again, under escort - into the hangar of the Pike, and set down in orderly fashion.

The ship's captain was already waiting on the hangar. She was an extremely attractive and somewhat young human woman, with red hair and very bright blue eyes. She was flanked by a security team, but these were the only security officers on the deck.

Fel emerged from his fighter and approached the captain. "Lieutenant Tiberius Fel, late of the Imperial Navy. Permission to come aboard, Captain?"

The young woman went to shake his hand rather than salute. "I'm Captain Jennifer Ilven. Welcome aboard the Pike. Tell me one thing, Mister Fel - what brings you to the New Republic?"

"Thank you, Captain." Fel recited the basic motivation of their cover story. "It's fairly simple - my squadron and I can no longer bring ourselves to participate in the aggression against what we consider a lawful entity. We joined the Empire to bring peace to the galaxy, not to throw it into chaos."

The other pilots on the deck nodded and agreed, with a bit of chatter.

"Very good, then. You have made the right choice. The New Republic welcomes you with open arms." She paused momentarily. "I would like to see you and the squadron's executive officer in the briefing room in an hour. If you need some directions, just ask anyone."

"One hour, in the briefing room. Aye, captain."

==========

Some 55 minutes later, Fel was waiting in the briefing room along with Sapan. His eyes kept wandering around the briefing room, looking at things here and there, without really focusing on anything.

Captain Ilven came into the room almost exactly on the hour. "I see timeliness is still important in the Empire."

Fel nodded.

"We've run all your IDs, and you are all who you claim to be. No doubt Imperial spies in our own network will report this inquiry and find that you've gone missing from your previous assignment. You are now all wanted people in the Empire, and you know that you can never go back."

Fel nodded again. "We are aware. We knew when we made the decision to fly out."

"Excellent. I've ordered my staff to prepare a few exercises in order that you might get familiar with some New Republic equipment. We would also like to see if you've really got it."

"We most certainly do, ma'am." Sapan smiled.

Ilven reached into her uniform's pocket and pulled some small items out. She handed the first such item to Fel. "Mister Fel, you are hereby given a field commission at the rank of Captain in New Republic Starfighter Command, and given command of your squadron in the New Republic Starfleet."

Fel closed his hand about the shiny rank insignia in his hand and said simply, "Thank you, captain."

"And you," she said, as she turned her attention to Sapan, "are hereby granted a field commission at the rank of Lieutenant in the New Republic Starfighter Command, and will serve as the executive officer to Captain Fel." She handed him his rank insignia.

Sapan saluted. "Much appreciated, ma'am."

"The other members of your squadron have been granted the rank of Flight Officer. You will find your duty assignments awaiting you in your quarters. Dismissed."

==========

Mission Assignments:

TIE: ERS184-TIE
XvT: ERS185-XvT
XWA: ERS186-XWA
GB: ERS187-GB
EaW: ERS188-EaW

[Jagged Fel]

For those of you that have already tried to get the GB mission, it is now available for download.

[Fel]

Outer Sectors II Chapter 2 Results

The following transmission comes from Rear Admiral Junon:
===
Officers,

If this reaches you, you will understand the necessity of using aliases from this point forward. As such I will be contacting you as Dark Knight for the time being. Any variation from this will be communicated to you in no uncertain terms using code understandable only to you. In the event that you are able to communicate back, I expect you to do the same. Any communication you suspect to be from me that is in any way uncharacteristic of what we have established should be regarded with high suspicion – all transmissions will include a small item only discernible to you. My name may change, but you will recognize my transmission immediately as something only you would detect when you review it in its entirety. Although we did not discuss this specifically during training, I’m confident you will be able to ensure that your communication back to me will include details that could not be forged by an impostor.

I am pleased with your success thus far and I believe your performance so far has been successful. It is imperative that you continue to provide a strong performance, both as pilots and as... actors. Intelligence leads us to believe that there are little or no suspicions about your intentions – and you must do everything possible to maintain this. I recognize the difficulty of having to promote philosophical ideologies that you may find apprehensible, but I assure you that your work in the Officers' Lounge is as important, if not more so, than you work in your starfighters. That being said, your combat work has been excellent and I believe it will give you much needed credibility.

-Dark Knight
===