Chapter 14: The Return

[Fel]

A small group of fighters and one shuttle lanced out of the starry vortex of hyperspace and into the more dangerous realspace. The fighters encircled the shuttle.

"Rebel fighters, lower your shields at once and surrender!" Captain Vortagh broadcast over the open comm, from the bridge of the Chimaera. Even though he sounded less than thrilled, it was nice to hear his voice. "This is the only warning you will receive."

"Keep your shields up but keep S-foils in cruise position," Fel broadcast on the squadron channel. "ISD Chimaera, this is Lieutenant Fel of the infiltrator group R4188. We are looking to return to the Empire."

"Maintain your distance. Please transmit identification codes for our analysis." Vortagh didn't believe it for a second.

Renzen sent an encrypted datastream along his transmission to signal his identity. His status as the ISB plant in the squadron was effectively an open seret at this point in the mission, so he saw no further value in hiding it from anyone.

"Stand by." Vortagh sounded frustrated. Anyone would be in his situation.

After a few moments of delay, the shuttle transmitted as well, an encrypted stream that Renzen couldn't access with his security clearance. Whatever Kardock had said, it seemed to do the trick.

"Obsidian squadron, you are clear to approach the ISD Chimaera. Please escort the shuttle in safely. I am dispatching an extra escort, as I believe you may have been followed. We are dispatching our fighters to join you."

"Understood, captain," Fel said. "Definitely a good idea. I am certain we have been followed by the ship we stole these fighters from... But no way of knowing how many more there were."

"ISD Chimaera going to battle alert." That was Commander Calder's voice in the background of the transmission. "I'll also summon the Grand Admiral... I know he has that headache again, but he will want to be here on the bridge."

"Yes, do so," Vortagh said. "Obsidian, Alpha squadron is already in their fighters. We will contact you when the situation changes. Chimaera out."

Fel and the others wondered what exactly Kardock had transmitted. There were always a million questions in his mind about exactly what was going on, but he never seemed to get any answers, and he knew that he wasn't going to get them from Kardock. Maybe in mission debriefing. If he lived that long.

==========

Grand Admiral Daemon reached the bridge a few moments later. "Report, captain."

"It looks like they actually managed to recover Kardock. I would not have bet on such a return, I must admit," said Vortagh. "It seems that destiny was on their side."

"Don't confuse destiny with the careful machinations of parts of the Empire that are beyond your purview, captain. Imperial Intelligence and the Imperial Security Bureau did a lot to help them along, when possible."

Calder did not wish to interrupt the Grand Admiral (as this was typically an unwise career move), but felt that he must. "Admiral, Captain, Rebel capital ship incoming on vector 17.28..."

==========

GB: ERS-235
TIE: ERS-236
XvT: ERS-237
XWA: ERS-238
EaW: ERS-239

Fleet Admiral's note: This is the LAST chapter for Outer Sectors II. All submissions must be given in by 24 July at 23:59 GMT in order to be counted by Commodore Junon.

We expect the results to be available at the August meeting!