Everyone had finally turned up to the lecture in one form of the other. Ghost had crept in whilst Cali had been leading the pilots through the schematics of TIE-Bomber. His skin had glimmered a pale blue as he did his best to maintain a low profile and take a seat on his own. Curiously he seemed to have some swollen red marks on his skin that flashed into view as he swept his gown down taking his seat. Cali was not sure whether this was another characteristic of Fallen biology or if he suffered some kind of injury. The last thing she needed was rogue brawling pilots in her squadron. Taking a sweeping glance at the haphazardly scattered group amongst the grand carved seats of the even grander chamber Cali repressed a smirk of bemusement and  a slight disheartening sinking feeling.

What was it that made these rag-tag bunch wind up in an equally patched together out fit like the Vast Empire Navy? Sure amongst them there was a fair share of dark secrets and a sense of running away from the past; Cali herself included. But it was the new recruits that mystified the squadron commander the most. Zizi, the Zeltron with the
absent smile she had constantly wore even during the most turgidly monotonous parts of Cali's lecture.  Kan and Hark with their belligerent attitude and disregard for rank and place. Just what had taken place last night Cali though to herself for the umpteenth time.

"...once you've familarised yourself with the console of one Schimtar build machine I can assure you there is not much difference whether you find yourself in Interceptor, Bomber or what ever the VEN can lay their hands on." This elicited a laugh from the class which gave Cali some sense of relief.

"Now, since we're all here," She stopped with a pregnant pause. "finally. Our Falleen of the hour, Gorma, has arranged for some of the rookies amongst us to get some simulator time."

Slasher stood up and took a mock bow. Ghost shoot his fellow Falleen a look of disdain, Thane who had been stone still for the whole duration of Cali's drone nodded to himself as if he read into Ghost's soul.

"So will Leading Crewman Lor, Xyden, Skysk, Inende, Dnarion please follow our esteemed Warrant Officer who will take you to the simulation rooms. Senior crewman Rios, Maroy I want you two to join them but firslty could you join me and Tink in our temporary offices afforded by this splendid chamber." She tried to keep her tone icy. Maroy's flicker of her lekku indicated to Cali that she had been successful in carrying it off. Tinker finally made eye contact with Cali and grimaced with a meek shrug.

"The rest of you Rhegent's please enjoy the rest of your day and don't do anything I wouldn't or indeed any of us for that matter." The group broke out into small murmurs and the new recruits where shepherded by Slasher, the Falleen carrying himself with distinct proud walk. It was all Hark and Kan could do not to break out into giggles.

As Arthur left fresh from what had been, not an unnoticed, nap Cali nodded.

"Thank you for the tea Arthur, it certainly helps keep us all awake." She said with a wink. Arthur as always merely smiled is impenetrable smile.

It was time for an informal debriefing with her X/O and get to bottom of this unknown known.

Tinker adjusted her dark glasses as she sat hunch back in the chair. She really didn't feel like reliving all the events of the previous night, especially with Cali. A nice dark private cockpit sounded lovely just about now. A wave of green collapsed into the chair next to her, jolting her out of her thoughts. Cadie frowned and slowly turned to look over at Maroy but before her eyes could focus Thane silently slid into the chair on her other side.

Both Crewman looked somewhat nervous and their eyes were on Cadie. "Pfft, chickens." She ran a hand through her long unruly red hair and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Boss, a moment alone?"

Cali had been standing silently with her arms crossed eying all three of the pilots. She nodded and moved towards the exit of the grand chamber.

"Cadie, lets cut to the chase. What happened last night?" Her lekku twitched in obvious agitation.

Tinker sighed and took off her dark shades. Her eyes stayed downcast as she slowly folded the glasses. "You sure you want to know? I worry about your blood pressure."

"Tinker." The word came out more as a growl than an actual spoken word.

"Sorry. We went to the casino, that new one. Full of officers, cocky bastards."

"Refrain from the colorful metaphors."

"Right, sorry. They were acting strange, I didn't like it. So Maroy and I followed them up to their private lounge, found Zizi up there being interrogated by this real nasty bast...guy. When we got back all three of us were called in to be debriefed about what happened. By the way, I have a strong dislike for VENI, even stronger than before."

Cali sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Cadie, I told you when you came back you needed to control yourself. I can't have my XO contributing to crewman mischief."

Tinker's eyes narrowed for a split second. Her knee jerk reaction was to yell, cuss, and light a nice expensive cigar. Cali was right though, she had made a promise to her new commanding officer. No matter how much she hated it, she needed to take responsibility for everything that happened. "I made an impulsive call, it won't happen again. But something was up, I wasn't wrong."

"Oh?" Cali leaned heavily on the chamber's timbre freshhold as she prepared to listen to the red-head explain.

"It looks like the NR may in fact have some spys in the officer ranks, Zizi seems to have stumbled upon something. But I couldn't get the sodding bastar....guy to say anything. Whatever we found, its locked away in the bowels of the VENI. But I suggest we keep an eye on our newbies, Zizi in particular."

"Why? Sounds like she was the hero of this story."

Cadie's eyes trailed off. She tried to conjure up the words to describe the creepy feeling the woman gave her. As if she was seeing everything yet still had her eyes closed. "She knows something. In fact I think she's looking for something, more than what she claims. Its like in Sabbacc when someone is bluffing, you can just tell."

Cali raised her eye brow. "Fine, you keep an eye on her. Let's go back to the briefing I mean mess room, I'd like to have a word with all three of you about being on time to my meetings. And one other thing Tink. No more drinking, embrace the caf, or I'm sending you to the brig." Without waiting for a response Cali stomped back to the briefing room leaving Cadie rolling her eyes in the squadron commanders wake.

OOC:

wrote this up at work, sorry if its a bit sloppy, getting my head back into the story

~~~Arthur~~~

After the meeting Arthur was on his way back to the gym for his daily routine when he remembered he left the sparring droid in his room.  He quickly spun around to head to his room.  When he got there he saw that he did not attach the arms or legs yet.  Arthur grabbed his repair kit and went right back to work it took him a half hour to finish the repairs and check the systems on it.

With droid fixed he turned it on and walked back to the gym with it next to him.  When he got there it was almost empty.  The only people were on the track.  The droid walked to the recharger to charge for its next battle with Arthur.  The first thing Arthur did was the bench press.  Today he put on 250 lbs on the press and began his routine. 

Two hours later he was done with his weight training and began to spar with the droid this time he maxed out the droid combat knowledge the droid ringed in acknowledgment which the others in the gym heard and the fight began.  A crowd began to gather after a while the people that heard the ringing called a few of their friends to watch and more started to pour in to the gym and watched the fight.

A half hour after the fight started Arthur finally noticed the crowd around him and was trying to figure out why they were there.  The droid took the opportunity to its advantage and landed a successful blow to Arthur ribs and it send him to the ground.  Arthur was down for a whole six seconds but those felt like an hour each.  When he got to his feet something in him happened and the next thing he knew he was in a beta-tube.

When he was released from the tube he was told what happened.  He apparently beat the droid but was knocked out for an hour in the process.  When the doctors finally let him go with a clean bill of health and also cleared him for flight if there was going to be a need. He walked to his room and took a shower to get the left over beta off.

~~~Kan And Hark~~~

After the meeting Kan and Hark were out the door talking about the last night again.  They followed Slasher to the simulators.

"Kan do you know what simulation they are going to use because we mastered the one we have to use?"

"I think they might use simulation 31 that was the hardest one we tried.  Remember what happened the first time we tried?"

"All to well we both didn't make it out of the asteroid field."

"Yep so I would think they would use that one to test us out."

When the got to the simulators Hark and Kan jumped in to their favorite simulators.  Hark got into the eleventh simulator and Kan got into the twelfth simulator.

"All right, everyone take your positions, you'll be keeping the same call-signs which you have, but you'll be Sol Squadron." As they entered their simulators Slasher pulled up the program on the control unit for the simulators, and once it was set he started the simulator. "alright, you all have minimum briefing, your heading into a combat situation, you do not yet know exactly what your enemy's forces are going to be." Quickly Slasher starts the simulation, and watches on his screen as they begin the simulation.

"Sol Squadron, roll call,” says the Lieutenant in command of the squadron.

“Eleven is in the clear. Ready to launch.” Hark replied.

“This is Twelve. I’m sure as hell ready to get this show on the road.” Kan said.

"Ladies and gentleman, we have reverted to real space and we are taking up a flanking position on the ISD Suspense. As of now, we are officially at full combat readiness. Man all stations.” Captain Levinn stated.

When the got the green light they dropped out of their bays and into the inky blackness that was space.  Once clear of the ISD Suspense they followed the Lieutenant in their ships to the battle.

"Hark this is a new simulation one we have not done yet." Kan said in to a channel to Hark.

"I see that.  Well lets get ready for this then." Hark replied.

Cali positioned her cooling beaker of Arthur's special brewed tea on an upturned cargo unit she had acquired from the central hanger stores. She laid out the dura-sheet of her lecture notes in a fan sprawl on her cluttered bunk; it had not been much of an inspiring lesson in theory. Even the greenest of our pilots knew the more than basics when it came to starfighter training. Cali was aware of the hard work the academy put the recruits through; it really had not been that long since Cali herself had been put to proverbial grind stone. The aches in her body would argue against the short time span that had past. Time was all about perception.

She scooped out the cracked datapad and logged into the informal back channel of the VEN. Cali hoped she could find some information that would shed some light on the event that had taken place. Cadie had been cagey, to say the least but Cali had thought it wise not to push her X/O. Neither where stupid, the relationship was fragile and anything they could do to avoid conflict would be in the best interest of the squadron. Still Cali would have liked Cadie to have opened up on the subject more but given the presence of Thane and Maroy Cali was not surprised that Cadie had kept her briefings just that. The fact that Cadie had defied Cali's prohibition of alcohol would have angered the Twi'lek more where it not for the unclear quagmire that was developing around her. She had wanted her new recruits to relax and enjoy the general civility afforded by Abrae but to hit up a casino in such a grand fashion, and with such potentially catastrophic results reduced Cadie's dabbling with liquid wraith to a mere insignificance.

The channels did not seem to have anything relevant, they continued with their usual chatter of possible naval cutbacks, who had blackmailed who into such and such fast-tracked promotion. The usual conjecture and hearsay nothing Cali could use to get to the bottom of this mystery. Maybe the lack of action and the old cliché that a pilot being most a risk and vulnerable when left to their own devices was proving to be all too acute in the case of Rhegent's Reign. Cali's pad blinked with a new message, a confirmation that the Reign had been granted access to the Asteroid nineteen training facility. Atrasin had proven to be the capable puppet-master even when far removed from central head quarters. That was the first good news Cali had got all day. She hoped it would give the squadron a much needed focus. It would remind every individual as to why they where here.

"...we fly, you die"

Something from the past, a phrase had ushered in Cali's inauguration of pain as a part of this operation. 

It would be interesting to see how her brood compared in the simulation run to a live run. With a glimmer of purpose Cali decided as commanding officer she had better made her presence felt. Plus she did not want Slasher to get into the habit of marshalling her troops too keenly. Left to his own devices he would have them going through archaic Falleen combat arts, complete with the compulsory nasal chanting. Cali had experienced such a terrifying sight once when dealing with a particular exquisite and particular cargo back so long ago. Back in the day. An era ended and closed.

Slasher turns to look at the screen showing all of the fighters of Sol squadron now formed up and preparing to head into combat.
Slasher keys the comm system so he can update the squadron's assignment. "Sol Leader, this is Control, your squadron has been assigned to intercept and engage an incoming squadron of enemy fighters. Your targeting readouts have been updated, your targets will show up under target selection 4. Good luck, Control out," turning away from the viewscreen Slasher begins to program in some surprises for the engagement.

OOC:

Alright this section of the simulation the squadron is going to engage a squadron of enemy interceptors, while this takes place you need to lose 2-3 pilots from Sol Squadron, please workout among yourselves which fighters are going to be destroyed, only computer controlled fighters will die, but I want you to work on portraying the destruction of an allied fighter from your pov. Also I will update later this post with more from Slasher's point of view, I'm on my iPod right now, so harder to write long posts.

Slasher watches the battle unfolding on the simulator operator's viewscreen, he watches as the fighters of both sides flit through the battlefield. As the capital ships begin to open up on each other with barrages of turbolaser fire he sees several fighters destroyed on both sides because they had not stayed out of the fire lanes between the two capital ships. Quickly glancing down to see which fighters had been destroyed from Sol Squadron, Slasher smiles as he sees that none of the real pilots had been killed,

Well at least these new guys aren't completely green, I know a number of pilots who on their first sim would not have survived that... Myself included. This batch will do nicely.

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Slasher looks down from the viewscreen his Pad beeping insistently for attention.

I wonder what the heck this is about...

Picking up the Pad he inputs his access code and pulls up the message he has just received.

TO: Warrant Officer 2nd Class Rorran "Slasher" Gorma
FROM: Logistics Command - Personnel Department - Star Fighter Corps

Warrant Officer, you are being recalled from the 153rd back to the Academy to assist with training a new squadron of pilots. You are to report to your new assignment as soon as possible. Warrant Officer 1st Class Drac is going to be commanding this training squadron. You are ordered to report to him as his Executive Officer.
End Message

Slasher blinks in surprise as he reads back through the message again,

I'm getting promoted.... Making Squadron XO, even if it is a training squadron, between Drac and I'll we'll get this crew whipped into shape real fast.

Slasher turns and sees Cali'reharn standing nearby, and waves to grab her attention, "Chief, you may want to have a look at this."

"What's up Slash?" asks the Squadron Commander, walking over to him, "Is there a problem with the simulation or something?"

"No Ma'am, however I just received new orders, I'm being reassigned apparently."

"What?" She grabs the Padd from him, looking at the orders which he has been given, "Reassigned, to train pilots? But why, you are one of a small number of Veteran pilots we've got in this wing, why are they pulling you off the front line?"

"I'm not sure, but probably Drac can provide some answers."

"Answers about what?" Comes the voice of Warrant Officer 1st Class Drac,

"What are you doing here?" Asks Slasher, surprised to see the Mon Cal pilot in the simulation center.

"I'm actually looking for you, I wanted to talk to you about the transfer, since your current Squadron Commander is here so much the better."

Cali immediately repeats the question she had asked Slasher, "Why is Slasher being taken off the front lines to train pilots, it's obvious how short we are on pilots with significant combat experience, why's he being pulled?"

Kan was about to get his first kill when a shot from below destroyed his target.  Kan was trying to figure out who took his glory when Hark opened a com.

"Oh man I can't believe I just got that kill man I wish I was there to see the look on your face."

"Man I had that one."

"You might of had him but I got him."

"Lets just regroup with the rest of the squad."

"Roger, that Kan."

Kan and Hark were on there way back to the squad when they were attacked by the enemy reinforcements that just arrived.  They were out numbered and out gunned so all they could was make it back to the squad.  They got far enough ahead that they were just out of range.

They got about half way to the squad when the enemy ships caught up with them they broke off formation when they were locked on and pulled every maneuver they knew and were able to destroy only two of the ships.

It wasn't long after Harks second kill he was hit and lost both of his wings and his engines and a few short seconds later his sim shut down and opened to let him out.  Kan saw that happened and it  almost happened to him but the cavalry arrived to save him.

The first thing Kan did when the rest of the squad showed up was go after the one who shot down Hark.  The pilot was good but Kan was pissed and was able to get him with two of the five rockets he shot and was lucky that one of the rockets he shot just missed one of his squad-mates but was even luckier when another one hit and destroyed one of the enemy's.

OOC:

INVASION! Nah, just a cameo. This should get both squadrons set up in the aftermath of this past week's changes.

Drac gave a friendly smile in answer to the Twi’lek’s question, the gesture taking a little more effort for him as it always did, since Mon Cals normally used a different one to convey the same meaning. He nodded, turning so he could look at Slasher and Cali each with one eye before answering, “To put it simply, ma’am, I need Slasher because my squadron is even worse off than yours in that regard. Before his transfer I was Tuk'ata's only veteran pilot- not an ideal situation for keeping all my green pilots alive for very long. I understand that you’re struggling with the same problems yourself, but it seems the Naval High Command is confident that you can recover from Slasher’s absence.

“Still, I’d like to offer my apologies for any difficulty this will cause you,” Drac continued, “Slasher comes very highly recommended, so I’m sure it’s not a pleasant feeling to lose him.” He winked at the Falleen, knowing Slasher would remember their various adventures in Nazgul.

Cali paused, thinking about it, then nodded as her lekku twitched, “Very well. As you said, it’s not ideal for Rhegent, but it appears you do need him more than we do.” She paused a moment, noticing something, “Warrant Officer, why is it that you’re wearing Tuk’ata’s squadron insignia and the rank patches of a Master Chief Petty Officer?” her eyes narrowed and her lekku twitched faster, “This is not some sort of prank, is it? I can assure you that you will very much regret it if it is.”

If Drac had been physically capable of blushing, he would have. Instead he let out an embarrassed laugh and replied, “It’s no joke, let me assure you. The Naval High Command seems to have decided to light a fire under the problems the new Wing has been having - I was assigned as Squadron Commander only a few hours ago, in fact. A double promotion came along with that so that my rank would be appropriate to my position. I have the official patches for both Tuk'ata and my current rank, if you would like to see them.” Cali shook her head after a moment, so Drac nodded and added, “If it’s any consolation, with my departure, Tuk’ata has lost its second Executive Officer this month. Your personnel problems, in comparison, are not all that bad.”

Cali seemed to be about to reply when Drac’s comlink buzzed insistently, trilling out a tone he’d only ever heard in training- a tone that indicated the call was from someone very high up in the Navy. Staring at it with one eye in an expression of surprise, he pulled it off his belt and accepted the call, “Warrant Officer Mihawk speaking.”

Denethor’s head and shoulders appeared in the unit’s small holoprojector field, nodding in response to Drac’s salute, “Warrant Officer. I’m afraid I have some bad news for you. I have just received a report that several of the pilot assigned to your new squadron have failed to make it through to graduation - it seems a pilot nowadays just aren't what they used to be.”

Drac twitched his barbels in irritation, knowing the human was unlikely to know the slight movement’s meaning, “Where does that leave Tuk'ata, sir?”

The Admiral’s reply punched a hole through the Mon Calamari’s ambition, “I’m afraid the squadron will have to go through emergency measures, Warrant Officer. It’s been deemed too cost-inefficient to try and build the unit out of greens again. The human paused a moment before continuing, “As for where that leaves you and the remainder of the unit, you will find your new unit familiar. Those unassigned remnants of Pheonix wing will all be transferred to Tuk’ata to fill up holes in that unit that's why your geeting Warrant Officer Gorma."

Denethor looked closely at the Mon Cal, “Good luck, Warrant Officer.” Drac returned the man’s salute and continued to look at the holoprojector field even after the Admiral had disconnected.

Looking up, he offered a salute to the pair of Rhegents, “It would seem that things are working slowly but surely in our favour, right Slash?"

Cali returned the salute as did Slasher but he wore no expression of outward emotion. Before Drac could turn away, her expression at once sympathetic and calculating, “One moment.” Her lekku twitched slightly, “Your new squadron will undoubtedly need a couple of training runs to begin running smoothly, will it not?” He nodded cautiously and she continued, “Then I invite you to join us in our training. Our Wing needs to get to know itself better, and this is a good opportunity.”

Drac thought about it for a moment, then agreed, “I think so, too…” he realized he’d never spoken to her before, though they’d both served in Phoenix Wing, “It occurs to me that we’ve never been formally introduced, ma’am. I am Dracule Mihawk- or Drac, as everyone calls me.”

He extended a hand, which the other shook, “I am Cali’reharn. Since Slasher will have familiarity of both our outfits once Tuk'ata is ready to do some training,” she gave him a competitive smile, “We’ll see how many loops my pilots can fly around yours in a row.”

Drac laughed, turning toward the exit. As he walked away, he turned his head and shot a reply over his shoulder, “Indeed. Just remember, loops are most often used defensively.”

Thane's TIE Interceptor takes a sharp turn to the left as he gets in behind one of the enemy fighters. The fighter in front of him doesn't even attempt to shake Thane off.

"This one is going to be easier than I thought." said Thane to himself.

As he prepares to fire, a flurry of green lasers rush past his cockpit. While Thane took his time in following his target another enemy fighter slid in behind Thane. The enemy fighter opened up again, Thane attempted to roll right, but his left wing was sheared off by the laser fire. Alarms sounded loudly through out the cockpit. Thane's TIE now drifted to the left. Laser fire cut through the black of space like green spears coming for Thane, he took a deep breath and waited for the inevitable. The simulator went black, signaling that he was shot down.

"I got to damn confident, in my abilities, and because of that, I got shot down." thought Thane, he did his best not to slam his helmet into the Sim. Thane's memory flashed back to when he was in training to be an assassin, back when he was younger. Failure was met with harsh punishment, and Thane had failed his first test in 153rd.

In short, Maroy was completely surprised that she’d lasted this long. She saw several of her squadron mates shot down, and couldn’t help wondering why she wasn’t "dead" yet. She wasn’t the best pilot in the group, not even close. Focus, Maroy! Combat is not the time to be daydreaming! Glancing at her instruments, she suddenly noticed two enemy fighters burning through her rear shields. Reacting reflexively, she pulled up sharply on her flight stick. One of the fighters, evidently eager to get a shot in, started turning after her at the same time the other fighter was turning to the left. Wings collided and the two enemy ships exploded into so much space junk. Maroy’s TIE was shaken hard, with shrapnel taking out her rear shields and hitting her hull. Uh-oh, better even out the shields before... She had no time to finish her thought as the Star Destroyer she’d been heading for, the ironically named Immortal, exploded in a brilliant flash. The massive explosion ripped her ship to shreds and the simulation ended.

Cali'reharn studied the other people in her 'office', a make-shift desk she had siphoned from an old Zabrak who worked down in the mess catering and a stack of dura-sheet full of reams of data that she desperately tried to convince herself was in some sort of order.  The Mon Cal, Drac was still leaning in the low-hung entrance wore an impenetrable expression. Despite his outward pleasantries he made Cali inwardly nervous and a part of her just wished him out of sight. She admitted her reaction was more than irrational but she guessed it was the way he had just walked into her operation, especially at this time when she felt she was struggling to control the fate of our squadron. The whole exchange down at the simulation room had caught her completely off guard. Again it seemed to the Twi'lek was at odds with the powers that be in the tangled lines of fate that steered the VEN in ever spiralling circles. Javelin Wing was certainly having a less than smooth launch.

She wiped the palm of her hand across the left side of her tired face. She hoped that she had appeared to have held her own in light of the personnel upheavals that the Rhegent's would now be faced with. Her opposite squadron commander seemed to have an unnerving command of knowledge of the pilots and officers serving in starfighter command. Her experience in Viper squadron had been an insular one and only at the Lehon catastrophe had she really got a glimpse at the wider arm of the navy and Viper's sister squadrons. The call from Denethor clearly indicated to Cali that despite his rank the Mon Cal had some considerable sway in the back-channels of the Navy.  She made a mental note to look into his case file when she was next on the archives. In light of all this bureaucracy an opportunity had presented itself  to the squadron. 

“Great.” Tinker offered up sarcastically into the room of awkward silences. “So long Slash.”

“Cadie -” Cali began in her best attempt at what she thought was a motherly tone.

“You know what this is, the smell of -”  It was all Tinker could do to keep herself rooted in her seat.

“It is what it is Chief Petty Officer Reese.”  Cali rose to the floor, she would not allow Tinker's passion show up her own authority especially not in the saintly presence of Drac. It did not escape her notice that he shared a knowing glance at Slasher who merely looked downwards brushing his ridiculous looking robes. Cali sometimes wondered if she was not in the time of the Old Republic given the choice of clothing and uniform some of the more eclectic members of the VE opted to wear.

“Word came directly from the Rear Admiral -” She continued albeit briefly.

“That's correct I spoke to Denethor myself.” Drac chimed in unhelpfully.

“Thank you Warrant Officer.” Cali wished she had remained seated, that way she would have been able to have sat on her lekku and prevent them from involuntarily flicking in mild annoyance. As a fellow non-human she suspected the Mon cal was more adept in reading the subtle body languages of other species unlike the self-concerned human.

“Ma'am you mentioned that we might be team up at Asteroid 19. Before coming here with Drac I took the time the check that our clearance times had been scheduled. Rhegent's would have been the only unit up up there so it is more than conceivable that Tuk'ata could accompany them in the training program.” Slasher held is hand up, flickering his long fingers back and forth  in a tendril-like fashion. The real lizard in him seemed to come to the fore whenever the Falleen became excited.

“Very true Slash but if had not been for our Wing Commander stepping then I doubt the squadron would have gotten authorisation until the the end of the galaxy itself. I'm not sure if he'd be in communications reach -” Now stepping forward from the entrance way the Mon cal fluttered his mouth in confusion and motioned to speak.

“Sorry, you've spoken to Javelin's new WC?” Cali was more than surprised by his question. Maybe his data-base of knowledge did not extend quite as far as she had first thought. A heartbeat later, Cali found herself inwardly baulking at the words he had used; new wing commander. Well Atrasin was technically in charge of new wing but it surprised Cali that Drac, a tested vetran would refer to his superior in that way.

“I'm sure it was more a case of being spoken to right Cali?” Tinker interjected with an  non-useful truth.

“Wait, how do you mean Javelin's new wing commander, you mean Atrasin right?”

“Oh my, communications doesn't seem to be this wing's strong point. Cali didn't you see the broadcast earlier today?”

“But I spoke, I spoke to Atrasin last night. He was calling from, who knows where but you know he was off on that morale boosting tour. The new recruitment drive, I'm sure I saw you with the rest of  Nazgul at the initiative launch. It was the first time any of the public had seen our commander's new form.”

Drac nodded but his expression as far as Cali, who admittedly was less well-versed in Mon Cal body language as he was evidently in Twi'lek, had become serious. “Look Cali, I'm sorry but Atrasin announced his stepping down from command whilst he was being given a tour of one the orbital shipyards in Serek. I was surprised to hear it from the old war crone as you are no doubt surprised to hear it now.”

“Maybe he wasn't so much of a koochoo.” Tinker summered to herself caught up in her own private reflection of the man.

“No, no. This doesn't add up. He seemed so fired up when I spoke to him, what – only a handful of rotations ago.” Cali wanted to retire to her quarters, bolt the door and not see any one for the next millennia. The woven, sound structure she was just getting to accustomed to was unravelling beneath her.

“Machinations from elsewhere, of that I can assure you.” Drac's bulbous eyes glazed unblinkingly over in an icy resolve. “For all we know the whole grand tour could have been a rouse, a final atonement for Driver's flash of the vibro-blades.” That was certainly a neat way of putting the disaster at Lehon, Cali thought to herself. “What I am aware of however is that we all have ourselves a new wing commander.”

“Whom might that be?” Slasher himself looked like someone partial to a flash of the vibroblades now and again.

“Second Lieutenant Jaden Khar'ar.. I have not yet any formal communication with him nor can I say I have ever meet the man but a quick look at his service history will give you all you need to know about him. He served with Kaph, back when the old wing used to mean something.” Drac answered earnestly, it appeared to Cali that everyone in the room held the name with reverence but for her it was simple unknown.

“Oh yes the precious Kaph squadron, you know as well as I do Drac that both Nazgul and Viper got the raw deal when the wing was operating its elite squadron program.” Tinker's bitterness was practically visible for all to see.

“Hissstory, we must look forward my dear.” A poor choice of words hissed by the Falleen.

“Excuse me?” Cadie shot to her feet with alarming speed and was soon in the face a startled Slasher.  “What did you call me?” It was all she could do not to jab her finger right through his sternum.

“A thousand apologies from the sun,” A wise step back towards a half-amused, confused Mon Cal. “Weren't it best we concentrate at the matters at hand, esssence in the presssent.” Cadie dropped her shoulders smoldering with indignant anger. The disaster had been averted for now as all four of  them stood in the room which had now become a much smaller, enclosed and stuffy place.

“Well spoken, besides we had enough war stories yesterday isn't that correct Rorran.” He nodded almost in retraction to Cali's pointed words. “What happens to Atrasin?”

“Who knows Cali? Maybe the old man will finally settle down on Ator.” Drac allowed himself a throaty bubbly chuckle. “He'll be given due presentation of arms when he arrives back to Abrae, I'll hope you'll both see fit to be in attendance.”

Cali nodded.  “Of course.”

There was no doubt that Atrasin had deserved the name that Cali's previous commander, Ibram Tyrol had bestowed upon him; a curious human term – a bastard. He was, however, nonetheless a proven pilot in the field and even Cali was not oblivious to the hard work he and Nazgul had put in during the final days of Pheonix wing. 

“So when do I get to shoot down Mr Lisp here up at Asteroid 19?”

Cali could not resist a smirk. “Well, assuming Mr. Slasher can work his charm on the booking authorities hopefully within two, three rotations?”

“Pleasure Ma'am.” Slash stood to attention and saluted her before making an about turn and  held his salute in front of Drac. “I'll need to get onto it as soon as possible and see to my quarters.”

“You still got that protocol droid that dented my speeder?” Drac asked with a cocked head. Slasher just smiled and ducked his tall frame under the entrance way. The glimmer of old ties and possibly even friendship.

“What did you have in mind for greens to sink their teeth or gills into?” Drac continued his jovial tone catching once again Cali off guard.

“Well,” She paused as her mind went blank. She was not entirely sure what she had planned she had just seen the opportunity as way of trying build some kind of cohesion between the squadrons. Something that she was keen to do given the disintegration of Phoenix.

“I' am dealing with the tactical planning.” Tinker be blessed had covered Cali's absent mindedness. “I'll be happy to liaise with you or my opposite executive officer and hammer out the details but I was thinking a simple skirmish, weakened lasers one-oh-one.  By the way who his Tuk'ata's XO?”

“You almost knocked him out.” Both of them broke out into laughter.

Cali mopped her brow. Who would have thought squadron basic training would be so nerve racking. She could not forget the crippling sense of fear that had accosted her last night, the fear to begin. The fear to be in the black of space, in the confines of that flying tomb that the passed the navy's standards for a starfighter. Their laughter dying down, Cali walked around the rickety table and motioned towards the door.

“I think, Cali , our  wing will be just fine as long avoid  killing each other or die laughing.” Drac turned and the three parted her office.

“Oh we all know that death has the last laugh ain't that right chief?” Tinker ribbed her commander, Cali figured they had made up at least until she had discipline her wayward sister-in-arms.

“Tell that to our hard headed Zabrak.” They headed towards the lift. Cali felt it was disconcerting to be under the constant monitoring of Drac's lone left eye.

“What? Thane, well I suppose he seems the morbid  type.”

“No, I meant Arthur – the 'koochoo' as you say decided to get himself knocked unconscious by the training droid down at the gym. He had to be taken to med-bay, in fact that's my next stop. I'm going to have to apply some stern advice against his overzealous fitness regime.”

“You're such a disciplinarian.” Cadie said with a wink.

“Well, if my brood will insist in such play I suppose I must.” Cali mockingly sighed with a flick of her lekku.

Drac bowed as the  three walked in front of the lift shaft and hung back a pace.

“Ladies, you'll excuse me but as my fellow squadron commander will now there is endless pile of date I must attempt to get through before I'm allowed to enjoy some hydration.”

“I understand, hopefully we will see you up at the asteroid belt.” Cali turned to the Mon Cal and brought her hand up in salute.

“Oh yes. Bottle of the green stuff of the victor Don't take the reshuffling personal, it's testing times for the Navy.”  Drac returned the gesture

“We'll remain Imperial to the end Warrant Officer Mihawk.”

“To the end Chief Warrant Officer Reharn.”

The Mon Cal entered the imperial white gleaming lift and gave both women a formal nod as the door whooshed shut.

“No green stuff for you. Now let's go get Arthur a nice warm cup of tea.” The two ladies made their way towards the personnel area of the vast naval facility on Abrae.

“Koochoo.” Cadie murmured to herself. Cali allowed herself to think that her red-headed co-pilot was referring to their bed laden Zabrak.

OOC:

As I said in the main squadron topic - this is thread will be left open for anyone that wants to continue CD story post.
Also to find out what happened to Atrasin please see the following story: http://comnet.imperialnetwork.com/topic/13767/

Thane makes his way out of the simulator room, and heads towards the barracks.

"Two confirmed kills maybe one or two unconfirmed kills, and then me getting killed myself." Thane said to himself

"Had this been the real deal, Cali would currently be finding herself a replacement for me. I excell at long range and close quaters combat, but those are both ground based warfare. I'm being trained for space combat, and so far I've manged to get my self kill in the sim. I've been trained since birth to deal death in a variety of forms, I'm better than a computer, so how did I allow that to happen..." Thane seethed

As he moved down the hallway, a maintance worker gave Thane a wide birth. Thane snapped out of his thoughts and realized his fists were balled and his arms were shaking. He took a deep breathe and shook it off. The barracks doors slid open, inside was young man who was unpacking his gear. Thane cleared his throat, which startled the young man.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't realize you were there, my name is Jacen. I just arrived from the training academy, you must be my Flight leader that the Chief told me about." said Jacen

"My name is Thane, let me start off by saying, welcome 153rd Rhegent's Reign squadron. If you have any questions I'll do my best to answer them for you." replied Thane

"Thank you sir, uhh where is everyone?" said Jacen looking around

"Most of us were in the Sim. Room, getting some practice, as for the others I don't know. I was about to get something to eat, are you hungry?" asked Thane

"Sure, just where is the mess hall?" laughed Jacen

"Follow me," ordered Thane, who began to crack a smile.

The two made their way to the mess hall, Thane explaind some of things that happened before Jacen arrived. As they turned they corner, Thane noticed Zizi Lor coming down the hall. He was keeping an eye on her since the events at the casino. Zizi had yet to notice Thane or Jacen, she seemed deep in her thoughts. When suddenly she looked up and saw the pair. Thane glarred into her eyes she was nervous about something.

"Hello Zizi, this is Jacen our newest additon to our flight. We were about to grab something to eat care to join us?" Thane kept a close eye on her for any odd sign.

"I'm sorry but I have something I've been meaning to take care of, if you'll excuse me, sir." Said Zizi she quickly made her way around the corner.

"What was all that about?" asked Jacen, who noticed Thane stare Zizi down.

"I don't know, she's been acting strange." replied Thane

They finally reached the mess and took their seats in a booth.

~~~Arthur~~~
While Arthur was in the med-bay he had a few visitors and one he wished he didn't get.  The second Cali walked into the room where he was resting Cali started to rip him a new one for his actions in his training.  All he could do is acknowledge what she said as he knew they went threw the same thing together but he knew he had more blood on his hands then the rest of the old Viper Squad.

He was gathering he things when a message came up on his Data-pad.  Private Hark Skysk is now Beta Flight Member 2.  In his place as Gamma Flight Member 3 is Senior Crewman DeepSix

Arthur read this message and grabbed his things and walked over to the cantina where he over heard Kan and Hark said they were going only a matter of minutes ago.  He found them both sitting at the bar.  Arthur walked up to them.
"So how is it going guys?" Arthur asked them.

"Not bad I guess we lost the mission on the sim but we are glad it was only a sim. Sir." Hark replied.

"Don't call me Sir.  I'll never get used to it." Arthur said into his data-pad in Zabraki and it came out in basic, "especially because I really don't speak the same language as most of the Navy."

"Well if you don't mind me asking then how do you understand any of the orders that you are given?" Kan asked.

"This data-pad was rigged with a translator and a ear piece for this reason and I modified it to say what I say in any language I want."

"That a really neat device you have then, but there most be a reason your here besides to find out how our day went?"

"Yes there is, Hark you are now Beta 2 and should report to Thane as soon as possible."  After Arthur said that he started to leave the room, and go to the hanger bay to be the first one to welcome his newest flight member.

Arthur was in the hanger bay for a hour when the shuttle caring DeepSix landed.  Arthur looked at his data-pad at the picture and left the setting on basic.

"Welcome to Abrae I am your Flight Leader Arthur Dragon, Don't worry about unpacking your thing yet as we are going up to Asteroid 19 for a little training mission."

Zark finished off his meal before Thane and Jasen could, then he said something about going back to his barracks. Thane figured the kid was going to get some sleep, Thane watched Zark exit the mess hall, and shook his head laughing, "quite an odd-ball that one" Thane thought to himself. A buzzing noise caught Thane's attention when he turned to look he saw Jasen's face, he was shocked and sadden at the same time. Jasen couldn't look away from his data pad.

"Bad news?" asked Thane

All Jasen could do was nod.

"Are you alright?" it was a stupid question, but Thane couldn't think of anything else to say. Jasen slid the data pad towards Thane, and began to stare at th ceiling, trying to keep his composer.

Thane read over the message, he now understood what was wrong. Jasen had lost a very close relative, an image of Thane's brother flashed into his mind. Thane nodded and slid the data pad back to him.

"You have my condolences on your lose, the message read that you have some shore leave, so that you may go to the funeral. So get there do what you have to do, take care of your family, we'll be waiting for when you get back." said Thane trying to reassure his flight member.

"I don't think I'll be coming back, sir. I... I need to be with my family now." replied Jasen

"I understand where your coming from, like I said you do what you got to do." said Thane

Jasen got up from the table and exited the mess hall. Then Thane's data pad beeped.

"Thane Hark has been sent to you flight, take care of him. Cali"

He took a deep breathe and made his way to meet up with Hark.