It had been a long time since Dax had gotten out. His life seemed to have crumbled in since Eclipse had broken up, it was his first squad he had already felt like his fellow mates where his family, maybe the only family he had ever known. Now they were stretched throughout the Vast Empire, some of them still in the same squad, other's having to cope, Dax was one of them having to get to know new squad mates.

Dax needed this, just a nice vacation nothing fancy, nothing out of this world. Just somewhere he could go to relax, before he had to get ready for whatever mission Wraith was sent on next. Looking up he noticed the mirror in the back, he looked older he almost jumped, not recognizing the man in the mirror. That's what decided it for him, he was getting out of these barracks even if he had to fight his way out.

-_-_-_-Wraith barracks/ Arnuat's office/1200 hours-_-_-_-_-

It was a shabby little office. Nice, not much décor, but for being hardly used it had a feeling of home. The desk was a mess, but somehow the Arnuats head seemed to pop up from behind all the flimsi that covered it, his hair was a mess. He was frantically working on his datapad editing numbers and changing information.

“Yes, Sergeant Blackout?” Arnuat didn't even look up, he was still engrossed in his datapad.

“Sir” Blackout out stood still putting his hand up to his head in an almost formal salute, Dax was never good at those.

“At ease soldier.” Arnuat said, finally looking up, gesturing for Dax to have a seat. “So what do you need?” It was almost as if he knew this was coming.

“Sir, I won't even try to deny it, I won't even try to make it seem like there is an emergency like I have done in the past...” Dax's voice trailed off as he remembered the last vacation he wanted, how he had reacted when Doc had said no, but he was older. He knew how to handle it. “.. I would like to take a vacation, I haven't been able to adjust I think I just need some time away. I mean...”

“I understand, it's not like you quitting and everyone needs some time off. So take as long as you need, but be back as soon as possible, I don't want another trooper AWOL” Arnaut said. He gave a quick mile and proceeded to let Blackout leave.

“Thank you, Sir.” Blackout stood up fast and almost had to fight back excitement. He almost saluted but a gesture from Arnaut told him not to. He rushed out.

Now if only I knew where to go.

-_-_-_-_-Tadath Air space/Flight 000/1750 hours

It had been two hours since they had lifted off from the Tadath Hangar. Dax had never realized how sick he got while flying. He had always flown, but with the air controlled sealed comfort of his Stormtrooper armor, never in a open- human contact almost squashed Shuttle, it was different that was for sure.

“so, you have business in Coruscant?” Amanda asked. She hadn't talked in a while, though part of that was she had been messing with her datapad for the past few hours. She didn't even look up when she asked.

“No, visiting my parents. How about you?” Dax felt himself gag a little bit from being thrown. The artificial gravity wasn't that great, something told him it had been damaged and nobody cared. Even the jump through hyperspace started to worry if the Shuttle would even make it.

“Ah, Same, only it's almost and emergency I guess. With my family you never know.” She seemed downcast by the though. Her normal cheery demeanor had gone away for a few seconds,but returened in a few seconds.

“Sounds fun. I understand, my family can be a little odd at times, not normal.”

Amanda giggled, Dax had found comfort in that, relaxing a bit and feeling all the nervous worries fad away. “Ah, my families mostly politicians, they have there own rules.”

“Politicians? Did you follow the trade?” Dax was struck, she was to beautiful to be a politician, specially with the slime he had encountered on some mission, way back when.

“No, I'm a interior designer, no risk or having to worry about being assassinated.” She said. Finally putting her datapad away.

“Ah” Was all he could say, he wanted to tell her what he did, but something felt odd right there, like something wasn't right.

“You do anything?” She asked. Suddenly staring at the metal in  Dax's hand that he was slipping into his bag.

“Yea, I am a personal detective, just finished up on a case in Tadath" He didn't care, he was on vacation.Something was special about Her. He didn't know what, but it couldn't be... he had just met her... was he falling in love?

-_-_-_- Flight 000/Dock 48/ Imperial Station: Joiner/1905 hours-_-_-

Dax couldn't believe what he had just done. Two Stormtrooper's lay down in front of him. He didn't think he'd actually have to draw a weapon on this mission, but he was starting to think maybe there was something else going on.

He had lost contact with Lieutenant Jaller, which might have been his only hope of getting off this hunk of metal. Right now though he had other things to worry about. One, he had to keep these crazy people of the shuttle, two he had to get to coruscant, the thought of even going back to Tadath was a bad idea. One problem though, he couldn't fly a ship, let alone a shuttle.

Blackout glanced around each corner of the door, hoping nobody was around to set a trap. It had all happened so fast that even his pulse hadn't slowed down. He crept slowly out of the shuttle jerking himself fast and using his sensors to keep and on his rear. He may have been echani but he had to admit the Mandalore type of armor had it's ups.

He stood fixed at the end of the ramp that had been placed by the stormtroopers, or a work force. Dax worked frantically to switch his blasters. Going from a pistol to his DC-17M rifle. He felt safer wielding it, almost as if nothing could hurt him. Specially since it could penetrate almost any armor.

As soon as he had switched that's when hell started to ensue again. Blaster fire came from all directions. Dax got down and rolled, firing randomly, hoping something would fall over dead, or at least he would scare them. Sadly, neither happened. He worked fast trying to get behind some crates that were just beyond him, he didn't have to worry about getting hit; they had E-11's or most of them did, some had scout pistols. He decided to risk it.

He ran quickly aiming just beyond a officer who seemed to be randomly firing to protect himself. Dax had just clipped him to and he went down. wow, where do they find these people? as soon as he got behind the crates he ducked down, changing his magazine on his DC-17 as well as clipping the Sniper attachment on. As long as he stayed behind the crates he'd be fine.

“I don't know who you guys are, doesn't matter to me, your all going to be dead soon.” Dax taunted. He lifted his rifle up and looked just beyond the shuttle. Hoping that if some unfortunate soul might try to board he'd take them out. All he had to so was stay alive; Dieing was the easy part.

-_-_-_-_-VE Station; Deceiver/VE flight Squad Total/ 1920 hours-_-_-_-_-

“The shuttles already taken off, sir. Are you sure this is going to work?” A pilot asked over the secure link. Starting to wonder if Jaller was still what he was when he joined.

Jaller just sighed heavily, letting the Commander on the other die know he knew what he was doing. Of course it would work they had tried it before. “Positive, I know the army, Sergeant Blackout isn't just going to sit around and wait for us to get there. He's going to give all he's got to protect those civilians. The only problem is, how long can he survive, if he can last long enough we might be able to get there, attack the base to scare them. And in the chaos get those people off of there.” That's when Jaller started to see a fault. What if he was already dead? Then all those innocent people would be dead or captured. Either way there was no time to lose.

“ALRIGHT IT'S TIME LET'S MOVE OUT!!!” The pilot said. The Hangar erupted into noise as fighters roared to life. Jaller knew that lives depended on him. The only problem was, where they still alive?
-_-_-_-Dock 48/Imperial Station: Joiner/1929 hours-_-_-_-

Dax was thankful that they had calmed down, but it was quiet almost eerie. The weird thing was nobody was trying to board the ship. If he was correct they thought there was something on it that was important, or they thought they were Rebel spies. Whatever the case they wanted on that ship. That's when he noticed the movement on his sensors. Something was creeping up behind him.

He whirled and fired. Taking down an Navy officer, sending his pistol sliding across the floor with a clank. He was almost tempted to get up and collect it, but something stopped him. Red dots started appearing all over his HUD. He was tempted to switch over to his blaster attachment, but knew he didn't have time. They were forcing him back to the shuttle. They wanted him and the other civilians alive.

Dax tried to think fast. Nothing was coming, he had to get back to the shuttle and get as many people off as possible and get them to safety. The only problem was he was surrounded by a bunch, and there was no way he could beat them all.

It was time for plan B. He grabbed a thermal detonator from his pouch and set it to 10 minutes. He pulled out another one and held it, setting his DC-17 at his side. He had to get off this station, dieing was an option.

He got up and ran towards the shuttle fire erupted again, but he knew it was only a matter of time before the detonator blew half of them to who knows where. The other one was just in case a few got through he could at least get as many as possible.

Eight minutes... He was starting to think he had set it for to long. They were already advancing and if they saw it they could just pick it up and through it away. He had to think fast. He ducked under the ramp and rolled backwards as best as he could, the armor was making it hard. He layed flat and got his scope in position. Aiming for the Detonator. Five, four, three, two, one... He fired twice and winced at the burst of light. He could have swore he heard screams, but things where to loud in the hollow area.

The smoke had cleared and only about half as many trooper were on his HUD. They were squatting looking around frantically, trying to find him. Sheesh, look for the blue light He took aim at two f the troopers with orange markings, they both went down with two quick blasts. The other's just stared at them and then back at where the shots had fired from Well, at least they learned how to play hide and go seek. Dax stood up with reflexes taking over and dropped his gun. He had the detonator already set to contact and he threw it. Again Light erupted as well as a loud echoing explosion. Dots started to dissapear from his sensors. Soon only one remained.   poor guy, I feel bad.

Dax lifted his Dragon eye from his side and fired. Thirty dead, unknown living, just a day in the life of a Trooper

-_-_-_-_-Flight squadron Total/ Imperial air space: Joiner/1941 hours-_-_-_-

“Alright get ready stay steady.” Jaller was starting to wonder if the flight wasn't going to break. This wasn't a normal mission it was a rescue mission. “As soon as I give the command, take flight. We have limited time, they could all be dead or alive, we don't know. Act as if they are alive though.” He left the link open with Commander Heartstead. The signal was simple, two beeps.

He waited for a progress update. Before he said anything, hopefully they hadn't gotten bad news before him.

“Sir?” Heartstead said over the link. Jaller was taking to long, they should already be flying.

“Alright attack, guard the shuttle and do your best to get life readings.” Worry took him over, in all his years he had never lost. He had always saved them, even if some where dead most survived, but if this was the first time, and they were dead. The hardest part was going to let Wraith know about Dax. I never met him,but I have heard stories

“Yes, sir.”

-_-_-_-_- Dock 48/Imperial Station: Joiner/1959  hours-_-_-_-

Dax mad ehis way back onto what remained of the shuttle. He had hoped nobody got stuck in the fray. Frantically he took his helmet off and threw it off to the side. Checking the bodies and helping the survivors. He knew it was far from over. However, he had time, wherever reinforcements where they would had to get to the hangar, which would take a while.

“Any survivors?” Dax had to ask, he couldn't search through them fast enough.

Three people stood up. Amanda was missing.

He frantically made his way to the seat where they had been sitting. She was still there huddled down rocking. Covering her ears. He saw blood dripping down. Panic took over.

“GET ME A MED KIT NOW!!!” Dax yelled, nobody responded except for one man who made his way back, he was a medic. It was almost luck.

“Let me see.” he removed her hands and checked her ears. They weren't bleeding severely but they we're bleeding. Tears were running down her cheeks. “I can't diagnose her professionally unless I have the proper equipment, however I can tell you she's not deaf or even close to it. Probably just a broken vain from all the explosions.”

Dax was already taking off his armor. He desperately wanted to hold her and tell her it was alright. Then the whole place rocked. seriously, people have perfect timing. He didn't bother to put his armor back on. He just ran outside carrying his DC, he was relieved to see a shuttle with VE markings landing on the hangar bay. Guards already jumping out to bring help.

“I see you had a fun time” The guard said looking around at the damage.

“Yea, I did. Status report?” Dax was anxious to save all those he could.

“Yes?”

“Twenty dead, Three severely wounded, two minor injuries Four healthy. We need gurnies and medical assistant STAT.” He didn't even bother to tell him or include the pilots, the already knew they were dead.

The guard turned around and relayed the information to his squad mates. “You heard the man, get to work.”

Dax was the first one on the shuttle, the survivors that could help themselves made their way out. Dax however made his way straight for Amanda. “Amanda, it's going to be alright, we need to get you off the shuttle.”

“Sir, boss says someones coming up the elevator, we may want to hurry it up.”

“Alright, make it fast. Anyone who can help themselves do so, we don't have time to help everyone. Move!” Dax picked Amanda up, she was still shaking. But she seemed relaxed now. She knew she was safe.

It took almost a minute to get everyone off. Dax had to go back however and grab his things. He had no choice, he might need them.

“Alright let's move, these people need help before it's to late.” The pilot had started the lift off sequence and they we're already moving. Dax looked out the window and noticed two Imperial troopers firing at the shuttle. It was fun, but I have a feeling we'll be back.