AUTHOR'S NOTE:  THE EVENTS OCCURRING IN THIS STORY OCCUR SIX OR SO YEARS AFTER RETURN OF THE JEDI.  AFTER DARK EMPIRE AND BEFORE THE JEDI ACADEMY TRILOGY.  ADMIRAL THRAWN IS DEAD, THE REBORN EMPEROR AND HIS DARK EMPIRE HAVE BEEN DEFEATED, AND LUKE SKYWALKER IS JUST NOW CONTEMPLATING STARTING HIS JEDI ACADEMY.

PROLOGUE

THE IMMENSE ARROW SHAPE OF THE CAPTURED IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER PAYBACK LAY ENFOLDED BY SCAFFOLDING AND BATHED BY WORKLIGHTS IN THE NUMBER SEVEN SLIP OF THE NEW REPUBLIC SHIPYARDS OF HAST.  THE PAYBACK HAD BEEN CAPTURED A YEAR AGO IN THE ACTION OVER MON CALAMARI.  SHE HAD BEEN DISABLED AND TOWED HERE FOR REFURBISHMENT, THE SAME SHIPYARD THAT HAD REFITTED THE LIBERATOR AND EMANCIPATOR.  MOST OF THE WORKERS HAD GONE HOME, THE WORK DAY BEING LONG OVER.  HOWEVER, A SINGLE LIGHT SHONE IN ONE OF THE WORK MODULES.  MODULE DP-6, LOCATED HALFWAY UP THE SIDE OF THE SCAFFOLDING WAS A DATA PROCESSING UNIT.  A ROOM FULL OF WORK TERMINALS LOOKED OUT A HUGE WINDOW FOR A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE DESTROYER.  A DATALINK CONDUIT, A FULL METER THICK, CONNECTED THE MODULE WITH THE MAIN COMPUTER CORE OF THE DESTROYER IN THE BAY BELOW.  NORMALLY SIXTY BEINGS OPERATED THE TERMINALS, ANALYZING THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DATA IN THE DESTROYERS MEMORY, INPUTTING ALLIANCE INFO, UPDATING ELECTRONIC PATHWAYS, AND FERRETING OUT SOME OF THE MORE MYSTERIOUS NUANCES OF THE COMPUTER CORE OF AN IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER.
NOW, THE GLOW OF A SINGLE WORKSTATION LIT THE DARKENED MODULE.  THE RAPID-FIRE TIK-TIK-TIK OF CLAWS CLATTERING ON A DATAPROCESSING KEYBOARD ECHOED THROUGHOUT THE ROOM.  SUDDENLY, SILENCE.  THEN AN EVEN MORE INTENSE TAPPING OF THE DATAPAD.  THEN SILENCE.
THE INSECTOID VERPINE GRAXTIC STOOD STRAIGHT UP AND EMITTED A CRY OF ULULATION AS HE DID A LITTLE JIG OF A DANCE AROUND HIS WORKSTATION TO CELEBRATE HIS BREAKTHROUGH.  HE NOW HAD AN INSIDIOUS COMPUTER VIRUS TAILORED SPECIFICLY FOR A STAR DESTROYER.





CHAPTER 1

"I THINK YOU OVERESTIMATE THEIR CHANCES."
-GRAND MOFF TARKIN, STAR WARS:  A NEW HOPE

THE SILVER-GRAY PROFILE OF THE DAGGER SHAPED STAR DESTROYER CUT ACROSS THE PERFECT CIRCLE FORMED BY THE PLANET ALTOI.  THE BLUE AND GREEN SPHERE HUNG AGAINST THE BLACKNESS OF SPACE, MARRED ONLY BY THE IMPERIAL WAR MACHINE IN ORBIT.  CHECKING HIS DISPLAYS, LT. YADNAR BURTON ADJUSTED THE RESOLUTION OF THE MONITOR A TOUCH, BRINGING MORE OF THE PLANET'S BLUE OUT.
"CAPTAIN, SHUTTLES ARE ASCENDING NOW.  TWELVE MARKS,"  YADNAR CALLED OUT TO THE CAPTAIN SITTING ABOVE AND BEHIND HIS STATION.
"GOOD," THE DEVILISH LOOKING DEVARION CAPTAIN REPLIED.  "WE'VE BEEN WAITING LONG ENOUGH."
THE CREW OF THE NEW REPUBLIC VESSEL SUBTERFUGE HAD BEEN WAITING ON STATION ALMOST TWENTY HOURS.  THEY HAD SLIPPED INTO THE SYSTEM, ASSUMED THEIR PRESENT STATION AND SHUT DOWN MOST OF THEIR SYSTEMS.
THE SUBTERFUGE HERSELF, A GALLOFREE YARDS MEDIUM CRUISER, HAD BEEN WAITING A CONSIDERABLE MORE LONGER.  SHE HAD STARTED OUT LIFE AS A SIMPLE CARGO HAULER, A SHELL OF A HULL INTO WHICH CRATES AND CARGO MODULES HAD BEEN PILED IN AND SECURED.  A BRIDGE HAD BEEN SLAPPED ONTO THE TOP OF THE NINETY METER LONG FREIGHTER ALMOST AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT, AND THE DESIGNERS HAD THROWN IN MINIMAL CREW QUARTERS AND A LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM GRUDGINGLY.  THAT HAD BEEN A LONG TIME AGO THOUGH.  A BAD DESIGN WITH POOR MAINTENANCE RECORD, SHE HAD SAT IN THE MANUFACTURING YARD FOR THREE YEARS WITH HER SISTER SHIPS OF THE LINE.  NO BUYERS FOR THE SHIPS EVENTUALLY BANKRUPTED THE COMPANY.  REBEL AGENTS MANAGED TO ACQUIRE THE SHIPS FOR VERY LITTLE CREDITS AND SO  SHE HAD FOUND HER WAY INTO THE HANDS OF THE REBEL ALLIANCE.  HER FIRST MISSION WAS THE EVACUATIOIN OF HOTH, CONVERTED FOR PERSONELL TRANSPORT, SHE HAD FLOWN THE GAUNTLET OF THE IMPERIAL BLOCKADE.  ONE OF ESCORTING X-WING FOGHTERS HADN'T MADE, BUT SHE AND THER OTHER X-WING HAD, RENDEVOUSING WITH THE REST OF THE FLEET LATER.  LATER, SHE HAD BEEN CONVERTED INTO A FLEET TENDER IN PREPARATION OF THE ASSAULT ON ENDOR.  HER ENTIRE HULL HAD BEEN GUTTED AND REPLACED WITH ONE LARGE FUEL TANK.  SHE HAD SURVIVED ENDOR, BUT HER CREW HAD NOT.  SOMEHOW SHE HAD TAKEN A DIRECT HIT ON THE COMMAND POD, INSTANTLY VAPORIZING ALL MAJOR CONTROL CIRCUITS AND CREW YET NOT IGNITING HER FLAMMABLE CARGO.  SHE WAS RECOVERED DURING THE CLEAN UP AND SENT TO THE SHIPYARDS AT MON CALAMARI TO BE SCRAPPED.  THERE SHE SAT, CIRCLING THE WATER WORLD IN AN ORBITAL CANNIBALIZATION POINT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.  BAKURA, ICEHEART, ZSINJ AND THRAWN ALL CAME AND WENT WHILE SHE SAT THERE BEING POCKMARKED AND HOLED BY MICROMETEORITES AS THE YEARS WENT BY.
THEN, ONE DAY THE NEW REPUBLIC INTELLIGENCE SERVICE HAD NEED OF A SHIP, YET DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO HAVE ONE CONSTRUCTED FROM SCRATCH.  A COMPROMISE WAS REACHED, NRI COULD CONVERT AN ALREADY EXISTING HULL FOR THEIR PURPOSES.  WHILE MANY OTHER VESSELS COULD HAVE SUFFICED, THE FREIGHTER, ALREADY HAVING AN OPEN HOLD DESIGNED FOR HOLDING FUEL, FIT NRI'S NEEDS ADMIRABLE.
SIX MONTHS OF HASTY REFIT, AND THE SUBTERFUGE WAS LAUNCHED.  THE MON CAL SHIPWRIGHTS HAD TRANSFORMED HER FUEL HOLD INTO A FLIGHT DECK, GIVING HER ROOM ENOUGH CARRY A DOZEN FIGHTERS ON THE DECK, AND ANOTHER DOZEN IN MODULAR CLIP RACKS IN THE OVERHEAD.  TYPICAL MON CAL REDUNDANT SHIELD AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS HAD BEEN INSTALLED, A NEW COMMAND MODULE, INCREASED DEFENSIVE FIREPOWER, AND A SET OF THRUSTERS SALVAGED FROM A RECOVERED IMPERIAL CUSTOMS CORVETTE.
THE MON CALS HAD MADE HER FAST AND POWERFUL (FOR A SHIP OF HER SIZE AND TYPE) NOW, THE NRI TECHS WENT IN AND MADE HER STEALTHY.  HIGH-POWERED SENSOR SUITES AND DETECTION GRIDS WERE INSTALLED, AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF ANALYSIS COMPUTERS AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT, AN APPLICATION OF SENSOR ABSORPTION MATERIAL WAS APPLIED TO THE HULL, AND MORE ELECTRONIC GADGETS OF THE INTELLIGENCE GAME WERE INSTALLED.  THE SUBTERFUGE WAS READY FOR HER FIRST SNOOP AND POOP MISSION.
USING ALL OF THE SOPHISTICATED ELECTRONIC MASKING GEAR ABOARD HIS SHIP, CAPTAIN KINEER SLIPPED INTO THE ALTOI SYSTEM LIKE A QUARREN THROUGH KELP.  TAKING UP A STATION WELL OUTSIDE OF ANYTHING OR ORBITING THE PLANET'S SENSOR RANGE, HE PARKED HIS SHIP AND WENT DEAD.  JUST ANOTHER PIECE OF COSMIC DEBRIS.
SEVENTEEN HOURS LATER, THE IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER INVICTUS HAD APPEARED OUT OF HYPERSPACE AND WENT INTO ORBIT ABOVE THE PLANET'S IMPERIAL RESUPPLY BASE.  NOW IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE FINALLY GOING TO START RESUPPLY OPERATIONS.
"THERE ARE ANOTHER DOZEN SHUTTLE TRACKS COMING UP BEHIND THAT FIRST GROUP, YADNAR REPORTED AS HE TRACKED THE SHUTTLES.  "FIRST GROUP OF TWELVE IS ENTERING DOCKING BAY NOW."
"WELL GENTLEMEN, LET'S LOOK SHARP.  WE'LL SOON SEE IF OUR VERPINE FRIEND DID INDEED COME UP WITH A WAY TO SHUT DOWN AN ESSDEE.  LET'S BE READY TO PULL OUR MAN OUT OF THERE," THE CAPTAIN TOLD HIS CREW WHO BEGAN POWERING UP SENSOR AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS AND BENDING OVER MONITORS.

THE 'MAN' THE CAPTAIN WAS REFERRING TO WAS SPECIAL AGENT SAUL GRAINGER, HUMAN MALE, AGE 27 STANDARD YEARS, NRI SERVICE NUMBER 823462086-87364.  SAUL HAD INFILTRATED THE SUPPLY BASE THREE MONTHS EARLIER, HIRING ON AS A SHUTTLE PILOT.  IMPERIAL SECURITY WAS NOT TOO TIGHT ON THESE TRIBUTE PLANETS.  CIVILIAN CONTRACTORS RAN MOST OF THE OPERATIONS, INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT, WITH THE ONLY ACTUAL IMPERIAL PRESENCE BEING A SENIOR NAVAL LIEUTENANT, WHO HAD A STAFF OF HALF A DOZEN ADMIN. CLERKS TO HELP HIM WITH THE PAPERWORK, AND A PLATOON OF STORMTROOPERS FOR SECURITY.
THE CIVILIAN'S WHO ACTUALLY RAN THE STATION PAID THE IMPERIAL'S VERY LITTLE MINE.  THE IMPERIALS WOULD INFORM THE FOREMAN WHEN A SHIP WAS DUE IN AND WHAT IT REQUIRED IN THE WAY OF RESUPPLY.  THE FOREMAN WOULD THEN ARRANGE FOR ALL THE MATERIALS TO BE ON HAND, THE SHUTTLES PREPPED, AND ALL THE OTHER MINOR DETAILS NECESSARY FOR A LOGISTICAL RESUPPLY.
WITH THE STATE OF THE EMPIRE AS IT AS, REELING FROM THE DEATH OF THE EMPEROR REBORN AND THE DEVASTATION OF THE IMPERIAL FLEET AT BYSS, PILOTS WERE A RARE COMMODITY AND EXTREMELY VALUABLE.  SIMPLE RESUPPLY SHUTTLE FLIGHTS WERE CONTRACTED OUT TO CIVILIANS, WHILE IMPERIAL PILOTS WERE RETAINED FOR DUTY'S WITHIN THE FLEET.
SAUL DIDN'T FOOL HIMSELF THOUGH, SECURITY ABOARD SHIP WOULD BE TIGHT, WITH THERE BEING LITTLE CHANCE THAT THE PILOTS WOULD BE ALLOWED OUT OF THEIR SHUTTLES AT ALL.  HOWEVER, NRI HAD INTERVIEWED JEDI LUKE SKYWALKER AFTER HE PENETRATED GRAND ADMIRAL THRAWN'S FLAGSHIP TWO YEARS AGO, AND HAD LEARNED A THING OR TWO.  WHILE NORMALLY, A JEDI MASTER'S FEATS WERE HARD TO DUPLICATE, THE METHODS HE USED TO GET ABOARD THE STAR DESTROYER CHIMERA WERE PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.  NOW, SAUL WAS GOING TO SEE IF HE TOO COULD PENETRATE AN ESSDEE AND GET AWAY WITH IT.
"SHUTTLE 845, PREPARE TO ENTER LAUNCH BAY,"  A CONTROLLER ABOARD THE INVICTUS SAID OVER THE COMM.
"ROGER CONTROL, I AM BEGINNING MY APPROACH NOW,"  SAUL REPLIED, TAKING THE BOXY SHUTTLE OUT OF IT'S HOLDING ORBIT AND ANGLING IN TOWARDS THE GAPING HANGAR BAY ON THE VENTRAL SIDE OF THE SHIP.
HE SCRATCHED NERVOUSLY AT THE COLLAR OF HIS BULKY COVERALLS.  HE WAS HOT WEARING THE IMPERIAL NAVAL TROOPERS UNIFORM UNDERNEATH IT.  THE LARGE ROUND HELMET AND AN ISSUE BLASTER TO COMPLETE HIS DISGUISE WAS IN A TOOL BAG UNDER HIS SEAT.
THE UNIFORM HAD BEEN EASY, CRATES AND CRATES OF THE GEAR HAD BEEN CAPTURED EITHER IN BATTLE, FROM PRISONERS OF WAR, OR THE TAKEOVER OF IMPERIAL SURPLUS DUMPS AND WAREHOUSES OVER THE YEARS.  THE CODE CYLINDERS AND IDENT CARDS WERE A LITTLE HARDER, BUT NOT ESPECIALLY.  FOUR MONTHS PRIOR THE INVICTUS HAD PUT IN AT DARNEL IV, A NEW IMPERIAL HOLDING, BUT INTENSELY SECURE, AND THE CREW HAD BEEN GRANTED SHORE LEAVE.  SAUL HAD BEEN WAITING IN SPACER'S LANE, THE ROW OF BARS AND BROTHELS NEAR THE STARPORT, AND BAGGED A YOUNG, DRUNKEN NAVAL TROOPER.
ODDS WERE THAT THEY HAD NOT YET TAKEN HIS FILES OUT OF THE COMPUTER OR DENIED ACCESS TO HIM.  SO, ANYONE WITH HIS CYLINDER AND IDENT CARD COULD GO ANYWHERE HE COULD.  SAUL DIDN'T NEED TO GO FAR, JUST TO THE NEAREST COMPUTER TERMINAL.  WHAT HE HAD TO WATCH OUT THOUGH WAS BEING IDENTIFIED AS AN INFILTRATOR, WHICH SHOULDN'T BE TOO HARD, SAUL WAS A VERY NONDESCRIPT MAN, AVERAGE IN MOST ASPECTS FROM HIS HEIGHT TO HIS LIGHT BROWN HAIR.  USUALLY HE SPORTED A MUSTACHE, BUT HE HAD SHAVED IT OFF TO APPEAR EVEN MORE NONDESCRIPT IN HIS DISGUISE AS A NAVAL TROOPER.
SAUL PILOTED THE SHUTTLE INTO THE BAY AND PUT HER DOWN ON THE DECK WITH A SOFT BUMP.
"SHUTTLE 845, SHUTDOWN YOUR SYSTEMS AND STANDBY,"  THE CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED HIM.
"845 COMPLYING, STANDING BY"  SAUL REPLIED AS HE POWERED DOWN THE CRAFT.  STANDING UP HE SHUCKED OFF THE COVERALLS AND SMOOTHED THE WRINKLES OUT OF HIS UNIFORM TUNIC.  REACHING UNDER HIS SEAT, HE PULLED THE HELMET AND BLASTER OUT OF THE TOOL BAG.  STRAPPING THE BLASTER TO HIS WAIST, HE NEXT BUFFED A SMUDGE OFF THE HELMET WITH HIS SLEEVE BEFORE DONNING THE HELMET.
"WELL, HERE GOES NOTHING," SAUL MUTTERED TO HIMSELF AS HE BUCKLED THE CHINSTAP OF HIS HELMET.  REACHING DOWN INTO THE TOOL BAG HE SCOOPED UP A MSE-6 MOUSE DROID AND TUCKED IT UNDER HIS ARM.  TURNING, HE WENT TO THE REAR OF THE PILOT'S COMPARTMENT AND OPENED A HATCH IN THE DECK.  SLIPPING DOWN THE LADDER INTO THE ENGINEERING CRAWLSPACE, SAUL STOOP-WALKED BACK UNTIL HE WAS UNDERNEATH THE SEALED MAIN CARGO BAY.
CROUCHED IN THE CRAWLSPACE, HE SET THE MOUSE DROID ON THE DECK.  ACTIVATING  THE DROIDS MAIN POWER SWITCH, THE MOUSE CAME ALIVE WITH A CHIRP AND A BEEP, THE DROID HAD BEEN SPECIFICALLY CUSTOMIZED WITH A SINGLE PURPOSE IN MINE:  CUTTING HOLES IN DECKS AND WELDING THEM BACK.  THE DROID FIRED UP IT'S ONBOARD CUTTING TORCH AND BEGAN CUTTING A LINE IN THE DECK.  FOLLOWING A PROGRAMMED PATTERN, THE DROID ROLLED OVER THE DECK TRACING A PERFECT SQUARE, CUTTING SAUL A HATCH WITH WHICH TO ACCESS THE ESSDEE.
"WELL, YOU MAY NOT BE A LIGHTSABER, BUT YOU GET THE JOB DONE," SAUL SAID TO THE DROID.  THE SINGLE MINDED DROID DID NOT REPLY.
SAUL ATTACHED A "GUNDARK CLAW" TO THE DECK SQUARE IN THE CENTER OF THE CUT DECKING.  SWITCHING IT ON, THE CLAW GAVE A SOFT WHINE AS THE REPULSOR COIL SPUN UP.  GRIPPING THE DISK WITH IT'S MAGNETIC FIELD, IT LIFTED THE CUT DECK PLATE CLEAR, CLEARING THE HOLE.  THE CLAW BUMPED SOFTLY AGAINST THE OVERHEAD, BOBBING ON IT'S REPULSOR FIELD.
LOOKING DOWN, SAUL SAW THE DESTROYER'S DECK A HALF METER BELOW.  LISTENING CAREFULLY, HE TRIED TO DETECT ANY SIGNS OF DETECTION:  CLATTERING FOOTSTEPS, CRIES OF ALARM.  BUT NONE COULD BE HEARD.  PICKING UP THE MOUSE DROID, HE REACHED DOWN AND SET IT ON THE  ESSDEE'S FLIGHT DECK.  THE MOUSE DROID WENT THROUGH IT'S SINGLE FUNCTION ROUTINE AND CUT A SIMILAR SIZED HOLE IN THE FLIGHT DECK.  USING A SECOND CLAW, HE FLOATED THIS PLATE CLEAR TOO.
LOOKING DOWN THROUGH THE HOLE, SAUL COULDN'T MAKE MUCH OUT.  IT LOOKED LIKE HE HAD CUT INTO THE OVERHEAD OF A STORAGE SPACE.  SITTING ON THE EDGE OF THE CUT LAUNCH DECK, HE DROPPED DOWN INTO THE DARK ROOM.  UPON LANDING, HE IMMEDIATELY LOST HIS FOOTING AND LANDED ON HIS POSTERIOR.
"REAL GRACEFUL SAUL,"  HE MUTTERED TO HIMSELF.  DIGGING OUT A MINI-GLOWROD, HE CLICKED IT ON AND FOUND THE DOOR.  ONCE AGAIN HE TUGGED HIS TUNIC DOWN TO SMOOTH ANY WRINKLES BEFORE STEPPING OUT INTO THE EMPTY CORRIDOR.  NOW TO FIND A DATA TERMINAL, AND NOT RUN INTO ANYONE.
THESE CORRIDORS WERE RARELY USED, CONSISTING MAINLY OF SERVICE AND SUPPORT AREAS, AND DROID STORAGE.
CLOSING THE DOOR BEHIND HIM, SAUL STARTED MOVING DOWN THE CORRIDOR AFT, WATCHING THE WALLS FOR TERMINALS, AND READING THE PLACARDS ON THE OCCASIONAL DOOR TO SEE IF IT MAY CONTAIN A PROCESSING STATION.
A HALF A DOZEN DOORS LATER, HE SPIED A DOOR LABELED AS A MAINTENANCE DROID STORAGE BAY.  KEYING THE DOOR CONTROL, IT SLIPPED OPEN WITH A WHOOSH AND HE SLIPPED INSIDE.  ACTIVATING HIS MINI-GLO AGAIN, SAUL SURVEYED THE STORAGE BAY.  RANK UPON RANK OF MAINTENANCE AND SANITATION DROIDS GLEAMED BACK AT HIM, ALL SHUT DOWN.  SHINING THE LIGHT UPON THE WALLS, SAUL FOUND THE DROID PROGRAMMING CONSOLE, A KEYBOARD, MONITOR AND SOCKET MODULE THAT WAS USED TO GIVE PROGRAMMING ORDERS TO EACH INDIVIDUAL DROID WAS LOCATED JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE DOOR.
REACHING UNDER HIS TUNIC, SAUL PULLED OUT HIS DATAPAD.  PLUGGING THE COUPLING JACK FROM THE PAD INTO THE TERMINAL, SAUL PULLED OUT A DATACARD FROM ANOTHER POCKET, AND INSERT IT INTO THE DATAPAD.  HITTING THE UPLOAD BUTTON, SAUL SET THE VIRAL PROGRAM LOOSE IN THE INVICTUS' COMPUTER SYSTEM.  ACCORDING TO THE BRIEF HE HAD BEEN GIVEN ON THE VIRAL PROGRAM, IT WOULD FIND IT'S WAY INTO MOST OF THE COMPUTERS MAJOR SYSTEMS WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS AND THEN START SHUTTING IT DOWN.  IT WAS ALSO SUPPOSED TO BE SELF REPLICATING AND UNSTOPPABLE.  SAUL HADN'T DECIDED IF HE BELIEVED THAT OR NOT, SINCE VIRUS' HAD BEEN AROUND SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS OF COMPUTING, BEFORE THE CLONE WARS, AND TECHNOLOGY HAD COME UP WITH SOME PRETTY STANDARD COUNTERS TO THEM.  THIS ONE HAD BETTER BE PRETTY SPECIAL TO OVERCOME A FEW CENTURIES OF ANTI-VIRUS COUNTER-MEASURES, HE THOUGHT.
PULLING THE DATACARD OUT, HE SET IT ON THE DECK.  DRAWING HIS BLASTER, HE LOWERED THE SETTING TO BURN, AND MELTED THE DATACARD WITH A SQUEEZE OF THE TRIGGER.
HOLSTERING HIS BLASTER, HE HASTILY TUCKED THE DATAPAD UP UNDER HIS TUNIC AND SLIPPED OUT THE DOOR.  LOOKING BOTH WAYS IN THE EMPTY CORRIDOR, HE STEPPED OFF AND MOVED AFT, HEADING FOR ESCAPE POD BAY 18 LOCATED NEAR THE PILOT'S READY ROOMS.  AS HE CONTINUED AFT, HE WONDERED WHY THE IMPS HADN'T LEARNED TO TIGHTEN UP SECURITY ON THE DECKS BELOW THE FLIGHT DECK DURING RESUPPLY OPS.  SURELY THEY HAD TO HAVE LEARNED THAT LESSON AFTER SKYWALKER'S LITTLE LARK ABOARD THE CHIMERA.
APPROACHING A MAIN CORRIDOR INTERSECTION, SAUL'S SLOWED HIS FOOTSTEPS AS HE HEARD SOMETHING APPROACHING.  LISTENING CAREFULLY, HE IDENTIFIED THE SOUND OF AN APPROACHING DROID.
CLUMP....CLUMP....CLUMP....CLUMP.....
SLOW AND METHODICAL.  AND BIG!  SAUL STOPPED, HIS HEART FREEZING IN HIS CHEST.  SOUNDS LIKE AN IMPERIAL WALKER COMING DOWN THE HALL.  MAYBE THE IMPS DID LEARN A LESSON OR TWO, SAUL THOUGHT TO HIMSELF AS THE SINKING FEELING IN HIS GUT GREW.
CLUMP... CLUMP....CLUMP...WHIRRRR..
THE DROID CAME INTO SIGHT AS IT REACHED THE INTERSECTION.  MY GOD IT IS A WALKER, WAS THE FIRST THOUGHT TO JUMP INTO SAUL'S MIND.  THE MONSTROSITY AT THE INTERSECTION WAS ENORMOUS, CLEARLY THREE METERS TALL AND JUST MISSING SCRAPING THE OVERHEAD.  PERCHED UPON FOUR STUMP-LIKE LEGS, WAS THE BLACK, GLEAMING ROUND BODY REMINISCENT OF AN IMPERIAL GUNNERS CLAMSHELL HELMET, EVEN DOWN TO THE WHITE IMPERIAL SIGIL SET SQUARE ABOVE THE DROID'S MAIN SENSOR AND OPTIC WINDOW.  ALONGSIDE THE HELMET-BODY WAS A HUGE CANNON, CLEARLY INTENDED FOR VEHICULAR WORK.  SLUNG UNDERNEATH THE BODY WAS A TURRET WITH A SMALLER BLASTER INTENDED FOR DEALING WITH PERSONNEL.
SAUL RECOGNIZED THE DESIGN, A DEFENSE DROID, INTENDED TO SUPPORT INFANTRY AND IN THE DEFENSE OF GROUND INSTALLATIONS.  WHOEVER SET IT LOOSE WITHIN THE MAZE-LIKE CONFINES OF A SHIP'S BOWELS CLEARLY HADN'T BEEN USING IT TO IT'S FULLEST POTENTIAL.
OF COURSE, IT WAS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO DEAL WITH SAUL.
WITH A WHINE, THE DROID ORIENTATED IT'S SENSOR WINDOW ON HIM, AS WELL AS THE TURRET MOUNTED LIGHT BLASTER.
HOPING TO CARRY OUT THE RUSE, SAUL CONTINUED ADVANCING, ACTING CASUAL.
THE DROID LET HIM GET TWO STEPS BEFORE IT ANNOUNCED:  "HALT!  ID CYLINDER INVALID.  TROOPER TAZKO DECEASED.  INTRUDER ALERT!"  RED AND BLUE STROBES BEGAN FLASHING ON THE DROIDS UPPER DOME.
"STANG!"  SAUL MUTTERED.  OBVIOUSLY THE DEATH OF THIS TROOPER FRIEND HAD BEEN LOGGED IN A TIMELY MANNER AND HIS CLEARANCES REVOKED.  IT WAS AMAZING HE HAD GOTTEN THIS FAR, BUT NOW THE CHAFFE PARTY WAS OVER.
RAISING HIS HANDS IN SUBMISSION TO DISTRACT THE DROID, SAUL PALMED THE ORDNANCE CONCEALED IN HIS SLEEVES.
"OKAY, YOU GOT ME,"  SAUL TOLD THE DROID SQUATTING IN THE INTERSECTION.
"REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE, A DETAIL IS BEING SUMMONED TO DETAIN YOU," THE DROID ANNOUNCED IN A BOOMING IF MONOTONE VOICE, RED LIGHTS STILL FLASHING.
"I DON'T THINK SO," SAUL TOLD THE DROID POINT-BLANK AS HE BROUGHT HIS ARMS SWIFTLY DOWN, HURLING THE TWO PALMED CAPSULES TO THE FLOOR.
WITH A FLASH AND A LOUD BANG, THE TWO GRENADES WENT OFF UPON CONTACT WITH THE FLOOR, SPEWING SMOKE AND HOT SPARKS.  SAUL TURNED AND RAN AS FAST AS HE COULD BACK THE WAY HE HAD COME.  "GUESS I'M NOT GETTING OUT IN AN ESCAPE POD,"  SAUL MUMBLED TO HIMSELF AS HE RAN.  "NOW WHAT,"  HE QUESTIONED HIMSELF AS HE RAN HEADLONG DOWN THE CORRIDOR.
"HALT!  FLIGHT WILL BE MET WITH DEADLY FORCE.  HALT!"  THE DROIDS VOICE BOOMED DOWN THE CORRIDOR.  WITH A CLATTER OF LEGS, THE DROID MOVED OUT, AMBLING OUT OF THE SMOKE AND SPARKS LIKE A HUGE ARMORED BEETLE.  CLOMP!  CLOMP!  CLOMP!
SAUL RISKED A QUICK GLANCE BACK AS HE CUT DOWN ANOTHER CORRIDOR.  HE DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE SAW:  THE HUGE MACHINE TOOK UP THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR, AND WAS MOVING SWIFTLY AFTER HIM, STROBE LIGHTS FLASHING, AND SIRENS BLARING, ALL THE WHILE CALLING FOR HIM TO HALT.
UP AHEAD, A TURBOLIFT CLUSTER AWAITED.  IF HE COULD REACH THEM BEFORE THE STORMTROOPERS THE DROID WAS SURE TO HAVE CALLED GOT THERE TO BOX HIM IN, HE COULD MAKE IT, AS HIS ESCAPE PLAN FORMULATED IN HIS MIND. 
DRAWING HIS BLASTER, HE REACHED THE TURBOLIFTS.  TAKING A COUPLE OF SHOTS AT SOME TECHS TO PUT THEIR HEADS DOWN, HE SLAPPED THE CALL BUTTON.  LOOKING BACK, HE COULD SEE THE DROID HADN'T REACHED THE INTERSECTION YET, BUT HE COULD HEAR IT NEARING.
SLAPPING THE CALL BUTTON AGAIN AND AGAIN, SAUL PUT HIS BACK TO THE DOOR AS HE WONDERED WHO WOULD WIN THIS RACE, THE DROID OR THE TURBOCAR.
THE DROID ROUNDED THE CORNER, TURRET BLASTER SEARCHING FOR SAUL.
SAUL TOOK AIM AND BEGAN FIRING AT THE DROIDS SENSOR WINDOW, KNOWING IT TO BE FUTILE, YET FEELING HE HAD TO TAKE THE STAND.
THE LIFT DOOR HE WAS LEANING AGAINST SLID TO THE SIDE AS THE CAR ARRIVED, CAUSING HIM TO FALL BACK AND ONTO THE DECK OF THE CAR.  RETURN FIRE FROM THE DROID WHINED THROUGH THE AIR.  JUMPING BACK TO HIS FEET, HE HIT THE CONTROLS, AND THE CAR DOOR CLOSED.  THE SOUND OF BOLTS IMPACTING ON THE OUTER DOOR COULD BE HEARD AS HE PUNCHED THE CONTROLS FOR THE FLIGHT DECK.
"FIVE MINUTES TOPS,"  SAUL TOLD HIMSELF.  "SECURITY WILL BE LOCKED DOWN, WITH EVERYONE IN PLACE IN FIVE MINUTES,"  HE CONTINUED, CARRYING ON A CONVERSATION WITH HIMSELF AS WAS HIS HABIT IN HIGH-STRESS SITUATIONS.  THAT DROID HAD REALLY SHAKEN HIM UP.
THE CAR SLOWED AS IT REACHED THE FLIGHT DECK.  TURBOLIFT CLUSTER LB-6, FORTY METERS FROM THE MAINTENANCE BAYS, AND 200 FROM THE FLIGHT DETAILER.  20 METERS TO THE SHUTTLE BAY,"  HE RAMBLED TO, COMFORTING HIMSELF WITH MEMORIZED STATISTICS OF AN ESSDEE LAYOUT, AND GOING OVER HIS ESCAPE ROUTE IN HIS MIND.  "GET TO A SHUTTLE, JUST GOTTA GET TO A SHUTTLE.  NOT A LAMBDA, GUARANTEED TO BE SECURED.  GOTTA GET TO A WORK SHUTTLE, SOMETHING, ANYTHING..."
THE CAR STOPPED, AND THE DOOR OPENED.  SAUL STOOD TO THE SIDE, BLASTER READY IN CASE THEY HAD SECURED HIS EXIT ROUTE.
REMARKABLY, THEY HADN'T.  PEEKING OUT, IT LOOKED LIKE BUSINESS AS USUAL ON THE FLIGHT DECK OF THE STAR DESTROYER INVICTUS. HOLSTERING HIS BLASTER, SAUL SAUNTERED OUT OF THE TURBOLIFT AND HEADED FOR THE SHUTTLE BAY.  LOOKING AROUND, HE COULD SEE TECHS WORKING ON A TIE FIGHTER THAT WAS ON A MAINTENANCE CRADLE.  HE COULD HEAR STARFIGHTER PILOTS CLATTERING ON THE CATWALKS ABOVE AS THEY CAME AND WENT FROM THEIR FIGHTERS NESTLED IN RACKS ABOVE.  WORK CREWS AND BINARY LOAD LIFTERS UNLOADED THE SHUTTLES IN THE DISTANCE, INCLUDING SHUTTLE 845, THE SHUTTLES HE HAD ARRIVED IN.  BUT NO SECURITY TROOPS OR STORMTROOPERS YET HE THOUGHT AS HE KEPT MOVING TOWARDS THE SHUTTLES.
SCOOPING OUT THE SHUTTLES, SAUL DISREGARDED THE TWO LAMBDAS, AND THE TR-7 WAS BEING LOADED WITH CREW HEADING DOWN FOR SHORE LEAVE.  BEHIND THOSE, HE SAW HIS GOAL:  A GAMMA-CLASS ASSAULT SHUTTLE.  A SPACETROOPER DELIVERY VEHICLE THAT HAD IT'S CREW DOOR HATCH OPEN.  SMILING AT HIS GOOD FORTUNE, SAUL QUICKENED HIS PACE TOWARDS THE GAMMA.
AS HE NEARED THE SHUTTLE, HE SPIED IN HIS PERIPHERAL VISION.  STORMTROOPERS WERE SPILLING OUT OF AN ACCESS HATCH AND RACING FOR THE HALF A DOZEN TURBOLIFT CLUSTERS THAT SERVED THE FLIGHT DECK.  MORE TROOPERS RACED OUT OF HATCH ACROSS THE BAY, SPREADING OUT AND SECURING THE RESUPPLY SHUTTLES. 
"ALMOST THERE, ALMOST THERE,"  SAUL MUTTERED THROUGH GRITTED TEETH.  "ALMOST THERE."
HE WAS TEN PACES FROM THE CREW DOOR WHEN A HATCH ON THE SIDE OF THE BAY OPENED, NOT TWENTY METERS FROM HIM, AND A PLATOON OF ZERO-G STORMTROOPERS IN UNDRESS UNIFORM MARCHED OUT IN FORMATION, HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE GAMMA.  JUST BEHIND THEM WAS THE FIVE MAN CREW OF THE SHUTTLE.
"MOTICA!"  SAUL CURSED,  "THEY'RE GOING ON A MISSION."  DROPPING ALL PRETENSE OF CASUALNESS, SAUL BROKE OUT IN A DEAD RUN, DRAWING HIS BLASTER ON THE FLY.
"THERE'S THE INTRUDER"
"NAIL HIM!"
"HEAD HIM OFF!"
"HE'S GOING FOR THE SHUTTLE!"
"OVER HERE, ON THE DOUBLE!"  VOICES CRIED OUT FROM ALL POINTS OF THE BAY.  STORMTROOPERS TURNED AND BEGAN DOUBLE TIMING TOWARDS SAUL AND HIS TARGET SHUTTLE.  BLASTER BOLTS SIZZLED THROUGH THE SIR, BUT NONE OF THE HASTILY FIRES SHOTS FOUND THEIR MARK.
A COUPLE OF QUICK SHOTS TOWARD THE ZERO-G PLATOON TO MAKE THEM DUCK THEN HE WAS DANCING UP THE CREW LADDER AND IN THE SHUTTLE. 
"WHAT THE .."  THE SOLE CREWMEMBER INSIDE THE COCKPIT SAID IN SURPRISE AS SAUL BARRELED THROUGH THE HATCH.
A SINGLE BLAST TO THE CHEST STOPPED ANY ARGUMENT, AND PUT THE CREWER DOWN FOR GOOD.
SLAPPING THE CREW DOOR SHUT, SAUL THREW HIMSELF INTO THE COMMAND CHAIR BEHIND PRIMARY CONTROL CONSOLE.  SAUL BEGAN TO MARVEL AT HIS GOOD FORTUNE IN FINDING THE SHUTTLE ALREADY PREPPED FOR FLIGHT, BUT THEN REMEMBERED THAT HE HAD BEEN REFLECTING ON HIS GOOD FORTUNE JUST BEFORE HE RAN INTO THE DEFENSE DROID, AND JUST AGAIN AS HE BEGAN HEADING FOR THE GAMMA SHUTTLE.  MAYBE HE SHOULD STOP THINKING HOW LUCKY HE WAS.  "IT JUST GETS ME INTO TROUBLE,"  HE SAID TO HIMSELF AS GREEN BLASTER BOLTS BOUNCED OFF THE TRANSPARISTEEL VIEWPORT.  HE ENGAGED THE POWER COUPLERS AND SENT ENERGY TO THE REPULSORS, RAISED THE SHUTTLE UP OFF THE DECK, PIVOTED HER AND APPLIED THRUSTERS TO SCORCH OUT OF THE LAUNCH BAY.

"GOT SOME ACTIVITY ON THE DESTROYER,"  YADNER ANNOUNCED AS HE MONITORED BOTH HIS VID PICKUPS AND SEVERAL IMPERIAL COMMO FREQS.  "LOTS OF COM TRAFFIC IN THE CLEAR, THEY'RE REFERRING TO AN INTRUDER ABOARD.  DEFINITELY AN INTRUDER ALERT.  STORMTROOPERS ARE BEING ORDERED TO SECURE THE RESUPPLY SHUTTLES AND LOCK DOWN THE FLIGHT DECK."
"LAUNCH OUR FIGHTERS,"  CAPTAIN KINEER ORDERED LEANING FORWARD IN HIS CHAIR.  "SEND THEM IN TO ATTACK.  LET'S GIVE THEM SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK ABOUT. HAVE ALPHA-SNATCH READY TO GO,"  KINEER SAID, REFERRING TO THE SHUTTLE THAT HAD BEEN MODIFIED WITH A TRACTOR BEAM SPECIFICALLY TO GO IN AND SNATCH THE LIFE POD SAUL WAS SUPPOSED TO ESCAPE IN.  THAT WAS OF COURSE THE PLAN, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE THE PLAN HAD GONE BYSS.  KINEER JUST HOPED SAUL HAD FOUND AN ALTERNATE WAY OUT.
"LOOK ALIVE ON THOSE MONITORS, IT LOOKS LIKE THE PRIMARY PLAN IS SCRATCHED.  IF THE IMPS ARE LOCKING DOWN THE FLIGHT DECK, OUR MAN MAY HAVE FOUND ANOTHER RIDE OFF,"  KINEER INSTRUCTED.
"BLACK FLIGHT AWAY,"  THE STARFIGHTER CONTROLLER ANNOUNCED FROM HIS STATION TO THE REAR OF THE BRIDGE.  LOOKING OUT THE FORWARD VIEWPORT, KINEER SAW THE DOZEN BLACK PAINTED DART SHAPED A-WINGS OF THE BLACKGUARD SQUADRON RACE OFF TOWARDS THE STAR DESTROYER.

"BLACK LEADER, THE PICKET LINE IS MOVING TO ENGAGE US. FOUR MARKS AT 5-1-4, ANOTHER FOUR COMING AT US FROM THE FAR SIDE OF THE DESTROYER,"  ARTY'S VOICE, BLACK 4, CAME INTO COMMANDER BRAN CYNDORI'S EARS OVER THE HELMET COMM.
"UNDERSTOOD FOUR.  BLACKGUARDS, FORM IN FLIGHTS, ECHELON PORT WITH TWO HUNDRED METER SEPARATION,"  BRAN ORDERED, MOVING HIS SQUADRON OF A-WINGS INTO THREE FLIGHTS OF FOUR ALIGNED ON AN ANGLE.
"FIRST FLIGHT TAKE THE TIES HEAD ON AND KEEP MOVING TOWARDS THE DESTROYER, WE SHOULD BE IN RANGE FOR MISSILE LAUNCH BEFORE WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SECOND FLIGHT OF TIES.  SECOND FLIGHT, MIX IT UP WITH ANY TIES WE DON'T GET ON THE FIRST RUN AND MAKE SURE OUR BACKS ARE CLEAN BEFORE YOU MOVE IN FOR YOUR MISSILE RUN.  WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THE SECOND GROUP OF TIES.  THIRD FLIGHT HANG BACK AND BE READY WHEN I CALL,"  BRAN INFORMED HIS PILOTS.
WITH THEIR J-77 "EVENT HORIZON"  ENGINES AT FULL THRUST, IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE BLACK FLIGHT CLOSED WITH THE FIRST FLIGHT OF FOUR TIE FIGHTERS.  SETTING HIS SHIELDS TO FULL FORWARD, BRAN LINED UP HIS FIRST TARGET, THE LEFT CENTER TIE AS HE WATCHED THE RANGE FINDER COUNT DOWN.  LOCKING UP THE TIE FIGHTER, BRAN SQUEEZED OFF THREE BURSTS FROM HIS LASERS JUST AS THE TIE FIRED IT'S TWIN CHIN-MOUNTED LASERS AT HIM.  SQUINTING THROUGH THE GLARE OF THE INCOMING BLASTER FIRE BEING DEFLECTED BY HIS SHIELDS, BRAN SAW HIS SECOND PAIR OF SHOTS BLOW OFF THE TIES STARBOARD SOLAR PANEL AND THE THIRD SET OF SHOTS CUT THROUGH THE BALL COCKPIT.  JINKING UP TO AVOID THE WRECKAGE, BRAN EVENED OUT HIS SHIELDS AND CHECKED THE OTHER THREE FIGHTERS OF HIS FLIGHT.
SEEING TWO A-WINGS OFF HIS PORT WING, AND ONE OFF HIS STARBOARD, HE ACCOUNTED FOR HIS FLIGHT.  "HOW'D WE DO FIRST FLIGHT?"  BRAN ASKED HIS PILOTS.
"BLACK TWO SCORED ONE,"
"BLACK THREE, I TOOK MINE DOWN,"
"I WINGED MINE, BUT HE KEPT MOVING,"  BLACK FOUR REPORTED.
"GOOD JOB FIRST FLIGHT, DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR TARGET FOUR, I'M SURE SECOND FLIGHT WILL COVER THE LONER FOR US.  SET YOUR CONCUSSION MISSILES FOR DUAL FIRE AND LOCK ON TO THE ESSDEE'S COMMUNICATIONS TOWER.  WE'LL LAUNCH A SALVO TO TAKE DOWN THE SHIELD AND THEN FIRE A SECOND TO FOLLOW THROUGH, STANDARD PROCEDURE,"  BRAN TOLD HIS BLACKGUARDS.
"FIRST FLIGHT, THIS IS SECOND, YOUR LEFTOVERS ARE DISPOSED OF,"  GUNHIE INFORMED HIM.  TELLING HIM THEY HAD TAKEN CARE OF THE TIE FIGHTER THAST BLACK FOUR HAD MISSED.
AS THEY NEARED THE DESTROYER, GREEN TURBOLASER FIRE BEGAN LANCING OUT TOWARDS THEM.  BRAN AND HIS FLIGHT BEGAN TO CORKSCREW, PERFORMING A WEAVING MANEUVER THAT TWISTED THE DESTROYER IN SPIRALS OUTSIDE THE COCKPIT AS THEY CLOSED ON THEIR OBJECTIVE, PROVIDING A MOVING TARGET THAT WAS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE FOR A TURBOLASER CREW TO LOCK ONTO.
"GAMMA-CLASS SHUTTLE LAUNCHING FROM PRIMARY BAY,"  BLACK FLIGHT'S CONTROLLER ABOARD SUBTERFUGE RELAYED TO HIM.  "SHUTTLE IS MOVING FAST.  SHE'S BROADCASTING THE RECOGNITION SIGNAL, IT'S OUR MAN."
"BLACK FLIGHT THREE, YOU'VE GOT ESCORT DUTY.  GRAB OUR BIRD AND TUCK HIM IN SAFE.  ONE FLIGHT, STAY LOCKED ON TARGET.  TWO FLIGHT YOU'VE GOT THE SECOND PASS WHILE FIRST FLIGHT ENGAGES THE TIES.  ONE RUN EACH AND THEN WE'RE OUT OF HERE,"  BRAN WAITED FOR HIS FLIGHT COMMANDERS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THEN STARTED SETTING UP FOR HIS MISSILE RUN.
"ONE FLIGHT, PREPARE TO LAUNCH ON MY MARKS,"  BRAN ANNOUNCED AS HE LEVELED OUT OF HIS WEAVE.  "READY, MARK! MARK!"  BRAN SQUEEZED THE TRIGGER TWICE AND PUMPED OUT TWO PAIRS OF CONCUSSION MISSILES.  TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT OF HIM, THE OTHER FIGHTERS IN HIS FLIGHT LAUNCHED THEIR MISSILES.  EIGHT MISSILES BURNED BLUE PLASMA TRAILS TOWARDS THE DESTROYER'S BRIDGE MOUNTED COMMUNICATIONS TOWER, A SECOND WAVE OF EIGHT MISSILES FOLLOWED IN THEIR WAKE.
STAMPING ON HIS ETHERIC RUDDER, BRAN THREW HIS A-WING INTO A SHARP CURVE, BREAKING AWAY FROM THE DESTROYER AND ANGLING STRAIGHT UP AND AWAY IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE DESTROYER.  POINTED AWAY FROM THE DESTROYER, BRAN DIDN'T GET TO SEE THE MISSILE IMPACTS.  HOWEVER, GUNHIE, SECOND FLIGHT LEADER PROVIDED A RUNNING COMMENTARY AS SHE SET HER FLIGHT UP FOR THEIR RUN. 
"FIRST SALVO IMPACTING ON SHIELDS.  SECOND SALVO ALSO HITTING SHIELDS.  NO, WAIT.  TWO MISSILS ARE THROUGH.  IMPACT ON TOWER.  SECOND FLIGHT, LOCK ON TO THE TOWER AND PREPARE TO FIRE ON MY MARKS,"  GUNHIE ORDERED.  "BLACK LEAD, THIRD FLIGHT HAS OUR BIRD ON THE WAY TO THE NEST.  KEEP THAT SECOND FLIGHT OF TIES OFF OUT BACKS."
"WE'RE ON THEM NOW BLACK FIVE,"  BRAN REPLIED AS HE SEARCHED HIS SCOPE FOR THE TIES.  THE SECOND FLIGHT OF TIES HAD A PAIR OF INTERCEPTORS LEADING THE WAY, EASILY OUTDISTANCING THEIR SLOWER COUSINS, A PAIR OF STANDARD TIE FIGHTERS.

"WHAT IN NAME OF THE EMPEROR IS GOING ON!"  CAPTAIN FARENTIC DEMANDED OF HIS BRIDGE CREW.  "FLIGHT CONTROL, LAUNCH THOSE FIGHTERS."
"WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO SIR, BUT THE LAUNCH FUNCTIONS ARE ACTING UP.  WE'LL LAUNCH MANUALLY IN TWO MINUTES,"  AN OFFICER IN THE CREW PIT ANSWERED AS HE FURIOUSLY TAPPED COMMANDS INTO HIS UNRESPONSIVE TERMINAL.
"SIR, ANOTHER GROUP OF FIGHTERS IS LINING UP FOR ANOTHER MISSILE RUN,"  THE TACTICAL OFFICER CALLED OUT.
"REINFORCE THOSE SHIELDS.  HAVE PICKET FLIGHT TWO INTERCEPT,"  FARENTIC ORDERED.
"SIR, MAIN COMPUTER IS CASCADING, THAT INTRUDER MUST HAVE SABOTAGED OUR SYSTEMS,"
"SIR, COMMO IS DOWN, WE CAN'T TALK TO THE FIGHTERS!"
"MISSILE LAUNCH, SIXTEEN MARKS INCOMING!"
"GUNNERY FUNCTIONS ARE SHUTTING DOWN, IT'S THE COMPUTER, SHE'S DYING,"
"THOSE DAMN REBELS!"  FARANTIC CURSED HIS ANTAGONISTS.  "PROGRAMMING ISOLATE WHATEVER THAT SABOTEUR DID TO OUR COMPUTER AND FIX IT.  FLIGHT, THAT FIGHTER SQUADRON NEEDS TO BE SPACEBORNE NOW, OR IT'S YOUR HEAD,"  HE BARKED, FRUSTRATED WITH HIS INABILITY TO PROSECUTE ACTION AGAINST THE REBELS.  FOR THE SAKE OF THE EMPEROR, THIS WAS AN IMPERIAL STAR DESTROYER, ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL AND VERSATILE WARSHIPS IN EXISTENCE, YET HE WAS BEING BANTHA-TIED BY SOME COMPUTER JOCKEY AND A DOZEN SNUBSHIPS.
FARANTIC STOOD FUMING, STANDING ON THE COMMAND WALKWAY AND WATCHING OUT THE STARBOARD VIEWPORT AS FOUR ENEMY A-WINGS LAUNCHED MISSILES AT HIS SHIP.

BRAN TRACKED HIS TARGETS, AS THEY RACED IN ON AN INTERCEPT COURSE FOR SECOND FLIGHT.  BRAN'S BREAKAWAY MANEUVER HAD POSITIONED HIS FLIGHT ALMOST DIRECTLY ABOVE THE TIES AND MOVING PERPENDICULAR.  BRINGING HIS A-WING AROUND, BRAN PREPARED TO DIVE STRAIGHT DOWN ON TIES AND A LITTLE FROM BEHIND.
"BLACK THREE, YOU AND YOUR WING TAKE THE TRAILING TIES.  TWO AND I WILL TAKE THE INTERCEPTORS,"  BRAN TOLD HIS ELEMENTS.
"ROGER, LEAD.  WE HAVE THE TRAILERS,"  BLACK THREE ACKNOWLEDGED.
"TWO, YOU CAN HAVE THE HONORS. I'VE GOT YOUR BACK,"  BRAN TOLD BLACK TWO, JONTZIA REQ, HIS  RODIAN WINGMAN.
"UNDERSTOOD, TWO HAS THEM." 
AS BRAN SLOWED TO SLIDE IN BEHIND HIS WINGMAN, HE SAW THE BLUE FLASHES OF CONCUSSION MISSILE LAUNCHES, FOLLOWED A SECOND LATER BY ANOTHER SALVO.  IN ADDITION, HE NOTICED THAT SLOWLY, ONE BY ONE, THE TURBOLASERS ABOARD THE DESTROYER CEASED TO FIRE.
"SECOND FLIGHT, MISSILES AWAY, WE'RE DISENGAGING AND HEADING FOR THE NEST,"  GUNHIE ANNOUNCED AS HER FLIGHT BROKE AWAY AND RACED OFF TOWARDS THE SUBTERFUGE.
"BLACK LEAD, INVICTUS IS LAUNCHING A SQUADRON OF FIGHTERS, REPEAT TWELVE MARKS.  THIRD FLIGHT IS ON THE DECK WITH OUR BIRD, SECOND FLIGHT IS INBOUND,"  THE CONTROLLER ABOARD SUBTERFUGE REPORTED TO BRAN.
"ROGER, CONTROL, GET SECOND FLIGHT ABOARD AND SCRAM.  WE'LL JUMP AS SOON AS WE TAKE DOWN THESE FIGHTERS,"  BRAN SAID.
BRAN WATCHED AS JONTZIA LINED UP THE LEAD INTERCEPTOR WHO WAS RACING TOWARDS SECOND FLIGHT, BUT HAD LITTLE CHANCE OF CATCHING THE FASTER A-WINGS.  BLUE LASER BLASTS LANCED THROUGH THE DARKNESS, SHREDDING THE INTERCEPTOR.  THE TIES WINGMAN BROKE OFF TO THE LEFT, BUT JONTZIA FOLLOWED IT AROUND, ANGLING FOR A DEFLECTION SHOT.  THE INTERCEPTOR WAS BOBBING AND WEAVING NOW, TRYING TO SHAKE THE ALLIANCE FIGHTER.
"SECOND FLIGHT ON DECK, BLACK LEAD, NEST IS JUMPING NOW,"  THE CONTROLLER TOLD BRAN.
JONTZIA, INTENT ON HIS KILL, ANNOUNCED:  "GOT TARGET LOCK, FIRING."  LETTING LOOSE A CONCUSSION MISSILE THAT SHOT FORWARD AND IMPACTED ON THE INTERCEPTORS COCKPIT.
"BLACK THREE THIS IS LEAD.  OUR PAIR IS DOWN.  REPORT,"  BRAN QUERIED THE ELEMENT THAT HE HAD TASKED TO TAKE DOWN THE TIES.
"LEAD, OUR PAIR IS DOWN, WE'RE JUMPING NOW.'
"ROGER THREE.  TWO, LETS GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE THAT TIE SQUADRON CATCHES US.  BRAN BROUGHT HIS A-WING AROUND AND LOCKED HIS JUMP VECTOR IN.  REACHING FORWARD, HE GRABBED THE HYPERSPACE CONTROLS AND EASED THEM BACK.  STARS FLARED INTO LINES AS HIS A-WING JUMPED INTO HYPERSPACE.

AS THE A-WINGS FLASHED INTO INFINIFY, FARANTIC CALMLY TURNED AWAY FROM THE VIEWPORT.  "PROGRAMMING, I'LL WANT A FULL REPORT ON THE STATUS OF OUR COMPUTER IN AN HOUR.  SUMMON THE CHIEF MASTER AT ARMS TO MY DAY CABIN, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS HIS SECURITY MEASURES WITH HIM,"  FARANTIC SAID AS HE STRODE OFF THE BRIDGE.

GLOSSARY

GUNDARK CLAW - A HAND HELD REPULSOR UNIT WHICH USES A MAGNETIC CHARGE TO ATTACH ITSELF TO A PIECE OF METAL, AND THEN ACTIVATES THE REPULSOR TO ALLOW IT TO BE FLOATED EASILY.  USUALLY USED IN CONSTRUCTION.
MSE-6 - A SINGLE FUNCTION GENERAL PURPOSE DROID, IN THIS CASE, SPECIALLY MODIFIED TO USE A CUTTING LASER TO CUT THROUGH DECK STEEL IN PRE-PROGRAMMED PATTERN.
THE SUBTERFUGE - WHILE SHE STILLS RETAINS THE PRIMARY SHAPE OF A STANDARD MEDIUM CRUISER, THE EXPERINCED EYE WILL NOTE THE SEVERAL MON CAL STYLED PODS AND THE REDESIGNED COMMAND MODULE WITH FORE AND AFT TURBOLASTER BATTERYS.  THE GAPING MAW OF THE FORWARD FIGHTER FLIGHT DECK AND THE REAR LAUNCH BAY CUTOUT IN THE HULL FOR THE LAUNCH AND RETREIVEAL OF SHUTTLES AND LIGHTERS.  THE MOST IMMEDIATLY RECOGNIZED DIFFERENCE IS THE MATTE BLACK HULL, PAINTED WITH A SENSOR DEFLECTION AND ABSORBTION MATERIAL.
VERPINE - AN INSECTOID RACE NATIVE TO THE ROCHE ASTEROID BELT.  DESIGNERS OF THE B-WING STARFIGHTER
RODIAN - THE SAME RACE AS GREEDO IN STAR WARS:  A NEW HOPE
DEFENSE DROID - DESINGED TO AUGMENT TROOPS IN THE FIELD OF IN GAURDING GARRISONS, THESE DROIDS ARE EQUIPED WITH AN ANTI-VEHICULAR LASER CANNON AND A TURRET MOUNTED MEDIUM REPEATING CANNON.  SOME DROIDS PURCHASED FOR THE EMPIRE HAVE BEEN REPROGRAMMED FOR SECURITY PURPOSES.
ZERO-G UNDRESS UNIFORM - STORMTROOPERS NORMALLY WEAR A LIGHT GRAY TWO PIECE FATIGUE UNIFORM WHEN NOT ENCASED IN THEIR ARMOR, SPACETROOPERS WEAR THE SAME UNIFPRM, YET WITH A THICK BLACK STRIP RUNNING VERTICALLY FROM THEIR SHOULDER DOWN THEIR LEFT SIDE.
"GONE TO BYSS"  - A PHRASE MEANING TO GO TO RUIN.
CANIBILIZATION POINT (CAN POINT) - A JUNKYARD THAT STORES VESSELS THAT STILL HAVE SALVAGEABLE PARTS ON THEM.
ESSDEE - PHONETIC FOR S.D.  STAR DESTROYER.
NRI - NEW REPUBLIC INTELLIGENCE.
MOTICA - SULLUSTAN CURSE WORD

STANG- ALDERRAINIAN CURSE WORD
CHAFFE PARTY - TEA PARTY,OR COFFEE SOCIAL EVENT.

Let me know what you thought, good and bad comments wanted: E-Mail me.  Definitely let me know if i should continue writing the story, or if i should remove it from the web.

Sincerely,

Richard