Author Topic: Solo Rogue Jedi (Gavin, Jaina, Rogues, concurrent with Onslaught) G
JediAlly 
Registered: Oct '00
6537_Green Lightsaber
Date Posted: 5/6/04 9:50am Subject: Solo Rogue Jedi (Gavin, Jaina, Rogues, concurrent with Onslaught) G - Date Edited: 5/6/04 9:52am (1 edits total) Edited By: JediAlly
Solo Rogue Jedi
Author: JediAlly
Main Characters: Gavin Darklighter, Jaina Solo
Supporting Characters: Alinn Varth, Anni Capstan, Danni Quee, Inyri Forge, Kral Nevil
Rating: G
Author’s note: This is a “hidden chapter” that takes place within Chapter 20 of Dark Tide: Onslaught. The author recommends that the readers read Vector Prime and Dark Tide: Onslaught to get a sense of the background to this fanfic.


Colonel Gavin Darklighter walked down the corridor towards the common area where people went to eat and relax. Or rather relax as much as they can, given the circumstances they were all in. His mind was churning, for part of him didn’t want to do what he was about to do, and wanted to find a way out of the situation. He had just entered the common room when he came up with an idea. While it might work, he’d have to wait to implement it later. Right now, he needed to focus on the present and the immediate future.

After a few moments of searching, he spotted the individual for whom he was looking. Even at a distance, he could tell she took after her mother – her face, straight, brown hair currently tied back in a ponytail, brown eyes. She may have her mother’s beauty, but based on what I’ve read and heard, she got her skills from both her parents and her uncle, he thought. Walking up to the table where she was seated, he introduced himself.

“Excuse me.”

Turning to the sound of his voice, he saw Jaina’s eyes brightened immediately with recognition. Standing up and reaching to shake his hand, she said, “Colonel Darklighter! This is a surprise. I didn’t expect to find you out here.”

Smiling at Jaina’s greeting, he shook her hand. He then noticed the woman who was seated next to her staring at him with fascination. Blond with green eyes and possessing beauty that women dream of possessing, she got up slowly with her mouth slightly open. “Darklighter? Gavin Darklighter? Of Rogue Squadron?!”

With a slightly amused expression on her face, Jaina turned to her and said, “Yes, that’s him.” Turning back to the colonel she said, “Colonel, may I introduce you to my friend, Danni Quee.”

“Danni Quee? The Ex-Gal scientist captured by the Yuuzhan Vong?” Jaina and Danni nodded. He had read up on the scant information that had been gathered about the Yuuzhan Vongs – information provided by the Solo/Skywalker family, Lando, and the young woman standing before him. He had also read about the daring rescue Jaina’s twin brother Jacen had performed. If the rumors are true about the confined space they were in and the garments they wore, Jacen’s and Jaina’s fellow students, at least the male ones, must have become quite jealous and envious of Jacen’s good fortune, Gavin thought wryly. He sobered his thoughts as he said, “I’d read the reports that are available. I’m sorry for your loss.”

Giving him a brave smile, though her eyes reflected her sadness, she said, “Thank you.”

Turning back to Jaina, Gavin asked, “Jaina, if you have a few moments, can you come with me to my office? I’d like to talk to you about something.”

Nodding her head, she said, “Sure. I’ll get in touch with you later, Danni. Just remember what I taught you and you’ll be fine.”

“I will. Thanks, Jaina.”

Waving goodbye, Jaina walked alongside him as they left the common area. “So how did you and Rogue Squadron wind up out here?” she asked.

“An Agamarian convoy requested an escort and the Ralroost answered their request.”

Raising one of her eyebrows, Jaina asked, “Why do I sense that there’s more to it than that?”

Chuckling, he said, “You got your father’s sense of suspicion.” He then winced as he realized he broached on what must have been a very sensitive subject for Jaina right now. The reports he had read also detailed Chewbacca’s death, and he could only imagine what impact his death had had on Jaina’s family. Choosing a shift to a different subject he asked, “Were you teaching Miss Quee something when I arrived?”

“Danni is Force-sensitive – something she didn’t know until Jacen rescued her. When Jacen heard the call for help through the Force on Helska Four, the call came from her, not Miko.” Jaina’s tone turned somber as she recalled what happened to Miko Reglia. His repeated encounters with the Yuuzhan Vong war coordinator creature – the yammosk – had broken the young Jedi who had been Kyp’s apprentice and had left him a shell of his former self. “I’ve been giving her some lessons during our trip together.”

He had felt a small surge of hope when he heard this. Maybe this would give another approach vector to avoid what he was about to do. “I’m sorry if I interrupted. Perhaps I should let you go back and…”

“It’s fine. Really. I’ve just taught her some basic skills. I don’t know if she wants to be a Jedi, but if she does, I’m not the one to be doing the teaching.”

“Speaking of Jacen, are he and Anakin here?”

Shaking her head, Jaina said, “Jacen’s with Uncle Luke on a intelligence gathering mission to Belkadan. Uncle Luke wanted to see what’s been happening on that world since he and Aunt Mara left two months ago. And Anakin’s with Aunt Mara on Dantooine where she’s recovering.”

He recalled how Luke and Mara, upon arriving at Belkadan in response to a distress call, had found an ecological disaster rather than a planet lush with wildlife. He also recalled, in details, the strange alien warrior named Yomin Carr, who had somehow infiltrated the ExGal station on that planet. He’d never thought he’d see the day when an individual could hold his or her own against a Jedi without overwhelming firepower, a lightsaber, or the Force. How anyone that scarred managed to slip in without raising questions was beyond him. If Carr had used a disguise, whatever it was, it would have put all known methods of disguising an individual to shame.

“Recovering? Did Yomin Carr hurt her during the duel?”

“Not really. Though the amphistaff did bite Mara and inject its venom, Mara used the Force to gush the venom out of the wound. But while she was fighting against the Vongs on Belkadan and Helska Four, she sensed some sort of connection between the Vong’s presence and that disease she has. It was as though her disease was gaining strength while there were Vongs nearby.”

He whistled somberly upon hearing that. “I don’t like the implications of what you’re implying, Jaina. I’m certain Corran’s thinking that the timing of your aunt catching that disease and the appearance of this new hostile force is too much of a coincidence.”

“He probably is.”

Arriving at his office, he showed Jaina in and invited her to take a seat while he sat behind his desk. He took a moment to gather himself before speaking. “As you said, Jaina, there was more to my explanation than I said. Fey’lya and his bureaucrats back on Coruscant might have refused to acknowledge the threat of these invaders, but Admiral Kre’fey was more realistic. Though the bureaucrats tied his hands, he was able to find a way around their orders without violating them.

“He sent my squadron out on a patrol, and during that patrol we encountered the Free Lance.”

“Urias Xhaxin’s pirate ship?”

“The same, or more accurately what was left of it. The frigate and her fighters were badly damaged and running low on power. We escorted them back to the Ralroost, where they told us about their run-in with asteroids that fired plasma at them. They made a blind-jump in order to escape. Obviously they had a firefight with the Vongs, and it had to be more than a bunch of those coralskipper things. Based on the flight recorders they provided us, the profile of the biggest asteroid they encountered was similar to the capital ship that’s currently out in the asteroid field.”

“Then it’s the same one?”

“Either that or both the ship that’s out in the asteroid field and the one the Free Lance encountered are the same type of capital ship. Anyway, my squadron got from Xhaxin and his crew the coordinates of their battle, and we went to investigate. There were a bunch of skips there.” He saw the concern on Jaina’s face and continued. “Despite the bureaucratic hush-up, my squadron managed to get simulator packages, and we ran simulations where we went up against the skips. I lasted only twenty-five seconds my first run through, and that was ten seconds longer than Admiral Kre’fey did.”

He saw Jaina’s eyes widen, no doubt with disbelief at the thought that he, the leader of the New Republic’s best starfighter squadron, lasted only twenty-five seconds on a simulation run against this new enemy.

He continued, “Thanks to the simulators, however, the admiral and I managed to come up with some tactics and countermeasures, which I’m happy to say worked during our fight against the skips. Unfortunately, I lost two of my pilots during that fight.

“I know the admiral and Lando are planning to evacuate as many as possible from Dubrillion, and my squadron and the squadrons here are going to be providing escort. So I need my squadron back at full strength before doing so, which is why I’m talking to you right now. I’d requested a listing of the best pilots who’ve run the Belt here, and you’re at the top. In addition, you’ve fought against the Vongs both here and at Helska Four. You’d been in three engagements while my squadron had only been in one, so you have a lot more experience fighting against the Vong than my entire squadron. Jaina Solo, I’d like you to join Rogue Squadron.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jaina’s breath left her, rendering her speechless. She knew all about Rogue Squadron, for they were the stuff of legends. She also knew she was a good pilot, but she didn’t think she was good enough to fly in their squadron. Not yet, at least. She acknowledged that what the colonel said was true, yet she couldn’t help think there was more he wasn’t telling her. “Colonel, you’re not inviting me because I’m a Jedi, are you? Or is my mother somehow behind this?”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sighing heavily, he said, “To be honest, Jaina, when I first got the list and saw you at the top, I didn’t want you to join.” Raising his hands to forestall any argument, he continued. “I’m already facing the prospect of informing Tik’s and Dinger’s families of their deaths, and I’ll be doing that many more times before this threat is over. As much as I hate facing the parents and telling them their children died under my command, I especially don’t want to have to face your parents. They’ve already done so much for the New Republic, and your entire family has already suffered an incredible loss.

“But your mother reminded me of two things. First, the situation here is becoming desperate, so we’re going to need to take desperate measures. Second, neither she nor I had had a chance to live a normal life. We had assumed the responsibility of dealing with trouble so that others could have a chance to live normal lives. From what I understand, you and Jacen have already followed in your parents’ footsteps in that regard – the Shadow Academy, the Diversity Alliance, and Black Sun.

“As for your status as a Jedi, your mother also pointed out that though you, she, your brothers, your uncle, and Kyp Durron for some reason couldn’t sense the Vong in the Force, you can sense if someone else is in danger. By having you in the squadron, you’ll be able to help others faster than the rest of us can. Fewer people will die, and fewer lives will be destroyed as a result.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jaina spent a moment considering the colonel’s words. She felt a slight resentment towards her mother, feeling as though her mother was pulling her back in as she was trying to get out from under her mother’s shadow. But she acknowledged that she was a lot like her mother in that she had put the lives of others over her own life during her Jedi training. Jaina also knew that when she used the Force while flying, the X-wing became an extension of herself, just like her lightsaber whenever she used it in the past.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“However,” he continued, “the fact that your status as a Jedi does bring two potential problems to my attention.”

“You mean the Senate’s debate over the ‘Jedi issue’ as they call it,” Jaina said scornfully.

He shook his head. “You know that I have no problem with the Jedi. As for those Jedi who are causing difficulties, personally I don’t see any difference between them and some of the ego cases I’ve seen during my time in Rogue Squadron. The first problem is how your uncle is going to take this. Corran told me how Luke frowned upon the Jedi becoming involved with the military, as the Jedi involved will be performing aggressive actions, and such actions might lead a Jedi to the dark side. Also, I know that you graduated from his academy and were assigned a Master during your apprenticeship.”

“Yes. Aunt Mara asked to take me on as her apprentice.”

Closing his eyes, he said, “Now I have three problems. The second problem is that your uncle may not want you to break away from your apprenticeship and join Rogue Squadron. Now I have your aunt to consider. Also, they may decide that there are some missions that you are best suited to handle.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jaina couldn’t deny what he said, though she was certain that her aunt and uncle wouldn’t object. In fact, she was certain the only one who would raise objections would be Jacen, given his views towards the Force that appeared over the past year.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Gavin spent a few moments thinking. Leaning forward, he said, “While I was coming to find you, I came up with a reasonable compromise that might work for now. If you decide to join, then as far as anyone else is concern, you will have ‘officially’ joined Rogue Squadron; however, between the two of us, ‘unofficially’ you’re just volunteering for the mission. First chance I get, I’m talking to your aunt and uncle. If either of them have any objections, I’ll release you right then and there. If they don’t, then you can truly consider yourself a part of Rogue Squadron. In either case, it would be best if neither of us have any regrets over the choices we make in the interim.” Leaning back in the chair, he gave Jaina an even stare. “So what do you say, Jaina? Want to join the Rogues?”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“We won’t be alone out there. The admiral, Administrator Calrissian, and I have grouped the pilots that are still on Dubrillion into squadrons. These squadrons will provide additional escort for the convoy.”

Gavin stood at the podium, briefing his squadron on their next mission. In an alcove to his left, he could see the silhouettes of two individuals.

“Colonel, do you know anything about the number of coralskippers we’re likely to face?” Captain Kral Nevil, his Quarren wingman asked.

“And what about these pilots?” Major Alinn Varth, leader of Second Flight, added. “Transporting cargo is a lot different than flying against an aggressive force. Unless some of these pilots are veterans from the war with the Empire, or they’ve gone up against pirates or planetary security forces, all we’re doing is creating a target-rich area for the Vongs.”

“I understand both of your concerns. Administrator Calrissian informed me that about a week and a half after the battle that took place here two months ago, another group of Yuuzhan Vongs arrived and took up a position near the asteroid belt.” Gavin activated the holoimager, and a ship profile appeared. “Calrissian sent some of his ships on a recon mission and they encountered this. Its profile is similar to the largest asteroid the Free Lance encountered. So we’re dealing with one capital ship and its contingent of coralskippers, though we don’t know how many coralskippers this type of capital ship can carry.

“Since their arrival, the Vongs have sent a squadron of coralskippers to attack certain sites at random intervals. Calrissian and his people were able to drive them back, and even destroy some of the skips. But the number of skips they were able to destroy grew less with each strike, and there’s no telling how much of an impact the destruction of those skips have had on the overall force.

“Calrissian was able to tell that these Yuuzhan Vongs fought differently than the force that attacked two months ago. The difference was akin to dealing with crack Imperial troops versus dealing with some Imp-wanna-be militia. Further, Calrissian believes these hit-and-fade strikes were aimed at culling the weak and stupid from their ranks. So the pilots we’ll soon be facing are most likely going to be better than the ones we encountered before arriving here.

“The one good thing about these strikes is that it gave Calrissian’s people a chance to gain experience as well. The pilots that will be flying escort alongside us won’t be complete rookies.”

Seeing Inyri Forge, who has been with Rogue Squadron almost as long as he has, raise her hand, Gavin nodded. “Sir, what about Rogue Squadron? We’re not up to full strength ourselves.”

“I’ve already addressed that, Inyri. I looked at the list of pilots who flew the Belt here and talked to those who were the best of the lot. Most of them showed no interest in facing the Vongs on a regular basis, which most likely is what we’re going to be doing for the immediate future.” Silently, he added, somehow I get the feeling that no one in the galaxy will be able to avoid the Yuuzhan Vongs for long. “But I did find two who were willing to join our squadron.” He gestured to his left, and a young woman came onto the podium, dressed in a pilot’s jumpsuit and holding her helmet in the crook of her left arm. “This is Anni Capstan, a freighter pilot from Corellia. She’ll be Rogue Twelve.”

Gavin paused as his squadron took stock of the young woman standing to his left. “As you all know, some of the best pilots who flew in this squadron came from Corellia or Alderaan. Also, the Force had been with this squadron in the form of a Jedi or potential Jedi throughout the conflict with the Empire. Now that we’re facing a new enemy, it seemed appropriate that the next individual embodies all three of these factors.” He gestured again.

He saw his squadron react with surprise as they saw another young woman similarly dressed walk onto the podium – a young woman who seemed too young to be joining them. Inyri was the only one who had no surprise on her face; no doubt she remembered both she and Gavin were about her age when they joined Rogue Squadron. When the young woman turned to face the others, everyone else in the room was surprised to see a lightsaber dangling from her blaster belt. Including Anni Capstan; apparently, she hadn’t noticed Jaina’s lightsaber while they were standing in the alcove.

“Everyone,” Gavin said, “say hello to Jaina. Jaina Solo.”

Murmurs of awe escaped most of his pilots. Only the seasoned ones, Inyri, Alinn, and Kral, remained silent, though their faces, mixed with sympathy and acknowledgement, spoke volumes.

“Miss Solo, you’ll be Miss Capstan’s wingman, Rogue Eleven. Major Varth will be your flight leader.” After seeing them nod, Gavin continued. “Both of these women did well in the simulations, including the coralskipper one, so they’re as prepared for this mission as the rest of us. Alright, everyone. The convoy will be launching in an hour. Report to the hangar and prep your fighters. Dismissed.”

As Gavin moved from the podium, he saw Jaina and Anni exchange greetings amongst themselves and the rest of the squadron. With Jaina joining the squadron, he could already sense an increase in the morale of the squadron. Most of the greetings were jovial, though he caught condolences from some of them. One greeting, however, caught him by surprise.

“Welcome aboard, Sticks.”

He saw Jaina locate the source of that greeting. When she asked the young pilot why he called her “Sticks”, he said, “You’re got one stick at your side, and your going to be handling another while flying your X-wing.”

He saw Jaina smile at the explanation and say, “Sticks. I like that.”

Even he had to smile at this. His squadron had no qualms about Jaina being in their ranks. Though he had accepted Jaina joining his squadron, he couldn’t stop himself from hoping he wouldn’t come to regret this arrangement.

 

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JadeDjo 
Registered: Feb '04
14531_Bastila Shan
Date Posted: 5/6/04 11:31am Subject: RE: Solo Rogue Jedi (Gavin, Jaina, Rogues, concurrent with Onslaught) G
That was good! Is this going to be a full story or just one post? Personally I'd love to read more about Jania and the Rogues.

 

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kyps_godess 
Registered: Jan '04
13607_Keira Knightley
Date Posted: 5/6/04 11:50am Subject: RE: Solo Rogue Jedi (Gavin, Jaina, Rogues, concurrent with Onslaught) G
wow
this was a billiant missing part from the series
i agree with JadeDjo are you going to make this into a story?
one thing you don't need to put an 's' at the end of vong or Yuuzhan Vong!

kyps godess

 

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“The names Durron. Kyp Durron.”
“And I’m here to make sure you have a very bad day.”
Papa Don't Preach by the jedi princess
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Lady_WinterCelchu 
Registered: Dec '03
19059_Winter
Date Posted: 5/6/04 1:22pm Subject: RE: Solo Rogue Jedi (Gavin, Jaina, Rogues, concurrent with Onslaught) G
Woah that was really good!!!!

Is this just a oneshot or are you going to continue this?

It'd make for a brilliant read if you did.

 

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padawan lunetta 
Registered: May '99
39909_Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 5/6/04 2:27pm Subject: RE: Solo Rogue Jedi (Gavin, Jaina, Rogues, concurrent with Onslaught) G
Ooh excellent story, I love your missing moment scenes, specially ones like this that, I think, really WERE needed. happy

Good work. happy

 

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"You may marry a hutt if you like, just don't expect me to brag about my cute grandchildren."
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Jacen\Jysella Forever!!!
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Tahi 
Registered: Jun '02
19661_Tahiri
Date Posted: 5/6/04 9:26pm Subject: RE: Solo Rogue Jedi (Gavin, Jaina, Rogues, concurrent with Onslaught) G - Date Edited: 5/6/04 9:28pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Tahi
I'm with Luney about the missing chapter stories. Nice work. I especially liked your characterisation of Gavin who, apart from the normal male fixation with blondes, came over just as I imagine him. wink You brought out his empathy with his pilots very well, and also his concern for Jaina's feelings about Chewie.

Yep - I was going to point out that Vong is a collective noun and doesn't need the final "s", but I see somebody else did.

“Yes. Aunt Mara asked to take me on as her apprentice.”

Closing his eyes, he said, “Now I have three problems.
LOL - I liked that line.

I also really liked the way you brought in the moment when Jaina got her nickname. That was a great point to end on.

The scene fits into Onslaught beautifully - and I liked the way you brought in the context through Gavin's thoughts and the dialogue rather than "telling" us through the narrator. happy

 

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JediAlly 
Registered: Oct '00
6537_Green Lightsaber
Date Posted: 5/7/04 10:09am Subject: RE: Solo Rogue Jedi (Gavin, Jaina, Rogues, concurrent with Onslaught) G - Date Edited: 5/7/04 10:12am (1 edits total) Edited By: JediAlly
JadeDjo, kyps_goddess, and Lady_Winter, welcome. As for a "series" of Jaina's time in Rogue Squadron, sorry. This is a one-poster. I admit that I thought about having this fanfic conclude after Onslaught with Jaina's promotion, but I wanted to emphasize Gavin's concern towards Jaina. If you like the Rogues, check out the Liberty and Custody fanfic, set during The Krytos Trap.

padawan, Tahi, nice to see you here. As for the blond fixation, the way they wrote Danni in the NJO, I think they gave her the kind of beauty that would turn heads and catch the attention of men everywhere, regardless of their marital status. They started with Leia, then Tionne, then Tenel Ka, then Danni, then Padmé, then Tahiri. I also wanted to create a "flashback"-kinda scene for Gavin: a scene where he'd see or hear something and think to himself, "Back when I joined the Rogues, I would have..."

 

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_JM_ 
Registered: Jun '01
6324_Porkins
Date Posted: 5/7/04 9:27pm Subject: RE: Solo Rogue Jedi (Gavin, Jaina, Rogues, concurrent with Onslaught) G
I enjoyed Gavins thoughts and as mentioned his reaction when he realised he might have to deal with Mara as well as everyone / everything else.

Also liked the fact that Anni Capstan hadn’t noticed Jaina’s lightsabre, perfectly understandable as she’d be rather busy trying not to visibly sweat or even faint before Gavin introduced her to her semi-legendary squadron mates.

 

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Return of a Jedi. http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/23421597
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Princss_of_The_Jedi 
Registered: Jan '04
42356_Jaina Solo
Date Posted: 5/12/04 3:05pm Subject: RE: Solo Rogue Jedi (Gavin, Jaina, Rogues, concurrent with Onslaught) G
Oh my god!!! that was beyond good. I always wondered how GAvin asked Jania on board and how the squadron reacted.

Please do more Jaina and Rogues your great at it.

You should make a long fic with their adventures. an AU of sorts

Great Story!!!

 

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"To all of our sons, and all of our daughters, be they with us or beyond." ~Han TUF
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JediAlly 
Registered: Oct '00
6537_Green Lightsaber
Date Posted: 5/17/04 5:13pm Subject: RE: Solo Rogue Jedi (Gavin, Jaina, Rogues, concurrent with Onslaught) G
_JM_, P_O_T_J, thanks. Unfortunately this fanfic is a one-poster.

 

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