Beyond - Legends X-Wing: Rise of a Rogue - Revised Edition - Complete 2/22 (Rogues, Wraiths, OCs)

I too really liked hearing about the Wraith's backgrounds.

And that Elassar is hilarious.

 

Nanci

--I'm pretty sure Han didn't flip anyone the highway salute

Maybe he did off camera?

I wouldn't put it past him

You know, for some reason I think that Wedge is one of those people who are just naturally hard to read in the Force. I think he has natural shields that he doesn't even know about, just cause he's such a strong personality.

If piloting didn't work out for him, he probably could have carved out a pretty respectable career as an intelligence agent

Loved Face telling Dap about all the Wraiths and their histories. Kind of puts things into perspective.

It is rather remarkable what the Wraiths were able to accomplish after they had all been written off at some point in their careers

--Face was right, he might as well have some fun. It would make running headfirst into certain death far more amusing.

That should be the tag line of the Wraiths.

We'll put that right under their motto, "Pretty. What do we blow up first?"

Hazel - Elassar is soooooo much fun to write!


New post below!

 

Chapter Fourteen
Battle Plans

?Three weeks ago, captured Seinar Fleet Systems technician Kelin Sokyr spoke to two NRI agents,? Wedge said, casting his gaze about the pilots gathered in the briefing room. ?From him, we have discovered a weakness in the Phantom D-34?s defense system. Major Chanaan.?

Wedge stepped away from the holoprojector, allowing the Rogue Squadron strategist his spot. As she approached the hologrojector, an image of the Phantom TIE appeared.

"As the General said, we've located a compromised system that was left in the Phantom during its production phase,? The major said. ?In the event that an immediate shutdown of the cloaking device was required, technicians linked the starfighter's communications array directly to the cloaking device?s power conduit. When a certain frequency is transmitted, the subspace radio system would relay a shutoff command. At that point, the cloaking device then must be restarted directly, not through the pilot?s console.

?High Command, along with input from General Antilles and myself, have devised a plan to exploit this weakness.?

A new image appeared on the holoprojector, an Imperial Class II Star Destroyer, often referred to by pilots as an ImpStar-Deuce.

?This is the Ender,? Major Chanaan continued. ?It is under the command of Imperial Captain Reyov Naolin, one of Emperor Palpatine?s hand-picked Star Destroyer commanders. According to our intelligence reports, which have been corroborated by Sokyr, we are certain that the Phantom TIEs are stationed on board this ship.

?Because we are uncertain what frequency will be required to disable the Phantom cloaking system, we are forced to place an agent on board the Ender in order to ascertain that information. Due to his relatively low profile on Imp networks, and his slicing ability, we are sending Lieutenant Zorvan into the Ender. His goal will be to retrieve that data and return to this vessel as quickly as possible.

?As for the rest of you,? Chanaan said, looking over the pilots. ?You should be a little more at home with your assignment. A majority of Wraith Squadron will be acting as Imperial snub pilots, designated Gamma Squadron. A few of you will remain on board this cruiser to keep act as support personnel.

?It is of the utmost priority that we keep attention away from Darvix?s mission. Captain Loran will be doing most of the communications with the Imperial fleet. Remember, Gamma Squadron will be under the command of Imperial Fighter Command. Follow their orders, and do not blow your cover.

?Question,? Kell Tainer said. ?What do we do after we?ve got the transmission frequency??

?That will be where the rest of our fleet steps in,? Chanaan replied. ?Once we have the frequency in our hands, we will send an encrypted signal to a task force waiting in the Dantooine system. If you could direct your attention to the holoprojector??

A map of the Bilgringi system, where the Imperial fleet waited for them, appeared. Two new ships, marked in green, appeared on the map.

?Two unmanned Nebulon-B Frigates will drop out of hyperspace. Those ships will lure the Phantom TIEs out of the Ender. Approximately five minutes after the Frigates arrive, the rest of the task force will drop out of hyperspace behind them. Ten Omega Class transports will transmit the acquired frequency while the rest of the fleet deals with the Imperial starships.

?Y-Wings and B-Wings from Green squadron and Blastshield squadron respectively will be charged with eliminating the capitol ships in the area. A-Wings from Blue and Polearm squadrons will escort our bomber class starfighters.

?At this point, Rogue Squadron will have rejoined our taskforce. You will then return to this vessel, and switch out from your TIE Interceptors into your X-Wings. You, along with Rogue Squadron, are tasked with downing every Phantom TIE. General Antilles, any remarks??

Wedge stood up from his seat. ?We?ve tried a stunt like th

 

Really liked the talk between Tycho and Darvix. Good advice there!

 

Yes a good chat between them and a nice chapter leading to action

 

?Three weeks ago, captured Seinar Fleet Systems technician Kelin Sokyr spoke to two NRI agents,?

Yeah Wedge, you might want to look into WHY he finally spoke to your agents.

Imperial Class II Star Destroyer, often referred to by pilots as an ImpStar-Deuce.

I really need to get the Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels so I can use this sort of information in my fics, lol.

Due to his relatively low profile on Imp networks, and his slicing ability, we are sending Lieutenant Zorvan into the Ender.

Guess what?

I have a bad feeling about this.

In the early days of the Rebellion, higher-ups in Starfighter Command chosen to incorporate an Incom based flightstick system that was very familiar with farmboys who had grown up piloting T-16 skyhoppers and T-47 airspeeders.

I'd say that decision worked out well for them, wouldn't you?

Force or no Force, Darvix, pilots rely on more luck than we?d ever want to admit to.

Very, very wise words from Colonel Celchu. Very nice conversation.

 

Hazel - Tycho's always been a particular favorite of mine to write. I love the mentor role he plays in later EU novels.

earlybird - Thanks!

Nanci

Yeah Wedge, you might want to look into WHY he finally spoke to your agents.

Naaaah, why would he want to do that

I really need to get the Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels so I can use this sort of information in my fics, lol.

Oh man I reference this book all the time!

Guess what?

I have a bad feeling about this.

Now why ever is that

I'd say that decision worked out well for them, wouldn't you

I'd sure say so


Thanks all, new post below. As an FYI, the last chapter of RoaR will be going up on th 21st.

 

Chapter Fifteen - Last Minute Preparation

Kell Tainer stepped into the hanger, his tool belt slung over his shoulder. Growing up in Sluis Van, perhaps the most famous shipyard in all the galaxy, had taught him how to tend to starcraft at a young age. Though he didn?t often get the chance anymore, he still loved to work on snubfighters. There wasn't anything quite like the joy provided of disassembling a hyperspace motivator and piecing it back together with nothing more than one's bare hands and a hydrospanner.

The hanger had been partitioned into two sections. Closest to him, the it held the twelve TIE Interceptors that the Wraiths would use in their masquerade. At the far side of the hanger, hidden behind a false wall, their X-Wings were stored. This allowed the Wraiths to lower suspicion concerning the stolen cruiser?s true goal.

Kell stepped up towards the false wall, opening a concealed panel and punching in his entry code. A hidden door beside him hissed open and he stepped through. The X-Wings were arranged in two levels in order to squeeze the fourteen snubs in. Seven rested on the duracrete floor, while the other seven hung suspended from makeshift scaffolding overhead. It was a similar setup the Wraiths had used in a Corellian Corvette, the Nightcrawler, years earlier in the campaign against Warlord Zsinj.


?Tainer, where have you been?? a familiar voice called out from atop one of the Wraith X-Wings.

Cubber Daine had been the mechanic assigned to the original Wraith Squadron. Upon its reformation, General Antilles had insisted that Daine be placed back into the Wraith support staff, a decision Kell agreed with wholeheartedly. Cubber was one of the best starfighter techs the Republic had to offer, and if anyone could tend to two full compliments of ships from separate fleets, it was him.

?Sorry, Cub,? Kell replied. ?Had to grab something to eat. Apparently food is good for you.?

?You must not have eaten in the mess hall yet.?

?You know, just about everyone is saying that. What can I help you with??

Daine looked at the ground, gesturing two a green and black R2 unit that was hovering near the X-Wing. ?You can start by getting this mechanical hutt-spawn out of my way. Who?s droid is that, anyways??

Kell stepped over to the droid, only to have it fire off a string of angry sounding chirps and warbles, ?That would be Lieutenant Commander Zorvan?s. I believe Zone is his name?Little bugger swears like a drunken Jawa.?

The droid responded with a few more angry chirps.

?It?s pretty particular about who works on this X-Wing,? Kell said. ?Apparently it doesn?t like you.?

?What?s not to like about me?? Cubber asked, picking up his hydrospanner and kneeling down above the hyperdrive housing.

The R2 unit let out a rough approximation of a sarcastic tone, causing Kell to chuckle. ?It thinks you?ve got mechanical ability of a Bantha hopped up on spice.?

?Doesn?t that thing have a restraining bolt, Tainer??

?No,? said another voice from behind Kell, ?and you?d be wise not to put one on Zone.?

Darvix stepped in front of Kell and climbed into the cockpit of his snubfighter. ?Forgive my droid, he gets fidgety when someone?s working on this thing while I?m not around. How?s my X-Wing??

Cubber lookd through the transparisteel canopy at the young pilot. ?She?s taken a beating in the past. I think I can piece her together enough for this mission, but I seriously doubt she?ll stay spaceworthy much longer.?

?Not the answer I?m looking for,? Darvix replied. ?What can you do to keep here spaceworthy??

?Other than a complete weapons overhaul, mechanical and electrical replacement, and a complete hull replating, not much,? Cubber replied. ?The last two skirmishes you?ve gotten into have really taken a toll on this bird.?

Darvix looked at his control panel and shook his head, powering down the cockpit?s instrumentation. ?If I get you the material, can you make those repairs??

?Sure, but I don?t see why you don?t just replace this snub enti

 

The R2 unit let out a rough approximation of a sarcastic tone, causing Kell to chuckle. ?It thinks you?ve got mechanical ability of a Bantha hopped up on spice.?

Oh, I love droids with excess personality.

 

There wasn't anything quite like the joy provided of disassembling a hyperspace motivator and piecing it back together with nothing more than one's bare hands and a hydrospanner.

Get me thehydrospanner!

Cubber!!!

?Apparently it doesn?t like you.?

I don't like you, either!

?Nothing about him is normal,? Kell replied. ?He?s got more problems than a one legged Rodian in an ass-kicking contest.?

Oh my!

Using a trick pioneered by Face Loran years earlier

Face Loran, Master Actor


Oooh, are Dap and Kirney/Lara/Gara/Whatever-her-name-is-now going to team up? Nifty! I'd forgotten that she was there.

 

Hazel - Snarky droids are so, so much fun

Nanci

Cubber!!!

He's so amusing. Had to give him a cameo!

Face Loran, Master Actor

Shows every night. Try the veal, tip your waitress.

Oooh, are Dap and Kirney/Lara/Gara/Whatever-her-name-is-now going to team up? Nifty! I'd forgotten that she was there.

Oh Kirney, you just can't stay out of trouble

New post below!

 

Chapter Sixteen
Complications

?Is Myn with you?? Kirney asked, concern evident in her voice.

?Why in the name of the Force should I divulge something like that?? Darvix retorted. ?For all I know you?re an Imperial agent!?

?Vader?s bones, keep your voice down!? Kirney chided. She pushed past him, heading towards the door?s control panel and triggering the locking mechanism.

Darvix stared at Kirney, trying to assess her intentions by her mannerisms. That was a relatively fruitless effort. She was incredibly difficult to read, and he couldn?t place a finger on why. Shaking his head, he finally spoke, ?Why are you here??

?The same reason you?re here,? she replied. ?The Imperials have a weapon that they should not have.?

?This isn't your battle to fight,? Darvix said. ?You could easily watch from the side without ever being affected.?

?My reasons are my own,? she said in return. ?Suffice to say we?re on the same side.?

?How can I be sure of that?? Darvix said, refusing to hand over his trust so easily.

?Because I?ve suffered as much as you have at the hands of the Imperials,? Kirney said, heaving a sigh.

Darvix shot her a cold glare, ?Don?t assume you?ve suffered as much as I have. I can assure you that-?

?I can assure you that I don?t want to hear your sob story,? Kirney snapped. ?I know you?ve suffered, I can see it on your face, but you?d best realize you?re not the only one to be hurt by the Empire. The Imperials took everything from me, despite the fact that I gave them everything I could. I was once a faithful servant of the Empire and I loved what I did. I didn?t care about those who suffered because of my actions. By the time I realized what I did, it was too late. I lost ?everything-, you?ve still got your life in one piece, so get off your podium, you arrogant bastard.?

Normally, those words wouldn?t have fazed him, but it felt as if he had the wind knocked out of him. He could feel the suffering deep within her as he reached out with the Force. As her words sank in, the anger within him slowly subsided, only to be replaced by a sense of guilt.

?Kirney, I?m-?

?Just tell me?Is Myn with you,? she asked quietly.

Darvix shook his head. He could feel she was being honest with him, she had no reason to betray him. ?No. He?s with the Rogue task force.?

He felt through the Force the disappointment and relief that flooded over her at the same moment. That was understandable. On the one hand, he was at least temporarily out of danger. On the other, any hopes she may have had to see

?How did you get here??

?Ironically, the same way I escaped the Empire when I was younger,? he replied, ?smuggled away in a transport?s underbelly.?

?Who else is with you??

He considered the ramifications of divulging that information. Darvix knew enough about Wraith Squadron?s history to know that he was staring at a traitor to the New Republic. Kirney Slane, who had been born Gara Petothel, was at one point an Imperial agent who had infiltrated the Republic as a pilot. Her secret was exposed during her service as a Wraith. Though she had escaped, she had been spotted in the firefight that had ensued when the Republic ambushed Warlord Zsinj?s fleet. He had seen the official documentation on the incident, filed by then Commander Wedge Antilles. He had reported her killed in action, but here she was, standing right in front of him. He had more than enough reason to doubt Slane?s sincerity.

Still, as he reached out with the Force once more, he could not sense even a shred of malice within her. Kirney's enemy was the Empire as well. At that moment, Darvix could use every ally he could find. There was no harm in accepting Slane?s help, he could feel it.

?Face Loran?s talking with Naolin as we speak,? Darvix finally admitted, turning his attention back to the console. ?The rest of the Wraiths are on board one of the patrol cruisers.?

?I heard they had been re-commissioned.?

?Your ability to stay on top of classified information is a marvel,? Darvix replied, refocusing his attention on

 

intrigue and action and what will happen to Darvix?

Nice updates

 

Oh my Lane.

You are evil.

 

Darvix as lost his mind!

 

earlybird - What will happen to Dap? Well, it sure doesn't look good now!

Hazel - Poor Dap's been on the ragged edge of losing his mind for a while

Nanci - Yeah, I am aren't I?

New post below!

 

Chapter Seventeen
Acceleration

Wedge could only stare at Lara. Or Gara, whatever her name was these days. He had figured that he would never see her again for she was such a brilliant escape artist. That was why she was such a valuable asset to the Empire. She should have been tossed into the cruiser?s brig to await trial. That?s what regulations would have dictated, anyways, but there were far more important matters to tend to now.

He sat down at the table, seated across from Lara. ?You?ve put yourself in a very precarious spot, Miss Notsil.?

?Says the man who?s masquerading as an Imperial,? Lara replied with a grim smile.

?Posing as an Imperial isn?t going to help your cause any,? Wedge said, frowning. ?This isn?t your battle to fight.?

Face could only stare at Wedge. Just what was he hiding?

?General, if you don?t mind me asking,? Face said, ?but why are we being so lenient with someone that?s guilty of treason??

?She?s not a traitor,? Wedge said calmly, not even turning to glance at Face.

?She?s not?? Face asked

?I?m not?? Lara asked in turn.

Wedge allowed a soft chuckle. ?If I thought you were a traitor, I would have landed and detained you after you had crashed.?

Towards the end of Wraith Squadron?s tenure in the fleet, Lara had supposedly defected back to the Empire. Unbeknownst to the Republic, she had been feeding the Republic cruiser Mon Remonda coordinates of the Iron Fist, Warlord Zsinj?s prized Super Star Destroyer. She had been spotted in the firefight in an X-Wing she had ?stolen? from the fleet, but was shot down towards the end of combat. As Wedge flew overhead to assess the damage, he saw that the flightseat of the snub, still nestled into the cockpit, was empty. He knew Lara had escaped.

Though it was never confirmed that Lara was behind the sabotage that allowed the Republic to ambush Zsinj?s fleet, Wedge had long since suspected it was her. After the battle, Wedge ran across a message Lara had recorded, intended for former Wraith Myn Donos. He had ordered the message be deleted from the Mon Remonda?s computers, and forwarded a lone copy to Myn. The law wasn?t on her side, not yet anyways. The only way justice could have been served then was for Wedge to not act.

?Wedge, if word gets out you?re conspiring with her,? Face said quietly, ?you?ll be accused of treason as well. You can kiss your career goodbye, not to mention any semblance of freedom you might enjoy.?

?Captain, kindly shut up,? Wedge retorted, turning his attention back to Lara. ?Let?s get to the point, shall we??

?Of course,? Lara said with a shrug. ?Sooner we?re done here, the sooner I can enjoy a lovely holding cell for the rest of my life. Or a killtab.?

?If you can help us, we might be able to work out better arrangements,? Wedge replied. ?Why are you here??

Lara looked at the table top for a moment before answering. ?I ran into one of your men on board the Ender. Little shorter than average, young, cybernetic eye implants??

?Lieutenant Zorvan,? Face said with a small groan.

?Yes, that?s his name,? Lara said. ?Is he nearby??

?I?m afraid not,? Wedge replied. ?He?s currently in a four by eight on board the Ender and enjoying the finest torture methods at the Remnant?s disposal.?

Lara only stared blankly at Wedge.

?You ran into Darvix,? he continued. ?Did he give you anything to hand over to me??

Carefully, Lara reached into her jacket, withdrawing a datapad and setting it on the table, ?These are the transmission codes you?re looking for. Darvix sliced them himself, so you can trust them. I was only meant to come here is a failsafe.?

?What do you mean by ?failsafe??? Face asked

?He said that if something were to happen to him, I needed to get this information to the General,? Lara replied.

?Dap wouldn?t hand out his trust so easily,? Wedge mused. ?Especially in light of recent?events?that he has gone through. How can you possibly explain this??

Lara let out a soft sigh. ?I ran into Darvix on Corellia, when he and Myn limped in after what they claimed to be a nasty skirm

 

Wedge could only stare at Lara. Or Gara, whatever her name was these days.

Heh.

?General, if you don?t mind me asking,? Face said, ?but why are we being so lenient with someone that?s guilty of treason??

Ahh, poor Face. That scene in Solo Command is so sad for him.

?Captain, kindly shut up,? Wedge retorted, turning his attention back to Lara. ?Let?s get to the point, shall we??

Well, BAMF Wedge has come to the table.

Wedge looked at Lara for a moment, trying to gauge her emotions. He may not have possessed the Force like Skywalker, but he was damn good at reading someone?s body language.

And sometimes, even having the Force isn't a foolproof method of reading people. ::cough:: Palpatine ::cough::

Corran Horn looked up from his fruit fizz

I'm sorry, but Corran drinking a fruit fizz makes me crack up.

With that, Ace stood up and addressed the pilots in the room, ?Rogues, I imagine you?re already quite familiar with who this is, but in case you?ve been hiding under a rock for the last fifteen years, I?d like to introduce you to General Luke Skywalker, our temporary replacement pilot.?

And you have to know that this made me SQUEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

?A normal feeling for any teacher,? Luke said, sipping at the mug of hot chocolate in his hands.

Of course he is.

The last thing any of them needed was another Kyp Durron on their hands.

No kidding! Oh, you mean because of the Dark Side. Right.

Enjoyed the Luke and Corran fight. Those two butting heads is always fun.

?All pilots, to your stations. Repeat, all pilots, to your stations.?

And here my brain turns to goo at the prospect of Luke in his X-wing again.

I need to go watch the Battles of Yavin and Hoth tonight. My biggest regret of ROTJ - no Luke in a flightsuit.

 

Nice update about Lara

and Luke and Corran, get to Darvix and save him

 

... I?d like to introduce you to General Luke Skywalker, our temporary replacement pilot.

YAY!!!


Great convo between Luke and Corran and I hope they'll be able to help Darvix.

 

Nanci -

Ahh, poor Face. That scene in Solo Command is so sad for him.

Oh man. When Wedge all but tells Face "You screwed this up bad" I was so, so sad for him too

Well, BAMF Wedge has come to the table.

Sometimes Wedge needs to lay down the law

And sometimes, even having the Force isn't a foolproof method of reading people. ::cough:: Palpatine ::cough::

Sometimes Corellian intuition can trump the Force!

And you have to know that this made me SQUEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought you'd enjoy that

Enjoyed the Luke and Corran fight. Those two butting heads is always fun.

Oh definitely

And here my brain turns to goo at the prospect of Luke in his X-wing again.

I need to go watch the Battles of Yavin and Hoth tonight. My biggest regret of ROTJ - no Luke in a flightsuit.

At least we got Wedge being totally badass during Endor!

earlybird - Thanks! Always fun to write Lara.

Hazel - They're going to have to hurry, I'm afraid

New post below!

 

Chapter Eighteen
No Turning Back

Regaining consciousness was perhaps the second worst thing to happen to Darvix that day.

As he opened his eyes, he felt the entirety of the torment his captors had inflicted on his body. Darvix laid as still as possible, staring straight up at the ceiling while trying not to move and trigger another wave of pain in his battered body. For what seemed like an eternity to Darvix, he had been ?questioned? concerning his presence on board the Ender. He had to give the Imperials their due, they were thorough and ruthlessly efficient. If there was a torture method they hadn't used, Darvix didn't want to hear about it.

He hadn?t spoken yet, concerning the Wraiths hidden within the Imperial Fleet. At least, he believed he hadn?t spoken. His mind was a haze, unable to clearly recall what had happened to him over the last several hours. All that existed to him was pain, and that was something he could live without. Through the fog within his brain, he recognized a feeling of both panic and urgency. Wherever he was, he had to get out in a hurry.

Alright, Darvix, he said to himself, you?ve still got that head on your shoulders. Time to think.

Gingerly shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts, he managed to sit up and glance around his location. It was a small room, no larger than a typical storage closet. Across from the bed he was sitting on was a bluish containment field. As tempted as he was to charge into it, he didn?t believe that much energy surging into him would help his pain much. As the fog slowly began to lift, he realized with horror he was locked within a prison cell.

Ah?yes, I tried to kill an Imperial Officer, Darvix told himself. Not one of the brighter things I?ve done in recent memory.

Standing, Darvix tried to stretch out his sore muscles but was greeted by the worst bout of pain he had ever felt in his life. A course scream escaped his lips as he slumped against the wall. He closed his eyes and tried to summon the Force. Corran had taught him how to lessen pain through it, but Darvix couldn?t find the focus he needed.

A rap of knuckles against steel caused him to cast a wary glance towards the forcefield. Before him stood a man clad in an Imperial pilot uniform. He was strongly built and chiseled, a typical poster boy for the Empire, but not a typical pilot. Darvix would be surprised if this man could fit into a TIE cockpit.

?If you still want me to talk,? Darvix said, his voice shaky, ?you?re wasting your time. I?ve got nothing to say to you.?

The stranger reached for the console next to his cell, deactivating the containment field and stepping in.

?Lara has already contacted me to get you out of here,? the stranger said. ?The codes are with your commanding officer and the Fleet is on its way.?

Darvix could only stare at the stranger. This pilot claimed to be on his side, but Darvix had no idea who this person was. How could he hand over his trust so easily, trapped in the middle of an Imperial Star Destroyer?

?Who are you?? Darvix asked, pressing his back against the cool metal wall.

?Inconsequential,? the pilot said.

?Don?t give me that enigmatic garbage,? Darvix snapped. ?If you can?t even tell me your name, why the hell should I trust you??

?Because if you don?t trust me, you?re as good as dead here,? the pilot said. ?If you must know, my name is Fel.?

Something in the back of Darvix?s mind registered that name, but he was still too groggy to recall details correctly. As he tried once to reach out to the Force, trying to harness its powers to numb his pain, he was met with futility. He simply could not focus enough to call upon it.

Heaving a sigh, Darvix looked up at Fel. ?I?m listening.?

?I?ve reprogrammed the power conduits here to shut down your containment field once a battle alert is given,? the man said. ?As soon as the fleet gets here, you can escape.?

?Wonderful,? Darvix said. ?Getting out with my bare hands should be a breeze.?

?Prisoner item lockup is down the hall,? Fel replied.

 

Darvix escape, you can do it.

nice to see Fel helping him

 

So good of Fel to help Darvix escape. Although I'm not sure if I should be concerned about Darvix using spice.


So, Naolin is now aware of Wedge's plan - is this going to through a hydrospanner into the plan?

 

As he opened his eyes, he felt the entirety of the torment his captors had inflicted on his body. Darvix laid as still as possible, staring straight up at the ceiling while trying not to move and trigger another wave of pain in his battered body. For what seemed like an eternity to Darvix, he had been ?questioned? concerning his presence on board the Ender. He had to give the Imperials their due, they were thorough and ruthlessly efficient. If there was a torture method they hadn't used, Darvix didn't want to hear about it.

"They didn't even ask me any questions."

Ah?yes, I tried to kill an Imperial Officer, Darvix told himself. Not one of the brighter things I?ve done in recent memory.

No, you don't say?!

?If you must know, my name is Fel.?

Yaaaaay!

?Spice,? Fel said. ?Mix of glitterstim and andris suspended in a saline solution. Illegal, yes, but it?ll pick you up enough to get out of here. One injection should keep your body running for about an hour. Obviously, I don?t have to tell you to not overdose on this.?

I have a bad feeling about this.

Still, he couldn?t use the spice. It was wrong.

Oh, NOW you take the moral high ground.

?Lovely," Wes mused. ?Wedge is beginning to sound like Hobbie again.?

That's never a good thing.

?I?m well aware,? the aging Moff said in turn, ?so do dispense with the pleasantries.?

"You may dispense with the pleasantries, Commander. I am here to put you back on schedule."

?I apologize, sir,? the voice continued, ?I?ll try to be clearer. The Rogue Squadron we?re following is a decoy squadron. The real Rogue Squadron is masquerading as the Wraith Squadron we?ve tracked. I assume that the real Wraith Squadron is somewhere in your fleet, commanded by General Antilles. A rather convoluted plan, if I do say so myself.?

Convoluted, but brilliant.

Ambush or not, the Rebels wouldn?t be able to stop his Phantoms. In the end, this would just make his job easier.

Uh-oh....