Welcome to Gaia! ::

He nodded, and walked down with the Jedi to their awaiting hosts. They exchanged polite greetings, and then were immediately led away torwards the State Building, where they'd talk briefly, then retire.

Not much to worry about tonight, the commander mused.

Ferno growled.

HM laughed at this statement. .

The Imperial Shuttle settled upon the hanger bay of the Hektor's Shield it's immense bay filled now with troopers offloading, and the rush of a post battle extraction. As Kusei stepped out of the shuttle she saluted Admiral Elsyn, "Sir!"

"Excellent job, Commander, at this rate you'll make Captain pretty quick," Borill responded.

"Thank you sir," Kusei answered.

Borill grinned, his bright blue eyes glancing around the bay, "I expect your report on my desk tomorrow morning."

"Data analysis may take more time sir..." Kusei replied instantly.

"I know that, Commander, I'm more interested in your report on the combat actions," Borill responded. Before stiffening, "What are your initial impressions of this GLF?"

Kusei blinked behind her helmet, "I think they're dedicated and decent fighters but lack discipline. They scattered quickly once the shield came down, and gave up all of their heavy equipment in the flight, still those units that were sacrificed for the rest of the base did perform with some level of professionalism."

Borill nodded, "That certainly could be partly due to the presence of former Alliance soldiers in their ranks. It's their lack of professional leadership that is their greatest failing, the battle was poorly planned on their part, and they made a number of large scale mistakes in how they prosecuted the battle."

Kusei blinked, "I think it might be a bit early to come to that conclusion..."

"Perhaps, despite their blunders we failed to significantly damage them as a threat ot Imperial Security, they ran to damn fast!" Borill replied with a snarl of frustration, "I expect your report on my desk tomorrow morning, that will be all."

Ferno mused.

HM shifted his weight from one leg to the other. "The X-factor is something no mortal meatbag or computer can calculate. Your performance went exactly as expected. You weren't really part of the primary objective, to destroy the base, but you have given a flower to us that may yet be a black rose.."

Ferno did not move, still watching at the stars.

Aduba Three space ...

The small Omega-class shuttle came out of hyperspace, carrying it's Jedi passengers aboard.

"Aduba Three safehouse, Master Vrook," Gunther stated as the far off world hovered in their view.

"Sir Gunther. You seem troubled, ever since leaving Abregado Rae," Iria stated with a note of concern.

"I do?" Gunther queried.

"Yes." she added. "It seems as though a dark influence has settled within your mind,"

Gunther shook his head. "I'm fine, really," the young man said. "Just a bit rattled by a confrontation with a Sith."

(( Des: take it away. ))

Revak smiled as the technicians finished topping off the Ion Dragon's Plasma tanks, she was now ready for her maiden flight. Smiling from earhole to earhole Revak bounded up the gangway of the ship as he pulled his comm out and thumbed it on, "Dragon Crew to the Ion Dragon she's ready."

Behind him Calra clambered up the gangway and followed him inside. Behind her a mixed crew of around twelve former Huttese slaves ascended the gangway and headed for their assigned posts. Eight of the crew were stationed in the engineering section, monitoring power consumtion and all the other tasks that fell upon the laps of engineers. Four more were assigned to the bridge: a helmsman, a tactical officer, a sensor officer, and communications officer.

As Revak stepped into the bridge he glanced around the five main seats, there were space for more, but they weren't yet needed. With a smile he took the main seat, a plush chair that he had been designed specifically for his non-humanoid frame. With a smile he leaned back and watched the other crewman take their posts. Behind him Calra stood gripping the rail that divided the bridge into two sections. With a squak she glanced around the bridge, "Where's my chair?"

Revak blinked before hissing to himself, "Flickt!" He'd just realized he'd forgotten to install a second seat for Calra. Frowning he stood and glanced up at her, "Take mine... I'll stand."

As Calra settled in the chair Revak belowed to the crew, "Preflight checklists!"

Through speakers the engineering section chimed in, "Antimatter-matter reaction starting up... we have power!"

With a thrumm the ship came to life. At the helm a female rodian named Kavla tapped in the engine startup proceedures, "Systems coming online. Repulsorlifts online, ion drive and hyperdrive at idle."

Beside her the tactical officer, a bothan male called Troyr Feylin. He'd started out as the Bothan watchdog for their group, but now he was a full fledged member, and Revak trusted him implicitly. Troyr called out the ship's weapons readyiness, "Ionic-plasma weapons are powering up, plasma turrets online, rapid fire cannons are also online. Shields are coming up, and our missile hold is empty."

The sensor operator and comm officer called in their readiness. Then the chief engineer's voice came through the comm system, "All systems online, we're ready for anything."

Revak smiled, "Helm, take us out..."

Kavla smiled, "I've always wanted to do this!"

With sudden burst of power the Ion Dragon shot from the hangerbay like a starfighter. Outside the Pride of Mantell had been coming in to dock. The ship nearly collided with the Ion Dragon. Cursing Jenel Olo threw her ship out of the way of the enormous predator and could hear the clatter of the ship's exhaust dance across her hull like hail.

Jenel swore, "I told them to wait for me to get back damn it!"

"Well, Han Solo and Chewbacca did make it through during the escape from Hoth. The Imperials that followed him had trouble doing so, and lost many fighters in the pursuit," Sapphire told Rusty.

"Thanks for the optomism, Saph," Aurora said right before the comm came through. "At least someone else is survived."