[center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fc/0d/e8/fc0de8dd9ea5133b02560be77d451bf6.jpg[/img][/center] [h1][center][i]A covert request[/i][/center][/h1] [center]collab w/ [@Honesty Crow][/center] [i][b]Yavin IV Gold Squadron Hangar[/b][/i] [hr] [color=fff200][b]“You let Kyrin sit at a Pazaak table while he was fuming?”[/b][/color] asked a seasoned war veteran whose head was deep in his ship’s cockpit. Nareia fought the urge to smirk, instead biting the inside of both her lips and looking at a few other Y-wings resting idle nearby. Gold Squadron’s hangar had less variety than the Rogues, but they were just as brave and skilled as any other unit; [url=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d7/f9/17/d7f91734c6be178ae62ed6621e601ee8.jpg]Marvo[/url] was one of just a few members inside, performing a daily system check with an R2 unit inside his craft. Gold Leader didn’t want to take any chances. [color=bc8dbf][b]“You know,”[/b][/color] she started, cocking her head. [color=bc8dbf][b]“Suri said the exact same thing you did, and in almost the exact same tone.”[/b][/color] Marvo glanced over his shoulder and peered at Nareia with suspicion. [color=fff200][b]“You know what you’re doing, don’t you?”[/b][/color] He left his R2 unit to finish its check and descended the Y-wing’s retractable ladder. [color=fff200][b]“People talk more and more, and no one knows how this is going to turn out yet. You really think setting him loose is going to make things any easier?”[/b][/color] [color=bc8dbf][b]“No, but it might get us back to the fight a lot faster,”[/b][/color] Nareia said, straightening up. [color=bc8dbf][b]“Besides, Wedge is Rogue Leader, not me. I’m not in charge of anything any of them do.”[/b][/color] [color=fff200][b]“Nareia, when you’re part of a team, it’s up to you to watch their back just as its up to them to watch yours,”[/b][/color] Marvo said matter-of-factly. [color=fff200][b]“And it’s also your responsibility to keep them in check when you have to. You know that. Don’t pretend otherwise.”[/b][/color] Nareia’s jaw tensed; she wanted to retort with something clever, or even something he couldn’t deflect. He wasn’t scolding her or pulling rank, and he’d seen more action than any Rogue still living. It was hard to contest someone who disagreed and showed such grace while doing so. Besides, he was right, and she’d be a fool to deny it. [color=fff200][b]“I know he’s not the only one.”[/b][/color] Nareia blinked. [color=bc8dbf][b]“What?”[/b][/color] [color=fff200][b]“He’s not the only pilot with reservations. This is more than just Rogue Squadron; this thing is in Gold Squadron, too.”[/b][/color] Marvo gave a small wave at his R2 unit—who acknowledged with a bleep—before coming around his Y-wing and moving towards the entrance, Nareia close beside him. [color=fff200][b]“Suri also had a lot to say.”[/b][/color] [color=bc8dbf][b]“She did?”[/b][/color] Nareia asked. [color=bc8dbf][b]“She never said she agreed.”[/b][/color] [color=fff200][b]“Because I asked her not to—not [i]yet[/i], at least. When word first got out about Zsinj and that Super Star Destroyer, it was like a storm zapped everyone out of indecision.”[/b][/color] He shook his head. [color=fff200][b]“You, the Rogues, Suri and I… we knew this wasn’t over. Now, so does the rest of the base. Mon Mothma has to come to a decision and quickly; either she extends a peace offer to the Remnant, or—”[/b][/color] [color=bc8dbf][b]“You can’t seriously believe they’d ever let Endor go.”[/b][/color] [color=fff200][b]“Maybe not, no…” [/b][/color]Marvo sighed heavily. [color=fff200][b]“But isn’t it worth trying at least? If we can restore the New Republic, we can also hope for a peaceful solution. An end to all this bloodshed.”[/b][/color] Nareia couldn’t fathom ever shaking hands with an Imperial. The thought of it made her shudder. But her way, she knew, wasn’t the only way to end this war. Marvo had a point; and although she didn’t want to admit it, Mon Mothma’s attempt to seek peace wasn’t wrong, only ill-timed. With Zsinj and that fleet out there, a temporary truce between the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant might have been considered, at least briefly. She stopped at the hangar’s mouth and stared at the ground. Marvo must’ve noticed her conflict; a strong hand came to her shoulder and squeezed it firmly. [color=fff200][b]“If we divide now, I’m afraid we may not recover in time to fight if we have to,”[/b][/color] he whispered quietly. [color=fff200][b]“Mon Mothma helped start this fight. She had few supporters and even fewer resources at the time, but she helped make the Rebellion possible in the first place. So, I’ll place my faith in her until every fiber of my being can’t sit still any longer. I owe her that much.”[/b][/color] Nareia swallowed, then gently nodded her head. [color=bc8dbf][b]“Well, hard to argue with that,”[/b][/color] she conceded with a growing grin. [color=bc8dbf][b]“Why didn’t Wedge pick you up yet?”[/b][/color] [color=fff200][b]“Me?”[/b][/color] Marvo smiled tightly. [color=fff200][b]“I’m too old to play with the hotshots and the up-and-comers. Besides, I get more enjoyment out of teaching Alara how to fly B-wings than destroying Imperial targets.”[/b][/color] Nareia shot him a look. [color=fff200][b]“…Okay, just a [i]little[/i] more.”[/b][/color] The two shared laughter, and by coincidence Nareia caught Wedge’s silhouette walking towards them in the distance. [color=bc8dbf][b]“He’s back,”[/b][/color] she pointed out, and Marvo caught the same image. [color=bc8dbf][b]“Wonder how it went.”[/b][/color] [color=fff200][b]“You’re about to find out.”[/b][/color] Marvo released her shoulder and gave her a few pats on the back. [color=fff200][b]“Whatever Wedge might have to say, I’ll find out one way or another. I’ll see you later, ‘reia.”[/b][/color] [color=bc8dbf][b]“Thanks,”[/b][/color] Nareia said. She watched Marvo turn and step back inside Gold Squadron’s hangar for a moment longer, then moved to meet Wedge halfway towards it. [color=bc8dbf][b]“Any news?”[/b][/color] She sounded desperate for a plan she could believe in, and she was. When Wedge walked into the hangar, the look he had on his face wasn't promising. At a distance and without context one could have believed his wife had passed. There was a mix of unbridled anger with a hint of despair. [b]"We should discuss this in private."[/b] He said, gesturing for Nareia to follow him. Wedge led them both to a corner in betwern the hangar and an fuel storage warehouse next door. After making sure that no one was around to listen, Wedge took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to relax before speaking. [b]"General Iblis and Chancellor Mothma fought again. This time, I thought their little groups were going to come to blows. The events at Onderon just made things worse."[/b] He paused for a moment, running his hand through his hair before continuing. [b]"For now, Mothma wants to keep us grounded. Again... He wants every available unit defending the New Republic in case Zsinj's forces attack us. It's sound, but unpopular."[/b] Nareia found it difficult to believe that any member of the fledgling Senate—much less High Command—would ever put hands on one another. She also found it difficult to believe that Mon Mothma heard the things she did, and still insisted on lying down while all this was happening. Marvo’s faith in Mon Mothma may be unshaken, as much as it could be these days anyway, but it was hearing things like this that made her a firm believer in what Iblis desired to do. She took a deep breath and crossed her arms with a disapproving headshake. [color=bc8dbf][b]“Okay…”[/b][/color] she started, restraining her temper. [color=bc8dbf][b]“What’s so unpopular about putting our worlds and territories on alert? If Mon Mothma and her entourage won’t agree to a full-scale attack, then the least we can do is shore up our defenses. We can continue to train new pilots and troops in the meantime; Mon Mothma can have peace of mind that we won’t make an attack, but we need to see our forces put to better use than cantina games and routine maintenance checks.”[/b][/color] Scoffing, Nareia smiled at their misfortune; weeks ago, they were more united than they’d been since the destruction of the very first Death Star, and now they were fighting among themselves for power, just as Imperials would. [color=bc8dbf][b]“I’ll just get newer pilots for early morning training runs,”[/b][/color] she continued, defeated. There wasn’t anything wrong with training, but Rogue Squadron’s experience could be better used elsewhere; they were an elite unit, not flight academy staff. [color=bc8dbf][b]“But you know as well as I do that what you told me won’t satisfy everyone… and apparently this isn’t just an issue with Rogue Squadron. Resources are going to waste all over. And if I’m being honest, I’ve had about enough of waiting around doing nothing.” [/b][/color] Rayce and Alara would understand and would play ball, even if they didn’t like it; people like Kyrin and Suri, they were harder pilots to convince. Rayce was right before, they needed a win and badly. Something to rally behind. The high from Endor was no longer going to cut it. [color=bc8dbf][b]“Not that I hope you threatened to beat anyone up, but did you stress the importance of giving us intelligence?”[/b][/color] Nareia asked, hoping his backbone didn’t go missing. That was the worst part of it all. The secrets. Back then, the Alliance had been fairly open with its information on missions. But now, things had been locked down. While Wedge understood the logic, they had come down way too hard on it. It was eroding the trust of their subordinates. And even his own trust. [b]"Madine didn't budge on it. He's seemingly gone back to his Imperial roots."[/b] Wedge sighed and reached into his pocket pulling out a small data chip. [b]"Take this and don't tell anyone outside Rogue or Gold Squadron. If they won't give us the information, then we'll get it ourselves. I'll cover for you and the others while you're out there."[/b] [color=bc8dbf][i][b]“Wonderful news,”[/b][/i][/color] she replied dryly with a forced smile. Her days of destroying key Imperial targets looked well and truly over. Maybe starting an academy of her own wouldn’t be such a bad idea. At the very least, people under her tutelage would have the privilege of knowing every condition they were going to be flying in; that was the least she could do for people under her care. She was about to thank Wedge for at least trying to make Madine see reason, but his hand wandering inside his pocket caught her attention. A small chip was retrieved and extended to her, which she took without hesitation. Examining it closely while he instructed her to keep this secret from all others except the Rogues and Gold Squadron, her dark eyes returned to his face. She held her stare for a few seconds before pocketing the chip and looking around, making positively certain that none were nearby to overhear them. [color=bc8dbf][b]“Are you sure about this?”[/b][/color] she asked quietly. Keeping secrets is what got them in this position in the first place; Wedge appeared ready and willing to play the same game Madine was. But perhaps she wasn’t reading the situation properly. Maybe Wedge wasn’t doing what she thought. [color=bc8dbf][b]“You know I’ll do it for you, Wedge, but this means you’re taking a side in the politics you didn’t want to get involved with in the first place. Like it or not, what I think you’re asking of me and the others is something General Iblis would get behind.”[/b][/color] Wedge sighed, looking away for a moment before returning to Nareia. [b]"I have a family that I want to go back to. But I can't do that if the Empire is still around or if the New Republic falls apart. At the same time, I think we deserve to know what else they're hiding from us and why we were sent out to Onderon in the first place. I want to do right by you first."[/b] He pointed at the data chip in her hand. [b]"Those are coordinates. It's an estate on Bothawui. You're going to meet with him and ask him to decode that chip for us. It should have everything we need to know."[/b] Wedge had broken into Madine's office and stolen the secret briefing on the Onderon operation. He wouldn't appreciate it now, but Wedge knew that the General would understand later down the line. [b]"After that, return here. Make sure you do this quickly. I won't be able to cover for you guys for long."[/b] She could relate in wanting all this to be over, but preferably with democracy back in place. He couldn’t have gotten this chip without something morally questionable, if not treacherous. In other words, something entirely unlike him to do. They were becoming truly desperate if one of the New Republic’s greatest pilots and leaders would resort to something underhanded—all for the greater good, of course. [color=bc8dbf][b]“And only the contact on Bothawui can accomplish this?”[/b][/color] Nareia asked, doubting such a thing. But with time short and only the coordinates themselves being accessible in this chip, Wedge’s options were few. Anyone else he could ask might sell him out the instant he tried. It was better he didn’t take that risk. [color=bc8dbf][b]“I can mobilize the other Rogues and leave in ten,”[/b][/color] she continued, [color=bc8dbf][b]“and it might not be difficult to convince others that Gold Squadron went out on a training exercise with us, but if this was going to be something simple you wouldn’t have mentioned Gold Squadron.”[/b][/color] She believed in preparing for the unexpected, and it was that doctrine that allowed Rogue Squadron to be one of the most versatile units in the New Republic’s arsenal. Informing Gold Squadron to follow them to Bothawui without mentioning Command was suspicious by itself. Respect, however, went a long way, and there were few pilots who wouldn’t throw themselves into the unknown for his sake. As for her… Nareia reached inside her other pocket and withdrew a comlink. [color=bc8dbf][b]“You told me the planet and the estate. Can you tell me about the person I’ll be dealing with, and why I might need to bring a few Y-wings behind me?”[/b][/color] [b]"His name is Zaid Vas'ah. A member of a wealthy and powerful Bothan Clan on the planet. He's an intelligence specialist who works for the New Republic on occasion. Vas'ah will be able to break through the ciphers on the chip and reveal the briefings and whatever else they hid from us."[/b] Zaid Vas'ah was untrustworthy. Even he knew that the Bothan had connections to the criminal underworld, but desperate times called for desperate measures. If the New Republic wouldn't tell them the truth, then they would have to search for it. [b]"I'd go with you, but..."[/b] He sighed, glancing toward the command center building across the base grounds. [b]"It'll raise the alarm if I go missing after what happened."[/b] The name didn’t ring any bells. She didn’t know how long this Bothan worked with the New Republic and what his ‘occasional’ partnership would cost them. The Rebel Alliance’s work with unsavory types for the greater good wasn’t unusual, although they preferred to keep their noses cleaner now that they evolved into the New Republic. To still have need of someone they couldn’t trust without a bomber unit at their back was a disappointment. After all the Bothan people gave to the Rebel Alliance—making the attack on Endor possible to begin with—she was counting on a peaceful solution to get what Wedge needed. [color=bc8dbf][b]“I hope he’s in the mood to talk then,”[/b][/color] she said, flicking on her comlink and bringing it to her lips. [color=bc8dbf][b]“Rogue Group, we need to talk. Suit up and meet me at our hangar, quickly and quietly.”[/b][/color] [color=f26522][b]“Madine take Rayce up on that flight show on Chandrila idea?”[/b][/color] Kyrin laxly responded. [color=f26522][b]“I’ll get right on it.”[/b][/color] [color=bc8dbf][b]“This is Wedge’s request… and Madine doesn’t know,”[/b][/color] she added tensely. Rayce and Alara acknowledged and prepared to suit up, with Kyrin whistling sharply before doing the same. Stowing the comlink for now, Nareia maneuvered around Wedge and hustled towards Gold Squadron’s hangar. [color=bc8dbf][b]“Hope you’re as good a storyteller as you are a pilot,”[/b][/color] she yelled over her shoulder with a smile. In twelve minutes following the order from Wedge, Rogue’s Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine took flight one after the other from their hangar; nearby, Gold Leader and three other men took off from their own and formed up behind Rogue Group. Leaving the atmosphere, they flew casually through the defensive fleet positioned over the planet, made the calculations for lightspeed, and jumped not long after. They emerged from lightspeed in the Both system and continued for Bothawui. The coordinates available on the data chip retrieved by Wedge were uploaded to every individual ship. Despite this, they chose to form up behind Nareia, having decided without her that she would be acting as the squadron leader for this assignment. The eight starfighters broke atmosphere, were able to admire a change in scenery from Yavin’s endless jungles and temples, then continued towards the estate’s coordinates...