Myrlynda and the rest of the Shades had been aboard the Shadower for a few days. After they had rendezvoused with them in the Hoth System, the crew had finished readying the ship in anticipation of its long trip to the Farlax sector.

That trip would take about a week. The length of the trip was increased drastically by the need for secrecy and continued stops to retrieve reports about the region. No one wished to emerge from hyperspace expecting a routine patrol and instead flying in to a battle zone.

During that time the Alpha Blue team trained, briefed and meditated. Since the Star Destroyer was so lightly staffed, an entire recreation area was set aside just for the team. It had been converted to a small garden of sorts. Bright lamps were hung from the ceiling, trees and plants were growing and small ponds were created for swimming.

The point of this was to create an area where Myrlynda, Katja and Cheriss could meditate in a environment that would be conducive to touching the Light Side of the Force. Since this particular Star Destroyer belonged to Alpha Blue, the garden would most likely remain for quite sometime.

Myrlynda, Gara and Gerrard had gathered in the Officer's tapcaf early the next morning. They would be briefing the Commanders of the fighter squadrons as to their duties for the series of jumps that would carry them to the Farlax sector. The plan was that they would emerge from hyperspace and spend a few minutes uncloaked while they received all the updates and messages waiting for them in each system along the way.

During the time they would spend uncloaked, all pilots would be sitting in their fighters, ready to deploy if there was any sign of trouble. If an enemy was encountered, the fighters would deploy and hold them off as best they could while the Shadower escaped to hyperspace. The fighters would try to follow, as close behind as possible.

Colonel Tetrault began, "I have asked the Shadower's Captain and the two squadron commanders to join us for breakfast. It will give us a chance to talk to them. Plus, it'll give you at least a little chance to evaluate them. Hopefully, we will be able to schedule time in the simulators for a combined exercise. It shouldn't be too hard to arrange as we do have almost a week of downtime."

Gara had assumed her Hetlia Jettite persona whenever she was in public ever since they had arrived on board the ship. She had done so this morning upon arriving in the public tapcaf. She now sat quietly with her shoulders slumped and eyes cast down at the table. She checked the chrono on her wrist, a little over three hours until they were scheduled to begin their journey.

Just as Gerrard finished speaking, two men in orange flight suits entered. Gerrard stood and waved them over. The two men saw him and changed direction to make their way to the table. As they did, the two women got their first good look at them.

The first man was short, fairly thin except for the much larger belly hanging off him. His dark brown hair was close-cropped and beginning a slow retreat from his forehead. His face was a little red as if he had spent a too much time in the sun on his last leave. His flight suit was quite baggy and ill fitting over the rest of his body to allow him to squeeze his belly into it.

The second was a giant of a man. He stood almost 6'4" and was incredibly muscular with short golden blonde hair. He had a bright wide smile, deep blue eyes and perfectly chiseled facial features. He looked every bit the perfect recruiting poster candidate. His flight suit was tailored to fit him snugly, accentuating his good physical condition.

Both men were about thirty years of age, maybe a bit older. They came up to the table and stood looking at the gathered pilots. The blonde man spoke first, "Good morning, Colonel." He turned to the ladies as they stood. "Captains," he said with a nod and a smile. The smile was more befitting a gigolo in a holodrama then a Starfighter Squadron Commander.

The blonde man extended his hand, "I am Commander Franklin Yeraldy, but my friends call me Killer," he said with his smile blazing. "It's short for Lady Killer," he added with a wink. It was all Myrlynda and Gara could do, to stop from bursting out laughing. Seeing his hero- smile and nickname were taken with anything but the reverence he was used to he added softly, "I command Corsair Squadron."

The two women winced slightly at his remarks as they shot each other grins. There was something about him that rubbed them the wrong way. Like underneath the fake exterior, there sat the soul of a low self- esteemed little boy or a con artist. Either way, his charm may have worked with insecure teenage girls, but it would not win over a Force sensitive woman or a hardened intelligence officer.

After a round of handshakes and introductions, the other man spoke. "I am Commander Benjamin Octon. My friends call me fat and balding, and that is to my face. I can't even tell you what my enemies call me or my friends behind my back, for that matter. There are ladies present," he said with a chuckle. "I command Solar Wind Squadron," he added, almost as an afterthought.

The group of pilots indulged themselves in a good laugh for a moment. When they were finished, the pilots sat around, talking shop, while waiting for the captain to arrive. They didn't have to wait long. After about ten minutes a man in a New Republic Fleet Captain's uniform walked in. The pilots quieted as he walked over to their table.

The pilots stood as he arrived. He was about a meter and a half tall. He had sleek dark brown fur that covered his entire body and his pointy snout contained sharp needle-like teeth. `A Selonian?' Gara thought as she looked at him. `That's strange, they are a hive species. They usually don't stray too far from their home world.'

"Greetings, I am Captain Xyllryn T'llgh and I would like to welcome you all aboard. I am sure it will be a pleasure serving with all of you," he said, gesturing for them to take their seats. He pulled up a chair from another table for himself.

Colonel Tetrault slid his chair over so that he was sitting next to the ship's captain. After each person had grabbed a mug of caf for themselves, Captain T'llgh looked over at the two Squadron Commanders and cleared his throat. "Commander Octon and Commander Yeraldy, you may wonder why it is that your squadrons were taken from their respective normal ships and brought here."

Commander Yeraldry affected his best gallant smile and said, "Sir, ours is not the reason why. Ours is but to do or die." The gathered officers tried not to groan at the tired old saying. "Be assured, my squadron is ready to do whatever is necessary. With or without explanation."

Captain T'llgh seemed a bit at a loss for words. "Well… thank you, Commander. That is good to know." The pilot's bit their lips trying not to say something inappropriate seeing that the Captain wasn't buying into any of Yeraldy's lines either.

"Even though I thank Commander Yeraldry for his willingness for forego it, I will give you some information about what we are doing out here," Xyllryn said. "You gentlemen and your squadrons are out here to support an intelligence operation.

"Though I am not at liberty to discuss the specifics of that mission at this time, you and your crews should expect potential action against Imperial type fighters and capital ships. There is the possibility that action might include ships up to Super Star Destroyer class."

Even Yeraldry couldn't hide behind his nonchalance at that statement. It was obvious both officers wanted to ask questions. But, since they were not yet comfortable with their surroundings nor their place within the ship's pecking order, they chose just to keep their questions to themselves for the time being.

"At this time there is no plan for any military action. However, that may change at a moment's notice," the Captain explained. "I have been doing this long enough to smell when something is brewing. There will be blood before this is over."

The Captain's comlink buzzed and he answered it, "T'llgh, here." The captain listened for a moment before speaking into the device. "Affirmative, set a course and engage, flank speed," the Selonian ordered.

He turned his attention back to the gathered pilots as he reclipped the comlink to his belt. "Gentlemen, please advise your pilots to get to their fighters. While we were preparing to jump out of system, we received a distress call from a group of New Republic fighters. Since we are the only ship nearby, we are going to answer it," Captain T'llgh explained.

The two squadron commanders immediately got up and ran out the door to gather their squadrons and report to the flight deck. As they went running through the door, Cheriss and Katja turned the corner to enter the tapcaf. Katja quickly dodged out of the way but Cheriss was bowled over by the two officers.

They quickly mumbled apologies to her as they ran off down the corridor. Cheriss had landed flat on her backside. Katja chuckled at her as she got up rubbing her bottom. "Ouch," she said in a slightly whiny tone.

"Looks like you need a little more training, my young apprentice," Katja teased. "You should have seen them coming,"

Cheriss smiled at her. "I think I've had all the training I can handle for one day," she said provocatively. She turned to see the Captain, Myrlynda, Gara and Gerrard staring at them. She blushed brilliantly while Katja seemed to be enjoying the attention that Cheriss had unintentionally drawn to them.

The Captain seemed to be oblivious to the sexual innuendo that had just occurred in front of him. "We appear to have a problem. I have just ordered the two fighter squadrons to cockpit alert. We just received a distress call from a group of New Republic fighters," Captain T'llgh said, bringing the new comers up to speed.

"I think it might be a good idea for the Shades to deploy with the other fighters." Gerrard suggested to the ladies. "It might be a good chance to work with them. See them in real action, instead of just a simulation."

"You'll need to decide quickly if you do as they should be ready to launch in no more than a few minutes," the Captain informed them.

Myrlynda shrugged, "Sure, why not?" She pulled her comlink from her belt and notified their crew chiefs to begin prepping their fighters and get their flight gear from their lockers. When she was finished, Myrlynda got up and trotted out of the room with Gara, Katja and Cheriss close behind. They quickly made their way to the hanger to see it bustling with activity. Most of the pilots were already in their fighters preparing for take off.

They stood there taking in the scene of the bustling flight deck. Myrlynda looked at the gathered women and broke the silence, "Well, what are you waiting for?"

The women smiled and shook their heads before trotting off to their fighters. They began to do very abbreviated preflight inspections as they waited for their astromechs to arrive. They were just finishing up when the droids arrived, wheeling over to their respective pilots and tooting happily. They were as ready for some action as their masters were.

By the time the ladies had climbed into their cockpits and had closed their canopies, the other fighters were already streaming out of the ship into space. The X-wings of Corsair Squadron had lead the way with the Solar Wind Squadron B-wings close behind.

The Shades quickly completed their start up procedures. Myrlynda keyed her mic when she was ready, "Shade check."

"Shade Two, r-ready to go," Gara stuttered, in her Hetlia voice.

"Shade Three, Let's get out there," Katja said snidely.

"Shade Four, four green and ready," Cheriss said finishing the flight check.

"Shadower Control, Shade Leader. Four X-wings to depart hanger bay two," Myrlynda said as she brought power to her repulsor lifts.

"Shade flight, scramble, scramble," the controller responded. "Engage all TIE's."

"Roger, control," Myrlynda stated as all four fighters rose together as if their controls were linked. They quickly made their way to the magcon field. As she broke the plane of the field, Myrlynda brought full power to her thrusters and shot away from the Star Destroyer with Gara close behind.

As Gara followed Myrlynda out into the battle area, what she saw shocked her. Four full squadrons of TIE Interceptors were pummeling a Squadron of X-wings. There was also a modified Dreadnaught in system. It had strange spheres on both the top and bottom hulls. Upon checking it with her scanners she could see it was throwing a huge mass shadow, which could only mean one thing.

"Lead, this is two," Gara said speaking into her communit, over the Flight Command Frequency. "That Dreadnaught is an interdictor. We're not going to be able to get out of here."

"Affirmative. Shades, turn to Strike Force Tactical Frequency," Myrlynda ordered as she led the flight towards the thick of the battle. Each pilot keyed the communit to broadcast so all the New Republic Starfighters could communicate.

As Gara brought up the frequency, a burst of static was followed by a voice "…copy Rogue Leader, turn hard left and I'll engage." She recognized the voice of Nawara Ven. 'The Rogues!' Her mind screamed.

"Shades, lock S-foils in attack position. Break by pairs and fire at will," Gara heard Myrlynda order. She reached down and flipped the switch to extend her s-foils then she turned the selector for her lasers over to quad-fire.

As she followed on the wing of her leader, she scrolled through the enemy fighters on her targeting computer looking for potential threats. She came to a squint, in hot pursuit of one of the Rogue Squadron X-wings. It was designated Rogue Seven. Gara gasped as her heart nearly leaped into her throat.

Gara turned hard to port and fell in behind the TIE interceptor. Gara keyed her comm back to the Flight Frequency. "Shade Leader, Shade Two," Gara grunted as she pulled on the flight control stick. "Broke off from you to aid one of the Rogues," she said over the comm. "I am in a hard port turn, at your seven o'clock low."

She quickly turned the knob on her comm unit to further distort her voice. Each of their X-wings had been outfitted with modified comm systems to alter their voices or to use a set number of different voice personas. She chose to stay with the option that just distorted her voice. She swapped frequencies again back to the Strike Force Frequency and spoke into her mic, "Rogue Seven, Shade Two. I've got your squint."

Myn Donos, seated in Rogue Seven, continued his evasive maneuvers with the Interceptor pursuing close behind. Gara twisted and turned following the Interceptor looking for a safe shot. She looked down at her display as Tonin beeped a warning. Another TIE was coming in from above and behind.

"Shade Two, break high to port," Myrlynda ordered. "I'll get in behind your squint."

Gara couldn't leave Myn, especially since he was having so much trouble shaking the Interceptor. Her feeling was driven even further home as two bolts of green lasers slammed into his X-wing. The TIE still dodged in and out of her target reticule as Myn's wounded X- wing tried to turn away.

"Shade Two, break high and port, now!" She heard Myrlynda scream through the comm unit.

`Its now or never,' she thought as she felt lasers impact her aft shield. The TIE danced back and forth through her sights twice more as her rear shields failed. She squeezed the trigger and sent four bolts at the TIE. She didn't even look to see if they connected with their target as she broke up and left as hard as she could. She felt no more laser impacts. She continued to roll to the left, bringing the fighter inverted and looked out the top-left side of her canopy. She saw the remains of the TIE Interceptor break apart from her shot as well as her pursuer scream by, trying to shake Myrlynda off it's tail.

"Thanks for the help, Shade Two," Gara heard Myn say to her over the comm. Her cheeks flushed at his words and her heart fluttered.

'Get a grip. He had a chance to come and see you but sent the NRI after you instead. Now, get back to the job at hand,' she scolded herself as she continued to pull her fighter through an inverted left turn to reform on Myrlynda's wing.

Myrlynda was pummeling the TIE she was chasing. As the fourth shot struck the craft, its hull integrity failed and both solar panels spun away and exploded in a cloud of fire.

Gara looked out to survey the scene as a twirling squint flashed past with an XF following close behind. The pilot of the XF was flying like a woman possessed. Gara watched as the X-wing accelerated to catch the squint.

Cheriss slammed the throttle forward and was pushed back into her pilot couch from the acceleration. Like most pilots, she had her inertial compensator dialed down a bit to allow her to feel the ship better. She rolled hard to port and pulled her fighter down. She felt a light caress of the Force telling her that Katja had taken a position on her wing.

She rolled through the inverted and continued the roll to bring her into a turn to starboard. She pulled back on the stick bringing the target reticule over an Interceptor. She waited until the pipper was just in front of the Tie and squeezed the trigger. Four angry darts lashed out at the squint slamming into the front of the ball cockpit. The hull shattered and the TIE spun itself apart.

"Whooohooo!" Cheriss screamed keying her comm unit. She pulled back hard on the stick bringing her fighter nose high and began a series of lightning quick barrel rolls. Cheriss had scored four kills in an engagement above Hoth during her brief service in Starfighter Command. This kill was number five, earning her the title of Ace.

"This is Rogue Leader, if you could save your celebrating for when I don't have pilots that are EV, I would appreciate it. Mind getting back in the fight?" Tycho's angry voice came across the comm.

"Rogue Leader, this is Shade Leader. I will discipline my own pilots, if you don't mind," Myrlynda replied with her voice as cool as ice water. It warmed a bit as she added, "Good job, Four."

Cheriss pulled her head from the clouds and took in the scene. From the brief fight, Rogue Squadron had four pilots EV. There was still a squadron of TIEs as well but they were quickly being dispatched now that twenty-eight New Republic snubfighters had joined the fight on the Rogues side.

The Dreadnaught turned away from the battle. Several pilots sighed and others just shook their heads as they watched the scene. It was obvious what was going to happen next. The Dreadnaught accelerated away from the battle, faster than any ship could in realspace. A moment later, it flashed as it entered hyperspace, leaving her fighters behind to fend for themselves.

Being that the fight had occurred in deep space barely within an isolated system, there was no way the TIE pilots could survive being left alone. They had little in the way of options.

Cheriss heard a crackle across her comm unit as one of the B-wings began to broadcast an unscrambled transmission. "Imperial Forces, this is Solar Leader," Commander Octon began. "Your ride home just left. Power down your engines and weapons systems. If you do not, we will be forced to destroy you."

The Jedi felt an incredible amount of fear ripple out through the Force. The TIE pilots were enormously frightened by the idea of surrendering to the New Republic forces.

After a brief moment a reply came to him also broadcast in the clear. "Solar Lead, this is Gamma Leader. We appreciate the offer, but if we live after being captured an even worse fate awaits us. We at least want to go down fighting. And if we can take a few rebels with us, all the better."

The remaining TIE Interceptors did anything but surrender. They returned to the fight with renewed vigor. Two Solar Wind B-wings were destroyed almost immediately. However, both pilots had time to eject from their stricken fighters.

"Shadower, this is Shade Leader. Be advised, Two Solars are now EV," Myrlynda communicated to the controller. She then turned towards the attacking squints.

What ensued over the next ten minutes could be called nothing less than a slaughter. The few remaining TIEs fought ferociously, but to no avail. The New Republics forces were just too strong for them. They were destroyed without anymore additional loses to the Alliance forces. They fought to the death and not a single fighter surrendered.

Gara turned her fighter towards the area in which the rescue shuttle was working. The shuttle had already taken aboard most of the wayward pilots when she arrived. She checked her sensors to survey the damage done to the New Republic forces. Solar Wind Squadron had lost four B- wings, Corsair Squadron had lost one X-wing and the Rogues had lost six fighters.

Gara and Cheriss shuddered in their cockpits as they worried about their friends, the Rogues. It was highly unlikely that all of them got out without any harm. To punctuate their sense of dread the last pilot they pulled in must have been one of the first shot down in the encounter. As the pilot was tractored in, their form hung limp like they were unconscious or dead.

Cheriss felt a greater sense of dread and tried to reach out through the Force, to see if the person was still alive. Fear for her friends and what might have happened to one of them clouded her mind. Her mind played tricks on her. At first, she saw what she wished would happen. Then fear gripped her heart and she saw her worst nightmares unfold in her mind's eye. Finally, she gave up as she felt herself treading dangerously close to the Dark Side.

Gara was a bundle of nerves as she watched the shuttle enter the main hanger bay. She was shaking slightly as she thought of what might happen in the very near future. One or more of her friends might be dead. She might be recognized by the Rogues, potentially endangering her new position with the New Republic. Perhaps the scariest, was she might encounter Myn and she had no idea how that might turn out.

Myrlynda, sitting in her cockpit, could feel the fear radiating from her wingmate. The Rogues could cause potential problems for all of them, except for Cheriss. `Well, now was the time for her to get used to lying. She'll need to be our liaison to the Rogues,' Myrlynda thought to herself knowing there really wasn't another candidate.

She keyed her comm unit, "Shades, Shade Leader. Recover in Hanger Bay One." Myrlynda heard double clicks in her headset acknowledging her orders and turned her fighter to set up an approach to the hanger bay. She led her flight of X-wings into the bay where they were assigned berthing spots by the crewmen.

Gara shut down her fighter but sat frozen in her cockpit. Her hands shook lightly as she held them out in front of her. Her breathing was short and ragged and she felt as if she might faint. It took her a few minutes to compose herself. When she had finally gathered the strength to pry herself from her cockpit, she saw her squadron mates already gathered at the nose of her fighter.

The world seemed to spin as she climbed down the ladder. She stepped onto the hanger floor and tried to steady herself. She felt the prying stares of her fellow pilots. `Should I tell them?' she asked herself. Her thoughts turned to Myn and the complexity of her ridiculous circumstances. She quickly turned and rushed out of the hanger and ran towards her room.

The three women stood in silence until Katja could take it no longer. "All right, what in the name of the Emperor was that all about?"

Myrlynda stood silently. She felt Katja's Force sense brush against her. "You know?!" Katja explained accusingly. "Tell us!"

Myrlynda sighed, "All right, even though it is against my better judgment. Knowing what your twisted little mind might come up with." Myrlynda's comment was met with a playfully dejected look from Katja. "Gara was involved with a pilot who now flies with Rogue Squadron, named Myn Donos, when she was originally with the Wraiths."

Cheriss remembered back to her time on Hoth with the Rogues and Wraiths. She had only talked with Myn briefly and the topic of his past had never come up. She could only imagine the tale that surrounded Gara's torment. It seemed to happen to most of the people she knew who lived a life like hers; nothing ever seemed to go right, but it was always interesting.

Cheriss was shaken from her thoughts as Myrlynda turned to her. "Cheriss, I would like you to go down and be our ambassador to Rogue Squadron. You are the only real choice because of the rest of our…shall we say, sordid pasts."

Cheriss nodded. "Ok. What should I tell them if they ask me what's been going on?"

"Come up with some creative lies to embellish a story containing no facts or information. If that fails, then hide behind the truth. Which is, You are not at liberty to discuss your assignment with personal from units outside the operational control of the mission," Myrlynda said.

Cheriss glanced over at Katja. She could tell by the devilish grin on her face that she was scheming. The only question was what she was scheming about. Cheriss reached out with the Force and gently caressed her cheek with a soft breeze of air. Katja turned, causing Cheriss to raise an eyebrow at her.

What are you scheming over there? Cheriss asked through her thoughts as a mischievous smile played across her lips.

Katja refused to answer but her expression said it all as Cheriss saw passion flash in her eyes like wild fire. She could tell her was cooking up some plan, some plan that would most likely cause quite a bit of trouble. `Well, at least it'll be interesting," Cheriss thought to herself.

At last Katja answered, with a wink, You'll see…

Myrlynda waited for a moment, amused by what was going on in front of her. She finally broke it up, "Are you waiting for something, Captain?"

Cheriss shook her head, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "No, sorry," she said as she turned and exited the hanger. She quickly made her way over to the lift that would take her to the main hanger where Rogue Squadron had just landed.

The two Jedi stood in silence until Cheriss had been gone for a few moments. Myrlynda looked over at Katja and also could see the wheels spinning in her head just by the expression on her face. Katja was obviously proud of whatever insane idea she had just come up with since a smirk had settled upon her lips.

Myrlynda sighed, "You're doing it again. You're going to cause trouble." She tried to fill her voice with disgust, but for some reason she had found Katja amusing. Her voice gave away her anticipation of Katja's plan.

"Don't try and be all high and mighty with me. We both know you are dying to know," Katja said with a light chuckle.

Myrlynda wasn't about to give up that easy. She shrugged, "You are going to tell me regardless of whether I want to know or not. So, you might as well get it over with."

Katja laughed out loud. "Oh no. Your days of living vicariously through me are over. This time you are helping me."

Myrlynda thought it over for a moment. Several things weighed heavily on her mind. First, because of all their duties, the Alpha Blue members had little time for pleasures like a romantic relationship. But she saw how happy Katja and Cheriss' relationship had made them. Since she couldn't have a relationship at the moment, she could at least find some joy in helping Gara. Second, Gara's life choices had prevented her from being close to anyone. Maybe they now had a chance to remedy that unfortunate situation.

"Ok, what's the plan?" she asked Katja as she began to walk to the exit.

Katja nodded approvingly as they made their way towards the section of the ship with their living quarters. In that same area was the small lounge and recreation area. It was there that the planning would begin in earnest.

Continued in Part Five