"Thank you, Captain Sagol," Taz acknowledged, accepting the datapad from the willowy, pale Dathomirian. Her impressive blue and white Charger c70 cruiser, the Atrix, loomed over them. Its crew of Rim Rehab technicians were busy stuffing four spacious cargo holds with supplies and machinery under Launch Bay 24's bright lights.
"Your assistance with the navigational calculations is most appreciated, Mr. Oktos."
"It was my pleasure, Captain." Taz was wearing his auxiliary fleet uniform and he reflexively lifted his arm to salute. Captain Sagol held out her hand instead. He shook it, grinning.
"Please give Captain Rendix my compliments and inform her that we'll be ready for departure by... " she consulted her wrist link, "eleven-forty hours".
"I'll do that, ma'am," Taz assured her with a nod, then headed across the huge bay. He brightened at the sight of a YY-96 long-haul sloop that was also being provisioned. It had Dufilvian Sector Fleet markings. Tess and Varun stood near the starboard boarding door, overseeing the loading and looking smart in their respective uniforms. He greeted both officers with a snappy salute.
"I can't believe we're going back so soon!" Tess bubbled, looking as happy as a child attending her first Galactic Fair.
Taz hugged Tess and shook Varun's hand. "Your aunt and General Rexler can be really persuasive, I guess."
"They appealed right to the Chancellor's office, I hear," Varun said.
"I think they called in the marker from that cargo we interdicted at Borga," added Tess.
"We had to supply our own ships, though." Varun flashed a wry grin.
"We get the privilege of transporting the team from the Diplomatic Corps," Tess groaned with only a little roll of her eyes. Spying the approaching government functionaries, she continued, "Speaking of which, it looks like they've arrived. I'll go greet them." She laid her hand on Taz's arm, gave Varun a quick kiss, then started toward the approaching repulsor taxi.
Both men watched her walk away. "You know, my offer still stands, Taz. The Republic could use you, now more than ever."
"I appreciate the offer, Varun-grasha, but I'm where I want to be right now."
The other man nodded, looking vaguely disappointed "I understand, believe me." He smiled, watching Tess with the emissaries. "Nothing I can say to change your mind, I suppose."
"No, but if there's ever a genuine need I'll be willing to listen."
"Well, that's better than nothing."
Taz tilted his head toward Tess. "She's turned into quite the officer. She hasn't lost any of the daredevil, has she?" he asked, using the callsign she'd been given by her fellow Razorclaw pilots.
"You saw the way she handled Allegra. She's still utterly fearless in the pilot's seat."
"Some things don't change," Taz agreed. He pressed his lips firmly together then took a breath. "You know, when we were on our way to Beta Fonidian she told me you're taking care of her. I think that was when I realized Tess was truly happy with you. It wasn't what I wanted to hear, but now..." He fixed Varun with a sober look. "I can't think of a better man for her, Varun-grasha. I mean that."
Varun gave him a wide-eyed look. "Thanks, Taz-grasha."
"Just promise you won't lose her like I did."
Varun's mouth twitched into a grin. "Not a chance."
Taz clasped Varun's hand in a firm grip. "Good."
----------------------------------------
Reiko took the datapad from Kallista and reviewed the repairs to Allegra's portside turbolasers. Nearby, ordnance droids loaded the last of the 16 concussion missiles into their magazines. After their ineffectual exchange with the Kantorius, Sera insisted on restocking with Trinian Ordnance Works' enhanced-yield missiles instead of the civilian-grade Arakyd models that CEC sold for the YV-929.
She signed the invoice then switched over to the remote systems program and tapped at the screen. The hull's nanocoating shimmered and the block letters spelling out Rixon Charter Service faded, replaced by the triple overlapping inverted triangles of the Dufilvian Sector Force in slate blue on a khaki background to denote the ship's auxiliary fleet status.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Shall I send payment to KTS, Mistress Reiko?"
"Please do, Kalli."
Kallista nodded. "Done." She pointed with her lithe arm. "I believe our passengers have arrived."
"Oh, good," Reiko said, zipping the short jacket of her khaki auxiliary fleet uniform with its slate-blue piping.
A taxi hovered to a stop. Two Filvians and two Humans stepped off, accompanied by an R3 astromech and a 3D-4X administrative model with its polished chrome body and a head that looked like a bloated, inverted test tube. Yuzu began unloading their luggage while he struck up a conversation with the other droids. His redbird medal dangled conspicuously from his chest plate, catching the light as he moved.
"Gentlebeings, welcome aboard! I am Kallista, passenger service specialist for the transport Allegra's Heart. Allow me to present our engineer, Senior Warrant Officer Reiko Hudson."
Reiko shook their hands in turn as Kalli introduced the passengers, representing Morata Heavy Industries and HyperDyne CommSystems. "Welcome aboard," she echoed Kalli. "We'll try to make your voyage an enjoyable one. Please follow Kallista. She'll get you settled into your cabins."
"This way if you please," Kalli said, leading them away. "I'm sure you will be comforted to know that our vessel has recently been upgraded with amenities including encrypted HoloNet communications, a diplomat-grade food synthesizer and autochef, and a fully equipped medical bay. Captain Sera Rendix was a member of the elite Ballista commando group during the war, our pilot served in the Customs Office with great distinction, and our copilot is a fully licensed medtech trained in Filvian and Human physiology, so you need have no concerns about your health or safety. Allegra's Heart also features..." Her sultry voice was lost as she disappeared up the boarding ramp.
Sera and Lyra emerged from the rear of the ship, threading their way past the bulky hyperwave transmitter parts being loaded into the cargo bays as they completed their pre-launch inspection. They were both in their auxiliary uniforms. Sera's thick red hair was gathered back, plaited at either side in thin braids. She'd kept most of it after the gala but cut it short enough to tuck under the helmet of an enviro suit or combat armor.
"Everything looks good, Rei-sha."
"Yep, she's good as new, pretty much."
"What did all those repairs cost us?" Lyra asked.
"They weren't cheap," she cringed. "Twenty-eight thousand to reload our missiles and replace the turbolasers."
Lyra let out a long whistle. "Ouch."
"On the plus side, since we've been activated for auxiliary service we got the labor, fuel, consumables, and ordnance at fleet rates. They even rebalanced the power curve on the ion drives for me, so she should be easier to fly."
"Hmph. Oktos'll be glad to hear that. He couldn't keep her going straight if he was being chased by a pack of mynocks." She glanced around the bay. "Where is he, anyway?"
"Here!" called Taz, trotting over from the corridor that connected their bay to the others in the station's cluster.
"Nice of you to join us, Officer Oktos." Lyra's scowl was mostly for show.
"Had some work to do, Ensign Nimor," Taz answered, looking smug. He handed her his pad and saluted Sera. "Captain Sagol sends her compliments and says the Atrix will be ready for launch at eleven-forty hours, Captain." Then to Lyra, "I thought we should coordinate jump schedules and routes. Since the Atrix is accompanying us, I mean."
She looked over his figures and glanced up. "You calculated these yourself?"
"Mm hmm," he acknowledged, looking anxious and eager. "The Atrix's astrogator helped a little."
She tapped her finger on the edge of the device. "Not bad, for a rook."
"Thanks, Lyra!" Taz wore a pleased grin.
"Don't let it go to your head. You still have a lot to learn about route optimization." She turned to Rendix. "Need me for anything, Captain?"
"Not until we launch."
"Okay, thanks," she acknowledged, her eyes bright. "Come on, Oktos. If you send it to Tess like this she'll laugh you out of the sector. I'll show you where you messed up so you can fix it."
"Yes ma'am," Taz said dutifully but his grin widened. "That uniform looks great on you, by the way."
"I won't go easy on you just because you flatter me," she countered, but she leaned against him as they walked up the boarding ramp.
"What do you think, Sera-sha?" asked Reiko, watching them go.
"Nimor's got a nice ass."
"That's not what I mean!" she complained, punching her lover in the arm.
Sera laughed and hugged Rei around her shoulders. "Doc looks happier than I've seen him in months. And Lyra's warming up to us, too."
"Yep. I'm glad. She puts on a brave front but she's as lonely as he is. They're a perfect match for each other."
"We have a pretty good ship and crew, don't we?"
"Nope."
"No?"
"We have a great ship and a terrific family."
"Yes we do," Sera agreed, kissing the top of her head. "My Corellian DNA is telling me to get back out there. How about you?"
"Can't wait!" Rei slipped her hand in Sera's as they stepped aboard Allegra's Heart.