[Tython Squadron Run-On] - Castaway Saga Part 2: Hoist The Colours!

“So what do you think he’s planning this time?” Vez asked no one in particular; the collected members of Tython Squadron - sans Agate who was on some sort of meditation retreat - were marching through the halls of the Praxeum to meet their CO at the hangar.

“Knowing the captain?” Talis responded, looking as though he were recalling a particularly irritating memory. “Something poorly though out, and likely to get us all killed.”

“And yet,” Raziel piped in. “It will somehow prove reasonably successful in the end.”

“That’s the worst part,” Talis groaned. Nijalah placed a sympathetic hand on the miraluka’s shoulder.

Vez hummed. “What about you, new girl?’ she asked, nodding towards Elyon. Their newest recruit had been trailing behind the rest of the Squadron in silence. “You ever worked with the captain before?”

“Ah… once,” the young Jedi said quietly. “It was… interesting.”

“She means it was a catastrophe,” Raziel responded, remembering the disastrous mission to Moraband. “All for a damn hat, Jon.”

Talis frowned. “What are you two talking–”

“Ah, my friends!” a jovial voice interrupted them as they rounded the corner. Sure enough, there was “Captain” Jon Silvon, leaning against the hangar-bay door. Waiting behind him was the silver-and-gold R3-unit, Artemis. “I am so glad to see you all!”

“You sound happy,” Talis said aloud, as the Squadron congressed around the door. “Too happy. It makes me worried.”

“That’s because I have something to show you all!” Jon announced, grinning broadly.

“Now we’re very nervous,” Vez commented. “And why is the hangar door closed?” It wasn’t usual for the heavy blast doors to the hangar to be down unless someone was actively taking off inside, and they’d be able to hear it from here if that were the case.

“Because I don’t want to ruin the surprise,” Jon said.

“Does this have something to do with the Light?” Nijalah asked. As soon as the question was asked, the Captain immediately sobered. The mischievous glint in his eye faded, and he stood at his full height. Reaching into his pack, he pulled out a copper-colored sphere, crisscrossed with grooves reminiscent of ancient, pre-hyperspace star charts. The map.

“Yes,” Jon announced. “But only indirectly.”

“What does that mean?” Talis asked. “Are we going after the next trial or not?”

“You have located it,” Nijalah said. “Right Jon?”

After the Trial of Faith, and the battle against the Sea Raven Raiders, the Squadron had expected to immediately set out for the next Trial - until the Collective decided it would be an excellent time to invade the Arx system, and then the entire Brotherhood was forced to drop whatever they were doing and deal with that mess.

After their return to Kiast though, there had been a sudden… lull. Jon was inexplicable running around the system doing Force-knew what, the Raiders had retreated and hadn’t been heard from since, and no mention of the map, or the Light Of Ki’Asma had been made.

Then, out of the blue, he summoned the entire Squadron, as well as Raziel and their fresh recruit Elyon, to the Praxeum. To say they were curious, and a few of them anxious, would be an understatent.

“I have,” he said at last, slipping the map back into his pocket. “But we’re not going after it. Yet.”

Jon paused for the expected outcry, but all he got were silent stares. They were waiting for him to go on. Jon nodded.

“Ok, short version? After the Raiders crashed the party on Kaerls while we took the Trail of Faith, it became pretty clear that they were gonna keep coming after us as long as we’re after the Light.”

“Naturall,” Talis interjected. “Rhon Ya thinks if can get it, he can stage his own little revolution.”

“He might be right,” Raziel said. “You all saw what happened with the Vatali a few months ago, how much damage the Admiral did. If this pirate can get a symbol that powerful under him, even if it’s just a symbol, he could get the same kind of support.”

“Which is why,” Jon interrupted. “We’re not going to keep playing scavenger hunt with them. We’re going to take the Sea Raven Raiders off the board first, then go and find the ship. Without the added competition.”

Vez’s eyed widened in realization, and a grin split her emerald face. “We’re going to attack the pirates’ where they live?”

“Yes, my blood-thirsty green compatriot,” Jon nodded, some of the glimmer coming back into his face. “We are hitting them where they live!” Jon rested his hand on Artemi’s transparent dome, “Now that we know where they live, that is.”

The astromech projected a hologram of an asteroid. Zooming in, it revealed an iron door built into the surface.

“That’s what you’ve been doing all this time,” Talis said. “You’ve been running around trying to find out where the rats have holed up.”

“They were better at covering their tracks than I thought,” Jon nodded. “After Ogg defected and brought us the map, they abandoned all their previous holdings and went to ground. Called in every underworld favor I could before getting lucky. Now I know where the Raven’s Nest is.”

Elyon tilted her head. “Raven’s Nest? They don’t actually call it that?”

“No, I made that name up myself,” Jon said absentmindedly. “I think it’s rather poetic.”

“All of which is fascinating,” Raziel interjected. “But it doesn’t explain why we’re discussing this in the hallway.”

“Ah!” Jon exclaimed, just before he about-turned began typing on the door keypad. “Much as I hate to admit it, my beloved Carnival was simply not up to the task of sustained combat. Lovely she may have been, but a fighter she was not.”

The doors slip open with a hiss, to reveal the collected ships and fighter’s of Tython Squadron, and in the middle of them all, was a bright-red ship, of a model all too familiar to anyone who ever spent time in the world of bounty hunters.

“You bought a Boba Fett ship?” Vez exclaimed.

Jon laughed aloud. “Ladies and gentleman - and Vez - I present to you all, the Grand Carnival!”

Talis nudged Vez. “The proper model name is Firespray 31.”

The Miralukan turned his attention to his friend and Captain. “So you burned one hundred eighty thousand credits on a relic with a paint job.”

“No I invested one hundred eighty thousand credits on a certified used ship.” Jon waved his arm out like he was trying to sell the old interceptor.

Talis was well versed in Jon’s unique point of view and how he was very good at talking up an idea to get people to follow him against all rational reason. This would be one of those schemes and the Marauder knew it.

Talis walked past the scruffy human and made his way to his new fang fighter. He had just recently purchased the ship and was excited to see how the mandalorian ship performed. Down the side of the ship was his Ace call sign. In embossed lettering next to the cockpit the call sign WARPATH was visible to him.

He smiled as he climbed into the vessel.

Elyon’s eyes lit up when she first saw the Grand Carnival. At that moment, old memories of old times seemed to come to life. She only saw Slave 1 twice during the Clone Wars, but this type is unforgettable. She watched for a moment as the others reacted. They looked as surprised as she was.
“And what’s the condition? That’s a good chunk of history.” Elyon looked at the captain and a smile crossed her face.

“It will serve our purposes well enough.” Jon answered, watching her make her way to the ship. Elyon immediately began inspecting the ship.

“This ship looks amazing after all these years. The tooth of time left its wounds on her, but that probably increased its price, didn’t it? That’s why it cost about that much.” Elyon said and ran her hand over the hull of the ship. Then she closed her eyes and grabbed the Force so she could explore the ship with more than her eyes.

“As I said for our purposes it will be good. Who wants a tour?” Jon said, staring at his squadron.
“Why not?” Raziel spoke, following the captain.
Elyon was a newcomer, but when it came to ships, she couldn’t be stopped. And so she followed them into the ship.

“Wow. That looks good.” Elyon exhaled in amazement.
“Yes., It was worth the credits. And it will still serve us to get to the Raven’s Nest. And then we will be able to get the Light,” Jon agreed, glancing at the squadron members again.

“But, that’s enough showboating on my part,” Jon said with a shrug - though the smirk never left his face. “Ah! Before we depart, I’ve one last surprise for you all.”

“Oh dear Force,” someone muttered. Jon pretended not to hear it. Instead, he walked to one of the closed hangar doors, and punched a command into the control panel. With a loud groan, it slid open, and revealed three figures on the other side; the soldierly stance of Creon Saldean and Aura’s Padawan Draxion Durk were familiar enough to the Squadron, but the third was a man utterly unknown to them. A heavyset, middle aged man with long brown hair.

“Ladies and Gentleman of Tython Squadron, I would like to introduce you to our newest recruits. Draxion, Creon, and Benn Nevis.”

The Squadron’s reaction were mixed, but the dominant emotion in the room was, to put it mildly, surprise. Vez, however, was the first to

“A word, if you don’t mind,” Vez said, taking Jon by the arm and leading him over to a corner of the room. “When were you planning on telling the rest of us about this?” she asked.

“I mean, just now? Clearly?” Jon said like it was obvious. A smack to the head was Vez’s answer.

“You know damn well what I mean,” she retorted. “What’s up with this? First you run around the system setting this op up without telling us. Alright, fine. Then you bring in three new pilots without a word of warning? What’s all this cloak-and-dagger about?”

Jon hesitated a moment before saying anything. His hand went unconsciously to the map, still hidden in his pocket. Vez’s eyes caught the movement.

“You know,” Jon sighed, “That this is bigger than just another nest of pirates to clear out. Trials of the heart, ancient civilizations, and legendary heroes?” Jon took off his hat, and looked down at it, lost in memory. “I’m out of my element there. But you know what I do know? I know spies.”

Vez frowned, dawning comprehension in her mind.

“You’re talking about Rhon Ya’s supposed patron,” she realized. “The rumors about some rogue Inquisitorius agent pulling their strings? I thought we never found any evidence of that?”

“We didn’t,” Jon said firmly. “None. Too little, in fact. Too clean of a trail.”

“Let’s say,” Vez began slowly. “That you’re right, and there is some shadow man puppeteering this. You think, what?” Vez gestured out to where the Squadron members new and old were mingling. “That you can throw his own tactics back at him?”

“Two years ago,” Jon said, putting his hat back on. “I was him. You never met me in the old days, Vez, but I’ve lived with people like this since I was old enough to spell my name.”

Vez nodded, but there was uncertainty in her emerald eyes.

“So, your new recruits are…?”

“Wild cards,” Jon said simply. “Expect that by now, whoever’s got the Raiders dancing to his fife knows everything about all of us. Bringing in new members will throw his plans off.”

As the members of the squadron wandered about the hanger, discussing the Grand Carnival and their own ships, and talking to the three newest members.

A’lora noticed a ship tucked in the corner, covered in a dust cloth, the pointed shape was unmistakable.

“Who owns the Aethersprite?” She asked looking around.

“That would be mine,” the newest recruit spoke up in a deep clear voice. Causing those near him to turn and stare. “I was told to bring it here and park it. I don’t get to fly her much, so I keep her covered.”

“Wait a minute. I’ve seen you, you cook at the Praxeum sometimes. You’re the one the padawans call the ‘Hermit’.” Creon said.

Elyon laughed, “That’s right! I’ve seen you in the kitchen there. I am curious why do the younglings and padawans call you that? That hermit name?”

Benn blushed some and walked over to a nearby chair. Adjusting his saber and belt, he sat down. “I believe it has to do with my desire to spend more time alone than with others,” he said. “I am a chef, a Jedi, a medic, and a diplomat. Not necessarily in that order. I have spent the bulk of my time with the clan keeping to myself, doing missions that needed done, and teaching and cooking at the Praxeum.”

“So what made you join us? If you don’t like people?” Elyon asked.

“I never said I didn’t like people,” Benn responded. “I said I had a desire to spend time alone. As for why I joined you, I was asked to.” He said shrugging his broad shoulders.

Benn pointed over to where Jon and Vez were talking, “Jon asked me to join the other day, but not exactly sure why. I’m guessing I will find out sometime during this little expedition.”

The talk turned to the individual ships in the bay and the garish red colored Grand Carnival.

“So why a Jedi Starfighter? There are much more powerful ones, and they have hyperdrive.” The Togrua asked.

Benn smiled as he pulled off the dust cover from his ship. “She does what I need her to do. She has been retro fitted with a comfort suite cockpit, an aft laser, a permamount astromech Droid. And I have a permanent birth on a skyhook with my hyperdrive ring there.”

The spear head shaped ship gleamed in the lights. Panels of a glossy dark blue blended into chromed and high gloss white sections.

Benn turned and looked at the crimson colored, ovoid shaped squadron command ship, and then back at his own. Giving A’lora a wry grin, “and she doesn’t stand out in a crowd like some do.”

“I understand your choice,” Elyon said, slowly approaching the spear-shaped ship. At that moment, she was flooded with memories full of battles and in which these ships were the dominant target of enemy fire.

“These are good ships that repair well. They must have a bit of nostalgic value for the new generation, at least for me.” She admitted and ran her fingers over the surface of the ship.

“Nostalgic value,” Benn asked in disbelief.
“Are you serious?” He looked at her and he couldn’t believe his ears.

“Of course, why shouldn’t I? So why did you choose this ship if not because of nostalgia?” Elyon asked, looking at him.

“I’ve always loved the design. It’s also a reminder of the Jedi before the Empire and their arrogance,” Benn said in a calm, even voice.

“Arrogance,” Elyon asked in astonishment. It was the first time she had heard such a view of the Jedi Order after her awakening into this era.

“Jedi Order were blinded by their “moral superiority” and as a result they didn’t realize the seed of evil had been growing right beneath their feet.This blindness caused the fall of the Order,” he finished the thought with ease, as if talking about the weather.

Elyon stared at him in disbelief. She did not think that he was wrong in some respects, but she refused to accept his words about the fall of the Order.

“You may be right about something, but the Jedi did not deserve the fall of the Order.” Elyon said in a slight undertone in her voice that indicated her disapproval. This was noticed by Jon standing nearby.

“I think we’ve all met each other and it’s time to go,” he said hurriedly, standing between Benn and Elyon.