Rebel Commando

Chapter 17

"Commander," someone calls. "I'm glad you could join."

"Yes, general," I say politely to the man. "I apologize for being late." Actually, I didn't care a squat, but I had to show some respect. The only reason I was at this top-general, top-secret meeting on Alderaan was because the Rebel Commando force was so efficient. And it did do a lot.

I, however, did not. Another fat surprise: I didn't actually go on any missions, I just supervised, plan missions, make sure the squads were in check, and stuff like that. 

I feel the man stare at Tur. Who the shabla hell was he anyway? I look down at Tur. He measured roughly around my lower thigs (not a surprise for my 5'6" frame) and was completely black except for his paws, back, and face patterns. His eyes were a deep blue, unlike Jaing Ordo's light blue-eyed Gandifar. Tur was a  stare-able beast, to think about it. 

The meeting ended up starting thirty minutes later, but few people in that time zone. Most of the talking was done by people like Mon Mothma, but a few other people pitched in. 

I lean against the rail of the holo map, frowning, something was adding up. Some small but fruitful planet called Conith was hardly occupied by the Imperials, but according to surveillances, was packed with supplies. 

When a runt comes into the conversation, I raise my hand slightly. I feel all eyes turn onto me. A small, unimportant, twenty-one-year-old commander who brought his pet to a meeting with the shabla leaders of the Rebel Alliances. "Question," I say. "Cornith has hardly any forces on it and a ton of supplies, yet we do nothing with it."

"We don't have the forces available for raids," some fancy general says. Osik, I hate how he says 'raids'! It took a lot of stuff not to use that fancy trick Jusik taught me: Force Choke. 

"I have forces." I manage with a cool face. "Most commandos are coming back from leave, and have nothing better to do." 

"Son," someone new-I've lost track of who's who, and, frankly, I didn't care. "I use to commando the IC. The Imperial Commandos." 

"And my father used to be one," I snap, not caring how I spoke anymore. "Your point?" 

The man is startled but continues. "They wouldn't leave such a valuable planet unguarded. It must be a trap."

"So you say," I mutter under my breath, but they're done with me. They don't care about what I have to say. Osik, I bet they don't listen to anyone my age. What a shame, all they saw in youths were people to fight and die in their useless battles. Honestly, they didn't know how to conduct a war, they just were pacifist putting on general gear. They were going to love, one way or another.

I couldn't wait until the meeting was over and practically ran out of the room the second 'dismissed' was said. 

"How'd it go?" Jesse was sorta like my right-hand man, and though I technically outranked him, being a commander and all, we both knew who was really in charge.

"They're all pretentious know-it-alls who are worth their weight in osik," I mutter. 

"Quiet, boy!" Jesse rebukes. "You don't know what you're saying. You could get yourself kicked out like that."

"But it's true!" I wince at the looks I get. That was louder than I meant.

"Again I say 'quiet'. They know what they're doing."

"Yeah, right," I mumble under my breath. Then audible, "Okay, sir." 

"Good." He smiles then looks at Tur, drooling at his feet. "Dear, goodness! You didn't bring him in with you, did you?" I give him a cocky smile. 

"Aye, you're a rebellious one, that's for sure."

"Mm-hmm." Jesse can't help breaking into a smile, I can feel it.  

                                                                                  * * * 

I sit in my cabin, a private one that was bigger (No more Wad'e!), thinking. The Alliance didn't see the opportunity with Conrith, and I couldn't just do nothing. How could I? It was against everything I was as a Mandalorian. 

I get up from my seat, I bet Bail Organa could do something. You didn't just have a very important meeting with very important people at anyone's house. 

Luckily for me, Organa was still at Fort Yetax. I quickly stride (I figured out pretty soon that commanders did not run unless in dire situations, and maybe not even then) to his office.

I knock on his door, patiently waiting.

"Kad," he says when he opens the door. "Please, come in." We sit down before he continues. "This is about Cornith, isn't it?"

"How-"

"It's pretty easy to tell," he chuckles, then sighs.  I don't make eye contact with him. "I've tried. It does make sense, but Mon has put her foot down." There's a silence for a while, then I look up from a wire I was fiddling with.

"Sir," I say.

"Bail," he corrects. 

"Right, Bail," I say, squirming invisibly. "You're one of the supreme generals, no?" 

"Yess..."

"One could say you are one of the leaders of the Rebel Alliance?" 

"I suppose so..."

"Then you could issue an order, no?" Organa goes silent, biting his tongue, staring at something I could not see. He seems lost in thoughts, I dare not disturb him. Finally, he looks up. "I could." He hesitates, only for a fraction of a second. "But I won't."

"W-what? Why not?"Of all the generals in the shabla organization, I thought Bail Organa was the only one who actually had common sense. Load of osik I had been feeding myself. 

"It would be going directly against Mon's orders."

"Yeah okay," I say, nodding. "Go ahead and believe that. have fun." With that, I turn and leave Organa in his office alone. 

No, I wasn't going to do nothing, no, sir. I had to do something, I just had to. I could probably find some commandos willing to do the job, and, in fact, I knew one complete squad who would be willing to do it...