Soldiers of the Stars

Chapter 9: This Can't Get Any Worse

AGAMAR - LODESTAR VAULT

CAPTAIN GUNNER

     I began humming a melodious tune to a drinking song I once heard on Coruscant. I didn't know the words, but the tune was unforgettable. For the first time in a long time, I was content. Learning to meditate with the General made things easier, to say the least. I didn't find myself aching to ease my mind with the bottle. The humming turned into a whistling as I made my way to the bridge. Colonel Ward and General Acrux waited for me. 

     "Gunner, how would you like to see the magnificent snow-covered foothills of Agamar?" Ward swung his huge arms out wide. His toothy grin congratulated me on this spectacular vacation offer.

     "Are you kidding me? That's the only reason I left Kamino in the first place." I chuckled, then looked to the General for her reaction. She gave me an exaggerated eye roll.

     "We need to retrieve a holodisk that contains Separatist invasion plans. I have an offer for you, Cap. You tag along with me for this mission, and Able is relieved from mess duty for two months. Better yet, Bravo can take on Able's rotation." She proposed. 

     It didn't seem like a bad offer. The men would appreciate it. Bravo would hate it. I pictured Stacker in an apron, and Bravo having to scrub trays. Of course, there was the mission to consider. This was the mission Rook mentioned earlier. Risking two soldiers was better than risking an entire recon team. And with Acrux, it was a guarantee the job would get done. The chances of being undetected were higher. The image of Stacker in an apron, slopping foodstuff on my tray, and the other Captains laughing at him popped into my head again. I held out my hand to Acrux. "You got yourself a deal." She gladly shook on it.

✮✮✮✮✮

     Entering Agamar's atmosphere wasn't a problem until clouds began gathering above our landing coordinates. Huge white anvils protruded into the sky, covered in dark blue and gray. "You think we can make it?" She studied the rapidly building storm.

     "I'm not sure. I think it'd be smarter if we go around-" Suddenly she cut me off.

     "Yeah, I think we can make it." She leaned forward. "Hang on." Our shuttle dove towards the surface. The closer we approached the surface, the faster the thunderstorm grew. I kept directing my attention between the dark gray sky and Acrux. She was crazy!  Yet, the storm scrambled our signature. Admittedly so, it was clever, but it didn't matter if we didn't reach the ground alive.

     The wind growled as the thunder roared. A massive black figure swooped in front of the shuttle. "Did you see that?" I scanned through the clouds and the lightning but saw nothing.

     "No, sorry. I missed it. Kinda busy trying to keep us alive." Acrux snarked. Something skimmed the side of the shuttle, veering us to the left. Lightning struck the position we were pushed from. A massive shadow flew by again. 

     This time I caught a glimpse of sleek silver feathers trailing the beast. "I, I think it's a bird," I sounded less confident than intended. 

     Acrux battled against the strong gust of wind. "A bird? What business does a bird have being in a storm like this?"

     I began to wonder the same thing about us. The gust continued to toss us through the sky. The shuttle shuddered around us. Visibility was nonexistent, but we had to be nearing the ground.