Guarded (#2 Post-Order 66 Series)

Guarded - Part 36

"Coming up on the Leviathan now," one of the Imperial pilots called over his shoulder.

"Very good," Echo replied. "Hunter, we're ready on this end. You geared up on that side?"

"Yes," Hunter's voice crackled through the comm. "We'll lead you in. As soon as we get boots on the deck, get moving to find Tech and Kes. We'll get everything rigged pretty quickly."

Echo smirked. "Sounds good. How's Wrecker holding up?"

"About as well as you'd expect." They'd all managed to find stormtrooper armor to fit into with the exception of Wrecker. As a result, they'd decided he would go in disguised as a prisoner that was being escorted. It would only work up to a certain point, but it was the best option they had. There was no way we were leaving our explosives expert behind when we need to blow up an entire star destroyer. Echo could hear Wrecker grumbling in the background, but Hunter's response came through pretty clearly.

"You can keep moaning about the binders or you can stay on the ship. Your call."

Senna giggled next to him, and Echo nudged her shoulder, mouthing be nice. She rolled her eyes before she slipped the stormtrooper helmet over her head. Crosshair was scowling as he slid his helmet on as well, and Echo wondered what it was like for him being back in Imperial armor. Not a question I'm asking out loud.

Senna strode to the cockpit, sitting down next to the pilot. "Alright, you remember the drill, yeah?"

"Yes. We are escorting the transport of the Omicron-class attack shuttle to the Leviathan's main hangar bay. I am to give clearance codes when prompted, which should happen shortly."

Senna patted his head. "Good man." Echo noted the glossy look in the man's eyes as he turned back to pilot the craft.

"How long do they stay under like that?" he asked.

Senna shrugged. "Until the task is complete usually. I told Hunter to stun their guy as soon as we land in the bay, and we should do the same. Make sure they can't sound an alarm."

Echo nodded. "It's eerie."

"And manipulative and I don't like doing it," Senna muttered, hiding her lightsaber in a hip pouch. "Feels...really low. To take someone's agency and twist it."

"Sometimes you have to do the undesirable things to get where you want to be," Crosshair said quietly.

Senna glanced back at him. "For Tech and you and your brothers, there are few things I wouldn't do. Doesn't make this feel any less wrong."

Crosshair nodded, and Echo wondered again what kind of conflicts must be playing out within him. He was taking careful note of his brother's demeanor as Iden's warning in Keren bounced around in his head. He hoped he was up for the task.

"Shuttle, please identify yourself and provide clearance codes." The shuttle's communications system interrupted Echo's thoughts, and he moved to stand behind the pilot again. He felt Senna hold her breath.

"Leviathan, this is escort shuttle 7434, escorting transport of enemy ship to main hangar. Sending clearance codes now." The pilot reached over and punched a few buttons. The cockpit fizzled with tension, the seconds dragging on until the voice of the flight coordinator buzzed back through the speakers.

"Clearance codes received. Please proceed behind your charge to shuttle bay entrance C."

"Understood tower."

Senna released the breath she was holding and Echo felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. Alright. First hurdle cleared.

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