Star Wars Tyranny on Teth

Chapter 11

The Violet Kestrel flew through hyperspace headed for the outer-rim planet of Ryloth.

Rhodes was leaned back in his chair with the collar of his trench coat upturned, obviously trying to hide the fact he was sleeping.

Abie walked up to the cockpit and knocked on the side of his head trying to get his attention.

Rhodes let out a sigh as he opened his eyes and fixed his collar.

"Yes, Abie?" he muttered, still trying to shake the sleep from his eyes.

Abie brushed off his tone of voice figuring it was because she woke him up. "Why are we going to Ryloth? Are you recruiting some other friend from your past?"

Rhodes shook his head and pulled out the bag of credits that Rose had given him and tossed it up and down in his hand.

"Sort of. I know this Twi'lek arms dealer. They call her Aroura. I think she might have some fancy equipment that may help us with our mission. Plus, she will give us a good deal."

Abie approved of the reason and returned to the cargo hold.

Lena turned to Rhodes and raised an eyebrow. "We have assembled quite the team, haven't we?"

Rhodes leaned back into the chair and went to upturn his collar again. "Yes, yes we did. You should get some sleep. We have a big couple of days ahead of us."

Lena took the advice and tried to sleep but the adrenaline she somehow still had from the fight made it difficult to get some much-needed rest.

She gazed out the window into the blue streaks of light finding solace in them. After a while, she had drifted off to sleep.

Hunter eventually let out a loud whir, waking up both Rhodes and Lena.

He followed that by a series of excited beeps obviously taking joy in the fact that he woke them up.

Lena groaned and complained, "What does he want, Rhodes?"

Rhodes let out a yawn and tapped a few buttons on his control panel.

"He said we are getting close to Ryloth. I need to have my Imperial permits ready. Apparently, the planet is being blockaded because of a rise in rebel activity." Rhodes said the last part louder so that Abie and Twitch could hear it in the cargo hold.

"Friends of yours?" Rhodes continued as Abie walked to the cockpit.

She chuckled and responded, "Nope. I am strictly focused on the freedom of Onderon."

Rhodes laughed as he rolled his eyes. "Alright then, we are coming up on Ryloth shortly."

As Rhodes said this the navicomputer began to beep indicating that the ship was arriving at its destination.

Three Imperial light cruisers and two Star Destroyers came into view as the Kestrel dropped out of hyperspace.

Rhodes went through the protocols presenting valid permits to gain access to the planet.

Abie, clearly disgusted by the Empire's protocols, pretended to gag causing Lena to start giggling.

Rhodes shot looks to them both trying to get them to be quiet as he thanked the officer who granted them clearance.

After they were clear, Rhodes burst out laughing as well.

Rhodes was surely no fan of the Empire, but he did not see the point in fighting them. He survived the rise and fall of the Separatists as well as the fall of the Republic. He figured he could survive this regime just fine if he did not pick a fight.