The supply shuttle dropped out of hyperspace in a flicker of pseudomotion. It paused in its flight, just briefly, before correcting its course to head for its destination.
Luna let out a low whistle as she looked out of the cockpit at the planet ahead. 'So that's Belkadan,' aside from the duo of star destroyers in orbit of the lush green planet, it seemed fairly inoccuous. Thanks to their intel from the First Order orbital station, they had a fairly good idea of what they were in store for. Even still, it was hard to imagine that it was the birthplace of stormtroopers, the burial site of their former selves, and the host of unimaginable crimes against sapientkind. Knowing all that, it still didn't feel real. It didn't help that that intel had marked it only as 'training facility 12B'. Such an innocent sounding name for a child kidnap and indoctrination site. She turned to Garan in the pilot's seat. 'Try pinging Mara. And can you see her ship on sensors?'
'Pinging now. Negative to the second.'
Luna nodded to herself, expecting the answer. She knew Mara better than to expect her to leave her ship out in the open and receptive of querying calls. It was probably hidden somewhere on the planet, or on one of its moons. They'd just have to swing by and get it, once they picked Mara up - an inconvenience, considering that Luna expected their escape, as it so often was these days, to be marred by many, many explosions.
'No answer, sir,' Garan's answer broke in on her thoughts. 'But there is a dampening field around several parts of the planet. She could be in one of those.'
'Could be,' Luna agreed, not liking the sound of those damnpening fields. 'Keep trying.'
'Will do - ah, incoming transmission from one of the star destroyers.'
Luna turned and called behind her. 'Ro'vena! You're up.'
The Twi'lek came rushing up to the cockpit and took her place at the comms console. At her nod, Luna keyed it on.
'This is shuttle two-twenty one bee, how may I direct your call?' Gone was Ro'vena's natural accent, replaced by a smooth Corellian one.
'This is the First Order Star Destroyer Terror,' came the clipped tones of the First Order communications officer over the speaker. Luna felt a spike of alarm at that. She hadn't been anticipating D'Morr's own ship. 'We're not scheduled for another cargo supply for another month. Transmit your clearance codes at once, or be destroyed.'
'Transmitting codes now, sir,' Ro'vena said briskly, and Luna punched in the codes, feeling sweat prickle at her brow. 'Our cargo was a special request by Commander, uh - sorry, I misplaced my cargo order. One moment.'
'One of the base commanders?'
'I believe so?' Ro'vena turned it into a question, giving herself some built in leeway. 'He was old, that much I remember. Little bit croaky. Basically, the opposite of yours. You've a lovely voice.'
'Oh, uh, thank you. I mean. Yes. You too. If I may say.'
'Oh, you're so kind, sir,' Ro'vena purred. She even blushed. She turned to Luna and winked.
'So, yes. Clearance codes check out.'
Beside Ro'vena, Luna allowed herself to relax, just a little. The Marauders had come through on their part of the deal, after all.
'I just need to follow up on that name?' the officer continued. 'I can't allow you any further without it, I'm sorry. Standard protocol.'
'What's your name?' she leaned into the console, speaking low. 'I'm Aneela.'
'That's a, ah, very pretty - yes, nice. Lovely name. Ahem. I'm Jakon.'
'Delighted to meet you, Jakon,' she giggled. She drew a heart on the dashboard, then made a blaster with her fingers and mimed shooting it.
'Ah, well, thing is. I can't allow you planetside. But maybe you could - I have to ask you to land aboard the Tettor. Terror. Just for an inspection. I'm so sorry.'
'Oh no, don't be sorry,' Ro'vena replied, leaning away from the comm to pump her fist and let out a silent 'yes!' She composed herself before leaning back in. 'That's perfectly fine. Maybe I'll even swing by your station.'
There was the sound of something clattering on the other end of the line, and Luna had to cover her mouth, lest her snort of laughter be heard. 'I'd like that. I mean, ahem. If you want. That's fine.'
'I look forward to it,' Ro'vena said sultrily, then keyed off the comm. She paused to make sure the line was dead, then let out a full body shudder. 'I feel disgusting.'
'I appreciate your sacrifice,' Luna leaned over and squeazed her hand. 'Change course, head for the Terror. Take us in nice and easy,' she told Garan, then stood and made her way into the belly of the shuttle.
The main cargo bay was nearly completely empty, save for Hoshi, Twitch, and Vix, who all turned as she entered. 'Check your gear,' she told them. 'We're making our final run now.'
'How's it looking?' Hoshi asked as she inspected the hilt of her lightsaber, bunching up her jacket over her hand to wipe a speck of grime off of it.
'Two star destroyers, automated planetary defences,' Luna shrugged. 'Pretty much what we expected. Probably the best we could have asked for,' she turned to Vix. 'How are you feeling? You can always stay behind.'
'And let you have all the fun?' he exclaimed in mock horror. He lifted his heavy repeating rifle and even though he studiously stone-faced, he grunted as he hefted the weapon. At his best, he could have juggled it one handed, but now he struggled with two hands. Luna almost ordered him to sit this one out right then, but the words died in her throat before she could even open her mouth. She needed her heavy hitters. She turned to Twitch. 'Happy with your load-out?'
'Twitch will pretend he did not hear that,' said Twitch, affronted. He cradled his rifle in his arms as if it were his baby.
Luna smiled, and turned to Hoshi, whose smile told her everything she needed to know. She grasped Hoshi's hand and brought it to her lips. Hoshi looked at her pensively, and Luna knew she was trying to ask the question without voicing it out loud.
'We can do this,' she assured her. 'We will do this. I know we can. Our plan is solid, and I trust you all to follow through,' and she meant it. She felt the shuttle slow, the change in gravity tug at her stomach as they entered the landing bay of the star destroyer. She checked her blaster pistol one last time as the shuttle slowed, then landed with a gentle thud.
There were no more words to be said, and so she led the way to the ramp. As it lowered, she had a glimpse of several squads of stormtroopers idling around the bay. As the ramp hit the flooring, two stormtroopers ambled over, then paused mid-stride as they saw Luna at the top. She shot one in the stomach, then Twitch took out the other with a shot to the head. Every helmeted head around them turned to look.
'Let's go cause some mayhem,' she said to the others, and then jumped into the action.
