The Tales of Clan Danakar

Ch 13: Mesh'la

Regina wants a Y-Wing...or 7.
Mando'a:
mesh'la = beautiful

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Previously:

"But I am forgetting my manners. I am Master Plo Koon's padawan learner, Regina Danakar." I say with a bow. My fellow padawan smiles, giving a small bow of her head. "I am Master Skywalker's padawan learner, Ahsoka Tano." I smile "It is good to properly meet you both. I look forward to working with, and learning from, each of you."

Now:

My master asks me to check on the fighters set aside for us to see that they are in working order. "Can I paint them?" My master pauses for a moment, and then chuckles. His only response is telling me where they keep the paint here. I giggle, running off to recruit a few extra hands. I was especially excited when I passed Sinker and Boost on my way to the hangar with the paint.

"Sinker! Boost! Finally cleared I see." They turn to face me and Boost chuckles. "Yes sir, though the doc has ordered we keep to light work for the next few days." I nod. "And Wolffe?" "A few more days of rest and recovery. Not too bad all things considered." I nod and grin. "Well, since you boys have been put on light work, you have two options." "Sir?"

"One, you file reports, man the comms, and keep an eye on the radar." They look confused. "Um, sir, that's standard light work. What else is there?" My grin only widens as I hold up a can of paint. "Two, you can help me paint the fighters they're giving Master Plo and me." You don't need to be psychic to know which one they'll pick. "Paint." They reply in unison.

I nod. "Thought so. C'mon." I lead the way to the hangar where they're keeping the fighters. A quick check has us standing before the spare fighters. I pull out a sash, tying my long hair back while the two clones pull off their armor so they're left in the underlayer. They worked hard painting their armor. They're not about to ruin it with a few drops of paint.

They know what Master Plo likes his fighter to look like, so I leave that to the clones while I get started on my own fighter. A few other clones stop by and help out, looking for something interesting to do. I make sure to paint the outline for the areas I want painted so I can simply ask them to fill in those areas with that particular color, making it easy for them to complete the task.

Then my master calls to inform me that some medical transports in the Ryndellia system have been destroyed. It would seem that General Grievous is planning an assault on our medical station near Naboo. In the docking bay, I join my master, admiring the new Y-wing bombers as a clone explains them to us. I can feel the awed smile forming on my face, and I turn to look at my master.

"I want a squad of these." I inform him. He chuckles "Do you now?" "Yes." "Why?" "They fit me so well! Quick, effective, and often devastating strikes to crippling targets! They're perfect!" He chuckles. "Let us see how they perform in battle first. Then, perhaps, I will consider your request." I silently cheer, thanking the Force for assigning me a fun master to learn from.

I walk past the new Y-wing bombers with my master and Admiral Yularen towards Master Skywalker's bomber. As we approach, it becomes apparent that Padawan Tano is upset about something. We inform them of the attack on the medical transports in the Ryndellia system. Ahsoka seems angered, saying that only General Grievous would attack clones that cannot fight back.

Actually, that brings up another issue. There is absolutely no honor in this attack, so, then why do it? I look up at my master, hoping that he might be able to tell me. "Master?" My master looks down at me next to him. "Yes, Regina?" "Why would the General attack the medical base? There is no honor in such a hollow victory."

I can't see it, but I know he's smiling since the ridges that function as his eyebrows lower, the creases on his forehead softening. "General Grievous does not concern himself with the honor of his victory, but rather, the body count. I'm afraid he simply does not care." Now that makes very little sense. Honor should be the main concern in battle. It demonstrates a heightened level of skill and integrity.

"I will come along in my fighter escort." My master tells them. I turn to my master as Ahsoka and Master Skywalker climb into their bomber. It seems Ahsoka is going to be his gunner. Perhaps that is what has upset her. "May I join you master? I promise to follow your lead." I ask, instinctually modulating my voice to sound as sincere as possible.

He nods. "I do not doubt that, my padawan. Go, prepare your fighter and hyperspace ring." I join the bomber squad and my master in the formation outside the cruiser. Master Kenobi will be taking his fleet through hyperspace while we take a shortcut to try to cut off Grievous. Master Kenobi will meet us there. We jump to hyperspace and come out at a nebula.

Master Skywalker's shortcut is through a nebula? A bold choice, but one that I am more than willing to explore. As we enter, Padawan Tano comments that the scanners are useless here. Master Skywalker's response is that you simply have to feel your way through. Nice. That's great for anyone who has some semblance of direction here, but none of us know this shortcut!

If anyone gets separated from the group, they'll be stranded here! Master Plo suggests clearing our minds in preparation for/in lieu of navigation. "Regina, maintain vigilance, this is not a place to be losing focus." "Not to worry master, I'll be fine, and if I'm wrong, I won't be around for you to yell at me." He sighs, but I know he's smiling.

I did just paraphrase Master Skywalker's conversation with Master Kenobi that occurred not three minutes ago. Besides, he knows that I can handle myself. I'm a great pilot...and that's not my trademark cockiness talking. After all, Mandalorians and Echani are among the best combat pilots in the galaxy. That's even before you add on Force enhanced reflexes.

"They call it Balmorra Run." I hear Master Skywalker say calmly, almost smugly. "Balmora Run?!" My master sounds worried. Where have I heard that term before? Balmorra...Balmorra...Oh! The nesting grounds of the giant Neebray mantis! Oh. We are in so much trouble. They're notoriously hard to fly around.

I guess Master Skywalker either didn't want to tell us, or he simply didn't know. As if on cue, just as my master informs everyone of the giant Neebray mantis, they appear. Floating out of the clouds almost lazily. They're amazing. I wonder... I shut my eyes, amazed at what I see. They shine in a myriad of colors, just barely visible in the nebula due to their translucence. Beautiful.

Ahsoka is panicking now as she rambles on about how they're going to eat us. Aren't they gas guzzlers? Yeah. Gas guzzlers. They won't eat us. I open my eyes so I can fly properly. There isn't enough contrast between their auras and the nebula to safely avoid them. I seamlessly twist, corkscrew, and dive around the beasts. They're truly beautiful creatures.

We manage to get out with only one ship getting damaged, but even that is concerning. We arrive at the medical station mere seconds before Grievous joins us, blasting several medical ships with his Ion Cannon before blasting them to pieces. As we close in, we are joined by droid fighters. I easily blast each incoming fighter to pieces before making a 90 degree turn up to avoid the Ion Cannon's blast.

Three bombers get caught in the ray, and another (the damaged one) blows up from its previous damage. Now we've lost four ships. What is Master Skywalker thinking? As we make the run in to attack the command center, we lose another ship to the guns on the upper hull. That makes five lost. Ahsoka yells at her master about how, even if he can make it, the rest of the squad cannot.

"If we can do enough damage, the weapon may overload when Grievous tries to fire." My master suggests. Master Skywalker, reluctantly, agrees, and we move to fire on the starboard Ion Cannon. We blast the connectors between the starboard cannon and the ship, overloading the gun and destroying the port side cannon in the process.

The resulting explosion also damages several other sections of the ship, leaving it smoking all over. We land on the medical station to regroup while Master Kenobi's fleet chases down General Grievous. I smile despite myself. We did a pretty good job here, though I wish I could go out and collect the clones stranded in their ships.