Incident at Saris

Chapter Eighteen

Saris Prime Observation station- The Serendipity

**Space Battle!**

Meanwhile on board the Serendipity, Sera had woken the rest of the crew up once she had become aware of the attack.
"What's going on?" Kimmie asked as she came running to the bridge, noting that Rik and Ren were both already in the pilot seats but appeared to be out of it "Master Rik, Master Ren?" she asked concerned.
Sera said, " give them a few seconds, they're projecting their consciousness," she said, "initiating start-up sequence, we are going to go help the defenders, they are probably going to need every ship that they can that is docked here and is capable of fighting, Justice has already started".
"We can do that!" Kimi asked, " but we're a Freighter!"
"Freighter hybrid actually," said Sera " believe me we have defences and we can fight, we do have some firepower you know and rather good ones, we aren't a battlecruiser or anything, but we can defend ourselves rather well if need be, I'm going to need at least one of you in the gun turrets, I can take over the rest if necessary."
"Wow! You are more than just an AI, aren't you?" Kimmie said, Sera still amazed her, she was one kick-arse AI!
"I'm the ship," said Sera "River! Do you know how to use a gun turret?" as the other girl joined them followed by a still sleepy-looking Kayla who was yawning.
"What's going on?" Kayla asked, "I sensed something wrong!"
"Mining platform one is under attack" Sera said, " Kayla I want you to stay here with the Twins, River can you use a gun turret?"
"Um yeah," said River.
"Ok I need you in the other front one, Kayla stays here with Rik and Ren," Sera said.
"What with them?" Kayla asked.
"They're projecting their consciousness," said Sera "give them a few moments".
"I didn't think that they were powerful enough to do that!" said Kayla.
"Together they can," said Sera, " but only within a limited distance at the moment".
"Well they did say that they come as a pair," said Kimmie.
"Their counterparts, they share a soul," said Sera "like some Corran do, Rik and Ren, they understand".
Suddenly Kayla said "your former mistress...oh my gosh! She was Corran, wasn't she? And that's what your form is! You're the other half of her soul! It all makes sense! No wonder Rik and Ren found you!"
Sera said, "it is a long story little one, but my mistress and I...we are One again when she became one with the Way".
"You were reunited," said a voice and they saw that it was Ren, he had a slight glow and he said, "no wonder Rik and I... were drawn to find you, you're like us in so many ways".
Sera said, " you finding Serendipity wasn't entirely just a 'happy accident".
"Serendipity...fortunate accident, fate, destiny," Ren said with a chuckle " we were never meant to find another ship!, you called to Rik, and I and Rik heard you because I was distracted at the time".
"Told you she was meant to be our ship," said Rik then, sitting up and taking his headset off, he glowed slightly too "I'm going to my Starfighter, they will need me there....Kayla take the spare headset, time you started to learn to use it too, you can help Ren...this ship is not defenceless we do have some reasonable firepower, we're not a starfighter but we don' t need to be" he paused " Sera how are our defences".
"Charged and shield capacity is full" she reported.
Rik nodded " do your thing then....mining platform two is under attack" he nodded " come on Bob, I need to go prep my Starfighter and meet with the station's pilots" his Mech beeped and followed Rik out.
Ren nodded " Kayla you're with me, but first I need to put some clothes on" he stood up and Kayla blushed slightly and looked away, Ren was naked, he was tall and lean and he stood up straight and used his tail for balance and it was clear he was humanoid but Saurian, naked as he was, he had a spiral over his heart, and although somewhat odd-looking he was far from hideous.
"River and Kimmie can man the front turrets," said Sera "I'll take the back one as it is the more powerful and more complex one".
Ren nodded " get River to use the headset in the turret it'll help her, Kayla you're my offsider here... but only use the phaser bank if I say so, ok? The turrets should be enough".
Kayla said "Um.... Ok".
Ren said, "I don't like guns but it does not mean I can't or won't use them if necessary, the station's defences will hopefully be enough for us to act as support, there is also a couple of other starships in port apart from us that will join in the fight as well one of them is a Crasolian battlecruiser, which is on its way to one of the outlying battlefronts, the other is the Justice, the station also has its squadron and its defences as well".
Kimmie said, "where're the turrets?"
"This way," said Sera appearing "River use the headset in yours ok? It will help".
River nodded and ran after Kimmie, Kayla sat down next to where Ren would in the co-pilot seat.
"I've never flown a spaceship before, I mean I can fly a scooter and a flitter and that but never a ship," she said.
Ren chuckled " you won't need to, I'll do the flying!" he paused "Sera transfer control over to me, switch over to solo mode".
"Transferring control Ren," said Sera.
"Thanks but right now I need to get some clothes on..." he looked down at himself sheepishly " err I sleep near-naked or naked".
Kayla giggled and blushed and Ren smiled slightly sheepishly at her and then chuckled " Naked me...er not exactly a great sight".
Kayla said, " you're not that bad, but you can see that you have some saurian characteristics, I'm Gt remember..."
Ren disappeared and came back a few moments later clad in his robes and sat down and adjusted the headset, humming a little and then said: " let me know when you are ready to go Sera".
Kayla said " wow! My first battle!"
Ren chuckled " support only I hope!" he said.
Kayla said, "you seem so peaceful and gentle Master Ren....but your issuing orders like an expert....so you are not?"
Ren laughed "I was also CMO on the Justice so yes I'm used to issuing order if I need to do so, I also bear the rank Commander, but I'm peaceful Kayla, but I'm far from passive, as Rik will tell you I will fight when I need to and rather well at that! I'm a Jadaini Knight to the core, and possibly tainted by a little darkness as well, after all!"
"Docking clamps lifted," said Sera " River, Kimmi you ready?"
"Ready" Kimmie reported, "this is one cool turret!"
"Ready" River reported.
"Ready and waiting down here," said Rik as Sera released his starfighter, unfolding its wings as it came out.
"I can't believe Rik can store his starfighter in the ship," said Kayla.
"He can with its wings folded down, it's partially attached to the underside of the ship, there is a converted hold there, we can use it as a hold but not a full one, and his starfighter is pretty small, it had already been altered to either hold a shuttle or a small fighter" Ren then picked up his communicator and said, "Commander Consular Ren to Fleet do we have permission to join you?"
"Permission granted, Commander Ren" he was told.
"Thank you," said Ren.
"Would you like to take over a squadron?" he was asked.
"No, I'm flying a Sunrise, I'm too slow to lead a squadron, I'll tag along as support and medical; however I do know someone who probably won't say no".
"I'll send you up an escort though, where is your ship?"
"The Sunrise" Ren said " Serendipity".
"Ok I will send up a couple of fighters to escort you" he was told.
"Ok," said Ren as two of large fighters joined him one on either side of the Serendipity.
He then heard Rik over the Comms "I'll take a squadron, Marshal".
"Which one are you?"
"I'm in the Sarisian starfighter" Rik replied.
"Ok, I'll give you Gold Squadron then, ever led a Squadron before?"
"On the Justice yes," said Rik.
"Ok then" as several ships flew up to join Rik.
"Awaiting orders Commander Rik," Rik heard.
Rik nodded and started to issue orders, fully in control of the situation he had led a squadron on the Justice once or twice, too distracted at first to notice that the Squadron he had gotten wasn't just one of the stations squadrons "I also need one of you to guard the Serendipity as well".
"I will sir," said a female pilot, and flew up to join Serendipity's escorts.
"Careful Tia," said the first voice.
"Thank you," Rik said, " my brother is flying that ship, and it is not a Starfighter".
"Rik I'm alright! I already have two bombers guarding me" Ren said over the Comms.
"You're not a starfighter," said Rik.
"No we're not, but we are a Sunrise!" Ren said.
"Wow! Is that a Sunrise!" said the female pilot.
"Yes, it is," said Rik.
"You know how RARE those are?" the same pilot said, " no wonder you want it guarded!"
"My twin brother Ren is also flying it, we're a Corran Pair and well...." said Rik " let's lock and load guys! Gold Squadron to me!"