The next item on the agenda was planning for the new fighters and the Munin Training Center. The Nulls, Kal, Walon and Ki’tia met in Ordo’s office off the atrium.
“I like the idea of having a training center alongside our new X-wing squadron,” A’den was looking at a holo map of Munin displayed between the men. “There just isn’t room at the Lake House landing pad.”
“We could relocate to the Beach House,” Jaing suggested. He was visiting from Kyrimorut.
“That would mean too much commute time for whoever was instructing,” Mereel objected. “Plus, the area around the Beach House is becoming another small city. Don’t we want the squadron to be at least somewhat hidden?”
“What about excavating into the mountain behind the Lake House,” Walon suggested.
“I don’t like caves,” Kal said. “Too much of a chance of everyone being trapped.”
The discussion went on a few more minutes, with various ideas being proposed and rejected.
“What about using the clearing to the west of the Lake House for a new landing pad, maintenance building and training center,” Ki’tia proposed. “You could clear out some of the trees between the clearing and the lake and use the lake as an approach for the X-wings.” The men just stared at her for a moment. Then Kom’rk laughed.
“Cute, smart and she does the Force stuff!” Kom’rk got up and slapped Ordo playfully on the back. “And to think we almost killed her, several times as I remember.” Then he walked to Ki’tia and put an arm around her shoulders. “Good one, ad’ika!” Kom’rk shook her gently by the shoulders. Ordo smiled at her.
“It’s an excellent suggestion,” Kal agreed. He was looking at the clearing on the holo map. “We’ll need to increase the size of the clearing somewhat, and improve the road from the Lake House. Being this close will keep Parja happy about running the maintenance operation.” Everyone could see the gears working in Papa Kal’s mind. He was going to enjoy this project. Kal slapped his hands together and rubbed them vigorously. “When do we leave for Fresia?” He was grinning. “Let’s go buy some X-wings.”
“The specs for the fighter we want are on your datapads,” Ordo held up his datapad. “It’s a new production model for Incom, the T-65XJ X-wing Starfighter.” The men called up the specs on their pads.
“Kandosii!” Mereel cheered. “These are hot!”
“Did you see these on Coruscant?” Prudii asked Ordo.
“No,” Ordo answered, “but, I heard the New Republic was considering buying a few. They were having procurement problems. I think we should get to Incom Corporation before the New Republic gets their funding straightened out, and buy them out from under them.”
“What makes you think Incom will sell the fighters to us?” Walon asked. “They likely have a contract with the New Republic.”
“Oh, they’ll sell to us,” Kal grinned. “Credits talk, Walon. You know that better than all of us. We simply need to appeal to Incom’s bottom line. Or the bottom line of some Incom upper management.” He turned to Ordo. “Do we know who we will be dealing with?”
“A human named, Dererk Cabbini,” Ordo answered. “He has a Twi’lek secretary named, Lanari. Female.” Ordo scrolled down the information on his pad. “He is not trusted by the New Republic, given the size of the file they had on him.”
“Ordo, did you crack into the New Republic’s security system while you were on Coruscant?” Prudii asked.
“Well, the bugs they placed in our rooms gave me an entrance to their system,” Ordo smiled. “I thought it only polite, that I take a look around.” He flipped his datapad to Prudii, who caught it with one hand. “Want a peek?”
“You bet I do!” Prudii grinned. “Can I copy this off and save it for later, to peruse at my leisure?” Ordo made a ‘go ahead’ gesture and Prudii proceeded to move files from Ordo’s pad to his own. “I’ll send it to you, too, Jaing.” Jaing grinned.
“Always good to know what’s going on at Triple Zero,” Jaing said. “I’ve missed hacking into their files.”
“Now, you boys be careful,” Kal warned. “We don’t want Coruscant Security tracing back to Munin, and we don’t have friends there like we used to.” Jaing and Prudii looked hurt.
“We won’t let you down, Buir,” Prudii assured him. “We never have.” Kal smiled approvingly at them.
“Can we get back to buying X-wings?” Mereel interrupted. “How many are we going to buy and who gets to fly them home?”
“There are six of us,” Ordo replied, “so we buy six fighters. We each fly one home.”
“Who pilots Bev’ika?” Mereel asked. “Did you check out Kal or Walon on her?”
“Ki’tia flies Bev’ika home,” Ordo stated, nodding in her direction.
“Ki’tia, no!” Mereel laughed. “Don’t you remember Ord Mantell? Brother, you’ve got to be joking!” He was still laughing. Ordo rose, his anger flaring.
“What happened on Ord Mantell?” Kom’rk asked. Ki’tia covered her face with her hands.
“Ki’tia crashed Thrawn’s cruiser into the port trying to land it.” Mereel was still laughing.
Ordo was now standing in Mereel’s face. “I’ve taught her how to pilot Bev’ika,” he said between gritted teeth. She started to rise to stop him.
“Okay, ner vod,” Mereel held up his hands. “It’s your ship.” Ordo backed off.
“When do we leave?” Kom’rk asked. Then aside to Mereel he added, “You are going to tell us about Ord Mantell?”
“Later,” Mereel said off to the side. Ki’tia glared at them, rolled her eyes and shook her head. She would never live down that crash.
Ordo piloted Bev’ika from Munin, with Ki’tia in the co-pilot seat. Once he made the jump to hyperspace they went back to the main lounge to join the rest of the men.
“The flight should take about 18 hours to Fresia,” Ordo informed them. “It’s in the Deep Core not too far from Coruscant, so I want to take an extra jump to avoid the spacelanes around Triple Zero.”
“Sounds reasonable, son,” Kal said. “What transponder code are we using?”
“We’ll be coded as the Knight’s Arrow out of Tatooine,” Ordo replied. “Prudii compiled a set of logs dating back three standard months. If all goes well, we can continue to use that ID for all our dealings with Incom.” The Nulls nodded agreement.
“Very good,” Kal approved. “Ordo, Ki’tia, Walon and I will make the deal with Cabbini at Incom. We don’t want him getting any idea there might be clones involved, in case he does talk to the New Republic about the sale.”
“How are we going to avoid that?” Mereel asked, looking worried.
“With a very big bribe,” Kal answered.
“And a not so subtle threat,” Walon added. His eyes were as cold as space. He could be a hard man, and was not a man to cross.
“If you’re going to be threatening him are you sure you want Ki’tia along?” Kom’rk was concerned for her safety. “Things could get rough.”
“That’s why we want her with us,” Kal nodded in her direction. “She can let us know if the situation is going osik.” Ki’tia shook her head in agreement. Ordo put his arm around her.
Bev’ika arrived at Fresia. Ordo was given permission to land at Incom’s X-wing division. He, Kal, Walon and Ki’tia were escorted to the outer office of Dererk Cabbini, Incom Corporation X-wing Division Managing Director, or so it said on the door to the outer office. And that was as far as they got. His secretary, Lanari, a Twi’lek, sat behind her polished desk looking beautiful, if a bit scantily clad for an office environment. Almost a thirty standard minutes had passed and Lanari had simply smiled at them every few minutes.
“It’s a shame you can’t do some of that Jedi mind influence,” Walon whispered to Ki’tia. Ki’tia glared at him.
“Why don’t you try some influence of your own?” Ki’tia replied quietly to Walon and nodded discreetly in the direction of the secretary. Walon shrugged and nodded in agreement. He rose and smiled his warmest, aristocratic smile as he walked to the secretary’s desk.
“You are much too beautiful to be hidden behind a desk, my dear,” Walon smiled at Lanari. “It is Lanari, isn’t it?” He reached for her hand.
“Yes, it is,” Lanari giggled, letting Walon take her hand. He kissed it lightly, and continued to hold it. Her lekku quivering.
“Does Master Cabbini treat you well?” Walon gazed into her eyes. “I may be looking for a new secretary and you, my dear, would be a most enjoyable addition to my staff.” Lanari giggled again and her left lekku curled softly over her shoulder.
“Dererk, uh, Master Cabbini takes very good care of me,” Lanari smiled warmly at Walon. “But I do appreciate your offer.” She batted her eyelashes at him and her lekku quivered.
“Alas, my loss,” Walon pursed his lips into a false frown. “Do you suppose we might get into see him? We do have urgent business to discuss and our time is limited.” He gazed into her eyes, smiling warmly, then raised her hand, this time to kiss the underside of her wrist.
“I’ll see what I can do,” she smiled. Lanari disappeared through the door behind her desk. Kal and Ordo stared at Walon, their mouths agape.
“How did you do that?” Ordo whispered.
“Old aristocratic charm,” Walon shrugged. “Ki’tia knew I had it in me.” Ki’tia smiled in agreement.
Behind the desk the door opened. Lanari appeared again, saying, “Right this way, please.”
Cabbini’s office was large, with plush carpet and fake artwork on the walls. He was a medium built man in his early 50’s, slightly graying, sitting behind a large, expensive wood desk. He rose as they entered and extended his hand. “Come in, please, gentlemen, and lady,” Cabbini smiled at Ki’tia. She returned the smile.
Kal took Cabbini’s proffered hand. “Hello, Master Cabbini. I’m Kal Skirata,” Kal shook his hand. “This is my associate, Walon Vau. My secretary Ki’tia, and Ordo.” Cabbini shook hands with Walon and Ki’tia. He looked warily at Ordo, who was dressed all in black and appeared deadly.
“And Ordo is…” Cabbini started to ask.
“Here for our security,” Kal completed.
“Ah, yes,” Cabbini nodded. “Won’t you all please be seated?” He motioned to four chairs in front of his desk. Kal, Walon and Ki’tia sat on the chairs. Ordo remained standing by the door. “Now, how can I assist you, Master Skirata?”
“Kal, please.” Kal settled back in the chair. “I’m here to purchase a number of T-65XJ X-wing Starfighters, along with start-up maintenance supplies, extra proton torpedoes, and a training simulator.” Kal looked at Cabbini as if he had just asked to purchase a simple landspeeder.
“Kal,” Cabbini steepled his fingers in front of him. “Incom does not normally sell to individuals, and the T-65XJ production is reserved for the New Republic. How many are you interested in purchasing?”
“Six today,” Kal replied, “an additional fourteen over the next four months, for a total of twenty. And I also know the New Republic payment schedule for the T-65XJ’s is mired in procurement battles in the Senate. I am prepared to pay cash credits, today. With a substantial bonus, for discretion.”
“Your vessel is registered to Tatooine, Kal,” Cabbini appraised him. “Why would anyone on that backwater world need so many Starfighters?”
“Let’s just say I have a rather large family who need protection,” Kal answered. “And that bonus for discretion includes no questions asked.” Kal stared at Cabbini a moment. “Here’s my offer. The T-65XJ’s are one hundred and forty thousand credits each. That’s eight hundred and forty thousand credits for six, or nine hundred and eighty thousand for seven. We pick up six today, along with the maintenance kits, extra torpedoes, and a training simulator. I pay you two million in cash credits.” Cabbini coughed. “In two months, we return for seven more fighters and the same extras, and the same two million. Two months after that the same deal.”
Cabbini stared at him for a moment, then glanced at Walon, Ki’tia and Ordo, in turn. He turned back to Kal. “That’s a very generous bonus, Kal.”
“Discretion is very important to us,” Kal stated.
“No one must know who you are selling to,” Walon added, his voice firm and his eyes cold. “Ever. Or there will be dire consequences,” Walon stared at Cabbini until the Incom exec turned away.
“I don’t know, Master Skirata,” Cabbini started shaking his head. “This is most irregular.”
Kal pulled several high denomination cash credit chips from his pocket and tossed them on Cabbini’s desk. Cabbini’s eyes just about popped out of his face. “Do you have someone to fly your new T-65XJ’s, Kal?”
“My boys can fly them,” Kal replied.
Cabbini scooped up the credit chips. “Then let me show you to your fighters. I’ll have your supplies and the flight simulator loaded onto your vessel immediately.”
The Nulls checked out the fighters then returned to Bev’ika to change. Kal insisted the Incom personnel clear the flight deck.
“What’s going on, Kal?” Ki’tia asked. They were waiting at the end of Bev’ika’s ramp. Then she heard the sound of hard boots on the ramp. The Nulls appeared, dressed in their full Null Arcs armor from Clone Wars. “Wow!” Ki’tia exclaimed. “I don’t understand?”
“These suits have certain advantages for long flights,” Ordo explained. He was the only Null who had not affixed his helmet. He quickly kissed Ki’tia, then placed his bucket over his head and sealed it. “See you in eighteen hours,” he said through the external speaker. She watched him walk to his fighter.
Once they were in space and flying in formation she started the procedures for the first hyperspace jump.
“Bev’ika to Tango Squadron, report in for comm check,” Ki’tia called over the channel between Bev’ika and the six fighters.
“Tango one, reporting in,” Ordo responded.
“Tango two, these things are kandosii!” Mereel said.
“Tango three, not only that but the black fighters and the black cruiser, we look bad!” Kom’rk added. They heard a huff over the comm line.
“Tango four, reporting in,” that was Prudii.
“Tango five, reporting in,” Jaing reported.
“Tango six, last but best, reporting in,” A’den called in.
On board Bev’ika, Kal was in the co-pilot’s seat. Ki’tia keyed the channel to the fighters again. “Sending you the first hyperspace jump coordinates now.” She transmitted the numbers. “Matching Bev’ika’s hyperspace speed to yours, you slow pokes,” she heard a few chuckles. “First jump is six hours. Total time home will be 20 hours. Tango Squadron, report readiness to first jump.”
“Tango one, ready to jump,” Ordo reported. “And I love you, cyar’ika.” Ki’tia smiled.
“Tango two, ready to jump,” Mereel reported, “and I love Ordo, too.”
“Tango three, ready to jump,” Kom’rk laughed as he responded.
“Tango four, let’s just go, ready to jump,” Prudii replied.
“Tango five, ready,” Jaing said.
“Tango six, take us home Lady Skirata,” A’den told her.
Ki’tia checked her board one more time. “Tango Squadron, go to hyperspace on five. Five … four … three … two … one … go.” She moved the hyperspace lever on Bev’ika’s console and the stars blurred into lines. The six T65XJ- X-wing Starfighters at her sides did the same.
“Will they be okay, Kal’buir?” Ki’tia asked looking out at the blur of hyperspace.
“They’ll be fine, ad’ika,” he squeezed her hand. “You were just perfect getting us all into hyperspace.” He smiled at her.
“But twenty hours in those small cockpits,” Ki’tia worried. “What if they have to…? I mean what do they do if they need to…?” Her brow knitted.
Walon laughed behind them. “That’s why they’re wearing their old commando armor, sweetie.” Ki’tia was puzzled. “Those suits have excellent waste handling systems,” Walon explained.
“Oh,” Ki’tia understood, then she blushed.
The six fighters were all with her when she came out of hyperspace. The next two jumps went as planned. Finally, they were approaching Munin. The fighters landed first. Ki’tia was bringing Bev’ika into the atmosphere. She could feel nervousness from both Kal and Walon.
“Would you two relax?” She asked them. “I have done this before, and I do have the Force to help me.”
“Why didn’t you use the Force when you landed Thrawn’s cruiser on Ord Mantell?” Walon asked her.
“I’d never flown a starship before,” she explained. “I was nervous and upset. I’d just read the TOS order over the comm system. The pregnancy hadn’t taken, yet. The original order said to scan for pregnancy. If I was not pregnant, terminate on site. I was scared. I didn’t think of using the Force.”
“This is probably not the best time to remind you of all that,” Kal glared at Walon.
“Don’t worry, Kal’buir,” she assured him. “I can do this.” Ki’tia circled the Lake House and brought Bev’ika in for a perfect landing. Kal reached over and patted her on the back.
“I knew you could do it,” Kal smiled.
“Sure,” Walon laughed, “that’s why there’s a dent in the arm rest of the co-pilot’s seat, from where you so casually rested your oh-so relaxed fingers.” They all laughed.