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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 2915026" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 353Home to the avian species, Vor, the planet of Vortex was truly a beautiful sight both from orbit and on its surface. Though, truthfully, they weren’t actually being allowed to set foot on the planet, all of the Zephyrs had seen holos from the surface...both of the native Vors an their huge, multicoloured towers that covered much of the planet. To think that, just a few systems out beyond the Mid Rim, some completely and utterly alien species was destroying everything in its path was...almost unimaginable.    But it was exactly what was happening. Yes, the Yuuzhan Vong had not advanced farther than Dantooine, but there were reports...rumors...stories. The Vong would not stay where they were long. Ithor was the next most logical step for their continuation to the galactic Core. It had been the tactical assumption by nearly all of the New Republic’s leaders that Ithor was next...but they were not sure. It was too hard to predict exactly what would happen.    However, prediction was no longer necessary.    When the Zephyrs and their fleet arrived at Vortex, a message was recieved from the Bothan in charge of the entire New Republic Navy, Admiral Kre’fey. Apparently, not a few days earlier, a small group of Jedi had gone to the planet Garqi, which was a relatively small world taken from the Vong not long after their assault on Dantooine. Along with discovering that the Vong were using both the planet’s resources and their newly acquired slaves begin construction on what could only be a gigantic fleet of...living ships, they had also found a possible advantage to be exploited. As all the ‘technology’ of the Vong were actually living creatures, it should not have been very surprising to find they had their own problems. More specifically, the pollen of the Bafforr trees that were across much of Garqi caused a fatal reaction to the armor of the Yuuzhan Vong warrior, killing it and crushing the warriors encased in its shells.    But the Bafforr trees were not native to Garqi. They were transplanted from Ithor. One of the only advantages that the New Republic could possibly hold against the might of the Yuuzhan Vong was on a world that was perfectly lined up as the next target for the Vong. It was not something that could be lost...and so the fleet was gathering there as a defense.    Their fleet, apparently, was not going to be heading to Ithor, however. They would wait at Vortex and be prepared to jump to hyperspace if any other planets were also attacked...it would not be an intelligent move to simply send all of the New Republic fleet to one planet. Some had to remain ready for anything else that could possibly occur.    “Alright, Zephyrs,” the voice of Rulae Nok sounded over all of the comms of the rest of the squadron, “We’re going to split into two groups for the this. Odds, I want you on me. Evens, you’re with Two. Our astromechs will transmit the comm frequencies to you.”    Only some of the pilots heard the clicks as their comm frequencies switched over so as not to distract the other group. Not that they were cut off from the others, as it was no problem to transmit to everyone if something came up...the thought of anything going wrong, however, was left out of everyone’s minds at this point.    Jyren left one hand on the control stick(apparently, an unusual way of flying these days) and hit the comm switch at his side as he pulled away from the main group, “This is Two. Evens, form up on me. We’re heading around the moon and then its time for a little fun.”    There was a series of double clicks over the comm, and Jyren counted them until he heard all five acknowledging that they had heard him. Just to make sure, Jyren leaned over and looked back behind him and to the sides of his brand new XJ X-Wing, and was glad to see the five others formed up in a somewhat haphazard formation behind him.    Well, at least they were following him. And, as Jyren watched them in the short flight to the nearby moon, he was glad to see that they all seemed to have a relatively strong grasp of basic flight techniques. Just to test this, Jyren took them through some very basic maneuvers along the way...also taking in the amazing response that this new model X-Wing had. It was nothing like that older two-seater version that was still sitting back on Alraxia and getting cautious stares from everyone that walked past the gigantic metal...thing.    It took just a few minutes to reach the opposite side of Vortex’s long dead moon, and when they reached it Jyren reopened the comm channel, “Okay, now for what you’ve all been waiting for. Time to break into pairs and get you all some dogfighting practice. First, however, just to keep things safe, try to keep your distance from everyone else...all you need to do for the ‘kill’ is acquire a target lock. This is just to get you used to what this really feels like...simulators can’t teach that.”    There was not silence afterwards. Jyren didn’t expect it.    Instead, the comm clicked and the voice of a young human male sounded in his helmet, “Uh, sir...I don’t want to sound like I’m whining but, uh...doesn’t this mean you and Rea are going to win?”    Jyren couldn’t help a smile at that, though he was still pulling away from the main group, and a quick glance to his side showed that his Twi’lek wingmate was keeping up, “This wasn’t going to be about winning or losing, Four,” Jyren was only able to identify the pilot by the little console next to his sensor panel that he had rigged to tell him who was transmitting. It was the best he could think of to do while he was still learning all the pilot’s voices, “But since you put it that way. I’ll buy the last two that ‘live’ drinks for the next week. Of course, if Rea and I win...you kids get to do the same for the next two weeks. How’s that sound?”    All he got in response was a series of double clicks over the comm.    As Jyren led his wingmate out a bit before they turned and came at the other four, he switched over to a personal frequency that only he and Rea shared and said, “You’re leading this time, Three. I’ll stay at your wing and watch your tail.”    “Uh...sir—“    ”Jyren,” he cut her off, not liking hearing ‘sir’ anymore than Marix liked to hear ‘sorry’. But then, remembering that they were, technically, in the military, added, “At least on this frequency.”    “Sorry...Jyren,” Rea seemed to stumble over that for a moment, obviously not sure what she was supposed to say to that, but then went on with her original comment, “Won’t we...lose if I lead?”    Jyren shook his head, and though he had a feeling she was close enough to see him do it, also said, “No, Rea, we won’t. First instinct is usually to target both of the wingmates together...but we’re going to do this one at a time. You find a target, get on it, and I’ll follow you. We’ll take them down faster by focusing out attention on them.”    Through the Force, he could feel that Rea was actually starting to like this. The fact that he was, essentially, putting her in charge definitely helped. It was a trick that Rulae had told him to try after the briefing they’d both gotten about the Ithor situation.    “Alright, kids,” Jyren said after another few minutes to allow the three pairs to get a good distance from each other, “Open your S-Foils and lets see how much you learned from those simulators.”</blockquote>

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