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Message: <blockquote data-quote="masshysteria" data-source="post: 4854808" data-attributes="member: 16055">Tam puts on his old blue Navy dress uniform. He hasn’t worn it in ages. He straightens the lieutenant insignia, his mind drifting back to the day he earned his commission leading a forlorn hope onto that pirate ship. He was lucky to live through the assault. He lost most of his men, but he was able to secure docking corridor and capture and kill a number of the pirates. Perhaps he could have made a career for himself in the Navy if it wasn’t for the increasing anti-alien and near-human bias.Toth slaps the power pack into his carbine and double checks his climbing harness. He squints into the wind and tries to count the number of stormtroopers from his position across the courtyard on a neighboring roof. He smiles when he realizes how lightly guarded the place is.The Navy Ball is the most extravagant gathering Tam has ever seen in his life. There are women dressed in gowns that cost as much as a starship, a chandelier ten meters across decorated with the finest Zanthorian crystal, servants carrying flutes of champagne on authentic Wroshyr wood serving platters. It is only then that Tam notices everyone staring at him.No, not staring at him. Staring at her, the princess Tam is escorting, Xule. She looks stunning. No, more than stunning, she makes the Kaminoan pearls draped around her neck look like mere trinkets, makes the young men in the room wish they could be at her side for just a brief moment, makes the women in the room envious of her youth and grace.Tam mumbles, “So much for keeping a low profile.”Nali, Hull, Toth, Kaldo, and Rowintha are currently suspended 900 meters above the ground on a microcable stretching from a building 400 meters away to the historical Alderaanian Ballroom and Hotel. They move silently, harnessed to the few millimeter wide cable, not that it matters. The sound of the fireworks and light show masks any noise they may make.As the assault team reaches the Aleraanian roof, they overhear a couple stormtroopers in the middle of a conversation.“Did I ever tell you I was stationed on a Star Destroyer once?” The first trooper asks. The second looks at him and replies, “You were never on anything bigger than a gunship.” “No, I was on a Star Destroyer, I swear. Even got to see Darth Vader.” “You never saw Lord Vader.” “I totally did. I was picked for guard duty on the bridge. I was just standing there minding my own business when I see, who other than Darth Vader, walk onto the bridge. You should’ve seen the captain's face go white. Vader says something like, 'You've failed me for the last time, Captain.' and reaches out with his hand like this.” The stormtrooper reaches out like he's holding an invisible cup. “Weirdest thing ever: the captain lifts off the ground and no one is touching him. He starts coughing like he's got a Nerf kabob stuck in his throat and then falls to the ground dead. Whole time Vader doesn't even lay a finger on him.” The second trooper looks at the storyteller, “You know how I know that story is fake.” “The floating captain, right? I know, I know, no one believes me.” Replies the first. “No.” Says the second, “There's no way they'd put a screw up like you on bridge duty.”Back in the ballroom, the music strikes and a new dance begins, a formal waltz. Xule looks at Tam, “Shall we, Captain?”Tam watches the other dancers and does his best to mimic their movements. It is a clumsy attempt and he catches the distain in some of the other dancer’s eyes. As he attempts to twirl across the dance floor, Tam scans the crowd. That’s when he sees him. An old Corellian dressed in the traditional blue uniform of the Navy, not the new Imperial gray; Maddox. He is at the bar surrounded by a number of old timers, also in blue. They seem to have wrestled a bottle of fine Corellian whiskey away from the help, much to the chagrin of the bartender.The song comes to a close and Xule lets out a laugh, “That was quite the dance, Captain.”Tam mutters an apology as Xule traces his stare to Maddox.“Perhaps it is best if I draw some attention away from you, Captain.” Xule says. And then quieter, “Retrieve the droid and deliver it to Nali, I’ll wait for you here.” She walks across the ballroom to a group of young officers. Tam turns his head to watch and smiles as the officers straighten their uniforms and try to act casual.“Well, you must be retired or on your way out the door to wear the old uniform here.” Maddox says with a shout to Tam’s approach. He thrusts a glass of whiskey into Tam’s hand. “Take a seat and drink to the old traditions!”Tam swallows the glass whole, feeling the smooth sting of the whiskey. Maddox fills everyone’s glasses one more time, draining the bottle. Tam knows how the game is played. He walks over to the bar and asks for another bottle.“Sorry sir, this isn’t that kind of party. I will gladly fill your glass though.” The bartender replies.Tam sees the bottles lined up within arm’s reach. He slides a few credits across the bar, “Really? Maybe you should make sure those people’s glasses are full. You know, the ones on the far side of the bar.”The bartender pockets the credits, “Of course, sir.”Tam returns carrying another bottle and tops off Maddox’s glass.Rowintha lets a stormtrooper fall to the ground as Toth finishes off yet another with a blaster bolt to the chest. For a moment the assault team is quiet, waiting to see if anyone noticed their attack. When the counter attack doesn’t materialize, Nali begins slicing the security console. Tam and Rowintha go to work jamming one of the doors while Kaldo and Hull guard the other one.Kaldo presses himself against the wall, trying to blend in with the shadow. Another firework goes off, illuminating his hiding space as clear as day. The Duros sees Hull watching him with a confused look on his face. Kaldo shrugs, walks out into the open and points his blaster at the door.The group of old Navy men burst into laughter as Maddox reaches the punchline of another one of his stories. Maddox meets Tam’s eyes. “Well, if you think that’s funny, you should take a look at my memoires. Of course, those are with my droid.” He says with a wink.</blockquote>

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