A Day of Decision
SUBMITTED BY: LT Dan /
Epsilon 1-1 / VSD
Vigilant
HOLONET REGISTRATION: <JediDann@aol.com>
SUBMITTED ON: 2000.05.30
The bar was cramped. Filled with people, mostly drunk. Some of the pilots of the Vigliant were in the bar, all cramped into a single table. Sub Lieutenant Zwibble was crammed in between Sub Lieutenant Stolle and Commander Rommel. Lieutenant Dan was next to Rommel, leaning back in his seat with Ensign H'tims across from him.
Sub Lieutenant Zwibble was short, about 5 foot 1.She had medium-brown skin that can darken to dark brown or lighten to pale tan, and black eyes with military short blue hair with purple highlights. She was one of two female pilots on the Vigilant. Which also explained why Rommel and Stolle were crowded around her. Even though she was not fully human looking with oddly shaped eyes. The other, Sayrah, was no where to be found, probably bar hoping. But, with Zwibble being the only female pilot that wasn't engaged to someone, she was a target for the single male pilots.
Sub Lieutenant Stolle, was a newer Sub lieutenant. He was promoted last week, and just getting used to the new rank. Stolle was tall, maybe about 6 foot 3. He towered over some of the pilots. He had a dark brown hair color with Brown Eyes to go with his hair.
Commander Rommel was an Officer, an officer that did little at that. He was of average height with brown hair cut short and brown eyes. He was a little older then Dan and Zwibble yet younger then Stolle. He mostly did nothing except stand around and eat pastries.
Lieutenant Dan was small, about the height as Zwibble and a little older too. He had dirty blonde hair and deep blue eyes that changed depending on the season. He led Epsilon Squadron and has gotten through a few close scraps.
Ensign H'tims was new, just out of the academy. He was of average height. He usually kept to himself. But today he was dragged out of his bunk down to the planet, literally. He seemed to be enjoying himself.
"Well this is all good but where's the captain?" Dan asked.
"I think he said something about his Girl friend being on the planet" Zwibble responded.
"Oh no, The Captain might actually have a good time"
"We've got to stop that from happening"
Dan got up, and Rommel and Zwibble followed suit. They Grabbed H'Tims and Stolle and went to a public access terminal. "We could locate him through here" Dan pointed to the terminal. Zwibble went and punched in a few codes:
Welcome to Public Access Terminal 23. How Can I help you?
[A] Tourist Information
[B] Person Locator
[C] Hotels
[D] Call a RoboHack
[E] Call Security
[F] Call the Nut house [Full]
Zwibble went to the Person Locator.
[A] Local
[B] National
[C] International
[D] Shore Leave
She went down to Shore Leave.
[Search] First name ____________________
(Required) Last name ___________________
She entered Calcyon in the last name. "Hey, umm what is the Caps first name?" They all looked at Dan.
"I don't know, I think its Tal."
"OK"
She entered it in, and hit Enter. The machine made a whizzing noise and searched. After about a minute it came up with a result:
Calcyon, Talon
Imperial Officer: Rank: Captain
Location: Area 46
Dan grinned and signaled a RoboHack. The vehicle pulled up and they all piled in. "What is your destination?" The automated Taxi asked.
"Area 46" Rommel said while crunching into the Robohack next to Zwibble. The Robohack took off. The trip was quick and when they got out Dan paid the machine with a little extra, for a cleaning. Dan stepped out and looked around.
Area 46. One of the better parts of the planet. Like the Corellia sector of Nar Shadda. Dan walked up next to Zwibble and looked for a dance building. "There." Dan pointed to the tall building that was glowing with colors. "He should be in there, probably with his girl friend."
Rommel walked over to the entrance and looked in. Calcyon was there, and he was with his girl friend. Rommel gestured to the others to walk in. Dan led them in and spotted the Captain. Zwibble watched the scene "This looks too romantic, we much break this up."
Dan did just that. With Zwibble and Rommel following he threw himself into the chair next to Calcyon. Rommel sat down next to Calcyon's girl friend, and tried to put his arm around her. While Zwibble sat next to Dan. Stolle and H'Tims just looked on.
"Heya Cap"
Calcyon looked down at the table. "What are you people doing here?"
"We are looking for our dear Captain."
"Get Out!"
"Why? I you thought you liked us." Dan said. Zwibble started to sniff like she was about to cry.
"Well I do like you guys but not at this time," Calcyon whispered the next part in Dan's ear "I'm trying to have a romantic time"
"We thought so"
Calcyon got up. "Cassi, a dance?"
His Girl Friend got up and pushed Rommel aside. "Sure."
They got together and moved to the dance floor. As they were going in a romantic slow dance song came on. They joined as "one" and were lost to the universe.
"Dang, we missed."
Dan leaned back in his chair "He always manages to do that to us, somehow."
"Oh well"
Just then a group of drunken men came into the building. They headed over to the table in which the group was at. "Hey, that’s our seat!"
Ensign H'Tims came up "No it wasn't". The leader of the group produced a blaster and fired. Ensign Smith was now a charred mass on the floor. The man turned and fired again. His fire hit Dan in the shoulder.
"Ahh, you prick you shot me!" Dan staggered and managed to hit the guy in the jaw. He snapped back and fell over. Rommel and Stolle got up and started punching and tossing some of the guys around. But they weren't enough, and a few of the drunks started walking towards Zwibble.
"Ummm, Guys some help!"
At that moment Lieutenant Nendesal came in the room with a blaster. Nendesal was about 5 foot 8 with brown hair and green eyes. He had a middle class build. Nend turned and fired off several rounds. Killing some of the men instantly. The rest were either unconscious or drunk. Those drunk ran off.
Zwibble ran up and hugged Nendesal. "Oh thank you." She embraced him in a long hug. "Thank you, for saving me from those drunks, how could I repay you?"
Nendesal led Zwibble to the dance floor. "One dance." Zwibble accepted and soon they too, were lost to the universe.
Dan came up to Boston holding his partially burned shoulder, " This, is too romantic for some of us."
"I know, I know, but what's should we do to them," He pointed to the dead bodies. "I don't know, I'm more concerned with my shoulder."
"Oh well, I'm, going to go find one of our shuttles, I have a date with a Bacta Tank."
"Sounds like a good plan."
Dan left the bar, and proceeded to the shuttle. He got in and lay down. The shuttle rocked and took off. The flight was short. When he got back on the Vigilant a group of medics came in to get him. They put him on a stretcher and put him in the med pit-in a Bacta tank.
Silence. Floating in a tank with water and a multitude of other liquids. All was peaceful. Dan opened his eyes and looked around. A gray metal room was all he saw. Two Medical Droids looked on. All then went black.
Stolle leaned on his left leg while Dan, gave his speech. "How long do these last?" He asked Zwibble.
"Depends, usual they are short but, because he was shot, it's going to be longer." Zwibble sighed.
Dan walked, limped actually, probably because of a foot asleep. "If some of you guys, and lady, were quicker, I wouldn't have been shot. Make note of that when schedules come out." Everyone groaned.
"Well I didn't want to spill my drink." Zwibble responded.
"Fair enough, Dismissed!"
All the Ensigns walked off, while Stolle and Zwibble talked. Dan walked up to them. They both Stop talking and looked at him. "Zwibble could I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure, Why not."
They walked away from Stolle and started talking. "You have got to start fighting in those situations and not be a pacifist because you have a drink."
"Okay, but it was a good drink"
"I know, you spilled it on me."
"So that’s where half of it went"
"Yeah, Dismissed, but try to get your flight active."
"I'll try."
Zwibble turned around at went to her quarters. Stolle came up to Dan. "What was that about?" He asked.
"Her not fighting"
"Oh."
"Yup, So how is your flight doing?"
"Fine, minus Ensign H'Tims."
"Oh Yeah, Before I forget, His replacement is coming sometime today."
"Great, who is he? What's he like?"
"I don't know, I just got word from Starbug about him. He's fresh from the academy."
Stolle grinned, "Fresh meat."
Dan just looked at him, "okay, you have your fun with your new Ensign."
Stolle pulled out his datapad; "We also have some liquor that Zwibble and I made of with after you got shot." He looked up, "What do you want us do with it?"
"I don't know, figure it out."
Stolle grinned, " That's what I was hoping for."
Dan sighed, "Of all the Squadrons in the Empire, I had to get this one."
Stolle smiled, Yeah, we know it's the your-supposed-to-be-good-pilots speech."
The alarm went off and an Ensign's voice came over the comm. "All pilots to their ships…scramble!" Dan dropped his datapad and ran for the hanger. He got into the lift and held the door open for Stolle, who had to finish his drink.
"Thanks." The two pilots then stood in silence as the lift slowly went down and played the, somewhat annoying, lift music. The two got out and ran to their TIEs, Stolle was able to run and jump up the back, but Dan slipped and hit the ground.
A heated battle. Dozens of ships. Two Dreadnaughts moved in on the Vigilant, slowly trading fire with a trio of Corvettes that were slowly moving across the Dreadnaughts mid section going to the vital rear. Captain Calcyon watched on as one of the corvettes was hit mid port and started venting Oxygen. "Damn." He swore. "Plant, establish contact with Eta, Get them on the Dreads NOW!"
"Yes, Sir" Palantas spun around and ran down to a panel where a rather skinny man sat.
Eta squadron loomed over head. "Okay, Guys, lets get this over this, I had to leave my drink at the bar. I miss it already!"
"Yes sir."
Dan looked out at the battle. He swore, "We need to buy some time for Eta, any ideas?"
"Well, We could take them on here." Stolle came on.
Zwibble interrupted him, "No, We need to lure them away, I got a plan. Dan, Flight 1 and Flight 3 Leads them off to the planet, While Flight 2 Comes up and comes for Eta incase any get smart."
"Sounds like a plan." He changed channels to Flight 1s, Okay, you heard the lady, let's get going."
"Ditto for three flight"
Dan came up behind one of the leading fighters, and scanned. "Computer scan for comm frequencys." He found one and proceed forward a bit more till he was above the craft. He rolled over on his side and punched in the comm frequency. "Hey, There buddy, Having fun down there?" The sudden voice startled the pilot.
"How are you? Where are you?"
"Look Up." The pilot did so. He wished he didn't though. "Greetings, and peace!" A TIE Interceptor was directly above him, and inverted. The pilot waved his hand and gave him the universal sign of friendship. The Finger. The TIE looped over, he tried to follow but was caught in a laser volley. "Good, now down to the planet."
Dan looked at his damage board and swore. An A-wing came up behind him and fired lasers or fiery death. He opened his comm to Epsilon Squadron and the Vigilant. "This is Dan, I can't survive much longer, Zwibble, You'll be in Command of Epsilon now. Don't forget Epsilon in my personal fil-" Epsilon 1-1 exploded. Pieces of the fuselage flew through the air, then hit the ground with a sharp bang.
Zwibble watched in horror as it exploded. Dan's dead. This couldn't be happening.
She hit the comm button, "Epsilon Squadron regroup and finish the mission, then go back to the Vigilant. They did so and within 20 minutes they were all back aboard the Vigilant. The mission was successful, but it wasn't worth celebrating. Calcyon came down to greet them, but he wasn't his normal cheery self. Stolle was as clueless as ever to this and kept asking about it.
"Only 26 and he is dead."
"He was only 26!"
"What was it he said?"
"Something about Epsilon in his personal file." Stolle thought about it. "I really wouldn't know about it."
Calcyon came up to Zwibble. " Your Epsilon leader now. Dan always thought you'd make a good Lieutenant. Good Luck."
"Thanks, but I wonder what he meant by what he said." Zwibble thought about it. "I think I know."
Calcyon looked up, "What?"
"Do you have an access card for Dan's bunk?"
"Yes, but it isn't his anymore." He took out the card, and handed it to her. " It's yours."
Zwibble was stunned. She took the Card and went to Dan's bunk. She went in and went to his access terminal. She brought up his personal files, but they were all locked. She thought about what he said then figured it out. She entered E-P-S-I-L-O-N as the password. It was accepted, and she started scanning through the files. There were no Private messages. *He must have not had a girl friend or any family.* She thought. She went down farther and stopped at a file. DEATHWISH. She paused, took a deep breath, then opened it up. She then began to read the contents:
Sub-lieutenant It Zwibble, if your reading this it is fairly safe to assume I am now dead. I just want to let you know how proud I am of you. And it would be a great honor if you would fire the torpedo that contains my remains, if any. You probably also read through my other personal stuff. It is true. I have no family to speak of. They were all killed early in the war. I am one with no family, and no friends. I never considered Epsilon Squadron a group of friends. Just co-workers. I knew I would die some day, but at least I hoped I would die while having one friend.
Your Ex-Lieutenant,
Dan Schinleber
Zwibble paused after reading it. He had no friends? No family that still existed?
She got up and turned to leave, but she noticed the holo on his desk. It was seemingly taken years ago. It was of his family, all of them. Parents to cousins, brothers to aunts, all were there, except Dan. Another holo adorned the other side of the desk. It was of Epsilon squadron, parts of Eta, Calcyon, Palantas, Boston, and Starbug. He was not in that one either. He was all alone in the Universe. That’s hard to believe. She sighed and left. Dan was a person to remember. A good pilot, and Lieutenant. She paused, And maybe a good friend.
He was unconscious. A dark figure loomed over him. He, the figure, was in a green flight suit. Slowly he nudged the body: Nothing. He must have been dead the figure gathered all the man's stuff and went on. The planet of fire it was. Burned by two suns. He made his way to settlement on the horizon. He entered the settlement and locked around. Nothing was there. He sighed and continued walking by. He then spotted what looked like a Starship sales place. He went in. There was a rather disgusting looking Devarion in there that looked at the cloaked man, seeing business.
"I need a ship."
"You've come to the right place." He spoke with a rather smooth accent. "You're from Corellia?"
"Yes."
"I knew that accent." He paused "Now what do you need?"
"I need something that can withstand space…. and has a hyperdrive."
"That could cost you a lot." The man looked at him then took out his wallet.
"How many credits will it take?"
"Depends," He looked at the wallet "How much do you have?"
The man paused then withdrew two big bills. The alien looked at them. "20,000 credits, you sure keep a lot of money on you."
"Yes, Just in case." He paused, "should this be enough?"
"It should, but the hyper drive should cost another 5,000."
The man studied the alien "You seem honest," He took out another 5,000 credits. "Now, let me see the ship."
"Of course sir."
"Don't call me sir, it makes me feel old."
"Why? How old are you?"
"About 27."
"Rather young aren't we?"
"Not really."
The alien led him outside. "This is the ship." The man paused-it was a small ship that was the combination of a Jump master and an X wing.
'Does it work"
'Yes."
"I'll take it." The man put the money in the alien's
hand and went to the ship. He got in and started it up. He waved
to the alien and took off. Destined for parts unknown.
Funeral
Zwibble sat in her cockpit outside the main docking bay of the Vigilant. Half the Crew was there. Calcyon stood at the podium and said a few words about Dan. At a certain cue, Zwibble rolled her Interceptor towards the sun. She waited again and said One verse to herself. "Let God be my watcher, watching over me and those lost." She then fired the torpedo. It drifted off and exploded, symbolizing life. She sighed, and slowly came back into the hanger. There was no talk off it. Then, a ship appeared.
"Scramble, all ships Ugly inbound-1 life form abo-" The voice stopped, then came on again." Never mind that." The ship approached and eased into the docking bay. A figure came out of the ship and walked along. He walked over and met Captain Calcyon. Calcyon looked surprised at who it was. The man was told where to go and he went there. He slowly walked up to the door, and slid his card down. He entered the room and looked around. He heard crying coming from the other room. He entered it and saw Zwibble. She was sitting on a cot crying into her palms. He walked over to her, and sat next to her.
"What's wrong?"
She stopped crying and turned, to look at him. Shock came over her face, "You!"
To Be Continued