{"id":221,"date":"2009-10-22T13:31:44","date_gmt":"2009-10-22T17:31:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.auroraforce.org\/blog\/?p=221"},"modified":"2009-10-22T13:31:44","modified_gmt":"2009-10-22T17:31:44","slug":"vong-war-annals-home-front-i-calling-a-tune-10222009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.auroraforce.org\/blog\/?p=221","title":{"rendered":"Vong War Annals – “Home Front I: Calling a tune” 10.22.2009"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHow do the feeds from Aten-Re look?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That was it.\u00a0 No preamble.\u00a0 No good morning, no admiral on deck.\u00a0 Indy was suddenly there, in the dim of base ops\u2019 night watch.\u00a0 Nylan was too tired to even feign surprise.\u00a0 He was getting too old, Jedi or not, for these thirty-six hour days.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFeed from the Illuminator<\/em> keeps flickering, probably due to time lag and shield interference.\u00a0 Feed from Hope Leader is solid.\u201d\u00a0 The detachment they\u2019d dispatched to aid the GDF at Aten-Re had been designated Hope Wing, after a unit now long dead.\u00a0 Izra Dargan was flying Hope Lead, over objections.\u00a0 He wouldn\u2019t hear of it, though\u2014if Slate Bridger was going, so was he.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBetter pray we don\u2019t get attacked at home while you two are out playing cowboy,\u201d<\/em> Indy had said.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nylan had his fingers and toes crossed on that one.\u00a0 Their luck was running thin these days\u2014as always.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Indy nodded, perching on the edge of a dark console.\u00a0 \u201cPut Hope Lead\u2019s feed up on the big screen.\u00a0 Do we have audio?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNot good audio,\u201d Nylan warned, stretching and leaning back in his chair.\u00a0 What time was it, anyway?\u00a0 He glanced at his console.\u00a0 Ugh, 0330.\u00a0 Two and a half hours more before shift-change.<\/em>\u00a0 He could hope to get some sleep when the day shift came in, but he wasn\u2019t placing any bets on that, either.\u00a0 He flicked a few switches on the board, kicking the feed they were getting from Izra Dargan\u2019s modified X-Wing up onto the main screen at ops.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAny evidence they can trace the new tight-beam tech?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nylan barely smothered a yawn, blinking at Indy.\u00a0 \u201cNothing that we\u2019ve picked up, but per orders I doubled the patrols.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Indy glanced at him, her tone mild.\u00a0 \u201cAre you going to be okay if we end up in a combat situation unexpectedly?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIf we enter a combat situation unexpectedly, I\u2019ll be fine.\u201d\u00a0 He\u2019d just have to refresh himself.\u00a0 That and the adrenaline that would start pumping would be enough.\u00a0 \u201cWill the XO be joining us this morning?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u00a0 If she\u2019s following orders, she\u2019s getting some sleep.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nylan nodded again.\u00a0 I should make some caf anyway.\u00a0 If Indy\u2019s here, Tag will be showing up soon enough.<\/em>\u00a0 He started to stand up, scrubbing a hand over his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll put on another pot of caf, Admiral.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Indy nodded absently, watching the images on the screen, a headset dangling from her fingertips.\u00a0 The tinny sounds of the audio feed with a slight lag from the video feed were audible, though bursts of static often cut off any voices.\u00a0 Nylan\u2019s brow furrowed, wondering for a moment what she was thinking.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhich ship is Slate aboard?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cUnless I miss my guess, the Illuminator<\/em>,\u201d Indy said quietly, eyes searching the screen.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not worried about him.\u00a0 He can take care of himself.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nylan followed her eyes, watched what she watched.\u00a0 It dawned on him half a beat later than it usually would have.\u00a0 Eagle Squadron.\u00a0 Mary and Corsem.\u00a0 Of course.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He cleared his throat. \u201cThey\u2019ll be fine, Indy.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She smiled weakly, nodding slightly.\u00a0 \u201cI know.\u201d\u00a0 She slipped the headset on.\u00a0 Nylan watched her face blank as she got lost in the comm chatter.\u00a0 He touched her shoulder for a moment, then moved past her, heading to the break room to start another pot of caf.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tag was coming out of her office, expression grim, shrugging into an old flight jacket over her dark jumpsuit.\u00a0 She looked more awake than he felt\u2014and if she was, that meant she\u2019d taken to sleeping<\/em> in her office, since he hadn\u2019t seen her come in or leave\u2014and the only way to her office was through operations.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If she snuck past me, I must be losing my edge.<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m putting some caf on now, Tag.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGood,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cGeneral Skyy is going to need it.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nylan frowned.\u00a0 \u201cGeneral Skyy is still in bed, on the admiral\u2019s orders.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNot for long.\u201d\u00a0 She was past him and headed out before he could get a word in edgewise.\u00a0 Nylan sighed.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Indy\u2019s not going to be happy.\u00a0 Then again\u2026she\u2019s not going to be angry at me.<\/em>\u00a0 That made the Jedi smile, just a little.\u00a0 He headed into the break room to make caf, mulling over how he was going to explain to his boss that their cousin was going to go wake up her sleep-deprived XO.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It was 0340 in the morning, and someone was leaning against the call button at the front door.\u00a0 The stream of curses Arin Bridger Kel-Solan uttered under her breath was endless.\u00a0 Mercifully, her ward and her daughters were sleeping through it.\u00a0 Dressed in sleeping pants and a tank top, barefoot, she stormed down the front hall of the house and threw open the door.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tag stopped leaning against the button, straightening.\u00a0 \u201cPut some clothes on and get your practice room ready.\u00a0 Someone needs sense beaten into him and I\u2019m not sure I can handle that with quite the same panache as you.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The former bounty hunter scowled.\u00a0 \u201cYou woke me up three hours before dawn for that<\/em>?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt can\u2019t wait, Arin.\u00a0 Trust me on this.\u201d\u00a0 Tag\u2019s eyes narrowed.\u00a0 \u201cYour son would want you to help.\u2019
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She frowned.\u00a0 \u201cWho am I going to be hitting with sticks?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLes Wyler.\u00a0 Get dressed, please.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be here in an hour or less.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Her heart froze for a moment, then started beating again.\u00a0 God, of course.\u00a0 Of bloody course!<\/em>\u00a0 She nodded slowly.\u00a0 \u201cCome \u2018round to the garden door when you come back.\u00a0 Don\u2019t want to wake Chance.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWaking Chance might help,\u201d Tag muttered, turning to go.\u00a0 \u201cAn hour or less, Arin.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI heard you, Tag.\u00a0 Go round up the wayward soldier of the Force.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be ready when you get back.\u201d\u00a0 She watched as the Jedi headed back to her speeder and shook her head slightly.\u00a0 Good thing you\u2019re at Aten-Re, Chase.\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t want you in the middle of this mess.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She knocked once, then twice at the Wyler\u2019s door.\u00a0 Then she pressed the call button and waited\u2014waited for someone to answer.\u00a0 It was almost 0400.\u00a0 Dawn wouldn\u2019t come for another two hours.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She was about to press the call button again when Mark Wyler opened the door, one arm hanging limply.\u00a0 He squinted at her in the dim light.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGeneral Rendar?\u00a0 It\u2019s four in the morning.\u00a0 What are you doing here?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMy job.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry for the hour, but you\u2019ll thank me for it later.\u201d\u00a0 Her diminutive size helped her in this endevour.\u00a0 She slipped past the much taller man and marched back toward the spot in the Force that was her newly earned \u201capprentice\u201d of sorts.\u00a0 She threw his door open without knocking.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMr. Wyler,\u201d she said sternly.\u00a0 \u201cOn your feet.\u00a0 Your training begins now<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

~ Erin<\/p>\n

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