{"id":33,"date":"2008-05-30T01:14:35","date_gmt":"2008-05-30T05:14:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.auroraforce.org\/blog\/?p=33"},"modified":"2009-04-18T00:10:41","modified_gmt":"2009-04-18T04:10:41","slug":"vong-war-annals-surprise-arrivals-mikhails-legacy-part-two-53008","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.auroraforce.org\/blog\/?p=33","title":{"rendered":"Vong War Annals – “Surprise arrivals (Mikhail’s Legacy, part two)” 5.30.08"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Dargan.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It was 0354 local on Xenen, and Izra Dargan had just barely crawled into bed after playing designated pilot for some of the guests for the Bel Iblis-Bullian wedding.\u00a0 The small apartment he kept on Wayfarer wasn’t much to look at, but he stayed on-station so rarely it didn’t matter all that much.\u00a0 It had been more convenient the night before to stay on the orbital station rather than fly back to his modest house on the surface, so he’d schlepped there and collapsed into bed about two hours before his comm went off.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Hey there, sexy.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.\u00a0 Doesn’t she know what time it is?<\/em>\u00a0 “It’s good to hear your voice, sweetheart.”\u00a0 The pilot cleared his throat, stretching.\u00a0 “What time is it there?”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Hrm.\u00a0 You know, I’m not really sure.\u00a0 What time is it by you?”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After a glance at the clock, he answered.\u00a0 “0400.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Then it’s 0400.\u00a0 Want to have breakfast?”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Wait, you’re here<\/em>?”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “On approach to Wayfarer, yes.\u00a0 I have a drop off to make.”\u00a0 There was a pause.\u00a0 “Do you know if General Rendar has her comm on?”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He scrubbed a hand over his face.\u00a0 “The one for work?\u00a0 Probably not.\u00a0 Call her personal line.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Frequency?\u00a0 I don’t have the latest one.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Shaking his head in confused bewilderment, the pilot gave his wife the information, barely sparing a thought to what kind of delivery this must be.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Who was that on the comm?”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tag smiled faintly at her drowsy husband, now sprawled across the space where she’d been laying before getting up to answer the comm.\u00a0 Shrugging into a shirt, she leaned in to give him a quick kiss.\u00a0 “Someone from Intel.\u00a0 I have to head up to Wayfarer.\u00a0 Go back to sleep; I’ll see you at breakfast.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Something up?”\u00a0 Dalsuna was just awake enough, it seemed, to understand what she was saying and formulate intelligent responses-but only barely.\u00a0 She could tell that he’d be asleep again shortly after she left.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “It’s just a drop off.\u00a0 Tell Indy I’ll be a little late, okay?”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Mmmph.\u00a0 Okay.”\u00a0 He rolled onto his back and pulled the covers up.\u00a0 She dropped another kiss onto him.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Sweet dreams, Dal.\u00a0 I’ll see you later.”\u00a0 She tugged on her jacket and left.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The X-wing that landed quietly in bay twelve on Wayfarer station was older than most still operational-only a handful of the fighters in the fleet were as old, or as well-cared for.\u00a0 Tag climbed unceremoniously from her cockpit, walking down her port S-foil before dropping to the deck, landing in a crouch.\u00a0 A slender woman with ink-black hair stood waiting, arms crossed.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “You’re late.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tag smiled wryly at Mara Amber-Dargan.\u00a0 The woman was only a few years older than she was and still as deep into black ops as she had been ten years ago.\u00a0 “I had trouble getting clearance to land.\u00a0 Seems they’re having a meeting in bay three.\u00a0 You know how it is.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The other intelligence officer nodded.\u00a0 “You’re right, I do.\u00a0 Come with me.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tag fell into step with her old friend, glancing toward her with the slight shake of her head.\u00a0 “What’s this about, anyway?\u00a0 Must have been urgent if it couldn’t wait until I was on duty.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Once upon a time, you were never off<\/em> duty.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She drew a sharp breath and exhaled it quickly, the air hissing through her teeth slightly.\u00a0 “Times change.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mara’s tone softened.\u00a0 “You know, we never thought you were going to get back in the game, when you left after Colonel Pellman died.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “…I never intended to come back.”\u00a0 Tag licked her lips, shaking her head slightly.\u00a0 “Of course…being targeted for use as a scapegoat by someone I should have fired ten years ago…that’ll convince you maybe it’s time to come back.”\u00a0 She rubbed her forehead.\u00a0 “And then there’s this bloody war…”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Mm.\u00a0 Yeah.\u00a0 This bloody war.”\u00a0 Mara crossed her arms as they walked toward a quiet corridor, uncrossing them only to flash ID to a pair of guards that moved to bar their entry.\u00a0 The guards stepped aside and the pair continued on.\u00a0 “It’s only going to get worse.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Y’think?”\u00a0 Tag shook her head slightly.\u00a0 “Must come for every generation.\u00a0 Our parents suffered the rise of the Empire…our grandparents fought the Clone Wars, we fought in the Rebellion.\u00a0 Now our children have to face this new enemy.\u00a0 It’s not fair, but it’s the way things are.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Damon says thank you, by the way, for getting him into Dalsuna’s class.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Damon should take a few semesters off, or transfer to one of the universities on Xenen.\u00a0 Conceli’s defenses are bantha shit.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The other woman winced but nodded.\u00a0 “I’ll let him know.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tag stopped walking; Mara took another couple steps before turning around.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “What’s the matter?”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tag shook her head.\u00a0 “What’s this about, Mara?\u00a0 It’s not a social call.\u00a0 What kind of drop is this?”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mara winced again.\u00a0 “It’s something I’m sorry I didn’t realize sooner.\u00a0 We captured a small Vong craft about two weeks ago-Sony was out doing some weapons testing and ran afoul of a small patrol.\u00a0 We managed to destroy all but one-the one we captured.\u00a0 Aboard was a subject of some interest.\u00a0 I swear, Tag, if I’d realized sooner, I’d have been here sooner.\u00a0 Mea culpa<\/em>.\u00a0 They put me in charge of something for once and I frakked it up royal.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 With a snort, the general shook her head.\u00a0 “You did well enough taking charge in the old days to be Kingston’s SO.\u00a0 Show me this person of interest, huh?\u00a0 I’m sure Izra’s waiting for you.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mara managed a smile and gestured for her to follow again.\u00a0 Before long, the pair came to a doorway, flanked by another pair of guards.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Identification?”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mara held up her card, Tag shook her head and dug hers out of her jacket pocket with no small measure of sheepishness.\u00a0 It had been a long time since people recognized her on sight for her rank-then again, she no longer had her former command to stand on.\u00a0 Apparently satisfied, one of the guards turned toward the keypad next to the door, punching in an access code as Mara spoke to the other.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “She’s to be released into General Rendar’s custody.”\u00a0 She handed over a datacard.\u00a0 “Those are the official orders from Colonel Cannele and Command on the matter.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The guard nodded.\u00a0 “Yes, ma’am.”
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The door slid open.\u00a0 Tag stood in shocked silence for a few long moments before smiling faintly.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Well.\u00a0 I can think of a few people who will be happy to see you<\/em> again.”<\/p>\n

~ Erin<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>