Chapter 2: Forges of Ithyari

[Drake 53]

Tak smiled and gave Layla's hand a squeeze. "Thanks. That means a lot to me."

When the console beeped, he turned back around. The ship was approaching the rendezvous coordinates and Tak would need to bring it down manually. He could see it already, a grassy clearing surrounded by forest. The area was large enough to house two dozen X-Wing. There would be plenty of space for the transport, squadron, and any support craft accompanying them.

"This looks like a good place to land." Tak brought the Krakana down near the edge of the clearing, lowering the landing struts and setting the ship down with the ease of a feather touching the ground. Once settled, Tak activated the comm. "We've landed ladies and gentlemen. Landing hatch is down and we're clear for departure."

Tak shut the YT-2000 down and turned back to Layla, cracking a smile. "Thank you for riding Takeshi Spacelines. Have a safe and sexy day."

[Vergere 1]

Brier, silent the entire yet short trip, stands and shifts one of her blasters out of its holster and into her hand, and looks around the field before getting out of the shuttle. Once she was sure they were alone, she reholstered her blaster and shifted to strech. She took off her goggles since it was still night and she wasn't expecting any more explosions or shooting. She smiled softly at the others as they began to make their way down the ramp.

[Ayingel 24]

Szen yawned a little as she got up from her seat and made her way off of the Krakana. She checked her blasters and made sure she took them off of stun. Szen was positive that anything that happened from then on would require shoot to kill, not shoot to disable. She looked around at the remaining Revenants. Yes, this was a good idea.

The team looked a little worn, but certainly not tired. No, this is what they've been waiting for. She had heard the others talking about it, and she was glad to have been able to participate with them. I don't think I could have handled being with the rest of them. She looked up at the sky. This is what I was trained for.

[Drake 53]

Tak and Layla appeared at the top of the boarding ramp and followed the rest of the team out of the ship. Takeshi was carrying a crate and, when they got to the bottom, he put it down and opened it, revealing prepackaged meal rations. "Picnic, anyone?"

[Vergere 1]

Brier smiled, and once again spoke in the melodic, whisper-soft tone of voice she had had only a day previously used at the briefing, and had that soft smile on her features. "Mmm... tasty." She reached in and grabbed herself some food anyways, and began to eat.

[Ayingel 24]

Szen hadn't even realized she was hungry until Takeshi brought out the rations. She also went to get some from the box and went to eat next to Brier. "Gotta love the glamour of this job..."

[Rogue 4]

"Month old flight rations in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of the best people in the Galaxy?" Layla asked, sitting down against a tree with her own pre-packaged meal. "Well, at least the company's good. And we do get to blow Imperial hatemongers to the afterlife."

[Ayingel 24]

"As long as the fireworks aren't our own, I'm fine with it." Szen smiled a little at that one.

[Ender 8]

Jaim slung his blaster over his shoulder and tore into one of the rations. "Mmm, edible."

[Rogue 4]

Layla couldn't help but laugh. "Enjoying them that much are you Jaim?"

[Andy 60]

"Even these ration bars are better than some of the stuff I've had to eat in the past..." Aston said, just grateful to be having some food.

[Vergere 1]

Brier grinned over at the debate, and just shook her head. After she finished chewing, "Edible food is always appreciated. But next time, we should maybe just bring a cafeteria with us and have real food instead of rations." She grinned widely before taking another bite of the rations.

[Rogue 4]

"Well if we're going to bring a cafeteria, why not bring a whole restaurant?" Layla laughed. "I'm fond of Twi'lekki myself."

[Chickenman 9]

The fighters dropped out of hyperspace.

"Okay Revenants, maintain comm silence starting now."

The X-Wings, taking care to stay out of sight of any onlooking ships, slid through the inky blackness of space.

[Drake 53]

Tak laughed and bit into a ration. "How about a cantina over there by the treeline?" He looked at his wrist chrono and said. "Our friends on high have four minutes to get down here before the sensors come back online."

[Rogue 4]

Nat looked at the clock. Four minutes before the sensors would go back up, according to Lieutenant Beskar. They'd have to make it down in time. With Nima needing to be near Arlan, he flew down with Kaden and Atuarre on his wings, down until their X-wings were mere feet from the trees.

[Vergere 1]

Brier looked like she could purr, she looked so content at the thought of a cantina. "Mmmm... alcohol. An amazing thing... I'm not sure life could exist without it. Definately need a cantina. A big one. One that looks nice. And not too expensive." She laughed softly and sighed. "Hopefully they'll make their deadline."

Edited September 27, 2007 by Vergere

[Ender 8]

"It's gotta be a bit of an investment. Can't hold back on your cantinas."

[Vergere 1]

"Well, if you don't spend too much on the cantina, you can buy a lot more drinks, and of better quality. So, more alcohol, or better cantina?" She raised an amused eyebrow, her voice still soft and musical even as she was teasingly bantering with them.

[Mara 29]

Kaden flew tucked in behind Lt. Riamor, keeping a close eye on his screens.

[Drake 53]

"More booze," said Takeshi. He was looking off into the distance, over the trees and up a sloping hill several kilometers away. The shapes of a dozen starfighters and a shuttle crested the hill and sped over the treetops towards the forest clearing. Pointing, he added, "Maybe they have something to drink."

[Rogue 4]

"Hmmm" Layla said, standing up and leisurely walking over by him so she could see. "Doubtful. We've got Nima and Arlan who'd probably love to, and the Captain and Atuarre are up in the air...but Lieutenant Blueberry and Kaden are too prude for the rest of them. The Lieutennant would probably have them courtmartialed for thinking about it."

[Drake 53]

He nodded. "Maybe the shuttle crew have something stashed away."

Tak waved to the oncoming fighters as they got closer.

[Chickenman 9]

The ships landed in the clearing. Aeric was one of the first out of his craft.

"Let's go guys. Only a matter of time before the imps start looking for us. Let's get that camo tarp set up!"

As the pilots and support personnel scattered to set up camp, Aeric saluted Takeshi.

"Lieutenant Beskar, excellent job. I trust there were no complications?"

[Mara 29]

Kaden jumped down out of his fighter and got out his sack and helped get Artie out before helping the other squadron members to put up the camo tarp.