The New Imperium Peace With a Price story by Greg Schutz (arvel@rocketmail.com) Day Seven Typeria Mc90a Cruiser SCIMITAR 0600 hours local Darb seemed to Rale to be like a young pet that had been whipped, but then allowed to return to its rightful place with its owners: he was the same old Darb Yeldarb, only with an extra dash of humility. Colonel Rale Erkholm and Blue Squadron's mechanic, Warrant Officer Gus Kritry, carefully inspected Flight Officer Yeldarb's E-Wing. While the mechanic dabbled around in the engines, Rale ran his hand down the sleek nose of the fighter, feeling for any irregularities that might point to unseen structural damage. Feeling nothing but the nose of a starfighter in prime condition, Rale climbed up the ladder into the cockpit. Eleven E-Wings away, he could see Commander Jess Elwyn and the Blues' assistant mechanic looking over a different fighter. The two groups of inspectors would work toward each other until they met in the middle and inspected the same craft: Rale's E-Wing. Sitting down in the ejection seat, Rale settled his feet into the rudder pedals, gripped the control stick between his knees with his right hand, and let his left hand naturally fall to the T-handle that adjusted thrust. He nodded to himself. This fighter, a new one from the shipyards one its first cruise, exhibited none of the wear and tear that was evident in his, which was approaching its sixth year of service (which would be its second year with Rale). Glancing over at his E-Wing, Rale smiled in pride at the rows of kill markings that covered the nose. Those were only the kills he had gotten in the E-Wing, for if someone tried to mark all the kills of his career on one starfighter, they'd either run out of room or paint before they were halfway through. Rale thought, a slight bit of weariness creeping into his bones, "All right," he shouted down to Kritry. "This one's fine. Let's move on." He was about to leave the cockpit of Darb's E-Wing when a small bit of anomalous color tucked behind the MFD caught his eye. Thinking it to be a loose wire at first, Rale grabbed it and saw that it was a small holochip. Imbedded into the wafer of transparisteel was the holographic image of an attractive young brunette who was about Darb's age. His curiosity piqued Rale pointed at Darb, who was standing in front of the nose of the fighter. "Come here." The Flight Officer cut under the nose of the fighter and climbed the ladder to the cockpit. "Yes, sir?" Rale held the holochip up. "Who's this? You're not married." Darb smiled. "Well, no sir, I'm not married, but if I'm ever going to, that's who it'll be to." Rale nodded, the hint of a grin tugging one corner of his mouth upward. "You're very lucky, then. But why do you keep her image hidden behind the MFD?" "Well, sir, I try not to think about her too much. I mean, I could go into combat at any moment, and - " Rale cut him off, shaking his head negatively. "Darb, if my past experience still holds true, you oughta tape this up where you can see it. If you're ever faced with a combative situation again, she should be the first thing you think about." With that, Rale slid out of the cockpit to the hangar deck, leaving Darb with the thought. Typeria Temporary Imperium Command Building 0900 hours local It was time for the final preparations. Through the door, Leia heard the muffled conversations of what must've been several hundred people. She tried to reach out through the Force and sense one person's emotions, but quickly gave up. All she could sense was a collective tenseness, nervousness, and anticipation throughout the group. And that was only to be expected. Commander Siric Rendala appeared as if from nowhere. He paused to adjust the gauss rifle hanging loosely by a strap from his shoulder before saluting. Leia nodded in return, and the man spoke. "Everything's clear, ma'am. We're ready when you are." Leia nodded again, weakly this time. She could hardly remember being this nervous, except maybe during a few of her very first speeches as the youngest member of the Imperial Senate. And even though then she'd been surrounded by Imperials, this time the Imperials seemed to have taken a decidedly hostile stance towards her. As she prepared to go onstage, Leia absently ran a hand down a plait in her outfit, which was black with gold trim. Han was wearing an outfit with similar colors, as well as each commando. The uniform colors were to give the Republicans a sense of unity, which might make their offers that much more attractive to the New Imperium. Leia smiled to herself as she took a step towards the door. "I'm going." "Understood, ma'am," Siric Rendala said, disappearing through a side door. Han, standing behind Leia, gave her shoulder a squeeze. "I'll stay back her, if that's all right. I never could grasp diplomacy, anyway." Leia nodded and kissed her husband quickly. "Certainly. Wish me luck." Han nodded and tried to smile believably as Leia turned around and walked toward the door, which opened automatically in front of her. She stepped out onto the stage, and every single hint of a conversation instantly disappeared. Leia took in her surroundings in an instant. She was in a wide, darkened amphitheater, the only light coming from two opened doors at the opposite end, a few lights on the stage, and a large screen directly above and in front of her, which showed several important-looking men in Imperial uniforms. Leia recognized Mattan Balao, Josef Sebring, and New Imperium Navy Commander Syett Markims in the large screen. In front of her sat her real audience, the smaller governing powers of the New Imperium. If she could convince them, she would win. "Greetings, President Leia Organa Solo of the New Republic," Balao said in the large viewscreen. "It is certainly a pleasure to see you here today." Leia cocked her head, trying to be both defiant and respectful at the same time. "A pleasure you can not attend to personally, Mattan?" Balao did not show any reaction to the comment. "I am sorry, Leia, but it seems some people would not wish I go near trained men with weapons who aren't under my command." Leia felt through the Force a ripple of hostility running through one of the commandos hidden somewhere to her right.