CHAPTER TWO
Present (40 ABY)
General Garik Loran, better known to some to as Face, was not in a good mood. Then again, anyone being forced to be in the same room as Heol Girdun would be hard-pressed to be in anything but.
The Director of Galactic Alliance Intelligence sat at his desk, viewing a datapad while silence reigned over the two men. It had been like this for the past twenty minutes. Finally, Girdun spoke.
"I'm sure you have a few questions on your mind," he muttered.
"A few?" Face snapped, glaring at the director. "I can make a novel with all of the questions on my mind, and it could then be adapted into a full-length feature film with me as the starring actor. But you wouldn't be able to bring your kids to see it, because there would be some words you wouldn't even let your own mother hear you say."
Girdun gave him a mirthless grin. "Good thing I have no intention of answering each and every one. Instead, I'll give you the facts and leave it to you to decide whether they answer them or not."
Face scowled but nodded for him to continue.
"Number one," Girdun started, "you are under arrest for committing treason against the Galactic Alliance."
"Elaborate on that, please," Face said irritably. "What do you mean by 'treason?'"
"Capturing Moff Drikl Lecersen on the flimsiest of reasons."
Face's brow furrowed. "Lecersen is with the Imperial Remnant. I may dislike you, Girdun, but I never had you pegged as that dumb."
"Nor I you, Loran," Girdun said coldly. "The Imperial Remnant is affiliated with the Alliance. Thus, acting against them counts as acting against the Alliance."
Face sighed in resignation. "All right, I'll give you that. But we've found evidence that Lecersen is involved with a plot against the Alliance itself."
"Yes, I read that in the unofficial report you sent before you were brought in." Girdun snorted in disdain. "I think it's a pile of bantha dung."
"And sometimes, bantha dung makes useful fertilizer."
Girdun glared at him. Face grinned.
"Snappy retorts aren't going to get you out of this," the former said coldly. "You are hereby relieved of your rank of general and discharged from duty."
"Fine, but we haven't gotten past the first item on your list of facts. Maybe I'll raise a good-enough counterpoint to one of them that'll make you change your mind."
"Unlikely," Girdun retorted. "Two: you unofficially and illegally reformed Wraith Squadron without the permission of either the Director of Intelligence, Supreme Commander of the Defense Force, or the Chief of State."
Face made a buzzing sound. "False. Wrong. Shortly before you replaced her, Belindi Kalenda authorized the reformation, but kept it in very secret files, ones that even you don't have access to."
Girdun's mouth fell open, his eyes full of anger. "Impossible. As Director of Intelligence, I have access to all of the Alliance's records- even yours!"
"Are you sure about that? I don't thinks even the Chief of State trusts you enough to let you see every single one."
"But it was her who made me Director in the first place!"
Face snorted. "Right, and I've got a bridge-city on Cato Neimoidia to sell you."
Girdun shot up from his seat, seething with rage. "You're trying to get to me, aren't you? You're trying to humiliate me and get me fired. But you're only going to fail."
"Explain."
Girdun suddenly grinned like a hungry rancor. "Just as Belindi was able to authorize Wraith Squadron's reformation without anyone knowing, I can authorize your imprisonment for life without anyone knowing."
Face said nothing, maintaining an impassive expression.
Girdun sneered. "What's the matter? No snappy comebacks this time?"
"Give me a moment. I'll think of one."
"Too late." The director pressed a button to a speaker on his desk. "Guards, please escort Mr. Loran to his holding cell."
Behind Face, the office door opened and two armored Alliance guards walked in and hefted the former general out of his seat, slapping a pair of stun cuffs onto his wrists. As they proceeded to escort him out, Face gave Girdun one last glare.
"You've won this round," the former actor said to him. "But this game is far from over."
Girdun snorted. "True. But I know how it's going to end."
* * *
The Wookiee warrior swung from a vine and gracefully landed on a large branch. The forests of Agamar reminded her of those on her homeworld of Kashyyyk, though she greatly preferred the latter. After making sure the coast was clear, Huhunna dropped down from the tree.
Waiting for her down below was a young man with fair skin and dark curly hair. He did not notice her at first until she brushed his shoulder with a hairy hand.
"Stars! Don't do that!" Thaymes Fodrick exclaimed, though not too loud for anyone else to hear. "Did you find anything out? Where's Two?"
Huhunna gestured in the direction she had come from, growling in her native language.
Thaymes gave her a blank look, having never understood a single word of the Wookiee tongue. "Is he coming or not? Blink once for yes."
Huhunna blinked.
"Then where is-" Before Thaymes could finish, a thin-haired, dark-skinned man emerged from the bushes, a sniper rifle strapped across his back.
"What's the situation, Two?" Thaymes asked him.
Wran Narcassan shook his head. "No situation, at least not yet. Might have aroused some suspicion with a Wookiee walking around, though."
"I'm sure Leader already accounted for that when he sent you guys." Thaymes brought out his comlink and activated it. "Leader, Three here. Two and Four are back. We're ready for drop out."
Instantly, the ground beneath their feet vanished and the three of them went tumbling down a slide. They eventually reached a stop and ended up in their small base.
"Whoever made this place sure had a lot of their time on their hands," Thaymes commented.
"And thank the stars they did, because it's sure as heck useful." A white-haired man came into view, cleaning his hands with an oil-stained rag. "So, Wraiths, give me the bad news first to get it out of the way, because I've got even worse."
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