Four

Small Victories, great escapes.

Orno's Plac

The Major blew out his cheeks and, hat still in his hands, strode to the bar. It was a testament to the training of his escort that they remained at the door. Implacably awaiting his orders. Staring at the barkeep, who stared blank faced back, he smiled. The smile didn't reach the eyes though and as he leaned on the bar he looked down at the puddles of ale and other stains there before placing his cap in a less messy portion of the wooden surface.

Looking back up he adopted that air of bored arrogance that all Imperial officers in his line of work had. Major Kern Traylor was in intelligence. Not ISB, much to his distaste, but the lower tier that is Naval Intelligence. He'd been on a joyride of all things, getting some time off the Star Destroyer Implacable.

As the Sector Governor spent time badgering the locals into allowing, allowing, an Imperial garrison on this backwater Traylor had decided to go sightseeing. Commandeering a Lambda Class shuttlecraft and a couple of the intelligence sections dedicated troopers he'd flown out of the central administrative area to this small township. As they'd come in across the field he'd noticed a ship that he vaguely recognised. A Corellian freighter that looked like one mentioned in intelligence reports just before and after the destruction of the Death Star.

Traylor thought, hoped, that this would be the jump he needed to get off the Implacable and into the ISB fully. The work on the rim systems for Naval Intelligence was, well, boring. And Kern Traylor had been stuck there for far too long. He yearned for some sort of action…. Any sort of action.

Now, here, he was going to change that. He looked into the still Stoney faced barman's eyes and smiled tiredly.

"So then, friend. I was wondering, hoping actually, if you could tell me who the pilot of the YT1300 on the field is?"

This question was delivered, again, in that bored manner that implies that if there's no answer forthcoming the two Stormtroopers would be getting involved. The barman, under no illusion that if he didn't say anything he would receive either a beating or a blaster bolt, slowly grinned and opened his mouth as if to speak. Traylor raised a hand and again smiled tiredly.

"No don't worry, give me a drink and I'll have a mooch about myself. You two."

He turned as he leaned on the bar to the troopers.

"Take a walk about, see if there's anyone out of place….."

Taking the glass that had appeared by his elbow he stood up and stared about the bar.

In the Booth Kara Thrace glanced at the tall man that had, well, taken her under his wing. He was a not unattractive man but she didn't think he was after anything like that! It was more a deep seated feeling that he couldn't leave someone quite obviously out of place. Solo had grinned at her and seemed to begin questioning her when the appearance of the two white-armoured figures and what she assumed, correctly, was an officer of some sort had elicited his outburst.

She took another swig of the very ambrosia-like liquid and placed the glass back down. Glancing at the three as the two white figures started a circuit of the bar she looked back at Solo.

"Friends of yours?"

Again Solo was about to answer when the door opened again and a young man in a green smock and leggings blustered in and shook snow from his shoulders. He looked about and almost collided with the tall man in grey. They both looked at him then back at each other then back at the pair. The almost collision had nearly caused the man to spill his drink. With a withering glance he shook his head and began to walk towards their booth. The boy stood at the bar and ordered a drink. No one noticed him key his commlink.

Traylor had reached the booth and looked at both the occupants. He took in both of them, noting the weapons, the clothing…the awful smell. Wrinkling his nose, he paused, taking a sip of the drink and placed the glass between them on the small table.

"Long time out young lady?"

Kara noted the tone of the question, the way that he assumed that he was better than everyone there and immediately wanted to punch him in the face. Solo obviously recognised what she was thinking and subtly nudged her with a toe as he leaned in.

"My apologies, Major Kern Traylor, Imperial Ship Implacable."

He smoothly interjected before she could reply. Solo glanced at her before continuing.

"Yeah, my sister here dropped her skimmer in the forest and walked here, called me on the way. Took her a while Major. Hard walking in these conditions."

The lie seemed to be working and Kara had taken the hint. Stay quiet. Traylor, for his part, appeared to be about to leave when, over his shoulder Kara noticed the big ugly…um…. thing she'd bumped into earlier talking to one of the white armoured figures. She heard the metallic, filtered reply of…

"We'll check it out"

She also heard Solo's uttered "oh kriff…." as Traylor also seemed to grasp something. He leaned in closer and stared at the others face.

"Wait. Don't I know you?"

By now the two troopers, Marines of some sort? Had appeared at Traylor's Elbow. Traylor was peering at Solo intently now and appeared to be working something out. He stood straight, a look of triumph on his face, and clicked his fingers.

"I never forget a face. Names, not so good. But I recognise that face. Bit older now but…. Yes! Caridia! You were at the Academy at Caridia. Used to hang about with…Broog! And Spince I seem to remember"

Kara noted Solo stiffen slightly at the mention of the names and dropped her hand to her side. Solo leaned back and gazed up at the Major, he seemed about to say something when a booming voice cut through the noise of the bar.

"Draygo you scoundrel! I've been waiting for you!"

The Major spun around, pushing the two troopers out of the way. He looked towards the source of the voice, a squat, powerful looking man in the same green, uniform it seemed now, as the youngster at the bar.

"Who are you? This is Imperial business!"

The man grinned at this and strode forward. He stopped next to one of the troopers, substantially taller than the white clad man, and smiled down at him. He nudged the trooper and winked.

"Oh now! Imperial business is it boys?!"

By now Kara was lost, but Solo had relaxed slightly. The newcomer looked down at them, his grin slipping slightly as he saw Kara, only to ramp up a few notches almost immediately.

Han had been in some fixes before, many of his own doing, but this had to be the kriffing stupidest. He'd relaxed too much and was now paying for it in staves! Try to help someone out again Solo…. He berated himself. The situation was taking a turn for the surreal and dangerous as this random Imperial had recognised him! And not from some scanDoc either but the borked academy of all places! But, as is always the case, lady luck smiled on Han Solo and the fortuitous arrival of Genaris Quinn seemed about to save his skin….

"Yes it is! I repeat, who are you!?"

Traylor seemed to be recovering as well, Han mentally pleaded with Quinn to do something, anything! To sort this situation out before the inevitable blaster fest it could become! The girl, Thrace, was watching with a creditable look of nonchalance on her smudged face.

"Well Major, I'm Genaris Quinn. Head of the Royal Guard and Security."

There was a hardness now in the voice and he leaned, theatrically, on the shoulder of the trooper. Han winced inwardly, subtlety wasn't big in Quinn's playbook.

"And Captain Draygo here is on contract to us. Also, I'm pretty sure that the Imperial Navy has no real jurisdiction here…yet."

An impasse had been reached and it would go one of two ways. With a look of at first anger, then dawning recognition and resignation, Traylor grimaced, stuffed his cap on his head and strode off. The troopers looked at the table, up at Quinn and then scurried after the Major.

Han breathed out and put his forehead on the table, ignoring the spilt drinks and mess. When he looked back up it was into the green eyes of a still grinning Quinn who stood, hands on hips, shaking his head. Kara sat, eyebrow cocked, looking between them. She was the first to speak.

"So, anyone want to tell me what the frak is going on?"

Quinn stopped grinning then. He looked at her hard with a strange look on his face. Kara narrowed her eyes at him and was about to say something when he looked back at Han.

"Well I knew Solo here couldn't stay out of trouble…. don't give me that look Han, I know you. Even if it's not your fault you'll end up in the poodoo. Now come on, grab your coat and we can talk more on the Falcon. The Imps won't take this on the chin for long. That Moofer is Intel"

Han nodded, smiled and stood.

"Yeah, well, thanks Quinn. That's one I owe you pal."

Quinn smiled again and slapped Han on the shoulder.

"Just the one? Oh come on now Solo, what about that time on Benzadrel?"

The two men strode out, Han stopped and gestured at Kara.

"You comin kid?"

She grinned, almost ferally, and jumped up. Draining the glass, she snagged her pack and followed, brushing past Quinn who gave her another odd look. Han noticed this time and gave him a quizzical, eyebrow raised look. Quinn, smile slipping, nodded back.

"Later Solo. Let's get to your hunk of junk first."

As they left the tapcaf the snow was thinning again and on the walk back to the landing field the two men walked ahead of Kara chatting about inane stuff. She understood nothing and looked about her. Droids, aliens….aliens! and other things moved about. The robots gave her the willies but none seemed intent on murdering her so, warily, she carried on their wake. As they reached the field the Imperial shuttle lifted, its wings unfolding gracefully. She goggled at it, whistling quietly.

"That's nothing kid, wait til you see the Falcon!"

Han said as they approached a low slung but large ship. Kara, confused more and more by her increasingly strange surroundings kept quiet. It was a hunk of junk as Quinn had said but Solo had helped her and may help her more.

Striding up the ramp he placed his hand on a plate and the hatch rolled up. The ship was noticeably warmer and she stripped off her jacket and slumped on a couch by what appeared to be a chess table. Quinn and Solo carried on down a corridor, Solo stopping and pointing to a door.

"Fresher is through there, should be a spare jump suit that'll fit too."

Quinn looked at Solo with a raised eyebrow.

"I had company for a while Quinn, drop it"

He replied with a non-committal grin. As Kara disappeared into the cubicle they continued to the cockpit.

Quinn sat in the co-pilot's chair and looked at Han. He appeared to weigh up what to say.

"So. Han. This is a come down from destroying the Empires biggest battle station?"

Han cocked an eyebrow and grinned

"Yeah…. Yeah it is. I needed a break from all that rebellion, what can I say."

Quinn didn't smile.

"Dangerous coming here. For all of us."

He waved Han's complaint down with a meaty paw.

"Don't worry pal, I won't tell if you don't. It may complicate matters but at least you don't have that Skywalker kid with you."

He deflated slightly, looking suddenly tired. And closed his eyes. When he opened them he continued.

"Or the Wook. That would have identified you almost as quickly. No it's a good thing you turned up. I may need some…. unofficial help with a delicate matter. But before we get into that, where'd you pick the young Captain up?"

Han paused a moment taking in what he'd said, wait he hadn't…. before he could complete that thought Kara appeared in the hatch, hair damp, wearing a grey ships coverall and looking very suspiciously at Quinn.

"How'd you know my rank? Han never mentioned it…"

Quinn looked up at her, an odd look on his face. He delved in his pocket and came out with a small diamond shaped pin.

"Because young Captain, I served on a Battlestar too…"

In his hand, Kara saw, the rank pin of a Colonial Major….

"Oh Frak…"

Han, eyebrows now attempting to take off could only look between them both and uttered

"Wait….what now?!"