The Smoke be for the Fires: (Book 1)

[Akirapryde]

The Hunt Begins
Republic Heavy Cruiser Defiance
Location: Mid-Rim outside of Wayland Space

Captain David Heartman IV leaned back in his chair slowly. It had been a long day already with the Admiralty asking him questions about his unit's was involved in the events on Baklid 6. More importantly, had his units engaged either side during their operations. He had explained to the Admiralty that they were acting on information that a convicted murder was on the world and that they were only attempting to extradite the murder. He made it clear that the Murder was in their hands until the Jedi Ruler of the world refused to allow them to extradite the criminal. He was not sure if the Admiralty bought his story but at this moment they had no evidence to contradict it. And that really made David pleased with the out come. They can believe what they wanted to. What they can prove is another and he was not about to let one of his nieces be murdered at the hands of scum.

Which led him to the other problem at hand right now. He turned the holovid on once more. The first part of the fight between Talon and another soldier was well known to him. He had watched her getting her ass kicked by the larger soldier from the cat walks above the training deck. David watched as the soldier tossed his niece around like she was a rag doll. He remembered the point when he had ordered the Sergeant Major to allow the fight to continue. He even recalled the look of the Sergeant Major's face when he told the man, 'If she dies, then she was not worth saving in the first place Sergeant Major.' While David did not hear the breaking of Talon's ribs he knew when the event happened. He could see the pain across her face as her small frame took the blow. He knew that point well. It was the moment when he decided that he had seen enough. The soldier pulled Talon up in to a choke hold in an attempt to end the fight and even possibly Talon's life. It was that moment when David turned his back on his niece for her to face her own fate alone.

As he watched the vid, he realized that she had to have noticed him. He could see in her face the desperation. As the vid played on, he watched her rage take over. She would not be beaten like that. David smiled as she fought against the choke hold and managed to toss him from her. The look in her eyes told all that beheld her that she would not loss this fight. David turned in his chair away from the vid as it continued to play out. He heard her yell out in anger as the fight rapidly reached its conclusion. David could even hear the fight extending to the rest of the on lookers as a friend of the soldier joined in. David didn't care at that point what happened. Nor did he care that the soldier had succumb to his wounds from the fight. What matter the most to him was that look in her eyes. David turned in his chair when he heard the moment approaching. He froze the vid and looked at his niece.

There she stood above the man she just defeated. Her face bloodied from his attacks. The other wounds about her body not so clear but from her stance he knew they were there. On her face, anger at the others who would dare question her loyalty and courage. David smiled at what he saw. He could see the soldier's broken next and knew the man's death would come soon. The Sergeant Major had broken up the fight too late to save the soldier. None of the wittinesses were willing to talk about what had happened. It was an unspoken rule on the ship that a fight between soldiers was just that, between soldiers. David respected that and at this moment thanked his beloved crew for it. He would hate to loss Talon just when she was reaching a point when she would be useful to him.

The buzz at the door alerted him to her arrival. He was expecting her seeing how she had just killed a member of the crew. He turned the vid off and hit a button on the desk to open the door. He allowed him an inner smile as he saw the wounds on her face. The Vid did not do her suffering justice. “Come in Talon.” He ordered coldly and sternly.

Talon walked in slowly and unsure of the situation, “Yes Sir.” she said. There was fear in her voice. David could see and hear it. She was clearly worried if anyone had rated her out from the fight. She could not do anything to help hide the fear in her heart. Her career was over and this was the final act within it.

“Lieutenant we have a problem, don't you think?” he said allowing her to fear what was going to happen.

Talon looked down broken, “Yes Sir, I know you must be disappointed in my action. I know what is going to happen. I just hope that someday you will forgive me for failing you.” her sadness was clear.

David set up in his chair asked, “What are you talking about Lieutenant?” He knew what she was talking about. But it was time for her to learn a lesson.

Talon looked up confused, “The fight Sir? I killed a man.” she said clearly. She was not going to think that the Captain was stupid and didn't know what had happened.

“Lieutenant, If that was the case then I would have security here and would have to place you under arrest.” he said then picked up a data chip and placed it in the scanner. “I know about the death on the Training Deck. I have let me see, fifteen eye wittinesses that a soldier had fallen to his death while in training.” he said then turned the reader for her to see it. “Look for yourself Lieutenant.” he said.

Talon leaned over to read it. It was true, everyone there said nothing about the fight. They all had said that the man had tripped off a loss piece of decking and had fallen two levels to his death. Even the chief medical officer's report showed the same thing. “I don't understand, Sir?” she said questioning the meeting.

David turned off the reader and leaned back in his chair, “Then let me explain Lieutenant. Thuku is a rather nasty Rodian smuggler with no respect for Republic Laws. He owns two ships that anchors somewhere within the system of Ammuud. Both of his ships are very able blockade runners that are giving headaches to our bothers and sisters manning the blockade over Baklid 6. Thuku is a well made man within the Hutts syndicate. That said the Republic can not publicly go after him directly. So we have been asked to shut his operations down permanently.” he explained as he passed a datachip over to her, “This is all that we know about Thuku. As you will see within that intel, he has been smuggling weapons to the rebels on one trip then supplies to the government on another.” He said giving up the details he knew she would need, “We have been asked to end his operations. What I want you to do is to make an example of him. Be creative and ensure that the message is sent to other smugglers.” David finished his briefing then leaned back in his chair once more.

Talon was floored, She thought she was finished once she heard that the Captain called on her. She was not about to look a break twice. She took the data chip, “Yes Sir” she said clearly. “Sir when do you want us to leave?” She asked.

David looked over at a monitor facing him, “You and your platoon can leave this time tomorrow.” David said then turned his head to face her once more. Looking in to her eyes, “make sure your men are up for this mission. Thuku and his are all highly trained. Do not underestimate them” he warned.

Talon saluted “Yes Sir” she said clearly then turned on her heels and walked out of the office.