Log Date: 11/2, 11/3, 11/5/99 Log Cast: Han Solo, Chewbacca (NPC emitted by Han), Kathryn, Skeezix, Lianna, _Deliverance_ hangar bay technicians (NPCs emitted by Lianna) Log Intro: Even as Mon Mothma had asked him to take over the position, Han Solo had dreaded the paperwork, the meetings, and the other countless little niggling responsibilities attendant upon being the Commander in Chief of the New Republic Ground Forces. Up till recently, the Corellian has stoically endured the abhorrent fact that he's in that dreaded of fixes -- a desk job -- because of one simple thing, the pleasure and delight of his beloved Leia at seeing him do something 'respectable'. Up till recently, however, he hadn't been growing increasingly at odds with several of his more outspoken senior officers. Discontent has begun to spread through the ranks, both at Han's insistence that the Ground Forces continue to play an active role in fighting the Empire and at the inescapable fact that those forces are led by a man with a checkered past. Increasingly disgusted with the politics that have come into the job on top of the administrative work he'd already come to loathe, the Corellian has found himself growing more and more short-tempered with each passing day. Now, desperate for a breather, Han has corralled Chewbacca and skipped off from Coruscant to head for Calamari. His goal is simple: find a nice quiet place to get drunk, away from Coruscant and with his commlink turned off for a while. But Han hasn't anticipated that his reputation has spread far and wide enough that even a total stranger can set off his temper -- and he certainly hasn't anticipated the developing urgent situation that'll have his friend Skeezix Calhoun trying to find him... ---------- Main Spaceport -- Coral City A large docking bay, people of all races bustling between various terminals, the hum of many conversations in different tongues periodically muted by the roaring of a shuttle's engines. Expansive white walls, smooth and cold as washed stone, gleam in the soft light cast by the fixtures in the ceiling. There is the continuous shuffle of cargo being loaded and unloaded and the need to move out of harms way as a cargo lifter passes by you. Occasionally a wisp of salty air tickles your nose but it quickly fades away. A cargo lifter scoots by as it heads toward one of the private docks then disappears north toward the space platform. To the south the shapes and lights of a lively city can be seen. -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Economic Presence => HoloTerm <12-70-46> => Repair Kit Dispensor -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => STARFIGHTER: Corellian YT-1300 -- Millennium Falcon => Kathryn => Shuttle: Freedom => STARFIGHTER: Incom T-65B X-wing -- Jedi One => Shuttle Call - Calamari => IGNews Terminal (NR) - Calamari -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- orth leads to Military Landing Platform - Calamari. ivil leads to Civil Offices. outh leads to North Coral Avenue -- Coral City. With a roar of sullen, grudging protest, the _Millennium Falcon_ touches down with a thump in Coral City's spaceport. The battered freighter's engines rev down almost as if to say 'it's about frekking time' -- and for good measure, as if throwing a temper tantrum, at least two of her external sensor arrays start sparking alarmingly. So, for that matter, does the entry ramp door when the ship's side hatch creaks halfway open, enough to admit the virulent curses of a gravelly baritone voice into the open air. "CHEWIE! Kick the thing, will ya?! And get over here with that hydrospanner!" A Wookiee yaaarrrrowl is the immediate response, and is followed by a series of alarming clanks and creaks and one loudly ejaculated "OW!" before the ramp finally lowers... and Han Solo, scowling seven ways to the Rim and back, comes limping down off the ship that's decided to be _particularly_ temperamental today. Sitting on a bench near the shuttles a group of people sit. A good many of them are in uniforms or suits, going about their daily business moving in and out of hovertrains taking them along the city. As the crowd disperses, only a lone figure sits, her legs crossed as she reads a dinged datapad. Her eyes scroll across the text slowly, either perusing each word or slightly illiterate. A sigh eminates from her lips and she looks up from her reading to glimpse a really dingy YT-1300, looking at it closely. 'Feh', she mutters as she turns her head to the side, creating a popping sound. Standing up she stretches and puts the datapad into one of her deep pockets. She walks over to a Mon Cal shuttle attendant and speaks to him/her. The reply uttered by the Mon Cal was not the one she wanted to here and she rather audibly asks for her money back. The Mon Cal obliges and the woman stomps off, crossing her arms as she looks for other, more respectable and reliable shuttle services. Respectable, reliable shuttle services? Well, that certainly doesn't qualify as a category that includes the _Millennium Falcon_. She is assuredly far more battered and ramshackle than any other ship in immediate sight -- and for that matter, the two who've just come down off her, the tall and rangy Corellian and the befurred and massive Wookiee, are swearing five or six blue streaks that you'd never hear coming out of the mouths of respectable shuttle pilots. They're swearing at each other as well as at the ship, with enough vigor to be heard from several meters away, and that Wookiee is waving his arms about in counterpoint to the forceful, controlled gestures of the human man. "Whaddya mean, we're out of--" "ROOOWRRRRLWR!" "I bought 'em last time! I swear! How the hells was I suppose to know she was gonna need it, I been eyebrow deep in meetings--" "YARRRRHRRWRL!" The woman looks over at the cursing Wookiee and Corellian, apt in both languages to know exactly what they say. She smiles privately and begins to stride over. Her steps are made like a spacer's, extremely arrogant and made to look that way. Upon proximity she says to the duo, "You two havin' some troubles? Mayhap I can help ya." she says in an obviously forged Corellian vernacular, she seems to fancy herself as one of those instead of being a true Coruscanti as she is. She smiles brightly, most of it for herself. She could almost laugh, knowing that these two are probably never going to accept the help of some random spacer. It's almost comical, the way the man and the Wookiee simultaneously swivel their heads in the newcomer's direction. Identical expressions of bemusement flash across their faces; then, the Wookiee, who has at least a foot of height on the man as well as a good deal more mass, rumbles something polite along the lines of a greeting. The Corellian, in the meantime, assumes a deliberately casual expression and inquires blandly, "Trouble? Us?" The woman smiles at the Wookiee and looks towards the man, giving him a good one-over. She says, "Well, I dint mean to eavesdrop, ya see, but its not dat difficult to see yer sensor arrays are kinda fritzed. Ya two also seem ta be in an arguement over parts missin'. I's just checkin' if I could help ya some." her Corellian vernacular can be considered annoying by most 'civilized' people. Speaking proper Basic is just so necessary these days, when those who believe they speak it correctly are normally grammatically incorrect in some way. Her smile is genuine, yet hides an ulterior motive. Once-overed, the man's Corellian, all right: tall, lean, handsome, about as Corellian as they come. Despite his comparative lack of fur, he's about as scruffy-looking as the Wookiee, brown hair thoroughly tousled with a few strands spilling across his brow. His eyes are hazel, their gaze sharp, and they give back as level a once-over as the man himself receives. His clothes are as tousled as his hair, a black vest over a white shirt open at the throat, blue slacks with Bloodstripes down the sides, blaster at his thigh. At his side, looming both protectively and curiously, the Wookiee peers down at the woman, his blue regard mellower but no less observant; when he yowrls again, though, the man waves a hand dismissively and gruffly inquires, "You a tech?" The woman ahead of you is probably in her thirties, and not much like the Corellian stock in women. Her features, though she acts totally opposite from them, make her seem to have a bit of a background. She stands defiantly, in a regular spacer stance, but something tiny you just can't put your finger on lies beneath that exterior. She grins at you, "Naa, I ain't a tech. More like a I'll-put-some-engine-tape-on-this-and-hope-it-don't-blow-up-before-I-get-home type. Doesn't mean I'm bad at it, but if you need any parts, my bag here may have it. I use ta pilot muh own freighter a few months ago, but the company went belly up." she shrugs. Suspicious of anything he can't put his finger on, the Corellian pilot narrows those hazel eyes of his a little. They're worn around the edges, a subtle sign of exhaustion on his part, perhaps. There's a spark of temper lurking somewhere in that gaze, too, reflected in the gravelly rasp of his voice. "You often offer spare parts to strangers, sweetheart?" he challenges, not exactly hostile, but not exactly trusting, either. The Wookiee at his side yowls: the noise in his native language relays censure, a scolding for his compatriot's being so rude, but the sharp attentiveness of his blue gaze doesn't quite mesh with the scolding -- perhaps the creature is suspicious, too? The Corellian, at any rate, shoots him an irritated glance and then adds to the woman who's approached them, "What're you chargin'?" The woman smiles, "I'm only offerin' cause you got a ship. If I got the parts you need, for compensation, mayhap you'll take me to my destination." she looks around with a scowl, her eyes an extremely controlled inferno, "Dis damn place ain't got poodoo in the way of gettin' me anywhere." she puts her hands on her hips and watches you a minute and then the Wookiee. She seems sincere enough, but like a lot of spacers, she's probably great on bull or ulterior motives. How long has it been since he's taken a passenger somewhere? Been free enough to do nothing but what jobs come his way, with no cares or duties past watching out for his hide, his partner's, and their ship? A strange flash of something like wistful longing sparks across the Corellian's gaze for a moment, before it's quickly banked. "Depends," he growls then, "on where you wanna go." Kathryn grins a bit, "If I got the parts ya need, maybe you'll be on your way to the Capital." she smiles. Does she know who you are? Maybe, probably, after all your poster is plastered nearly everywhere and whenever the media has something, they spout it out. She doesn't seem to interested in your past, maybe she thinks she already knows it. She does, however, seem rather confident that she has the correct part to repair the frizzing sensor array. "I might be," the Corellian grunts, "in a few more hours." The Wookiee chimes in with a guileless whurflesnorf that translates to something about 'coming to Calamari for a bit of business'. However, the pilot ignores him for the time being, his attention centered upon this apparently eager young woman as he looks her up and down again. "And you just might happen to have the exact parts I need right on ya, you say?" Well gosh, his tone implies, isn't that conveeeeeeeenient. Kathryn nods her head and kneels down next to a pretty large duffle bag. She unzips it and peers inside, "Convenient, yes, perhaps." her voice has changed. On purpose? Or maybe her facade slipped for a moment? "Just don't get paranoid on me if I do have whatever you need." she looks up at you, "Are you going to tell me what that blasted thing needs or should I just pull out everything I have that works with sensors?" obviously she has changed. Her tone is that of a woman's, not an old woman, but not a young one either. She is built up and has the facial features of a woman in her mid-thirties, but something in her new voice makes her seem older and wiser. It's the Wookiee who answers the woman's question, not the man; the big furry behemoth barks out a few syllables in his native speech, rattling off a list of suspect parts while peering curiously down at the stranger's activities with her duffle. He concludes with a meaningful sidelong glance at the man, and a polite query as to whether she can understand him, a courtesy that remains unexpressed by his partner as Solo crosses his arms and looks vaguely grumpy. "I'm tellin' ya, I bought 'em," he mutters peevishly. Kathryn smiles at the Wookiee, "Ah, yes.. lets see.." she looks down into the bag, and pulls out a few small panels and a couple of sensory circuit panels. "Good thing about those old YT-1300s is they're pretty good with the adaptations. These parts aren't the best, it looks like I don't have my fourteen-twenty boards anymore." she hrms to herself and looks to the side, "I wonder where they are.." she mutters to herself and looks back up, "These things ought to help somewhat, like a splint before you can get to the bone stablizer in the medbay." she smiles, "If its not enough, I have a few credits to pay the rest." she frowns slightly, somewhat dejected that she doesn't have the good parts, just these patch-ups until you can get to port. Chewbacca slides Solo another meaningful glance, letting out a whorfling Wookiee edition of a chuckle and a cryptic mutter that can be translated to 'We're experts at splinting this ship.' He hunkers down and gathers up a few of the circuit panels in his furry paws, handling them with a surprising delicacy for a creature of his size. Then, straightening up again, he politely excuses himself and yurfles out his intent to test the parts to see if they're compatible with the systems of the freighter just behind them. This leaves the Corellian, his hazel eyes hooded and unreadable as he glances after his partner. "Yeah," he mutters, almost absently, before turning that unreadable crystalline stare back to the woman before him. "You always wander around with a bag fulla spare parts?" he drawls. Kathryn smiles, "I was a freighter pilot until the company I worked for went bankrupt. That wasn't too long ago." she zips up her bag and continues, "Sold the freighter to get some money, and I'm surprised I got as much as I did for it. It was an old Gnat." she shrugs and stands back up, "Though I know who you are, General, we still haven't been formally introduced. I'm Kathryn Montavre, and as long as you don't use it in any vulgar sentences, you may call me Kate." she extends her hand. The shift in Kathryn Montavre's speech patterns has not gone unremarked by Solo -- and his eyes have narrowed as he's noticed it. As she finally identifies herself, and moreover seems to identify _him_, however, some sort of wall slams down somewhere behind his eyes; his gaze turns hard, stony, stubbornly distrustful. "If you were sent to check on my whereabouts," he snaps all at once, thrusting an accusing forefinger out with enough force to drive it through a wall, "you can damn well go back where you came from!" Kathryn raises a brow, "General Solo, you assume too much. As I have already said, I am Kathryn Montavre. I was the pilot/captain/whatever you wish to call me of the Ilyrian Gnat - 'Liquid Assets'. At the moment I am unemployed and am simply attempting to return to my home on Coruscant and search for some jobs. If you're paranoia is going to engulf this entire bay, then you may keep the parts I've given you and I will find transport elsewhere." she picks up her duffle back and puts it on her shoulder, "I know you have noted the difference between my voice patterns, but tell me, would you really have talked to a stranger with perfect Basic?" Kathryn purses her lips together, "If you would, you're a better human than me." "What the hell do you think I'm speaking, drunken Rodian?" the General growls, another spark igniting in those hard hazel eyes. His leanly cut mouth twists into a smirk as he continues, his baritone voice gaining volume as fury sends a flush of color across his lean weathered cheeks. "Or is this the latest round of rumors crossing the upper echelons? The ex-criminal can't be expected to trust somebody speakin' with perfect grammar?" Sarcasm pulls a sharp edge into the words, then, as the smirk turns into an outright sneer. "Or -- lemme guess! -- he's an ex-smuggler! Can't expect him to deal on the up and up if you actually try something novel and approach him _honest_! Y'know what, lady? To hell with you and the ship you flew in on!" He whirls away, grim sullen anger blackening his expression as he bellows, "CHEWIE! Y'know where to meet me!" By now, the Wookiee has started fidgeting with one of the nearest sensor panels, accessible without benefit of a ladder, but Chewbacca's gaze snaps around at his partner's call. Something that might be concern sounds underneath the Wookiee's answering yawrl, but he makes no move to pursue Solo as the man whirls yet again and starts stalking off across the bay. Kathryn's lips purse together, and she mutters something about Corellians and their fuses. She doesn't move though, and whether she's just lost a hundred credits worth of sensor patches, she doesn't seem unhappy, but perhaps disappointed. She shrugs slightly and walks over to a bench and takes a seat. She looks around the bay once again, as she did while sitting before. This time she sits back and crosses her legs and arms, seemingly resting. Chewbacca, there by the battered, beaten-up shape that is the renewed _Millennium Falcon_, watches his partner go and lets out something like a sigh; it's a soft, mournful little lowing sound. As he glances after the Corellian, whose stiff-shouldered, long-striding form soon vanishes out of the bay on a course due south, Chewbacca holds his watchful pose for several long moments. Then, his attention slides around to the young woman. Guilt tugs at him, not only because of the current frazzled state of his partner taken out on this bystander -- but also because of the possibility that said bystander is actually an innocent one. This wars with a bit of paranoia of Chewie's own that she might _not_ be an innocent bystander. More patient in determining such things than his hotheaded human honor brother, Chewbacca considers approaching this woman Kahtryn Montavre to try to smooth things over -- but even as he does, something in a pouch at his side beeps. He hauls out a small commlink and whurfles anxiously to himself as he peers at it. One last glance to Kathryn, who will have to wait... and then, quite abruptly, the Wookiee vanishes into the ship. Kathryn continues to sit there, her arms and legs crossed and her eyes closed. They stay closed and perhaps she's asleep? Maybe just resting her eyes. [And shortly, inside the _Millennium Falcon_...] It doesn't take too long before the _Millennium Falcon_'s communication system wakes up on the other end of the transmission. But as the small holo kicks in, the image it relays is not that of Han Solo. Rather, the Wookiee Chewbacca, his befurred visage not easily readable under the best of circumstances and decidedly neutral now, comes into resolution. He rorwrls out an announcement of his presence, and: *Go ahead, _Deliverance_.* Skeezix's expression is none too happy, nor is he hiding it at all. There is a plain scowl on his face, which is barely visible through the grainyness of his own holo image, that only forms from the torso up. "Chewbacca, General Calhoun here. Is Solo around?" he asks. Chewbacca remains more or less unreadable, not letting on any sign of the circumstances in which he'd just left his partner: i.e., Han storming off in a huff out of the Coral City docking bay, en route to the nearest source of liquor. *I'll be meeting him shortly,* is all the Wookiee confesses to. *Is there a problem, General Calhoun?* "Yes, there is," the General nearly snaps, "Chewbacca, I have a very strong feeling that Captain Veran has been -kidnapped-. So strong that I forced our comm officer to go out of his way to contact the Falcon." He pauses for a moment, letting out a slow exhalation through his nose." _This_ sparks off a distinct reaction in Chewbacca, who sharply lifts his befurred muzzle and lets out a yowl of dismay and concern, baring fangs, his blue eyes going a little wider in his face. For a moment he kicks himself; half the upper levels of the Ground Ops staff may be at odds with his honor brother right now, but he has to admit that 'Skeezix' Calhoun has never been one of them. Then the Wookiee goes entirely businesslike, shoving the abashed thought to the back of his mind. If Captain Veran is in trouble, he reasons, that takes highest priority. *I will find Solo immediately,* he promises. *What can we do to help?* "I will be contacting Intelligence immediately after this transmission. The only witness we have to her kidnapping is Ghost Squadron pilot Altair Quila, who is currently in the Deliverance sick bay with a blaster wound to the midsection." Calhoun's words come in a clipped manner, almost biting, though he's certainly not aiming his own anger at the Wookiee. "If you could simply have Solo contact me, or possibly meet me on the Deliverance?" *We'll come,* Chewbacca promises, without compunction in speaking for Solo in this. He knows his honor brother very well, after all. *The _Del_'s current location?* "We're in orbit above Coruscant," the General replies, with the distinct Corellian manner of pronouncing the name. *Coruscant acknowledged,* is the Wookiee's reply. Convenient, isn't it, how they'd just left there and were coming home soon regardless? *We will return within the hour. Is there anything else you wish me to relay to General Solo, sir?* For once, Skeezix smiles. "Just let him know that he's still a scoundrel, and he will be even if he gets back to the Deliverance faster than he could ever get to Kessel, okay?" There is a pause, and he says, "In other words, I really appreciate this, Chewbacca." It does Chewbacca good to hear _someone_ expressing affection (even if delivered in the gruff ways of human males) for Han, and by way of his own appreciation the Wookiee lets out a soft sort of croon. *He is, and we will come swiftly, and you are welcome. Chewbacca out.* The General merely reaches forward, scowling again as he shuts off the holo-transmitter. His form flickers into a thin line and disappears. [And shortly, outside the _Falcon_ once again...] Some minutes pass... but not many, before the hulking form of Chewbacca comes bursting out of the _Falcon_ with urgent strides, his gaze sweeping left and right all over the docking bay. Is Han back, by chance? Is the woman still here? The sleeping form of Kathryn across several seats can be seen if you really look. Her duffle bag acting as a pillow. The people there don't seem to notice her, so sleeping people in the waiting zone must be rather regular. Chewie lets out a sighing noise, briefly torn. He must find his partner, immediately -- but he can't exactly leave the woman alone. Her parts _did_ test out to be in order... and functional sensor array parts for the short trip to Coruscant seem a fair enough trade, even if this Kathryn Montavre has managed (like so many other people as of late have done) to rile his honor brother's unpredictable temper. And so, Chewie decides, lumbering over to the seats across which she is slumped and hunkering down to gently shake her with one of his enormous paws. A soft whuffwhuffwhuff noise escapes him. Kathryn's eyes open slowly, and without a startle. She smiles, and sits up, "How can I help you?" she asks as she stretches her arms and then massages her neck. "This bag really can give you a crick in the neck." she grins. Chewbacca immediately straightens up again, moving out of the human female's personal space, very apparently aware of how his bulk might intimidate. However, intimidation is apparently not now the Wookiee's goal. *I wish to apologize for the actions of my partner. Do you still wish to go to Coruscant?* he rowrls out in his language, his head canted at a curious angle. Kathryn nods her head slowly, "Yes, I still need to get to Coruscant, but you don't have to apologize to me about the General. I sort of made him act that way." she shrugs slightly and smiles. Keen blue eyes with decades' worth of life experience behind him study Kathryn, and then, musingly, Chewbacca nods his shaggy head. Perhaps he approves of that acknowledgement. Still, though, he manages to relay a kind of stern paternal air, despite the fact that he is not a human; perhaps he believes that statement ought to be made to Solo himself? If he does, he doesn't say so. There is a kind of urgency animating Chewbacca now as he barks, *All right then; your parts have tested as sound, and I can use most of them in reconstructing the sensor array that shorted out. Do you have all of your belongings?* The woman's head nods as she replies, "Aye, I've got it all here." she smiles and says, "I'll have to apologize to the General when he returns. I'm sure I offended him a bit, yet sometimes I act on rumour." she says as she stands, "I've heard mostly bad things about the man, assumed he'd be mostly smuggler at heart, and normally I have to resort to broken Basic to get through to them. This is the first one who actually got offended by it." she chuckles. Chewbacca fishes into his pouch on his shoulder belt, bringing up his commlink again and punching a code into it. While he waits for the Corellian he calls his friend to answer him, he keeps his attention upon the woman while she rises. The blue gaze remains keen and even. And the Wookiee points out, *The Basic spoken by my honor brother very rarely breaks.* Unless Han happens to be drunk, but, well, Chewie isn't about to mention drinking in the same breath as Solo to this woman, who has started off on the wrong foot already. *There is much of the smuggler in him, that is true. But there is also much of the smuggler in me.* If he were a human, his tone and expression might almost be called straightfaced; it's impossible to tell whether he's being wry or not. And he leaves it at that, for his commlink bleeps at him, and a tinny edition of Solo's gravelly baritone barks out of the thing into his ear, mostly inaudibly. The Wookiee's only response is a cryptic, *Get back to the ship immediately. Calhoun has called and needs to see us.* Kathryn nods her head quietly, "Do you think he'll let me ride in the ship? I'm not exactly keen on his ability to forgive, and I don't want to further be the fingernails across durasteel." she puts the bag on her shoulder and stands there, looking at you with a serious expression, almost a fearful one. Fearful that she's lost her ride or that she's going to offend Han again? A startled but otherwise incomprehensible noise comes out of the commlink, to which Chewie yurfles an acknowledgement before poking the off button and replacing the device into the pouch at his side. *Your parts work; it is an acceptable trade to give you a ride to Coruscant. We were returning there shortly regardless. As to whether he will forgive you...* The Wookiee cants his head again; if he had eyebrows, he might be knitting them together thoughtfully. *I suggest that you will have much better luck with him if you don't resort to ruses to get him to do something.* Something in the Wookiee's tone suggests that you'll have much better luck with _him_, too. Kathryn nods her head slowly, "Understandable. I don't believe I gave you my name, sir. I'm Kathryn Montavre." she extends her hand. There isn't a ruse in the voice, but its not her full name. She wants to say more, but she chooses not to. The way she speaks its obvious the truth, her name is Kathryn Montavre, but a miniscule hesitation at the beginning is present, to those who notice such, anyway. Chewbacca, if he notices that fractional hesitation, doesn't let on. He merely eyes the proffered hand, and then puts forth his own massive shaggy paw to curl around it and shake it, with the sort of practiced care that suggests he's gotten himself accustomed to this particular humanoid gesture. Even as he gingerly shakes the hand he's given, the Wookiee can be sensed to carry considerable strength in that paw of his. *Chewbacca,* he whorfles simply. *But I suppose you knew that.* The woman smiles, "You don't get around much if you don't know of the General and yourself, Mister Chewbacca." she smiles and shakes the paw quietly until its retraction. "I wonder, I haven't done a freight run between Calamari and Coruscant in a long while. How long does it take?" she inquires softly. Her feet and body are in a positon ready to walk towards the YT-1300 whenever the large Wookiee beside her decides to move on. A soft whorfling chuckle is the immediate reply to that first comment, but the Wookiee offers no other answer about his reputation and that of his partner. He does indeed turn and gesture the human woman towards the entry ramp of the battered freighter, while saying sagely, *We can make it in fifteen minutes in hyperspace.* He doesn't bother to clarify that that's assuming that the Falcon's temperamental systems don't decide to act up en route. The woman walks along slowly, adjusting the bag on one part of her shoulder. She nods her head at the reply as she watches the YT-1300 get closer with each step. She looks over the ship, one of lore, and perhaps a sense of awe ultimately falls over her, or maybe she's just amazed that this thing has survived this long. Scratches, dents, blast marks, a collage of battles which won this space from the New Order a few years ago. She smiles a bit, like a historian would while walking into the Museum of Republic History. It is doubtful that Chewbacca would really appreciate the _Millennium Falcon_ being thought of in the same sentence with "museum" and "history", but fortunately, Wookiees aren't telepathic. All he says, as he escorts Kathryn to the lowered entry ramp and lingers there, is *We'll wait for Solo.* And wait he does, with expectant, barely restrained impatience.. Something's clearly up -- the Wookiee keeps scanning his surroundings with urgent eyes. It's even more doubtful that Han Solo would appreciate the connection of his beloved ship to the concept of a museum piece -- certainly not given the mood of the man when he'd left. It takes several minutes, but soon enough the Corellian General stalks back into view in the docking bay, his long strides bringing him swiftly towards the waiting YT-1300. As soon as he's in visual range he catches sight of his partner by the ship -- and of the woman at his side. A scowl crosses Solo's lean countenance, and the first words out of his mouth, directed to Chewie, are "Is there a reason she's still here?" Kathryn turns around slowly, perhaps under the brunt of a heavy bag or its meant to be, "Ah, General Solo, welcome back. I must apologize for my actions earlier, they were uncalled for. Unfortunately, with the heat of nearly two weeks stuck on this planet without a ride to Coruscant until today which, of course, was summarily cancelled," she frowns, "I'm afraid my attitude got the better of me and my... lacking experience with others which caused me to underestimate your true potential." she bows deeply, "Therefore I give my most humble of apologies." and stands up straight. Her actions do not appear to be condescending, and she seems quite sincere. Then again. . . she's seemed like a lot of things lately. Stopped cold by this unexpected gracious apology, Solo stares at Montavre, his gaze steady upon her as he watches her face and then watches her bow. "My... 'potential," he repeats, as if not quite believing what he'd just heard. But he doesn't given the woman a chance to comment, as he promptly adds to the Wookiee, "Do her parts check out, pal?" Chewie barks an affirmative, and that appears to decide the General. "C'mon," he says gruffly, gesturing up the ramp. And he storms up it himself, not looking back to see if he's followed. Han_Solo enters in a code and enters STARFIGHTER: Corellian YT-1300 -- Millennium Falcon Main Ring Corridor (Starboard)(#678RXntFN) A circular passageway that runs the circumference of the ship, this corridor provides access to all the major areas of the _Millennium Falcon_. The walls are lined with dirty, off-white, upholstered padding interspersed with bulkheads and the occasional control panel; the illumination is faintly greenish. -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => 36T Blaster Carbine => 36T Blaster Carbine => 37T/I Blaster Carbine -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- ft leads to Bunk Room.

ort leads to Cargo Hold. ore leads to Cockpit. tarboard leads to Main Spaceport -- Coral City. Han_Solo enters Main Ring Corridor (Starboard) Chewbacca has arrived. Chewbacca enters Main Ring Corridor (Starboard) Kathryn has arrived. Kathryn enters Main Ring Corridor (Starboard) Kathryn looks around, "What a wonderful ship you have, General. Far more spacious than that Gnat I had. I'm sure having a co-pilot helps as well." she smiles at Chewbacca. "I hadn't had a co-pilot in years when MF went bankrupt." she shrugs a bit. The compliment gets Kathryn another strange look from the General; for a fleeting instant, Solo actually looks surprised by the expressed sentiment, as Chewie secures the hatch. "It does us," he drawls then. With a sharp, swift gesture fore-ward around the ring corridor, he goes on, "There's seats in the foreward hold." Apparently, however, he's not much in the mood for small talk, for he keeps moving, headed straight for the cockpit. "Chewie, let's get 'er fired up." As he goes, the Wookiee flashes the woman a glance and lets out a mildly amused little yawrl, adding that if desired, she can also follow them to the cockpit. You head around the bend in the cockpit corridor to the cockpit. Cockpit(#6362RXntFN) The cockpit of the _Falcon_ is reasonably spacious as freighter cockpits go, able to seat four with ease, and some space left over between the two rear seats and the aft hatch. Countless control panels, including the hyperdrive, steering, and power systems, a link to the navcomputer in the forward hold, and access to the weapons systems, cast assorted winks, blinks, and tiny, steady glows across this room; before the pilot's chair on the port side is a computer screen, for navigational data and other information brought up off the ship's computers. Looking towards the fore casts one's view out through the cockpit's dome window, wide and sectioned off by sturdy metal arc and line segments bracing the thick glass. -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => Threepio => Transponder Database => NavComp -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- ft leads to Main Ring Corridor (Starboard). Han_Solo enters Cockpit Chewbacca comes in from the corridor. Chewbacca enters Cockpit Kathryn comes in from the corridor. Kathryn has arrived. Kathryn enters Cockpit Kathryn has lost her bag, probably dropped it off somewhere. She looks around at the cockpit, its glowing lights and the nicely sized viewports. She smiles quietly, and seems to be more at home. Her eyes fall on the protocol droid. Though he was a figure part of the clan which destroyed the majority of the New Order, she doesn't seem to recognize him. Also again, she didn't /seem/ to recognize you two either so she could be extinguishing her excitement. She smiles and looks around, "Some of these panels aren't standard.." she says, "I guess you've made use of the YT-1300's adaptation capabilities." she smiles. The protocol droid, it would seem, is deactivated -- standing a silent vigil by one of those decidedly non-standard panels. Entering the cockpit of the freighter -- which shows about as much abuse and wear as her exterior does -- Han and Chewie don't give the droid a second glance. They fall instead into a pre-flight drill that seems to include an alarming number of swats and punches to various portions of cantankerous control panels as they start firing up the Falcon's engines. But they do it with long-practiced ease, and in fairly short order the ship is vibrating with power flowing through her systems. The Wookiee slings himself into the co-pilot's chair, while Han takes the pilot's seat. Chewbacca glances back to note that their passenger has indeed followed them, and it is Chewie who replies with droll succintness (expressed in three short yarfs) that they have done a great deal of adaptation to the ship, yes. SF-3264 has just entered the system at 253,393,-32. SF-3264 takes off. Kathryn watches as the craft launches further and further into the fringes of the atmosphere until it is in space. She sighs quietly in relief and contentment. She seems to enjoy that part of the flight. She hasn't sit down yet, however, a seat not being offered perhaps? Once the slightly unsettling rattle of the takeoff has subsided, the _Millennium Falcon_ lifts off with surprisingly easy grace, shooting skyward almost like a meteor in reverse. "Set three-five-two, Chewie," barks Solo, "while I doublecheck the calculations for Coruscant against the nav computer." As he speaks, both his hands are darting along the panels before him and to his left. He is apparently ignoring the woman behind him now; if there's any part of this man's reputation that has basis in fact, his manners seem to be it. Chewbacca, on the other hand, rowrfles to Kathryn, *Feel free to take one of the other seats. It should be a short flight, but you don't have to stand.* Her smile is bright and she nods to Chewbacca, and sits down in the seat Obi-Wan Kenobi sat in at one point in history. It is obviously doubtful that she knows this. As she sits she says, "Thank you, Mister Chewbacca." she crosses her legs, however awkward it may look in baggy spacer pants, and watches the two in front of her work. She has seen controls similar to these, hers were a little older though. She smiles and watches them work, then sits back into the seat, quietly awaiting a ride. Han_Solo plots a jump in the Navcomputer. Route calculated and recorded as Jump Number 5. Estimated travel time: 15m 55s Han_Solo engages the hyperdrive. Hyperdrive engaged. It doesn't take long. Soon enough Solo's got calculations that satisfy him -- and when he growls "Punch it" to his shaggy partner, the stars outside the cockpit blur into lines of white. All at once, the ship is in hyperspace. And only then does Han cast a narrow-eyed look back over his shoulder. "You got any particular preference on where to be dropped on Coruscant?" Kathryn smiles and replies, "I live near Manarai, but whereever you land will be fine. I can always catch a cab." she grins a bit and uses a finger to brush her hair back behind her right ear. The ship may be brought out of lightspeed: 8m 6s "Well, good," Solo begins sardonically, "'cause contrary to popular belief, the _Falcon_ ain't a ca--" Chewbacca cuts him off, however, with an admonishing, *Han, she -did- apologize. Go easy on her.* Sullen hazel eyes cast another glance backward, and the Corellian's mouth tightens into a stoic little line. Then he mutters, shooting his attention back out to the white streaks flaring past the ship, "Sorry. I ain't exactly competin' for Mister Charisma these days." Kathryn shakes her head with a smile, "You don't have to go easy on me, my actions, though I apologized, were not exactly the most nice." she looks at Chewbacca, "However, Mister Chewbacca, I thank you for your attempts." she says, giving him a reassuring smile should he turn around to see it. *Don't sweat it,* Chewie practically chirps. *I do this all the time.* Solo shoots his partner a dirty look and grumbles, "You're not helping, fuzzball." Still scowling, he drums his fingers on one of the control panels, watching the timer counting down the minutes till the ship comes out of lightspeed. The ship may be brought out of lightspeed: Immediately. Use JUMP/UNJUMP Kathryn watches the purple-blue swirl of hyperspace quietly, contemplating to herself. She looks at her datapad, and smiles happily at something, then looks back out the windows. Minutes tick by; Solo's attention remains riveted upon his control panels and the passing of distorted stars. Chewbacca keeps some of his attention upon Kathryn Montavre, though, willing to converse if she has something to say. But as she appears to be content to pass the time in silence, the Wookiee indulges this. And soon enough, there comes a discreetly beeping alert, one of the few discreet things about this ship. "There we have it," murmurs Solo then, "Coruscant." He straightens up in his seat, hands returning to the controls, coaxing his beloved freighter out of hyperspace. SF-3264 has just entered the system at 253,393,-32. Hyperdrive disengaged. __________________________________________________________________________ / \ | Designation X Y Z Range Status Docked? | ============================================================================ | CS-4238 -135 -70 -194 625.0 Normal No | | CS-9139 -185 -70 -144 647.0 Damaged No | | CS-7628 -135 -70 -194 625.0 Normal No | | SF-3299 155 47 -85 363.0 Normal No | | SF-3302 -135 -70 -194 625.0 Normal No | | CS-4806 -135 -70 -194 625.0 Normal No | | SF-5430 -135 -70 -194 625.0 Normal No | | SF-3264 253 393 -32 0.0 Normal No | | CS-7800 -170 -50 -130 620.0 Normal No | | P-9645 -135 -70 -194 625.0 Normal No | ============================================================================ \__________________________________________________________________________/ As the swirl disappears and the starlight returns to disappear shortly after, Vena's breath catches in her throat. Coruscant, the shimmering jewel and the galactic seat for thousands of years. Her head cocks slightly to the side as she watches freighters, yachts and military ships line around the planet. Not to mention the Golan IIIs and the lavish Skyhooks. "Home." she quietly says as if she hasn't been here in a very long time. "Thank you very much, sirs. Though I did give you the sensor parts you needed, I feel even more indebted to you for bringing me home." she smiles broadly. Obvious old hands at negotiating the skyways around this planet, Solo and the Wookiee bring the Falcon gliding in on a landing course for Coruscant's surface. Chewie rowrls amiably, *You're welcome, and good luck getting back to your place.* The General, in the meantime, is getting on the comm with planetary docking control: "_Millennium Falcon_, comin' in. Transponder ID being broadcasted now. Y'all got clearance for us?" Then, distractedly, he peers back at Kathryn Montavre, still slightly unsettled by her abrupt transformation from slang-speaking drifter to a woman of apparent manners. "Uh," he says in gruff tones, "welcome." Autopilot set. Autopilot engaged. SF-3264 has moved to 185,312,-61 SF-3264 has moved to 117,230,-89 SF-3264 has moved to 49,149,-118 SF-3264 has moved to -20,67,-146 SF-3264 has moved to -88,-14,-175 SF-3264 has moved to -135,-70,-194 Autopilot destination reached. An acknowledgement comes briskly and politely over the comm, and in short order the _Falcon_ descends into Coruscant's atmosphere, heading for a public landing bay. Kathryn remains silent at the ship enters the atmosphere of the planet, passing by tall graphite colored buildings and other incredibly breath-taking sights. Her eyes peruse all that she can see, entirely greatful. Corus nearby lighting up the sky to a great blue. A lovely day. Han_Solo landed the ship successfully. Ship landed successfully. Kathryn sighs contentedly and smiles. She stands, "Thank you both. I am so happy that you could take me here." she looks around and doesn't move yet, though she's obviously anxious to do so. Down... down... and then, with a light _thump_, the ship touches down. Chewbacca is first to turn to their passenger, saying with a light of anxiety in those blue eyes of his, *Will you pardon us if we don't see you off the ship? I'm afraid something urgent has come up and we need to rendezvous immediately with some of our personnel in orbit.* Solo shoots Chewie a measuring glance, looking slightly uncomfortable. Perhaps the good General is remembering those alien things called "manners"? Certainly he appears to be debating whether he ought to be getting up. Kathryn nods her head quietly, "Of course." she says with a smile, "It was good to meet you, General." she nods, "Mister Chewbacca." another nod. "I hope you have a lovely day, and perhaps we'll run into each other some other time." she smiles and begins to leave. With that, belatedly, Solo does actually rise. Perhaps the man _does_ have a modicum of manners. "Maybe," he says, still sounding gruff, very possibly in an attempt to cover up discomfort. "Wave when you get clear of the ship when we can see ya, okay? We gotta get upstairs fast." Chewbacca inclines his head graciously, in the meantime. *Goodbye, Miss Montavre; it was a pleasure to meet you.* Kathryn turns around, nods at the General, smiles at the Wookiee and leaves. Kathryn heads aft towards the main corridor. Kathryn has left. [And in moments...] A woman waves in the distance. Just visible up in the cockpit node of the Falcon, Chewbacca waves a shaggy paw down at the departing figure of their passenger, acknowledging her wave. The ship fires up its engines once she is clear... and once more, she springs aloft. Battered she might be, but still... there's something of a falcon's agility in the way she takes to the sky. In minutes, she's nothing but a flare of thruster fire... and then, she's gone. [And in short order, Han and Chewie take the _Falcon_ back up into space to rendezvous with the _Deliverance_...] You head down off the entry ramp of the _Falcon_. Auxiliary Bay -- NRSC Deliverance This portion of the bay has been specifically designed to house, launch and maintain the four squadrons of fightercraft assigned to the Deliverance. The central section is wide open with a high arched ceiling to allow some fighters to be moved to the upper 'storage' areas on either side of the main landing bay. To one end of the hangar is the hazy blue magnetic shield which separates the vacuum of space from the atmospherically safe interior of the ship. Halfway up the inner wall is the 'Flight Control Room', from where the flight control operators oversee the activity below. This brightly lighted bay is organically colored in deep grays, whites and greens, much like the rest of the ship. Starfighter technicians and utility droids are scattered throughout the hangar area. Astromech droids are in abundance, following their pilots or doing other tasks for the fighter they're assigned to. Many of the pilots are also in evidence, some congregating near the muster room while others work on their ships alongside the techs. ***YELLOW ALERT*** -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => STARFIGHTER: Corellian YT-1300 -- Millennium Falcon => Lianna => STARFIGHTER: Corellian YT-1300 -- Triton => STARFIGHTER: Incom T-65B X-wing -- Ghost 3 => STARFIGHTER: Incom T-65B X-wing -- Ghost 6 => STARFIGHTER: Sienar Lambda Class Shuttle -- Hope => STARFIGHTER: Sienar Lambda Class Shuttle -- Stellar Blur => STARFIGHTER: Sardakh Kale-1 -- Firedancer => STARFIGHTER: Corellian YT-1300 -- Monitor => STARFIGHTER: Incom T-65B X-wing -- Rogue 1 => STARFIGHTER: Alliance A-Wing Starfighter -- Archer 3 => STARFIGHTER: Incom T-65B X-wing -- Ghost 5 => STARFIGHTER: Incom T-65B X-wing -- Ghost 7 => STARFIGHTER: Incom T-65B X-wing -- Ghost 8 => STARFIGHTER: SubPro Ilyrian Gnat -- Silver Wasp => STARFIGHTER: Sienar Lambda Class Shuttle -- Axis => STARFIGHTER: Incom T-65B X-wing -- Rogue 7 => STARFIGHTER: Alliance A-Wing Starfighter -- Archer 5 => STARFIGHTER: Alliance A-Wing Starfighter -- Archer 2 => STARFIGHTER: Corellian YT-1300 -- Ziggurat => STARFIGHTER: Incom T-65B X-wing -- Rogue 5 => STARFIGHTER: Slayn and Korpil B-wing -- Blue 3 => STARFIGHTER: Slayn and Korpil B-wing -- Blue 2 => STARFIGHTER: Slayn and Korpil B-wing -- Blue 1 => STARFIGHTER: MT/191 Dropship -- Rush => STARFIGHTER: Slayn and Korpil B-wing -- Blue 4 => STARFIGHTER: Alliance A-Wing Starfighter -- Archer 4 => STARFIGHTER: Incom T-65B X-wing -- Rogue 6 => STARFIGHTER: Incom T-65B X-wing -- Rogue 4 => STARFIGHTER: Incom T-65B X-wing -- Rogue 8 => STARFIGHTER: Koensayr BTL-S3 Y-wing -- Vanguard 3 -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- tarboard leads to Hangar Bay -- NRSC Deliverance. Han_Solo enters Auxiliary Bay -- NRSC Deliverance Chewbacca comes down the entry ramp of the _Millenium Falcon_. Chewbacca enters Auxiliary Bay -- NRSC Deliverance Lianna is busy commanding a few techs around. She is not really on shift right now, but waiting for clearance to fly down to Coruscant, she is taking opportunity to brief in on the latest maintenance. "No, you have to take make that Y-Wing ready for takeoff first. We don't need fighters halfway ready, we need some we can launch, did I make myself clear, Corporal?". Speaking of clearance, the _Millennium Falcon_ comes roaring in into the hangar bay about three beats after her arrival is announced to the deck personnel. The YT-1300 settles down with barely enough time for her engines to start cooling off and her entry ramp to come down before General Solo and his Wookiee partner emerge. Solo's got a decidedly no-nonsense expression to his eyes, and even for him, his stride is unusually urgent, unusually swift. "Deck officer!" he bellows. "Deck officer!" Skeezix enters from the main section of the hangar bay. Skeezix has arrived. Skeezix enters Auxiliary Bay -- NRSC Deliverance Lianna turns, looking annoyed. This whole yellow condition was not helping her headache, but that yelling close to her does actually intensify it. "Geez.", she announces her displeasure, before moving off out of the way of that General. Skeezix walks into the auxiliary bay briskly, his boots clacking with each step they make on the tarmac.. even if they -aren't- shined this evening. His arms hang stiffly at his side, and there's a particular frown on his face that simply translates anger. Volume seems to be a main component of the Han Solo School of Getting Attention. Fortunately, however, the Corellian doesn't bellow long. The moment he spies Lianna turning towards him he modulates down to simply brusquely demanding, wasting no time on any greetings of any kind. "Do you know where I can General Calhoun?" he asks in sharp tones. In the meantime, just behind him, Chewbacca starts to rowrl a greeting to make up for his friend's ill manners -- but the Wookiee spies their objective already entering the bay. His greater height comes in handy for better scanning his surroundings, after all. Lianna shakes her head. "No, /sir/. May I suggest you use the ship's /intercom/?", she suggests, although she might not be as friendly as she tries to force herself to be, Skeezix's eyes fall upon the unmistakable (to him, at least) backside of the Millennium Falcon. "Solo," he says to himself, the look of anger fading from his eyes. "Bloody time," he mutters again, heading towards the aft section of the Falcon. Solo's mouth curls into a smirk in response to the veiled irritation he can sense (or at least that he thinks he can sense) behind the corporal's tone. "You were closer," he drawls sarcastically, in an unmistakable 'why, am I interrupting your leisure time?' tone, "and besides, I wouldn't _dream_ of wasting precious Republic resources to help me find one man on this big ol' freighter. Thank you _ever_ so much for your help." Fuming now (_is the entire NR military out for my blood these days or what?_ he thinks angrily), he begins to whirl away, bent on finding the nearest intercom link if he has to, or someone who can point him at Calhoun. Chewie, however, takes care of this little problem for him. The big Wookiee whorfles out, *Don't look now, but there he is,* gesturing with an enormous paw towards the other man approaching. Lianna blinks at the Wookiee, then at the direction he indicates, then back at the general she slowly grasps who it _might_ be. "Guess you got your man.", she mutters, turning back to the Corporal she was attending earlier, who looks at her wide eyed with that 'do you know who THAT is?' expression. "What's the matter? I could have repaired that fighter meanwhile!". "Hello, Chewbacca," the General replies, acting much like the rank he holds despite the fact that he dons nothing in the way of a uniform. "I see Han is.. upset," Skeezix says, quietly. His eyes send a piercing look, gauging Solo quietly. Chewie whorfles out a muttered apology at Lianna -- something about him suggests long-suffering patience in trying to deal with Solo's temper -- before snapping his attention around to Calhoun. He yowls a greeting, diplomatically refraining from commenting on Han's current state of mind, especially with Han right in earshot and turning to face Skeezix himself. Upset is a good way to describe Solo's demeanor, indeed; impatient, bristling, and defensive are a few more. "Chewie gave me the news," he declares, cutting right to the chase. "What do we know?" "Not a damn thing so long as we're in this hangar bay," General Calhoun replies. "I've deemed this confidential, need-to-know stuff." He jerks his head up and backwards, a general indication that he's willing to leave, immediately. "Where to?" Lianna nods to the Wookiee, smiling faintly, the few words of Wookiee she understand allowing her to understand that this was an apology. Turning to the Corporal again, she takes out her datapad. "Look at this.", she instructs, and now starts pointing to a few components of the Y-wing in question, that need repair or replacement. Of course, this allows her to remain within earshot. If this is General Calhoun, she is surely interested what the topic is. Bad luck this time. "Come onto the _Falcon_," is Solo's short reply. It's here, it's handy, and it's secure. He waves the other man up the entry ramp, while turning to storm up it himself. As soon as he's out of sight, he leaves in his wake a sensation not at all akin to a thunderstorm passing -- at least, if the look in Chewie's eyes is any indication. The Wookiee yarfs meaningfully to Skeezix, letting him proceed up the ramp, and leaving the deck officer to her work. Han_Solo enters in a code and enters STARFIGHTER: Corellian YT-1300 -- Millennium Falcon Main Ring Corridor (Starboard)(#678RXntFN) -=-=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=-=- => 36T Blaster Carbine => 36T Blaster Carbine => 37T/I Blaster Carbine -=-=-=-=-=<>=-=-=-=-=- ft leads to Bunk Room.

ort leads to Cargo Hold. ore leads to Cockpit. tarboard leads to Auxiliary Bay -- NRSC Deliverance. Han_Solo enters Main Ring Corridor (Starboard) Skeezix has arrived. Skeezix enters Main Ring Corridor (Starboard) Chewbacca enters Main Ring Corridor (Starboard) Han doesn't go far as he storms onto his vessel. The lanky Corellian turns and watches with a stony expression as Calhoun and the Wookiee follow up onto the ship; Chewie, for his part, waits until Skeezix is safely aboard before turning and pulling the hatch closed with his mighty paws. The loud *clank* of it reverberates through the curved corridor, but as it dies down, Solo repeats gruffly, "What do we know?" At the same time, he flicks a hand towards the foreward hold, brows inquiringly lifted, silently asking if his and Chewie's visitor wishes to go have a seat. Skeezix doesn't take a seat, nor does he look like he's about to. Instead, he thrusts his arms over each other, a redness rising into his face. He doesn't explain that, yet... instead he just does as Solo asks. "We know that Gabrielle went into a booth with a man wearing all black. Altair saw the man pickin' Gabrielle up, then he shot Altair with a blaster, set for stun. He said somethin', likely in a mechanical voice. However, Altair believes she may recognize the voice." Both Solo and Chewbacca seem perfectly content with discussing this matter right there in the corridor, and both of them study Skeezix gravely as he begins to relay what he knows. The Wookiee lets out a low doleful whine, but otherwise does not interrupt; it is Han who asks then, grimly, "Okay, you have a witness. Can Altair make the guy's face too, or just the voice?" There is no question, as far as the Corellian is concerned, as to why Calhoun has called upon him. He doesn't even bother to ask for justification. His concern and his own dark fury at the thought of one of _his_ friends having been taken against her will to gods only knew where are clearly broadcast in his hard, clear gaze and by the determined set of his jaw. Skeezix does a good job of hiding his fists beneath each arm, which may be a good thing at this point. Nobody would want to see the whiteness of the General's knuckles. "Altair can make out the voice, she believes, as the same voice she heard when her shuttle was attacked on a trip to the Lruk system. If any people on -that- mission saw the bastard.. well, then we'll have our in." Each time he stops talking, his jaw tightens, almost looking painful. Solo'd been more than obviously cranky outside the _Falcon_. Now, though, the irritation in his lean weathered face has shifted towards something rather more like wrath, tempered with an all too clear understanding of what must be gripping the other man now. If someone had taken the Princess, Han Solo would now be wanting to rip the arms off the sentient who dared violate her person, without even waiting for Chewie to help. Nor does he waste any time on trying to express concern or sympathies -- such is not Han's way. His sympathies get expressed in decisive action. Not bothering to point out that Gabrielle herself had been part of the Lruk mission, the Corellian inquires roughly, "What do we know about that attacker? Anything at all? Any communications received, or clues left that might show where she's been taken?" Skeezix shakes his head to either side. "No, Han. I asked Altair what happened when she first came to, and deemed her debriefing classified to anybody above my own rank, or anybody with a level three clearance from the head of intelligence. I didn't think it would be wise to ask for any more information until somebody else with a bit more of a.." He pauses here, his eyes turning towards the deck and boring into the steel like a pair of drills. "..sound mind.. could talk to her about it." He looks back towards Solo, his eyebrows arched inward creating deep lines on his forehead. "I didn't want to startle Captain Altair and cause any information leaks." "I'll find her and talk to her immediately," comes Han's promise. His voice is quieter now, but no less intent, and his gaze is keenly focused. Chewie leaps in with a loudly affirmative string of whurfs and yurfs, to which the Corellian appends, one corner of his mouth curling up faintly, "_We'll_ find her and talk to her immediately. You want in, or do you have any other leads?" Skeezix narrows his eyes considerably, peering towards the floor. "There are only two people outside this Republic whom I trust. Avalyshaar of Caspar, and a young lady named Shenner. If I had some sort of clue, I'd go try to wring somethin' out of them. Otherwise, my only lead is Altair, and whoever else was on the shuttle that was attacked." If either Han or Chewbacca recognizes the latter name, neither of them gives any sign of it. But the Corellian does nod evenly at the mention of the President of Caspar, though Skeezix might not see it with his attention directed at the deck. "We talk to Altair then," he decides firmly, "and we see where we take it from there." And because this is Skeezix Calhoun before him, Han adds, "Then we track the guy, we find him, we get Gaby back." This is as close as he's liable to come to expressing his own concern; it roughens his voice ever so slightly, and glimmers just behind the crystalline clarity of his stare. Skeezix lifts his eyes, showing by a bit less of a tightness in his eyes that they are, indeed, growing bloodshot. "We'd better. He'll regret it if we don't," he says, sounding suddenly too fatigued to be angry. "I've been.. worryin' too much, it's time for me to get some sleep." He nods his head slowly, an honest tone to his words as he says, "I appreciate your help. Both of you." Chewbacca rowrls softly, stepping forward to place a furry paw upon Calhoun's shoulder, more physically demonstrative than his Corellian partner. Han settles for simply allowing his expression to soften ever so slightly, again all too aware of what _he's_ gone through in the past whenever Leia's been in danger. "Get some shut-eye," he rasps then. "And you're welcome. Chewie and me, we'll sit tight till you're ready." Skeezix tips his head slowly towards Solo, an old rebel undercover manner of expressing a salute. To Chewbacca, he does something much different. His jaw is set, and he lifts both fists before him. With a very slight grunt, he mock-pounds each fist into his chest... a common sign of courage between Wookiee comrades. In this case, it's a sign of trust between a man who literally grew up around Wookiees, and a Wookiee himself. "My comlink will be on," he says, coldly. These two human men are the ones with whom Chewbacca is most comfortable among all of the New Republic's personnel -- and without hesitation, the big Wookiee returns Skeezix's gesture, even as he bobs his head in a grave appreciation and understanding of it. Han's expression shares a bit of those same sentiments, but it's still dominated by the sharp, cold wrath that someone has dared to do this thing to Gabrielle. His junior officer. His friend. And the beloved of Skeezix, also his friend. "We'll use it, if we find out anything," he pledges, the promise to help Calhoun dismember the miscreant when he's caught underscoring his words as cleanly as blaster fire. "We'll use it." [To be continued...]