Chapter Seventeen

D'Qar, 34 ABY

"Shriv, what can you tell me about D'Qar?" Zay asked.

"Hmm let's see. Outer rim planet with lots of green. I think that covers it," he answered.

Zay knew he couldn't see her but she rolled her eyes. "Thank you Shriv. That was so helpful," she said, her voice full of sarcasm.

"Hey, you asked and I answered."

Zay heard some beeping coming from up front. "Does that mean we're close?"

"Yeah. I'm about to take us out of lightspeed."

"We're in a First Order ship," she pointed out. "They'll shoot us on sight."

"Don't worry, Zay. I changed the communication frequency in this thing to a Resistance one so hopefully they won't shoot at us."

"Gee, thanks for that. It makes me feel so much better."

"Let's see if this works. Coming out of lightspeed in 3... 2... 1."

As they were coming out of lightspeed, a female voice came through the comms "Sector clear, Resistance base, not sign of the First Order yet. Wait... contact!"

Zay watched as they flew past three X-wings and she heard Shriv scrabble to activate the comms inside the TIE Fighter.

"No contact! This is Shriv Suurgav, clearance code 7-3-Tau. We are friendlies requesting permission to land. Please do not shoot us!"

Zay saw the three X-wing fighters form up behind them.

"Landing request denied."

Shriv threw his hands up in exasperation. "Well I-I-I I said please?"

"Standby for instructions," the pilot said, then the comm died.

Well so far so good. Zay peered over her left shoulder at Shriv. "It'll be okay, she assured him. "We just have to explain what's going on to-" She was interrupted by the sound of Dio's hologram transmitter activating and she turned back around to see who it was. "General Organa."

"Shriv? I received your message," Leia said. "That means you must be Zay. I'm terribly sorry to hear about your mother. She was a complicated woman but the galaxy was far better with her in it."

Zay swallowed the lump in the back of her throat before answering. "Thank you, ma'am. It's very kind of you to say."

"We brought you something General," Shriv called out as he started typing something. "Schematics for the First Order dreadnought. Transmitting it now."

"I'll get these over to Commander Dameron for analysis right away."

"I'm ready to join the fight, General," Zay said.

"I know you are but the Resistance is evacuating. The First Order is coming for us. Instead of taking them head on, I have an urgent mission for you. We have allies in the Outer Rim. I need a team to go find them. I know you're tired. I know you've already fought and lost so much. But I need you to keep going. Can you do that?"

Zay looked over her shoulder again at Shriv and he looked back at her at the same time. Their eyes met and Shriv gave her a small nod. She turned back to Leia and nodded. "You can count on us, General," she answered confidently.

A small smile appeared on Leia's face. "I'll be sending you a list shortly. Good luck, Inferno Squad," she said, and then the transmission went dead.

"Who's Commander Dameron?" Zay asked as she saw the X-wings break off, most likely on Leia's orders.

"That would be Poe Dameron. The best starfighter pilot we have. He's very headstrong and at times reckless but the General trusts him a lot."

"Sounds like a bit of a cocky guy then."

Shriv sighed. "At times he is and it gets on the General's nerves."

A minute later, Dio beeped.

Zay glanced at the seeker droid. "You have the list? Let's hear it then."

Dio let out a series of beeps and chirps.

Zay let out a sigh. "Forty people and twenty planets. That might take a while. I recognize a few names. Wait... Kes Dameron? Is he related to Poe?"

"Yes, he's his father," Shriv answered. "I know everyone on the list, some better than others."

"Do you think they'll want to help the Resistance?"

"Let's hope so because we need all the help we can get."

"Dio, can you pull up a galaxy map?" Zay asked.

The droid beeped and projected a galaxy map between Zay and Shriv.

Zay studied the map. "Naboo is pretty close. I think we should start there. What do you think Shriv?"

"Yeah. Good idea Zay. We can start with the planets closest to us and then work our way out. Setting a course for Naboo now," Shriv said as he typed in the coordinates.

"I've heard it's a beautiful planet."

Some parts and others aren't in my opinion. Coordinates locked in. Ready to go?"

"Yeah. Let's get out of here."

A moment later Zay saw the planet of D'Qar disappear as they jumped to lightspeed.

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