Private The Escort Run

[Devin Virell]

Zarrah Vex

​

The assignment followed the recent events on Kattada, the Sith’s carnage still scarred in memory. This new mission was meant to be a clean one, a diplomatic escort to the Ord Cantrell. The envoy was headed to a summit, a futile attempt to bring peace to fractured factions, but the journey ahead was long.

It had been months since Devin had flown a joint operation, maybe longer..

Lately, most of Devin's assignments had been quiet runs, remote outposts, the kind of work that kept him in the cockpit but far from anything with connection. But he'd grown used to the silence, to the rhythm of flying alone, to the kind of missions that didn’t really ask much of him aside from patience.

This one felt different from the moment he saw the briefing. And now that they were drawing closer, the stars out here felt colder.

He hadn’t expected to feel anything about it, really. But now, sitting in hyperspace, he felt something stir.

Not nerves exactly.. but a kind of alertness.

It could've even just been curiosity. He'd always been that way.

Devin knew who was leading the mission, but he didn’t know much about her save a name, a reputation, and a few lines he skimmed in one of the mission's logs.

While adjusting the throttle by a fraction, amber lanterns flickered in his gaze as he looked over the console, then drifted back to the stars.

The X‑Wing’s cockpit was a familiar cage, the kind of space where he could feel every vibration of the engines through the seat and every shift in the ship’s balance through the stick. Hyperspace stretched ahead in long ribbons that were almost too calm for his liking. It was always during the calm that his mind always wandered.

Somewhere ahead, another vessel, the lead, cut a clean path, the kind of ship that belonged to someone with authority.

The rest of the formation held steady. His own X-wing was on the outer edge, far enough to see the rest of them. Somewhere in the middle was the envoy, like a precious jewel locked inside a case.

The comms crackled, loud enough for everyone to hear.

<Outer screen looks lonely, Sky Rat. You still awake out there?>

Devin’s lips curled into a faint smirk. <Eyes open. Someone’s got to keep you lot honest.>

A chuckle came back over the channel, another voice. <Copy that. Just don’t drift too far, wouldn’t want you missing the party.>

The banter faded, but the silence felt different now, carrying the warmth of camaraderie and the sense of being part of something bigger.

 

[Zarrah Vex]

Objective: Diplomatic Escort
Location: Hyperspace
Outfit:Flight Suit
Tags: Devin Virell

The Starlight Sentinel was cruising along through hyperspace. Its current mission was not the top thing on its captain's mind however. They were available for this mission because she had needed to leave Veradune to pick up a prototype fighter without alerting GADF command that they had strayed too far from their station. Things were changing in the Galactic Alliance. And while Zarrah maintained her allegiance to them for the moment, bigger things were in development on Veradune. Bigger things that would mean they soon would not be able to depend on the Alliance for their defense. In private conversations Zarrah might have even suggested that was the case already, except for the small fleet that was mostly manned by Zorrens anyways.

Though she was also a bit hesitant to throw her support behind the Hidden Path, it was good to work with another group that stood fast against the tyranny that the newly established Galactic Empire had brought to the Core. It was time to end this nightmare. Zarrah didn't much care who did that. If the Alliance could manage to pull up their bootstraps and drive the Empire back where they came from that would be great, but at this point the Alliance had fractured. Something new was coming whether they were victorious against the Empire or not.

This mission could nearly run itself. And there wasn't much for Zarrah to do while they were in hyperspace. That being the case, Zarrah turned over the conn to her XO and made her way to the secure hangar within the frigate that was the main ship in the escort mission. She hummed as she looked over the fighter that stood out as different from others housed in the hangar. "Captain. I didn't realize that you were coming to see the new asset," the deck officer stated with a salute as he scrambled towards the new fighter.

"I am one who thinks that testing should be done under fire. We can hope that this mission goes without the need to launch our new toy here, but if there is a need I want to be the one with the stick in my hand," Zarrah knew her time with the GADF was coming to an end, but that was not common knowledge. She was not certain that the entire crew would be leaving. That being the case she really couldn't state that the prototype fighter was not intended for the Alliance and that she herself would be providing a report to the others in the budding Protectorate.

"Attention all crew. Exiting hyperspace in 5, 4, 3, 2…"

"Better have this bird ready to fly in two minutes ensign," Zarrah stated with a smirk as she strode towards the ladder into the new fighter. The ensign gave a salute and went back to work to meet his Captain's expectations.

 

[Devin Virell]

Zarrah Vex

​

For a while the comms were alive with banter bouncing back and forth. One person was retelling a botched refuel, another laughing so hard he clipped the mic. Devin didn’t add much, but he let it fill the cockpit. Noise was always welcome.

Then the captain’s voice cut through.

Immediately, the laughter died. Devin’s fingers flexed on the stick.

Four. Three. Two.

Stars snapped back into place with a jolt. His X‑wing shuddered, dampeners a bit behind, the shake vibrating through his chest. The hum of hyperspace then fell away, replaced by a steadier thrum.

And there it was.

Ord Mantell filled the viewport, a blue‑green world. For a moment, Devin just stared. The planet looked almost serene from here, glittering like a jewel. That was, until his stomach twisted. He remembered Kattada looking peaceful too.. right before the sky tore open with Sith pouring in.

The X-wing’s frame rattled as the squadron edged itself back into order. Voices began crackling through the comms one by one.

“Gold Two, clear.”

“Gold Three, clear.”

Devin sat with silence as he waited his turn. Finally, he thumbed the comm.

“Gold Five, clear.”

The words came out steady, sharper than he felt inside. He let go of the switch and leaned back. The glow of the console painted his visor as his eyes flicked to the scope. Another voice crackled through, then another, always until the quiet closed in.

The last of the roll call faded. For a breath it was calm.. almost too calm. Then the scope suddenly flared red. Contacts bloomed across the display, the cockpit filling with a loud warning tone a half beat later. Silhouettes surged forward. The first volley slashed past his canopy.

“Contacts, multiple, closing fast,” someone barked.

Devin yanked the stick, his starfighter rolling clear.

The comms burst into a storm of voices, one pilot shouting he had a hit on his wing. His jaw tightened as the enemy fanned out, one heading straight for him.