New Blood: Blue Period

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(As always, my thanks to George Lucas and Lucasfilm for allowing me to play in this universe. I don't get any profit from this story, but I do get enjoyment out of writing it. If you enjoy reading it, let me know. Special thanks to Vickie Boyd for letting me use some of the characters and locations established in her Station Leave series.)

Deysha Johats had lost track of the number of times he'd stared the man in the face. The man had his finger on the trigger, and it wouldn't take much for him to just have a little twitch. And that would be that.

"General, as I've already said, I have no idea where Cadet Destrophi is," Deysha said. It was true. Shortly before leaving training base 421, Nisha Destrophi, of Johats' New Blood training squadron, had gone missing. In the three weeks since her disappearance, she'd made no apparent effort to contact the New Republic, or any of her fellow New Bloods.

"This isn't good enough, Johats!" The General growled. "Purely on your reputation, and Commander Cheren's recommendation, we assigned you a squadron of twenty training pilots. In only a few weeks, you've had one death, one departure, and one mysterious disappearance. Clearly you don't know what you're doing."

"Of course he knows," Doma P'Tay growled. "Three times I've flown pilots training, and he's the best trainer I've ever had. Him and Commander Cheren," she added loyally.

"I agree," Barchelli Cotay said, with a sigh. "But there is nothing we can do for the captain. Our testimony, were we to offer it, would see us laughed out of court. The two of them know how we feel, that has to be enough."

"They are strong characters," Zander Berkal opined. He sat at a table in the small office, cleaning a blaster pistol. Opposite him sat Dael Y'Notens, likewise engaged, but with his back to the viewscreen. The others could tell from the way his lekku twitched, that the Twi'lek was not happy.

At the far end of the room sat the New Blood's jokers, Carson Deniel and Alton Thanas. Even they were drained of merriment, however, as Deysha's hearing progressed.

"What's going to happen?" Kirrsk Seyrak asked. As Nisha's wingmate, he'd been closer than most to her, and felt her loss keenly.

Cotay leaned back in his chair, and steepled his fingers in front of him. His tongue slid contemplatively over the end of his snout like face, before he answered.

"We shall probably have an overseer assigned to us. Theoretically, this person will not interfere with procedure, merely watch what Cheren and Johats do. They will make regular reports back to this General or his staff, and after a certain degree of time, the commanders will be judged on their performance."

"So, how well we learn decides whether we keep being taught by them?" asked Tigris Fal.

Alton shook his head. "This isn't right. I agree with Doma," he said, nodding to the Devaronian. "We really need to prove that they are the best men for the job."

"That's simple enough," Allens Fynner commented. "We just have to get so good, that no-one can dare suggest they're not the best."

Fynner's comment was met with approval. With the pilots in agreement to ace the rest of their training, they adjourned to the training area to await their commanding officers.

Nisha Destrophi scanned the sector of space in front of her. Her dull expression, and blank eyes betrayed nothing of what she felt. She was just as Razor Dee liked his crew. Especially his female crew.

"You see, Lack?" he asked, expansively. "Just a few weeks training, and we have her back, even better than before. And now she knows how to fly, as well."

"I'm thinking she knew flying before she left us, as that's how she left us." Lack replied, his face impassive.

"Yes, well, she has no mechanics to win over, this time. No-one to work her feminine wiles on, even if she were able."

"Even without the training, what you did to that last boy will be warning, I'm thinking."

"Well put, Lack. Yes, I really must try to contain myself in future. Ottegan silk is very hard to get cleaned. Especially that kind of stain..."

Deysha sat in his office, staring blankly at the sheaves of datapads in front of him. Today the overseer would arrive, and life for the New Bloods could return to semi-normal. Once they were flying again, he hoped they would forget about the overseer, who would bring her own ship with her. It seemed to Deysha a calculated snub that she would fly a TIE Interceptor during her time with the squadron. With it, she would literally be able to fly rings around the rest of them.

The door slid open silently, and a woman stepped through. Deysha took in her details -prosthetic leg, replacement eye, blonde hair, average height and build- even as he stood to greet her.

"I was a pilot myself, Captain Johats. I flew against Fel and with Antilles. I consider them the best. You, therefore, are just another pilot, regardless of your reputation. You've proven yourself before now as being less than a team player, and even in taking over this training squadron, you chose a superior officer as your XO. These are the markings of a career egomaniac. And yet..."

"You devoted your piloting career to proving you could be a team player, conforming to orders, cementing your reputation as one of the finest pilots the Rebellion and New Republic ever had. And your career was short, for one so gifted. Barely five years, and then you retired, ostensibly to care for the child yourself and Inyri Forge have had.

"You present an intriguing dichotomy, Captain, and one I look forward to studying, as well as your squadron of cadets."

The door opened and Aric Cheren walked in, staring at the datapad he held. He took a second to register the presence of Telsij, before snapping off a salute.

"At ease, Commander," she replied, turning to face the man. "Now, Aric Cheren. As much of interest to me as Captain Johats. Likewise a good pilot, likewise more devoted, apparently, to training the next generation of pilots to flying himself. I can see that the next few weeks promise to be fun."

The cadets filed into the lecture theatre, each noticing the presence of Telsij at the very back of the room. When they were seated, Deysha took the podium, and introduced them to the task of the day.

"We will be simming an attack run on the Imperator Mark Two Star Destroyer Endor's Vengeance. Odd numbered pilots will fly random crafts from Headhunters through to prototype X-Wings, while even numbered pilots will fly B-Wings. As before, myself and Commander Cheren will be in control of the ISD. Colonel Cayr, our guest in the back row, will be flying as New Blood Nine for this mission, and will be distinguishable as the TIE Interceptor. Her craft is fitted with shields, but otherwise is a standard squint. You'll receive more information as you prepare for the mission. Make your way to the sim centre, and we'll see you on the other side."

Telsij made a note on her datapad as Deysha and Aric left the theatre. A shadow fell over her, and she looked up to see a Shistavanen wolf-man looming over her.

"Kirrsk Seyrak," he growled, extending a paw to her. "New Blood Ten. Your wingman."

Telsij did indeed see. Even when fitted with shields, her Interceptor had the measure of any of the New Blood craft that her sliced "random" selection program had given them. The best craft available to the odd-numbered cadets had fallen to Three, Tiel Payse. Her A-Wing had seemed a gift to her, at first, until she'd discovered the faulty inertial compensator, and had experienced a simulated blackout. The ISD had had little trouble firing on the uncontrolled craft.

The rest of the Blood had more reliable, but no less helpful craft. TYE-Wings, early model Headhunters, and two-men Y-Wings were spread among the seven pilots. The Y-Wings, or wishbones, were especially disliked. As the cadets were flying solo, they lacked a gunner, and the sim was not replicating that feature. Already outclassed by the simulated TIE craft of the ISD, those pilots in the wishbones were effectively flying a craft lacking any fire control beyond their own eyes.

The Star Destroyer's TIEs fell on the training squadron and tore into the understrength defenders. The odd numbered cadets took a ferocious pounding, and after the first pass, only Carson and Schwann Lay were left to accompany the B-Wings in towards the capital ship. Above it all flew Telsij in her Interceptor, a grim smile on her face, her datapad recording everything.

The simulation didn't last long. The New Bloods were shot down in short order, only Cha Pion and Dael Y'Notens surviving long enough to fire on Endor's Vengeance. Neither pilot survived long enough to launch a second set of missiles.

The simulator cockpits opened, releasing all of the New Bloods at once. Those who'd been shot down early were extremely upset, those who'd flown to the end of the mission even more so.

Tiel Payse stormed up to Telsij Cayr, and thrust her face to within an inch of the overseer's.

"On the contrary, Cadet," came Johats deep voice. The Bloods looked at their CO with a mixture of suspicion and disbelief evident on their faces.

"Colonel Cayr had a point to make with me, and she has made it. By now, I should have had you able to make the best of any craft you should find yourselves in. In the years to come, you will fly Uglies, you will fly Headhunters, there will be times when you'll happily fly a TIE without wings. I've spent too long on the ideal situations, and that will be rectified. Starting tomorrow, we go back to basics.

The trainee's left, confused, angry and disappointed. Cayr looked up at Deysha, who's face was utterly impassive.

"Do you know what you're doing? You won't win favour with me by backing my methods of appraisal."

"This isn't about winning favour with you Colonel. If I thought there was anyone out there who could train these kids better than Commander Cheren and myself, I'd let them do it. As to whether I know what I'm doing? I really hope I do..."

"How much more basic can we get than those first generation Headhunters he had us flying?" hissed Schwann Lay.

"I think he's playing up to Colonel Cayr," Carson Deniel offered. "We know he's in trouble, and he could be taken off training us, Cheren too. We'll just have to excel at whatever we do from hereon in."

"Easy for you to say," said Cha Pion, each word obviously a chore for the young Twi'lek. "Before I came here, I thought I was a good pilot, but I was the first one shot down, out there."

"You weren't to blame for that though," said Cha, her voice betraying the worry she felt. "I was in a B-Wing, full shields, and I died at maximum range. I didn't even se the missile that me."

"So we will help you," said Zanter Berkal. "I will assist you with simulator work, I am sure the others will help you with their specialties. And my offer extends to anyone who wishes my help, at anything."

Alton Thanas looked at him in disbelief. "Hold up there, roomie. What happened to 'I'm in this for myself?'"

"I am... offended by this Colonel Cayr. Clearly, Commander Cheren and Captain Johats are unable to speak freely in front of her. Therefore, we must work amongst ourselves to forge capable pilots."

"Well, I'll be Kesseled. Here was me thinking you were a cold fish, Zanter. Well, I'm in for that, too. We all stick together form now on, okay? If we can help anyone, we do."

The others all agreed to the scheme, until only Cha was left. Everyone looked at her.

"I don't know what I can do to help you all, but if there is anything, I'll do it."

"I'd call that unanimous," Schwann said, a tight smile on her face. "Now, what are they going to spring on us tomorrow. Any ideas?"

In fact, none of their ideas were even close. The next day, they were instructed to gather in the hangar for their lecture. Colonel Cayr stood in front of the class, with Johats and Cheren nowhere to be seen.

"Cadets," she began. "You commanding officers have asked me to take this lecture, in the belief that a visiting tutor may be able to teach you something a little different. Today, then we shall be studying..."

Her words were drowned out by the arrival in the hangar of two starfighters. Through the entranceway flew a pair of Uglies - craft patched together from various component pieces. The two that had appeared in the hangar were well known, and the subject of much humour in the New Republic.

The first craft was a TYE-Wing, which married a TIE cockpit with a Y-Wing's engine nacelles. Slow, with no shields and poor maneuverability, the TYE-Wing was generally recognised as the worst starfighter in general use in the galaxy.

The other craft, an X-TIE was little better. It featured an X-Wing's body, paired with a TIE Fighter's wings. Faster than the TYE-Wing, it lacked shields, and was generally poorly armed.

"No joking, Cadet. And for that, you'll be the first to fly today. Which would you like to fly?"

"Very well. Let me see... Mistress Fal, if you'll be so good as to take the TYE-Wing, we'll be on our way."

"Just fly for a quarter of an hour, while everyone else gets to revise the specs for these wonderful machines."

"She has to go," Carson commented later. His flight had nearly ended in disaster when his lumbering craft had clipped the lip of the hangar bay. Only exceptional handling, and a great deal of luck, had prevented him crashing.

"Not an option," Anders Swali said mournfully. "She's here to do an assignment. On us. She'll stay until she's satisfied, one way or the other."

"She's pushing us very hard," Schwann said. She was sitting on a sofa, with her arm around Cha. The young Twi'lek had faired badly in her training flight, nearly crashing the X-TIE. Badly shaken, she'd said little since.

"It's all very well saying we'll help each other improve, but no-one did well today," Ibra Yoko said, rubbing her arm absently. Anders looked at her curiously, then looked away again.

"I can't believe those Uglies are so complicated," said Tigris. "I mean, why build an X-TIE and a TYE-Wing, when you could build a full TIE, and knock up an Ugly with what's left."

"Pirates," said Barchelli Cotay. "They don't trust one another. They worry more about a member of their gang having a fully functioning starfighter, than what that fighter could do to the enemy."

"And the pieces are often salvage, or junkyard jobs," said Tiel Payse. "When I was a smuggler, my group Cayried a pair of Uglies like the one's we just flew, but they were built over a period of months. We could have rebuilt one into a TIE, like you say, but it would have deprived us of both ships while the work was Cayried out."

"Yeah, I guess..." Tigris said, with a hiss. "I'm just venting. Zanter, are you still up for helping us sim?"

"Of course. I gave my word, and if it means that our time in" he shuddered "X-TIE's is shortened, I will do anything necessary."

Cha and Ibra begged off, instead choosing to go back to their rooms. Enda Sherr wavered, but after speaking to Ibra, decided to go for the simtime.

The battle waged fiercely over Endor's moon. It was a popular choice for training scenarios, being a target rich environment. There were various scenarios that could be run, and in this one, the Death Star was up and running, and firing on the Rebel ships.

Telsij Cayr watched as the cadets joined with their opponents. At Tigris' suggestion, they'd been assigned random craft, although this time they were all in perfect working order.

Cayr closed the cockpit on her simulator, and keyed in the code to join the battle.

Cayr's Interceptor shot into the battle, her shields sparking as a stray laser blast glanced off them.

"Not at all. I left Deniel tangling with a pair of eyeballs. He seemed to be enjoying himself."

"Good to meet someone who enjoys their work. Do you often break wing assignments like that?" Cayr asked, slyly

"It's not something we've been taught, but as he was in an Interceptor, and I'm flying a Bomber, it made sense for me to run, and him to fight them off."

"No. Really, we've been taught to fly well, and trust your instincts and your wingman."

"What are you trying to teach us? That we shouldn't trust our commanding officer?"

"Of course not. They're excellent officers. You can learn much from them, and I can see that you all have learnt a lot already."

"I have to file a report. I can tell their intentions are good, and that they've taught you a lot. What I want to know, is are they teaching you the right things?"

As Alton was about to fire on an Interceptor, Cayr swung her own ship in front of his. Thanas' finger hovered briefly over the trigger, before falling away.

"That's a trick the Captain tried on me in the first week," he commented. There was a pause before she replied.

"I wouldn't have expected anything less," Cayr said. "Well, I have to go get some sleep. I'm not as young as I used to be, and these late night sim sessions really take it out of me. Enjoy the rest of your flight."

The next day, the cadets once again gathered in the hangar. Cayr greeted them, nodding to Thanas as she did so.

"Today, I was going to show you some more Uglies. But you were rather hard on them last time. I think I'll leave it. I do encourage you to run them through on the sims, though. It can't hurt."

"Today, then, I'm going to teach you how to handle crafts that have some speed to them. I notice you've been working mainly in skulls and wishbones so far. While that's all well and good, you really need to learn to appreciate speed. Craft get faster every day, and the new generation of X-Wings will be faster than the A-Wings, or so I've heard."

A noise from the other side of the hangar doors diverted their interest. Two well maintained TIE Interceptor's plummeted out of the sky, and it took a couple of seconds for the trainees to realise they were under control. In that time, the pilots banked the maneuverable craft hard over, and shot off at a sharp angle to their previous course.

Slow to react again, the cadet's suddenly realised the TIE's were heading straight for the hangar.

As the cadet's scattered, only Alton and Cayr held their ground, watching the TIE's slice through the Coruscant morning mist, and into the hangar. Still travelling at high speed, the ships sped towards the rear wall, and Thanas and Cayr. Suddenly, they braked, and rapidly came to a halt, with the right hand craft stopping less than a metre from the motionless Cayr.

"All right," she called into her comlink. "Damn ego case pilots. Get out here now!"

The top hatches on the TIE's popped open, and the two pilots clambered out. Waving to the cadet's who'd sought safer ground, they dropped to the ground. Then they removed their helmets.

"Well, it's been a while since I flew a TIE, but they're nice ships," Deysha said, shaking his hair free of sweat.

"I think Mr. Thanas is first in line," Cayr said. "We'll get him going, and, oh... Cha Pion as well."

"Right you are," Deysha said. He looked around. "You can come out now," he called.

Slowly, the New Bloods emerged from behind bulkheads, gravtrucks, and the other starfighters in the hangar. Dael was the first to speak.

"Either that, or you're still asleep, Cadet. I hope I'm teaching you, because if you're asleep, than you're missing a class."

The New Bloods gathered around the TIE's while Deysha and Aric gave them a quick run down on the Imperial craft. Alton, however, walked over to where Telsij stood, watching.

"Shouldn't you be learning about the Interceptor?" she asked, her eyes on Johats and Cheren.

"Are you done, now? I mean, is this going to be your report? That they're okay to teach us?"

"Am I done?" She looked back at the two officers, and smiled. "Not by a longshot, Mr. Thanas. There's a long way to go before I file this report. Still, I was right when I spoke to your Captain at the beginning of assignment. This is fun..."