"Communications, do we ha..."

The Communications Officer sighed and cut him off. "Nothing sir... just like 20 minutes ago when you asked. Just like the last 5 hours. I will let you know when we have a signal." The Communications Officer knew that she was a little out of line and if they were a part of a standard operating fleet, she would have been reprimanded. But the Valorous was an independent ship and the rules were more lax. She turned back to watching for any incoming messages, while helping the Sensors Officer track any movement in the nearby areas of space. The extended sensors were a real blessing on this ship as they let the Valorous identify any ship before they actually came into range of it, but the had to be handled by two people.

Kael turned back to his pacing, lost in the thought of what had happened five hours and 20 minutes ago....

== 5 hours 2 minutes earlier ==

The Valorous was dropping out of warp with Kael on the bridge with a huge smile on his face. He was completing the last leg of his run and was about to drop the cargo. The Empire had taken all he had loved away from him and killed his parents so he found no better way of paying them back then for running cargo for the Rebels and the Jedi. The other reason he was happy was because the ship that they were rendezvousing with carried Jedi who he was familiar with. Her name was Merrick and Kael and her had grown up together until the Jedi realized she possessed power in the force. She was taken to the Jedi Academy to be trained as a jedi. It was discovered that she didn't possess enough power to enter training, so she worked as a liason between the Jedi and the Rebels.

Now, she would get to meet up with Kael and they could spend a few hours together before they had to go on their separate way.

Then the Empire showed up to destroy his world again...

As they came into view of the Ardent Way, two Imperial Ships dropped out on top of them. One was a smaller ship, the old Dreadnaught Class Heavy Cruiser and the other was a Victory Star Destroyer.

Kael's heart froze at the sight. "Get us out of here and warn the Ardent Way as well. Shields up, but don't return fire. Put all power to engines and shields. Plot us a course and jump."

He watched as the Imperial ships opened fire, bolt after bolt of turbolaser fire raining down on them. Most missed as the ship slew to port and dove down and aft of the ships. They were have to rotate and dive to follow which would take time for the larger ships to do. But for the next 10 seconds, they would be able to bring a broadside against the Valorous.

On the screen, the Ardent Way was breaking away from them, heading off in the opposite direction. Good Thinking, Merrick, he thought. By splitting up, at least one ship would get away.

The Valorous was rocked by two blasts that hit on its starboard shields. "Reroute more power to the shields. How long till our jump?"

"20 Seconds. Just be glad they don't have an interdictor."

It was an excrutiating wait as they were hit three more times, but the reinforced shields held. Then they jumped to the comparative safety of hyperspace.

Now 5 hours later, Kael waited for word that the Ardent Way escaped. He desperately hoped for that.