Dianna pulled out a data comm and punched a button. Instantly yellow lights began flashing and a klaxon horns began blaring. She lifted the device to her lips and spoke over the intercom system throughout the base. "This is Captain Kingsdoom. Two Republic capital ships are inbound. Ee-tee-ay 30 mike. Abandon base, make for rendezvous point Omicron Delta." She paused a moment before adding, "Good luck everyone."
Dianna yanked the Governor's Blade from the abdomen of the dying Sith girl and wiped it clean on Anya's clothes. The blonde issued a last gasp before her eyes glazed over.
Dianna turned and began walking away from the ships back toward the base and Raezyr hustled to get in front of her. "Whoah. Your ship's that way," he said, pointing in the opposite direction.
"I'm going to make sure everyone gets out, then I'll follow," she said flatly, then reached out, put her hand on Raezyr's forearm and looked him in the eyes. "Please, Raez. If there's anything you can do to hold them off, I'd appreciate it."
People began streaming into the hangar as the massive doors began to slide back once again, allowing the howling wind and snow of the blizzard to be driven indoors. The two looked at each other, not taking notice of their surroundings. Both of them knew the implications of what she was saying. The Republic ships would be here long before everyone was evacuated, and even if she did manage to somehow to get aboard the last ship, the atmosphere and orbital space would be crawling with Republic fighters. She'd either be captured or killed. Yet the look in her eyes told Raez that argument would be futile. Her mind was made up. She wasn't asking Raezyr for permission or his blessing. She wanted his help to delay her death or imprisonment.
That wasn't acceptable. Raezyr finally tore his gaze away and looked over at his brother who was furiously typing away at his data pad. He didn't know what was going on, but he was sure of two things: Trychon was too busy to help him argue and that his brother was already working on a plan to delay the enemy.
He turned back to his lover, noting Rhox running toward them across the hangar. He opened his mouth to argue with her anyway, to convince her to get on the Ice Spectre and go, but she knew him too well. "Stop looking at your brother for help and shut your mouth," she told him, beginning to grow agitated. "If you love me, help me. Oh hell, run away. I don't care which. Just stop wasting the precious seconds I have left before..." she let the final words drift off unspoken, but hanging.
Rhox Vega finally arrived. "Captain, we have to get out of here. I've begun emergency engine start procedures by remote," she said holding up a data pad.
A black cloud crossed Dianna's face. Was everyone mad? Did they think she was going to run and let her crew be caught and or slaughtered? They had served her loyally, and the least she owed them was to give them the best chance to escape. She turned to tell Rhox the same thing she had told Raezyr.
A flicker of movement caught her eye, but it didn't have time to register before something struck her jaw like a hammer. Lights exploded in her head and the galaxy went black.
Raezyr caught her in his arms before she fell to ground, and swung her up into his arms.
"What the?" Rhox asked angrily. "Why did you punch her?"
"She wasn't going to leave. You have to get her out, Rhox," the big Sith explained. He saw argument in Rhox's eyes and headed it off. "You don't like me. You don't like the Sith. I get it. But there's one thing I know that we both have in common. We both love Di."
He let that sink in for a moment before he continued. "No matter what happens here today, this," he indicated the base on Hoth," is over. But there's a chance some of the crew may escape on their own. If she's not there to lead them then all of it is over... for good."
Her hardened features softened, and for just a moment, she allowed herself to believe that maybe this single Sith might be different. "Get her on board and strap her into the bunk. Atmo conditions are pretty hairy right now."
The two ran for the Spectre as the loading ramp began to lower.
-------------------
Raezyr watched as Rhox expertly guided the converted light freighter out of the hangar, then turned his attention to his brother. "C'mon, Trych. Put down the data pad. It's our turn," he said.
Trychon didn't bother to look up. "Raez, we can't leave yet," he said.
"What do you mean?"
"There's too much data in the computer about you and me and the Sith, and there are links to the base on THX as well," he explained. "I've initiated a full memory wipe with my data pad, but we have to physically destroy them too. We can't take the chance they put things back together."
"No problem," Raezyr said, shrugging. "You start the emergency warm up on the Jet Razor and I'll go gather our stuff and toss a thermal detonator in the control room."
"Raez," Trychon said, clapping a hand on his brother's shoulder and looking directly at him. "The remote data storage site has to be physically destroyed as well."
"That's on the other side of Hoth, Trych," Raezyr said. "We'll never have the time."
"If we don't do it, we might as well turn ourselves in," Trych stated flatly. "Don't worry, though. I have a plan."
-------------------
"Damn it!" Captain Wash Moklam, commander of the Unity said, slapping his palm onto the arm of his command chair in mild irritation. "We came out of hyperspace too far away," he said as he watched the battle screen in front of him and the first shuttle blip came on screen, banking away from his task force. They had hoped to catch the Sith and the pirates unaware and engage them on the ground.
"Launch the fighters and order them to contain and disable any escaping ships. We want them alive," he ordered. It wasn't really that big of a deal, he thought to himself. This one ship might be getting away, but the rest of the criminals would be just as cornered. Rounding them up would just take longer than expected.
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