Fat Bottomed Girl

[Taataani Meorrrei]

The Alliance Star Destroyer Concordia snapped into realspace half a million kilometers away from the massive structure of Jovan Station. A rare capture from the Empire before the signing of the treaty, the former Imperial-classed vessel was dressed in liveries of white and red, reflecting the Alliance Navy's motif of carrying the legacy of the Old Republic navy. As the warship settled into a lazy sublight cruise, a pair of X-wing fighters dropped clear from the ship's main ventral hangar deck. They cruised with s-foils closed as a larger craft debarked from the secondary hangar. Similar to the star destroyer's repurposing, the lambda-class shuttle wore shades of cardinal along it's lowering swept wings. Once deployed, the three ships moved as one, accelerating on an approach vector towards the station.

Inside the shuttle, the flight commander locked in to a tightbeam comm stream with Jovan, while his important guest hovered behind his chair.

"Jovan Station, this is Concordia Aurek Zero Nine One. On approach with VIP, requesting prime docking clearance."

[Kes Akiena]

"They're requesting prime docking clearance."

Sitting behind his desk, Commander Kes Akiena stared at the officer who now stood before him. This news was not exactly of the sort that he wanted so early in his morning, and the redhead was careful to not allow his annoyance known.

"'Prime'?"

"Yes Sir."

"I wasn't aware that we had a 'Prime' clearance setting."

"New one to me too, Sir."

An exhaled breath, and Kes leaned back into his seat with the air of a man resigned to his fate. A fate full of so many unknowns. His hand reached up to rub a thumb across his temple.

"Tell them they're cleared for the first Spire that opens up."

"Spire 3 has reported a vacancy."

Kes waved to the affirmative. "Good. Tell them to dock there."

"Shall you be there to meet them?"

Another sigh.

"Yes."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Guided by Jovan command, the Lambda moved on approach to Spire Three, and it's adjacent internal hangar bay indicated by the harbormaster. The X-wings in escort formation peeled off for the final two kilometers, allowing the shuttle to align with the hangar's tractor emitter, ensuring an effortless hand-off for landing.

The shuttle's wings drew upwards, tapering towards the crest of the dominant dorsal structure as the shuttlecraft dropped its landing skids, passing through the atmospheric barrier before touching down on the glossy black deck with a thump. For a moment, the craft simply went through its cool-down cycles, venting stored gas from express nozzles set apart beneath the fuselage. A few moments passed, and the Lambda's broad gangplank dropped with a steamy hiss, granting clearance for a troop of four blue-robed Senatorial Guard to step out in a box formation.

The woman that followed behind them wore a high bun of brunette hair, and a white fur coat that nearly seemed to swallow her.

[Kes Akiena]

He was waiting. With hands clasped at the small of his back, Commander Kes Akiena stood patiently as the Senatorial Guard slowly descended the ramp. And behind them? Behind them strode a woman that made him wonder. Nothing terrible, but certainly nothing fabulous, either. He was cautious around those who held as much power as Taataani Meorrrei, and the particular type of power she grasped was of the kind that made him - to a small degree - nervous. She had been the driving force behind keeping himself and many others from a very disastrous court martial. He was grateful, but arms-length all the same.

It did not help that she always seemed so distracted whenever they had conversed in the past.

And not for the first time he found himself wishing that Mayael was present. Her distinct innocence and wide eyes broke down so many walls and barriers. She had a way with people, and he missed it at times.

Another final jet of vented steam from the shuttle brought him back from reverie, and Kes inhaled, his chest rising briefly as the Senator and her escort closed the distance.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Ja irra korra nai, Commanderr."

The Senator approached Kes, sealing her greeting with an air kiss to each side of the man's face. It was a salutation made all the easier to deliver by Akiena's rather unmasculine height. An unintended consequence of the Alliance's choice of leader for Jovan, one that must have been favorable for more than one encounter with a Cizeri peer. Of course, the illusion faltered somewhat at the visually less-impressive uniform of the Alliance of Free Planets. One day, their new nation would have to tackle their shortfall in the galactic war of raiments.

"Have jyou gotten tallerr ssjince lasst we met, orr arre jyou carrjying the wejight of command much betterr now?"

[Kes Akiena]

A not-quite-frown at the inquiry was masked by a thin-lipped smile of geniality. The crows feet at the edges of his eyes grew deeper as his gaze somewhat narrowed. Not out of anger, but more an effect of his expression. A glimmer of a rueful response answered her.

"New shoes, Madame Senator."

As she stepped back, the red head half-turned, gesturing that she accompany him.

"Apologies that we were not more prepared for your arrival; my command staff was not informed of any senatorial visits."

Unless T'yeella had simply neglected to pass that bit of information on.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"jIf jI had wanted to make an entrrance, jI would have passsed on enough advance warrnjing."

Taataani knew what kind of effect her unannounced presence had on the station, and Akiena being put on his heels slightly wasn't a terrible thing. With a gesture, she bade her senatorial guard to remain with the shuttle.

"jI come bearrjing gjiftss frrom Carshoulis."

The Senator put on a knowing smile as they walked.

"Do jyou have a larrgerr hangarr bajy than the one holdjing mjy sshuttle?"

[Kes Akiena]

A gift from Carshoulis could be anything, and Kes listened in mildly curious silence as they walked. At her query, he turned to glance sidelong at her.

"There is a larger one, yes. Two, actually. Those are usually reserved for our squadrons, however."

Whatever she was getting at, he remained cautious. The Madame's giftbasket was still fresh on his mind. But, on the other end of the spectrum he knew that an extended hand from the Pride was more often than not a welcome thing. In his time as commander of Jovan, he'd come to rely on his Cizerack staff, appreciating their dedication and trusting them.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Perrhapss jyou sshould gjive them advance notjice to make ssome rroom." Taataani replied with slightly-raised ears as they moved through the corridors.

"A combjinatjion of mjy poljitjical possjitjion and mjy rrecent bussjinesss chojicess hass left me jin the possjitjion to become one of the chjief benefactorrss to the Alljiance Sstarrfjighterr Corrpss. Acqujirrjing the sstaff at jIncom jinto the Koenssajyrr-Meorrrei famjiljy hass opened up posssjibjiljitjiess forr uss to purrssue jin thjiss changjing landsscape."

The Senator glanced sidelong to her host.

"jYou arre at a sstrrategjicalljy jimporrtant possjitjion. One that rrequjirress a rrapjid rressponsse. jI'm told that the Trrade Navjy could rresspond qujickjy to an attack, but perrhapss not asss fasst asss we want."

[Kes Akiena]

Something was coming, he just wasn't entirely sure what. The cautious look was more than evident as he slowed to a stop, turning to face fully the Senator.

"Madame Senator," his arms crossed over his chest as a rather exasperated scowl touched his features. It was a foreign expression that he was becoming worried over; it seemed more and more that his face was getting used to it.

"What are my pilots going to be making room for."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"The futurre."

Senator Meorrrei's expression lacked a scowl, but it expressed an equally serious countenance.

"Ourr Alljiance, forr all of jit'ss vjirrtuess and good jintentjionss, jiss onljy asss good jin deljiverrjing on jitss prromjissess asss jitss abjiljitjy to adapt. Everr ssjince Sstarrkjillerr, the need to adapt hass nearrljy outsstrrjipped ourr meanss."

She glanced ahead at the corridor that would lead them toward the larger hangar bays Akiena promised.

"jIt'ss tjime to accelerrate ourr pace. jYou'rre alrreadjy awarre that jI hold a majorrjitjy sstake jin sstarrfjighterr contrractss forr the Alljiance."

Taataani measured her host, her ears raising slightly.

"What do jyou know about the jIKM heavjy sstrrjike prroject?"

[Kes Akiena]

"Honestly?"

He once more started off, keeping pace with the Senator.

"I've not had much time lately with all that has been happening on the station lately."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Just when she'd been so busy damning him with praise, Kes managed to shoot himself in the foot of his own volition. However, upbraiding the man for his ignorance was probably something best done later. The Senator settled for a cool expression and crossed arms.

"Put ssjimpljy, Commanderr, we'rre outnumberred. We've alwajyss been outnumberred, and the fact jissn't closse to bejing challenged. The Mjinjissterr of the Navjy sstatess that we arre, at besst, at an ejight to one djissadvantage to the Empjirre jin terrmss of capjital warrsshjipss. To make matterrss worrsse, we don't have the monejy to change that fact anjy tjime ssoon."

Taataani's crossed arms relaxed, and she continued at pace with the Commander.

"Whjile Sstarrkjillerr ljikeljy wjill prrevent a galaxjy-wjide warr rressumjing openljy, we could be challenged jin borrderr ssectorrss jin the futurre, orr bjy prroxjiess at ourr frrontjierr who arre arrmed and funded bjy jImperrjial ssourrcess. We have a lot of sspace to coverr, Commanderr, and not a lot of rressourrcess to do jit."

The corners of Taataani's mouth tugged upward slightly, hinting that she had a card in her sabacc hand.

"Wjith the help of Admjirral Tjyrree and Navjy ssenjiorr sstaff, mjy companjy hass developed ssomethjing of a worrkarround to the prroblem. Forrce prrojectjion on a budget."

They arrived at a large sealed door at the end of a wide corridor. The Senator glanced at it, and back to Kes.

"What bajy jiss thjiss?"

[Kes Akiena]

"Two. It is the closest to Spire Three. Right now Titan and what's left of the Far Eyes from Dauntless are berthed in Bay One."

The look he received was enough to merit an explanation.

"Far Eyes lost most of their pilots over Ossus, and those that were left defected from General Thrule. They were one of those last turning points... "

He could still remember the moment that the A-Wing pilots had trained their sights on the General's ship. It had been a boon; one that Commodore s'Ilancy used to her advantage. The Far Eyes had been their guides through the Cron Drift.

The here and now, as well as his present company, drew him back from the past.

"Madame Senator, I am aware of the state of things with our military enough to have a deep understanding of where our problems lie. If I am unable to keep tabs on things as they happen then I apologize. I've been about for long enough, as have you. We both know and understand the demands of our positions" Was there a measure of tired frustration? Perhaps. But, the redhead also knew that - owing to his duties - his time was at a premium. But, there was also the knowledge that an olive branch in all things had to be extended.

His features rose slightly in a conciliatory, if not exhausted, smile.

"I apologize if my lack of immediate knowledge does not extend past the boundaries of this station for the time being."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taataani's expression eased into one of conciliatory feelings. She didn't have the time to pick at every single shortcoming in Jovan's commander. The Senator slipped a hand into one of her fur coat's voluminous pockets, retrieving a comm stick.

"Captajin Jopp."

"Yes, Senator?"

"Launch the sshjipss. Bajy Two wjill rrecjieve them."

"Understood."

Terminating the line, Taataani tucked away the comms device without taking her eyes off her host. She then reached an arm around his side, pressing the button to release the heavy bay doors as they walked through.

"Neverrmjind that, Akjiena. jYou'rre an effectjive enough admjinjisstrratorr herre, and now jI want to gjive jyou the meanss to contjinue to be asss ssuch. Come."

True to Kes's word, Bay Two was a yawning cavern, with only a couple of neglected shuttles tucked in the far corner. Easily 200 meters wide and 100 deep, it was a bay large enough to take in even small capital ships.

And it would barely be enough.

Through the atmospheric shielding, a wide vista of deep space came into view. The destroyer Concordia cruised in orbit, the dagger shape of her profile breaking up an uninterrupted field of stars. From beneath, a group of four shapes began to take form, growing larger as they approached. At first, they were nondescript swatches of cream against the black, but a few seconds later, they grew distinct. Ships with incredibly wide wingspans, a bulbous side-tandem cockpit, underslung secondary wings, and a pair of ball turrets, pushed along through the ether by two large onboard engines and an equally large engine nacelle perched along the fuselage's dorsal spine.

It was soon perfectly obvious why Taataani had suggested making room. Each ship was nearly the size of three starfighters. As they passed through the atmospheric barrier, it afforded everyone in the bay the chance to take a good look. These craft lacked the aesthetic grace of X-Wings or A-Wings. They were ugly, but the kind of ugly with a mouth full of teeth.

The bay filled with the sounds of screaming engine impellers winding down their landing cycles as the ships thumped the deck with their heavy landing skids. The ball turrets pivoted up their guns, affording a good look at the ships' armaments, which included extensive racks of missiles, torpedoes, and bombs situated beneath each of it's four wings.

Taataani's ears raised with a self-satisfied grin at the sight.

"Allow me to jintrroduce to jyou the futurre, Commanderr Akjiena. The jIncom-Koenssajyrr-Meorrrei BTL-S8 K-Wjing asssault sstarrfjighterr."

[Kes Akiena]

Beyond the impressive size and sheer firepower, Kes couldn't help the concern that suddenly floated to the top of his thoughts. The first was whether or not these monstrous fighters would actually fit. He watched with growing concern, his mind's eye seeing a wing clip one of the bay bulkheads and dragging a furrow along the wall plating. And that was the nicest scenario he could conjure into being. The others... well, they were far more destructive. However, the redhead kept his thoughts and inner visions of chaos to himself.

"Very impressive," he murmured, his eyes taking in the no-nonsense lines and brutal shapes. There was nothing graceful or sleek about these ships; they were built to deliver a punch that would be felt two sectors over.

"I trust that these are the only four? I don't think I have room for more."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Forr now."

The din in the landing bay was beginning to subside, allowing for easier conversation. Taataani's eyes shifted from the fearsome sights back to Akiena.

"The K-Wjingss arre jin crrjitjical demand, outsstrrjippjing prroductjion at the moment. Thejy'rre bejing deplojyed ssparrjingljy to ourr mosst crrjitjical ssquadrronss and outposstss. jI jinssjissted that jyou have a ssharre."

The crew of the heavy attack fighters began to debark from their ships. Double cockpits unhinged, allowing pilots and crew to exit down descent ladders to the deck below. The twin ball turrets likewise opened up, disgorging their gunners in turn.

"Thejy operrate jidealljy jin fljightss of fourr. jYou'll fjind thejy deljiverr enough of a punch asss jit sstandss."

The lead ship's pilot slid down her ladder, pulling the orange goggles free from her face. She was a Twi'lek woman, with blue skin and slightly severe features. Alongside her came the rest of her ship's crew. A Cizerack bombardier with a voluminous mane of curly auburn hair she somehow managed to cram into her helmet, and two male gunners - one a human, the other a Sullustan.

[Mags Sondeeta]

As the crew of Thunder One disembarked from their craft, the ship's pilot panned her eyes across the deck. Here and there were technicians and crew, but she quickly fixed upon the finely-dressed Senator from Keppaa Brens, but more importantly, the ginger-haired man in uniform at her right hand side. Lieutenant Commander Sondeeta sharply elbowed her bombardier, Su'taun'rrou Keellarroa, who likewise took notice, even as the Twi'lek belted out in a voice loud enough to carry the span of the bay.

"Commandant on ze deck!"

The four crew of Thunder One immediately squared themselves to attention, each carrying their helmets in the crook of their left arm. To their left and right, the other crews of Thunder Flight similarly took notice, forming to attention.

[Kes Akiena]

The voice that thundered through Bay Two was one that Kes suspected very well might've filtered through the closed blast doors, even. It certainly rattled the bulkheads, he was sure. To his credit, he didn't flinch at the reverberating call. Rather, he allowed his shoulders to hitch back just a small bit, eyes stretching out to move over the assembled crews.

"Impressive set of pipes," he mumbled to the Senator as his hands moved to fold together at the small of his back.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taataani's ears flattened against her skull a moment too late to deflect the auditory assault, and she stoically repressed the urge to wince. Sondeeta. She'd almost forgotten about that woman. She had an attitude and disposition to match the voice. If it weren't for her results, Taataani would have no use for the brash blue thing. She certainly wasn't fit for polite society.

As her ears relaxed, the Senator exhaled a breath, smoothing her hands against her fur coat.

"Thejy defjinjiteljy get attentjion." was the closest thing to praise Taataani had for the noise.

"That'ss Ljieutenant Commanderr Magalanji Ssondeeta. Leaderr of Thunderr Fljight. Sshe'ss been a parrt of the rrapjid deterrence sspecjial prroject forr the passt jyearr. Of all the pjilotss jin the prrogrram, sshe hass the mosst fljght hourrss on the K-Wjing."

They strolled to inspect the line. Taataani didn't know any of the other crew by name. Not the Cizerack bombardier, nor the Human or Sullustan gunner. She left the small ball for the Navy to handle.