Prisoner Escort.

[Dondinas]

The comlink in his ear chirped to life.

 

"Lt. Warbonnet report to the Esseles docking area ASAP."

 

Great, thought the still young Republic Vanguard Trooper. Life had got a lot more complicated since his transfer to Havoc Squad.

 

"On my way, out."

 

What now ? He wondered if they wanted him to fly the damn ship, Havoc seemed to get the jobs to do everything else lately. The Brass couldn't blame him for the defection, no, he thought put that from your thoughts, right time, right place, here and now was neither.

 

As Warbonnet exited the turbo lift onto the docking area the usual mix of Jedi and Troopers all headed for Coruscant milled around, most headed for the shuttle that did the regular milk run from Fleet H.Q. to the Republic Capital world.

 

Standing next to a holo display of the Esseles was a junior grade Navy officer with two fleet security guards, between them was what looked to be a prisoner, thick heavy weight binders held his wrists together, observation and attention to detail, the hallmarks of a good Republic Trooper, that and noticing the blindingly obvious, Warbonnet chucked to himself at his own joke.

 

"Something funny grunt ?"

 

"Yup, your lack of any immediate future if you keep opening you mouth."

 

The Navy officer looked Warbonnet up and down and said

 

"I take it you are Lt. Warbonnet, the new and very junior officer commanding of Havoc Squad."

 

"You Navy boys are a lot smarter than you look, or did someone give you help."

 

The Navy jg just looked blankly back, this was not how people talked to him.

 

"Yes, Lt. Warbonnet reporting as requested. So what's all this about ? I'm a little busy right now, but if you ask one of these two guard out for a date I'm sure they could show you a good time."

 

Another blank look, this could take all day.

 

"Yes I am, now what do you want, I'm under orders to report to Coruscant and you delaying me, so spit it out son or wave me goodbye."

 

Ah, giving orders, this was something the Navy officer understood.

 

"Your orders have been some what amended. Instead of taking the shuttle to Coruscant, you are to board the Esseles and escort this prisoner to stand trail on Coruscant. You will be met on arrival for prisoner handover. Any questions ?"

 

"You have got to be joking, I'm no baby sitter !"

 

"Navy never joke. Sign here for the prisoner. Accommodation on board has been arranged, you are to remain with the prisoner at all times."

 

Warbonnet looked at the prisoner, a civilian, he looked Warbonnet straight in the eye and said

 

"Hi, Jims the name, Jim Delgardo I'd shake hands but I'm a bit tied up at the moment."

 

Looking at Delgardo Warbonnet asked the Navy officer

 

"What's he done ?"

 

"Says here, theft of a space craft"

 

"It was my ship that was stolen !" Said Delgardo,

 

"Forging planetary landing permit to a designated war zone"

 

"I didn't know they were fake, I bought the, err, got them in good faith !"

 

"And gun running."

 

"Err, is there any chance I could get something to eat ?"

 

Warbonnet took and signed the pad for Delgardo,

 

"Hope you got a nice cell on board for him."

 

"Nope," grinned the now very happy Navy officer,

 

" you got a single cabin, you signed, your prisoner, your problem, have a nice flight grunt."

 

With that he marched towards to turbo lifts with the two security guards in tow. Could the day get any worse.

 

"And then she said that's not my cat !"

 

Delgardo laughed out loud, Warbonnet and the crewman who was showing then to their cabin remained silent, the three continued down the corridor.

 

"You really had to have been there."

 

"What ?"

 

Delgardo said nothing more and continued to walk just ahead of Warbonnet, muttering under his breath about the extraction of the sense of humour gland during basic training.

 

The crewman came to a halt by a door, he pushed the access button and the door slid open to show a small but functional cabin. Single sleeping bunk, desk with a chair, and a bench along one wall. On the desk was a data pad and a box abou inches.

 

"The data pad on the desk will show you a ships plan and the location of all guest areas. We hope you have a pleasant stay aboard the Esseles, enjoy, err, gentlemen."

 

With that the crewman about turned and walked back down the corridor. Warbonnet pushed Delgardo into the cabin.

 

"In." He said.

 

"Hey, take it easy big guy, I'm delicate."

 

"Hmm, sure, I had heard the rumours."

 

"So what's the plan then, hit the bar, a few drinks, pick up some girls and then enjoy the gambling tables ?"

 

"Weapon cleaning, then food, then sleep."

 

"Weapon cleaning, good thinking, I could do with a shower, won't impress the ladies smelling like a Bantha's armpit."

 

"My blaster rifle, not my..., never mind. You just sit there and keep quiet."

 

Delgardo sat on the bench and watched as Warbonnet went to work stripping the blaster rifle down, then with an expert eye inspected then cleaned every part, finally reassembling the weapon. The fluid grace of doing a familiar job was soothing to Warbonnet and impressive for Delgardo to watch. The quiet was broken when Delgardo said

 

"Why don't you have one of those big cannons I've seen the other Troopers use, big guy like must feel kind of embarrassed to have such a small gun."

 

Delgardo grinned at the taunt.

 

"It says on the data pad that when you were captured you were armed with a snub nosed blaster pistol, I hear high society ladies like tiny little guns like that. So do you really want to talk about who's got the biggest gun ?"

 

"There are times when size isn't important, it's what you do with it that counts."

 

"Can't argue with that."

 

"Reminds me," said Delgardo, " the box, it's got my blaster in it, could I have it back."

 

Warbonnet looked at the box, then at Delgardo, then back to the box which he slowly opened. Inside was a well maintained, clean and fully charged customised blaster pistol. Looking again at Delgardo he said

 

"How did that get here ?"

 

"She's a beauty ain't she. Had a mods done to here, not quite got the power or range of what you've got, but she will do the job and get me out of trouble when I need to."

 

"Answer the question or we will see if your little pop gun can survive a garbage compacter."

 

"Bit of a long story, but first we need to get a few things straightened out. I wasn't captured. My ship really was stolen, and the cheap Taun Taun dropping that took my ship is on Coruscant. And since the price of a flight to the capital is more than I have right now, plus there are a couple of guys who would like to see a hole in my head, I sliced into fleet security."

 

"You what !"

 

"Simple really, for the military it's a very easy system to slice into I would have thought that my tax credits, if I paid tax, would have bought a better system. The system they have at Sung Restraints ltd, the people who make these binders is a much better system, not perfect but better."

 

As he finished his sentence the binders securing Delgardo's wrists together dropped to the floor. Instantly Warbonnet reached towards his rifle. Delgardo raised his hands and said

 

"Easy big fella, I mean no harm and I'm going no place this ship ain't taking me already. As I said I tracked my ship to Coruscant, so that is we're I need to be, so I arranged for Navy security to be alerted to the fact that an arrest warrant had been issued for my arrest and that I was on the Navies Fleet H.Q. Space station. Even then I had to walk slowly past them 5 times before they noticed me. I arranged for an armed escort too, In case some one tries to rescue me, didn't expect you though."

 

"We'll I'm delivering you to Coruscant security as soon as we get to the surface, you can explain to them."

 

"I should think so too, they would be most upset if you didn't deliver Ambassador Delgardo from Ord Mandel I am expected you know. Now was there some mention about food ? If you not sure about your new mission brief, press the restart on the data pad."

 

Warbonnet looked at the data pad, then pressed the restart, a few seconds later a red flashing priority message warning flashed on the screen. Accessing the message informed him the Lt. Warbonnet was to act as escort and body guard to Ambassador Delgardo from Ord Mandel, and he was to be accorded all honours due his rank.

 

"Your scum." Said Warbonnet.

 

"My preference is Scoundrel, has more style than scum."

 

"Well I'm keeping hold on the pistol, and I'm going for food, please feel free to join me if you wish Ambassador."

 

"Don't mind if I do, don't ya know, what what !"

 

Warbonnet clipped the blaster pistol to his belt, shouldered his rifle and with Delgardo following left for the ships galley. A few minuets into the trip Delgardo looked at Warbonnet the looked away, a few moments he looked then looked away again.

 

"You keep looking, if you thinking since we are sharing a room we might be swapping spit and taking walks in the moonlight, think again."

 

"Don't worry your not my type."

 

As they entered the dining area a steward droid came over and took there order, then returned in a few moments with there food and some non alcohol drinks. Delgardo mentioned to him self never to travel Republic class again.

 

"Right, I've got to ask, Warbonnet, what kind of name is that, were you not liked by your parents ?"

 

"My personal life is off limits. Most Troopers when entering special forces adopt a new name. It's to protect your family from revenge attacks."

 

"But why Warbonnet ?"

 

"On the planet I come from, don't ask, warrior tribesmen make a head dress to show there power as a warrior, it is also a mark of honour and pride."

 

As they were talking they had noticed a young Jedi Knight had entered the dining hall and was talking the the steward droid.

 

"I chose the name Warbonnet to remind myself of the standards of honour and integrity that I had and would live up to every day. A name should mean something, it is who and what you are."

 

As he finished talking the Jedi sat at the table with them.

 

"Hi, hope you don't mind if I join you. My name is Hairyegg... Is something wrong ?...why are you both laughing ?"

 

The laughing was cut short by the sudden wailing of sirens.

 

What happened next on board the Esseles in well documented in Republic archives.