A Tale from the Tribunal: Crimson Squadron

This story sheds a light on the members of the Crimson Squadron after one of their team accompanied the group on a dangerous mission. Here, two members of the squadron are upgrading stolen TIE Interceptors to match the Spectre's specifications.

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“I think that’s Kish coming in right now.” Michmas said, peering over a loose TIE solar panel.

“Uh-huh.” The reply came slowly from Abb, who was sitting on top of what he was now calling ‘his’ TIE Interceptor. He was still dressed in his black fighter suit, but he had it zipped down showing a beat-up undershirt. A little overweight, Abb looked like a stereotypical mechanic, which made Michmas smirk since Abb had said his own father was a lazy mechanic. Abb rubbed his hooded eyelids. “Wait, what about Kish?”

Michmas shrugged, and pulled out a small torch-welder. “I think that that luxury yacht Blaine won is docking right now. I guess 4-LOM doesn’t want him keeping it in the hangar.”

“I think I’ll go see her,” Abb replied, and his mouth formed into a scowl. “She better be getting off that ship in better shape than she was last time.” Michmas offered no reply, and pushed his long blond hair behind his ears. Abb zipped up his suit and sat up straight: “You know, otherwise I’d have to…”

“Otherwise, you’d have to what?” Michmas said, suddenly. “Bota Zi is one of the most ruthless and powerful bounty hunters in the galaxy. Even that Skorr jerk was saying how Zi mowed down two dozen Trandoshans pirates in that hauling ship that Kish ended up on. And, in the fight we had with those X-wings, it was basically Zi and Hansom who did everything…” He looked around, and continued: “And I heard their friend’s back, you know… the Jedi.”

“He’s no Jedi.” Abb said, brushing it off. “So maybe I couldn’t beat them in fighting or flying, but still it’s the principle of what happened to her…”

"We've all taken a lot of chances since we've defected from the Empire. She knew the risks when she went on that mission. It's not her fault trouble follows us all around."

“Trouble follows who around?” Kish interjected, as she walked over to the two pilots with the fourth member of their team, Zell, a thin Soccorran, in tow.

Abb let out a loud exhale and blushed.“Nothing," he said finally as he put on some welding goggles, "just trying to get these ready before that fuzzy thing over there - ” He jerked a thumb over to a Talz on the other side of the maintenance bay "- finishes those hyperspace modules.”

“He’s a Talz.” Zell said, “Not a fuzzy thing.”

Abb shrugged. “Whatever,” he said, continuing welding the expansion onto the wing.

“You think these things will fly after we do this to them?” Kish said, running her hand along the now-elongated end of the wing. “I know our Corporal on the Veltmoor would explode if he saw them.”

“He’s probably exploded already. I'm sure he's received word we've all defected.” Zell said, walking with Kish towards the turbolift. “Night, guys. We’re going to take over in the morning.”

“I hope we finish before then, I don’t think I trust either of them to rebuild the TIE I'll be flying.” Michmas muttered.

“I’ll probably still be up… I’ll work with them.”

“Hey, you know… I heard the Jedi defected as a TIE pilot, too.” Michmas said.

“Shut up and work.” Abb said, turning his welding machine up.

“I also heard he was from Kuat, like you.” Michmas looked up, hoping to see a response. Disappointed, he continued his work.