A Tale from Cloud City: The New Baron

*Taking place relatively soon after Blaine Hansom wins Cloud City from Zorba the Hutt, this story features reactions from other denizens of the galaxy responding to that news.*

```

The large, rust-colored Action VI transport moved silently through space. In its ready room sat Talon Karrde, reading over several datapads of information. His second in command, Quelev Trapper, entered the room, carrying a case of datapads.

“Just set them down there,” Karrde murmured, reading over the thousands of news articles stored in each of the datapads. Some were filled with official news from sectors while others contained reports from various agents under his employ, slipping him information from their organizations for a salary of credits.

“Okay, Boss.” Trapper said, as he set down the case and left, leaving Karrde to muse to himself over the recent happenings in the galaxy.

“Hmmm…” Karrde said, as he rubbed his fingers through his beard. Something in the news definitely piqued his interest. He called after Trapper, “Add Cloud City to the ‘safe ports’ list… for now, at least.”

Stalking through the jungle, Boba Fett and Dengar moved without making a sound. The two hunters had walked for hours in search of their prey. Fett looked back at Dengar and held two fingers up. Dengar nodded and looked ahead, seeing the campfire of their prey not far ahead.

Twenty minutes later, Fett and Dengar hiked up to a clearing where the ship The Slave II was waiting with their three captives. All had enormous bounties on their heads, which the two would claim later. Fett led the three bound men into The Slave II’s prison holds. As the captives pleaded for their lives, Dengar updated the Hutt Syndicate on the status of their pursuit.

“Fett, you see this?” Dengar pointed at the computer. “Looks like our old friend Bota Zi is making some news.”

Boba Fett looked up from his hostage. “Tell me,” he said.

“He’s still the New Republic Bounty Hunter’s Guild Leader with Zuckuss and 4-LOM, but he’s been at Kessel and now on Cloud City.”

“Anoat System. I remember Cloud City well.” Fett said.

“Yeah,” Dengar said, “You got Solo there. We were all trying to get Solo. Now it seems his friend Blaine Hansom has won the title of Baron-Administrator. He’s got… a two million bounty on his head from Kuat. The Hutts… are outraged with him. Between Bota Zi, Blaine Hansom and their Jedi friend, that’s a lot of money, Fett.”

“He’s no Jedi.” Boba Fett said and locked up the last captive.

“He chopped Bossk’s foot off and stranded him on Tatooine.”

A cracking noise came from Fett’s mask. Dengar assumed it was laughter. Fett reached down and hit some buttons. “Bota Zi and that other pretender was there was well, Jodo Kast. It’s time I did something about those two.”

“Kast first?” Dengar asked.

“Kast first.”

The Slave II set a course for Hutt space, for their bounty. The next coordinates they made were to Tatooine.

Wedge watched the fish in Admiral Ackbar’s room; he sat looking at it in silence, almost meditating.

“Relaxing isn’t it?” The Mon Calamarian Admiral said when he entered the room. “Sorry for the delay, I had an important meeting with some delegates.”

Wedge looked up at his old friend. “I know we’ve talked about the potential candidates for Rogue Squadron and some of the reasons it’s been so difficult even coming up for a potential list of… well, potentials, is the restrictions and vetoes I’ve had forced on me.”

“Who’s been vetoed as a potential candidate?” Ackbar said, as he went to get some food for his fish.

“I don’t understand why they’ve vetoed Blaine Hansom,” Wedge said. “I’ve seen his flying firsthand several times and he’s been a reserve Captain for us for years now. He has the experience and the skill. Hell, he even flew in an X-wing squadron on The FarStar.”

Ackbar grunted. “I saw his dossier. He’s more of a criminal than someone who would inspire the New Republic, wouldn’t you say?”

“I realize that, but by excluding potential candidates, we’re not making the Rogue Squadron, we’re making a Rogue Squadron in name only. The one veto that really gets me upset is Luke Skywalker’s personal request not to contact a certain Genos Ia’danian.”

“I don’t think I’m familiar with him.” Ackbar said.

“That’s just it. No one is. I think I’ve met him once, before Endor. I know Luke’s kept in touch with him, spent time with him. I know that this Ia’danian hates the Empire. I know he’s a very gifted pilot. There are rumors that he’s… well, that part doesn’t matter. Just that he’s a great pilot.” Wedge shook his head.

Ackbar patted him on the shoulder. “Rogue Squadron will be Rogue Squadron because you’re the best squadron leader this galaxy has to offer.”

Wedge, frustrated, rubbed his brow and went back to his list of candidates.

In front of them was a glowing holonet terminal. To break the awkward silence between the two old friends, Han looked at Lando and said: “Look at it this way; I’m sure he’s not a better gambler than you.”

Lando threw his hands in the air and walked out of the cockpit. Chewbacca roared with laughter.

Blaine looked out over Cloud City. Somewhere out there, Tek was in bar - gambling most likely - Bota Zi would be tracking some fugitive and Genos would be… well, doing whatever Genos would be doing.

Elayne entered with a datapad. “Here are some invitations and meetings your assistant Lobot wanted you to have.”

Blaine looked over and smiled. “It’s good to be the Baron.”

Elayne giggled.