[Episode V - NR][O12 - Gyndine - NR3F] Sleemo Hologram Status - The Sleemo Seven (VI)

In orbit above Gyndine...

Major Alrec Rhyse pulled a bottle of revnog from beneath his desk and filled his cup. He'd been tracking the Sleemo Seven's progress for weeks now, and he'd seen how effective their work had been.

It had also been too costly... Dex Madsen and Cade Hale were gone.

Alrec had lost soldiers before, it came with command. But his troopers had always chosen the fight. Ever since the earliest days of the Rebellion, they'd all believed fighting, no matter the cost of victory.

The Sleemo crew hadn't been believers. They'd been forced into this, coerced into risking their lives for a promise of freedom. That was a promise he had made, and he had meant it when he made it.

He took a slow drink, and felt the alcoholic burn.

The message from the Senate still sat open on his console. They'd reviewed the deal and decided to revoke it. Once the mission was complete, Kessa, Tarnov, and Kavren would be returned to prison.

Alrec exhaled sharply. "Krak it all..." He'd given them his word. He'd known from the start that the mission was a raw deal, but it had been something. A way out for them was at least a reason to fight.

Now they had nothing. Just another lie disguised as orders. He stared at the stars outside his viewport, and felt his jaw tighten.

The Sleemo crew were heading into their most dangerous fight yet. "The Admiral".

Alrec knew Admiral Vorell Kain both by his reputation, and from his deadly hit and run tactics after Jakku. His fighter squadrons had destroyed countless Republic ships as they chased the remaining Imperial forces from the battle.

Alrec picked up the bottle again and refilled his glass. "No," he thought, "Not this time."

He sat down and pulled up his trooper manifests. The Sleemo wouldn't go at this alone, not if he had anything to say about it.

"Once a rebel, always a rebel," he thought with a grim smile.