Written by Steeler, Meister P, Amber and Fjap.

Day 2 of WoW 23

2200 Hours.

Finally... I have finished today's patrol duty!

Some news came to me just some time ago. Fjap found traces of narcotics in my tea. That means that it wasn't my fault I fell asleep. But still, there is no progress on getting the access codes back again. I'm lucky really, that Rookie wasn't more mad at me, even if it was a drug that made me fall asleep, I shouldn't have left the bridge. Anyway, nobody knows who did it, or how it was done, because that kind of drug isn't available on the Diablo... But why would they make it so obvious to find?

I have no idea what's going on. I say something though, that I won't take the bridge again in a hurry!! Not alone anyway... Too risky. I'm going to try and get some sleep now, I have duty again in the morning.

0000 Hours.

Its so cold in here, I don't know what is happening! I just woke up, and I can't stop shivering... I swear its getting colder in here. I think I can safely say that its no sleep for me again tonight. I'm going for another walk, maybe its warmer somewhere else.

0100 Hours.

Something weird is going on, definitely. Its getting colder all the time, I can feel it. I just can't get warm, even in the engine room it is cold, but not as cold as the other places. I'm going to stay down here for some time. It smells funny, and its noisy, but its warm, so I'm happy enough.

I think I must be going mad... I'm sure I just saw the door of the power room open... I *must* be going mad. This is getting too creepy, I'm going back to the deck.

0130 Hours.

Its getting more and more cold, I even have my full uniform on now! I'm making a resolution, not to have any more of that tea. Its making me see things, I'm sure of it! Like that speeder bike, I mean, what would anyone be doing with a speeder bike at that time!? And who would be in the power room!? Maybe I should see a medic... maybe that narcotic is still affecting me... Nah, I'm worrying too much.

Meister thinks that Steeler might be causing the problems on the Diablo. She appeared to him, and said "You're dead" or something. Poor Meister, I know I would have been really scared if that happened to me. I just can't believe that Steeler is against us now. She was always for Phoenix, I can't imagine that she would do anything to harm us... The hard part is understanding why, but also understanding how! She is probably thousands of miles away, but still she can control things here, its strange. Maybe its not even Steeler, maybe its just some troublemaker we picked up somewhere. That would be more logical. They could have brought the drugs on board, and the speeder bike, and changed the access codes! Oh, who am I kidding? The speeder bike was my imagination, it must have been. And like a Sith could control someone else's mind, that's just a silly idea!!

Apo and Tobi were acting strangely before. Like they were up to something... I met them coming out of the Cantina in the afternoon, and they looked quite nervous when I asked them what they had been doing all day. I really hope they don't try and pull some stunt to rescue Steeler, because its too dangerous. If she doesn't want to be found then...

0530 Hours.

Oops, I must have fallen asleep. But I don't remember going back to bed, especially in my uniform! Damn, I must be more tired than I think, I just hope the drug is still not affecting me...

Strange things keep happening to me! The cleaner of the engine room just returned my ID card, I'm sure I never took it with me on my walk... it was in the pocket of my uniform coat, and I only put that on when I came back... I think! I'd better see the medic just in case. I don't want to go falling asleep on duty again, or doing something wrong, then Junior would be really mad at me. End of entry.

Fjap sat in the makeshift lab he'd created in one of the storage rooms. There was of course a medical wing in the frigate but the medic droids weren't too keen on letting a human mess around with the equipment. Especially not Fjap. They insisted that he was responsible for the "suicide" of one of his TF.

"Ridiculous, as if a TF could manage to have such highly developed intelligence to kill them selves." He had told the medic droid. The droid swivelled around the hips to face him and Fjap shivered. He really didn't like that how the droids could turn their torso 360°.

"I must inform you that the standard Imperial Tie Fighter has the grade three Fundalore brain. It has the mental capabilities of a FS type II, and is such able to make clear and conscious decisions."

"FS type II?" Asked Fjap, " FS type II," he snapped at the droid, "is a Floor Scrubber with attached dust collector. They are slightly more intelligent than the automatic doors and they aren’t too bright if you ask me. The door to my cubicle refuses sometimes to let me into my own room."

"Yes that door is quite sensitive about the loss of that TF. It seems that they were… ehemm... an item," rasped the droid and looked accusingly at Fjap, as if he was the reason for the unhappy door.

Fjap exploded "AN ITEM???? A Tie Fighter and a door? This is too much." And he stormed away.

That's why Fjap's lab was set up in the storage room. It was his goal to find more out about the pink picture, but Mr P had brought him Amber’s tea and he'd found a strange substance in it. He couldn't quite tell what it was but it put a little Bohr mouse to sleep very fast. Fjap watched Meister walk away, muttering as he went.

"Hey Meister," he called after him, "could you crank up the thermostat on your way out of here? Its getting chilly in here." But Meister P just walked away. Fjap muttered something on his way over to the thermostat and looked at it.
"Hmm this is odd. The thermostat is set at normal heating but the temperature is dropping." He turned around and looked for his jacket. It wasn't there so he decided to go to his quarter and get it. He was almost run over by a hoverbike that sped through the corridor when he stepped out of the room. He shook his head in disbelief. Junior wouldn't like that, he sniggered. Junior, he he. When he got to his quarter the door sulked.

"Ohh come on. Look I’m so sorry about your..." Fjap faulted. Which was the boyfriend and witch was the girlfriend? "Uhhh your...friend. I know how important the fighter meant to you but you have to get on with your life. I'm sure he would have wanted that." This sounded really lame. There he was comforting a automatic door because of the loss of one starfighter. The door opened at last an Fjap got in an reached for his jacket and when he turned around he yelped and fell on the cot. In his room stood Steeler. At least he thought it was her. She was kinda blurred and she was trying to speak.
"What?? I can’t understand you Steel. What is going on."

Steeler looked real cross and suddenly she held up a lightsaber and slashed against the wall. A writing appeared: Are you completely Force deaf you fool?"

Fjap blushed. "Ahh as a matter of fact I am. Sorry"

The sword scorched the wall again. "Never mind, just pay attention. There is something I want you to do for me. When the frigate stops I want you to steal a TI and go to the third moon on the right. There you will meet a man. He will....." The image of Steeler became gradually fussier and the writing stopped. Fjap sat dumbstruck on his cot with flaming words on his wall. Well this would surely come off his pay…

It was quiet on board of the dreadnought New Order of the Dark Brotherhood. Steeler sat in her quarter starring out into the space. The door opened and Sunghi one of the highest-ranking members of the DB entered the room. He stood in the door and waited, sadly Steeler hadn’t so much patience: " What? "

Sunghi smiled thin: " So when do you will kill the Jedi and your ex friends? You know you have to show us that you are one of us. Phoenix stands in our way... " The next things happened that fast that a non Sith or Jedi wouldn’t able to see it only the result.

The result was that Sunghi lied on the floor and Steeler stood above him her lightsaber in her hand: " Do never mention the squadron again! They are dead, you know it. But I decide when and how I kill them, clear?! " It was clear both had fought and Sunghi lost.

He smiled: " Your abilities are amazing, Steel. Good you found back to the dark side. You don’t need these pitiful friends who aren’t worth to be called friends and definitely you don’t need that Jedi. "

Steeler were breathing very fast: " I don’t need your words Sunghi. My Phoenix time is over, simply as that. Phoenix is the only squadron who stands between our aims and us. They will be eliminated, easy as that. Without any discussion and without any mercy. I have sworn it that day on Matjua. "

" I only want to make sure that you know where your priorities have to be, ok? Now let me stand up. "

Steeler stepped back and put her lightsaber away then she walked to the door: " I have my nose full from you observing me. Stop that or you will find yourself on my killing list. " With these words she left the room.

On board of the El Pollo, It became colder and colder, Rookie saw his crew in their ice planet uniforms. The situation became critical and with every passing minute a bit more critical. Akkon had no idea how to get the access keycodes back and this meant a lot. The only one who had it easier were Desmo but also the Wookie didn’t feel so good in the coldness. Rookie grabbed one of Amber’s special teas maybe then it would become warmer.

In this moment Meister P stepped into the office: " Still no success? "

Rookie suffering from the lack of sleep and from the coldness shook his head: " Sadly nope. "

Meister sat down: " Hmm, bad news. Ah well, you do your best anyway. "

Fjap burst into the SL office, looking a bit shocked: " You can’t imagine what happened to me! "

Meister offered the nervous pilot his chair: " Calm down. Take a deep breath and tell us what happened. "

Fjap sunk at the chair: " I saw her! "

" Who? " asked Rookie.

" Steel, she spoke to me. She asked me for a favour. "

Rookie looked surprised: " So it’s possible she can manipulate people. Damn, what happened to her?! I simply can’t believe it that she stands against us! "

Meister asked: " Which favour? "

Fjap answered: " When the frigate stops I should steal an TI and went to a moon on the right. "

" When the frigate stops? She lead us? Then I don’t understand why she lowers temperature and oxygen concentration in our air. It will kill us. " Rookie was confused now.

Meister rubbed his arms again: " Something isn’t ok. I will search for her and ask her why our frigate is out of control. "

" Do you think that’s an good idea, P? At least she spoke to me and not to you. "

The Jedi shook his head: " It isn’t. But can you get contact to her? "

In this moment the frigate stopped. " That’s it! " with these words Fjap ran out of the SL office. "

Fjap nope! " Rookie tried to follow but Fjap was faster.

Fjap entered the hangar unable to stop himself. He couldn’t imagine he run faster sometime before. It must be the force who leaded him into the TI of Ginyard. Fjap didn’t think he only started the engines and make the best take off in his imperial fighter career. Also Tobi and Apo were in the hangar as the frigate stopped, as fast as they could they climbed into one of the shuttles and made an alert take off. They only left the frigate a second before the frigate entered the hyperspace again. Rookie arrived the hangar exact in this moment: " Oh no.... not again. "

Apo and Tobi sat in their shuttle and saw the Diablo jumping into the hyperspace. They exchanged worried views. " It’s not over now. " stated Tobi.

Apo nodded: " And we can’t help our squadron. I’m getting more and more the feeling that our infiltration plans was a bad idea. "

" Now it’s too late. Well, let’s try to find Savage. When we are fast enough we can maybe rescue our squadron. "

Apo asked: " Where we are? "

Tobi checked the sensors: " Matjua, again outer rim, rebel land. So slowly I start to think we saw more outer rim space then imperial one. "

" I guess you are right. " answered Apo: " Where is the next recruitment office of the rebel alliance? "

Tobi smiled: " I have no idea, these sectors are unknown by imperials. I guess we start our search or we never find them. "

Apo nodded: " Well, I dislike the idea to touch an rebel craft after all these things happened to Phoenix in the last weeks, but well special situations need special actions. "

Meister P walked through the frigate thinking about a possibility to avoid the self-destruct of the Diablo. It was so frustrating to sit around and face a slow death unable to do something against it. Suddenly he heard the sound of a hoverbike. He already heard of such seeing and couldn’t believe it. He followed the strange sound and saw the bike driving around the next corner. P was curious to find out who is able to ride such a bike too, you must be aware of the force. P knew he must prepare a trap to get the jockey, well at least he had something to do now. Meister walked in his quarter to think about a good plan as Desmo stepped into his quarter. Unsure the Wookie stood in front of Meister.

The Jedi smiled: " I don’t bite, so what’s going on Des. "

Desmo sighed: " We don’t know so long but I want to ask for a favour. "

P ‘s answer: " We both are Phoenixians hunted by a crazy Sith right now. We have to stand together when we want to survive. "

Desmo nodded: " Too true. Well, can’t you try to get Steeler’s attention. Maybe she didn’t know what she causes here. "

P looked depressed: " Even when I get her attention, I don’t think she will help us. Believe me, she knows exactly what she does. Besides this I haven’t too much hope to get her back. Too strong the influence of the Dark Brotherhood on her is already. "

" But you can try and then you can at least say you tried. Got me? "

Meister: " You two are old friends right? "

Desmo smiled: " Yes, we are. "

" You were, you wanted to say. " interrupted P.

Desmo shook his head: " Nope, we are. For me she’s still a friend, not more, not less. "

" Nice friends you have. She wants to kill you. "

Desmo became angry: " Listen Jedi, you. I know Steel quiet a little longer then you. That’s not the Steel I know. Something happened to her! Think over a way to change her back instead of giving up! Heck you Jedi are always so weak! "

Meister smiled: " Ok, ok. You are right. I’m trying it. But I can’t make any promises. "

At the same time on the bridge Akkon was still working on the keycodes. Rookie already felt the defect of oxygen. He couldn’t think clear. His head hurts and he felt a burning pain in his eyes. He already saw that Raider felt in powerlessness, it became really dangerous now. He rubbed his face and wished back to Mandalore. Meister P started to meditate and searched for Steeler. He knew why he wasn’t willing to try it, he feared what he will see then. But Desmo was right, he had to try it. Besides this maybe he found out what Fjap’s order was. Suddenly he faced the silhouette again: " You are dead. " Meister forced himself to stay calm. " You are dead. " the voice said again. But something was different, the vision changed. A cold but bright light were all over the place and Steel stepped out of the light: " P! Look look! Well, weak Jedi why you are searching for me? "

" You kill us, you know this. "

" This is my aim, yep. Die well! There is no more to say, Jedi. " Then the vision went away.

Meister sat frustrated on the floor: " DAMN! "

Back on the bridge Akkon felt like he would have a cold. A cold? That’s it. When he would able to create a virus and get it into the computer systems he could stop the frigate and maybe overwrite the new orders. " Rookie, I need your help! Wake up, c’mon, wake up! "

The Commodore was only half awake: " For what Akkon? It’s over. "

" Nope, it isn’t. I have a solution, but I need you for it. Don’t give up! " Akkon shook the Commodore.

Rookie forced himself to open his eyes fully: " Ok, let’s hear what you think we can make. " Akkon explained his plan. The SL nodded: " It could work, it could... but we need time and time we haven’t. "

In this moment Katarn came over: " We have the special equipment for planets with lees oxygen. Why don’t we use the oxygen patrons of the stormtroopers, we can win some time there. "

Rookie: " We haven’t enough for all... "

Katarn: " Well we can make the ship more warm when we fire our blasters to the titanium walls, it should help. Then they can survive longer in powerlessness. "

Rookie nodded: " Not bad, but the blasters needs oxygen too. "

Akkon: " True but the new keycode only slows the overall percent of oxygen, that’s the weak point. We will not lose more oxygen then before, the generators will produce only more of it. "

Rookie: " Ok, then let’s do it. "

Fjap was on his way to the third moon on the right. The force leaded him, he never felt better in a cockpit before. He felt Steeler’s presence, nothing had changed. At least he wanted to believe that, but also he saw the Diablo jumping back into hyperspace. Fjap decided to ask Steel when they meet again. There was the moon Fjap started the landing procedure. The life sensors didn’t show anything, hm strange as Fjap thought. The Chief Pilot landed on a meadow and climbed out of his fighter. Then he started to search for the man Steeler spoke about. He didn’t needed long to find him. A rebel pilot sat next to a tree and looked calmly to Fjap. Fjap took out his blaster: " Who you are? "

The rebel stood up: " My name is DuKaal and your Sith sent me. She asked me to find out what exactly happened on Matjua and why Phoenix felt into her back."

Fjap looked shocked: " We never felt into her back! We weren’t in Matjua before."

" So, then you have a bigger problem as you thought. "

Again back on board of the dreadnought New Order, Steeler stood at the big window of the bridge and smiled in a secret way. Their ex squadron mates found the way to come around the new keycodes and also Fjap found DuKaal. Now the things became interesting. She turned around and left the bridge. Amazingly she had to admit a small part of her didn’t believe that Phoenix betrayed her but this feeling she had to hide. But on the other hand she saw it with her own eyes. Again the dark side took fully control of her and she decided even when Phoenix is without guiltiness to fulfil her plan. She became too human simply as that, it has to end.

On the bridge Sunghi stepped next to the leader of the Dark Brotherhood: " Her way back to the bark side runs fine, I think. But still we shouldn’t thrust her too much. As long as Phoenix isn’t eliminated there is a small chance they get her back. "

The master nodded: " I agree with that, but also remember the mind barrier can be broken by her. We must be extremely careful as long as the Phoenixians are around and afterwards, well afterwards it will not disturb our plans anymore. "

Sunghi: " I’m not an opponent for her. Her skills are without any measure. "

" I know, same counts for her ex allied Jedi, that’s why the situation is so dangerous. Both together could manage to ally of the rebels with the imperials and win the battle against the dark fleet. Then the dark side can’t never rule the galaxy. "

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5

Authors: NCp Steeler, LtC Amber, SCP Meister_P, SCP Fjap

Editor: LtC Amber

The Authors and Editor have done their best to ensure the accuracy and currency of all information in this story. All information is current to 24/06/2000 and we can accept no responsibility for any loss or inconvenience sustained by any reader as a result of its information or advice.