D'Qar
- one hour after contact was lost with Katarn Force -


The rain came down in sheets. Torrential showers with distant peels of thunder to mark time. At Starbase Cresh, the security guards on the perimeter raised their rifles as the sight of approaching headlights. The gate master held a hand up just behind the cordon, prompting the speeder to slow to a stop so he could check the new arrival. Cinching his rain-slicked overcoat tighter, he peered into the back window, spotting a face that most-certainly had clearance to be here. With a salute, he ordered the gate to be raised, and the speeder passed by. From here, it was another two kilometers to the command nexus.

The speeder headed down the paved pathway, gliding once more to a halt at the closest spot to the entryway. The driver popped open the gull wing hatch, quickly unfurling an umbrella. Not for himself, but for the person he was escorting in the back seat. He opened the door, holding the parasol so that there was enough overlap for the General to emerge. Taataani Meorrrei stepped out from the dry confines of her speeder, quickly adjusting the collar of her jacket to stand against her neck and shield her for any rain blown under from the side. A wreath of smoke curled from the cigar she kept fixed between her teeth. The former Chancellor's face was fixated and grim as she puffed. Not waiting to acclimate herself to the awful weather, General Meorrrei moved toward the entry with a hasty gait.

"Anjy worrd frrom Generral Luka?" she called to the approaching Captain of the Guard.

"He is on his way, General."

She nodded tersely as the Captain met her halfway and continued through the rain in lockstep.

"And the fjighterr ssquadrronss?"

"We've sounded all quarters, ma'am. They're assembled in the ready room."

"Good." Taataani puffed at her cigar, curling her tail in as soon as it began to wander beyond the parasol.

"We don't have tjime to wasste. We fjinalljy have an opporrtunjitjy to deal a blow to the enemjy. Ssend me jin."

The trio passed under the threshold of the large duracrete awning of the base. The driver deftly turned the parasol away, shaking away excess moisture as he drew it shut, allowing the Captain of the Guard to lead General Meorrrei to the briefing room.

A race was on. A race she was determined to win.