Kalidor Freight: 0419

[Master Buggie]

Some time prior to arrival at destination...

The twin Action V heavy freighters of Outland Transport emerged from hyperspace into the casual civilian flow of traffic at the edge of Columex. While the world was on the border of Imperial and Galactic Alliance territory, trade and freight still flowed along the Perlemian Trade Route. The front lines of Galactic Alliance territory bulged just north of Columex on the galactic map; there, the newfound Galactic Alliance had captured Rhen Var and Galidraan from the reeling Galactic Empire. From that point, though, there had been few advances along that particular front, and those two systems had formed a salient. This made civilian trade and transit dangerous along these parts of the Perlemian, as patrols and raids were frequent. It made for premium fees when it came to hauling and delivering goods, but it also meant the continual back and forth between galactic powers might allow an otherwise unmarked convoy of freighters to be able to slip into Imperial space from Galactic Alliance space, and vice versa.

"We're just about to the jump point, but I'm reading a malfunction in shield control. Could you check it out, Captain?" Storm asked, referring to Buggie, despite the fact that Storm had long since held the helm onboard Outland 02.

Rising from his seat, Buggie made for the maintenance closet where the toolkits were kept and said, "Can do. It'll be nice to get some credits so the aftereffects of our last tousle in the Western Reaches stops haunting us."

Buggie and Storm had been dealing with continued maintenance issues ever since they had been ambushed on a trip along a smuggler's route. The credits from this delivery would go a long way toward curing those aches and pains, particularly since the Galactic Alliance was willing to pay handsomely for their discretion.

[Master Buggie]

**Rendezvous Point**
**Sector Classified, System Classified**
**Action V Transport Outland 02**

Once the convoy had cleared Columex, Buggie had spent a few hours down in the maintenance access shaft doing what he could manage with the shield generator. A failure to such an essential system made what was a bad situation worse, as the transport was unarmed and relied on durable shields to buy its pilots enough time to plot a course and escape if they ran into trouble. Without that one protection, if the convoy stumbled upon a patrol in Sith space, they were as good as target practice.

Knowing that, it was a relief to both Storm and Buggie that the repair only amounted to minor maintenance. It was doubly a relief, since that was just about all Buggie could supply with his own technical skills, which were far lacking compared to many others of his species. Buggie had been schooled in other curriculum when he was but a hatchling, and tinkering with a shield generator was a daunting task for a trained actor.

As Buggie emerged from the maintenance access, Storm reported on his comlink that they were reverting to the rendezvous point shortly. By the time Buggie had reached the cockpit once more, the convoy had just arrived, and the combined Jedi and Galactic Alliance fleets were visible through the main viewport in the distance. A pair of XJ X-Wings had formed up on one side of the convoy, and Buggie imagined that an escorting pair would have taken position on the other side in order to guide in the convoy and their essential supplies.

"Got a message for you while you were working," Storm called from the pilot's seat as Buggie shuffled in.

"Oh?" Buggie asked, curious who it might be from.

Concentrating on maintaining his vector toward the joint fleets, Storm continued, "It was the Captain. Your work in Sith territory has not escaped the notice of the Pirate Council. They'd like you to continue."

Buggie was satisfied with that news, but he was reminded of his reservations on continued ventures into Sith territory that he had ruminated on prior to the beginning of their journey. It was risky, but he needed influence on the Pirate Council if he was to become more than just an afterthought in this organization. He would need to consider this further, as well as develop new methods of penetrating the Sith patrol network.