Pana Lharu grumbled as she stomped back to the hangar and prepped the Starkweather for takeoff, and didn't stop even as she went through her pre-flight list. She flipped switches with more force than necessary, she pounded buttons instead of pressing them. She even kicked the astrogation computer when it hitched briefly.

"Something wrong, sis?"

"Leave me alone, Gar. I'm not in the mood."

"Okay. What happened this time? Did we get stiffed for the delivery?"

She looked at him.

"... again?" he added.

Her look turned into a glare.

"You. Are. Not. Helping."

He raised his hands in a gesture of mock-surrender.

"Sorry, little sis, sorry, but... hey, it's not like we've been doing much more than making ends meet since Dad died, and I'm just a bit... concerned is all."

"Stuff it, Garwen. Look, you wanna know what happened? I met the client. He paid me. I started to leave, and a Rodian that smelled like a Wookiee made the 'anouncement' that there would be a transport leaving tomorrow to join the Rebellion. Like there aren't enough of those troublemakers already!"

"Ah."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just that... well, you know that the Rebels may have a good point."

"Don't you get me started, Gar! The Empire has been fine. It's only really a problem for the rich or dishonest people. Those of us earning an honest living aren't really affected."

"So you say."

"Look, you got a problem, brother dear?"

"No no... just... okay, fine. We're doing okay and you're right. The customers that have stiffed us have all been affiliated with the Rebellion. Maybe we can make some extra off of your serendipity?"

"My sara what now?"

"Look. We turn in the transport to the local outpost, we get the standing reward, we get on with our lives and head to Ryloth. A 'Wat Tambor' has work for us."

"And how pray tell, are we going to find the launch site?"

He grinned, "Why, sister mine, don't tell me you didn't know of my burning desire to join the Rebellion?"

She snorted.

"Would you believe... inform on the Rebellion?"

She chuckled and nodded at him, and he headed out the door to go make contact while she powered down again.

A few hours later, he came back. He told her where the rendezvous was, but then winced and headed toward the back of the ship.

"What's wrong, Garwen?"

"N-nothing. I, ah, pulled a muscle."

Then he fainted.

Pana rushed to him and ripped open his vest and shirt. There was a blaster burn taking up a large part of his right side.

"Gar? Garwen? Wake up, Gar!"

He opened his eyes, and smiled at her, lifted his hand and caressed her cheek... and then died in her arms.

The next few days went by in a fog. She had his ashes mounted in a permablock above the pilot's chair. The news of the Stormtroopers raiding the Rebel transport and capturing 87 traitors made her feel a bit better. He died for a good cause. Then she felt empty.

She needed to DO something... and she decided she'd join the Imperial army.

When she was told in no uncertain terms that she didn't fit the Fleet requirements to be a Stormtrooper, it confused her. She was the right height and weight and age and had all the abilities in the required ranges. After thinking about it, she realized what it was.

She was a woman.

Well, as she saw it at that moment, her choices were narrowed to two. She hires on help and continues in the cargo delivery business, or she somehow fakes her way into the Stormtroopers to honour her brother's memory.

It was no choice. She practiced lowering her voice as the medical droid onboard the Starkweather tightly bound her chest.

"Maybe it's another drill! *ahem* Maybe it's another drill! *ahem* Maybe it's another drill! Almost. Maybe it's another drill."