When introductions were done and a few obviously unsuitable applicants sent off with a polite 'no thank you', Selene gestured to Diana. "Rest easy. Find a chair, a drink and something to eat if you'd like. River, help her find a cabin, and show her my stores locker in Cargo B. There are two of these black uniforms that I wear, helmets, gauntlets, extra breathers, a belt like mine with two blasters, an electro-staff, and one of the force swords she can try out. Give her a tour of the ship; you probably know Banshee better than I do by now. Diana, think of River as a senior warrant officer. Not really in the command chain, her choice, but extremely skilled at what she does. If she suggests you do something, you would be wise to consider it an order for now. River does much more than just fly. The uniform I wear, so everyone knows, is based on what I wore as a Death Dealer, the soldiers of my people in a war that lasted a millenium and a half on my Earth. More on that in a bit."
"Shortest possible mission brief. An insurance cartel has contracted us because of losses out near the fringe. Mostly colony supply ships, the occasional colonist transport. We'll travel the Hydian way to Terminus where I can get credentials for anyone who doesn't want to be easily identified as a new arrival, jump to Shiva where I have some contacts, Kal'Shebbol, then cruise the fringe of Wild Space all the way to Velabri if necessary, depending on what intelligence we develop at some planets I've visited out there before. The fly in the ointment; these pirates seem unusually well-equipped according the the information the cartel was able to provide. There have been reports of one, possibly two, Corellian light cruisers, the one usually called the Rebel Blockade Runner, operating in conjunction with the pirates. Maybe somebody misplaced them. Maybe the First Order is underwriting them. Plausible deniability. They may be crewed by the First Order, in which case they will be harder to take. Banshee is a match for any one light cruiser. With both fighters flying, we can take two. But that will take some serious training. You will find the complete Terminus Systems Defense Officer's Academy courses are available on our terminals, including the advanced spacewar tactics and strategy program. Study time. Also, there are a lot of new combat sims loaded. We will be doing some solo and group wargaming en route. For those of you who don't know, my title of Captain does not just go with the job, it is the Reserve rank I still hold in the Terminus Systems Defense fleet. At one time I commanded a Reserve Fighter Squadron. A long story for another time. But, anyone who completes the entire Officer's course, I can get commissioned in the TSDF as a Reserve officer. Your call."
She glanced around to see how the others were taking the news so far. "I've had a chance to talk to some of the Resistance. And one of the Jedi, who are not as extinct as reported. But... and this is, forgive the expression, a rather big but, both are quote, 'few in number, lacking in resources, and unable to communicate freely, unquote, because of the First Order. In other words, mostly harmless. I find myself, more and more, with moral and ethical objections to the First Order. Any organization that considers planets full of civilians acceptable collateral damage is... unacceptable, not to mention bad for business. Now, from what I have been able to find out, they are going after colonies for the resources, and the colonists for forced labor. Slaves. I do not approve of slavers. I believe it might be time to begin going after them here and there in return, when we can get away with it. I request your input on the matter, here, or privately. I'll also point out that where we can maybe get twenty or thirty thousand for one of those armed freighters most pirates use, a light cruiser not too badly shot up will sell for a million two or three. We can help make the galaxy a better place and collect some nice paychecks along the way. Win-win, as I see it."