Many moved off
world to get jobs. Peter's father followed in this tradition and
did some transporting between systems. Since
there was nothing left for Peter on Ness, he spent most of his childhood
years aboard his father's container transport. He quickly learned
the basics of flight control and soon was an active partner in his
father's business. Peter made friends with other kids about space
stations. Because of his pale skin, Wolfshead-blond hair and piercing
blue eyes, he earned the nickname 'Iceman', more from his features
than his home planet.
As conflicts
between the Rebellion and the Empire grew fiercer, both he and his
father knew that as the Empire gathered more forces to fight the
Rebellion, there would not be as much protection in deep space from
pirates. Since a lone container transport is an easy target, Peter,
now a teenager, started to learn the controls of starfighters so
he could provide escort for his father when they were in danger
from pirates. They tried to remain neutral, not for fear of the
Empire, but for the fact that they needed to be shipping 7 days
a week to make ends meet.
One day, they
received a large shipment of quadlitium, an element capable of powering
an entire fleet of Star Destroyers. They were instructed to deliver
it to a convoy of Star Destroyers so they could continue to battle
the Rebellion on the Outer Rim without having to refuel at a space
dock.
After an uneventful
journey, they dropped out of hyperspace at the rendezvous point,
with the Star Destroyers just over 10 km. away. But before they
could set a course, a convoy of pirates, consisting of 6 shuttles
and 5 transports dropped out half a click away from them. Almost
instantly, two squads of Tie Advanced were launched. Within seconds,
two salvos of torpedoes had knocked out their shields and after
all five transports had made their ion attack run, they were dead
in the water and a shuttle moved into position to dock.
As soon as they
were disabled, Peter's father ushered him into one of the hidden
compartments used for the master control and the auto-destruction
blasts and then went to face the boarding pirates. Peter took a
look at one of the display screens and found that the Tie Advanced
were just over 6 km. away. He then heard a blaster shot, and then
a body fall to the ground. Since his father did not carry a blaster,
it only meant one thing. His father was dead. All the pirates then
went into the cargo hold to see what their latest prize was. Peter
turned back to his display and found that the remaining shuttles
were flying in a 'layered' orbit (one flying a very close orbit,
the next a bit farther out, etc.) around the disabled container
transport. They were all over the same spot only once: when they
were over the cargo hold with the quadlitium. Peter quickly keyed
in the auto-destruction for the quadlitium cargo hold, and waited
until the Tie Advanced were just under 2 km. away. When the shuttles
were all over the quadlitium cargo hold again, Peter quickly engaged
the auto-destruction for that container, destroying all boarding
pirates, shuttles and unfortunately, the quadlitium as well. Feeling
good that he had avenged his fathers death, he took a look at the
transports, which should have been just about wiped out from the
Tie Advanced by then. He looked out the port, but saw in horror
the fleet moving to enter hyperspace and the Tie Advanced already
gone. He ran from the compartment to the bridge, desperately trying
to repair the hyperdrive before the transports could destroy him.
He heard the siren wailing, warning him that the killer torpedo
was on it's way. Just before it hit, he felt the ship jerk and enter
lightspeed.
After completing
basic repairs, Peter dragged his ship to one of his friend's repair
depot. Upon closer examination, it appeared that most of the damage
was superficial, and was repaired within days. Pondering what to
do with his life, his friend suggested that he fly to Tatooine to
try to find work, as many industries needed smugglers to transport
goods. After spending a few weeks in Mos Eisley, Peter saw what
horrible things the Empire was doing. Already blaming them for over
10 000 credits (which was his entire reserve of credits) of damage
to his ship, this convinced him that he could not stay alive and
obey their law. Deciding to turn back to starfighters, he left a
message in the Cantina, stating that there was an escort pilot looking
for work. Within days, Foxfire, the CO of Wolfshead Squad, recruited
him, and with her help, he became eligible to join the ranks of
Wolfshead, hence Wolfshead 8 AKA ICEMAN.
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