Braze took a moment to settle into the common area, setting down a small box on the counter behind one of the booth seats. The hum of the ship's systems filled the air, providing a familiar white noise as he leaned against the table. Throughout most of the trip, he had remained present—available to answer questions, offer guidance, or simply serve as a reassuring presence for those on board. But as they neared their destination, his focus shifted.
When it came time to land, he tapped the ship's intercom.
"Kaelos, please meet me in the cockpit," he called, his tone steady but expectant.
By the time Kaelos arrived, Braze had already begun preparations, his hands moving over the controls with fluid ease. He gestured for the younger Jedi to take the co-pilot's seat before dropping himself into the pilot's chair. This time, he would handle the landing himself—but Kaelos would observe, learn, and assist where needed.
"Alright," Braze began, flicking a few switches to adjust power distribution.
"You're going to want to pay close attention to how a ship handles in weather like this. A blizzard's not just bad visibility—it messes with aerodynamics, thruster efficiency, and your ability to get stable sensor readings. I'll walk you through what I'm doing, and next time, you're going to be the one in this seat."
Outside the viewport, Illum's surface was a howling white void. The storm churned across the icy landscape, thick flurries of snow slamming against the ship's hull. The turbulence was immediate. The
Mud Duck jolted under the force of shifting winds, and Braze tightened his grip on the yoke.
"First thing," he said, adjusting their descent angle
, "you don't fight the wind head-on. You compensate. Small, controlled adjustments." His fingers made minute corrections, keeping the ship from overcorrecting.
"If you yank the controls every time a gust knocks you around, you'll be overcompensating the whole way down. Smooth inputs. Keep it steady."
Braze continued, pointing to one of the displays.
"Your sensors are going to get spotty. Heavy snowfall like this means radar pings back all kinds of false readings, so you cross-check with thermal imaging when possible. If you're landing somewhere unfamiliar, use the terrain scanner—look for level ground, check for ice density readings, and avoid anything that looks like an overhang or crevasse. A flat sheet of snow might be hiding a drop-off."
The ship lurched as another gust struck, but Braze rode the turbulence, eyes flicking between his instruments and the viewport.
"When you're close to the ground, kill your forward momentum sooner than you think you need to," he advised, gradually reducing speed.
"Illum's ice is deceptive—it's slicker than it looks, and if you come in too hot, you'll slide instead of stopping where you want. Use repulsors, not just thrusters, to cushion your landing."
As they neared the landing site, Braze activated the ship's underbelly scanners. A topographical overlay appeared, highlighting subtle variations in the terrain.
"See this?" he pointed at a section of the display, showing a slightly darker region amid the ice.
"That's compacted snow over solid ground. This—" he gestured toward a brighter patch,
"—is looser powder, probably over a drift. Bad footing. We're aiming for stability."
With one final adjustment, the
Mud Duck descended onto a relatively stable stretch of ice, the landing gear compressing slightly before settling into place. The ship shuddered, but it held firm.
Braze exhaled, fingers still resting on the controls before he powered down the engines.
"And that," he said, turning to Kaelos with a slight smirk,
"is how you put a freighter down in a blizzard without turning it into a sled."
"Next time," Braze continued,
"I'll let you take the lead, and I'll be here to correct you. Best way to learn is by doing."
With the ship settled, Braze turned his attention to his instruments, running a series of environmental scans. The readout came back quickly—winds were still fierce, visibility poor.
"The blizzard should let up in about three or four hours," he announced, glancing at Kaelos.
"So you've got some time if you want to rest. I won't send you out in this."
Satisfied with their situation, he tapped his commlink.
"Loomi, we've safely arrived on Illum."
As he spoke, another thought came to him. He turned to Kaelos, his brow slightly furrowed in curiosity.
"Kaelos, have you ever met Knight
Ko Vuto
Vuto ?"
