Chapter Five

 

 

“High Flight, this is Lead. Call ‘em off,” Crystal said taking Aerick’s place as Lead for this mission.

“This is Two, four lit and in the green.”

“This is Four. Lit and in the green.”

“Five, I’m ready.”

“Six, green all around.”

“Seven, prepped and ready to go.”

“Eight, ready to rock and roll.”

“Nine, charged and ready.”

“Ten, four lit and in the green.”

“Eleven, ready to fly.”

“Twelve, all systems in the green.”

“Two, Four, form up on me when we launch,” Crystal said. She shunted power to her repulsorlifts and brought her ship around, pointing out into space. She kicked in her engines and flew out of the hanger, followed a few moments later by the rest of the squadron. “Control, this is High Flight, what’s the situation?”

“We’ve been ambushed. I count one Imperial-class Star Destroyer and one Victory-class Star Destroyer.”

“Copy. Any starfighters?”

“Not yet. Rogue and Lightflash squadrons are being scrambled from Mon Remonda.”

“Roger that,” Crystal switched back to the squadron frequency. “All craft, we’ve been ambushed by an ImpStar and a VicStar. No fighters as of yet. Form up and prepare for missile duty. When you have a lock, double fire at the VicStar. Let’s let ‘em know they’re not wanted here.” A flurry of comm-clicks answered her. Thankfully, the X-wings were able to fire their proton torpedoes without opening their S-foils.

“High Flight Lead, this is Rogue Lead.”

“Copy.”

“It would be best if we concentrated our fire on the power cells of that VicStar.”

“You read my mind, sir. High Flight, this is Lead, targeting coordinates follow.” Her astromech transmitted the numbers. “Launch in three-zero seconds.” As her X-wing closed to firing range, Dewback started chirping insistently. “What is it, Dewback?” The astromech tootled and brought up the image of a TIE squadron launching from the hanger of the VicStar. “Sithspawn. Rogue Lead, this is High Flight Lead. My astromech has picked up a squadron of eyeballs launching from the VicStar.”

“Copy that. As soon as you launch your torpedoes, lock your S-foils into attack positions, break by wing-pairs and fire at will.”

“Roger. You heard the man, launch in 10 seconds.” When the time reached five seconds, Crystal switched her weapons to proton torpedoes. She immediately received a lock. The time ticked down and she squeezed the trigger, watching as a pair of proton torpedoes jetted towards the smaller Star Destroyer on a jet of blue flame. It was immediately joined by twenty more torpedoes.

“High Flight, launch a second volley, lock your S-foils into attack positions, break by pairs and fire at will.” Twenty-two more torpedoes jetted towards the Star Destroyer, then the fighters spread out as the squadron members broke into wing-pairs. The Star Destroyer opened up with it’s turbolasers, trying to shoot down some of the torpedoes headed it’s way. Two torpedoes were caught in one such volley and detonated. Another slammed into an oncoming TIE and reduced it to so much rubble. The other thirty-one torpedoes sailed on, impacting on the Destroyer’s shields. After being hit by only 15 torpedoes, the shields failed. Sixteen torpedoes slammed into the armor protecting the power cells, crushing armor plates and vaporizing several layers of the interior hull. Two more volleys, forty-eight torpedoes in total, impacted, widening the hole and cutting off power to most of the ship as the power cells were vaporized. Escape pods started shooting off of the doomed ship.

“This is Mon Remonda. That VicStar has been disabled. Our troop transports are en route, plus a transport of tech support to capture that ship. Protect them!”

“This is Two. I’ve picked up a tail!”

“Two, this is Four. Break hard to port on my mark.” Liset called over the comm. She lined up the TIE in her sights. “Break!” As soon as the word left her mouth, she tightened her finger on her trigger. Four channels of destructive light slammed into the TIE, shearing off one of the solar panels and sending it spiraling away. It exploded a moment later, as its ion engines overloaded.

“Thanks, Four.”

“Lightflash, High Flight, this is Rogue Lead. That ImpStar is launching bombers.”

“Copy, Rogue Lead. We’re on ‘em,” Crystal called. “High Flight, take down those dupes.” She pulled her X-wing into a split-S and targeted one of the remaining TIEs. She spitted it on her targeting reticle and fired her lasers. The TIE exploded as the laser bolts ravaged its ion engines. She picked another TIE, but watched it disintegrate as two quad bursts converged upon the hapless fighter.

“Lead, this is Seven. Looks like that was the last of the eyeballs.”

“Then target those dupes and take ‘em down!” She snapped.

“This is Six. I need some help here!”

“What is it, Six?”

“Space debris. One of those solar panels just slammed into my X-wing. Took out one of my S-foils. Engine power down to 75% and falling. I’m losing hydraulics!”

“Five, escort Six back to Redemption. Then get your butt back here!”

“Copy, Lead. Six, you’re on me.”

“Copy, Five. And thanks. I owe you one.” Krinu banked up and away from the engagement zone, closing her S-foils and heading towards Redemption, and keeping pace with Dojan’s X-wing.

“Lead, this is Two. Those dupes are closing. Uh-oh. I’m being targeted.”

“Jink!” Another voice yelled.

“He’s got a lock!”

“Break hard right!” Crystal called. “Dump some chaff and hide close to it!”

“Copy. Breaking left.” Renn’s X-wing started banking to the left.

“BREAK RIGHT!” Crystal yelled. “I said break RIGHT!”

“Sorry,” The X-wing switched directions and loosed a cloud of chaff right in front of Crystal’s X-wing.

“Shavit, Two. I’m gonna kill you when we get back!” She broke right and watched the concussion missile the bomber had launched shoot past her X-wing and detonate inside the cloud of chaff.

“Targets in range, Lead.”

“Engage! Fire at will!” As the remaining nine X-wings started firing their lasers, Crystal watched two of the dupes explode as two quad bursts caught it in the cockpit. Two other bombers veered away from the battle, too badly damaged to continue the fight. Then, Rogue Squadron opened up and the remaining bombers were vaped almost instantly.

“Wow,” a voice admired over the comm.

“Cut the chatter, Eleven. All ships, form up. Let’s hit ‘em where they live. Target the ImpStar’s power cells and fire when you have a double lock.” A flurry of comm clicks acknowledged her call. Just as her X-wing entered firing range, Crystal watched as the ImpStar jumped into hyperspace with a flicker of pseudomotion.

“High Flight, Rogue, do a fly-by on any EV pilots. Mark those spots so shuttles Redemption’s Mercy and Redemption’s Compassion can make a pick-up.” Another rush of comm clicks acknowledged her order. “Mon Remonda, this is Rogue Lead. Fighter resistance has been quelled.”

“Copy, Rogue Leader. Think you can escort those transports to their target?”

“I hope that was a rhetorical question, Control.” General Antilles replied.