Chapter 7

I dropped my throttle down to 1/4, and waited for the commandeered Imperial Landing Craft that contained the troops that we had requested from General Haang. I looked to my left, and to my right to see Nim and D'lek do the same. Hanng had not been easily persuaded to relinquish any of his troops to my proposed mission, or to even sign off on the mission in the first place, but when I made told him that we might be able to keep all fighting off planet he warmed to the idea. He obviously didn't want to bring any more violence upon a population who had just experienced a life times worth. It was understandable since Chalum was new to the Alliance, they hadn't had enough time to really trust us yet, and having a battle in their backyard wasn't the best way to help them do so.

"This is Rebel Landing Craft ALDERAN, we are now on route to second moon Drida," crackled the voice of the ships pilot.

"We've got your back ALDERAN, proceed," I replied. My plan was to escort the tri-winged landing craft to the moon base and hopefully take it over. My plan was relying on Kirena's information that there were only twelve TIE fighters left for the base's defense. Our three X-wings, the four General Haang committed to the mission, and the two brand new A-wings that the General coveted greatly, should be enough as long as there are no surprises. Both the X-wing and the A-wing are superior starfighters when compared to either a TIE fighter, TIE bomber. If the fighters were interceptors, which I doubted, then the fight would be more equal than I would like.

"This is Captain Ol Dar Hu of fox squadron," spoke the voice of the one of the four X-wing pilots from Chalum. "We've got the lead, accelerating to 1/2 thrust."

"Thanks fox one, we're following you." Our fighters surrounded the landing craft in a rough diamond formation as we headed towards Drida at 1/2 thrust. My mind wandered as I viewed the dark rock looming closer, and I couldn't help but hope that my predictions on the behavior of the Hunter were correct. If not then hopefully we could at least be better prepared to intercept his ship when it comes out of hyperspace. We had to take the base first though, and that would be the most difficult part.

"They're coming in Malik, four marks at 3:00," said Hu's voice in my ear. His voice was calm and steady, and I found that it made me more at ease. "Keep your eyes peeled, if your reports are correct there should be more of them in the area."

"Gotchya Fox 1, they're all yours. Good luck." Our formation tightened in as the four X-wings of Fox Squadron took off towards the incoming Imperial fighters. Nim, D'lek and the two A-wing pilots took up the rear and side positions around the ALDERAN while I brought my fighter to the front of our pentagonal formation to close it up. I was glad to see that the TIE fighters were not Interceptors, and even more glad to see that Hu and his Foxes were making quick work of the inferior TIEs. The TIE is really only effective when it attacked in force, due to its lack of shields, inferior speed and maneuverability, and lack of missiles or proton torpedoes. The only thing that the TIE had over the X-wing is its advanced electronics package and speed matching ability. I still wouldn't be caught in a fight in one though, as Hu's squadron showed, the Imperial fighter had little to be desired.

"There's another one!" whooped Hu as he smoked his second TIE as it was chasing after Fox 3. The fight was over before it had ever really began, and the Foxes were soon back in formation undamaged and victorious.

"Twenty minutes till target," came Nim's voice in my ear.

"Be ready for any surprises, there should be at least eight more fighters. Stay on your toes," said Hu from his position to my left. The both of us were now leading the formation of fighters with the A-wings on either side. I hoped that it was the end of the fighter threat, but knew better than to let my guard down on a hope.

Captain Val Jawan stared at the holoprojector in the center of Moon Base Alpha's command center and chewed on his index finger in thought. He watched his remaining eight TIE fighters streaming out of the base's fighter bay and immediately feared they would not be enough. The previous four fighters had signaled him the enemies numbers, and he knew that there was a good chance his base would be taken. He refused to give it up without a fight though.

Shutting off the holoprojector with a slamming fist, Jawan sauntered off towards the fighter bay and his TIE Interceptor within. The base only had two of these brand new superior fighters, with their blinding speed and four powerful laser cannons, one belonging to him, and the other to his commander.

Jawan met Commander Yan Dorin at the door to the fighter bay, and they proceeded wordlessly to their fighters. Dorin was a Chridol, a red skinned, head plated alien from the Massar system, and Jawan didn't like him for this. Jawan was a die hard supporter of the Empire's hatred, distrust, and mistreatment of different races and the fact that Dorin had made it to commander in such a short time, less than it had taken Jawan to, deepened his hatred of the man. Jawan worked with him, but refused to either like him, or treat him as a true commander in front of the other officers within the base. A base now with only a group of technicians and a complement of twelve storm troopers to defend it. The base wasn't meant to be attacked or defended, only to complement the forces on Chalum, and recently to be a listening post to monitor rebel communications. Which is why Captain Jawan and Commander Dorin were forced to take their own fighters out in defense of the complex.

Jawan shook his head in frustration as he brought his ship out of the hangar and into space. Ten Imperial fighters against nine rebel fighters, We don't have a chance, he thought. At least we have surprise on our side. Jawan led his group of TIEs onto the left side of the base, the opposite side of where the rebels would be appearing, and ordered them to drop into various craters and power down all non essential systems. If it's a fight these rebel bastards want, then it's a fight they'll get.

"Jawan to Dorin," spat the steaming captain. "Be ready and don't screw this up or I'll blast you out of space myself."

"Yes sir," replied the Chridol Commander in a mocking tone. Jawan didn't really care though because he switched his comm system off before the commander could reply. Something he did as often as possible, to let the man know he didn't value, or even want to listen to his opinion. He wanted to drive it home for the Commander that the Empire's policy on aliens was alive in well in him. If there was one thing Jawan loved about his job, to was the opportunity it gave him to smash inferior races. To show them that serving the Empire as slaves was the only thing destiny had in store for them. In his mind it was how things should be and how they were meant to be.

Just a few minutes and it will all be over, hopefully for the rebels, Thought Jawan as he sat back in his flight seat, finger ready and waiting to power up his Interceptor. The treasonous filth will pay for their audacity in attacking me, and for stealing Chalum from the clutches of the empire.

The A-wings soared above the moon base, using their turret-like laser cannons to strafe the base's shields. Blasts coming from the turret atop the dome shaped building that was part of the base stabbed out into space, but failed to hit the speeding fighters. I shifted power from my shields to my engines and pushed my fighter to 1 1/4 thrust. I flew towards the half cylinder shaped flight hangar and pressed my trigger sending single shot rapid fire bolts of energy into the base's shields. A few shots from the two ground based turrets flew by, but failed to connect with my ship.

Bringing my fighter around, I caught a glimpse of something metallic in a nearby moon crater. At first I thought nothing of it, but as I brought my ship out of it's U-turn I saw another, then another.

"It's a trap! D'lek! Nim! Hu! rally your fighters and concentrate attacks on the craters lying beyond the base," I yelled into my helmet's microphone. "Watch out for enemy TIEs they are hiding in the craters!" I pulled up hard on my flight stick and pulled another U-turn, putting my X-wing in a dive towards the moon's surface. Already I could see TIEs springing up out of the craters and trying to salvage a ruined trap, taking potshots at the reorganizing rebel force. Lucky for me, and not for him, my target had yet to bring his ship up. I pulled back on my trigger and sent blast after blast into the dark crater. I was rewarded with a bright explosion, lighting up the crater and some of the nearby ones that still contained TIEs. I caught a glimpse of a rebel fighter pilots worse nightmare when it came to fighting imperials.