The Chase -- copyright (c) 1995 by Christian Schock, Richard Chesney, Si Siorek, Steve Naylor, Saturn Padua and, and David Hopkins. This is a fictional story taking place a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. It was originally written as a "living story" in the FSFORUM of CompuServe. This version has been edited for spelling and other minor changes have been made. Any resemblance to people living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental.


Prologue
Last time, in The Hunt, Chris "Electro" Schock, Gray Squadron Executive Officer, watched his commanding officer's Super X-Wing get smaller and smaller in the distance as it left the WaveRunner.  As he began to turn away, he saw a faint flash of light  Chesney had entered hyperspace.

"I sure hope he knows what he's doing!" grumbled Electro. "Come on, Typhoon," he motioned to Captain Padua, "lets head to the bridge."


The Chase Begins!
The two remaining members of the Gray Squadron leadership team ascended to the bridge. Chesney had left Electro in charge during his absence.  Electro sat in the captain's chair and asked for a status report.

"All's quiet on the front," replied a literate officer working one of the screens.  "We haven't had..."

He was interrupted by a small shaking of the ship and the subsequent sounding of alarms.

Schock jumped to his feet. "What was that?"

"An explosion in the main hanger!" exclaimed an excited tech.

"Medical and security teams to hanger one," ordered Electro as men around him jumped to do their duties.

"Sir!" replied a junior officer watching the sensors, "I'm detecting a Super X-Wing exiting hanger one."

Electro glanced at Typhoon, an eyebrow raised.  "Nope, there aren't any CISF missions scheduled now," came the reply to his unspoken question.

"And if it isn't SOD..." thought Electro aloud, "who is it? Hail the Super X." he ordered.

A muffled sound came over the comm. Muffled, but instantly recognizable - laughter.

"Roberts? Is that you?" asked Electro.  There were many little known pilots in Gray that weren't in the squadron proper. These junior pilots were training to gain entrance.  One of their members, Tony "Eagle" Miranda, had recently achieved the coveted status.

"Yes, you fool. Of course it's me!" yelled Roberts. "But that's Sergeant-Major Arnold. Benoit Arnold, ISN to you! I've got one of your precious Super X-Wings and it's going right into Imperial hands!" He started laughing again as he cut the line.

"Can we use the tractor beam on him?" Electro asked.

"No, sir, he's too far away.  Looks like he's entering hyperspace," replied a tech.

"Can we trace him?

"Yes, we can," came the answer as the monitor glowed white as the traitor entered hyperspace. The navigator half turned to face Schock. "Follow him, sir?"

"Yes, of course. And get Gray Leader on the line."

"Oh, sir?" came a voice from behind the Comm station. "We can't.  We lost contact seconds after the blast.  I don't know if its an error here... or there," his voice dropped quietly thinking about what he had just said meant.

"Parsons, have Lt. Siorek report to the hangar deck. I want the experimental Z-95B ready for him in 3 minutes." Electro paced the bridge as his mind raced to determine how best to track down the Imperial mole who had stolen the Super X-Wing.

"The Z-95B was never meant as an assault ship, but its the fastest thing we've got, I just hope she's ready," Electro thought. "We designed her to be a fast recon and interceptor craft with the speed to keep up with the TIE Defender, but with almost no shielding and few missiles, she can't stand up to a Super X-Wing for long."

Parsons turned to his commanding officer, "Sir Quicksilver has just started the launch sequence in proto-G, he's on the line for you. Go ahead Lt."

"Sir, the computer interface on the new missile system is on the fritz again, but otherwise she checks out. I'm downloading the tracking data on Roberts, launching... now!" The grav catapults on the WaveRunner threw the Z-95B at high velocity from the experimental launch tube that had just been installed aboard the WaveRunner and it sped rapidly away.

"Si, don't try to take Roberts yourself, just slow him down long enough for our other ships to get in range, assuming of course that you can get to him before he holes up somewhere ugly. His course puts him at Getlev G, which at last report we had nothing on, but no doubt an Imperial Task Force is there now, or will be soon."

"Roger, Commander. Entering hyperspace in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1," and he was gone.

"Follow that ship!" Electro quipped to no one in particular.


'Death traps', that's what they'd called them, 'Death traps.' The Z-95B had been the brainstorm of Commander "Electro" Schock. The theory had been to take the spaceframe of a Z-95 and drop the engine and avionics of an A-Wing in it. The result was supposed to be a light, fast, recon ship and interceptor. The result had been called a "death trap" instead.

Gray 19, Lt. "Quicksilver" Siorek had his first chance to think since hearing the scramble alert as his starfighter cruised at top speed through hyperspace. He had to admit, the first test of the prototypes had been disasters, with the A and B models shaking apart on the test stands. Proto-C had crashed on landing. The D and E models never flew, too many problems mating the engines with the now more rigid space frame. Proto-F though, she had been a thing of beauty. Weaponless and shieldless, she had been a pure prototype and the baby could move. Cruising at a maximum speed of nearly 200 MGLT with all power diverted to the engine, she was fast and unexpectedly maneuverable. The G model he now flew was the first full-on model with weapons and shields remounted.

Armed, with only 8 concussion missiles and two laser cannon, the Z-95B was armed identically to the venerable Z-95. Her armor and shield units also hadn't been upgraded, making her vulnerable to missile attack. Still, with the speed to literally outrun some missiles, she was a true pilot's ship, not a brute like the B-Wing. And, she was the fastest ship ever built by the Alliance, breaking every record the A-Wing had set. "We'll need all that speed now." Si thought. "I just hope she holds together."

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the Getlev G system....

The hyperspace reentry alarms rang out through the Corvette, her frame moaning as she dropped out of hyperspace. "Captain Borklang, set course for the moon of the second gas giant, maximum speed."

"Aye sir, course plotted and laid in."

"Engage!"

On board the WaveRunner...

"Are we still tracking our quarry?"

"Yes, sir. Course is steady, he should enter normal space near Getlev G in a few minutes, hyperspace tracers are functioning at 97% efficiency."

"Well, at least one thing is going right today," thought Electro. "What a great time to have to take command of the squadron. I'll have to mention it to General Chesney when he returns. If he returns."

He turned to the tactical board and for the tenth time in the last 5 minutes wished the Z-95B prototype had a tracer on board. "Estimated ETA, Proto-G and the lead elements of 6th Interceptor Getlev G?"

"Proto-G, 7 minutes. CISF should break into real space in 12 minutes according to the last telemetry from Captain Padua, sir." The tactical board adjusted slowly. "WaveRunner in system ETA is 34 minutes."

On board Z-95B Prototype G...

Sitting back and taking a few minutes to relax, Si ran through a series of diagnostic tests to check each system before he would reenter realspace.  Last thing he needed was something small to go wrong at the wrong time.

"Bloody missile launchers!  I still don't understand why they aren't functioning!"

Wishing his R2 unit was with him, Quicksilver glanced at his ETA.  2 minutes, 30 seconds.

Finally the computer read out showed all other systems functioning normally.  1 minute, 30 seconds.

Having calmed himself, Quicksilver closed his eyes and began some breathing exercises.  Thinking about the rogue pilot had rattled him slightly, but there was nothing that was going to stop him from capturing the little bastard. 30 seconds.

"Steady now.  Steady.  You're almost there," Si thought. 10 seconds.

Opening his eyes, Quicksilver slowly gripped the controls and waited for the countdown to finish.

5....4.....3....2....1....entering realspace!

As the starlines stopped spinning and realigned themselves as realspace, Quicksilver got his first glance at his adversary.

As well as an unexpected surprise!


Part 2: Battle at Getlev-G

On board the Imperial Corvette Taciturn in the Getlev G system...

"Admiral Kutoslav, new contact, range 9145, bearing 07.80.15. The target is not transmitting a transponder code and is not of a previously identified type, but it seems to be similar in configuration to an obsolete atmospheric defense craft. Its trajectory suggests it followed Arnold in system."

Starting in surprise, Kutoslav paused. "Well, Captain Borklang, this is most interesting. Squirt contact data over hyper-relay to Central Command and launch our two TIEs to intercept. Make sure that Sergeant-Major Arnold is brought on board with dispatch."

"Aye, sir."

On board the stolen Super X-Wing...

"Arnold to Taciturn, I register a new contact."

"Roger, TA-03, we have it on scanners. It is on an intercept vector your position. You are ordered to return to the Taciturn for immediate recovery."

Scanning the unfamiliar cockpit, Arnold reset his lasers to dump all power to the engines and sat back as the Super X-Wing accelerated smoothly. Watching the scanner he was surprised to see that the new craft was still gaining at an appreciable rate. Annoyed he slowly bled his shield power into the engines as well.

"Still gaining. Whatever that thing is, she's built for speed." He fed the navigation problem to the navicomputer, he was somewhat hampered by the fact that he'd been unable to reprogram an astromech droid prior to stealing the ship he now sat in, and was just about to get the results when his comm beeped.

"TA-03, bogey will intercept 17 minutes prior to your arrival our position. We are moving to intercept you at these coordinates. Even so, you will be intercepted four minutes before reaching us. TIE Interceptor Alpha has been launched to intercept the bogey."

"Understood Taciturn." Arnold was confident that even if the bogey could intercept him it was no match for the rebel ship he now flew. He grinned at the thought of erasing a rebel pilot foolish enough to attack him.

On board the WaveRunner, en route to Getlev G...

"Quarry has entered normal space, Commander."

"Acknowledged." Electro scanned the tactical display. The CISF A-Wings would not arrive in system for another 5 minutes, and even then they would not have a significant speed advantage over the Super X-Wing.  "I wish I'd been more involved with the Super X-Wing project, I've spent all my time on the Z-95B," thought Electro as he accessed the Research Computer to bring up the specs on the Super X-Wing.

"Lt., which model of the Super X-Wing is our quarry flying?"

"It's an L-series, sir."

"That's the final pre-production model. But he hasn't got an R9 unit, right?"

"No sir, at least we don't think so, none are unaccounted for."

"Even at that he's got nearly the speed of an A-Wing. This is a problem. What's the status on our other Supers?"

"Checking, sir.  General Chesney has the second L-series ship. The last was badly damaged in the explosion on the flight deck, it seems to have had charges planted on it. The first production M-series ship is not ready for flight testing, but we could launch a single K-series ship. The other two are on patrol and have been alerted but will arrive after the WaveRunner." The Calamari's eyes rolled in consternation, sorry to be the bearer of ill news to his commander.

"Well, that leaves us with next to nothing. I don't want to commit ships piecemeal if there is an Imperial force at Getlev, but..."

"Excuse me sir, this is Comm, Lt. Siorek reporting."

::crackle:: I have just entered the Getlev G system, have Quarry on scanners. Two T/I are vectoring to intercept me, they seem to have launched from a Corvette. As near as I can tell, Quarry is rendezvousing with the CRV."

"Transmit in Code K-7F, Comm."

"Sir, may I remind you that the Empire recently cracked that code."

"I know, do it!" Electro had the first glimmer of a plan forming in his mind. "Si, we have nothing to help you with. Our closest ships are more than 45 minutes away. Sorry, this one's yours alone."

::bratt, squeel:: "Roger."

On board Z-85B Prototype G...

"Wait a minute!  The WaveRunner is just...  Ah, I get it!  Good thinking, Electro!" mused Quicksilver.

Smiling to himself, Quicksilver watched as the distance between himself and the stolen ship diminished.  Any minute now, the Super X-Wing would be within firing range and he'd be forced to disengage. "Hm, I'll need a few moments to gain some laser power back. What can I... Aha!"

Precious minutes went by and finally the Super X-Wing was only 2 klicks in front of him. Quicksilver switched over to his targeting computer and activated his missile launcher tracker.  Moments later he was given a red lock on the Super X.

Aboard the stolen Super X-Wing...

"Argh!  He's got a missile lock!" Having no shield power left, Arnold brought his ship into a tight turn and redirected power back into his shields and lasers, hoping that the Rebel would overshoot and pass him by.  Unbeknownst to him, that wass exactly what he was expected to do.

On board Z-85B Prototype G...

"Come to dinner. Yes, that's it!"

As soon as he was given a missile lock, Quicksilver reset his ELS panel to full recharge and dropped his throttle to 50% power.  With the quick deceleration, he was able to maintain a good attack angle on the Imperial spy while allowing him the time needed to recharge his weapon systems. Tracking his adversary, the Lt. reset his engine configuration to maintain a slight speed advantage.  Coming up on his six, Quicksilver smiled slowly.

Checking the status on the TIE's, he found that he had a few minutes before they would be a problem.  If only he could distract the Imperials long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

The Super X-Wing spun about trying to shake the lighter, more agile fighter, but it was no use, try as he might the fox could not escape the hound. "Whatever this spawn from hell is, at least it hasn't much of a punch or I'd be eating vacuum."

At that moment the two TIE Interceptors closed within range and split to come into attack posture. With even better agility than the Z-95B the TIEs were a dangerous combination.

On board CISF A-Wing...

Starlines streaked past the ship as it decelerated from hyperspace into the system. Taking in his scanner data in a few moments CISF Division Commander Saturn "Typhoon" Padua and the 6th Interceptor Flight of Gray Squadron leapt at full speed toward the forming battle many klicks away. "All pilots report in."

"Gray 14 standing by."

"Gray 3, all systems go."

"Gray 6, standing by."

"Sewie, take RedDawg and target the Corvette.  Gripper, you're with me, we need to see if we can give Quicksilver a little helping hand. Everyone remember, recovery or destruction of the Super X-Wing is top priority."

Acknowledgments came from the other flight members and Saturn took a moment to worry about his friend, outgunned and outnumbered three to one, and 6 minutes away from help.

On board the CRV Taciturn...

"Four new bogeys, Rebel A-Wings, have just entered the system. They are splitting up, two are on an intercept to our position, two are heading toward Sgt.-Major Arnold."

Admiral Kutoslav smiled a tight little smile, the corners of his mouth bending subtly down as his pencil thin mustache writhed. "So, their commander is a trickster. Well, they will be too late. Order Arnold to break off at once, the TIE's can handle the ship he is engaged with. We must recover that ship and leave the system as quickly as possible."

"Aye aye sir!"

In space...

The first TIE was now tracking Quicksilver's Z-95B, taking occasional opportunity shots, some coming dangerously close.  Forced to disengage his target he wheeled to face the second TIE and hoped for a quick kill as he saw the Super X-Wing break and accelerate to top speed toward the oncoming Corvette. "Damn."

A few seconds later his shipped rocked with a direct hit from the TIEs laser cannon. The light shields of his Z-95 held, but only barely, and he shunted laser energy to stabilize them. He had a speed advantage, but the TIEs could still outmaneuver him. Then from nowhere the second TIE flashed across his view, instinctively he pressed the firing stud as he manhandled his ship around to follow it and was surprised but gratified to see the TIE explode as his twin cannons scored a direct hit. Now it was one on one!

Near the Taciturn...

Arnold's Super X-Wing decelerated, the docking maneuver as tricky in these converted Corvettes. He had to match speed, which was easy enough, but close enough that the low powered tractor beam could grab onto him and pull him into the cargo bay. He felt the tug of the beam and shut down his engines. Nothing could stop them now, the Super X-Wing was safely in the hands of the Empire!

In space...

Typhoon swore as he registered the disappearance of the Super X-Wing into the Corvette. "Looks like we may be too late boys. Gray Squadron is to attack the Corvette at once. We must destroy it before it leaves the system."

On board the Taciturn...

"Maximum speed to our jump point. Contact Intelligence HQ and request backup at our next port of call, we may have some additional visitors shortly and I suspect they will be able to track us."

"Sir, we will be able to jump to hyperspace in approximately two minutes."

"Excellent. Excellent!"

On board Z-95B Prototype G...

Si twisted his ship around, and finally managed to get behind his foe, who he had to admit was an excellent pilot. "Too many more like this, and we'll really be in trouble," he thought as he clipped the TIE's wings and saw it tumble out of control and the pilot eject as he flew by. "Scratch one TIE."

Turning his attention back to his tactical display he saw the indicator that had been the Corvette disappear. "Gray 19 to Gray 8, you get 'im?"

There was a long pause. "Negative, we hit him with 4 concussion missiles from extreme range but he escaped just as we got within cannon range. I'm still getting a reading on the Super X-Wing, we'll jump to follow. I'm downloading data to you, relay it to Commander Schock and follow us."

"Righto, Typhoon, sorry I couldn't get him."

"No worries, just delayed the inevitable. Going to light speed on my signal. 3, 2, 1."


Part 3:  The Chase Resumes

The four A-Wings leapt away, leaving Si alone for the moment. He prepared his transmission, but he couldn't transmit until the WaveRunner entered the system, his comm wasn't rigged for hyperspace communications. Well, he had a few minutes, might as well see how the Imperial pilot was doing and mark him for S&R.

As he slowed to come along side the stranded Imperial he froze in horror as he saw the man's arm raise and a blaster firing at him. The man was inside his shield radius and the shots scored a direct hit on the cockpit, spraying fragments of debris over his flight suit and making a mess of his instruments. Punching the accelerators, Quicksilver rammed the courageous Imperial pilot to stop the fire.

Surveying the damage Quicksilver noted that his navigation and scanners were completely fragged. "So much for following Typhoon. I'll never live this one down."

A few minutes later on board the WaveRunner, entering the system...

"Commander, we show only a single ship, its Lt. Siorek's Z-95B. One moment... we just received a report. The SXW was recovered by an Imperial Corvette and has escaped the system. Captain Padua and his flight are in pursuit, tracking the signature of the SXW. We will need to recover Lt. Siorek, his ship has been damaged."

Lt. Parsons paused, and looked at the worried face of Electro.

"Very well, rendezvous with Gray 19 and plot a course to follow the Corvette.  And put out a code 11 to any Alliance ships along the line of flight."

On board Z-95 B Prototype-G...

"I can't believe that idiot shot at me! Quicksilver to Command.  Request permission for 1st Recon to be scrambled for an immediate hyperspace jump."

:: hiss snap ::  "What's your status, Lt.?"

"I'm O.K.  The cockpit is shot to hell, but I'm fine.  I'd like to get back out there, sir.  The Rats are following the Imperials and will be sure to encounter heavy resistance once they enter realspace."  Using the familiar name of 6th Intercept was a breach of protocol, but Quicksilver's adrenaline was pumping.  He wanted to get back out there to help his friends.

:: crackle crackle ::  "Roger that.  Flight Crews are preparing your ships now, sir."

"Roger.  Thanks!"

On board the WaveRunner...

Moments later, Lt. Siorek was once again safely inside the WaveRunner. With one final look at the Z-95B, he headed quickly for the A-Wing hangar.  "I still don't understand why we have to have the R&D section of the ship separate from the Main Hangar." he thought.

Passing by his Crew Chief, Quicksilver nodded and hopped into his familiar A-Wing.  Switching on the power cells, he ran through his pre-flight checklist and prepared to launch.

"Gray 18: radio check.  Check, check!"

"Roger Quick, I'm ready to go!"  Ald was always eager to join a fight.

"Control, this is Gray 19.  How near the jump point are you?"

"This is Control.  We have one minute till Omega is reached."

"Roger.  Request permission for Quick-Launch."

"Permission granted.  Good Luck, sir!"

With one final nod to the Flight Crew, Quicksilver punched in the auto-sequencers for maneuvering him into launch position.  As soon as the tractor beams guided him into a straight line for the Bay Doors, he punched the accelerators and sped out into the emptiness of space.

Lt. Siorek looked behind him to see his wingman leave their mothership. Within moments they were in a Delta formation and speeding away from the ship.  Having been fed the jump coordinates from the WaveRunner, Quicksilver turned about and activated the hyperspace motivaters. Seconds later he watched as the lights outside became starlines and then felt the sudden lurch that indicated a successful jump.

On board the Taciturn...

Captain Borklang paced silently, thinking. He considered his words carefully, and then approached his commanding officer. "Admiral, I have some bad news."

"Yes, Captain?"

"Sir, we took some unexplained damage when the rebel missiles struck us prior to jumping. We hypothesize that the shield power drain to absorb the hits coupled with powering the hyperdrive motivator at exactly the same time weakened the JI-77 Fusion system. We will be forced to drop out of hyperspace prematurely to correct the damage. We are not able to make extended hyperspace jumps until the problem is corrected as after a period of time the system will overheat."

Admiral Kutoslav's expression stayed as icy bland as usual, but inside his mind began to move faster. "I see Captain. Please display our hyperdrive radius on the tactical display."

Captain Borklang motioned for a technician to comply and soon a pale blue circle surrounded the Taciturn on the display.

Studying the display, Admiral Kutoslav asked his subordinate, "And how long does the system take to cool to normal prior to a new jump?"

"We estimate ten to fifteen minutes, but it is difficult to tell, sir."

"Well then, drop out of hyperspace immediately and prepare to jump as soon as practical to the following location." The Admiral made a notation on the display just within the outline of the jump radius of the Taciturn.

"Sir? That system is uninhabited. It consists of a dense asteroid field interspersed between two distant binary stars." The Captain was clearly puzzled why they would jump out of their way to such a destination.

"You have your orders Captain." Kutoslav returned to his chair and sat, the barest hint of annoyance showing at the corners of his pale green eyes.

"Yes sir."

On board CISF A-Wing...

Gripper had almost dozed off during the hyperspace jump when the tracking alarm he had set went off. Struggling to awaken, he groggily read the computer read-out on his A-Wing.
"Gray 6 to Gray 8. Typhoon, this is Gripper, come in please."

A short pause and his comm filled with the baritone of his flight leader. "Go ahead Gray 8."

"Typhoon, the CRV has dropped out of hyperspace, changed course and jumped again. Trajectory suggests they are jumping to an uninhabited system, RF-98-JH."

Typhoon pondered the meaning of this and sent a quick message to the WaveRunner, informing them of the new course. "Very well, all Rats synchronize to my flight computer."

Acknowledgments returned to Captain Padua. When the last was made, he punched the reentry command and the A-Wings dropped out of hyperspace. "Calculating new jump coordinates."
Typhoon worked quickly at the computer console of his craft. "Computing... jump to these coordinates on my signal."

Each of the members of the 6th Interceptor entered the new flight plan and waited. "3, 2, 1, go!" With a quick jolt they entered hyperspace again, on the tail of their foe.

On board the WaveRunner...

"Lt. Gorfnan, we have a communiqu from CISF.  They advise that quarry has altered course to RF-98-JH."

"Very well, Corporal. I will alert Commander Schock at once."

Electro slept for the first time in more than a day, exhaustion overcoming adrenaline. So much had happened in a few short hours since General Chesney had inexplicably abandoned his command to pursue his clone. The buzz of his comm unit slowly awakened him, and he absently brushed the response button. "Schock here, what is it?"

"Gorfnan here, the CRV has altered course. Request permission to follow."

"Gorfnan?" Electro thought. "I need to keep better track of duty officers."

"Very well, Lt. Proceed. ETA new target?"

"Approximately 4 hours, sir."

"Sweet merciful heaven," thought Electro. "Wake me in three and a half hours Lt."

"Aye, sir."


Part 4:  Trap

On board CISF A-Wing...

The serenity of space is broken by the arrival of A-Wings from 6th Intercept.  As the 'fighters reenter realspace, their commander is already looking for their adversary.
"Now what?" exclaimed Capt. Padua.

They were in the middle of a dense asteroid field and there was no sight whatsoever of the CRV or the stolen Super X-Wing.

"All right, guys.  Break formation and begin a systematic search of the area. They've got to be around here somewhere."

As the starfighters slowed their approach, Captain Padua set his scanners to maximum range.  "This is crazy!  They couldn't have hyperspaced that quickly out of here.  Where are they?" he thought.

Then, two blips appeared on his screen.  Breaking hard to intercept, Typhoon locked his missiles onto the lead ship.

"Uh, hello sir!  This is 1st Recon, reporting in."

"Well, I'll be!" Typhoon thought, "Welcome back, Quick!  I hope things are going well?"

"Well, if you really want to...."

Their conversation was cut short by the arrival of another ship, this time it was the WaveRunner.

On board the WaveRunner...

"OK Typhoon, what's the story. How did we lose them?" Electro was pacing again. Four steps down the bridge. Turn. Four steps back. He often did this for hours. The enlisted men often joked that he was like a caged animal, pacing, always pacing.

"Don't know boss. They were on our scopes and then they weren't. Even so, we couldn't have been more than a few minutes behind them on this jump, so we should have gotten a visual if they'd simply disabled the tracker on the stolen Super X-Wing."

"OK, so you're saying they should be here but they aren't. Very illuminating. Well, no matter, our only hope is they are still here, but hiding. So, continue a systematic sweep through the asteroid fields. Deep probe everything. If it takes a week, fine, we've got nothing else to do anyhow."

On board the Taciturn, inside Imperial Intelligence Station XX79...

Admiral Kutoslav watched his targeting board. The rebel ships were beginning to search the asteroids again in the vain hope of locating his ship. "Let them search! This station is secret indeed. And while they stay their doom comes ever closer. "Turning to his executive officer he spoke again, "When is the task force arriving and what was the final composition?"

"They will arrive in 17 hours, sir. Two Victory Star Destroyers with full complement of TIEs, possible Imperial Star Destroyer to follow. That coupled with the system defense ships already here should prove far more than a match for a single Victory Star Destroyer and rebel fighters."

"Excellent. Gray Squadron has caused us enough problems, and their use of one of our own ships is an insult to the Imperial Navy. I relish the thought of taking not only their experimental ship, but their entire database when we take out the so-called WaveRunner!"

For the first time in the memory of Captain Borklang he saw his commanding officer smile, truly smile. He sincerely hoped he was never the object of such an expression.

Imperial Intelligence had long ago built the station that now harbored the Taciturn by hollowing out an asteroid while still in its original orbit. Inside had been buried data ciphers, intelligence collection gear and the finest in Imperial low cross section communications equipment.  When masked by its damping field, the station was indistinguishable from hundreds of other asteroids in the system. And if stealth was not enough, six other asteroids had been altered to house propulsion systems and scores of automated laser batteries as system defense craft.

While Gray Squadron searched in vain, Kutoslav and the Empire waited to spring a nasty and deadly surprise aimed at destroying them and capturing all that they had worked so long and hard to build.

On board CISF A-Wing...

"Blasted asteroids," cursed Typhoon. His patience had worn out two Jumps before. His A-wings were scouring the field, hoping to find trace of the corvette that had so easily eluded the Rebel pursuit. What made matters worse was the A-wing's poor sensors, which made close inspection of the asteroids a deadly necessity. 

"Close it up Gray 9, you're lagging behind."

"Sorry Cap'n" replied Eagle, the newest member of Gray Squadron, "My navi-puter is not updating fast enough."

"Use your eyes, the computer will never keep up with all of this random movement. And try to relax."

"Gray 8 this is Gray 14."

"I copy Sewie, What've you got?" replied Typhoon.

"Ty, I've got a really weird mass reading on a rock about 5 klicks from me, it reads 30% less than the other rocks in the neighborhood."

"Hm, could be nothin'. Stand by," Typhoon mused. "Typhoon to WaveRunner."

"Go ahead, Typhoon" replied Electro, the strain evident in his voice.

"Boss, Sewerman got a fix on a rock with an funky mass reading. Could be nothing, but Sewie isn't wrong very often."

"I concur Typhoon, but we're spread out pretty thin right now." Electro glanced at the Tactical Display, only 20% of the field had been searched. He had sortied his reserves to help in the search, and was about to launch SOD as well. His fighters had been on duty over six hours now. An ulcer growled in his stomach, this was a perfect place and time for an Imperial trap.

"Sewie, I want a very close inspection of that 'roid. Typhoon, keep CISF back until Sewie has completed his reconnoiter. Just in case it isn't just nothing." Electro shouted at a tech, "Lt., I want all sensors focused on that Rock!"

On board CISF A-Wing...

Sewie grimaced as he brought his A-Wing into a slow turn towards the mysterious asteroid. "Next time Sewie, send a memo!" Gray 14 thought humorlessly to himself.

"I copy WaveRunner, beginning my approach now." His A-wing passed a seemingly insignificant rock.

On board the Taciturn...

"Rebel fighter has penetrated our perimeter, 3 klicks and closing." a tech reported.
Borklang watched the A-Wing approach and smiled. 

"Activate three gravitic units. Lock them on that fighter," the Imperial captain ordered.
In the asteroid field, three very small asteroids, modified with gravitic micro-drives, began to accelerate towards Sewerman's fighter.

On board CISF A-Wing...

Sewerman blinked as he saw his collision/proximity alarm go off. "What the heck!" he exclaimed as something savagely slammed into his fighter's shields. Sewie shoved his ship into an evasive roll and noticed that his sensors and lasers were out of commission. His shields were also dangerously low.

"Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!  This is Gray 14, I've taken an asteroid hit!  Request immediate assistance!" Sewerman paled as he heard his proximity/collision alarm go off again.

In Space...

Two massive shapes that had not been there seconds before materialized in space not five klicks from the WaveRunner, starting a cascading chain of events beginning with alarms in the WaveRunner and ending with the launch of a swarm of T/I and T/B.

On board the WaveRunner...

"Swell," thought Electro, "a trap."

"Sortie SOD immediately. Target the VSD closest to us. Divert CISF from the asteroid field to intercept the TIEs and provide cover for SOD. Prepare for a jump to hyperspace as soon as we clear the debris field." Electro started to turn to head for his fighter and then realized that once again he was stuck on the bridge, rather than in the action where he longed to be.

In Space...

Two Imperial Victory Star Destroyers bore down on the WaveRunner, coming within range and opening fire as the WaveRunner ran to the nearest jump point. Around all three fighters looped and swerved in a deadly dance of light and fire.

T/Bs made run after run at the WaveRunner, battering it with torpedoes. The rebel fighters were tired and outnumbered, but slowly, so slowly began to turn the tide.
SODs fighters were soundly thrashing the opposing VSDs in return, pounding in merciless retribution for the punishment inflicted on their home base.  Coupled with the slowing fire of the WaveRunner, the first VSD erupted in explosions as its shields collapsed, and secondary explosions ripped the massive battleship apart.

"Gray 5 here, one down, one to go. Flares, follow me, we're on the next one!"

"Roger Cody. Moving into attack formation."

And then, the unexpected. From nowhere four asteroids diverted from their orbits and began to fire on the WaveRunner. Bristling with laser cannons the heavily armored solid rock and metal forms sent a barrage of laser fire into the ship, smashing its shields.

On board the WaveRunner...

The bridge was filled with the acrid fumes of electrical fires. Half of the instruments were sparkling with fire and smoke, the other half worked only intermittently.  The ship hung on grimly, but could not take much more. In the midst of the turmoil Electro rushed to the nearest computer station, dragging the duty officer with him.

"Computer, recognize Schock, Commander." Lights flashed on the console and after what seemed like an eternity to Electro, the computer acknowledged as the sounds of battle rang around him.

"Request core deletion all records in section 15." Electro had just asked the computer to wipe its memory of all research ever done on the WaveRunner.

"Authentication required," intoned the machine.

"Go, man, authenticate this, or when we go, the Empire gets everything."

"Sir, isn't there another way?"

"You've got 5 seconds to think of one." Electro was cool but intense. The poor officer relented in obvious anguish.

"Computer, recognize Timson, Captain, Duty Officer. Request Authenticated." Disgusted he walked away to see to his other duties.

After a few seconds the screen flashed a completion message.  The archives were utterly destroyed.

In space...

"Hawkeye, concentrate on the command tower, I'll cover you." Scout pulled up and around, avoiding the defensive fire of the VSD.

"I'm on it Scout.  Torpedoes away, and that's the last of them."

On board the VSD Competitor...

"Sir, we must withdraw, our systems are severely damaged and our shields cannot last much longer."

"Signal Admiral Kutoslav and withdraw, the system defense craft should be able to finish what's left of the WaveRunner."

In space...

The VSD turned, slowly, ponderously, and moved away, and as it did the rebel starfighters turned their attention to the asteroid ships, firing furiously, but to little effect.
The WaveRunner, now crippled beyond hope, moved on inertia alone, her shields flickering on and off. The end was near.

On board the WaveRunner...

Electro surveyed what was left of his fighting force and slowly gave the command "All hands, abandon ship. Repeat, all hands, abandon ship. Troops to transports K and G, others to escape pods and alternate transports."  The death of the WaveRunner could be only moments away.

On the Bridge of the Alliance FRG Regis, home of Red Squadron...

"Sir!" exclaimed Lt. Henderson, newly assigned Comm Officer for the Regis, "We're picking up a weak signal on an Imperial frequency, sounds like a serious battle going on."

"Pipe it to the speaker Lieutenant, and easy does it son, we're both on the same bridge." said Captain Daly, CO of the FRG Regis.

"Yes Sir! Coming on speaker now.  It's a little weak, I'll try and turn up the gain."

"You do that."

"Kids," thought Capt. Daly, "full of enthusiasm."

Static filled the bridge as the young Lt. tuned in the Imperial transmission.  "That's it Sir, it's the best I can do at this range."

"Understood."

<sqwaaak> "...down, seems to be...  run for hyperspace.  We've been... hard and lost main.....  verunner is damaged...  ebels are abandoning her..  Send all....  tack craft to interc....  sports.  Don't...  them escape!  Alpha is to....  X-wings at bay...   fire from the asterio.... Nothing lea....  ector alive!" <sqweeeaaall>

"That's it Sir, we've lost the transmission.  We managed to trace it though."

"Well? Where?"  The irritation in Capt. Daly's voice was obvious.

"Sector RF-98JH Sir, an empty sector except for an asteroid field."

"Asteroids. Lt. replay that transmission, and see if you can clear it up a bit."

"Yes Sir!"

After again listening to the Imperial transmission, Capt. Daly turned and stepped over to the Comm console.

"Let me have that disk Lt., and have Commander Naylor meet me in Briefing Room 3 immediately."

"Yes Sir!"

C-Deck, Commander Naylor's Quarters...

A groggy Red Leader rolled over in his bunk as the comm warbled, irritatingly slapping at the Commlink.

"What!? And this better be good!"

"Sorry to wake you Commander... Capt. Daly's orders.  He wants you to meet him in Briefing 3 ASAP."

"At 03:00! The man must be nuts!"

"Sorry sir, but it's urgent."

"All right, I'm on my way."

"What's wrong Rapier?"

"I dunno Nanc, but keep the bunk warm for me till I get back, okay?"

"You got it handsome."

"Yeah, go ahead and butter me up.  You'll get yours..." Rapier said with a sly grin.

"I'm counting on it lover."

"I'll just bet you are," he chuckled, "see ya soon."

Briefing Room 3...

"Okay Daly, what's so important you had to pull me outta bed?"

"Quiet down and listen up Rapier, we just intercepted an Imperial transmission, and it sounds pretty hot."

"So let's hear it, now that I'm awake."

"Yeah, right." Capt. Daly popped the comm disk into the player and started the recording.

After several minutes, Rapier finally got the gist of what he just heard. "Sounded like they were talking about the WaveRunner, but I can't imagine Gray Squadron having troubles with a few Imps."

"My thoughts exactly, Rapier. Suggestions?"

"You're asking me? That's a switch Daly."

"I want your opinion Rapier, not your smart mouth.  We may not like each other..."

"That's an understatement Daly."

"...but I respect you as an Officer and as Red Leader."

A partially stunned Red Leader replied, "So who's closest to the fight?"

"The Rehz-nor was, but she's been pulled out on a Classified assignment.  Then there's the Redemption, but you know she has no 'fighter complement. That leaves us and Blue Squad's Happy Jack as the only ships in range."

"What's our ETA in-system?"

"We can get there in 30 minutes, with the Happy Jack almost an hour out."

"I guess it's us then.  If Gray is in trouble, then we have to help. I'm not too excited about the prospect of letting the Imps get ahold of all that info onboard the 'Runner.  Have you notified the Happy Jack?"

"Not yet, I wanted you to hear this first, to see if we came to the same conclusion."

"We do.  Let's get this old tub movin' Daly. I'll get Red Squad together and let them know what's going on.  I suggest you do the same with the Happy Jack."

"You mean for once we agree on something, Red Leader?" Daly said with a crooked smile.

"Yeah, for once anyway."  Rapier walked to the Comm board and hit the Shipwide Alert switch, sounding the General Quarters alarm.  "That oughta get my boys up and running.  Well, let's do it Daly."

"Let's." responded the Capt. as Rapier headed toward the door, "Hey Rapier."

"Yes?" said Rapier, a quizzical expression forming on his face.

"May the FORCE be with you. And Red Squad."

"Always Daly. Always."


Part 5:  The Death of the WaveRunner

In space...

Sewerman drifted slowly in space, the wreckage of his A-Wing surrounding him, he and it adding a few small asteroids to the already wreckage filled system. He'd managed to stop most of his toppling, but he still slowly rotated. As he spun around to face the battle he saw the WaveRunner finally succumb to the beating it had taken as the superstructure erupted in a titanic explosion. Tears streamed down his face, not mourning the fact that his life would very likely end soon, but the loss of what he could only imagine were many of his friends and comrades in arms.

"Gray Squadron, check in."  Typhoon was barely holding his A-Wing together. His scopes were dead, he was out of missiles and his hyperdrive was out.

"Hawkeye here, Scout's lost comm, but I see him."

"Gray 5, nominal." the strained voice of Cody "Nameless" Nave came through the headset speaker, he obviously had his hands full with something.

"Quicksilver here, I've lost Eagle."

"Gray 18, hyperdrive out, otherwise operational."

Typhoon knew the status of the rest of his flight, all out of action. Sewerman had lost his ship at the beginning, RedDawg and Gripper were still hanging on, attempting to cover the transports as they made their desperate run for safety.

And then, to add insult to injury, an Imperial Star Destroyer arrived in the system in the worst possible position. Right in front of the fleeing remnants of the crew of the WaveRunner.

"Oh my god!" thought Typhoon, "What are we going to do?"

"Ald to Ty, come in."

"Go ahead."

"I've got an idea. We'll ram the shield towers. I haven't got hyperdrive anyway, and it isn't ever gonna be fixed, she's fried but good." Ald was cool, sure that what he proposed was right and good, and perhaps the only hope for saving many of his friends.

"I'm with you Gray 18. All other Gray elements, protect the transports at all costs."
The two A-Wings moved toward the giant battleship at full speed, all power shunted to the engines in a desperate mad dash to disable or cripple the behemoth.

Typhoon's ship was faster, but at the last moment he thought of a different way, "Ald, eject!" and as he said it he punched the emergency exit button. The canopy exploded outward and his rocket seat fired. He saw his ship fly straight and true into one of the shield towers on the Star Destroyer, destroying it.

Ald had seen the result and as his crippled ship dodged and weaved through the fire from the STD he planned to follow his division commander. "Here we go." He stabbed at the eject button, the explosives moving him clear. "Ooomph," his head hit the canopy which had failed to completely disengage and sent him spinning, unconscious or worse into the void.

His A-wing hurtled into the Star Destroyer, clipping the shield tower and then smashing into the command tower below it.

On board the ISD Incontrovertable...

"Shields down, sir. Rebel ships have made suicide runs on our shield towers."

"Prepare to disengage."

On board transport TY-76...

"Did you see that?" The rating flying the transport sat slack jawed at the spectacle of the Gray Fighters having made a suicide run into the Star Destroyer that blocked their path.  They'd outrun the sluggish system defense boats, but now had either to turn toward them or get past the STD.

"I saw," said Electro. "Status back there?"

"We have 65 effectives in air tight combat armor," came the response.

"Prepare for combat assault launch. We're going to take that sucker out of here!" Electro took the controls of the ship and changed course and speed to approach the launch bay of the Star Destroyer. "Major, your troops must secure the launch bay in the initial confusion. We won't have time to do this twice. I'll land the tran immediately. Give me the time and you've got reinforcements!"

"Aye sir, that or die trying."

The ship bucked and kicked as it took fire from the Star Destroyer. Electro manhandled the controls, wishing for the responsiveness of a fighter. Within half a click he slammed on the breaks, cutting speed to nothing.  At that moment his troops flew away from the transport, making a short dash to the landing bay. Several hit the STD and spun out of control, but many found their target. The Star Destroyer had been boarded! He immediately reset speed to maximum and flew into the bay, firing all torpedoes and weapons as quickly as possible, covering the landing of the boarding party.

The transport crashed onto the burning hangar deck more than it landed. The hatches opened and out came everyone who could hold or aim a weapon. Finding his way from the transport Electro moved toward three troopers.

"Come with me, we're going to fire control." The insane attack had caught the Imperial troops unprepared and for the moment resistance was minimal. Electro and his small band raced to where Electro though fire control ought to be, given the schematics he'd seen of the recently captured Happy Jack.

As they turned a corner a squadron of Storm Troopers opened fire. Ducking back they joined a firefight. "No time for this, no time!" Electro thought.

In space...

The last four fighters of Gray Squadron mopped up the final TIE that had managed to launch before Electro's wild landing stopped that from continuing. Now they flew interference between the guns of the Star Destroyer and the fragile ships carrying what was left of the crew of the WaveRunner to safety.

On board the Incontrovertable...

"Captain, rebels have boarded us."

"Our troopers can handle them, continue firing on the rebel ships and signal for reinforcements."

Elsewhere...

"Trooper, come with me, we'll try another route. The rest of you hold them here if you can." Electro dashed off, his left sleeve smoking from the near miss of a blaster.
Running down a corridor Electro nearly missed the service conduit.  He skidded to a halt. 

"Up there, move!"

The winded trooper climbed quickly in his pressure armor, coming to the top of the ladder he looked to both sides, then pulled himself up and motioned to Electro to follow. "Sir, I have a concussion grenade. The fire control is down there, hit the entry button and I'll toss this in."

"Great thinking. Go"

They moved off down the corridor and fire erupted around them.  Sentries fired, Electro hit the first and Sergeant Joiner hit the second. Electro slammed into the door switch bodily, reeling from a blaster hit to his side.

*Boom* Smoke filled the corridor. Joiner dragged Electro into the room and surveyed the damage. He didn't know what to do, he hadn't trained on this equipment.  "You OK sir!?"

"Not really. Help me up into that seat."

A few moments later Electro tried to look through the blood that flowed down his face from an abrasion on his head he couldn't remember how he'd got. "What's this? That's the Super X! This must be linked to the Imperial net still. They don't know we're here."
Electro's one good hand moved over the controls, manually locking out the rest of the control systems, isolating this center from the rest of the ship. "Sergeant, we're gonna have company. Hold them as long as you can."

In space...

"Si! The STD has stopped firing!" came Gripper's voice.

Quicksilver was now the ranking member of Gray Squadron, at least as far as he knew, the chain of command having been decimated in the conflict. It had been 15 minutes since the destruction of the WaveRunner, it seemed like an eternity. He, Gripper and Hawkeye were the only Grays still flying.

"What's going on?"

And then the STD began to fire again, all guns trained on an asteroid behind him. Rock and metal exploded from the asteroid, as it was pounded by the full firepower of the Star Destroyer.

On board the Imperial Intelligence Station...

"Raise the Incontrovertable," Admiral Kutoslav's voice was strained but, as always, under control.

"Captain, explain yourself!"

::screee:: "know what" ::crack:: "fire control is not" ::hiss::

"Clear that noise out."

"Can't sir, we're lucky to get..."

The asteroid could not take the pounding, its empty core exposed to space it ripped apart, explosively decompressing.

On board the Incontrovertable...

The hammering and clash of someone at the door momentarily distracted Electro as he changed the fire control program to target one of the System Defense ships that had moved into range and had begun to fire on the Star Destroyer, hoping to destroy it before the base had been obliterated. "Too late, you rotten bastards! You haven't seen the last of Gray Squadron."

On board the Alliance FRG Regis...

"Preparing to enter real space."

Starlines converged and stopped.  Rapier stood in amazement at the scene that unfolded before him. "Launch everything to protect those transports, emergency recovery protocol."

"Thank god Regis, this is Lt. Quicksilver, Gray 19. We've lost the WaveRunner and most of the squadron."


Part 6:  Lost and Found

When we last heard from our heroes the situation was something like this: The WaveRunner has been destroyed by Imperial forces, and after abandoning ship the crew was intercepted by an Imperial Star Destroyer. In a suicide attack, Gray Squadron lowered the shields on the STD and a combat transport boarded her. In the confusion, members of Gray Squadron were able to capture the fire control stations on the STD and use its own guns to destroy the research outpost that harbored a stolen Super X-Wing, the reason for this whole debacle in the first place. Alliance FRG Regis and Red Squadron arrived just as the dust is settling to see the semi-captured STD and four remaining system defense asteroid ships and a lot of small rebel craft with crew from the WaveRunner. We now return to our story.

On board FRG Regis...

"Repeat that, Gray 19." The comm officer had thought the transmission garbled.

"Roger, there are four operative asteroid ships in the system, they will be in range in a couple minutes, you don't want to go up against them. Do NOT destroy the ISD, we've got commandos on board who control the firing system, at least temporarily."

Red Leader pondered the possibilities. "Open up a comm channel to the ISD."

"Open sir."

"This is the Frigate Regis. You are ordered to stand down. You have 30 seconds to begin evacuation of your vessel or you will be destroyed."

"We will not surrender, you are outgunned sir. By what twisted logic do you propose to dictate terms to me?" The captain of the Star Destroyer had had a bad day, and this wasn't making it any better.

"Consider this quickly, I have a full squadron of X-Wings and A-Wings launching, check you scopes. Within seconds I can destroy your ship and everyone aboard. I will do just that unless you abandon ship. And, now that you mention it, call off your asteroid dogs until our craft have safely made it to hyperspace or you won't make it either, and just remember we can outrun the asteroid ships after we blow you to little pieces."

There was a long pause as the asteroid ships drew nearer. The Red Squadron X-Wings had finished launching and were vectoring to intercept the ISD.

"Very well, we will comply."

On board the ISD Incontrovertable...

"Signal SDS1-4 to hold position outside firing range until the rebel small craft have entered hyperspace.  They are then to scuttle this ship and attempt to destroy the FRG. Contact Imperial High Command and advise them of our situation. We may be able to salvage something from the Research center's wreckage, but we need to get the rebels out of here first."

"Lieutenant, signal for immediate evacuation of all hands.  All command staff are to report to briefing room A-1 in one minute.  Order demolition teams Beta, Delta and Gamma to follow up evacuees and place hidden explosive devices in all corridors, lifts, and gang-ways.  Send demolition team Alpha to the hyperdrive units.  They are to program the hyperdrive systems to explode upon activation.  Upon completion of their duties, have the demolition teams evacuate on shuttle Gamma-5."

On board the FRG Regis...

"Lt. Henderson," snapped Captain Daly, "Jam all transmissions from the STD. Mister Quade, get boarding parties on board that STD ASAP.  As soon as it's secure, send a skeleton command crew on board."

On board the ISD Incontrovertable...

After securing the fire control systems, Electro and part of his commando team found themselves at the Central Computer Core.  Without hesitation, Electro's team worked at shutting down the ships communications network and drive systems.

Elsewhere...

After briefing his command staff, the IDS's commander returned to the bridge. "Lieutenant, status on the evacuation." The commander sat in fear, thinking about what would happen to him when he returned to High Command.

"Sir, evacuation is continuing, but the ship's communications were disabled before I was able to contact the demolition teams" said the young communications officer.

"What!?" screamed the commander. He pulled his blaster out of his holster prepared to make sure that the communications officer would make no mistakes -- ever again. But his effort was too late, as at that moment, a Rebel commando team stormed the bridge, silencing the commander and his bridge staff forever.

On board the FRG Regis...

"Captain, Alliance High Command has requested Red Squadron assist Blue Squadron in a rescue mission involving Green Squadron."

"What is our current status Lieutenant?" said Captain Daly.

"Sir, the STD has been secured.  Command crew are on-board and the scanning teams have completed their sweep.  Minimal sabotage was encountered.  All navigation, communication, and drive systems are under our control and operable.  Prisoners include both technical and command staff.  Our rescue teams have almost completed recovering the remaining Gray Squadron pilots.  Our scopes show a force of 6 Tie Fighters, 3 Interceptors and 3 bombers in a holding pattern approx. 10 clicks on the other side of the STD."

"Very well, Signal Red Squadron leader to eliminate the Ties. Include the request to support Green Squadron. Maybe Rapier can come up with a way to do both."

On board Red 1...

"Affirmative Regis.  Red Leader to Red 19.  Raven, take command of the A-Wings and proceed immediately to the coordinates being transmitted by the Regis.  Your headed to planet Zix.  Green Squadron is in a pickle and they need our help.  Blue Squadron should be meeting up with you there.  I'll be taking the X-wings to finish off the TIEs holding 10 K at 260.3."

"Roger that Rapier.  Red A-Wings form up on me.  Set Nav-Computers to new coordinates."

Rapier continued giving his orders "Red 24, you and Red 25 take out the Tie Bombers while the rest of us clean the others' clocks."

"Eye-eye mon-capitan...  Hey Lemming, I see some D.O.T.S. on my scope that Rapier needs cleaned up.  I'll send a torp at bomber one, and then engage bomber two.  You take out bomber three.  Lets go kick some Imperial butt."

Onboard the Regis...

"Sir, hangar deck reports all Transports and Rescue Shuttles recovered, the last of Gray Squad's pilots are on board and receiving medical treatment."

"Very well, relay that to Red Leader and inform him that the Regis is heading for hyperspace.  Unless he wants to stay here he better get a move on."

"Yes Sir!"

On board Red 1...

"Roger that Regis. Red Leader to Red Squad, return to base, repeat break off and return to the Regis."

A chorus of "Roger that" came across from the remaining Red pilots, along with one "Damn!" from the vicinity of Red 25.

"What's wrong Lemming, you like it around here or something?"

"Negative Red Leader, just would rather finish what we've started, that's all."

"Roger that Lemming, but there will be other chances, of that you can be sure.  Now get that ship on the Flight Deck mister, and that's an order."

"Affirmative, heading home."

"Red Leader to ISD. Gray Thirteen, what's your status?"

"We've assumed control of the ship, minor sabotage attempts were made, but we handled things in the usual Gray Squadron fashion.  We could use a support team over here to get this thing underway."

"Affirmative Electro. Red Leader to Regis, did you copy that?"

"Transmission received Red Leader, support team prepping for launch now."

"Put 'em in a fast SHU Regis, with those System Defense ships still out here, they'll need to get to the Star Destroyer quick.  I'll intercept the SHU and escort her in, and meet up with you at the rendezvous point. Red Leader to Red Two, Crazy, get in touch with Blue Squad and let them know you're coming.  Have our guys rearmed and ready to fly when you get there, I want plenty of support for Green Squad."

"Red Two here, acknowledged Rapier.  Take it easy out there, and we'll see you over Zix.  May the Force be with you."

"And with you as well.  And hey, how about leaving me a target or two, okay?"

"Ha ha, no chance Boss!  What's that?  Okay.  Rapier, support SHU launched and making best speed to the STD.  Regis is two minutes from Hyperspace, good luck!"

"You too!  I've got the SHU on scope, setting intercept vector.  Tell Daly not to get lost on the way to Zix.  Red Leader out."

As the lone Red Squad X-Wing closed on the support shuttle, the FRG Regis hit it's hyperspace point, leaving only a trace of bright light where it once was.

"Red Leader to SHU Sylvan, steer clear of those four big asteroids at your two o'clock, they're system defense craft and very mean.  Otherwise the area is clear."

"Acknowledged Red Leader.  ETA to the Star Destroyer is 6 minutes."

"Roger.  I'm going to make a run at the closest SDS, see if I can draw it's attention a little.  Continue on course."

Rapier dumped his laser power to his engines, and moved at best speed toward the closest, and seemingly biggest SDS.

"Let's see how that thing handles a couple of torps in it's gullet." Rapier said to no one in particular.  Setting up for his attack run, Red Leader flipped the switch and waited for a lock on tone.  The SDS fired it's weapons at the X-Wing, but due to it's small size and quick maneuvering, hit it with only minimal fire.  The beeping from his targeting computer turned to a solid tone, and Rapier launched dual torps at the asteroid.

He pulled up from his attack run, and looked back to see his torpedoes connect squarely with the SDS, with no obvious effect.

"Those things are tough Rapier, watch it out there!" came the call from Gray Thirteen.

"Roger that Electro!  Twin torps didn't even scratch it.  The SHU is almost to you, still well out of range of these boys though.  I'm going to charge up the shields and make one more pass."

Rapier brought the laser recharge up to MAX and dumped the energy to the shields, bringing them back up to full strength.  Setting ELS to maximize his speed, he lined up for another run.  The lock tone sounded, and Rapier launched two more torps at the SDS, this time he was rewarded with a trio of explosions from it's surface.

"Nice shot Rapier!"  exclaims Electro

"Thanks, but I think I got lucky and hit a couple of it's guns.  It doesn't seem to be firing as much, but she still looks undamaged."

"The shuttle is onboard and the support team is on it's way up here, get yourself over here and let's make starlines, shall we?"

"Roger that Gray Thirteen.  I'm on my way...  R4, transfer all power to the engines, let's get outta here."

"Beep Bloop Bedeep", answered the small droid, and Red Leader streaked away at top speed, heading for the soon to be renamed Star Destroyer.

On board the ISD Incontrovertable...

"Best speed to any hyperspace point conn. We have to get away from those system defense ships."

"Roger that, sir!" the bridge was an informal mess of officers and crew. Crewmen from the Regis and WaveRunner attempted to get the badly damaged ISD under way before the SDS' could close on them.

"What do we have in the way of fighter defense?" Electro asked.

"Um, I have two Gray Squadron fighters on screen. There are three pilots on board, two fit to fly. Gray 18 has sustained a concussion and may not be able to fly for a while. We have several TIE squadrons aboard, but no way to launch at this time due to the damage sustained on the hangar deck when we boarded the ship."

"Alright. Priority to clearing a flight lane on the flight deck over all other repairs.  Without shields and manpower to fight the ship, fighter defense is our only hope. Signal fighters to follow us out of here."

"Sir, entering hyperspace at first launch point in 5 seconds."

The system defense ships had begun to fire, pummeling the unprotected hull of the ISD. Just as they thought they had won, the Star Destroyer lurched into hyperspace. But to where?


Part 7:  What's Next?

On board the ISD Incontrovertable, now in the capable hands of the Rebel Alliance,
Ald, Gray 18, watched the starlines pass by where he sat in this bunk in the med section. His headache seemed just a little less when he did so. "Concussion," he muttered, unconsciously mimicking the tone of the medical droid who'd told him he couldn't fly for a few days. "Stupid medical droids, I'm fine except for a little headache."

Elsewhere on board...

Commander Schock looked like hell and felt worse. His head was bandaged where he had hit it in the fighting to capture the Incontrovertable and half his face was turning a beautiful purple color from a massive bruise. His clothes were tattered and charred from a near blaster hit and various miscellaneous abuses. Scanning the status boards he pondered how they were going to fly this silly hulk of a ship given the fact they had only 127 people on board and a few Imperial droids.

"What's the status on reopening the flight deck?" he croaked out to his temporary aide Master Sergeant Compton, who to his bloodshot eyes still looked mighty interesting in her fatigues.

"We're ready to launch, sir. There is nearly a full complement of TIEs on board the ship, we took out the flight deck so quickly after they arrived in system not much had a chance to sortie. But we only have six flight ready pilots." She shook her head in a worried way and looked once more at the console. "Counting you and Flight Officer Smith, eight pilots."

"I should know this, but who all have we got on board?"

"Lieutenants Nave and Siorek, Captain Padua and Flight Officers Miranda, Smith, Pierce, and Brundrett. I don't have status on the others except for Captain Wagner who was rushed to the emergency medical station on the Regis."

"Record a brevet promotion for Lt. Siorek to Captain effective this date and have he and Captain Padua join me in the Admiral's ready room in 15 minutes. Oh, and ETA our first destination?"

"4 hours and a little bit, sir. Some system called E-Coliy, it happened to be the first hyperspace point we had access to. We have no data on it that I could find in what's left of the computer system."

"Thanks Compton, get some sleep, we'll all need to be ready when we enter real space again."

"No offense, but you might want to see a medic and take that advice yourself sir." She stared at him with impossibly green eyes and Electro sat for a almost a minute before he answered with a shake of his head.

"Right. Thanks, I will," and with that he went off to the ready room to await his officers.

15 minutes later...

Electro dozed, his head on the conference table, as Typhoon walked in followed by Quicksilver. "He looks kinda peaceful," said Typhoon, "should we wake him?"

"He wanted us for something," replied Quicksilver, walking over to Electro. He gently shook the shoulder of his commanding officer.

"Huh?" Electro slowly awoke and looked at this two friends. "Oh, I doze off? Sorry. Um, sit down."

The two Gray pilots found seats across from him. "What's up boss?" Typhoon asked.

"Well, I want to go over readiness plans for when we exit hyperspace. I want to launch everything we can on patrol in rotations while we get this tub in order. Each of you will command a flight."

"Sir, we only have three A-Wings." Quicksilver noted.

"Yeah, I was coming to that. I want to sortie TIE Advanced for anyone who hasn't got a ship. I want you two to take one each along with Smith and Brundrett."

"Isn't that a little drastic sir, we don't know how to fly those things." Captain Padua noted.

"Well, better that than defenseless, we can't manage the fire control system except remotely, no one to man the guns. And if we find hostiles we're going to be in big trouble. We've got a few problems we need to fix, like a flaky hyperdrive and a main drive breach once we get to real space. Until then we won't be able to jump, and we're still pulsing an Imperial IFF, we can't shut it off."

"Joy!" thought Quicksilver as he looked out the viewport.

In the cockpit of X-Wing Red One...

"Bleep Boop Bleebeeb Twaap"

"Yes R4, I know, just do your best.  We need to be close to the ISD when it breaks out of Hyperspace.  We still don't know what kind of shape she's in, and from what Daly told me before the Regis pulled out, we're gonna need her battle ready quick."

"Beep Beep Dwooop Bleedoop"

"Yes actually I would, do you think you can pull it in from out here?"

"Beep Thwaaaaap"

"Geez sorry R4, I didn't mean that personally" says Red Leader with a laugh,  "Of all the droids, I get stuck with one that has a Rock-n-Roll fetish.  Crank it R4!"

"That was a bootleg techno-mix of the Imperial March...you're listening to Minuteman, sitting in for Raven who was sitting in for Electro on the 'Electro Schock Therapy Show' on REBL, 90.5 on the comm-net. Raven's gotten himself into a bit of a jam recently, and they wouldn't let him broadcast from the brig of the ASD Happy Jack... more on that story plus the rest of the news following a word from our sponsors."

"What!?" exclaimed Rapier, "Oh no! Don't tell me that 'gator got Raven in trouble again! Geez!  I can't let those two go anywhere by themselves!  I just hope Crazy can keep him out of a Court-Martial till I can get there.  It must have been pretty bad too, for Bones to have him locked in the Brig.  R4, see if you can squeeze a little more speed out of this old crate, and try and keep REBL tuned in.  Come on Electro, you gotta stop that buggy to fix it sometime...."

On board the ISD Incontrovertable...

Walking out of their meeting with Commander Schock, Captains Siorek and Padua were heading towards the hangar bays.

"Nice mess we're in now, eh?" commented Quicksilver.

"You can say that again." replied Typhoon.

"Nice mess..."

"Cut it out!"  They walked again for a few moments in silence.  "Any word on Ald?"

"Last I checked on him, he was not fully conscious.  The Med Droids say that he's had a pretty bad concussion and should stay off his feet for a few days.  The droid also suggested grounding him."

"Hm. So, do you want to take the first patrol, or should I?"

Quicksilver stopped momentarily.  "Better if you went out first.  We should give Ald as much time as necessary to recover if Electro really wants him out there.  I know 30 minutes isn't really all that much, but something's better than nothing."

"Ok.  I'll get Gripper and head on out.  Good luck, and..."

"May the Force Be with You!" the two of them completed their traditional parting phrase.

Within minutes, Typhoon and Gripper were strapped into their T/As and heading off into space.  Quicksilver wanted to check up on Ald once more, but he knew better.  "Best to let the Med droids do their job and I'll do mine."  Instead, he took an alternate route down to the Hangar.

Once there, he found the T/As waiting for him, inviting him in.  He just stood there for a few minutes and watched as the chaos around him continued.

"It's gonna take a miracle..."

On board X-Wing Red 1...

Rapier cruised in a standard holding pattern in the E-Coliy system, awaiting the arrival of the Incontrovertable, and listened to Radio REBL. As he turned to make another swing through the pattern his sensors detected an Imperial ISD emerging from hyperspace a few klicks away. "That you Gray?" he broadcast.

:pop: "Confirmed Red 1. Hold for a moment please we are launching a mixed patrol of A-Wings and TIE Advanced to relieve you."

"TIE Advanced?" thought Red Leader, "we are scraping the barrel aren't we?"

A few moments later a single A-Wing and two TIE Advanced launched from the ISD at very low speed. "What's up with the launch speed Gray 5?" he sent to the only ship with an Alliance IFF.

"This is Gray 8, Red Leader. The flight deck is a shambles, all the launchers are out of commission. We have to make an unassisted take off at low speed to clear the debris."

"Rapier, this is Electro, you are clear to land if you need to reprovision. I know it was a long flight here."

"Roger. I have a feeling a little sleep might not be a bad idea. The podoo may hit the fan pretty soon."

On board the ISD Incontrovertable...

"OK Compton, what's the final damage report?" Electro walked onto the bridge and started looking at the status boards.

"Well, sir, as near as we can tell, we can run on one engine, the others were damaged so badly in our escape we are afraid to use them.  The hyperdrive is repairable, but we haven't got many techs, most of our crew are commandos in the first place. We have one astromech droid and some Imperial Maintenance droids, but we estimate it's a several hour job. They are starting right away."

"Weapons systems?"

"That's the bad news," she said.

"Just what I need, more bad news" Electro thought to himself.

"We can fire most of the laser batteries, but only at a single target patched through the central fire control. That means we aren't too bad off against a Corvette but against fighters we won't hit anything. And of course with no hope of raising the shields due to the expert flying of Gray 8 and 18, we don't stand much of a chance against anything larger than a Corvette either."

"Master Sergeant you always brighten my day! OK, proceed with repairs on the hyperdrive and lets be sure that we have fighters in space at all times on defensive patrol. Four hours on, fours hours off. We scramble everything at the first sign of hostiles. Carry on."

"Yes, sir."


Part 8:  Back into the Fire

The repairs on the hyperdrive were nearing completion, well ahead of any schedule that the Alliance freedom fighters might have dared to hope for. With a fighting complement of 3 A-Wings, an X-Wing and 5 TIE Advanced she could almost defend herself. Electro hadn't felt this good in a couple days. Of course that's usually when the floor falls out from underneath you.

"Gray 19. I have three, no five new contacts bearing 178, mark 14, range 6 klicks. Moving to intercept."

Electro thumbed his comm board, he had to admit the command chair on the bridge was well designed and extremely comfortable, "scramble all fighters, scramble all fighters, we have bogies in system."

A young commando who had been dragooned to man the sensors piped in, "Sir, I've got them on screen. Five Imperial Gunboats. New contacts! Reading an Imperial Modified Frigate... oh frak, she's launching bombers."

"Electro to all fighters, make it count boys, I'll be with you shortly." And with that he sprinted out of the bridge toward the flight deck. On his way he used his pocket comm.

"Compton, who's ranking on board after me? Anyone with command experience? I'm needed outside."

"We have a Captain in the Commando forces, but that's a stretch. I think I'm the ranking non-comm of the Naval personnel."

"OK, then, the ship is yours, try not to do as well as I did with my last command."

"Sir, I'm not sure that's such a good idea."

"Good or not, it'll have to do, Electro out."

In space...

For some reason the TIE Bombers were standing off, but the FRG wasn't wasting any time launching T/I to join in the fun. The five GUNs had headed straight toward the Incontrovertable, and the Gray Pilots moved to intercept at maximum range from the crippled ISD.

"Gray 8 to Gray 4, take the left wingman, Gray 6 you're on the point. Break." Typhoon struggled to pilot the ship, he was still unused to the control layout on the T/A he now piloted. He could tell from the slightly erratic flying style of Gripper that he too found the experience unsettling.

As Typhoon and his flight group moved to intercept the GUNs, Quicksilver and Ald sped off toward the bombers.  Luckily, the TIE Advanced was a pretty fast ship, even if the two pilots were having a hell of a time controlling them.

"All right Ald.  Let's make a quick pass against the T/Is and then take out the T/Bs.  You take the lead."

"Roger!  Let's get those..."

His comments are interrupted by crossfire from the Interceptors.  Six against two were usually good odds.  However, this was anything but an ordinary situation.  Fighting with the controls, the two Rebels were only able to take a couple of pot shots before they were forced to break the attack. Checking his scanners, he found that they were able to destroy only one T/I, though they did cripple another.

"Ald, what's your status?"

"Um.  Well, it looks like I'm down to 15% on the shields.  Everything else is ok."

"Ok.  The bombers are 2.5 klicks out.  Watch your six!  Those Interceptors are sure to want some more!  I'll take point."

With that, the two pilots came back into formation and sped toward the bombers.  At extreme range the two began firing on the Imperials.  One lucky hit by Gray 18 took out a bomber. Quicksilver was just about to score his first bomber kill when red streaks flashed by him.

"Ald!  Break right!  The Interceptors are back on us!"  Jamming the controls to the left, Quicksilver felt his T/A shudder from a few shots that got through.  Scanning his instruments, he found that his own shields were weakening.

"Captain!  I can't shake them!  Shields failing!"  came Ald's cry over the intercom.

"Where the hell are ya?"  Trying to find a friendly T/A was dang well near impossible on this scanner.  Finally he located his wingman.  .75 klicks out, low and directly behind him.  Turning his controls over, Quicksilver managed a roll that brought him on an intercept course with Ald.

"Ald, listen to me.  On the count of 3 break hard left.  I'll try to engage from behind you."

"Hurry mate!"

"Almost there. Now! Break left!"  And with a sudden flash, there was one less T/I on the scanners. Ald still had two on his tail, not to mention the one that was on his own six.

"Stay with me Ald.  I'm right behind them.  There!"  Another Interceptor went up in a ball of flame.  Continuing his sweep, Quicksilver nicked the solar panels on the third T/I and that Imperial decided to break off rather then continue the fight.  A quick check of his scanners showed that the T/I on his tail had broken off as well.

"Let's get those bombers!!"

On board the Imperial FRG F'fo Dessip...

"If the Assault Gunboats are unsuccessful in disabling the Star Destroyer, inform the Bomber crews to destroy it."

"Acknowledged, sir."

In space...

Typhoon jinked right, and came around to get on the tail of a GUN, his quad lasers firing in staccato rhythm in the captured T/A. "I think I could get used to this ship," he thought as the GUN erupted in a technicolor explosion.

*bang* His shield indicators showed nothing and his scope was dead. "Following a bit too close there, gotta get used to the speed of this thing."

Elsewhere...

Rapier, Red Leader had finally managed to launch from the flight deck of the Incontrovertable in his X-Wing. Cycling through his display it was difficult to determine just who was who, but one thing for sure, none of his guys were flying GUNs.  He targeted one about 2 klicks from the ISD and waited for a lock.  Two torpedoes later it was but a small ball of debris.

Elsewhere...

Electro fussed with the power system of the T/A to get a cruising speed he was happy with and tried to find the weapons system. He was stuck in missile mode, and wanted to select lasers in dual fire mode. *beep* "Ah, that's got it."

A flash went by, the shape of a T/A and Electro snapped off a reflexive burst from his lasers, hitting home.

"Watch where you're pointing those things boss, it's me, Typhoon!"

"Oops, sorry Ty, habit."

On board the Incontrovertable...

"Try it again, the board shows green."

"OK, hyperspace motivators charging. Nothing. It still doesn't work. Spaced Imperial tub!" The tech kicked the unit hyperdrive console and a relay clicked. Starlines lengthened as the Incontrovertable left normal space.

In space...

"About time they left!" Quicksilver thought.

"This is Electro to all Alliance craft, jump to preset 2. Repeat, preset 2 when able. See you on the other side."

Elsewhere...

Rapier pressed the firing stud and watched as the T/I exploded.  Turning his attention to his screens he saw that the Incontrovertable had left the system. "Red 1 to Gray 13, I'm heading home Electro. May the Force be with you!"

"Thanks Rapier, Gray Squad is buying for Red next time, we owe you one."

One by one the Rebel starfighters made the jump to hyperspace as the Imperial troops who had been so close to victory watched in dismay.

Later...

Electro took a deep breath as starlines faded back into realspace as the Incontrovertible and Gray Sqd entered the area.  Hyperspace preset two brought them to a point just within the Outer Rim in the Sukhoi System.  Electro quickly scanned his TacDisplay, and hooted a sigh of relief. No signs of Imperial activity.

"Pretty place you picked out Boss," called out Quicksilver.

Electro turned his T/A towards the nebula and gazed in awe.  When he was stargazing as a kid, the LightStorm Nebula was always his favorite. The red-giant binary system that had once existed here had nova'd and spread its gaseous remains over the entire system, the two type 7 pulsars that now existed blinked steadily through the red, blue and green gases.

"It is beautiful isn't it? But even more beautiful is the fact that it's a wonderful hiding place." Electro mused. Apart from the astronomical community, this sector interested no one.

"Provided no one else is hiding in there." Typhoon warned. He hated nebulas, their ionization rendered shields and sensors inoperable.  Typhoon had seen enough of that in the old Guardian Navy.

"First we get things under control on board," and as Electro said that, he saw the last engine on the Incontrovertible flash momentarily and flicker out.

"Problems, Commander," Compton buzzed over the com-link. "The last engine just gave out on us, we're on maneuvering thrusters only."

"Damn! Can you make it inside the nebula?" Electro queried.

"Yes, Commander, inertia is on our side. We can be 20 klicks inside the nebula in about two hours."

"Good, deploy sentry probes along our entry point. Were coming aboard." Electro clicked his link off. "What else can go wrong?"

Inside the Lightstorm Nebula, three hours later...

"Main drives may be restored in 48 hours, at fifty percent efficiency;  fire-control is still a mess, thirty eight percent of the batteries are not responding to our battle drills; hyperdrive motivators are seriously damaged, they failed 8 out of 10 simulated jumps, the launching bay is a complete disaster, shield generators are...." Compton droned on.

"Sergeant, skip to the end if you could please," Electro asked.

"As undermanned as we are, there is no way to get us combat-ready without a dry-dock. We can get underway and the Nav-puter is still operational. But unless we can save the motivators, we're stuck here. And vulnerable enough that a squadron of TIEs can take us out," Compton concluded.

"Okay, where's the last reported position of the Independence?" Electro mused. The Alliance flagship would be their only chance if they were to evacuate the battered Star Destroyer.

"Somewhere in the Noad System, but that position report is several days old," Quicksilver answered.

"We'd have to jump right through the core systems, Evac-shuttles with only eight fighters escorting wouldn't make it if any Interdictors trip us up." Hawkeye observed.

Electro paused, and thought hard on the no-win scenario in front of him. "All right. Sergeant Compton continue repairs to the main drive and motivators. That's your main concern, forget about fire control and the shields. I want to be underway and out of this system in three days."

"Quicksilver, take an A-wing to the Noad system and find the Independence. Get help. Three corvettes would save us but we can't fly the TIEs anymore. Get ferry pilots and as many fighters as Ackbar can spare."

"Typhoon, take the rest of the squad on patrol, I want a hundred square klicks of this nebula searched. Just to make sure we are alone here. Let's go to work. Dismissed."
Compton stayed. After the gray pilots left the briefing room she spoke.

"Long odds on the drives commander. Even if we get underway, we'll never get an accurate jump out of the motivators. And the Empire is bound to catch up with us within the next three days."

"I'm aware of that Sergeant. Carry on. And I also want the self-destruct sequences re-initialized and ready for my authorization before the day is out." Electro ordered

"Aye, Commander." Compton left.

Electro gazed out the viewport. Tired and beaten, he wondered just when this exhausting pursuit would finally end.

On board the Incontrovertable...

Electro, Gray XO, and his senior officers sat around the conference room and considered their situation.

"I can't see how we can man this ship on a permanent basis.  We simply don't have the people, especially considering the losses we've taken." Saturn "Typhoon" Padua, the CISF Division Commander sat at the end of the table.

"I concur. So, what do we do about it anyhow?" Electro asked.

"Too bad we can't trade it in on a smaller model." Typhoon quipped.

"Hey!" exclaimed Si "Quicksilver" Siorek, "that's not a bad idea."

"In fact, it's a great idea! Suppose we arrange a swap with the Imperials, this ISD plus its fighter complement for a VSD. We know we've got the people to run that." Electro had a broad grin on his face. "Plus, maybe General Chesney won't even notice the difference when he gets back!"

"Fat chance, boss. How ya gonna explain the fact that his Storm Trooper helmet collection is missing?" noted Captain Billy "Sewerman" Wagner.

"Hey, a guy can always hope! And I think I know the way to arrange the trade too..."

Later...

"Any word from the Independence?" Typhoon asked as he walked onto the bridge. Compton only shook her head.

"Well, I suppose that means it is plan B," he muttered as he stalked out to find the Gray Squadron Executive Officer.

12 hours later Near the Lightstorm Nebula...

The starfighters piloted by Loki and Dr. Doom slowed as they neared the Nebula. "I'm not too excited about going in there boss, could be a trap. The rebels haven't been on friendly terms with us lately."

Loki, Dragon XO, switched on his comm-unit and replied. "Well, the information I have says that they want to do some sort of deal, so here we are to find out what. If they cross us, well, let's just say we always get paid."

Dr. Doom chuckled at the little inside joke that was making the rounds of the mercenary group.

:crackle: :spit: "This is Gray Three. I have you on scope. I am exiting the Nebula. You are instructed to follow me for rendezvous."

"Here we go Doc." Loki switched frequencies and responded to the Rebel fighter. "Just don't fly funny, we'll need to keep within visual to follow you."

A few minutes later, only a couple klicks within the Nebula the three fighters came upon the stationary bulk that was the Incontrovertable.

"That thing's a heap of junk!" Dr. Doom noted.

"Keep it quiet Lightning 36, insulting a paying customer won't get us anywhere."

Minutes later on board the Incontrovertable...

Electro and Typhoon sat across from the two mercenaries, they hadn't said anything for a time, each studying the other. Electro finally broke the silence. "Well, gentlemen, I'm sure you'd like to know why we asked to meet with you." Loki only nodded tersely. "We'd like to have you broker an exchange between ourselves and the Empire."

"An exchange of what?"

"This ship and its fighter complement for a Victory class Star Destroyer and 20 million credits." Electro watched as the previously unmoving faces of the two men across from him showed momentary surprise.

"What's in it for us?"

"I'm in the mood to be generous. If the exchange is made and we make it out with the VSD, you get half of the cash. If it fails, you get nothing."

"Unacceptable. We require one million up front as a retainer. If we succeed we get 15 million." Loki countered.

"Well, there are certainly other mercenary bands to talk to, thank you both for coming to meet with me. Captain Padua, please show these gentlemen to their ships and have them escorted out of the Nebula."

Typhoon got out of his chair and was half way to the door when Loki spoke again. "Very well Commander, we agree to your terms."

"I thought you might see it my way, now let's talk about one other item."

Typhoon took his cue from Electro, "As you probably noticed, the Alliance starfighter contingent on board is rather thin."

Dr. Doom's face broke into a broad grin, "Whatsa matter? Don't like flying the TIEs?" he smirked. "We can have a slicer hack out the IFF codes for you. Cash only of course."

"We would like to appropriate more. We understand that your organization has a rather large stockpile of fighters." Typhoon continued.

Loki began to laugh. "Hell, we've a large assortment to choose from. I can even get you the Empire's new Missile Boat. I also believe we've acquired the schematics for the Z-95B." Loki stared at Electro.

The Z-95B was Electro's design and he was surprised to find it so quickly on the black market.  Relaxing, he proposed: "We need thirty alliance fighters, 10 B-wings, 12 A-Wings and 8 X-wings."

"Plus all the technical and maintenance materials. Ordinance as well. Probably 500 proton torpedoes and concussion missiles, and 100 laser cannon mounts." Typhoon added.

Dr. Doom smiled again. He marveled at the Rebel's desperate situation and was eager to take full advantage of it. "Gentlemen, fighters can be quite expensive."

"Very expensive." Loki added. "Plus I'm sure the Empire would not approve should word of this transaction leave this room."

"Isn't your creed, "We don't take sides, we take cash?" Electro sourly noted.

"Very true, but I'm sure the Empire would not appreciate us selling them one of their prized STDs while we sell you enough fighters to destroy it. That kind of duplicity is rarely forgotten, and often prosecuted." Loki said flatly.

Electro grew tired of this mental sparring. "Just how expensive for the fighters?"

"Twenty-five thousand a piece, plus five thousand for material each, grand total of nine hundred thousand. We'll throw in the Z-95B schematics for another hundred, a million for the whole pile of pu-du." Loki grinned from ear to ear.

"Cash only of course." Dr Doom smiled.

Electro stood, furious. "You know we don't have that kind of money."

"Come now, commander. Do you think of us as naive? You're at the helm of an Imperial-class Star Destroyer.  The Empire's primary tax collection tool! Don't you think that..." Dr. Doom stopped abruptly as Loki stared at him with a cold gaze.

"Tax collection." Electro made a mental note of that. Although he did not have the crew to conduct a thorough search, he would have to detail some of the commandos to look around this massive ship.  There were probably millions on board the Incontrovertible. And that was exactly what these two were after.

"Our offer is quite fair commander." Loki said flatly. "We could easily earn two million if we revealed your location to the Empire."

"And I could earn a special sense of pride if I order Captain Padua to flush you out of the nearest airlock." Electro warned. The comm link buzzed. 

"Commander, this is Compton. The Flux Capacitors have been repaired and are fully operational."

"Very good sergeant. Carry on." Electro clicked off.  At Typhoon's suggestion, homing beacons had been installed aboard both pirate fighters. "Flux Capacitors" meant that the errand had been completed

"Commander, the one million price must stand. I must remind you that you are in no position to dictate terms. Killing us would merely aggravate our associates. You don't want to do that." Loki concluded.

"We have powerful friends ourselves." Typhoon threatened. "We have no assurances that you won't double-cross us. We need something more tangible besides your 'word'"

Two days later In space...

The Incontrovertable loomed over the motley collection of fighters and shuttles.  The 127 rebels had manned a few starfighters and small craft and hovered beside the gigantic bulk of the Star Destroyer, waiting, waiting for the Imperial ship to arrive for the exchange within the Nebula.

"Electro to Typhoon, are all craft accounted for?"

"Roger Gray 13, I have all craft on visual. We located 7 million in goods aboard the STD and everything was loaded aboard before we launched. Those Mercs told us more than they thought!" Typhoon grinned broadly as he thought of the meeting aboard the STD.

"Let's just hope they hold up their end. Otherwise we're dog meat." Sewerman interjected.

"Roger that Gray 14."

Minutes later...

Loki exited hyperspace near the nebula with an Imperial VSD behind him.  Though he had insisted on a minimal complement, the Imperial commander has resisted. Several TIE Advanced escorted the VSD and more than the minimal flight crew was aboard he expected.

"Enter the Nebula at 123 mark 17, VSD Ghecko."

"Confirmed, we will penetrate to 7 km and launch transports."

The VSD moved into the Nebula at a crawl, inching towards the waiting rebel forces.

"Lightning to Drab, in place, sortie 1, repeat, sortie 1."

That was the signal for the rebel ships to move towards the predefined position to board the Victory Star Destroyer.  At the same time the Imperials forces board their transports and moved toward the rendezvous coordinates of the Incontrovertable.  Inside the Nebula each was blind, feeling their way forwards. 

"This is RedDawg, I have the VSD in sight! 178.67 mark 253."

The rebel ships altered course and one by one saw the ship they hoped to capture. At the same time the Imperial forces were closing on the Incontrovertable. Slowly the Rebels and Imperials boarded the respective ships, while Loki boarded the freighter carrying 20 million credits in glitter stim, half of which was his and Lightning Wings to keep.
The Imperial troops powered up the sublight engines on the Incontrovertable quickly, overriding the failsafes crudely put in place by the Rebels and moved at maximum speed out of the Nebula. The rebels, still blinded by the interference could not see what was happening, and only slowly moved to secure the ship they captured.


Part 9:  Last Dance

In the LightStorm Nebula...

The Alliance troopers and others were slowly bringing the Ghecko back to life, overcoming a few little surprises left by the previous occupants.  Outside Gray Squadron, once again equipped with all Rebel equipment due to the good efforts of Lightning, patrolled nervously in visual range due to the interference effect of the Nebula.

Suddenly out of the swirling gasses of the Nebula the Incontrovertable appeared, moving at what for it at the time, was top speed.  It was escorted by a huge array of TIEs. The Imperials had brought several squadrons worth of pilots to man the TIEs on board the ship, and these were ready to pounce on the Ghecko now that its shields were worthless in the Nebula.

"Electro to all Gray pilots, do not engage unless engaged. We may yet be able to get out of this without a fight."

"He's lost his marbles," thought Alderaanian as he positioned his A-Wing along a likely attack vector.

The Incontrovertable moved slowly by, the TIEs swarming around her like bees angry at having their hive molested. Reaching the edge of visual range, it once again disappeared into the haze.

"Well, what do you..."

"Incoming!"

Their command ship safely away the Imperial fighters returned to polish off the Ghecko, now getting underway. Targetting fighters first, they had a clear 4-1 advantage in numbers and the element of surprise in their favor.

Elsewhere...

Loki piloted the freighter out of the Nebula and signaled the all clear as he made the jump to the rendezvous where he was scheduled to meet the Ghecko and hand over half of his cargo as had been agreed. Even though he'd agreed to scuttle the Incontrovertable to get all of the 20 million, that was simply too high a price to pay in lost Imperial good will. Crossing a few desperate rebels and making a cool payoff was one thing, crossing the Imperials and wrecking a lot of future business was quite another.

Elsewhere...

BlackDeath, formerly BlackHawk/Gray 17, prepared to enter normal space. He'd been monitoring Imperial and Alliance comm signals, and was returning to the location he had determined the remnants of Gray were.  He'd finished his detached mission and was returning to active duty.

He dropped into real space. "Holy..." the Incontrovertable loomed before him on a direct collision course. Throwing his ship about in evasive maneuvers he managed not to ram and sped away from what he expected would be a huge response from Imperial fighters.

"What the heck? Nobody's home?" His scopes were blank, and he wasn't in the Nebula!
 
"Tally Ho!" Arming his torpedoes, he moved into attack position.

On board the Incontrovertable...

"Lone rebel fighter sir, moving into attack formation! We cannot fire the main weapons, they have been sabotaged. Shall I recall our fighters to assist?"

"Yes, do it now." BlackDeath's torpedoes slammed into the hull of the Incontrovertable two at a time, making massive explosions on the unprotected ship. After the final 2 hit, the hull had been massively breached and the battleship began to come apart at the seams, secondary explosions ripping the ship apart from the inside out.

In space...

"Scratch one Star Destroyer, now where are my mates?" BlackDeath set course for the Nebula.

In the LightStorm Nebula...

The battle raged around the Ghecko, with the Rebel fighters, mostly A-Wings with a few X-Wings thrown in for good luck, trying their best to beat back a furious assault from TIE Advanced, TIE Interceptors, and TIE Bombers. Then, just as the waves of Imperial fighters seemed about to overcome the defenders, the tide turned and off fled the TIEs, belatedly returning to protect the Incontrovertable, that had been destroyed by a lone fighter.

"Gripper here, why are they bugging out?"

"Dunno. But who's complainin?" Hawkeye responded.

"Electro to Ghecko, alter course at up 45, right 45. Flank speed out of the nebula. Electro to Gray, reform on cluster front escort pattern. CISF takes point, SOD takes wing."

The group moved away.

A few minutes later...

"Compton here, we should exit the Nebula in a few seconds."

"Hi guys!" came the sound of Gray 17 over the comm channel. "Hope I'm not too late to join in the fun. This is Gray 17 reporting for active duty, and just call me BlackDeath from now on."

"Welcome home Edmund, good to see you!" Ald's familiar enthusiastic voice could probably have been heard without a comm even across the void of space.

"Gray 17 reporting the destruction of an Imperial Star Destroyer exiting the Nebula. Its shields were down, I polished it off."

"That must have been why the TIEs left, they got a distress call and moved to respond. Which means they could still be out there." noted Typhoon.  And at just that moment they exited the Nebula, the crisp clear stars and the blackness of space returned.

"OK, everybody, reform at preset 7B, hyperspace on my mark." The ships streaked away into hyperspace.

On the outskirts of the Zrel system...

Loki waited in the Freighter. The rebels were overdue and his squadron mates were getting uncomfortable sitting in their fighters clustered on the small moon nearby. Insurance they were. Insurance.

Then, out of nothing came a VSD and several fighters. "Greetings Lightning, this is Gray. Prepare for cargo transfer."

"Roger."

A single transport launched from the Ghecko and made its way to the freighter. It completed docking and a small contingent of rebels and a few droids started loading it with the Glitter Stim.  20 minutes of hard work later, they left, and Loki gratefully and happily engaged his engines and just before entering hyperspace signaled the all clear to his comrades.

On board the VSD Ghecko...

"Sir, I have managed to track down General Chesney and make a full report." Compton in her usual calm efficiency handed Commander Schock a datapad.

"Joy. Well, time to face the music. Pipe him in."

The vid-comm flashed and refocused. The familiar face of his commanding officer showed clearly. "Sir, Commander Schock reporting."

"Well, Commander, you've lost the WaveRunner. I can't say that I'm happy about that, but given what you and the rest of the squadron faced, it seems a miracle things turned out the way they did. Please return with the captured ship to the Regis to recover the rest of the crew."

"Sir, we've been sort of hoping to rename this ship and keep it as our own to replace the WaveRunner. Do you think command will allow it?"

"It seems to be the destiny of Gray Squadron to work on board a Victory Star Destroyer, I can't see how they can reject our request, all things considered. Tell everyone I look forward to seeing them. Chesney out."

"Destiny," thought Quicksilver, sitting quietly near the door to the bridge. "That'll stick."

The End