X-Wing: Hawk Squadron
Dramatis Personae:
New Republic:
General Vichar Sand (human male from Corulag)
Major Joc Darkin (human male from Coruscant)
Major Tors Renz (human male from Taris)
Captain Iwa Nic (human female from Alderaan)
New Pilots assigned to Raptor Base:
Flight Officer Chasa'frisk'ynordo Aka Frisky (Chiss female from Nar Shaddaa)
Flight Officer Fars Joran (human male from Agamar)
Flight Officer Tobin Shade (human female from Dantioone)
Flight Officer Lysa Skye (human female from Commenor)
Flight Officer Trieze Nodirz (Rodian male from Rodia)
Flight Officer Varon Peaks (Twi'lek male from Ryloth)
Flight Officer Chowsabacca Aka Chow (Wookie male from Kashyyyk)
Flight Officer Samuel Jacks (human male from Bespin)
Flight Officer Nico Chaz (human male from Bilbringi)
Flight Officer Variya Kitty (human female from Kuat)
Techs and Astromechs:
Vengi-Mechanic (Verpine male)
R2-F9 "Fine", (Astromech assigned to Renz)
R2-H3 "H3", (Astromech assigned to Nic)
R2-TX "Tex", (Astromech assigned to Frisky)
R2-S7 "Saven", (Astromech assigned to Joran)
R2-BA "Bay", (Astromech assigned to Shade)
R2-ZN "Zen", (Astromech assigned to Skye)
R2-D9 "Dine", (Astromech assigned to Nodirz)
R2-TL "Tail", (Astromech assigned to Peaks)
R2-KT "Kat", (Astromech assigned to Chow)
R2-AC "Mace", (Astromech assigned to Jacks)
R2-RN "Ren", (Astromech assigned to Chaz)
R2-JX "Jex", (Astromech assigned to Kitty)
Other New Republic:
Pilots assigned to the following squadrons)
Phoenix, Thundercats, Falcon, Mjolnir, Firebird
Location: Raptor Base, Planet Mandarin, Mandarin Sector, New Republic Starfighter Command
"General Sand will see you now, Major." The perky female officer told Major Tors Renz, formerly of the Imperial Navy and one time member of the 181st Fighter Group. Renz stood up and followed her into the general's office. He noted the room's spartan appearance, and then regarded the general. General Vichar Sand was an average-sized man with graying blond hair that looked like he could have come out of a clone wars recruiting poster. Sand motioned for Renz to take the chair across from his desk, setting aside the datapad that he had been reading. Renz moved over to the chair and sat down, his black hair swaying slightly as he did so. Renz was taller than the general and had a more muscular build than the general; a build common to some imperial pilots. He waited for the general to speak.
Sand spoke. "Major, Starfighter Command has sent us some new pilots with their ships and droids. Since my squadrons are currently fully staffed, a new X-wing unit will be created. I have decided to designate this unit, Hawk Squadron, to keep with major theme of our base's squadrons be named after different kinds of birds. I received some new orders and have decided to appoint you in command of the new unit with Captain Iwa Nic as your XO. Given your history as a pilot from the 181st, Starfighter Command was hesitant to accept my request to appoint you. However, I explained to them that you had committed yourself to the New Republic despite having an impressive kill score comprising many of our former pilots.
Your orders will be to get the squadron operational in one month since you will be starting active duty at that time. Do you have any questions, Major?" Sand asked.
Renz put up a hand. "Sir, what kind of pilots are these? Are they cadets or experienced pilots? What exactly am I working with here?" He asked.
Sand picked up the datapad that he had pushed aside and handed it to Renz. "Here are the service records for your new pilots. Starfighter Command is trying to duplicate General Antilles' experiment with Wraith Squadron. Since the defeat of the Yevetha and the situation involving Almania, Starfighter command has tasked Raptor Base and its forces with taking control of the rest of the Mandarin sector, and then begin preparations to move into the Yamato Over sector. Yamato is home to a good number of deep space platforms that can repair or build new warships. According to New Republic Intelligence reports, the Empire has been drawing down its forces in that sector. May the Force be with you, Major." General Sand said.
Renz took the datapad. "Thank you for your confidence, General. I won't let you down." Renz said as he stood up, having been clearly dismissed. He saluted and then left the office.
Having gone looking for his new XO, Renz found her in the base's main recreation room. She was sitting at a table alone.
Renz paused to study her, remembering how he had spent time with her from before. Nic was a green-eyed redhead and had a fiery temper. He walked up to her table. "Iwa? It's good to see you. You have been assigned as my XO for a new squadron." He said to her. Iwa glanced up at him. "Tors? It's been a while. What brings you out to Mandarin?" She asked him. He shrugged. "Orders. I got put in command of Hawk squadron. General Sand wants me to get it running. I was surprised to hear your name. Last I heard, you were out near Folor. What happened?" He asked.
Iwa scowled. "General Antilles happened. I had a midair collision with him that resulted in my ship getting too wrecked to fly. Then at a celebration for one of the pilots I encountered him in person. A few drinks, a walk back to my quarters, and then I woke up with him in my bed. It was…embarrassing since neither one of us had any idea what had happened. Anyway, I got sent here by him after an investigation cleared me of responsibility for the accident. Since getting here, I have been just soloing and practicing. I haven't been able to get an assignment, so it's great that the General would think of me for your XO." Iwa said.
Renz smiled. "So first you collide with his x-wing, then you end up in bed? Poor General Antilles; he must have been unlucky. So, are you ready to meet our pilots?" Renz asked. Iwa nodded in agreement and joined him. They headed to the briefing room where their pilots were located.
When they arrived at the briefing room, they found the pilots either sitting in some of the chairs or leaning against the walls. Renz noted there as several humans of either gender, as well as 4 aliens. He saw a rodian, a twi'lek, a wookie and what appeared to be a chiss. Renz studied them, noting that some of pilots looked bored while some of the others looked ready to fight. He sighed inwardly then moved to the briefing room's podium.
Renz switched the podium on. "Good morning. My name is Major Renz and I have been given command of a new squadron of X-wings that will be called Hawk. So I will be your commanding officer. This is Captain Nic, who will be our XO." Renz said. He then took a quick roll call. The chiss wanted to be called Frisky, and the wookie was fine being called Chow. He was surprised though when Chow answered in basic. He pointed to Chow. "Most wookies speak Shryiwook and can't talk basic, right?" He asked.
Chow replied, in basic. "Most wookies do so. However, I can speak basic, but am no longer able to converse in the tongue of my people." Chow said in reply.
Renz nodded. "So, the new squadron is intended to be combat ready in a month and as such we will be heading to the simulators so we can get some practice in and so that I can start selecting wing pairs and flights. Also, it will give me a chance to evaluate your individual piloting abilities. Dismissed." Renz said.
The pilots headed out of the briefing room towards the simulators while Renz waited to talk with Iwa. He spoke to her, when the pilots had left. "What do you think of them?" He asked.
Iwa smiled. "They seem ready. Seem to be a decent bunch. We will learn more after we do some sim runs." She said.
Renz nodded and left the room with Iwa following.
They entered the room with the simulators. The pilots were waiting inside standing by a simulator. Renz smiled. "I am going to run a simulation of the Battle of Endor. I want you to pair up with the person by you and see how well you do. All of you have pilot training and I would like to gauge how well each of you work together in a combat situation." Renz said. He motioned for Iwa to take the console to monitor. The pilots got into the simulators and ran it. They did fairly well for the first time. Renz ran them through several other scenarios before allowing them to go. He informed they would be doing more tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning, Renz found his pilots waiting for him at the simulators. He noted that Iwa was ready to go. "Today, I thought we would run through a few unique scenarios. You did fine in the ones yesterday. So I have decided to select the following mission for you to try out first." Renz stepped up a display and switched it on. He called up a mission briefing. He turned to study his pilots before speaking.
"So, this is Staging Point Alpha 1. There is an Imperial military convoy moving through the area heading towards its hyperspace jump point. The convoy is carrying valuable medical supplies and equipment. A pair of Nebulon-B frigates are protecting the convoy. Your orders are these: To intercept the convoy and provide protection for the transports that will arrive to secure the freighters. Also, there have been reports that the Star Destroyer Imperious is operating in a nearby system and may come to assist in the convoy's defense. Good luck, and May the Force be with you." Renz said. The pilots got into the cockpits and started up the simulation. Renz moved to join Iwa at the console. She studied him then grimaced. "Really? You are going to run them through the med convoy scenario? Isn't that a little nasty to throw them through?" She asked.
Renz shrugged. "We need to see they react to changes in mission parameters and its one of the better missions to test that with." Renz replied. He conceded that Iwa had a point though. The med convoy scenario, also referred to as the Mad Imperious Run, was fairly difficult. While it started out easily, the scenario rapidly became challenging. Once one of the Nebulon frigates was taken out or lost all its fighters, the ISD Imperious would jump in on one side or the other of the convoy and immediately would open fire. It would also launch its TIEs as well. Unfortunately for some pilots, that would mean they would have to protect the transports seizing the freighters while Imperious sent its TIEs in to attack.
The scenario was winnable, but that strategy usually only occurred to pilots after the second or third run through. By taking out the Nebulon-Bs fast enough, the pilots would be able to handle the rest of the scenario a lot easier. Of course, the surviving frigate, since the Imperious would end killing one of the Nebulon-Bs, would defect and create a distraction for the captured freighters to escape. Without the frigates, the ISD would only have the freighters and transports for targets. Either way, the scenario was a challenge and was viewed as considerably more difficult than the Redemption scenario. Renz settled into one of the chairs at the monitor console to watch how the pilots would perform the scenario.
Flight Officer Lysa Skye strapped herself into the cockpit of the x-wing. She pulled on the helmet and activated the comm. "Zen? Are you reading me clearly?" She asked. Zen hooted in response and a message appeared on her data screen. She smiled. "This is Gray 1, 4 lit and green. Signal readiness." She ordered, somewhat uncomfortably. She had been designated in charge for the scenario by Major Renz. Each of the other pilots indicated their readiness. She nodded to herself. "Alright then. Jump on my mark. Mark." She pulled the hyper drive lever and waited 15 seconds. The view outside her cockpit flashed into a view of a star field with several moving objects. Zen shrilled in alarm. "Alright Grays, lets light them up. Go after the TIEs and leave the Nebs for later.
Once we thin out the herd, we should be able to have some breathing room." She said. She noted on her data screen that her squadron mates were breaking into pairs and flying off to engage. She tapped her comm. "Two, on me. I'm your wing." She said. Chow responded with a click on his com and his x-wing moved towards the approaching TIEs. Lysa brought her fighter up and settled into position to cover him. She switched her lasers to fire in dual mode, so that she would be firing her lasers two at a time. She did a quick look at her threat board. The Nebulon-B frigates had moved towards the rebel fighters and were screening 5 freighters. A small number for having two frigates guarding them. The frigates had launched their TIEs, which moving out in front of the frigates leaving them unguarded. Lysa smiled at that. It means we won't have to worry about the frigates for a bit.
As the x-wings closed in on the TIEs, Lysa held on tight to her yoke and pushed the foot pedals, causing the x-wing to spin around in a circle as she continued going forward. She began to rapidly pull the trigger, pouring laser fire into the space in front of her. She was rewarded with the satisfaction of seeing several of her shots nail a couple of TIE fighters. Scratch two eyeballs. Pulling back on her yoke, Lysa brought her fighter around into a loop to chase after one of the enemy fighters that had skirted past her.
As she brought her x-wing into line with it to start firing, she noticed that it was actually a TIE bomber not a fighter. She grinned and fired twice. The dual laser blasts struck the bomber, damaging it somewhat. The second set took out one wing and caused the bomber to tumble towards port uncontrollably. Lysa fired again, hulling the bomber and causing it to explode. She whistled in joy and brought her ship around to where Chow, her wingman, was playing tag with an Eyeball that was doing really well at avoiding his fire. She came at the TIE at an angle hoping to check it unawares. The TIE broke to port though, causing her shots to flash by harmlessly. She swore angrily. Wow, that's a nifty move. Gotta a hot hand on the stick there. Definitely a real pilot flying that thing. Lysa brought her x-wing around and moved towards the TIE, but it broke towards starboard cutting across her wingman's path. Chow broke away to avoid hitting it and Lysa swore as she dove to avoid hitting him. She twirled away to port and checked her visuals, looking for the TIE. She couldn't see it anywhere. Several bursts against her rear shields informed her of its presence behind her and she juked port to starboard to shake it loose to no avail. As she swooped from side to side, the TIE matched her moves in reverse and fired twin linked blasts into her rear shields. She swore loudly in response. "I got a problem here. I can't shake this bastard. He's real good." She said.
She quickly checked her scopes for Chow. He was gone, apparently having been blasted or something. She checked scopes and screen again. Fierfek! There's only 6 of us left! And the Impstar has dropped into system. Well, at least 4 of the transports have gotten away with their respective freighters. Lysa managed to briefly shake her pursuit and quickly looped around to come up behind him. She managed to do so briefly, so she fired as quickly as she could hoping to hit the enemy craft through luck. Apparently luck was with her, because she managed to put her shots into the rear of the TIE and it exploded. She wiped her forehead and then checked her scopes as she brought her x-wing around towards the last freighter and the transport that was boarding it. She stared at the scopes then grimaced. Both frigates were gone and the transport was having trouble with the freighter's engines. She keyed her com unit. "Grays, we need to move to cover the freighter's exit. Move to engage the TIEs from Imperious until they can make the jump. Gray Three, I'm your wing." She ordered. Gray Three, Shade, moved to bring her x-wing alongside Lysa. Lysa brought her ship around and headed towards the screen of TIEs that were deploying before the Impstar. She opened fire at maximum range, tagging a few of the TIEs. She keep firing and was reward with seeing her shots take out a couple of the TIEs that she had tagged. Shade popped a few eyeballs too, before Lysa saw the triangle shaped wedge of the ISD. She brought her craft up on one wing and clicked over to torps. "Three, lets pour some fire into the impstar." She said. Shade clicked her com in answer. Lysa flew her craft towards the big vessel and fired the torps which she had set to dual-fire. Shade fired as well and explosions appeared on the ship's hull. She brought her x-wing around and saw the transport detach from the freighter and jump into hyperspace. The freighter looked like it was in the process of jumping when Lysa's cockpit when completely dark. She smacked her hand against the side of the cockpit. "Blaster bolts." She swore. The cockpit rose and she looked up to see Chow standing there. He looked unhappy.
Lysa climbed out of the simulator and stretched out. She noted that the major was wearing a TIE pilot's outfit. She smiled at that and approached her commander. "Was that you in that TIE?" She asked him. Renz smiled in response before nodding.
"Nice job there in the mission. Also a superb job in taking me out. It was rather hard to accomplish and a couple of your squad mates couldn't hit me." Renz said.
Lysa sighed. "Oh well. Anyway, did we complete our mission? Did we succeed?" She asked.
Renz smiled broadly at her. "Hold on for one second, Flight Officer." He said. He glanced past her and Lysa turned to look at her squad mates who were gathering around.
After they gathered together, Renz spoke to them. "Good job pilots. Aside from losing nearly everyone, the mission was a success. The freighters were seized and managed to jump away. Unfortunately only 3 of you survived until that point. Not good, but this mission can be marked off as a success. Now since I have a briefing to attend and we have finished our simulation for the time being, I am giving free time for the rest of the day. Go have a drink or whatever you feel like. Dismissed." Renz then left the room with Iwa following him out. Lysa ran a hand through her long black hair. "Well, we did well there. It could have been better though. Anybody know of any good places to go for a few drinks?" She asked.
Samuel nodded. "Yeah, we can stop by at Grozenk's cantina. It has a lot of drinks and has a gambling area if we won't to do that." He said. Lysa smiled in response.
"Well, let's get our droids stowed and head on out there." She said before leaving the room.