Aboard the Independence

Luke Skywalkers sidled through the mess line, humming a quiet toon to himself. His week, for once, had been going exceptionally well. A series of minor missions had been very successful. General Rieekan had put the entire squadron in for awards and commendations for their successes. He had gotten several long hours of lightsaber practice in as well. There were even rumors of Luke being promoted to Wing Commander in the near future and being put in charge of an entire elite fighter wing. That made Luke uncomfortable though. He didn't think that, at twenty-one years old, he was anywhere near ready to lead thirty-six to a hundred and twenty pilots and starfighters.

As Luke contemplated this, someone bumped his elbow, nearly making him drop his tray. Looking up sharply, Luke saw Kasan Moor grinning at him. With a wink she said, "Oh, sorry Luke. Nearly made you spill your breakfast there."

Luke chuckled and said, "That's not very nice. I might have to assign some extra duties for that, Lieutenant."

Kasan pouted and said, "Oh come on, you didn't spill anything."

Luke just shook his head, continueing the jest. "Nope, your duty is that you have to be range safety when I go to qualify later this evening."

Kasan sighed damatically, hiding the fact that she was pleased that he had asked her. "I'm sorry, Commander, but I actually need to qualify myself so I can't do that."

Luke frowned and replied, "I see. I thought all the other Rogues were able to a couple days ago."

They both found seats and Kasan explained, "I was briefing Command on a possible next mission. Hey, where were you?"

Luke shrugged. "I had a mission with Princess Leia."

Kasan nodded, studying him closely as she sipped caf before saying, "You and the Princess are pretty close. How do you two know each other?"

Luke blushed and said, "Oh, we met when I first joined the Alliance. I, uh, helped her out and she brought me and Captain Han Solo to Yavin in time to participate in the fight against the Death Star. We hit it off pretty well, I guess. Why do you ask?"

Kasan shrugged and took a mouthful of some kind of hot cereal. "Just curious and being a busy body I guess. Rumor has it you too have been dancing around romance for some time and no one can seem to figure out why."

Luke blushed and chuckled at the same time, replying as he gazed into his caf cup, "I don't think that's the case. We're good friends and I do care about her but romance? No, I don't think so."

Kasan nodded, a slow smirk spread over her face. "But you wish there was?"

Luke shook his head. "I wouldn't be horribly opposed but she's focusing on being an Alliance leader and I-" and he paused, an embarrassed look crossing his face. "I don't seem to do well on the relationship front - at least not in the middle of a war and rebellion."

Kasan chuckled and said, "Really? How many relationships have you been in since you joined - what, a year ago or so?"

Luke looked down at his food and ate another mouthful before muttering, "Two..."

Her eyes widened and she cleared her voice, stifling another laugh. "Two, huh? I heard about those - Winter Retrac and that sexy Twi'lek mercenary Rianna Saren, right? Wait though, didn't you also have a fling with that supply and ordinance specialist? What's her name - Deena Shan?"

Luke looked even more embarrassed and grumbled again, "Well - that wasn't really a relationship. I mean - I mean it was more, um, physical than anything."

Kasan couldn't help but chuckle. "Luke, why the hell are you so embarrassed by that? In the Imperial Navy, just about the only relationship you can have on the level we're at is one based only on sex because you can hide that kind of relationship a whole lot more easily than an actual relationship. Is it supposed to be different here?"

Luke shrugged and said, "I don't know, really. I just know that I don't want to be known as that soldier with a fling in every star port. Remember last seventy-two hour leave we took on Malastare?'

Kasan chuckled at the memory. They had gone to a casino area and some of the Rogues had gambled their already small paychecks away. Surprisingly, Luke found he was good at Pazaak but was terrible at Sabaac. "Well," Luke said, "Wedge knew a girl there and disappeared with her for awhile while the rest of us went to the tables. I asked how he knew her when he got back and he said that most of them had someone like that at every regular leave site."

Kasan was shaking her head with a smile. "When I was part of the Empire, I didn't exactly have a boy in every spaceport but I did try to get some action when I went to each. I usually hung out with a female stormtrooper and a female turbolaser gunner. We all looked after each other and took turns finding guys. Luke, I must say that you are a different military man than most that I have ever met - Alliance or Empire."

Luke grinned and said, "I'll take that as a compliment. Honestly, though, it was how I was raised 'til I was nineteen."

Kasan nodded and said, "Well I find it both refreshing and even a little charming;" before standing and saying, "So, see you at the ranges later?"

Luke grinned. "I'm looking forward to it."

Later that evening, Luke had a spring in his step as he head to the range, several standard issure blasters on his person. He had the DL-44 heavy blaster pistol that was given to all pilots, a DH-17 blaster pistol and an A280 assault blaster rifle. They were all the standard issure weapons that all service personell were required to qualify with. I was surprised, when getting to the range, to see that Kasan was waiting with three additional weapons. She had the E-11 blaster rifle, an SE-14r light blaster pistol and a DLT-20A long blaster rifle sitting next to her on the firing line, all Imperial issue weapons she undoubtably brought with her or acquired somehow. "Very nice, thought those E-11's are useless further than sixty or seventy meters;" he said, very impressed with what he saw. Kasan nodded, "Well that is what this little darling is for."

She lifted the long rifle and peered down the sights. "I figured after we get done with qualifications, we can play with some unfamiliar weapons."

Luke nodded eagerly. Lying side by side, they took their Alliance issued weapons one at a time and went through their marksmanship qualifications. It measured accuracy and personal rate of fire. When it came to marksmanship, Luke held his pilots to a much higher standard. Who knew when they would wind up facing an enemy on the ground after ejecting or crashing or simply because a mission required it. If the average pass requirement for the Alliance was an eighty-two percent. Luke required at least a ninety. So far, all his pilots passed and some even got a one hundred percent. Luke had found some time ago that the force could assist his marksmanship and, therefore, always scored a one hundred percent. They took turns and Kasan, hearing about Luke's reputation, allowed him to go first. By the time he finished, her mouth was hanging open with surprise. "What?" asked Luke self conciously. "That was amazin.?" she said. Luke blushed and shrugged modestly. "What can I say? I kind of have an unfair advantage. Anyhow, you're turn."

Kasan was determined to score at one hundred percent, but unfortunately she wasn't able to, scoring at a ninety-seven percent with her weapons. Seeing her score, she frowned and said, "Blast!"

Luke widened his eyes. "What? You scored higher than all the others except myself and maybe Zev Senesca. Like I said, I have an unfair advantage and Zev has freakish good vision."

Kasan sighed and relented before grinning and saying, "Alright, let's play."

Orbit over Kuat - Aboard the Enforcer

Moff Kohl Seerdon strode as quickly as he could onto the bridge of his Destroyer. "Admiral Oashi, prepare the fleet. We're going to Kile II. I want us to jump in ten minutes."

The Admiral blanched and gave the orders before murmuring to Moff Seerdon, "Moff Seerdon, it's ten hours away at regular cruising speeds. Why are you so convinced that the Alliance will strike there?"

"Because there are going to be three supply convoys there in two hours. Not only that, it's our largest Army base in that sector and has a sensors and communications post and the spaceport is one of the largest and most important for our entire military effort;" explained Moff Seerdon. Normally he didn't feel any need to explain things to his underlings but Admiral Oashi had a keen military mind and was also at least competent enough to relay orders before asking. The Admiral nodded and said, "Understood, Sir."

"Blast!" cursed Moff Seerdon as he turned to leave the bridge again, "The bridge is yours, Admiral. I must inform the-"

Suddenly, the door hissed open and a young woman in a skintight leather bodysuit and black cloak quickly strode onto the bridge, her face a grim frown. Before she could even speak, Moff Seerdom gave a shallow bow and said quietly, "Ah, Emperor's Hand, I was just coming to inform you that I strongly believe that the Rebels will be attacking our facilities on Kile II and I believe that we can get there either before or during their attack."

The golden-red haired young woman's frown deepened and she said, "How can you be sure, Moff Seerdon and if the Rebels do attack, how can you be sure it will be Rogue Squadron?"

Moff Seerdon's smile remained fixed. "We have three large convoys that will be there going to important places, including my fleet. Not only that, it has the largest Army base in the sector and a massive sensor's array and comms array post. It's a prime target."

The Emperor's Hand looked skeptical but did not press the moff, saying instead, "Do what you must, Moff Seerdon. However, I need immediate clearence to leave the ship. The Emperor has an important mission for me."

Moff Seerdon felt relief that he tried to hide as he courtiously replied, "You will have that clearence by the time you reach the hanger. Take care, Emperor's Hand. I do hope we will meet again under less formal circumstances."

The Emperor's Hand's cold gaze gave him a slight shiver. "I would not hold my breath, Moff Seerdon. If I see you again, it would most likely be a very bad day for you."

With that, her cloak swirled as she left the bridge. Moff Seerdon couldn't help but chuckle as he took his comlink and ordered that the Emperor's Hand be cleared to leave. "What a remarkable woman;" he murmured.

Aboard the Independence

All twelve of the Rogues were sitting in a briefing being given by General Rieekan, Agent Retrac and Kasan was the one giving the majority of the intel. Aside from the Rogues, there were also twelve pilots from a newly staffed Blue Squadron as well who would be flying X-wings while we flew the newer single man BTL-A4 Y-wing Fighter/Bombers. "The target is on the planet Kile II. It's a massive observation and listening post, a huge Army post and an Imperial military supply space port. From what I understand, there are three separate convoys refueling and resupplying - one to deliver to an Imperial Fleet, another to the Imperial Army base and then the third to Darth Vader's new flagship."

Kasan stepped to the side and General Rieekan took over. "Your mission is destroying the space port, grounding the freighters and transports with ion cannons, destroying the barracks and destroying the massive sensors away. The Y-wings will be armed with twenty proton bombs per fighter and their soul mission is to lay waste to the structures. Disabling the transports and freighters is second to that. Blue Squadron will take X-wings as escorts for the slower Y-wings. At the same time, if the Y-wings are running low on ordinance, the X-wings can use their torperos to destroy any remaining targets. Any questions of concerns?"

Luke glanced over at the Blue Squadron commander Merrick Simms and they shared a respectful nod. "Alright," said General Rieekan, "let's get to it. You'll be launching in an hour. Commander Skywalker," Luke turned to the general. "Commander Simms asked that you be put in charge of this mission. May the force be with you all."

Orbit over Kile II

The twelve X-wings and twelve Y-wings dropped out of hyperspace and streaked at the highest speed that the Y-wings could go to the planet below. The Imperial facilities were on the nightside of the world just as they had planned. Over both Squadrons' frequencies, Luke called, "Alright, listen up; as soon as we enter atmo, we're breaking into groups of eight - four X-wings and four Y-wings - an we'll be going to each of the target zones. I'll be taking one to the space port, Commander Simms will be taking one to the barracks and Rogue Three will be leading the strike on the sensors array and communications away. Any concerns?"

There were twenty-three negatives and Luke set his jaw and said, "Lock s-foils in attack position, Blue Squadron. We're going in."

They all went unnaturally silent, their breathing sounded loud in one another's ears. When they felt the shift and terbulance of entering atmosphere, the galaxy around them roared. When they broke cloud cover and leveled off, there was no resistance. Then, suddenly, turbolaser cannons and anti-air missile turrets opened up immediately, forcing the Rebel pilots to dive into the canyons where the majority of the enemy emplacements couldn't hit them. Whenever the Rogues and Blue Squadron came across the turrets in pairs and groups of four, it was a simple matter to level them with laser cannons. "Rogue Leader, this is Blue Leader - I have located and locked onto the Army base and am moving to engage."

"Acknowledged; Rogues Eight, Ten, Eleven and Twelve will go with you." replied Luke as Artoo scanned for the spaceport. It didn't take long. After a stream of whistles and beeps, Luke said, "Spaceport Rogues Two, Four and Six, with me. Rogues Five, Seven and Nine - you're with Rogue Three when he finds the sensors and communications array post."

Suddenly, Artoo squealed and Luke saw on his scopes that clusters of red dots began coming in on all sides. "Inbound fighters!" he called, grating it out as if he were cursing. "Rogue Leader, this is Blue Four, my group and I will cover you."

Luke watched as two red dots on his tail disappeared in quick succession before focusing back on the mission. "We're a kilometer and a half out. As soon as we get their, engage at will. Blue Four, you doing okay?"

"Copy that, we're mostly clear and will form on your six;" came the crackling reply. Luke sighed with relief and replied, "Excellent, Blue Four. Engage any and all emplacements. Don't worry about the fighters unless they become too much of a nuisance. Coming up on the space port now."

They broke the narrow canyon and went into a massive opening - a crater probably caused by a massive piece of falling debris or a bombardment. The space port was guarded by numerous guns and missile launchers but the Blue Squadron pilots leveled one after another after another while the Rogues precision bombed the spaceport, destroying the landing pads, power generators, fuel depot and short range sensors and communications equipment. It took every bomb that the Y-wings contained. "There are still a few buildings left, Blue Four. Your X-wings will have to finish the job. We're going to start disabling the freighters and transports so they can't take off."

"Acknowledged, Rogue Leader; engaging now;" came the calm reply. Luke methodically disabled one freighter and transport with his forward facing ion cannon, rendering them useless. Every now and again, he would use his laser cannons to scatter groups of Imperial Soldiers. "Well done, Rogues and well done, Blue Squadron. That's it for the spaceport. Blue Leader, report."

It was moments before the reply came. "We just finished, Rogue Leader and are heading to your location."

"Solid copy;" said Luke before hailing Wedge. "Rogue Three, this is Rogue Leader - what's the status on your objective?"

There was an explosion of crackling static. "The objective is complete but we just got hit by a wave of Imperial reinforcement. We're headed your way."

Luke felt a rush of anxiety and replied, "We'll meet you half way, Rogue Three. Just hold out a little longer."

They didn't have that long however because as soon as Luke finished, Wedge began to sound panicked, "Rogue Leader, we're getting hit hard. I don't have nav control anymore... can't steer straight... main computer off line... targeting computer off line! Kriff, they just got Seven and Nine... I can't-" and suddenly, the comms cut out and Luke felt icy fear grip him. "Can't this tug go any faster?" he growled, "Boost the power, Artoo!"

"Rogue Leader, this is Blue Leader - I've just lost four of my pilots and the mission is accomplished. We need to go!"

Luke snarled, "No! We need pick up our pilots! Artoo, activate long range transmitting to the Redemption."

He ignored Blue Leader's protests as he sent a transmission requesting help. When Luke received confirmation of an incoming rescue shuttle, he called to the other Rogues, "Rogue Squadron, we have three pilots down. Find them, give us a shout and guard them as best as you can. Blue Leader, get out if you need to but we're staying here."

There was a pause for just a moment before Blue Leader said, "If it's all the same to you, we'll help provide cover."

Luke gave a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Blue Leader."

"Rogue Leader, this is Rogue Two, we've found an Y-wing - not sure whose. Rogue Five and I are holding here. Dido with Blue Two and Blue Three."

"Acknowledged;" replied Luke and then gave a small cry as he saw another crashed Y-wing and a pair of X-wings with blue streaks. "Blue Leader, I have two of your pilots and one of mine. Rogue Two and I will Hold here with Blue Four and Blue Six. Someone find that last Y-wing.

TIE Fighters whirled around them but TIE's were not as good at atmospheric dog fighting and the pilots overcompensated for the narrow canyon walls - that was until the more advanced and specialized TIE Strikers decended from the orbiting Star Destroying. Just before they opened, they were engaged by a group of A-wings from Grey Squadron. Luke breathed a sigh of relief. "Rogue Squadron, guard any incoming shuttles from - that's the Millennium Falcon!"

The old YT-1300 light freighter dropped out of the sky, its dorsel Quad gun engaging targets as it dropped. Luke wasn't sure who was flying, who was gunning and who were dropping down while the freighter hovered eighteen meters above the canyon floor. "You're doing great, Kid," crackled Han Solo's voice over the comms, "we have three pilots. The two X-wing pilots have very minor injuries so far but I think your Rogue may have some serious injuries."

Luke clenched his teeth, frustration getting the better of him. "Who is it, Han?"

"One Lieutenant Kasan Moor;"

Luke was relieved and yet still doubly worried. "Make her comfortable. I have to find Wedge."

Luke, his wing man and the two X-wings at his back. They blazed through the canyons, the Falcon close behind. They came on the second downed Y-wing with the pilot standing on top. Two more lines dropped from the Falcon's boarding hatch. "Han?" Luke snapped. The reply was quick. "Sorry, Luke. It's not Wedge and we can't keep looking. The Imperial fleet above - oh shavit! That's theExecutor!"

Luke looked up and saw the mammoth vessel - one Executer-Class Star Dreadnaught. Instantly, Luke felt it - a dark presence. Insinctively, Luke realized that Darth Vader was aboard the monster and gritted his teeth. He wanted to face Vader, wanted to kill him but now, he had his pilots to think about. "Get into orbit and make the jump as soon as you can;" he growled. They had saved two of the four lost Blue Squadron pilots and two of the three lost Rogue Squadron pilots. On top of that, the mission was a success. The Kile II facilities were destroyed.

Aboard the Enforcer

Moff Seerdon glared angrily at the pristine white shuttle that had landed aboard his Star Destroyer. He had almost had Rogue Squadron destroyed, plus a frigate and a second and third rebel squadron until the Super Star Destroyer had dropped out of hyperspace and given a stand down order. Moff Kohl Seerdon had almost destroyed his enemies. He did manage to get three prisoners that he was looking forward to interrogating but he wanted to destroy the enemy."

The shuttle's ramps lowered and down stepped Darth Vader. Remembering that this man was second only to the Emperor, if not officially than at least in applied power, he checked himself to sound polite and welcoming. Standing at attention, he said, "Welcome aboard the Enforcer, Lord Vader. I am surprised that you bothered to come aboard."

The tall, black armored monstrosity replied in his deep voice, "Moff Seerdon, I thought it wise to inform you that your mission has changed. You are still tasked to destroy Rogue Squadron. However, the other Moffs are desturbed that you have crossed into their systems and sectors and several wished me to make sure that it doesn't continue."

Moff Seerdon's mouth fell open and he said, "My Lord, I am supposed to pursue them and destroy them. How can I do so if the other Moffs put such restrictions on me?"

"Perhaps you could try asking their permission first, Moff Seerdon;" replied the Dark Lord, his mechanical voice even slightly dry. Gritting his teeth, Moff Seerdon replied, "With all do respect, my Lord, the orders of the Emperor supersede their ridiculous turf squabbles. I am ordered to pursue them wherever they go. The Emperor did not put any such restrictions on me-"

"I am putting them on you;" snarled Lord Vader and Moff Seerdon was very tempted to tell the Dark Lord exactly where he could stick his Sith restrictions. Taking several deep breaths, the Moff said, "With all do respect, my Lord, the Emperor will here about this."

"He already has, Moff Seerdon;" came a soft, cool voice behind him. Both men turned to face a short, dark clad figure. She approached quickly, removing her hood and revealing shining, golden-red hair. "Lord Vader, by order of the Emperor, you are commanded to return to your command ship at once and contacting him. Moff Seerdon, you are ordered to continue your search - without restrictions. First, however, you will return to Imperial Center"

Lord Vader stared at her, his blank mask looking just as angry as his face probably looked beneath. With the woosh of his cloak, Lord Vader reboarded his shuttle.

Moff Seerdon narrowed his eyes but did not speak as the Emperor's Hand turned to leave.

Updated 12.20.2017