3
On the runway of Taskilia Base, members of Resistance crew were using heavy lifters to transport crates of whatever payment the various smugglers had requested for their work to their respective ships. Smuggler crews were eager to get their money onboard and be on their way. None of them liked hanging around after a job was complete. Tripp and Thea watched as the lifter with their money moved towards them. They both smiled at each other in unison.
Suddenly a noise from out beyond the valley made them stop and turn their heads. The hills of the valley screened whatever was making the sound. It was like a roaring of sorts and it was getting louder. 'Is that the others?' Thea asked Tripp.
Tripp looked worried, it certainly didn't sound like any freighter engine he had ever heard before...
Below the control tower, the smuggler captains, led by the Resistance Major all heard the sound too. They looked to the skies, but saw nothing. About them, Resistance crew and soldiers stopped their work and joined the others in looking upwards, nervously.
Inside the control tower, General Sprax was pre-occupied with reading through several reports that had been handed to him as he sat in his chair at the briefing table. Commander Trevin was the only one who had noticed something amiss. And in an instant his suspicions were confirmed...
Three TIE fighters roared over the masking hills of the valley to the left of the base and shot over the runway and control tower. No shots were fired, they were merely scouting ahead of the main group.
'General, look!' Trevin yelled across to Sprax, but the General was already on his feet, having been shaken out of his seat at the force of the low-flying fighters.
General Sprax said nothing. He was in shock, staring towards the viewing window as he dropped the computer tablet he had been reading absently to the table top.
Commander Trevin turned back towards the window, out beyond the base. Two squads of four First Order TIE fighters were heading straight towards the base on a level course that would take them down the length of the runway. Trevin leapt to a microphone and announced into the loud speaker, 'This is a base alert! All personnel prepare for attack! Arm...' These were all the words he managed to speak. Several explosions had rocked the runway and base structures as the TIEs approached, their main target being the control tower...
The viewing window shattered as laser blasts from the TIE fighters scythed through the tower. Consoles and walls exploded, showering debris backwards. All the occupants of the control tower, including General Sprax and Commander Trevin were killed instantly.
Outside, the control tower began to crumble, the top half crashed to the ground, only meters away from where Ozario and Virgain took cover behind a nearby speeder. The Major and the other smuggler captains were with them, darting their eyes about at the scene. More TIE's sped overhead, the distinctive roar of their engines mingling with the sound of explosions. Everything was in a state of chaos, the base had been caught completely by surprise.
'Where did these guys come from?!' Buck yelled over the deafening cacophony about them.
'Who cares!' Ozario shouted in reply, 'We've got to get out of here!'
One of the aliens, the species Ozario did not recognise, murmured something too quiet to hear, in a language she did not understand.
More laser blasts rocked the runway as squad upon squad of TIE fighters began bombarding the seemingly caged members of the Resistance. Defence turrets were too late to react, they were destroyed as they swivelled around to return fire. Flying debris and fiery explosions were everywhere. Several Resistance pilots could be seen scrambling to get to their X-wing starfighters, though the craft were either destroyed on the ground, or as they made a clumsy takeoff. The wreckage of their ill-fated attempts littered the runway. The base totally lacked any form of defence.
'What about our payment?!' Buck yelled, seeing that the crates of money waiting alongside his and the others' ships had been abandoned. The soldiers guarding the crates had long since given up their task of security and had started aiming their weapons into the air, trying in vain to bring down some of the assaulting fighters.
'You want your money?' Ozario mocked, 'Go get it!'
Buck growled from behind the rear of the speeder he was hiding behind. The argumentative smuggler took one last look out at the scene of devastation to see his money go up in flames. The explosion narrowly missed his freighter, making his heart jump into his mouth. 'My ship! My ship!' he gasped to himself.
'What do we do now, Major?' Virgain asked the Resistance officer who had accompanied them.
'We have to evacuate the base, save as many people as we can!' The Major yelled back.
'You got a name, Major?' Ozario asked, taking cover from more incoming fire.
'Bhyden, Major Briss Bhyden.' He replied.
'Well, Major Bhyden, I think your people already have the idea!' Ozario pointed a finger towards a couple of transports that had already started to take off via the main hangar adjacent to the runway. Turrets on the ships opened fire as they started their ascent, tearing up at least two TIE fighters unlucky enough to fly into their rain of fire. The transports escaped into the upper atmosphere at speed, flanked by two X-wings, also lucky enough to get away.
'Let's go!' One of the male smugglers yelled.
'It's hell out there! You'll never make it!' Ozario shot back, trying to discourage any foolish moves, but it was to no avail.
The female smuggler agreed, shouting 'We've got to take off!'
The outer rim alien uttered a similar remark in a harsh twittering.
They, along with the male smuggler all ran from cover and started toward their respective ships. The alien disappeared as a nearby explosion consumed him. His two crew members had armed the turrets on their sleek-lined freighter and were in the process of returning fire. However, they too were killed as their ship was hit and ignited in a huge ball of flame that scattered yet more debris across the wrecked runway.
The man made it to his ship, but failed to take off, his engines had taken damage. The mechanical force of kicking them into action was simply too much for the ship, it exploded from within, leaving only a crater behind.
The female smuggler, who's ship was located at the far end of the runway was very close to making it. She had taken cover behind some crates not far from her vessel, but now she stopped and levelled the blaster rifle she'd had with her at something ahead. Ozario and the others could just about see what it was through the smoke and flames about them. Landing craft, grey and swift were making their way down to the surface. The compact ships dropped from the sky in a precision manoeuvre that would land them at the end of the runway, each ship, Ozario knew would be packed with First Order stormtroopers, ready for battle. She swore under her breath. This was getting bad... It was already bad, this was getting worse!
'Major! Major! What do we do?!' A Resistance pilot yelled as he and a fellow pilot joined them in cover. 'Our fighters are gone, they've been destroyed!'
'We move!' Major Bhyden said over yet another scream of laser blasts, 'We move, now!'
Ozario turned to object, 'Are you crazy?! Can you see what's happening out there?!'
It was too late, Major Bhyden, the two Resistance pilots, Buck and the quietly spoken alien had all left cover and were starting to make their way at speed to another likely form of cover further down the runway. Ozario and Virgain had been left behind.
'Captain, are we staying or going?!' Virgain asked the inevitable as he saw the others disappearing down the cratered runway. Ozario seemed to be in a daze, she had already made her decision though, having spied the Silver Hound, looking exceedingly vulnerable and all-too-far away.
'Layla?!' Virgain broke her out of her reverie by using her first name, something which he, or anyone else very rarely did.
Ozario unholstered her blaster pistol and broke cover, running to catch up with the Major and the others. Virgain followed, taking up a rifle from a fallen Resistance soldier half way.
Joining Major Bhyden, the two pilots, the alien and Buck behind the wreckage of a downed X-Wing, Ozario and Virgain looked out on the scene before them. They were about a quarter of the way down the runway now and there was a lot more ground to cover before they got to the relative safety of the Silver Hound.
'Well, we've moved Major.' Ozario said, 'What do you suggest we do now?!'
Major Bhyden looked over the wrecked nose cone of the fallen fighter, his greying hair blew in the wind that wafted the smoke about them. He spotted several squads of white-clad soldiers moving rapidly out of the now settled landing craft – Stormtroopers. 'We need a ship.' He said, then un-holstering a pistol from the body of a dead comrade beside them, he smiled, 'Your ship to be precise.'
The Major's voice was tinged with the harsh accent of some of the core worlds, but it was somehow smoother, more controlled. Ozario should have liked his willingness to dive into action, but the idea of taking on passengers did not amuse her.
'What?' She said, 'We can't take all of you!'
'You can, Captain.' The Major replied firmly, 'And you will.'
'The Major's right Layla, we have to take them with us, we can't leave them here!' Virgain protested.
'It's Captain to you, Virgain!' Ozario spat, annoyed at yet another usage of her first name.
The heated exchange was broken up by Buck, who yelled 'To hell with this! If I'm going, I'm taking my own ship!' He made to run from cover and pass horizontally across the runway to his freighter, waiting tantalizingly close and, as yet, unmolested. He had his blaster pistol in-hand and was ready to go when suddenly, a low-flying TIE fighter that had obviously been struck by a laser blast from the defenders, spiralled out of control and crashed into his precious ship, destroying it in a cloud of flame and twisted metal.
Buck gaped at the destruction of his vessel, it had taken years for him to build it up to the well-polished state it had been in moments before. Now it was gone in an instant.
Ozario could hardly mask the smirk that appeared across her face at Buck's misfortune.
'Captain, if you're ready?' Major Bhyden asked, almost casually.
Ozario gave him a stern nod. This, she knew was not going to be easy, they would be very tempting targets for the fast-approaching stormtroopers and sitting ducks for the TIEs strafing the runway, but they had to try.
'Ok,' The Major said, grinning smoothly and making ready to move, 'Let's go.'
The runway seemed louder and more confused now they were all out in the open, the group broke into a run, Ozario and Major Bhyden leading the way, flanked by the others. A group of TIE fighters roared over their heads, all of them looked back to see them bank around and come up behind them for a strafing run. 'Major, when this is over, remind me we need to discuss bonus pay!' Ozario joked wryly.
Lasers blasts from the pursuing TIEs ripped up the runway behind them, the resulting explosions sent chunks of earth, rock and metal shooting high into the air.
'...And hazard pay!' Ozario added.
'Keep going!' Was all Bhyden could yell in reply.
The TIE fighters over-shot them having missed their mark, but they all knew they would be back for more. The group were now over halfway down the runway and nearing their mark. The few Resistance soldiers and base crew who were left were engaged in a fire fight with the newly landed First Order stormtroopers, mainly on their left, the right hand side of the runway, alongside the main hangar bay was relatively quiet. Most of this side was a mass of debris and there were many fires burning. The entrance to the main hangar had partially collapsed, thanks to the constant bombardment of the TIE fighters. There was now no room for anything to exit the bay, though nothing really could anymore. Taking a brief look inside as they passed, Bhyden could see nothing but flames, it was highly unlikely any ships would have survived such an inferno, let alone any personnel. And so, they pressed on down the runway...
'Ozario! Ozario, wait! I have a question!' Buck yelled from behind the fleeing Captain.
'I really don't think this is the time, Buck!' Ozario replied, trying to shut him up.
'I was just wondering...if...if... you might have a... a...spare place for me?' Buck asked awkwardly as he ran, out of breath.
Ozario laughed, which seemed absurd in their current situation, but laugh she did. 'Why?' she said, 'You think I'm going to shut the door on you?'
'Well... maybe... I dunno... Just got the impression you don't like me all that much!'
'It's not that I don't like you, Buck...' Ozario said between running breaths, '...I hate you, there's a difference!'
The TIEs were back! This time the assaulting group of starfighters came from in front of them. Two of the four approaching ships had distinctive turrets slung under their main body, these now swivelled in the direction of the ground and began firing mercilessly, raining destruction down on a group of Resistance soldiers still holding out against the stormtroopers. The TIEs then began to fire in the direction of Bhyden, Ozario and the others, who were still running towards the Silver Hound, hearts pounding, lungs bursting. The ground around them exploded into the air as the fighters roared over their heads yet again. One last explosion sent Virgain and the alien smuggler flying into the air and landing heavily on the ground, their weapons dropping beside them.
Ozario shouted in alarm and the whole group diverted their run to where the two lay. They stopped to catch their breath and investigate. Virgain was already sitting up when they reached him, dashing through a cloud of dust, the alien seemed more stunned. 'Virgain! Are you alright?' Ozario asked, concerned for the health of her co-pilot.
Virgain looked at her from his awkward sitting position. 'Layla? Yeah, yeah I'm fine...I think.'
Ozario gave him a once-over before helping him to his feet. He seemed alright. 'Good. Stop calling me that!' she admonished him.
Virgain, in his dazed state, didn't even realise he had used her first name again, why did she hate it so much?
Major Bhyden and the two Resistance pilots were helping the alien sit up and come-to.
'Stormtroopers!' Buck yelled suddenly and fired his heavy blaster pistol off through the cloud of dust, missing his target. His second shot hit the mark.
'See to him.' Bhyden said to the two pilots as he joined Buck, Ozario and Virgain in repulsing the advance of the group of white-clad troopers.
An exchange of blaster fire took place from behind cover and eventually, the stormtroopers were suppressed enough that the group could continue their run. The two pilots had hauled the alien smuggler onto the spindly appendages that served as his legs and held him between them. Once again they were ready to move.
'Go!' Ozario yelled, and broke cover immediately. The Silver Houndwas very close now and she wanted to be the first there, if only to be the first to see her intact and ready to fly. As they passed the wreckage of one last ship, mangled beyond recognition in the centre of the runway, her hopes were fulfilled, there was the Hound, still sitting on the landing pad, the last ship remaining.
As they approached at speed, the situation appeared dire. Tripp and Thea had been saddled with the seemingly impossible task of holding back wave upon wave of advancing stormtroopers, the numbers of whom were too many to count. The two engineers were holding their own though, popping up from behind the idle shipment crates and taking extremely accurate pot-shots at them, hitting their targets almost every time. Tripp had even broken into one of the crates and had setup a heavy blaster cannon, one of the items meant for the Resistance. He fired several shots into a group of troopers, creating large explosions that sent a few of them spiralling backwards into the air.
'Tripp! Thea!' Ozario shouted as the group finally drew level with their destination.
'Captain!' Tripp gasped, 'Never thought you'd make it!'
'I never doubted you for a second!' Thea cut in as she took another shot with her blaster rifle.
At the sound of familiar voices, Rusty appeared, rolling hurriedly down the waiting ramp that led into the belly of the ship. He beeped furiously as a couple of lasers blasts narrowly missed him and struck the hull. More beeping from the droid indicated he had got the ship ready for takeoff a long time ago and he was somewhat anxious to leave.
'Alright, ball!' Ozario shot across to Rusty, 'We're coming we're coming!'
'Get the auto-turrets going Rusty! Cover us!' Virgain called to his droid.
Rusty complied with his master's orders and rolled back into the ship, this was obviously no time to argue.
The last to join the group under the belly of the Silver Houndwere the two pilots, carrying the alien between them, his long arms spread over their shoulders. He was barely able to walk and slowed their progress.
A chance shot from a stormtrooper glanced the male pilot across the shoulder, he let out a cry of pain, tripped and fell to his knees. 'Help!' his female counterpart called across to the others. Virgain, now back to his old self, ran over and helped the young man to his feet, sending him over to the others, clutching his wounded shoulder. Virgain then proceeded to help the other pilot with the alien.
Ozario and all the others had joined Tripp and Thea in their defence as the wounded members of the group were herded onboard. First, the alien who seemed barely conscious, staggered onboard helped by the female pilot. The male pilot followed, still cradling his wounded shoulder with his hand. He was urged up the ramp by Virgain, who then ran down the ramp, rifle in hand, shooting towards the white figures across the runway.
'Captain, we have to go!' Virgain said as he reached Ozario's side.
Ozario nodded in reply. There was nothing more they could do here.
As ordered, Rusty had activated the ship's secret auto-blasters. They sprang out of the belly of the ship and instantly targeted the stormtroopers, who due to the intense fire coming at them from the direction of the freighter, were finding it impossible to advance. More troopers were downed by this latest addition of firepower and this would give the remainder of the group time to get onboard.
'Get onboard!' Ozario ordered Virgain, 'Fire her up!'
Virgain wasted no time, he took one last shot with his blaster, turned and headed up the ramp, disappearing into the ship.
'Buck, get inside!' Ozario yelled across to the smuggler.
Buck looked somewhat surprised.
'Just go!' Ozario prompted angrily, 'Before I change my mind!'
Buck didn't hang around to find out, he made his way up the ramp as quickly as he could.
'Tripp, Thea, you're next! We'll hold them off! Go!' Ozario ordered the last of her crew onboard.
Tripp turned and caught Thea by the hand, he slung his blaster rifle over his shoulder with the other. The two ran to the ramp and were halfway up it when suddenly Thea appeared to stumble and fall, she made no sound. Her hand lost grip of Tripp's and flopped down beside her body on the ramp. She had taken a shot to the back.
'No!' Tripp yelled in anguish. 'Thea! No!'
Ozario saw Thea fall and rushed up the ramp. She and Tripp looked down at Thea's lifeless form. Tripp took the blaster rifle from his shoulder and gripped it with the force of a mad man. Tears streamed from his eyes as he let out a roar of inner pain. It took all of Ozario's strength to stop him, she dropped her pistol and took Tripp by both arms. 'Tripp, no! No! Get Thea onboard. We haveto go!' she said, trying to stop him doing anything foolish.
Tripp said nothing, he looked up into his Captain's face with red eyes, anger mixing with intense grief. 'I never told her, not once...' he murmured over the blaster fire in the background, 'I never told her I loved her...'
Ozario could not find the words to stem Tripp's grief. She tried to help him carry Thea's body onboard the ship, but Tripp shrugged her off, choosing to perform the task himself.
Meanwhile, Major Bhyden was the only one left outside, he took a couple more shots towards the stormtroopers, backed-up by the Silver Hound's auto-cannons. He turned and looked towards the freighter's Captain. For a moment, Ozario actually thought the Major would be crazy enough to stay behind. He was looking about now at the devastation, there was nothing left, no one visibly alive...
'Major! Let's go!' Ozario called to him.
He swiftly joined her on the ramp. As the two made their way into the ship and the ramp closed and sealed, the Silver Houndtook off from the ground, auto-cannons still blasting away, keeping them safe...
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