Chapter Three
The pilots of Torrid Squadron watched in horror as their comrade's signal perished from their consoles. Then came the auditory cue, Tessa's electronic voice filling their cockpits.
"Torrid Eleven offline."
The squadron commander's fists tightened around his controls as he gritted his teeth, letting out a soft curse. But there was no time to dwell. The remaining starfighters still had the missiles on their tails.
The Gallant fighters performed whatever maneuvers they could to shake the tracking ordinance. As the concussion missiles neared Commander Nolante, he began to roll his ship. As it rotated, the twin missiles on his tail overcorrected their flight paths, colliding with one another. The explosion rocked the commander's chassis, but he ultimately made it out unscathed.
Haron found himself caught between the missiles approaching from the rear, and a bomber coming straight for him. Maintaining his vector, the pilot juked his craft at the last moment, his chassis almost colliding with that of the enemy ship. The Extinction-class bomber didn't have time to react as it collided with the same ordinance it had previously unleashed.
The others dealt with their troubles in a similar fashion, putting a stray interceptor between themselves and the missiles, having them collide with one another, or making them impact ineffectually against the dreadnoughts as they skimmed over their hulls. Kaarn was the last to rid herself of the troublesome ordinance, escaping the explosive blasts with only a light singe on her wings. However, her expert maneuvering could not account for the movements of her opponents.
Looping around the broadside of the Imperial dreadnought, an enemy interceptor collided with her. The Gallant starfighter remained intact as it ripped right through the Imperial craft, but what remained of her shields had been totally obliterated. The destroyed interceptor's squadron had already begun to target the weakened Republic starfighter. A series of bolts streaked across the void and struck Kaarn's unshielded chassis, ripping it open to the vacuum of space under the Imperials' collective fire.
Once more, Tessa's voice filled the cockpits. "Torrid Four offline."
Haron let out an uncharacteristic snarl as he saw his comrade's demise from the viewport of his cockpit. Sharply veering toward the calamity, the ex-Imperial set his sights on the regrouping squadron that struck down Kaarn. With unerring accuracy, he unleashed his weapons upon the group of interceptors. One right after another, they fell to the Gallant's blasters.
What remained of the fleet of bombers headed straight for the transport, still carrying most of their allotment of explosive ordinance. "All pilots, focus on taking those bombers down," Nolante ordered. "Gregard and I will cover you."
The pilots of Torrid Squadron formed up, once more directing their focus inward. With the bombers in their sights, the Republic starfighters locked onto the targets with the help of Tessa. The red bolts lashed out across the blackness of space, fired in short, controlled bursts. The lasers struck their targets, each pilot eliminating a bomber before they could reach the transport.
Behind the two groups, Nolante and Haron intercepted any Imperial fighters that threatened their comrades. Firing over their partner's shoulder, the two pilots focused on eliminating the ever present pool of Imperial interceptors that remained on the battlefield. Their opponent's forces had not yet been reduced to half, and the Gallant fighters were reaching their limits, but they refused to yield. And soon, their efforts appeared fruitful, as the enemy forces pulled away from the transport.
"Their breaking away from the Wanderer!" Seraak announced, finding some modicum of joy in the turn of events. "We did it!"
"Not quite," Fen replied. "They're not retreating… just redirecting their focus."
"Form up and head toward the leftward dreadnought," Nolante ordered. "We're taking the fight to it."
"Aye, sir!" the pilots called out in unison. The Gallant starfighters regrouped, heading toward the capital ship in a line formation as Imperial forces gathered behind them.
"Gregard and I will hold off the interceptors," Nolante stated. "Dunn, lead a strafing run on the dreadnought's turrets."
"Aye," the Kel Dor quickly replied. "The Harrower's shields are still strong. We must concentrate our fire. Tessa, direct the other units to match this ship's target."
"Understood," said Tessa. A small symbol appeared on the other ships' consoles, signaling that they were subservient to Dunn's targeting. Torrid Three began its attack run, seven other pilots following close by whilst the commander and his executive officer pulled back. One by one the strafing starfighters unleashed a series of bolts as they dove, then rose above one of the dreadnought's laser batteries. The line of four turrets flashed as the shield protecting them fizzled out, allowing for the continued assault to turn them to scrap.
Above the dreadnought, Nolante and Haron harassed whatever Imperials approached their comrades. The two Gallant starfighters were not much of a force by themselves, but with two of the best pilots in the navy behind the controls, they knew how make the most of them. Side by side, the senior members of Torrid Squadron lashed out against the Imperial fighters and bombers that tailed their squadron mates, only pulling back to deal with the occasional aggressor that would target them. The two had each other's backs, and had nothing on their minds other than the utter desire to keep their allies safe.
Having dealt with one of the dreadnought's turret lines, the attack group rounded about to take out another, only to be targeted by an Imperial squadron that managed to escape their protectors' sights. Bolstered by a bomber, the Imperials opened fire on the starfighters attacking their capital ship. Green bolts and concussion missiles streaked across the open space toward the attack group.
"Everyone, break formation!" Dunn shouted. The eight pilots removed themselves from the line and spread out, narrowly avoiding the swift torrent of laser fire. The Gallant fighters looped around to face their attackers, but Delgo found himself the target of the released missiles.
Juking his craft about, the Duros found himself unable to shake all of the ordinance tracking his every movement. With only a single missile left on his tail, he had nothing with which to collide it with. The pilot surged toward the edge of the dreadnought's face, hoping to force the missile into the capital ship's hull as he rounded the corner to its belly. The maneuver was successful in preemptively detonating the missile, but in his escape he maneuvered his starship directly between the dreadnought and the Republic transport, trapping himself once again in the tractor beam.
The Duros pilot cursed as he found his starship unresponsive. Its energy levels were low, and shields nonexistent, the ship had no chance of escaping the dreadnought's hold as it had once before.
"Commander, I'm trapped!" Delgo called out, a crack in his voice. "I can't-"
"Hold on, Delgo, we're coming!" Nolante replied, immediately pulling his ship toward his distressed ally. Through his console, he saw an Imperial squadron descending upon the frozen starfighter. Nolante and Haron sped forward, attempting to interrupt them. The Imperials within their sight, they opened fire, raining down upon them a torrent of red bolts. The lasers clipped some of the interceptors' wings, shattering their hulls and ending their threat, but it wasn't enough. The struck fighters blocked the laser fire from reaching their accompanying bomber, who sent a another missile straight toward the defenseless pilot.
"Commander, it's-" Delgo managed to whispered before his craft was torn apart by the explosion.
All was silent but for the inevitable words of Tessa. "Torrid Nine offline."
"No…" Seraak muttered, hands struggling to maintain their grip on his controls.
Nolante and Gregard continued their pursuit of the Imperial squadron, their sights dead set on eliminating that bomber. Together, they unleashed a steady stream of blaster fire, striking the bomber that had struck down Delgo. Even beyond the craft's destruction, the lasers continued to pelt the shattered debris until it was little more than specks of dust.
"Attack group, form up," Dunn commanded. "We have to-"
"Sir," Rem interrupted, "the dreadnought's laser batteries are coming online!"
"Everyone! Get away from that ship!" Nolante shouted.
The pilots of Torrid Squadron jerked their control as they attempted to flee the empowered dreadnought, but were unable to escape its wrath. The capital ship directed the entirety of the remaining turrets on its upward face toward the fleeing starfighters. The torrent of laser fire lashed out against the Republic pilots, who struggled to dodge the concentrated flurry. Bolts of energy designed to fell other capital ships surged over the pilots' heads. Others were not as lucky. A single bolt directly struck Soraldo's chassis, splitting it in half.
"Torrid Twelve offline," said Tessa.
Just as the surviving starfighters escaped the dreadnought's immediate reach, one of the capital ship's bolts glanced one of Bella'varao's engines. As she rocked within her shaking chassis, her console immediately began to flash vibrant, red warnings on her viewscreen. Then came Tessa's voice. "Status report: Engines at 52%."
"Dammit!" Bella cursed, slamming her fist against the side of her cockpit. "Rem, tell me that thing firing at us means the tractor beams are offline."
"One of them is," Rem answered. "The other is still operational. The transport still won't be able to escape."
"But now one of the dreadnoughts is free to open fire on it," said Fen.
"We can't escape, and we've no way to get the other dreadnought to release their grip before we're all destroyed," Marvus muttered.
"The interdiction field is only up between the two capital ships," Rem explained. "There's still a chance to save ourselves-"
"No," Nolante interrupted. "I'll not abandon that transport! There's a way to do this, we just have to-"
"Commander… I know what to do," Bella softly spoke up. "If you can keep those fighters off my back, I can disable the second dreadnought."
"How would… no, no I won't allow it," Nolante declared. "There has to be another way."
"With all due respect sir, even if my hyperdrive weren't shot, my chassis would be torn apart trying to jump to hyperspace," Bella explained. The Twi'lek's body relaxed as she let out a soft sigh. "It's been an honor serving under you, sir. Tell the transport to prepare to jump."
From within his cockpit the commander offered only a silent salute. Composing himself he spoke to his team. "You heard her. Take down those fighters and prepare for a microjump as soon as the transport is clear. Regroup at the posted coordinates."
"Aye, sir," the pilots acknowledged, softly. Solemnly. As the lasers from the Imperial forces buzzed around them, the pilots altered their course to defend Bella'varao. Opening a channel with the Republic transport, Commander Nolante told the captain to prepare a jump to hyperspace. It didn't matter where. A microjump would last mere moments but put them thousands of kilometers away from the battle, with Imperial forces having no way to track them.
What was left of Torrid Squadron gathered together in a wedge formation centered around Bella. Fire and smoke emanated from her damaged engine, quickly being suffocated by the vacuum of space. As the scores of Imperial interceptors put the squadron in their sights, the Gallant fighters readied themselves for their last strike. Speeding past the Republic transport, the group of fighters directed themselves toward the dreadnought still holding in its place.
"Warning: current flight path will be interrupted by the dreadnought's tractor beam," said Tessa.
"Tessa, divert all power to engines and disengage all safety limiters," Bella ordered. "We're punching through."
"Warning: structural integrity already compromised," Tessa continued. "Current course of-"
"Tessa, perform previous directive and extricate yourself from this unit."
There was a barely perceptible pause.
"Understood. Torrid Six offline."
"Goodbye... Tessa," Bella whispered.
The squadron was fast approaching their target. With the dreadnought's shields still raised, they had no hope of disrupting it from the outside. Instead, their focus was on the capital ship's leftward hangar. As they dodged the incoming bolts from pursuing interceptors, the Republic starfighters cleared a path going forward. Haron led the charge, taking precise shots at the areas left and right of the hangar. Before getting themselves caught in the ship's tractor beam, the other pilots broke formation, fanning out as only Bella remained on her current flight path.
Her hands tightened around the ship's controls as she passed through the tractor beam, the magnetic field stripping away the metal of her outer chassis. But she would not be stopped. With a determined glint in her eye and a smile on her face, she breached the capital ship's hangar at top speed. The damaged craft shot through the hangar walls continuing inward toward the ship's core. Passing through layer and layer of metal, she only perished after crashing into the dreadnought's power station.
Explosions rang out within the capital ship, a fiery plume escaping from its hangar into the vacuum of space. The dreadnought had lost its power, and unable to maintain its tractor beams, the Republic transport was finally freed. The pilots of Torrid Squadron breathed a brief sigh of relief as they watched the Wanderer blink into the void, escaping the other dreadnought's wrath.
One by one the pilots of Torrid Squadron warmed up their hyperdrives, preparing to jump to light speed. Only needing to put some distance between themselves and the Imperials, the pilots punched in whatever coordinated that could. However, what remained of the enemy forces would do everything they could to prevent that. The full might of the Imperial fleet directed themselves toward a single foe. Commander Nolante. Bolts from the operational dreadnought surged toward the squadron leader as the swarm of fighters descended upon him.
Dunn and Seraak were the first to jump, followed by Marvus. Fen and Rem activated their hyperdrives soon after. Haron readied himself to jump, but saw that his commander was under attack. But before he could lend a hand, the stars around him began to stretch, Tessa having already propelled him into hyperspace.
As the Imperials continued to encircle the remaining member of Torrid Squadron, he found his path obstructed no matter where he directed his ship. No matter how many fighters he pushed through, no matter how many he destroyed, others had taken their place. Unable to jump to hyperspace, and with no other targets to focus their attention on, the final Gallant starfighter fell victim to the concentrated fire of the Imperial fleet. As he lost his shields, as he lost his engines, as his chassis threatened to disintegrate, he thought only of his comrades and the lives of the civilians he had preserved. Removing his hands from his ship's control, the pilot leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes, cracking one last smile before he succumbed.
Exiting hyperspace, Haron found himself alone amongst the darkness. Punching in the set of coordinates given to him by his commander, Tessa plotted the course and the ship was underway to regroup. As he traversed the swirling blue tunnel of hyperspace once more, the pilot frantically tapped his fingers on the side of the cockpit.
Minutes later, as he finally dropped back into realspace, Haron was relieved to see his comrades' signals light up on his console, as well as that of the Republic transport, safe and sound. As he studied the readings, however, he slowly realized that only six had made it. Dunn. Seraak. Marvus. Fen. Rem. Himself.
Opening the team channel, Haron reached out with increasing trepidation. "Commander? Commander Nolante? Are you there? Commander!"
