Chapter 04: The Battle of Hoth
Meanwhile at Hoth, Kaylor briefed the Freedom Fighters on the situation. "The transports will leave when fully loaded, and will travel with a two-fighter escort. The Ion Cannons here and at Outpost Beta will provide cover for our ships by keeping the Star Destroyers out of their flight path. That's the retreat plan anyway."
"So what's ze battle plan?" asked Antoine.
"The Empire is sending a large ground force to try break through our defenses. Their target is the power generator. Our objective is simple: Hold back the Imperials for as long as possible so the transports can escape. Rogue Squadron and you guys will fly air cover in Airspeeders, and when the retreat order is given, return to base and fly outta here."
"Man, I hate this runnin' away business! I could fight Imperials all day." grumbled Sonic.
"Get used to it Sonic! I know how tough a fighter you are, but we're not trying to win the war here. Just hold off the Imperials until it's time to go." said Kaylor. "Understood?"
"Yes sir!" said the Freedom Fighters.
"Good luck out there!" said Kaylor as the Freedom Fighters went to work getting ready.
Aboard the Executor, General Veers briefed the officers as well as the Suppression Squad and Dr. Robotnik.
"Alright gentlemen, the plan is, we will land to the Northeast of the base and deploy there. Our Blizzard Force AT-AT units will lead the assault, along with several other walker and artillery units providing support fire. Dr. Robotnik's SWAT Bot and Hover Units will provide infantry support for the troops. The Suppression Squad will accompany the Blizzard Force AT-ATs and AT-STs as we conduct the main assault. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir." everyone said as Veers went to his ship right away, as the Empire's landings would begin soon.
Robotnik and Snivley then turned to Scourge. "Listen good Scourge. The hedgehog is mine, so stay out of my way!"
Scourge just scoffed at that remark: "I haven't even got the chance to rumble with Sonic ever since we came into this world, so let me have a shot at him." he replied calmly.
"For your information, I want him more!" growled Robotnik.
"Relax, Doc. Once we're through with him, you can have what's left of him." replied Scourge as he and the other Suppression Squad members walked away. Then he handed out instructions to his team. "Fiona, you're with me in the AT-AT. The rest of you, you get AT-STs."
"It's gotta be AT-STs." grumbled Alicia.
"Hey, someone needs to watch our backs while we do all the fun stuff. It isn't our fault that those AT-ATs can't turn so hard. We need you guys to take out any pesky Rebels who try to clip us." said Fiona to Alicia.
"Why do you guys get all the best parts?! We want a piece of the action too you know!" complained Miles.
Scourge then got a little annoyed: "You guys do not want to disagree with me! You will get a piece of that action! I'm the boss! I can do whatever I want with you!"
Miles, Alicia, Boomer, and Patch were now a little nervous. The Imperial Officers around them quietly laughed at them for being afraid of their own boss. The four members said no more afterward, they just couldn't stand what was coming to them if they questioned Scourge's plans.
Within the hour, they were aboard their transport, and were on their way to the planet's surface.
Back on the planet, the Freedom Fighters were just making final preparations when they heard the voice on the intercom say: "The first transport is away!" "The first transport is away!"
Meanwhile Sonic climbed aboard an Airspeeder with Tails as his gunner. Sally boarded one with Bunnie as her gunner, while Rotor boarded one with Antoine as his gunner. Kaylor would use an Airspeeder with an automated gunner, and they joined Rogue Squadron as they all took off into the soon-to-be battlefield.
The Suppression Squad landed near Blizzard Force as they advanced towards the Rebel Base, and as soon as Scourge's AT-AT, the Suppressor One was ready, they followed General Veers' forces towards the Rebel Base.
Within the next few minutes, the AT-ATs were within range of the Rebel defensive line, and opened fire on them. The Battle of Hoth had begun.
"Echo Station 5-7, we're on our way." said Luke as the Speeders zoomed towards the Imperial Forces. "Alright boys, keep tight now."
Sonic and the Freedom Fighters in their Airspeeders, were charging the Imperial Forces with lasers blazing. "Let's Juice!" shouted Sonic as he took out an AT-ST walker with a barrage of cannon fire. But their troubles were just beginning when multiple AT-AAs deployed their flak pods and fired at the Airspeeders.
"Watch out for those AT-AAs everyone! They'll rip your ship to pieces if you aren't careful." said Wedge to the Freedom Fighters.
As the AT-ATs, AT-STs, AT-PTs, TIE Maulers, B5 Juggernauts, and AT-AAs continued to advance, many Rebel Soldiers are killed in the fighting. Dulcy meanwhile, was working to help repel the TIE Maulers by using her flame breath to disable several, and even froze up an AT-ST with her freeze breath.
But Rogue Squadron and the Freedom Fighters didn't do so well against the AT-ATs, "That armor is too strong for blasters!" said Luke. "Rogue Group, Freedom Fighters, use you harpoons and tow cables, go for the legs! It might be our only chance of stopping 'em!"
"Good idea!" thought Sonic, "Tails, 'ya ready?!" he then shouted to Tails.
"Ready Sonic!" said Tails as he aimed the harpoon gun at a nearby AT-AT, and when it hit, Sonic began to fly around the AT-AT, entangling the legs in the tow cable. They took fire from the AT-STs, but they failed to hit them. Eventually, they had made 3 circuits around the AT-AT and Tails detached the cable, and then the AT-AT began to fall over and crash to the ground.
"That reduced 'em!" shouted Sonic.
"Sonic, Rogue Group, this is Commander Raeglan! Enemy Reinforcements are joining up with this. There's several more Imperial Walkers, and it appears Robotnik's forces have joined the party. Several SWAT Bots, hover units, and what appear to be droid walkers."
"That's not good." said Sally sounding worried.
"And I see an AT-AT with green plating leading the force, along with two modified AT-STs." added Kaylor.
"Come again? A green plated AT-AT?" asked Luke.
"I'm not kidding, Rogue Leader. It must be the Suppression Squad!" replied Kaylor.
But then, a voice came on the communicator and said: "Surprise, Sonic! Happy to see us?"
"Scourge? I thought I'd hear your mondo-ugly voice after all this time." replied Sonic.
"Well, I'm glad we meet on this field of battle! Doc Botnik wants your head on a stake! You and your Rebel friends will soon die like the Rebels they are!" said Scourge as his AT-AT opened fire on the Freedom Fighters. Alicia and Boomer, along with Miles and Patch, were in modified AT-STs, which had a pair of Gatling lasers mounted on top of the command pods, fired on the Freedom Fighters' Airspeeders. Sonic and Sally fired their Speeders' cannons at Alicia and Boomer's AT-ST, which were blocked by a shield.
"Man! These guys are tougher than regular walkers!" said Sonic. Scourge and Fiona's AT-AT had small laser cannons all over, shooting at any airspeeder who dared try and trip them with a tow cable. The AT-AT had a shield around it as well, so they couldn't take out the cannons.
"Those weapons aren't in the original design!" said Sally.
"Scourge and the Suppression Squad must have modified them. Just keep fighting them and buy us some time here!" said Kaylor.
Meanwhile, Rotor and Kaylor's speeders were taking out large numbers of SWAT Bots, Hover Units and several more AT-STs, AT-PTs, and TIE Maulers. They even tripped some of the AT-ATs in the column of Walkers and Robots. But the Imperial Forces, despite these losses, continued moving towards the Rebel Base, as Rebel Soldiers below fired at the Imperial Forces, and heavy losses were taken by the Rebels.
"I'm losing patience here! Somebody kill these Freedom Fighters!" Scourge shouted to the Suppression Squad. The S.S. AT-STs continued to fire at the Freedom Fighters, and they scored a light hit on Rotor's Speeder, but he was okay. But then, Sonic charged Patch and Miles' AT-ST, and then unleashed a barrage of cannon fire on them and took down their shields. He scored a few direct hits on the AT-ST before having to pull out.
But then, the Freedom Fighters got a call for help: "Freedom Squadron, this is Wedge! Luke was shot down a minute ago and now we need aid stopping some of the AT-ATs, can you help?"
"We're on it, Captain Antilles!" said Sally. "Okay Freedom Fighters, disengage and follow me!"
They acknowledged and flew away to rejoin Rogue Squadron. Scourge was growing very frustrated: "Where do you think you're going?! You think you can get away from me?" He continued firing at the Freedom Fighters, but they soon got out of range. But the Suppression Squad worked to join General Veers' group, which was in the direction the Freedom Fighters were going.
The Freedom Fighters arrived to the site where Wedge was working to disable a group of AT-ATs leading an assault on the Rebel Defensive Line, and volleys of cannon and missile fire were exchanged as several Rebel and Imperial Troops die in the fighting. The Freedom Fighters helped Rogue Squadron take down several more Walkers, and while Sonic and Tails were ensnaring another walker, they saw Scourge's AT-AT in the distance.
"C'mon Sonic, are you afraid of us?" said Fiona tauntingly over the communicator.
"Who are you calling afraid, Fiona? You guys should be afraid!" said Sonic back.
After tripping the AT-AT, Scourge and the Suppression Squad fired again at Rogue Squadron and the Freedom Fighters. They took out three speeders in the process, but failed to hit any of the Freedom Fighters, who continued their attack against Scourge and the Suppression Squad.
But then, Kaylor came on and said: "Listen up, Freedom Fighters! I received a message from General Rieekan. We are ordered to retreat and evacuate immediately. The Empire is closing in on our base, and we don't have much time left."
"So we're gonna juice on outta here?" asked Sonic.
"Yes, Sonic. We need to go now, so let's retreat back to base." said Korian as he turned his speeder towards the base.
"Sorry Scourge! But we gotta juice! We'll finish this another time!" said Sonic as he and Tails raced off with the other Freedom Fighters. Tails made silly faces at the Suppression Squad as they raced off. But Scourge, pulling up the periscope of the AT-AT, took aim at Sonic's Airspeeder and then fired directly at them.
"Sonic! Look out!!" shouted Tails. Sonic turned to the right, but it was too late. The blast clipped the Speeder and it started to smoke. But they failed to notice an AT-AA taking aim at them. The AT-AA fired directly at them and they took a direct hit.
"Sugah-hog! Ya'll okay?" asked Bunnie sounding worried.
"We're hit! We're going down!" shouted Sonic.
"Bulls-eye, hon!" said Fiona as Scourge hi-fived her and watched as Sonic and Tails flew down towards the icy ground. But Sonic was able to maintain control of the speeder for a safe crash landing on the ground. They exited the Speeder and Scourge then communicated with the others.
"We got Sonic, but we still have a mission to complete for Lord Vader. Let them lick their wounds for now. We can get 'em later. But now, continue advancing on the Rebel Shield Generator."
Sonic then said: "Looks like we juice using the ol' ground transportation, big guy!"
"Are we gonna juice it loose?" asked Tails.
"You bet'cha, big guy! Hold on tight! We're going Warp Sonic!!" said Sonic grabbing a Power Ring and racing towards the base.
Scourge and the Suppression Squad were continuing their advance with General Veers and his force. Scourge was having the time of his life, as he blasted the helpless Rebel Soldiers below. "Now this is more fun than back home!" said Scourge.
"It always is with you." said Fiona as she continued piloting the walker.
General Veers then came on: "Scourge, we are almost within range of the Generator. Prepare to fire."
"Copy that, General. Ready when you are." said Scourge as he brought up the periscope again and saw the Generator, But not before downing a retreating airspeeder.
"Target: Maximum Firepower!" said Veers. Scourge set the guns to full power and he, along with General Veers and some of the AT-ATs, fired directly at the generator and destroyed it.
"Sonic, Look! The Shield Generator has been taken out!" said Tails pointing to the now destroyed Generator.
"We'd better juice it looser! It won't be long before Vader comes!" said Sonic as he headed for the entrance to the base.
"Alright! Look at that thing blow!" said Scourge feeling pleased with himself. But the moment was interrupted when suddenly, an out-of-control airspeeder crashed into Veers' walker and injured him. But that wasn't on Scourge's mind, as he continued moving towards the Rebel Base. When the Suppression Squad neared the base, they stopped their walkers and exited them, and began to coordinate the troops to assault the base.
Sonic and Tails ran inside the base to where the other Freedom Fighters were just exiting their speeders. They then ran towards the Star Tornado, where Teero and Uncle Chuck were waiting. "Hurry! Hurry!" shouted Teero as he flew aboard the ship and the Freedom Fighters heard shouting coming from the Millennium Falcon. It was Chewie shouting towards Han, Leia, and 3P0, who were running aboard the ship.
Han then shouted to 3P0. "Hurry up Goldenrod! Or you'll be a permanent resident!"
"Wait! Wait!" shouted 3P0 as the three climbed aboard the Falcon.
"They'll make it." said Korian. "Let's move!" The Freedom Fighters quickly climbed aboard, and with Rotor and Tails at the controls, they prepared to take off. Scourge and the Suppression Squad, along with Robotnik, arrived in the hangar with several snowtroopers and SWAT Bots.
"Stop that ship!" shouted Fiona as she fired her E-11 Rifle at the Star Tornado, and the rest of them followed. But the shots proved useless against the Tornado's shields, and Scourge prepared to do a Spin Dash on it when the Freedom Fighters trained the Tornado's guns on them and fired directly at them, forcing them to scatter, and taking out several troopers and SWAT Bots in the process.
"C'mon Rotor! What are you trying to do? Get us shot up? C'mon! Make this bucket of bolts juice it loose!" demanded Sonic.
Rotor soon was ready and the Star Tornado lifted and blasted off out of the hangar. When Scourge looked up, he saw the ship leaving the hangar, and then he saw the Millennium Falcon take off a minute later. He wasn't that concerned, since he had gotten his chance to battle Sonic, and knew he'd be able to finish him off later. But Robotnik was furious. He grabbed Scourge by the neck and said: "You miserable rat! Because of you, we lost our chance to capture Sonic! What makes you think I won't put you in my Roboticizer now?"
Scourge then spotted Vader on the other side of the hangar. "Because Lord Vader is right there."
Robotnik released Scourge as Vader walked towards them. "It doesn't matter that they escaped. We must pursue the Millennium Falcon and capture it. Get back to the shuttle and aboard the Executor as quickly as possible."
They acknowledged, and on the way back, Miles spoke. "If you'd just killed Sonic, wouldn't Vader have at least given us a medal?"
"I didn't ask for your opinion, Miles! I can do whatever I want with Sonic. If I wanna kill him, I'll kill him when I feel like it!" growled Scourge.
"Looks like someone forgot a teaching of Admiral Kreeshkin: 'Don't toy with your enemies.'" muttered Alicia.
"I heard that, Princess." growled Fiona. "Don't worry, hon, you'll get Sonic soon. Just be patient."
"You're right, sweet thing. And we'll be leaders of our own territory." said Scourge flirtingly.
Robotnik heard everything and was digusted as they headed outside and boarded the Shuttle.