Chapter: 9
The Death Star Assault
All that can be seen of the fortress is a lone guard standing on a small pedestal jutting out above the dense jungle. The muted gruesome crying sounds that naturally permeate this eerie purgatory are overwhelmed by the thundering din of ion rockets as four silver starships catapult from the foliage in a tight formation and disappears into the morning cloud cover. In the War Room inside the fortress, the princess Krystal, Peppy, and General Pepper sit quietly before the giant display showing the planet Yavin and its four moons. The red dot that represents the Death Star moves ever closer to the system. A series of green dots appear around the fourth moon. A din of indistinct chatter fills the war room. "Stand-by alert. Death Star approaching. Estimated time to firing range, fifteen minutes" said the intercom voice.
The Death Star slowly moves behind the massive yellow surface of Yavin in the foreground, as many X-wing fighters flying in formation zoom towards the massive battle station. Light from a distant sun creates an eerie atmospheric glow around a huge planet, Yavin. Rebel fighters flying in formation settle ominously in the foreground and very slowly pull away. Red Leader lowers his visor and adjusts his gun sights, looking to each side at his wing men. "All wings report in" said Red Leader. One of the Rebel fighters, called Red Ten, checks in through his mike. "Red Ten standing by" said Red Ten.
"Red Seven standing by" said Red Seven.
"Red Three standing by" said Allen.
"Red Six standing by" said Porkins, a over-weighted warthog.
"Red Nine standing by" said Red Nine.
"Red Two standing by" said Wedge.
"Red Eleven standing by" said Red Eleven.
"Red Five standing by" said Tyler. Slippy, in the backseat behind Tyler, nervously clings onto his seat. "Lock S-foils in attack position" said Red Leader. The group of X-wing fighters move in formation toward the Death Star, unfolding the wings and locking them in the "X" position. "We're passing through their magnetic field. Hold tight!" said Red Leader. Tyler adjusts his controls as he concentrates on the approaching Death Star. The ship begins to be buffeted slightly. "Switch your deflectors on. Double front!" said Red Leader. The fighters, now X-shaped darts, move in formation. The Death Star now appears to be a small moon growing rapidly in size as the Rebel fighters approach. Complex patterns on the metallic surface begin to become visible with a large dish antenna is built into the surface on one side. Wedge is amazed and slightly frightened at the awesome spectacle. "Look at the size of that thing!" said Wedge.
"Cut the chatter, Red Two. Accelerate to attack speed. This is it, boys!" said Red Leader. As the fighters move closer to the Death Star, the awesome size of the gargantuan Legion fortress is revealed. Half of the deadly space station is in shadow and this area sparkles with thousands of small lights running in thin lines and occasionally grouped in large clusters, somewhat like a city at night as seen from a weather satellite. Then Gold Leader spoke. "Red Leader, this is Gold Leader" said Gold Leader.
"I copy, Gold Leader" said Red Leader.
"We're starting for the target shaft now" said Gold Leader. Red Leader looks around at his wingmen, with the Death Star looming in from behind. Two Y-wing fighters bob back and forth in the background. He moves his computer targeting device into position. "We're in position. I'm going to cut across the axis and try and draw their fire" said Red Leader. Two squads of Rebel fighters peel off. The X-wings dive towards the Death Star surface. A thousand lights glow across the dark grey expanse of the huge station. Inside the Death Star, alarm sirens scream as soldiers scramble to large turbo- powered laser gun emplacements. Electronic drivers rotate the huge guns into position as crew adjust their targeting devices. Then, laserbolts streak through the star-filled night as the Rebel X-wing fighters move in toward the Legion base, as the Death Star aims its massive laser guns at the Rebel forces and fires. "Heavy fire, boss! Twenty-degrees" said Wedge.
"I see it. Stay low" said Red Leader as they zoom across the surface of the Death Star. Inside, technical crews scurry here and there loading last-minute armaments and unlocking power cables. Wedge maneuvers his fighter toward the menacing Death Star as they continue in their attack course on the Death Star. Tyler nosedives radically, starting his attack on the monstrous fortress. The Death Star surface streaks past the cockpit window. "This is Red Five; I'm going in!" said Tyler. Tyler's X-wing races toward the Death Star. Laserbolts streak from Tyler's weapons, creating a huge fireball explosion on the dim surface. Then terror crosses Tyler's face as he realizes he won't be able to pull out in time to avoid the fireball. "Tyler, pull up!" said Allen over his headset. Tyler's ship emerges from the fireball, with the leading edges of his wings slightly scorched. "Are you all right?" asked Allen. Tyler adjusts his controls and breathes a sigh of relief. Flak bursts outside the cockpit window. "I got a little cooked, but I'm okay" said Tyler and the Rebel fighters continue to strafe the Death Star's surface with laserbolts.
Back inside the station, walls buckle and cave in. Troops and equipment are blown in all directions. Stormtroopers stagger out of the rubble. Standing in the middle of the chaos, a vision of calm and foreboding, is Darth Wolf. One of his Astro-Officers rushes up to him. "We count thirty Rebel ships, Lord Wolf. But they're so small they're evading our turbo-lasers!" said the Astro-officer.
"We'll have to destroy them ship to ship. Get the crews to their fighters" said Darth Wolf. Smoke belches from the giant laser guns as they wind up their turbine generators to create sufficient power. The crew rushes about preparing for another blast. Even the troopers head gear is not adequate to protect them from the overwhelming noise of the monstrous weapon. One troopers bangs his helmet with his hand in an attempt to stop the ringing.
Outside, Red Leader flies through a heavy hail of flak. "Tyler, let me know when you're going in" said Red Leader. The Red Leader's X-wing flies past Tyler as he puts his nose down and starts his attack dive. "I'm on my way in now..." said Tyler.
"Watch yourself! There's a lot of fire coming from the right side of that deflection tower" warned Red Leader.
"I'm on it" said Tyler. Then he flings his X-wing into a twisting dive across the horizon and down onto the dim grey surface. A shot hurls from Tyler's guns. Laserbolts streak toward the onrushing Death Star surface. Several small radar emplacements erupt in flame. Laserfire erupts from a protruding tower on the surface. The blurry Death Star surface races past the cockpit window as a big smile sweeps across Tyler's face at the success of his run. Flak thunders on all sides of him. The Death Star superstructure races past him as he maneuvers his craft through a wall of laserfire and peels away from the surface towards the heavens. Inside, the thunder and smoke of the big guns reverberate throughout the massive structure. Many soldiers rush about in the smoke and chaos, silhouetted by the almost continual flash of explosions. Allen dives through a forest of radar domes, antennae, and gun towers as he shoots low across the Death Star surface. A dense barrage of laserfire streaks by on all sides. Then finally, back inside, Legion star pilots dash in unison to a line of small auxiliary hatches that lead to Legion TIE fighters.
Back in the War Room inside the Rebel base, Princess Krystal, surrounded by her generals and aides, paces nervously before a lighted computer table. On all sides technicians work in front of many lighted glass walls. General Pepper watches quietly from one corner. One of the officers working over a screen speaks into his headset. "Squad leaders, we've picked up a new group of signals. Enemy fighters coming your way" warned the control officer to the fighters.
Tyler looks around to see if he can spot the approaching Legion fighters. "My scope's negative. I don't see anything" said Tyler. The Death Star's surface sweeps past as Red Leader searches the sky for the Legion fighters as flak pounds at his ship. "Keep up your visual scanning. With all this jamming, they'll be on top of you before your scope can pick them up" said Red Leader. Then, silhouetted against the rim lights of the Death Star horizon, four ferocious Legion TIE ships dive on the Rebel fighters. Two of the TIE fighters peel off after each fighter. Allen panics when he discovers a TIE ship on his tail. The horizon in the background twists around as he peels off, hoping to lose the Legion fighter. "Allen! You've picked one up...watch it!" said Red Leader.
"I can't see it! Where is he?!" asked Allen. He zooms off the surface and into space, closely followed by an Legion TIE fighter. The TIE ship fires several laserbolts at Allen, but misses. Allen finally see the TIE ship behind him and swings around, trying to avoid him. "He's on me tight, I can't shake him...I can't shake him" said Allen. While flying at high altitude, he peels off and dives toward the Death Star surface, but he is unable to lose the TIE fighter, who sticks close to his tail. Tyler is flying upside down when he rotates his ship around to normal attitude as he comes out of his dive. "Hang on, Allen, I'm coming in" said Tyler. Allen and the tailing TIE ship dive for the surface, now followed by a fast-gaining Tyler. After Allen dives out of sight, Tyler chases the Legion fighter. In the foreground, the Legion fighter races across the Death Star's surface, closely followed by Tyler in the background. There is a shot from Tyler's X-wing and the TIE ship explodes in a mass of flames. "Got him!" said Tyler.
Inside, Darth Wolf strides purposefully down a Death Star corridor, flanked by Legion stormtroopers. "Several fighters have broken off from the main group. Come with me!" said Darth Wolf.
The concerned Princess Krystal, Peppy, General Pepper, and other officers of the Rebellion stand around the huge round readout screen, listening to the ship-to-ship communication on the room's loudspeaker. "Pull in! Tyler...pull in!" said Allen over the speaker.
"Watch your back, Tyler!" said Wedge over the speaker.
"Watch your back! Fighter's above you, coming in!" warned Wedge back at the battle. Tyler's ship soars away from the Death Star's surface as he spots the tailing TIE fighter. The TIE pilot takes aim at Tyler's X-wing. The Legion TIE fighter pilot scores a hit on Tyler's ship. And fire breaks out on the right side of the X-wing inside the cockpit. Tyler looks into the back of his cockpit at the flames in his ship. "I'm hit, but not bad" said Tyler. Smoke pours out from behind Slippy Toad as he coughed from it. "Slippy, see what you can do with it. Hang on back there" said Tyler.
"Got it!" said Slippy and starts working on repairing it as Tyler nervously works his controls.
In the war room, Krystal stands frozen as she listens and worries about Tyler. "Red Six, can you see Red Five?" asked Red Leader over the speaker.
"There's a heavy fire zone on this side. Red Five, where are you?" asked Porkins over the speaker.
Tyler spots the TIE fighter behind him and soars away from the Death Star surface as it chases him. "I can't shake him!" said Tyler. His ship soars closer to the surface of the Death Star, an Legion TIE fighter closing in on him in hot pursuit. Then Wedge comes in. "I'm on him, Tyler! Hold on!" said Wedge. Wedge dives across the horizon toward Tyler and the TIE fighter. He moves his X-wing in rapidly as Tyler reacts frantically. "Blast it! Wedge where are you?" asked Tyler. The fighter pilot watches Wedge's X-wing approach. Another X-wing joins him, and both unleash a volley of laserfire on the Legion fighter. The TIE fighter explodes with white light and Tyler's ship can be seen far in the distance. Tyler looks about in relief. "Thanks, Wedge" said Tyler.
Krystal, Peppy, General Pepper and other Rebel officers are listening to the Rebel Fighter's radio transmissions over the war room intercom. "Good shooting, Wedge!" said Allen over the speaker.
"Red Leader..." said Gold Leader over the speaker.
Gold Leader peels off and starts toward the long trenches at the Death Star surface pole. "This is Gold Leader. We're starting out attack run" said Gold Leader. Three Y-wing fighters of the Gold group dive out of the stars toward the Death Star surface. Three Imperial TIE ships in precise formation dive toward the Death Star surface after the fighters. One of the TIE fighters is actually Darth Wolf himself. Inside, Darth Vader calmly adjusts his control stick as the stars whip past in the window above his head. "Stay in attack formation!" said Darth Wolf.
"...marked and locked in!" said Gold Leader as he approaches the surface and pulls out to skim the surface of the huge station. The ship moves into a deep trench, firing laserbolts. The surface streaks past as laserfire is returned by the Death Star. Gold Five is a fennec fox pilot in his early fifties with a very battered helmet that looks like it's been through many battles. He looks around to see if enemy ships are near as his fighter is buffeted by Legion flak. Gold Leader races down the enormous trench that leads to the exhaust port. Laserbolts blast toward him in increasing numbers, occasionally exploding near the ship causing it to bounce about. "Switch power to front deflector screens" said Gold Leader. Three Y-wing skim the Death Star surface deep in the trench, as laserbolts streak past on all sides. An exterior surface gun blazes away at the oncoming Rebel fighters. "How many guns do you think, Gold Five?" asked Gold Leader.
"I'd say about twenty guns. Some on the surface, some on the towers" said Gold Five.
Krystal, Peppy, and the technicians view the projected target screen in the war room, as red and blue target lights glow. The red target near the center blinks on and off. "Death Star will be in range in five minutes" said the intercom voice.
The three Y-wing fighters races through the trench and zooms overhead through a hail of laserfire. Gold Leader pulls his computer targeting device down in front of his eye. Laserbolts continue to batter the Rebel craft. "Switching to targeting computer" said Gold Leader. Gold Two, a younger alaskan husky pilot about Tyler's age, pulls down his targeting eye viewer and adjusts it. His ship shudders under intense laser barrage. "Computer's locked. Getting a signal" said Gold Two. As the fighters begin to approach the target area, suddenly, all the laserfire stops. An eerie clam clings over the trench as the surface whips past in a blur. "The guns...they've stopped!" said Gold Two. Gold Five looks behind him. "Stabilize your read deflectors. Watch for enemy fighters" said Gold Five.
"They've coming in! Three marks at two ten" said Gold Leader. Three Legion TIE ships, Darth Wolf in the center flanked by two wingmen, dive in precise formation almost vertically toward the Death Star surface. Darth Wolf calmly adjusts his control stick as the stars zoom by. "I'll take them myself! Cover me!" said Darth Wolf.
"Yes, sir" said his wingman. Three TIE fighters zoom across the surface of the Death Star as Darth Wolf lines up Gold Two in his targeting computer. His hands grip the control stick as he presses the button. He fires and the cockpit explodes around Gold Two as his head falls forward due to the explosion. As Gold Two's ship explodes, debris is flung out into space. Gold Leader looks over his shoulder at the scene. The three TIE fighters continue to race along in the trench in a tight formation. Then Gold Leader panics. "I can't maneuver!" said Gold Leader. Gold Five, the old veteran, tries to calm Gold Leader. "Stay on target" said Gold Five. The Death Star races by outside the cockpit window as he adjusts his targeting device. "We're too close!" said Gold Leader. The older pilot remains calm. "Stay on target!" said Gold Five. Now Gold Leader's really panicking. "Loosen up!" said Gold Leader panicking. Darth Wolf calmly adjusts his targeting computer and pushes the fire button. Gold Leader's ship is hit by Darth Wolf's laser and it explodes in a ball of flames, throwing debris in all directions. Gold Five moves in on the exhaust port. "Gold Five to Red Leader..." said Gold Five. Tyler looks over his shoulder at the action outside of his cockpit. "Lost Tiree, lost Dutch" said Gold Five.
"I copy, Gold Five" said Red Leader.
"They came from behind..." said Gold Five but one of the engines explodes on Gold Five's Y-wing fighter, blazing out of control. He dives past the horizon toward the Death Star's surface, passing a TIE fighter during his descent. Gold Five, a veteran of countless campaigns, spins toward his death. Tyler looks nervously about him at the explosive battle.
Inside, Andrew Oikonney and a Chief Officer stand in the Death Star's control room. "We've analyzed their attack, sir, and there is a danger. Should I have your ship standing by?" asked the chief officer.
"Evacuate? In out moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances!" said Andrew. He turns to the computer readout screen and flames move around the green disk at the center of the screen, as numbers read across the bottom. "Rebel base, three minutes and closing" said the computer's voice.
Red Leader looks over at his wingmen. "Red Group, this is Red Leader. Rendezvous at mark six point one" said Red Leader.
"This is Red Two. Flying toward you" said Wedge.
"Red Three, standing by" said Allen.
"Red Leader, this is Base One. Keep half your group out of range for the next run" said General Pepper over the headset.
"Copy, Base One. Tyler, take Red Two and Three. Hold up here and wait for my signal...to start your run" said Red Leader. Tyler nods his head. The X-wing fighters of Tyler, Allen, and Wedge then flew in formation high above the Death Star's surface. Tyler peers out from his cockpi as two X-wings move across the surface of the Death Star. Red Leader's X-wing drops down to the surface leading to the exhaust port. Red Leader looks around to watch for the TIE fighters. He begins to perspire. "This is it!" said Red Leader. He roams down the trench of the Death Star as lasers streak across the black heavens. A huge remote-control laser cannon fires at the approaching Rebel fighters as they try to evade the Legion laser blasts. Red Ten looks around for the Legion fighters. "We should be able to see it by now" said Red Ten. From the cockpits of the Rebel pilots, the surface of the Death Star streaks by, with Legion laserfire shooting toward them, and then stops. "Keep your eyes open for those fighters!" said Red Leader. "There's too much interference!" said Red Ten. Three X-wing fighters continue to move in formation down the Death Star trench. "Red Five, can you see them from where you are?" asked Red Ten. Tyler looks down at the Death Star surface below. "No sign of any...wait!" said Tyler when he suddenly sees them. Red Ten looks up and also sees the Legion fighters. "Coming in point three five" said Tyler.
"I see them" said Red Ten. Three TIE fighters, Vader flanked by two wingmen, dive in a tight formation. The sun reflects off their dominate solar fins as they loop toward the Death Star's surface. Red Leader pulls his targeting device in front of his eyes and makes several adjustments. "I'm in range" said Red Leader. His X-wing then moves up the Death Star trench. "Target's coming up!" said Red Leader. He looks at his computer target readout screen. He then looks into his targeting device. "Just hold them off for a few seconds" said Red Leader. Darth Wolf adjusts his control lever and dives on the X-wing fighters. "Close up formation" said Darth Wolf. The three TIE fighters move in formation across the Death Star surface. Red Leader lines up his target on the targeting device cross hairs as Darth Wolf and his wingmen zoom down the trench. Darth Wolf rapidly approaches the two X-wings of Red Ten and Red Twelve. His laser cannon flashes below the view of the front porthole. the X-wings show in the center of Vader's computer screen. Red Twelve's X-wing fighter is hit by Darth Wolf's laserfire, and it explodes into flames against the trench. Red Ten works at his controls furiously, trying to avoid Darth Wolf's fighter behind him. "You'd better let her loose" said Red Ten.
"Almost there!" said Red Leader concentrating on his targeting device.
"I can't hold them!" said Red Ten panicking. Darth Wolf and his wingmen whip through the trench in pursuit of the Rebel fighters. Darth Wolf cooly pushes the fire button on his control stick. His well-aimed laserfire proves to be unavoidable, and strikes Red Ten's ship. Red Ten screams in anguish and pain and his ship explodes and bursts into flames. Grimly, Red Leader takes careful aim and watches his computer targeting device, which shows the target lined up in the cross hairs, and fires. "It's away!" said Red Leader. Inside, an armed Legion stormtrooper is knocked to the floor from the attack explosion. Other troopers scurrying about the corridors are knocked against the wall and lose their balance. "It's a hit!" said Red Nine.
"Negative" said Red Leader. He looks back at the receding Death Star as tiny explosions are visible in the distance. "Negative! It didn't go in. It just impacted on the surface" said Red Leader. Darth Wolf peels off in pursuit as Red Leader's X-wing passes the Death Star horizon. He swings his ship around for the next kill. "Red Leader, we're right above you. Turn to point..." said Tyler. He tries to spot Red Leader and he looks down at the Death Star surface. "...oh-five; we'll cover for you" said Tyler.
"Stay there..." said Red Leader. He was now wary as he looks about nervously. "...I just lost my starboard engine. Get set to make your attack run" said Red Leader. Then Darth Wolf's gloved hands make contact with the control sticks, and he presses their firing buttons as Red Leader fights to gain control of his ship. Laserbolts are flung from Darth Wolf's TIE fighter, connecting with Red Leader's Rebel X-wing fighter. Red Leader buys it, creating a tremendous explosion far below. He screams and is destroyed. Tyler looks out the window of his X-wing at the explosion far below. For the first time, he feels the helplessness of his situation. But he knows that they cannot give up now. "Allen, Wedge, let's close it up. We're going in. We're going in full throttle" said Tyler. The horizon twists as Wedge begins to pull out. "Right with you, boss" said Wedge. The two X-wings peel off against a background of stars and dive toward the Death Star. "Tyler, at that speed will you be able to pull out in time?" asked Allen being concerned.
"It'll be just like Beggar's Canyon back home" said Tyler. The three X-wings move in, unleashing a barrage of laserfire as laserbolts are returned from the Death Star. Tyler's lifelong friend struggles with his controls. "We'll stay back far enough to cover you" said Allen.
"My scope shows the tower, but I can't see the exhaust port! Are you sure the computer can hit it?" asked Wedge. The Death Star laser cannon slowly rotates as it shoots laserbolts at the fighters. Tyler looks around for the Legion TIE fighters. He thinks for a moment and then moves his targeting device into position. "Watch yourself! Increase speed full throttle!" said Tyler. Wedge looks about for any sign of the TIE fighters. "What about the tower?" asked Wedge.
"You worry about those fighters! I'll worry about the tower!" said Tyler. His X-wing streaks through the trench, firing lasers. Tyler breaks into a nervous sweat as the laserfire is returned, knicking one of his wings close to the engine. "Slippy...that, that stabilizer's broken loose again! See if you can't lock it down!" said Tyler.
"Right on it" said Slippy and works to repair the damage. The canyon wall rushes by in the background, making his delicate task seem even more precarious. Two laser cannons are firing on the Rebel fighters and then stops once again. Wedge looks up and sees the TIE ships. Tyler's targeting device marks off the distance to the target as Darth Wolf and his wingmen zoom closer. Darth Wolf adjusts his controls and fires laserbolts at two X-wings flying down the trench. He scores a direct hit on Wedge. "I'm hit! I can't stay with you" said Wedge.
"Get clear, Wedge. You can't do any more good back there!" said Tyler.
"Sorry!" said Wedge. He pulls his crippled X-wing back away from the battle. Darth Wolf watches the escape but issues a command to his wingmen. "Let him go! Stay on the leader!" said Darth Wolf. Tyler's X-wing speeds down the trench. The three TIE fighters, still in perfect unbroken formation, tail close behind. Allen looks around at the TIE fighters. He is worried. "Hurry, Tyler, they're coming in much faster this time. I can't hold them!" said Allen. The three TIE fighters move ever closer, closing in on Tyler and Allen. Tyler looks back anxiously at little Slippy. "Slippy, try and increase the power!" said Tyler. Ignoring the bumpy ride, flak, and lasers, Slippy Toad struggles to increase the power. Stealthily, the TIE formation creeps closer. Tyler looks into his targeting device. He moves it away for a moment and ponders its use. He looks back into the computer targeter. "Hurry up, Tyler!" said Allen. Darth Wolf and his wingmen race through the Death Star trench. Allen moves in to cover for Tyler, but Darth Wolf gains on him. Allen sees the TIE fighter aiming at him. "Wait!" said Allen. Darth Wolf fires at him and Allen' ship bursts into a million flaming bits and scatters across the surface. Tyler is stunned by Allen's death. His eyes are watering, but his anger is also growing. Darth Wolf takes aim on Tyler and talks to the wingmen. "I'm on the leader" said Darth Wolf.
In the war room, Princess Krystal returns her general's worried and doubtful glances with solid, grim determination. And Peppy Hare seems nervous. "Hang on, Slippy!" said Peppy.
Tyler concentrates on his targeting device as three TIE fighters charge away down the trench towards him. Tyler then adjusts the lens of his targeting device as his ship charges down the trench. Tyler lines up the yellow cross-hair lines of the targeting device's screen. He looks into the targeting device, then starts at a voice he hears. And it was someone he knew. "Use the Force, Tyler" said Benny's voice. Tyler looks up, then starts to look back into the targeting device. He starts to have second thoughts. "Let go, Tyler" said Benny's voice. A grim determination sweeps across Tyler's face as he closes his eyes and starts to mumble Benny's training to himself. In his TIE fighter, Darth Wolf can sense something from him. "The Force is strong with this one!" said Darth Wolf as he follows Tyler's X-wing down the trench. Tyler looks to the targeting device, then away as he hears Benny's voice. "Tyler, trust me" said Benny's voice. Then Tyler, realizing what he must do, reaches for the control panel and presses the button. The targeting device moves away. Then he hears the Base's words in his headset. "His computer's off. Tyler, you switched off your targeting computer. What's wrong?" asked the Base's voice.
"Nothing. I'm all right" said Tyler. His ship streaks ever close to the exhaust port as the three TIE fighters, manned by Darth Wolf and his two wingmen, follow Tyler's X-wing down the trench. Darth Wolf maneuvers his controls as he looks at his doomed target. He presses the fire buttons on his control sticks. Laserfire shoots toward Tyler's X-wing fighter. A large burst of Darth Wolf's laserfire explodes the backseat of the cockpit where Slippy. The arms go limp on Slippy as he makes a high-pitched sound and is unconscious from the blast. Tyler looks frantically back over his shoulder at Slippy. "I've lost Slippy!" said Tyler.
Krystal and the others stare intently at the projected screen, while Peppy watches the Princess. Lights representing the Death Star and targets glow brightly. "The Death Star has cleared the planet. The Death Star has cleared the planet" said the intercom voice.
Andrew Oikonny glares at the projected target screen in the Death Star's control room. "Rebel base, in range" said the computer's voice.
"You may fire when ready" said Andrew to an officer.
"Commence primary ignition" said the intercom voice. An officer reaches up and pushes buttons on the control panel, as green lighted buttons turn to red.
The three TIE fighters zoom down the Death Star trench in pursuit of Tyler, never breaking formation. Tyler looks anxiously at the exhaust port. Darth Wolf adjusts his control sticks, checking his projected targeting screen as Tyler's ship barrels down the trench. Darth Wolf's targeting computer swings around into position. He takes careful aim on Tyler's X-wing fighter. "I have you now" said Darth Wolf. As Darth Wolf's center fighter unleashes a volley of laserfire, one of the TIE ships at his side is hit and explodes into flame. Tyler looks about, wondering whose laserfire destroyed Darth Wolf's wingman. Darth Wolf is taken by surprise, and looks out from his cockpit. "What?!" said Darth Wolf. His wingman searches around him trying to locate the unknown attacker. "Yahoo!" yelled Fox as he and Falco grinned from ear to ear. The Great Fox heads right at the two TIE fighters. It's a collision course right then and there. The wingman spots the pirateship coming at him and warns the Dark Lord. "Look out!" warned his wingman. Darth Wolf's wingman panics at the sight of the oncoming pirate starship and veers radically to one side, colliding with Darth Wolf's TIE fighter in the process. Then the wingman crashes into the side wall of the trench and explodes. Darth Wolf's damaged ship spins out of the trench with a damaged wing heading into deep space. Darth Wolf turns round and round in circles as his ship spins into space. Mccloud's ship moves in toward the Death Star trench. And Fox Mccloud, smiling, speaks to Tyler over his headset mike. "You're all clear, kid...Now let's blow this thing and go home!" said Fox. Tyler looks up and smiles. He concentrates on the exhaust port, then fires his laser torpedoes. Tyler's torpedoes shoot toward the port and seems to simply disappear into the surface and not explode. But the shots do find their mark and have gone into the exhaust port and are heading for the main reactor. Tyler throws his head back in relief. Then the two X-wings, a Y-wing, and the pirateship race toward Yavin in the distance.
A Legion soldier runs to the control panel board and pulls the attack lever as the board behind him lights up. "Stand by to fire at Rebel base" said the intercom. Several Legion soldiers, flanking a pensive Grand Andrew Oikonny, busily push control levers and buttons. "Standing by" said the intercom voice. The rumble of a distant explosion begins.
The Rebel ships race out of sight, leaving the moon-like Death Star alone against a blanket of stars. Several small flashes appear on the surface. The Death Star then finally bursts into a supernova, creating a spectacular heavenly display. "Great shot, kid. That was one in a million" said Fox. Tyler is at ease, and his eyes are closed. "Remember, the Force will be with you...always" said Benny's voice. Finally, no longer spinning out of control, Darth Wolf's ship shoots off into space as the Rebel ships race toward the fourth moon of Yavin.
Tyler climbs out of his starship fighter and is cheered by a throng of ground crew and pilots. He climbs down the ladder as they all welcome him with laughter, cheers, and shouting. Princess Krystal rushes toward him. "Tyler! Tyler! Tyler!" said Krystal happily. She throws her arms around Tyler and hugs him as they dance around in a circle. Then Fox runs in towards Tyler and they embrace one another, slapping each other on the back. "Hey! Hey!" laughed Fox.
"I knew you'd come back! I just knew it!" laughed Tyler.
"Well, I wasn't gonna let you get all the credit and take all the reward" said Fox. They look at one another, as Mccloud playfully shoves at Tyler's face. Krystal moves in between them. "Hey, I knew there was more to you than money" laughed Krystal. Then Tyler looks towards his ship and sees what he has forgotten about. "Oh, no!" said Tyler by what he sees. Slippy Toad, now black from the carbon of the explosion, was still unconscious as he was lifted off the back of the fighter and carried off under the worried eyes of Peppy. "Oh, my! Slippy! Can you hear me? Say something!" said Peppy in a worried tone. Then he turns to a medic. "You can fix him, can't you?" asked Peppy.
"We'll get to work on him right away" said the medic.
"You must fix him! Sir, if any of my organs or blood will help, I'll gladly donate them" said Peppy.
"He'll be all right" said Tyler.
An hour later, Tyler, Fox, and Falco enter the huge ruins of the main temple. Hundreds of troops are lined up in neat rows. Banners are flying and at the far end stands a vision in white, the beautiful young Senator Krystal. Tyler and the others solemnly march up the long aisle. "Attention!" ordered Falco. All of the troops turned to the front as Tyler and Fox approaches and kneel before Senator Krystal. From one side of the temple marches a bandaged-up and fully clean Slippy Toad. He waddles up to the group and stands next to an equally pristine Peppy Hare, who is rather awestruck by the whole event. Falco was confused. General Pepper and several other dignitaries sit on the left of the Princess Krystal. Krystal is dressed in a long white dress and is staggeringly beautiful. She rises and places a gold medallion around Fox's neck. He smiles and winks at her. She then repeats the ceremony with Tyler, who is moved by the event. Slippy dances around with joy and Krystal, along with Tyler and Fox, smiles. Then they turn and face the assembled troops, who all applauded them. Falco throws his fist in the air and Slippy cheers with happiness.
That's it for episode one. Now it is time for episode five! Please Review!
