Luke took a few deep breathe as he strode into the briefing room. All his Rogues were there as was General Rieeken and Agent Retrac. Luke took his seat next to Wedge. Wedge gave him a worried, sympathetic look and Luke smiled and winked at his XO. Rieeken cleared his throat and said, "Good morning, Rogue Squadron. The mission ahead of us is highly important and has a high amount of risk to it."
The General used a control device and the profile of a man in an Imperial Army uniform popped up. Tycho Celchu gasped. "That's General Crix Madine! He revolutionized the Imperial Special Ops, Army Commandos, Navy Commandos and Storm Commandos and was awarded high honors for it!"
Rieeken nodded. "Yes he did and the best part is that he wants to defect to the Rebel Alliance."
A murmur went through the assembled pilots. Luke cleared his throat and asked, "How is this going to happen, General?"
Rieeken hit his controller again and the planet of Corellia popped up. "Crix Madine is on liberty on Corellia under the excuse that he is touring the shipyards, the Tech Center and Coronet's capital tower after a particularly long training tour. I will be taking a team of commandos and a shuttle to pick him up. Rogue Squadron, you will be flying those T-47 Airspeeders. The speeders were chosen because, with the markings and modifications we've made to them, they will look like the Airspeeders that CorSec uses."
Wedge lifted a hand and said, "Won't this fall back on CorSec if we do this? I mean, the Empire won't be happy with them for allowing five of their speeder teams to aid an Imperial traitor and defector."
Rieeken smiled at Wedge, who was a Corellian, and replied, "They would, if there wasn't an investigation going on for five missing CorSec Airspeeders already."
Wedge grinned. "I like this."
Luke nodded and said, "So we get dropped in and fly security for the shuttle until it reaches the transports?"
"Not exactly, Commander Skywalker. Coronet has an Imperial garrison less than ten kilometers away from it and is constantly being watched by Probe droids. Corellians were rebellious back in the days of the Old Republic. With the Empire as it is, I'm willing to bet that they have been thumbing there noses at the Empire for awhile and the garrison and probes are just to keep an eye on them and have a quick response unit. According to a CorSec officer, the garrison includes several aquatic gunboats, a full battalion of Stormtroopers, a Squadron of TIE Fighter, a Squadron of TIE Bombers, an AT-AT Walker and three AT-ST Walkers."
Wes Janson lifted a hand and asked, "And five Airspeeders are supposed to be able to handle all that?"
General Rieeken smiled with just a touch of smug pride. "No, Lieutenant. Five airspeeders, five Rogue Squadron pilots, five Rogue Squadron gunners, myself, Agent Retrac and two dozen of our best commandos will be handling that."
Everyone looked at Wes, who grinned and said, "Well when you put it that way..."
They all chuckled and Rieeken said, "Same as with Ralltiir - we'll be inserted on a Corvette. Rogues, you will take out the probe droids before starting a patrol around Coronet. As soon as the last probe is down, we'll launch the shuttle. Any questions."
Dak Ralter, "Sir isn't it going to be around twenty-three hundred on Corellia when we get there."
"Yes it will, why?"
Dak shook his head. "No reason, Sir."
Everyone considered the young pilot suspiciously. After a moment, he blurted, "What?"
They all slowly turned back to the front. Rieeken asked, "Any questions, Rogues?"
None of them had any. The General clapped his hands. "We depart in an hour. Get yourselves over to that corvette and get ready"
They all stood and headed out. Before he made it far, both Winter and Wedge grabbed Luke by his flight suit and yanked him back into the briefing room. "Hey!" he exclaimed. Wedge said, "Are you going to be okay Luke?"
Luke sighed and said, "I'll get through this mission. We have a job to do, guys."
Winter stared at him. "Luke, we can tell you're anxious. There is still no word of Rianna from Renegade Squadron despite Captain Solo and Commander Serra's best efforts. Are you sure you'll be able to focus?"
Luke nodded resolutely. "Yes. I'll be able to maintain my cool. I appreciate it but you don't need to worry."
Wedge snorted. "Of course we're going to worry, Luke. We're your friends. I trust you. Let's go get this done."
Luke nodded. Winter studied him for a moment before patting his shoulder and walking out. As soon as they were gone, Luke took another shaky breath. Rianna had gone on a mission that had gone horribly, horribly wrong and most of the team was unaccounted for. No one knew for sure who was alive and who was dead. But he couldn't think about that right then. There was a mission - a very important mission and it was going to require all of his focus and skill.
The Corvette dropped out of hyperspace and dropped into atmosphere. As soon as it did, five modified airspeeders dropped out into the sky and formed up, streaking towards Corellian's capital city of Coronet. It was only a few minutes before Wedge chimed. "Picking up something strange on my scopes."
Luke nodded. "I copy. Increase speed full throttle."
They zipped over the hills and lakes and came on a cluster of the probe droids. It was the work of a moment to blast them to shrapnel. They continued their flight around the city and engaged several more before nothing else showed on their scanners. Luke commed General Rieeken. "All clear, General. You can launch when ready."
Within moments, the shuttle was heading towards the landing pad at the top of the capital tower of Coronet. "Listen up, Rogues, our destroying the probes will have alerted them to something. We just need to make sure that we keep them away from the shuttle until General Madine can meet General Rieeken."
Just as he finished his statement, a call came out. "Luke we have TIE Bombers heading towards the Capital city. I think - oh my stars, they're starting a bombing run towards the capital building. They're trying destroy Coronet!"
Luke gritted his teeth. Whoever was put in charge of the Imperial forces recently had been committing atrocities like this with increasing frequency and Luke was getting tired of seeing it. "Rogues, kill those bombers and do it now!" he snapped. They zipped towards the city, split up and engaged. Luke dropped in behind three bombers and his repeating blaster cannons blew them from the sky. "Nice shooting, Rogue Leader;" said Dak behind him. Luke grunted in reply before hunting down the next group of bombers. The Imperials had deployed their entire squadron and the Rogues were only too happy to blast each and every one of them. "That takes care of that;" said Wedge, the smug satisfaction clear in his voice. Suddenly, the open comm channel chimed. "Can you hear me? Rogue Squadron, this is Crix Madine. The attack got to me before I could reach Rieeken and I'm pinned in the Tech Center. Can you get me out?"
Wedge answered. "Affirmative, General. Luke we'll keep an eye here. You and Tycho go get him."
Luke nodded and he and Tycho's speeders blazed out, leaving the city area to an installation on the outside. To their surprise, there were another six TIE Bombers trying to destroy the Tech Center. Unfortunately for the Imperials, the Tech Center was lightly shielded and was barely holding out against their runs. It was the matter of a few moments for the two Rebel aces to eliminate the bombers. "That was close;" breathed Tycho. Luke nodded his agreement. Too close. "General Madine, this is Commander Luke Skywalker. You are clear from the skies and we'll have you out in a moment."
"Commander, this is Madine. There is someone in this building with me. I say again, there is someone in here with me. They've killed my CorSec escort."
Luke cursed before replying, "Where are you, General?"
"I'm heading to the roof now."
Luke commed Rieeken, "General Rieeken, are we sending some help?"
"Yes, Commander. Agent Retrac is incoming with the shuttle but I think she might be too late."
Luke growled. "Dak, we're landing. Zev, get over here and help Tycho keep bombers and fighters off this building and that shuttle."
"Understood, Rogue Leader."
Suddenly, Wedge came on the comms. "Luke, I've got a problem here. Inbound bombers."
Luke was getting exasperated. This plan was only going from bad to worse. Suddenly, a few whoops came over the comms and Luke grinned. He knew that yell anywhere. "Han! Chewie, what are you doing here?"
The smuggler's cheerful voice was music to Luke's ears. "How you doing kid? Thought I might give you a hand. This is my home town after all."
Luke blazed back towards the capital tower in time to see another six bombers. Wedge was blasting away at two and the Falcon was blasting another two with ease. Luke and Tycho took the last two. A low rumble and roar came over the comms. Han's voice followed, "Chewie said we should start evacuating people out of the capital tower."
Luke agreed. There couldn't be many inside considering the hour but there were at least a few. Suddenly, the open link chimed and Madine came back on. "Rogues, I have trouble over here, they just dropped an AT-AT and three scout walkers outside my building."
Luke and Tycho blazed back. "Back and forth, back and forth;" muttered Tycho and Luke couldn't help but chuckle. As they swooped, they blasted two of the scout walkers. "Tycho take that last scout walker, I'll figure something out for that AT-AT."
He silenced his mic and said, "Well, any idea's Dak?"
The young pilot shook his head. "We could try shooting it."
Luke sighed. "We already know that the armor's too tough. Hey, do you think our tow cables could be used to immobilize them? If nothing else, we could keep it from getting a good shot of the Tech Center."
Dak shrugged. "Worth a shot. Let's go."
Tycho commed them. "Took out that last scout and now I'm just strafing the ground troops. What are you going to do about that walker, Commander?"
Luke chuckled, "I tell you if it works. Otherwise, I might be too embarrassed."
They swooped towards the walker, dodging the medium and heavy laser cannon blasts. "Alright, Dak, get ready. Ready... and... activate harpoon."
It was a great shot. "Nice work, Dak!"
Luke flew tight circles around the walker's legs. After a dozen passes, he said, "Cable out, let her go."
It worked like a dream. The walker didn't just stop - it tried to take a step forward and fell flat on its face. Luke whooped as he swooped towards the Tech Center. He landed his speeder and he and Dak climbed out, blasters in hand. Luke also carried his lightsaber in his left hand. Just as they headed towards a door to a stairwell, it opened and a man in an Imperial Army uniform ran out. Both Luke and Dak covered him. He lifted his hands and said, "I'm Crix Madine. You two must be my rescue party. Where is that shuttle?"
Luke looked up and around. "I hate to say it, General but it's still on the way. We're on our own for the moment."
Crix shut the door and blasted the controls. "That will hold for awhile but not long enough. Whoever this operative is, they cut through a dozen CorSec Special Weapons and Tactics officers."
The three of them began backing towards the Air speeder. "Dak, Load the General up in the speeder and get him our of here. I'll wait for the shuttle."
Dak looked at him hesitantly, "But Luke..."
Luke took his shoulder and looked him in the eye. "That's an order, Dak. Get the general out of here."
Dak hated it but he said, "Yes sir."
General Madine considered Luke for a moment before proffering his hand. "You be careful, Commander."
Luke shook it and suddenly saw a magenta beam of energy cut into the door. "Shavit! Dak, get the General out of here."
Luke hid behind a pylon and waited as his airspeeder took off and left. The door to the roof slid open and Stormtroopers poured onto the roof. Luke methodically fired, blasting one after the other. There weren't many and soon, twelve lay dead on the permecrete roof. Then, out stepped a woman. She was small and wore a dark jump suit that hugged her curvaceous figure and wore a hood on her hand. In her right hand, she held a magenta bladed lightsaber. Luke opened fire again but, to his surprise, she just batted the bolts aside with as much ease as he did against a remote. That didn't stop him from continuing to fire. He went from aiming for her, center mass, to firing a random pattern - head, leg, chest, belly, leg, head, head, belly, chest and so on. It didn't make a difference. She was ahead of all of them, a tight smile on her face. Suddenly, the blaster clicked empty and Luke knew that he was a dead man. Even so, he unclipped and ignited his weapon, striking a ready stance. She stopped dead, staring at him for a moment. Then, in a low, slightly husky voice, she asked, "Who are you, Rebel?"
Luke lifted his chin defiantly. "You first, Imperial."
Her emerald eyes went cold and she advanced. When she was less than a dozen meters, the whine of an airspeeder was heard. Luke smirked and said, "You lose, Imperial."
Just then, an airspeeder laid down a stream of laser fire between them and a shuttle landed. Luke ran as fast as he could but, just before he could make it up the ramp, he heard the bark of a blaster and a searing pain in the back of his shoulder. Turning, he saw the dark clad Imperial holding a blaster on him. Feeling giddy and exuberant at being alive and escaping this Imperial, Luke lifted his right hand and blew her a kiss before waving jovially. She pulled her hood off her head and glared. The last thing Luke saw before the ramp closed was a flash of gold and red hair. He went and sat on the bench while one of the commandos began helping him out of his life support system and lowering the flight suit around his waist. Luke sighed as the bacta cooled and numbed the injury. He took his comlink and hailed his squadron. "What's the situation, Rogues?"
Wedge commed back, "We're heading back to the Corvette. All clear. What the hell did you do, Rogue Leader?"
Luke chuckled tiredly. "I'll tell you about it later."
The Rogues were gathered around Luke in the med bay as he told them about his encounter with the strange red headed, lightsaber wielding Imperial woman. Dak looked like he had fallen in love. "I'm telling you, guys, she was smoking hot - all dressed in this really tight jump suit. She had all the right stuff in all the right places."
Wedge looked incredulous. "Um, Dak, buddy, just in case you forgot, she shot our commanding officer AND she was wielding a lightsaber. I don't think she was looking for a date."
Dak pouted slightly. "Just let me fantasize, alright. Luke and Tycho are the only ones getting any action these days and that's all I got."
They all glared at Dak who blushed and muttered, "Oops!"
Luke looked curious. "Yeah? Where is Tycho getting action?"
Wedge quickly changed the subject. "Oh Luke, you just got recommended for another medal for valor and all that. Imagine if we all did stupid things. We could all be decorated like that."
Luke glared, "Dak and I got him out, didn't we?"
"Yes but you nearly got killed by some kind of special Imperial agent."
Dak looked like he was somewhere else. "I'd have been her captive any day of the week."
Both Luke and Wedge shook there heads and Wedge said, "That's it, Ralter - you get astromech cleaning duty for the next two weeks."
Dak looked crestfallen. "What? Why?"
Luke laid back on his pillow and said, "For being an idiot."
Back aboard the Liberty, Luke made his way back to his quarters. His shoulder was throbbing and he was utterly exhausted. Both were forgotten when he opened the door to his quarters and saw Rianna, sitting there, her long legs crossed and leaning back on her arms. "Hey, Flyboy. How'd the mission go? Captain Solo said some red-headed shutta shot you."
Luke was opened mouthed. He stepped forward and she stood to meet him. Luke reached out and ran one hand along the smooth skin of her left cheek before hugging her to him. Rianna chuckled, "Damn, Flyboy! You'd think that you'd heard I was KIA."
"I was so worried;" whispered Luke. She separated and kissed him before saying, "And now you know I'm alright. Come on. You had a successful mission and I'm alive so let's celebrate."
Luke smiled at her and said, "How should we do that?"
Rianna smiled and pulled him into another kiss.
Updated 11.07.2016
