"It's gonna get messy." Ryaan says flying into the swarm of Imperial fighters head on.
He fires the blaster cannons taking out two fighters right away then turns around to pursue more. Jori opens up the rear gun shooting down a few fighters herself. Suddenly she spots the squad of black N-1's entering the fight. Ryaan receives a hail from N leader asking the Jedi to dip their wings.
"Identify yourself, we don't want to shoot you down by mistake." Requests N leader Lt. Sogan.
"You hear that Xafus!" Ryaan says as they dip their wings.
"Good, now you'll show up as friendly on our heads up display."
"Can you guys take out the shield generators on that destroyer?" Ryaan asks blowing apart a V-wing.
"Sure thing, will you be alright?" Sogan asks.
"Affirmative."
The N-1's break off as Ryaan follows a group of V-wings over the bow of the JH1. As they pass over Jori notices a black Jedi interceptor rising from the dorsal docking bay.
"Master, there's a Jedi fighter out there and it's escorted by two v-wings!" Jori says.
Ryaan destroys the V-wings in front of him just as a thought registers in his mind. "Vader." He says hearing Ranik's voice in unison.
"We have to go after him." Ranik says.
"Uh don't worry about that, he's coming after us!" Jori says.
"Great, Gleim do you copy?" Ryaan says.
"Right behind you." Gleim says taking out an ARC-170 from the rear gun.
"Break off and join up with the N-1's." Ryaan says.
"I thought you said stay together!?" Gleim replies.
"Gleim Vader's here, he's coming up behind us. Break off now!" Ryaan says.
"Whoa don't have to tell me twice, let's get outta here Xafus. Good luck old friend." Gleim says.
"No such thing Gleim." Ryaan replies.
Xafus breaks off to the right heading for the shield generator just as Vader catches up with the Jedi.
Vader unleashes his fury through the blaster cannons, Ryaan puts the 170 into a spin dodging the blasts. After leveling out Jori opens up the rear gun again pouring it back onto Vader. As the interceptor fires again Ryaan increases the throttle.
"These fighters aren't nearly as fast as those interceptors." Ranik says.
"Yeah but we've got shields and he doesn't." Jori adds as she continues to fire.
"What are you saying?" Ranik asks.
"We just need to hit him once or twice and he's gone!" Jori adds.
"Easier said than done Jori." Ryaan says as he maneuvers between the other fighters in the battle.
Vader presses on unleashing the blaster fire upon the 170. After a few hits on the starboard wing Ranik points out that the shields aren't going to hold up much longer.
"R3 divert all power to the rear shields . . . . okay, we'll just have to out fly him then!" Ryaan says.
He increases the power to full and puts the fighter in a steep dive. Vader stays with them however executing every maneuver as good as Ryaan and then some. At one point Vader loops the fighter and comes back around from underneath launching two proton torpedoes. Ryaan breaks away dodging the projectiles as they explode taking out two other ARC-170's. Ryaan twists and turns trying to escape Vader or at least come around behind him for a shot.
"Any luck back there Jori?" Ryaan asks.
"Thought you said there was no such thing as luck."
"Just hoping I suppose." Ryaan replies.
"None thus far, of course I took out both of his escorts." Jori says.
With Vader constantly sending more volleys of blaster fire towards them Ryaan looks for an opportunity to evade the Sith Lord even for just a moment. As he approaches the Venator Star Destroyer he increases speed to max and lines up perpendicular with the double bridge at the top of the ship. Attempting a dangerous maneuver at max speed Ryaan opens himself fully to the force to guide his actions. As Vader closes the distance between them Ryaan rotates the ship to starboard pulling up at just the right moment to skim through the small space between the two bridges!
With the inertial compensator set to a moderate level Jori feels her stomach rise as her master successfully pulls of the maneuver just barely scraping the wingtips against the ship. However then she notices Vader's interceptor easily pulling off the same feat with calculated efficiency.
"He's still on us!" Jori exclaims as she resumes fire.
"Blast, I've never seen a pilot with skills like this, except maybe . . ." Before he can finish his sentence Ryaan suddenly realizes a terrible possibility! "No, it can't be." he says quietly.
Suddenly something else draws his attention, he looks out the left side of the canopy to see the Arawak flying through the maze of fighters heading for the moon. With his attention focused on Gleim's ship he ceases to evade the Dark Lord behind him.
"Ryaan what are you doing!?" Ranik yells as more blaster fire comes in.
Before Ryaan can maneuver away the port engine is hit. It explodes sending the ship into a dive.
"Shut it down!" Ranik yells from the middle seat.
Ryaan tries to shut down the engine but collides with a nearby ARC-170. The collision takes off the port side wing completely and destroys the other ship in the process. It puts the fighter into a spin sending it towards the moon's surface!
As the ARC-170 continues spinning Ryaan reaches out with the Force trying to sense how far from the moon's surface they are. When he feels them coming closer he pushes out hoping to soften the blow just enough to survive.
"Help me!" he says to Jori and Ranik. The three combine their focus and level out the ship just enough to keep the it from slamming head on into the ground. The ships hits the surface horizontally skidding along the ground for what seems like an eternity.
"Sirs, first transport is ready to launch!" a sergeant says to Garan and Arkton.
"They have a go!" Arkton replies. Outside the first of three cargo ships containing the stockpile of weapons lift off from its in ground landing pad. "Recall the N-1's and assign them to escort the first transport away from the system!" Arkton adds.
Lt. Sogan receives the new orders just as his team destroys the first shield generator. "Copy that command, I request that some of the droid fighters take over here. One shield generator is down, we take out the other and the Star Destroyer's shields will be history!"
Arkton agrees with the suggestion and orders the DCS to carry out the assignment.
Garan's officers on board the DCS carry out their orders and withdraw a squad of droid fighters to attack the second shield generator.
"Have all droid fighters been launched?" Balek asks.
"The last wave of Vultures just launched, we're beginning to dispatch the Hyena bombers now." Kaeon reports.
"As soon as that shield generator is down focus all bombers on that destroyer!" Balek says.
After being informed that the port shield generator was destroyed Admiral Prusta orders more cover around the starboard one. Withdraw two squads of ARC's to protect the generator, if we lose our shields we'll be susceptible to further attacks." Prusta says.
"Sir the DCS is launching droid bombers!" an officer reports.
Cursing under his breath Prusta orders a crewman to patch him to Lord Vader's fighter.
Having lost sight of the Jedi after their collision Vader continues to sweep the area trying to locate them. In the process he takes out several droid fighters who attempt to shoot him down. Just as he senses the Jedi are no longer in space he receives the update from Prusta.
"Continue launching ground forces to the moon and intensify the attack on all enemy fighter craft, I will be on the moon's surface to oversee the attack on the base." Vader says.
"You're not returning to the ship my lord?" Prusta asks curiously.
"The Jedi are still alive, I will deal with them first then focus my attention on the ground attack." Vader replies. "I believe their fighter has crashed on the moon somewhere, redirect a squad of clones to scout the area." Vader adds.
"Yes Lord Vader. I see you've lost your escort, I'll get two more V-wings to take you in." Prusta says.
Not wanting to trust a droid fighter to cover their backs; Xafus and Gleim follow the N-1 squad as they ensure the first transport escapes. After watching it jump to lightspeed they return to the battle.
"I've got a bad feeling Xafus, we haven't heard back from Ryaan and the others in awhile." Gleim says concerned.
On the rocky surface of the third moon Ryaan begins to come to when he hears a familiar voice over the com system.
"Ryaan, Jori do you copy?" Gleim's voice says over the com.
As Ryaan struggles to get his bearings the pain from a gash in his forehead begins sink in. He places his hand over the wound to quell painful sensation. As he begins to become fully aware of his surroundings he hears Gleim's voice through the com.
"Gleim I copy."
"What happened where are you?" Gleim asks.
"We're somewhere on the moon, we crashed after being hit by Vader. We collided with another fighter . . . . our whole left wing is gone." Ryaan says trying to force back the pain.
"Are Jori and Ranik alright?" Gleim asks.
"I don't uh . . . ." Ryaan stops as he notices a battle group of clones nearing the crash site. ". . . .uh I gotta go Gleim, there are clones coming this way." Ryaan says opening the canopy.
"I'm on my way down, give me your coordinates." Gleim says.
At hearing that Xafus breaks off with the N-1's and heads for the moon.
"The controls are smashed Gleim and I don't have time, I gotta move." Ryaan says.
"Good luck buddy." Gleim says switching off.
"What now?" Xafus asks.
"Let's get down there and find them!" Gleim replies.
Ryaan jumps back to the middle seat. "Ranik are you okay?" Ryaan says just as Ranik slowly opens his eyes. "Get out of the ship there are clones coming this way."
Ryaan is about to check on Jori when he sees the rear canopy opening and Jori crawling out. With blood on her face and a massive headache as well she spots the clones advancing.
"Get down!" She yells as blaster fire strikes the wreckage.
Ranik and Ryaan jump off the back of the ship behind Jori just missing the blaster fire.
"R3!" Ryaan yells wondering if the droid is still functional.
The little astromech suddenly comes to life and ejects himself out of the slot then quickly rolls around behind the ship.
"Where are we?" Jori asks.
For the first time since the crash Ryaan spots the moon base several hundred yards out.
"There's the base but we've got to take out these guys first, there's no cover between here and there." Ryaan suggests.
"Let's do it then." Ranik says.
The clone troopers near the wrecked ARC-170 just as four shimmering lightsabers are ignited. All three Jedi hurl themselves over the ship each striking down a clone. The rest of the detail returns fire immediately but the power of the three Jedi combined is too much for the clones.
As before Jori executes her moves in an acrobatic style, the two yellow blades sweep through seven clones in less than five seconds. Ryaan jumps ahead of her slicing another in vertically in half with his green blade! He continues on with a graceful yet fast paced moves striking down clone after clone. Ranik's blue blade deflects every single bolt that comes his way, when a clone gets close enough to him they're taken down with aggressive force.
Within a minute or two the group is put down and the Jedi begin sprinting towards the base. R3 follows behind them as fast as his little wheels will carry him.
"Do you suppose Vader thinks he got us?" Jori asks.
"No, he knows we're down here. It's not over yet." Ryaan replies.
"So much for going into hiding." Ranik says.
"I still intend to Ranik, this doesn't change anything. Hopefully we can avoid Vader, I'd rather not go up against him even all three of us." Ryaan replies.
"What happened to you up there, you just zoned out!" Ranik asks curiously.
Ryaan stops in his tracks still halfway to the base. Jori and Ranik stop as well curious as to what's going on.
"I think I know who Vader is." Ryaan says. Stunned by the claim Jori and Ranik cannot help but wonder. "It's just a . . . . a hunch a possibility." Ryaan adds.
"Who?" Jori says first.
Ryaan stalls for a moment knowing he has no proof nor anything else leading him to believe he is correct. Except for the fact that Vader's flying exemplified the same characteristics of that of another most impressive pilot. Suddenly he begins to recall memories of having witnessed the pilot in question in action and said characteristics; aggressiveness, an all encompassing awareness, even enjoyment and recklessly strategic. The more Ryaan ponders the comparison the more he frighteningly begins to believe it!
"Remember this is just a theory."
"Master tell us." Jori says.
"Anakin Skywalker." Ryaan says shocking Jori.
"Kenobi's Padawan?" Ranik asks knowing only what Ryaan told him about Skywalker.
"Why would you think that?" Jori asks.
Before he can answer they hear and see a series of large explosions as the sound of the ground battle finally registers in their mind. "We don't have time to discuss this." Ryaan says sprinting again.
"DCS to base, shall we divert the droid bombers from the JH1 to assist you?" Balek asks over the com.
"Is that other shield generator destroyed yet?" Garan comes back over the com.
"They're still working on it Sir, the JH1 has focused their attention on protecting it!" Balek replies.
"Then they've got to keep it up, I want the JH1 taken down!" Garan replies.
"But Sir those transports must have time to escape. If those ground forces penetrate our defenses, and they will, then we're screwed! What if we divert the bombers to the moon and we move the DCS into range of our deck guns!" Balek adds.
Garan quickly muddles over that option; losing the DCS would greatly set back the Alliance. However being that the plans for it have already been changed for them he decides to send it in.
"Alright, move into position but I want all rebel personnel off the ship first. Leave the droids on the bridge to carry out the orders and divert a third of the bombers to attack the Imperial ground forces." Garan orders. "The second transport is preparing to take off we should be able to evacuate all three in time, Garan out."
On the bridge of the Jedi Hunter I, Prusta is informed that a squad of the droid bombers are breaking off from the main battle group.
"They're going to attack our ground forces, inform the clone commander in charge and warn him that they'll soon be attacked by air." Prusta says.
"Yes Sir . . . . uh Sir." The crewman says noticing for the first time the DCS moving closer to the ship.
Proust follows his line of sight spotting the advance of the Droid Control Ship. "Prepare for ship to ship attack, ready all turbolaser batteries and aim for weapons systems first!" Prusta commands.
Balek and the others board a shuttle bound for the moon's surface; before leaving they issue Garan's orders to a squad of battle droids left to man the ship and syncs his comlink to a droid officer. The moment the shuttle lands on the grid they report to Garan in the war room. Garan orders them to grab some blaster rifles and assume command of the defensive positions outside.
"Second transport just launched!" Arkton reports.
"Make sure the N-1's escort it out." Garan replies.
As the droid bombers continue to pound away at the shield generator the N-1's provide cover. Sogan shoots down a V-wing as he receives the update on the second transport. Before he can respond he hears the frantic voice of two of his pilots as they're blown apart by pursuing ARC-170's.
"I just lost two of my men." he states.
"No time for condolences now Lieutenant, it is imperative that you escort that transport out." Arkton reiterates.
"We're on it." Sogan replies.
As Prusta continues watching the battle unfold from the bridge he notices the black N-1's breaking away. He walks over to one of his subordinates and asks them to track the ships.
"They're meeting up with a transport Sir." The crewman says.
Prusta walks back to the viewpoint knowing the Rebels are succeeding thus far in evacuating their base. Although the urge to send fighters after the transport ship beckons him, Prusta knows he must focus on protecting his own ship first. He'd hate to have his vessel destroyed during his first command, especially knowing the penalty for failing Darth Vader!
Suddenly an explosion rocks the ship, assuming the worst Prusta asks for an update. "Report!"
"We lost the other shield generator." A crewman says just as another reports that the DCS will be in range to fire in ten seconds.
"We just took out the other generator!" Arkton reports.
"Focus all bombers in space on the JH1, target the turbolaser batteries first then move to engines. Have all droid fighters provide cover for them." Garan orders. He looks at the screen projecting the space battle noticing the DCS is nearing the JH1. "Order the DCS to divert all power to the forward shields. Maybe we can save the DCS before it's decimated." Garan says hopefully.