Hey everybird! What's up!?
Again, I'll be using things from the Star Wars Battlefront 2 single player campaign, so please make sure you at least read about it! The reason why I'm using that game to base parts of the story now is that I'm a visual guy, it's a lot easier for me to see something visual and base my stories on that, rather than from reading about what happens after Return of the Jedi.
Also… I finally got to see Solo: A Star Wars Story and it was amazing! I think I still like Rogue One better, but Solo did answer a lot of questions we have about the famous smuggler!
And lastly, after discussing Nightfly's own Star Wars story with him, he decided to restart fresh and make a new one, so make sure to check it out!
Anyway… Lets get back to my own Star Wars story!
Chapter 26: Confusion at the Highest Level
Even thought the Empire tried to keep what happened at Endor a secret so as to keep birds from rising up against them, it failed as word managed to get around, stunning the entire galaxy. As the major systems under Imperial control got the encouragement they needed, they rose up against the Imperial occupations, even thought sometimes it was futile, the fact that now everyone was against the Empire showed.
Before Endor, we were lucky to have a few hundred birds at a time join us in our struggle, now thousands flocked to the symbol of hope and freedom as we could easily replace our huge losses at Endor. That went well for our fighter and bomber squadrons as we were able to replace our own six losses at Endor very easily. And since me and Tiago were the best pilots in our squadron, Commander Blu had us help teach our new squadmates about the fighters they would be flying.
However as Commander Blu stated on the forest moon of Endor, the real war has just began…
The squadron was currently based on the Mon Calamari cruiser, the Restoration, General Calrissian's flagship, enjoying a daily routine as I was by my fighter, teaching a couple of our new squadmates how to do personal checkups on their X-Wings for any loose bolts or leaks. I enjoyed helping others learn and to see them listening so intently, it got me thinking about what to do after the war, maybe become a flight instructor to train the new generations of pilots who would keep the Republic safe.
As I was explaining to my squadmates how to make sure the mechanism that opened up the s-foils worked properly, alarms suddenly rang out throughout the hangar, I stopped and stood up straight as everyone in the hangar reacted as loudspeakers came on.
"Attention all pilots, prepare to fly out, attention all pilots, prepare to fly out." The message repeated over and over again.
"What's going on?" One of the two new squadmates asked.
"I don't know, get to your X-Wings, I'll find out." I replied as Tiago joined me, the two of us making our way to the bridge.
As we rushed our way to the bridge, where we knew Commander Blu was, we ran into Nico and his second Pedro, who was also going to the bridge.
"Nico, do you know what's going on?" I asked my canary friend.
"From what I heard the Empire apparently attacked one of the few loyal planets to them with a new weapon." Nico answered.
"Why would they attack their own planet?" Tiago asked, rather confused.
"Probably they rose up like other systems did." Nico said back, not having a clear answer of course.
The four of us arrived at the bridge, which was in a state of chaos as the bridge crew tried to make sense of what happened and how to respond. Even General Calrissian seemed dumbfounded by this development as I saw him pondering the event. I saw Blu and also Captain Roberto talking to other squadron leaders, all of them debating on how to handle this. I went up and stood at attention.,
"Excuse me sir." I spoke as me and Tiago stood before our commander.
"Blue Five and Six, what are you two doing here?" Blu asked us. "You two should be in the hangar ready for launch."
"Sir, we just want to know what happened." Tiago added, with Blu sighing knowing that he wouldn't get anywhere with us, so he excused himself from the other squadron leaders.
"We have disturbing reports that the Empire attacked Vardos, a planet that has always been loyal to the Empire with a new weapon that creates devastating storms, basically the same effect that the Death Star has but without blowing up the planet." Blu told us as we were even more confused now. "Look, that's all we know at this time, I need you two to go back down and make sure the rest of the squadron is ready, me and the captain will be there shortly. General Calrissian has ordered all fighters ready in case the Empire attacks us next."
"Yes sir, we understand." I replied as me and Tiago saluted and ran back to the hangar.
When we got there, we informed the rest of the squadron to get ready to fly out, the new recruits a bit slower of course, but I didn't blame them and they tried to go as fast as possible as they got into their fighters. They were a bit nervous as before I climbed into my own fighter, I took them to take it easy and relax as best they could. By the time I was climbing into my own fighter, Blu and Roberto came into the hangar, to see the squadron was ready to go out. They got into their X-Wings and when the order came, one by one we flew out and got into formation, taking up a position besides the flagship.
Eventually when it became clear the Empire wasn't going for us, the tense space around us calmed down as we were allowed to fly back into the hangar and rest a little from the sudden action before command decided what to do next. We we climbed out of our fighters, I could see the new squadmates a bit sweaty as they weren't used to this kind of alarm. The squadron, except for Blu and Roberto all went to the rec room, where we relaxed and talked among ourselves.
However the peace didn't last long as Blu and Roberto found us and we stood at attention.
"At ease Blue Squadron, news just came." Blu nodded to Roberto as Roberto took out a mini holoprojector as a message played.
"This is Iden Versio of the Imperial Raider Corvus, sending a general distress call to the Rebel Alliance. We surrender." A light brown female macaw wearing a black TIE fighter Pilot's suit spoke from the holoprojector.
Iden Versio… That name sounded familiar to me, but I couldn't place it… Lucky Blu reminded us.
"If you don't remember, Iden Versio is an Imperial Special Forces soldier who infiltrated the Mon Calamari cruiser, the Invincible Faith, who made sure that the Empire knowing about the attack on Endor and the Second Death Star was still a secret to the Alliance." Blu said. "And we have been selected to go and ensure that the Corvus actually wants to surrender, so be on alert when we arrive, this could be a trap." Blu warned us as we saw the Restoration go into hyperspace from the viewing window in the room.
Our Squadron was chosen to escort the two U-Wings, filled with Alliance soldiers, that would land inside the Corvus' hangar and secure the ship while we flew around, ready to fire back. We got our fighters ready, the new squadmates once again nervous as they put their training so far to work and as we were close to arriving, we were ordered to get into our X-Wings, so as to get out once we arrived where the Corvus was located, in the Vorpal Nebula, in the Outer Rim.
As the Restoration and its escort ships arrived, all the task force saw was the lone Imperial raider. As we waited in the hangar, the communications came alive as General Calrissian's voice sounded.
"Blue Squadron, now's the time." Calrissian told us as then Blu's voice came.
"Roger that General." Blu responded as he then spoke to us. "Okay Blue Squadron, take it easy and have a loose grip on your triggers just in case they open fire." Blu advised us as we flew out of the hangar, in a circle, protecting the two U-Wings transports as we flew to the Imperial warship, our wings in attack position.
I had my grip ready on the trigger, ready to fire everything I had at the Imperial raider, to be honest, I wish I could just open fire. This "Iden" is not one to be trusted, especially since she was Special Forces, indoctrinated from childhood to believe that such things like the Death Star were actually good and brought peace and security to the galaxy. As we got nearer to the Imperial warship, Blu's voice came on again.
"Imperial raider Corvus, this is Commander Blu of Blue Squadron, power down your weapons, shields, and engines, and open the hangar for our troops to come in, you have only 60 seconds to respond." Blu communicated to the Imperial ship.
"Copy that Commander Blu, this is Del Meeko of the Corvus, we're doing exactly as you request." A voice responded back right away as I saw the Imperial Ship's hangar open up and the two U-Wings land down inside.
"Okay Blue Squadron, fly around and be on alert until our troops secured the ship." Blu told us as we flew around, on alert.
Eventually the ship was secured as a new voice entered comms.
"Blue Squadron, this is Captain Lindsay of Twilight Company, the Corvus is secured, we're bringing back the ship's leaders to the Restoration." Captain Lindsay informed us.
"Roger that Captain Lindsay, we're standing by." Blu answered as he spoke to the squadron. "Blue Squadron, me and Captain Roberto are going to escort the U-Wing going back and find out what's going on, Blue Five, you're in charge in the meantime."
"Yes sir." I replied as I saw one of the U-Wings back out of the hangar and the two X-Wings taking up positions besides the transport, one on each side as they went back to the Restoration, hopefully discovering the mystery behind what happened at Vardos.
And that's a wrap on this chapter!
If you read up on the campaign, you know what happens next! But there's going to be a shocker in the next chapter…
See everybird in the next update!