Chapter 28

Ari had to wait impatiently until the red squadron was out and following the gold squadron. She was getting ready to power up her ship totally when she thought she heard a voice. Ben's, telling her that the Force would be with her. She shook her head and tapped the side of her helmet wondering if there was something wrong with the headset

Luke flew his X-Wing into formation along with the others, mind intent, half worried for Ari, and half on the mission at hand.

Ari flew into formation with her squadron, Green Squadron, and the second group of Y-Wings out there. "Be safe Luke," she whispered to herself

As the huge gray Death Star came into view, the voice of the Red Leader came over the com link. "All wings report in..."

Luke set his jaw as he heard the voices of his squadron come over the com." Red Ten standing by."

"Red Seven standing by." Bigg's voice,

"Red three standing by."

"Red six standing by."

"Red nine standing by."

"Red two standing by."

It was his turn...with a grin, Luke answered," Red five standing by."

Ari listened to the Red Squadron report in and then it was her turn. She listened and waited before chiming in, "Green seven standing by."

Luke sat up slightly, a bit tenser, as he heard Ari's voice. "You doing alright there Ari?"

"I'm doing alright. Ready to beat this thing, you?" she replied, his voice had sounded funny coming through the com, while to her, her own voice was louder in the helmet

"I'm ready as anything…you be careful." Luke told her through the com, voice a little tense.

"I will, though you better follow that suggestion yourself," she told him

Luke gave a shallow laugh at that. "Sure, Ari..." She was so stubborn.

Ari smiled slightly, and couldn't help but feel very nervous, trying to not let her hands shake too much

There was some musical beeping from behind him from Artoo. "Lock S-foils in attack position..." came Red Leader's voice. Luke moved to do so, thinking this was it, and the X-wing fighters all moved in formation towards the Death Star, wings unfolding.

"We're passing through their magnetic field." came Red Leader's voice again.

Ari's squad followed and she grit her teeth to keep her Y-Wing in control, still not completely used to it just yet.

"HOLD TIGHT!" came the Red Leader's voice came through the com again.

Luke adjusted his controls, focusing his attention on the approaching Death Star. His ship began to be buffeted slightly, and he moved slightly and easily to control it.

Ari listened to Red Leader's instructions as they came through, knowing that she would follow her own Leader's instructions if there were any once the dog fights started

"Switch your deflector's on!" Came the next command. As Luke did so, his thoughts returned to Ari. Don't do anything too dangerous, Ari! He almost screamed in his mind

"Double front," Ari heard Red Leader order and she bit her lip this was it. Come back to me, Luke she pleaded silently

Luke watched intently as the Imperial's ships began to approach them, small shapes that emerged from the surface of the ever-closer Death Star.

"Look at the size of that thing!" Came Wedge's voice over the link. Ari and Luke silently agreed, still shocked by its size and sickened by its power.

"Cut the chatter, Red Two!" cried Red Leader, and then paused slightly before commanding,

"Accelerate to attack speed. This is it, boys!"

Ari swung her ship hard to the left and followed in her position with her squadron, seeing the TIE fighters closing in.

"Red Leader, this is Gold Leader," she heard over the com.

"I copy, Gold Leader."

"We're starting for the target shaft now."

Ari bit a lip as Green Leader came over the com. "Stay in formation and keep them from the team making the run. Keep them busy."

Laser fire burst all around them as the Death Star got closer and closer. "Heavy fire, boss! Twenty-degrees!" that was Wedge.

"I see it. Stay low." Luke responded to the Leader's instructions again, carefully

Ari watched Luke's fighter with his faithful droid and then spun in a loop as she was soon among a group of TIEs, engines screaming almost deafeningly all around her, just like the sim she had just run, this time it was real though.

AN: R&R to see how the battle rages on!