+++

Six Tie Defenders streaked out of the tunnel that lead to the asteroid base hangers. The last one slowed then turned to fire a torpedo back into the cave mouth.

Face keyed the com. "Hurry up Kell, let's blow this thing and go home."

"Right with you One. Detonation in thirty seconds... Mark."

The half squadron of tie craft sped around the outer surface of the Asteroid until they were above the out system facing side. Below them previously concealed Turbolasers began to appear and take aim.

"We got Turbo's poppin' up!" Shouted Def.

"Go evasive." Calmly replied Face. He pulled away from the other fighters in the group so that there was room to jink and put laser power into the engines.

Bright green Turbolaser bolts flashed out from the base, some passing close enough to momentarily blind his sensors. Kell's fighter, farther back than the others took a nearly direct hit. The Defender spun away trailing a thin debris cloud.

"Five you ok?"

"Fine lead, the shields on these things are pretty tough. Lost half my cannon and some of my repulsors though."

A flash from behind them forestalled any further comments. A fireball erupted from the base entrance and the Turbolasers stopped firing. A large section on the 'North' side of the asteroid caved in on itself before another explosion hurled debris into space.

"That's one base down. Let's find Red group."

"Already got them on sensors Lead." Said Myn "Looks like they're tangling with about ten squadrons of Ties."

"Castin plot us a microjump to their location."

"Got one ready sir," said the human from Coruscant. He was sounding more cheerful than normal, almost as if holding in laughter at some inside joke.

"Start countdown. Ten seconds to jump, mark."

+++

Corran and his wingman finally managed to punch through the shields on one of the Tri-Avengers. The Tie pilot tried to roll out but a dual fire burst caught one of it's Ion engines. That side of the fighter exploded sending the main body spiralling off into deep space. On the other side of the engagement the two Bothan aces took out another of the new Ties when Vri'syk lead it straight into Sei'lar's gun sights. Meanwhile the less experienced X-wing pilots were busy holding the Tie Interceptors at bay long enough for the older pilots to tackle the Brights.

Corran glanced down at the dwindling timer Whistler had posted on his display indicating the time until the second Imperial Tie wave arrived.

Thirty seconds.

"Everyone get ready for the next wave of Ties. Stay alert."

Farther back toward their hyperspace exit the Fastblast herded the cloud of Interceptors duelling with it's escort toward the main fight. The ship's Captain seemed to think he was invulnerable to starfighter attacks with Quad lasers augmenting the four Turbolasers. Either way, the Ties refused to willingly go near the freighter which was starting to pick up speed.

"Hyperspace entry detected." reported the Fastblast's sensor operator. "A half squadron of Tie Defenders just reverted near the back of the second Tie wing."

+++

"Castin you idiot." Muttered Face under his breath as he realised where they were.

"This is perfect!" shouted Kyp. "Wraiths follow me in I've done this before."

Not waiting to see if the others followed suit the Jedi kicked his Defender's engines to full power and fast began overtaking the other Ties. Castin and Def followed soon after.

Face swore.

"Kell, Myn, lets bring up the rear and cover them."

As Kyp was about to pass a formation of Interceptors he changed course and fired two torpedoes into their midst. The flight leader sensing the weapons lock started to turn but was too late. The double explosion tore through half the squadron sending the survivors banking off in different directions.

The three Defenders with Kyp still in the lead punched through another Tie squadron from behind, firing lasers and Ion cannons.

A third Interceptor squadron broke formations and came back around to target the Defenders. The Jedi slowed enough for Face's group to catch up and all six fighters went head-to-head with the Imperial squadron. With the heavy shields in place the Interceptors didn't stand a chance. Most, realising this, juked and dived until they passed the traitor starfighters then tried for deflection shots.

Up ahead a squadron of X-wings had extricated themselves from combat long enough to go head-to-head with the shielded Tie Lancers. Unlike other tie craft Lancers weren't that maneuverable, instead relying more on their shields. Most of them survived the pass as the XJ's simply dodged past them to shoot at the Interceptors they were forming a shield wall for. The remaining Interceptors went evasive as the X-wings and the Defenders traded targets, the XJ's going after the wounded Tie squadrons as the Wraiths pounded the weakened Lancers. It didn't take long for the Imperial Commander to realise that things were not going to get better any time soon.

The Imperial squadrons started to turn and run. The handful of advanced starfighters remaining held on long enough for the Interceptors to begin their withdrawal then joined them.

"We've got them on the run!" shouted Kyp over the com. "Lets finish them off."

"Belay that." Replied Corran then switched to all ship frequency. "All Alliance personnel pull back to the hyperspace entry point. Fastblast begin recovery of fighters."

Kyp contacted Corran on a private channel. "Corran we can beat these Imps. We can take out all of the remaining bases in this system."

"What about the losses Kyp? We set this mission up to tackle one base, perhaps two at the most. We're not wasting any more trained people on something with no strategic value to our upcoming fight."

"You're making a mistake leaving them behind."

"Take it up with Kre'fey when we get back." With that the Corellian set his com back to fleet.

"This is the Fastblast transmitting co-ordinates for first jump. Topside docking hatches have been cleared for Wraith five and Red twelve. We'll jump once they're secure."

Through the Force Corran could feel Kyp simmering in anger. The younger man was going to become dangerous if he let any more of the darkside in.

054