The battle was over and now the celebrations were going on.
Their hosts, the Ewoks of the Bright Tree tribe, were quite into it and around them were many rebel soldiers, pilots and officers who travelled down to the Forest Moon of Endor following the destruction of the second Death Star and the retreat of the Imperial Fleet. Palpatine was dead, the Empire would now face a collapse in addition to their stunning defeat. The fact the Alliance had pulled off a stunning victory was a miracle in itself and no one could deny the Force was on their side this day.
On the edge of the main square, Flight Officer Noash Retrac of Alderaan stood to the side with his friends, Flight Officer Elya Arriphas of Delaya and Corporal Bolan Samoth of Corellia, enjoying the drinks provided to them by the hosts, and was assured by the droid C-3PO that it was harmless to non-Ewoks. Noash liked it, the taste was rather fruity and so far, no effects. He could help but smile.
"We had a lot to celebrate tonight," Bolan said. "We killed the Emperor and destroyed the Death Star."
"At a great cost though," Elya replied. "We lost a lot of pilots and quite a few ships."
Noash nodded. "I heard ground forces also took casualties," he paused for another slip. "Particularly the relief squads we were able to land during the battle."
The medic sighed. "Special forces, from what a survivor told me," he took a sip. "Inferno Squad, apparently."
"It was them," Elya replied. "A squad of X-wings and Y-wings from the Restoration got totalled by their TIEs and that Raider before it jumped to lightspeed. Just lucky they never made it to the bunker or General Solo would've been in trouble."
Noash smiled. "The Corvus took a pounding though from the Chandi and Luminous before it got away. Bit humiliating to be damaged by a GR-75 transport."
That led to a small chuckle. Bolan then looked out to the people gathered, his eyes clearly noting Generals Calrissian, Solo and Organa along with Commanders Antilles and Skywalker and the Wookiee Chewbacca as well as the droids Threepio and Artoo. "Who'd we lose?"
"Commanders Crynyd and Fox along with Captain Simm bought it," Elya replied, noting the names of the leaders of Green, Blade and Blue Squadrons. "Crynyd took down the Executor while Fox's fighter got lost after taking too much damage from a TIE interceptor over the Devastator."
"Simm died taking out the Pride of Tarlandia with Calrissian and Antilles," Noash continued. "I think we lost at least three other squadron commanders as well, though I can't be too sure. Blue Squadron itself lost four B-wings and one A-wing flown by Tulsa Raleigh."
"Damn, I liked Tulsa, funny guy." Bolan noted, turning. "What about your squadron, Elya?"
"Red fared about the same," she replied. "Sila Kott, Nichos Panib, Grizz Frix, Keir Santage and Roran Tarpar. So one A-wing and four X-wings. Other squadrons got hit badly though."
Noash nodded. "Blade Squadron got reduced to three B-wings, Green and Yellow Squadrons lost half their fighters, Gray Squadron only has five Y-wings, White Squadron lost all four A-wings and all but three B-wings. Other squadrons are either at half strength or in the case of Silver Squadron completely wiped out."
"So much for Snoke Loroan's record," Bolan said. "He was Silver Squadron's third-in-command, right?"
Elya nodded. "Got too close to the bulk cruiser Urjani when the Death Star fired. The rest of the unit got taken out by the Dominator and Protector," she took a sip of her drink. "Only unit that survived intact was Corona Squadron, which doesn't surprise me. Though they did help take out the Annihilator and damage the Subjugator."
Bolan chuckled. "What about ships?"
Noash paused for a thought, then saw Lieutenant Thane Kyrell of Corona Squadron walking away from the square with a drink. He doesn't seem happy about something. "Death Star took out the Liberty, Nautilian, Urjani and Boluna," he replied. "Odysseus exploded after colliding with the Star Destroyer Denunciator, the Tano was destroyed disabling the Pride of Tarlandia for Calrissian's attack run while the Autonomy and Crucible lost out in duels to the Executor but knocked out the Indictor and Visage. The Delbar got caught between the Star Destroyers Avenger and Imputator, but the latter got destroyed by Home One and Defiance not long after."
Elya saddened. "But several Nebulon-Bs, corvettes, gunships, transports and other ships were also lost. I think we lost a third of the entire fleet we brought with us. Other ships are damaged, some likely beyond repair."
"Going to make it harder if we have to fight off again," Bolan noted. "Unless we get lucky and no one comes to fight us again."
Noash chuckled. "The Empire will likely be too busy licking their wounds and dealing with uprisings across the galaxy."
"Really?" their medic friend was surprised. "When did that happen?"
Elya smiled. "About an hour before we got down here, Mon Mothma sent a broadcast across the galaxy from Haven Base. Uprisings are occuring on Naboo, Bespin, Mon Cala, Chandrila, Tatooine and even Coruscant itself."
Noash's smile grew. The Chancellor had retreated to Arbra rather than accompany the fleet to Endor, remaining where General Rieekan was commanding after Echo Base was lost on Hoth last year. She must have been anxious the entire time, hoping and praying to the Force to give them a victory. The Force works in strange ways, the Alderaanian thought. But I trust in the Heroes of Yavin to bring us out of any crisis.
A glance noted that Skywalker and Princess Leia had gone to the side with Antilles, who had a puzzled look on his face. Whatever they were talking about clearly confused their friend. Solo and Calrissian were off to the side with Chewbacca and the Sullustan Nien Nunb, clearly enjoying further drinks between them.
Elya's comlink blinked. She pulled it out and smiled when a holographic text message appeared. "Mum and dad have arrived with the auxiliary forces."
Noash and Bolan's comlinks blinked as well. Both pulled them out and noted their own messages. Noash was glad his parents and younger sister were okay, having stayed with the tanker and repair ships that wouldn't have been much use in a fight with a small squad of old fighters and armed freighters that volunteered to remain with them than seek victory at Endor.
"Wanna go meet up with them?" Bolan asked.
"You guys go," Noash replied. "I'll catch up later."
Elya smiled. "Okay, see you soon."
As the pair departed, Bolan no doubt exited to see his girlfriend who had stayed with the auxiliary fleet in her old Z-95 Headhunter than fly into the combat zone in orbit, Noash went off in the direction of Thane Kyrell. He soon found the young pilot sitting quietly, his face mared by tears, sipping away at his drink. Noash took a seat next to him.
His Imperial girlfriend must've been killed in the battle, Noash thought, remembering that Kyrell was in love with an Imperial from his homeworld of Jelucan that hadn't defected to the rebellion like him because of her cultural oath she'd sworn. Unlike most, Noash had understood why, having studied Jelucani culture before he too had defected to the Alliance whilst at the Imperial Academy four years ago.
"Hey, Thane," the Alderaanian greeted him softly. "Want some company?"
The red-haired pilot turned to him and nodded. "Yeah, I could use it right now."
Noash put his cup down. "Wanna tell me about her?" he asked.
The Jelucani X-wing pilot sighed. "It'll take a while to explain."
"We have all night," Noash replied. "And I don't mind hearing about them."
Thane smiled, which brightened his face somewhat. "I didn't want to bother my unit but I suppose it wouldn't harm anyone."
"Let them have the cheers," the B-wing pilot replied. "Let's have the miseries."
"You lost someone today?"
"Several," he replied. "On both sides."
After that, Thane began talking and Noash listened. Soon, Thane's squadmates arrived, having heard the last part and taking him away to be there for him as well. Noash went to locate his friends and family. Glad he had at least made the pilot more happier, he looked up to the stars and breathed out.
"One down, several to go," he said to himself. "But at least the galaxy is safe for tonight. Tomorrow, who knows though," he then spotted his parents and younger sister. "At least the Emperor won't be around to do anything to us ever again."
Yeah, victory at Endor, despite the huge cost for the rebellion, would begin a new chapter for galaxy, and Noash wanted to make sure he made it out alive.