Face let out a sigh of relief as the figure outside the ramp was indeed Ruskin and not a squad of stormtroopers. Face lowered the ramp into the quickly darkening night so he could sneak aboard without alerting anyone nearby.

"Welcome back Pathfinder," Face said as the ramp closed and he turned on the lights in this section of the ship.

"Glad to be back sir," the youngster said with a grin.

"How were they doing when you left?"

"All was going well, sir," Pathfinder said with a shrug, "in and out, piece of cake as you humans says."

"Good, get up to the gun well and relieve High."

"Yes sir," he said with a salute and a smile.

When High climbed down, Face had him stand guard at the hatch while he headed back up to the cockpit. Face could not shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen … something really bad. He could only hope that the rest of Team One arrived soon, he also regretted the joke he played on Tahiri. It could now back fire and cause unacceptable delays.

"Relax commander," Wedge said as he sat back down in the pilot's seat, "everything is going well."

"Yes sir," Face said as he strapped himself in and fought the urge to contact everyone for a statuses check. "Everything is going perfect so far."

"That is right," Wedge said lightly tapping the controls, "no reason to drive yourself nuts."

"Yes sir," Face said monotone, he couldn't help himself. He has been nervous on missions before but never this nervous.

"I know Face and I know exactly what Han Solo would be saying right now if he was here with us."

"And that would be," Face asked but was really sure what the answer would be.

"I got a bad feeling about this."

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Tahiri, still dressed half naked as far as she was concern, followed behind Grand Admiral Pellaeon and Doc; doing her best to pretending that she was a spoiled kid who was unhappy with traveling with her grandfather. It wasn't that big of a stretch right this minute to act mean. She was sure that Face was having a good laugh about all this, just like she will when she figures out just the right way to say 'thanks'.

CAPTAIN TAHIRI, SCAN PRODUCES NO CHANGE ON THE ALERT LEVEL FOR PLANETARY DEFENSE. Searcher said as he rolled next to her as they made their way to the public hangers.

"Thank you Searcher," Tahiri murmured quietly.

"Thank the Force we made it," Doc said after Tahiri gave them an update.

"Wait until we reach hyperspace if you wouldn't mind," Grand Admiral said before Tahiri could correct Cathy, "as long as we are planet bound things could still go wrong."

"Yes sir," Cathy said sounding slightly embarrassed at the mild rebuke.

"Which hangers are we too met our ride?" Grand Admiral said as the nighttime activity picks up somewhat around them.

"18," Tahiri said trying to watch all the dark corners and not look like she was looking.

"Good," Pellaeon said looking back at the luggage carrier traveling behind them, "you folks do a very thorough job when you plan out a mission."

"More thorough then you know sir," Cathy said with a smile, "most of the clothes fit either me or another woman on our squad. We get a new wardrobe out of this deal and none of the cost."

"How efficient," the Grand Admiral said with a hint of humor in his voice, "will our young friend back there also benefit from this trip."

"After I burn everything and sacrifice Face," Tahiri said in Yuuzhan Vong.

"I keep telling you that you look cute," Cathy said glancing over her shoulder and giving her a sympathetic smile. Doc couldn't understand Yuuzhan Vong, but had picked up the general tone of her voice.

"If being cute is the same as being naked, then I would agree with you," Tahiri grumbled out.

"I have heard you had a modest streak," Grand Admiral said sounding way too amused for Tahiri's taste. "I had thought that they were pulling my leg at the time."

"You have no idea sir," Cathy said, "I swear sometimes she showers with her clothes on." Cathy then turned around and gave Tahiri a very bright smile, "it could be worst, Rat could be here."

"You must really love peeling vegetables Doc," Tahiri growled out, which got both of her companions a chuckle.

CAPTAIN TAHIRI, THE FREIGHTER SWEET SUNRISE IS LOCATED IN THE SECOND HANGER ON YOUR LEFT.

"Right," Tahiri said, she was looking forward to getting on board, she was really starting to feel more and more exposed out on the tarmac.

THAT IS INCORRECT CAPTAIN TAHIRI; THE HANGER IS LOCATED ON YOUR LEFT.

"I meant that you were …" Tahiri stopped as her Jedi danger senses screamed out a warning. She could kick herself all the way to Hoth; it wasn't her wardrobe that was making her uncomfortable, "run now!" She was grateful that neither one of her companions questioned her, they both took off at a dead run towards the ship. "Searcher my light saber now!" Like Little Brother, Searcher had been modified to smuggle her weapon of choice.

EJECTING NOW, Searcher screamed out as he pulled away from her.

Tahiri saw Aden lowering the hatch and firing at something behind her as the light saber shot out of Searcher's head. She reached out with the Force to grab the weapon when she was hit from behind by a blast of some kind of energy that just reeked of Dark Side. The blast knocked her off her feet, causing her to miss her light saber and go flying across the hanger.

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"Team Three, we are ECHO I say again we are ECHO…" Wedge screamed into the comm as Face started to bring the engines up to full power. That something had just hit Tahiri with some kind of Jedi trick, knocking her clear across the hanger. "Pathfinder, hit that …"

"What!" Face said when Wedge stopped talking.

"INCOMING!"

Face looked out the view port as a spread of missiles came streaking in from the night.

"Oh Blaster!"

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Cathy picked herself up of the floor after the missiles exploded against the Sweet Sunrise and the hanger.

"Cathy!" Aden screamed out as he ran over to her.

Cathy looked around at the fur ball that had developed so quickly. The ship was a washed in flames and that … thing … was kicking Tahiri's butt all over the hanger.

"Cathy are you alright!"

"Where is the Grand Admiral?" Cathy looked around and found him about 15 meters away lying still on the ground. Searcher started screeching again and Aden started swearing. Cathy turned and saw what they were freaked out about; two squads of stormtroopers were rushing in to the hanger. "BLASTERS!"

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"I'll get Ruskin, you get off the ship, General!" Face said pushing Wedge towards the main hatch. The smoke and flames were getting unbearable. He wouldn't have long before the ship exploded, he had to get Ruskin and the rest clear before that happened.

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"Doc, Snoop, grab the Admiral!" Wedge ordered as he returned fire with the stormtroopers. The troopers had already started to pull back as whatever it was pushed Tahiri out of the hanger with some kind of Force lighting. It looked similar to the description that Luke had gave him after the whole Thrawn episode. "Hurry we have to get clear!"

The droid was already heading out with Doc and Snoop firing and carrying the Admiral at the same time. Wedge followed them out pointing out some cover that they could use and wondering what the blazes was taking Face so long.

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Face couldn't reach Ruskin, the damage and flames were too much for him. He also never heard Ruskin answer him or make any noise at all. Face hated leaving a Wraith behind, no matter their conditions. He would rather die then leave one behind to be tortured. But chances were great that Ruskin had died during the initial blast and he had the rest of the team to get home. Like he had done before in the past, and hated himself each time, he had to worry about those he could save.

He ran down the ramp, firing at the enemy that had pinned down the others … when the ship went up in a fireball. The force of the explosion picked him up and sent him flying into the side of the hanger. Face felt something break and then …

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"Poster Boy!" Wedge heard Doc yell out and then saw her run out in to the line of fire to check on Face. He landed half way outside the hanger and not moving after slamming into the half open doors.

"No, Snoop," Wedge said grabbing Aden as he started to follow her, "lay down some cover fire!"

"Sir!"

"Do it mister!" Wedge snapped out, "if they are ducking they can't shoot either one of them."

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"We just got a confirmation sir," Major Killian said stepping up to Commander Riker's side. "It is the Emperor and his personal guards responsible for the explosions at Hanger 18."

"Indeed," Riker said watching the fireball dissipate over the Northern tarmac from his position at the main control tower. "How nice for them to give us a warning."

"Yes sir," Major Killian said, noncommittally, "they are chasing some rebel scum that broke Grand Admiral out of prison."

"You're joking?"

"No sir."

"Well I hope those fools get what they deserve, does the Emperor wish for us to assist him?"

"No sir, they only wish to keep us informed."

"Very well," Riker said when a sergeant from the lower level raced up to the command station.

"Sirs, we have a bulk freighter refusing to follow orders to return to their original parking spot." The man said pointing out the south window to a large ship moving in their general direction.

"Why?" Riker said moving across the deck to look out that window.

"Unknown sir, they refuse to answer our hails."

"Weapons, fire one shot into their nose, 10 power, that should get their attention." He heard the order relayed as Killian and him watched one of the bases turbo laser fired a weak beam into the bow of the ship. The shoot, although prove to be too much for it as the ship exploded in a fireball. Riker spun around and faced the Lt. In charge of weapons, "I said 10 power!"

"Sir look!" The excited voice of Killian came from behind him, Riker turned in tine to see X-wings flying out of the fire ball, weapons already firing and a corvette closing in behind them, it's guns already aiming for his position.

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"Rogue One to Lead, we are free and on our way," the calm and collected voice of Colonel Gavin Darklighter came across Wedge's comm unit.

"Lead to Rogue One glad you could make it to the party," Wedge said and actually smiled.

"Sorry about the delay, the cloaking shield leaves a lot to be desired."

"No worries we left plenty for you to do what you do best."

"Yes sir," then in a resigned voice he continued, "Operation babysitter commencing." Gavin never did like playing a supporting role.

"Permission to help Doc?" Aden screamed out as the fire increased.

"No, stay down and …" Wedge whipped his head around at the screaming coming from Cathy. She was lying on her back withering and screaming in pain. Aden immediately stood up and Wedge had to knock him down. "Stay down Snoop and that is a order!"

"Sir!"

"Help is on the way, wait for them!" Wedge growled out as he brought his comm link up again and trying to hold down Aden. "Socket, are your toys ready?"

"Yes sir!" Wedge briefly wondered if all demolitions experts were crazy and sounded excited to blow up things as the ones that end up in the Wraiths always do or did the Wraith just attract the best and craziest from the bunch.

"Blow them all now."

"YES SIR!"

"Damn it Aden, I can't keep the stormies at bay and hold you down," Wedge said to the young man, "you can't help her until the rest get here; all you can do is get everyone killed … now do your job!"

"Sir," he said in a sickening voice as the explosive packet that Killjoy had planted around the area suddenly went off in one big explosion. "She is hurt and …"

"I know Aden," Wedge said popping up to shoot at the stormtroopers, "but if they get by us, then she will be dead. Now start shooting!"

High didn't say anything he just did as he was told, which suited Wedge. Wedge knew that since she was screaming and it had not decreased in volume that she could hold on for a few minutes longer.

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Bad thing about being a medic, you can't lie to yourself, Cathy though as she screamed out in pain. She tried to hold in the screams, fearful that Aden would do something stupid to save her. She knew he would, he really did care deeply for her, she just knew it like every woman knows. And as she laid there, feeling her blood leak out of her and the unmistakable sensation of shock beginning to creep in, she found that she care about him.

Not good, the pain is going away, she though as she tried in vain to cover her wounded abdomen and stop the leaking. Why does everyone do that anyways? Oh blaster Aden, I'm sorry I should've told you. I should have told …

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"Lead, suggest you duck," the voice of the captain of Tatooine Surprise said as the corvette cleared the last obstruction.

"Duck Aden," Wedge said, doing the same thing as the corvette opened fired on the stormtroopers position. After the shooting stopped he allowed High to go help Doc, and the medics get the injured on board. Wedge looked around for the body of Ruskin but saw no sign of him. Swearing softly he jogged over to Calghal, who was assisting in the prep of Face. The medical staff of the corvette was already loading the Grand Admiral. "Calghal, I need your light saber."

She gave him a quick look and then took it off her belt, "I feel a battle taking place in that direction, General."

"Thanks," Wedge said honestly, he had lost track of Tahiri and the what ever it was she was fighting shortly after the 1st explosion. "Watcher, make sure everyone gets aboard, if needed you are to leave me and Tahiri behind. The admiral is the most important objective right now and that is a direct order." He yelled over his shoulder, she tried to protest but he wasn't going to hang around a debate the finer points of those orders. "Lead to one?"

"One here lead," Gavin's voice coming back almost immediately.

"What is your situation," Wedge said running towards the light show that erupted near by.

"No change, we seemed to have the upper hand; unknown how long till that changes." There was a short pause and then, "You have unknown number of transports heading in your direction and we just picked up a large formation of blips heading inbound from the Northeast. They will be here in a few minutes."

"Roger, all unit prepare to pull out, I say again all units you are now ECHO." Wedge said shooting a small group of stormtroopers who turned around a corner at the same time he did, he felt good in a way that he could still shoot better then your average trooper. He was getting closer to the fight for he could hear a male yelling abuses at Tahiri as well as see the flashes of lighting bouncing of the buildings.

"Sir you can't expect us to …" Gavin's voice came back almost immediately.

"I expect you to follow orders, you are ECHO; Lead out." Wedge shut of his comm to forestall any more arguments and so the person fighting Tahiri wouldn't hear him sneak up.