"The battle station is heavily shielded and carries a firepower greater than half the star fleet. Its defenses are designed around a direct large-scale assault. A small one-man fighter should be able to penetrate the outer defense. The approach will not be easy. You are required to maneuver straight down this trench and skim the surface to this point. The target area is only two meters wide. It's a small thermal exhaust port, right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system. A precise hit will start a chain reaction which should destroy the station. Man your ships! And may the Force be with you!"
"You grounded me?!" Lee angrily yelled as he entered the war room looking for Rya who was engaged in conversation with Princess Leia Organa. The Princess stared at him confused by the disruption and then looked to Rya wondering what the issue was.
"Excuse me, your highness," Rya said, embarrassed and bowed her head as she approached Lee. She led him to the corner of the room to speak with him privately. "Lee this is not the time to–"
"What fight?!" Lee cut her off mid sentence, drawing more attention to them in the corner. Rya took a deep breath trying her best not to lose her temper in front of the whole control room. "We need all the pilots we can get. You saw what we're up against during the briefing."
"I'm on the alliance counsel I'm aware," Rya snapped. "But we're not going to defeat the Empire with one blow. We have to think about the big picture here. If the mission is successful we will need more intelligence agents and recruiters to rally to our cause. The galaxy is already stirring with opposition since Alderaan. We'll need our best spies to capitalize on it."
"That's not the reason and you know it," Lee countered. He could tell Rya was lying to him and he wouldn't stand for it.
"No it's not but it's not the reason you think either," she argued. "Vander said you deliberately ignored orders to jump to lightspeed during Scariff."
"Yeah, I stayed behind," Lee said proudly. "I wasn't about to abandon Andor until I knew it was too late. Plus I was able to alert the flagship of the imperial shuttle on their tail. If I didn't give them a heads up you think they would have had a head start to get the plans away from the Imps?! I had a part in getting here today and I deserve to see it through."
"This isn't a question of honor. It's a matter of resilience. You are one of the best agents we have. The rebellion needs you. I need you." She firmly stated in a low whisper hoping the rest of the room would stop focusing on their conversation. "And I won't be made to feel guilty for trying to keep my husband from heading down a path of vengeance."
Lee looked up and saw all eyes were on them. As glared back at the room Rya shook her head and ended the argument.
"I need to get back," She said and walked back to the control panels preparing to monitor the strike on the Death Star. Lee grunted and left for the shipyard. He was determined to be a part of the fight one way or another.
"Tersu," Gold Three Evaan Verlaine greeted Lee. He was lingering around her ship which was missing a droid. "Come to wish me luck?"
"You don't need it, Verlaine,"Lee complimented. Evaan was an excellent pilot. Lee had been impressed by her first hand during Scarriff.
"You're not so bad yourself," she acknowledged. "Too bad you're not flying with us this round. We could use you."
"Orders are orders," Lee said, rolling his eyes. "Hey, how you doing since Alderaan? I haven't gotten a chance to check in on you."
"Thanks, that means a lot," Evaan said solemnly, thinking of her homeworld before being called away by another pilot. "Excuse me."
Beep beep beep, it was Captain Kina Arde's R3-series droid with Jules behind him. Lee wasn't in the mood to verbally spar with Jules.
"Hey R3," he greeted the droid. Lee sighed and looked at Jules. "What? Get tired of annoying Denz?"
"Never," Jules said, watching the other pilots prepare their X-Wings and Y-Wings. "Just wondered why you're not getting ready."
"I've been ordered to sit this one out," Lee admitted.
"By the Lieutenant? Wow Lee, Rya's got you on a short leash," she teased.
"Don't start, I'm already in a mood," Lee said.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but seems things aren't going so well in paradise," Jules commented on Lee and Rya's relationship. She had never been a big fan of Rya's but she also knew she made Lee happy.
"We're fine," Lee defended, "We just have different ideas of fighting that's all."
"Can't imagine what she's going through," Lee remarked, watching Evaan Verlaine speaking with the other pilots sitting out the mission. "She lost everyone since Alderaan."
"I can," Jules said. R3 beeped a suggestion to Jules. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"What?" Lee asked. Jules looked at R3 and then at the Y- Wing. "You can't be serious. I can't just take her ship."
"Sure you can," Jules pressed and looked back down at R3. "It's all set. Just need a droid and a pilot."
"Rya would–"
"What?" Jules cut him off. "What do you want to do Lee?"
"I want to blow that monstrosity to oblivion," Lee admitted. He looked up at the cockpit and then down at R3. "You sure about this buddy?"
Beep Beep beep! R3 confirmed he was ready to fight. Lee quickly grabbed a spare jumpsuit as Jules loaded R3 into the Y-Wing.
"Tersu! What are you doing?! Come back here with my ship! Thief!" Evaan yelled as she helplessly watched Lee fly off behind the rest of the Gold Squadron.
"All wings report in," Vander called. Lee was nervous. He knew he had done wrong by Evaan. She had every right if not more to be in the fight to take down the Death Star. He took a deep breath adjusting his visor wondering what Rya would say once she heard about his thievery and defiance. He peered back at R3 who turned his head from side to side taking in the sight of the two squadrons preparing for their approach on the Death Star.
"Gold Three standing by," Lee answered.
"Who's that? Where's Verlaine?" Vander asked, confused.
"It's Tersu, Gold Leader," Lee answered. There was a pause before Vander replied back.
"Lee! What are you doing here?" Vander demanded but knew it was too late to send him back. "There'll be hell to pay if you make it back."
"I'm counting on it, Sir," Lee said.
"Fine, all wings follow me and keep it tight." Vander led the way as they followed Red Squadron.
The X-Wings unfolded their wings, locking them in the signature "X" position. Lee switched his deflectors on and saw it, the Death Star moving into range to destroy Yavin. They must have tracked the Princess to the base.
"Look at the size of that thing," Wedge from Red Squadron said as the shimmer of thousands of lights running in thin lines like a capital cityscape glistened in space.
"Red Leader, this is Gold Leader," Vander called over the radio.
" I copy, Gold Leader."
"We're starting for the target shaft now," he reported and led the Gold Squadron into the depths of the battle station. Gold Two and and Gold Seven bobbed back and forth trying to keep their tight formation. Lee followed closely behind as the anchor. Vander activated his computer targeting device to prepare for the first attempt to hit the exhaust post. Red Leader suddenly cut across the surface attempting to draw fire away from the Gold Squadron.
"Red's taken to the surface," Lee alerted the squad as they continued their run. "They need to stay low to miss that heavy fire."
"Your Gold Tersu," Vander reminded Lee. "Focus on your squadron. Red can handle themselves."
This was nothing like Scarif. Shots hurled from protruding towers on the surface, making it extremely difficult to stay in formation. Lee wondered how much longer it would be until they got to their target. Lee watched the young Red Five pilot, Luke Skywalker, nose dive into the trench and get hit by a laser fire. He was ok. Lee took a breath of relief.
"Gold Wings," Vander sounded worried. "Control just picked up a new group of signals. Enemy fighters are headed our way."
"There's too much jamming," Lee said. "How can we detect them?"
"Keep sharp," Gold Five said as the Tie Fighters emerged, focusing on Red Squadron.
Beep Beep Beep!, R3 cried as one picked up Lee from behind.
"I see him R3!" Lee broke formation and began to shake the enemy.
"I got you," Luke said, taking out the Tie behind Lee.
"Thanks Red," Lee called and turned his Y-Wing around. He needed to rejoin his squad. But he was too far out as he saw Gold Leader peel off and start toward the long trench.
"This is Gold Leader. We're starting our attack run," Vander called.
"Gold Leader," Lee said "I'm on my way."
"Negative Tersu. Stay on the surface and help Red Squadron."
"But Vander?!"
"That's an order," Vander said as he, Gold Five and Two completed the dive with three Imperial Tie Fighters following in precise formation.
"The exhaust post is marked and locked in!" Vader called out." Switch power to front deflector screens. How many guns do you think, Gold Five."
"I'd say about twenty guns. Some on the surface, some on the towers." Gold Five responded as he and the three Y-wing fighters raced through the hail of Imperial laserfire.
"Switching to targeting computer." Vander said. "Computer's locked. Getting a signal."
"The guns... they've stopped!" Gold Two remarked but had an eerie feeling about the observation.
"Stabilize your rear deflectors. Watch for enemy fighters." Gold Five sensed from his experience that they were about to be engaged by Tie Fighters.
"They've coming in! Three marks at two ten." Vander logged the enemy's location. He gripped his controls to maneuver but was shocked by the sight of Gold Two's ship exploding.
"I can't maneuver!" Vander cried out in shock.
"Stay on target," Gold Five tried his best to calm Vander.
"We're too close," Vander argued. He was panicking. They needed to take the shot before the Ties picked them off.
"Stay on target!" Gold Five repeated.
"Loosen up!" Vander screamed as he was shot and his ship exploded into dozens of pieces.
"Gold Five to Red Leader…,"Gold Five radioed out to the Red Squadron "Lost Tiree, lost Dutch."
" I copy, Gold Five," the Red Leader said. Lee was speechless.
How? That's not possible? Lee thought as he heard the news.
"They came from behind!" Gold Five's Y-wing fighter blazed out of control and dove straight in toward the Death Star's surface to his death.
"Noo!" Lee cried out. There was a heavy silence over the airwaves. He turned his ship around and tried to engage the Ties on the surface as aggressively as he could. He then hung a dangerous U-turn and shot two towers disabling them.
"Well done, Gold Three. Hang back as Red makes their run," Red Leader said
Lee maneuvered anxiously. He wanted to be in the trenches. He wanted a chance at the shot. With Gold Squadron completely gone he had no idea what he would say to Evaan when he returned. Would she have been able to make the run quicker and more precisely before the Ties showed up? If anything he knew they could not fail as the Death Star cleared the planet and moved into position to eliminate Yavin 4. As he pushed all the intrusive thoughts from his mind he saw Red Leader surface.
"Negative! It didn't go in. It just impacted on the surface."
"Red Leader, we're right above you. Turn to point...oh-five; we'll cover for you." Luke called.
"Stay there...I just lost my starboard engine." Red Leader was shot down. It was just four of them down. Wedge, Biggs, Luke, and Lee.
"What now Red?" Lee called over the radio as the odd man out.
"Biggs, Wedge, let's close it up. We're going in. We're going in full throttle," Luke said, taking the lead.
"Copy. I'll hang on the surface," Lee continued to skim the surface and dodge fire from the towers. Lee Lee watched enviously as the three X-Wings descended into the trench. If anything he would be the final safety. As he anxiously hovered above the trench he saw Wedge's X-Wing fly away.
He must be hit, Lee thought. He wondered for a moment if he should fly in and make the group three.
"His computer's off. Luke, you switched off your targeting computer. What's wrong?" the command center from Yavin Base called over the radio.
"Nothing. I'm all right." Luke said.
"Red Five, this is Gold Three, Need some company?!" Lee called, starting to panic that they weren't going to make it as he saw Yavin 4 directly in line with the Death Star's line of fire.
"I've lost Artoo!," Luke yelled without answering Lee.
"Red five come in. Yavin's in range!" Lee yelled. There was no answer. "Answer me damn it! Or I'm coming in after you!"
"Yahoo!" Lee heard a cry over the radio and then swiftly maneuver out of the way of a YT-1300 Corellian freighter that dangerously cut in front of him firing at the Tie fighter in pursuit of Luke's X-Wing. It was the Millennium Falcon. "You're all clear, kid. Now let's blow this thing and go home!"
Luke shot the ion torpedoes into the exhaust port that led to the main reactor. It was a hit. They quickly flew out of the Death Star range just in time to see it explode into a supernova, creating a spectacular heavenly display.
"Great shot, kid. That was one in a million." Solo said over the intercoms. Lee adjusted his controls as in preparation to return to base. He felt strange. He thought he'd feel happier. Instead the only thing on his mind was a person he hoped was not aboard.
"I'm sorry Lenore," he thought. "Just in case you're there. I'm sorry."
"This is stupid," Jules complained as she stood next to Lee and Denz in assembly at the Yavin Throne room watching Princess award Han Solo and Luke Skywalker medals for their bravery during the battle. "At least give the wookie a medal. He's the Corellian's copilot after all."
"You said it sister. Copilots hardly get the credit they deserve," Denz agreed and then turned his attention to Lee. "You should be up there too buddy."
"I'm lucky to not be expelled from the Alliance. Verlaine tried. I don't blame her. I'm a thief. Not only did I take her ship but cus I stole her chance to avenge Alderaan," Lee admitted. "I'm strictly assigned to recruitment missions and strike teams now."
"You're wife is probably thrilled," Jules mocked. Lee shot her a look. "You scared the bejesus out of R3 by the way. Said he was never going to ride in the droid pod again right before he and Kina took off."
"So it's official. You're staying," Lee asked.
"Someone's got to keep you nerf herders on your toes," she smiled. Lee nodded and excused himself from the ceremony as everyone broke out into applause. He walked into the center of the temple's common area and looked up. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could hear Lenore's voice as if she was standing next to him. He was thinking of the day she had pulled him from the market massacre on Lothal:
"Hey! We're not out of this yet. We need to get home where it's safe."
Home. What was that? He hadn't known what a true home was. Perhaps Rya had a point. Maybe it was time for them to return home. Watching the base celebrate their share of destruction didn't sit well with Lee. He was starting to feel sick and wondering if they were dangerously walking a thin line of facing the Empire or becoming it. Saw Gerrera knew the line all too well but now being at the front of two battles Lee was reconsidering who was truly right in all of this mess. He longed for the days when he and Rya would sit on the steps of the janitorial droid shop debating diplomatic solutions to the galaxy's problems. He knew that diplomacy was gone but it didn't make the realities of war any easier to bear, at least not for him. He took another deep breath when he felt arms wrap around from behind him.
"I know," it was Rya. She turned him around and embraced him tightly as she held her husband up. Lee began to cry. He felt the weight of all the pilots of Gold Squadron who had fallen. He felt responsible for them and always would. The war was becoming harder to bear and he was scare of who he was coming. Was he on a path of vengeance? All he knew for the moment was he could find peace in Rya's arms before their next endeavor.
