Chapter 11 Conquest

"Biggs! You've picked one up...watch it!" The intercom once more crackled with the dialogue between the fighters.

"I can't see it! Where is he?"

One of the fighters zoomed away from the death star and laserbolts appeared on the image.

"He's on me tight, I can't shake him...I can't shake him." Biggs said.

"Hang on, Biggs; I'm coming in." Luke's voice sounded calm in comparison with the panicked pilot.

Lark bit her lip, watching the image. She figured out which fighter was Luke's as it chased an imperial fighter that was on the tail of another X-wing. A laserbolt shot out of Luke's X-wing, and the imperial fighter exploded.

"Got him!" Luke said exultantly. Lark grinned at Leia.

"Pull in! Luke...pull in!" Biggs said.

"Watch your back, Luke!" another pilot warned. "Watch your back! Fighter's above you, coming in!"

Lark kept her eye on Luke's fighter so she could know which was his as the attack continued. To Lark, it seemed almost like a dance - the X-wings flitting in and out, always trying to stay one step ahead of the imperial fighters - only so much more serious. One mistake would mean death unless by some chance someone else was right there to help.

"I'm hit, but not bad." Luke said as a laserbolt caught him. "Artoo, see what you can do with it. Hang on back there."

"Red Six, can you see Red Five?" the red leader asked.

"There's a heavy fire zone on this side. Red Five, where are you?" Red ten reported.

Lark and Leia exchanged nervous glances, and Lark crossed her fingers.

"I can't shake him!" Luke exclaimed. Lark relocated his ship and saw that a fighter was chasing it. He soared over to the death star surface, the TIE fighter in hot pursuit.

"I'm on him, Luke!" Wedge said. "Hold on!"

A fighter rapidly flew over to Luke's aid. The TIE fighter inched closer.

"Blast it! Wedge where are you?" Luke started to sound frantic.

Finally the TIE fighter exploded. Lark could picture Luke sighing in relief.

"Thanks, Wedge."

"Good shooting, Wedge!" another pilot said.

"This is Gold Leader. We're starting out attack run." A voice said.

"What were they doing before?" Lark asked impatiently.

"They were getting into position." Kimmy said, not taking her eyes off the image.

"Kimmy."

Lark and Kimmy turned to see Jesse.

"I need your help." He said.

Kimmy gave Lark's shoulder a squeeze and left. Lark turned back to the image and watched as the TIE fighters dove at the attacking X-wings.

"Computer's locked. Getting a signal." One of the pilots said as he flew into position.

Lark wished she were up there as the fighters began to approach the target area. Suddenly
all the laserfire stopped, an eerie calm settled in its place.

"The guns...they've stopped!" the pilot exclaimed.

"Stabilize your read deflectors. Watch for enemy fighters." Was the response.

"They've coming in! Three marks at two ten." The gold leader announced.

The TIE ships flocked down almost vertically toward the Death Star surface, and three TIE fighters zoomed across the surface of the Death Star. A blast of fire appeared and one of the X-wings exploded. Lark swallowed hard.

"I can't maneuver!" the gold leader sounded panicked.

"Stay on target." Gold five coached.

"We're too close."

"Stay on target!"

"Loosen up!" the command came just before the gold leader's ship burst into flames.

Gold five quickly took charge of the situation. "Gold Five to Red Leader... Lost Tiree, lost Dutch."

"I copy, Gold Five." The red leader said.

"They came from behind..."

Lark shut her eyes against her overactive imagination. What would it be like to know that there was a laser on your tail and then suddenly to have your ship explode around you?

"Red Group, this is Red Leader." The red leader rallied his pilots. "Rendezvous at mark six point one."

"This is Red Two. Flying toward you."

"Red Three, standing by."

"Red Leader, this is Base One. Keep half your group out of range for the next run." The commander ordered.

"Copy, Base One." The red leader answered. "Luke, take Red Two and Three. Hold up here and wait for my signal to start your run."

"I copy." Luke answered. His voice was steady revealing only traces of nervousness.

A group X-wings moved across the surface of the Death Star. Lark quickly picked out the one she assumed to be Luke's.

"This is it!" the red leader exclaimed.

The X-wing fighters moved in formation down the Death Star trench.

"Red Five, can you see them from where you are?"

"No sign of any...wait!" Lark could picture Luke scanning every inch of space that he could see. "Coming in point three five." He announced.

"I see them."

"I'm in range." The red leader finally said after a long pause. Lark held her breath; if the shot hit its target, the mission would be complete, but if it missed, they'd have to reform and come at it again.

"Target's coming up; just hold them off for a few seconds." The red leader said. "It's away!" he finally announced.

"It's a hit!" one of the pilots shouted hopefully.

"Negative." The red leader said, trying to stay business-like. "It didn't go in. It just impacted on the
surface.

As the TIE fighters began closing in, Leia began to pace nervously.

Do something. Lark inwardly begged.

Almost as if he had heard her, Luke's voice crackled over the intercom, "Biggs, Wedge, let's close it up. We're going in. We're going in full throttle."

"Right with you, boss."

"Luke, at that speed will you be able to pull out in time?"

"It'll be just like Beggar's Canyon back home." Luke said confidently.

"We'll stay back far enough to cover you."

TIE fighters swarmed around them.

"Watch yourself! Increase speed full throttle!" Luke ordered.

"What about the tower?"

"You worry about those fighters! I'll worry about the tower!"

Luke's X-wing sped down the trench, and the three TIE fighters, still in perfect unbroken formation, tailed close behind.

"Hurry, Luke, they're coming in much faster this time. I can't hold them!"

Luke's targeting computer turned on.

"Hurry up, Luke!" Biggs commanded. "Wait!"

Suddenly Biggs ship burst into a million pieces. Lark closed her eyes even though it was hardly graphic on the computer image. She could hear him scream with her imagination and the Force. She hated death.

One TIE fighter stuck close to Luke's X-wing as they sped around the death star surface. Suddenly, Luke's targeting computer blinked off."His computer's off. Luke, you switched off your targeting computer. What's wrong?" the commander asked.

"Nothing. I'm all right." Luke's voice was so full of confidence that Lark could practically feel him pull the Force around him.

Laserfire streaked towards the fighter.

"I've lost Artoo!" Luke exclaimed.

"The Death Star has cleared the planet. The Death Star has cleared the planet." A voice said.

Lark swallowed. She'd seen what the death star had done to Alderaan.

> > > >

"There!" Bob pointed.

"Thanks, kid. Don't know how I would have found it without you." Han muttered dryly, stepping forward to man the cannon.

> > > >

The TIE fighter narrowed in on Luke, but suddenly more laserfire appeared on screen, but it wasn't from either of the ships. A new ship zoomed in and cleanly took out the TIE wingman.

Lark looked around desperately, wishing she could see what Luke could.

> > > >

"Yahoo!" Han whooped.

Bob grinned at the pirate and began to go gun crazy himself as they blasted more of the bad guys. They swooped down on the other wingman, causing it to crash into the leader and explode. Han reached for the intercom.

"You're all clear, kid." He said.

Bob shook his head. Han would probably take all the credit for this, but he didn't care- much.

> > > >

Lark couldn't believe it.

"They came back." She whispered.

"Now let's blow this thing and go home!" Han commanded over the intercom.

Lark and Leia exchanged looks as Luke fired his torpedo. Everyone collectively held their breath."

"A hit!" Lark exclaimed. She and Leia hugged, and Lark wiped tears away from her eyes.

"I'm turning into such a crybaby." She muttered.

"We all are." Leia assured her.

They turned to watch the remainders of the attack team and one pirate ship turn to race toward the base as the death star exploded.

"I wish I could see that from up there." Lark said as the remnants of the death star were scattered into space.

Sorry for the long wait, but now we're out of the boring attack scene (which is probably one of the most exciting parts of the movie) and can get on with the good stuff: Drama!