SippyCup: Thanks for your review. I agree that is a definite truth. My problem is that unlike the rest of the Star Wars movies that span years. The new trilogy so far takes place across a few days. Two weeks at most. This makes it hard to effect real changes. Still we have some profound ones. Hux is gone, Han is still alive, Kylo Ren and Kuvira as well as his commitment to the dark side and the inclusion of Tam to name a few. Still if you can suggest any changes you feel would work please let me know.
Idontknoworcareanymore: Thank you for the review. It is always great to hear that someone enjoys the story. Hope you like the new chapter.
C.E.W: Thank you for your review. I really enjoyed reading all your points about the characters. In regards to Poe it seems to me that a lot of his actions in the movies stem from a believe in his own invincibility, desperation and the inability to commit to a plan that he does not personally agree with. That is why he remains a flight jockey rather then a true leader or even a soldier. His challenge to Kuvira is due to his personal emotional need for a victory and a need for action rather than planning. If that behaviour is going to be burned away it will be with harsh lessons.
With Leia I admit that I have never liked her personally. I have always felt that she is willing to do anything to achieve her aims even if it means plunging the galaxy into war. I also feel that she constantly places her vain ideals over the lives of actual people. If it was not for her or her father Alderaan would still be around. That being said I to take your point about how the New Republic's weakness is not directly her fault and that Mon Mothma was an even greater idealistic idiot blind to reality.
And for Kuvira herself, I am glad you picked up on those flaws. It is important to right an OC character like an actual person and that includes strengths and weaknesses. Often OC's are too perfect morally or too empowered with no blind spots.
Her tactical skill is great and so is her leadership ability. But she can be vulnerable because she expects her subordinates to follow her orders. In addition, she sometimes fails to realise that others might not look at a battle plan and see what she sees. Whereas Thrawn was always ready and expecting to explain himself. Kuvira does not feel the need. Unfortunately, that can be a problem. As for her weakness regarding the Jedi and the Force. That will be expanded on in later chapters.
TishaLiz: Thank you for the review as always. I always look forward to reading them after the chapter is uploaded. I am very flattered with your comment about the script writers. Like you I guess the casino planet gave us some harsh background on the galaxy. But it was a rather strange side story. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the others.
ChaosStar44: Haha I really enjoyed reading your small trailer presentation speech. I am not a fan of plot armour. And while I do need to employ someone it. It will be now where near the same level as the movies. I hope you like it.
Graymar1: Thank you for your review. I am glad you chose to continue reading after the first few chapters. I was still unsure of how I was going to present the story when they were uploaded. In regard to your request for a Star Wars Resistance side story set in this fanfic. I have really been tempted to do just that. I already have a basic plot in mind. My main problem is the timing needed to write it. Plus, I have never liked how people write multiple stories at once and take ages to get back to them. Still I will keep what you have said in mind. About your point about more First Order nonhumans. I will look for opportunities to incorporate them.
AWriter159: Thank you very much for your review. I was very glad to read it as I was working on this chapter. I am glad you like Kuvira's character. I hope that while I cannot but her in the films you will enjoy the rest of the story.
Chapter 25 – The Battle of D'Qar part 2
D'Qar – Space Battle
Poe Dameron – POV
Poe pressed the trigger button on his x-wing joystick and watched with grim satisfaction as the red energy blasts erupted from the four wing cannons and crashed into the TIE fighter that had been trying to evade him.
The fighter took a direct hit to the wing connection between the cockpit and the right solar panel wing. The blast sheered the panel clean off as the fighter went spinning into the melee, helpless and doomed.
Tali and Stark flew past him as they drove off another TIE squadron that was peppering one of the Resistance bombers with laser fire. "We are not going to get old out here Poe!" Tali warned in a semi-serious tone that did not filly hide the strain of their situation. "Give us some good news."
"Hold formation, we are almost there." Poe called back as he dodged out of the way of an exploding fighter. Whether the newly deceased fighter had been Resistance or First Order was unclear. The flaming debris was simply to scattered and damaged to be identified.
But the way this battle was going. Poe had a feeling he did not want to know.
As be came out of his evasion he was allowed a brief second where he could get his bearings and had a clear line of sight towards their target.
The First Order fleet formation was less than ten miles away from the bombers. At their current rate they would reach them in the next few minutes. Assuming they lived that long.
Even as they approached he was in awe of the outrageous amount of power the First Order had concentrated in this fleet. Nearly a dozen giant Resurgent class star destroyers with enough power between them to turn a planet into a smoking cinder. And protected nicely behind them was the dreadnaught, an even larger ship whose weapons rendered all defences virtually useless.
The sheer imbalance in the two forces would have been hilarious if it was not at their expense.
As Poe watched he saw the Reclaimer sitting proudly at the centre of the formation. The massive Resurgent class star destroyer was unmoving as it faced him, looking like a giant silver dagger aimed at the Resistance fleet. He could not help but wonder if that was what the First Order and Empire had been going for when they designed those damned ships!
As he looked at the ship, time seemed to slow as the raging battle appeared to fade away as he studied the Reclaimer and allowed his universe to move at the speed of thought.
Most people would look at the Reclaimer and see nothing more then a ship. A monstrously big and powerful ship but still only a ship. One of dozens or possibly hundreds that the First Order could call up from their vast fleet.
That was what most people saw. Based on the recent conversation it might be all that Admiral Ackbar or even General Organa saw.
But Poe knew it was far more than that.
The ship was the lynch pin in the entire First Order. It was the flagship of their primary fleet. The sharp point of the blade that they intended into stab into the heart of the New Republic and watch it die. It was the centre of the great military machine that controlled all the other parts.
But most of all it was the throne from which Grand Admiral Kuvira ruled her nation of brain-dead, murdering, automatons.
People could talk about Supreme Leader Snoke and his secret base somewhere in the Unknown Regions all they wanted. But Poe was confident that the Snoke was just a figurehead for the First Order to have their replacement Palpatine. That was assuming he even existed at all. Meanwhile Kylo Ren for all his power, appeared to be a simple blunt instrument. Like Darth Vader; a thug or trained beast to be unleashed on enemies and then quietly put back into whatever box Snoke usually kept him in.
The General definitely viewed him as a threat. Even more then usual after she heard about how Han Solo got his ass handed to him on Starkiller base. Along with Finn and the rest of the planetary team. But while Poe would definitely not like to be on the same planet as him. He was no leader, no commander. He was at best a warrior plain and simple. At worst he was an attack hound.
No. It was the First Order High Command that acted as the true political power in the First Order and their constituent worlds. And it was Kuvira who sat at the head of the High Command.
It was her who planned the strategies. It was her who commanded the loyalty and obedience of the other Admirals and officers. And it was her who was cunning enough to trick the peoples of the galaxy into surrendering their freedom to the First Order, until they were slaves in all but name, and were fine with that.
And that was why she needed to die if the Resistance, the Republic or the galaxy was going to have any chance against the First Order.
If they fought a war against her with a demolished fleet and an under equipped and untrained army, they would be crushed. And if they were forced to rebuild a new Rebel Alliance, it would be much harder with her in control of the galaxy.
That was why she had to die here, today. And for some reason, Poe seemed to be the only one who could see that.
But maybe that was for the best. If it kept the General and the rest of the fleet out of the direct firing line. Then Poe was fine with taking down Kuvira his own way.
But first he had to do that.
Despite what Ackbar was no doubt shouting right now, Poe was not an idiot. He knew just how dangerous Kuvira was. She had crushed and crippled the Resistance's efforts for years since she took command. He had lost many good people because of her. Including many close friends in his own black squadron. He had spent a lot of time watching good people, people he cared about getting killed because of her.
That was why he was desperately trying to make sure that the bombers were as protected as possible and that their attack run had the best chance of succeeding. Because he already knew how low the chances of that already were.
"Bomber Lightning Strike is down! I repeat the Lightning Strike is going down!" Stark called through the intercom. His voice trying and failing to hide the emotion that was thick within him at the loss of their ship and friends.
Poe snapped back to himself as he watched the flaming wreckage that 10 seconds ago was a proud and intact MG-100 StarFortress SF-17 drift to a halt as its momentum was cut off when the engines died. A second later and the bomber exploded as its cargo was hit by the flames.
Poe banked his x-wing out of the way as the glowing shrapnel from the doomed Resistance ship was hurled in all directions from the force of the blast. As he moved to safe range he saw all the other fighters, Resistance and First Order do the same.
One TIE fighter was not quick or lucky enough as the explosion engulfed the fighter and ripped it apart like paper.
Poe cursed in his head at the loss, then keyed his comm set. "All bombers tighten formation. Gunners cover each other's flanks and catch them in the crossfire. We need to get the payloads to the Star Destroyer!" Poe ordered as he let lose a new volley of fire into the swarming mass of TIE fighters that seemed to be only increasing in numbers.
Then again they probably were. Had he honestly been expecting Grand Admiral Kuvira to care about whether the battle was a fair fight or not?!
"Poe we can't hold off the attackers from the bombers. We won't survive out here much longer!" Keith Ranalli yelled over the shared commlink.
Poe was not interested in hearing that kind of talk. Much less having it shouted to his entire attack force. All of whom needed every scrap of conviction and focus they could generate.
"Yes, we can!" Poe urged through his gritted teeth. "Stay tight with the bombers, maximum speed towards the Reclaimer." He closed down the link as he flew at the TIE formation firing as fast as he could pull the trigger.
The bombers moved to obey the order as they moved closer to each other. Resistance flight instructors taught bomber crews to fly in tight formation, opposing attacking fighters with overlapping fields of fire. But they were painfully slow and while being under contestant attack from every angle there was every chance that the turret gunners could accidently hit the friendly bombers.
Poe was clenching his teeth together so heard he was certain he could feel what must be blood running down his lip. The coopery taste it left made him want to wipe it away. But he did not dare let go of his control stick, for even a nanosecond. He was already utilising all of his legendary flying prowess and talent to simply stay alive.
If he lost focus at all. That would quickly change.
He fired at a TIE fighter that was pouring streaks of green energy into the side of the bomber; Cobalt Hammer. The red energy shattered the ball cockpit into fragments as the fighters exploded and the solar panel wings crashed into the side of Cobalt Hammer. Thankfully not doing any damage.
Still the fighters kept coming.
Dodging, weaving and diving as they ceaselessly attacked the bombers while duelling the A-wings and X-wings that swarmed around the bombers protectively as they answered the First Order's fire with their own.
But it was not enough.
As Poe watched the view port of the bomber Crimson Storm took a series of direct hits from what looked to be the same model of special forces TIE that Poe and Finn had used to escape the Finalizer back over Jakku. The fighter had unleashed a volley of missiles that appeared to be mag-pulse warheads.
They crashed into the transparisteel viewport and the pilot crew was immediately turned to white hot vapor along with the rest of the bomber a moment later as the explosion caused the cargo to detonate.
Once again Poe was forced to put his X-wing into s screeching turn that had him worried that the hull frame was going to split in half. But it was better then being hit by flaming explosive debris. Parts of which might even consist of the charred remains of his friends' corpses.
Poe cursed. This was the problem with the defensive formation tactic that the bomber crews had been trained in. It was a great way to maximise the defence while enveloping the bombers and (too a lesser extent) the fighters in a protective zone of crossfire.
But the glaring weakness was that if one of the bombers was damaged and their cargo was detonated. Then the rest of the bombers were in mortal danger of being hit by the blast. This in turn could cause their own payload to go off in a vicious chain reaction that could demolish their forces in seconds.
Three bombers had been destroyed and only four were left. But they were nearing their target. The Reclaimer was almost within range. In just a few more moments they would be over the target. A few more moments after that and they would be in a position to rain the proton bombs directly on to the bridge and Grand Admiral Kuvira's kriffing head.
Poe almost grinned. But then he realised that they had only survived the easy part of the battle.
Now that they had come this close to the formation of star destroyers, they were in real trouble.
The Reclaimer alone had roughly 1,500 turbolasers and ion cannons in its entire arsenal. Powerful turbolaser batteries capable of overloading enemy shields and punching through thick armour, along with enough force to reduce planetary surfaces to molten slag.
Much like its Imperial predecessors, the Resurgent destroyer featured eight dorsal heavy turbolaser turrets in pairs of four on either side of its main tower. In addition to two triple-barrelled heavy turbolaser cannons on its underside in front of its main hangar.
In short. The damn things were flying super death machines.
And this was the enemy that he was leading his attack force of four bombers…
(Poe saw a flash of light out of the corner of his eye and watched with a curse on his lips as another indicator signal blipped out of existence on his tactical screen)
Three bombers straight into the jaws of hell.
Poe was momentarily struck by how utterly insane this plan of his was as he allowed himself to actually contemplate what he was up against with his massively diminished forces. He was actually proposing that he could destroy the commander of this fleet while hopefully buying the Resistance a massively needed victory.
Poe had looked into the eyes of his comrades as he moved through the base on D'Qar as it was being evacuated. He had stared at their faces. Listened to the tone of the voices and had watched their pace as they worked, and he could easily recognise the trait he saw in all of them.
Fear, desperation, resignation. And the fact that while they were rushing about the base to get the evacuation underway. They were doing it in a way that seemed to imply that everything they were doing was futile. It was then he saw that despite their victory at Starkiller. The Resistance was having a hard time convincing itself that they could win this war.
They had taken out the enemy's big gun. So what?
The First Order had a million other weapons to bear. All of them spearheaded by Kylo Ren, possibly the most dangerous man alive since Darth Vader. And all of it commanded by a woman who was quite possibly the greatest military tactician alive today. The fact that many had heard Kuvira's talk with General Organa had not helped. When she had commented that hope could easily become delusion had been a hard blow to their already fragile spirits.
The Resistance needed this; he knew that. They needed to deliver a hammer blow against the First Order. To prove to the First Order that this war was far from over. And to prove to themselves that the fight was not pointless. That they would not give up or give in.
While he doubted Ackbar would agree with him or his reasons. He was not expecting him to. In his opinion Ackbar was a great strategist and Admiral. But that same quality made him blind or apathetic to the feelings or moral of his troops. He expected his orders to be followed and he did not have time or patience for subordinates that questioned him or deviated from the plan.
While Poe respected Ackbar. He saw him as a good Admiral but not a natural leader. Thankfully the Resistance had Leia Organa to stand in for that.
He brought himself back to the present as he aimed his cannons and fired and yet another TIE fighter and watched with supreme satisfaction as it exploded to dust.
As he did not he noticed that time had passed by during his mental musings. The three remaining bombers in the squadron and what was left of the fighter escort were nearly over the silver steel hull of the Resurgent class star destroyer.
Poe grinned as he opened up the comm channel and sent out his message to the entire Resistance attack force.
"We are nearly over the target, heading for the sweet spot in the central frame of the ship. Remember we only get one shot at this and then we get the hell out of here. But when we pull it off we will have given the First Order a blow they won't forget!" He proclaimed. "Bombers open your bay doors and prep the bombs for the drop sequence.
No sooner were the words past his lips, that the First Order fleet finally opened fire!
Kuvira – POV
Kuvira watched from the command bridge as the Resistance bombers made their torturously slow progress towards their position. If she had not needed to remain focused to coordinate the battle and to issue the n necessary orders, she would have been in danger of falling asleep. She could not help but ask herself why the Resistance had decided to utilise a bomber design that was the equivalent of a flying turtle.
Someone might ask why they had not used the tried and true Y-wing model. It was infinitely faster for a start and it had proven itself at the battles of Scarif, Yavin and Endor. Not to mention countless others. It contained a complement of ion torpedoes that in the right number and use could disable an Imperial class star destroyer for a short time.
But Kuvira found herself answering her own question. The Y-wing (despite its storied history) had been outmoded even as the Clone Wars were coming to their end. The fighter/bomber had been discontinued and was no longer in production by the Empire after the first five years of Imperial rule.
Instead they were sent to salvage yards and recycling facilities across the galaxy to be destroyed. That was what had allowed the Rebel Alliance to scavenge so many of them to add to their growing fleet. But even then the Rebels had been making use of a ship that had been far surpassed by newer models. They were used simply because they were desperate, and it was the best they could get.
The Y-wing heavy weapons payload allowed them to carry a good amount of ordnance for its size, whether they be solid projectiles like proton torpedoes or gravity weapons like the electro-proton bomb. This arsenal while effective was incredibly small and often the Y-wing could not inflict enough damage to complete their mission.
In addition, the speed and manoeuvrability of certain models, in particular the two-seat BTL-S3, was considered subpar. So much so that some Rebel pilots dubbed them 'flying coffins'
The MG-100 StarFortress SF-17 (while much slower) was a very hard-hitting bomber. It was intended to deliver a payload of 1,048 proton bombs on top of a target. The bombs would then be drawn magnetically to their targets to ensure maximum damage over a chosen vulnerability. In summation, the bombers might be lumbering flying targets. But they were effective lumbering targets.
The full bomb payload of even one would be enough to severely damage or even destroy the Reclaimer.
But Kuvira was not going to allow that. She loved her ship like it was her own child. Over countless missions and battles. It was as much a part of her as her own arm. And she was not going to let anyone, least of all a naïve man-child like Poe Dameron take it from her.
She turned to the comms officer. "Order the Strikefast, the Defiance, the Allegiance and the Temperance to focus their fire on the Raddus's engines and shield generators with sporadic fire on the remaining Resistance cruisers. I want the Raddus's shields strained to their limit and I want the engines under constant barrage from the fleet and from our fighters." She commanded.
"Order the SF TIE fighters to press their attack an to utilise their warheads to destroy the engines. It is the best chance we have to disable them as they can attack from within the shield barrier."
"Yes, Grand Admiral." The comms officer exclaimed as he began to issue her orders to the fleet. With a few moments the space between the First Order and Resistance fleets erupted into green light as the four enlisted star destroyers unleashed the full force of all their turbo batteries.
The Fighter and Bomber squads were dazzled as an almost unbroken sheet of green energy appeared and flashed past them as the energy bolts lanced towards the Raddus. The turbo blasts slammed into the Raddus's shield envelope and exploded. For a brief moment it looked like the Raddus was wreathed in flames. But the prototype shields were clearly worth the investment as the shields continued to hold and the deadly blasts were dissipated across the field and the ship itself remained unharmed.
Kuvira was disappointed but in all honesty she had not expected the attack to succeed out right. It was simply to keep the Raddus's shield under pressure and to make sure that the Resistance did not send aid to Dameron's kamikaze attack.
If the shield failed in the process. So much the better
She turned to face Peavey. "All batteries open fire at the Resistance attack squadron. Have Alpha Squadron in position and have them ready to launch their attack if they reach the designated boundary. Ensure all fighter craft are ordered to pull away to a safe distance. I don't want them to be caught in the crossfire." She ordered before turning back to the viewport to watch the battle. Confident that Peavey would execute her orders to the letter.
Though she made a mental note to be aware of that in the future. She did not wish to repeat the mistake made by Canady. Which she had to admit (after she allowed her aggravation to settle) was just as much her fault as his.
If the soldier's orders are not explained clearly, the fault lay with the commander. It was only if the orders had been explained clearly that fault lay with the soldiers.
And she was forced to admit that her orders could have been clearer due to her assumptions. A mistake she vowed never to repeat.
Assuming she survived this battle of course. It was not wise to assume anything in war.
As she watched she saw the guns of the Reclaimer open fire. Massive green energy blasts were sent hurtling at the Resistance squadron. Even as that happened she saw the TIE fighters break off their own attack and flew away from the Resistance ships as they re-grouped into ready formation.
She watched as the Resistance X-wing and A-wing fighters scattered away from their previously tight defensive formation around the three remaining bombers as they fled from the incoming fire. Very much like a flock of hawk bats flushed from their nests.
Given the situation it was very appropriate.
While the fighters were able to dodge the incoming fire with little difficulty, the bombers were less fortunate. It was borderline comedic how the ungainly machines tried to take what might be generously called 'evasive action' to avoid the oncoming.
But it was simply not enough. Turbo laser blasts slammed into the pair of bombers with enough force to rock the ship off its current flight path before its repulse engines compromised and got the bomber moving forward again. Only for the next blast to smash into it as well.
She was not surprised that the bomber was not destroyed out right. The MG-100 StarFortress SF-17 was not fast but it was appropriately named. They were covered in thick armour that was made out of a strengthened alloy of durusteel and duneium. This combination made it one of the hardest armours in the known galaxy. While it could not be created in enough volume to be used on capital ships it was good for ships the size of the bombers. Even the cockpits and ball turrets on the StarFortress were encased in an armoured transparisteel shell, while deflector shields protected the gunner.
Not even Poe Dameron would be foolish enough to throw his bomber squadron into a battle that would see them destroyed long before they ever came close to their target. He was reckless and in many ways short-sighted, but he was not stupid. Kuvira had to concede that point.
The bombers were very resilient, and a few turbo laser hits would not destroy them. But even the alloy armour could not hold up to the relentless pounding from a Resurgent class star destroyer for long. They knew they had only a few moments to deliver their payload before the armour began to fail and eventually gave way before the Reclaimer's weapons.
But the bombers did not need to survive for long to be able to deploy their payload and to destroy the Reclaimer beneath her feet.
Kuvira knew that the bombers would likely be destroyed before they reached the needed position to release their bombs. Still there was a chance for them to succeed and Kuvira was fully aware of how often the Rebels had triumphed against all logic.
And she had no intention of allowing them any opportunity to do so again. As she watched the bombers weather the fire from her ship she held her commlink to her lips, but she did not activate it yet.
Not until she saw what she was waiting for.
When she did see it, she did not hesitate. She activated her commlink and keyed it to the personnel frequency of her own Alpha squadron.
"Flight Commander, the target is open, commence your attack run now. Ensure success at all costs." She ordered calmly.
"Acknowledged, Grand Admiral."
Instantly, but unnoticed by the Resistance, movement stirred in the darkness directly beneath the hull of the Reclaimer. The ship was carefully situated so the light of the system sun was heavily concentrated on the upper surface of the ships hull.
This had resulted in the underside of the Star destroyer to be completely in shadow and with the Resistance's attention focused solely on staying alive and battling the attacking TIE fighters. They had failed to notice a very real threat beneath them.
Once the order was received from the Grand Admiral, the ships had activated their engines and moved into the attack.
From out of the darkness a hidden squadron of First Order SF TIE fighters moved into the light directly below the battle taking place right above them as the bombers moved into position. Unlike the grey TIE's of the Empire, the First Order TIE fighters were all black in colour. This vague difference had allowed them to hide in the shadow of the Reclaimer. With their engines off and their electronic signatures disabled. They had been as good as invisible.
"Maintain formation and ready all weapons. Follow my lead." The flight commander ordered as the dozen TIE fighters flew out from beneath the capital ship and turned their fighters upward to face the battle that was still raging before their eyes now.
Despite the distance, all the pilots of the veteran Alpha squadron could see what had changed to call of them to attack.
The MG-100 StarFortress SF-17 was formidable to even the fire from a capital ship. Against its hardened armour the weapons of a TIE fighter would do little more then scratch it unless it was able to get a direct hit on a vulnerable area, like the cockpit.
But so far the gunners and Resistance fighters had done an admirable job of keeping the First Order fighters away from the most vulnerable part of the bombers.
But now the situation had changed with the utterance of a simple sentence seconds ago. 'Bombardiers, begin your drop sequence.'
That simple but crucial order for both sides had resulted in the bomber bay doors begin opened and the hundreds of bombs being primed and ready to be released down onto the Reclaimers deck.
It was an order that the Resistance had been desperate to hear as it meant that they were closing in on the target and were almost able to score their victory and get out of this death trap. It was an order Poe was elated to hear as well. It was a sign that they were almost about to win, and he was going to be vindicated for his plan. (Which as the losses built up he had been starting to question).
But unbeknownst to the Resistance, the First Order had been waiting for that order to be issued as well. For a very simple reason.
The bomber bay doors were now open and while the bombs were now free to be launched once they reached the Reclaimer. That also meant that a section of the MG-100 StarFortress SF-17 tough armour was now peeled back to expose the highly volatile explosives contained deep within them.
"We are going to shred them!" One of the Alpha squadron pilots breathed into his helmet. His voice was thick with anticipation and glee at the mere thought of it.
"Maintain comm discipline!" The flight commander barked as the pilots whispered words carried through to the squadron comm channel.
The pilots immediately fell silent as the flight commander silently seethed that such a lack of decorum and protocol would never have happened with Grand Admiral Kuvira at her usual place at the head of the squadron.
Still he was realistic to know that the fault for that lay with him not being able to command the same level of respect. That was his failing more than it was the pilots. Still discipline must be demanded and enforced.
"Red group; move in on the far-left bomber. Blue group; target the central bomber with me. Green group; target the bomber on the far-right. Focus fire on the bomb chambers through the open bay doors. This attack must be simultaneous and devastating. The lives of everyone on the Reclaimer are depending on this attack. Including the life of Grand Admiral Kuvira." The flight commander ordered. Carefully dropping the Grand Admiral's name, knowing it would make the entire squadron use all their skill and focus to pull off this attack safe the life of the Squadron leader.
"Acknowledged!"
With that said the fighters immediately accelerated their speed and flew directly at the exposed bombers.
Like a pack of Firaxan sharks from the deep oceans of Maanan. The fighters came from the dark depths and headed straight towards their completely unsuspecting prey.
If the Resistance forces had been more attentive they might have noticed the incoming attack. But the bomber crews were devoting all their attention to shooting down the attacking TIE fighters and keeping their bomber in once piece long enough for them to drop their payload.
Meanwhile the Resistance fighters were too focused in the TIE fighters that they could actually see and were actively attacking them. Kuvira had planned this attack to ensure that the Resistance's focus was split at a crucial time.
Kuvira watched from the bridge as the fighters closed in on the bomber squadron as the three remaining bombers inched closer to the Reclaimer while weathering the fire from the star destroyer's turbo cannons.
While she admitted was somewhat sadistic. She found that there was an awe-inspiring beauty in the perfect execution of an ambush attack on a completely unsuspecting prey. Much like the previous analogy, she found it comparable to sharks in the oceans. Or perhaps the dive of a predator bird towards the ground as they attacked from above.
It had a primal aspect to it that could not help but be admired. The fact that it was her own forces about to pounce on her clueless enemy naturally helped her opinion.
The TIE fighters continued their attack as they moved into range to minimise the risk of missing in their opening strike and warning their enemies. The Resistance remained oblivious to the threat.
Kuvira mentally counted down the seconds.
'Five'
The TIE's closed in as the bombers bay doors fully opened.
'Four'
The bombs within the bomb bay's light up as the Resistance bomber crews activated and armed their deadly payload.
'Three'
The Resistance finally noticed something was wrong as the previous squadrons of attacking TIE fighters suddenly break off their attack and scatter as they quickly evacuate the impending blast radius.
'Two'
Poe Dameron surveys the suddenly clear battlefield and suddenly his natural pilot instinct kicks in and he becomes very aware of where that bad feeling in his chest is coming from. He turned his x-wing in a tight curve and instantly saw the TIE fighters shooting up from the depths of space.
'One'
Poe's eyes widened in horror and he seized the commlink and screamed into it. But even as he did, he knew it was far too late.
"EVASIVE ACTION, TURN….!"
The SF TIE fighters fired simultaneously, with the perfect precision that could only be found in the personnel squadron of the Grand Admiral.
Before the Resistance bomber and fighter pilots could even process what was happening, the deadly energy blasts streaked past the open bay doors and slammed into the open and exposed bomb bays.
In ordinary circumstances one could be forgiven for asking why the bombers bay doors were not ray shielded to avoid exactly this weakness. Why did they not have a protective shield to allow the bombs to pass through while blocking all incoming energy blasts like a typical energy shield. However past tests had shown that ray shields were hazardous to the components of the proton bombs.
In summation it typically led to them being neutralised as the passed through the shield on route to their target. Or much more dangerous was the possibility that the ray shield would cause the portion bombs to prematurely detonate as they passed through the shield. The shield's energy field held a very real risk of causing the bombs components to detonate.
In the end the design was scrapped in favour of the more vulnerable but less risky design with the open bay door defences.
Now that decision (while the smart choice) was going to cost the Resistance dearly.
The bay was filled with 1,048 proton bombs which had now been activated and armed in preparation for their drop sequence. Each of those bombs was filled with enough explosives to blow a hole in a sheet of solid dunium. And those bombs had just been struck by bolts of energized plasma.
The effect was instantaneous.
The bombs exploded with a force that naturally caused all the other hundreds of bombs to detonate. The blast was forced from the bomb bay to shoot up the ascension ladder and flow into the cockpit and the gunner ball positions.
The crew was in many ways fortunate. The energized proton detonation was more then enough to instantly melt the flesh from their bones. Their bodies were blasted by the explosion as their flesh vanished and their organs were ripped apart by the force of the blazing hot energy. Their bodies were non-existent before they could even draw breath into their lungs to scream.
Mercifully they were also cosmic ash before their brains could truly comprehend what was happening to them. For all intents and purposes, they had existed in one moment. And had not in the next.
One of the lives that was snuffed out in that moment bore the name of Paige Tico. The Haysian smelt pendant she wore around her neck melting and fusing into her flesh as the blast past over them. In the end she was scattered to the solar winds with her pendant now a part of her. A gesture that (if she could have been aware of) would probably have appreciated in her last moment.
The blast was in no way confined to the interior or the crew within the bombers.
The dunium and durusteel alloy that the MG-100 StarFortress SF-17 was made of was strong. But faced with an explosion of that magnitude within its hull, the metal gave way like wet paper.
Each of the three bombers was literally ripped apart from the inside out. The hull warping as the blast tore bulkheads loose and hurled molten pieces of fiery slag out in all directions. The fact that the bombers had previously been flying close for protection only ensured that the separate blasts combined and empowered each other.
With shockwave interference at work the three separate blasts combined to what could reasonably be called a pocket nova.
The three burning hulks that had once been Resistance bombers were turned to shrapnel as the combined explosion blasted out into the black ether of space.
Even the Reclaimer was not spared as the blast enveloped the central bow point of the star destroyer. For a moment the massive ship shuddered as the entire vessel was subjected to the intense shockwave that had occurred just metres away from the hull armour plating. Thankfully it soon past as the vibrations ceased and the explosive light faded away.
This allowed Kuvira to take a quick stock of the damage to her beloved ship. The damage was negligible and was limited to a light scorching of the hull metal. Still it left no doubt in Kuvira's mind that the direct hit of the combined blasts of the bombs could have crippled or even destroyed her ship.
All around the explosion the Resistance and First Order fighters fled at breakneck speed to escape the fiery immolation. The First Order TIE's, having been forewarned held a head start was able to escape with no loss of life in the blast.
The Resistance pilots that had manged to escape the blast with limited casualties. However, there had been two that had not been able to react fast enough to enable them to escape the blast radius. An A-wing and an x-wing had vanished into the fireball.
Poe watched as his plan came apart within seconds as he saw some of the greatest men and women in the Resistance and some of the best people in the galaxy vanish in a blinding flash of light.
Kuvira watched the same light as it faded away and the immediate danger to her ship was eliminated. She was proud of how her Alpha squadron had performed perfectly in this attack. That was after all the purpose to a commander and leader. To ensure that his or her people are trained and experienced and skilled enough to function on their own without her.
But she was not concerned with a now vanquished threat. Her mind had already dismissed that in drive to focus on the core objective.
With the bomber squadrons destroyed the Resistance offensive had been blunted. Their sword had been smashed aside. Now it was time to punch through and shatter their shield.
Kuvira activated her commlink. "Captain Canady. What is the status on the auto cannons?" She asked simply as she waited for the answer.
Canady's response came back immediately, and it was full of satisfaction. "Grand Admiral, the auto cannon will be fully charged…right…. about…. now!" He proclaimed as the charge on the Fulminatrix's bridge controls reached 100%. "We are ready to fire at the Raddus one your command." He stated with his voice growing humble as the memory of his colossal error silently came back to haunt him.
Kuvira would have normally reprimanded Canady for wasting precious time asking a clearly obvious question. However, she noted that the captain's sudden reluctance to show initiative was due to his previous failure to anticipate her orders. And that was an error that she had already admitted to sharing fault in.
"By all means Captain, fire on their command cruiser." She responded bluntly. She wanted this farce over and down with.
Upon her orders the giant dreadnaughts auto cannons began to burn a foreboding red as the energy was gathered.
Raddus Command Bridge
Ackbar - POV
Ackbar and Leia had watched as their bomber and fighter squadrons had charged at the First Order formations. With the communications between the mand the squadrons cut off, they were helpless as they saw hundreds of their brave men and woman charge straight into the proverbial meatgrinder.
It also showed the staggering level of personal loyalty that Poe was able to command that had allowed him to convince each and every on of the fighter and bomber crews to sever all comlinks to the Raddus and to not even hesitate in his borderline treasonous orders.
In any other circumstances Leia would have been impressed and inspired. It would have shown her that Poe truly was worthy to carry the torch of rebellion forward once she was gone, one way or another. But in this situation she was not inspired in anyway.
Ackbar would not have been inspired regardless. In a normal situation he would have been aggravated. But now he was completely wrathful!
As he watched the final bursts of flame die out, he saw the indicators on the tactical holo map blink out of existence. That was another Resistance starship and crew that had been lost on this suicide run. And he had had enough of it!
He strode towards the holomap and firmly but gently moved past Leia who was watching the holomap intently. With dramatic force he slammed his webbed hand down on the communication controls. It would send a powerful override signal to all Resistance ships including Poe renegades.
There was a chance that if Poe had complexly disconnected the comm system, that he would be aunable to hear the message. Personally, Ackbar did not think that Poe or his followers would have gone that far during their little stunt. But it was a possibility.
Ackbar did not now if Poe or his followers would receive the message. But in truth he did not care. His concern at this moment was the survival of the Resistance and the safety of everyone in the fleet. He would give Poe and his renegades one last chance to re-join the fleet.
After that he would order the fleet to jump to lightspeed. Even if it meant leaving the stubborn fools here to face their fate.
With the comm channel open he spoke clearly and firmly to all the Resistance across and over D'Qar. Let know one claim that he did not give them the chance. "Commander, Dameron! The dreadnaught is ready and aimed to fire. We are leaving this system now, with or without you! Get your survivors (Ackbar put slight emphasise on that word) back here now, that is an order!" Ackbar barked into the comm channel.
After a second, the resigned voice of Dameron came back. "Understood Admiral, we are on our way." "Poe relented with defeat and grief mixed heavily into his voice. "All ships, return to the Raddus." He ordered as he turned black one back towards the fleet and went to full speed to reach the ship in time.
Immediately the surviving half a dozen fighters wheeled around and followed Poe towards the Raddus. The A-wing and X-wing survivors gunned their engines as they raced to the protection of the Raddus's hanger bay. They were able to make their way directly across the debris strewn battlefield with no interference.
Poe - POV
Poe frowned in his cockpit as he noticed that they were not being attacked or harassed by the enemy star fighters. While he had sometimes said to his comrades that the First Order made it too easy. This time they actually where.
And that made him get a bad feeling.
He searched the star-studded sky around him as he tried to see some sign of the First Order TIE fighters. But it was hard to see their black painted hulls against the black void of space.
Then he saw them!
It was hard but he saw the black shapes of the TIE fighters as they shot through the ether. They were flying at attack speed and they were moving with obvious intent.
But they were not flying at the Resistance fighters. They were not even flying at the Resistance fleet anymore. Poe frowned as he saw that the TIE fighters were bolting as away from the Raddus and the other Resistance formations as fast as their sub-light engines were able to take them.
Poe's eyes widened as he put the pieces together. There was only one reason the First Order fighters would be running away from an enemy they were on the verge of crushing. Poe would have normally joked that they were simply scared of the Resistance pilots. But this was one moment where jokes had no place.
They were trying to escape the blast radius.
Poe keyed the commlink with his hands. But he was so desperate that he could not activate it with his fumbling hands.
He cursed as he finally got a grip and activated the channel. "General Organa, Admiral Ackbar. The dreadnaught is going to fire. You have to get out of here now. NOW!" He screamed even as he tried to coax more speed from his X-wing.
"Poe w…" Leia began but Poe cut her off before she could say more.
"Get the fleet to hyperspace! We won't make it back in time! We will jump out and find you later. But go NOW!" He shouted in a tone that was partly an order and partly begging.
Leia hesitated, but only for a moment. Just when Ackbar thought he might have to step in. Leia gave the order. "All craft, jump to hyperspace rendezvous at the chosen coordinates." She commanded.
But even as the Raddus and the rest of the three cruisers began to power up their hyperdrives and put the coordinates into the navi computer, they knew it was too late.
They had spent too long waiting for the return of the fighter and bomber squadrons. The First Order dreadnaught had charged up the auto cannons and they were ready to fire. The attack would come too fast and even the Raddus's shield and armour would be nothing next to the power of those giant cannons. That was the whole reason they had been designed. To destroy shielded targets!
There was nothing they could do to avoid the attack. There was nothing anyone could do at all.
One the Fulminatrix, Captain Canady watched as the monitor confirmed that the Fulminatrix was ready to fire with a full charge. He wasted no time in giving the order 9still painfully aware that his life, literal or otherwise, might very well depend on his actions in the next few seconds.
"Lock on to their main cruiser and fire the cannons!" He shouted to his crew. He would allow no one to claim lack of understanding in this moment.
On the Reclaimer, Kuvira received confirmation that the Fulminatrix had reached full charge and was commencing firing. She did not move or smile or even acknowledge that she had heard the comm officer's report.
She just continued to stare out of the viewport at the Raddus. It was almost as if she was trying to remember what it looked like before it was turned to a glowing cloud of ash. Then she inhaled audibly as her shoulders rose with the motion. Then she let the breath out as she watched the Raddus and the Resistance fleet until the moment when the Fulminatrix fired.
In the moment when it happened all sentient beings in the solar system held their breath.
The Fulminatrix cannons erupted as the massive energy blasts of ionized plasma burst from the auto cannons barrels and flew along their trajectory. As the entire First Order and Resistance fleets watched the balls of energy, they could not help but compare them to glowing comets.
The comparison was accurate, given how dangerous comets could be. They had the power to end life on an entire planet. And that was what they would do here.
The energy blasts flew towards the Raddus with nothing in their way to stop them and this time the Raddus would not be saved due to luck or the force.
The blasts short past the Resistance pilots as they scattered to avoid the deadly energy. Poe sent his X-Wing to a corkscrew as he managed to avoid the attack. One of his pilots was not so luck and her screams were cuts short as her A-wing was simply engulfed into the giant plasma ball like it was not even there.
Then the auto cannons blasts hit the Resistance fleet and the space around it erupted in crimsons flames.
What happened in that moment would be debated by galactic historians for centuries to come. But they all agree on the events that took place.
Just before the auto cannons attack hit the Resistance fleet flagship the two ships the Virgil and the Anodyne moved position. Instead of remaining in their previous post right behind and too the side of the Raddus. Protected by its massive shield envelope. They had both moved forward, and in the process the Virgil was now next to the front half of the Raddus while the Anodyne was behind and slightly above it.
Some historians and military expertise summarise that the two ships were trying to get into a better position to enter hyperspace while still being protected by the Raddus's shields
Other more idealistic individuals claim that what the two ships did was an obvious act of heroism. That the two ships had moved into to take the worst of the Fulminatrix's blow in order to spare the Raddus and to allow the Resistance to fight another day.
The more cynical individuals argue that the two ships were clearly attempting to jump to hyperspace on their own and abandon their allies to their fate. They claim what happened next was simply an accident due to their own idiocy and incompetence.
Regardless of the reasons. The events are the same.
The Virgil was hit first as the first two energy blasts slammed through the Raddus's shield. The previously invisible protective field flashed blue before it vanished rom existence as the defence bubble was destroyed.
Then the auto cannons blasts continued on as they smashed into the now undefended Virgil. The ships armour and haphazard construction was no match for the power of the First Order dreadnaught. The ship exploded like a firecracker as the metal was blasted apart and the atmosphere of the ship quickly escaped and caused the flames to roil before burning out. Along with the lives of everyone aboard.
The Anodyne was the next ship that was hit. The two previous blasts had collided with the Raddus's shield and the Virgil. Both which had since ceased to exist.
Now the third blast wave slammed into the Anodyne hospital ship as it tried to veer its position. But it was nowhere near quick enough. The third blast ripped the ship clean in half as it caused the central structure to break as the plasma blast and the ship both disappeared in a ball of fire.
Three of the four auto-cannon blasts had been used. Two against the shield and the Virgil. One against the Anodyne.
The final blast blazed through the flames and the debris and scored a direct hit on the side of the Raddus's armoured hull.
The blast shattered durusteel and warped dunium as the massive battle cruiser rocked and bucked against the sudden force that was raging through it.
The systems went wild as their energy sources and engineering was overwhelmed. The bulkhead screeched and groaned under the sudden tension caused by the impact. People who were lucky enough to have been located deep within the ship or on the other side were thrown from their feet and hurled into the walls. Those who were located in the starboard side, were not so fortunate.
Those that were not obliterated by the impact itself were thrown by the force so hard that they received either crippling injuries or death.
One the bridge the crew screamed as the consoles sparked and the ship rocked violently. The lights went dark and then returned twice as bright before going down again. Smoke began to fill the chamber as it burst from the fried electronics and ventilation system.
Ackbar pulled himself up from the floor and seized the command console. With his vision blurry from the impact and his fingers nerveless from the stress of the day. He grabbed the manual override for the hyperdrive.
He did not know if the ship could make the jump to hyperspace.
He did not know if the ship could survive the trip through hyperspace.
He did not even know if the ship was still in one piece.
All he knew was that they needed to get out of this system. Right now, anywhere was better then here. And if they were destroyed in the attempt. At least he would deny the First Order the pleasure of being the ones that killed them.
With that last through he pulled the Manuel override and fell back to the floor as the engines ignited and the world fell away.
Authors Note
Sorry about the wait. A combination of life and writers block caused that. Not my best chapter I know. I could not seem to find my writing flow. Anyway. I hope you enjoyed it regardless.