Chapter 3
Luke and the Black Squadron pilots flew through Yavins atmosphere towards the Rebel base. The other half of the squad had already started to engage the Rebel fighters who had launched moments before to their attack on the Death Star.
'Black one to Black Leader, I got Rebel fighters on my scope, estimate 30 fighters'.
Oh shit that's just great, thought Luke, he did not expect to be outnumbered, the Rebels must have more fighters than intelligence suggested. Still he thought, I've had worse situations. Thinking fast he got on the comm to his pilots.
'All pilots this is Black Leader, stay in attack formation, engage rebel fighters as we encounter them, try to break up their formation and drive them out of the atmosphere. The base is heavily defended with canons and gun turrets, they will be our primary target, we can't land under that level of fire.'
'Leader I have visual.'
'Copy that six' replied Luke.
He jerked into a roll to avoid the incoming rebel x-wings, four of them had locked onto him. They obviously knew who was flying the black and red x-wing. Luke focused on these while keeping in mind the other 20 or so fighters out there.
'Got one' cried Deek, as one of the x-wings exploded.
'Thanks, Deek' said Luke, his attention turned to the other three fighters.
He had to admit it, these pilots are good, probably defected TIE pilots with a vendetta for him, thought Luke. The fighters were swooping all around him, he was struggling to get a lock. The force flowing through him he pushed on the throttle, tried a different angle, and took out two of the fighters in a perfectly executed roll.
'Deek look out' cried Luke, as a blast of fire nearly took out his wing man. They were getting closer to the base and starting to take fire from the ion canons and gun turrets.
He could hear the coms between the other fighters in his helmet, already conscious of the fact a few of them had already gone quiet.
Getting closer to the base Luke noticed the small cluster of antennae at the base of the huge ion canon, they were small but so far had managed to generate a strong and effective deflector shield around the ion cannon.
'Group one, this is Black Leader, reform attack position and move closer to the base. We cannot take out that ion canon its too heavily shielded, go for the generators. Group Two, aim for the laser canons and gun turrets, they might not have shields.'
The squad dived closer to the tree line and towards the rebel base. Fighters from group one approached the shield generators, swerving and rolling to avoid the volley of canon fire, they opened fire on the generator, and it exploded in a blinding flash of flames and white light.
A cheer went up over the coms, 'Great shooting Group one!' shouted Luke, 'Bombers move in and destroy that cannon.'
Two TIE bombers flanked by the rest of Group One took no hesitation in taking care of the enormous Ion canon, it exploded in even more spectacular fashion than the shield generator.
'Black leader, Black leader this is black 14 !' came a cry so loud in his helmet it made Luke startle. Black 14 was leading Group Two.
'What is it black 14?'
'My Lord these laser canons and gun turrets have deflector shields to, we aren't making much impact, I've lost three fighters so far to them and the rebel pilots'.
'Hang in their black 14, we are on our way' replied Luke.
'Deek with me' he ordered through the com, 'Group One cover us, bombers with me, we are running out of time, we're going in, it's now or never for the Princess'.
They zigzagged their way around the many temples and trees towards the rebel base, taking out another three x wings on the way. The area in front of the imposing temple held most of the rebel defenses and the ground crews operating them. If he could just land with a few of his men, there was still a chance of success.
'Group two target the shield generators,' ordered Luke as he opened fire on the ground crews shooting at them, Deek following suit, 'Bombers, target their main guns.' The entrance to the temple was heavily defended, Luke fired trying to clear a path to land, he could eject and have Deek come pick them up he thought, no that was stupid, he would run the risk of being killed before he'd even hit the ground.
'Deek cover me, hold them off for a few more moments while I try to land,'
'Death Star base to Black Leader' came the voice of the Admiral in his com, 'You are running out of time, the Death Star will be in firing range in 10 minutes, Lord Vader demands an update on your situation.'
'Black Leader to Death Star base, I'm going in for landing, inform Lord Vader all is proceeding well,' it was going anything but well he mused, but he'd deal with his Father on his return.
'Black one to Black Leader'
'What is it Deek?'
'This isn't going to work, we don't have time.'
Luke knew deep down he was right, but he had to try.
…..
'General they've taken out the Ion canon!" shouted the Lieutenant. Alarms rang throughout the base alerting any remaining pilots and ground crew to take arms.
'The turrets and laser canons are still holding, we don't need to hold them off much longer, our ships are starting their attack run,' replied Dodonna, 'besides, we have them outnumbered, they have underestimated us, they will be on the run soon.'
…..
In the area of space above Yavin 4, the Death Star was approaching firing range. Governor Tarkin stared at the screens detailing their approach. At last, he thought, soon the Rebels will be no more. He heard footsteps approaching and turned to see a nervous looking officer.
'Governor Tarkin, a small group of fighters has broken off from the main group, Lord Vader has personally taken his TIE fighter along with two others to bring them down. Our analysis of their attack shows there is a significant threat, shall I have your shuttle alerted?'
'Have you no faith officer? Lord Vader and his men will bring down those last few pilots, we will not evacuate in our moment of triumph' replied Tarkin, tuning back to the screens.
….
'Base one this is Red two, I'm starting my attack run,' said Wedge. His heart was pounding, sweat poured down his back and trickled from his forehead into his eyes. There were not many of them left. He was on his own hurtling along the Death Stars trench, the remaining fighters had gone to cover him against three TIE fighters that were still on their tails.
Wedge turned on his targeting computer, made some adjustments and did his best to focus. This was it; he was the last chance they had.
'Targets coming up, I'm in range, just hold them off for a few more moments' he said into his com.
Above him Darth Vader had the remaining x-wings in his sights, locking onto what was Red twelve, Vader fired, and the ship exploded into flames, crashing into the top of the trench. He could still feel his son's presence in the force, what he couldn't determine was where Luke was and if he had succeeded. Diving downwards Vader and his two wing men regained formation and zoomed at full speed along the Death Star trench in pursuit of the leading fighter.
Laser blots flew around Wedge as the both the Death Stars canons and the TIE fighters unleased a volley of fire at him.
'Stay on target Red Two' came the voice of Red ten in his com, 'I'll try and draw some fire.'
'Copy' said Wedge, his voice shaking.
Red Ten looped around the canon that was unleashing hell towards Wedge, as he hoped it swiveled to follow him, but it came with a price.
'I'm hit!' cried Red ten, 'I've lost my stabilisers and shield,'
'Get out of here' replied Wedge.
Vader has seen the other ship take a hit and go to fly away, 'Forget him,' he said to his wingmen 'let him go, stay on the Leader'
…
Tarkin watched the computer projection screen with a satisfied smile.
'Rebel base thirty seconds and counting,'
…
'General the Death Star has cleared the planet; we have seconds left' said the Lieutenant
Leia and Dodonna shared the same grim expression.
'Base one to Red two, it's now or never, are you alright?' Dodonna said.
'Red two to Base, yes I'm all right, got my targeting computer on, ready to fire,' replied Wedge.
He concentrated on his targeting device, the exhaust port approaching the cross hairs. The three TIE fighters led by Vader charged on along the trench towards him.
Just as Wedge thought he was done for, a hail of laser fire hit and destroyed one of Vader's wingmen. He looked around to see the source of the fire and spotted the Millennium Falcon heading towards the two remaining TIE fighters.
'Watch out!' cried Vader's wingman as Han shot more laser fire towards the two fighters. In a panic the remaining wingman swerved to avoid it, clipping Vader's TIE fighter in the process. The wingman's TIE collided with the wall of the trench and exploded. Vader's TIE, with its damaged wing, was sent violently spinning out of the trench and into space.
'Your all-clear Wedge,' shouted Han, 'lets blast this thing and go home'
Wedge looked up with a huge smile. He concentrated on his targeting computer, lined up the cross hairs and fired the proton torpedoes, watching as they glided towards the surface and into the exhaust port.
Wedge, a remaining x-wing and y-wing, and the Falcon hastily sped away from the Death Star. A low rumbling soon became louder, small flashes began to appear on its surface, and with a deafening roar it exploded as if like a supernova, the resulting display visible from the surface of Yavin 4 and beyond.
