Iron Squadron
Another week has gone on for the Rebellion and during that time, Errol's parents managed to find the right gem for the wedding ring he wants to give to Hera and now they just had to make a ring itself.
As of right now, the Ghost and a Sphyrna-class Hammerhead Corvette and a couple of A-Wings exited Hyperspace as they were heading towards a planet named Mykapo on a mission.
Errol sat in the co-pilot seat, flicking an ingot of Beskar metal that had etching on it to prevent boredom.
"Hey, did Fulcrum say how long it'd be before the Empire invades Mykapo?" Ezra asked Hera from the Nose Gun.
"No, but Commander Sato has connections here and he said Rebel sympathisers were eager to evacuate." Hera replied.
"I just hope we get to them in time." Errol added as Kanan came in and placed a hand on Hera's seat.
"I think we may be too late." Kanan said as everyone heard cannon fire in the distance. They looked out the windshield to see a ship being chased by a whole bunch of TIE Fighters which came from an Imperial ship.
"Imperial transport plus four TIEs. They haven't spotted us yet." Sabine said as she, Zeb and Kanan walked out of the cockpit to get into position.
"They're distracted. Got their sights locked on that freighter." Ezra added as the chase now headed towards them.
"They've got cargo of some kind. Maybe they're smugglers." Hera said to Errol. He frowned in confusion about something.
"How come they're not jumping to light speed?" He questioned.
"They're gonna need our help." Ezra stated, getting the Nose Gun ready.
"Phoenix transport, proceed with the mission to the planet's surface." Hera informed the Hammerhead.
"Yes, Captain." Rex acknowledged.
"Phoenix Two and Three, move in on my command. Protect that freighter." Hera then ordered.
"Copy that, Phoenix Leader." One of the A-Wing pilots replied through the comms. The Hammerhead separated from the Ghost and the A-Wings and they saw the freighter turn around and ram right into one of the TIEs, heading right to the Imperial transport ship.
"They're attacking the Empire head on!" Ezra said, shocked and confused.
"We need to talk some sense into those maniacs!" Errol told Hera.
"Attention, YT-2400 freighter. We're here to assist." Hera called out to whoever was piloting the freighter.
"Thanks, but we don't need your help." A young male voice replied, making Errol groan.
"Just great, an overconfident and cocky kid, just what we need to deal with." He crossed his arms. As they all joined up with the chase, Kanan fired from the top gun and he took a TIE down within seconds, and then another. Ezra then fired the Nose Gun at the remaining TIE and took it down.
"You're clear. Now make your jump! Get outta here!" Hera then ordered.
"Negative. Whoever you are, the Iron Squadron doesn't run." The young man on the comms bragged, making both Hera and Errol frown as they saw the freighter head right to the transport and let some cargo go, heading right at it and when they made contact, they all exploded, causing significant damage to the Imperial ship.
"They just bombed the ship with cargo." Errol frowned with confusion.
"Whoo-hoo-hoo! Yeah!" The male voice cheered as the Imperial ship turned around for a retreat.
"Wow, the Empire's retreating." Ezra noted as the ship entered Hyperspace and the freighter faced them.
"Nice work, Iron Squadron." Hera complimented.
"We've been battling the Empire for a while now. Why don't you come over? We could probably show you a few tricks." The young male replied, making Errol snort.
"Yeah, right." He muttered, believing no one could teach his girlfriend anything. Kanan then entered the cockpit with Zeb and Sabine.
"Sounds like an invitation." Ezra noted.
"We have to report in first. Kanan, why don't you take a team to the planet? Assist the evacuation." Hera said, walking out with Errol.
"Alright. Good luck with Iron Squadron." Kanan said.
"Sounds like a ship full of Ezras. Let's get out of here." Zeb said as he followed out Kanan and Chopper to the Phantom II and they flew down to the planet.
In the common room, Hera and Errol communicated with Sato with the holotable. Slick was with them as well.
"The Iron Squadron. That was my brother's detachment. He was killed on Mykapo, and I feared his son, Mart Mattin, was dead too. Blasted boy. Never responded to my transmissions. He has always been somewhat rebellious." Sato told the couple.
"Yeah, that sounds like him." Hera said, looking over to Errol.
"Please, make sure my nephew escapes safely with the others. Bring him to Atollon, if you can." Sato begged the two, wanting his family safe.
"Don't worry, Sato, we'll do our best to bring him to you." Errol promised.
They then docked with the freighter and Hera, Errol, Slick, Sabine and Ezra walked through the airlock to enter the other ship and when the airlock opens up, they are greeted by a female Theelin sitting on some crates, messing around with some kind of tool or screw. She looked at them all, her gaze staying on Errol longer than the others, clearly struck by his looks. Errol didn't like it and so he held Hera's hand, signaling that they're together and the Theelin got the signal.
Then a young teen appeared with a bald head, dark skin and blue eyes.
"Welcome aboard. We'll take you to our captain." The teen told them and he and Theelin walked off, leading the Ghost crew through the rather damaged ship as there were sparks flying all over and a pipe burst.
"Ship needs a little work." Sabine commented.
"Try not to touch anything. It's organised the way we like it." The Theelin told her.
"If you like a junk pile." Sabine muttered.
"Be nice." Ezra told her. They walked past an astromech that was in the middle of doing repairs, which Slick talked with and revealed a bit of concerning news.
Seriously? Your Hyperdrive doesn't work?" Errol questioned at how stupid that sounds.
"We don't need a fancy Hyperdrive. Mart's the best pilot in the galaxy." The teen bragged.
"I'm sorry, but no way some cocky teen is better than my girl." Errol argued back, wrapping an arm around Hera, making her swell with pride at being complimented like that.
"Besides, Slick can fix it easily." Errol added and then Slick rolled right up to help but the astromech acted hostile and the two now got into a fight, Slick revealing his arms that Errol gave him. Both the Theelin and Errol had to split them apart.
"Knock it off!" Errol shouted, pulling away Slick from the astromech, giving him a cheeky kick as the Theelin pulled him back. Slick angrily beeped at the Theelin.
"Yeah, well, R3 fixes things around here." She told him and they just continued on into the common room where a teen sat, back facing them all.
"Hey, Captain. Company's here." The teen told the other teen.
"Uh-huh." He shrugged off.
"So, you guys are the entire Iron Squadron? The three of you?" Sabine questioned.
"Nice. You can count." The teen rudely scoffed, making Errol mad, but he had to brush it off.
"I'm Errol. That's Hera, Sabine, Ezra and Slick." Errol introduced himself and his crew members.
"I'm Gooti. Jonner, R3 and that's Mart." The Theelin introduced herself and the Iron Squadron.
"Mart? Uh, I think we know your uncle." Ezra pointed out.
"So, you know Commander Sato. He order you to come get me?" Mart turned around and asked. Revealing his brown eyes and long short hair.
"We're part of his Phoenix Squadron, a Rebel group fighting the Empire. We came here to help anti-Imperial dissidents like yourselves evacuate." Hera explained.
"*chuckles* What does 'evacuate' mean?" Jonner asked mockingly, Gooti rolling her eyes and walking off.
"It means run away like a coward. Unless you didn't notice, we fight and make the Empire evacuate." Mart added, relaxing on his chair.
"Evacuating isn't some cowardly act and the Empire will be back." Errol warned him, getting more and more annoyed at this teen trying to act like some tough Rebel.
"Can we eat? I'm starving." Gooti said, putting a plate down that had a bunch of waffles on it.
"Oh, let me in there!" Jonner said as he grabbed a waffle and even Mart grabbed one.
"Oh, hey, you want some?" He then asked the Ghost crew.
"Thank you, but we don't have time. Let me debrief you on our plan to-"
"How 'debrief' is this gonna be?" Jonner interrupted Hera, clearly not wanting to listen.
"Look, it doesn't matter. We are not going anywhere." Mart replied, throwing the waffle away.
"Well, you're an idiot for thinking you can stay here and fight the Empire alone." Errol coldly spat back.
"What do you think we've been doing?" Mart spat back, hating being called an idiot.
"If we hadn't jumped in and helped you back there-"
"Helped us? We had everything under control. Didn't you see how we chased off that Star Destroyer?" Mart bragged, making Errol laugh so hard he had to lean on Hera to prevent himself from falling.
"How dumb are you? That wasn't a Star Destroyer, it was a Gozanti-class cruiser. You wouldn't stand a chance against an actual Destroyer." Errol mocked, getting on Mart's nerves which he deserved.
"Errol's right. You're all very brave. But once the Empire arrives in full force, that won't matter." Hera tried to reason with them.
"This is our world and we aren't just gonna leave so some Imperial goons can take it." Mart stood his ground, standing up.
"We're not gonna run." Jonner backed up with a grin that made Errol just want to punch him so bad.
"Not now, not ever." Gooti then said.
"Well if the Empire captures all of you with ease, it's all your fault for being too cocky for your own good." Errol warned them before storming off.
Everyone got back aboard the Ghost from the freighter that they learned is called Sato's Hammer and they saw the sympathisers flying past them and the Phantom II attached back on the ship.
Zeb, Chopper and Kanan climbed down the ladder to see everyone else in the common room, Errol and Hera sitting next to each other. The holotable then projected a hologram of Rex.
"Well, we have cleared the planet of everyone who wanted to get out before the Empire returns." Rex informed them.
"Prepare to rendezvous with the fleet. We'll meet you there." Hera told him and then the hologram shut off.
"What about Iron Squadron?" Kanan asked.
"Those stubborn morons aren't coming. We'll have to tell Sato." Errol answered him. Kanan nodded and walked out with Hera about to follow him.
"Hera, wait. Let me try again." Ezra requested.
"You don't have time. Their ship has no Hyperdrive and the Empire will be back sooner than later." Hera shook her head.
"And they're so thick headed that they won't listen to reason." Errol agreed with her.
"Right, but Sabine had an idea." Ezra retorted, nudging the Mandalorian.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. Slick and I can try to fix their Hyperdrive. At least that'll give them a chance to escape." Sabine explained, Slick nodding in agreement.
"*sighs* Alright. But I want you all out of here, soon as possible, whether you convince them to leave or not." Hera ordered them.
"I'll join you, just so that everything goes in order." Errol volunteered.
"I got it. Uh, we got it, right?" Ezra assured them.
They gathered in the Phantom II and detached from the Ghost as it detached from the Sato's Hammer and flew off. The shuttle then attached onto the Iron Squadron's ship.
Sabine, Slick and R3 instantly started work on fixing the Hyperdrive with everyone else watching.
"This is a waste of time." Mart muttered before he walked off. Errol felt better with him away.
"If we can't get your Hyperdrive working, you'll have to come with us on our ship." Ezra told Jonner and Gooti as they were about to follow Mart.
"If Mart isn't going, we're not going." Jonner replied. Errol rolled his eyes.
"This might be just a planet to you but it's our home." Gooti told Ezra, sounding slightly hostile.
"Look, I didn't want to leave my home either. I was so afraid and I… I didn't know it." Ezra told them, relating to them in his own way.
"Ha! We're not afraid of the Empire." Gooti shook off, pretty much mocking Ezra, making Errol clench his fist.
"I know you're not. You're afraid of losing everything, like I did." Ezra replied.
"So you understand why we do what we do." Jonner argued.
"I understand that the Empire wants us to fight because that makes it easy for them to destroy us." Ezra argued back.
"So you're saying we should do nothing?" Gooti asked, not seeing what he's trying to tell them.
"*groans* What he's trying to tell you is that how you choose to fight is just as important as what you're fighting for." Errol went for the blunt approach.
Then suddenly, the lights flashed back on and the Hyperdrive lights up. But then the lights turned off and the Hyperdrive turned off.
"What just happened?" Errol asked in confusion. Slick beeped, telling them what happened.
"Rerouted? To where?" Errol asked him. He replied and Errol sighed at the answer.
"Looks like Mart rerouted the power to the guns and shields." He told everyone.
"Fixing the Hyperdrive is useless if the power isn't switched back." Sabine pointed out.
"Iron Squadron, get to your battle stations!" Mart said through the intercom.
Everyone entered the cockpit and saw two Gozanti-class cruisers and an Imperial light cruiser facing them. Then some TIEs that the Gozanti cruisers held detached and flew towards them.
"Finally, a Star Destroyer!" Mart smirked at the light cruiser.
"It's a light cruiser, dumbass. A Star Destroyer is six times bigger than that. You'd have no chance." Errol corrected him. Both Jonner and Gooti were shaken up to hear that and started to actually rethink things over.
"Yeah, well, prepare for battle anyway." Mart just ignored him.
"I knew you were dumb, but this is insanity!" Errol yelled in annoyance.
"Look, we need to get to the Phantom. It's time to go." Sabine backed up.
"You need to come with us now!" Ezra firmly told Mart.
"Mart, maybe they're right." Gooti told her captain but he didn't listen and just flew right to the Imperials.
"That's a lot of Imperial ships and they say there are even more on the way." Jonner told Mart.
"What's wrong with you two?" Mart questioned his crew members.
"Simple, they are using their brains and don't want to die." Errol answered. The TIEs flew in and fired some shots, which hit the freighter, causing a bit of damage.
"Come on, buddy!" Jonner said, not wanting to die.
"We have no choice." Gooti agreed with him as the cockpit was sparking, smoke filling it up and the monitors had alarms blaring. Mart had no choice in this matter.
"Fine, fine. Let's go." He said and everyone left the cockpit, heading right to the Phantom II. They all entered with Errol taking over as the pilot.
"Hurry up, guys!" He told everyone as the droids hovered in and Ezra climbed in.
"Mart, hurry!" Ezra called out, but the teen instead closed off the airlock, staying behind.
"No!" Jonner yelled. The shuttle was then disengaged.
"He disengaged the airlock. What is he doing?!" Errol questioned as he took control of the shuttle.
"Look!" Jonner pointed to see the freighter fly head on to the Imperial ships.
"What's he thinking?" Ezra asked. The freighter dodged cannon fire from the TIEs.
"Mart, you need to get out of there." Errol contacted the young teen.
"No! Jump! Get Gooti and Jonner to safety while you can." Mart replied. Errol didn't listen and piloted the Phantom II and followed after the Sato's Hammer, dodging cannon fire from the TIEs and now from the cruisers. Mart let his cargo go and it flew right at the light cruiser, which started firing at the cargo, causing them to explode and smoke covered it up.
"I got 'em. I got 'em!" Mart said in victory, only for that victory to be deflated when he saw the cruiser was all fine and ain't damaged.
"I didn't get them." He muttered to himself as he and Errol flew their ships away from the TIEs that were chasing them. Some stray shots hit the Sato's Hammer and knock out its engines, making the freighter float in space.
"His engines are hit. Power's fried from that coupling." Sabine said as she and Errol started the Hyperdrive.
"What are you doing?" Jonner asked them.
"We have to go!" Sabine answered.
"No, we have to save him." Jonner replied.
"If we try to save him, we'd be captured as well. And Hera gave us a direct order." Errol told him before he opened comms with Mart.
"Mart, do you read?" He asked.
"Errol, go. Get my friends out of here." Mart replied.
"We'll come back for you. I swear to it." Errol promised right as he entered Hyperspace.
They made it back up with Phoenix Squadron and attached back onto the Ghost and got aboard the Liberator, informing everyone what had happened and after they did, they all got a transmission from Mart on the holotable in the war room. Sato himself was projected as he wasn't there physically.
"The Empire has my ship surrounded but hasn't fired on me yet. I don't know what they're up to. I hate to admit it, but I need your-" Mart was saying but his transmission was cut off, concerning Sato.
"Help. He was going to say help." Gooti said, looking over to Jonner with concern.
"The Empire allowed that part of the transmission to get through, then they cut it off." Hera said.
"They want us to rescue him. A trap." Errol pointed out, looking over to her and she nodded, agreeing with that conclusion.
"I will go." Sato volunteered.
"Commander, you're too far away. You'd never make it in time." Hera shot that idea down.
"I am all the family he has left." Sato reminded her.
"Let me take the Ghost, go in quietly and get him out of there." Hera then suggested.
"You have my gratitude, Captain." Sato thanked her before his hologram shut off. Everyone then walked out except for Errol, Jonner and Gooti.
"Wait, you're really going back? I'm… we are all for helping Mart, but it's obviously a trap as you said." Gooti told him.
"Yeah, and if it's obviously a trap, then it's not a good one. Plus we've been outnumbered many times, though this time, we're going back as a team which will give both Mart and us a fighting chance." Errol told them, walking past them to join up with the others.
Everyone gathered up in the Ghost and as both Errol and Hera got in the pilot seats, getting the ship up and ready, Ezra entered the cockpit with Jonner and Gooti.
"Alright if we tag along?" Gooti asked the couple, who looked at each other and nodded with a smile.
"We saved you both a seat." Ezra told them and they sat behind the couple as R3, Slick and Chopper entered as well and he then climbed down to man the Nose Gun. They then detached from the Corvette and jumped into light speed back to Mykapo.
Once they made it back, they connected with Sato's Hammer.
"Hey, Mart. We're back." Errol informed him.
TIEs detached from the Gozanti cruisers and flew towards them.
"Kanan, keep those TIEs off us." Hera ordered the older Jedi, who was up on the top turret.
"Gooti, are you ready on the hoist?" Errol asked the Theelin, who slid down the ladder into the cargo bay and pulled out the controls.
"Yes, sir." She replied.
"Mart, we're coming in." She then told her captain on her comlink.
"Goot, the Empire attached something onto my ship." Mart replied.
"Must be a magno-mine. Remote detonated." Errol told Hera.
"That changes things." She said before looking at Jonner.
"You, big guy, get the droids ready to go outside." She ordered him.
"Yes, ma'am! Come on, droids. Move it!" He said and led the droids out, Chopper mocking him as he watched R3 and Slick follow him. They fired at the light cruiser as they were chased by some TIEs and Kanan fired back.
They then flew back towards Sato's Hammer.
"Opening cargo bay doors." Gooti informed Hera and Errol.
"Copy that. Moving into position." Hera replied through the comlink.
They then flew around to keep the TIEs busy as the astromechs focused on the mine. Slick and R3 flew with their rocket thrusters and landed by the mine.
"Slick, disable the detonator. The red light on top. R3, turn off the magnetic clamp but carefully." Sabine gave instructions and Slick got shocked briefly but got right back and they managed to detach the mine and Slick grabbed it before it flew too far. They then flew off and waved at Mart.
"Hey, care to let me in on the plan?" Mart asked them.
"Oh, the droids are attaching that mine to one of your cargo crates." Errol replied.
"Ah. Ah, I get it." Mart replied.
The two astromechs got under the freighter and flew to a cargo crate. Slick let go of the mine and R3 used a jolt of electricity to attach it to the crate and it reactivated as they flew away.
"The bomb is in place but my ship's not going anywhere. Can your droid get me flying again?" Mart asked them.
"Sorry. No time for repairs. Get the droids inside and get ready for a pickup." Hera instructed the teen as she and Errol flew right back around to Sato's Hammer as they were chased by a few TIEs now. They then hovered right over the freighter.
"Gooti, lock onto the ship." Hera ordered as they were fired upon by the cruisers, causing them to shake slightly.
"Come on, Gooti! Our shields aren't gonna last!" Errol called out to the Theelin.
"Captain Syndulla, reinforcements have arrived." Sato suddenly came through, surprising everyone.
"Sato." Hera muttered with relief right before the Liberator and a couple of A-Wings jumped out of Hyperspace and provided backup and managed to take down one of the Gozanti cruisers with ease and headed right to the light cruiser. Eventually this gave Gooti an opening to attach the Ghost to Mart's ship.
"Got him!" Gooti informed everyone with a smile.
The Liberator flew around the Imperial light cruiser and fired some shots, giving some good damage.
"Mart, get your bomb ready. We're making a run for that cruiser." Hera updated the teen as she and her boyfriend flew towards the cruiser.
"Standing by, Captain." Mart replied. Once they flew in close enough, Mart dropped the cargo and it landed on the cruiser, causing severe damage and as they flew off, a Star Destroyer jumped out of Hyperspace in front of them. Gooti and Jonner entered the cockpit and saw the ship in front of them in shock.
"That is a Star Destroyer." Errol pointed out, even to Mart over the comlink.
"Okay, then. Let's get out of here." Mart said, now understanding everything Errol told him, truly feeling like a dumbass.
They then saw some TIEs fly out from the Star Destroyer and they all, including Phoenix Squadron turned around.
"Commander Jun Sato. I wondered what it would take to motivate your return to Mykapo." Thrawn's voice came in through the comms for everyone to hear.
"And now you know, Admiral. Until we meet again." Sato replied.
"Yes, until we meet again." Thrawn said.
"And Errol Flynn… I look forward to our next meeting when the time comes." The Chiss then addressed Errol, who's eyes widened and knew for sure that things are about to get interesting from now as they all entered light speed.
Everyone made it back to Atollon and Chopper Base and once they'd docked, everyone gathered around as Mart greeted his uncle.
"It is good to see you alive, Mart." Sato said and that led to his nephew hugging him and he hugged back.
"Uncle Jun, thank you for coming." He said.
"Of course. But we are both indebted to Captain Syndulla and her crew." Sato told his nephew and Jonner and Gooti ran up to Mart and embraced, making the Ghost crew smile.
"I can't believe it! You guys came back!" He greeted his friends.
"What do you expect?" Gooti asked rhetorically.
"We're the Iron Squadron!" Jooner declared, wrapping his arms around his friends and they laughed.
As this happened, Chopper got behind Slick and R3 and decided to whack them both which started a fight between the droids which amused everyone, especially Zeb and Errol.