Hey everybird! What's up!?

Before we get to the next chapter, I hope you're all still staying healthy and safe and getting through these difficult times alright! Things will be back to normal sooner or later!

Now, I don't think there's anything else, so lets continue!

Chapter 7: At the Gates of Scarif

(Blu's POV)

With the warning indicator going off that I would be exiting hyperspace in just a minute, I prepared myself, making sure I was comfortable in my seat as I held onto the flight stick and trigger, taking a deep breath as the blue tunnel turned into the white lines of stars before I re-entered normal space. Arrayed out around me was the rest of Admiral Raddus' fleet as well as the X-Wing fighters and Y-Wing bombers which joined the effort. Up ahead was a couple of huge star destroyers, protecting the shield gate of Scarif, our only way down to the planet's surface, not to mention the swarms of TIEs that would most certainly be launching very soon.

As the rest of the fleet jumped back into real space getting into formation, I held my position towards the rear of the squadron as my father instructed, waiting for orders. I was nervous, this is the biggest fight that I have ever been part of so far, but I was determined to show my best.

"Yeah I know Jewel, this is going to be a tough one…" I replied back at my droid as the voice of Admiral Raddus rang through my comms.

"This is Admiral Raddus of the Rebel Alliance. All Squadron leaders report in." The admiral requested.

"Admiral, this is Blue Leader standing by." My father answered first, his voice clear and neutral.

"This is Gold Leader, standing by." The voice of Gold Leader spoke right after as I looked to see the gold and white colored bombers, one of which I knew Nico was flying.

"This is Red Leader, standing by." The final squadron leader checking in as the red and white X-Wings of Red Squadron were all ready to go.

Continuing to fly past the ships of the fleet, I waited for more orders, keeping my s-foils still locked together as I wondered what part Blue Squadron would play, luckily I didn't have to wait long to find out…

"Red and Gold Squadron, attack formations. Defend the fleet. Blue Squadron, get to the surface before they close that gate." Admiral Raddus issuing out orders as I smiled, our squadron being given the toughest, but well most important part in this fight as my father of course couldn't argue back.

"Copy Admiral." My father's voice spoke through comms before speaking to the rest of the squadron. "Blue Squadron on me."

"Copy Blue Leader." I heard Blues Four and Five reply, with Blue Eight saying. "We won't have long."

And he was right as the Empire would close the only entrance as they watched us break through. Opening my s-foils into attack position, I sped up, putting more power into the engines as the squadron began diving down from the fleet towards the shield gate. As we descended down, the laser cannon emplacements on the gate itself began firing at us as one by one, the X-Wings, as well as a U-Wing troop transport flew through the opening.

With Roberto and I in the back, it of course took us longer to reach our goal as I desperately raced for the opening.

"Jewel, increase power to the engines, overheat them if you have to!" I told my droid as I saw the shield gate start to close while I dodged and weaved through the laser fire, watching as one of the X-Wings got shot, the flaming wreckage going down as the smoke temporarily blocked my vision.

I was getting closer and closer as every second mattered, if only I was going faster than I was now or I was in front of the formation…

"Come on, come on, come on!" The voice of Blue Six shouted out as he was in front of me, but I knew it was going to be too late to get through for the rest of us who hasn't made it yet…

"Pull up!" I shouted through comms as the shield gate finished the process of closing the entrance, watching as our way was blocked as I pulled on my flight stick as far up as it would go…

It was too late for Blue Six and another of the squadron's X-Wings, both of them impacting the shield at full speed, the once elegant starfighters breaking apart on contact as their parts scattered on top of the blue colored shielding. Looking back, I could see three more of the squadron still in one piece, but one of them in the back still hasn't managed to pull up in time and crashed his X-Wing into the side of the shield gate structure itself.

As I flew up and away from the shield gate, with the two remaining Blue Squadron X-Wings following, I had to dodge one of the massive star destroyers, flying above the grey hull as I turned back towards Alliance forces. It was then that I realized I was holding my breath since I last spoken, letting it go and feeling the weight of the air I took in escape as I focused on the developments at the moment.

"Blue Leader, do you copy?" I spoke through comms as all that greeted me was static. "Sir? Father!?" I said more louder as nothing came through, the shield gate, separating my father and me physically, was also blocking out comms between us as I had to give up on that. "Roberto, do you copy, are you still here?"

"Right behind you Blu, Blue Twelve is also with us still." Roberto answered luckily as that gave me some relief.

"Sir, you're in charge of us now, what do we do?" Blue Twelve asked me as she was right, with Blue Leader down below and unable to give us orders, I was now in charge of the three of us.

"We help out where we can, protect the fleet and hopefully they can find a way to take down that shield gate." I replied as I prepared myself before turning to Jewel. "Jewel, keep trying to reach Blue Leader if you can, I know comms are blocked, but please, see if you can get through." I told my droid and without any argument she got to work trying to establish a connection with my father, which I knew was useless, but now was not the time to think negatively about the situation…

(David's POV)

Looking back the shield gate was fully closed now as I watched a couple of the X-Wings in the squadron crash into the shielding, I really hoped either one of them wasn't Blu as I got a quick headcount of those who managed to get through before trying to reach my son.

"Captain, do you read me?" I spoke through comms to Blu. "Son?" Nothing as only static sounded.

However this wasn't the time to worry about this matter, I just had to hope Blu was still alive and leading whoever couldn't make it down past the shield, it will certainly prepare him for what may happen to me during this fight. As I led the Squadron down towards the surface, to the Imperial installation, I saw fighting on the ground as huge AT walkers were trampling their steel legs down on the ground.

"Evelyn, keep trying to reach Blu." I told my droid riding in her socket behind the cockpit as I then spoke to the squadron. "Alright Blue Squadron, target the heavy guns, we have to clear them out before landing the U-Wing." I ordered.

With the squadron locking their s-foils into attack position, I saw a rocket from a shoulder fired launcher hit the side of the "head" of one of them, which harmlessly exploded against the thick metal skin. As the metal beast recovered from the hit, turning back its head to continue its attack, I got within range, putting my crosshairs at the "neck" of the AT walkers, pressing the trigger and watching as my quad red laser fire tore through the weak spot, the other X-Wings joining in as the huge walker was destroyed, falling down in flames.

I smiled at the small victory as I flew above the flaming wreckage, but inside I knew this was going to be a tough fight and with the shield blocking our way out, there was also not going to be any reinforcements for us, however I was determined to go down fighting, taking as many Imperials with me as I could.

And the Battle of Scarif has began!

I was going to end it with Blu being separated from his father, but I didn't want the chapter to be too short! Other than that, I hope you enjoyed and…

See everybird later!