(A/N) Sorry about the delay, school has been pretty busy lately. Enjoy the latest chapter.
The stone walls of the Massassi temple loomed around Wedge, pressing around him on all sides, feeling too much like a coffin. For a man who grew up in a cockpit, Wedge was not uncomfortable in tight spaces, but for the last few days he felt trapped in his staff office. He would rather by flying, even if it was just another routine patrol. It had been a week since he his promotion to Red Squadron's leader and he had spent more time in his office than in his own bunk. He didn't realize how much paperwork came along with the job. But, then again, these were extraordinary circumstances. The situation on Yavin IV, despite the victory, was hectic. Now that the Empire knew the location of the Rebel base, the Alliance had to relocate. Already, transports were being loaded and sent to a temporary base.
"You wanted to see me Wedge?"
Wedge looked up from his desk to see Luke in the doorway, his orange jumpsuit hanging off his thin frame, farmboy features showing fatigue and for good reason. The losses taken during the Death Star battle were heavy. The only survivors from Red Squadron were himself and Luke. Right now, Wedge was still evaluating new pilots and practically creating a squadron from scratch. For the last few days, with the squadrons so short-staffed, the few Rebel pilots capable of duty were on constant patrol searching for the edges of the Empire's blockade. It seemed the Imperial fleet had wasted no time in establishing a perimeter around the system. Wedge and the other pilots flew reconnaissance missions around the clock, checking the boundaries of the Imperial blockade, looking for holes in the net that surrounded them. And with each passing day the noose grew tighter.
"Luke, I wanted to ask you something."
Wedge motioned to the chair in front of his desk and Luke practically folded himself into the plain gray seat.
"Ask away."
Wedge took a moment to compose his thoughts.
"I need an executive officer. Think you can handle it?"
"Me?" Luke's surprise was evident on his face. "But, Wedge, there are plenty of more experienced pilots out there. I've only been a part of the Alliance for a few days now."
"Luke, there's no better pilot we have out here than you. You proved that when we flew against the Death Star."
Luke still looked uncertain. "I don't know…"
"This fight against the Empire is going to require nothing but our best. And I want this squadron to be the best, to take on any mission and succeed, no matter what. If I… no, if we are going to get there, we need the most talented pilots in the galaxy. You're definitely one of them." Wedge leaned forward, bringing his voice low. "And I need someone I can trust, someone who's going to have my back and keep me honest."
Luke smiled sheepishly. "Well, Wedge, when you put it that way, I accept."
"Good," Wedge said as he stood up, raising his hand to shake Luke's. "I wouldn't have taken a 'no' anyway."
They shook hands and laughed to themselves. "How are you this good at speeches already, Wedge?" Luke asked.
"Natural leadership ability?"
"Must be."
They sat down and leaned back in their chairs, enjoying the brief respite from the demands of the war. For now, things were peaceful. At that moment, they weren't at war, they weren't pilots, they were friends.
"Now, I was thinking we need a new name," Wedge said suddenly.
"What? You mean for the squadron?"
"Yes. Red Squadron is a bit plain, don't you think?"
Luke nodded contemplatively. "Well, what do you have in mind?"
The pilots sat in silence for a few seconds. Wedge was stumped. "I have actually no idea."
A gruff voice soon interrupted their calm. "Skywalker, Antilles, what are you two still doing here? Briefing is in five minutes."
Commander Narra brushed into the room and the pair stood and saluted. Narra, a veteran of the Clone Wars, was the commander of Renegade Flight and Wedge's superior. His thinning hairline only increased the severity of the glare Narra cast disdainfully at the two pilots.
"Antilles," Narra barked, continuing his tirade, "As squadron commander you have a duty to be on time and prepared for these briefings."
"Just finishing up the details now sir," Wedge replied calmly.
Narra looked as if he considered a biting comment, but decided against it.
"I'll see you in briefing, Commander," Narra said, emphasizing the last word, as he swept out of the room.
Luke shrugged at him. "Sand in his jumpsuit?"
Wedge bit down on a laugh. "Not much sand around here Luke. I guess our brainstorming will have to wait."
…
Four X-wings blasted away from Yavin IV's jungle surface. A patrol would normally consist of a half-squadron but with the losses, the Rebels had to make do. Accompanying Wedge and Luke were two X-wings from Renegade. Among them, much to their dismay, was Narra, meaning he would be in charge of the mission.
"Renegade leader to patrol. Make sure your shields are up and your sensors tuned in. Debris from the Death Star is all over the sector. I don't want anyone taking a piece." Somehow, the comm distortion preserved the contempt in Narra's voice but it was sound advice, Wedge thought. That monstrosity's killed enough people already.
"Alright, check in," Narra said.
"Red One, good to go here," Wedge replied.
"Red Two, standing by." Luke sounded cheerful, despite the company.
"Renegade Two, all green."
"Patrol, proceed on mission."
Wedge glanced at his HUD and tracked the route the patrol would be taking. It looked like they would be making a roundabout tour of Yavin 13. The objective of most patrols was to establish the boundaries of the Imperial blockade. So far, the area around Yavin 13 seemed clear of Imperial ships, which would be useful in the future when scheduling the next evacuation transport. Their job was to make sure that the path remained clear.
The patrol proceeded quietly and Wedge began to relax, feeling as he was out for a joy ride rather than a patrol. Yavin 13 soon loomed outside the canopy and Wedge saw planet riddled with large canyons and holes.
"Renegade Two to patrol, I'm detecting enemy fighters, long range."
Wedge checked his sensors and barely made out a blip on the screen.
"Looks like they're pretty far out, can you mark them visually," Narra asked.
"That's no problem Renegade leader."
Wedge looked out of his canopy and right away saw what made the enemy's position so obvious. Bright lancets of green fire sliced through the inky black horizon. The Imperials were shooting at something out there. Or someone.
"Are there any other patrols scheduled out here?" Wedge asked.
"Negative Red One," Narra replied. "We are the only ones in the sector. Nothing is supposed to be coming through here."
"Could be an unscheduled Alliance ship," Wedge speculated.
"And it could be an Imperial training mission," Narra cut in. "Look, we're out of their range and they haven't noticed us. There's no reason to get involved in whatever it is out there. Patrol, head back to base. Looks like we won't be using this sector anytime soon."
Wedge fought the urge to comment. They should at least investigate Wedge thought. He was about to make the course correction to Yavin IV when Luke's voice jumped onto the private Red squadron comm.
"Wedge, it's not a training mission, someone needs help."
Wedge keyed over to the same frequency. "What do you mean Luke?"
"I'm… getting something here."
Wedge tapped his sensors. "I don't see anything on my scopes."
"I don't mean the sensors…" Luke trailed off.
The Force. Wedge knew immediately Luke's Jedi powers were giving him some insight.
"What is it?"
"Fear. There are a lot of scared people out there and it's not the Imperials."
Wedge could see the stabbing green lasers piercing the distant black space, the lasers sporadically peppering the area. Wedge switched his comm back to the patrol frequency.
"Renegade leader, this is Red One, permission to engage enemy."
"Negative Red One. Patrol is returning to base." Narra's voice dripped with displeasure from the request.
Wedge gritted his teeth. "Renegade, there are friendlies out there that need assistance."
"There are no Alliance ships out there Antilles," Narra's voice grew louder, anger evident in his tone. "Now I repeat, patrol is returning to base."
Wedge shook his head. He had just been promoted and now he was about to disobey direct orders. He only hoped the court-martial would find it amusing as well. He would have laughed if he had the time to think about it.
"Renegade leader say again, you're breaking up. My comm must be malfunctioning."
"Antilles, do not break from mission. Return to base!" Narra was practically yelling into his comm.
"No response from Renegade leader," Wedge said, ignoring Narra. "Looks like we're on our own Red Two."
"I'm with you Red One," Luke replied, barely hiding the excitement from his voice.
"Dammit Antilles, you have no right to go rogue!" Narra fumed worthlessly.
Wedge switched his S-foils to attack position and tore away from the patrol formation with Luke tucked in behind him.
"Luke, are you sure about this?"
"Trust the Force Wedge."
"That doesn't sound like you're sure."
"Then trust me."
As they approached, the situation became more and more clear. A full squadron of TIE fighters trailed behind a large transport ship, an old Corellian model. The TIEs had disabled the transport's single turbolaser battery and were about to close in on the engines.
"Alright. Here's what we do, go in full speed and get those fighters' attention."
"And then?"
"Blast them out of the sky."
"Simple plan," Luke said wryly.
"Got a better one?"
"Not really."
As they closed the distance, the X-wings' approach did not go unnoticed. Half of the dozen TIE fighters broke off from their attack on the transport to intercept the pair.
"Looks like we got some of their attention," Luke pointed out.
"But not all of it. Let's get the rest. Blow past these guys and target the one's going after that ship."
"Roger."
The first pass against the oncoming fighters would be the worst part. X-wings had shields but a few good shots from the rushing TIEs would quickly overload them. Plus, once the TIE's passed, their quick speed would allow them to swoop in on their aft in a heartbeat. Wedge shifted his shields to the front as he watched the distance count down. He could feel the cool sweat run down his temple as death's reach closed in front of him. At the maximum range, he pulled on the trigger and shot at the TIEs, hoping for a lucky shot at this distance. The enemy pilots had the same idea and quickly green lasers bracketed the space around him. While Wedge's shots had gone wide, Luke had managed to clip one of the TIE's wings, spiraling the fighter into another. The result was a blooming cascade of fire, signaling the death of two pilots.
By the Force, Wedge thought, what a shot.
As the distance closed, Wedge got a lock on a fighter and pulled the trigger again. Twin lancets of scarlet laser fire found their mark, separating the pod of the TIE fighter from a wing while shredding the opposite side. Another one down, that's nine more to go, Wedge thought. Blurs of metal raced by and in a flash, the remaining three TIEs were behind them, swiftly turning to come at them from behind.
"Keep going," Wedge reminded Luke.
A short distance away, the other enemy fighters were still pounding the transport's shields. The ageing ship obviously couldn't take too much more of a beating.
"Looks like they haven't noticed we're joining their party," Luke commented on the distracted fighters.
"Then let's invite them to dance."
Wedge got a solid lock on a TIE fighter diving on the transport, the Imperial pilot oblivious to his own impending destruction. Wedge's first volley connected solidly, vaporizing the TIE in a brief instant. Luke had similar success, striking another TIE right in the center of the cockpit. What was once a 12 on 2 battle had quickly shifted to 7 on 2. The TIEs immediately reacted to the new threats and began to juke around, ignoring the damaged transport.
"Wedge, break left."
Wedge immediately complied, jamming the stick hard to the left side. Green laser fire sliced through the area where his X-wing was. The enemy fighters that they had passed earlier had obviously caught up.
"Thanks Luke."
"I'm your wing Wedge. Now let's take a few of these guys out."
Wedge tracked down another TIE and began to line up the fighter in his crosshairs. It was a difficult task to avoid the constant enemy fire around him while aiming his own lasers at same time, but he began to slip into the familiar sensation, that complete synch between himself and his X-wing. When he saw his crosshairs light Wedge squeezed the trigger. Twin scarlet blasts stitched a hole in the TIE's left wing and severed the top of the cockpit, venting the limited atmosphere into the cold vacuum. The TIE began to loop in a lazy spiral and Wedge assumed shrapnel or other debris must have claimed the pilot's life.
At the same time Luke had picked off another TIE that was targeting Wedge, using a flurry of shots to pepper the TIE with laser blasts and holes, eventually causing the craft to explode. A signal must have passed between the enemy TIE's, because they suddenly began to retreat. What was once hard odds, had become a complete victory. There must be a cruiser nearby, Wedge quickly surmised. We can't stick around here too long.
"Unknown ship, this is Commander Antilles of the Alliance, do you need assistance?"
The transport captain's voice quickly responded. "You saved us. Thank you." The man sounded breathless, as if he too couldn't believe they had survived.
"Commander," the captain went on, "We could use some help, we have several injuries aboard."
Wedge switched quickly to the private frequency. "Luke, can we trust these people?"
A moment of silence passed as Wedge waited for Luke's evaluation.
"It feels like they're truthful. I think we can."
Wedge flipped his comm back to the general frequency.
"Follow us, we'll escort you in."
"Thank you, oh thank you so much."
While they waited for the transport to move into their formation, Wedge keyed his comm back Red Squadron's frequency.
"We did the right thing," Luke started off.
"We did. I just hope 'the right thing' helps me during court-martial."
"We saved them, that oughta count for something."
"It should, it really should, but with a 'by the book guy' like Narra? Who knows."
"Well, I can't wait to see the look on Narra's face when we bring them back. I mean, did you hear how angry he was? You can't go rogue." Luke said mockingly.
They both had a good laugh at that. It was a hell of a day. They had beaten the enemy and managed to save a few lives. Facing down six to one odds was never a winning prospect and Wedge was glad he survived the battle with his friend. Perhaps the new squadron did have a chance after all.
"You know," Wedge mused aloud, "Rogue does have a nice ring to it."
