Hey everybird! What's up!?
So the latest Andor episode had a great scene with Luthen fighting an Imperial cruiser. Now to big Star Wars fans, that Imperial ship is not new, in fact it existed even before A New Hope came out! The Imperial ship, a Cantwell class Arrestor Cruiser was actually an early design for a ship created by Colin Cantwell, who helped make the early designs for the ships in Star Wars, including my favorite, the X-Wing.
Sadly, Mr. Cantwell himself is no longer around, so it was really touching to see that they honored his memory by bringing one of his designs fully realized! And thinking about this, it brought about this idea! So I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 1: Flying Together
(Lisa's POV)
Today was a great day for Tiago and I, Commander Blu has called the two of us to the bridge of the Mon-Calamari cruiser Blue Squadron was assigned to, for a special mission. It was some time after Hoth and despite that huge setback for the Rebellion, we were slowly regaining our forces and still holding against the Empire. Meanwhile smaller forces, squadrons of starfighters and bombers, with light warship support, constantly raided Imperial outposts and and supply lines, to make sure the Empire knew the Rebellion was still in the fight.
However I wondered why the commander only called Tiago and I up and not the whole squadron, but I was sure command had a reason, after all, I was only a pilot, it was my job to listen to orders and carry them out to the best of my ability as an X-Wing pilot. As Tiago and I made it to the bridge, we were directed to a briefing room where Commander Blu and Captain Roberto were… and it wasn't just the two of them. Commander Nico of Gold Squadron, with his second, Captain Pedro were also there as I smiled, but kept my attention as I entered the room.
"Right on time Blue Five and Six." Commander Blu greeted us.
"What's the mission sir?" I asked.
"As the two of you know, the Rebellion is getting back on its feet, and with that, we need to maintain more outposts and bases for our forces." The commander started. "To that end, command wants to set up a new base on Odona, in the Outer Rim, reports show there is no intelligent life on the surface and no Imperial activity."
While the commander talked, Captain Roberto brought up the map on the holo projector, showing us the route we would tell.
"However, we need to make sure the world will be suitable for a new base of operations and command has picked Commander Nico and his second to do a full planetary scan with their Y-Wings and bring the findings to be analyzed." The commander briefed Tiago and I as I knew where this was going.
"And let me guess sir, Tiago and I are providing escort duty?" I asked politely.
"You got that right." The commander smiled. "I figured since you and Commander Nico know each other so well, he would have picked you and your wingman to tag along anyway."
"With pleasure sir." I smiled.
"Good, I'll leave it to Nico and his second." Commander Blu starting to leave with Captain Roberto. "Good luck you four." The commander told us as we got ready for the short mission.
The four of us made our way down to the hangar where Blue and Gold Squadrons were assigned to, making our way to our ships, well Nico and I first had a little chat before we got ready.
"Thanks for choosing Tiago and I sir." I told Nico as he smiled.
"Come on Lisa, you know you can call me by my name when it's just us, I may be a commander, but I am your friend first." Nico reminded me.
"Sorry sir." I chuckled lightly. "Seems like not too long ago I saved you when you crashed down to the surface of my home planet." I sighed, thinking back to that time, the time when I met my first rebel and friend.
"Still one of my best memories." Nico thinking of that time too. "And here we are, flying together, so want to grab a drink when we get back?" Nico asked.
"Make it a meal too." I added with a smile as Nico replied with a "Will do." before we parted ways for our ships as I climbed up the ladder to my cockpit, just in time as Alex was bringing brought down into the socket behind me. "You good Alex?" I asked my astromech as he gave back a positive beep, as I sat down, checking all the systems of my X-Wing.
With the signal that our little group was ready, I turned on the engines, hearing them whine up as I waited for my turn to leave and when it was, I turned up the engines and launched myself out of the hangar, coming into formation with Nico, Pedro, and Tiago.
"Okay you three, on my mark, hyperspace in three, two…" Nico counted down as I pressed the button, the black of space turning blue as we entered hyperspace, with coordinates already put in, I could just lay back and relax a little as I thought of one of the time with Nico…
In the past, on Hoth…
"Oh boy I can't wait for this." I felt excited as even thought it was freezing, I felt warm as I walked with Nico down the cut hallways of Echo Base.
"Don't get too excited Lisa, this is partly serious." Nico reminded me as we came to a door, Nico punching in a code as it opened up to reveal we were in the armory and firing range.
Today Nico was going to teach me how to use a blaster, just in case I ever needed to protect myself from stormtroopers if I got into that kind of combat in the future. After getting clearance, Nico took me to the armory where various weapons were stashed, everything from small pistols to rocket launchers.
"Oh right, so what are we starting off with…" I said as I was looking more towards the bigger weapons.
"Okay, calm down Lisa, first we're going to start out small." Nico told me as he handed me one of the blaster pistols.
"Oh come on… You don't think I can handle the big guns?" I complained.
"It's not that, but I just want to be safe, trust me we will work our way up, plus if you want to become a pilot like me, you're going to have access to even bigger guns than these." Nico told me as I knew he was right, I was after all a newcomer to the Rebellion still.
"Okay…" I sighed.
"Good, now I put the safety off, so all you need to do when we come to the firing range is aim and slowly press the trigger, you don't want to grip the blaster too hard or press the trigger too hard either, just relax." Nico instructed me as I took a deep breath and aimed the blaster at the targets lined up before firing off…
Back to the Present…
As a warning light came off, telling me we were close to our destination, Alex woke me up fully as our little group exited hyperspace, the black of space returning as it was quiet. Nico and Pedro took up the middle while Tiago was on the left while I took the right position.
"Any sign of ships besides our own?" Nico's voice came through comms as I checked with my eyes before looking down at my screen in the cockpit.
"I don't see anything visually and sensors are empty, Alex is reporting the same thing, Gold Leader." I reported in.
"Nothing on my end either." Tiago also reported.
"Pedro and I don't have anything either, that's good." Nico replied. "Alright than, Pedro and I will start planetary scan now, keep your eyes and sensors open Blue Five and Six." Nico ordered.
"Will do sir." I replied.
Most of the trip was uneventful, just us circling around the planet as the advanced sensors in the Y-Wings of Nico and Pedro scanned the planet, relaying information of the land into their astromechs. Tiago and I just keeping formation as were almost done with the sweep, which lasted almost an entire planetary rotation.
"Alright, just getting to the end of the scan, job well done everyone, get ready to…" Nico started, but was cut off as something came out of hyperspace, a huge gray dagger like ship, slicing its way through space in front of us.
"Oh no…" I thought, as this simple mission turned into something more and deadly. "I got a bad feeling about this…"
And I'll leave it there for next time!
And come on… It can't be a Star Wars story if someone doesn't say, "I got a bad feeling."
Until than, see everybird later!