Luke's heart pounded and he couldn't keep a grin off his face. He felt like he was born to fly this ship. As they circled the gas giant, Commander Dreis under the call sign of Red Leader, called over the comms, "All wings report in."

All of Luke's fellow pilots called in, Luke finishing with, "Red Five, standing by."

"Lock s-foils in attack positions and switch deflectors to double front;" commanded Red Leader. The Death Star looked like a small sphere in the distance but, as they approached, its size became apparent. As they got closer, Wedge Antilles, who was call-signed Red Two, gasped out, "Look at the size of that thing!"

"Cut the chatter, Red Two. Accelerate to attack speed;" ordered Red Leader.

The battle station grew bigger and bigger and there were quite a few gasps and sharp hisses over the comms from the pilots. Luke went over the controls again and again. In his ears, he heard Gold Leader contact Red Leader, "Red Leader, this is Gold Leader;"

"I copy Gold Leader;"

"We're starting for the target shaft now."

Luke took a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves. Red Leader commed back to Gold Leader, "We're in position now. I'm going to cut across the axis to try and draw their fire."

Luke only half-remembered that Gold Squadron was the squadron of Y-wings. They were the ships expected to make a kill shot do to their tougher armor and shields and, therefore, their magazines were filled with more torpedoes. In fact, Luke's X-wing only had a pair of proton torpedoes - one in each torpedo tube.

Luke stayed with Biggs and Wedge, his two wing men as they swept over the surface. Laser cannons and turbo laser batteries fired in screens at the fighters but the gaps in fire screens were easily navigated. The X-wing's drew the fire and the Y-wings swept in. "Heavy fire, boss, 23 degrees;" called one pilot.

"I see it. Stay low."

Seeing an entry point, Luke and his wing men angled towards the trench. It was bristling with guns. "This is Red Five; I'm going in."

Covered by his companions, Luke made a strafing run, burning a trail across the access point and opening a sizable gap in the defenses. At the tail end, when a powercell magazine for one battery blew, Luke's shields took a minuscule energy drop. "Luke;" called Biggs, worried for his younger friend, "are you alright?"

Luke was grinning again. "I got a little cooked but I'm okay."

The three rebel pilots reformed and prepared for their next move.

Lady Jade hurried in the direction of the hanger that held her TIE Advanced X1. It wasn't her favorite fighter. In point of fact, she preferred almost any ship other than the TIE series but this was the best that the Death Star had at the time. A young bridge officer ran up and said, "We count thirty level ships, Lady Jade. But they're so small, their evading our turbo lasers."

Mara nodded. She had expected something like this. "Then we take the battle to the rebels, Lieutenant. Are the pilots to their fighters?"

"Yes, my Lady. It's SOP."

Mara nodded, internally sighing with relief. It was good to see the Tarkin's egotism hadn't spread down through the ranks too far. "Well make sure that they are ready to launch as soon as I arrive. I'm going to be leading the counter assault myself."

The young man was about to object but then remembered his place. "As you wish, my Lady."

Mara hurried on when the young man called, "My lady."

She turned, irritated. "Good luck and kill those rebels."

Mara allowed a tight smile. "Of course, Lieutenant."

Luke had gone on several more sweeps, destroying XX-10 Turbolaser turrets and laser batteries as he did and opening the way for the other fighters. "Watch yourself;" called Red Leader, "there's a lot of fire coming from the right side of that deflection tower."

"Right side?" muttered Luke, "Where is he exactly? Oh right;"

Over the comms, Luke said, "I'm on it."

"I'm going in. Cover me, Porkins;" said Biggs. Porkins, another X-wing pilot, complied and Biggs and Luke blasted the tower, shutting down a screen of laser fire. The run had taken them in the layer of space above the station that the fire was thickest and harshest. Luke and Biggs were able to pull themselves out of it but Porkins wasn't so lucky. He was hit and fell low. "I've got a problem here;" he said, calm as could be.

"You're too low!" said Biggs. "Pull up!"

"No I'm alr-" but Porkins' objection was cut off as he skidded off the surface and his fighter burst into flames.

Luke didn't know the pilot, but he still felt a tug. Someone, a rebel, a fellow fighter pilot, had just died. It suddenly hit him exactly how real the situation was. "Focus, boy;" said Kota gruffly in his ear. "remember what Ahsoka told you. Trust your feelings."

Luke grabbed his stick and burned another gouge through the defense clusters of the station. Over all frequencies, a sensors officer from the planet below announced, "Squadron leaders, we've picked up a new group of signals - enemy fighters coming your way."

Luke frowned, looking down at his sensors. "My scope's negative. I don't see anything."

"Pick up your visual scanning;" said Red Leader. "Here they come."

Luke saw them. Six TIE fighters screamed in. "Watch it, you got one on your tail."

In short order, they destroyed two X-wings. Luke looked and saw that one had latched on to Biggs. "Biggs, you've picked one up. Watch it!"

"I can't see him!"

Luke resisted the urge to curse and angled towards where his best and oldest friend was being assailed. He clicked on his targeting computer and began to line it up. "He's got me tight. I can't shake him!" said Biggs.

The TIE spat laser streams as its pilot attempted to destroy Biggs. Luke held his breath and the computer indicated a lock. Luke jammed the triggers and the TIE exploded into shrapnel. Luke grinned. That was his first kill as a pilot. "Fall in, Luke;" said Biggs. Luke wheeled to do so when he suddenly said, "Watch your back, Luke. Watch your back!"

Wedge broke in. "Fighters above you, coming in!"

Luke looked back and saw it, another TIE spitting lasers. Most missed but one barked off his upper port engine. "I'm hit, but not bad. Artoo, see what you can do. Hang on back there."

"Red Six, can you see Red Five?"

"There's a heavy fire zone! Red Five, where are you?"

Luke had no idea where he was! "I can't shake him!"

Another stream of laser went over his starboard upper s-foil. "I see you, Luke;" said Wedge suddenly. Luke only half heard him, muttering to himself, "Blast it, Biggs! Where are you?"

Suddenly, an X-wing swept in, streaking right over Luke's canopy and blasted the TIE on his tail to dust. "Thanks, Wedge;" he sighed with release.

"Good shooting, Wedge;" said Biggs, relief evident in his own voice.

Just then, Gold Leader commed Commander Dreis. "Red Leader, this is Gold Leader. We're starting our attack run."

"I copy, Gold Leader. Move into position."

The Y-wings made for the trench. "Exhaust port is marked and locked in;" announced Gold Leader.

"Switch all power to front deflector screen."

Luke blew another TIE into dust as he listened. "How many guns do you think, Gold Five?"

"I'd say about twenty guns, some on the surface, some on the towers."

Luke had to force himself to breath as he listened. The Y-wings were in the trench and streaking towards the target. This could be it. Suddenly, Gold Leader said, "The guns, they've stopped."

Luke began to have a really bad feeling about this. One of the Y-wing pilots said, "Stabilize your rear deflectors and watch for fighters."

"They're coming in, three marks at Two-ten!"

Three TIE's dove passed the X-wings. One of them looked slightly different. "What was that?" asked Luke allowed, forgetting momentarily about his comms. "That was a Sienar Fleet Systems TIE Advanced X1. We got someone's attention. Stay sharp, Luke."

Mara was smiling coldly. This was the first time that she would get to engage the hated Rebel forces in an actual engagement. "I'll take them myself. Cover me"

"Yes, Ma'am;" replied her wing men.

One at a time, she blew the venerable bombers to space debris.

The Y-wings were being routed. Red Leader said, "Red boys, this is Red Leader. Rendezvous at mark six-point-one."

As the pilots checked in, General Dodonna came over the comms. "Red Leader, this is Base One, leave half your group out of range for the next run."

"Copy that base one;" said Commander Dreis. "Luke, take Red Two and Red Three and wait for my signal to make your run."

Luke waited anxiously as other pilots of Red Squadron dove and entered the trench. "This is it!" said Red Leader.

Again, the towers blasted towards the X-wings. One of the pilots murmured, "We should be able to see it by now."

Suddenly, the guns stopped. "Keep your eyes open for those fighters."

"There's too much interference;" said another pilot. "Red Five, can you see anything?"

"I don't see any- wait; coming in point-three-five."

"I see them."

It was the TIE Advanced and their wing man again. Red Leader ignored all that. "I'm in range;" he said. "Targets coming up."

"Just hold him off for a few more seconds;" said Commander Dreis. Luke held his breath. "Almost there;" said Dreis.

The TIE's screamed in behind him. One of his pilots died in fire behind him. The other cried out something in protest. "Almost there;" said Dreis. He regretted the deaths of his pilots. All good commanders did but the galaxy itself was at stake and he was almost there. With a ringing, his targeting announced a lock and he fired before yanking the stick up. "It's away!"

Luke held his breath for just a second until there was a massive explosion. "It's a hit!" cried Biggs but Commander Dreis said, "Negative! Negative! It didn't go in. It just impacted on the surface."

Mara had been scared for just a second there. "That was too close;" she muttered to herself. "But you won't be getting a second chance, Rebel scum."

Luke looked over and saw the TIE Advanced on Red Leader. "Red Leader, we're right above you! Turn to point-oh-five. We'll cover for you."

"Stay there;" came the reply. "I just lost my starboard engine. Get set up for your attack run."

Moments later, Red Leader roared defiantly before his fighter collided with the surface of the battle station.

For a long moment, no one said anything. The squadron was down to few pilots and the Y-wings were all but annihilated. No one said anything. Suddenly, Luke knew what had to be done and it seemed as though he was the one who had to take charge. "Biggs, Wedge, let's close it up. We're going in and we're going in full throttle - that ought to keep those fighters off out backs."

"Right with you, Boss;" said Wedge, without even a second of hesitation.

"Luke, at full speed, will you be able to pull out in time?" asked Biggs.

A tight smile crossed Luke's face. "It'll be just like Beggar's Canyon back home."

They dove and entered the trench smoothly, entering a hail of laser fire. Still hesitant, Biggs commed, "We'll stay back far enough to cover you."

"My scope shows the towers, but I can't see the exhaust port. Are you sure the computer can hit it?" said Wedge.

Luke didn't know how to answer but also knew they didn't have a choice. "Watch yourself;" he said, "increase speed to full throttle."

"What about that tower?"

"You worry about the fighters." said Luke. "I'll worry about the tower."

Suddenly, Luke's fighter began to shake. "Artoo, that stabilizer's broken loose again. See if you can't lock that down."

The ship had taken its hits and it seemed to be all the little droid could do to keep it together. Again, for a third time, the batteries ceased their fire. All eyes went up as they searched the space above for enemy fighters. They didn't have to search long. "Fighters coming in at point-three;" called Wedge.

Luke pushed that out of his mind, focusing every part of his being forward. Behind him, one of the TIE's fired. "I'm hit;" said Wedge. "I can't stay with you!"

Luke didn't want to loose any more pilots if he could help it. "Get clear, Wedge. You can't do anymore good back there."

"Sorry;" said Wedge, misery still evident through the strain in his voice.

Mara smirked. There were only two fighters left. "Let him go. Stay on the leader."

This had been a total and easy victory and soon, the Rebel Alliance would be finished. "Increase speed;" she said as the pulled in behind the other fighters. "Now match speed. Let's finish this."

As one of the fighters came into range and then into lock, she fired. In a burst of flame, another rebel died. There was only one left to go. Suddenly, she paused. She could sense it. This pilot, whoever he was, was strong in the force. Not only that, he felt vaguely familiar. "Who are you, rebel?" she queried.

"Uh... ma'am?" asked one of her pilots. That shook her out of it.

"It's nothing, pilot. I'm on the leader."

Luke was trying hard not to reel from the loss of his friend. Quickly, realizing that he was in range, he flipped on his targeting computer. In his earpiece, General Kota said, "It's now or never, Skywalker. Take your shot."

In his mind, he heard a whisper. Use the force, Luke.

Luke froze. How was he supposed to do that? Let go; Ahsoka's voice said to him. Luke, trust me.

At that moment, Luke knew that he had no more time for his instruments. Taking a deep breath, he calmed his mind and stretched out with his feelings. Everything around him slowed and became utterly clear. Far, far down the trench, he saw the port. Not only that, he found that he could target it, without his computers. He could just line up and shoot. Hitting a switch, he got the computer out of his face. "His computer's off. Luke, you switched off your targeting computer. What's wrong?" came a voice from Base One.

"Nothing, I'm alright;" he said, trying to bring all of his focus, to make sure his two torpedo's would not miss their targets. Another stream of laser came in behind him and Artoo screamed. Luke felt a twinge and his focus faltered. For just a second, he thought that he was doomed for sure. Suddenly, he could sense it. Dread. He could sense the dread from the moon below. The Death Star must have cleared the planet. He had no time. To the exclusion of absolutely everything else, he fell headlong into the force and lined up the shot. Another stream of laser rocked him and he knew he would die and so would thousands of others - until there was a sudden whoop over the comms. Looking over his shoulder, Luke saw the most beautiful sight in the galaxy. The Millennium Falcon had blasted one of his assailants and another had smashed into the trench side. The TIE advanced was spinning off into the stars and Han Solo said over the comms. "You're all clear, Kid. Now let's blow this thing and go home."

One more breath, one more plunge into the force and Luke fired. Two streaks of light shot from his tubes and... sank into the exhaust port. Instantly, he pulled up and they blasted away from the battle station. They gathered, two X-wings, a Y-wing and one ugly, wonderful piece of junk YT freighter. Luke looked over his shoulder just in time to watch as the dreaded Death Star, the technological terror that would have been utilized to dominate one system after another until there was no hope left in the galaxy, exploded into a trillion molten shards. "Great shot, Kid!" crowed Han. "That was one in a million!"

Luke all but collapsed back into his seat. In his head, Luke heard the voice of Ahsoka Tano. Remember, the force will be with you - always.

Somehow, Luke knew that it would be the last time he would hear from her. "Goodbye, Ahsoka;" he whispered as he piloted his fighter back to Yavin IV.

Mara had finally gotten her piece of garbage TIE back into control. It was all she could do to keep from retching after all the spinning. She had sensed it - the death of a hundred million Imperial personnel. It tore at her. They weren't all military. Some were civilian contractors and loyal citizens of the Empire brought in to work bars and recreational areas for morale. All were dead now.

Mara sat stunned as that dawned on her and her mind went back to the young lieutenant. "My Lady; good luck and kill those rebels."

It wasn't even that she had known him but somehow, his youthful face and spunky attitude was hitting her. Tears were beginning to fill her eyes. After just a moment, she checked her comms. The long range transmitter was still working. Clearing her throat, she commed the Imperial Palace on Coruscant. "This is Lady Mara Jade, the Emperor's Hand. I need to speak to my father - right NOW!"

Luke landed his X-wing and the grin simply would not leave his face. They had won! They had destroyed the Death Star!

As he climbed out of his fighter, a massive crowd was converging on him, led by Princess Leia. She nearly tackled him with a hug. They laughed and spun as Luke's back was thumped by whoever could reach it. "Hey! Hey!"

Turning around, Luke saw Han and launched himself at him jubilantly. "I knew you'd come back!" he said, "I just knew it!"

"Well I wasn't going to let you get all the credit and take all the reward;" said the smuggler captain but they both knew that it was a lie. Leia laughed and hugged him too. "Hey, I knew there was more to you than money!"

Suddenly, Luke looked over and saw Artoo being set on the 'crete. "Oh no!" he gasped. The poor little droid was in bad shape - covered in carbon scoring and leaking fluids. "You can repair him right?" asked See Threepio. The tech sergeant nodded grimly. "We'll get to work on him right away."

"You must repair him;" said Threepio, on the verge of panic. "If any of my parts are necessary, I will gladly donate them."

Somehow, that made Luke laugh and his mood lightened. "He'll be alright;" he assured the golden droid before Han and Leia tugged him away. The three of them had their arms around each other as they headed towards the command center. Generals Dodanna and Kota stood there. The former clasped Han and Luke by the hand. "We are all greatly in your debt - both of your debts. The feat you pulled off - I haven't seen anything like it since-" and he shook his head.

"The Clone Wars;" said General Kota, a large smile on his face that looked out of place with his craggy features. "You did good, Son;" he said to Luke, clapping him hard on the shoulder. "We're gonna make a Rebel and a Jedi outta you yet."

Updated 12.12.2017