Chapter 12: The Road to Coruscant
It had been almost a week since the attack on the Escort Carrier, and the Republic was closing in on the Imperial Capital of Coruscant. But there were still preparations to be made in the attack. Defenses needed to be stripped, and fleets needed to get into position. And the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix were busier than ever getting ready for the big siege. Kaylor then called them to a briefing at the Republic Space Station above Mobius. "All right everyone, we are about ready to go on an important mission involving those TIEs we captured."
"All right, some real action!" said Sonic.
"Well, anyway, here's the deal. There is an Imperial Space Installation in a sector near Coruscant that we've been having trouble with over the past few days, and we need to get through it ASAP." said Kaylor.
"Why has it been so difficult to overcome 1 defense post?" asked Julie-Su.
"Because that space installation has at least 2 squadrons of TIE Advanced "Avenger" fighters defending the station, and since we have no time to reroute forces to overwhelm them, we've decided that they are going to meet their match." replied Kaylor.
"You mean…" asked Sally.
"Yep, we are going to be using captured TIE Advanced against them, and make the odds even." said Kaylor. "But Sonic, your TIE Defender is ready, and you shall test it in that battle."
"All right! Bring them on!" said Sonic.
"The rest of you will fly TIE Avengers into the battle. Your objective is to clear out the TIE Avengers protecting the station so that the Y-Wing and B-Wing strike force can destroy the station with rockets. They will enter the battle zone in 7 minutes. Keep the TIE Avengers too focused on you. Of course a group of X-Wings and A-Wings will be escorting the Y-Wings and B-Wings in case the station launches TIE Fighters." said Kaylor. "Understood?"
"Yes sir!" said the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix earnestly. All of them (minus Sonic) climbed aboard their captured TIE Advanced fighters, while Sonic climbed into his TIE Defender, which he appropriately painted blue.
"I never liked Imperial gray. They have no taste." said Sonic as he climbed inside.
"If you say so, Sonic." said Knuckles.
The Freedom Fighters and the Chaotix soon took off in their captured TIEs, and set off towards the Imperial Space Station. It was a bit of a trip through hyperspace, but soon, they dropped out of hyperspace in that sector. "Lock and Load! Let's mix it up!" said Vector.
"Right! Let's see how they fare against their own ships!" said Sally.
"Are those ships ours?" asked a TIE Advanced pilot.
"Alpha 1 to unidentified TIE Advanced fighters and TIE Defender, please state your squadron number and call sign." said the pilot of the lead TIE Advanced.
"This is Station Space Traffic Control. We have not summoned any reinforcements at this time." said the Space Traffic Controller aboard the station.
But by then, right before they realized it, the "reinforcements" had opened fire on them. "They're firing! It's the enemy! Republic Forces are attacking with stolen TIE Fighters!" shouted the lead TIE Advanced pilot. The enemy TIE Advanced fighters fired back at the Freedom Fighters and the Chaotix, and the dogfighting began.
The Freedom Fighters and Chaotix were able to evenly fight the enemy TIE Advanced with ease, and Sonic's TIE Defender could outmatch the TIE Advanced easily without breaking a sweat. The enemy TIE Advanced though, did have many reinforcements in the form of TIE Fighters and TIE Interceptors that were launched to try and overwhelm the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix, but were still no match for them.
Soon, Y-Wing Red and B-Wing Blue exited hyperspace, along with X-Wing Gold and A-Wing Green providing escort, ready to destroy the Imperial Station. "Warning! Republic fighters have joined the attack!" said the station controller.
The TIE Fighters and Interceptors that were left at the station were dispatched to intercept the Republic fighters, while more TIE Advanced were launched to try and take out the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix.
"Man! These guys are relentless!" shouted Tails.
"They sure are, sugah! But they are runnin' outta options and they know it!" said Bunnie.
"Et tu positif?" asked Antoine.
"Don't dally guys. We still have to take them out." said Espio.
Soon, the Y-Wings and B-Wings came into rocket range. "This is Gold 1; we are commencing rocket attacks on the Imperial station."
"This is Blue 1; we are commencing our heavy rocket attack on the station. All fighters give us cover."
And soon, both Y-Wings and B-Wings were launching salvos of rockets at the space station, which weren't stopped by the shields, and were damaging the hull of the station. "This is the station! We are taking heavy rocket damage!"
But despite the efforts of the TIE Fighters and Interceptors to try and intercept the Y-Wings and B-Wings, they couldn't get past the X-Wings and A-Wings, and of course, the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix. It wasn't long before the station couldn't take any more hits from the rocket barrage that it suddenly began to break up and explode. Soon, the Freedom Star, along with the Nebulon B-2 Frigate Knothole, the Nebulon B Frigate Blue Sky, and several Corvettes, including the Andromeda and the Modified Corvette Solaris arrived to take command of the situation.
"This is the Frigate Knothole, all forces, return to your ships at once for debriefing and rearming, we are to use this sector as a rally point for the Republic Forces in this sector." said the Captain of the Knothole.
"Ari? I recognize that voice any day." said Sally.
"Yes, Princess, It's me. I was given command of this vessel, the Knothole." said Ari.
The Freedom Fighters and Chaotix quickly returned to the Freedom Star, which had been sent with their other ships. Within minutes, the Freedom Fighters had transferred to X-Wings and A-Wings (Sonic remained in his TIE Defender), while the Chaotix transferred to their Gunboats (Knuckles transferred to his Y-Wing). Their new task was to patrol the area against counterattacks from the Imperials until the Mon Calamari Cruiser Liberator arrived to relieve them.
"All right, now patrol the area until the Liberator gets here. We have to keep our invasion plans on schedule." said Kaylor.
"Copy that. Let's hope we don't run into any more bad guys." said Rotor.
One moment, everything was quiet, and at least 10 minutes went by, when the Knothole reported: "We are detecting multiple vessels on an intercept course. They appear to be multiple Assault Gunboats, Gamma Class ATR-6 Assault Transports, IPV-1 System Patrol Craft, Modified Corvettes, and a Strike Cruiser."
"That sounds Imperial to me." said Sonic.
"A Strike Cruiser, you say?" said Julie-Su. "I bet I can guess who it is."
Soon, two flight groups of Assault Transports, 4 IPV-1s, 2 Modified Corvettes, and a Strike Cruiser exited hyperspace. They were all fitted with black and red paint and a unique insignia painted on the sides. "No surprise." said Knuckles.
"It's the Dark Legion. So those guys are back from their time with Admiral Zaarin." said Julie-Su.
"That didn't make much sense, Julie-Su." said Kaylor. "Care to explain?"
"As you know, the Dark Legion is a group of cybernetic echidnas from Mobius that allied themselves with the Empire not long after the takeover. They were commonly working with Grand Admiral Zaarin because he shared an interest in their technology, and they stuck with him after his attempted coup d'état, but I guess they lost faith and broke off." said Julie-Su.
"Couldn't have told that tale any better myself…Julie-Su." said an imposing female voice.
"Lien-Da…" said Julie-Su. "It's been a while since I heard your slimy voice…"
"The same." replied Lien-Da. "Attention Republic Forces, this is Kommissar Lien-Da aboard the Strike Cruiser Kragok. You are ordered to leave this area in the name of the Galactic Empire, or face the consequences."
"This is the Modified Frigate Knothole. Strike Cruiser Kragok, this is now Republic Space! Do not attack!" said Ari.
"Final warning!" said Lien-Da. "Leave, or be destroyed!" The Kragok began launching Assault Gunboats and TIE Advanced fighters, along with JV-7 Escort Shuttles.
"Negative. We have claimed this sector in the name of the Republic. You will back off at once or we shall open fire." said Ari.
But Lien-Da ordered her ships to open fire on the Republic ships and destroy them. "If we destroy some of their forces, they will probably back off." said Julie-Su.
"I say we fight!" said Vector. "We can run rings around Dark Legion pilots!"
"Knuckles has been trying to reach an understanding with these guys." said Mighty. "Is this really necessary?"
"Someone needs to tell them that they are attacking *us*." said Julie-Su.
"All right, now that that's settled, all forces, engage the Dark Legion forces and see if we can drive them off. Freedom Squadron, stop the Assault Transports from attacking our ships." said Kaylor. "Chaotix, intercept the Escort Shuttles. Gold group and Green group, keep those Gunboats and TIE Advanced away from us."
The Freedom Fighters moved to intercept the Assault Transports, while the Chaotix did battle against the Escort Shuttles. "Remember, Escort Shuttles can take at least 4 missile hits." said Mighty.
The Freedom Fighters found it rather difficult to attack the Assault Transports, who fired their turbolasers at them on all sides. But then, Amy had an idea: "Attack them from below! They're vulnerable from there!"
"Good idea!" shouted Sally. "It's easy to take them out from there." And with that tactic in mind, the Assault Transports were easy targets for the Freedom Fighters.
But the same couldn't be said for the Chaotix, who found fighting the Escort Shuttles rather difficult. But there was no weak spot for them to exploit, so they just had to tough it out with keeping their shields up. But they managed to take down several of the Shuttles in the process.
But aboard the Kragok, the captain reported: "Kommissar, a Mon Calamari Cruiser is closing in on this sector, further combat would be inadvisable."
Lien-Da snarled, but knew that her forces were dwindling to quickly, and knew many more Republic forces would deploy from the cruiser. "Very well. Retreat from battle at once, Captain."
"Yes, Kommissar." said the captain. "All forces, retreat to designated coordinates at once."
And soon, the Dark Legion ships disengaged and began retreating. "They're falling back!" said Sonic.
"Let 'em go, guys. I think they've had it." said Kaylor.
"That's right, cowards! Run!" shouted Julie-Su.
"You won't get away with this indignity, Republic fools! We'll be back!!" snarled Lien-Da.
"Be grateful we're letting you go, Lien-Da, and do yourself a favor. Give up while you still can." said Sally.
"We won't submit to the guardian, or to the Republic, for that matter. We will fight until the bitter end!" and with that said and done, the Kragok and its supporting ships entered hyperspace, just as the Cruiser Liberator arrived to relieve the weary defenders.