Darkness Returns
Ch24 Stepping Forward
The Katana 19.8 ABY early next morning.
Inside the captains quarters of his new ship Tim lightly sleeps, waking moments before his alarm goes off. The time was 05:59 local. As he starts to put his uniform on the PA system goes off.
"Captain your presence is requested on the bridge."
"Alright I'll be there in a minute." Tim says with a hint of annoyance in his tone." I hate mornings" He thought to himself.
As he finally leaves his room and starts heading towards the bridge a young specialist approaches him.
"Sir I need you to sign for the resupply." and hands him a a pack of papers.
"Alright let see this." Tim says and glances at it and signs it.
"Thank you sir do you need anything sir?
"Ya a cup of coffee, if you can get that to me on the bridge I would really appreciate it." Tim says.
"Yes sir it only take a few minutes."
"Thankyou." Tim replies and continues to the bridge.
As he walks into the bridge the guard yells out "OFFICER ON DECK!" and everyone stands at attention.
"At ease, relax, carry on. Who needed me?" Tim says. Just after a young officer approaches him, and quickly snaps to attention.
"I did sir. I'm Lt Mike Nevel, your new XO for this ship sir."
"Relax you don't need to be so formal with me. I'm just here to shoot imps, and by the way where were you I was looking for last night?" Tim says.
"Sorry sir, I was still in the transfer process. Do you need to see my orders sir?" Mike asks.
"No I'll take your word for it and please call me Tim. All the formalities give me a headache." Tim replies.
"Ok then..Tim..do you need anything from me at this time?" Mike asks.
Before Tim could anwser the specialist walks up and hands him the coffee.
"Thankyou, go take five." Tim says.
"Thankyou sir." the specialist then heads out of the bridge.
"Sorry aout that Mike, um have we heard from the GreatFox yet?" Tim asks.
"Yes they will be docking with in twenty minutes to an hour sir." Mike replies.
"Good standbye until McCloud arrives." Tim says.
Meanwhile...
Macbeth frontline
Inside the trenches of Macbeths last free city, Cornerian ground troops desperatly fight for their lives as coutless burst of plasma and artillery ravish the besieged city. With almost no armor or air support, their is little hope of stopping the Imperial hord.
After another volley of artillery hits the surface Wolf jumps out his foxhole knowing now was the time and begins to sprints back towards the field HQ. As has runs he sees a plasma burst slice through a young troopers chest. He then runs up to him and checks his vitals. The shot killed him instantly, knowing that he couldn't do anymore he presses on. As he starts running agian a shot grazes his right arm.
"SON OF A BITCH!" Wolf yells and turns around and fires off a long burst of fire from his carbine and kills three clones that slipped through the lines. Once he ceased firing he wraps a field dressing around his arm and continues running. It takes Wolf almost ten minutes of running before he finally reaches the prefab HQ. Col Madison has been expecting him.
"What the report major?" Madison asks.
"Sir were being over run, casulties are rising by the hour. Where is our air support?" Wolf replies.
"I'm sorry major, we've lost too many gunships and our fighters are flying around the clock. Commander Monroe said she's sending another platoon of Landmasters for us, but it might not be until tomarrow when they get here." Madison says.
"We can't keep this up. A third of our machine guns and anti-aircraft are out of ammo, and another quarter of our infantry is either dead or wounded. Not to mention there are almost four dozon Imperial walkers advancing towards the city. The only thing keeping them back is our damn artillery sir, but that won't lost. Their light combat vehicles are right on top of us. We need bombers." Wolf protests.
"I understand your concern major, but there is little I can do. I've been trying to get air support all day but to no avail. I'll make another request for air support immediatly." Madison replies.
Before Wolf could say anything else everyone pauses to listen, and hears the sound of a indirect fire targeting their position.
"EVERYBODY TAKE COVER!" Madison yells, and mear seconds later a volley of artillery rounds impact less than a hundred meters away from the HQ. A large peice of shrapnel slices through the thin walls and cleaves directly through the side of one of the radio operators. The wound was large, within moments she already lost a large amount of blood. After it was all clear, Wolf and Madison run up to her and check to see if she's all right. Once they relised how bad she was, they knew they would need to MEDEVAC her right away.
"Corporal call in a MEDEVAC now!" Madison ordered. As the corporal called in the EVAC, Madison and Wolf did what they could to treat her and keep her calm.
"Sir they said it could be almost twenty minutes before they can get her." the Corporal says.
"She might not have twenty minutes." Wolf replies.
The Katana thirty minutes later.
Within the bridge of the Katana Tim peers out the window waiting for Fox and trying to wake up. He knows time is of the esencence. On the corner of his right eye he catches a glimps of an incoming object. He looks over to see the GreatFox moving in to dock with the station. He then brings up his wrist comm and and hails Fox.
"It's about time you two show up." Tim comments.
"Yeah yeah yeah, we had to fuel the ship. Were ready to leave whenever you are." Fox says.
"Good, board the Katana I want to address the crew. I want you and Krystal to be there for it." Tim says.
"Sure thing, we'll be there in a few minutes." Fox replies.
"Alright see you in a few, Welch out." Tim turns and faces his crew." Alright everyone listen up. In fifteen minutes I want everyone on this ship to report to the hanger. I want to address the crew." After his finishes he walks off the bridge and heads to the hanger, to wait for Fox.
Tim silently sat on the fuselage of his X-wing. It only took Fox and Krystal a few minutes to get there. Once they saw they seen him, Tim jumps on the craft and approaches them.
"So whats this big address about?" Fox asks.
"Its just a little motivational speech about what were doing and what I expect. Nothing super major or anything." Tim replies.
"Are your troops nervous." Krystal asks.
"I'm not sure to be honest with ya. But I don't blame them if they are. The Empire is force to be reconed with." Tim replies.
"Ya thats for sure. I've seen alot of combat through out my life, but I've never seen a fightning force that causes our entire fleet to retreat with in an hour timeframe before." Fox comments.
"Thats only a fraction of the Empire's destructive capabilities." Tim replies.
"Thats insane, what else are they.." Before Fox could finish the rest of the Katana's crew filed into the hanger for the big breifing.
"We can continue our conversation later." Krystal says.
The crew of the Katana all gather around waiting for theit new captains brief. Tim then makes his way towards the center of the group, and quietly looks around at his new crew.
"Is everyone here?" Tim asks.
"I belive so sir." Nevel replies.
"Alright then. Good morning everyone. For those of you who don't know me I'm Captian Tim Welch your new CO. You can can call me Tim, Welch, Sir, Captain, I don't care. I'm here for the same reasons you all are. Formalities ain't my thing. This crew right here has been assigned a very important mission. Our new allies the Cornerian Federation have been invaded by our common enemy the Galactic Empire, for no real reason but power and greed. The mission is simple, Instruct the Cornerian military on Imperial tactics and equipment and help them fight those bastards until the releif force arrives. My expetaion for you are simple, do your job to the best of your potential, and respect every on here. I will not tolerate disrespect or brawling on my ship. You wanna fight save it for the imps, got it." Tim says
"Yes sir." the crew says aloud.
"Things you can expect from me, I'm a pilot and a soilder, I will be with you on the front at all times. In fact I will porbably see more action then most of you will. I lead by example and will not give anyone an order that I wouldn't be willing to do myself, and I will not leave anyone behind. The Empire needs to pay for the atrocities its commited, and now is the time." Tim then turns over to Fox." This is Commander Fox McCloud and Lt Commander Krystal of the Cornerian Military. They are some of the finest pilots and soilders in the galaxy. They will be working with us for the duration of this war. Do you have anything Fox?" Tim says.
"Yes, First of all I want to personally thankyou for all of your bravery and sacrifice in this war. I think I can speak for my people, that we greatly appreciate your service to our system. The Empire is a menice, and I will not rest unit they are defeated once and for all. I to will be in the front lines with you until the end. You have my word. Thats all I have Tim." Fox says.
"All right then. If there are no questions. We move out in fifteen. Who's ready to kick some imp ass." Tim says.
"HOOAHH!" The crew yells.
"Thats what I wanna hear. Dismissed." Tim replies.
"Alright you the man. Everyone to your station lets move." Nevel says out loud. The crew then quickly gets up and heads to their respected stations. Fox then approaches Tim.
"Tim you will need one of us to stay on the Katana. Lylat security is very tight right now so one of us will need to be here to verify that this is a freindly ship." Fox comments.
"Ok thats fine. I don't want to get attacked by our allies." Tim replies.
"Fox I can take the GreatFox back." Krystal replies.
"Alright then I'll see you back home then." Fox says and kisses her before she heads off the ship.
"Well shall we." Tim says
"Yeah lets do this thing." Fox replies.
Inside the Katana's bridge the crew eagerly await their departure. As soon as Fox and Tim enter the bridge, Nevel walks up to them.
"Captain all system check compelet sir. We ready to move." Mike says.
"Good have we heard from Krystal yet?" Tim says.
"Yes sir, the GreatFox is ready as well." Mike replies.
"Good take us out then. set course for Corneria." Tim says.
"Yes sir. ETA to Corneria six hours sir." Mike replies.
Outside the station both cruisers quickly head out, and get their hyperspace clearance.
"Make the jump to hyperspace when ready." Tim says.
"Roger that." Mike says. Shortly after both cruisers speed off into hyperspace.
After the jump was made. Tim left the bridge to start checking equipment for the upcoming mission, while Fox stayed on the bridge and gazed out the window. He couldn't help but think about their previous conversation.
"If what I've faced is just a fraction of what the Empire can do, I can't but wonder..What else is the Empire capable of?" Fox thought to himself.
Authors notes: Well I'm back for now. I got some medical issues that have keep me from deploying. So I'm home. But there is always a possibility that things could change. But anyways the counter strike begins. Thanks for reading and reviewing.