Approximately seven years ago, in the Russani Sector, vicinity of Station 271

"Well there goes another one." Toth said lazily

Garin snorted, he and Toth had been on patrol duty since that morning and it had been a long, boring day of scanning incoming cargo ships and transports. So far nothing unusual had been found which was adding to the boredom. Their squadron had been deployed in two man groups from each flight, leaving the remaining three pilots from each flight onboard the Viper which hung in space nearby the station.

"Grid two-seven-zero, we're detecting another convoy inbound on your vector."

"Copy that control, we're moving to intercept."

He swung around, Toth on his wing and watched as the newest wave of freighters were pulled from hyperspace by the station's gravity wells. It was a good sized convoy too, and they were all container carriers, two of them were pretty big. A lot of space in these ones, someone was expecting a big shipment.

"Alright Alpha element, they've acknowledged our hails, you are to move to inspect. Manifest lists agricultural machinery and mining equipment as the cargo."

"Roger control, scanning now."

He flew alongside the convoy, letting his scanners do the work as he drifted past them. The pass went smoothly, the weapons on the hulls were standard for their weight classes and within regulations and they were powered down as well. The cargo seemed to qualify as well.

"Hey Gar, I think we have something."

"Say again Three?"

"I think they've got maskers onboard, I'm getting flickers on my sensors."

Gar checked his own readings again. "I'm not getting anything weird on mine."

"Let's do another pass, you take port I'll take starboard."

"Copy that, control we are rescanning the convoy."

The response was quick and crisp, "reason?"

"Alpha Three suspects there may be maskers on board the convoy, we are bracketing and rescanning."

"Acknowledged, we are diverting Beta and Gamma elements to your position, interdiction teams are on standby."

Garin acknowledged and swung around for another pass on the convoy, Toth's fighter broke off and flanked the convoy on the opposite side, they proceeded slowly back along the length of the line of ships scanning each one carefully. He still didn't see any discrepancies in the scans but if Toth said he'd seen something he was willing to check it over again.

"Toth I go—"

"Oh stang, Gar break off! The containers are opening, we've got fighters coming out, and their weapons are hot!"

As if on cue Garin's weapon lock alerts began blaring, he spun the TIE over and punched his engines to the limit to get clear as the space behind him filled with laser fire. He stole a look at his scanners and saw the yellow blips turn red, there were smaller sensor blips moving out from the larger convoy ships and they were coming after him and the blue blip that indicated Toth's fighter.

"Command we have enemy fighters, I repeat we have enemy fighters, the convoy is hostile!"

"We have them on sensors, those are not indigenous combatants, I repeat you are not engaging indigenous fighters. Rebel X-wing and Y-wing fighters are engaging you, get clear and reform with other flight elements."

"Toth you copy?"

"I'm gone man; they're just taking pot shots at me right now, moving to join with Gamma element."

"Roger, moving to join with Beta element, good luck."

"You too, kick some Reb tail."

Ten minutes later Garin was breathing heavily and watching the last of the Rebel ships jumping further in system. They'd taken a beating; Adranis was dead, killed when the four Rebel capital ships had jumped in. Two bulk cruisers, an old dreadnaught, and an escort carrier had come in to support the convoy. None of the big ships, caps or freighters had been destroyed. So whatever else the convoy had been carrying was now in-system along with the fighters and cap ships. It had all been going so well for the past week and now this happened. The Viper's engines were gone, repairs were being made but there was no way for her to have full maneuvering back, Captain Siril had moved her in closer to the station for added protection.

Amazingly the station itself had received very little damage, its gravity well generators hadn't been destroyed because the station commander had the sense to turn them off; thus allowing the Rebels to escape, but also saving the Imperial forces from further beating and they had taken a beating. Alpha flight was down to just Toth and himself, and they'd lost eight others including Adranis. For all their trouble they'd killed nine Rebels and damaged several others so it wasn't all one sided; but the enemy had a lot more fighters to throw at them. The enemy pilots were much better than the indigs had been as well, Garin's confidence was shaking, and he was beginning to understand Adranis' case of nerves. What the Rebels were doing here was anyone's guess, intelligence hadn't reported any Rebel presence in the Russani sector, but now there definitely was.

"All surviving vessels return to the Viper for debriefing."

"Copy that command, Alpha Two heading in."

The survivors staggered back to the frigate, battered, exhausted, and terrified.

Present, interrogation room aboard Mon Cal cruiser Home One, Bilbringi Shipyards

"You weren't expecting any Alliance activity in the area?"

"The Captain and Commander said nothing about any Rebel activity in the system so it was a real shocker for us, and they caught us completely by surprise. I still don't know where the Rebel capital ships came from. That convoy stunt of yours was also very impressive."

She smiled at me tightly, accepting the compliment. "I don't know the details, but the natives of the Russani sector decided that you were a more important matter than their blood feud. In exchange for support the Alliance agreed to send in a fleet to break the Imperial forces in the area."

"You nearly succeeded." I chided with a smirk.

She nodded, "I know, but the tactics used by the remaining forces were rather creative, I believe we have you to thank for that."

"Well not entirely, Siril had a large part to play since he had the rank to make my tactics viable."

"Siril listened to your suggestions?"

I shrugged as best I could with the restraints. "He didn't know what else to do; it wasn't like we had many choices…."

Approximately seven years ago, aboard the Nebulon-B2 frigate Viper, Russani Sector

"Ensign I don't think this is a viable option for us." Siril said, covering his eyes tiredly.

"Sir with all due respect we don't have a force that can compete with the Rebel forces that slipped by us; they out number us at least three to one."

He scowled; Garin took a deep breath preparing to further defend his plan.

"Fine, fine, Ensign I will tell you this because no one else knows aside from my XO and the communications officer. The Avenger is en route with reinforcements, but they're not going to be here for five days. Do you think your tactics will buy us that time?"

Garin considered for a moment before nodding, at the very least his tactics would make the Rebels think twice about the composition of the forces they were facing.

"Yes sir, I think my ideas will help us stall the Rebels until the Avenger arrives."

Siril continued to stare at Garin for a long moment before sighing. "Alright, I'm giving you a free hand to do what you see fit, also you've just made Lieutenant. I want you in command of our remaining pilots."

Garin was taken aback, he hadn't expected that one. "Sir, I don't think I'm qualified—"

"Shut up Durives, I don't have anyone else. Adranis was my only experienced pilot and he got blown up by those cruisers. You've got a good head on your shoulders and have the guts to come to me with these hair-brained schemes of yours so you're now the squadron leader."

"Thank you sir," Garin said hesitantly, saluting, he wasn't sure how much of an honor it really was, they'd already lost ten of twenty-five pilots. With loses like that he wasn't sure how much longer he'd have a squadron to command.

"With your permission I'll begin preparing our equipment; will you speak with the station commander on my behalf?"

Siril nodded, waving Garin out of his cabin. "Oh Lieutenant," Garin turned to see Siril's grim expression. "This had better work or we'll all be dead."

"I hope it doesn't come to that sir, the Avenger would be awfully lonely if we weren't here to greet her."

The Captain snorted and waved Garin out again, shaking his head. "You're cocky pilot, good luck."

"So let me get this straight, the Captain is letting you play with our craft in the hopes you'll pull a fast one and scare off the Rebels?"

Garin shrugged, watching the mechanics going over the remaining TIE Fighters and Bombers, adding the equipment he'd specified.

"He wasn't happy about it."

"And on top of that you're now a lieutenant? Why do you get the promotion?"

"Because he was willing to risk his neck and talk to the Captain Luixana, stop complaining."

They both turned to see Harth approaching them, Toth smiled. "Don't hit me."

Harth glowered at the shorter Toth. "Shut it, Lieutenant, I have a request."

Garin still wasn't used to being addressed so formally but he managed not to just stare blankly.

"What is it?"

"I want to be transferred to the bombers; one of the others can take my fighter."

Garin frowned, "any particular reason?"

"I have more experience with a bomber, and I looked at the modifications you're making and I like them, I think I'll best serve the unit by commanding the bomber unit."

Garin looked at Toth for a moment, he was pointedly looking elsewhere, Garin looked back up at Harth.

"That will be fine, find one of the bomber pilots who is willing to make the switch and you're welcome to go ahead with it."

Harth saluted, "sir, thank you sir."

He spun around and walked away, Toth leaned over next to Garin.

"Wow, he didn't clobber us."

"Shut up Toth, I'm not in the mood."

"Rebel forces are retreating; I repeat the Rebels are falling back."

Captain Siril's voice cut across the command circuit. "Congratulations Lieutenant, your antics seem to be working."

Garin smiled, though it wasn't a pleased expression. Yes, the additions he'd had made to their ships had surprised the Rebels. TIE Fighters didn't normally carry missile pods, and Bombers usually didn't have four lasers. The additional weaponry slowed down their craft noticeably but it gave them added punch against the Rebels and the indigs. Granted they'd still taken a beating these last two days. Losing an additional six pilots and their craft to the Rebels; it was a war of attrition and there was no way they could win. Thankfully the Rebel cap ships had kept at the boundaries of the combat zone. Too cautious to get close to the station and its concussion missile and proton torpedo launchers. The weapons weren't standard, they'd been extra kit that the Viper had been carrying with it and after some bickering the station commander had agreed to mount all thirty four weapon launchers and their armaments on the station. It was a slap on job, but they worked and they'd already claimed the life of one bulk cruiser and damaged the dreadnaught as well as pummeling the Rebel fighters which had helped the Imperial pilots immeasurably.

"All flights, return to the Viper, we'll get some rest while we can and get ready for the next attack."

Garin turned his fighter around and began the familiar trip back to the boxy frigate, her missile banks and turbo laser batteries had been of great help as well, though the Y-wings had concentrated a lot of their firepower on the frigate and the Viper was showing signs of the damage. Parts of her hull had been holed and there were places were she was completely dark in sections that had lost power. Siril refused to give in however, and that at least emboldened those serving under him; and since Garin's modifications and tactics had thus far worked splendidly they'd developed a close relationship despite the disparity in their rank and age. As his TIE docked, Garin slipped his helmet off and leaned back in his cockpit, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. The Cockpit smelled of sweat, the helmet, though hot at least filtered out the smell. He opened the overhead hatch and climbed out, it was time to catch a shower while he could.

Present, interrogation room aboard Mon Cal cruiser Home One, Bilbringi Shipyards

"So using your modifications you were able to survive."

I eyed her coldly, there were several rather unpleasant things I wanted to call her but I refrained.

"We didn't survive, by the fifth day there were only five of us left."

"You still managed to do a disproportionate amount of damage, not only with the modifications you performed on your ships, but also your tactics, hiding in the sensor shadow of the station and frigate, letting the Alliance pilots pursue you into the firing arcs of the station. You even managed to knock out both bulk cruisers and heavily damage the dreadnaught. It was very impressive."

I continued to stare at her, ten names running through my head, silent testament to the fact that my tactics had not been enough.

She looked down at her datapad again. "Now correct me if I'm wrong, but the pilots that survived were yourself, Toth Luixana, Harth Arusi, Kalan Reath, and Matrin Sele."

"That's correct, by the fifth day we were all that was left and we'd lost our confidence entirely after watching so many of our comrades' die. We didn't expect to survive long enough for the Avenger and her task force to arrive."

"Tell me about that last day Commander."

I smiled at her coolly, she really wanted to make me relive every moment of this.

"We were taking a breather while we could…."

Approximately seven years ago, aboard the Nebulon-B2 frigate Viper, Russani Sector

"Here's to the survivors." Toth said somberly.

"To the survivors," Garin and the other three pilots echoed in the same depressed tone. They all raised their glasses and tossed back the last of their drinks.

Kalan eyed the empty glass quietly. "You know, I never expected to end up like this."

"How did you expect to end up?" Harth asked quietly in his usual laconic baritone.

Kalan shrugged with a smile, "on a tropical beach somewhere with scantily clad women fawning over me and my every whim."

Matrin snorted, "that would be a lot of blind women."

That brought a series of chuckles from everyone but Harth who scowled. "You two are too easy going; we're all that's left."

Matrin grinned, "exactly, and you've got to be the crummiest audience we've ever had eh Kal?"

Kalan nodded agreement, "yeah, I've seen oil paintings smile more than you Harth."

Toth chuckled, pouring another round of drinks for everyone. "Come on, drink up, I don't want all this stuff going to waste when the Viper goes bang."

"You know normally I'd have you all thrown in the brig for this kind of behavior."

Despite the alcohol they all managed to get to their feet and salute crisply, Captain Siril waved the salute aside.

"No need, we're all dead men so it doesn't really matter what we do. Luixana I hope you have another glass."

Toth smiled, tossing the Captain a spare glass. "Sir yes sir, this is some Chandrillan Ale that will make your ancestors rise up guaranteed."

"Good, I could use a kick," he raised his glass. "Gentlemen, to the Avenger, may she blow our enemies to hell."

They all drank, the Avenger might be too late to save them, but at least they had the consolation of knowing she'd hunt down and destroy the Rebels who would be responsible for their deaths.