Aboard the MC80 Star Cruiser Home One

Wedge was extremely pleased. The rescue from the Maw had not only brought the Rogues' confidence back up, it had also gained him several new pilots. Aside from Karie Neth, another human female named Somac Farr and a human male named Nala Hetsime had shown that they were up the standards at least in the simulators. He watched as they all lounged in the ready room, drinking caf, playing cards and waiting for the call that was inevitable. As he watched, Tycho came up to him. "How's it going, Boss?"

Wedge chuckled. "Oh I'm alright. Glad to see that things are looking up again."

"Most of the guys are just glad that there are a couple more females in the squadron now. I think when Luke gets back, he's going to be proud of you, Wedge."

Wedge nodded slowly. He often thought of his Jedi friend and asked himself some questions. When Luke got back, whenever that was, what would happen to Rogue Squadron? Who would command? Who would leave? Would it even be an issue?

In the end, Wedge pushed that all to the side. When Luke returned, then they would work that out. Just then, Winter came in and all eyes turned to here. "Head to the briefing room, Rogues. We have another rescue mission for you."

The Rogues leaped to their feet and eagerly followed her.

General Rieeken smiled as they hustled in and sat down. "Good morning, Rogue Squadron. We have another rescue mission. Several groups of rebels, including some of our science officers, are being transferred from a prison station over Bakura to Coruscant so that they can be interrogated by Isard. You are going to intercept them just as they depart the station - three X-wings, three A-wings and three of the new B-wings. The B-wings were tested just before Hoth and approved for fielding by Commander Skywalker and Lieutenant Keyan Farlander of Blue Squadron. The B-wings will disable the Imperial Prison transports with their ion cannons while the A-wings engage enemy fighters. The X-wings will assist the A-wings until our transport drops into the system. The X-wings will then escort the transports to safety. The B-wings will engage any heavy fighters or larger ships when and if the need arises. I would jump in the sims for a couple hours to familiarize yourself with the B-wings until we get there. We'll be stopping a short five minute jump from Bakura itself. From there, the fighters and transports will launch. Are there any question?"

None were forthcoming and General Rieeken closed down his datapad. "Make us proud, Rogue Squadron. Get ready for trouble and do what you can to avoid getting too close to the prison station. Our intelligence reports say that they will be bristling with turbolasers."

With that, he and Winter departed. All eyes fell on Wedge and Tycho. "So;" asked Wes Janson, his tone completely casual, "who's going to get to fly the B-wings with you two?"

"Not sure;" Wedge said as he stood and stretched. "We'll have to see. Either Hobbie, you or maybe Kasan. I guess we'll have to see."

They all began to head towards the simulator bay. To the surprise of the others, Kasan shook her head. "Not me! I'm one of the better A-wing pilots. I'll be in one of those."

Wedge nodded. "Sounds good. What do you two think?" he asked, pointing to Wes and Hobbie. "Which of you wants to try a B-wing? Hobbie, you technically have seniority."

"Why don't we wait and see who does better?" asked the older pilot. "If Wes does better in the sims, he should definitely fly."

"What about the rest of us?" piped up Karie. "It's only logical that we all have a try, isn't it?"

Wedge and Tycho chuckled. "I'm afraid that isn't how it works, Rookies." said the former. "You have to start with baby steps. For example, our bread and butter is the X-wing. That's where you three newbies with start. Myself, Tycho and one of our other senior pilots will take the fun new ships and the last three will fly the A-wings."

Karie seemed to pout just slightly. "But we've already been flying for the Alliance - some of us have flown starfighters."

"Not with us, you haven't;" said Kasan cheerfully, "Don't worry! You'll get your chance."

Wedge enjoyed decided quickly that he liked these B-wings almost as much as his X-wing and certainly more than either the Y-wing or A-wing. If the sims were as accurate as they usually were, these newly fielded fighters would have twice as many torpedoes in their magazines as the X-wings did and were almost as fast and maneuverable. To add to their diversity, they also had ion cannons and, unlike most fighters, ejected the entire cockpit rather than just the pilot seat. At first glance, he had expected it to be awkward and unwieldy but, to his surprise, it was anything but.

When a voice came over the intercom announcing the immanent drop out of hypserspace, he climbed out of the simulator. Hobbie was smiling and Wes looked sullen. "I take it that Hobbie's flying the third B-wing?" asked Wedge in amusement.

"Yeah;" said Wes, sounding so forlorn that Wedge had to laugh. "Cheer up, Buddy. There's always next time."

To their surprise, Karie chuckled and threw an arm around his shoulders. "Cheer up, Kiddo! We're about to go on a mission and save people from an Imperial prison. I don't care too much what I'm flying so long as I'm flying for the Alliance and as a Rogue."

Despite his best effort, Wes smiled and said, "You do have a point."

In the hanger, the fighters were armed, fueled and being ran through preflight diagnostics. "You'll launch as soon as the ship is out of lightspeed;" said the deck officer, a female Mon Calamari. "May the force be with you, Rogue Squadron."

They mounted up and powered up, waiting for the alarm that signaled launch. When it came, they smoothly and systematically exited, forming up out in the vacuum of space. "Alright, Rogues, make the calculation for Bakura and jump on my mark;" said Wedge.

Short little five minute jumps were tricky if they didn't know the precise coordinates. Luckily, intelligence had given them the exact coordinates. When his timer hit zero, Wedge said, "Jump!" and pushed the lever forward.

Right as the timer hit zero, he pulled the lever back and there was the planet Bakura. Orbiting it, just inside the nearest star's light, was the space station prison. As command had said, the thing was bristling with turbo lasers. From one of the docking bridges, an Imperial heavy transport was already detaching itself and making for space. "Alright, Rogues - let's engage;" said Wedge. "B-wings, switch from laser cannons to ion cannons. X-wings, fly escort and A-wings, engage and destroy all incoming fighters."

He only half listened to the acknowledgements as he switched his weapons selection and angled his fighter towards the transport. It was driving as fast and hard as it could towards space. Thinking ahead, Wedge contacted the transport waiting on his word to jump to lightspeed. "Transport One, this is Rogue Leader - make the jump and we'll have the transport disabled and readied."

"Acknowledged, Rogue Leader - making the jump now."

Even as the transport cut contact, Wedge and his wingmen fired their ion cannons. Within a few minutes and only three passes, the Imperial transport was dead in space. "Alright Rogues, let's keep our eyes out for our transport and, when it gets here, keep the TIE's off of it."

It was only slightly easier said than done. The first group was slashed through by the three A-wings and the X-wings picked off the survivors. For the most part, Wedge, Tycho and Wes buzzed around the Imperial heavy transport. With a flicker of pseudo-motion, the rebel transport dropped into system. "Transport One, this is Rogue Leader - we're off to your port side."

"We see you, Rogue Leader and we're making out approach;" came the reply. The captain sounded nervous, not that Wedge blamed him. They were barely out of turbo laser range from the station and another pair of TIE squadrons were moving in - one of them making for the rebel transport.

Bringing his fighter around, Wedge ordered, "Rogue Two, Rogue Five, switch from ion cannons to laser cannons. We're going to engage those fighters. Switch all shields to double front and stay close."

They acknowledged and the three Rogues engaged. The TIE's were seemingly taken by surprise, not expecting three odd looking fighters to blaze right for them. They broke off in four man flight groups, each doggedly pursued by a Rogue. Wedge kept one eye on the transport as he blew one TIE after another to component atoms. The exchange didn't take long and it was no time before the transport captain commed. "Rogue Leader, this is Transport One - we've made out pick up and are making our get away."

"Copy that, Transport One. Hobbie, take your X-wings and make sure that Transport one can make the jump."

The older, dower pilot acknowledged and his X-wings quickly took up positions. The B-wings immediately went after the TIE's pursuing them. "This is too easy and I don't like it, Rogue Leader;" said Tycho.

Wedge was inclined to agree. "Maybe the station commander assumed that he could take us on his own. There are only nine of us and we know what opinion the average high ranking Imperial has of us puny rebels. Whatever the case, stay vigilant. No need to get cocky and make a mistake."

"When have I ever done that?" asked the Tycho dryly. He had a point. Tycho was the most cautious and careful pilot.

Wedge chuckled as the transport contacted him. "We're all clear, Rogue Squadron."

"Copy, Transport One."

Just then, Wedge noticed the two more of the Imperial transports had come free of the station and were making a break for it. "Tycho, get the near one and I'll take the far one!" he snapped. "Wes, just keep the TIE's off our backs."

He switched over. "This is Rogue Leader to Transports Two and Three, make your jump and we'll have those transports ready for you."

Since it was only one each of them firing on the heavy transports, it took a great deal more time. Wedge focused on the sublight engines, pounding away at them as much as he could. Suddenly, Wes gave a fascinated hasp. "Woah! Hey boss, hold the trigger and wait for the chime!"

Frowning, Wedge did and a concentrated beam of ion energy slammed into the transport and is drifted dead in space. It wasn't a moment too soon either. Rebel transports Two and Three dropped out and made their way towards the Imperials. "X-wings, take Transport Two. We'll take Transport Three. A-wings, slash through as many TIE's as you can before they get to the transports."

The two rebel transports were firmly clamped to the two Imperial transports. It was less than ten minutes before they both called completion. "Alright, Rogues;" said Wedge. "Let's get back to- WOAH!"

Out of hyperspace came a pair of Imperial Ships - Escort Carriers no larger than Corellian Corvettes. They were fast and their turbo lasers began pounding one of the transports. At the same time, from racks on the underside, a squadron of strange and unfamiliar TIE fighters were launched. They were fast - as fast as a TIE Interceptor and they had at least light shielding. "Get the transports out of here!" snapped Wedge as he fired two proton torpedoes at one of the carriers. Twin streams of flames erupted from the impact areas but it seemed to only have small effect on the ship. One of the rebel transports made the jump but the other was being pounded by the Escort Carriers.

"Kasan, get your flight group out of here!" snapped Wedge. "Tycho, Wes - with me, we need to get those carriers off that transport."

Six proton torpedoes slammed into the escort carrier, forcing it to back off but it was too late. The rebel transport was dead in space, its engines dead. The strange TIE's were swarming it, blasting at it with Ion cannons. "Oh great;" muttered Wedge, "another advanced TIE with ion cannons."

Just then, Hobbie came over the comms. "Wedge, my fighter's damaged and the ejection mechanism is inoperable! I'm going for a crash landing on the planet below."

"Woah, Hobbie! Are your shields still operable? You could burn up!"

"My shields are good, Rogue Leader;" assured Hobbie, "but my hyperdrive and sublight engines are vaped and my life supports are going fast."

Wedge gritted his teeth. His B-wing wouldn't be able to hold both of them. He needed another ship. Changing his comms frequency to the Home One's frequency, he said, "Home One, this is Rogue Leader - one of my pilots are crash-landing on Bakura. I need a pick up for him."

There was a long pause before General Rieeken came on the comms. "I'm sorry, Wedge but we can't send an extraction. If you find a way to get him off Bakura and back into open space, we'll send the Redemption to pick you up."

Wedge gritted his teeth. "Roger, General. I'll figure something out;" and he cut connection.

"Rogue Squadron, get out of here. I need to go pick up Hobbie."

Looking around desperately searching for a way to save his friend when he saw a squadron of TIE bombers on docking racks and hatches on a lower part of the station. With a growl, he went to the nearest vacant docking port. "Sorry about your new fighter;" he growled, "but it's better than the alternative."

He primed a thermal detonator and climbed out, dropping the sphere where he had been sitting before climbing through the docking hatch and hitting the emergency release. The B-wing floated away before exploding. Drawing his blaster, he ran along the corridor and dropped into a TIE bomber, detaching immediately and streaking towards the planet below. Activating the bomber's comms, he said, "Hobbie, this is Wedge; I'm coming your way in a TIE bomber. Just hold tight."

"Alright but make it quick, Wedge. There are TIE Strikers and Reapers looking for me right now."

Wedge frowned and reviewed his weapons board. "This bomber doesn't have lasers?" he murmured to himself. That wasn't normal. TIE bombers were usually given laser cannons and a warhead magazine and tube. This one had to have been especially modified. The laser cannons had been removed and in their place, seeker missile launchers had been installed. "Well this is going to be tricky;" Wedge murmured as he streaked towards Hobbie's homing beacon.

Wedge quickly found himself flying over one of the planet's mountain ranges. Laced throughout it were Imperial defensive towers, missile platforms and various radar, sensor and comms arrays. The towers and platforms, he demolished with concussion missiles and proton bombs. Suddenly, Hobbie commed him. "They found me! It's now or never, Rogue Leader!"

Wedge pushed the TIE for all it was worth and rounded a bend in the gorge as a TIE Reaper - a transport more than a fighter - began to lower towards the floor of the gorge. Wedge activated his targeting computer and was pleasantly surprised when the Reaper and its three TIE Striker escort ships were acquired as targets. When he squeezed the trigger, four missiles, one after the other, fired and streaked towards the Imperial ships. The Strikers were annihilated but the Reaper teetered and fell to the ground. Wedge could see Hobbie running away from his wrecked X-wing and the wrecked TIE Reaper as fast as he could. As he lowered the bomber to pick up his fellow rebel pilot, the X-wing exploded.

Hobbie was running up a spur and Wedge managed to bring the TIE alongside it so that the older pilot could jump onto it and scrambled over to the hatch. "Thanks, Boss;" he said as he dropped into the gunner seat. "but how are we going to get back to the Home One? This thing isn't hyperdrive capable."

"As soon as we get out of orbit, we'll comm the base ship and they'll send the Redemption to pick us up."

Immediately, they began to have problems. The bomber was out of concussion rockets and proton bombs, leaving it completely unarmed. "Great;" muttered Hobbie, "you picked a junky ship without armor or shields. Just a couple hits and we're dead. I hope you're good at this."

Wedge didn't answer. They made it all the way out of atmosphere without being assailed. It made sense since most of the fighters had been used to fight the rebels during their rescue operation. Both pilots breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the Escort Carriers and advanced TIE Fighters were gone. Their relief was short lived when they saw the shattered remains of the third rebel transport. Grimly, Wedge powered up the bomber's long range comms. "Redemption, this is Rogue Leader and Rogue Five - we need an extraction."

The reply was a long time in coming but finally, a female voice, which sounded permanently worried, replied, "We're jumping right now to your location. Stand by."

With a sigh, Wedge brought the fighter around to take a closer look at the transport wreckage. It was clear that the ship had been disabled and boarded before being crippled and left to drift. "They must have taken the prisoners;" murmured Hobbie.

Wedge nodded solemnly. "But where did they take them?"

Neither of them knew the answer to that one. Suddenly, there alarms went off and turning, they saw a quartet of TIE's streaking towards them. "Time to go;" muttered Wedge and threw all power into the engines. Of course, there was no chance of them out distancing the fighters. TIE bombers, especially this particular variation, required escorts to survive in combat. Wedge and Hobbie had no such escorts. Just as it looked like they were about to be overtaken, the Nebulon-B Frigate Redemption dropped into real space. The TIE's broke off and the two Rogues in the TIE bomber breathed a sigh of relief. They were safe.

Aboard the MC80 Star Cruiser Home One

General Rieeken smiled at the Rogues. "Well done, Rogue Squadron;" he said. "Once again, you prove your ability to adapt to ever changing circumstances."

Wedge lifted a hand. "Do we know where they went, General?"

"We think we might have an idea but Intelligence is working on it right now. In the mean time well done. Oh! And Princess Leia and Commander Skywalker have returned. You should go se them as soon as you can. Any other question?"

Of course, none were forthcoming. The news that Luke and Leia were back had all the Rogues anxious to get out and go see them. Only one question was asked, "Where is the commander?" asked Kasan.

"He'll be in the medical bay. Apparently he was injured over the past weeks;" said Rieeken after consulting his datapad.

The Rogues fidgeted and waited. After a long moment, Rieeken nodded and said, "Alright, dismissed, Rogues."

Eagerly, they pelted to the med center. Sitting on the edge of hospital bed was Luke Skywalker, looking at his right hand and flexing it reflexively. "Luke!" said Wedge.

Looking up, Luke grinned and stood. Wedge gave him a huge bare-hug as did the other five remaining members of the pre-Hoth Rogue Squadron. Kasan gave him a massive kiss, nearly tackling him back onto the bed. Suddenly, Wedge looked angry and said, "Where the hell did you disappear to anyway?"

Suddenly, Luke looked very sheepish. "I left Hoth and headed to..." and he paused, choosing his words carefully, "... a location I'd rather not mention right now. I was able to continue my Jedi training."

Silence followed the statement. Wedge looked coldly at him. "And you didn't send anyone a message because... why?"

"Communications didn't work on this particular world. My intent was to send a message as soon as I landed but that wasn't an option;" explained Luke.

Wedge, Wes and Hobbie nodded, not looking very happy but clearly accepting of his explanation. To everyone's surprise, Kasan was livid. "You just took off on your own;" she said, her eyes blinking rapidly and her throat obviously tight. "you didn't bother telling anyone where you planned to go. You've been missing since the battle of Hoth and we didn't know whether you had been captured or-" and her voice broke.

Luke contemplated trying to hug her but instead lifted his hands. "I didn't have a choice, Kasan. I had to and have to keep this location a secret. It's for the greater good in the long run. Even High command understands."

"Well I don't;" said Kasan. "You could have at least told me your plan - told us your plan. I haven't slept well in weeks and when I did sleep, I always had nightmares of learning that you were dead or worse. Do you have any idea-" with one long step, she got in his face and slapped him hard across the cheek. The other Rogues gasped as Kasan turned and stormed out of the medical bay, wiping her eyes frantically as she did.