TFTC-IW 4: Wraith Squadron: Iron Fist
General Information[edit]
Title: Wraith Squadron: Iron Fist
Number of Missions: 5
Original Upload Date: 2026-XX-XX
Author: Jagged Fell III
Readme Background[edit]
The Expanded Universe has held a special place in many of our hearts and minds, me especially. One of my favorite book series was the X-Wing Series by Michael A Stackpole and Aaron Allston. It was these stories that motivated me to pick up X-Wing Alliance back in the early 2000's. Here I set out to make a series of battles retelling the battles and story of the Wraith Squadron books of the X-Wing series.
This battle is based upon the story laid out in the book X-Wing: Iron Fist by Aaron Allston. The events of the book have changed due to the Emperor's Hammer's involvement, but I am attempting to do a much more faithful retelling of the events of the book than my previous battles.
Story
The “official” chronicle of the events of the fall of Warlord Zsinj say that it was brought about by a single squadron of wash-out pilots in the New Republic, but we know better in the Emperor’s Hammer. The ingenuity and deviousness showcased by Wraith Squadron could only have come from the superior pilots of the TIE Corps. Only after they were successful, and due to their exceptional skill at masking their true allegiances, did the New Republic spin the fiction that they were a squadron under Republic command.
This is a highly story driven battle and to be able to fully follow the story requires you to have read the readme for TFTC-IW 1 and to have played TFTC-IW 1 and TFTC-IW 2 before playing this battle. Reading the Emails in this battle is also required to full experience this battle's story.
Dramatis Personae
New Members
Wraith 2: Sub-Lieutenant Castin Donn - Human, Male, Coruscant Special Skills: Slicer
Background: A slicer who grew up in the middle levels of Coruscant. His family were not high ups in the Empire but taught him the Empire’s bigotry of non-humans. When the Emperor died, he fled Coruscant rather than be on a world that would soon be controlled by non-humans in his mind. However, he soon learned that he cared more for the destruction of the New Republic then his bigoty and he then made his way to the strongest Imperial faction, the Emperor’s Hammer. He joined the TIE Corps in the hopes that the influence of the former Imperial Navy would have kept all the squadrons racially pure; he was sorely mistaken.
Reasons for Transfer: Has been drummed out of multiple squadrons due to his bigotry and is being given one final chance with the Wraiths, a trial by fire so to speak in a highly racially mixed unit.
Wraith 4: Sub-Lieutenant Dia Passik - Twi’lek, Female, Ryloth Special Skills: Underworld Knowledge
Background: Was sold as a very young girl to slavers and eventually ended up “owned” by a mercenary leader. She spent many years enslaved to one underworld character or another, and in that time she used her charms to convince some mercenary pilots to teach her how to fly. She used this knowledge to escape her captures, destroying their ship on her way out. The ineffectual anti-slavery work of the New Republic drove her to the Emperor’s Hammer.
While the Imperial faction had come from the Empire that allowed her slavery, it is self was vehemently a place of freedom.
Reasons for Transfer: Her cold demeanor due to her years of captivity have been disquieting for her commanders and She has been transferred around until she was tagged for Wraith Squadron where her skills as a pilot and in the criminal underworld will be of great use.
Wraith 10: Sub-Lieutenant Shalla Nelprin - Human, Female, Ingo Special Skills: Hand-to-Hand Specialist
Background: Born to Vyn Narcassan, a Galactic Republic intelligence officer who fled from the Empire after Palpatine’s rise to power, she was raised to be an expert in all martial skills and intelligence tactics. After coming of age she left her father and decided to rejoin the Empire he had abandoned, to be order to the chaotic galaxy.
However, the Empire had fallen by that time, so she sought out the Emperor’s Hammer as the best hope for peace and order left.
Reasons for Transfer: She volunteered for the unit where her non-pilot skills, intelligence and fighting, would be of real use to the Emperor’s Hammer.
Wraith 13: Sub-Lieutenant Lara Notsil - Human, Female, Coruscant
Special Skills: Intelligence Specialist, Slicer, Infiltration
Background: Born Gara Petothel to two Imperial Intelligence agents she has been in the intelligence business as it were for all of her life. She was raised on Coruscant in the upper class due to her parents positions in the Empire.
She was later trained to become an intelligence operative with the skills to adapt to any role and infiltrate the rebels. She also learned her two other primary skills of code slicing, needed to get the classified data out of the rebel’s systems and into Imperial hands, and piloting, due to her childhood desire to be a pilot rather than an intelligence operative. With the death of the Emperor and the subsequent turmoil in the Imperial Intelligence Bureau with Isard’s attempt for power, she left the Empire and journeyed to the Emperor’s Hammer to serve a better governed Empire that would not execute her for power like Isard’s would. She changed her name when she left the Empire to avoid Imperial and New Republic attention.
Reasons for Transfer: Her skills are tailor made for the mission of Wraith Squadron and has been assigned to them after she completed her TIE Corps pilot training.
Surviving Members
Wraith 1: Commander Ante Wedgilles - Human, Male, Corellia
Special Skills: Command
Background: Has served in the Emperor’s Hammer and the Empire before it for 10 years, since enlistment at the age of 18. Was raised in Corellia on the family fueling depot until the Bonestar Pirates destroyed it with his family all aboard. He then joined the Imperial Starfighter Academy where he quickly rose to the top of his class. Upon graduation he was deployed to various assignments around the galaxy serving with distinction in each posting. He was a part of Grand Admiral Ronin’s fleet upon the Emperor forming the Emperor’s Hammer and has been a member of the TIE Corps since its founding. His low rank is due to his continued refusal to accept any further promotions as he was already quite upset to have to relinquish the rank of LCM, the best rank in his opinion, upon taking command of a squadron.
Wraith 3: Lieutenant Jan Wesson - Human, Male, Taanab
Special Skills: Trainer, Pistols
Background: Wesson left the agricultural world of Taanab due to dissatisfaction with the frequent pirate raids on his home world and joined the Imperial Starfighter Corps in an effort to fight back against the predations on his world and others like it. His postings had him serve with CM Wedgilles multiple times during his time with the Empire but was not a part of the initial formation of the Emperor’s Hammer. He was at Endor serving in the lauded 501st aboard the SSD Executor. He survived the battle and retreated with the remaining Star Destroyers but quickly left the Empire and joined the Emperor’s Hammer after that. Once in the TIE Corps he was reunited with CM Wedgilles and has served with valor since.
Wraith 5: Lieutenant Kell Tainer - Human, Male, Alderaan Special Skills: Mechanic, Demolitions Expert
Background: Kell was born Kell Doran but when his father was murdered by the Rebel Alliance his family changed their name and moved to Sluis Van. The death of his father at the hands of future Rogue Squadron pilot Wes Janson gave Kell all the motivation he needed to abandon the rebellious attitudes of his home planet and develop a correct view of the criminals who killed the Emperor. He worked as a mechanic on Sluis Van until he was able to make it off world to come to the Emperor’s Hammer. He has served with distinction among the commando unit in the Hammer’s Fist until his natural aptitude at the recreational flight simulators available to him was noticed. He was then transferred to pilot training in the TIE Corps.
Wraith 8: Lieutenant Garik “Face” Loran - Human, Male, Pantolomin Special Skills: Infiltration, languages, makeup
Background: Goes by the name “Face” due to his scar and acting background. Face was once a holovid star in his youth appearing in The Black Bantha, Jungle Flutes, and Win or Die to name just a few. He grew up to fill the role of teen heartthrob for years. His performances were so beloved by the Imperial High Command he was once even sat on the knee of Ysanne Isard for a meeting with the up-and-coming future ruler of the Empire. However, his career was cut short when rebel terrorists captured him in a foolish attempt to ransom him back. When the stormtroopers came to rescue him, he was disfigured in the firefight. Ever since he has had a deep loathing of the rebels for all they took from him. He bought his way into the TIE Corps pilot program using his formidable wealth from his past life.
Wraith 9: Lieutenant Myn Donos - Human, Male, Corellia Special Skills: Sniper, Previous command experience
Background: Myn served with the Corellian Armed Forces as a skilled sniper, racking up an impressive list of kills. He, however, was not content with merely killing his targets from afar and wished to test his skill against opponents who could fight back. He found his way into the Imperial TIE Corps and from there into the TIE Corps of the Emperor’s Hammer not long after. He did exceptionally well in flight-training, his training officer was LT Jan Wesson and was given a squadron of his own directly after completion of flight training, Talon Squadron.
Wraith 6: Sub-Lieutenant Hohass “Runt” Ekwesh - Thakwaash, Male, Thakwaa Special Skills: Three times human-standard strength
Background: Goes by the name “Runt” as he is considered small for his species being only 2 meters tall when the average Thakwaash is around 3 meters in height. Thakwaash are equinoid bipeds who also suffer from having a species wide psychosis of all exhibiting multiple personalities. Each personality seems to specialize in different tasks and Runt switches between them depending on the situation. His species was never integrated into the Empire due to their unpredictable natures. He has joined the Emperor’s Hammer to bring about a restoration of order in our galaxy.
Wraith 7: Sub-Lieutenant Ton Phanan - Human, Male, Rudrig Special Skills: Medic, fully qualified surgeon
Background: Born to a wealthy family, Ton grew up to become a licensed surgeon on Rudrig, his parents dying prior to his graduation from medical school. He worked as a doctor on Rudrig for several years before joining the Imperial Medical Corps just after the destruction of the first Death Star. He was serving aboard a Star Destroyer at the Battle of Endor when it came under fire, and he was injured badly in the assault. He is allergic to bacta and therefore ended up loosing a leg and suffered major trauma to his head as well. The Empire supplied him with replacement cybernetic parts to allow him to continue to serve. Over the next few years, he lost his enjoyment in healing the injured and decided to strike out to the Emperor’s Hammer and the TIE Corps where he in his words could stop healing those he doesn’t like, but instead kill those he hates.
Wraith 11: Sub-Lieutenant Tyria Sarkin - Human, Female, Toprawa Special Skills: Intrusion, low-level force-sensitive
Background: Trained as an Antarian Ranger in her youth she abandoned the seditionist militia after their involvement in the stealing of the first Death Star’s plans. After justice for the deaths of so many loyal Imperial soldiers was meted out against the rest of Rangers she was able to break free of them and make her own way in the galaxy. With the formation of the Dark Brotherhood she felt a call to come to Eos as it was discovered that she has force-sensitive abilities. However, the Master-at-Arms has determined that her connection to the force is too weak to be able to properly serve the Emperor’s Hammer as a member of the Brotherhood, but now that she had found the Emperor’s Hammer she was able to find her true calling, bring order to the chaos.
Wraith 12: Sub-Lieutenant Voort “Piggy” saBinring - Gamorrean, Male, Gamorr Special Skills: Genius, strength, infiltration
Background: Goes by the name “Piggy” for obvious reasons. He is the result of biogenetic experimentation by Binring Biomedical Product. They gave him the ability to control is base urges and a genius level mathematical acumen. They implanted a translator in his throat to allow him to communicate in Basic. To test their alterations to him, he was given extensive flight training on a wide variety of Imperial and Rebel craft. All the other test subjects created with him took their own lives rather than remain a lab subject and this motivated the lead scientist to engineer the escape of Piggy from his captivity. Once freed, Piggy made his way to the Emperor’s Hammer as his analytical abilities allowed him to quickly see that only Imperial rule will see the galaxy flourish.
Script[edit]
Mission 1: Lavisar[edit]
Email[edit]
To: CM Wedgilles From: VA Setzer
We have sent, through appropriately backstopped channels in the New Republic Military, four new pilots to replace those that you have lost in your previous missions. This will bring your squadron strength to 13, the additional pilot was an administrative oversight but due to the need to send through the NR Military we cannot recall her.
SL Castin Donn, Human, Slicer SL Shalla Nelprin, Human, Hand-to-Hand Specialist SL Dia Passik, Twi'lek, Underworld Specialist SL Lara Notsil, Human, Intelligence Specialist
BGCOM-CAPT-TOA/VA Locke Setzer/Battlegroup III
To: Wraiths
From: CM Wedgilles
With our recent losses and the additions of our new pilots some reorganization is to happen within the squadron. All Flight commands are to stay the same but the call signs are to change as follows.
Jan Wesson: Was Wraith 11, now Wraith 3 Tyria Sarkin: Was Wraith 10, now Wraith 11 Castin Donn: Assigned as Wraith 2 Dia Passik: Assigned as Wraith 4 Shalla Nelprin: Assigned as Wraith 10 Lara Notsil: Assigned as Wraith 13
CMDR/CM Ante Wedgilles/Wraith/Wing XXII/Hawkbat Base
Commander's Briefing[edit]
After his unprovoked attacks on Emperor's Hammer forces during the Operation to assist Isard, the Emperor's Hammer Command Staff and TIE Corps Command Staff have decided that they will no longer be able to permit Warlord Zsinj’s continued operation. However, not wanting to appear to attack another former Imperial Admiral, it was decided to send a select group of Infiltrator Wing pilots to trick the New Republic into destroying Zsinj for them.
The severe losses to the New Republic leadership during the Isard Crisis allowed the pilots, Wraith Squadron, to convince the new head of the New Republic Fighter Corps that they are a true clandestine, rebel unit. And after their performance in destroying Admiral Trigit and the Implacable they are unquestionably accepted by all who remain within the New Republic military.
During the operation to destroy the Implacable, they posed as a ship under Zsinj’s employ and discovered that the Warlord likes to hire Pirate gangs to be expendable shock troops. And at the same time adds planets to his burgeoning empire by using his forces to aid the world against some forces interfering with trade in the region.
The Wraiths plan to make use of both of these facts to set a trap for Zsinj. They have acquired, through raids on another planet, ships and fighters appropriate for a successful pirate operation and have begun to make small attacks on the world of Halmat, whose profile suggests Zsinj has been attempting to draw them into his “territory.” They hope to use these raids to draw the Iron Fist's attention and lead to the Warlord reaching out to the “Hawkbats” when next he hires pirate gangs for an operation. This would allow them to station a New Republic fleet to attack the Iron Fist while it is engaged in heated battle, and hopefully destroy it and Zsinj.
At the same time, Wraith Squadron has come to the attention of Warlord Zsinj as the architects of the Implacable’s destruction. He has already sent assassins to kill members of the squadron while they were on Coruscant, working with the New Republic leadership to develop the pirate plan.
The sudden disappearance of Wraith Squadron right as the Hawkbats appear would be too suspicious for the paranoid Warlord to overlook. Therefore, Wraith Squadron has ostensibly deployed on the Mon Remonda, with Rogue Squadron, under the command of General Crespin who is leading the New Republic’s hunt for Zsinj. The Wraiths will need to travel from time to time with the Mon Remonda to be shown attacking Zsinj with the rest of the New Republic task force.
Today four Wraiths are remaining behind at Hawkbat Base while the other nine, they currently number thirteen pilots, are performing a diversionary raid on the world of Lavisar.
The plan for this raid is to set a trap for Zsinj by staging an aborted attack on the Data Center of the border world of Lavisar. The Wraiths are to attack, but break and run as soon as the defense forces of the planet respond to their assault. The thought being that when Zsinj’s forces on the world try to capitalize on the disruption, the New Republic Intelligence agents can thwart their plans and reveal Zsinj’s duplicity to the planetary governor to prevent their joining Zsinj’s growing empire.
Tactical Briefing Text[edit]
The mission today is a simple one. Go in, stage a failed assault, try not to kill anyone.
But defend yourself with all necessary force.
And then get out safely.
Let Zsinj jump to the wrong conclusion, that we fouled up and have been driven off.
To your X-Wings.
Radio Messages[edit]
<Ante> Great placement, Twelve. All right. We should have a five-to-ten-minute window for our attack. Remember, you’ll be aiming for a complex...
<Face> Leader, this is Eight. Sensors on the Syward military base show TIE fighters scrambling. I see eight full squadrons mobilizing. They’re wearing planetary defense colors
<Ante> They can’t be coming after us, Eight. Their sensors—can you scan their main sensor station?
<Face> Working on it, Leader
<Face> Leader, Eight. Sensors show the ground sensor complex intact. There seems to be some damage on the northeast wall and civilian crews there. It looks like our ground team fouled up
<Ante> They’re going to be sorry they got back to us. They’ll wish they only had Lavisar authorities to deal with. Wraiths, come about in formation. Twelve, confirm and then transmit our escape vector
<Piggy> Twelve, understood
<Lara> Leader, this is Thirteen. I’m picking up indications that we have company ahead. Probably the garrison of a lunar station
<Ante> Understood, Thirteen. Good work. Wraiths, my astromech shows that the lunar unit will be on us before we get to our exit point. Once they encounter us we’ll have about five minutes before the planetary units catch up to us. Mission Order One is rescinded. Engage and eliminate the lunar force with all dispatch. Then form up and get back to our escape course. Twelve?
<Piggy> I have a flexible escape course plotted, lacking only the crucial variable—the exact point we join up and prepare to exit
<Ante> Good. Get ready
<Ante> Wraiths, Leader. Form up. Twelve, make your calculations and get us out of here. I make it less than a minute before they overtake us. Give me status reports by number
Victory Briefing[edit]
When the Wraiths returned to Hawkbat Station, with their new member in tow, they found that the other members of the squadron had not been idle. On his own initiative, Kell Tainer had plotted and led two missions, all because of Runt.
Mission 2: Piracy[edit]
Email[edit]
To: CM Wedgilles From: GN Crespin
Good work getting out of that trap set by the Imperials. The Mon Remonda and Rogue Squadron will continue our search for Zsinj and attacking his forces where we can find them. Let me know if there is anything you are needing and good luck in your efforts to infiltrate the Warlord’s forces with your faux-pirate persona.
General Edor Crespin
Commander's Briefing[edit]
“We determined that they, the people of Halmad, had made a mistake,” the long-faced alien said, pride in his voice. He stood at the head of the cargo module that served as the Wraiths’ conference room; the pilots were packed in around its narrow oval table. “They had installed a new set of sensor stations and decommissioned the older sensor stations out in the asteroid belt. But when we examined the specifications of those new sensors, we discovered that their effective range was a couple of hundred kilometers short of the area they were supposed to cover. Meaning that we now possessed a narrow corridor we could get through without any real likelihood of detection. After that we were able to stage raids on the system.”
Kell said,“Raid number one was on a warehouse complex above the city of Fellon. Not much booty there, I’m afraid. We picked up a large stock of recreational holos being produced by the Imperials, propaganda dramas to make Face blush—”
“That’d take some doing,” Face said. “I’m shameless.”
“True. But also, in taking off, we strafed the dock where the recreational ships of the city’s wealthy—and other people, including the wealthy of the city of Hullis and the officers of Victory Base there—were docked. Did a few dozen million credits’ worth of damage to some very pretty vessels.”
“In our second mission, we struck at the station above Hullis herself. Phanan and I flew in, blew a hole in the side of a station, and flew out with as much cargo as we could load without sacrificing the flying speed of our TIE fighters.”
Tactical Briefing Text[edit]
Ok Wraiths, we are going to use the sensor screen hole Runt has found and make some trouble for them.
First we are going to hit the warehouse complex and see what we can steal and destroy anything we see on our way back out.
Then we are going to hit the Hullis Station Prime and see what we can shake loose.
Let's go be bad guys.
Radio Messages[edit]
<Kell> Lead the way, Six
<Runt> Understood, Five
<Kell> Alright, there is the warehouse complex. Let's blow some holes in them to give us some openings to have some fun
<Phanan> Roger
<Kell> That is one them
<Kell> Ok that's both of them. Six, take Warehouse Beta, and I will take Alpha and we will see what they got that we can walk off with. Two, Seven, fly patrol and watch our backs
<Phanan> Will do
<Phanan> What did you find?
<Kell> Can’t speak for Six, but I was able to get a whole shipment of propaganda holos
<Runt> Same
<Castin> That should make for a fun watch tonight
<Kell> Ok, let’s hit that Space Dock too and then head over to Hullis
<Kell> Ok, that is enough damage, let’s get a move on
<Kell> Ok, same thing as last time. We are going to focus on Hullis 1 and Hullis 2
<Kell> That is one of them
<Kell> Ok, this time Seven, take Hullis 1 while I hit 2
<Phanan> Five, do you see this!?
<Kell> Grab everything you can!
<Runt> We have fighters inbound
<Kell> Done. Ok, let’s deal with a few of these fighters and then get out of here!
<Kell> That’s enough, time to go!
Victory Briefing[edit]
“What cargo?” Ante asked.
“Imperial credit notes, coin, gems. We hit one of the official money-exchange sites used by the Imperial base.”
Ante gaped. “You robbed a bank.”
“We did. It was fun, too. Getting clear was a little tricky—that close in, it’s impossible to elude their sensors—but we just took off straight for the Sungrass and hyperspace, suffered their anti-fighter gun barrage, and outflew the TIEs they sent in pursuit. End result, a few dings and pits in Phanan’s starfighter.”
“To match,” Phanan said, “the few dings and pits in its pilot.”
Kell smiled, his expression reflecting a simple pride in the Wraiths’ accomplishments while most of the officers were gone.
“Castin has also modified the comm systems in all our TIEs so they distort our voices more effectively—the new computer-controlled distortion actually modifies accents and changes genders, making it even harder for listeners to identify our voices.”
“That’s good work,” Ante said. “But on this pirate activity, I just wish you all didn’t look as though you’d enjoyed yourselves so much.”
Phanan snorted. “A happy worker is a productive worker.”
Ante nodded. “But a happy pirate is a career pirate. You do remember that the Hawkbats are a front, a sham?”
Kell and Phanan exchanged looks suggesting that this was news to them.
“That’s what I thought. Anything else?”
Runt said, “Yes. We have also identified the regular schedule and course of a refueling tanker that leaves Halmad, takes a tour of government mining operations in the asteroid belt, and returns to the city of Hullis. It is now escorted by a couple of TIE fighters, but I think that with the proper surprise we could take them before a distress signal is sent. If we capture the tanker but fly it along its regular course, that gives us one opportunity to drop our entire squadron and perhaps Sungrass as well down on Hullis, should we ever need to mount a larger-scale mission there…or just capture a refueling tanker should we ever need one.”
“Good to know. All right, Wraiths—”
“Hawkbats,” corrected Kell, absently.
Ante gave him a stern look. “Wraiths, make sure your pirates’ take is logged to the last credit for your report. Now, with the good work you did while we were gone, you’ve added quite a lot to the sting the government of Halmad has to be feeling.” He began counting items off on his fingers. “We’ve hurt them militarily with the theft of the interceptors and then of the replacement parts. We’ve put civilian pressure on them with that space dock raid. We’ve hurt them economically with the money changers’ strike, and that will also result in more civilian pressure. And we’ve demonstrated that we can enter their system and leave at will, no casualties, no apparent effort that they can discern, and that’s the most important thing. They’ve lived at a relative level of peace for too long and don’t know how to cope with a unit like the Wraiths. With any luck, that will put them in the camp of Zsinj and his protection—”
“So Zsinj can come and squash us,” said Face.
Ante smiled. “If you’re as tough to squash as you are to predict, he’ll be in for an unpleasant surprise. All right. Let’s keep the pressure up on them. I want those two starfighter bases eliminated—a clear message to the Imperial forces on Halmad that anything they can construct, the Hawkbats can knock down. And I think, to demonstrate our superiority and their helplessness, we ought to stage those two eliminations simultaneously. So let’s settle in and do some planning.”
Mission 3: Halmat[edit]
Email[edit]
None
Commander's Briefing[edit]
“Hawkbat Leader to squadron, give me your status.” Face’s voice was now low, growling. Ante wondered whether Face was performing already, or whether Castin’s modifications to the individual starfighters’ comm systems were already in place.
“Hawkbat Seven, two in the green, all systems charged, and I’ll have a mint liqueur with a lomin-ale chaser.” Phanan’s voice was a bass rumble, which he couldn’t have managed in person.
“Hawkbat Ten, all ready.” And Shalla’s voice was distinctly that of a male.
Ante cleared his throat. “Hawkbat One, ready to launch.” Laughter erupted from his comm set, several voices’ worth. Frustratingly, he couldn’t even recognize the voices now. He said, “Is there a problem?”
Face’s growl answered, “No problem, sir. We’re receiving you at full power.” But Ante could hear poorly restrained laughter in his voice. As the count continued, Ante switched his comm unit over to a private frequency, one he shared with his X-wing and his astromech.
“Gate, are you receiving?” His R5 unit responded with a cheerful mechanical tweet. “On my first mark, record my transmission. On my second mark, cease recording and transmit what you’ve recorded back to me. Mark. ‘We, the Rebel Alliance, do therefore in the name—and by the authority—of the free beings of the galaxy, solemnly publish and declare our intentions.’ Mark.”
His words came back to him a moment later. But they were not in his voice. In fact, they were high-pitched and fuzzy, a type of jabber Ante well recognized. They were exactly what an Ewok would sound like if trained to speak Basic. He sighed.
“Thank you, Gate. Out.” He switched back to the Hawkbat Squadron channel and banged his helmeted head on his pilot’s yoke. At least morale was high.
—
The Hawkbats, in tight formation, dropped toward Halmad in the narrow corridor they knew to be unprotected by the planet’s sensor arrays. Their own sensors told them that Bastion, the refueling tanker the team led by Kell had commandeered, was making its own approach to the planet, via a government-approved course, theoretically on the return leg of its regular refueling mission.
Within minutes, they were cruising in a low orbit on a course for the city-station of Fellon—or, more accurately, for a small, hidden Imperial base in a hollowed out asteroid near it. At the head of the Hawkbats’ formation were Face and Phanan. Face, playing the role of Hawkbat Independent Space Force founder Kargin, had to be in charge of the mission; their broadcasts were certain to be intercepted and recorded, and it would not do for Hawkbat One to be heard issuing orders to Hawkbat Leader. Ante had few worries about Face, but Face’s wingman, Phanan, was not as skillful a flier in either X-wings or TIE fighters.
The plan was relatively simple: the main Hawkbat force would knock out the defenses of the hidden base before they could be brought online and then the Bastion would be rammed into the base to destroy it.
The range meter put them at twenty seconds from their target. Ten, five—and then Face and Phanan were firing just as the Imperial base came into Ante’s view. They all took shots at the station as they flew past.
“Good shooting, Hawkbats.” That was the gravelly voice of Face’s persona.
“Leader, this is Four. We hit shields.”
“Four, what did you say? There were no shields.”
“Not as we were approaching, sir. They came up as we opened fire. The base has sustained no, repeat no, damage.”
Their arc was nearly complete, and it was obvious that Dia’s report was correct: the base was solidly in place, and the Hawkbats’ sensors now showed shielding protecting the facility. Then TIE fighters and interceptors came streaming out of the base, easily a score of them. More than a score. The second flight of TIEs emerged. Ante checked the sensor board. Thirty-six unfriendlies, three full squadrons.
Shalla spoke next, her voice subdued even in its distorted form: “We are so dead.”
Tactical Briefing Text[edit]
We got to fight clear of these fighters and make it out of the System.
Watch each other’s backs and look out for the Nara which should be launching from the Bastion with our people aboard.
Good luck.
Radio Messages[edit]
<Face> Break by groups. Fire at will. And may...we drink from the skulls of our enemies tonight!
<Ante> Ten, Thirteen, take the target to port
<Jan> Leader, Three. I just flipped my sensors over to long-range. I show a capital ship clearing the horizon and heading this way
<Face> A cruiser?
<Jan> A Star Destroyer. At least
<Ante> Hawkbats, this is One. Recommend abort mission. Stormies
<Face> Hawkbats, Leader. Confirm stormies
Victory Briefing[edit]
They were a gloomy group, gathered in the conference module at Hawkbat Base.
Ante said, “We’re all concerned about Face and Phanan, but I want you all to understand this. It’s very important. Today, tactically, was a victory, a tremendous one. We cost them far more than they cost us. If we’re going to have any perspective on what this has cost us, we have to remember that.”
Tyria said, “What are we going to do about finding them?”
“We’ll put a team on the ground as soon as it’s feasible. First we have to get as much information as possible. Castin, you were going to get us information from your satellite account.”
Castin nodded. “I couldn’t.”
“Explain.”
“The account had been shut down. When I accessed it, I got nothing but a pointer to a file. A full holo, from Warlord Zsinj.”
There were startled noises from the other pilots, but Ante waved them down. “You’ve viewed the file?”
Castin nodded. “I didn’t know it was Zsinj until I did view it. It’s a letter from him to the Hawkbats.”
“Put it on.”
Castin leaned forward and above the table appeared Warlord Zsinj in all his white finery.
“I presume that I’m addressing the so-called General Kargin of the Hawkbats.” His expression became merry. “As you can see, the rules around Halmad have changed. The planet belongs to my alliance now, and you will not be permitted to stay here.”
“Now, what you must understand is that a lesser man would be most angry with you. I’m not. To be honest, I’m impressed. You annihilated two entire squadrons of my fighters against minimal losses of your own. That’s quite admirable. Oh, certainly, you’ve lost, but my victory was far more costly than it should have been, testimony to your own skill and ferocity.”
“So, you now have a choice to make.”
“You can stay here and continue to try to prey on Halmad. I will eventually hunt you down and kill all of you. My guess is that this will be very costly to me, but it’s what I’ve promised to do. The problem with this choice is that everybody loses, though you lose more.”
“You can leave and set up operations in an area of space not yet controlled by me. This isn’t a costly choice, but nobody gains anything.”
“Your third option, however, includes potential gain for both of us.”
“I’d like to meet you. Attached to this holo is a hyperspace navigational course. Send a ship with a representative who can speak for you along that course. You will meet a navigation beacon that will direct you further. We will meet, and I will make it worth your while to come to terms with me.”
“I will not give you my word that you will not be harmed. But this you can trust: I'm a businessman, and it just makes good business sense for us to join forces. Take it under consideration.”
The corpulent warlord’s image faded away.
“Wraiths,” Ante said, “it may have cost us dearly…but the Hawkbat operation has just begun to pay off. We’re going to need a contact team.”
—
Phanan’s TIE fighter had apparently hit the ground in a soft glade, bounced like a rock skipping across the surface of a pond, and crashed into a line of young trees. A stormtrooper stood guard on the damaged vehicle, and was engrossed in conversation with two men in the distinctive uniform of Zsinj’s Raptors. Two speeder bikes in Raptor colors hovered beside the starfighter’s intact wing.
Face, hidden a few dozen meters away, crawled forward to hear what they were saying.
They said there was a trail of blood leading a kilometer away to a stoney river bed and then beyond. After listening for a bit longer Face sprung into action killing the stormtrooper and the two Raptors. He ended up destroying one of the speeder bikes and damaging the other in the fight but used it to get to the river.
When he got there he realized that Phanan would not have tried to keep crawling through the river but would have let it carry him towards the distant city. A kilometer down river he found him when Phanan threw a rock at his head, almost knocking him from the speeder bike…
[See Emails]
Mission 4: Battle of Kuat[edit]
Email[edit]
To: VA Setzer From: CM Wedgilles
The following messages contain the report of LT Loran on the events that occurred on the surface of Halmad that led to the death of SL Ton Phanan and the actions he took thereafter.
After finding SL Ton Phanan, LT Garik Loran assessed the pilot's condition, and it was grave. In SL Phanan’s judgment he was bleeding internally and would not have much time until he succumbed to his injuries. LT Loran loaded SL Phanan on to the damaged speeder bike he had taken from the Raptor forces he had ambushed and when he attempted to ride away discovered the bike’s thruster system had failed while its repulsers were still fully operational. LT Loran then decided to use the speeder bike as a litter to carry SL Phanan to any settlement he could find to obtain medical aid for him. Approximately 18 local hours after the crash and 12 hours after LT Loran had found SL Phanan the SL died from his injuries. LT Loran made camp until first light and then made his way back to his TIE Interceptor. Once there he flew back to the camp and destroyed the body of SL Phanan to prevent it from falling into Zsinj’s hands and then made his way back to Hawkbat Base.
Respectfully,
CMDR/CM Ante Wedgilles/Wraith/Wing XXII/Hawkbat Base
To: CM Wedgilles
From: VA Setzer
After reviewing your report and the attached sensor recordings I have determined the LT Garik Loran not only is not to be held responsible for SL Ton Phanan's death but is to be commended for this efforts to rescue a fellow Emperor's Hammer pilot and when that was impossible, to destroy all evidence of our involvement to prevent Warlord Zsinj for discovering our operation.
BGCOM-CAPT-TOA/VA Locke Setzer/Battlegroup III
To: CM Wedgilles
From: SL Donn
I would like to go on the mission to Iron Fist. I have created a software package that will allow us to track the ship's movements and determine the location to best ambush it with the wider New Republic Fleet.
This package can only be installed by a skilled slicer and therefore I am the only one capable of placing it within the Iron Fist's computer system.
FM/SL Castin Donn/Wraith 2/Wing XXII/Hawkbat Base
To: SL Donn
From: CM Wedgilles
Your request to be on the initial meeting with the Iron Fist is denied. This first meeting with Zsinj is going to be tense and Zsinj will be on high alert. There is too much chance of you being caught or your program being detected due to heightened computer security measures.
We will implement your code package on another trip to Iron Fist after the initial distrust has a chance to dissipate.
CMDR/CM Ante Wedgilles/Wraith/Wing XXII/Hawkbat Base
Commander's Briefing[edit]
“Some of us will be away on missions with varying levels of consequence,” Ante said. “A couple will remain here at Hawkbat Base for maintenance and security purposes. The rest—now, contain yourselves—will receive leave.”
He waited through the resulting cheers. The Wraiths’ expressions were a study in contrasts, ranging from glum to suddenly cheerful. Well, partially cheerful. Phanan’s death was still fresh on their minds.
“Mission One is the meeting with Zsinj,” Ante said. “Face commands, and he has chosen Dia and Kell to accompany him. This is all intelligence gathering, very delicate, which is why the crew is full of deadly killers.”
That got a chuckle. “This mission will utilize the shuttle Narra. Mission Two is…”
—
As he watched Iron Fist growing in the forward viewport, Face willed his stomach to quit crawling around. “All right. Here’s your last bit of advice. Remember, we’re just as arrogant as they are but nowhere near as strong. So respond appropriately to bad manners—but not so appropriately that you get us killed.”
Kell mimed entering data on an imaginary datapad. “No get killed,” he said. “I’ll try to remember.”
“Understood, General,” Dia said. Her voice was an insinuating purr, far different from the flat, sometimes emotionless tones he was used to from her.
—
Dia brought the shuttle into the designated hangar. Within already were a pair of interceptors, another Lambda-class shuttle, and a larger Raptor transport shuttle—an ugly, boxy troop carrier known to be favored by Zsinj’s forces. And a reception committee—an officer and a half-dozen stormtroopers.
“Show time,” Face said.
They descended the boarding ramp in proper form, Face first, Dia and Kell to either side of and behind him. Face stopped directly before the officer.
“I am General Kargin, founder and leader of the Hawkbat Independent Space Force.” He put on an urbane smile and lowered his voice. “I believe I have an invitation.”
“Indeed you do. General Melvar. I am in charge of the warlord’s assault forces, and I welcome you to Iron Fist. Your associates?”
Face gestured first to Dia, then to Kell. “Captain Seku, my second-in-command. Lieutenant Dissek, my bodyguard.”
“Delighted.”
—
General Melvar and the Hawkbats swept into a bridge that was a riot of activity. A narrow but full-length dinner table, large enough to accommodate twenty people, was set up on the command walkway and more than half-filled with diners. Seated at the head of the table, his back to the viewports now showing the swirl of hyperspace travel, a vast area of brightness in his spotless white grand admiral’s uniform, was Zsinj. His hands were clasped over his expansive belly, his mustachios drooped rakishly, and his expression was one of great contentment.
General Melvar led the Hawkbats toward the head of the table and had them sit before offering introduction.
“Warlord, allow me to present you General Kargin, Captain Seku, and Lieutenant Dissek, honored representatives of the Hawkbats. General Kargin, your host, the warlord Zsinj.”
Face offered a seated half bow. Zsinj finally turned his attention to the new guests and smiled.
“Good to meet you at last. Welcome aboard Iron Fist.”
—
“Now,” Zsinj said over the iced pastry that was their dessert course, “to the matter which has led to our meeting.”
Face sat back, assuming a false expression of contentment. “Please.”
“I am about to embark on a mission. It will be a large-scale military engagement.”
“You’re going to attack your Rebel enemies?”
“That’s correct. I anticipate starfighter and capital ship response and need all the starfighter support I can get—especially considering my recent squadron losses. But if you’re as effective against my enemies as you have been against me, I will have lost effectively no strength.”
An aide appeared over his shoulder and whispered to him. His expression did not change, but he rose “I must attend to business for a few moments. Melvar, please continue this briefing.”
He took a few steps away with the aide. Melvar smiled, an expression that suggested he’d be happiest if pulling the wings off insects.
“It’s an orbital trade station. In its warehouses is a considerable quantity of material we need—critical supplies. We also need some time to load that material into our cargo vessels—not a lot of time, but enough time for the planetary defenses below to begin sending up squads of starfighters from the surface…and to bring in more squadrons from capital ships arrayed around the planet.”
Face whistled. “You’re after valuable cargo. What is it?”
Melvar shook his head. “That’s a secret…until you’re at the mission site.”
—
Warlord Zsinj had rejoined the conversation as Face said, “I’d be happy to earn still more. I have more Hawkbats than I do starfighters. Many with technical proficiency. Many with other skills.”
“Intrusion skills?” asked Zsinj.
Face smiled. “I was right. You’re going to position a team before your fleet arrives.”
Zsinj shrugged. “We obviously think alike. Yes, of course.”
—
“Quite all right,” Zsinj said. “You will provide me with dossiers on the Hawkbats who have technical skills so I can evaluate possible roles for them?”
“I will. Just give me a way to send them to you.”
“Melvar will give you a set of HoloNet times and frequencies before you leave.”
“And as much data as you can give us on this mission so we can run our own simulations?” Melvar produced a datapad from a pocket and slid it over to him.
“Would you be averse to a small commission now?” the warlord asked.
“Not at all.”
Zsinj stared back toward the security foyer, two stormtroopers there were advancing, dragging a third stormtrooper backward between them. The third man was limp in their arms and had no helmet on; his hair was golden blond.
“I must be sure of your ruthlessness,” Zsinj said. “I know you are capable of killing in fair combat, but I want men who can kill under less adverse circumstances. So, if you’d please shoot this man for me?”
The stormtroopers dumped their human cargo by the foot of the table. The man they had carried was Castin Donn. His eyes were closed. There was a blaster burn mark on his right leg. His chest rose and fell in regular rhythm.
Face swallowed the bile that tried to crawl up his throat and hoped that he had not gone as pale as he felt. Castin, you idiot. You’ve killed us all.
Dia stood, her sudden motion startling everyone at the table. She smiled at the warlord, a heart-melting expression, and held out her hand. Face felt a sudden surge of elation. She had a plan. He saw Kell bring his legs up under him. The big man would probably go after Zsinj. That left General Melvar for Face, with Dia to hold the others at bay with the blaster. Melvar nodded; his officer handed Dia the blaster pistol. She checked the charge, moved over beside Castin— And shot him in the throat.
—
Face made it clear, by gesture and private code, that he wanted the others to remain silent even as they accelerated away from Iron Fist. Only when they had entered hyperspace on their first leg out did he speak. “Report.”
“He was already dead.” The words burst from her like water finally breaching an old dam. “He was gone, Face.” Pain tugged at her words, made them waver. There was bleakness in what he could see of her face.
“He was breathing.”
“No, he wasn’t. It was some sort of trick. Some sort of mechanical pump, I don’t know.”
—
Jan gave him a bleak look. “This is Coruscant. He’s going to hit Coruscant.”
Ante shook his head. “That’s what the data tells us if you dig down from the top layer. But I don’t understand some things. Zsinj’s mission will take place soon—otherwise he wouldn’t give us this much information about it. Yet this complement of ships isn’t an exact representation of Coruscant’s defenses—I was just there, and he’s got the strengths wrong. So is he wrong because his intelligence is incomplete, inadequate?”
“That doesn’t sound like him, does it?”
“Then there’s the question of what sort of cargo Zsinj is going after. Our task is to protect Zsinj’s forces while they load a cargo ship—why not wait until the goods are already loaded? What does the government of the New Republic store on Coruscant’s space stations that can’t be acquired on the surface, or in transit?”
—
“Wait a second. I have an idea of what he’s after.”
—
It took Lara only two hours to translate the data, and took her and Ante less than five minutes to get a close match in their comparison of the new data with sites in Imperial space.
Tactical Briefing Text[edit]
Our target is almost certainly a Kuat Drive Yards facility in the Kuat system.
Now, the data Zsinj provided the Hawkbats makes planetary orbit the most likely prospect for where the Super Star Destroyer Zsinj is after is being finished.
Our primary goal is to get a transmitter on to the Iron Fist, the new destroyer, or both.
This could be done by Shalla on the infiltration team or by one of the Hawkbats landing on one of them, unnoticed.
Goal number two is to stay alive.
Good luck.
Radio Messages[edit]
<Face> Launch
<Face> Hawkbat Leader to Iron Fist. What is this? Where’s Coruscant?
<Melvar> We never said you were going to Coruscant, Hawkbats. Welcome to Kuat. Please keep to your assigned roles. Everything will work out very profitably
<Melvar> Hawkbat Leader, I regret to inform you that the insertion team reports that they have lost Qatya
<Face> How?
<Melvar> She single-handedly eliminated a demolitions team and was lost in the explosion. Her action has apparently prevented any further assaults on the bridge. You have our condolences
<Face> Thank you. Someone is going to die for this
<Face> Hawkbats, follow my lead
<Face> Anyone recognize that?
<Tyria> Leader, Eleven. It’s Mauler. Nothing special
<Face> That’s comforting. Thanks, Five
<Face> This is Hawkbat Leader. Who else is heading toward Mauler?
<Vibroaxe Prime> Hawkbat Leader, this is Vibroaxe Prime. You’re the spearhead; we’re the shaft
<Face> Want to trade places, Prime?
<Vibroaxe Prime> Thank you, no, Hawkbat. I’m content for you to take first blood
<Face> Join us when you get bored, Vibroaxe. Out
<Face> Break by pairs, set up for Kettch’s Drill, and fire at will
<Unknown> Squad Two, continue on to primary target
<Piggy> Hawkbat Five, this is Twelve, recommend you climb now
<Unknown> I’m hit I’m hit I’m...
<Unknown> Can’t shake him
<Unknown> I’ve got him, Bantha
<Unknown> Archer, this is Vee Prime. Spray a pattern of torps back toward the baby, we have a whole squad cutting out to go after him
<Unknown> That—Emperor’s nose, that’s an Ewok! They’ve got an Ewok pilot!
<Ante> Bleed and die, yub, yub
<Shalla> Parasite Two, go
<Shalla> Kuat Central Authority, please acknowledge. This is Engineer’s Mate Vula aboard Razor’s Kiss. This vessel has been seized by Rebels or pirates. I think we’re under way. I’m requesting instructions
<Mauler> Vula, this is Mauler Control. We’re aware of the situation. Where are you?
<Shalla> I can’t say. This is an open transmission. They’re probably listening
<Mauler> Then get to an escape pod and launch. You’ve done your duty
<Shalla> Acknowledged. Out
<Ante> Four, stay with me, then break when we’re past them
<Ante> Good flying, Four
<Dia> Yub, yub, One
<Ante> Leader, what to do?
<Face> It’s still hairy here, One. Come back in
<Melvar> Hawkbats, Vibroaxe, One Eighty-first. Fall back, fall back. We are nearing the launch zone
<Piggy> Leader, Twelve. I don’t have enough kills
<Face> Twelve, Leader. That’s a negative. Return to Sungrass
<Piggy> Don’t hear you, Leader
<Face> Twelve, blast it…Eleven, go with him
<Tyria> Affirmative, Leader
<Tyria> Leader, I have to report that Twelve is no more. Our friend Morrt is One with the universe
Victory Briefing[edit]
In Iron Fist’s main hangar bay, Face emerged from Sungrass’s airlock. Quite a reception awaited him and the representatives of the various pirate bands.
Melvar was at the center of the largest open area, a phalanx of stormtroopers around him. He was shaking hands with motley-looking pilots and officers, occasionally handing out shiny new datapads to them. As Face approached, one pirate in particular was haranguing Melvar, shaking a fist in his face, gesturing with an angry theatricality Face decided was not simulated.
The man was a Devaronian, and one given much to decoration; the horns on his forehead were gilded, and his sharp teeth gleamed so brightly they had to have been augmented by some surface bonded to them. His clothes were similar to an Imperial admiral’s in cut, but made of red cloth and leather, with an eye-catching red-and-gold overcloak. As Face drew near, he could hear the Devaronian’s voice; it was that of Vibroaxe Prime.
“…malicious lies. This is not the way allies collaborate, Melvar.”
Zsinj’s general shrugged. “The lie was a matter of security. I did not underrepresent the forces we would be facing.”
“Yes, you did! My fleet would have fared better against Y-wings and X-wings. We did simulator training against them that we could have spent against simulated TIEs. That was lost time. I’ve suffered eighty percent vehicle losses, nearly fifty percent pilot losses!”
Melvar’s voice became soothing. “And you’ll receive the bonuses we promised for those losses, in the second round of payments.”
“There will be no second round! I want it all now. And not accounts—materials, precious gems, cargo. None of your datapad treachery.”
Face shouldered his way to the front of the crowd and frowned. “What treachery, Melvar?”
“Ah, General Kargin.” Melvar extended a hand back and one of his aides handed him a datapad. “Twenty-eight percent losses and an impressive kill rate. You’re in for a bonus on that alone with the second round. For now, your initial payment, as promised.” He offered the datapad.
“What’s this? This isn’t Imperial credits.”
“It’s all the information you need to access a numbered account where your payment resides. On Halmad. We thought that would be convenient for you.”
“It would.” He looked dubiously at the datapad. “And if, like Vibroaxe here, I want material goods?”
“You’ll have them. Half the value of the payment we negotiated. If we’re inconvenienced enough to have to carry hard currency and goods, we take a substantial cut. No negotiation.”
Face shrugged and took the datapad. “I trust Zsinj,” he announced. “Simply because it’s not cost-effective for him to betray us. Word would spread to every pirate band in Imperial and Rebel space. He’d never get anything but blasters in the teeth from them afterward.”
Melvar smiled. “As ever, the Hawkbats make the intelligent choice. You have my sympathies for your losses. The woman Qatya was of special help.”
“Her efforts will, I hope, be long remembered. Until the second payment, Melvar.” Face brought the datapad up to his brow in a mock salute and turned back toward Sungrass.
Behind him, Vibroaxe Prime and others of the pirate leaders, more subdued, began accepting the datapads or negotiating for the reduced fees in material goods.
Mission 5: Razor's Kiss[edit]
Email[edit]
To: VA Setzer From: CM Wedgilles
It is my sad duty to report the death of SL Castin Donn. It is evident, defying my direct orders, he stowed away aboard the Narra and snuck onto the Iron Fist during our recent meeting with Warlord Zsinj.
It is not known how he was captured; it is surmised that he had been attempting to upload a tracking code package he had developed when caught. It seems he was able to destroy all evidence of his identity before capture as Zsinj did not capture the other Wraiths aboard. It is my belief that he died rather than be captured as Zsinj’s following actions don't make sense otherwise.
He was then presented to the Wraiths undercover as a prisoner for them to execute. SL Dia Passik took it upon herself to shoot SL Donn to assuage suspicions of the Hawkbats.
On the journey back to Hawkbat Base SL Passik attempted suicide due to the guilt of having to shoot SL Donn.
As it is my belief that SL Donn was already dead when SL Passik shot him, I have not confined her but have placed a watch on her to ensure she does not make a second suicide attempt.
CMDR/CM Ante Wedgilles/Wraith/Wing XXII/Hawkbat Base
To: CM Wedgilles
From: VA Setzer
I concur with your ruling that SL Dia Passik is innocent of an attack against a fellow Emperor's Hammer officer. She is to be given all medical and counseling services required to help her realize this.
I have notified SL Castin Donn’s next of kin and placed a suitable note of commendation in SL Passik’s file for her quick thinking in protecting the Hawkbat Operation.
BGCOM-CAPT-TOA/VA Locke Setzer/Battlegroup III
Commander's Briefing[edit]
Sungrass’s first hyperspace jump was straight toward Halmad. Its second carried the cargo hauler straight to the deep-space rendezvous point where Mon Remonda waited.
When Ante reached the bridge of the Mon Calamari cruiser, General Crespin was waiting with a smile and a handshake.
“Any word from the Super Star Destroyer?” Ante asked.
“No, no word.” Crespin gestured at the holoprojected starfield that dominated the center of the bridge.
“Piggy’s fighter only carries so much air, even with the extra life-support units he’s carried aboard,” Ante said. “And we have no idea what Shalla Nelprin’s status is. So even if our comm control program is planted correctly, the Parasite part of our plan is on a limited schedule.”
“Well...still. Stand down for a while. Iron Fist and the other Destroyer may be jumping around for a while, and it could be some time before they reenter normal space and fire up their hypercomm system. Assuming, of course, that your program is planted and operational—”
The Mon Calamari captain swung around in his command chair. There was excitement in his gravelly voice.
“Communications reports a signal from the Donn program,” he said. “We have a location on the target ship, only minutes old.”
“You know, I almost never get to be right,” Crespin said quietly. He raised his voice:
“Put that location up on the board.”
A blinking yellow glow appeared in the midst of the starfield projection. They moved next to it. Crespin said, “Looks like they took a course perpendicular to a straight run back into the areas of space he controls. And that’s good for us. Mon Remonda is the closest force to him.”
Ante asked, “Are you planning on a jump straight to the broadcast position?”
Crespin shook his head. “No, I want a little dispersal. See if we can have ships on all his escape vectors. He’s out in deep space, away from any known gravity wells—he can jump back to hyperspace pretty quickly if we don’t finish him. You have any ideas on how he’ll behave in real space, before his next jump?”
“He’s going to spend some time where he is, having his technicians go over the new Destroyer’s hyperdrive engines.” Ante considered.
“Which means stopping dead or cruising. He kept moving after he made his first jump out of Kuat system, and he was moving in the same direction as the hyperspace jump….Can you indicate his course from Kuat to his current position?”
A thin white line appeared, tracing from the blinking yellow dot to a star a couple of hand spans away. “That’s my guess,” Ante said. “He’ll be at cruising speed along the same course until it’s time to jump again.”
Crespin pointed just ahead of the Destroyers’ projected course.
“All right. Calculate time to jump to this point. Compare it with Iron Fist’s normal cruising speed. Project its probable location based on that. That will be Mon Remonda’s arrival zone. Now, assuming he wants to run to his own space, we’ll figure out the two most likely courses for him to take and put Tedevium in front of one of them and the rest of this group in front of the other one.”
“Good luck, Commander. Sorry you didn’t get that rest I was offering.”
Ante took it. “Either way, I’m going to get it pretty soon.”
Tactical Briefing Text[edit]
Our mission is three fold.
First, to protect the bombers of the Mon Remonda’s strike force as they attack the Iron Fist and the new Super Star Destroyer.
Second, to recover our pilots, Piggy and Shalla, that are aboard the two Star Destroyers.
Third, to destroy the Iron Fist once and for all.
Good luck.
Radio Messages[edit]
<Crespin> They’re aware of us. They’re not deploying their fighter screen. That suggests they plan to blow their way through and launch back into hyperspace
<Ante> The rest of our group?
<Crespin> Coming up fast in their wake
<Ante> Please inform them that if they’re very nice, maybe we’ll leave them something to shoot at
<Ante> All squadrons, this is Wraith Leader. Prepare for strafing run on the second Destroyer. Ignore Iron Fist for now. X-wings, B-wings, commence with proton torpedoes. Save some for the engines
<Ante> Fire at will
<Shalla> New Republic forces, this is Wraith Ten. Sending transponder data. Please flag me as friendly
<Ante> Confirm that friendly. People, this is the lady who just opened the front door for us
<Cheers>
<Mon Remonda> Assault force, this is Mon Remonda. Sensors show starfighters launching from Iron Fist in considerable strength
<Ante> Understood. All squadrons, stay in formation. Turn to course nine-oh but keep firing on the target destroyer until you no longer bear. Prepare for individual action
<Ante> Break by pairs. Take shots at Iron Fist when you can, but your main objective is to protect yourselves and hold the starfighters. Polearm, you’re our spearhead—break up their formation, deny them their united inertia before they get to us. Rogues next. Wraiths, hang back, every pair protect a pair of B-wings. That’s all
<Polearm 1> Polearm Leader acknowledging
<Rogue 1> This is Rogue Leader, we’re on it
<Nova 1> This is Nova Leader, thanks
<Lara> Orders?
<Face> Right. Follow me
<Face> This is Wraith Eight and Wraith Thirteen. We’re your escorts for this evening. What’s your pleasure?
<Nova 3> You have Nova Three and Nova Four. We can play with the TIEs, but we’re much better suited to unloading on that ugly hunk of metal the warlord is driving
<Face> Tuck in tight, we’ll get you close
<Lara> Yesss
<Face> Thirteen, drop back, shore up your rear shields. Let’s give the Novas all the protection we can
<Lara> Understood
<Ante> Nova Squadron, this is Wraith Leader. Form up with the Screaming Wookiee
<Face> Thirteen, incoming!
<Lara> Eight, can you hear me?
<Lara> Eight, this is Thirteen, can you hear me?
<Lara> Squad, this is Thirteen. We need help here. I can’t handle these two—
<Jan> Wraith Three here. Four and I are coming in. Hold on
<Kell> Five here, I’m almost there
Victory Briefing[edit]
Hours later, Ante marched into Mon Remonda’s bridge. General Crespin had his back to the bridge; he was lost in thought, staring into the depths of hyperspace. Ante approached to stand beside him.
“Commander Wedgilles reporting.”
Crespin didn’t answer for long moments. He took a deep breath. “We lost him.”
“We hurt him. We eliminated the other Destroyer. Razor’s Kiss.”
“But Zsinj is still at large.”
“We’ll get him next time.”
“I’ll drink to that. How are your people?”
“Good. Lieutenant Loran will make it.”
—
Face jumped as Kell came barging through the door. Kell caught sight of Dia, seated next to Face’s bed; she had an arm around his neck, her other hand stroking his brow.
“Oh, I see,” Kell said. “Celebration’s already started.”
Face glared. “What celebration?”
“Ask the commander.”
Behind Kell came the rest of the squadron.
“All present?” Ante asked.
“And no accounting for,” Jan said.
Ante turned toward Face, his expression stern.
“Lieutenant Loran. You returned your X-wing in the worst shape the mechanics have ever seen a flying fighter. You arrived in similar shape for an organism. As I understand it, parts of you and your X-wing were intermingled.”
“He had to be cut out of the cockpit,” Lara confirmed.
“For this,” Ante continued, “we present to you the Award of the Mechanic’s Nightmare.”
Tyria held out the statuette, which was of a mechanic with a wrench upraised as a weapon. The mechanic’s expression was of pure rage. Face took the thing.
“I want to thank everyone who retrieved pieces of me, everyone who retrieved pieces of my X-wing, and especially those who sorted them out correctly.”
“On a more serious note,” Ante said. “Attention.”
“With all our recent excitement,” Ante said, “I’ve neglected to finalize a little business. Shalla Nelprin, step forward.”
She did so.
“Since being posted to Wraith Squadron,” Ante said, “you have demonstrated fine piloting and intrusion skills, in addition to improvisational instincts that have benefited this unit. It is my pleasure to convey to you your promotion to the rank of lieutenant.”
He handed her her new officer’s insignia, then shook her hand.
“Congratulations, Shalla.”
She opened her mouth to answer, but it was a moment before sound emerged.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Don’t thank me; you did all the work. It’s well deserved.”
Dia, still stroking Face’s forehead, suddenly frowned.
“Say, what’s this?”
The surprise in her voice caused the others to quiet down. Dia pinched at Face’s skin, and the others could see that a tiny flap of skin at the corner of Face’s scar was loose. She tugged at it. Face squirmed.
“Uhh, well, this is something new, I haven’t had an opportunity to tell you...”
She continued tugging and the scar began to come up at that edge, as though it were some sort of applique, with pink, healthy skin beneath it.
“Face?”
“Get involved with a woman and she thinks she can tear your face off.”
Dia pulled and his scar came off in her hand. Her expression was incredulous as she looked down at him. Where he had once worn a scar, his flesh looked pink and new, but definitely undamaged. Face looked around at all the Wraiths peering at him. He shrugged.
“Ton Phanan’s fault. He left me some money. Enough for some elective surgery. Or it would go to someone I hated. I pretty much had to do what he wanted.”
“Well, it suits you,” Dia said.
Runt reached out the door and tugged in a rolling cart. It was laden with bottles and glasses. “Face cannot drink yet,” he said. “But we can drink to him.”
“And to Ton Phanan and Castin Donn.” Dia said, “And to scars you can peel off whenever you no longer need them.”
Face said, “And to—”
Dia dropped the rubbery false scar into his mouth. “And,” she said, “to friends who don’t try to fool you all the time.”
Face pulled the false scar out and gave her a rueful look. “Dia, this is Wraith Squadron. You’re never going to have that.”
