Skye Legacy Ep. 10 | "Fires over Rhen Var"

An even longer time ago, in a galaxy just as far away...

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Following the mission on Alderaan, Falcon Squadron resumed training in their strike craft be it X-Wings, Y-Wings or A-Wings. Nicole was very selective with who would fly in her squadron as she wanted to make sure that it was one of the best units attached to the MacAlpine, if not the whole battle group. A number of her pilots were former Imperial Pilots who had defected with the rest being made up of those who have either shown natural talent or have had experience with flying. With the increased strength of the battle group following the formation of its additional battle squadrons with MC80a's, the battle group is tasked to its operational area from the Mandalore sector all the way along to the Thalium sector via the Salin corridor. The battle group employs hit and run tactics using their fighters and bombers to drop out of hyperspace hit a target and jump away again before the Empire has a chance to respond. The successful use of these tactics would form a base and example for other squadrons and rebel cells while the formation of a wider alliance and the standard doctrines are still being created. Along with the use of the Venators as mobile operating bases for the battle group, the Empire is struggling to pin them down in a fight, and this is the situation that has resulted in the Malachor Force being given orders to hunt down the rebel ships.

Pilots of the MacAlpines 2nd Strike Group, which includes Nicole's Falcon Squadron, are gathered in one of the MacAlpines briefing rooms while the Strike Groups CO and an intelligence officer give the briefing, using the holographic image projected from the central table for reference. The strike groups CO, Wing Commander Sion Thule, is the one leading the briefing.

"Ok then people, listen up. Our newest target is a big one, we are going after the Imperial station in orbit of Rhen Var..."

There are a few murmurs from the assembled pilots at the thought of going after an Imperial station directly.

"Right then, settle down. I know you might have concerns about this target, but we need to hit it due to new information we have received from high command. Captain if you would?"

Thule motions to the Intelligence officer while he takes a step back and lets the intelligence officer move forward to brief the pilots on the information from High Command.

"As the wing commander said, we have received intel from High command that has made hitting this station a priority target. As some of you may know we gained information from the rebels operating out of the Lothal sector that the Empire is constructing the next generation of advanced TIE fighters there, though at the time they did not believe they had entered full production and rolling out of these TIE Defenders as they are being called. However, high command has been able to intercept and crack several Imperial communications in this sector that indicate that a shipment of the TIE Defenders has already left Lothal and is being sent to the 9th Fleet. We know that this shipment is currently at the station over Rhen Var for now before it makes the final leg to equip a few squadrons of the 9th Fleet."

The Intelligence officer takes a step back once they have finished, the quiet filled by a slight murmur from the assembled pilots while they think about what these new fighters could mean, Thule steps forward again to resume the briefing.

"Ok then people, time to get your game faces on as you know now what we are going after and the stakes that if we miss this shipment now who knows when it will come back and bite us. So then here comes the technical outline for the mission, the Imperial station is a Cardan-III Class station with an Imperial Battle squadron operating from it."

While Thule talks, the holographic table projects the image of the station with a docked Imperial star destroyer and the rest of the battle squadron around the station.

"And yes I know this is a lot of ships, we are looking at least 200 TIEs to be launched against our attack plus their ships however, most of the squadron should either be out on patrol or on the edge of the battle and since we are going to be jumping in so close we should be okay. The plan is a simple one, we get in nice and close and hit the station with everything we have. Strike group 1 will be going after the transports carrying the TIE Defenders while we go after the station its self. The other 3 strike groups will be going after the Imperial battle squadron then moving to assist us. Once the mission is complete or the abort order is given we will follow jump pattern bravo-2 to reach the fleet at point Echo-Fox-4. Any questions?"

The pilots look between themselves while they decide if they need to ask any questions, Nicole who had been staring at the holo display during the briefing, with an arm lightly resting on Nalan's shoulders, shakes her head slightly.

"If that is the case then, Pilots report to your ready rooms and prepare for takeoff, your craft will be ready for takeoff by the time we reach the jump-off point for the attack."

With that dismissal, the pilots of the strike group start funnelling out of the briefing room talking amongst them self while they head off to get ready. Nicole and Nalan slowly walk down the halls of the MacAlpine, past the blaster marks that have stained the walls and have not been painted over and a few old symbols of the Republic, Nicole would be lost in thought while they walk with Nalan happy to just listen to the hum and background noise from the ship. The pair of them turn the corner through the door to their squadrons ready room where the other pilots of Falcon squadron are gearing up, Kiera would look up and over to Nicole when she walks in before she moves to intercept her path lightly running her hand across Nalans head while she and Nicole step to the side.

"What is it, boss? I know that look, and that means you are thinking of something."

"I'm not sure yet...but something doesn't sit right with me about this, even with the Imperial battle squadron at the station it is all too neat...I think I feel something in the force, but I don't know..."

"Would it be worth speaking to the General before we take off then?"

Nicole shakes her head slightly with Kiera's hand being placed lightly on her shoulder.

"Nah...I don't want to worry her with what could be nothing in the end. I just wish I could think of a way that I could get Nalan not to come with us due to this feeling..."

The two of them glance over at Nalan who would be getting into her pilot's gear ready for the scramble order.

"You know that even if you did have a good reason it wouldn't matter, don't you?"

"Aye I do...she has grown a lot since Ryloth."

"Aye she has, but she did have you taking her under your wing to thank for part of that growth, you have helped each other in that sense."

"I didn't do anything that amazing, I just offered her a chance to grow with her natural talent."

Kiera shakes her head slightly, a small smile on her face.

"You say that like that was all you did, yes you offered her a chance to grow but you also taught and trained her how to use her talents, the two of you are far more alike than either of you seem to realise."

Nicole looks over Kiera's shoulder at Nalan for a moment before turning to look back at Kiera.

"And that is what I am afraid of...I feel like all I have done is teach her how to be a warrior, and that I have stolen whatever childhood she had left."

"You haven't stolen her childhood, the empire did that and if anything you have made sure she can at least have some of it back during our downtime. And you have done more than teach her how to be a warrior, you have shown her how to be a leader. Just look at how she carries herself or how others especially the younger ones on the ship, look to her as an inspiration and for the name she carries with her."

Nicole looks down at her feet for a moment while Kiera speaks, her hand lightly running over where her lightsaber sits typically, a slightly confused look on her face as well.

"You do know that she carries your name with her every step and action, not by any specific choice of either of you but with you for all purposes adopting her in all but name and with how much under your wing she is. People look to her as your right arm, I might be your left arm and your shield, but she is how your actions reach out to people. You are a legend to the people on this ship, not only as a Jedi but as the daughter of the General and that is why so many people look to Nalan as your right arm and starting to be legendary on her own."

"I...I didn't really realise that was the case, I think part of me knew it but didn't want to accept it...is it really fair for her to have to carry so much pressure at such a young age?"

"No it's probably not but she is much younger than you were when you took the pressure of fighting for your life and fleeing the Empire, and she is younger than you were, but she has you to support and guide her, and you have her to support you fight your own demons you know."

Nicole nods slightly before she pushes her self lightly off the wall they were standing to next to before she goes to get into her flight gear.

"Aye I do, and you are right as usual, but that doesn't mean I have to like it."

Kiera shakes her head slightly with a small smile while Nicole moves to get geared up before Kiera walks over to her locker to finish getting her kit sorted.

Once Falcon squadron has finished getting their flight gear on, and their other kit squared away, they relax in their ready room while they wait for their X-Wings to finish getting readied and for the scramble order. Nicole takes this chance to look over the faces of her pilots, a small smile on her features with every face she looks at, be it Human, Twi'lek, Torgruta, Kel Dor, Rodian or Zabrak. The pilots were talking amongst themselves until they all fell silent at the sudden feeling of the ship dropping out of hyperspace followed by the announcement over the intercom.

"Attention all flight personnel report to your craft immediately. I say again, all flight personnel report to your craft immediately, and prepare for taking off. All non-essential personnel clear the hanger bay."

Nicole is the first to stand up, but the rest of her squadron is not long behind her with all them lifting their helmets and looking towards Nicole and Kiera, Nicole offers a small grin to her squadron while she opens the door.

"Well then people you heard the controller, let's get a move on!"

Nicole turns and leads her squadron at a run through the corridors of the ship towards the hangers, while other crewmembers stand against the walls letting the pilots move quickly down the middle. Falcon Squadron enters the hanger with the rest of the pilots of the MacAlpine's CAG running in or already climbing into their strike craft. Nicole smiles as she sees her custom painted X-Wing with its crimson paint along its body and wings bar the nose, four bands going around the body and the ends of the wings which are all grey. She nods to the deck crew while they are lowering her R2 droid into her X-Wing while she starts to climb up the ladder into her cockpit. Once she was settled in the cockpit, she would begin to strap her helmet on before she motions to the deck crew to pull the ladder away and that is ready to start preflight checks while the flight controller finishes their final stages of launch prep and begins opening the main hanger doors. With the launch preparations completed, the deck crew start getting the squadrons taking off in order with the guidance of the MacAlpines flight controller launching them squadron by squadron into the holding positions while the CAG assembles.

"Falcon Squadron you are clear for push off, proceed to the main runway, and you are clear for launch right away."

"Solid copy MacAlpine Control, Falcon leader, leading the squadron out. Right people, you heard the tower let's start the ball rolling."

With the go-ahead received, Nicole revs her engines when she lifts off from the deck of the MacAlpine and slowly rolls her X-Wing forward into the main runway section before she turns her X-Wing with the rest of her squadron do the same behind her as she leads them out of the carrier into space and the holding point.

With her squadron in position and checked off, they are now just waiting for the rest of the CAG to take off and form up which does not take them long due to the nature of the design of the old Venators with the massive hanger for quick launching.

"Attention all craft, you have your target and your orders. Happy hunting and may the force be with you."

"This is sabre actual, solid copy MacAlpine control, all craft make the jump to hyperspace on my mark...mark!"

With the mark given all the assembled strike craft suddenly start making the jump to hyperspace while the rest of the fleet watches them jump away.

The short hyperspace jump towards Rhen Vars orbital station is quiet due to the pilots focusing on what is to come due to this being their first major strike against an Imperial station. Once the CAG drops out of hyperspace, close to the station, the strike groups split off to go for their targets with the A-Wings of each group leading the way to the targets followed by the Y-Wings with the Ion torpedoes.

"Falcon squadron lets move, lock S-foils in attack position and get ready to engage the station or the TIEs once they get over the surprise."

Following the acknowledgement from her squadron and them falling in the rear of the strike group on an attack vector with the station, while Nicole activates her ship to ship comms.

"Falcon leader to Falcon 3, how copy."

"Falcon 3 here, solid copy Falcon leader."

"Right Nalan, make sure you are sticking close on my wing. I have an odd feeling about this fight, and I want to have my best pilot covering me."

"I hear you loud and clear Nicole, I will stick close to your wing."

Nicole nods slightly with a small smile before they begin the first pass against the station against the start of the turbolaser fire. With the first pass of the assault complete with very little return fire from the Station or the other Imperial ships while they try to overcome their surprise. This allowed them to hit the station, the transport with the TIE defenders, and the star destroyer docked with the station impacting significant damage while the 3 strike groups did so with the other 2 engaging the Victory 2s and the rest of the Imperial battle squadron. Just as the strike groups come around for a second pass, the station and the star destroyers start launching their TIEs to try and intercept the rebels. With a few of the Rebel squadrons of X-Wings and A-Wings breaking off to engage the TIE Fighters and Interceptors while the Y-Wings and B-Wings continue to attack the station and Imperial ships with the rest of the X-Wings covering them. Falcon Squadron leads the charge against the TIEs launching from the station, Nicole dives through the pack of still launching TIEs with Nalan right on her wing with both of them blast through a number of the TIEs, following on from the surprise of the attack and the sudden and devastating fire from the Rebel Fighters the TIE's rapidly get blasted and thrown into disarray causing them to try and stop dogfighting with the fighters and only trying to harras the Bombers. With the cover from the Fighters the Rebel Bombers are able to inflict massive damage against the Empire, with the Imperial Star Destroyers bridge blasted by proton torpedoes while it starts listing due to the amount of fire it has taken, the rest of the Imperial fleet is not doing much better with both of the Victory-2s badly damaged and one of them slowly falling towards Rhen Var's surface below after a disabled Arquitens crashed into it.

"This is Sabre actual to all craft, prepare to make the jump to hyperspace we have completed our objectives here let's go."

Just when Sabre actual stops speaking suddenly are the Rebel craft suddenly get the alert of incoming hyperspace signals just before 3 Imperial Star Destroyers drop out close to the station and the central one launches a squadron of TIEs.

"This is void leader, we should be fine to continue making our jump as they have only launched a single squadron so far and the ISDs are holding...wait that's, not a normal TIE...Void Squadron break! Break! I can't shake him! He has me....I'm losing it!"

Void leader is suddenly cut off when his X-Wing explodes with the unknown TIE blasting through it will the normal TIE fighters continue to blast through the rest of Void squadron leaving them in flaming wrecks in a matter of moments. The rest of the Rebels look on in horror and the sudden destruction of Void Squadron before they start to make the jump to hyperspace before that TIE squadron closes on them. Nicole is getting ready to make the jump to hyperspace with her squadron when the TIE squadron led by the unknown TIE with the longer wings and better weapons blasts through a squadron of A-Wings, Nicole manages to get a good look at the TIE just before she and her squadron are about to make the jump along with her getting a strong feeling in the force moments before she jumps to hyperspace as one of the last squadrons of the CAG.

"Damn it! This is Falcon Leader, I have an ID on that TIE...it looked like the TIE Advanced flown by Vader and it looked like he was escorted by the Black 8 squadron..."

"Solid copy Falcon Leader, we will see what intel we have on this when we get back. All Squadron as soong as we are at the RZ begin landing procedure and get into the holding pattern and let the tower guide us in."

With the acknowledgement from the other squadron leaders, Nicole leans back against her cockpits seat while she lets her R2 unit make sure the hyperspace jump goes fine until they reach the RZ with the MacAlpine.