Chapter 10 - Millennium Falcon (1/2)
- ”Lando...?”- asked Rey while trying to remember where she had heard that name.
- ”We'll talk later about that”- said Lando whose hands had not stopped pushing many controls for a moment- ”Can anyone of you fly?”
Rey was stunned for a moment since she did not know how to respond. Finn shook his head and used a very apologetic voice.
- ”I've just controlled the weapon systems of a TIE fighter”- he said and Lando smiled to the boy while nodding his head.
- ”Good!”- said Lando finishing to initialize the systems- ”Then you can be of great help un the quad turbo lasers in the lower area. Just go to the end of the of the hall and go down the ladder.”
- ”Yes, Sir!”- said Finn and went running while listening to the explosions and blasters outside.
- ”What about you?”- said Lando.
- ”I only have basic training”- said Rey a little embarrased- ”not enough to operate a ship like this.”
- ”Don't worry, I'll pilot.”- said Lando sitting down and configuring the systems to make their escape smoother- ”I need a controller. The Millennium Falcon needs two people... the pilot who focuses in maneuvering and the system controller who prevents the from exploding in the air. None can do both... at least not in a combat scenario.”
- ”I... well... I'm not sure...”- said Rey getting more and more nervous especially watching that the scavengers and stormtroopers were starting to focus more in them than in ther androids of Lando.
- ”Do you know how to reroute the energy from a truster to another one and equilibrate the propulsion levels of the anti-gravity engine while mantaining internal the pressure of the ċȯċkpit?”
- ”Yeah, in theory!”- said Rey knowing what he was talking about- ”but I don't know the levels for this ship.”
- ”It's ok, you'll do”- said Lando making her sitting down to his right- ”Just follow my instructions. Start by placing 30% of energy on the vertical thrusters and keep them balanced. The controls are there and...”
Meanwhile, Finn had arrived to the small cabin that had the quad turbo lasers. He accomodated in the seat and analyze the systems in front of him.
- ”What's that?”- thought Finn after sensing a very strong and penetrating smell that came from one of the wall of the cabin. He saw a protuberance that had a flammable sign stick on it.- ”wait... are those the fuel containers?”
Finn confirmed with horror that the fuel containers that provided for the engine and weapon system was just next to the inferior quad turbo lasers where he was now. After a better sight, he noticed that the main fuel line was exactly next to the weapon system and went up to the center of the ship..
- ”I wonder who's the crazy person who designed such suicidal structure.”- he said knowing that this was not the time for such ideas.
He activated the systems and saw in the panel that the configuration was a little different from the TIE fighter system. He tested the commands and he was surprised to discover that the seat where he was, moved following the movements of the cannons.
- ”Seriously?”- he blurted a little annoyed and he started to configure the system to adjust the stregngt of the movement while not reducing the aim capabilities.
Even though he was really annoyed at first, he was accostumed to be putting off his confort zone in his training so he did not whɨnė more than two seconds and he was already adapting to the situation and he started to practice to move in place until he got accostumed to the felling of being lrch from side to side while focusing on aim and shoot. Just then he felt the powerful sound of the thrusters and he knew they were prepared to take off.
- ”I can do this... I can do this!”- he said to himself while preparing mentally for the next battle to come since definitely he had reached and passed his limits long time ago.
Meanwhile, Lando had explained the basics to Rey and she was trying to remember all the information he had told her in desperation. There were simply too many things and buŧŧons in front of her. Only remembering all their functions was already too much but now she had to use them to equilibrate so many things while Lando focus on poiloting. She was internally panicking but she knew that they had no time so she started to adjust the systems as Lando instructed.
- ”You'll do fine...”- said Lando smiling with that warm face and Rey wondered how he could smile in a moment like this- ”And you won't be alone... BB8!”
- ”Bewp kak bip”- the little droid replied rolling to where they were.
- ”You'll be in charge of the mini calculations to help Rey.”- said Lando and Rey saw BB8 with surprise since she had forgotten that he was an astromech that was programmed to do those things.
- ”Wapoop”- accepted BB8 while looking where to place himself.
- ”Connect to that terminal to access the main server of the ship.”- instructed Lando when a blaster impacted in the ship- ”and hurry...”
- ”Wap woop bakik!”- said BB8 and immediately connected to the terminal after securing his position to the floor.
- ”Now. Rey... let's do this!”
Rey nodded and followed his instructions and she started to press the buŧŧons in the order he had told him to transfer energy when the window received a blaster bolt that surprised Rey.
- ”Now or never, Rey!”- said Lando and Rey introduced the commands as fast as she could and soon the screen showed the information- ”well done... now let's go!”
Rey felt the powerful lift off from the land and she could feel that emptiness in her belly which she found fascinating and frightning at the same time. However, Lando seemed extremely normal as if this was so normal that was nothing to check.
- ”Route the energy from the vertical thrusters to the rear ones”- said Lando flying the ship with extreme skill- keep a 10% on the vertical and activate the anti-gravity engine on my count.”
The Millennium Falcon took off in a crude and violent way which was definitely Rey's fault, but with the help of BB8 and the skill of Lando they still managed to elevate and escape to the sky.
- ”That was not bad at all”
- ”Thanks”- said Rey paying attention to the panels in order to maintain the numbers in the optmal levels levels- ”I think I'm getting used to it...”
- ”Good”- said Lando maneuvering the Millenium Falcon- ”because the fun part just starts...”
Just when Rey was about to ask the ship was impacted heavily by some torpedoes and soon after she could see six TIE fighters in persue.
- ”Increase the power in the shields and make sure the damage levesls do not go more than 45%”- said Lando extremely calmly and he activate the communications systems- ”what's his name?”
- ”Who?”- asked Rey who was still working on the shields.
- ”The boy that came with you”
- ”Oh... erm... Finn... his name is Finn”- said Rey and she returned to her task while trying to ignore the impacts that were saking the ship.
- ”Ok... Finn! Do you hear me?”- asked Lando.
- ”Loud and clear!”- replied Finn.
- ”We'll enter in a dog fight so try to shoot down as many as you can before they can call reinforcements.”
- ”Yes, Sir!”- said Finn and Lando could immediately hear the turbo lasers shooting.
- ”I like that boy”- said Lando placing his hands on the helm and preparing to enter combat- ”Rey, just follow my lead and focus on the systems. I'll stay low to confuse their systems and this will become crazy... so don't panic and remember and try not to spill your lunch.”
- ”Eh?”- Rey looked at Lando with inquisitive eyes but she was already trying not to slip from her chair.
The Millennium Falcon mader a sharp turn and started to fly among the dunes which made the TIE fighters to depend on their visuals more than their instruments.
- ”Is there any big wreckage nearby which we can use as cover?”- asked Lando avoiding the shots from the TIE fighters.
- ”There is one!”- replied Rey doing her best to balance the systems of the ship which had simply gone crazy and she started to feel dizzy and she was not sure if it was for the maneuvering or because of all the things she had to estabilize.
- ”Place the coordenates on the screen and I'll go there.”- said Lando and then he activated the intercom- ”hey Finn, you can start shooting down the enemies whenever you want...”
- I'm trying, I'm trying!- said Finn who was shooting as best as he could but the movement of the ship plus the high evasio skills of the TIE fighters made his task extremely difficult.
In that moment, one of the attacks of the TIE fighters bypassed the shields and impacted directly on the ship's armor.
- ”Cheh...”- said Lando observing the damage alert- ”BB8, take care of that...”
- ”Bwep bap”- replied BB8 and he started to work on the problem.
In that moment one of the TIE fighters received a shot from the turbo blasters and fell to the ground.
- ”Nice shot!”- said both Lando and Rey to Finn.
- ”I think I got the trick of this!”- said Finn smililng but keeping the focus on his task and continue shooting.