Chapter 24 - Battle for Takodana - Seventh Part (2/2)

Even though all the pilots of the Rogue Squadron were higly skilled veterans, every battle was a bet and especially against Knights of Ren, you could never know when you could just go down since many variables were in the way. They heard another two Blackies had been eliminated on the ground so three casualties in the enemy was very good for one battle.

- ”Let's regroup on sector...”

- ”Enemy retreating point discovered”- informed Rogue 9- ”General Solo informed that the remaining First Order forces are being picked in point 345, 789 and Takodana forces are going there.”

- ”Lets go and help”

- ”Yes Sir!!”

(...)

- ”General!”- called one member of the Takodana forces- ”the scouts inform that most of their forces are already boarding the transporters!”

- ”What about the air reinforces!”

- ”The enemy fighters have created a defensive circle that doesn't allow our pilots to pass!”- informed the soldier- ”the Rogue Squadron is coming to clear the area!”

- ”They could injure Rey if she's there!”- said Finn and Han looked at him with pity.

- ”Have the scouts seen any young girl in the area?”

- ”No such reports have been delivered, general”

- ”Tell the Rogue leader to clear the TIE fighters”- ordered Han- ”we'll ȧssault them by land”

- ”Yes, Sir!”

The soldier went away with a face that seemed to be very confused since an aerial raid would just be more effective, but he just followed his orders.

- ”I hope your aim is spot on as usual, kid!”- said Han while they arrived at the objective point- ”all forces attack!”

Immediately all the forces that had come to the point entered the clearing and started to shoot at the stormtroopers who for some reason were already waiting for them and had made an improvised defensive perimeter with shields.

- ”Take cover!”- shouted Han who seemed to be angry- damn those scouts! They led us to an ambush!

The First Order forces not only used blasters and heavy weapons but also explosives and even rocket launchers. These attacks took down many casualties in the Takodana forces and they had to return to the forest to try to take cover.

- ”They are retreating!”- said Finn shooting the best as he could but the defense line was tight and he did not seem to find any gap on it. Many transporters started to fly and take away many troops from the planet using cover fire.

- ”Tell me something I don't know!”

- ”Ghreeeaaaaaa!”- shouted Chewee

- ”Where?!”- Han asked and Chewee pointed to a place behind the defensive formation.

Finn followed the direction to where the wookie was pointing at and he could see a Knight of Ren with a kind of different helmet carrying Rey on his arms and walking to a TIE Silencer fighter.

- ”Kylo Ren!”- shouted Finn and he wondered why from all the possible people, it was him who had Rey- ”He's about to depart!”

- ”Wait, kid!”- warned Han but Finn had already dashed forward.

Immediately, he attracted the fire from the defensive line but Finn rolled under a big rock and took one of the last thermal detonators he had and without doubting he activated it and threw it to the defernse line. The detonator flew in an arc and landed just behind the shield barrier and exploded with great intensity creating a gap in the defense of the First Order. Finn took a shotting stance and looked at Kylo Ren who was accomodating Rey inside his ċȯċkpit.

- ”Eat this!”- he whispered and shot continuously at his former superior.

The shots were perfect and Finn knew they would hit but at approximately a meter from Kylo Ren, two shields that had previoously been blown away, floated in the air and formed a barrier between him and the shots. Finn was taken by surprise and almost could not react when the shields flew at incredible speed in his direction. He used the big rock to protect himself and he could feel the tremendous impact of the shield agaisnt the rock which cracked due to the collision.

- ”Retreat now!”- Finn could listen saying one of the troopers and by the time he pekked behind the rock, the rest of the stormtroopers had boarded the last transporters and were now flying away.

Han knew it was too late and he could only exchange a brief look with Kylo Ren who stopped for a second before boarding his TIE Silencer and then he just entered the ċȯċkpit and close it before flying away at an incredible speed.

- ”No! No! No!”- shouted Finn pointing at the TIE fighter of Kylo Ren but knowing he would not make even a dent- Nooo! Reeeeeeeyyyyyy!

- ”Here I am, Maz!”- said Han using the radio with a terrible tone but after a while his face changed into an even worse mood and he saw to the sky- ”they what?”

(...)

Takodana Orbit

The Resistance fleet was now in chaos trying to turn around as soon as they could and try to prepare for the next attack they would definitely receive.

- ”All sields at maximum power!”- ordered Admiral Akbar knowing that it was impossible to be left unscathed.

The reason for this reactio was that just when they were about to finish off the Sylus's fleet, out of nowhere, a fleet of a dozen Star Destroyers appeared behind the Mon Calamari Cruisers ready to attack at any moment. The flagship of the newcomer fleet was no strange for the Resistance since they had clashed many times before, but this did not ease their worries but only boost them. The Resurgent-class Star Destroyer Finalizer stood in front of them as an unbreakable wall that only a few could ȧssault. In her bridge, the General Armitage Hux stood with arrogance and confidence and showed a cold grin.

- ”The Resistance is so predictable”- he said looking at the Mon Calamari Cruisers as if they were sheeps ready to be slaughtered- ”Maximum potency to main weapons and shoot at them at my command and open communications with the DarkHammer!”

- ”Yes, Sir!”

Soon, the exhausted and pale face of Commander Sylus appeared in front of Hux who grinned at him coldly.

- ”Commander Sylus at your service, General”- said Sylus with a nervous voice.

- ”You seem a little out of breath Commander”- said Hux using a condescending and even mocking tone- ”I thought you were supposed t resist a little more before calling the attack.”

- ”My deep apologies, General!”- said Sylus with a tone that now was at the border of desperation- ”my abilities are laking and so I decided to call for you aid... it is my shame!”

- ”Obviously...”- said Hux just in time to listen the offcier informing all weapn systems were ready- ”but I suppose it will be for the best... shoot!”

The dark and vast space was soon filled with powerful green blasts of energy that impacted in all he Mon Calamari Cruisers with a horrendous accuracy.