Chapter 32 - In Enemy Territory (1/2)

Star Killer Planet Orbit

The massive fleets of both the First Order and the Resistance had started a ferocious battle and even though it had begun just some minutes before, the casualties and losses had already become exorbitant for both forces.

- ”Enemy approaching in Fan formation for sector 78B!”- informed a pirate officer.

- ”TIE fighters approaching as escorts from point 54H at maximum speed!”

- ”Hah! Lets show these greenhorns how pirates fight!”- said FlameBeard- ”Spearhead formation! Unleash the Preybird starfighters!”

Both forces approached each others and started the skirmish but when the Pirate Battlecruisers started their ramming attack to destroy the Star Destroyers, these moved aside and ignored their enemies positioning on the flanks of the spearhead formation while shooting their lateral cannons.

- ”Most Star Destroyers are flanking our forces”- informed the officer- ”but they have left the main ship alone and at shooting range from our cannons”

- ”He's abandoning the flagship?”- said FlameBeard with a scowl but he would not deny a free dish when served to him- ”have all battlecruisers shoot main weapons to that flagship! Then have teams C65 to C80 focus on the Star Destroyers flanking us. The rest will keep shooting at the front!”

The main cannons shot directly at the flagship of this team of Star Destroyers and they impact was direct but for some reason the damage was not what FlameBeard had expected.

- ”Enemy Shields at 20%!”- FlameBeard received the report

- ”They placed all the energy on the shields and use them as bait”- said FlameBeard and then he saw the Star Destroyers flanking them!

- ”Have the PreyBirds be alert of bombers!”

- ”Bombers deployed by all enemy Star Destroyers from all sides!”

- ”Ignore the Star Destroyers and focus all weapons to the bombers!”

The bombers moved exptremely fast and came from under the Battlecruisers in an ascending arc movement. The defensive cannons focused on them but the maneuvering of the bombers was just a little inferior of that of the TIE fighters and their momentum gave them an advantage that the pilots did not waste. They unleashed all their proton torpedoes on the Pirate Battlecruisers reducing their shields massively.

- ”Incoming trasnmission from headquarters!”- said the officer

FlameBeard looked nervously at the offcier but he had no choice but respond. Maz' face appeared and she furiously started to scold him for having made such pathetic blunder. She then gave new instructions and cut off the communications.

- ”Well that was not so bad...”- said FlameBeard who thought that it was better to just fall in battle with his ship than received the wrath of the Queen of Pirates.

Meanwhile in the headquarters, the officers and communication operators were in full action and the voices were just like a deafening buzz from a furious beehive.

- ”Such stupid mistake!”- said Maz after lashing ot FlameBeard- ”He'd better not die before I can personally discipline him!”

Leia only smiled while watching the battle unfold in the screens in front of her. She was no expert but by what she could see, the battle was not going very well for them. The First Order had managed to divide and scatter their forces makingthe battle extremely complex due tot he wide range of skirmishes all over the place. Hux had been extremely well prepared and he was now commanding his forces with such finesse that Leia doubted it could be real.

- ”Incoming communication from Millennium Falcon”- said an officer next to Leia- ”they are ready!”

- ”Open the communications!”- said Leia placing her hand on the headphones she had on her ear- ”The battle started here, are you ready on your side?”

- ”Yep... we're about to enter”- said Han's voice and Leia could see his smug face in her mind- ”just wait for the good news... We'll be in radio silence until we blow up the shields.”

- ”Heh... just be ready with another medal when we return”- said Han before he cut off the transmission and then Leia put her hands together and she prayed for their safety and good luck.

(...)

In the moment Luke pulled the lever, the Millennium Falcon got out of the blinding light tunnel of hyperspace and all the people in the ċȯċkpit saw themselves in front of a white and snowy setting which made them know that they had succesfully infiltrate the planet. However, their happiness instantly turned into horror when they saw that they were dashing towards the ground at maximum speed.

- ”Chewee! Take control now!”- ordered Han seeing the Falcon approaching the land. They had managed to evade the shields but if they could not retake the control they would just crash and all would be for nothing.

- ”Greeeaaaaaaaaaerr!”- replied Chewee trying to stabilize the ship to avoid the impact.

- ”Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaapletely and then they fell to the emptiness which made Finn's stomach go up to his throat. He looked at Luke but he only saw him focus and totally unfazed by the present situation which made Finn wonder how many times he had been in a situation like this.

- ”There!”- said Luke pointing at a clearing to the right- ”400 meters at 2 o'clock!”

- ”Chewee...”

- ”Grraaa graaaar”- replied Chewee veering to the place and prepared to land.

- ”Beep boop beep beeep boo booo!”- Artoo helping with the calculations now that everything was better.

Having slowed down since the moment they had infiltrate the planet, Chewee was able to land very skillfully and once the ship touched land, all the crew could finally breathe and relax for some minutes.

- ”Sector K461...”- answered Finn analyzing the map and pointing the base from their position in the hologram- ”we are approximately five kilometers East from the base...”

- ”Good”- said Han standing up and walking to the storage area- ”let's continue with the next phase of the plan.”

They took the back packs and other pouches filled with the thermal detonators they would use later to destroy the external shield of the planet and they mounted the speeders they had prepared to approach the base. In the way, Han looked at Finn and could not help to smile while remembering the estartegy meeting they had had before the mission started the previous day. After finishing the details for the infiltration into the planet now they had to think about how to infiltrate the headquarters of the First Order.

(...)

Takodana Planet - Maz Kanata Castle - Previous day

- ”The flooding tunnel is over that ridge”- had said Finn pointing at the location in the holographic map- ”We'll get in that way.”

- ”What was your job when you were based there?”- had asked Han wondering how he knew about that tunnel

- ”The first time was Sanitation.”- had replied Finn blushing and not mentioning it had been a punishment for having disrepected a superior officer- ”that's how I know about it.”

- ”Sanitation?”- said Han in shock- ”Then how do you know how to disable the shields?”

-”People are counting on us. The galaxy is counting on us.”- had said Han about to lose his patience but Luke placed a hand on his shoulders.

- ”I imagine you have a plan”- said Luke looking at Finn with patience.

- ”That's right”- said Finn nodding his head with decisiveness- ”I don't know how to disable the shields but I know where the shield power generator and the control room in charge of the locking and safety systems are.”

He marked the places in the estructural hologram of the headquarters and Han, Luke and Chewee studied them.

- ”So the idea is basically”- said Luke pointing at the hologram- ”access to the control room and force the officers there to nullify the locks and safety systems of the shield generators room.”

- ”We access the room and blow up the generators and turbines.”

- ”Don't forget we have to rescue Rey while doing so”- reminded Finn

- ”Can't we use the Force to just destroy the base completely after we rescue Rey?”

- ”That's not how the Force works!”- had said both Luke and Han at unison.

- ”Chewee is right”- said Han with a worried expression- ”I don't like the idea of separating.”

- ”We will cover a wider area that way”- said Luke with a hand placed on his chin and analyzing the map- ”I'll go to the control room while you go for Rey... Once I deactive the security systems, I'll join you in the Generator Room to blow up the place and escape.”

- ”You'll go alone?”- asked Finn- ”the place is swarmed by stormtroopers and the security is not low.”

- ”I'll be fine”- said Luke with a tone full of confidence- ”it's not the first time I infiltrate an enemy base”

- ”Don't boast”- said Han smiling- ”just don't go Obi-Wan on me”

The two old friends looked at each other and their looks seemed to transmit a message that only them knew.

- ”It won't happen”- said Luke

- ”I hope so”- replied Han and thn he returned to the map- ”Ok, now let's talk about the contingency plans.”

(....)

They dismounted the speeder once they were at a close but safe distance of the Flooding tuneel which they would use to infiltrate the base. Surprisingly, they did not find any enemy presence and their infiltration went smoother than they had planned. They finally were under the base and they only needed to open the access door to be in the middle of the First Order lair.

- ”Ok”- said Han preparing the stormtrooper armor they had prepare before hand- ”you know what to do”

- ”Greeerrrraaaaargerrrr”- said Chewee in a complaining tone

- ”Come on, Chewee no other way...”- said Han with an exasperating tone- ”there are no stormtroopers your size, so you'll have to be the prisoner!”

Chewee kept complaining about him always being the prisoner and meanwhile Luke approached Finn.

- ”How are you holding?”- asked Luke while Finn finished putting on the armor. He looked at Luke and he nodded.

- ”I'm fine, Sir”- said Finn who was more worried for Rey than himself. He stood up and Luke smiled while placing a hand on his shoulder.

- ”Remember”- said Luke using a very deep voice which made Finn focus on him- ”focus in the moment... Dont let other thoughts distract you from your present objective. Feel all around you and trust your instincts... Let the Force guide your actions and you will be succesful.”

- ”I will”- said Finn feeling more relaxed and Luke smiled warmly at him.

- ”Good”- said Luke patting his shoulder- ”May the Force be with you”

He then called Artoo and looked at Han who was also ready and they looked at each other with decisiveness.

- ”Take care out there, Bro”- said Han smiling at Luke- ”don't get lost since I won't be there to save you.”

- ”Take care as well, Bro”- said Luke with a smug expression- ”and last time I counted, I have saved you more times.”

- ”Lies!”- said Han and they all laughed before hugging each other and Chewee.

- ”See you in the generator room”- said Luke and as the access door opened, he dissapeared in midair in front of their eyes along with Artoo.

- ”What?”- Finn looked around trying to find Luke- ”How did he do that”