Chapter 36 - Under the Dying Sun (1/2)
Starkiller's Orbit - Finalizer Star Destroyer
- ”Populist and Centrist factions had opened fire on our ships, General”- informed an officer
- ”Enemy requesting communication, General”- informed another one.
- ”Open it”- ordered Hux looking at the panels.
- ”Here Amilyn Holdo from the Populist Factin of the New Republic”- said the voice of a female who semeed to feel superior for the way she was talking to Hux- ”We come here to bring justice for all the innocent people that were murdered by the First Order... surrender immediately and we will show mercy!”
- ”Ransolm Casterfo here”- said another voice and Hux recognized the tough and stubborn man behind it- ”you can surrender if you want but we will destroy you anyways so I suggest you to run away”
- ”Well, I did not know you two were gong to work together against the First Order” said Hux showing no fear- ”I see you are in better terms than people would say.”
- ”I don't know the racist prick on the other channel”- said Holdo with a great hatred- ”I'm here representing justice and fairness”
- ”I will make a pact with the devil if necessary in order to kick your buŧŧ, Hux”- said Casterfo ignoring the comments of Holdo- ”your crimes will be paid in blood so wash your neck and wait for us...!”
- ”What a waste of time”- said Hux but he knew they had done that to distrct him from giving commands but they were incredibly naive if they thought that would work with him- ”Just delaying the inevitable... Prepare for new orders”
- ”Yes, General”
Hux was extremely annoyed by the newcomers who had definitely given the Resistance a breather and were causing losses by both flanks of his formation. However, this did not make him panic and he just started to think about how to reaccomodate his forces in order to face this new scenario.
- ”Separate both flanks as different quadrants in the maps from sectors AC-200 to AC-500 tagged as quadrant A while JK-600 to JK-900 as B”- ordered Hux and almost immediately the new sectors appeared in the map with different colors- ”Also tag all the previous battlefield as quadrant C.”
- ”Maps have been updated”
- ”Quadrant A is led by the Centrists who are battle maniacs without a shred of intelligence”-thought Hux and immediately thought of a counter- ”Have all captains in the quadrant to wait for the enemy attack and wait for openings. They should not try to go on the offense unless victory is definite.”
- ”Yes, General”
- ”Quadrant B is led by the Populists who are extremely timid and coward”- ȧssessed Hux who had fought against them in the past, they were the type to retreat immediately if things went a little south for them- ”Have all the captains to launch an aggressive offense to them. Don't let them breathe and push them to their limits... I'll be surprised if they do not run with ther tails between their legs after 10 minutes...”
- ”Roger that”
- ”How much time more for the weapon to be ready?”- asked Hux knowing that the Resistance was just like a desperate and helpless man drowning and he would enjoy the show until the end.
- ”The weapon will be ready in... eh?”- the officer received some news that made her stop her words and her expression just froze due to the shock.
- ”What...?”
- ”A small fleet has been deployed and is going in direction with the StarKiller Base”
- ”That's impossible”- said Hux with a mocking tone.
- ”The shield has been deactivated”- said the officer who had been shocked- ”we have been notified that the shield generator has been destroyed”
- ”What...?”- said Hux thinking that the mere idea of the possibility of the loss of the shield generator was so ridiculous that it could not go through his skull but then he opened his eyes wide- ”send the red alert to the base and deploy all the TIE fighters in the squadron 502 to follow and destroy the enemy before they can land”
- ”Yes, Sir...”
Hux was extremely annoyed and he could not believe he had been played like this by the Resistance. However, he was even more annoyed by the fact that the land forces had allowed such attack to occur.
(...)
Poe Dameron started to breathe and tried to calm down the tremnble in his hands. It was not nervousness, but anxiousness. He wanted to get out and fight. He oculd not never sit still while others were out there dying for the cause. He really wanted to fight but waiting was also part of the mission. He was following the radio and he heard how their boys and girls where falling lke flies. If he and his squadron were there he was totally sure he could minimze the losses but it was not his function today.
- ”I know how you feel, Captain”- said the voice of Admiral Akbar- ”I'm sure all your team feels the same, so I need you to give them the example.”
- ”Yes, Admiral”
There was a different beep in the radio and now Akbar's voice could be heard by all the Rogue Squadron.
- ”We have received transmissions from the StarKiller base and it seems General Solo has infiltrated succesfully”- said the rasp voice of the legendary Mon Calamari- ”Prepare and be like a arrow which is tensed by the bow ready to be fire. Gather that anxiousness so when you go out, you are an unstoppable force...Akbar out!”
- ”Ok, guys”- siad Poe and he surprised himseflf to hear his collected voice- ”You heard the admiral, our time will be here at any moment. I don't want anyone to be sleeping when the time comes.”
Many laughs could be heard in the hangar and like that around five minutes passed when the green light activated.
- ”Rogue Squadron!”- the voice of General Organa resounded in the hangar and Poe felt his blood rush knowing the time had come- ”Initiate the atack!”
The R-droids beeped in joy as their pilots put on their helmets and started their machines. What had been a graveyard a few moments ago had transformed into a noisy mix of sounds that foreshadowed the battle that was about to come.
- ”Hangar 43-J ready to deploy”- multiple voices said through the speakers.
- ”All permission granted!”
- ”Green light given!”
- ”Opening the gates!”
- ”Only permitted personnel must be in the area!”
- ”Operations personnel follow the protocols for the take-off!”
Following a pattern that had been drilled many times before, the X-wing Starfighters of the Rogue Squadron started to float some meters while being directed by their operators who used light sticks. Poe followed the instructions carefully. One could consider it a waste of time, but they would waste more time if someone provoked an accident inside the hangar. Poe looked at his operator and saluted him thanking him for his efforts. The operator returned the gesture and wished him luck.
- ”Rogue Squadron ready to deploy!”- said Poe with a clear voice and waited for the permission.
As soon as they heard the permission, they all departed as a bolt that had been shot from a powerful crossbow. Their mission was clear and very straightforward.
- ”Everyone maintain formation and be ready for hostile reception!”- said Poe as they descended and confirmed that the Starkiller planet did not have any protection.
- ”Black Leader! Multiple hostiles descending after us”- said Rogue 10- ”and many more coming up front!”
- ”hat was faster than expected”- said Poe but immediately used the contingency plan- ”Teams A and B take my lead... Teams C and D cover our back and the rest open a way for us in the front.”
- ”Roger!”
- ”Approaching target!”- said Rogue 10 again when they were surrounding a frozen mountain- ”Fighters incoming!”
- ”Coming at 28.336”
- ”Everyone knows what to do!”- said Poe feeling the terrifying yet thrilling vertigo that only pilot can experiment- ”Give them hell!”
All the starfighters changed to their battle X-wing mode and separated to receive the incoming enemy TIE fighters which were trying to sandwich them.
- ”Heavy fire! Avoid going directly!”
- ”We lost Humberts!”
- ”Yahoo! Down you go!”
The battle ensued immediately and everything started to happen at a breaking speed. Sometime you did not even realize you are already dead due to how fast everything occurs and maybe that was for the best since at least you would not suffer a slow and torturing dead like many infantry troopers who many times begged for a quick end.