"Princess." Dodana greeted. "General." Leia saluted over the holo call. "Princess, we have received a call from Admiral Trail about several things. Chief among them is the fact that he is besieged by Death squadron on Mimban and that you two have discovered a fleet." He began.
She stared in silence. Sigil must have informed them of the find. "Indeed we have." She replied nervously. "During our meeting with the Admiral, he proposed a rescue using the CIS fleet." He explained. "I was thinking the same." She said. "Can you say which ships are ready?" He asked. "Two out of three Providence class cruisers along with the Lucerhulk are ready." She answered. "And the dreadnought?" He asked. "Not yet." She replied.
"Very well. You are to take these ships and meet up with General Syndulla to mount a rescue. The Admiral recommended a full strike wing of bombers equipped with ion bombs to disable the Executor. The rest of the fleet is to engage the other star destroyers while the Acclamator goes down for the rescue. But he emphasized that he'd be called once you two were in the system to guide you to very close range of the Executor for a bomber ambush. Again this was his recommendation. You two are free to use whatever you wish." He suggested. "Thanks General Dodana. I'll contact General Syndulla right away." She said, ending the call.
Dialing in Hera's frequency, she initiated the call. She picked up around 15 seconds later. "Princess." Hera opened up. "General." Leia acknowledged. "What seems to be the issue?" She asked. "General Syndulla, Admiral Trial is currently under siege by Death squadron. We have been chosen to mount the rescue." She explained.
"I'm currently tied up right now but the imperials are retreating slowly. I'll discuss this with you later." She said. "Alright I'll trasmit you my coordinates." Leia responded. "Farewell. I'll meet you there." Hera thanked. "Farewell." Leia said, ending the call.
Phoenix squadron reached the coordinance sent by Leia in a week. Attached to them were Rogue squadron. The rebellion's best pilots. Entering the conference room aboard the Scutum were Hera Syndulla, Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles and inside Leia waited for them. She had assumed command over the destroyer for the time being, using it as her flagship.
"General. Captain. Captain." She acknowledged all three of them with a nod as they entered the room. "Your highness." They all acknowledged in return. They all gathered around the lit up holo table. "Thank you all for attending this meeting." Leia greeted for a second time.
"As you all know, Admiral Trial has been besieged inside a bunker on Mimban for the past week by Death squadron. Our objective is to retrieve him along with his troopers and elements of the local militia." The princess began the explanation. She waited for a while before continuing "The Admiral himself recommended a bomber ambush. Using ion bombs to disable the Executor while the Acclamator does a blockade run with the rest of the flert engaging the remaining star destroyers.".
"But we don't have that many bombers." Luke pointed out. "But we do have droid bombers." Leia countered. "But not with hyperdrives." Luke countered again. "Not necessarily." Wedge said, rubbing his chin.
"You got something Wedge?" Hera asked. "Yes. Once in hyperspace, the bombers could fly out of the hanger then be caught by the tractor beam. When we drop out, the bombers are set loose." He recommended. They all stared at him.
"Excellent job!" Hera praised. "Indeed but how do we get the bombers close enough?" Luke asked, still skeptical. "When we get in the system, we send a ping to the Admiral. Using his Jedi powers, he said that he could guide us to just above the star destroyer." Leia explained.
"You know Luke, you should ask him about lessons." Wedge joked. "Not now." Hera said. "Is your fleet ready?" Hera asked. Leia nodded "We even managed to get more of fleet online." She said with enthusiasm. "Although useful later, we need to bring the bare minimum as to not be picked up by scanners as easily." Hera cautioned. Leia nodded.
"We are best off taking your two Mon Calamari cruisers and the two Providence class cruisers and the Scutum herself." Wedge suggested. "Let us not forget our transport Wedge." Hera joked. "Alright let us get going." Luke said.
All of them left the conference room in unison, heading for their stations. For Luke and Wedge, that would be coordinating and relocating star fighters into the designated hangers.
"Alright prepare for the jump; three, two, one." Hera broadcasted for the entire fleet. Upon her call, all six ships jumped into hyperspace. Their estimated arrival time was three days. But everybody hoped that they could reach Mimban before it was too late.
"Sir! The camp has been overrun!" His Major informed him. "Blow it up Major!" He ordred. He watched from the security screen as his rigged guns blew up. Sections of the camp went up in fire balls and several smaller explosions.
The hurridy placed mines. But the tall head of the walkers was still present. They were unfazed by the explosions as they pressed forwards.
Once within range of the bunker, they began firing their guns. Their firing sequences, each lasted several minutes to let the guns cool but paused their sequence after several hours later. When the dust settled, the bunker's gate was glowing with heat; at last parts of it melted but the penetration was still minimal without proper artillery guns.
Alas they had to pause after several coordinated vollies, they ultimately seized as the sun set and both sides went to rest. Sigil however left a small contingent along with himself awake. Keeping an eye out for any infiltration or night time attacks.
Sigil sat in the command room of the bunker, anticipating a ping from the rescue team. Alongside him, sat General Yafuro.
"You know Admiral I never really had the chance to properly thank you so I will now. I thank you on behalf of the Mimban partisans and myself." She said. "It is appreciated General." He replied. "Please call me Zi." She said, citing her first name. "First name basis already?" He chuckled. "Well then I'm Sigil." He replied.
'Well things are about to get awkward.' He thought. "Have you ever talked to a woman before?" Nox asked. "Right on que." He thought. "I'm serious." She said through her teeth. "Calm down. No I haven't." He replied. "Well no doubt it will get awkward for you." She said.
"Advice?" He asked sheepishly. "Don't look at me. I never had a partner." She said. "Then why are you commenting?" He asked. "I am entitled to my own opinion." She replied. "Fair enough." He said, reworking his focus to Zi again.
"Mind if I ask something?" He opened up. "Sure." She said with a smile. "What did you do before assuming this role?" He asked. "Well I worked with my father in his shop." She replied. He hummed in response.
"What did you do before being an Admiral?" Now it was her turn to ask. "I fled home at 10. Took a droid and my infant sister with me. Had a close companion who told me to go to a man named Kal Skirata. Called him a friend who owed him. Guy taught me shooting, poloting, mechanics and slicing." He replied.
She nodded, noting his mentor's name. "Took us to a yet to be publicized Kamino." Sigil continued. "You trained along the GAR?!" She said in realization. "Was made to swear an oath of silence but now it is over." He replied.
Their conversation continued throughout the night and found many similarities. They fit a traditionalist and honorable warrior and commander; their methods of treating their enemies was like that of feudal
Commanders. Treating the enemy Commander especially generously.
Zi yawned, indicating restlessness. "If you'll excuse me." She said, getting up from her seat. He nodded in response. His gaze followed her figure as it exited the room. He felt his ears heating up; thankfully that was hidden under his long hair. 'Am, am I getting feelings for her?' He questioned himself.
"You are." Nox remarked, he couldn't see her expression but he could tell it had a smirk plastered all over it. "I'm serious." He said. "So am I. Maybe you should release your emotions before they bottle up and release themselves." Nox cautioned. "Didn't know Sith gave relationship advice." He said in a sarcastic tone.
"I may not be a relationship advisor, I sure do know a thing or two about bottling emotions." She reminded. "What can I lose?" He remarked, getting up from his seat. "Not much." She added. "Fine. I get it." He said.
"Youngster." She remarked, no doubt rolling her eyes if she had them. "I am nearly forty." He reminded. "To me you are the same guy I tricked into freeing me." She froze, thinking she may have gone too far. "Fairpoint." Sigil chuckled.
"Send the signal lieutenant." Leia ordered. Qishik didn't utter a single word. Time was of the essence in this rescue. The communicator in the bunker beeped. Sigil immediately reached out his hand; sensing incoming signatures in the force.
Focusing on ships, he locked himself on the navigators. He entered their minds and assumed control of their bodies. A split second was the difference between an ambush and a massive solar flare as a task force of ships would crash into the nearby star. Pulling his hand back, the navigators did the same.
The task force exited hyperspace right above the fleet. Sensing their radiation trail, the fleet deployed their fighters ahead. Immediately the tractor beams dropped their tractor beam lock.
A cloud of Hyena class bombers leading Y-wings went into a head dive. Diving for the Executor below. The bombers dove very close to the hull but pulled up sharply; releasing their payload of ion bombs in the process.
Hundreds of bombs impacted and went on to disable the executors shields. All ships barring the Acclamator who had rushed the blockade amidst the confusion, opened fire on the bridge of the Executor.
As soon as the bridge was up in flames, they focused fire on the star destroyers and sent in their interceptors against the ties to prevent encirclement.
As soon as the fleet was out of hyperspace, Sigil opened his eyes and yelled "Prepare to open the gate on my mark!". At his command, the door technicians braced their levers.
Sensing and hearing the guns of the Acclamator open up on the besieging imperials; blowing up their walkers and opening a path for herself to land in front of the bunker.
"Open up!" Sigil shouted. The heavy door of the bunker slid up with a heavy creek. As soon as the door was open, the remaining imperials opened up on and recieved fire from the rebels.
But once the Acclamator neared ground, all imperials fled to the cover of the mud hills. But the assault cruiser didn't pause its firing as it blew up the hills. Sigil rallied his and his men to the ship. Staying behind until everybody was safe. After making sure everybody was safely inside, he sensed a presence clouded by Vader's. Now more clear, close and detectable.
Halfway up the ramp, he turned around and locked eyes with Revan. "Get it in Admiral!" His Major shouted yet he remained still, not breaking eye contact. On the behest of the Major's orders, three men came down and forcefully dragged Sigil away. He neither ressisted nor did he break eye contact.
Once inside, the Major ordered for the ramp to be retracted. Being in such a hurry, they didn't wait for the ramp to close as they lifted up.
"This is General Syndulla! We have the survivors! I repeat we have the survivors! Withdraw!" Hera relayed to the fleet. The fighters and bombers withdrew back to their hangers as the other ships turned around, directing all power to shields and engines. In a few minutes, the entire fleet was gone.
This left the Acclamator. On Hera's orderess the Acclamator went on full speed, speeding to the other side of the planet while being targeted by the five imperial II class star destroyers and the Executor. The Accalamator took hits but this was its role and absorbed them with some damage.
Once on the other side of the planet, Hera's Acclamator went into a near vertical descent out of Mimban's atmosphere while calculating a jump for a decently far off system.
The Acclamator reached the jumping point but having diverted all power to engines, the hyperdrive was hit by the incoming star destroyers, causing failure and messing up the charted course. The entire ship shook violently as the hyperdrive became engaged; sending them on an uncharted journey through the galaxy.