Accismus⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.• Anakin Skywalker⋆౨ৎ˚⟡.•

118.

'Sir, we have a fighter returning to the hanger.'

'Are their engines damaged?'

'The connection must be lost. I can't contact the cockpit. It'll need an analysis once it docks.'

Grand Moff Tarkin thought nothing more of the TIE fighter that exited Yavin 4. While the worker attempted to contact the returning ship for a second time, the leader of the invasion observed the result of his efforts.

The star destroyer was monitoring the troops' advance through the jungle, and from the control room, the gaunt man was anticipating the Resistance's surrender.

After sending the Jedi named Revan Shan to the Death Star, Tarkin's eyes were set on a complete takeover. They were surrounding the rebel base, and the rebels' ships were diminishing to their bare bones. It wouldn't be long until Padme Amidala had no choice but to give herself up, and Tarkin could present the rebel captain to the Emperor as his grand prize.

With her in their grips, the Empire could use her as leverage against the leader of the Resistance, Mon Mothma. And with one less Jedi in the galaxy to worry about, as Tarkin assumed that the Emperor would have disposed of Revan Shan, then the Empire would have complete control over all planets and moons in every system.

Grand Moff Tarkin saw the TIE fighter that they thought was heading for their hanger. It flew as normal, but on its tail, was a collection of rebel ships. The TIE fighter appeared to be fleeing the Resistance's change of attack, and when Tarkin saw the rest of his ships leaving Yavin 4, he realised that the starship battle was coming to him.

'They're preparing to attack us, sir!' a workman called from the other side of the control room. Tarkin pried his large eyes from the windscreen and looked to the workmen that rushed around in their duties.

'Activate the shields,' the man called over the bustle.

'Already done, sir!'

Tarkin had nothing to worry about. The rebels would never be able to break through their shields with the few ships that remained. He could see the beaten-up x-wings and starfighters were on their last legs. Even when their blasts and missiles made contact with the star destroyer's surface, the monstruous carrier ship functioned as normal. But the rebels continued to rain blasts all while fleeing from the TIE fighters and Imperial ships that followed them.

'What are they thinking coming up here?' Tarkin said to no one in particular. 'If they're not protecting their base, then they're more than just fools.'

The man shook his head with a humourless chuckle. The rebels' attack was futile, but Tarkin would gladly watch their pathetic efforts lead to their own demise. The Rebel Alliance's belief that a mere sense of hope would take down the Empire was laughable, and Tarkin didn't even admire their drive. They were assuming that the Emperor was an old fool, and that Tarkin was ignorant of their antics, but the Empire always found out.

While the star destroyer focused on the rebels that blasted at their shields, a lonesome TIE fighter circled the ship. In its cockpit, Ahsoka Tano worked the controls and searched the surface layer of the grey eyesore. 

She remembered the lieutenant's hologram of the exhaust port, and searched for the opening that was no more than ten metres wide. She didn't have to worry about blaster fire from the destroyer, the Imperial offense, or the Resistance, because she was in-between hiding under their noses. Ahsoka had the time to search for her target.

But the Jedi could do nothing with the shields still operational, and when she saw the fight between rebels and the Imperials, Ahsoka wondered if the shields would ever be torn down.