Dorn: A Star Wars Story

32. Fugitives

Our estimations and quiet treason pact were quickly put to the test, and the Resistance proved nothing if not predictable. We were all sitting in the hangar doing maintenance or playing sabacc when the alarms began ringing. One of the security officers sprinted to the terminal and looked up at us, "Sir, we have a fleet of Resistance ships inbound. Scans show fighters, bombers, and cruisers!"

"And so it begins," Horran muttered as we all shot to our feet. "Squad, anyone not flying gets on the Summa and starts getting our weapon systems online ASAP. I want all of you louts manning guns and firing terminals!"

"I call the front port turret!" Bast jumped up and sprinted for the ship as Rook growled and took off after him. 

Nyra looked over to me with a smile, "Catch you on the flipside, General. Good luck."

I smiled at her with a nod, "Don't need luck. I've got you lot."

Hipshot was already onboard and lowering the crew ramp and the hangar ramp so we could get in our TIEs and go the second the Summa was lined up with the entrance. All of our Interceptors were in a neat row, held up by the launching mechanisms and ready to go at a moment's notice. My pilots and I grabbed our gear, and I soon found them waiting expectantly in front of me for orders. I blinked, figuring a lot of it was self-explanatory. "Gonna give us a speech, boss man?" Peavey chuckled as she juggled her helmet excitedly.

"My mentor used to have this saying he'd always tell us before an engagement," I began as I tucked my helmet up under my arm. "Today is a good day for someone else to die. Every one of you better be on that ship when we jump. Got it?"

"Aye aye, sir!" They all snapped to attention, voices chorusing in unison as the rumble of bombs began to inch ever closer.

"In your TIEs! Now!" I shouted as my team broke off sprinting for the Summa, slipping helmets on as they went. I followed suit, only for a voice to stop me in my tracks.

"Let me fly!" Farthen shouted at me from across the room jogging towards me, but I pointed at him, freezing him in his tracks.

"You and Hipshot get to the Summa. Get her airborne and get her back to the fleet! If they've got a squadron down here attacking the base, they'll have people going after the Destroyers!"

"But General-!" Farthen went to protest, but I pointed at him again as I crossed the hangar towards him.

"You're the best pilot I have, Farthen! I need you on the Summa ready to jump us out if things go south! No one else can do that but you and Hipshot!" I grabbed him by the shoulders, "I know you're a fighter pilot at heart, but we need you on the old girl right now more than we need another fighter."

I saw him getting conflicted before he forced himself to nod, "Aye, sir. I'll get you out."

"No one else I trust more," I gave him a reassuring slap to his shoulders before I turned to Horran, who had rejoined me for any marching orders ebfore I got in my TIE. "You get the rest of the crew onto the Summa and help Farthen and Hipshot make preparations to get to hyperspace as fast as you can. The second we clear the hangars on the return, we need to jump and fast."

"Dorn." Farthen's voice pulled me from Horran as he gave me a resolute nod and took off again back to the ship. I saw him standing there looking at me, a resolute stare on his face, "I owe you. For letting me fly when no one else would. I don't want to sound ungrateful, so if I have..." he paused, his eyes regarding me for a second before he came to attention, "I won't ever be leaving you behind, General. You can always count on me."

I paused, taken slightly aback by the declaration, but I couldn't help but give him a smile. "I know. There's no other pilot I trust at my back more."

Farthen got a smirk, "Even Sevens?"