Star Wars: The Lord in Exile

Wings of the Emperor (Wings of the Master)

The rebel fleet were nearing an Imperial occupied world, one that had been worked to the bone and starved for the mining operations on their planet. Naomi was with the Spectres and was beginning to be accepted by the team as they trusted her enough to remove her tracker. Currently, one of the starved workers was contacting the Spectres about the food they were ready to smuggle past the Imperial blockade. It was small, mostly Light Cruisers and some support ships but it was ready to engage the rebels.

"The Empire..." the worker sighed as he struggled to speak. "has doubled our work quotas and cut our rations. Without your food drop, the weakest among us will starve."

"Stay strong, my friend. We'll be there soon." Kanan assured him.

"You have our deepest gratitude, Phoenix Squadron. Our underground network is standing by at the drop zone to distribute–" the man was cut off by the transmission being cut off.

"The transmission is being jammed." Sabine informed the team as she tried to re-establish the link.

Chopper let out a few crazed beeps at the situation while G5 whistled for him to calm down. An Imperial fleet was blockading the planet and prepared to engage the approaching rebels.

"Looks like the Empire came out to welcome us." Hera spoke in irritation at the sight of the enemy.

"Attention, rebel convoy." Kallus called out. "This system is under Imperial control. Stand down or be destroyed."

"Agent Kallus? Damn it." Naomi cursed.

"Don't worry, we'll make sure you stay dead." Ezra joked before turning to the girl in a panic. "I mean– not that we actually want you dead or hurt! We just want to make you seem dead... for Kallus, who already thinks you're dead! So he doesn't find out you're here... alive!"

"That was sad to watch." Alpha-117 commented. "Hey Ezra, word of advice from a woman... if you're not sure you're saying the right thing, don't say it."

"His persistence is as admirable as it is bothersome." Aurelian spoke with contempt.

Hera opened a comm channel to the A-Wing squad. "Phoenix Leader, your pilots ready?"

"As ready as we'll ever be, Captain Syndulla. All fighters attack formation."

"Deploying fighters," an Imperial officer said.

TIE Fighters deployed from the fleet and engaged the rebels. The A-Wings broke off and entered a dog fight while the Ghost and the transport holding the supplies maneuvered around the enemy fleet.

"Just handle those TIEs, Phoenix Leader."

"We'll cover you, Ghost. Start your run."

Hera flew forward and avoided in coming fire. "Zeb, bandit at 270."

"I see him!" Zeb shouted as he jumped on the gun. "Karabast!"

"Naomi, coming in at point three."

"Acknowledged." Naomi got on the gun and quickly shot down two enemy fighters.

"Kanan, two marks at 185."

Kanan turned the gun and destroyed a TIE Fighter before chasing the other one away with cannon fire. Imperial turrets turned to the transport and landed multiple devastating shots onto the ship, causing it buckle and shake furiously.

"This is Transport 1. We're taking heavy fire!"

"Stay on course, Transport 1." Hera ordered.

"Concentrate your fire on that transport. That cargo will not get past us." Kallus ordered.