War {3}

Chapter 40

Kira winced as the pain-killer injection entered into her body with a sharp prick, and she sighed in relief as the fiery pain from her back started to ebb, allowing her to think clearly again for the first time in awhile.

"There. Is that better?" Her mother asked, and Kira nodded before standing up and rolling her shoulders.

"Yes, Mother. Thank you." She replied, turning around to face her. The Empress's red eyes gleamed as she looked at her daughter, anticipation obvious on her face.

"And you are ready to begin the attack?"

"Yes."

"Good, because we're coming out of hyperspace. Your job is to coordinate the flying attack and take out the main cruiser's stabilizers. That should send it into the atmosphere of Shili, and the gas won't have settled yet. Do you have your protective gear on."

"Yes."

"And your gas mask is in your ship."

"As always, Mother."

"Very good." Her mother smiled and patted Kira on the back, sending a prick of pain through her body. "And let us not forget that if you fail me, you know the consequences."

Kira swallowed. "Yes, I do."

The Empress turned around, walking to the front of the bridge. "Good. The squadrons are waiting for your command, all you have to do is get into your ship and wait for my command to attack once we exit hyperspace."

"Yes, Mother." Kira tightened her piloting gloves and pulled on her helmet, heading down to the hangar. She couldn't help but marvel at just how nice this new Star Destroyer was; it wasn't like Lord Vader's renowned Super Star Destroyer, but it was definitely bigger than the normal models. And nicer.

Kira's trusty fighter-class Odacon was waiting for her in her designated spot in the hangar, and she'd be lying if she said she didn't miss flying it. It wasn't extremely nice but still a luxury few could afford, and being the Empress of the Empire's daughter had its perks.

Kira slid into the cockpit and resisted a small smile as it slid shut behind her. The sleek, black interior greeted her warmly as she fit right into the small cockpit, and the blue streaks outside the hangar bay faded into the stars as the Destroyer pulled out of hyperspace. From here she couldn't see the New Republic fleet, but as soon as she entered the system she was hit with a damp and musty sheet of panic and fear surrounding the area. The New Republic knew they were here.

No matter. At the end of this battle it would be in ruins, and the Empire would be victorious. It all came down to this.

Exhaling slowly, Kira flexed her hands and fit them around the joysticks, revving her engine. "Alright pilots, follow me. Attack formation. Helix Squadron, lead the enemy fighters away while Alpha Squardon will stay behind me and make a run for the main cruiser. Goal is to send the cruiser into the atmosphere, not destroy it; aim for the stabilizers."

"Copy." The pilots said, and all at once they sped out of the hangar and fled into the galaxy around them, all having one goal in mind: extermination of the enemy.

However, the New Republic had this in mind as well, because a frenzy of A and X-Wings mixed in with the TIEs to create a light show of green and red bolts. Kira swooped and swerved and blasted, letting a small whoop of victory whenever she saw her opponent explode into fiery bits.

Her kills were starting to stack up, and she smiled teasingly. "Keep it up pilots, you're falling behind!"

But she spoke too soon, as multiple cries of help erupted inside her headset but were immediately silenced. Kira looked down at her scanner to see multiple enemies coming up behind the first wave of TIEs, and swore under her breath.